Antrim Intermediate Championship
Quarter-Final
Glenarm 2-21
St Gall's 1-21
AN extra-time thriller went the way of the hosts and ended St Gall's hopes of progressing to the final four of the Intermediate Championship after a late show from Niall McGarel saw the hosts get over the line.
The Glenarm man finished with a crucial late free and point in extra-time to settle a game that could hardly have been tighter, while St Gall’s were left to rue the loss of influential scorer Dubhultach MacLiam to injury, whose departure in the extra period badly disrupted their attacking momentum as they tried to level in the closing stages.
It was a contest which produced everything – goals, frees, pressure scores and a dramatic finish – with neither side prepared to give an inch, but the hosts would prevail despite the half-time deficit.
Glenarm managed to comeback from a half-time deficit to clinch the win
Glenarm made the brighter start when Niall Furey opened the scoring after two minutes, but MacLiam quickly levelled from a free before putting St Gall’s in front from a 65 and from there the Milltown men controlled large spells of the game on a very muggy day on the North Coast.
Tomas O’Ciaran responded with an excellent score for St Gall's and McGarel added another before MacLiam and Sean Burke kept the St Gall’s scoreboard moving.
The game began to open up as both sides attacked at pace, with MacLiam producing another excellent free before Mark Napier was fouled and St Gall’s were awarded a penalty.
MacLiam took responsibility and made no mistake, driving the ball into the top corner from the spot and giving the away side a much needed late advantage with the wind in their sails.
Napier then added a superb point as St Gall’s threatened to pull clear, but Glenarm hit back when Darren Hamill found the net.
Fergus Donnelly followed with a fine point and Hamill added another from a 65 as Glenarm continued to apply pressure.
MacLiam responded with another superb score before the sides went into the interval with little between them.
Glenarm started the second half positively, with McGarel opening the scoring before Niall Rodgers and Daniel Black added further points.
McGarel converted a free and MacLiam responded at the other end as the game developed into a fascinating shootout.
Aiden Scullion produced a fine score from the middle of the field before McGarel's 65 reduced the deficit to a single point.
MacLiam's free kept St Gall’s in front, while Black struck another excellent score before MacLiam hit three in succession – one from a free and two from play – to give his side some breathing space.
Black added another point before Scullion levelled the contest with five minutes remaining.
With the game entering its closing stages, MacLiam stepped forward once again to land a pressure free and put St Gall’s back in front.
Glenarm needed a response and McGarel provided it, levelling on the stroke of full-time to force extra-time.
The additional period began with Sean O’Boyle and MacLiam exchanging scores before O’Boyle struck twice more for Glenarm.
MacLiam replied from a free and St Gall’s looked to have the momentum, but Glenarm continued to battle for the game and refused to stop their search to level the tie.
Black produced another excellent score from the middle of the park before the game took another decisive twist with MacLiam leaving the action.
The hosts then managed to have a chance to level after the referee deemed Gaireach Adams to have used both hands to possess the sliotar and despite Glenarm racking up almost double figures in wide balls, this time the distance was almost an insurance and McGarel planted the levelled.
Onto extra-time and when Dubhultach MacLiam pulled up holding his hamstring after striking a free just seconds before, his race sadly was run for the Milltown side.
McGarel stepped up to convert another pressure free before adding a further point to put the Glenarm men in control.
St Gall’s searched desperately for a response but Glenarm's defence held firm as the clock ran down.
After an hour of championship hurling had failed to separate the sides, the extra-time period finally provided the decisive spell.
For Glenarm, McGarel's accuracy from placed balls proved crucial, while Black, Hamill and Scullion all made important contributions during a contest in which the lead changed hands repeatedly.
St Gall’s will reflect on what might have been after MacLiam's outstanding contribution had kept them in contention for so long.
But once the influential forward departed, Glenarm sensed their opportunity and finished the job with McGarel late on in the game to seal the win.
Glenarm XV: M Abram; B Hamill, J Scullion, K O'Boyle; C Magill, M Furey 0-1, A Scullion 0-2; S McDermott, N McGarel 0-10 (8F), D Black 1-5, D McLaughlin; S O'Boyle, N Rodgers 0-2, D McDermott, D Hamill 1-1
St Gall's XV: S McAreavey; E Rush, M Marlow, G Adams; D Churchill, J Hopkins, A Mackel; E Walsh, O McIlhatton; F Donnelly 0-1, T O'Ciarain 0-2 (1F), S Burke 0-1; D MacLiam 1-16 (11F), A Gallagher, M Napier 0-1
