Main pic above – Conor Boyds shot for a late game saving goal is defeltectd wide by Loughgiel defender Conall McCloskey in Thursday evening’s thriller at Fr Healy Park. Pic by David Humphreys

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Loughgiel 1-14 Ballycastle 1-12

Loughgiel produced a strong last quarter to come from behind and beat Ballycastle in Thursday evening’s Antrim Hurling League Division 1 game at Fr Healy Park. Ballycastle appeared to be in a strong position when they led by three points at the end of the third quarter, despite missing a penalty and a couple of simple frees, but the Loughgiel defence stepped up to the mark, despite losing a defender to a straight red card, restricting the visitors to a single point, while the forwards sent over six points to end winners by two.

Christy McGarry gave the Shamrocks a dream start with a goal in the opening minute, but the Town hit back strongly with four points in a row from Seamus McAuley, Conor Donnelly and Niall McKenna (2) before McKenna set up Conor Donnelly for a goal in the 13^th minute. Loughgiel got going again in the 16^th minute when top scorer James McNaughton sent over a free, and the left half forward added three more in the next seven minutes, in reply to one from Tiernan Smyth for the visitors, to cut the gap back to a single point.  Niall McKenna pushed the gap out to two again five minutes before the break, but points from Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee and James McNaughton drew the Shamrocks level, but Seamus McAuely edged the visitors back in front in first half injury time to give them a 1-07 to 1-06 lead

Ballycastle stretched the lead with two points from Niall McKenna and Daragh Kelly early in the second half to put three between the teams but points from Bubbles McMullan and Jack McCloskey brought back to a single point again in the 39^th minute.

Two minutes later Ballycastle had the chance to take a grip on the game again when they were awarded a penalty, but Neal McAuley’s well struck shot was brilliantly saved by Cormac McFadden in the Loughgiel goal and the gap remained at one. Cormac Donnelly and Seamus McAuley did add the next two points to put the visitors three clear again but the scoring started to dry up. Loughgiel. Two by James McNaughton and one from Ryan McKee brought the Shamrocks level by the 22^nd minute, but Conor Donnelly sent one over from out on the wing to edge Ballycastle back in front. However that was to be their last score and James McNaughton levelled a minute later. McNaughton put his team in front with time almost up and substitute ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald increased the lead to three from distance in injury time to seal the win.  Ballycastle did have a late chance of salvaging the game when Conor Boyd’s shot whizzed through a packed goalmouth, but it was deflected wide for a 65 by defender Conall McCloskey and match referee Colm Cunning sounded the final whistle.

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