Sunday’s game in Newry was one we will remember for a long time with a big crowd in attendance. Hurling fans from throughout Ulster came to Pairc Esler to see two great teams in opposition and it is interesting looking through the variety of club crests from around Ulster who mixed with the fans
Month / January 2020
Philly Curran shares his thoughts on Naomh Eanna’s clash with Tullaroan
McBride magic gives Antrim perfect start
Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Section B
Antrim 2-8
Fermanagh 0-13
A moment of genius from man of the match Paddy McBride turned this McKenna Cup game on its head as Antrim struck late in the game to snatch victory in an entertaining McKenna Cup encounter against a fancied Fermanagh at Ahoghill today.
Substitute Conor Murray was fouled close to goal and as the Fermanagh defence protested the ball was moved forward. The visitors continued to dispute the decision and the St. John’s man stepped forward to send a bullet like shot past Thomas Treacy to give his side the lead for the first time deep in injury time.
From the resulting kick out a flare up ensued and Antrim’s Marc Jordan, who had a fine debut at mid-field for the Saffrons and Fermanagh’s Ciaran Corrigan were dismissed and from the resulting Fermanagh free the full-time whistle sounded.
Antrim were full value for their win but will look back on quite a number of missed chances prior to McBride’s late strike yet there was plenty about their performance over the hour to have pleased their manager, Lenny Harbison and his backroom team.
Playing with the wind in the opening half it was the Erne siders who enjoyed the better of the play and led by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break though Antrim had enjoyed a good deal of possession but the final shot or pass let them down on a number of occasions.
Antrim were much better in the second period and when they moved the ball through the hands at pace, they looked dangerous going forward with Ruairi McCann a good outlet in the full-forward line, while McBride and newcomer Marc Jordan also caught the eye throughout.
McCann looked in for a score after making a good mark on the edge of the Fermanagh square but while surrounded by Fermanagh players, referee Kevin Faloon penalised him for over-carrying as he hadn’t specifically called the mark.
Things got a while to get going as both teams took a time to settle but it was the visitors who raised the first flag as Marc McAuley shot them into a fifth minute lead and they doubled the advantage when Stephen McGullion finished a patient move from out on the right.
Antrim created a number of promising build up but found it difficult to break down a packed Fermanagh defence but they finally got off the mark after 12 minutes with Peter Healy applying the finish after a good build up.
Ciaran Corrigan for the visitors and Paddy McBride for the Saffrons exchanged further scores but on 18 minutes the visitors might have moved further ahead as Darragh McGurn advanced from the left and squared the ball for Tiarnan Bogue, but the Tempo man’s fisted effort came off the crossbar and was cleared.
Fermanagh kept up the pressure and looked to be taking control as McCauley pointed a free and then Lorcan McStravick played a fine pass into Darragh McGurn who curled over to open a four-point gap.
Antrim replied with McBride pointing a free and then the St John’s man played a good ball into Ruairi McCann who applied the finish, but Fermanagh made the better finish to the half with Aidan Breen pointing from the left and McCauley converting a free as Ryan McMenamin’s side led 0-8 to 0-4 at the short whistle.
Antrim stepped up their efforts after the break and their running game began to open up the visitors defence and a move instigated at midfield by Jordan involving substitute Niall Delargy, McCann and Odhran Eastwood resulted in McBride taking a pass on the right and crashing the ball to the net.
Fermanagh responded well with McAuley and McGurn kicking points, while at the other end Antrim wasted a number of opportunities with two dropping short and McCann’s punched effort from close range coming back off an upright with the keeper beaten.
Darragh McGurn responded at the other end with a point following a turnover and while Colum Duffin hit back for the Saffrons an Aidan Breen point from another turnover left Fermanagh four ahead with 13 to play.
To their credit, Antrim continued to fight, producing some excellent passages of play and after McBride kicked another free, a good move from left to right saw Eunan Walsh curl over to leave just two between the sides.
Breen picked up a black card and 10 minutes in the sin-bin as one of the new rules came into play and Antrim began to grow in stature and belief.
Even when Eoin McManus kicked a fine score from range for Fermanagh to make it a three-point game with as many to go, Antrim continued to push on and get it back to two thanks to Conor Murray.
It looked that their efforts might be in vain however but McBride’s quick thinking saw him rifle that late free to the Fermanagh net with the game well into time added and there was no time for Fermanagh to reply as Antrim claimed the points ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Newry to face Down to decide who tops the group.
The Antrim management will be pleased with satisfactory debuts from Ben Rice, Ciaran Garland and Marc Jordan while the introduction of Ricky Johnston, Niall Delargy and Ruairi Scott in the second half added extra impetus to the Saffron effort and McBride rightly picked up the Bank of Ireland Man of the Match award.
ANTRIM: A Hasson; B Rice, P Gallagher, C garland; D Lynch, J McAuley, P Healy (0-1); C Duffin (0-1), M Jordan; E Walsh (0-1), P McBride (2-3, 1-3 frees), F Burke; R McCann (0-1), C Small, O Eastwood. Subs: N Delargy for B Rice (HT), R Johnston for C Garland (HT), E Nagle for O Eastwood (45), R Scott for F Burke (49), C Murray (0-1) for C Small (62).
