Month / August 2018

by thesaffrongael

Early second half scoring spree sees Ardoyne advance to the quarter-final

Junior Football Championship preliminary round

Ardoyne Kickham’s  1-14 McQuillan’s Ballycastle 1-8

A scoring spree at the start of the second half swung this game very much in favour of Kickham’s Ardoyne when they overcame McQuillan’s Ballycastle in the this Junior Football Championship preliminary round game  at Quinn Park, Ballymena on Friday night.

Significantly though Paddy Murray’s side made a strong opening to the second half, scoring 1-4 without reply in the opening six minutes to more or less put the contest to bed, though their opponents never gave up and outscored Ardoyne in the closing quarter but by then it was too late.

The North Antrim side went into this game as underdogs with their opponents riding high in division 3 of the league but at half time Ballycastle looked in with a battling chance as they trailed their opponents by only two points having played into the breeze in the opening half.

Stephen Magill for Ballycastle and Ciaran McNeill for the Kickham’s exchanged early points but points from Aidan McNeill, Gary McKernan and Cormac Mullan had the Ardoyne men 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after seven minutes and they were looking good at this stage of the game.

Ballycastle replied from a pointed free by Mark Higgins but the North Antrim side were guilty of over doing the possession game and their reluctance to shoot saw them turned over time and again as they carried the ball into the tackle.

Aidan McNeill from a couple of well struck frees for Ardoyne  and Mark Higgins from another free for the ‘Castle’ and one from play from Eamon Elliott saw the Black & Ambers come right back into contention with only two minutes remaining to the break and only a point between the sides.

The last score of the half fell to the sweet left foot of Aidan McNeill however as he directed another free from out on the right between the uprights but Ballycastle must have been quietly confident at the changeover with only two separating the sides.

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It was Ardoyne however who regained the initiative from the second half throw in with Cormac Mullan, Aidan McNeill and Conor Carter firing over points in the opening four minutes and when Ciaran McNeill fired past Patrick McAuley for the game’s opening goal with five minutes gone they had opened up a significant gap.

Kevin Lynch soloed through for a great point in the 6th minute and Jim Og McAuley added another to open up a ten point gap and it was as good as over even at this early juncture. Ballycastle picked themselves up of the canvas however and while they never really threatened to get back into contention they did restore some pride in the jersey.

Stephen McIlroy got them off the mark when he shot to the net from close range when the ball rebounded to him after Patrick McCullough had saved his first attempt but Jim Og McAuley replied with an Ardoyne point at the other end to extend the gap to eight.

Things were much more even now as play swung from end to end with Aidan McNeill converting a 15th minute free and Mark Higgins responding with an excellent point from play for Ballycastle. Sean Kelly and Higgins from a free had it back to five with five minutes remaining but that was as close as they got.

Ardoyne shut up shop at this stage playing the possession game to good effect and Aidan McNeill brought his personal tally on the night to 0-5 as he stroked over a late free to conclude the scoring. Ardoyne now go forward to meet St. Patrick’s Lisburn in the quarter-final and will be anxious to avenge a league defeat to the same opposition on Wednesday night.

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Ardoyne Panel: Patrick McCullough, Eoin Crossan, Niall Cornwell, Pearse Marley, Conor Carter, Padraig Lynch, Joe McNeill, Gary McKernan, Kevin Lynch, Conor Magee, Cormac Mullan, Kealan McCallan, Aidan McNeill, Ciaran McNeill, Jim Og McAuley. Gerard Frame, Stephen Hill, Conor Magee, Michael Maguire, Sean Joe Rooney.

2

Ballycastle: Patrick McAuley, Joseph McFetridge, Seamus McIlroy, Rory Magee, Mark Higgins, Zach McCaughan, Conor Boyd, Aaron McCaughan, Caolan McCaughan, Eamon Elliott, Sean Kelly, Stephen Magill, Conor Donnelly, Thomas McIlroy, Stephen McIlroy, Subs: Shane McGarry for Joseph McFetridge, Aaron Mooney for Rory Magee.

Referee: Jarlath O’Donnell (Glenravel)

by thesaffrongael

Sarsfields and St John’s join the fray

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Match Day Two

As we go into the second weekend of the Antrim hurling championships group stages, we look ahead at the two matches with Sarsfields and St John’s making their way to north Antrim for their first matches in the round robin phase.  Their opponents, Dunloy and Loughgiel, recorded contrasting victories in match day one, the Shamrocks taking apart Rossa with 33 points to spare while Dunloy got the defence of their crown off to a winning start but sneaked past Cushendall with the minimum to spare in a repeat of last years final.

