Month / September 2018
Glenavy come strong in game of two halves to reach semi-final
South West U16B Football League Qualifier
Glenavy 3-13
Clan na Gael 1-8
Glenavy emerged as the winners of this SW Antrim U16 Shield Section play-off after an entertaining game against Clan na Gael at Chapel Hill to progress through to the league semi-final against Moneyglass next week.
In what can best be described as a game of two halves – Clan na Gael began the game the brightest and got off the mark first with 3 unanswered points from the outset. Glenavy continued to press hard and had their fair share of possession however they just couldn’t seem to find their range in the final third and wasted a number of chances in front of goal. After another period of Glenavy possession, Clan na Gael intercepted the ball on their own 45 yard line and with a sweeping counter attack blasted the ball to the Glenavy net to leave the score 1-4 to 0-0 after 15 minutes in favour of the visitors. Glenavy finally got off the mark in the 18th minute with a fine score from Darragh Armstrong who was winning plenty of ball in the full forward line. Glenavy seemed to be gaining a foothold in the match however some excellent goalkeeping from the Clan na Gael keeper saw him pull of three point blank saves to deny Paddy O’Leary and Finn Malley from finding the net. A period of end to end football followed with Glenavy tagging on three more scores before half time to Clan na Gael’s one leaving the score-line at the interval 1-5 to 0-4 in favour of the visitors.
The second half saw a determined Glenavy team return to the field and in the opening 10 minutes after the restart, the men in orange dominated and turned the game on its head with five unanswered points to take the lead by a point. The Glenavy men kept the ball in their opponents half and some fine football from the Callum Crighton, James Mulholland and Lorcan Murphy in the forward line rewarded the home side with some fine scores. The major breakthrough for Glenavy came just at the end of their purple patch after half time – some fine fielding from the impressive Rory Nelson won the ball from a Clan na Gael kick-out – he offloaded the ball to the onrushing Finn Malley who weaved his way through the defence to blast the ball to the net to give Glenavy the goal which had been coming. In truth, Glenavy never looked back from this moment and could sense the game was turning in their favour.
Clan na Gael to their credit stayed in the game and continued to attack however some great defending by Jack McCann, Michael Fox and Cian Shannon kept them at bay and limited them to only a few attempts on goal. Timmy Honeyford produced another fine display at full back for Glenavy also as well as Matthew Lawlor limiting the Clan na Gael forwards and frustrating their efforts.
Glenavy continued to build on their lead and being driven on by the outstanding Darragh Doherty at centre half back they continued to tag on scores and increase their lead as the light began to fade at Chapel Hill. The introduction of Shay O’Neill and Fiontán O’Boyle into the Glenavy full forward line gave them the boost required to see out the match – firstly with O’Neill offloading to the prolific Paddy O’Leary to see the ball home into the net for his fourth goal in two games and then with O’Boyle laying the ball through to Callum Crighton to finish with an excellent goal it was clear the home side were going to emerge on top. Clann na Gael continued to press whenever they had possession and had several chances for scores in the second half however they found it difficult to convert these just as Glenavy had in the first half.
By the end of the game, visibility was virtually non-existent as the light faded for the last ten minutes – Glenavy saw out the game and progress through to the league semi-final against Moneyglass next week with St Enda’s taking on Creggan in the other semi -final.
Faughs and St Gall’s start favourites
Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals
Carey Faughs v Creggan Kickhams @ 3-30pm in Armoy
It is going to be town v country in the Intermediate Hurling final as Saturday’s semi-final pits Carey Faughs from North Antrim against Creggan Kickhams from the South West, while Sunday’s showdown sees South Antrim rivals St Gall’s take on St Enda’s at Corrigan Park. St Enda’s do play their underage hurling in North Antrim but most hurling people would still regard them as being from the city.
Saturday’s meeting sees the Faughs head back to Armoy, scene of last season’s final defeat to Sarsfields, to take on a team with real championship pedigree. The men from the shores of Lough Neagh have tasted success in this competition just three years ago when they beat Carey at Saturday’s venue on September 19th 2015 before going on to add the Ulster title, after having won the Ulster and All Ireland junior crowns just two years previous.