FERMANAGH: T Treacy; J Cassidy, L Jones, K McDonnell; R Breen, R O’Callaghan, E Shiels; E Donnelly, S McGullion (0-1); L McStravick, A Breen (0-2), C Corrigan (0-2); M McCauley (0-4, 2 frees), D McGurn (0-3), T Bogue. Subs: B Daly for E Shiels (34), D Teague for L McStravick (42), J McMahon for T Bogue (52), E McManus (0-1) for M McCauley (56), U Kelm for R Breen (70).
REFEREE: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)
Lamh Dhearg’s Marc Jordan who had a fine debut at mid-field for the Saffrons
Thomas Treacy makes his way back to gather Paddy McBride’s shot from the net
Angela Canning presents the Bank of Ireland man of the match award to Antrim’s Paddy McBride. Included is Ulster council member, Michael Hasson.
Antrim reclaim the McGurk Cup with win over Down
McGurk Cup Final at QUB
Antrim 2-19 Down 0-13
Saturday January 4
Brendan McTaggart reports from The Dub Arena, Belfast
Antrim claimed their first piece of silverware for the 2020 season with a 12 point win over Down in the McGurk Cup Final at Queens Playing Fields on Saturday night. It was a more workman like performance from the Saffrons who rarely showed the attacking flair they have in recent games but they did enough to see off the dogged challenge of the men from the Ards.
Neil McManus top scored with nine points over the 70 minutes in a man of the match performance while Niall McKenna and Alex Delargy bagged the goals in each half, Delargy continuing his rich vein of goal scoring form in an Antrim shirt with his 60th minute goal,
Antrim did take some time to show any of the form they have shown. It was the 16th minute before they scored from play and they went 13 minutes in the opening quarter without registering a score but. A number of bad missed chances threatened to derail their challenge but Down weren’t fairing much better at the other end of the field in an error strewn opening.
Conor Johnston’s point in the 16th minute was the Saffrons first from play but Antrim trailed by just two points in the 19th minute. They turned that into a three point lead by the 29th minute though with a run of five unanswered points. Domhnall Nugent, Niall McKenna, Ronan Molloy, Conor Johnston and Michael Bradley all with the scores from open play and Antrim were looking more like themselves.
Their first goal came with the next attack and owed much to the strength and vision of Nugent. Collecting the sliotar, the St Johns man was surrounded but he managed to stave off the challenges before finding McKenna. The Sarsfields man had company but smartly finished to put daylight between the sides.
Half time score Antrim 1-9 Down 0-7
Antrim stretched their lead to 10 points by the 46th minute thanks to McManus (two), McKenna and an excellent point from Gerard Walsh. The Rossa man leaving his defensive berth to split the posts from distance.
Down kept the scoreboard ticking with Oisin McManus’ frees and Tim Prenter finding the required accuracy but Antrim held a nine point lead when Delargy scored their second goal in the 60th minute. On the field for barely a minute, James McNaughton danced away from two challenges before speeding clear through the Down defence. He passed to Delargy in space and the Cushendall man drilled home to quell any thoughts of a Down comeback.
Conor Boyd and McNaughton scored either side of Oisin McManus’ sixth free of the night to ensure a comfortable win for the Saffrons. With the match doubling up as the Kehoe Cup semi-final, Antrim now face Offaly next weekend in Abbottstown with more silverware on the line.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Gerard Walsh, Ciaran Johnston, Stephen Rooney; Paddy Burke, Eoghan Campbell, Matthews Donnelly; Ryan McCambridge, Neil McManus; Michael Bradley, Ronan Molloy, Niall McKenna; Conor Johnston, Domhnall Nugent, Alex Delargy
Subs: Dan McCloskey for Conor Johnston (HT); Aodhan O’Brien for R McCambridge (46); Conor Boyd for M Donnelly (52); James O’Connell for M Bradley (52); James McNaughton for R Molloy (60)
Scorers: Neil McManus 0-9 (6 f’s); Niall McKenna 1-2; Alex Delargy 1-00; Conor Johnston 0-2; Ronan Molloy 0-1; Michael Bradley 0-1; Domhnall Nugent 0-1; Conor Boyd 0-1; Gerard Walsh 0-1; James McNaughton 0-1
Down: Stephen Keith; John McManus, Caolan Taggart, Darragh Mallon; Liam Savage, Conor Woods, Marc Fisher; PJ Davidson, Phelim Savage; Matt Conlon, Ryan McCusker, Ronan Costello; Oisin McManus, Eoghan Sands, Tim Prenter
Subs: Chris Egan for R Costello (HT); Tom Murray for P Savage (42); Donal Og Rooney for PJ Davidson (52); __ for D Mellon (56); Niall Fitzsimmons for L Savage (68)
Scorers: Oisin McManus 0-6 (6 f’s); Tim Prenter 0-2; Conor Woods 0-2 (2 f’s); Liam Savage 0-1; Ryan McCusker 0-1; Phelim Savage
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Ballinascreen, Derry)
Naomh Éanna dream ended by terrific Tullaroan
AIB All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Naomh Éanna 0-14 Tullaroan 3-20
Saturday January 4
Brendan McTaggart reports from Parnell Park, Dublin
Naomh Éanna’s All-Ireland dream ended at the semi-final stage on Saturday afternoon as Tullaroan proved too big a hurdle for the Antrim champions to overcome. The Kilkenny men were excellent all over the field and showed little or no weaknesses. They claimed the vast majority of breaking ball and Naomh Éanna struggled for any fluency in attack.
