Derry u20 hurlers push Antrim all the way

Derry 1-11 .... Antrim 0-19

The Derry under-20s pushed unbeaten Antrim all the way in a fiercely competitive round three Ulster U20 Cup clash at Celtic Park on Friday evening, but a late Saffron surge ultimately denied the hosts a result their battling display could have merited.

The young Foylesiders kept the contest alive deep into the closing minutes, with just two points separating the sides down the final stretch. However, the Saffrons showed their class late on, finishing strongly to surge to a five-point victory.

The result leaves Ryan O’Neill’s charges in fourth place on two points, behind Antrim, Down and Tyrone, with two losses and one win. Narrow defeats to Tyrone in round one and Antrim last Friday have been offset by a comprehensive victory over Donegal, leaving Derry well positioned with two rounds to play against Wicklow and Down.

Derry struck the only goal of the game in the ninth minute, capitalising ruthlessly on a rare lapse in the Antrim full-back line. Ben McCullagh’s initial effort was saved, but Paul McNicholl reacted quickest to the rebound and buried to the net from close range.

McNicholl was central to much of Derry’s best work. His movement and shooting kept the scoreboard ticking, while Cormac Óg McCloskey was reliable from placed balls, finishing with a brace of frees in the first half and adding crucial scores after the break.

Ruairí Biggs and PJ Glover also made telling contributions, with Glover landing a point with his first touch to swing momentum back toward the hosts during a key spell in the second half.

Meanwhile, Antrim looked a constant threat in attack, with rising starlet Fiontan Bradley an ever-present menace alongside Niall Magee and Thomas McLaughlin. The trio combined for an impressive 0-10.

READ NEXT: Gary McDaid joins up with Austin O’Malley at Derry senior outfit Slaughtneil

Derry led by two early on and refused to allow Antrim any comfort. Even when the visitors edged ahead, the home side repeatedly clawed their way back. Derry trailed by the minimum at the break, 0-9 to 1-5. 

A trio of unanswered scores midway through the second half, two from McCloskey and Glover’s impact score, cut the gap to the minimum and set up a gripping final quarter.

Defensively, Derry worked tirelessly to contain an Antrim attack that had been free-scoring in earlier rounds. The tackling intensity and tracking runs from deep frustrated the Saffrons for long periods, forcing wides and hurried efforts.

With the game hanging in the balance entering the final minute, Derry were still within touching distance. However, Antrim found another gear late on, tagging on a string of scores that stretched the gap beyond the home side’s reach. A Ruairí Biggs free was Derry’s only reply in that decisive spell.

While the result did not go their way, Derry will take encouragement from a performance full of grit. Disappointingly from a Derry perspective, only 1-3 of their tally came from play, while Antrim were far more potent, hitting 0-15 from open play.

Next up for Ryan O’Neill’s young side is a trip to Darver, County Louth, to face Wicklow next Sunday. Meanwhile, unbeaten Antrim will entertain bottom side Donegal in Dunsilly.

Derry: Oisin Mulholland; Declan Kelly, Tiarnan Melaugh, Deaglan McNamee; Cailean Gallagher, Emmett Og McKeever, Phelim Og Diamond; Ryan McGarvey, Kevin Barry Mullan; Ryan McGilligan, Ruairi Biggs, Paul McNicholl; Cormac Og McCloskey, Ben McCullagh, Cathal Quinn 

Subs: Daire O’Lochlainn for Cailean Gallagher (40 mins); PJ Glover for Ryan McGarvey (46 mins); Felix Glover for Cormac Og McCloskey (50 mins); Caolan Convery for Ben McCullagh (50 mins). 

Scorers: Cormac Og McCloskey 0-5 (4f); Paul McNicholl 1-2 (1f); Ruairi Biggs 0-2 (1f); Cathal Quinn 0-1; PJ Glover 0-1.

Antrim: Sean Og McLarnon; Cathair Donnelly, Liam Glackin, Colla Ward; Ronan Donnelly, Ben O’Kane, Reece Cunning; Calum McIlwaine, Charlie McAuley; James Donnelly, Thomas McLaughlin, Niall Magee; Jay McAlonan, Oisin McCamphill, Fiontan Bradley 

Subs: Orrin O’Connor for James Donnelly (HT); Roan McGarry for Ben O’Kane (44 mins); Sean Og Blaney for Reece Cunning (56 mins); Canice McIntosh for Oisin McCamphill (59 mins).

Scorers: Fiontan Bradley 0-4 (3f); Charlie McAuley 0-3 (1f); Niall Magee 0-3; Thomas McLaughlin 0-3; Callum McIlwaine 0-2; Jay McAlonan 0-2; Oisin McCamphill 0-1; Roan McGarry 0-1.

Referee: James Callaghan (Donegal)