Month / September 2020

by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle repel Dunloy’s fightback to secure final place

Antrim Senior Championship Semi-Finals:

Ballycastle 1-8 Dunloy 1-6

Seamus McAleenan reports from Slemish Park, Ballymena

AMAZINGLY Ballycastle failed to score for the entire second half – and still won this engrossing Antrim senior semi-final in Ballymena on Saturday evening.

Their defence was brilliant throughout, holding Dunloy to just two points for the opening 45 minutes. Catherine McShane, Kathryn Donnelly, Enya McShane and Niamh Donnelly as sweeper were all outstanding in bringing McQuillan’s through to their fourth final in six seasons.

But what really saw them over the line was that opening half hour that put Dunloy on the back foot and had them turn over with a nine points’ lead, 1-8 to 0-1.

Dunloy scored the opening point, an excellent effort from Michaela Elliott from right on the side line. But from then on it was all Ballycastle with Caoimhe Wright and Maeve Kelly icing the cake with some wonderful scoring as the Town took control.

Wright pointed frees in the 4th, 7th and 13th minutes, none of them easy scores, and she added another brilliantly from play in the 10th minute.

The three scores before the water break were breath-taking, two from Kelly with Wright taking her fifth point in the 16th minute.

Scoring slowed during the second quarter with just Caoimhe Wright’s speculative effort from a long way out going all the way to the Dunloy net as several players contested it on the edge of the goal area.

She added a free in first half injury time to cap a wonderful first half during which only one effort from the Town girls went wide of the mark.

They picked up where they left off during the third quarter to maintain the pressure on their opponents, but by now the Dunloy defence was beginning to get to grips with the situation, Eilis Kearns magnificent at full-back and Chloe Drain, Kathryn Mullan and Caoimhe Molloy all growing in stature as the half progressed.

Ballycastle hit four wides, Dunloy three before Aileen McManus blasted over in the 13th minute.

But Ballycastle still looked good at the second water break, 1-8 to 0-2 ahead. However their failure to add to their total gave Dunloy hope. Caoimhe Molloy pointed, sub Bronach Magill added another.

Aileen McManus then pointed a free and it was 1-8 to 0-5. Another point from Aine Magill but still no danger to Ballycastle’s progress.

Then a goal from a scramble just in front of Becky Ellis and the margin was two points as the game entered four minutes of added time. There was a scare or two alright, but the Ballycastle defence held out to reach their second successive decider.

Ballycastle : Becky Ellis, Niamh Ann Donnelly, Catherine McShane, Enya McShane, Orla Donnelly, Kathryn Donnelly, Emma Laverty, Meabh O’Neill, Niamh Donnelly, Aine Donnelly, Caoimhe Wright 1-6, 0-4 frees, Nuala Devlin, Maeve Kelly 0-2, Emma Connor, Niamh O’Neill

Subs : Riana McBride for N O’Neill, Tara O’Neill for E Connor, Cliodhna Donnelly for N Devlin

Dunloy : Aimee Scott, Eimear McMullan, Eilis Kearns, Chloe Drain, Dearbhail Magill, Caoimhe Conlon, Katie Laverty, Nicole O’Neill, Erin Elliott, Aine Magill 1-1, Michaela Elliott 0-1, Caoimhe Molloy 0-1 free, Erin Traynor, Aileen McManus 0-2, Caitlin Crawford 

Subs : Mary Martin for C Crawford, Bronach Magill 0-1 for E Traynor

Referee : Joe Baldwin

by thesaffrongael

A century’s heartache forgotten as Tir na nOg lift Intermediate title

Andersonstown SC IHC Final

Tir na nOg 1-19 Cloney Gaels 0-17

The long wait is over for Tir na nOg, Randalstown. In the first year of the second century since their formation the Whitehill side finally got their hands on the Intermediate hurling title when they overcame the challenge of Cloney Gaels in a great final at Dunsilly today.

The Ahoghill side went into this game as slight favourites but it was their opponents who showed the greater level of desire and fighting spirit, coupled with the ability to take their scores that deservedly won the day to lift their first Intermediate title.

The Randalstown side won key battles all over the field with their defence affording the much vaunted Cloney attack little time or space and in Sean Duffin in attack they had a player who hardly missed a chance all day and finished with 0-11 for the winners.

It was Cloney Gaels who made the brighter opening at Dunsilly today as they took the game to the opposition but James O’Connell, Dan O’Neill and Fionbarr O’Neill all shot wide in the opening four minutes and when Niall Devlin stepped inside his marker in Tir na nOg’s first serious attack and fired to the net the scene was set for what was to follow.

