09/10/05 Heartbreak For Minor hurlers in County Final!

All County Minor Hurling Final 2005

Casement Park

St. Johns 1:09(12) Cushendall 2:08(14)

St. Johns Minor Hurlers suffered a cruel defeat in the Antrim Minor Hurling final on Sunday when a string of unfortunate events in the final eleven minutes of play saw Cushendall wrestle the Antrim title from a stunned St. Johns. Conal Maskey opened the proceedings on five minutes with a well-taken 45.

St. John's Minor Hurlers and mentors l

This was followed two minutes later when Peter McGarrity latched on to a breaking ball and pointed from 8m to further increase the Johnnies lead. Neil McManus then overcarried for Cushendall and Eoghan Caldwell pointed the resulting 35m free.

Cushendall Minor Hurlers and mentors

Simon McCrory was then fouled shortly afterwards in possession and Caldwell repeated his accurate free taking. On ten minutes Shae Breen was fouled by St. Johns Peter McGarrity whilst on a solo run and Patrick McGill pointed the resulting 30m free to give the Glensmen their first score of the day. From the puck out Tony Ferran won possession and soloed for 30m before kicking over an excellent point from 25m.

This was followed some two minutes later with Fionntain McKillop collecting a breaking ball and soloed through to find himself one on one with the 'Dalls goalminder Eoin Gillan who he promptly rounded and blasted to the net.

On 25 minutes Shane McNaughton passed to McGill who slots over from 25m for the 'Dalls final score of the first half. Martin Burke shortly afterwards broke through the Johnnies defence and released a shot to the goal which, fortunately for St. Johns, Tomas Shannon was alert to and saved to his right brilliantly.

The referee and his assistants

Simon McCrory who was having an excellent first half then won great possession in the middle of the park and soloed 30m before clipping over an inspirational point. This is followed a minute later when Ferran adds another excellent point from 35m from the right wing.

Conal Maskey goes for the ball under the watchful eye of Simon McCrory

Maskey was then fouled and Caldwell picked off another free to leave the wind assisted Johnnies 1:08 to 0:02 in front at the interval. Upon resumption Cushendall with the extremely strong wind at their backs set about taking the match to St. Johns.

Shae Breen pointed in the first minute of the second period and there then followed some 5 minutes of steadfast defending from St. Johns with Shannon making a point blank save.

On nine minutes Fionntain McKillop gained possession and soled for 30m under severe pressure to point from 25m out. This truly was an inspirational point to leave St. Johns 1:09 to 0:03 in front. Unfortunately it proved to be the Johnnies last score in the game. Martin Burke then pointed for the 'Dall from 20m.

Fionntain McKillop takes his score under pressure

With Neil McManus now at centre half back and clearing everything that came into the Johnnies half forward line, no counter was made to this crucial move by the Cushendall line.

Gerard McCann goes in for the hook

McGill pointed again for the 'Dall to leave the scores 1:09 to 0:05 and Breen picked off an excellent point from 40m before Shane McNaughton followed likewise again for the 'Dall to leave the scores St. Johns 1;09(12) Cushendall 0:07 and only eleven minutes remaining.

The Glenariffe umpire then unbelievably gave a clear St. Johns sideline ball in favour of Cushendall some 70m out.

This was beautifully cut some 50m directly into the Johnnies goal mouth where Martin Burke gained possession and passed across the Johnnies goal for substitute Michael McCarthy to pull first time to the Johnnies net to leave only 2 points between the sides. From the puck out St. Johns gained possession at centrefield where upon Shae Breen clearly struck his St. Johns opponent across the elbow whilst he had the sliotar in his hand.

Kevin McGuinness hot on the heels of his Cushendall opposite

This was clearly a free and at least a yellow card offence but referee Ray Matthews showed only a black card to Breen.

Cushendall man makes space with the sloitar

Barry McFall then drove the resulting 80m free against the strong breeze to the 'Dall square. The sliotar was then cleared upfield where Brian Holmes gained possession for St. Johns and was dispossessed as he broke to the right of goal by Martin Burke who blasted a shot which fortunately for the 'Dall struck Conal Maskey and fell into the net as he frantically attempted to save the shot.

With Cushendall now leading by a point and only two minutes to go Shannon quickly released his puck out which found Gerard McCann who was fouled in possession only 35m out. Referee Matthews awarded the free to St. Johns but had to reverse his decision to a "throw ball" after Gerard McCann threw the ball at his opponent.

From this hop-ball Barry McFall picked up possession and delivered a through ball to Conal Maskey who soloed through until he was 40m out. He shot for a point and after the sliotar had left his hurl he was body checked but referee Ray Matthews waved play on. The sliotar unfortunately fell wide. From the puck out Eamonn Laverty was fouled and McGill sealed a commendable Minor and Senior double for the 'Dall in 2005.

St. Johns: 1.Tomas Shannon 2.Conal Maskey (Captain)3.Ciaran McCurdy 4.Anthony Moore 5.Brain Holmes 6.Simon McCrory 7.Barry McFall 8.Gerard McCann 9.Eoghan Caldwell 10.Peter McGarrity 11.Kevin McGuinness 12.Tony Ferran 13.David McGarrity 14.Paul Gribbin 15 Fionntain McKillop
St. Johns Substitutes: 17.Aodhan Mulholland 41 minutes for 13.David McGarry 16.Conor McSteen , 18.Aodh Hamilton, 19.Daire Maskey, 20.Aaron McKenna 21.James Darragh, 22 Gerard Carberry 23.Brendan McGibbon 24.Adrian Downey.
St. Johns Scorers: Fionntain McKillop 1:01, Eoghan Caldwell 0:03(3f), Tony Ferran 0:02, Peter McGarrity 0:01, Simon McCrory 0:01, Conal Maskey 0:01(1X45).

Cushendall: 1.Eoin Gillan 2.Michael Delargy 3.Neil McManus 4.Eoin McAllister 5.Conor McMullan 6.Aaron Graffin 7.Sean Birt 8.Patrick McGill 9.Martin Morgan 10.Martin Burke 11.Shae Breen 12 Ruairi Hunter 13 Fearghal McAteer 14.Shane McNaughton 15.Eamonn Laverty
Cushendall Substitutes: 16.Michael McCarthy 40 minutes for 15.Eamonn Laverty. 17.Conor Carson 49 minutes for 13. Fearghal McAteer. 18.Terry McAllister 19.David McKeown 20.Colm McAllister 21.Ashley McKay 22.Peter Rowan.
Cushendall Scorers: Martin Burke 1:01, Michael McCarthy 1:00 Patrick McGill 0:04(2f), Shae Breen 0:02, Shane McNaughton 0:01.

Referee: Ray Matthews, Glenavy