McQuillan’s Ballycastle played host to St Brigids Cloughmills on Saturday night in a re-arranged league game. The sides having played out a 0-21 to 2-15 draw in the reverse fixture back in July, the only league points dropped by the Black and Amber men this season to date.

The home side were in no mood for any repeat performance, and raced to an early lead through points from Conor Boyd,and two from Kevin Barry McShane before Diarmuid McShane made no mistake finishing to the net after a neat passing move, to give his side a 1-3 to 0-1 advantage ten minutes in. Another Diarmuid McShane point further extended the lead.

Midway through the half, a huge poc from keeper Ryan McGarry was superbly fielded by Staunton who turned neatly for a classy point. Staunton would add a further two points before half time as would Conor Boyd, with Ciaran Butler, Aaron Mooney and Shane McCarry chipping in with a point each to leave the Town in front 1-13 to 0-7.

Cloughmills looked re-energised and spearheaded by ace marksman Liam Kearns they hit five early second halfpoints. Ballycastle responded with a Ronan ‘Rambo’ McCarry point ,and ‘Castle substitute Cathal Connor  found the net shortly after his introduction.

Two Conor Boyd pointed frees, two Diarmuid McShane pointed frees and a Ciaran Butler point from play, cancelled out the second Cloughmills goal, before the Town signed off with their third goal, a superb solo effort,Shane Staunton accelerating through the Cloughmills defence, beating any attempted tacklers, and having the composure to rifle the sliothar to the net.

Following the game, the Division 2 Cup was presented to Ballycastle captain Matthew Donnelly by Owen Elliott on behalf on the County Board.

McQuillans:Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Sean Kelly, Eamon Elliott; Conor Donnelly, Matthew Donnelly, Shane McCarry (0-1); Conor Boyd,(0-5), Ronan McCarry (0-1); Shane Staunton(1-3), Diarmuid McShane(1-4), Aaron Mooney (0-1); Kevin Barry McShane (0-3) , Ciaran Butler (0-2) , Andrew Lofthouse. Subs: Brendan Connor for R McGarry , Cathal Connor (1-0) for Lofthouse, Ben McQuillan for KB McShane