Reserve Hurling Shield semi-final

Clooney Gaels 2-15 Ruairi Ogs 6-14

There were goals galore on Wednesday night in a very competitive and entertaining Reserve Hurling Shield semi-final between Clooney Gaels and Ruairi Ogs, Cushendall in Ahoghill.

The visitors hit six over the hour but the final scoreline slightly flatters them and doesn’t do justice to an Ahoghill side who fought manfully all the way and were still well in contention when they trailed by three with 12 minutes remaining.

The sky fell in at this stage with Conall McAteer blocking an attempted Aidan Graham clearance into the net and a minute later McAteer struck with another and suddenly the visitors had opened up a nine point lead.

With time almost up man of the match, Joe McNaughton fired home a penalty with the Cushendall number 10 putting the icing on a polished performance that contributed 2-9 on the night.

There was little between the sides during the opening half as Gerard Graham pointed the home side ahead from a 65 meter free before Patrick Sharpe and Christy McLaughlin replied to give the visitors the lead for the first time after 4 minutes.

Paddy Dougan squared matters with a point for the Gaels before Joseph McNaughton made his first and second contribution of the night to ease the visitors back in front.

The game’s opening goal arrived in the 12^th minute when Aidan Graham in the Ahoghill goals batted down a shot that was heading over the bar but with his defence unable to clear, Conall McAteer returned the sliotar to the net from close range.

Four minutes later a long shot from Gerard Graham deceived keeper Patrick Doherty and ended in the Ruairi’s net to close the game to two but Joe McNaughton was beginning to have a big influence on the game and he drove a 25 meter free to the net in the 22^nd minute.

Ahoghill responded and two pointed frees from Gerard Graham and points from Matthew Mullan and Dominic Neeson saw them trail by four at the short whistle.

Joe McNaughton for Ruairi Ogs and Gerard Graham exchanged scores at the start of the second half and after Conall McAteer blocked an attempted Aidan Graham clearance to the net, Noah Friel replied with a goal at the other end following a great run from Eoin ‘Soda’ Graham to leave it 3-12 to 2-10 in favour of the North Antrim men.

Another couple of excellent long range frees from Gerard Graham and one from play by Eoin Graham had it back to three by the 18^th minute and at this stage the momentum seemed to be swinging in favour of the Clooney side.

Disaster struck however as Conall McAteer found the Clooney net twice within a minute to bring his tally for the evening to four and it was the ‘Dall’ who finished impressively with points from Matthew McCann, Joe McNaughton 0-2 and Paddy Sharpe before McNaughton finished from a penalty to leave his side convincing winners.

Ruairi Ogs now go forward to play Emmet’s Cushendun in the final with Emmets already qualified following their win over St. Gall’s back on the 17^th August and with the Cushendun side hitting 5-15 in that one it promises to be an exciting final.

Clooney Gaels: 1 Aidan Neeson, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 Stephen O’Connell, 4 Conal Walls, 5 Chris McGlone, 6 Charlie McCloskey, 7 Fergal McGee, 8 Gerard Graham, 9 Conleth Neeson, 24 Matthew Mullan, 11 Dominic Neeson, 12 Paddy Logan, 25 Ryan McPeake, 14 Jack McFall, 15 Noah Friel. Subs:  Eoin Neeson, |Eoin Graham, Michael Martin.

Ruairi Ogs: 1 Patrick Doherty, 2 Damian Bergin, 3 Terry McAllister, 4 Patrick Mooney, 5 Eoin McAllister, 6 Daire Mort, 7 Conor McCollam, 8 Patrick Sharpe, 9 Stephen McAuley, 10 Joseph McNaughton, 11 Eunan McKillop, 12 Christy McLaughlin, 13 John Mitchell, 14 Conall McAteer, 15 Matthew McCann. Subs: 18 Austin Birt, 20 Ciaran Sharpe, 21 John Birt

Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)  

On Saturday 8^th July 2023 we launched our first Hurling for Hunger Charity Tournament; a joint venture between Naomh Gall and Naomh Bríd. Our aim was to raise funds to be divided equally between our two chosen charities: Foodstock in Andersonstown and the Daughters of Charity for their projects in Africa.

