Antrim Senior Hurling League Division 1
Dunloy 3-27 Ballycastle 1-16
Sunday 18 May
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
A man of the match performance from Luke McFerran helped Dunloy to a comfortable win against Ballycastle on Sunday afternoon. Lining out at full forward, McFerran would finish the match with 1-4, have his hand in another major and so much more as the Cuchullains put Ballycastle to the sword.
Nicky McKeague would top score for the home side, finishing the hour with 1-10 while Deaglan Smith and Tom McFerran all chipped in substantially from open play.
Playing into a substantial breeze, Dunloy’s work rate and fluency in the opening half laid the foundations for the Dunloy victory. Ballycastle struggled to curtail their attacking unit that had a spread of 10 different scorers throughout.
Ballycastle had sporadic moments of joy and but for the brilliance and bravery of Eoghan Richmond between the sticks, could have added to their goal tally. Tiarnan Smyth top scored for The Town, finishing the match with 1-5 while half time substitute Lorcan Donnelly had a positive impact with his speed and direct running at a well marshalled home defence. Ronan ‘Rambo’ McCarry was carrying the fight for Ballycastle before having to come off at half time while Ardan Kelly and Seamus McAuley worked tirelessly throughout.
The first goal of the game came in the fourth minute with the home side three points to one ahead. Anton McGrath spraying the sliotar into the path of Ryan Mort and while the danger looked to have been quelled, Mort found Nicky McKeague running through the middle and despite the bravery of Eamon Elliott between the sticks for Ballycastle, McKeague squeezed the sliotar over the line.
Dunloy continued to dominate the middle third and could have had another major midway through the half, McGrath’s effort well saved by the Ballycastle ‘keeper.
The home side had stretched the lead to eight points going into first half injury time when they found the back of the net again. Luke McFerran with the assist and Mort with the finish to give Dunloy an 11 point lead.
Nicky McKeague fired over his third free of the half to take his personal tally to 1-5 ended the scoring to leave the half time score 2-12 to 0-6 in the home sides favour.
Despite playing into the elements, Ballycastle started the second half strongly and played with more urgency. The home side did manage to extend their lead to 13 but the McQuillan’s managed to score their first goal of the game in the 35th minute. Collecting a long ball, Tiarnan Smyth got the yard needed before giving Richmond no chance between the sticks.
It could have been better for the visitors but Lorcan Donnelly’s effort from an acute angle was saved superbly by Richmond and deflected over the bar.
A trio of points unanswered by the home side cancelled out Smyth’s major before Ballycastle had another goal chance. Conor Donnelly this time with his eyes on the Dunloy goal but the Cuchullains full back Sean Óg Blaney produced a blind side block to deny the Ballycastle forward with the goal at his mercy.
The third Dunloy goal came mid way through the second half and was down to the genius of Luke McFerran again. Getting on the end of a long delivery, he deflected the sliotar into his path. His initial shot was well saved by Eamon Elliott but McFerran was first to the breaking ball and fired home to the empty net.
With the difference 13 points, the Cuchullains were relentless in the final quarter. Scoring seven points in the last five minute and the couple of minutes of injury time played while Smyth and Lorcan Donnelly added to their tally for the visitors.
A comprehensive win for the Cuchullains who travel to Loughgiel in their next game on Wednesday 28 May while Ballycastle entertain Cushendall on the same evening.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Oran Quinn, Sean Og Blaney, Conor Kinsella; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Ben O’Kane; Deaglan Smith, Oisin McCamphill; Ronan Molloy, Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Ryan Mort, Luke McFerran, Anton McGrath
Scorers: N McKeague 1-10 (7fs 1’65); L McFerran 1-4; D Smith 0-4; T McFerran 0-3; R Mort 1-00; A McGrath 0-2; E Smyth 0-1; B O’Kane 0-1; Jack Martin 0-1; Ryan McFarline 0-1
Ballycastle: Eamon Elliott; Oran Kearney, Conal McColgan, Ryan McCook; Criostai McAuley, Mark McClean, Ardan Kelly; Seamus McAuley, Cathair Donnelly; Ronan McCarry, Ronan Laverty, Darragh Donnelly; Conor Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Tiarnan Smyth
Scorers: T Smyth 1-5 (2fs); Lorcan Donnelly 0-3; S McAuley 0-3 (3fs); C Donnelly 0-2; R McCarry 0-2; R Laverty 0-1
Referee: Colin Thompson (St John’s)
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