Carey have been knocking at the door for a few years now without getting over the line and they are desperate to do so this time around. After dropping down to Division 3 last season the men from Ballyvoy have fought back from a bad start to the season to win promotion back to the second tier. In their most recent meeting with Saturday’s opponents they recorded a seven point win over the Kickhams in Carey on August 8th (2-16 to 2-9) while just three weeks earlier they travelled to Creggan and beat them by 0-21 to 2-19 in a much tighter affair. In their quarter final against Cloney Gaels they really turned on the style as they beat an Ahoghill team who had been most impressive when beating Cloughmills in the opening round. Many had tipped the Ahoghill men to go all the way but Carey had their measure as they won by 2-20 to 2-13.
Creggan started the season really well and were going great guns early on until the wheels came off the wagon midway through the league campaign. They won their first six games and were sitting top of the table but things turned against them badly and a series of defeats, including one to Carey, derailed their promotion hopes. Of course what you have to take into consideration in the fact that Creggan are a dual club and many of the team are turning out for the footballers every other week, a football team that has been going from strength to strength this season. They were back in good form when beating Rasharkin in the quarter final of hurling two weeks ago and as the championship season gets to the business end of things they have the pedigree and know-how to compete with anyone.
Recent league form would point towards a Carey win here but championship hurling, and the pressure it creates, is a completely different matter. There is a lot at stake for both teams in what should be a real thriller so let’s hope the weather is kind and the crowds turn out in big numbers.
St Enda’s v St Gall’s
Sunday @ 5pm in Corrigan Park.
2016 beaten finalists St Enda’s will bid to get back to another decider when they take on St Gall’s in Sunday’s semi-final at Corrigan Park. Two years ago the Glengormley outfit looked set to win their first title at this grade when they led Cloughmills down the home straight but a late goal from the Biddies Liam Kearns snatched the carpet from under them at the death. Since winning the club’s first ever adult hurling title back in 2012 when they beat Cushendun in a replay of the Junior Hurling Championship the men from Hightown have had their sights firmly set on winning the Intermediate crown. They have recorded some memorable wins along the way, including an extra time victory over Osins in the 2016 semi-final, but their search for the Intermediate crown still goes on.
They were impressive in their quarter final win over Tir na nÓg two weeks ago. After a tight first half it appeared they were up against it when they lost star forward John McGoldrick to a second yellow card early in the second half, but rather than hinder them it appeared to lift their game another notch and they went on to record a 3-17 to 2-8 win.
Their league form has been good and though they missed out on promotion they finished in third place, one behind St Gall’s but in their head to head with Sunday’s opponents they haven’t fared so well. When the side met at Milltown Row back in June St Gall’s were much the better team as they ran out convincing winners by 2-18 to 0-7, though it was a much tighter affair in the return leg in August up in Glengormley when just four points separated the sides (1-16 to 2-17)
It is nine years since the men from the Bog Meadows last won the Intermediate title, beating Lamh Dhearg in the final in Casement Park before going on to win Ulster and eventually qualify for an All Ireland final when they lost to St Lachtain’s of Kilkenny. Of course they have since gone on to qualify for a county senior final in 2014, and though they were well beaten that day, to reach a senior final was quite an achievement for a side who are mainly regarded as a football club.
They started their league campaign badly this season and after suffering early defeats they started to get their old squad together and slowly but surely the climbed up the table to seal promotion to the top grade once again. In their preliminary round game against Gort na Móna they were cruising to victory until they ended up getting three men sent off. That really put the cat among the pigeons for a spell but in the end they rode out the storm to book a place in the quarter final against Oisins.
Under the lights at Quinn Park, Ballymena they had just too much know-how for the Glenariffe men, adapting much better to the conditions to win by 1-17 to 1-9. During the first half there wasn’t a lot between the sides but as they game progressed they got the better of things and during the second half they were always in control.
St Gall’s will go into Sunday’s game as favourites, and indeed probably favourites to win the title outright. However St Enda’s will be no push over and they will take courage from their most recent league meeting when just four points separated the sides.
Final places up for grabs in Junior Huring Championship
Antrim Junior Hurling Championship semi-finals previews
The semi-finals of the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship will be held this weekend with Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm facing St Teresa’s under the lights at Quinn Park (8-00pm), Ballymena on Friday evening in one semi-final while Cushendun play St Paul’s in the other at Armoy on Saturday afternoon. (2-00pm) While the teams in the Saturday’s semi have both a game under their belts for Friday’s opponents it will be their first time they have dipped their toes in the championship water this season. The two actually met in the opening round last year in Ballymena with Glenarm coming out on top on that occasion to start a run which brought them all the way to the final, before losing to Gort na Móna.
