Fixtures & Results 2012 - U21 Championship

Already in 2012 the Gaels from the Loughgiel Shamrocks club have much to celebrate collecting the ultimate prize in club hurling, the Tommy Moore Cup on the 17th March.

Having landed senior and U21 club honours in 2011, the Shamrocks have now booked themselves a semi final berth in the Friends of Antrim U21 Hurling Championship following a convincing victory over South West side Rasharkin on Monday past. The Shamrocks saw off the challenges of Sarsfields in round one of this competition to set up this tie. St Marys on the other hand, competing in their third U21 Hurling Championship, received a bye into the quarter final, but would have preferred different opposition in their first outing of the season.

Malachy Leech from Oisins Glenariffe club took up the whistle for this fixture which was played on the immaculate sod at Loughgiel.

St Marys Rasharkin got themselves off to a dream start when Shane Hasson lashed the ball to the back of the Loughgiel net beyond Conor McGarry after two minutes. Enda McFerran set up Hasson for the first score of the match following a high ball from Philip Quinn. However, Dan McCloskey settled nerves for Loughgiel after four minutes from a pointed free before Eamon McNeill slotted over for Rasharkin. Nicky McNaughton and Colm McNeill drilled over two quick fire points after eleven minutes to reduce the deficit to one before St Mary’s centre half back converted a successful sixty five yard strike to give the visitors a two point advantage midway through the half.

The home side threw off the shackles and took complete control in the second quarter, Dan McCloskey scored 1-2 in a three minute blitz to send the Shamrocks in front by two points. Nicky McNaughton smashed over two and Shane McKee flicked over a high ball from Donal McKinney after twenty one minutes to further turn the screw. Things went from bad to worse for the Dreen men when they were reduced to fourteen men with twenty eight minutes on the clock, wing half back Daniel Doherty seeing a straight red following a deliberate strike. Rasharkin finished the half strong with two pointed frees from the nippy corner man Enda McFerran and Conor McKeever before the short whistle, leaving the half time score 1-8 to 1-4 in favour of the home side. 

That was as good as it got for St Marys as the second half was all one way traffic, PJ O’Mullan’s charges showing a master class of hurling. Shane McKee chalked up a goal and a point inside the first four minutes, Aidan McKinley raised the third green flag after fifteen minutes of the second half, Dan McCloskey put in a man of the match performance with some sublime displays of hurling finishing on a personal tally of 1-5. Nicky McNaughton was also too hard to handle amassing a total of seven points all from play. Eamon McNeill, for Rasharkin, clipped over St Mary’s only point of the half on thirty minutes as the Shamrocks came away convincing winners on a final score 3-16 to 1-5.

Although finishing on the loosing side, Duirmuid Quinn, Conor McKeever, Daniel McKay, Eamon McNeill and Enda McFerran can feel proud of their efforts.  Ronan Gillan, Niall McFadden, Ronan McCloskey, Aidan McKinley, Maol Connolly, Dan McCloskey, Nicky McNaughton and Shane McKee were the pick of the well drilled Loughgiel side. They now travel to Ballycastle on Monday 22nd May to take on McQuillans in the semi final who were six point winners over Rossa. Ruairi Og Cushandall, who defeated Dunloy, make up the other semi final along with surprise package amalgamation side St Kevin’s who defeated the Johnnies by three points in Corrigan. 

St.Mary’s Rasharkin: Brendan Kelly, Anthony O’Kane, Duirmuid Quinn, Turlough Kelly, Daniel Doherty, Conor McKeever (Capt), Daniel McKay, Philip Quinn and Eamonn O’Boyle, Donagh Quigg, Ryan Doherty, Eamon McNeill, Enda McFerran, Shane Hasson and Kealan Darragh.

Subs: Cormac Hasson, Ciaran Hardy, Aiden McKeever, Conor Doherty and John Henderson

Loughgiel Shamrocks: Conor McGarry, Tiernan Coyle, Ronan Gillan, Aaron Carey, Niall McFadden, Dan McPeake, Ronan McCloskey (Capt), Aidan McKinley and Declan Gillan, Maol Connolly, Donal McKinley, Dan McCloskey, Nicky McNaughton, Colm McNeill and Shane McKee.

Subs: Cathal McKillop, Brian Og McCloskey, Pearce McGarry, Cahair McGrath and Cahair McCann

Referee: Malachy Leech, Oisins Glenariffe