28 September 2011
Antrim U16B Hurling Championship Final, Sat 24th Sept 2011
Rossa 3-11 v 3-12 Sean Stinsons
Sean Stinsons U16 hurling team capped a fantastic season to claim their fourth trophy of the year by staging a remarkable second half comeback to capture the All County U16 B Hurling Championship Final at the expense of O’Donovan Rossa.
Rossa corner forward Dara Rocks was first to raise a white flag in this contest when he pointed in the opening minutes. Stinsons’ Mark Duffin soon responded with his side’s first point before James Connolly scored four unanswered points for the Belfast men. Stinsons did hit back with two points from Jimmy McMeel but this only seemed to spur Rossa on as they then moved up a gear to score 3 goals from Connolly and Rocks (2) and a point from Eamonn Shannon. McMeel once again replied for Stinsons with another point however when Shannon and Connolly scored the final 2 points of the half things looked bleak for Stinsons who were trailing by 13 points.
Half-time Score: Rossa 3-8 v 0-4 Sean Stinsons.
When the game restarted a rejuvenated Stinsons side seized the early initiative by scoring 2.04 without reply. Captain James O’Connell led by example with the opening two points of the half, which were soon added to by a goal and a point from Brian McManus, a goal from Ruairi Graffin and another point from Duffin. Connolly did try to stem the tide for Rossa by pointing a free however Stinsons, at this stage, were on a roll with McManus registering another 1.1 and O’Connell and McMeel scoring a point apiece to put Stinsons in the lead. With the game entering the closing stages a point apiece from Connolly and full forward George levelled the match for Rossa. It was then left to Stinsons’ captain James O’Connell to score the final point of this richly entertaining affair to secure a fabulous comeback victory for Sean Stinsons.
Final Score: O’Donovan Rossa 3-11 v 3-12 Sean Stinsons