Brendan McTaggart has a look at the runners and riders as we begin to get a clearer picture of who will make the semi-final spots.

Creagh copy2Dunloy v SarsVillage Inn copy 3Group 1

Dunloy vs Sarsfields

Saturday September 1

Venue: Pearse Park, Dunloy

Throw in: 4:30pm

Referee: Paul McSparran (Cushendun)

It might not be on the scale of David vs Golaith, but it’s fair to say Sarsfields have a baptism of fire on their return to the senior grade.  The 2017 Intermediate champions travel to Pearse Park Dunloy for to get their championship off and running and they come up against a Dunloy side who are reigning champions and just seven days earlier defeated Cushendall in their back yard.

For those who like an underdog, you can back the men from the Bear Pit at 10/1 while you would have to put £50 on the Cuchullains to win £1.  The size of the task for the Paddies is reflected in the odds differential.  Gargantuan.   History isn’t in the Paddies side either.  The gap from Intermediate to Senior is huge.  Just ask the Biddies, Clooney Gaels and Creggan after their recent exertions at the top table of Antrim hurling.  That being said, it’s just four years since Sarsfields were a puc of the ball away from reaching the senior final.  St Gall’s got the better of them that day.  They cruised their way to the intermediate championship last year while along with an unbeaten run in Division Three but in 2018 they’ve found life tougher.  The loss of the hugely influential Niall McKenna hasn’t done the Paddies any favours.  McKenna was the Paddies most consistent and on many occasions outstanding performer in 2-17 but the Antrim county man took his trade to Warwickshire for 2018, reaching the Nicky Rackard Cup Final along with clubmate Gary Lennon.  Cup tied, the duo are a big loss for the Paddies but they welcome back Kevin McKernan to the fold.  McKernan is a huge talent and along with McKenna, led the Sarsfields attack in 2017.  They have two scheduled games left in the league and lay two points out of the drop zone.  They will need at least one more win to maintain their Division Two status but for now, their sights are on the reigning Antrim champions.Print

Dunloy scrapped past Cushendall in a ding dong battle last Saturday.  The Ruairi’s looked like they would get their campaign off to a winning start before Dunloy showed their Championship credentials at the death.  Paul Shiels and Keelan Molloy did the lions share of the scoring for the Cuchullains while Kevin Molloy was superb at centre half.

The champions will start as hot favourites and anything other than a Dunloy win would go down in Antrim hurling folklore.  The conundrum for the home side on Saturday is improving on their last outing.  Despite getting off to a winning start, the general consensus leaving Páirc Mhuire was the Cuchullains got out of jail.  They weren’t at their fluent best although they probably won’t need to reach such heights on Saturday.  They welcome back Conal Cunning from suspension, ‘Coby’ serving a one match ban for his dismissal in last years Ulster Championship and will give the Cuchullains an added dimension in attack.  Cushendall edged the midfield exchanges last week and the Dunloy management may shake things up again.  Ciaran Elliott came on in the second half and Dunloy could be tempted to partner him and Shiels again.  They have options in all facets and areas such is their strength in depth.

12 months ago, Sarsfields had a dream year.  They added the junior football championship to their intermediate hurling crown along with promotion to Division Two with the wee ball.  I just don’t see that dream continuing.  Dunloy will make it two from two and take their place in the semi-finals.3DContractsNILtd copy-ggod luckPremier 1People1st

Loughgiel v St John'sGroup 2

Loughgiel vs St John’s

Sunday September 2

Venue: Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel

Throw in: 12:30pm

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

All roads lead to Fr Healy Park on Sunday for a 12:30 throw in.  Forget about the big ball game taking place later in the day at GAA Headquarters, Loughgiel and St John’s is the contest that will be everything we hope for in championship hurling.

The Shamrocks disposed of Rossa with consummate professionalism and ease last weekend.  They were expected to account for the Shaw’s Road men but the manner in how they dismantled the beleaguered Rossa challenge was hugely impressive.  There was no chance of over confidence creeping into the Shamrocks mindset.  60 minutes later, they had racked up a 33 point winning margin with six goals in the process to put one and a half feet into the semi-final.

A 20 minute cameo from the returning Liam Watson along with substitute appearances from Sian McGrath, Maol Connolly and Mark McFadden shows the strength in depth Johnny Campbell and Clinton Hennessey have at their disposal.  10 different scorers with Shay Casey finishing with an impressive 2-3 – Dan McCloskey (two) Sian McGrath and Tiernan Coyle netting the other majors for the 20 times champions of Antrim tells you the 2016 champions mean business from the word go.

