Cross & Passion College won all their games in Thurday’s Ulster Schools Year 8 hurling tournament, which was played in stormy conditions in Swatragh, to win the Thompson Cup ‘A’ title for first time in 6 years
The Ballycastle school won all their 4 group games with their full panel of 25 boys all playing at least one full game, highlighting the talent within the group..
The semi final pitted CPC against St Killians College, Garron Tower and after a slow start CPC really upped the ante with forwards Pearce McMullan, Dara McShane and Liam Lynn in great form, hitting 4-6 in an impressive win.
The final against holders St Patrick’s Maghera was a close game and Maghera stuck with CPC boys throughout. Points from Pearce McMullan, Liam Lynn and John Og Darragh had CPC 0-3 to 0-1 ahead at half time
Second half was another tight affair but a brilliant goal by John og Darragh settled the final.
Over the course of the day Iarlaith O’Kane and Cillian Bellew were very solid in defence, midfielders Tom Richmond and Killian Cassidy gave CPC a great platform that allowed the big hitters up front in Liam Lynn, John og Darragh, Dara McShane and Pearse McMullan to do the damage.
Maghera’s top performers on day were Dominic O’Kane in goals, defenders Mark McGrath and Harry McCloskey, midfielders Fergal Convery and Patrick O’ Loughlin and Quentin Farren in the forwards
This was a clash between 2 sides from opposite ends of table with Moneyglass hoping to bounce back from defeat last time out. It was Brigid’s, playing against the strong breeze who would make the early running, scoring 1 -01 through James Smith with only 3 minutes gone.
Moneyglass replied with a point from Fearghal Duffin but St Brigid’s cancelled this out with a point from King but the home-side, aided by a strong breeze weren’t about to go away and following a swift break up field Conor O’Kane fired to the St. Brigid’s net.
Inspired by this score St. Ergnat’s pushed forward again and Sean Boyd fired over the equaliser with10 minutes gone and it looked like we were in for a battle at Marian Hill.
St Brigid’s showed just why they are joint top of the league as they rattled off the next 3 scores to put them 3 ahead again but the next passage of play would have a significant bearing on the game when a Moneyglass goal chance was cleared off the line.
The visitors broke up field, leading to a 2nd goal to put six between the sides at 2 -6 to 1-3 but to their credit Moneyglass weren’t about to throw in the towel. They replied with 3 points on the bounce from a Conor Boyd free followed by 2 from the impressive Aidan McErlain to leave the halftime score 2-6 to 1-6
St. Ergnat’s made a blistering start to the second half with a Conor Boyd free and 1 from Seanchan Duffin leaving the minimum between the sides and barely 5 minutes on the clock.
Try as they might Moneyglass couldn’t get on level terms however with St Brigids registering the next 2 points to stretch the lead to 3 again, but Moneyglass refused to go away as they came back with two of their own through Colum Duffin leaving 1 in it at 1-10 to 2-08.
St Brigid’s didn’t panic with things opening up and as both sides went in search of scores it was the visitors who would hit the last 3 scores of game to win on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-22 but great credit must go to both sides for an entertaining game in difficult conditions.
St Paul’s continued their recent good run with a victory over Dunloy at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday night. In a low scoring game both teams struggled to get to grips with the strong wind but it would be the home side who eventually took control in the first half.
A well worked team goal finished by Liam McLarnon got St Paul’s on top with the teams exchanging points before the break.
HT score St Pauls 1-5 Dunloy 0-4
The wind continued to trouble the sides in the second half with both teams struggling in front of goal. There looked to be life in the Dunloy fight back when a Mickey Smith goal midway through the second period reduced the defecit to two points. St Paul’s though answered back with a couple of points of their own.
In a frantic last 10 minutes Dunloy looked to close the gap but the home side held on for a 3 point win which see them top Division 2.
Cargin retained their winning habit with a 3-12 to 0-09 victory over the visiting St John’s at a windy Shore road venue on Wednesday evening last.
