O’Neills ACHL Division 1
Dunloy 0-20 Ballygalget 1-15
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy recovered from a six point half time deficit to overcome the challenge of Ballygalget in Wednesday evening’s All County League game at Pearse Park. Two points separated the sides at the full time whistle in what was a hugely entertaining match. The Ardsmen came to Pearse Park in search of just their second win of the 2018 league and for long periods of this contest it looked like they would be leaving north Antrim with the two points. At centre half James McGrath was dictating the play while Danny Toner was causing the Dunloy defence huge problems. Brooke Byers and Cathal Coulter were impressing in defence, keeping the Dunloy attack at bay and at half time it certainly looked bleak for the home side.
It was going to take something special for the Cuchullains to come back into the contest such was their first half performance. They looked to be heading for just their second league defeat of the season but they turned the tide after the interval. They began to go through the gears and with the normally reliable Nicky McKeague misfiring from placed ball, Paul Shiels stepped up to the mantle. Shorty would finish the second half with nine points – six from placed ball but his ability to remain calm when all around him threatened to lose the plot helped the Cuchullains to push for victory.
Ballygalget’s first half performance was hugely impressive. They were thoroughly deserving of their six point lead at half time with Danny Toner hitting 1-5 of his 1-8 in the opening 30 minutes. Their ability to land points from distance was nullifying the strong half back line of the Cuchullains but it was their work rate and hunger that shone in particular from the word go. Their intensity was fierce and at times the tackling threatened to flare tempers with the game in the melting pot. The home side had already halved the Ballygalget advantage when the Ardsmen were reduced to 14 men, Mark Fisher was given a straight red card for striking Shiels when waiting on a side line. Dunloy already had the momentum at they made the most of the man advantage in the final quarter to take the two points at the end of a pulsating hour of hurling.
Despite being in the middle of ‘holiday season’ and over four weeks since these sides last had a league outing, these two sides made a bright start to the contest. Toner and Nicky McKeague landed scores inside the opening two minutes and with Ballygalget keen to keep the sliotar alive with fast restarts, there wasn’t time to catch breath in the opening exchanges. Points from Declan McManus, Toner and McGrath all from distance were answered to by McKeague (free) and Kevin Molloy for the Cuchullains. Molloy’s point would be the home sides last for 13 minutes though as Ballygalget began to turn their superiority and intense work rate into points on the board. Brooke Byers, McGrath, Toner (two frees) and Tim Prenter all raised the white flag for the visitors to Pearse Park before a McKeague free stopped the rot for the home side in the 18th minute.
Dunloy were searching for the fluency but Ballygalget weren’t giving them time to settle. A Shane Dooey point brought the Cuchullains to within four points of the ‘Galget but the Ardsmen fired the only goal of the contest in the 26th minute to take a commanding lead. Toner collecting a long delivery from Byers before rounding his man and firing to the bottom corner of Ger Dixon’s net with a thunderous effort.
The Cuchullains responded with a brace of pointed frees from McKeague but Ballygalget had the final say of the half when Toner worked a short free with Fisher to give his side a 1-10 to 0-7 half time lead.
Paul Shiels who dragged his team back from the brink against Ballygalget.
The second half was where the drama unfolded at Pearse Park. As Dunloy upped their game, they couldn’t make any early inroads into the Ballygalget lead. McKeague and Chrissy Brogan points were answered to by a Toner free and Captain Declan McManus’ second point of the match. Having missed a few, McKeague was replaced on free taking duty by Shiels and with that the momentum began to swing. Two frees from Shorty and the excellent Brogan’s second point of the match reduced the deficit to three points going into the final quarter. The game was set for a mouth-watering finale when Ballygalget lost any footing they might have had on the game. The contest was heating up with heavy tackles and heated exchanges when Mark Fisher struck Shiels with his hurl. Referee Paddy McEldowney had no option but give a straight red card. It was a difficult match for the Ballinascreen official to control but he did well to regain authority from the situation. As the dust settled and the sides resumed, Dunloy and Shorty went through the gears once again.
Three Shorty frees were answered to by points from Prenter and Toner (free) but Dunloy’s use of the extra man in defence was telling. While Ballygalget looked to regain control, the Cuchullains stamped their authority with substitute Seaan Elliott and Shiels bringing the sides level. A free from Shiels, his sixth of the half gave the Cuchullains the lead for the first time in the contest after 55 minutes. Shorty raised a further two white flags either side of a Toner ’65 as the Cuchullains ended the hour with a two point win.
Next up for Ballygalget is a home match with Cushendall on Sunday while the Cuchullains must wait until Wednesday as they welcome the Ruairi’s to Pearse Park.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Ger Dixon; Phelim Duffin, Karl O’Kane, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Conor McKinley; Paudie Shivers, Ciaran Elliott; Nicky McKeague, Gabriel McTaggart, Paul Shiels; Shane Dooey, Chrissy Brogan, Eoin O’Neill.
Ballygalget: Jamie Crowe; Brooke Byers, Eoin Coulter, Peter McManus; Cathal Coulter, James McGrath, Mark Fisher; Eoin Clarke, Declan McManus; Conor Coulter, Gerard Roddy, Danny Toner; Paul McManus, Tim Prenter, Adam Doran
Scorers for Dunloy: Paul Shiels 0-9 (6 f’s); Nicky McKeague 0-6 (3 f’s); Chrissy Brogan 0-2; Kevin Molloy 0-1; Shane Dooey 0-1; Seaan Elliott 0-1
Scorers for Ballygalget: Danny Toner 1-8 (4 f’s, 1 ’65); James McGrath 0-2; Declan McManus 0-2; Tim Prenter 0-2; Brooke Byers 0-1
Referee: Paddy McEldowney (Ballinascreen)