Countess of Antrim Cup – North Antrim Hurling
Carey Faughs 1–12 St Brigid’s Cloughmills 0-8
When these two sides met in ACHL Div 2 two weekends ago, Carey came away comfortable winners by twelve points in a high scoring entertaining game.
On what felt like a winters day today, blustery conditions were never going to allow a repeat of the free flowing hurling displayed last time out, but the result still went Carey’s way in a game which the Ballyvoy men controlled from start to finish.
When referee Malachy Leech got proceedings underway, it was Cloughmills who registered the first score of the game with a Mickey Devlin score from play, quickly answered by a Darren McGowan point for Carey. Devlin then slotted over a free for Cloughmills after five minutes to give his side a one point advantage, but this was to be the last time they would lead during the hours play.
Over the next fifteen minutes Carey took control and registered five points, four of which came from play, from James McCouaig, Sean McLoughlin, two from the hurl of Conor McBride, plus a James Black free. During this time Cloughmills only reply came from a Mickey Devlin free which after 25 minutes left the score 0-6 to 0-3 in Carey’s Favour, but in truth it should have been more only for some wasteful shooting by Carey during this spell when they were well on top.
It looked like this may prove to be costly, as after 26 minutes Ruairi Laverty popped a point over the bar for Cloughmills and then on the blow for halftime, Liam Kearns made no mistake from a placed ball to cut the arrears to the minimum at the halftime interval. (0-6 to 0-5)
Carey however made a great start to the second half, James Black split the posts with a free in the first minute, before Caolan McCaughan made one of his usual runs forward from midfield to score a nice point. The game was all but put to bed in the thirty sixth minute when Fiachra McVeigh was found on the twenty metre line, where he advanced towards goal before lifting the roof of the Cloughmills net with a rifled shot which gave the keeper no chance.
The game petered out a bit in the final twenty minutes with both sides making a number of substitutions which broke up the play. Carey kept Cloughmills at arms-length, with points from Martin Hunter, Patrick Butler, Conor McBride and Cathair Brogan. Cloughmills scoring two from play from Liam Kearns and one free from Mickey Devlin to leave Carey seven point victors at the full time whistle.
A solid performance from Carey, who had Sean McBride, Peader McVeigh, and James McCouaig showing well in a good defensive unit which limited Cloughmills to only three points from play. Caolan McCaughan, James Black and Sean McLoughlin performed best up front for Carey. For Cloughmills, Conor Laverty, Mickey Devlin and Aaron Smylie were the players who stood out.
Referee: Malachy Leech (Glenariffe)
Carey Faughs scorers:
C McBride 0-3, F McVeigh 1-0, J Black 0-2 (0-2f) C McCaughan 0-1, D McGowan 0-1, J McCouaig 0-1, S McLoughlin 0-1, M Hunter 0-1, P Butler 0-1, C Brogan 0-1.
Cloughmills scorers:
L Kearns 0-3 (0-1f), M Devlin 0-4 ((0-3f), R Laverty 0-1.
Pics by Ann Gillan/AG Photography
Carey Faughs:
1. Dylan McMullan
2. Colm McBride
3. Sean McBride
4. Peter Murphy
5. Michael McVeigh
6. James McCouaig
7. Peader McVeigh
8. Patrick Butler
9. Caolan McCaughan
10. Sean McLoughlin
11. Gerard McBride
12. James Black
13. Patrick Gillan
14. Darren McGowan
15. Conor McBride
Subs used. Fiachra McVeigh, Daniel Martin, Martin Hunter, Cathair Brogan, Christopher Butler.
