ACHL Division 2
Tír na nÓg Randalstown 0-22 – Mac Uílín Ballycastle 2-14
Venue: Randalstown – Date: Tuesday, 27 May 2026
Match report: Gerard Kelly | Photos: Dominic Kelly
Tír na nÓg claimed a hard-earned two-point victory over Mac Uílín Ballycastle in a thrilling Antrim ACHL Division 2 encounter at Randalstown on a glorious sun-drenched evening.
The final scoreline of 0-22 to 2-14 tells only part of the story of a contest that fluctuated dramatically, but through it all one player stood head and shoulders above the rest — Sean Duffin, whose long-range striking was nothing short of magnificent from the first minute to the last.
A late Dermot Donnelly goal for the visitors reduced the margin to a single point deep in injury time and ensured a nervy finish for the home support, but Duffin’s earlier intervention in the 63rd minute had already added the crucial insurance score, and Randalstown held onto take the points in a match that neither side deserved to lose.
Randalstown Storm Out Of The Blocks
Playing in perfect summer conditions, Randalstown set about their opponents from the very first puck and produced a stunning opening spell that immediately put Ballycastle on theback foot.
Duffin opened the scoring inside the first minute — a trademark long-range effort that set the tone for what was to follow — and Joe McCormick doubled the lead on 2 minutes.
Further points followed in quick succession as Connor McCamphill (6th), Ciarán Logan (8th) and Tiaman Bonnes — twice, in the 10th and 12th minutes — had the home crowd roaring.
Callum Campbell had provided Ballycastle’s only reply in the 2nd minute, and when Duffin drove over another stunning long-range point in the 14th, the home side led 0-08 to 0-01.
It was one of the most dominant opening quarters seen at this ground in recent years.
Ballycastle, credit to them, refused to capitulate. Cormac Dallas pointed on 15, James McLister on 16, and Dallas again on 20. Críostai McAuley — playing under the cloud of a booking picked up in the 13th minute — added his own contribution, as did Conall Magee and Seán Brogan to gradually close the gap.
Duffin split the posts once more on 30 for good measure, and the sides went to the interval with Randalstown leading 0-11 to 0-09 — a two-point advantage that flattered Ballycastle given the opening quarter.
Campbell’s Goal Rocks Randalstown
The second half produced end-to-end hurling of the highest quality. Brogan and McAuley struck quickly for Ballycastle to level proceedings, and in the 36th minute, Campbell found the net to edge the visitors in front for the first time.
Randalstown’s Emmet Murray responded immediately on 37 to retake the lead, but McLister added two in the 38th and 39th minutes and Campbell pointed again on 43 as Ballycastle threatened to take control.
Randalstown, however, were not for turning. Tiaman Bonnes, outstanding throughout with five points from play, continued to lead the charge, and Sean McKinley — lively after his introduction — landed two excellent scores in the 46th and 47th minutes to swing momentum back toward the home side.
Ciarán O’Neill (48th), Daire Martin (49th) and Bonnes (50th) followed in a three-point burst that pushed Randalstown four clear. Duffin’s sixth point of the evening in the 51st minute, another thunderous long-range effort, extended the advantage further.
Nervy Finish But Randalstown Hold On
Ballycastle refused to go quietly. Mark McClean pointed on 55, and McAuley added two further scores in the closing minutes to reduce the deficit as the game entered the final stages. Then, deep in injury time, Dermot Donnelly buried a goal to make it 0-21 to 2-13 — a single point in it — and set up a breathless finish.
But it was Duffin who had the final say. The Randalstown number seven, ice cool under pressure, drove over a point in the 63rd minute to make it 0-22 to 2-14 and secure a two- point win that his individual performance richly merited.
The final whistle was met with roars of relief and delight from the home faithful.
The Verdict
This was as entertaining an evening of hurling as you could wish for. Randalstown’s early dominance was exceptional, and their ability to withstand Ballycastle’s rallies — twice —showed real character throughout the squad.
Duffin’s tally of six long-range points was the performance of the evening, but Tiaman Bonnes (0-5) and the contributions of McKinley, Logan and the ever-busy Bonnes gave Randalstown a breadth of scoring that Ballycastle simply couldn’t match.
For the visitors, Callum Campbell (1-2), Dermot Donnelly (1-0) and McAuley’s five points made for an admirable collective effort, and they will feel that on another day they might have taken something from this game. But on this occasion, Randalstown deserved their win.
TÍR NA NÓG RANDALSTOWN: Kevin Sheerin; Daire Martin (0-1), Oliver McAtamney, Manus
Smith; Ryan O’Neill, Caoimhín Duffin, Sean Duffin (0-6); Connor McCamphill (0-1), Ciarán O’Neill (0-1); Emmet Murray (0-1), Ciarán Logan (0-2), Tiaman Bonnes (0-5); Joe McCormick (0-1), Colm Duffin, Sean McKinley (0-2). Also used: Jude Storrie for R. O’Neill.
MAC UÍLÍN BALLYCASTLE: Anthony Mullan; Oisín Donnelly, Oisín McAuley, Conor Mooney; Sean McGowan, Cormac Donnelly, Sean Brogan (0-1); Conall Magee (0-1), Mark McClean (0-1); Callum Campbell (1-2), Cormac Dallas (0-2), Feargal McKiernan; James McLister (0-3), Dermot Donnelly (1-0), Críostai McAuley (0-4).
Also used: Eoin Boylan for F. McKiernan,Tadhg Donnelly for S. McGowan, Niall McGarry for C. Campbell, [24] for C. McAuley
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