Doherty Woodshavings All County Hurling League Division 1

Portaferry 2-15 Ballycastle 0-12

Paul McIntyre reports from St Patricks Park.

A Tom McGrattan goal after twenty seven minutes proved to be the catalyst for Portaferry to go and record what proved to be in the end, a comfortable nine point win over Ballycastle.

Trailing by six points and with half time approaching, McGrattan was on hand to fire past Tiernan Smyth after the Ballycastle netminder saved smartly from Conor O’Prey. It proved to be a real momentum swinger as up until this point, it was the visitors who were on top. 

Playing into a slight breeze Ballycastle played the smarter hurling in the opening exchanges, and after Portaferry’s McGrattan opened the scoring with an outrageous piece of skill that will give the visitors corner back Jack McGowan a few nightmares, the Town stormed their way to a three point lead at the first half waterbreak, 0-5 to 0-2.

Ballycastle were totally dominant in the middle sector. Kevin Barry McShane, Cormac Donnelly and Conor Boyd all forced turnovers and as the Black N’ Amber starved their hosts from enjoying any possession.

Ciaran Butler’s score on 13 minutes epitomised everything good about their first half performance. Quickly moving the ball short and to find a player in the scoring zone to take their point.

The ‘Town’ kept up the pressure and added to their tally with points from McShane, Butler and Seamus McAuley to open up a six point lead, 0-10 to 0-4 before McGrattan pounced for a much needed goal for the hosts.

The impressive Padraig Doran claimed the first two scores of the second half but Ballycastle kept their noses in front with another McShane point, but when Dornan landed his sixth of the day on 43 minutes, it gave Portaferry a lead that they would never relinquish.

Just before the second half waterbreak Doran found himself in space and ran at the Ballycastle defence and Niall Mulligan was on hand to divert Dornan’s shot past a helpless Smyth.

Ballycastle persisted with the long ball tactic in the second half which proved to be fruitless and Gary Smyth’s side went on to register the final six scores of the game to run out convincing winners with Dornan claiming his tenth of the day in stoppage time.

Teams & Scorers:

Portaferry: Paddy McNally, Ciaran Savage, Tom Murray, Emmett O’Neill, Darragh Mallon, Conor O’Neill, Callum Smyth, Conor O’Prey (0-1f), Barry Trainor, Padraig Dornan, (0-10 8f), Niall Mulligan (1-0), Aaron O’Prey (0-1), Tom McGrattan (1-2), Conor Mageean (0-1), Ryan O’Neill.

Subs: Shane Conlon for B Trainor (HT), Fergal Rogers for C O’Neill (HT), Ryan Convery for R O’Neill (45), Sean Milligan for A O’Prey (56), Ciaran Milligan for C Savage (59).

Ballycastle: Tiernan Smyth, Conor Donnelly, Órán Kearney, Jack McGowan, Cormac Donnelly, Ciaran McKeague, Ronan Laverty, Conor Boyd (0-3 2 ‘65’ 1f), Eamon Elliott, Ciaran Butler (0-3), Kevin Barry McShane (0-2), Seamus McAuley (0-4 1f), Neal McAuley, Feargal McKiernan, Lorcán Donnelly.

Subs: Ruben McClean for F McKiernan (49), Mark McClean for L Donnelly (49), Owen Kinney for C Donnelly (56).

Referee: Mr Hugh Torney. Ballycran.

Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Hurling League Division One

St John’s 2-15 Dunloy Cuchullains 0-16

St John’s held off a second half comeback by Dunloy to take both points in Sunday’s league game at Corrigan Park. Leading by 1-9 to 0-6 at half time the Johnnies added another goal after the break and appeared to be cruising home. However Dunloy began to find their range and brought the gap back to just four, while holding the home team scoreless for sixteen minutes. It looked to be anybody’s game at this stage but to their credit the Johnnies steadied the ship and a goal from corner forward Feargal Morgan sealed the win.

With both teams very understrength the game lacked a cutting edge but St John’s held the upper hand and some fine scores from Aaron Bradley and Donal Carson saw the home team lead by 0-6 to 0-3 at the first half water break. Bradley’s accuracy from frees kept the scoreboard ticking over and they edged further ahead and a goal from Oisin Donnelly in first half injury time saw them lead at the break by 1-9 to 0-6 at half time.

Dunloy made a series of changes at half time but St John’s continued to hold the upper hand and when Feargal Morgan cut in from the left wing and fired in his team’s second goal they appeared to be home and hosed. However the Dunloy replacements were starting to find their feet and with Shorty Shiels and Eamon Smyth leading the line they Cuchullains gained the upper hand and hit seven points without reply, four of them from Shiels, two from McMahon and one from Dooey.

Suddenly the gap was down to just three, but Aaron Bradley settled the Johnnies nerves with a couple of excellent points and though Eoin McFerran replied for the visitors the points were sealed for the Belfast side.

ST JOHN’S: S Doherty; J Bohill,  D Moran, L Boyd; S Tierney, C Morgan, A McMahon; A McGowan, C Hanna; CJ McKenna, O Donnelly (1-1), A Bradley (0-11, 9 frees); D Carson (0-2),  C Hand (0-1), F Morgan (1-0). Subs: C McFall for A McMahon (44).

