Dunloy laid down a marker in the opening round of the Senior Camogie Championship when they powered their way past Cushendall in the opening round robin game at Pairc Mhuire on Friday evening.
The Cuchullains girls were unstoppable as they hit the first five points of the game, three of them from Katie Molloy and one each from Caoimhe Molly and Erin Elliott. All Ireland Junior final hero Dervla Cosgrove got Cushendall’s opening score on 18 minutes from a free, but it was to be her team’s only score of the opening half as Dunloy hit back with three from Caoimhe Molloy, two from Katie Molly and one each from Bríd and Bronagh Magill to lead by 0-12 to 0-1 at the break.
The second half was more of the same and after an exchange of points from Katie Molloy and Dervla Cosgrove Dunloy hit their host with a barrage of scores, including three goals in a two minute spell from Eimear Johnston (2) and Erin Elliott. Two points from Dervla Cosgrove and one from substitute Sine Woodhouse closed the gap a bit for the home side but Dunloy finished strongly as Nicole McAtamney, Eimear Johnston and Caoimhe Molloy all added points to complete a top class performance.
Later this evening 9 in a row seeking Loughgiel open the defence of their title with a game against Ballycastle at Carey at 6pm
CUSHENDALL
Louise Mulholland, Amy McDonnell, Oife McClafferty, Catriona O’Boyle, Caoimhe McNaughton, Sinead Cosgrove, Clodagh McKillop, Coleen Patterson, Cara O’Boyle, Mary Kane, Dervla Cosgrove, Ellen Leech, Aoife Delargy, Orlagh O’Hara, Laura McMullan.
Eire Og claimed a quarter-final place in the Graham Tarmac Antrim Junior Football Championship with a 2-13-0-10 win over Wolfetones, Greencastle at Woodlands on Friday evening.
Defeats to O’Donnells and Pearses respectively had meant that the duo went into the clash without a point and knowing that a win would extend their season for another two-weeks and defeat would mean the clash would be their last hour of football in 2022.
Eire Og were first off the mark a few minutes in when Niall Ward dropped a high ball into the edge of the square where Brendan Shannon gathered, unable to get the shot away himself- Shannon offloaded to Kevin Clarke to swing over the opener.
Former Antrim midfield star Enda McAtamney was cheering on the Tones from the sideline
Ward floated over his sides second shortly after and things got much better when Greencastle goalkeeper Danny McIvor was stripped off the ball as he advanced outfield by P James Toal- who in turn quickly picked out Ronan Donnelly to fire into the empty net and give the hosts a 1-02-0-00 lead.
Greencastle responded with a fine point through Cillian Cumiskey, but back-to-back frees from Toal and a point from goal-scorer Donnelly had Eire Og further clear.
Successive points from Eoin McKee and Gerard McDonnell closed the deficit slightly for the visitors and the half concluded with both sides trading points from frees with Brendan Shannon and McDonnell on-hand to convert respectively as Eire Og held a 1-06-0-04 advantage at the midway point.
The hosts extended their lead upon the resumption, Conor McKenna was impeded as he tried to burst forward- though he was able to steer a pass off to Niall Ward to drop a shot over the bar.
Gerard McDonnell kicked his third point of the evening from a 45’ in response and would land a second in-between a Ronan Donnelly point as the sides cancelled each-other out in the opening exchanges.
Midway through the second half Greencastle had a lifeline when referee Darren McKeown signalled for a penalty.
McDonnell seized responsibility but his low effort was parried by the foot of Joseph George, the corner-forward advanced to the rebound but could only scoop his effort over the bar rather than into the net.
A converted McDonnell free had a goal separating the sides with little over ten minutes remaining, but Eire Og sprung back into gear.
Conor Ellis dropped a shot between the posts and played the providers role in Ronan Donnelly firing over his third point of the evening.
Greencastle briefly put a stop to the hosts momentum through an angled point from Eoin McKee, though the next two scores of the game would put the tie beyond doubt.
Niall Ward swung over a nice point before déjà vu struck as P James Toal profited from Danny McIvor losing the ball and he fired into the empty Greencastle net to give his side a 2-11-0-09.
Talisman Gerard McDonnell replied from a free and it would prove to be his sides last of the evening as Eire Og finished the game out with back-to-back scores.
This was despite the hosts being reduced to 14-men when scorer of the second goal- P James Toal was black-carded.
Conor McKenna floated a shot over for the 14-men and soon Greencastle’s numerical advantage was wiped out when Eoin McKee received a similar punishment to Toal for a deliberate pull-back.
