Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Loughgiel Shamrocks 1:20 Ballycran GAC 1:23

Match report by Darrach O’Mullan

Photos by Michael Corcoran

The second match in a double-header in Father Healy Park today saw the opening of the Division 1 League between Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC and Ballycran GAC. The game started as it finished with a great competitive edge shown by both respective teams. A succession of multiple scores by frees by Maol Connolly were matched by a seemingly endless number of scores by Odhran McFadden. Both teams rivalled each other in an equal playing field, mirroring one another throughout the first half. Scores from Paul Sheehan, Conor Woods and Christopher Egan were keeping Ballycran in motion against their North Antrim counterparts, but the gap between scores was narrowed by a superb goal by Eoin McGarry, further bolstering the scoreline before the end of the first half.

Half Time

Loughgiel Shamrocks 1:09  Ballycran GAC 0:19

Loughgiel began the second half with a more organised front, preventing Ballycran from moving forward, but once more efforts by Paul Sheehan and Phelim Savage were keeping Ballycran’s noses in front. Loughgiel continued its more aggressive manoeuvring through the very physical game with great scores made by Maol Connolly and Eoin McGarry, keeping the Shamrocks abreast of their opponents, Ballycran’s Paul Sheehan was continuously proving his ability in picking off scores from frees, consequently ensuring that Ballycran would not leave Loughgiel defeated. With Loughgiel ahead by a point two minutes into added time, it looked like the home side had done enough, but a late score by Liam Savage brought the Ards men level at the final whistle.

Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC

1. Chrissy O’Connell 2. Pearce Patterson 3. Caolan Blair 4.  Ruairi McCormick 5. Ben McGarry 6. Declan McCloskey 7. Seamus Dobbin 8. Tiago McGarry 9. Finn Henry 10. Darragh Patterson 11. Connor Dickson 12. Odhran McFadden 13. Eoin McGarry 14. Maol Connolly 15. Conor O’Mullan 16. Cormac McFadden 18. Roan McGarry 19. Ronan McCollum 21. Ronan Fitzgerald

1. Stephen Keith 2. Manus Gilmore 3. Cormac McAlister 4. Brad Watson 5. Brett Nicholson 6. Liam Savage 7. Aaron Dorrian 8. Michael Hughes 9. Ethan Bell 10. Steven Gilliland 11. Phelim Savage 12. Paul Sheehan 13. Eoin Kelly 14. Conor Woods 15. Christopher Egan 16. Cahal Lavery 17. Sean McCarthy 18. David Gilliland 19. Hugh James Torney 20. Mark Egan 21. Patrick Hughes 22. Rory Corcoran 23. Dara Rodgers 26. Paul Miskimmin