Ronan Devlin’s charges concluded with a 12 point winning margin over their visitors but in the event they were slightly flattered by the final scoreline.
The Johnnies started with the stiff northerly breeze behind them in the opening half and although the West Belfast side arrived at Toome in the role of outsiders they began in a positive mode and had raised four white flags without reply in the opening phase.
The Toome men were hampered by the gusty elements in the early stages with the target proving elusive as was the distribution of the ball and they failed to give work to the scoreboard attendant for the first quarter in which their bye ball total was increasing.
St John’s were quick to close them down in the early stages and with Conal Mc Glade, Ronan Quinn, impressing they had four points on board without reply in the first quarter.
Cargin opened their account through Conhuir Johnston at the start of the second quarter and came strong in the latter stages but the Whiterock men maintained advantage at the short whistle as they led 0-06 to 0-04.
Cargin started the second half aided by the elements and Michael Mc Cann got them on their way with back to back points in the opening minutes and when his sibling Tomas and Tom Shivers added a couple more, the Toome men had nipped into the lead.
As the second half progressed the home Cargin began to get on top and a foul on David Johnston was suitably punished as Pat Shivers delivered the free between to posts and when Tomas Mc Cann was fouled, a few minutes later the big mid-fielder followed suit.
St. John’s were still battling hard with replacement Anto Press looking strong on the counter attack and a foul on the Johnnies substitute in the 44th minute opened the way for Connor Adams to deliver the free kick between the posts to open the visitors second half account.
As the game entered the last quarter the home side began to dominate withGerard Mc Cann excellent under the high ball but the visitors were not finished and a foul on the advancing Press was punished when Andy Mc Gowan delivered the awarded free between the posts.
The home side held a five points lead at this stage but they turned the screw in the closing stages as the visitors finally yielded to the constant pressure.
A Michael Mc Cann, Callum Gribbin combination opened the way for Tomas Mc Cann to find the net in the 55th minute, and Michael McCann again opened the door for the nimble centre forward to beat net minder Eoghan Ruadh Lambert from close range.
The result was not in doubt as the game progressed towards conclusion but after the visitors had claimed a 58th minute point via Conal Mc Glade’ the resultant kick out was gathered by replacement Sean Og Quinn who placed Tom Shivers to finish to the net.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-01), James Laverty, Kevin Mc Shane, Hugh O’ Donnell, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Conan Johnston, Pat Shivers (0-02), Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann 2-02), John Carron, Conhuir Johnston (0-01), Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Tom Shivers (1-03)
Subs
Callum Gribbin
Sean og Quinn
Cahir Donnelly
St John’s: Eoghan Rua Lambert, Daire King, Ronan Quinn, Matthew Mallon, Josh Robb, Conor Mc Evoy, David Mc Garrity, Andy Mc Gowan (0-01), Conal Mc Glade (0-04), Enda Mc gurk, Connor Adams (Adams), Stephen Tierney, Darragh McCallin, Luke Peden
Countess of Antrim Cup – North Antrim Intermediate Hurling
Cushendall 2-11 Carey Faughs Faughs 0-16
Two goals and a point by corner forward Ciaran Neeson turned this Countess of Antrim Cup game in Cushendall’s favour at Pairc Mhuire on Wednesday evening. The Faughs had looked the more likely to advance when two points from Conall McGlynn put them five clear with just five minutes of normal time to play. However Neeson turned things around with two quick goals and though McGlynn came back with a point to level matters in the 60th minute, Neeson landed the winner from a free in injury time.
Carey held the upper hand in the first half and with McGlynn, Callum Cane and Conlith McKinley rulling the roost they pushed on to lead by 0-11 to 0-6 at half time.
When McGlynn stretched their lead to six early in the second half the smart money would have been on them, but the introduction of substitute Oisin Woodhouse had an immediate impact for the Ruairis and with the wind at their came back into the game, Woodhouse hitting four of the next six points.
McGlynn’s two points in the 52nd and 56th minutes appeared to have steadied the Carey ship, but former All Saints star Neeson struck late to give Cushendall the win.