The Community Solidarity Hub (Foodstock) in Andersonstown provides invaluable services to those in our community, to name but a few: 

Mutual Aid food supplies & practical support for individuals and families

Solidarity Cafe and warm space

Giving Gardens Vegetable Project

Physical Health & Wellbeing Sessions

The Daughters of Charity is an international community founded by St Vincent De Paul and St Louise De Marillac. Currently there are nearly 16,000 sisters living and working in over 90 countries throughout the world. In the spirit of their founders the Sisters strive to make a difference to the lives of people who are poor, disadvantaged or discriminated against. What they do is provide Health Services, Nutrition Programmes, Education and Social Services for those most in need.

The teams who kindly joined us on this first venture were the two host teams and All Saints, Ardoyne Kickhams, East Belfast and Loch Mor Dal Gcais. The games were played at De La Salle Park Milltown and Musgrave Park. The sun shone that day and everyone enjoyed the games that were played in the right spirit. Thanks to our referees Paul McDonnell, Ray Matthews and Anthony Carleton for their time and support.

The grand total raised was £4,000, special thanks to all our sponsors including:

          McCulla

          Rush Digital

          Syndeo

          Davy’s Corner Shop

          Naan Doughs

          Direct Furniture

          Strakonice Hurlers

          Bourke Sport

          Josephine Murray

          Priscilla & Jimmy Drain

          Kevin Fanning

          Mitie Security

         ………..and all those who donated in any way

Thanks too to KIT Sportswear for their help with the logo and jersey design, the jerseys can still be order on their Website…

 The day was a great success in many ways and we’re looking forward to repeating it next year. 

U15A All County Hurling Championship

St Paul’s 4-07 Glenariffe/Glenravel 4.12

The Glenariffe-Glenravel Under 15 Hurling team scored a big win at Shaw’s Road on Tuesday evening when the beat St Paul’s in U15 Championship preliminary round.

Both teams showed great skill under difficult conditions but it would be determination and heart that saw the Glenariffe/Glenravel amalgamation succeed over a largely fancied St Paul’s team.

A first half goal from Ciaran McCann along with points from Canice McIntosh, Ronan Magee and Christy Leech took the Glensmen into the half-time break 1.08 – 2.04 to the good.

It was all to play for in the second half, a half that saw goal line clearances, hard running, chasing, blocking and a further 5 goals which kept the large crowd at Pairc Noamh Pol on their toes. St Paul’s never gave up and scored a fine goal but this goal didn’t deter the north Antrim lads who constantly ran at the St Paul’s defence. I

t was Canice McIntosh who eventually broke through St Pauls rearguard to clinically finish to the bottom corner of the St Paul’s net. Ciaran McCann’s determination bundled the ball over the line for his 2nd goal of the evening and it was Ciaran’s running at the St Pauls defence which brought him to the ground within the large rectangle and Canice McIntosh stepped up and smashed the ball home with pinpoint accuracy for the decisive score of the game.

Under 15 A Hurling Championship

Ruairi Og Cushendall 0-9 Dunloy Cuchullains 3-9

Dunloy caused a shock in the opening round of the Under 15a Hurling Championship in Cushendall on Tuesday evening when they produced a storming final quarter to beat Feile and League winners Ruairi Og by double scores

An exciting and skilful first half produced plenty of good hurling, but little on the scoreboard, as two good sides cancelled each other out and at half time the visitors led by 0-3 to 0-2, the Dunloy scores coming from Eunan Curry, Anthony Cochrane and Jay McAlonan, while Cahir McCambridge and Shane McQuillan got the Cushendall scores.

A second point by McAlonan three minutes into the second half to put Dunloy 0-4 to 0-2 ahead, but the next five scores all came from Cushendall as free takers Cahir McCambridge hit three, while Conleth McNaughton and Shane McQuillan got one apiece.

Three clear by the 39^th minute it looked like things were back on track for the Feile winners, but they only scored one more point in the remaining 21 minutes of normal time as slowly but surely Dunloy got on top. Another McAlonan point cut the gap to two and as the game entered the final quarter right half forward Damian McMahon grabbed the first goal for the young Cuchullains to put them a point ahead.

Cahir McNaughton pointed another free to level matters once again but the rest of the game belonged to Dunloy and three more McAlonan frees had them three ahead by the 57^th minute. Cushendall were pinned back in their own half and Dunloy’s pressure finally told as substitute Jack McQuillan and Eunan Molloy hit two late goals to seal the win.