St Patrick’s Primary School pupils fulfilled their potential last Friday (27th April 2012) in Armoy by winning the I.N.T.O hurling sevens tournament. The boys competed in section A against six other local schools and following their success will play in the North Antrim final at Casement Park in the near future.
The competition was fiercely contested and all of the teams showed the capability to win the tournament but the skill and determination of these young local players was enough to see them lift the trophy for the first time in ten years.
The boys understandably displayed signs of nerves prior to their opening match but these feelings were soon put to rest with a 2-2 to 0-0 victory over St. Mary’s Cushendall. The match was won in midfield with two good performances from Alexander and Michael McMullan showing lots of energy. Jamie McConaghie and Oliver Kearney scored the goals with Michael McMullan and Caolan O’Connor scoring the points which helped the local boys get off to the perfect start.
The second game was against St. Anne’s, Corkey who provided a more difficult test for the Glenariff team but a solitary point from a Caolan O’Connor free was enough for the win in an uneventful game.
Next would be St. Patrick’s most difficult challenge so far as they took on their namesakes from Loughgiel who had won the indoor tournament earlier in the year. The two teams exchanged scores and went in one point a piece at half time thanks to a superb piece of individual play from Michael McMullan. Caolan O’Connor scored his third point of the tournament from a free to give his side a 2-1 lead early in the second half but Loughgiel showed character to level with less than a minute to go. After an excellent puck out from goalkeeper Joseph Delargy, Alexander McMullan caught the ball and was tackled unfairly to earn his side a free and one last chance to win the game. Caolan O’Connor remained cool under pressure to strike over the bar to earn his team further points.
The fourth game of the tournament was hotly anticipated as both St. Patrick’s, Glenariff and St. Joseph’s, Dunloy went into the game with a one hundred percent record and victory for either side would surely give them a fantastic opportunity to win the tournament. The side from Dunloy put the Glenariff side under pressure throughout the match but they found goalkeeper Joseph Delargy in inspired form to keep his third clean sheet of the tournament. Both sides battled hard for the win and Dunloy had to do a fair bit of defending themselves, and they looked to have secured the draw until Alexander McMullan was once again brought down but this time he earned his side a penalty. However, with little time remaining Caolan O’Connor put the ball over the bar for the important win.
The penultimate game was against the Gaelscol, Ballycastle whose goalkeeper’s puck outs caused trouble in the Glenariff defence but brave defending from Euan McHenry denied his opponents on numerous occasions to earn his side’s fourth clean sheet of the tournament. Jamie McConaghie scored his second point of the tournament to earn the win for his side. This would mean that the Glenariff side would only need a draw in their last game against St.Patrick’s and St. Brigid’s, Ballycastle.
The last match of the day was a well fought game between the two sides who contested every ball. The match could have went either way with both sides having chances to score but neither defence was willing to lie down, and excellent hooking and blocking kept this another low scoring game. Alexander McMullan and Oliver Kearney proved to be the difference with well taken points. Ruairi McIlhatton played an important role replacing an injured Jamie McConaghie during this match. At the final whistle the St. Patrick’s players realised that they had done enough to not only win the match but the tournament with a commendable undefeated record.
All of the players played to the best of their ability on the day and deserved to win this tournament against impressive opposition. This opportunity has given the children valuable experience which they should continue to build on the future.
Match reporter: Mr Dinsmore (St Patrick’s Primary School teacher)