We have already posted a preview earlier in the week and hope to be in Inniskeen tomorrow as Antrim take on Wicklow in the Electric Ireland Tier 3 Minor Football final but we thought we should wish all concerned good luck.
It’s been a great campaign for the Antrim Minors and it would be nice if we could get a big support along to support the young Saffrons and let’s hope they can bring the Minor Championship trophy back home tomorrow evening.
Good Luck Antrim!
Nine years ago today, May 29th 2017 we covered our first game as the Saffron Gael. Since that first match in Armoy between Dunloy and Loughgiel in the final of the Under 21 Hurling Championship we have posted countless match reports, previews and interviews and upwards on 15,000 photographs. To all who have supported us, especially our sponsors who we simply could not do without, to those volunteers who have taken photos and written reports and clubs who have given us their support we truly thanks you.
This is a link to that first game that Monday evening in Armoy.
Antrim Hurling League – Division 1
St Endas 4:10 to Cushendall 5:20
With both teams having a few county players return for some game time St Endas and Cushendall played out an entertaining game at Hightown on Wednesday evening, with plenty of goals from both teams.
With a breeze favouring St Endas they were quick out of the blocks and hungry for goals against Cushendall.
It seemed to be that once a team got a goal the opposition went up the field to cancel it out right away.
The game was level at half time St Endas 4-06 with goals from Joe Maskey 2, Niall O Connor and Ruari Donaghy to Cushendalls 3:09, thier goals coming from Ed Mc Quillan and from Joseph Mc Laughlin, who got 2.
The second half Cushendall got to grips with the goal threat from St Endas and built up a lead with scores coming from a variety of players including Neil Mc Manus from placed balls and play.
Joseph added another goal to completed his hat-trick before Christy Mc Naughton added a 5th just before full time.
PICS BY PHILIP OF PMC.JPEG
ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gael 2-19 Bredagh 2-24
Bredagh climb above Cloney Gaels at the bottom of the ACHL Division 2 table following this five point win over the Ahoghill men in an entertaining game of hurling at a sun kissed Cloney on Wednesday night.
It was the Ahoghill side who got off to the better start with a goal in the first minute from Dan O’Neill with Colla McDonnell, Ronan Graham and Patrick Graham adding point to keep their side three ahead by the 8th minute.
The Bredagh points came from the sticks of Sean McCollum, Donal Hughes and John Dougan and at this stage it was end to end with Colla McDonnell 0-2 and Ronan Graham adding to the Cloney score card and Eoin Kennedy 0-2, Ben Christie, Luke Doran and Christie again bringing the Bredagh total to 8 by the 20th minute.
Fionnbar O’Neill and Colla McDonnell replied for the home side and a second goal of the evening from Dan O’Neill put the ‘Gaels’ in a strong position going into half time where they led by five.
It was visitors Bredagh who made a quick reply at the start of the second half with Donal Hughes, Sean McCollum and Ben Christie all pointing in the opening minute before Colla McDonnell edged the home side three ahead again with 3 minutes gone.
Tim Rankin responded for the Belfast men but a couple in quick succession from James O’Connell kept the Cloney noses ahead before McCollum and O’Connell exchanged further minors.
Further exchanges between Patrick Graham for the hosts and Eoin Kennedy for Bredagh kept it finally balanced in favour of the Ahoghill side but the visitors were beginning to get on top.
Eoin Kennedy had been proving a handful and he fired home his side’s opening goal in the 20th minute and it seemed to fire his colleagues into action as they dominated the closing exchanges.
Ben Christie 0-2, Sean McCollum 0-2 and two excellent points from mid-fielder, Donal Hughes swung it decisively in favour of the visitors with Ahoghill’s only response coming from Fionnbar O’Neill, James O’Connell and Colla McDonnell.
A good win for Bredagh which sees them climb out of the bottom two and as they get their county men back on board I would expect them to climb further up the table.
Cloney Gaels were missing a few themselves and they should improve as the season progresses if they get everyone fit and for a good part of Wednesday night’s contest they looked to be heading for victory.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Martin Graham, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Ryan Martin, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Eoin Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Paul Crossey, 10 Patrick Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Jack McFall, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Dan O’Neill, 15 James O’Connell
Bredagh: 1 Ian Galway, 2 Odhran Morgan-Little, 3 Michael Woods, 4 Mel Lavery, 5 Patrick McGarry, 6 Niall McFarland, 7 Liam Hogan, 8 Cormac Hughes, 9 Donal Hughes, 10 Luke Doran, 11 Tim Rankin, 12 John Dougan, 13 Sean McCollum, 14 Eoin Kennedy, 15 Ben Christie
Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)
Antrim Hurling League – Division 2
Shane Uí Neills 1-17 Creggan 1-16
Pete Hyndman reports from Feystown
Darren Hamill rolled back the years, as he starred for the hosts with an excellent performance of hurling skills, fielding and his pin point accuracy from the dead ball. The former county star slotted over 10 free’s and also struck a fierce 21 yard free to the net to earn a one point victory.
