Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter final
Loughgiel 1-20 Ballycastle 0-11
Sunday 21 September
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Loughgiel sealed their place in the last four of the championship on Sunday afternoon with a solid performance to see off Ballycastle. In a game that lacked any fluency with referee Colum Cunning having a busy afternoon, it was the Shamrocks who showed enough cohesion to get over the line.
The quarter final was built upon a strong first half from Loughgiel who played into the elements and held a two point lead at the interval. While Ballycastle started the second half with plenty of intensity and vigour, it was a five minute spell midway through the second half that proved to be the winning of the game. The Shamrocks hitting 1-5 without response to put daylight between the sides and gave them control of a contest Ballycastle rarely looked like getting back into.
On a day where free taking was far from easy, James McNaughton led the way. A couple may have gone to the wrong side of the posts that you would normally expect the Antrim star to nail, McNaughton’s tally of nine points all came from placed ball. Paul Boyle was a constant threat throughout and his battle in the first half with Cian Baudant was fascinating. The Shamrocks star forward would land three points from open play while it was Roan McGarry who landed their goal in the 46th minute.
This game was won in the Loughgiel defence however with the Shamrock’s defensive unit excellent throughout. They yielded just seven points from open play with just two of the Town’s six starting forwards getting on the scoresheet, it was ultimately the difference between the sides.
Rory and Declan McCloskey along with Ben McGarry formed an excellent half back line turned the majority of Ballycastle ball when it came their way. Liam Glackin had another top game in the full back line while Cormac McFadden produced the goods between the sticks when called upon in the later stages of the game.
Seamus McAuley was a shining light for the McQuillan’s. Four of his eight points coming from open play and despite missing a penalty early in the game, the Ballycastle midfielder had a top game. Defensively, Eoin McAlonan and Conor Boyd caught the eye while Ryan McGarry’s performance between the sticks looked to be keeping Ballycastle in the game.
They were guilty of overplaying the ball on too many occasions however and with the Shamrocks defence on top form, once Loughgiel hit their purple patch, Ballycasyle never looked like getting back into the game.
Playing with the wind Ballycastle made an excellent start to the game. Ben McGarry may have struck the opening point but a brace of frees from Seamus McAuley lifted the Town and gave their sizeable support in Pearse Park plenty of ammunition to get behind their side in the early exchanges.
Loughgiel created the first goal chance of the game when McNaughton sped through but his effort was well saved by ‘Charlie’ McGarry between the sticks. Ballycastle had a glimpse of Cormac McFadden’s goal in the eighth minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ronan McCarry. Seamus McAuley drove the sliotar to the bottom left hand corner but McFadden deflected his effort wide.
Seamus McAuley showed lovely stickwork to hit his third point of the day and first from play in the 12th minute but it was their last score for 10 minutes as Loughgiel came to grips with the elements.
A fine score from distance from Ben McGarry halved the Ballycastle lead before McNaughton’s first free of the day restored parity. The Shamrocks created another goal scoring chance when Boyle found a yard of space but his effort was sensationally blocked by Ronan Laverty with the goal at Boyle’s mercy.
‘Rambo’ McCarry restored the Ballycastle lead in the 22nd minute but Loughgiel finished the half strongly. Points from Roan McGarry, Boyle and three frees from McNaughton with a brace of points from Seamus McAuley the only response from Ballycastle to leave Loughgiel ahead 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval.
While they were far from out of the game at half time, it was going to take something special from Ballycastle to keep their championship hopes alive. They started the half superbly and when Tiarnan Smyth reduced the deficit to the minimum, they looked like they were up for the fight. They were playing with plenty of intensity and not letting Loughgiel settle in the early exchanges of the second half but a couple of poor wides hurt their chances of building momentum.
Once the Shamrocks clicked into gear, they weathered that initial Ballycastle storm. Points from McNaughton (free) and substitute Shan McGrath were answered to by a Seamus McAuley free in the 41st minute.
The Shamrock’s turned the screw however, firing over 1-5 in a little less than five minutes. Points from McNaughton (two frees), Boyle, Rian McMullan and Ruairi McCormick with Roan McGarry scoring their goal. Paul Boyle’s intelligence creating the space for McGarry as the Ballycastle defence looked to swarm, Boyle popped the sliotar into the young Shamrock’s direction and he gave Ryan McGarry no chance with a riffled effort.
10 points separated the sides going into the final 10 minutes and while Seamus McAuley (free) and substitute Diarmuid McShane split the posts to give the Town hope of reeling in the Shamrocks, Loughgiel didn’t let up.
Ballycastle were pushing up on the Loughgiel defence and leaving space in their own as the Shamrocks looked to soak up any pressure that came their way. They landed a further three unanswered scores from McNaughton (free), Boyle and Ryan McKee while McMullan was denied a goal by a brilliant save from Ryan McGarry.
Ballycastle laid siege on the Loughgiel goal in the closing stages with a series of 21 yard frees from Seamus McAuley and substitute Ciaran Clarke going close while Ronan McCarry and Diarmuid McShane brought the best out of Cormac McFadden.
Loughgiel rounded off the scoring with McNaughton’s ninth free and McGrath’s second of the match to round off a comfortable win for the Shamrocks.
They look ahead now to a repeat of the 2024 semi final against Dunloy in two weeks’ time as the race for the Volunteer Cup reaches the last four.
TEAMS
LOUGHGIEL: Cormac McFadden; Ruairi McCormick, Enda Og McGarry, Liam Glackin; Ben McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Declan McCloskey; Ryan McKee, Darragh Patterson; Rian McMullan, James McNaughton, Ronan Fitzgerald; Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Dan McCloskey
Subs: Shan McGrath for R Fitzgerald (36); Conal McCloskey for E Og McGarry (47); Donal McKinley for D McCloskey (60); Caolan Blair for B McGarry (60+2)
Scorers: J McNaughton 0-9 (9f); R McGarry 1-1; P Boyle 0-3; B McGarry 0-2; S McGrath 0-2; R McCormick 0-1; R McKee 0-1; R McMullan 0-1
BALLYCASTLE: Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Dermot Donnelly, Ryan McCook; Eoin McAlonan, Conor Boyd, Cian Baudant; Seamus McAuley, Ronan Laverty; Darragh Kelly, Ronan McCarry, Cathair Donnelly; Conor Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Tiernan Smyth
Subs: Diarmuid McShane for R McCook (HT); Darragh Donnelly for C Baudant (HT); Ciaran Clarke for Cathair Donnelly (38); James McShane for D Kelly (48); Lorcan Donnelly for D Donnelly (50)
Scorers: S McAuley 0-8 (4f); R McCarry 0-1; T Smyth 0-1; D McShane 0-1
Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)
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