ACHL Division 1
Loughgiel 3-18 Dunloy 2-18
Sunday 28 April
Brendan McTaggart reports from Healy Park, Loughgiel
Photos by Michael Corcoran
Loughgiel took the honours at Healy Park on Sunday afternoon with three to spare over Dunloy. It took an injury time penalty save from Chrissy O’Connell to prevent the Cuchullains gaining a share of the spoils however, the Loughgiel shot stopper denying Aodhan McGarry’s effort with what was the last puck of the game.
To those who are engrossed in the game, there aren’t many things that are bigger than hurling but there can’t have been many disappointed to see Paul Boyle back out on the pitch. The Loughgiel man playing his first competitive game since coming through complications, Boyle was outstanding in the first half. Raising five white flags in that opening 30 minutes, Boyle getting game time in his legs against good opposition with no adverse effects will have been exactly what Darren Gleeson and the Antrim management team will have been hoping for.
Both sides free takers were their top marksmen, Nicky McKeague for Dunloy and Maol Connolly for the Shamrocks with four of the goals split evenly in the opening half.
Loughgiel were ahead by a point when Rian McMullan found the back of Eoghan Richmond’s net. McMullan’s finish was top drawer but it was matched by the pass and vision from Christy McGarry to find him in space.
With Loughgiel threatening to put daylight between the sides, Dunloy found the back of Chrissy O’Connell’s goals twice in the space of four minutes. Anton McGrath with the Cuchullains first major and again, it was another excellent strike. Collecting a pass from Aodhan McGarry, McGrath held off two Loughgiel defenders before dropping the sliotar low and firing to the bottom corner.
Loughgiel’s lead was out to three before Deaglan Smith fired Dunloy’s second. Forcing a turnover in the Loughgiel defence, Smith and Eoin McFerran combined with Smith making no mistake.
The Dunloy full forward was having a lively start to the match, himself just coming back from injury and he would finish the half with 1-3 beside his name.
Aodhan McGarry’s frees in the first half along with the brilliance of Boyle at the other end of the pitch kept the scoreboard ticking for both sides with Loughgiel edging clear again before their second goal came in the 28th minute.
It was Christy McGarry who applied the finish to take his first half tally to 1-2 but it came from the work rate and desire of Rian McMullan down the Loughgiel left to create the chance.
Five points separated the sides at half time, the home side 2-13 to 2-8 clear and on the evidence of the first half, it was a fair reflection of what had transpired. Loughgiel’s forwards and delivery into the attacking areas were on point with 2-10 of their scores in the opening half coming from open play.
Dunloy looked to tighten up their defence in the second half and restricted the Loughiel forward line with a zonal approach that stifled any room for the Shamrocks to flourish. The introduction of Phelim Duffin into the full back line also helping the Cuchullains cause in the second half.
Loughgiel’s defence was equally as miserly at the other end of the pitch. Counting the end of the first half, they kept Dunloy scoreless from play for 33 minutes although the Cuchullains did manage to keep the scoreboard ticking with some excellent free taking from Nicky McKeague.
The lead remained at six points with 15 minutes of the hour remaining, Maol Connolly’s sixth free of the match turning out to be his last and the Shamrock’s last score for 15 minutes however as Dunloy looked to eat into their lead through frees from McKeague.
The Cuchullains looked to have scored another major but a scrambled effort from substitute Barry Scott was cleared off the line by a retreating Tiernan Coyle.
Two points separated the sides in the last minute of the game when Loughgiel fired what was the games decisive and winning score. Eoin McGarry breaking free from a ruck and sped towards the Dunloy goal. It wasn’t the easiest of angles but the Loughgiel substitute managed to find the bottom corner with a super strike.
McKeague’s eighth free of the half and a rifled effort from McGrath brought Dunloy to within three as the clock ticked into the fifth minute of injury time. The Cuchullains looked for a goal to bring the scores level and when Deaglan Smith broke free, had a sight of the Loughgiel goal. He was brought down inside the square and referee Darren McKeown awarded the penalty, much to the dismay of the Loughgiel players.
Aodhan McGarry’s effort was struck well but O’Connell was equal to his effort and cleared the sliotar with what was the last puck of the game.
The game ended with some unsavoury scenes at the end with handbags being produced from both sides but it was all fairly innocuous with Darren McKeown restoring calm before leaving the pitch.
TEAMS
Loughgiel: Chrissy O’Connell; Tiernan Coyle, Rory McCloskey, Pearce Patterson; Caolan Blair, Declan McCloskey, Ruairi McCormick; Conor Dickson, Damon McMullan; Enda Og McGarry, Tiago McGarry, Paul Boyle; Rian McMullan, Maol Connolly, Christy McGarry
Subs: Seamus Dobbin for T McGarry (47); Eoin McGarry for R McMullan (50); Odhran McFadden for R McCormick (inj); Cahal Hargan for D McMullan (inj)
Scorers: M Connolly 0-6 (6 f’s); P Boyle 0-5; C McGarry 1-2; R McGarry 1-1; E McGarry 1-00; D McMullan 0-2; C Dickson 0-1; D McCloskey 0-1
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Eamon Smyth, Karl O’Kane, Oran Quinn; Kevin McKeague, Kevin Molloy, Conor McKinley; Tom McFerran, Aaron Crawford; Eoin McFerran, Aodhan McGarry, Paul Shiels; Nicky McKeague, Anton McGrath, Declan Smith
Subs: Phelim Duffin for K O’Kane (HT); Barry Scott for E Smyth (42); Gabriel McTaggart for P Shiels (52)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-8 (8 f’s); D Smith 1-4; A McGrath 1-3; A McGarry 0-3 (3 f’s)
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)