Antrim Hurling League Division 1
Ballycastle 4-20 Portaferry 4-16
Ballycastle held off a second half rally by Portaferry at Pairc MacUilin on Saturday evening to win the league points in a high scoring game.
Eleven points up at the break (2-13 to 0-08) after playing with the aid of a stiff breeze it appeared to be plain sailing for the home side, but when man of the match Cahal Coleman hit back with a goal and two points in the first five minutes of the second half it was clear they were still very much in contention. Darragh Donnelly came back with a goal for Town to ease the pressure but when eighteen year old Coleman completed his hat-trick with goals in the 41st and 43rd minute the Ulster champions appeared to be on their way to the win.
However Ballycastle never gave up the fight and a goal by Darragh Donnelly, following great work by Seamus McAuley and Tiernan Smyth, gave them the breathing space to get them over the line.
Coleman made his mark early with two quick points, but a goal by Arden Kelly helped Ballycastle to a 1-03 to 0-02 lead after five minutes and a second goal on fifteen minutes by Conor Donnelly put them 2-06 to 0-05 in front. Coleman kept the Down men in touch with three of the next four points three points in two minutes in first half injury time from Conor Donnelly (2) and Darragh Donnelly sent them in at the break with a 2-13 to 0-08 lead.
The early goal from Coleman and two quick points showed that Portaferry were still in contention and Darrgh Donnelly’s goal from the home side helped settle the home side. However whenever Coleman came back with two more points before the three-quarter mark the gap was down to eight. Portaferry’s fourth goal by substitute Noah Rodgers was followed two more Coleman points and there was just four between the sides.
The visitors must have fancied their chances of taking both points at his stage, but Darragh Donnelly’s goal, gave the Town the upper hand again and they held on to win by four.
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