Doherty Woodshavings Division One

Dunloy 3-21 Ballygalget 2-13

Wednesday May 26

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Dunloy put in a much improved second half at Pearse Park to record an eight point win over Ballygalget.  The Cuchullains were more clinical over the hour than the Down side who could have been a lot closer but for the reflexes of Paul Doherty between the Cuchulains sticks.  Twice the Dunloy ‘keeper thwarted Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnston from close range in the second half.

Ballygalget played with a slight wind advantage in the first half but their radar was off.  Missed frees and some wayward shouting let them down and while the Cuchullains were slow to start, they were more economical when it counted.  Ciaran Elliott and Eoin O’Neill looking lively on the inside forward line for the home side.

The Cuchullains led by just four points at the short whistle, thanks largely to Ciaran Elliott’s major soon after the first half water-break.  Elliott pouncing on the lose sliotar after O’Neill rounded his marker superbly in a tight corner.  Despite being far from their fluent best in those opening 30 minutes, the Cuchullains went into another gear.  They rattled over seven points before a quick fire brace of goals in the space of two minutes from Ronan Molloy and Eoin O’Neill put them in control.  Molloy’s major coming after great work by Elliott to win the lose sliotar, popping a pass to Molloy on the charge and an expert finish having evaded any would be challenges.  O’Neill found the back of the net barely two minutes later.  Substitute Kevin McQuillan providing the assist as O’Neill danced past the challenges before beating Eoin Coulter in the ‘Galget goals.

The visitors moved Gareth Johnston to the edge of the square for the second half and looked for that little piece of magic he is capable of but Paul Doherty’s heroic’s kept the Down legend at bay.

John Hughes and Cathal Coulter chipped in with points from long range in the second half while Cormac Coulter always looked lively and fully deserved the three points he finished the hour with.

The visitors goals were worth the entrance fee alone.  Gareth Johnston producing another piece of ‘magic’ from a 30 yard free and the angle less than favourable while Tim Prenter’s rasping drive was special.  Receiving a quick free from John Hughes, the ‘Galget midfielder let fly from at least 30 yards with a rasping drive that would have beaten any ‘keeper in Ireland.  It turned out to be the last action of the game however and brought the visitors to within eight points of the Cuchullains.

The sides have to wait until 6^th June before they have another game with the Cuchullains hosting Cushendall while Rossa will make the journey to Ballygalget on the same evening.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Paul Doherty; Conor Kinsella, Kevin McKeague, Aaron Crawford; Ryan McGarry, Conor McKinley, Ronan Molloy; Paul Shiels, Liam McCann; Nicky McKeague, Gabriel McTaggart, Shane Dooey; Eoin O’Neill, Declan Smith, Ciaran Elliott

Scorers: E O’Neill 1-2; C Elliott 1-2; D Smith 0-4; R Molloy 1-1; N McKeague 0-3 (1f); P Shiels 0-3 (1f, 1’65); S Dooey 0-2; G McTaggart 0-1; L McCann 0-1; R McGarry 0-1; K McQuillan 0-1

Ballygalget: Eoin Coulter; Michael Toner, Joseph Smyth, Eoin Pucci; John Hughes, Marc Fisher, Cathal Coulter; Finbarr Kelly, Tim Prenter; Conor Doran, Owen McDermott, Gareth Johnston; Caolan Coulter, Conall Fay, Cormac Coulter

Scorers: G Johnston 1-2 (1-00 f); T Prenter 1-1; Cormac Coulter 0-3 (1f); Cathal Coulter 0-3 (1 ’65, 1f); J Hughes 0-2 (1 ’65); F Kelly 0-1; C Doran 0-1

Referee: Aidan McAleer (Donegal)

Under 20 Hurling Championship

Dunloy 0-10 Loughgiel 1-17

Loughgiel’s greater accuracy saw them ease past their neighbours Dunloy by double scores in Tuesday evening’s Under 20 Hurling Championship at Pearse Park. Had Dunloy taken the chances they created in the second half then this would have been a much tighter contest, but eleven wides in the second period tells its own story.

The Shamrocks, who won the Minor title two years ago, were in control of this match from the start and they led by 1-3 to 0-2 at the first half water break. When the game got going again top scorer Rian McMullan sent over two long range points, while Damien Quinn and Frank Boyle did the same to help stretch their team’s lead to 1-11 to 0-4 at the half time.

With the wind in their favour in the second half Dunloy certainly were not out of the game but some terrible shooting did not help their cause. Paudie Elliott did manage to hit a couple but the goal they needed to get back in the game never came, though Loughgiel goalkeeper Kevin McAuley was called on to make a fine diving save on 42 minutes to prevent a major score.

In the final quarter Rian McMullan hit a couple of great points into the wind to stretch Loughgiel further ahead before Dunloy found the scoring rate they were looking for as Rory Mullan (2) and Chipper McFarlane hit three inside a minute to finish with a flourish.

LOUGHIEL

Kevin McAuley, Conor Henry, Ruari McCloskey, Conal McCloskey, Cathal Hargan, Tiernan McAlonan, Shane O’Boyle, Damian Quinn, Ryan Hill, Eunan Laverty, Michael McGarry, Rian McMullan, Odhran McGrath, Frank Boyle.

DUNLOY

Paul Doherty, Cathair McCloskey, Barry Scott, Daire McMullan, Rory Mullan, Ciaran McQuillan, Cathain Martin, Padraig McGilligan, Eoin McFerran, Conal Kelly, Ryan McFarline, Sean Scullion, Oisin Elliot, Daithi Cree, Conor McAleese.

SUBS

Callum Mullan, Fiachra Martin, Darryl O’Hagen, Sienna Martin,