St John’s have the benefit of two championship games already in their legs this year.  Something they haven’t been able to say at senior level for a long time in Corrigan Park.  There in alone lays the benefit of the round robin format.  That aside, the Johnnies were impressive in booking their place in the group stage, defeating Ballycastle with 22 points to spare over the two legs.

In recent years they’ve showed they are a dangerous team who are capable of turning over anyone on their day.  They were favourites to come through against Ballycastle and they did so while impressing those in attendance.  Preparations for Tony McNulty’s side have been hampered with the Johnnies footballers having a match against Lámh Dhearg during the week, the joys of being a dual club and they have injury concerns over Ciaran Johnston, Stephen Tierney and Simon McCrory with all three missing the second leg against Ballycastle.  McCrory remains a huge doubt while centre half Ryan McNulty had to come off in the same match but he, Tierney and Johnston are expected to make the starting 15.

When these two played in the league at the end of July in Corrigan Park, St John’s fought back to take a deserving share of the points available.  It gave us a glimpse of what could materialise on Sunday.  Loughgiel may start this one as slight favourites but I wouldn’t be surprised if St John’s sneak the win.  Momentum can do wonders for a teams confidence, look at last weekend with Clooney Gaels dismantling Cloughmills who had been playing a league above them but struggling while the Ahoghill men have gained promotion from Division Three.  Winning breads a winning mentality and St John’s have applied themselves well in the league and have upped the ante in the championship.  That being said, it would take a braver man than I to bet against the Shamrocks this weekend.  When it comes to the championship, they have a certain pedigree within the game in Antrim.  The name Loughgiel has been synonymous with the Antrim championship for a long time and they know how to win when it matters most.  They have all but secured their place in the semi-finals.  If the Johnnies do manage to beat the bookies, it would require Rossa to perform a minor miracle with a massive win over St John’s in match day three to leave Loughgiel facing championship oblivion while a Loughgiel victory leaves a straight shoot out in a Belfast derby.  The prospect of the match between the two west Belfast rivals certainly whets the appetite, I think the Johnnies will have to wait until then to book their place in the semi-final.  Loughgiel to win a tight contest.Scullion Hurls Logo5 copy text

by thesaffrongael

Intermediate quarter finals down for decision

Intermediate Hurling Championship preview

The four Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter finals are down for decision this weekend and I have to say that the feeling among the people I have spoken to since the publications of the fixtures is that they haven’t been given the importance they deserve, with one game set for 8.30 on Friday evening under the All Saints floodlights and another fixed for the day of the All Ireland football final. The other two overlap with one throwing in on Saturday at Ahoghill at 2 and the other starting and hour later in Dunloy at 3pm. The Intermediate is the most competitive of all the hurling championships and hurling fans would like to get the chance of seeing all four games. The Antrim winners are not in action until October 14th so with only two rounds after this they could easily have been fitted in. We all know the CCC have a very difficult task and spend many hours each week sorting out the fixtures, but surely it would have been possible to hold a couple of these games over to next weekend. I know the task is doubly difficult for dual clubs with the start of the football championships, but St Gall’s are not involved in the opening rounds and the Oisins don’t play football.AK_logo-line

Oisins v St Gall's

Friday 31st @ 8-30 pm in Ballymena

OISINS V ST GALL’S

Both these teams were in action in the preliminary rounds last weekend and while Glenariffe had a runaway win over Lamh Dhearg St Gall’s made things a bit tougher for themselves against Gort na Móna, though in truth they were never seriously challenged, despite having three men sent off. The league campaigns of both clubs have been vastly different with St Gall’s needing just one more point from their last two games to gain promotion while Oisins have the threat of relegation still hanging over them and need to win their last two games to have any chance of staying up.

In their head to head meetings in the league this season the Belfast men have come out on top with a 2-11 to 1-9 win at Milltown Row in April and an even more emphatic 2-18 to 1-12 victory in Waterfoot in August. All that would point towards a St Gall’s victory on Friday night but when it comes to the championship, league form has no real bearing and I think it will be a lot tougher this time around. The Oisins will have had a confidence boost with their win over Lamh Dhearg and though critics will point to the fact that it was a very weak Lamh Dhearg team they beat, and one that was only a shadow of the Junior Championship winning side of two years ago. However there is nothing like a high scoring win to get the confidence going again and they will feel they can carry that into Friday evening’s game.

