THE final weekend in the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship took place with action from across all three groups across all three days of last weekend.
Friday saw the top two in group one clash with Armoy facing Lámh Dhearg to battle it out for top-spot and the very important home semi-final clash in a few weeks' time.
Saturday saw Ardoyne back in action for their final game of the championship when they faced off against Belfast Saints, meanwhile a West Belfast derby took place at Hannahstown with Davitt's clashing with Gort na Móna in the hopes of clinching first place in group two.
Sunday's action saw the culmination of the group phase with Sarsfields making a trip to the south of the city where they'd compete for the glory of number one in group three against St Brigid's.
Group One
Glen Rovers Armoy 0-30 Lámh Dhearg 2-14
At Dunsilly
Glen Rovers Armoy earned the top spot in group one with a convincing ten-point victory over Lámh Dhearg at Dunsilly on Friday evening.
Turlach McBride was the driving force behind Armoy’s attacking display, finishing with an impressive haul of points. His accuracy from frees, combined with a number of excellent long-range scores from play, kept the Glen Rovers in control throughout.
Armoy made a fast start with McBride converting two early frees and adding a fine score from distance.
PJ McBride, Conor Christie, Emmett O’Hara, Trevor Linton and John Dillon all contributed as Armoy built a healthy advantage, Lámh Dhearg responded through Odhran Waldron, Adam Murray and Michael Herron, but struggled to match Armoy’s consistency.
McBride continued to punish Lámh Dhearg infringements before the break, while Murray and Conor G McConville kept the Hannastown side within touching distance.
Armoy continued to dominate after half-time, with O’Hara, Christie, PJ McBride and Thomas Burns adding further scores. Lámh Dhearg showed great resilience, with McConville scoring twice in the second half, including a brilliant 50th minute goal and a late penalty.
However, Armoy always had an answer, with McBride, Linton and the Burns brothers among those keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
The Glen Rovers’ spread of scorers and McBride’s outstanding accuracy ultimately proved decisive as they secured a deserved ten-point win and another home semi-final.
Ardoyne Kickhams 7-19 Belfast Saints 1-13
At St Teresa's
Ardoyne Kickhams produced a dominant display against Belfast Saints on a wet afternoon on the lower slopes of the mountain, cruising to a convincing victory in a game that ultimately had little at stake, with both sides already eliminated from the Championship.
Paddy Heaney was the outstanding performer, delivering a superb man-of-the-match display as Ardoyne controlled proceedings from the middle and attacked with real purpose.
Pádraig McGreevy opened the scoring from a free, before Saints responded through Robertson, but Ardoyne soon took control with five unanswered points. Fiontan Lagan then added a brilliant goal from play to put daylight between the sides.
Saints briefly rallied before half-time, with points from McGilligan and a goal from Clarke offering a glimmer of hope.
However, Ardoyne immediately restored their dominance, with Lagan pointing before Heaney smashed home their fourth goal to leave the score 4-15 to 1-07 at the interval.
The Saints enjoyed a brief spell after the restart, scoring four unanswered points, but Ardoyne quickly reasserted their authority. Heaney added another point before completing his outstanding performance with two further goals, while McGreevy also found the net.
With Moore and McKillen controlling midfield and Heaney proving unstoppable in attack, Ardoyne finished strongly to secure a comprehensive victory and bring the curtain down on both teams’ Championship campaigns.
Group Two
Gort na Mona 3-21 Davitt's 3-12
Gort na Móna secured top spot in Junior Hurling Championship Group Two after edging past rivals Davitt’s in an entertaining contest at Turf Lodge.
Patrick McCaffrey was the star of the show, scoring 2-6 and producing crucial scores at key moments as Gort overcame a spirited Davitt’s challenge.
The visitors made a dream start when Anthony Rowntree pounced on a blocked clearance to fire to the net, but Gort quickly settled through Desi McClean’s accurate free-taking and a superb sideline point.
Ruairi Scullion soon found the net for Gort before McCaffrey added a quick brace of points to put the hosts in front.
Davitt’s responded through Rowntree and Sean Smyth, with Smyth’s long-range frees keeping the Beechmount side within touching distance. Gort led by four points at half-time.
The Mona-Bypass side started the second half strongly, with Neil Henry, McClean and Darron Boyd adding scores before McCaffrey produced the game’s decisive moment.
After Scullion created the opening, McCaffrey finished emphatically into an empty net to stretch Gort’s advantage.
McClean continued to punish Davitt’s with his free-taking, while Smyth kept the visitors alive with a series of excellent frees.
However, Gort’s pressure eventually told and McCaffrey struck his second goal five minutes from time, rattling the top corner to effectively seal the victory.
Despite a late rally from Davitt’s, Gort remained in control and McCaffrey fittingly closed out the scoring from a free. The win earns Gort na Móna a home semi-final, while Davitt’s can take plenty of encouragement from a spirited display.
Group Three
Sarsfields secured first place in their Junior Championship group with a commanding second-half display, overcoming a spirited St Brigid’s challenge at Musgrave to win 2-13 to 1-31.
The Division 3 champions made a flying start, with Daniel McKernan opening the scoring from a free before Kevin Barry McArdle and Kevin McKernan added further points. St Brigid’s responded through James Kelly, who finished with six frees, but Sarsfields soon took control with five unanswered scores.
Sarsfields proved too strong for St Brigid's
By the 20-minute mark, the Paddies had built an eight-point advantage with six different players contributing.
St Brigid’s refused to fold, however. Oisin McDonnell’s goal sparked a superb revival, with Kelly and a late flurry of scores reducing the deficit to just two points at half-time.
Sarsfields emerged after the break with renewed intensity and quickly re-established their authority. Daniel Smyth was central to the surge, scoring six of his seven points in the second half, while eight different Sarsfields players got on the scoresheet after the restart.
The Paddies moved seven clear within 12 minutes and, despite Conn Flannery attempting to inspire another St Brigid’s comeback, Sarsfields finished with a relentless attacking spell. Fionn Jeffrey added a well-taken goal to put the result beyond doubt, while Donncha McGurk’s late goal proved little more than consolation.
Both sides progress to the knockout stages, but Sarsfields’ unbeaten run and powerful second-half performance will make them a formidable prospect as they continue their push for Intermediate status.