Aaron McNeilly followed with a point before Patrick Graham finally opened the Cloney Gaels account with a point in the 8th minute but Eamon Og McAllister replied from the puck out at the other end to restore his sides four point advantage.

The Ahoghill side were busting a gut to shake off the shackles of a tight marking Tir na nOg defence and Tomas McGlone split the posts in the 9th minute but Sean Duffin responded immediately at the other end with his first of the afternoon and his brother Colm added another to open up a five point gap by the 12th minute.

Eamon Og and Sean Duffin added points as the Whitehill side took advantage of the space they were being afforded by the Ahoghill defence to send their side into the first water break with a fairly healthy looking 1-6 to 0-2 lead.

Niall O’Connell replaced the injured Eoin Graham as the second quarter commenced and It was going to take something better if Cloney Gaels were to get back into contention and James O’Connell looked like the man to deliver as he pointed four frees in quick succession before setting up Tomas McGlone for another from play and suddenly the Tir na nOg lead had been reduced to two points.

Sean Duffin stopped the rut with a point for the Randalstown men in the 26th minute and at the other end Cloney Gaels looked to be in for a goal but James O’Connell’s ground shot sailed wide of an upright following a goalmouth scramble.

The final score of the half fell to the excellent Sean Duffin  who sent over a fine point to extend his side’s lead to four at the short whistle and they were good value for that lead though the Cloney side would surely rue the amount of opportunities they had squandered during a lively opening 30 minutes.

On the resumption Sean Duffin added a point in the first minute before Kevin Sheerin pulled off a good save at the other end to deny James O’Connell who raced clear but was forced to shoot from a bad angle before Owen Neeson got his side off the mark with a Cloney point.

Patrick Graham added an excellent score and once again it looked like a Cloney Gaels revival might be on the cards but Tir na nOg were having none of it as they responded with a point from Ciaran Logan to edge four in front with five minutes of the new half gone.

Sean Duffin added another from distance before Shane Donnelly replaced Sean McKinley in the Tir na nOg attack.

The Ahoghill side were doing all in their power to get going again but a Tir na nOg defence superbly marshalled by Christy Sheerin and Caoimhinn Duffin were denying them time and space and always ready to launch counter attacks with Sean Duffin making use of every opportunity.

The youngster of the Duffin clan added points in the 9th and 11th minutes as Tir na nOg moved seven points clear before James O’Connell replied from a pointed free and another from play but the Cloney attack were having to work their socks off for their scores.

Sean Duffin for Tir na nOg and James O’Connell for the Ahoghill side exchanged further points but it was the Whitehill side who were continuing to find the space as Sean Duffin, Ciaran Logan and Duffin again added to their tally with another O’Connell free leaving five in it again as the game moved into the final ten minutes.

The Ahoghill men were badly in need of a goal to ignite their challenge as Owen Neeson added a point and then James O’Connel kicked over another when a half chance presented itself but it was as close as they were to get with the superb Sean Duffin securing matters with two late points.

Scenes of wild celebration followed. The Whitehill men have been knocking at the Intermediate championship door for more than a decade but the men of 2020 finally delivered to herald a bright start to the second century for the club and no one would deny them their celebration.

They were superb all over the field with Kevin Sheerin in goals never putting a foot wrong and Christy Sheerin, Caoimhinn Duffin and Ciaran O’Neill commanding in a defence who gave nothing away.

Aaron McNeilly and Ciaran McKeown worked tirelessly at mid-field while Sean Duffin was the outstanding player on view in an attack where Eamon Og McAllister and Ciaran Logan were always dangerous.

Cloney Gaels gave it everything but never really got going or were allowed to get going but in Bernard Graham, Eamon Brady, Tomas McGlone, Patrick Graham, Owen Neeson and James O’Connell they had player worthy of special mention.

Tir na Nog: Kevin Sheerin, Tony Martin, Christy Sheerin, Daniel Martin, Ryan O’Neill, Caoimhinn Duffin, Ciaran O’Neill, Aaron McNeilly, Ciaran McKeown, Eamon Og McAllister, Ciaran Logan, Sean Duffin, Niall Devlin, Colm Duffin, Sean McKinley. Subs: Shane Donnelly for Sean McKinley, Conor Fitzgerald for Ciaran McKeown

Cloney Gaels: Martin Graham, Stephen O’Connell, Bernard Graham, James Magee, Fionnbar O’Neill, Diarmaid Graham, Eamon Brady, Francis Neeson, Tomas McGlone, Owen Neeson, Eoin Graham, Patrick Graham, Dan O’Neill, PJ O’Connell, James O’Connell

Referee: Colm McDonald (St. Gall’s)

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel and Ballycastle contest today’s Minor final

Creagh Concrete Minor Hurling Final

Throw-in 1pm in Armoy

Loughgiel Shamrocks bid to retain their title when they take on Ballycastle in Saturday’s Creagh Concrete Minor Hurling final in Armoy. The Shamrocks will be appearing at this stage of the competition for the third year in a row after losing out to Dunloy in 2018, and have a wealth of experience behind them. In last year’s decider they beat Saturday’s opponents so these two side have seen quite a bit of each other over the years and with over half of the two teams all playing together for Cross & Passion College for the past four years, they will know each other’s game inside out.