St Gall’s were not maybe as convincing in their win over Gort na Móna but when the game was fifteen on fifteen they were always well in control, and even after they lost the three players they still controlled the game for the most part. The will be missing Mark Napier and Conor Burke from last week’s side after they received straight red cards but Jackson McGreevey is eligible OK as his was two yellow cards. The men from Milltown will be looking to the likes of Tomas O’Ciaran, star of the show against the Gorts, Jackson McGreevy and the McGourty brothers Kieran and CJ. CJ was surprisingly substituted last week after scoring 1-3 but the management must have felt they couldn’t risk him being injured with the Glenariffe game in mind. His brother in law Karl Stewart has made a return to the ranks this season and though he was a bit off the pace against Gort na Móna, he will benefit from the extra game and we all know he thrives on the big occasion.

Alex O’Boyle and Dan McKillop were the men who did most of the scoring last week against Lamh Dhearg with O’Boyle the shining star with 3-5 to his name. The Oisins will need them to be in similar form this time out, but they will find the going a bit tougher against a resolute St Gall’s defence.

All the signs point towards St Gall’s but the Oisins have the potential to do much better than their league form suggests and I think they could well cause an upset here.

EmMartin Hurls

St Enda's v Tir na nOgSaturday 1st Sept @ 2pm in Ahoghill

ST ENDA’S V TIR NA NÓG

This promises to be another close encounter between two teams who are separated by just three points in the league table. Theoretically St Enda’s still have and outside chance of promotion, but they would need a lot of things to go their way in other games to gain that second spot. Tir na nÓg were in the mix for a good part of the league campaign but after a very good start they fell away a bit, two of their defeats coming at the hands of this weekend’s opponents. Back in May the Glengormley men were convincing winners up at Hightown as they recorded a 1-17 to 1-8 win and though they completed the double earlier this month there was only a single point between the sides when the met in Randalstown when the game ended 1-13 to 0-17.

This is the first championship games of the season for both clubs as both avoided the preliminary round, but ended up getting drawn against each other in quarter finals. As the result of that last league game would suggest there is not much between the sides. Tir na nÓg lost out by a point in the Wednesday evening meeting on August 8th after following a similar fate against league winners Ballycastle three days earlier. Two defeats yes, but two very good performances nonetheless and they will go into this weekend’s game in good spirits.

Both teams have excellent free takers in their ranks with John McGoldrick providing a lot of the scores for St Enda’s and Kevin Sheerin doing the same for Tir na nÓg and these two men will be vital in this game. St Enda’s have Joe Maskey back in action after a foot injury while playing for Antrim in the Joe McDonagh Cup earlier in the season ruled him out for a couple of months and his presence in the Saints defence will be a major boost. The big defender actually made his comeback when he came on as a sub in that league game against Saturday’s opponents three weeks ago.

The Randalstown men will look to the Duffin and Sheerin brothers to provide much of the momentum, former Colleges star Sean Duffin a major player either at midfield or in the half forward line as indeed is the mercurial Kevin Sheerin on the edge of the square.

I’m sitting on the fence on this one with so little to choose between the sides. League form points towards St Enda’s but their last meeting was so close it’s hard to use that in the argument. Don’t be surprised if this one needs extra time, or maybe even a replay.

 

Rasharkin v CregganSaturday 1st @ 3pm in Dunloy

RASHARKIN V CREGGAN

Rasharkin enter the Intermediate fray on Saturday when they take on Creggan in Dunloy. The St Mary’s side had a bye in the preliminary draw and come into this game without a match under their belts, while Creggan are fresh from a win over Armoy last Sunday.

Both teams have plied their trade in Division 3 this season and in their one meeting back in April Creggan came out on top by 2-12 to 1-10 down in Dreen to end a great run by the St Mary’s men. When former All Star Paul McKillen took over as manager in Rasharkin at the start of this season they showed just what they are capable of and started the league campaign like a house on fire with wins over Ahoghill and Carey, the two teams who have since booked promotion back to Division 2. They slipped back a bit after that and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the top division when the leagues split into two sections back in July. However they are top of section two and will be confident of matching the Creggan men on Saturday.

Like Rasharkin Creggan started the league really well this season and for a long time they appeared to be heading back to Division 2 without any trouble. The wheels came off a little after a defeat to Carey back in the middle of July and they went on a losing run which saw them drop down the table and out of contention for promotion. However they were back on form on Sunday last when accounting for Armoy and will go into this game as favourites. With county star Conor McCann leading the line up front they have formidable scoring power and they are solid at the back. Rasharkin always relish a challenge and they will feel confident they can match their opponents in this one. The men from Dreen will look to the scoring power of Eamon McNeill, a player who would grace any forward line in the county, but they face a tough task in this one and Humpy McKillen will have to weave his managerial magic to get them over the line.

