30 August 2011
A young Antrim hurling team headed south yesterday to take part in the Leinster Under 15 competition, and they could be proud of their efforts as they began the journey home.
In the first group match the young Saffrons lost to Wexford on a quirky scoreline of 3.0 to 14 points. The second group match pitted Antrim against Offaly and the teams fought out a 1.6 apiece draw. This combination of results put Antrim into the knock out stages of the Shield competition where in the semi final they comprehensively saw off Kildare, 5.10 to 2.2.
In the final the Antrim lads faced the rising stars of the moment in Dublin. The momentum behind the metropolitans at the minute seemed to have been handed down to their young stars in the first half as they raced into a 1.6 to 0.2 lead at the short whistle. However the Saffrons were undaunted and a superb second half performance Antrim held the Dubs scoreless while adding 2.3 to their total, final score Antrim 2.5 Dublin 1.6.
A terrific team performance all round, particularly in the final. Well done to the squad and to the management team of Colly Murphy, Brendan McLaughlin, Enda McGarry, Tony McNulty and Sean Shannon.
Ryan McNulty is pictured receiving the shield.
Antrim Under 15 squad: Jack Hopkins St Galls, Ryan McNulty St Johns, Stephen Walsh Ruairi og, Stephen Gaskin Rossa, Domhnall Nugent St Johns, Jude McCurdy St Johns, Niall Mc Naughton Ruairi og, Conor Christie Shamrocks, Padraig McGreevy Rossa, James Carey Kickhams Creggan, Cormac McClafferty Ruairi og, Seaghan Shannon Rossa, Emmet Martin (Tir na nOg), Odhran Lavery Shamrocks, Deaghlan Murphy Rossa, Pierce Bannon Robert Emmets, Dara Rocks Rossa, Stephen Garland St Galls, Hugh Pat McNeill Shane O Neills, Damon Mc Mullan Shamrocks, Michael Kelly Kickhams Creggan, Conor Mc Evoy St Johns, James Connolly Rossa, Ryan Irvine St Galls
