Eoghan Ruadh Come Up Short

Sunday 20.10.2019

Club

Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon lost out to Loughgiel in the Leadon Timberframe Ulster Minor Hurling Tournament final at Ballinascreen on Sunday afternoon in spite of a really gutsy second half.

The Antrim lads and strong pre match favourites were made fight all the way by a very resilient and determined Dungannon side that will look back at Sunday’s game with a certain degree of regret at their opening half performance. Trailing by eight at the half time left them a real mountain to climb after the break.

Loughgiel settled quickly while Eoghan Ruadh looked nervous and edgy early on. Points from Cathal Hargan and Rian Mc Mullan gave The Shamrocks the perfect start. They built on this with four converted frees from the stick of Michael Mc Garrity to lead by six with twelve minutes on the clock.

Eoghan Ruadh opened their account courtesy of a Cian Ferguson free midway through the half but the Dungannon boys struggled to add to their tally while Loughgiel knocked over five fine points through Mc Garry, Mc Mullan, Christy Mc Garry and wing back Enda Og Mc Garry.

Eoghan Ruadh went in at the break eight behind following two well hit frees from Ferguson. Half time score Loughgiel 0-11, Eoghan Ruadh 0-3.

Just as in the semi final the Dungannon lads made a great start to the second half with a goal inside the first minute from Rory Weir. Unfortunately they had barely finished celebrating before their opponents replied with a goal of their own from full forward Odhran Mc Grath following a fine move through the middle.

With wind advantage the Tyrone lads hurled well and slowly but surely the scores came. Points from Ferguson and Sean Paul Mc Kernan reduced the gap to five before Declan Mc Closkey and Rian Mc Mullan pointed to stretch the lead back to six. Mc Kernan’s point was the score of the day, a sideline cut from more than forty yards out was excellently struck and sailed superbly between the posts.

In the closing quarter Eoghan Ruadh outscored their opponents five points to one and created three real good goal scoring chances. Unfortunately for them they could not make the breakthrough they needed and Loughgiel held on to win by three on a final score of 1-14 to 1-11.

Credit to both sides who produced some top class hurling and served up a final to remember.