IMG_1608 copybCarey v Clooney GaelsSunday 2nd September @ 2pm in Loughgiel

CLOONEY GAELS V CAREY FAUGHS

Sunday sees what I would regard as the biggest clash of the four in the Intermediate ranks with Clooney Gaels taking on Carey on what must be a first Intermediate Championship game played in the day of the All Ireland Football Final. Both these team may have played in Division 3 this season but both have secured promotion and either side on their day can be a match for anyone in this competition.

In their two meetings in the league this season Clooney Gaels came out on top down in Ballyvoy back in April, winning by 3-19 to 2-15 while in the return fixture in Ahoghill at the start of August the points were shared as they ended level on 1-12 to 0-15.

Clooney’s win over Cloughmills in last weekend’s preliminary round was spectacular to say the least as they blew the St Brigid’s men away during the first half. With PJ O’Connell playing at midfield instead of his normal full forward role the supply to the forwards was plentiful and the two corner men James O’Connell and Dan O’Neill made hay while the sun shone. O’Connell bagged 2-13 over the hour, with 2-6 coming from play, while O’Neill weighed in with 1-4 from play.Sean McCormick copy

Carey were one of the sides who had a bye in the preliminary draw and they come into the game without a competitive game under their belts for the past few weeks. That time off could prove a blessing for the Faughs as a few star men like James Rocket Black, Shea Hunter and James McCouaig have been nursing injuries this season and the rest will surely aid their recovery. Rocket is a key man for the Faughs and when in full flow the Carey men prosper while Hunter’s hurling skills are second to none. McCouaig’s strength at the heart of the Faughs defence is vital. There full back line will be sorely tested on Sunday if they are to contain O’Connell and O’Neill, but Eoin Hill, Sean McBride and Peadar McVeigh are a match for anyone on their day.

It promises to be a cracking game and one worth missing a bit of the Dublin v Tyrone game for this Sunday. It could go either way and once again I feel this one could go to extra time, so you might end up missing a bit more of the All Ireland football final.Advert Strapline 07th aug 2015 copy

 

by thesaffrongael

McLaughlin treble keeps Cargin play-off hopes alive

Ciaran Doherty & Co Accountants Under-16 League

Tir na nOg 4-05 Erin’s Own Cargin 4-18

Cargin made a bold bid to reach the semi-finals of the South West under-16 league when aided fully by a hat trick of goals from the impressive Paudie McLaughlin they claimed the points on offer when they defeated Tir na nOg up at Whitehill on Thursday evening.

The Erin’s Own lads travelled up to Randalstown in the knowledge that a win was required if they were to be in line for a place in the top four of the competition and after making a quick getaway they always looked on route to the points.

Eunan Quinn had the opening point when he split the posts twice early in proceedings and both Paudie Mc Laughlin and PJ Quinn raised white flags apiece but the home side responded to go ahead by the 10th minute as Caspar Logan found the net.

Colla McDonnell (2), and Conor McCamphill had weighed in with points before the full forward latched on to a loose clearance and returned the leather post haste to the back of the net and Tir na nOg were in the lead.

The home side had earned a 1-03 advantage but in the event such was not to remain for long as Paudie McLaughlin led Cargin onwards to regain the lead.

PJ Quinn had raised a 13th minute point before Conan Kennedy’s intervention and clearance opened the way for the former to race through the home side defence and lash the ball to the back of the net.

A super goal from the gifted mid-fielder and he was about to add another in similar fashion when a 50 meter solo approach yielded another major and when PJ Quinn followed with a point the Toome boys were at 2-06 to 1-03 ahead.

The visitors went on to dominate the remainder of the half and looked in full control at the short blast when they had led 2-07 to 1-04.

Having concluded the opening period on the positive, Cargin started the second half in a similar mode and with Benen Kelly, Sean Gribbin, and PJ Quinn all raising early white flags they looked on route to the winning line.

Tir na nOg were having none of that however as they struck back with a vengeance and a couple of back to back goals.

The Cargin rear guard was caught napping as Colla McDonnell picked up a loose clearance in the 37th minute to return to the net and when the centre forward followed suit a minute later they were very much back in contention, just three points in arrears.

