Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final
St. Mary’s Ahoghill 9-30 Ballycastle 0-1
This Junior camogie quarter-final turned into a one-way procession as St. Mary’s Ahoghill proved much too strong for visitors Ballycastle at Cloney tonight. The home side led from start to finish and three goals in the opening seven minutes set the tone for what was to follow.
Catriona Graham got the first after 30 seconds and Noreen Graham added two more as the home side laid siege on the visitors goal. Catriona Graham, Maura Downey and Noreen Graham added a flurry of points as the gallant Ballycastle third string battled bravely to contain the incessant surge towards their goal.
Noreen Graham completed her hat trick by the end of the opening quarter as the Cloney girls continued to carve open an over stretched visitors defence with the strong running Maura Downey striking some excellent points and Louise McNeill in the Ballycastle goals coming to her side’s rescue on a number of occasions.
The Ballycastle captain was left with no chance as the onslaught continued however as Noreen Graham fired home her fourth and her sides fifth goal and by half time the home side had this one well and truly wrapped up when they led 5-18 to 0-1, the Ballycastle score coming from the hard working Beck Ellis who pointed a 23d minute free.
Ahoghill continued to press on the restart with Fiona Blaney and Caitriona Graham driving them forward from mid-field and a strong defence denying Ballycastle any opportunity to add to their first half total.
The superb Maura Downey hammered home goal number six in the second minute of the second half and another from the equally impressive Noreen Graham after five minutes saw Ahoghill move out of sight of their opponents.
Further goals from Aine Graham in the 9th and 10th minutes brought the home side’s tally to nine and the goals dried up after that with the home side content to finish with a flurry of points
Ahoghill go forward to meet Loughgiel in the semi-final and they are likely to face a much stiffer test in that one but it is a challenge Dermot Graham’s side will welcome and on tonight’s showing they shouldn’t fear anyone.
Their defence didn’t have a lot to do over the hour but they dealt competently with anything that came their way while Catriona Graham and Fiona Blaney controlled matters from mid-field. In a very lively attack Maura Downey, Noreen Graham and Aine Graham were the players who provided the greatest threat and the majority of the scores.
Before throw in I overheard the Ballycastle management asking for a big effort throughout and despite the scoreline he got it in bagful’s. Louise McNeill in goals couldn’t be faulted for any of the Ahoghill goals and saved her side from an even bigger hammering while Justine Kelly, Caoimhe Hunter and Laura Neill were best in a defence who worked their socks off.
St. Mary’s Ahoghill: Angela Townsend, Nicola Doherty, Mairead McCloskey, Sinead McKenna, Emma McGlone, Eadaoin McGarry, Tracy Hardy, Catriona Graham, Fiona Blaney, Paula Gribbin, Aine Graham, Maura Downey, Anne Marie O’Neill, Noreen Graham, Ciara McGuigan. Subs: Caitlin McLaughlin, Dearbhaile Graffin, Fionnuala McKeever, Caitlin O’Hagan, Brona McGuigan
Ballycastle: Louise McNeill, Justine Kelly, Sinead McBride, Caoimhe Hunter, Nuala McCaughan, Riona Loufthouse, Laura Neill, Emer O’Neill, Beck Ellis, Louise McNeill, Grainne O’Neill, Ciara Mathers, Briege McCarry, Aideen McGee, Kierna McGinty.
Referee: Jimmy Totten Cargin)
