Month / August 2023

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks withstand late Ballycastle rally to stay unbeaten

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Champions – Round 2

Loughgiel 1-17 Ballycastle 0-19

Loughgiel held off a late rally by Ballycastle to make it two wins out of two in Group 2 of the Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship in Cushendall on Sunday. A brilliantly taken goal from Loughgiel’s Shan McGrath had given the Shamrocks the lead for the first time and they appeared to be holding that lead fairly comfortably going into the last ten minutes of the game.

However Ballycastle found another gear going down the home straight and outscored Loughgiel by four points to one to close within a single point in injury time. They had a couple of half chances to get that equalising score in the minute or so that remained, but Loughgiel held on to earn the win and set things up for next week’s meeting with Cushendall at Fr Healy Park.

Going into the game short five or six regulars the Town were rank outsiders but they did not perform that way and went 0-2 to 0-0 ahead after four minute with points from a long range free from Conor Boyd and one from play by Rambo McCarry. Loughgiel got on the scoreboard when James McNaughton pointed a 65 which was gifted to them by a Ballycastle defender who tried a pass back to goalkeeper Ryan McGarry from out on the wing and overhit the shot, sending it wide. The full forward brought the Shamrocks level when he sent one over from play on seven minutes but Ballycastle came back with three on the trot, two from Tiernan Smyth frees and one from play by Ronan McCarry to go three clear at the end of a low scoring opening quarter.

The pendulum swung the other was at Loughgiel came back with three unanswered points, two of them from James McNaughton and one from Ruairi McCormick, but two more pointed frees by Smith had the Town two clear again by the twenty fourth minute. Loughgiel were struggling to get a grip on the game but they produced a brilliant finish to the opening half with a point from play by corner back Tiernan Coyle, two from frees by Shan McGrath and a brilliant solo goal by McGrath to go in at the break with a four point lead. (1-8 to 0-7)

Ryan McCook brought Ballycastle back to within a goal when he pointed in the opening minute of the new half, but Loughgiel responded really well with two sweetly taken points from James McNaughton and ‘Bicky’ McGarry and another from a free by Shan McGrath to push the gap out to six. Points from Seamus McAuley and Tiernan Smyth closed the gap to four again but Loughgiel came back right away as James McNaughton soloed through for a beauty of a point and Shan McGrath added one from play. That middle ten minutes of the second half was score for score with Ballycastle getting it back to four again, but each time Loughgiel had an answer and when they were still five clear entering the last ten minutes you felt the Town needed a goal to revive their challenge.

The goal they needed didn’t really ever look like coming but they made a good fist of it without a goal as Tiernan Smyth added points from frees in the 52nd, 54th and 55th minutes to close the gap back to the minimum. As he had done at vital times throughout the game Shan McGrath grabbed a Loughgiel point when it was really needed to open the gap to two again with just a minute of normal time left to play. When Smyth closed the gap to the minimum once again a shock result looked on, but a clear cut chance never came for the Town and the Shamrocks squeezed home by a single point.

LOUGHGIEL

Chrissy O’Connell, Tiernan Coyle, Declan McGarry, Ronan McCloskey, Enda Og McGarry, Damon McMullan, Caolan Blair, Ryan McKee, Dan McCloskey, Cathal Hargan, James McNaughton, Ruairi McCormick, Jack McCloskey, Paul Boyle, Shan McGrath.

Subs – Christy McGarry for Jack McCloskey (inj); Darragh Patterson for Cathal Hargan; Donal McKinley for Paul Boyle

BALLYCASTLE

Ryan McGarry, Oran Kearney, James McLister, Reuben McClean, Jack McGowan, Conor Boyd, Eoin McAlonan, Rian McCook, Cian Waldron, Lorcan Donnelly, Ronan McCarry, Seamus McAuley, Cathal Conor, Ciaran Butley, Tiernan Smyth.

Subs – Mark McClean for Reuben McClean; Fearghal McKiernan for Cathal Connor; James McShane for Cian Waldron.