Cargin replied with an excellent Eunan Quinn point and although the home side responded with a Sean Grant score the irrepressible Paudie McLaughlin was just about to complete his hat trick.

An excellent kick out by the Cargin net-minder Shea Laverty found Benen Kelly on the right hand side and he delivered to PJ Quinn before the corner man placed the incoming Paudie McLaughlin to provide a devastating finish.

Eunan Quinn followed with a 44th minute point and when the impressive mid fielder linked with Cahir O’ Boyle to fire into the corner of the net the die was cast as the Toome lads had moved into a 4-13 to 3-05 lead.

A fine approach and a slick finish saw Daniel O’ Neill grab a 50th minute goal for the Whitehill side but in the event the corner forward’s strike only served to spur the visitors into further action.

Paudie McLaughlin, Eunan Quinn (2), PJ Quinn, and Sean og O’ Neill weighed in with respective points in the latter stages to see the Cargin lads conclude with a 4-18 to 4-06 winning scoreline and remain on course for the play offs.

 

Referee Tomas Eastwood (St Enda’s)

 

Teams: Tir na nOg: Ethan Higgins, Jude Carey, Paddy Dougan, Oliver Mc Donnell, Conor Mc Camphill (0-01), Paddy Higgins, Ronan Crilly, Brendan Mc Lernon, Josh Higgins, Jack Murray, Colla Mc Donnell (2-03), Sean Grant (0-01), Barry Fitzgerald, Caspar Logan (1-00), Daniel O’ Neill (1-00)

 

Subs

Conor Hastings for R Crilly

 

Cargin: Shea Laverty, Cahir Donnelly, Oran Molloy, Diarmuid Mc Peake, Malachai Johnston, Sean og O’ Neill (0-01), Conan Kennedy, Paudie Mc Laughlin (3-03), Eunan Quinn (1-05), Shane Gribbin, Benen Kelly (0-02), Tom Shivers (0-01), Cahir O’ Boyle, PJ Quinn (0-05), Sean Gribbin (0-01)

 

Charlie Mc Cann for T Shivers

by thesaffrongael

Brídíní Óga into semi-final

dohertywoodshavings copyDoherty Woodshavings Antrim Junior Camogie Championship quarter-final
Brídíní Óga Glenravel 5-10 Ballycastle 0-5
Brídíní Óga started this game with a goal from Sabrina Spiers in the
opening minute and that set the tone for the duration of the first half.
The Glenravel half-back line took a grip of the game, Beth McAuley and
Úna McAleenan kept the sliotar moving through the middle and the pace
of Niamh Donnelly and Aimee Traynor opened Ballycastle’s defence for
some excellent scores while the aggression of inside forwards Sabrina
Spiers and Oonagh Ward forced goals.
The visitors worked hard throughout with Cathy Christie, Grainne Hunter,
Donna Busby and Megan Brolly vatching the eye.
Apart from a point from Hunter in the 6th minute, it was all about
Brídíní Óga going forward and keeping the Town defence under plenty
of pressure.
Long range scores from Niamh Donnelly and Aimee Traynor as well as edge
of the square goals from Sabrina Spiers and Oonagh Ward meant that
Glenravel soon built up a lead of 5-8 to 0-1.
Scoring slowed during the second half, as Ballycastle hit back and
Grainne Hunter and Úna Kelly took a couple of good points, while Cathy
Christie floated over two fine long range frees
Next up for Brídíní Óga is a semi-final against Creggan on Monday
night at a neutral venue, Ballycastle play Rossa in the Shield
Brídíní Óga : Jade Bradley, Ashling Mulvenna, Caroline Donnelly
capt, Lauren Edgar, Dara Martin, Maria McKenna, Leona Traynor, Beth
McAuley, Úna McAleenan, Niamh Donnelly (0-4, 0-1 free), Megan McKillop,
Eimear Higgins, Aimee Traynor (1-3), Oonagh Ward (3-0), Sabrina Spiers
(1-2).
Subs : Niamh McKendry, Niamh McKay (0-1), Gemma McKeown, Justine
O’Hagan, Maeve Mulholland, Clara Duffy, Alishia McPeake.
Ballycastle : Caitriona Hill, Oonagh McCaughan, Catherine McAuley,
Nicola OHara, Louise Crawford, Donna Busby, Claire Neill, Siobhan
Donnelly, Eimhear ONeill, Megan Brolly, Cathy Christie (0-2 frees),
Aideen McGee, Breige McCarry, Grainne Hunter (0-2), Louise McNeill.
Sub : Úna Kelly (0-1)