Antrim Hurling League – Division 2
Glenariffe 3-23 Bredagh 4 -17
Sun 11 May 2025
In near perfect conditions for hurling Glenariffe and Bredagh both fielded with a number of regulars missing but still produced a very entertaining game which was in the balance right to the end.
Both teams started brightly and matched each other score for score. Glenariffe opening up with points from Seanie McIntosh and Aaron Cosgrove, but were pegged backed by the hard working Bredagh team with points from Joe Hanrahan and John Dougan. Glenariffe then opened up a gap when Oliver Kearney scored a goal and a point within 60 seconds but once again Bredagh fought their way back into the game with a well worked goal of their own from Ben Christie. Glenariffe who were playing against the breeze in the first half kept their noses in front with scores from Seanie McIntosh, Calum McIlwaine and Brogan O’Connor but they couldn’t shake off Bredagh who where able to pick off scores from Sean McCollum and Ben Christie. Glenariffe where then guilty of a number of wides before Aaron Cosgrove got their second goal of the game to ease the pressure. However we didn’t have to wait long before Bredagh hit back with their second goal from Joe Hanrahan. Both sides traded points for the remainder of the half, Glenariffe’s scores coming from three Seanie McIntosh’s frees and points from play from Odhran Gillan and Brogan O’Connor, to go in at halftime with Glenariffe a point up on 2-12 to 2-11.
Glenariffe started the second half well with scores from play from Seanie McIntosh, Brogan O’Connor and Niall Murray but they continued to miss a number of opportunities which helped to keep Bredagh in the game, with their scores coming from John Dougan and Ben Christie. Glenariffe were now beginning to get on top and using the ball better out of defence, and when Oliver Kearney got his second goal of the game you thought they would push on from there. But once again Bredagh came back with their own points and then they were awarded a penalty which was well placed, by John Dougan, in the corner past Seanan McToal, who lined out in goals for the second half. It was now game on again, but Glenariffe responded really well to push on and have their best spell in the game with some great scores. Aaron Cosgrove replied for Glenariffe followed by an Orrin O’Connor point, who had now taken over the free taking duties. Oliver Kearney took his tally to 2-3 for the day with another good point, before his cousin Calum McIlwaine hit two good points in a row to push the gap out to 5 points. Seanie McIntosh who started the second period with a point for Glenariffe got their final point of the half to bring his total to 0-7. That should have been game over at this stage but Bredagh got a consolation goal at the end to finish the game on a scoreline of Glenariffe 3-23 to Bredagh 4-17.
Both team will be pleased with their performances as they were both missing a number of regulars. Glenariffe stay top of the league and remain unbeaten with 6 wins from 6, and Bredagh are a much better team than their league position would suggest and will be a real handful when at full strength.
Glenariffe – P McMullan, P McIlwaine, M Haughey, C Devlin, B O’Connor(0-2), N Magee, C Graham, O Gillan(0-1), C McIlwaine(0-3), O Kearney(2-3), N Murray(0-2), D Kearney, A Cosgrove(1-2), S McIntosh(0-7, 3 frees), O O’Connor(0-3, 2 frees). Subs used – S McToal for P McMullan, R leech for O Gillan.
Bredagh – I Galway, E Browne, M Woods, L Hogan, E Maguire, O McFlynn, E Curran, M Lavery(1-1), T Sheehan, O Morgan Lyttle, J Hanrahan(1-1), J Dougan(1-6, 1 penalty, 4 frees), S McCollam(0-2), B Christie(1-3), F Blaney(0-1). Subs used – C O’Neill for L Hogan, S Hughes for T Sheehan, M Corry for J Hanrahan.