In last year’s meeting, played at the same venue, there was little to separate the sides in the opening quarter but Glenarm got on top approaching half time and they pushed on to win well in the end. However the men from Feystown have not been going as well this season, albeit in Division 3 where relegation looms large. They face fellow strugglers Carryduff in the final game of the season to decide who stays up and who goes down along with Lamh Dhearg. St Teresa’s are lying fifth in Division 4 with 7 wins from their 14 games, but they have won their last 3 and that will give them a boost going into Friday’s game. Glenarm have been without the services of a couple of last season’s regulars during their league campaign this year and they will be hoping to have them back for this one. Neither team will have much experience of playing under floodlights and how either side adapts could have a big bearing on the game. Glenarm should have just about enough to get them over the line but it is hard to judge. If they can reproduce the form of last year another final place awaits.
In the second semi-final on Saturday at 2pm in Armoy St Paul’s play Cushendun Emmet’s. Both teams have a win under their belts, St Paul’s accounting for Con Magees two weeks ago in Ahoghill while Cushendun beat Junior B winners All Saints Ballymena. The Belfast men were impressive as they saw off Glenravel with a bit to spare, the bulk of their scores coming from the highly dangerous Niall Peoples at corner forward and Gerard Carbery on the 40. Carbery’s free taking was top class that day and the Cushendun defence will need to be disciplined or Carberry will punish their indiscretions. Peoples was really on fire that day against the Con Magees and if the Emmets are to progress then they need to find a way of curtailing the talented forward.
Cushendun scored freely against All Saints in their quarter final in Armoy, but they also conceded a lot of scores. 4-22 was an impressive tally and would get you over the line most days, but the concession of 4-11 against the B champions is not so clever and team manager Chris Dornan will know that he needs to tighten things up at the back. Going on league form ‘Dorny’s’ men would have the edge after beating St Paul’s by 4-13 to 2-10 up in Shaw’s Road back in April, and when the league split Cushendun made it into the top half while St Paul’s dropped to the B section. However the Emmet’s are bottom of Section A while St Paul’s sit in fifth place Section B, so there is not really a lot to choose between them.
My predictions in previous rounds have been so far out I’ll just sit on the fence for this one but it promises to be a decent game and one worth getting along to Armoy to see.
Saints seconds stay in touch
O’Neill’s ACFL Division 2 Reserve
All Saints 6-12 Gort na Mona 1-6
In the division 2 Reserve game that preceded last night’s senior game between All Saints and Davitt’s, last year’s winners All Saints entertained Gort na Mona with second place in this year’s league the prize both sides were striving for.
St. Paul’s look odds on favourites to finish top of the league with two games remaining but a win last night moves All Saints into second place, above St. Ergnat’s on score difference and they made their intentions clear from early in the game.
Playing an attractive brand of football the Quinn Park side moved the ball about confidently and their pace, support play and clinical finishing made it a tough night for the visiting ‘Gorts’. An early goal by Dee Kelly sent All Saints on their way and they pushed on to lead 2-5 to 0-4 at the break.
Kelly added a second goal 12 minutes into the game and points from Luke O’Rawe, Damian Gillan, Ruairi McKenna and a couple from Declan McNally accounted for their total at the break when they led by seven points.
Damian Kelly continued to show the younger members of his side the way to goal with a virtuoso performance in the second half as he added two more goals and put another on a plate for Lee Kirk and an equally impressive Luke O’Rawe added a sixth as the flood gates opened.
This was a solid performance by an All Saints side who haven’t quite reached the heights of last year but one that contains quite a few talented individuals who look capable of pushing on to play senior football.
Matthew Downey caught the eye in a rock solid All Saints defence and got the point his never-stop-running style deserved in the second half and looks a player with a bright future while Luke O’Rawe, Damian Kelly and Mark Muchan were others to catch the eye in a very pleasing team performance.
A word of praise also for referee Paul Burns of St. Comgall’s who allowed play to flow and was up with the play throughout.