ACHL Division One
Ballycastle 3-23 Dunloy 1-20
Sunday May 8
Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballycastle
A strong attacking performance from The Town on Sunday afternoon ensured the home side recorded a nine point victory over Dunloy. It was an eye catching performance from Ballycastle who had 11 different scorers and an impressive 3-17 from open play.
Their three goals came from Tiernan Smyth and Michael Dallat, Smyth with a brace while Diarmuid McShane was at his impish best on the inside forward line, creating chances and tormenting the Dunloy defence. Smyth would top score for the Town, adding two points to his brace of majors while Ciaran Butler’s first half performance was laced with brilliance. Six points in 30 minutes from all angles and distances, he led the charge for Ballycastle.
Defensively, Conor Boyd was solid as a rock and the lynchpin at the heart of the back six. Oran Kearney, Mark McClean and Jack McGowan impressing while the work rate of Ronan McCarry and Seamus McAuley in midfield was exemplary.
Dunloy played in patches and a tally of 1-15 from play isn’t to be sniffed at either. Chrissy McMahon and Kevin Molloy fired over seven points between them, McMahon with four points while Ronan Molloy got their only major, that in the first half. Nicky McKeague top scored with nine points beside his name at the end of another busy hour, eight of those in the second half. A mighty impressive stat considering the Cuchullains scored 11 points after half time and five of those eight coming from open play.
Gregory O’Kane continued his philosophy of introducing young talent into the senior ranks with Daire McMullan and Ryan Mort taking places in the starting 15 for the Cuchullains and where in the thick of the contest.
After an even start, it was Ballycastle who sprung into life. The opening goal came in the 15th minute with the home side ahead by the minimum. A long delivery from Eamon Elliott dropped on the edge of the six yard box and Tiernan Smyth deflected the sliotar beyond Paul Doherty in the Dunloy goals.
Ballycastle opened a six point lead soon after but it sprung the Cuchullains into life. The visitors scored 1-4 without reply in the space of five minutes. McMahon, Kevin Molloy and Smith combining before Ronan Molloy fired to the back of the net. ‘Bunga’ Molloy’s point in the 22nd minute gave Dunloy the lead but it was their last score of the half as Ballycastle finished with a flourish. Ciaran Butler, Tiernan Smyth, Boyd and Rambo McCarry all firinig over to give Ballycastle a 1-14 to 1-9 lead at half time.
The Cuchullains started the second half on top and hit the opening three points inside five minutes and but for some wayward shooting in that opening spell, the Ballycastle lead could have been eradicated.
The Ballycastle lead stood at three points when Michael Dallat scored Ballycastle’s second major. Sending a speculative effort towards the Dunloy goal, ‘keeper Paul Doherty misjudged the flight of the sliotar and gifted Ballycastle a major to increase their lead and allow Ballycastle to maintain a stranglehold of the game in the time that remained.
Ballycastle’s third major came with nine minutes remaining and came after some magic from Diarmuid McShane. Cutting inside the right, McShane fired at goal from an acute angle. Doherty produced a stunning save but Smyth was on hand to pull on the rebound.
An impressive winning margin only matched by their performance levels, Ballycastle were worthy of their nine point winning margin. The Cuchullains will look to get back to winning ways when they entertain Portaferry at Pearse Park on Wednesday week while Ballycastle travel to Cushendall on the same evening.
TEAMS
Ballycastle: Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Eamon Elliott, Mark McClean; Jack McGowan, Conor Boyd, Ronan Laverty; Ronan McCarry, Seamus McAuley; Cathal Connor, Ciaran Butler, Joe McToal; Tiernan Smyth, Michael Dallat, Diarmuid McShane
Scorers: T Smyth 2-2; C Butler 0-6; D McShane 0-4 (4f); M Dallat 1-1; C Connor 0-2; R McCarry 0-2; C Boyd 0-2 (2f); R Laverty 0-1; S McAuley 0-1; E Elliott 0-1; Tiarnan Butler 0-1
Dunloy: Paul Doherty; Aaron Crawford, Karl O’Kane, Oran Quinn; Daire McMullan, Kevin McKeague; Conor McKinley; Ryan Mort, Nicky McKeague; Deaglan Smith, Ronan Molloy, Eoin McFerran; Chrissy McMahon, Kevin Molloy, Anton McGrath
Scorers: N McKeague 0-9 (3f 1’65); C McMahon 0-4; K Molloy 0-3; R Molloy 1-00; C McKinley 0-2; D Smith 0-1; Gabriel McTaggart 0-1
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
