Month / August 2023

by thesaffrongael

‘Biddies’ emerge in the descending darkness to top Group 2

Casement SC JFC Group 2

St. Brigid’s 0-15 All Saints 0-9

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills made it two wins from two starts in Group 2 of the Casement SC Junior Hurling Championship when they overcame the challenge of All Saints in the wind and rain and descending darkness in Rasharkin on Friday night.

The ‘Biddies’ always held the upper hand against a relatively young All Saints side who gave it everything over the hour but were unable to convert good second half possession into scores.

Cloughmill, with the wind and rain behind them, raced into and early 0-4 to 0-1 lead with Eoin Dobbin, Ruairi Laverty, Michael Devlin and Liam Kearns their marksmen and All Saints solitary score coming from a Ciaran Neeson free.

Neeson hit his second point of the evening from another free in the 8th minute and when Joseph O’Rawe sent over a good point to close the gap to one by the 11th minute we looked to have a contest on our hands.

Eoin Dobbin and Ciaran Neeson exchanged further frees to keep the gap at one at the end of the opening quarter but Dobbin converted two frees and then a ‘65’ to move St. Brigid’s four in front by the 22nd minute.

The Ballymena side were enjoying their share of possession but finding it hard to break down a resolute St. Brigid’s defence and were relying on the free taking of Ciaran Neeson for scores and he pulled one back from a 45 meter free in the 22nd minute.

There was only three between the sides at this stage but the minutes leading up to half time would prove crucial for the ‘Biddies’ as they out-scored the opposition 0-5 to 0-1 with Eoin Dobbin hitting three and Mickey Devlin and Stephen Smyth on target while All Saints solitary response came from another Neeson free.

With the increasing wind and driving rain in their favour for the second half 7 points didn’t look an insurmountable lead and when Eoin McGuigan opened the scoring with an All Saints point in the first minute it was looking better for the Slemish Park side.

Two in quick response from Mickey Devlin dampened the early All Saints enthusiasm however and while they enjoyed quite a bit more possession during the second period they could not turn that possession into scores.

All Saints hit a series of wides while a number of attempted deliveries overshot their target and it was 11 minutes before Eoin McGuigan would raise the Ballymena side’s second white flag.

The scoring dried up after this as both sides struggled to deal with the worsening conditions and the descending darkness before Neeson struck the game’s final point from a free in the 24th minute.

The question on everyone’s lips after was, why was these games (7 in all) fixed for a Friday night and at this time of the night instead of on Sunday when there is only one game down for decision.

I didn’t have the answer but this result ensures that St. Brigid’s Cloughmill’s will qualify for the play-offs as Group winners while All Saints now meet Gort na Mona in a battle for second place in Ballymena on Saturday 2nd September.

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills: 1 Chris McKernan, 2 Sean McKendry, 3 Kevin O’Boyle, 4 Stephen Martin, 5 Pearse Smyth, 6 Corey Blair, 7 Johnny Duffin, 8 Martin Dobbin, 9 Joe Smyth, 10 Rian Dobbin, 11 Ruairi Laverty, 12 Michael Devlin, 13 Liam Kearns, 14 Eoin Dobbin, 15 Stephen Smyth

All Saints: Ciaran Cassley, 2 Kevin Brady, 3 Colum Neeson, 4 Archie McGreevey, 5 Conor O’Rawe, 6 Luke O’Rawe, 7 Daniel Gray, 8 Padhraig Magill, 9 Damian Gillan, 10 Jack Magill, 11, Eoin McGuigan, 12 Liam Cassley, 13 James O’Boyle, 14 Ciaran Neeson, 15 Joseph O’Rawe

Referee: Darren Mullan

by thesaffrongael

Goals guide Cushendall to semi-final

Reserve Hurling Cup

Dunloy 0-22  Cushendall 3-17

Goals proved the difference as Cushendall overcome Dunloy in Wednesday evening’s Reserve Cup Hurling quarter final in Pearse Park. One from Christy McNaughton in the first half and one apiece from Emmet Laverty and Ed McQuillan in the second were to prove decisive as the Ruairis recorded a four point win.

McQuillan and McNaughton got Cushendall’s opening score but Deaglan Smith came back with one for the home side. Christy McNaughton restored the two point cushion with his second point of the game on seven minutes, but the Cuchullains were level by the ninth minute when Eoghan McGrath and Barry McCloskey sent two over inside thirty seconds. McNaughton grabbed his goal less than a minute later to give Cushendall a bit of breathing space, but Dunloy hit a purple patch at the start of the second quarter when they hit five points without reply through Daire McMullan (2), Deaglan Smith, Ryan Mort and Eoghan McGrath to go two clear. However the visitors finished the half strongly and points from Patrick Sharpe and Ruairi McCollam sent them in level at the break.

