Blackbull South West U-16 Hurling Championship (Semi final)

St. Enda’s Claim a final 

Clooney Gaels 4-09 St Enda’s 5-16

Glengormley based St Enda’s claimed a berth in the final of the Blackbull South West under-16 Hurling Championship when they proved too strong for a brave Clooney Gaels at a blustery Ahoghill venue on Sunday last.

The Hightown boys started with the cold northerly breeze as a friend and with the impressive Niall O’ Connor leading the way from the middle they had established a commanding 4-08 to 2-04 lead at the end of the opening thirty minutes.

The visitors started with confidence and had a couple of points on the board by the 3^rd minute as Niall O’ Connor who was to impress throughout opened the scoring with a long range score of the highest order followed en route by another from Oisin Quinn a minute later.

A Colla Mc Donnell point despatched from a 40 metre free awarded in the 4^th minute opened the home side’s account but the Clooney boys were to fall six points in arrears by the 10^th minute.

Wing half forward Oisin Quinn had raised the opening green flag for St Enda’s in the 7^th minute with Ciarnan Mac Creight, Brian Rogers and Niall O’ Connor following suit to make it 1-04 to 0-01.

Connor Crossey grabbed a goal for the home side when he delivered a stylish finish in the 16^th minute but the score was to provoke stern reply as Owen Kennedy added a point at the other end before Brian Rogers and Niall O’ Connor bagged goals apiece to see the Hightown boys move into a 4-07 to 1-03 lead.

A well taken Colla Mc Donnell 27^th minute goal after he nipped in to steal the sliotar  from a defender aided the home side’s cause and after Ciarnan Mac Creight and Luke Mullan swapped points the visitors led ‘double scores’ at the break 4-08 to 2-04.

Despite facing a sizeable deficit at the outset of the second half the Clooney boys quickly set about the business of hauling in the previously rampant St Enda’s and indeed with excellent result in the early stages.

Paddy Dougan who had been employed in the full forward berth in the opening period was reassigned to a central role for the second thirty minutes and with positive results.

The new look Clooney boys proceeded to dominate the opening phase of the second period and with Dougan stamping his presence in the central sector and the wily Mc Donnell causing concern to the St Enda’s rear guard the visitors were reeled in.

At one stage only a score separated the sides when McDonnell stroked a 60 metre free over the bar in the 43^rd minute.

Colla Mc Donnell had opened the second period account with a 31^st minute point and Luke Mullan added another a minute later.

St Enda’s replied when a poor clearance offered an opportunity for Owen Kennedy to raise white at the other end but the home side had regained composure and a Paddy Dougan point was followed by a Colla Mc Donnell 38^th minute goal and Ahoghill were on the march.

The Glengormley boys having lost their way for a time were backs against the wall and when Paddy Dougan, who had assumed a dominant role in his new berth added a 42^nd minute point prior to another from the wily Colla Mc Donnell the tide seemed to have turned.

St Enda’s  looked shaken as the semi final proceeded to the end of the third quarter and a ten point lead which had existed at the start of the second period was now reduced to a 4-09 to 3-09 advantage and the Ahoghill side were in the ascendancy.

St Enda’s needed a score, and one duly arrived as the inspirational Niall O’ Connor fired over the bar from long range and when an Owen Kennedy lofted delivery ended in the back of the net a minute later they were back on an even keel and on the way to the decider.

O’ Connor added another point in the 51^st minute and although Colla Mc Donnell evaded several challenges to complete his hat trick at the other end a minute later the Glengormley side dominated the closing stages and further white flags raised by Brian Rogers (3), and Owen Kennedy saw them breast the winning line and on their way to the under-16 Championship final with a 5-16 to 4-09 winning advantage.

