Hurling & Camogie

Drab affair but draw enough to see Antrim through to Conor McGurk Cup final

Bank of Ireland Conor McGurk Cup Group B: Antrim 0-14 Tyrone 0-14

ANTRIM progressed to the final of the Conor McGurk Cup on their return to the competition thanks to a somewhat fortuitous draw with Tyrone at The Dub on Saturday afternoon.

In a game devoid of quality, the outcome rested largely on the shoulders of two players with Antrim’s Deaglan Murphy (0-9) and Tyrone’s Damien Casey (0-12) doing the majority of the scoring for their respective sides.

In the end, it was down to Murphy to salvage a scarily-deserved draw for an experiential Antrim side, who were also in Walsh Cup action against Dublin yesterday. The Rossa clubman knocked over a free in the final minute of normal time to level proceedings at 0-14 apiece.

Yet, the Red Hands still had chances to pip their opponents to that final berth, but Casey and substitute Cormac McHugh squandered their injury-time efforts.

Those late chances summarised Tyrone’s fortunes on a hugely frustrating afternoon for Mattie Lennon’s side.

They outplayed their opponents for large portions of Saturday’s encounter. However, they were left to rue a series of poor wides in a first half they dominated.

A bitterly cold and unpredictable wind at the Academy pitch at The Dub may have contributed to the wastefulness, but Casey knocked over the opening point after just 35 seconds after Ryan McKernan had been fouled from the throw-in.

Yet, Tyrone then hit six wides in the following 10 minutes as they failed to make their early superiority count. Antrim’s shooting wasn’t much better in the first quarter, but their first point was worth waiting for as Murphy split the posts with a stunning effort on 14 minutes.

Casey had a goal chance at the other end, but his tame shot was easily stopped by Chrissy O’Connell.

However, the Dungannon man restored his side’s lead with a wind-assisted free on 16 minutes before adding a third point on the 20-minute mark.

Antrim’s attacking play lacked urgency in the first half, but they almost carved a goal out of nothing when Eoin O’Neill and Murphy combined to set-up Darragh McGuinness, but the Sarsfield’s clubman saw his shot saved by John Devlin at the near post.

Wing-back Lorcan Devlin got on the scoresheet with a fine score before Casey knocked over back-to-back frees as Tyrone began to find their range.

With 10 minutes remaining of the half, Antrim finally got going and reduced Tyrone’s lead from four points down to one with scores from Murphy (two) and Nicky McKeague.

Upon the restart, the sides were level as Dunloy’s McKeague made it 0-7 each, but Antrim hit four wides in quick succession as Tyrone retook the initiative.

Casey was again their go-to man and his accuracy from frees left them two ahead before full-forwards Eoin O’Nell and Aidan Kelly traded points.

Back-to-back points from Casey pushed Tyrone came either side of a well-taken Murphy free which kept Antrim in contention.

Loughgiel’s Daniel McCloskey landed an excellent point to reduced the gap to a point before Murphy’s levelled the game with three minutes remaining from a free.

A foul on Bryan McGurk gave Casey the chance to restore his side’s lead and the Eoghan Ruadh man made no mistake from 30 yards.

However, Murphy was equally composed at the other end as the Rossa clubman tied the game in the final minute from difficult free.

Casey saw a late, long-range free tail wide in injury-time while substitute Cormac McHugh had a clear slight of goal when he blasted wide deep in stoppage time.

In the end, a share of the spoils was enough for the Saffrons to secure a place in Saturday night’s final against Down.

Antrim: C O’Connell; R McNulty, N McAuley, C Carson; Ciaran Johnston, M Donnelly, E Symth; E McQuillan, D McGuinness; M McKeague 0-3, C Sheerin, C McLarnon; D Murphy 0-9 (0-6fs), E O’Neill 0-1, D McCloskey 0-1.

Subs: S Duffin for McLarnon (HT).

Tyrone: J Devlin; D Begley, B Begley, T Morgan; L Devlin 0-1, S Donnelly, C Cairins; C Cross, B McKernan; D Casey 0-12 (0-9fs), P O’Kelly, D McCrudden; B McGurk, A Kelly 0-1, L Armstrong.

Subs: C McHugh for McCrudden (HT), D Rushe for D Begley (HT).

Referee: T Conway (Derry).