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Glenarm bridge a 35 year gap

Countess of Antrim Cup – North Antrim Intermediate Hurling

Shane O’Neill Glenarm 2-17 Loughgiel Shamrocks 2nds 0-16

Shane O’Neills Glenarm held off a second half fightback by Loughgiel to win the Countess of Antrim Cup for the first time in a 35 years in mixed conditions at Cushendun on Friday evening. Six minutes before half time the Glenarm men led by 2-8 to 0-06 and appeared to be in complete control, but Loughgiel brought themselves back into contention as they hit five of the next six points to close the gap to just four at the half way stage.

When substitute Roan McGarry got a Loughiel goal early in the second haf , in reply to two early points from man of the match Niall McGarel, there was just three between the sides, but the men from Feystown were able to up the pace each time they were challenged, and though they took advantage of some poor finishing by the Shamrocks they held on to take the victory by four points in worsening weather conditions.

The weather was far from Midsummer day conditions as play got underway, but the rain that had fallen earlier had eased off well. Both teams went at it hammer and tongs in the early stages as three points from Niall McGarrel were answered b Eoin McGarry, Ronan Fitzgerard and Maol Connolly for the Shamrocks. The game swung heavily in Glenarm’s favour between the 10^thand 16^thminutes as they hit 2-3 without reply, the goals coming from Dylan McLaughlin in the 13^thminute and Sean O’Boyle a minute later, while McGarel, McLaughlin and Daniel Black got the points to stretch their lead to nine.

Three quick points from Eoin McGarry and one from Maol Connolly, in reply to two by Black and McGarel for Glenarm closed the gap to eight, but Loughgiel produced a strong finish to the first half as they outscored Glenarm by 0-5 to 0-1 in the last five minutes to cut the deficit to four by the time match referee Mark O’Neill sounded the half time whistle.

Two points from McGarel frees early in the second half pushed the gap out to six again when substitute Roan McGarry fired home a Shamrocks goal, and as the rain fell a lot heavier it looked to be anybody’s game. When things were starting to look a lot more shakey for the winners McGarel again stepped up to the plate and three quick points eased the pressure on his side as they stretched the gap to six once more.

Two quick points from Maol Connolly got it back four again, but McGarel and Daniel Black once more hit the target to ease the pressure again. As conditions deteriorated and the pressure built, Shane O’Neill’S veteran Darren Hamill came to his side’s rescue as he somehow cleared a goal-bound shot off the line with goalkeeper Michael Abram stranded. As the Shamrocks emptied their bench in a bid to salvage the game the tension was palpable They came close on a couple more occasions but two more for Glenarm by McGarel and Daniel Black eased the nerves a little more.

With three minutes remaining centre forward Darragh Patterson closed the gap to four. The had chances to come even closer in the dying stages but Glenarm fought like Trojans to keep them at bay as the clinched a coveted title for the first time since 1989.

GLENARM

Michael Abram, Joshua Quinn, Barry Hamill, Sean Scullion, Aidan Scullion, Darren Hamill, Declan McDermott, Kieran O’Boyle, Daniel Black, Dylan McLaughlin, Ciaran Magill, Rory Mulvenna, Sean O’Hare, Niall McGarel, Sean O’Boyle

LOUGHGIEL

Cahir McGrath, Cahir Connolly, Daniel McPeake, Seamus Dobbin, Conall McCloskey, Damian Quinn, Ciaran McKay, Cathal Hargan, Finn Henry, Niall MFadden, Darragh Patterson, Sean O’Boyle, Eoin McGarry, Odhran McFadden, Maol Connolly.

Referee – Mark O’Neill