Teams

Clooney Gaels: Joe Logan, Conal Walls, Jack Mc Fall, Matthew Mullan, Shay Neeson, Harry O’ Donnell, Sean og O’ Neill, John O’ Kane, Luke Mulholland, Conor Crossey (1-00), Conor Mc Garry, Shane Mc Guigan, Luke Mullan (0-02), Paddy Dougan (0-02), Colla Mc Donnell (3-05).

Subs: Charlie Mc Closkey for M Mullan, John Davey for J O’ Kane, D Mc Nicholl for L Mullan

St Enda’s: Emmett Burns, Dara Maguire, Oran Mac Ruagain, Cathal Morgan, Ryan Mc Closkey, Connor Mc Nicholl, Declan Breen, Niall O’ Connor (1-05), Owen Kennedy (1-03), Oisin Quinn (1-01), Brian Rogers (1-04), Paul Magee (0-01), Michael Devenny, Ciarnan Mac Creight (1-01), Oscar Smyth

Referee Kevin Gormley (Tir na nOg)

U21 Football Championship Grading Round

Naomi Brid 5-9 St. Teresa’s 0-5

After two postponed games Naomh Bríd and Teresa’s finally met in the first round of the U21 football championship at Harlequins on Saturday. The recently crowned Intermediate champions, fresh off their county final win last week went into this game with their confidence high and that confidence was fully justified over the hour.

It was St. Teresa’s who made the brighter opening however with half forward Niall McCann splitting the posts. Naomh Bríd replied and a ‘45’ from county minor Peter Nenvey sailed directly to the net and after this the Musgrave Park side never looked back. Naomh Bríd quickly got to grips with their opponents with Mikey Cummings and Shane Boyle dominating possession and goals from Conor O’ Doherty, Peter Webb & Mikey Cummings saw them go into the break with a very healthy 4.03 to 0.02 half time lead

Naomh Brid continued to dominate during the second half despite stellar performances from St. Teresa’s Niall McCann and Matthew Mallon but they couldn’t halt the Musgrave Park side. The winners added a further 1-6 with Rory Brolly leading the way with 0-4 and Alex Lavery weighing in with 0-2 to see them run out convincing winners.

St. Brigid’s now go forward to meet Con Magee’s Glenravel and will start that one as firm favourites but before that they have an Ulster Intermediate clash with Down champions, Rostrevor and that one is sure to attract a big crowd to Corrigan Park this Sunday.

PHOTOGRAPHS BERT TROWLEN

Under-21 Football Championship (Grading round)

St Joseph’s Glenavy 1-09 Erin’s Own Cargin 1-17

A superb 52^nd minute goal by Kyle Johnston proved to be the crucial score as Cargin gained the verdict over Glenavy in this under-21 championship grading round at Chapel Hill on Saturday.

Cargin, aided by the accuracy of Jamie Gribbin had a three point advantage at the end of the opening period leading 0-08 to 0-05 at the short whistle. They were quickly out of the starting blocks in the second half and dominated the next ten minutes and they went eight points clear after 40 minutes.

St Joseph’s were far from finished however and gaining advantage in the central zone they proceeded to fight back and when Peter Trainor found the net in the 50^th minute they were back within striking distance and only three points in arrears.

Glenavy were asking questions of the Toome side as they gained the upper hand for a time and the visitors looked in some trouble but in the event Cargin  found a positive response.

Having lost their way for a time Erin’s Own regained the initiative and Jamie Gribbin and Ciaran Bradley raised back to back white flags before the impressive Kyle Johnston put them in the driving seat with an excellent goal.

Cargin had nipped away again to lead 1-15 to 1-07, and although the home side responded with a couple of late scores the die had been  cast and at final whistle Cargin crossed the line 1-16 to 1-09 ahead.

A foul wet morning ensured conditions were far from ideal as Glenavy played hosts to the visiting Cargin for the opening round of the under-21 football championship.

The Chapel Hill sod was in good condition despite the dousing as man in the middle Fiontan Mc Cotter set the wheels in motion and Cargin were first to register as minor star Jamie Gribbin raised white seconds into proceedings after Joe Maybin had claimed the ‘throw in’.

