RASHARKIN..................2-14
NAOMH COLUM CILLE.......4-10
NAOMH Colum Cille were crowned Ulster Junior Hurling Champions following a two point victory over Antrim kingpins Rasharkin in a thrill a minute final, at Casement Park yesterday.
On the balance of play the Tyrone men just about deserved their success following a titanic struggle in which both teams gave their all with the Cille's superior hunger and desire to succeed edging them over the line in the closing stages.
This game had everything with the displays of Aidan Taggart, Ryan O'Neill, Joe O'Neill and goal getter supreme Paul O'Neill central to the Cille's success, while Michael Hasson, Declan McCay and Eamon McNeill carried the Antrim challenge superbly on a day both teams enjoyed periods of dominance.
Naomh Colum Cille enjoyed the breeze in the opening half and, they immediately settled to their task with Niall O'Neill firing over a 3rd minute free only to see Rasharkin midfielder McCay reply in kind. Eamon Kelly and Rory O'Neill swapped points, but in the main it was the Tyrone champions, who were forcing the issue with Willie Lyons, Peter Corr and O'Neill driving them forward from defence.
Joe O'Neill and Shea McKiver were winning the bulk of midfield possession and, they struck for a deserving goal on 14 minutes, when Seamus O'Hagan collected a McKiver delivery and blasted to the net. Hagan followed up with a point and after the lively McCay and O'Neill traded frees Rory O'Neill fired over a second point from play on 22 minutes for a 1-5 to 0-3 advantage.
It was all going to plan for the Cille's, but in the run up to half time Rasharkin clicked into gear hitting 1-4 without reply to set up a fascinating second period. The efforts of Brendan McMullan and Shane Hasson gave them confidence and, they received a further boost on 25 minutes, when Eamon Boyle found the back of the Cille's net to signal a shift in the balance of power. Quinn, McNeill and McCay pointed with an injury time Joe O'Neill point offering NCC hope for the restart, as they trailed 1-7 to 1-6.
NCC made a sensational start to the second period, as Niall O'Neill rifled home a third minute penalty to set the tone for a pulsating half of hurling. O'Neill and substitute Tony O'Hagan extended their lead only to see St Mary's responding with three successive points from Kelly and McCay (two) for a 1-10 to 2-8 deficit approaching the end of the third quarter. It was anyone's game but aided by a Paul O'Neil goal on 48 minutes the Tyrone men enjoyed a new lease of life, as Niall and Rory O'Neill pointed for a 3-10 to 1-10 lead with ten minutes remaining. Rasharkin were on the ropes, but they were thrown a life line on 52 minutes, when McNeill scrambled home a goal that swung the pendulum their way again.
Suddenly NCC were under pressure and points from McNeill (two) and McCay restored parity before Thomas McMullan edged the Antrim men ahead on 58 minutes. NCC refused to accept defeat and the O'Neill's Ryan and Niall combined to present Paul O'Neill with his second goal and with it a thrilling and dramatic victory for the Tyrone champions.