Both teams topped their group in the qualifying stages with Ballycastle recording wins over Oisins, Dunloy and Corpus Christie Gaels to set up a semi-final meeting with Group 2 runners-up Rossa, conquerers of Dunloy in the quarter final.

Rossa had impressed in their final group game against competition favourites Loughgiel and held the upper hand for good periods of that game, only to lose out in injury time as the Shamrocks showed their killer instinct to win by two.

In last week’s semi-final at Dunsilly the Ballycastle boys saw just how good Rossa were when the two went toe to toe in the semi-final. The boys from The Town appeared to be in a bit of bother when they turned to face a stiff breeze in the second half, but they showed great character when their backs were against the wall and came through to win a brilliant game by a single point. In that semi-final Ballycastle played Tiernan Smyth in goals, which proved a vital switch for the young man, who has played all season in the forward line, proved a revelation with a series of excellent saves. He also showed his free takings skill late in the game when he came out to send over a great point from distance.

Team captain Seamus McAuley was the main man though, hitting a series of great points from frees and from play ,and ended with 1-10 to his name, while Joe McToal hit three great points and Jack Egan two.

Loughgiel’s semi-final turned out to be a lot simpler when they beat Cushendall by 1-120 to 2-8 in Armoy. Cushendall had beaten neighbours Glenariffe in the quarter final but Loughgiel proved a bridge too far for the Ruairis. The Cushendall boys had started well and were two points up in the early stages but Loughgiel’s talented forward division clicked into gear and they hit back with points from Conor O’Mullan, Christy McGarry, Rian McMullan and Ronan McCollum  to take a two point lead. Soon afterwards corner forward McCollum got the first goal of the game from here on the Shamrocks were dominant.

They pushed on from there and with centre-half back and team leader Enda Og McGarry adding two points from distance they went on to win by nine in the end.

As I said earlier these two teams have seen a lot of each other in recent years and the games have always had an edge to them. Discipline will be a key factor and it is imperative that both side concentrate on the game.

Loughgiel go in as favourites, having already beaten their opponents in the Darragh Cup earlier in the season. However if their meetings in recent years is anything to go by there will be little between the sides in the end. Loughgiel are bidding to put titles back to back while Ballycastle are looking to claim the club’s first minor title in 30 years.

The likely starting teams should be

LOUGHGIEL – Kevin McAuley, Finn Henry, Ruairi McCloskey, Ruairi McCormick, Conal McCloskey, Enda Og McGarry, Conor Dickson, Christy McGarry, Eunan Laverty, Conor McCormick, Dylan Devlin, Ronan McCollum, Rian McMullan, Conor O’Mulan

BALLYCASTLE – T Smyth, P McAllister, L McCollum, M McClean, E Boylan, R Laverty, J McGowan, S McAuley , R McClean, J Egan, C O’Connor, F McKiernan, D Kelly, J Bakewell, J McToal.

by thesaffrongael

‘Winter’ is here but the Cuchullains should bring the sunshine

By Brendan McTaggart

In a season of uncertainty, there’s a familiar look to the final pairing.  North Antrim’s ‘Old Firm’, Dunloy and Loughgiel make their way to Páirc Uí Uílin with the Volunteer Cup on the line.  But before we look into the who’s who and what’s what of the final, we have to talk about the semi-finals.

Rossa and St John’s played their part in one of the most epic match day’s in my living memory.  I could quite easily be writing about the first all-city final in my lifetime with both of these Belfast big guns going agonisingly close.

Rossa had Dunloy down.  Having recovered from an early Cuchullain blitz, they found a way back and Dunloy were on the brink.  An inspired point from Seaan Elliott and Chrissy ‘Rossa Slayer’ McMahon edged Dunloy into the final.  An epic ending yet so cruel on a Rossa side who died with their boots on for their club.  Who knows if a more spread schedule would have helped the Jeremiah’s.  I’ve been fascinated in recent years with how Slaughtneil men have fought on both fronts to Ulster titles and the overriding attribution is momentum.  The Derry kingpins kept rolling, perhaps the Antrim hurling semi-final was one roll too many.  Stephen Beatty and James Connolly having to come off certainly had a bearing on the game but Dunloy responded like the champions they are.

