Senior Reserve Hurling League
Loughgiel 3-21 Dunloy 1-16
By Darach O’Mullan
An intense confrontation between local rivals Shamrocks and Cuchullains was played out at Fr Healy Park on Monday evening in the next round of the Senior Reserve League. Both sides started with a strong and competitive style of play, with the first two points being ushered by Rian McMullan for the Shamrocks and Paudie McGilligan for Dunloy. Shane O’Boyle and Rian McMullan had remained strong for the majority of the match, but Dunloy evidently prioritised scoring goals with an attempt by Ciaran Elliott and finally a goal delivered by Eamon Smyth.
By the first water break, Dunloy were ahead with a score of 0-6 to 0-4. Conor Henry had presented a challenge to Dunloy’s forwards as they continued to increase their scores, and Nicholas McNaughton helped turn the tide of the game by firing to the Cuchullains net, to ease the Shamrocks ahead and when Christy McGarry added another they home side had a bit of a cushion. Chris McMahon however kept Dunloy’s in the game and was assisted by the strong striking of Paudie McGilligan and Anton McGrath, but despite their efforts Loughgiel led at the break by 2-11 to 0-10.
Dunloy made a much stronger start to the second half, a result of the impact of players such as Ryan McFarland, Oran Quinn and Kevin McKeague. They pulled a goal back to bring themselves back into contention. However, decisive movements by Paul Boyle and another goal by Dr Nicholas McNaughton gave Loughgiel a little breathing space again. With Rian McMullan to the fore the Shamrocks kept the scoreboard ticking over and by the second water break, they were ahead by 3-15 to 1-14.
Loughgiel’s added scores as the clockd ticked down and despite the efforts of Anton McGrath and Gabriel McTaggart Loughgiel solidified their victory on a final score of 3-21 to 1-16.
Loughgiel
- Conor Gillan 2. Caolan Blair 3. Rory McCloskey 4. Conor Henry 5. Ciaran McKay 6. Enda Óg McGarry 7. Daniel McPeake 8. Aodhan McFadden 9. Shane O’Boyle 10. Paul Boyle 11. Nicholas McNaughton 12. Cormac McFadden 13. Rian McMullan 14. Michael McGarry 15. Christy McGarry 17. Ronan McCloskey 18. OD Laverty 19. Declan Gillan 20. Damian Quinn 21. Connall Kerr 22. Odhran McGrath
Dunloy
- Paul Doherty 2. Conor Kinsela 3. Barry Scott 4. Oran Quinn 5. Rory Mullan 6. Kevin McKeague 7. Eamon Smyth 8. Calum Scullion 9. Anton McGrath 10. Eoin McFerran 11. Gabriel McTaggart 12. Paudie McGilligan 13. Ciaran Elliott 14. Chris McMahon 15. Oisin Elliott 16. Calum Mullan 17. Ryan McFarland 18. Oran Shivers 19. Daithi Cree 20. Conal Kelly 21. Cahir McCloskey
