Loughgiel retain minor title

Ulster Minor Hurling Tournament final

Loughgiel 3-11 Éire Óg 0-8

By Michael McMullan

LOUGHGIEL won their second ever Ulster Minor Hurling title after pulling clear of Carrickmore side Éire Óg in the Saturday’s final.

After trailing 0-6 to 0-2 after 18 minutes, Loughgiel had the ball in the back of the net two minutes later with Jack McCloskey lashing Codai McGarry’s pass to the net.

Aidan Woods and Shea Munroe were on target for a wind-assisted Carrickmore side, but they didn’t make enough of the elements.

Roan McGarry finished a second Loughgiel goal in first-half injury time before Woods levelled with his fifth point of the game.

It was the last Éire Óg score as Loughgiel took over. McCloskey had the ball over the bar seconds into the second half.

A second McGarry goal was followed by points from Ben McGarry, Darragh Patterson and Ronan Fitgerald to open a 3-7 to 0-8 lead on their way to victory.

Loughgiel: Mark Christie; Ronan McLaughlin, Pearse Patterson; Ashdon McGarry; Tiago McGarry, Ben McGarry (0-2f), Preston McGarry; Liam Glackin, Charlie O’Hagan; Ronan Fitzgerald (0-1), Darragh Patterson (0-2), Ryan O’Boyle; Jack McCloskey (1-4f, 2), Codai McGarry, Roan McGarry (2-2)

Subs: Danny McAuley for R O’Boyle (54), Conan Johnston for C McGarry (54), Ronan Casey for D Patterson (59), Eddie Smith for P McGarry (59), Conan McCormick for C O’Hagan (59)

Éire Óg: Kevin Hughes; Cillian Kerr, Cormac McCrystal, Senan Munroe; Conn Sweeney; Darragh McPhillips, Daithi McElhatton, Michael Coyle; Francie Hurson, Caolan Martin; Padraig McCrystal, Aidan Woods (0-5, 4f), Dylan Devlin; Conor Kerr, Shea Munroe (0-3),
Subs: Padraig Gavin for D McPhillips (40), Daire Coney for C Martin (54), Conan McGarvey for D Devlin (54)

Referee: Alan Nash (Derry)