The home side were quick to respond however as Eoin Henry raced away to split the posts at the other end to see his side on terms. This was the trend in the opening phase as score at one end provoked reply in kind at the other.

A Joe Maybin 4^th minute point provoked a similar score from the home side’s Malachy Doherty and similarly when Peter Trainor raised another white to edge the home side into the lead an Oran Lynn’s run opened the way for Jamie Gribbin to race in and split the posts at the other end and it was 0-03 apiece at the 12^th minute.

Glenavy favoured by the diagonal breeze nipped back in front when corner forward Malachy Doherty came in front to collect a Liam Henry delivery to split the posts but their advantage was not to remain for long.

Cargin were gaining control at mid-field where Kyle Johnston and Joe Maybin were proving dominant and Maybin raced  away to send over the bar to level the contest once more.

The visitors edged in front again as centre back David Johnston moved forward to combine with Michael Clark and send over the bar and restore their lead.

Cargin were beginning to find their rhythm as Jamie Gribbin punished back to back fouls on Michael Clark and Ciaran Bradley and they had gained a three point advantage, 0-07 to 0-04 by the 23^rd minute.

Jimmy Gribbin increased that lead to four by the 28^th minute but Peter Trainor replied from a late free to leave just a goal between the sides at the short whistle.

Cargin opened the second half strongly and they were to double that lead by the 35^th minutes with three unanswered scores.

Kyle Johnston seized the throw in before racing away to send over the bar and when Michael Clark, and centre back David Johnston followed suit they were 0-11 to 0-05 in front.

Jamie Gribbin added another point and after Michael Clark showed a clean pair of heels to the Glenavy defence before firing wide, Ciaran Bradley extended their lead further with a 41^st minute point.

An excellent Eoin Henry point got Glenavy off the mark and lifted by this score a well organised build up involving Eoin Henry and Lorcan Heenan opened the way for the hard working Peter Trainor to blast to the net.

Cargin looked shaken and indeed in some trouble when a 51^st minute Malachy Doherty point saw them just a single score ahead and Glenavy seemed to have the momentum.

The Toome side needed a score and after Kyle Johnston was fouled in full flight Jamie Gribbin dispatched the resultant free between the posts.

Cargin were back on track and Ciaran Bradley extended their advantage before a great move involving Odhran Mc Guckin, Christopher Bateson and Jamie Gribbin saw Kyle Johnston rifle the ball to the top corner of the net.

This score put the visitors 1-15 to 1-07 ahead and Ciaran Bradley pointed to increase that lead to nine before Eoin Henry and the impressive Peter Trainor replied with consolation points.

The final score of the game fell to Erin’s Own as an injury time Michael Clark point saw them cross the winning line full value for their 1-17 to 1-09 advantage.

 

Glenavy: Eoin Mc Cormick, Simon Gallagher,  Eddie Foster, Lorcan Small, Liam Henry, Matthew Hamill, Ruairi Foster, Peter Trainor (1-03), Michael Kane, David Nelson (0-01), Eoin Henry (0-02), Michael Small, Malachy Doherty (0-03), Lorcan Heenan, Mark Nelson.

Subs

Fergal Green for D Wilson

Paul Mc Cambridge for R Foster

Shay Cormican for S Gallagher

 

Cargin: Ryan Toal, Odhran Lynn, Jonnie Mc Guckin, Christopher Bateson, Ruairi Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-02), Mark Keegan, Kyle Johnston (1-01), Joe Maybin (0-01), Odhran Mc Guckin, Ciaran Bradley (0-02), Shay Bovill, Michael Clark (0-02), Adam Thornton, Jamie Gribbin (0-08).

Subs

Cormac Birt for A Thornton

Michael Laverty for K Johnston

Referee Fiontan Mc Cotter (Sarsfield’s)

PHOTOGRAPHS BERT TROWLEN