Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 1
Dunloy 3-34 Cloney Gaels 0-14
Sunday 6 August
Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr McGuigan Park, Ahoghill
If Gregory O’Kane sent his side out to lay down a marker in their championship opener on Sunday, the reigning champions did it with style. Yes, they were meant to win handsomely against Clooney Gaels, making the step up from the Intermediate Championship has proven to be extremely difficult with Naomh Eanna the exception in recent years but the Ahoghill Reds had no answer to a Dunloy side who blew them away with an array of brilliance and hurling from the Gods.
15 different scorers, 3-33 from open play, four of the five substitutes introduced getting on the scoreboard and Eoin O’Neill showing the type of form that the Cuchullains missed during their run to the club All-Ireland and the form of a man who feels like he had to catch up for some lost time. 3-4 for ‘Sammy’ for the hour with his hat-trick completed in the first 14 minutes of the game, it’s fair to say O’Neill enjoyed his return to the Antrim Championship.
Seaan Elliott finished with seven points before coming off in the 38th minute. An outstanding performance from the county man in a performance that was more than just his scoring. The Cuchullains played with a game plan that highlighted their strengths with Keelan Molloy, Seaan and Nigel Elliott pace being used at will. Their efficiency and ball retention mesmerising as they never let up against the home side.
The Cuchullains made five changes early in the second half and they never relented in their challenge. Aodhan McGarry making his championship debut while Dara McMullan put in a solid performance in defence in a 22 minute cameo that will have pleased the Cuchullains management team.
James O’Connell top scored for the home side finishing with 0-6 for his hour but he like the rest of the Clooney Gaels found little change from a strong Dunloy defence. Conor McKinley returning to the starting championship 15 for the first time since the Ulster club semi-final of 2021. He with Kevin Molloy and Eamon Smyth played superbly throughout with the delivery of ball into the forward unit enabling the Cuchullians to wreck havoc.
The first Dunloy goal came in the ninth minute with the Cuchullains already into a three point lead. Eamon Smyth playing a Crossfield ball into O’Neill and while he had plenty of work to do, he showed plenty of composure to find the back of Frances Neeson’s goals.
Seven points separated the sides when O’Neill found the back of the net again three minutes later. This time it was Seaan Elliott who played the ball into space for O’Neill to run onto and again he had goal on his mind as soon as he gathered the sliotar. ‘Sammy’ would complete his hat-trick in the 14th minute making it three goals in the space of five minutes to put Dunloy firmly in control from an early stage and ensure it would be a long afternoon for the home side.
The home side were trying to get ball into the inside forward line where PJ and James O’Connell could cause a threat and there were occasions they had the Dunloy defence turned but Ryan Elliott was on hand to sweep up any danger that may have come his way and but for the occasional dropping ball, he wasn’t tested by Clooney Gaels.
The half time score read 3-17 to 0-7 and Dunloy showed no signs of relenting in the opening exchanges. They pushed their lead out to 21 points before ringing the changes, Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliott and Conal Cunning all coming off having contributed 13 points between them for their 38 minutes work.
The players may have been rejigged by the Dunloy management and a change of personnel but the end result of their play remained. They dazzled through the summer sun and rain against a Clooney Gaels side who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s the first time Dunloy have had all their panel available since the 22 January in Croke Park. They remain the bookies choice to retain their county crown for a fifth year in a row and while there is no talk of that within the Village, it’s performances like this that rubber stamp their title as championship favourites.
TEAMS
Clooney Gaels: Francis Neeson; Harry O’Donnell, James Magee, Diarmuid Graham; Fionnbar O’Neill, Charlie McCloskey, Daniel O’Neill; Eamon Brady, Owen Neeson; Ronan Graham, Gerard Graham, Patrick Graham; PJ O’Connell, Eoin Graham, James O’Connell
Subs: Colla McDonnell for G Graham (49); Conor McGarry for C McCloskey (50); Shea Neeson for H O’Donnell (55); Patrick Dougan for P Graham (55)
Scorers: James O’Connell 0-6 (2fs, 2 ‘65s); PJ O’Connell 0-3; Fionnbarr O’Neill 0-2; Eoin Graham 0-2; Ronan Graham 0-1
Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Conor McKinley, Conor Kinsella; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Ryan McGarry; Paul Shiels, Eoin McFerran; Keelan Molloy, Ronan Molloy, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning, Eoin O’Neill
Subs: Aodhan McGarry for Keelan Molloy (38); Nicky McKeague for S Elliott (38); Chrissy McMahon for C Cunning (38); Dara McMullan for R McGarry (46); Gabriel McTaggart for E McFerran (46)
Scorers: Eoin O’Neill 3-4; Seaan Elliott 0-7; Keelan Molloy 0-3; Nigel Elliott 0-3; Conal Cunning 0-3 (1f); Paul Shiels 0-2; Eoin McFerran 0-2; Aodhan McGarry 0-2; Gabriel McTaggart 0-2; Dara McMullan 0-1; Chrissy McMahon 0-1; Ronan Molloy; Conor Kinsella 0-1; Eamon Smyth 0-1; Kevin Molloy 0-1
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