Niall Ward would finish the evenings scoring as Eire Og ended claimed the elusive win and quarter-final spot that went with it
Eire Og: J George, D Murray, K Ryan, J Devlin, C Rice, R Donnelly (1-03), C Ellis (0-01), A McKnight, T Malone, C McKenna (0-01), P James Toal (1-02, 0-02f), S Erskine, K Clarke (0-01), B Shannon (0-01f), N Ward (0-04). Subs: M Duffy for D Murray (42), D Campbell for B Shannon (49).
Wolfetones, Greencastle: D McIvor, F McQuillan, D Moloney, D McGovern, N Brannigan, C Burrows, K Moloney, S McKee, E McKee (0-02), M Connor, C Cumiskey (0-01), J Parke, K McCallion, D O’Neill, G McDonnell (0-07, 0-03f, 0-02 45’). Subs: O Hassan for M Connor (40), M McCann for K McCallion (52),T Austin for K Moloney (60).
Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship – Group 2
Friday 26th August
Report by Niall Kelly
St Malachy’s 1-07 Laochra Loch Lao 1-06
A potent and inspired second half performance from talismanic forward Aidan Connor proved to be just enough to drag St Malachy’s over the finishing line and in doing so secured top spot and a plain sail straight to the semi-finals. The number fifteen burst into life in the second period notching up a personal tally of 1-05. Connor was the sole scorer for his side in the second half which perfectly illustrated just how crucial he was in earning this hard fought victory over a dogged and resilient Laochra side.
Dáithí Mac Gabhann with the Laochra Loch Lao goalkeepers before Friday nights JFC game with St Malachy’s at Cherryvale.
The first half was somewhat a war of attrition and scores were at a premium. The hosts endured a frustrating thirty minutes as they couldn’t make their superiority in attacking positions count and amassed a sizable wide count. The men in black and yellow started brightest and moved the ball around well with midfielder Ciaran Vernon so often the fulcrum of their attacks. Creating chances was no problem for St Mal’s but despatching them proved to be an unwanted theme of the first period. Laochra made them pay for their lack of composure in front of the posts and took the lead on the fifth minute with Caoimhin Ó Daimhín popping over to finish a flowing counter-attacking move. Padraig O’Prey doubled the lead four minutes later when he nonchalantly chipped over a long range free off the deck.
St Malachy’s eventually got their bearings right when Anthony Dobbin pointed spectacularly after industrious work from Jack McGivern. Three minutes later Paul Carlisle got on the end of a Ciaran Vernon pass from a quick free to split the posts and level matters. There was a somewhat tempestuous atmosphere for the remainder of the half with a few off the ball altercations as both teams battled hard to gain the ascendancy only for the wide count to continue to increase.
Just before Martin Quinn’s short whistle, the visitors dealt a significant blow to their South Belfast counterparts. The ever-dangerous Caoimhin Ó Daimhín finished off a fine, flowing attacking move to the net, fisting in a cross-field pass from Padraig O’Prey to leave the scores 0-02 to 1-02 at half-time.
St Malachy’s emerged a more potent and composed side in the second thirty though and were spearheaded by the cultured right foot of Aidan Connor. Barely two minutes into the half and Connor stamped his authority on the game unleashing a thunderous effort into the top left corner of the despairing Seán Ó Heachaín’s net to deadlock the scores once again. Connor’s ingenuity in front of the posts were on show three minutes later as his curling effort saw his side take the lead for the first-time in the game.
The Gaeilgeoirs responded well though and instantly replied through a fine score from Conchúr Mag Eacháin as he fired over from range before Padraig’ O’Prey doubled his tally on the fortieth minute from another placed ball and their lead was restored.
With only the bare minimum separating the sides, nerves were on edge and the game was becoming increasingly cagey. The perfect cue for Connor to seize the initiative yet again as he pointed two placed balls with great composure before adding another from a tight angle to give his side a two-point lead heading down the final straight. With little time remaining, Laochra’s charges were bombing forward desperately in search of scores and Conchúr Mag Eacháin found his range perfectly but on the sixtieth minute the two point lead was restored as Connor replied yet again to a roar of adulation from the home faithful.
Martin Quinn’s whistle couldn’t come soon enough though for the hosts though as Laochra ensured a nerve-wracking injury time period. Jack MacIomhair’s pointed with seconds remaining before Caoimhin Ó Daimhín was bundled over in the scoring zone and a free was awarded. St Mal’s waited with baited breath but the resultant kick veered wide agonisingly for the visitors and it proved to be the last action as the final whistle sounded to trigger scenes of euphoria for the home faithful.