Tullaroan made the kind of start Naomh Éanna would have dreamed of the night before. A goal in the fourth minute with Tommy Walsh applying the finish while on his knees. The Hightown Road side fought back but the piviotal moment of the first half and possibly the game came in the 10th minute. Both Darrach Cooper and John McGoldrick had goal chances but were denied by Paul Buggy between the sticks for Tullaroan. The Kilkenny men never looked back and scored three points in as many minutes in response to extend their lead to six midway through the half.
Naomh Éanna showed the workrate, commitment and desire throughout the first half we became accustomed to. Joe Maskey and Ryan Bogue going through a mountain of work while their defence was under constant pressure by the lively Tullaroan attack. Naomh Éanna were having to work much harder for their scores with All Star Padraig Walsh instrumental at centre half.
Shane Walsh finished top scorer for Tullaroan with nine points over the hour and it was he who did the bulk of his sides scoring as they held an eight point lead at the interval. Half time score Naomh Éanna 0-6 Tullaroan 1-11
Naomh Éanna had the advantage of the wind at their backs after the restart but they needed a quick start. What they got was more astute hurling from Tullaroan and scores from Shane Walsh. The Kilkenny men stretched their lead to 12 points midway through the second half but Naomh Éanna showed their never-say-die attitude that brought them through the titanic tussle against Eoghan Ruadh in the Ulster final. A run of five points in as many minutes from John McGoldrick (two), Ruairi Donaghy, Killian Jennings and Cormac Ross engulfed the one score from Shane Walsh to reduced the lead to eight points. The kind of scoring burst they needed at the start of the second half but the Tullaroan response was emphatic.
An outstanding individual goal from Martin Keoghan in the 55th minute preceded Tommy Walsh’s second major and the best score of the afternoon. Shane Walsh collecting the sliotar in the corner before rifling a pass in the direction of his brother. Tommy took aim and with one blistering strike, Tullaroan had sealed Naomh Éanna’s fate.
They continued to pursue the scores and goals they needed and substitute Eddie O’Connor went close in injury time but the Tullaroan defence were immense. Throughout the match Naomh Éanna sent innumerable ball ball in the direction of McGoldrick, Cooper and latter Philly Curran but nothing broke the way of Naomh Éanna at all through the hour.
Tullaroan had their homework done with the influence of Mark Donaghy curtailed for long periods of the match and the Kilkenny men rarely looked like conceding a major at any stage. Ryan Bogue, Niall O’Conner and Ruairi Diamond all added to their growing reputation in the game but Tullaroan were playing at a different level to anything Naomh Éanna have encountered before. A 15 point defeat with their dreams of Croke Park dashed but they have the memory of an incredible 2019 where they went unbeaten in the league to gain promotion and winning their maiden title with their senior hurlers. They now look forward to playing in the top divisions in hurling and football for the 2020 season. Defeated they might have been but they battled to the very end and the rise of Naomh Éanna will surely continue.
TEAMS
Naomh Éanna: Martin Curran; Niall O’Connor, Rian Gillen, Ruairi Diamond; Manus Mullan, Mark Donaghy, Cormac Ross; Ryan Bogue, Joe Maskey; Philly Curran, Ruairi Diamond, Cormac Jennings; John McGoldrick, Darrach Cooper, Killian Jennings
Subs: Ruairi Crummey for D Coopoer (47); Matthew O’Hare for C Jennings (47); Eddie O’Connor for P Curran (55); Daniel Lowry for K Jennings (59); Dermot Maguire for R Donaghy (inj)
Scorers: John McGoldrick 0-6 (5 f’s 1 ’65); Ryan Bogue 0-3; Killian Jennings 0-2; Cormac Ross 0-1; Ruairi Donaghy 0-1; Matthew O’Hare 0-1
Tullaroan: Paul Buggy; Diarmuid Doheny, Tommy Walsh, Stephen Maher; Martin Walsh, Pádraig Walsh, Jack Keoghan; Tomás Dune, Mark Walsh; Bill Gaffney, Martin Keoghan, John Walton; Shane Walsh, Tommy Walsh, Peter Walsh
Subs: Dylan Simpson for T Dunne (47); Ken Coogan for P Walsh (50); Ger Luby for J Walton (57); Shane Cuddihy for B Gaffney (58); Stephen Dowling for S Walsh (inj)
Scorers: Stephen Walsh 0-9 (7 f’s); Tommy Walsh 2-1; Martin Keoghan 1-1; Mark Walsh 0-3; Pádraig Walsh 0-1; Jack Keoghan 0-1; Tomás Dunne 0-1; Bill Gaffney 0-1; John Walton 0-1; Shane Cuddihy 0-1
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