DUNLOY: C Mullan; C Kinsella, C McKinley, O Quinn; K McKeague, P Shiels (0-8, 7 frees), E Smyth; L McCann (0-1), E McFerran (0-1); P McGilligan (0-1), A McGrath, R Molloy; K McQuillan, G McTaggart (0-1), C McMahon (0-2). Subs: A Dooey (0-2) for K McQuillan (HT), R Mullan for C McKinley (HT), C McQuillan for O Quinn (HT)

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)

Doherty Woodshavings ACHL Division 1

Rossa 1-20-1-18 Loughgiel Shamrocks

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa

Rossa kept the pressure on Ruairi Og at the Division One summit with a hard fought 1-20-1-18 win over Loughgiel in the blistering Belfast heat this afternoon.

Loughgiel set the initiative early and lead through Eddie McCloskey’s shot, which dropped over the bar when it could well have went under, Shan McGrath then linked up with Callum McKendry who slipped it over.

Quickfire converted frees from Deaglan Murphy drew his side level and an excellent Dominic McEnhill point had the hosts in the ascendancy for the first time.

Seaghan Shannon extended his sides lead with an angled strike over the bar and the sides traded scores through Rian McMullan (free) and Dominic McEnhill after good work from Deaglan Murphy.

A converted free from Rossa shot-stopper Phil Crean had his side 0-06-0-03 in front at the water break – however Loughgiel emerged with the bit between their teeth for the final quarter of the opening half.

Rian McMullan added to his earlier free with another three conversations – in-between a single effort from play to nudge his side back in front.

Deaglan Murphy steered over his first from play to level and then converted his third free of the afternoon to give his side an 0-08-0-07 advantage.

Loughgiel appeared to have restored parity at the break with Rian McMullan slipping the ball off to Callum McKendry for his second score of the half, but Rossa would conjure up a point with the last play of the half through Seaghan Shannon to ensure they had a slender lead at the midway point.

Loughgiel made a fast start to the second period, quickly drawing level through Donal McKinley before getting their noses back in front through Callum McKendry- who broke the challenge and popped the ball between the large posts.

Further scores arrived through Rian McMullan (free) and a spectacular solo effort from Ciaran McKay- who burst up the side-line and produced a fantastic point to give his side a 0-12-0-09 lead.

Deaglan Murphy came up with his sides initial response and Ciaran Orchin followed suit to make it a one-point game.

Rian McMullan’s second point from play opened up a two-point lead for the visitors- though it would soon be wiped out at Murphy brothers Daire and Deaglan (free) hit back-to-back scores to draw the game level at 0-13 apiece.

Rossa restored their half time lead as Ciaran Orchin steered the ball into the path of Deaglan Murphy- who opened up an angle and sent his straight between the posts.

The sides were drawn level for a seventh time in the contest as Donal McKinley notched up his second point of the half.

The Shamrocks were back in the driving seat through successive points from Shan McGrath and Rian McMullan which gave them a 0-16-0-14 lead at the second half water-break.

Aidan Orchin narrowed the deficit upon the resumption before the games opening goal arrived after 51 minutes.

A long ball through the middle sent Daire Murphy on the chase and the 18-year-old showed a burst of pace to get to the ball ahead of Loughgiel keeper Chris O’Connell and kick it to the net to make it 1-15-0-16.

Rossa grew in confidence with Dominic McEnhill adding to his two first half points with a further three in a dominant period which also saw substitute Gavin McGrath pick off a point.

It appeared as though Rossa were home and dry – but Christy McGarry pulled a score back and with two minutes remaining a slick passing move opened up the home defence.

Rian McMullan combined with Nicholas McNaughton to send Shan McGrath through, and McGrath slipped his shot past Phil Crean to make it a two-point game and set-up a grandstand finish on the Shaws Road.

McNaughton reduced the deficit further with an angled point, but Rossa held their nerve with Dominic McEnhill claiming Deaglan Murphy’s side-line cut and steering over the insurance point as the hosts claimed a hard fought 1-20-1-18 victory.

Rossa: P Crean (0-01f), C Shannon, E O’Neill, D Murphy, C McGettigan, S Shannon, E Trainor, C Orchin (0-01), S Shannon (0-02), D Murphy (1-01), D McEnhill (0-06), T Morgan, D Murphy (0-07, 0-04f), C McGuiness, R Murray. Subs: R O’Neill for C McGuiness (HT), G McGrath (0-01) for T Morgan (42), A Orchin (0-01) for S Shannon (48).

Loughgiel Shamrocks: C O’Connell, C Blair, C McMullan, R McCloskey, C McKay (0-01), S Dobbin, O Laverty, S Boyle, D McKinley (0-02), C McKendry (0-03), E McCloskey (0-01), C McFadden, R McMullan (0-08, 0-05f), S McGrath (1-01), C McGarry (0-01). Subs: P Boyle for S O’Boyle (16), N McGarry for C McFadden (46), N McNaughton (0-01) for P Boyle (53).

Referee: Barry Winters (Eoghan Ruadh)