Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor club Hurling Cup final
Glenariffe-Glenravel 2-6
Lavey 0-6
LAVEY gave themselves a superb chance of lifting the Leadon Timber Frames Ulster minor hurling title for the first time in 19 seasons when Connor Melaugh tagged on two points late in the first half to leave a gap of five points to bridge at the interval in Ballinascreen.
However, backed by a strong breeze, they could only manage to register a further three points, all from frees, and first time Antrim champions, the Glenariffe-Glenravel amalgamation, clinched victory with an injury time goal.
While not ignoring the fact that the Glens’ side was defensively sound particularly over the second half hour, it was very much was a chance squandered by the Gulladuff boys. They paid dearly for their failure to hit the target on a regular basis; those Melaugh points late in the first half were their only scores from open play.
Had their five wides from frees during the second half been on target, they might well have won the game. But those frees were all long-range with a swirling breeze pulling them off course.
At the other end, it was very difficult to work the sliotar into a scoring position. The winners had just one point into the pavilion-end goals over the second half before their second goal in the fourth minute of added time. It is probably fair to say therefore that Lavey might well have been ahead through those long frees at that stage and not committed to all-out attack that left them exposed at the death.
However it is hard to ignore the Glenariffe-Glenravel defence in which Player of the Match Niall Magee was outstanding. John Scullion, Oisín Mort and James Kearney turned in an excellent second half with some superb blocking and hooking. Full-back Colla Ward switched with Scullion from the start in a planned move to close down the influence of Derry’s back to back All-Ireland minor football medallist James Sargent, with good support from Callum McIlwaine and Orrin O’Connor.
Tiarnán Melaugh was Lavey’s top player and his defence did well in keeping them in the game against the breeze. Melaugh’s twin Connor also did well in the middle of the park, but up front the Derry side lacked the penetration to pick off the scores they needed for victory.
Lavey would have been pleased with the first quarter. Sargent opened the scoring from a free and their backs curtailed the eventual winners to just two points – one a free from O’Connor. But a five minutes spell of scoring opened a gap just after the midway point of the half.
A free from O’Connor was followed by points from defender Harry Fyfe and Oisín Gillan and then a goal from O’Connor when he latched on to a clearance from defence, held off two defenders and hit the roof of the net. The Antrim champions led 1-5 to 0-1 with 20 minutes gone.
Lavey though knuckled down to prevent further scores before the break and, with two points from Connor Melaugh, were just five behind at the change of ends.
Frees from Collins and Sargent made it 1-5 to 0-5 with 40 minutes gone. Glenariffe-Glenravel got a rare score in the next attack when Lavey needlessly fouled Oisín Gillan. Nevertheless Collins tapped over at the other end and the Derry side seemed to have re-gained momentum.
But they didn’t add to their total after that. Glenariffe-Glenravel didn't concede any more scores from play, while Lavey frees from distance tailed wide at both side of the posts.
Then four minutes into added time the killer punch came when Magee broke from defence up the centre. His pass went beyond the last covering defender and sub Michael Furey raced on to it. Furey’s parting shot from right of the posts was saved by Oisín Mulholland, but the sliotar fell into the path of Oisín Gillan who pulled to the net from five metres.
Glenariffe-Glenravel: B Duncan, C McNaugthon, J Scullion, H Fyfe (0-1), J Kearney, N Magee, O Mort, C McIlwaine, C Ward, E Harvey, O O’Connor (1-2, 0-2 frees), C Leech, P McDonnell, P Ward (0-2, 1 free), O Gillan (1-1).
Sub: M Furey for P McDonnell (50)
Lavey: O Mulholland, R Scullion, T Melaugh, E O’Donnell, Cathal Mulholland, R McGarvey, R Birt, J Sargent (0-2 frees), C Melaugh (0-2), P Birt, R Collins (0-2 frees), Charlie Mulholland, L McDonnell, J Convery, R Melaugh.
Subs: C Sargent for Cathal Mulholland (21), D Collins for R Melaugh (37), D O’Kane for L McDonnell (43)
Referee: J Conners (Donegal)
