Senior Hurling League – Division One
Dunloy 1-14 Loughgiel 4-11
Friday 4 July
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Loughgiel rounded off their league campaign with a convincing win over a depleted Dunloy side on Friday evening to end the Cuchullains hopes of winning the league title. Six points separated the sides at the end of the hour, all off which means that Rossa have been crowned winners of the Divison One league title for the first time in 30 years.
Goals were the difference on the scoreboard at Pearse Park with the Shamrocks plundering in four over the hour, despite a missed penalty and a plethora of saves from Dunloy ‘keeper Eoghan Richmond.
With Paul Boyle threatening to cut loose playing on the edge of the square and James McNaughton closing in on his impish best, this victory was built around a solid defensive display that saw the Shamrocks hold Dunloy to just 1-6 from open play. Rory and Declan McCloskey catching the eye while Tiarnan Coyle never gave an inch of space.
Both sides were missing regulars, Dunloy’s strength in depth was certainly tested to its limit with no less than nine players missing from their match against St John’s last Sunday. Seaan Elliott top scored for the home side, raising nine white flags over the hour while Keelan Molloy top scored from open play with four points. The returning Chrissy McMahon got Dunloy’s goal mid-way through the second half but the Shamrock’s always had the edge overall.
Played in conditions that were more akin to that of the month of October than the first week in July, it was Loughgiel who got out of the blocks quickest. Rian ‘Betty’ McKee opened the scoring with barely 25 seconds on the clock. Both sides were wasteful infront of the target before Loughgiel were awarded a penalty for a foul on Jack McCloskey. James McNaughton stepped up but his effort was well saved by Richmond.
Richmond was called into action soon after with McNaughton testing his reflexes once again while Deaglan Smith split the uprights for Dunloy to open their account in the 6th minute.
The Shamrocks created another major chance and this time it was Paul Boyle who was presented with the opportunity. Haring in from the left, he made no mistake after just eight minutes.
Dunloy responded with a trio of unanswered points to bring the sides level mid-way through the first half but it was a brief respite from the Loughgiel assault on the Dunloy goal. Ruairi McCormick going close but again Richmond with a brilliant save before the second Loughgiel goal came in the 18th minute. Paul Boyle turning provider this time as McNaughton finally beat Richmond to put five points between the sides.
The home side finished the half on top however with scores coming from Keelan Molloy and four frees from Seaan Elliott. Molloy’s score coming after a brilliant catch among a group of players and with a swing of his wrists, instinctively finding the target. Ruairi McCormick split the uprights in the same time period for Loughgiel to leave the half time score 2-4 to 0-9 in the Shamrocks favour.
As the rain became heavier, it didn’t dampen the Shamrocks spirit at the start of the second half. Keelan Molloy did level the sides with the opening score of the half but before the home side would register another score, Loughgiel found the back of the Dunloy net. Points from McNaughton and Roan McGarry preceded the third major in the 36th minute – James McNaughton creating the chance and while it looked like Richmond had dealt with his effort, he spilled the sliotar over the line and when Rian McMullan pointed soon after, Loughgiel had opened a six point advantage.
Dunloy responded with another brace of points from Seaan Elliott, scoring his seventh free and first from open play before the Shamrocks responded with a free from Declan McCloskey and Boyle.
Dunloy’s hopes were revitalised when Chrissy McMahon found the back of Odhran McFadden’s net, collecting the sliotar from a Seaan Elliott pass, McMahon made no mistake with a rasping drive to leave three between the sides.
Loughgiel responded by creating another goal chance soon after. McNaughton blasting the sliotar to the bottom corner but Richmond dived at full length to turn the sliotar away.
McNaughton (free) and Keelan Molloy swapped scores going into the final 10 minutes before the Loughgiel man would strike a contender for score of the game. Running down the right hand side and with the Dunloy defence in close quarters, McNaughton swung the sliotar off the hurl to split the uprights. An outrageous score given the weather conditions, the challenges put in and angle.
Loughgiel’s fourth goal came from wing half back Ben McGarry. He fired the sliotar to the back of the net from the most acute angle and while Dunloy responded with a free from Seaan Elliott in injury time, they rarely looked like eating into the Loughgiel lead.
This was far from a classic between these two great rivals and both will be disappointed with the number of missed chances. All thoughts now turn to the race for the Volunteer Cup however with these two harbouring serious ambitions of claiming silverware.
TEAMS
DUNLOY: Eoghan Richmond; Phelim Duffin, Sean Og Blaney, Oran Quinn; Conor Kinsella, Kevin Molloy, Eamon Smyth; Jack Martin, Ciaran Elliott; Deaglan Smith, Padraig McGilligan, Keelan Molloy; Chrissy McMahon, Gabriel McTaggart, Seaan Elliott
Subs: Aaron Crawford for S Og Blaney (HT); Paul Shiels for J Martin (45)
Scorers: S Elliott 0-9 (8fs); Keelan Molloy 0-4; C McMahon 1-00; D Smith 0-1
LOUGHGIEL: Odhran McFadden; Tiarnan Coyle, Enda Og McGarry, Liam Glackin; Declan McCloskey, Rory McCloskey, Ben McGarry; Rian McKee, Ruairi McCormick; Rian McMullan, James McNaughton, Darragh Patterson; Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Jack McCloskey
Subs: Eoin McGarry for D Patterson (54); Donal McKinley for R McCormick (57); Patrick Laverty for L Glackin (Inj)
Scorers: J McNaughton 1-4 (2fs); P Boyle 1-1; B McGarry 1-00; J McCloskey 0-1; R McGarry 0-1; R McMullan 0-1; R McCormick 0-1; R McKee 0-1; D McCloskey 0-1 (1f)
REFEREE: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
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