O’Neill’s All County Hurling League Division 2
Ciaran Clarke who scored sixteen points in Ballycastle’s win over Sarsfields. Pic by John McIlwaine
Sarsfields 0-12 Ballycastle 1-23
Fourteen points from full forward Ciaran Clarke steered Ballycastle to a big win over their nearest rivals Sarsfields in this top of the table clash in Division 2 of the All County Hurling League at the Bear Pit on Sunday, a win that keeps their 100% record intact. Clarke, who missed practically all of Antrim’s league campaign because of injury is back firing on all cylinders again, and though the majority of his scores came from placed balls he was the go-to man in most of the Ballycastle attacks.
Ahead by just four after a hard fought first half the game changed dramatically six minutes into the second half when Sarsfields top scorer Kevin McKernan received a straight red card from match referee Barry Winters. From then on Ballycastle had the upper hand, not only because of numerical advantage, but because the home side were missing McKernan’s considerable presence around the middle of the field. Clarke took full advantage of any of the home side misdemeanours with an incredible display of accuracy to steer his team home.
Clarke got Ballycastle off to a good start with a pointed free in the opening minute but a well taken score from Sarsfields centre forward Daniel McKernan soon had the home side level. Ronan McCarry, who had a great game in midfield for Ballycastle, put the visitors back in front in the third minute, but Sarsfields came back strongly and two points from distance from McKernan frees had them 3-2 in front, before Clarke brought Ballycastle level on six minutes. Sarsfields eased in front in the 9th and 12th minutes through Daniel and Kevin McKernan, but each time Clarke found a reply, and three points in as many minutes midway through the half gave his team a bit of breathing space for the first time. Sarsfields kept battling back and a lovely point from the right corner by James McKernan, plus two more from Kevo frees had them back level, but a later run which brought points from Ronan McCarry and Clarke (3) gave the visitors a four point cushion at the break. (0-12 to 0-8)
Left Ballycastle’s Ciaran Butler. Right – Sarsfields Darragh McGuinness. Pics by John McIlwaine
Ciaran Butler increased Ballycastle’s lead to five with a well taken point from the left corner in the opening minute of the second half, and though Kevin McKernan cancelled that score out soon afterwards it was to be his last telling contribution. The midfielder’s dismissal soon afterwards left a big hole in the home team’s engine room and as a result they would only score two more points for the remainder of the game. Clarke took full advantage as he reeled off score after score, two of them great strikes from inside his own half, and though Daniel McKernan pulled a point back with a real beauty from play the gap was widening by the minute as Clarke brought his personal tally to thirteen. Sarsfields were then reduced to thirteen when one of their defenders received a second yellow card before Diarmuid McShane sealed the deal for the Town with an excellent goal. There was still time for Clarke to add to his tally and three points inside a minute gave him a total of sixteen and stretched his team’s winning margin even further.
Sarsfields scorers – Kevin McKeran 0-6 (6f); Daniel McKernan 0-4 (1f); Joe McGurk 0-1; James McKernan 0-1.
Ballycastle scorers – Ciaran Clarke 0-16 (14f, one 65), Dairmuid McShane 1-1, Ronan McCarry 0-2, Ciaran Butler 0-1
Sarsfields
David Ward, Peter Corr, James Cunningham, Jack Daniels, Eoghan Rodgers, Caolan Mervyn, Cailin Caldwell, Kevin McKernan, Gareth Ward, Darragh McGuinness, Daniel McKernan, Nial McAlea, Joe McGurk, Tomas Doherty, James McKernan
Ballycastle
Ryan McGarry, Oran Kearney, Matthew Donnelly, Oisin McAuley, John McLister, Neal McAuley, Shane McCarry, Ronan McCarry, Conor Boyd, KB McShane, James McLister, Ciaran Butler, Conaire Butler, Ciaran Clarke, Dairmuid McShane
Subs – Elliott for McLister; Shane Staunton for Ciaran Butler; Conor Donnelly for Shane McCarry; Ciaran Laverty for Conaire Butler (inj).
Pics by John McIlwaine