Referee – C Cunning (Dunloy)

by thesaffrongael

Armoy through to knock out stages but all is not lost for Rasharkin

Casement Park Social Club Junior Hurling Championship – Round 2

Armoy 1-17 Rasharkin 0-16

Glen Rovers came out on top of a hard fought battle with north Antrim rivals Rasharkin in Saturday evening’s Junior Hurling Championship game in Cloughmills to set up a final day meeting with Lamh Dhearg, which will decide who goes straight through to the semi-finals.

Rasharkin, though still pointless after two games are still in contention and they will face Davitt’s in the final game to see who takes a quarter final spot.

Saturdays game was a great contest with both teams having periods of dominance, but it was a goal by Glen Rovers full forward Eamonn McCaughan midway through the second half that was to prove decisive in the end.

The sides were level on two points apiece after twelve minutes when Rasharkin appeared to be gaining the upper had as three points in two minutes from Conor McFerran, Cathair Henderson and Conor McKeever gave them a bit of breathing space. An exchange of points between Turlach McBride (Armoy) and Conor McFerran (Rasharkin) kept the gap at three but the Glen Rovers men finished the half strongly and a point from play by former Antrim defender Rocky Dillon and two from Turlach McBride frees left it all square at the short whistle.

The Amoy side went two clear early in second half as McBride and Conor Christie knocked over points but three in a row from Rasharkin through Conor McFerran (2) and Conor McKeever saw the St Mary’s men edge back in front. The pendulum then swung back in Glen Rovers favour as full forward Trevor Linton (2) and Eamon McCaughan came back with points and Conor McKeever replied with one for Rasharkin and just a point separated the sides.

The next three minutes proved decisive for Armoy as Linton added two more to his tally and Eamon McCaughan got in for a decisive goal to stretch the lead to six. Rasharkin did manage to get the gap down to four when Donagh Quigg and Conor McKeever fired over points, but that was as close as they would get and Glen Rovers held on for the win.

by thesaffrongael

Win for St. John’s despite late Cloney comeback

Bathshack SHC Group 1

St. John’s 2-21 Clooney Gaels 3-17

Playing into the wind in the opening half, St. John’s looked on their way to a comfortable win in this Bathshack SHC Group 1 meeting with Clooney Gaels in Loughgiel on Saturday night when they led by 2-13 to 1-9.

They had dominated for long periods and might well have been further ahead had it not been for two splendid saves from Ahoghill keeper Francis Neeson who denied Conor Hand twice in the opening exchanges.

The Clooney side were faced with a mountain to climb in the second half, having lost Dan O’Neill to injury just before the break but they showed unbelievable fighting spirit to leave St. John’s hanging on for a narrow victory.

Conor Johnston and Conal Bohill gave St. John’s an early lead before Ronan Graham got the South West side off the mark with a point in the 6th minute. Either side of Graham’s point Francis Neeson made two spectacular stops as St. John’s threatened to over run their opponents.

Conor Johnston and Oisin McManus 0-2 had the Whiterock side four ahead by the 10th minute but Clooney Gaels replied through James and PJ O’Connell to leave two in it with 13 minutes gone.

The Ahoghill men were giving as good as they got at this stage and Conor Hand and PJ O’Connell exchanged points but O’Connell might well have had a goal as his fiercely struck effort sailed over the bar.

Gradually though St. John’s started to take control with Conor Hand, Conal Bohill, Ruairi Galbraith and Conor Johnston hitting four unanswered points by the 20th minute.

Dan O’Neill halted the Johnnies run with a great point for the Ahoghill men but Conor Johnston and Daragh McGuinness responded with points and Oisin McManus fired home the game’s opening goal after Ronan Graham had pulled one back for last year’s Intermediate champions.

Patrick Graham and PJ O’Connell added points in reply to an Oisin McManus pointed free for the Belfast side as half time approached but the final minutes of the half would prove to be spectacular.

Ruairi Galbraith looked to have put his side in a strong position when he got on the end of a pass across the square to tap home but Ahoghill ended the half with a goal of their own with Patrick Graham finishing from close range in a goalmouth scramble.

In between Owen Neeson added a point for the Clooney side and St. John’s lost a man to a straight Red but with the elements to face in the second half it looked a long way back for the ‘Gaels’.

