McMullan Cup semi final – U16 Hurling
Dunloy 5-25 Ballycastle 1-14
Ronan Elliott put on a scoring show that saw the corner forward finish with a personal tally of 3-12 as Dunloy showed their full intent to march into next Sundays McMullan Cup final at Feis na nGleann
Ballycastle will see the slow start they made to allow Dunloy to run up a six point lead by the fourth minute of the game before they got going. To their credit the Ballycastle lads never stopped working throughout the game keeping touch with the free taking of Patrick Campbell.
It was a blistering start that give Dunloy the foothold in this game as within four mins Padai O’Kane (2), Cillain Cunning (2) & Ronan Elliot had spilt the posts to give the home side a five point lead.
Ballycastle did steady the ship as they got their first score on the board after six minutes from midfielder Sean McHenry. Both teams would trade points for the next five minutes with Patrick Campbell and Ronan Elliott with Cillian Cunning hitting another long range score.
The first goal was always going to be crucial and it was the home side who claimed it. Cillian Cunning found Padai O’Kane who soloed through the defence to unselfishly lay it off to Harry Blaney to fire home from close range, leaving James Moloney with no chance.
Ballycastle’s Peter Laverty responded with a point but they were not making enough inroads into the home sides lead. Ronan Elliott added to his tally with two more points on the seventeenth minute.
Ballycastle hit a purple patch in this period with three unanswered points all from the impressive free taking of Patrick Campbell and then one from Peter Laverty. But Dunloy again dealt the killer blow on the twenty third minute when Padai O’Kane made a great run through the Ballycastle defence to pop it off to Ronan Elliott to fire low to the net to stretch out the lead.
Ballycastle did raise their own green flag though a Patrick Campbell long range effort on the twenty fifth minute but this was wiped out soon after via the impressive Ronan Elliott to really put a stamp on the game.
The visitors opened up brightly with the first two scores from Peter Laverty & Conal Kelly but Dunloy then went on a run of five scores in a row with a well taken Padai O’Kane goal and four points with Cillain Cunning to give the midfielder a personal tally of 0-06, all from play, by the end of the game.
Ballycastle did struggle to find scores in the second half but it wasn’t without the work rate they put in. Midfielders Sean McKendry & Peter Laverty and Oran Baudant worked hard at centre half to create scoring chances but found the Dunloy back line too strong. Aaron Richmond & Iarfhlaith O’Kane putting in a good hour.
The second half scoring though belonged to Ronan Elliott who added 1-07 to his first half total of 2-05. His accuracy from the placed ball was perfect along with his work rate.
The home side seen out the match with a flurry of scores to leave the final score 5-25 to 1-14.
A very good contest between the sides, despite the scoreline, with Dunloy now advancing to the McMullan Cup final on the 5th of July in Dunloy.
Dunloy
Ballycastle
