Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 1 – Round 2
Loughgiel: 1-27 Ballycastle : 2-20
A spell of dominance on either side of half time saw Loughiel secure at least a quarter final place in the Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Champions at Paric MacUilin on Saturday at the expense of Ballycastle. In a high scoring and exciting game Ballycastle played some great hurling and led at the first half water break. However the ten minutes before half time and the opening minutes of the second half saw the game get away from them and though they fought back to within four points at the end, that spell in the second quarter had left them too much to do.
The semi-final place in this group will be decided next Saturday in Loughgiel when the Shamrocks host fellow Group 1 leaders Rossa in what promised to be a great contest. Despite suffering two defeats in their two opening game Ballycastle are still in the mix, as indeed are their opponents next weekend, Naomh Eanna, and their game at Pairc MacUilin next Saturday is a showdown for a quarter final spot.
With Ciaran Clarke leading the line the Town started well in this game and two pointed frees by the corner forward put them ahead. It was score for score for a while as Clarke’s county team mate James McNaughton started finding the target for the Shamrocks and the home team’s lead fluctuated between 1 and 2 points and Clarke (3), Conor Boyd and Ciaran Butler found the target for the Town, while McNaughton (2), Paul Boyle and Dan McCloskey replied for the Shamrocks.
0-7 to 0-6 ahead at the first water break Ballycastle got a great boost when Ciaran Clarke cut through for a great individual goal at the start of the second quarter to put his team four clear on in the 17th minute.
James McNaughton came back with three in a row for Loughgiel, two from frees and one from play, and though Clarke replied with one at the other end, a goal from McNaughton put Loughgiel in front for the first time.
That goal produced a big momentum swing as the next six points came from Loughgiel sticks as McNaughton hit three while Christy McGarry, Paul Boyle and Dan McCloskey hit one apiece to open up a seven point gap, though Clarke showed his class again as he sent over three points in as many minutes to cut the gap to four at the break.
Just when it appeared Ballycastle were getting to grips again Loughgiel pulled away with four points inside two minutes at the start of the second half and the lead was out to eight, but they clawed their way back with a series of good points, and when a long free from inside his own half dropped in around the Loughgiel ‘square’ Conor Boyd got a touch to send it to the Loughgiel net.
It was game-on once again as the teams went down the home straight, but Loughgiel were able to hold the Town at bay and in the end four points separated the sides
BALLYCASTLE – Ryan McGarry, Oran Kearney, Tommy McIlroy, Ronan Laverty, Conor Boyd, Matthew Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Reuben McLean, Seamus McAuley, Ciara Butler, KB McShane, Cormac Donnelly, Tiernan Smyth, James McLister, Ciaran Clarke.
Subs – Diarmaid McShane, Feargal McKiernan, Rambo McCarry
LOUGHGIEL – Chrissy O’Connell, Tiernan Coyle, Tony McCloskey, Ronan McCloskey, Damon McMullan, Seamus Dobbin, Declan McCloskey, James McNaughton, Shan McGrath, Donal McKinley, Eddie McCloskey, Paul Boyle, Christy McGarry, Daniel McCloskey, John Francis Connolly.
Referee – Colum Cunning (Dunloy)