HT 2-13 TO 1-9

Ahoghill started the second half minus the services of Dan O’Neill, who had taken a bad knock but they started the half brightly with PJ and James O’Connell pointing and Oisin Donnelly and Daragh McGuinness replying for the Corrigan men.

James O’Connell fired home a penalty in the 6th minute and after McManus replied with a pointed free the Ahoghill side began to get on top with three pointed frees from James O’Connell and another from play from Donal Graham to leave just a point in it after 13 minutes.

St. John’s looked rattled but slowly they regained their composure with Conall Morgan, Conor Johnston, Daragh McGuinness and Conal Bohill striking four without reply by the 20th minute and they appeared to have survived the Clooney storm.

The division 2 side quite simply refused to give up however and PJ O’Connell drove a free through a crowded goalmouth to launch another comeback with five minutes remaining.

Oisin McManus, who had been prominent for the Whiterock Road men with his free taking, added his side’s final point a minute later and it would prove to be an important one.

Ahoghill finished the game on the offensive with James O’Connell converting a free and Eoin Graham added another to close the gap to one as the St. John’s supporters called for the full-time whistle.

This first win in Group 1 keeps St. John’s hopes of qualification alive but they look to have a mountain to climb when they travel to Dunloy for their final Group game on the 2nd September.

Clooney Gaels travel to Rossa on the same day but despite the Shaw’s Road side’s heavy defeat to the Cuchullain’s yesterday, the Jerimiah’s look favourites to join them in the quarter finals.

St. John’s: 1 Simon Doherty, 2 Lorcan Heenan, 3 Ryan McNulty, 4 Aidan McMahon, 5 Conall Morgan, 6 Ciaran Johnston, 7 Jack Bohill, 8 Sean Wilson, 9 Daragh McGuinness, 10 Conor Hand, 11 Conol Bohill, 12 Conor Johnston, 13 Oisin |McManus, 14 Oisin Donnelly, 15 Ruairi Galbraith

Clooney Gaels: 1 Francis Neeson, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Dan O’Neill, 8 Eamonn Brady, 29 Owen Neeson, 10 Ronan Graham, 11 Donal Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 PJ O’Connell, 14 Eoin Graham, 28 James O’Connell. Sub: Gerard Graham for Dan O’Neill

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)  

Cloney Gaels – Ahoghill St Mary’s chairman Gerald McGarry presents a cheque for £750 to Bert Trowlen of the Saffron Gael before Saturday’s SHC game in Loughgiel. Many thanks to the Ahoghill club for their continued support

by thesaffrongael

Saints outscore Harps in McDonnell/Doherty Park storm

Junior B Hurling Championship

Belfast Saints 3-13 Loch Beag Harps 2-7

Belfast Saints kept their hopes of Junior B Hurling championship success alive when they defeated new boys, Loughbeg Harps in horrendous conditions at McDonnell/Doherty Park on Friday night.

The home side started with the elements in their favour and looked to be heading for a comfortable win when they led 3-8 to 0-4 at the halfway stage.

On the resumption an ever improving Loughbeg Harps, to their credit set about reducing the margin and two goals in a five minute spell plus three points certainly gave them hope but a number of good points steadied the ship for the Saints.

In the gathering gloom and worsening wind and rain the referee’s final whistle was most welcome for everyone present.

Belfast Saints now travel to Fennell Park September in their final game on Saturday the 2nd September to face Ardoyne while Loughbeg Harps are at home to Loch Mor Dal gCais on the same day.

Referee: Anthony Carleton

by thesaffrongael

Blistering start gives Emmet’s the edge

Andersonstown SC Antrim IHC – Group 1

St Galls 0-17 Cushendun 2-14

Paul McIntyre reports from De La Salle Park.

Blistering starts to the beginning of each half helped Cushendun to a three-point win over St Galls at Milltown on Saturday evening.

Of their final total of 2-13, 2-9 was registered in the opening ten minutes of each half as the Robert Emmets got their campaign off to the best possible start.

Dominic McQuillan and Harry Kilgore both found the back of the St Galls net while Fiontan McQuillan finished with 0-7 from placed balls.

