Senior Hurling League Division One
Dunloy 6-20 Loughgiel 1-16
Sunday 29 March
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy opened up their 2026 league campaign with a resounding victory over Loughgiel at Pearse Park. The Cuchullains started the game strongly with three goals in the first seven minutes of the match setting the tone. They took full advantage of the wind in their favour and put the Shamrocks under pressure for the majority of the first half – outscoring Loughgiel 3-9 to 0-1 in a 15 minute period that saw the Cuchullains put serious daylight between the sides.
Dunloy had six different goal scorers with Nicky McKeague top scoring with 1-7 while Oisin McCallin ended with 1-6 before coming off with a little over five minutes of the game remaining.
Rian McMullan finished top of the scoring charts for the Shamrocks, finishing the hour with five of his eight points coming from open play and gave the Dunloy defence plenty to think about. Roan McGarry grabbed Loughgiel’s goal in the second half and finished with 1-3, his turn and finish for the major a rare highlight for the travelling support.
Dunloy’s ability to keep the scoreboard ticking in the second half put away any thoughts of an unlikely turnaround having built a 22 point lead and while the Shamrocks did fare much better after the interval, they never looked like making inroads into the Cuchullains lead.
Loughgiel actually made a great start and had the opening two points on the board before the clock reached one minute. Roan McGarry and Darragh Patterson with the points but Dunloy’s ability to create major chances and force turnover ball in the Loughgiel defence meant they had the Shamrocks on the back foot. Goals from Oisin McCallin, Tom McFerran and Nigel Elliott putting the home side into a healthy position.
A run of eight points in as many minutes from the home side with a solitary point from Rian McMullan had the Cuchullains in a 14 point lead before they scored their fourth goal of the game. Ciaran Elliott this time applying the finish as the Dunloy forwards forced another error in the Loughgiel defence.
McCallin and McKeague would do the majority of the scoring with Aaron Crawford getting in on the act to stretch the Dunloy lead while Rian McMullan’s third point of the half left the half time score 4-15 to 0-5 in Dunloy’s favour.
With the wind blowing towards the Academy at Pearse Park, Loughgiel looked to make inroads into the Dunloy lead. They opened the scoring through Darragh Patterson only for Dunloy to score their fifth major. Nicky McKeague applying the finish as Dunloy showed their clinical touch.
The second half lacked the fluency of the first with Loughgiel showing more tenacity and Dunloy controlling the game as much as they could. The Shamrocks challenge was hurt with Darragh Patterson sent off in the 45th minute but realistically, it had no bearing on the result.
Dunloy’s sixth goal came in the 50th minute, substitute Oisin McCamphill finding the back of the net with his first touch. Nigel Elliott with the assist, his reverse pass catching the Loughgiel defence on the hop and put McCamphill through on goal.
Roan McGarry took his tally to 1-3 for the match, collecting a crossfield ball and turning his man before firing beyond Ryan Elliott in the 52nd but Loughgiel were in damage limitation territory with eight minutes remaining.
Loughgiel will hope for better when they welcome Rossa to Healy Park on Sunday 12 April for their next game while Dunloy will welcome Glenariffe to Pearse Park on the same day.
DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Conor Kinsella, Daire McMullan, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Paul Shiels, Paudie McGilligan; Aaron Crawford, Reece Cunning; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Barry Scott; Ciaran Elliott, Oisin McCallin, Tom McFerran
Subs: Jack Martin for C Kinsella (40); Oisin McCamphill for C Elliott (49); Michael Traynor for O Quinn (54); Francis McMullan for O McCallin (54); Anton McGrath for N Elliott (60+1)
Scorers: N McKeague 1-7 (2fs); O McCallin 1-6 (4fs); T McFerran 1-2; N Elliott 1-2; C Elliott 1-00; O McCamphill 1-00; A Crawford 0-2; B Scott 0-1
LOUGHGIEL: Shea McDonnell; Tiernan Coyle, Enda Og McGarry, Tiago McGarry; Conall McCloskey, Liam Glackin, Caolan Blair; Declan McCloskey, Ryan McKee; Rian McMullan, Darragh Patterson, Eoin McGarry; Roan McGarry, Pearce Patterson, Conan Johnstone
Subs: Connor Dickson for R McKee (30+1); Cahal Hargan for C Johnstone (41); Eddie Smyth for T McGarry (48)
Scorers: R McMullan 0-8 (3fs); R McGarry 1-3; D Patterson 0-2; E McGarry 0-1; D McCloskey 0-1; C Blair 0-1
Referee: Barry Winters (Dungannon)
TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTO FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
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