24 January 2009
Two second half goals from Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee saw Loughgiel clinch the Elliott Sports North Antrim Under 12 Indoor Hurling League Section 1 title with a 3-1 win over Ballycastle at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena.
The sides were level at the break on one goal each but Loughgiel gained the upper hand only to be denied on a couple of occasions by outstanding saves from Ballycastle goalkeeper Diarmuid McShane. However Betty grabbed a brace of late goals to seal the win to the delight of the large Loughgiel following.
In the Section 2 final Glenshesk edged out Rossa thanks to a Shay Hunter extra time goal in a fantastic game.
The commitment of both teams had to be seen to be believed and it was not surprise when they finished deadlocked on 2 goals each at the end of normal time, Ryan Rooney grabbing both Rossa goals while Eoin Hill and Ronan McErlain were on target for Glenshesk.
Rossa pushed hard for the winning goal in extra-time but Hunter’s late strike sealed it for the Glensmen.
In Section 3 Michael Davitt’s of Swatragh and St Eunan’s Letterkenny could not be separated, even after extra time.
Niall O’Donnell scored the two St Eunan’s goals while John Walsh and Ciaran McKeefrey grabbed one apiece for Swatragh to bring the game to extra time. There were no further breakthroughs during the extra four minutes and so the title was shared between two very evenly matched sides.
In Section 4 Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm were clear winners over Burt from Donegall, winning by 4 goal to 0 in the end with Ben O’Boyle and Shane Magill grabbing two goals each.
Section 5 saw Ruairi Og Cushendall get the better of St Enda’s B of Glengormely in a thrilling game which again went to extra time. The sides were locked on one goal each at the end of normal time, the low scoring due mainly to some outstanding saves from Emmett Laverty in the Ruairi Og goal and Matthew Muldoon for St Enda’s. It looked to be heading for stalemate when Conal McAteer clinched it for the ‘Dall with a late goal.
A superb goal, the best score of the day, by Latharna Og’s Michael Beggs saw the Larne boys seal the win over St Enda’s A.
Normal time saw them finish on one goal apiece, before Beggs sealed it for the Ogs with beautifully struck shot from distance which screamed into the top corner of the Saints net.
