O’Neill’s All County Hurling League – Division 1

Loughgiel 2-25 Rossa 0-14

Loughgiel Shamrocks were in fine scoring form when they hosted Rossa at Fr Healey Park on Sunday evening, running out winners by 2-25 to 0-14. The home side were 0-16 to 0-2 ahead at half time against a Rossa side missing a few of their regulars and it was clear at the this stage just where the points were going to end up, but to their credit Rossa showed muck better in the second half, scoring a dozen good points themselves.

Matthew Devlin gave Rossa an early lead with a pointed free but Loughgiel hit back strongly with points from Eddie McCloskey (2), Tiernan Coyle, Dan McCloskey, James McNaughton and Barney McAuley to go 0-6 to 0-2 in front. Rossa replied with a well taken point from play by Thomas Morgan on sixteen minutes, but that was to be the Belfast men’s last score of the half as the Shamrocks hit ten on the trot, seven of them from Barney McAuley, two from Dan McCloskey and one from Shan McGrath.

The second half saw a big improvement in Rossa’s play at they hit six points during the third quarter, in reply to just two from the home side. Two of the Rossa scores came from full forward Dominic McEnhill, two from Thomas Morgan and one from substitute Padraig McGreevy. The home side upped the pace again and a fine long range effort from Barney McAuley, one from substitute Liam Watson, plus a goal from Dan McCloskey all but sealed the win. Aodhan O’Brien, Gerard Walsh and Manus Smyth all pointed to get Rossa going again in reply to scores by Watson, Dan McCloskey and Odhran McFadden and they kept up their improved second half form as Domo McEnhill Padraig McGreevy and Gerard Walsh landed good scores.

However Loughgiel were always in control and the Shamrocks wound it all up with another Watson point, plus a second goal from Dan McCloskey, following good work on the right by James McNaughton.

LOUGHGIEL – DD Quinn, Paul Gillan, Tony McCloskey, Tiernan  Coyle, Damon McMullan, Seamus Dobbin, Odhran McFadden, Mark McFadden, Declan Gillan, Eddie McCloskey, James McNaughton, Barney McAuley, Daniel McCloskey, Shan McGrath, Donal McKinley

Subs used – Liam Watson, Declan Laverty, Joey Scullion, Shay Casey, Nicholas McNaughton.

ROSSA – Conall Breatchnach, Niall Crossan, Eoin O’Neill, Kevin McDonnell, Gerard Walsh, Cricky McGuinness, Aodhan O’Brien, Ciaran Orchin, Manus Smyth, Matthew Devlin, Callum McVeigh, Oisin McVicker, Thomas Morgan, Dominic McEnhill, Padraig McGreevy.

Referee – Colum Cunning (Dunloy)