Gillan goal seals first Glens Ulster minor title

Leadon Timber Frame Ulster MHC final

Glenariffe/Glenravel 2-6
Lavey 0-6

By Michael McMullan
at Dean McGlinchey Park

IT was an historic first for Glenariffe/Glenravel as they won their first Ulster minor hurling title on Tuesday Ballinascreen with victory over Lavey.

It’s the 10th time the title has been won by an Antrim team, joining three-time champions St John’s, Dunloy, Cushendall and Loughgiel – each with two titles – on the roll of honour.

After having the wind at their backs in the first half, the winners defended well before a breakaway Oisin Gillan goal sealed the deal in stoppage time.

Lavey will rue a series of wides when the game was in the melting pot and it was Orrin O’Connor’s goal that had them chasing the game until Gillan’s late strike.

James Sargent opened the scoring but it was the Glens’ side who took a hold of the game.

Their problem was their wasteful end game. It took points from Gillan and Harry Fyfe to settle them into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead before O’Connor’s 22nd minute goal.

Two Connor Melaugh points left Lavey in the game at the break (1-5 to 0-3) but they failed for six minutes until Rian Collins dissected the posts.

Frees from Rian Collins and James Sargent had Lavey back in the game but they failed to convert their one goal chance.

At the other end, Tiarnan Melaugh followed on from this semi-final form to put in a fine performance in the Lavey defence.

The Antrim side defended brilliantly themselves. The last interception from Colla Ward set Michael Furey off on a run but when his shot whizzed across goal, Gillan applied the finish at the far post to ensure victory.

Scorers:

Glenariffe/Glenravel: Orrin O’Connor 1-2 (2f), Oisin Gillan 1-1, Phelim Ward 0-2 (1f) and Harry Fyfe 0-1

Lavey: James Sargent (2f), Rian Collins and Connor Melaugh 0-2 each

Glenariffe/Glenravel: Ben Duncan; Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Harry Fyfe; James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort; Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion; Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christopher Leech; Peadar McDonnell, Phelim Ward, Oisin Gillan
Sub: Michael Furey for McDonnell (49)

Lavey: Oisin Mulholland; Rory Scullion, Tiarnan Melaugh, Eoin O’Donnell; Cathal Mulholland, Ryan McGarvey, Ronan Birt; James Sargent, Connor Melaugh; Patrick Birt, Rian Collins, Charlie Mulholland; Ruairi Melaugh, Jack Convery, Lorcan McDonnell
Subs: Conor Sargent for Cathal Mulholland (INJ 16), Donnacha Collins for R Melaugh (38), Dara O’Kane for McDonnell (44)

Referee: James Connors (Donegal)

This week’s Gaelic Lives looks ahead to the All-Ireland semi-finals this weekend and we have Ulster minor winning reaction.