Photographs: Bert Trowlen
Bathshack SHC Group 1
McQuillan’s 0-19 Naomh Eanna 3-18
St. Enda’s produced their best performance of the season and perhaps the best result in their history when they defeated McQuillan’s Ballycastle in the final game of the group stages at Leyland Road today to advance to their first SHC quarter-final.
Both sides were pointless going into today’s do or die tie with the McQuillan’s most people’s favourites given both side’s performances in Group 1 to date but it was St. Enda’s who performed much better over the hour to deservedly advance to the play-offs.
It was Ballycastle who made the better start however with Ciaran Clarke (f) and Tiernan Smith pointing them ahead before Cormac Ross replied with St. Enda’s opening score in the 4th minute.
The home side were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges however and Seamus McAuley had his shot tipped over by Naomh Eanna keeper Martin Curran and followed with another point to move his side three in front after 7 minutes play.
Phillip Curran replied from a free and Ryan Bogue received Yellow as things began to liven up and a couple of Ciaran Clarke frees, one direct from a sideline cut, and another from Eamon Elliott moved the Castle five in front but an Eddie O’Connor goal and a point from a Philly Curran free left just one in it at the first water break.
Curran levelled matters with a point on the restart but Conor Boyd replied for the Leyland Road side to keep their noses in front before an interception in the Ballycastle half and a swift counter attack saw Phillip Curan finish to the net for his sides second goal with 20 minutes on the clock.
Conor Boyd and Tiernan Smith responded with points for the home side and another from a Ciaran Clarke free in response to two for Cormac Ross had the Glengormley side ahead by the minimum at the short whistle and their travelling support in fine voice.
Ballycastle were in need of inspiration as matters got under way again and Ciaran Clarke provided it as he hit three unanswered points to edge his side ahead by the 4th minute but Eddie O’Connor and Ruairi Donaghy hit back with similar scores for St. Enda’s to bring matters level by the 8th minute.
Eoin Jennings replace Eamon Elliott in the Ballycastle side and was soon on the score-board, replying to a Daniel Lowry point with one of his own but the 2019 Ulster Intermediate champions were growing in confidence and Lowry pointed again before Ryan McGarry brought off a great save to deny Phillip Curran.
The visitors were on the ascendancy and Killian Jennings added a couple of points by the 14th minute before James McLister responded with a good point from an acute angle to keep the Ballycastle challenge alive.
The game was now being dictated by a confident visitor’s side however and Daniel Lowry struck with their third goal, just before the water break to move them 3-12 to 0-16 ahead going into the final quarter.
The momentum was very much with Naomh Eanna as Eddie O’Connor extended their lead with a point in the 18th minute and it became clear that it wasn’t going to be Ballycastle’s day when Martin Curran pulled off an excellent save to deny Seamus McAuley as the home side tried to respond.
Cormac Ross, Matthew O’Hare and Ruairi Donaghy added to the visitors total going down the home straight with Ciaran Clarke on target for McQuillan’s with a pointed free and another from play but there was to be no way back for the home side with Philip Curran pointing an injury time free and Cormac Ross concluding the scoring from a ‘65’ to send St. Enda’s through to their first senior quarter-final
McQuillan’s: 1 Ryan McGarry, 2 Oran Kearney, 3 Thomas McIlroy, 4 Cormac Donnelly, 5 Conor Boyd, 6 Matthew Donnelly, 7 Neal McAuley, 8 Mark McClean, 9 Eamon Elliott, 10 Ciaran Butler, 11 Ciaran Clarke, 12 James McLister, 13 Tiernan Smith, 14 Kevin Barry McShane, 15 Seamus McAuley
Naomh Eanna: 1 Martin Curran, 2 Eoin Conlon, 3 Rian Gillen, 4 Niall O’Connor, 5 Cormac Ross, 6 Mark Donaghy, 7 Joe Maskey, 8 Ryan Bogue, 9 Luke O’Connor, 10 Eddie O’Connor, 11 Ruairi Donaghy, 12 Matthew O’Hare, 13 Killian Jennings, 14 Daniel Lowry, 15 Phillip Curran,
Referee: Tarlach Conway