Christy McNaughton and Andrew Delargy got the first two points of the second half to put Cushendall back in front, and though Dunloy pulled one back, Cushendall took a grip of things when ‘Mucker’ Laverty got the Ruairis second goal on 33 minutes. McNaughton’s free taking was always able to keep a cushion between Dunloy and his team and when Ed McQuillan got the Ruairi’s third entering the final quarter they were always in charge. Andrew Delargy’s point on fifty minutes put them seven clear, but it was never quite plain sailing as that was to be their last score of the game. Dunloy chipped away at the lead with Nicky McKeague grabbing a couple, but the goal they needed to really bring their challenge back to life never came.

DUNLOY

Callum Mullan 2 Cathair McCloskey 3 Kevin McKeague 4 Tom McFerran 5 Karl O’Kane 6 Conor McKinley 7 Daire McMullan 8 Aidan McGarry 9 Ciaran Elliott 10 Nicky Mckeague 11 Gabby Mctaggart 12 Declan Symth 13 Barry McCloskey 14 Ryan Mort 15 Eoghan McGrath

CUSHENDALL

1 Eoin Gillan 2 Mark Emerson 3 Daire Mort 4 Cillian McNaughton 5 Seamus McCurry 6 Stephen Walsh 7 Conor McCollam 9 Andrew Delargy 10 Padraig McKillop 11 Emmet Laverty 12 Austin Birt 13 Joseph McNaughton 14 Christy McNaughton 15 Ed McQuillan.

by thesaffrongael

Rogan inspires Rossa to victory

Reserve Hurling Cup

Rossa 0-18 Shamrocks 0-12

A man of the match performance by wing half forward, Diarmaid Rogan inspired O’Donovan Rossa to victory over a fancied Loughgiel Shamrock’s in the Reserve Hurling Cup at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday evening.

The Shamrocks were fancied in some quarters to go all the way in this year’s competition but they came up against a determined home side who failed to read the script with Rogan leading the way and he finished with 0-6 to his credit as he covered every inch of Rossa Park.

The home side got off to a good start with Conor O’Neill and Owen May pointing them two ahead after three minutes before Loughgiel keeper, Cormac McFadden came forward to send a 70 meter free between the uprights at the other end.

Seamus Dobbin followed with another long range effort from play to close the gap to the minimum by the 9th minute and when Tiago McGarry added another to level matters it looked like the game might be swinging in favour of the visitors.

Rossa were having none of it however as corner forward, Seamus Close edged them two ahead once more from a couple of converted frees but Ben McGarry replied from a fine long range effort to close the gap to one at the end of the opening quarter.

Diarmaid Rogan began to stamp his influence on proceedings as he extended his side’s lead again but the Shamrock’s were giving as good as they got at this stage with Eoin McGarry replying immediately from a converted free.

The minutes leading up to the break belonged to Rossa however as Seamus Close, Diarmaid Rogan, Close again and Owen May struck unanswered points but Loughgiel finished on the front foot with Conor Dixon and Conor Dallas pointing at the other end to leave it 0-10 to 0-7 for the Jerimiah’s at the break.

The visitors needed a good start to the second half if they were to overturn the Rossa lead but in the event it was Conor O’Neill and Owen May who opened the scoring at the other end to move the O’Donovan’s 0- 12 to 0-7 ahead by the second minute.

Eoin McGarry finally got the North Antrim side on their way but Diarmaid Rogan was having an increasing influence on proceedings as he struck three on the bounce between the 3d and the 18th minutes and another from Conor O’Neill had the Blue & Gold in a strong position as he game entered the final quarter.

