Final Score (Official): Ballycastle 0-17 | Loughgiel 1-14

Final Score (Saffron Gael notes ): Ballycastle 0-17 | Loughgiel 1-15

The Antrim Senior Division 1 Hurling League clash between Ballycastle (MacUilín) and Loughgiel (Seamróga) ended in confusion when match referee Darren McKeown, recorded a 0-17 to 1-14 draw. However, according to the notes taken by myself and a couple of others from both clubs on the night, Loughgiel had edged out a one-point victory. As both teams left the field players from each sides shook hands and assumed that the scoreboard reading of 0-17 to 1-15 was correct. It was only after one the Ballycastle selectors went to check the score with Darren that the mix-up emerged. Most of the spectators had left the ground assuming that Loughgiel had won the game.

Despite the official ruling, this report reflects the action and scores exactly as they were recorded from the sideline.

First Half: A Tightly Contested Opening

Loughgiel started the brighter of the two sides, opening their account with the first two points of the evening — one from play by Conor O’Mullan and a free from Rian “Bubbles” McMullan. Ballycastle got off the mark in the 6th minute when Ronan Laverty found space to score.

The sides quickly began exchanging blows. Ardan Kelly sent one over for Ballycastle, but Rian McMullan immediately responded for Loughgiel. Ballycastle then hit a purple patch, with Darragh Kelly and Cathair Donnelly firing over points, followed by a superb long-range free from Seamus McAuley.

Diarmaid McShane extended Ballycastle’s tally with a fine score from distance to make it 0-06 to 0-05, though Loughgiel’s Declan McCloskey quickly answered at the other end. Ballycastle maintained their momentum when Lorcán Donnelly sent a high shot over the bar, and Ronan Laverty burst through the defence for his second point of the night, pushing the home side to 0-08.

As the half drew to a close, Seamus McAuley and Rian McMullan traded points. Lorcán Donnelly tacked on another for Ballycastle, but Oisin Connolly replied for Loughgiel just before the short whistle, leaving Ballycastle with a narrow 0-09 to 0-08 lead at the break.

Ballycastle opened the second-half scoring in the 6th minute when Lorcán Donnelly converted a free, but Rian McMullan was on hand to pull one back for the visitors.

The game’s defining moment arrived in the 7th minute. Loughgiel centre-forward Oisin Connolly tore through the Ballycastle defence and unleashed a shot on goal. Ballycastle keeper Eamonn Elliott produced a fantastic initial save. However Conor O’Mullan was perfectly positioned to drill the rebound into the net, giving Loughgiel a 1-09 to 0-10 lead.

Ballycastle responded well to the setback. Lorcán Donnelly took control of the dead balls, converting frees in the 11th and 13th minutes to level the game at 0-12 to 1-09. Centre-back Conor Boyd then stepped up to launch a brilliant free from wide on the right, edging Ballycastle back in front (0-13 to 1-09).

The lead was short-lived. Oisin Connolly pointed for Loughgiel on 15 minutes, and Ruairi McCormick fired his team back ahead on 17 minutes. Conor Boyd answered again for the home side with a point from play to tie things up.

The momentum seemed to swing firmly in Ballycastle’s favor when Loughgiel was reduced to 14 men following a second yellow car for one of their players andLorcán Donnelly slotted over the resulting free to put Ballycastle back in front.

However, playing a man down didn’t deter Loughgiel. Rian McMullan took the game by the scruff of the neck, leveling the scores from a free on 23 minutes, and then putting his side back ahead on 25 minutes.

With time ticking away, Ballycastle’s second-half substitute Craoisti McAuley sent over a point from a free on 28 minutes, leveling the game once more. But it was Loughgiel who had the final say. Declan McCloskey stepped up and sent over a crucial late free, securing what the sideline tallies recorded as the winning point for a 14-man Loughgiel

Ballycastle: 1. Eamonn Elliott, 2. Cian Baudant, 3. Conal Colgan, 4. Patrick McAlonan, 5. Eoin McAlonan, 6. Conor Boyd, 7. Cathair Donnelly, 8. Ardan Kelly, 9. Ronan Laverty, 10. Darragh Kelly, 11. Seamus McAuley, 12. Neal McAuley, 13. Diarmaid McShane, 14. Lorcán Donnelly, 15. Niall McClean.

Loughgiel: 1. Cormac McFadden, 2. Rory McCloskey, 3. Enda Óg McGarry, 4. Liam Glackin, 5. Ruairi McCormick, 6. Declan McCloskey, 7. Ben McGarry, 8. Ryan McKee, 9. Conor Deery, 10. Rian McMullan, 11. Oisin Connolly, 12. Conor O’Mullan, 13. Conor Johnston, 14. Daniel McCloskey, 15. Charlie O’Hagan.

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