St John’s are probably wondering what they have to do in order to reach a county final.  Three years, extra time on each occasion, the Johnnies have to wait one more year.  Four points up going into injury time at the end of the hour last Sunday, not only had they one foot in the door, they were about to close the said door behind them.

Loughgiel hit back.  Eddie McCloskey and Damon McMullan immense, Donal McKinley tireless with Liam Watson and Benny McCarry rolling back the years.  The Shamrocks made extra time their own but the match will forever be remembered for one man.  Domhnall Nugent.  Curly likened him to Roger Federer with his one-armed action swing, a quite brilliant analogy.  A performance that deserved to put his side into a first Antrim final in 26 years but it wasn’t to be.  Loughgiel had other ideas.

So.  A Dunloy and Loughgiel final.  ‘Friends’ from across the sheugh head to Ballycastle in a hotly anticipated final.  Matches between these two sides rarely disappoint and if there’s one thing you can expect, it’s the unexpected.

There’s injury concerns everywhere you turn in both camps.  Starting with the reining champions first, they’ve had a gruelling schedule with football commitments and an Intermediate final to look forward to next weekend.  12 of their starting 15 from Tuesday nights semi-final against All-Saints are dual players so niggles and concerns are to be expected.

Paul Shiels tops the list.  Forced off after a quarter of their game with Rossa, the Dunloy camp have played down any concerns.  I’d imagine they’ll patch him up if possible to get one last tune out of ‘Shorty’ for this season.  The Dunloy quarter-back is pivotal in how the Cuchullains play.  Ryan McGarry faces a race against time to recover from his knee injury while Deaglan Smith is in the same position.  Plagued with problems since the end of the 2019 league, Smith will be itching to have any involvement.

Loughgiel’s main concern lays in their full back line.  Neilly McGarry remains doubtful while Tony McCloskey looked in a fair amount of discomfort leaving the Dunsilly pitch.  The initial assessment is his ankle and I’d be amazed if the Shamrock’s defender makes the starting 15.  Odhran McFadden is also a doubt after taking a knock against St Johns.

Sunday might come down to who has less injuries or more strength in depth.

The strength in depth gives Dunloy a huge nudge.  There’s no doubting, Loughgiel are building something but Dunloy talk about finishers these days instead of substitutes.  Guys who can come on and make instant impact.  Last Sunday, some eyebrows were raised, mine included, when Gregory O’Kane called for Kevin Molloy to come off for Chrissy McMahon.  ‘Bunga’ is a warrior and the type of player you want in a battle that the game against Rossa undoubtedly was.  O’Kane’s move was bold but the saying ‘fortune favours the bold’ was ringing through my ears on the way home from Dunsilly.

Looking at potential match ups, the possibility of Conor McKinley and Liam Watson coming up against each other is mouth-watering and one both players will relish.  Phelim Duffin could pick up Shan McGrath while Conor Kinsella could look to curtail the influence of James McNaughton.

How Loughgiel look to dampen the Dunloy attack is likely to be a collective effort more than individuals.  Two years ago they ambushed the then reigning champions, Dunloy.  A display of total commitment, work rate and fierce desire.  Absolutely no let-up for the full 60 plus minutes in a windy and rain swept Ballycastle pitch. 

I’m expecting more of the same with the pace of Eddie McCloskey, McNaughton and Callum McKendry their outlet to break from rucks.

Two years ago it worked, last year Dunloy did enough.  What will Sunday bring?  That depends on how Dunloy approach this and their personnel.  If the Cuchullains go to the trenches with Loughgiel, they need Shorty in quarter back to play the pass and pick the speed merchants in Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy.  They have the game to go that road and play Loughgiel at their own game.

12 months ago they targeted rucks, even from the majority of their own puck-outs.  A ploy I didn’t see coming yet one that ultimately proved to be successful.  The Cuchullains play better with quick ball from the restart and fast ball into their forwards.  If they go to mirror last year, expect Gabriel McTaggart to be below a lot of Ryan Elliott’s puck-outs with Nicky McKeague, Keelan Molloy and Shorty close by for assistance if fit.

Free takers will be crucial.  In the game known as ‘Dugout Gate’ James McNaughton’s accuracy from placed ball in a windswept Ballycastle was mesmerising.  It wasn’t just at the same heights last week but McNaughton has nerves of steal and has shown he will stand up for the Shamrocks when required.

