Antrim Hurling League – Division 2
Ballycastle 1-15 Rossa 1-19
Rossa fought back from seven down at Ballycastle on Sunday to record a four point win that takes them to the top of the league table. The home side appeared to be in control when they opened up a 0-7 to 0-0 lead after nine minutes and 0-8 to 0-1 after twelve but Rossa came back to turn the game on its head and lead by 0-10 to 0-09 at half time. The sides were level midway through the second half but again Rossa pushed on and took the victory with four to spare.
Ballycastle sprung from the traps and hit seven points without reply between the first and ninth minutes, two of them coming from Tiernan Smyth, two from Rambo McCarry and one each from Darrah Kelly, Dermot Donnelly and Oran Donnelly. The gap stayed at seven when Rossa’s corner forward, Thomas Morgan got their first point and Tiernan Smyth replied, but Rossa took over at this stage and outscored the home side by 0-9 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half. Thomas Morgan started the run with Eoghan McMenamin adding two, before Morgan came back with another. Stephen Shannon chipped in with a point, Conall Shannon got three in a row from frees while Dermot Rogan added one as the Shaws Road men went in the break with a 0-10 to 0-09 lead.
With latecomer Gerard Walsh now taking his place at centre back Rossa started the second half strongly and a goal in the opening minute by Eoghan McMenamin and a point by John Kerr put them in the driving seat, but Ballycastle hit back with a goal from Rambo McCarry and points from Oran Donnelly and Tiernan Smyth to tie things up again after 36 minutes. However the home side failed to score for the next twelve minutes while Rossa came back with four in a row through Dermot Rogan (2), Pearse Short, Conall Shannon and Ruairi Murray to open a four point gap. Twice the teams exchanged points to keep the gap the same and though Tiernan Smyth cut the Ballycastle deficit back to two, Rossa finished with late points from Morgan and Kerr to seal the win that puts them to the top of the league table at the half way stage.
Ballycastle
Ryan McGarry, Oran Kearney, James Lister, Jack McGowan, Dermot Donnelly, Conor Boyd, Eoin McAlonan, Orann Donnelly, Mark McLean, Ronan McCarry, Craoisti McAuley, Joe McToal, Tiernan Smyth, James McShane, Darragh Kelly.
Rossa
Conor Rocks, Oisin McVicar, Cricky McGuinness, Niall Crossan, John Kerr, Conor Boyle, Stephen Shannon, Dermot Rogan, Conall Shannon, Ruairi Murray, Pearce Short, Michael Armstrong, Declan McCartney, Eoghan McMenamin, Thomas Morgan.
