Senior Hurling League Division One
Ballycastle 2-22 Dunloy 1-23
Wednesday 11 June
Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballycastle
Ballycastle made it back to back league wins on Wednesday evening as they saw off the challenge of Dunloy with two to spare.
In a game that saw the home side hit an eye catching 2-19 from open play, it was the ten minutes either side of half time that was ultimately the winning of the game for the Town. Ballycastle would record 2-10 to just a solitary point from the Cuchullains in that same period of time.
Yet bizarrely, the home side had to come back from seven points down midway through the first half and withstand a late onslaught from the Cuchullains who had them hemmed into their own half for long periods of the final quarter.
Niall McKenna top scored for his side with seven points, three of those coming from placed ball and while the goals came from the impressive Darragh Kelly and Neal McAuley, it was James McShane and Conor Donnelly who were a major thorn in the side of Dunloy.
The Ballycastle duo would record nine points between them, McShane raising his four white flags in the first half while Donnelly’s aerial presence and awareness meant he was a major threat.
Dunloy will look to the number of missed frees during the hour when this game is analysed. Nicky McKeague, who has been exceptional this season, had an ‘off’ night from placed balls but contributed so much more throughout with his work rate. McKeague did top score for the Cuchullains with 0-7, six of those from placed ball while Ciaran Elliott was heavily involved and instrumental. Tom McFerran was the top performer for the Cuchullains, he would finish with five points beside his name by the time referee Patrick Tumelty called time for the end of what was a hugely entertaining contest.
It was the visitors to MacUílín Pairc that made the brightest start and held a two point advantage after five minutes. Points coming from Ryan Mort, Aodhan McGarry and Luke McFerran while Neal McAuley brought the solitary response for his side.
Dunloy would maintain that two point lead when they would score the first goal of the game in the 12th minute. Collecting a long delivery, Mort raced through on goal and gave Ryan McGarry no chance with his finish.
A brace of points from Kevin Molloy either side of Niall McKenna’s first white flag of the game and when Ben O’Kane fired over for the Cuchullains in the 15th minute, they would see their lead increase to seven points.
It was the home side who took control of the contest in the second quarter however. Dunloy would record just a further two points in the time that remained in the half while Ballycastle would score 1-9. Points from McKenna (3), Seamus McAuley, McShane (3), Ardan Kelly and Conor Donnelly while Darragh Kelly hammered the sliotar home for their first major in the 22nd minute.
Collecting a cross-field delivery, Conor Donnelly laid the sliotar into the path of Kelly and while he still had work to do, he made no mistake when presented with the opportunity.
Three points separated the sides at the short whistle and half time couldn’t come quick enough for the Cuchullains. They introduced Keelan Molloy at the interval but it was the home side who made the perfect start.
Mark McClean sent the sliotar deep into the heart of the Dunloy defence and Neal McAuley made the most of the indecision as he pulled first time to the back of the net as the Dunloy defence were caught on their heels. An opportunistic strike from the Town’s full forward.
Further scores followed from McKenna (free) and Conor Donnelly (2) to stretch the home sides advantage to nine points after just five minutes of the second half.
Dunloy got firing again with three unanswered points coming from McKeague (2) and Tom McFerran but the home side were still posing a threat and could have had a third goal but Richmond was equal to McShane’s kicked effort from close range.
Going into the final ten minutes, Ballycastle held an eight point lead and they looked to hold on to what they had. Packing their defence and leaving just one man in the Dunloy half of the field, Dunloy went about eating into the Ballycastle lead with Tom McFerran influential in the Cuchullains resurgence.
Missed frees looked to derail their charge but they kept chipping away with Eoin O’Neill taking over the free taking responsibility and Oisin McCamphill having an impact off the bench.
Ultimately it was going to take a major to get them back on terms in the time that remained but the Ballycastle defence rarely looked like coughing up the space Dunloy needed. O’Neill had a half chance but his effort flashed wide.
This was an excellent contest between two sides who will face each other again later this year in the championship. For 20 minutes of this game, Ballycastle were excellent and didn’t give the Cuchullains a sniff. Their movement off the ball and puck-outs always had Dunloy guessing but their ability to score from open play and from different areas will have been very pleasing for their backroom team and management.
The league resumes this weekend with Ballycastle playing host to St John’s on Sunday while the Cuchullains travel to the Shaw’s Road looking to get back to winning ways on the same afternoon.
TEAMS
Ballycastle: Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Ryan McCook, Ronan Laverty; Mark McClean, Conor Boyd, Cathair Donnelly; Seamus McAuley, Ardan Kelly; Darragh Kelly, Niall McKenna, James McShane; Conor Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Tiernan Smyth
Scorers: N McKenna 0-7 (3fs); Conor Donnelly 0-5; N McAuley 1-2; D Kelly 1-2; J McShane 0-4; A Kelly 0-1; S McAuley 0-1
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Eoin McFerran, Sean Og Blaney, Oran Quinn; Ben O’Kane, Ryan McGarry, Kevin Molloy; Ciaran Elliott, Jack Martin; Tom McFerran, Nicky McKeague, Luke McFerran; Ryan Mort, Aodhan McGarry, Anton McGrath
Subs: Keelan Molloy for A McGrath (HT); Eamon Smyth for B O’Kane (41); Oisin McCamphill for J Martin (48)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-7 (5fs); T McFerran 0-5; R Mort 1-1; O McCamphill 0-2; Kevin Molloy 0-2; E O’Neill 0-2 (2fs); B O’Kane 0-1; C Elliott 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; L McFerran 0-1
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
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