Leadon Timber Frames Ulster Minor club Hurling Cup final
Glenariffe-Glenravel (Antrim) 2-6 Lavey (Derry) 0-6
CIARÁN Ward, a member of the management team of the successful Glenariffe-Glenravel amalgamation praised the resilience of his team particularly during the second half:
“It didn’t look good at half-time with a lead of just five points and we had squandered a couple of goal chances as well. But it was a hard day to play hurling, a heavy pitch and we were playing against a very strong and fit Lavey team that put it up to us from the very start.
“We have such faith in our defenders. They have been the rock of the team all year. Forwards always get the headlines for their scoring. But today we defended superbly and Lavey couldn’t get closer than three points in the second half.
“Our forwards had to work like defenders for the second half. And it was all about that hard work throughout the team.
“We moved Colla (Ward) to midfield. We felt James Sargent was a huge athletic threat and thought a defender like Colla was the man for the job. He held him scoreless from play and contributed a lit himself.”
The Belfast native also hailed the impact of Michael Furey off the bench:
“I felt sorry for the big lad not getting a starting place. But on a day like that, his physique was going to be a huge asset and it was. He caught a few balls and then his involvement in the goal at the end relieved the tension.”