U16's add the A shield to the McMullan Cup
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Seven Green Flags And A Rare One For Ruairi As St Brendans Win Is Overshadowed by Injury to Mulholland U16 ‘A’ Final
McQuillan’s 1:02 St Brendans 7:08
On Monday night in front of a big crowd in Dunloy the rescheduled North Antrim ‘A’ Final took place. The final pitched the 2010 McMullan Cup winners St Brendans against McQuillan’s who are the only team to have success over St Brendans this year. In a tropical downpour both teams played marvellous hurling at times and from the start St Brendans with bigger stronger men in all areas of the pitch dominated the earlier exchanges as they passed the sliothar from one to the other with great accuracy ripping open the Ballycastle flanks at times. However where it mattered ‘in front of cul’ McQuillan’s used their determination, craft and skill to beat back attack after attack and pressurised St Brendans into hurried attempts, registering six wide’s before Conleth McNeill put the first points on the scoreboard when he fired over a thirty yard free in the twelfth minute. His point started a scoring frenzy for St Brendans and within two minutes Connor McNeill gathered the sliothar ran at the McQuillan’s half back line sent in another accurate diagonal ball to Declan Traynor who turned and finished to the top corner of the net. This was followed immediately afterwards when a long pass from Mathew McCarton landed in Eoin Magee’s lap he danced round his marker and riffled past the oncoming Ballycastle net-minder. By now St Brendans were on fire and the young McQuillan’s were finding the worsening conditions difficult to cope with. as puc outs were barely making it to the fifty yard line and with the heavy sliothar and slippery caman it became hard to see a way out for the Ballycastle lads. From one of these short puc outs James Duffin who was having an magnificent game fielded and his attempt at a point fell short but Eoin Magee pounced on it for his second green flag of the night as he neatly batted the sliothar up over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. With ten minutes of the first half remaining McQuillan’s finally got on the scoreboard when they were awarded a free and Brownie dually split the uprights to start the fight back. Seconds later the gap was closed further as young Miskelly emerged with the sliothar from a pack spotted Paddy McQuillan unmarked on the twenty one and he picked his spot beating Michael McHugh with a low rasper. That would be McQuillan’s final score of the half as Aidan Corbett now dominant at centre halfback ran on to a lose ball and struck a huge point from eighty yards out. Connor McNeill then was provided with an opportunity to show his scoring prowess when Declan Traynor won a high dropping ball he laid it off to Connor on the forty five and over the bar it went. Donal O’Hara completed the scoring when he popped a point over to leave the halftime score McQuillan’s 1:01 St Brendans 3:04. McQuillan’s came out for the second half determined to prove that the match was far from over and for twenty minutes they threw everything at the St Brendans defence. Five minutes gone in the second period and they got just reward when the referee (Frances Traynor who had an excellent game) adjudged that Corkie’s shirt had been pulled and awarded Ballycastle a free thirty yards out from goal, the attempt at goal soared high over the bar to put eight between the teams. Ballycastle continued to press but McHugh in nets and McKeown, Neeson and Kinney in the full back line were not going to give up another score and continued to repel the attacks without giving away any frees. The Town’s steam finally petered out and St Brendans found themselves playing hurling back in the Ballycastle’s half. The final ten minutes belonged to St Brendans as Conleth McNeill converted a free after a clumsy challenge on Ruairi Laverty. Shortly afterwards Ruairi scored his first goal of 2010 when he ran through the defence and hit high into the net and he enjoyed it, punching the air in delight. By now Ballycastle’s legs were shot and St Brendans emptied their bench but not before Eoin Magee and James Duffin raised white flags. Pearce Bannon was introduced at top of the right and he had an immediate impact as he fired in two goals in quick succession. Michael Dunne who had only been on the field for five minutes drove the sliothar over the bar from an acute angle to finish off the match. St Brendan’s celebrations were somewhat over shadowed by the news that Peter Mulholland had broken his leg as a result of falling awkwardly early in the second half. The players, supporters and management team from all the parishes involved with St Brendans wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back playing hurling soon. Team:- Michael McHugh, Torr Kinney, Colm Nesson, Conor McKeown, Ruairi Laverty, Aidan Corbett, Peter Mulholland, Donn Whelan, Mathew McCartan, Conleth McNeill, Connor McNeill, James Duffin, Eoin Magee, Declan Traynor, Donal O’Hara (Capt), Pearce Bannon for Peter Mulholland, Gareth McKeown for Eoin Magee, Michael Dunn for James Duffin, Paddy Magee for Conor McKeown, Daniel McConvery.