Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship
Loughgiel 3-27 Rossa 0-20
Loughgiel sealed their place in the Antrim SHC semi-finals in fine style with a resounding 16-point defeat of Rossa at Dunsilly on Sunday evening.
For three-quarters of the game, the sides were fairly evenly matched with Shan McGrath’s first half goal keeping the Shamrocks ahead.
However, the North Antrim men surged clear in the final 15 minutes with some majestic scoring and the manner of their victory suggests Hugh McCann’s men will have a major say in the destination of the Volunteer Cup this season.
Rossa were without two of their stars in Stephen Beatty and Michael Armstrong, but Antrim ace Aodhan O’Brien filled the leadership void with a remarkable haul of 0-11, including 0-5 from play.
Gerard Walsh, Christopher McGuinness and Seaghan Shannon grafted all day long, but Loughgiel had a better balance to their team on Sunday.
Eddie McCloskey rolled back the years and hit 0-6 from play while James McNaughton landed 0-8. In Paul Boyle, Loughgiel appear to have unearthed another forward of the highest calibre as the youngster hit 2-4, 2-3 from play and a stunning sideline cut.
And yet, Rossa matched the Shamrocks point-for-point in a frantic opening quarter with the first 16 points of the game shared equally.
Thomas Morgan opened the scoring after just 17 seconds, but Loughgiel equalised before the minute-mark had been reached with Dan McCloskey splitting the posts.
After just four minutes, the sides were level at 0-3 each and Rossa goalkeeper Philip Crean made a smart save to deny McGrath after nine minutes.
O’Brien was on fire in the early stages and Loughgiel struggled to get to grips with the Rossa attacker.
However, an error gave the Shamrocks the initiative midway through the first half. After Dan McCloskey’s shot was blocked down, Crean came off his line to collect possession, but the sliotar spun off his hurl and into the path of McGrath who finished into the net.
That established a three-point cushion for Loughgiel and they kept Rossa at arm's length for the remainder of the half.
Rossa’s luck didn’t improve much before the break as they lost James Connolly to injury while O’Brien crashed an effort off the crossbar with James McNaughton’s 65 moving his side 1-14 to 0-13 ahead at half-time.
O'Brien (free) and Eddie McCloskey exchanged points on the restart before Rossa closed the gap with excellent efforts from wing backs Eoin Trainor and Stephen Shannon.
Another from O’Brien cut the gap to the minimum, but it was to be a close as the West Belfast side would come.
Rian McMullan dragged a low shot across the face of goal as Loughgiel upped the ante and the lively Boyle fired over a great point from play before McNaughton followed up with another two points.
Scores from Morgan and O’Brien kept the scoreboard ticking over for Rossa, but Loughgiel were finding their points slightly easier to come by as McGrath, McNaughton (free) and Eddie Closkey raised white flags once more.
Rossa needed a goal to force their way back into contention, but ended up conceding their second at the other end as McNaughton set up Boyle for a powerful finish.
The duo were involved in their side’s third goal with McNaughton’s free played to perfection into substitute Maol Connolly, who flicked the sliotar inside to Boyle, who rifled past Crean for a classy goal.
It was exhibition stuff from the Shamrocks in the final moments with McGrath landing another brace of points before Enda Og McGarry scoring his second from play.
Loughgiel will face neighbours Cushendall in the last four having lost out to their rivals in the group stages.
With the Shamrocks back to full strength, they are live contenders as they seek their first title since 2016.
Earlier in the day, St John’s set up a semi-final meeting with defending champions Dunloy after beating Ballycastle 1-18 to 1-17 with Down star Oisin MacManus hitting 1-7 for the West Belfast side.
Loughgiel scorers: Paul Boyle 2-4 (0-1sideline), James McNaughton 0-8 (0-4fs, 0-1 65), Eddie McCloskey 0-6, Shan McGrath 1-4, Dan McCloskey 0-2, Enda Og McGarry 0-2, Ruairi McCormick 0-1.
Rossa scorers: Aodhan O’Brien 0-11 (0-4fs, 0-1 65), Thomas Morgan 0-3, Aidan Orchin 0-1, Gerard Walsh 0-1, James Connolly 0-1, Stephen Shannon 0-1, Eoin Trainor 0-1, Seaghan Shannon 0-1.
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