Loughgiel never gave up the chase as Seamus Dobbin pointed a ‘65’ following a great save from Eoghan O’Neill in the Rossa goals and the same player would convert a couple of late frees with McGarry on target from play  but Rogan and Seamus Close replied at the other end to ensure that there would be no way back for the Shamrock’s

Rossa: 1 Eoghan O’Neill, 2 Patrick Moyes, 3 Niall Crossan, 4 Andrew McLean, 5 Conor Boyle, 6 John Kerr, 7 Daire Cunningham, 8 Ben McAuley, 19 Barry Heggarty, 10 Jim Reynolds, 11 Owen May, 12 Diarmaid Rogan, 13 Conor O’Neill, 14 Conor Rocks, 15 Seamus Close, 17 Niall Devlin

Loughgiel: 1 Cormac McFadden, 2 Conor Henry, 3 Daniel McPeake, 4 Finn Henry, 5 Pearse Patterson, 6 Seamus Dobbin, 7 Padraig Bradley, 8 Ben McGarry, 9 Connor Dixon, 10 Conor Dallas, 11 Tiago McGarry, 12 Eoin McGarry, 13 Ronan McCollum, 14 Nicolas McNaughton, 15 Danny McAuley

Referee: Colin Thompson

by thesaffrongael

Cushendun beat st Gall’s to book final place

Reserve Hurling Shield

St Gall’s 0 – 12 Cushendun 5 – 15

Cushendun booked their place in the final of the Reserve Hurling Shield when they beat St Gall’s in Wednesday evening’s semi-final at Milltown. The Emmet’s were leading by 3-7 to 0-8 at half time after a dominant first half. The pace of the game slowed during the third quarter but a late scoring burst which produced two more goals sealed the Emmet’s place in the final at Cloney Gaels.

An early goal from full forward John V Morgan gave Cushendun the upper hand and they led by 1-4 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter, the St Gall’s points coming from Aodh Mullan (2), Niall Fallon and Eamon Cooke. With Pierce Bannon starting to find his range from frees Cushendun began to open a gap, which was widened when Eoin Magee got his team’s second goal. Three quick points from the excellent Aodh Mullan closed the gap for St Gall’s but another Magee goal just before the break had the visitors 3-7 to 0-8 clear by half time.

The second half saw the scoring rate slow for a while but the Glensmen were always in control and further goals from Aidan McSparran and Cavan McCormick put it beyond any doubt and they pushed on to seal the win.

by thesaffrongael

Power packed Gaels overrun St. Paul’s

Reserve Hurling Shield

Ahoghill 8-18 St. Paul’s 2-12

Clooney Gaels produced a power packed performance to over-run St. Paul’s in this Reserve Hurling Shield quarter-final in Ahoghill on Wednesday night. The home side hit five first half goals to lead by 16 points at the half way stage and added three more in the second to run out convincing winners.

It was St. Paul’s who drew first blood when Caolan Crossan pointed in the third minute but it would be the only time that the Shaw’s Road side would lead in the contest.

Colla McDonald fired home the home side’s opening goal in the 8th minute to move them 1-3 to 0-1 ahead and two minutes later he pulled first time to send to the net again.

St. Paul’s were battling hard with Caoimhin Lillyleagh and Caolan Crossan replying with points but a third goal from Noah Friel, after great work by Jack McFall put the home side in a strong position at the end of the opening quarter.

A strong run from Paddy Logan opened the door for Matthew Mullan to fire home Ahoghill’s fourth and goal number five arrived when Noel Friel batted over head to the net with 9 minutes remaining to the break.

Colla McDonald had been prominent in everything that the home side produced but he received his marching orders after a moment of madness and a couple of players from the other side joined him in the altercation that followed.

Substitute Liam Cuslund got St. Paul’s off to a great second half start when he fired home after 30 seconds but before the ink had dried on the referee’s score card a long delivery from Charlie McCloskey sailed all the way to the St. Paul’s net.

Jack McFall added a seventh for the home side following a strong run from Conor McGarry with Caolan Crossan from play and from frees keeping the scoreboard ticking for the visitors with some nice points.

Clooney Gaels were now cruising and using the extra man to good effect with Gerard Graham striking three long range points and McFall adding another before Darragh Digney got in for a visitors goal in the 25th minute.

It would provide only temporary respite however as Noel Friel, Fergal Magee and Matthew Mullan added points before Mullan put the icing on a good individual performance with a goal with time almost up.

Aidan Graham brought off a number of good saves in the Clooney goals and his accuracy from puck outs set up numerous attacks while Shay Neeson, Stephen O’Connell and Charlie McCloskey were best in a rock solid home defence.

Callum Reynolds and Gerard Graham were dominant at mid-field while Matthew Mullan, Noah Friel and Jack McFall were best in a potent attack.

Eoin Brown, Gary McGroarty and Adam O’Sullivan were best in defence for St. Paul’s while Caoimhin Killyleagh, Daniel Walsh and the excellent Caolan Crossan were best in attack.