Setanta came back and proved to be worthy winners to win the Ulster Junior Club Hurling Championship at Celtic Park today.
Setanta 1-22 Shane Uí Néill 0-15
Setanta’s usual suspects turned up and punished the opposition in the second half, with Davin Flynn scoring a brilliant 1-7 from play, while Declan Coulter’s 0-10 points ensured the victory.
The opening quarter was full of great scoring, but Shane Uí Néill’s would have rued many wides before half-time, going in at the break 0-10 to 0-8 ahead.
Setanta also wasted chances in the first half but levelled for the first time on 35 minutes, before taking the lead for the first time on 48, and sailed away from their opponents in the remaining five and making the scoreline look a bit more comfortable than the game may have been.
It’s a second Ulster Junior Club Hurling Championship title in five year’s for Gary McGettigan’s side, who now move on to the All-Ireland phase.
Playing against the wind, Setanta were behind from the third minute for the whole first half with early points from Niall McGarel and Darren Hamill from near the 65m line.
After 10 minutes, Shane Uí Néill led 0-4 to 0-3 with Kevin O’Boyle and an Aidan Scullion score from miles out had Shane Uí Néill in the ascendancy, but three points from Flynn had Setanta off the mark, twice coming as instant responses to Shane Uí Néill scores.
McGarel again and a long range Daniel Black point had the Antrim Champions three points ahead, but Setanta kept battling back and traded scores.
Coulter’s first free was countered by a Sean O’Boyle score, but again Coulter scored a free, while Flynn’s fourth point had Setanta a point behind at the 20 minute mark, 0-7 to 0-6.
Ciaran Magill extended the lead out to two points and when it could’ve been three, a great Oisin Marley score kept Setanta within a point.
Shane Uí Néill’s missed chances to extend their lead and every time they did point, Gary McGettigan’s side hit back, this time Ruairi Campbell finished following a good run, cancelling out Scullion’s score.
Shane Uí Néill’s first score from a free came from Hamill in added time, 0-10 to 0-8 at the break.
After the break, Flynn and Hamill traded scores while Oisin Marley grew into the game and looked to cause Shane Uí Néill’s trouble, pointing from play, while Flynn levelled the game for the first time since the beginning at 0-11 apiece.
Two Hamill frees and an injury to Marley would have been a worry for the Donegal Champions, but Dean Harvey came in and helped them turn the game around.
A pivotal five minute spell changed the game completely in Setanta’s favour, with Coulter pointing twice to level, and a Flynn point and Coulter free gave them a two point lead.
The ke y moment was when it was level and a Shane Uí Néill shot looked to be on for a certain goal, but Steven McBride’s block helped Setanta clear, and Flynn had them ahead on 48 minutes for the first time.
Hamill replied but another Coulter free, while a brilliant point from Bernard Lafferty had Setanta 0-17 to 0-14 ahead.
Shane Uí Néill continued to fight back and Dylan McLaughlin tried to level but his strike went over the bar, while Flynn’s next score deflated the Antrim men who wouldn’t score again.
The sliotar was loose in the middle of the park with five minutes of normal time left before being kicked to Flynn, who turned and fired into the net brilliantly from over 20 metres.
Setanta then won the ball instantly and Coulter fired over, 1-18 to 0-15 and Setanta cruising with the momentum.
Gerard Gilmore’s first score was followed by a trio of Coulter points, the last from a free, as the 1-22 to 0-15 scoreline may have flattered Setanta, but it was undoubtedly a fully deserved win.
Setanta: Mark Kane; Mark Callaghan, Steven McBride, Denim Rowan, Sean Ward, Michael Donaghue, Niall Cleary; Declan Coulter (0-10,5f), Danny Cullen; Gerard Gilmore (0-1), Oisin Marley (0-2), Ruairi Campbell (0-1), Bernard Lafferty (0-1), Josh McGee Cronolly, Davin Flynn (1-7).
Subs: Conor McGettigan for McGee Cronolly (61 mins), Ryan Callaghan for Flynn (64 mins), Jamie O’Reilly for Ward (64 mins)
Shane Uí Néill: Michael Abram; Conal Ward, Barry Hamill, Liam Og McLaughlin, Padraig McDermott, Declan McDermott, Aidan Scullion (0-2); Daniel Black (0-1), Kieran O’Boyle; Sean O’Boyle (0-1), Darren Hamill (0-6,3f), Dylan McLaughlin (0-1), Kevin O’Boyle (0-1), Ciaran Magill (0-1), Niall McGarel (0-2).
Subs: Kieran O’Boyle for Ward (12 mins), Sean O’Hare for Kevin O’Boyle (60 mins)
