O’Neill’s All County Hurling League – Division 1
Ballycastle 2-21 St Gall’s 1-15
Ballycastle kept their unbeaten record intact in Division 2 of the Antrim Hurling Leagues when they beat St Gall’s in Wednesday evening’s round 5 game at Pairc MacUilin, but they were made to work all the way before shaking of a dogged challenge by the visitors. Looking at the respective league position of these team any neutral observer would have expected a one sided affair, but it was far from that with St Gall’s showing the talent they have in their ranks, an on this display they should soon be making their way up the table.
The opening quarter was fairly even with the free taking of Dairmuid McShane, who hit four from various distances and one from TT Butler just keeping them ahead as Tomas O’Ciaran (2), Paddy Friel and Mark Napier sent over for St Gall’s. A goal from TT Butler on nineteen minutes gave Ballycastle set the home side up well in the final quarter and points from McShane and Rambo McCarry in reply to three O’Ciaran points gave the home team a 1-9 to 0-6 half time lead.
St Gall’s hit back at the start of the second half and after James McLister had extended the Town’s lead with two points inside forty seconds, three unanswered points from the excellent Tomas O’Ciaran and a goal from Ciaran McCaffrey brought the visitors back to within a goal. Ballycastle brought in Ciaran Clarke from the subs bench which steadied the ship, but it was nip and tuck until TT Butler drilled a left sided shot low to the corner of the St Gall’s net. This score eased the pressure on the home team and in the last ten minutes they pulled clear with two more sweetly struck points from TT, two from Clarke and a real beauty from young half back Oisin McAuley to keep their 100% record intact.
BALLYCASTLE – Ryan McGarry, Oran Kearney, Matthew Donnelly, John McLister, Shane McCarry, Neal McAuley, Oisin McAuley, Ronan McCarry, Conor Boyd, Ciaran Butler, James McLister, KB McShane, Shane Staunton, Tiernan Butler, Dairmuid McShane.
Subs – Ciaran Clarke, Eamon Elliott
ST GALL’S – Kurtis McGreevy, Stephen Morrison, Niall O’Neill, Adam O’Hare, Ryan Irvine, Kieran McGourty, Aodhan Gallagher, Jackson McGreevy, Jack Hopkins, Tomas O’Ciaran, Ciaran McCaffrey, Gregory McGreevy, Mark Napier, Patrick Friel, Eoghan McCurdy.
Referee – Francis Traynor (Shamrocks)