19/08/05 St. John's Minors overrun the 'Castle in Hurling Championship

Antrim Minor Hurling Championship (Preliminary Round Replay)

Ballycastle 1:07(10) St.Johns 5:12(27)

St.Johns Minor Hurlers produced an exhibition of pure class and determination to destroy a fancied Ballycastle in their own backyard on Friday evening. St. John’s management of Joe McCallin and Colm McFall(sen) could not have hoped for a more complete team performance of class and grit to give them an impressive 17 point winning margin. Indeed Ballycastle were strongly fancied to win this one after last weeks draw in Corrigan Park.

Aodhan Mulholland opened the Johnnies account on four minutes after Eoghan Caldwell worked his way up the left wing and handpassed. Ballycastle replied almost immediately when Peter Dallat collected and shot from 20m to score his sides first point of the evening. Barry McFall then pointed a 45m free for St. Johns before Cormac Donnelly replied for the Glensmen to level the scores. Caldwell was then fouled in possession and the elegant McFall duely converted the 60m free to put the Belfast men back in front.

On twelve minutes a high delivery of a side line cut from Caldwell across the area from the left found the industrious Peter McGarrity waiting like a hungry hound. He won possession and drove through the Ballycastle defence and shot from 14 yards to the Glensmen net. This was followed a minute later by a long delivery from Brian Holmes to the 21 where Paul Gribbin collected rounded his marker and kicked a point.(1:04 to 0:02).

The impressive Conal Maskey then collected in his own half and soloed up field before pointing from 40m. From the puck out McFall , who had been showing some great touches delivered a 55m clearance. Fionntain McKillop collected the sliotar, rounded his marker and kicked to the Ballycastle net.(2:05 to 0:02). The rampant Peter McGarrity then burst through the Ballycastle defence up the left wing on a charging solo. He was brought down dangerously by Cormac Donnelly who was subsequently booked. Caldwell pointed the 15m free. McGarrity was fouled a minute later on the left by line and Caldwell repeats his accurate free taking from 20m. McKillop is then fouled in possession a minute later allowing Caldwell to further increase the Johnnies tally.(2:08 to 0:02).

Conor Donnelly briefly replies for the ‘Castle’ with a point. With half-time approaching McFall delivered a 65 high to the Ballycastle area where Caldwell collected and is fouled. He duely converted the free. From the puck out Brian Holmes won possession on the half way line and cleverly worked his way up field before releasing a high delivery from 40m which floated beautifully over the bar to give St. Johns an impressive lead at the interval (2:10 to 0:03).

But with the strong breeze at their backs Ballycastle were expected to bring the game to St. Johns and early indications were that they were going to mount a serious come back. Ryan Donnelly pointed a 15m free in the 2nd minute before his cousin Cormac ,now playing up front, lifted the large home support with a fine goal from 20 yards.(2:10 to 1:04).He followed this a minute later with another 20m free and a point from play. The St. Johns full-back line of Aodh Hamiliton, Simon McCrory ,Anthony Moore and young goal-minder Brendan McGibbon held their lines brilliantly and threw back the pressing Ballycastle attacks.

Eoghan Caldwell replied for the Johnnies with a 25m free after the lively McKillop is brought down. Caldwell followed this a minute later with a 30m point from play before Ryan Donnelly replied for the ‘Castle’ with a 15m free on 20 minutes which unbelievably was their last score in the game. Goals from Fionntain McKillop, Paul Gribbin and young substitute David McGarrity over the next ten minutes effectively killed off any resistance from Ballycastle who looked quite ragged in this last quarter.

For Ballycastle only Michael Dallat, Cormac Donnelly and Peter Dallat came out with their reputations intact. For St. Johns this was an outstanding championship win. Their complete defence of Brendan McGibbon, Aodh Hamilton, Anthony Moore, Brian Holmes and particularly Barry McFall , Conal Maskey and the ‘rampant’ Simon McCrory were all excellent. Their midfield pair of Gerard McCann and particularly Eoghan Caldwell were always on top. Kevin McGuinness battled for the complete hour with Aodhan Mulholland, Fionntain McKillop and Paul Gribbin all looking sharp in flashes. Peter McGarrity again showed how to play Hurling with total commitment and passion.

Ballycastle: 1.Fergal McIlroy 2.David McLoughlin 3.Michael Dallat 4.Brian McAuley 5.Conor McAuley 6.Cormac Donnelly 7.Gareth Hymand 8.Ryan Donnelly 9.Michael Scally 10.Peter Dallat 11.Karl Fenton 12.Kevin Barry McShane 13.Conor Donnelly 14.Gerard Elliott 15.Gerard Laverty.
Ballycastle Scorers: Cormac Donnelly 1:03(1f) Ryan Donnelly 0:02(2f), Conor Donnelly 0:01, Peter Dallat 0:01.
Ballycastle Wides: 5

St.Johns: 1.Brendan McGibbon 2.Aodh Hamilton 3.Simon McCrory 4.Anthony Moore 5.Brian Holmes 6.Conal Maskey 7.Barry McFall 8.Gerard McCann 9.Eoghan Caldwell 10.Fionntain McKillop 11.Kevin McGuinness 12.Peter McGarrity 13.Conor McSteen 14.Paul Gribbin 15.Aodhan Mulholland.
St.Johns Substitutes : 22.Ciaran McCurdy (40 minutes) for 13 Conor McSteen. 18.David McGarrity (45 minutes) for 2 Aodh Hamilton.
16.Tomas Shannon 17.Aaron McKenna, 19.Adrian Downey 20.Daire Maskey 21.Gerard Carberry.
St.Johns Scorers: Eoghan Caldwell 0:06(5f), Fionntain McKillop 2:00, Paul Gribbin 1:01, Peter McGarrity 1:00, David McGarrity 1:00, Barry McFall 0:02(2f), Conal Maskey 0:01, Aodhan Mulholland 0:01, Brian Holmes 0:01.
St. Johns Wides: 6

Referee: Ray Matthews, Glenavy