B - Team Report
With Antrim not fielding a B-team we played Moneyglass over four quarters last Sunday morning in the first scheduled blitz of the season.
After a good warm up our boys were fast out of the blocks and dominated the first quarter all over the field. Ronan, Eoin Mc Cusker and Aaron claiming the bulk of the early scores with Ryan Lennon and Conor clearing up any loose balls in our own half. Moneyglass did come more into it in the second quarter but the boys all battled hard with Aaron Magill's tenanious tackling disposessing Moneyglass players on a number of occasions. From there on however we raised our game and started to play more as a team. Passing and and support play from the running man developed into a feature of our game and there were some brillant passing moves up the field. Conor, Aidan, Eoin Mc Auley and Ryan Forde all linked well through the middle and the two man full forward line of Ali and Eoin 'Bomber'Mc Cusker tucked away quite a few goals and points.
Ronan dominated the middle, fielded a lot of Moneyglass kick outs and scored some long range points and goals. Aidan Mc Kenna chipped in with a few scores and showed that the recent practice at training was paying off with a text book block on a Moneyglass defender. Ryan Lennon and Eoin Mc Auley continued to put in a power of work around the middle and we finished strong to run out comfortable winners. In order to make up the numbers Ali, Conor, Ryan Forde and Ryan Lennon each played a quarter for Moneyglass, so thanks to the four boys. All in all an encouraging start to the season.
One disappointing aspect of the game though was the lack of sportsmanship and discipline shown by some of our boys during the game - this will not tolerated again.
Team : Aaron Magill,Ryan Forde, Ryan Lennon, Eoin Mc Cusker, Eoin Mc
Auley, Conor Higgins, Aidan Mc Kenna, Ali Kardouman, Ronan Donnelly.
C - Team Report
Sunday 25th April Glenravel v’s Antrim
Our C team were up played an 8 a side match of 4 quarters against Antrim. In the first quarter our boys were over run in the middle of the field with a physically strong Antrim midfield winning the majority of the kick outs. James Black was the busiest Glenravel player in the first quarter with plenty to do between the posts. His kicking was good but the Antrim lads were just quicker to the ball and despite the best efforts of Jude Scullion, Cathal Hynds and Ruari in midfield Antrim were dominant in the opening quarter.
The first interval offered a chance to regroup and the second period saw a vastly improved performance from the young Glenravel boys. Cathal Hynds assumed goal keeping duties with James Black being preferred in defence and we immediately saw the benefit with James’ strong physical presence presenting a barrier and Daragh Donaghy’s tenacious defensive tackling blocking the Antrim route to goal. Cathal pulled off some superb saves and his delivery out to the wings gave our boys a base to build attaches from. The two Seans, McCusker and Higgins were ably assisted in the middle of the park by Ewan and for the first time in the match the ball was being delivered with greater urgency to our forward line of Jude and Ruari.
As the match wore on our boys came more in to the game and began to show greater awareness in terms of running off the ball and working back as a defensive unit when attacks broke down.
This was a really good run out for these lads and while there are lessons to be learned such as getting into the game from the first whistle there is undoubtedly a good base to build on. There was some good individual talent on display, some excellent kicking, catching and passing and with a full summer of training and matches to look forward to these boys will have plenty of opportunity to build on their basic skills.