The Cuchullains have the same in Conal Cunning.  But if it isn’t working for Coby, they have Seaan Elliott, Nicky McKeague and Shorty to reach the sliotar to.

Prediction time and just for the record, I got a full house last week.  It took six rounds of championship matches but I finally got there.  My prediction?  Are you really expecting me to back anyone else other than Dunloy?  I didn’t think so.  I joked with a good friend during the week, I’d make a case for Dunloy to beat Tipperary but I genuinely believe Loughgiel need everything to go right for them and for the Cuchullains to have an off day to take the Volunteer Cup back to Fr Healy Park.  The ‘leveller’ could be the extent of the Cuchullains injuries but I believe they have enough in reserve.

Before I go, I’ll leave you with this and to steal a line from the late great Seamus Heaney: “If we can winter this one out, we can summer anytime.”  I was reminded of it a while back and yet it has never been more apt.  This has been a year most want to forget with fear, worry and stress rife.  None more so than I.  Yet, hurling has been a release.  An uncertain beginning to a season no one expected to have on our doorstep and a very big realisation if it were needed, that GAA plays a massive part of our lives.  It has been a bonding agent for helping us all get through troubled and stormy waters.  We’re knee deep in ‘winter’ but I for one don’t want the hurling to end.  Sunday promises to be a cracker, lets hope it lives up to the billing.

by thesaffrongael

Gregory O’Kane: “That’s what big players do. In big games when the pressures on, they make an impact”

MANAGERS VIEW

By Brendan McTaggart

Relief, ecstasy and unbridled joy.  Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane beamed from ear to ear at the final whistle as his side edge Rossa in classic.  One point, four minutes into injury time but belief and trust were key for the Cuchullains manager: “I felt we were starting to get a few plays together but at that stage you’re basically trusting your players.  You trust them to do the right thing when on the ball and make the right decision.  That exactly what they’ve done.

“Seaan’s score before that was exceptional too.  That’s what big players do.  In big games when the pressures on, they make an impact.  Chrissy’s a young lad, not long out of minor and he just wants to get involved.  No better man to be in that position.”

The game itself was a rollercoaster.  The opening quarter was Dunloy at their best, running into an eight point lead but O’Kane paid tribute to the Jeremiah’s for how they clawed their way back into the contest: “We had a brilliant first quarter and Rossa got a goal out of nothing.  The second and third quarter we couldn’t get into the game.  We couldn’t get structure or flow in our game but to be fair to Rossa, they do that.  They pull and drag you all over the pitch.”  O’Kane continued: “Rossa have been the story of this years championship.  They’ve been exceptional and we were lucky to hang on in there in the end and get the scores when we needed to.”

With the age profile of the Dunloy team still in the early 20’s, O’Kane said championship matches like these just adds to their development: “They need to grow and learn and develop as players and as athletes.  Playing championship hurling and making them decisions, that’s what it’s all about.”

One major concern for the Cuchullains was Paul Shiels having to leave midway through the half but O’Kane lauded the impact of Ciaran ‘Cat’ Elliott when he replaced the Dunloy playmaker along with Nicky McKeague: “He twigged something in the first quarter and it was pulling at him so we took a chance and got him out of there as soon as.  We’ll assess him this evening and tomorrow and see where we are.

“Cat’s good in the rucks and gave us that edge to get over the line.  That’s what he’s good at but in particular he tracked Deaglan Murphy all over the park and he did that very well. 

“Nicky will give you everything he has.  He’ll die for you, he would die with his boots on, he’s that type of player.”

When Dunloy needed leaders, they found them at the death.  Their defence tightened and the Dunloy manager reserved praise for another substitute when he continued: “It comes a stage you just have to trust the players.  Kevin McKeague came on and dug two or three ball out of there he had no right to win, Conor Kinsella and Phelim Duffin.  You could see our backs starting to find men in the middle third.  We needed to get boys in the right places and get the ball over the bar.

“Woody’s a player.  That’s his first competitive game in the championship and he never looked out of place.  He’s a huge presence and has a wealth of hurling experience, no better man to come in and replace Ryan.”

A short window with just seven days until the final but the Cuchullains have an Intermediate Football championship semi-final to contend with.  O’Kane cast a frustrated figure when adding: “We’ll deal with whatever comes but I don’t get it.  Why do we have to play this so quick.  Every county in Ireland.  I can only look at the last four counties that have won the All-Ireland – Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny and Tipperary.  They’re playing from Sunday to Sunday.  Tipperary have 32 senior hurling teams and they’re playing Sunday to Sunday, and 12 football teams.

“The games are quality and this is as good as it gets in any county.  We’re looking forward to it and delighted to be in the final.”