St Malachy’s can now focus on training and preparation with their semis slot secured. This hard-fought victory will only serve them well in future. Laochra, although no doubt despondent about the manner of their defeat, will get back to the drawing board and prepare for their showdown against Éire Óg for the right to earn their own semi-final berth.
Teams:
St Malachy’s:
S Turley; C Corr, S Carson, P Hanna; D Quinn, C Connolly, D Casey; A Dobbn (0-01,) C Vernon; J McGivern, P Devine, R Maneely; P Carlisle (0-01,) K McCavana, A Connor (1-05)
Laochra Loch Lao:
S O Heacháin; M MacEachaidh, C MacGafraidh, D MacThom; E Ó Coinn, C Ó Coinn, É Ó Ceallaigh; C Ó Ceallaigh, J MacIomhair (0-01;) C MagEacháin (0-02,) A Ó Straitheain, T Ó Tuthalain; P Ó Tiarnaigh, P O’Prey (0-02,) C Ó Daimhín (1-01)
OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, Group One
Patrick Sarsfield’s 3-17 Ardoyne Kickhams 0-8
An impressive Sarsfields secured their place in the knock out stages of the Intermediate Football Championship when they proved too strong for visitors Ardoyne at the Bear Pit on Friday evening. Ahead from as early as the opening minute when team captain Gary Lennon fired the ball to the Ardoyne net, the Paddies played some great football on their way to booking a quarter final spot.
When the Paddies visited Naomh Padraig in the opening round it took them all of 29 minutes before registering their first score of the game, but there was no waiting around for their fans this time out as Lennon pounced on a breaking ball in around the Ardoyne goalmouth and finished decisively with less than sixty seconds on the clock.
Before the game young Sarsfields players formed a guard of honour for the team, but they needed a bit of practice and so they welcomed Ross Carr and his Ardoyne team as well as match referee Colm McDonald as his officials to get warmed up for Gary Lennon leading out the Paddies
Lennon’s goal set the tone of the game and it was clear Ross Carr’s men had a real battle on their hands, but when Aidan McNeill opened their account with a well taken point they began to settle into the game. They kept themselves in touch with points from Cathal Keown and Conor McLaughlin, but the home side were beginning to dominate and picked off some excellent points before Tomas Skillen struck a decisive blow on 21 minutes when he grabbed his team’s second goal after being set up by Caolan McKernan, whose sharp reaction saw him pounce on a loose kick out by the Ardoyne keeper.
That score seemed to deflate the Kickhams and though Aidan McNeill hit a couple of excellent points in reply, the Paddies pushed on to lead by 2-7 to 0-5 at the interval.
Tomas Skillen fires in his team’s second goal during the first half.
The pattern continued after the restart when Skillen added two excellent points, kicking over the first one before cutting in along the end line to fist over the next soon afterwards. Ardoyne kept battling and were rewarded with points from McNeill, Lynch and McLaughlin, but they were never going to claw back the 13 point deficit and when Healy added Sarsfields third goal with a classy finish from a narrow angle on the right, the only thing is question was the size of the winning margin.
Overall a really top class display by the men from Stewartstown Avenue, and considering they did it without their top scorer from the opening round, Kevo McKernan, they look to be real contenders for the title. There is a long way to go yet of course, but anyone who witnessed this display will not want to go toe to toe with the men from the Bear Pit
SARSFIELD’S: M Brady; A McGarrigle, M McPolin, M Johnston; P McPeake, D McKernan, C McKernan; G Lennon (1-5, 0-1f), N McKenna (0-2); J McNally, N McAlea (0-1), K Floyd; T Skillen (1-4, 0-1M), D Smyth (0-1), B Healy (1-5, 0-1f, 0-1M).
Subs: P Herron for A McGarrigle (45), P O’Kane for D Smyth (50), E Quinn for T Skillen (50), R Carson for G Lennon (53), P Murray for D McKernan (55).
ARDOYNE: T Hughes; P Montgomery, SJ Rooney, C Carter; E Corrigan, K Lynch (0-1), J McNeill; O McVicker, D McCormack; A McNeill (0-4, 1f), C Keown (0-1), D Moore; P Marley, C McNeill, C McLaughlin (0-2f).
Subs: R McGranaghan for C Carter (35), C Magee for D Moore (47), O Mullan for P Montgomery (57), O Hickey for O McVicker (60).
REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)
This you man got a good view of the action at the Bear Pit
Following defeat to St. Joseph’s Glenavy for both sides, this Group 2, Round 2 meeting of Naomh Comhghall and All Saints in Antrim on Friday evening was a must win for both teams but it the Ballymena men who made no mistake at the second time of asking when the Division 2 runners up proved much too strong for their Division 3 counterparts.
Naomh Comhghall flattered to deceive in the opening exchanges and might have taken the lead but a Dylan Murdock close range free sailed just wide of the upright. It took the visitors a time to adjust their sites but when Ryan Stewart pointed them ahead in the fifth minute they never looked back.
Benny McDonnell, Michael McCarry, Kavan Keenan and Sean McVeigh added points to leave them 0-5 to 0-0 ahead after 15 minutes and had they taken all their chances then the score would have been greater.
Naomh Comhghall then lost a player to a Red card as a bit of frustration began to creep into their play and a task that already looked difficult had suddenly become a lot harder.
Sean McVeigh drives All Saints forward from mid-field as Dannan O’Hara moves in
The visitors continued to move the ball around with great precision and create space and Emmet Killough looked to be in for the game’s opening goal but his shot came back of the crossbar and was scrambled to safety.
It wasn’t long until the next score came however as Conor Stewart added two more and full-back, James McDonnell got forward for another. Peter McReynolds in his first game of the season, following a long lay-off due to injury, got his name on the score sheet and Conor Stewart and Benny McDonnell moved the Ballymena side 12 ahead by the 28th minute as they continued to dominate proceedings.
Naomh Comhghall were still battling hard against the odds but nothing seemed to be breaking in their favour but Dannan O’Hara finally got them off the mark when he pointed a 20 meter free in the final minute of the half to leave it 0-13 to 0-1 for the Slemish Park side at half time.
The second half was only seconds old when Peter McReynolds broke clear for All Saints but his shot at goal rebounded of the crossbar to safety and for a time the visitor’s wastefulness reappeared as they kicked several wides.
Naomh Comhghall were still giving it everything but they were dealt another blow when Aaron Murray was forced to retire following a collision with Sean McVeigh with John Brady coming in as his replacement.
Naomh Comhghall’s James mcCabe comes under pressure from Ciaran McGarry, All Saints
It was visitors All Saints who continued to press but with no reward before Peter ‘Pizza’ McReynolds finally opened their second half account from a ‘65’ in the 10th minute and this score seemed to reignite their scoring.
Sean O’Callaghan got forward to finish to the net following great work from Paddy McAleer and before the home side could recover, Conor Stewart got in for a second with 13 minutes gone. Stewart fired home his second and his side’s third as the flood gates suddenly opened as the visitors began to empty their bench.
Michael McCarry and Kavan Keenan added points and the elusive Stewart completed his hat-trick in the 20th minute before Louis Higgins finally got some reward for his efforts on the night with a point at the other end.
It was well and truly over at this stage but All Saints finished as they had started, on the front foot and Eoghan Walsh and Michael McCarry added late points.
All Saints now await the outcome of tomorrow’s top of the table clash in Group 3 at Fr. Maginn Park where Glenravel play Davitt’s and the winners of that clash will play hosts to Baker Bradley’s side in the quarter-final of the championship and there is likely to be a few from ‘the town’ in Glenravel to run an eye over both potential opponents.
Ciaran Campbell, All Saints gets out in front of Dylan Murdock to win possession.
Naomh Comhghall: 1 Anthony Watson, 2 Dannan O’Hara, 3 Ryan McAuley, 4 Kian Walker, 5 Ruairi Griffin, 6 Dylan Murdock, 8 Oisin Crilly, 9 Michael McCabe, 10 Eoin Lynott, 11 James McCabe, 12 Niall Ward, 13 Aaron Murray, 14 Louis Higgins, 15 Peter McAuley, 17 Kian Devine. Subs: Colm Logue, John Brady
All Saints: 1 Niall Shannon, 2 Shaun O’Callaghan, 3 James McDonnell, 4 James Gillan. 5 Ciaran McGarry, 6 Paddy McAleer, 7 Kavan Gillan, 8 Sean McVeigh, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Conor Stewart, 11, Brendan McDonnell, 12 Michael McCarry, 13 Ciaran Campbell, 14 Peter McReynolds, 15 Shea O’Brien. Subs used: Ronan McKillop, Owen Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Joe Rafferty