The visitors also had goalkeeper Gareth McGhee to thank for their victory. Twice McGhee denied Jackson McGreevy as the home side went chasing victory.

McGhee was forced into a stunning full stretch save in the 26th minute when it looked like McGreevy’s effort was destined for the top corner. Cushendun then had McGhee to thank again deep into second half injury time when he got down quickly to his left to keep out a low drive from a McGreevy free.

It was a save that denied St Galls a deserved share of the spoils and they are still chasing their first championship win after two outings.

Cushendun showed no ill-effects from their long journey to Belfast and after 6 minutes they found themselves three to the good as two frees from Fiontan McQuillan and an effort from play from Calum Kilgore saw the Emmets take an early stranglehold of the game.

Jackson McGreevy opened St Galls account in the 7th minute but Cushendun replied instantly when Dominic McQuillan nipped in behind the home defence to rifle a powerful shot past Kurtis McGreevy in the home goal.

When Pierce Bannon scored in the 11th minute, it looked like Cushendun were going to cruise to victory as they led 1-5 to 0-1, but inspired by Jackson McGreevy, St Galls came roaring back into the tie.

Five unanswered points from the St Galls target man, including a sublime sideline puck, cut the arrears to just one before David Kilgore knocked over Cushendun’s first point in 9 minutes with half time fast approaching.

But McGreevy continued to carry the fight and either side of McGee’s stunning save, the St Galls talisman converted a free and 65 to send the teams in level at the break, with the scoreboard at the short whistle reading St Galls 0-10 Cushendun 1-7.

Cushendun wasted no time in restoring their two-point advantage as efforts from McGhee and Conor McHugh edged the visitors back in front.

Again, it was Jackson McGreevy who responded for St Galls but almost instantly Cushendun took further control of the contest.

Pierce Bannon ran through the heart of the St Galls defence and he picked out Harry Kilgore who had the time and space to pick his spot and claim the visitors second goal of the day.

Cushendun were enjoying a bit of a purple patch and Kilgore, McHugh and two frees from Fiontan McQuillan helped the Robert Emmet’s to a six-point advantage with less than ten minutes left on the clock.

But just like in the first half, St Galls came roaring back.

Jackson McGreevy’s 12th point of the game was followed by efforts from Mark Napier, Cormac Sheehan and Dubhaltach Mac Liam to set up a Grandstand finish and the gap was now only two-points.

Fiontan McQuillan’s free in the 3rd minute of additional time gave the visitors a little bit of breathing space, but there was still time for one more attack from St Galls. And from Jackson McGreevy’s low free, they nearly rescued a deserving point, but McGhee’s sharp reactions denied the St Galls sharpshooter a match saving goal, and ensured that Cushendun return back to the north coast with the victory points.

Teams & Scorers:

St Galls: Kurtis McGreevy, Daniel Churchill, Connlá McCarthy, Ewan Rush, Gairech Mac Adhaimh, Ryan Irvine, Jeff Frampton, Dubhaltach Mac Laim (0-1), Jack Hopkins, Fergus Donnelly, Ciaran McCaffrey, Patrick Friel, Niall O’Neill, Jackson McGreevy (0-12 5f, 2 ‘65’, 1 Sideline, Mark Napier (0-3).

Replacements: Cormac Sheehan (0-1) for McCaffrey (40), Sean McAreavey for O’Neill (43), Leo Morgan for Friel (47), Gregory McGreevy for Churchill (51).

Blood Sub: McCraffrey for Mac Liam (57 – 59).

Cushendun:

Gareth McGhee (0-1f), Jack McKay, Aidan Corbett, Sean Hamilton, Calum Kilgore (0-1), Daniel O’Hara, Thomas Scally, Conor Bannon, Pierce Bannon, (0-1), Harry Kilgore (1-0), Fiontan McQuillan (0-7f), James Morgan, Dominic McQuillan (1-0), Conor McHugh (0-2), David Kilgore (0-2).

Replacement: Conrad McDonnell for Morgan (45).

Referee: Mr Ray Matthews (Rossa).