Glenarm’s defence worked considerably well and drowned out any real Creggan threat. Barry Hamill, John Scullion, Kieran O Boyle, Declan Mc Dermott, Sean Mc Dermott and Michael Fury all had a solid hour and helped pave the road to a great win against the worthy opponents.
Creggan played really well also but for their stubborn opposition who hassled and harried them. Conor and Ruairi Mc Cann did the most scoring with Conor bagging 1-08(6 f’s) and Ruairi knocking over 5 points from open play.
It was a lovely evening for hurling at Feystown, with a sizeable crowd there to enjoy, what turned out to be a brilliant spectacle for advertising our great game.
Paírc Fearsithe fell silent before proceedings got under way as there was a minute’s silence, which was impecably held, for Creggan member Gerry Small who had passed away.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
First blood fell to Glenarm, as Conal Ward slotted over a second minute point and Darren Hamill hitting his first free of the game, but Creggan bounced back with a brace as Morgan Nelson and Ruairi Mc Cann hit a point each.
Hamill knocked over another point from a free before Rory Mulvenna drove over a nice effort from 40 yards.
The score’s were coming in thick and fast as the visitors hit 3 score’s in a row with Conor Mc Cann converting a free, and Ruairi driving 2 points over Michael Abram’s bar.
Hamill again punished the Creggan boys with a free to level the game, and some great spreading of the ball in the next few minute’s was a joy to watch but both teams squandered their chances and shot wide.
The Loughshore team then hit a purple patch as Sean Duffin got 2 points from out the pitch and Conor and Ruairi Mc Cann hitting points, the former effort was a converted free.
Half time was creeping up and with Glenarm trailing by four, they needed a lift, up stepped captain Darren Hamill who converted two free’s the second just as the short whistle sounded.
Shane Uí Neill’s 0-07 Creggan 0-09
GLENARM UP THE ANTE.
The second half resumed with the visitors moving the ball better which resulted in the two Mc Cann’s grabbing more score’s, Conor’s effort was a needless free from Glenarm.
Hamill got his first point after the break from a free from 55 yards. The Creggan boys starting playing with a bit of swagger and won a loose ball, Conor Mc Cann dipped and collected the ball before lashing it beyond a diving Michael Abram in the home nets. The hosts where now trailing by six!!
John Scullion working at corner back for the home side claimed a loose sliotar and soloed up the pitch and slotted over a fine point from 45 yards, but Conor Mc Cann then slotted over another effort from the dead ball.
At this stage Glenarm upped the ante and started dominating a large portion of this tight tussle. A free from Hamill from midfield was converted and a minute later Darren stood over a 21 yard free, before sending a unstoppable shot beyond Creggan’s Cormac Rice for a Glenarm major……Game on.
Two minute’s later the teams where level as Sean O Hare and Dylan Mc Laughlin pointed which pleased the large crowd, and a moment later Glenarm took the lead as Aidan Scullion found the target from distance.
Fair play to Creggan, Conor Mc Cann who stopped the rot and hit two free’s to lead by the bare minimum, before Glenarm’s captain Darren Hamill rallied the side and drove over a brace of free’s. With Mc Cann replying with a solitary point to level this fixture for the fourth time.
In the closing minute’s of this battle Mc Cann struck another free for the visitors, before Hamill calmly split the uprights again to level matters. It was anybody’s game at this stage but in added time it was all shoulders to the wheel to claim the ball, which fell to wing half Dylan Mc Laughlin who hit it right over the black spot to earn a one point win for the home side.
Glenarm.
Michael Abram, Sean Mc Dermott, Barry Hamill, John Scullion0-01, Kieran O Boyle, Declan Mc Dermott, Michael Fury, Conal Ward0-01, Aidan Scullion0-02, Rory Mulvenna 0-01, Dylan Mc Laughlin 0-01, Ryan Mc Loughlin, Paddy Mc Auley, Darren Hamill 1-10, 10f, Sean O Hare 0-01
subs. Sean O Boyle for Declan Mc Dermott 36mins, Liam O Neill for S O Boyle 58mins. Liam Mulvenna.
Creggan
Cormac Rice, Paul Colgan, Odhran Hampsey, Peadar Mc Guckian, Senan O Boyle, Kealan Mc Cann, Daniel Doran, Sam Maguire, Ronan Mc Guckian, Sean Duffin 0-02, Sean Mc Auley, Michael Maguire, Conor Mc Cann 1-08, 06f, Morgan Nelson 0-01, Ruairi Mc Cann 0-05.
subs. Ryan Mc Grath, Shea Devlin, Aidan Mc Guire.
Reiteóir Lorenzo Mc Mullan ReplyForward
TO SEE MORE OF PETE’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/fDdNRYv2HuaZDJ/?invite=6c46a4cb-da83-4dda-b142-dd240688db53