Brian leads Antrim to second successive Ulster Hurling title 14/06/03

Club News

14/06/03 Derry (Mc)Fall to Antrim in Ulster Hurling Final

Brian McFall led Antrim to a second successive Ulster Senior Hurling Championship with another all-star display for the Saffrons.

It was his opening point after just two minutes which sent the home side on the path to yet another provincial championship crown.

Two goals in two minutes by St. John's senior hurling star forward five minutes before half time, sent Antrim

Brian McFall celebrates during the
Ulster Hurling Final at Casement Park

into an unassailable lead and killed off the Derry challenge in this Guinness Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Final at Casement Park.

Until Brian's double strike Derry had been well in the game, thanks to accurate free-taking by Ollie Collins. In fact the sides went level no less than four times in the opening ten minutes before Brian put Antrim ahead with a point from a free for a lead they never lost again. Two further points from Liam Watson increased the Antrim lead.

Derry fought back with two Ollie Collins' pointed frees to leave them just two behind with seven minutes of the half remaining however Brian McFall's two goals set up Antrim who went on to lead by 2-11 to 0-9 at half time.

Colm McGuckian evades his Derry marker

The second half was a comparatively dull affair with Antrim dominating midfield through Jim Connolly and Conor Cunning while Liam Watson, Liam Richmond and Brian McFall kept sending over points at regular intervals.

Derry's only reply was two Collins points. The losers did manage a goal from Gregory Biggs three minutes form time but by that stage Antrim had increased their score to 3-19 with a goal from substitute Aidan Delargy.

A feature of the second half was a brilliant double save by Derry goalkeeper Kieron Stevenson from Colm McGuckian and Delargy.

The match finished 3-21 to 1-12

Brian's superb hurling feat on Saturday can perhaps best be highlighted in that he single-handedly accounted for half of Antrim's scoreline which ended up at 30 points in total.

He topscored, as he has done so often this year, for the Saffrons with an impressive tally of 2-09 (5 from frees), the nearest to him being Liam Watson (0-04) and Aidan Delargy (1-01).

The proud Saffron

Club's young stars enjoy Ulster Minor success

Brian was not the only St. John's man to enjoy the sweet smell of success yesterday as many of the club's talented minors were involved in the Antrim win over Derry in the Ulster Minor Hurling Championship, which was the curtain raiser to the senior game.

Liam Knocker, Noel Rooney, Niall McCallin, Liam Boyle, John Mead, Joe Herald, Gerardo Hamilton and Jimmy Peoples are all to be congratulated for their great acheivement in this year's Ulster championship.