Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-25 : 0-14 McQuillan’s Ballycastle

Venue: Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel |

Competition: Senior Feis Cup Semi-Final

Loughgiel ran out convincing 17-point winners over Ballycastle at Fr Healy Park to secure their place in next weekend’s Senior Feis Cup final against Cushendall in Dunloy. While the final scoreline suggests a one-sided affair, McQuillan’s started really well and made a genuine contest of it in the first half. However, after the change of ends, the Shamrocks took total control, playing some magnificent, free-flowing hurling to pull away and win convincingly.

It was the home side who opened the scoring through a ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald point from play just two minutes in, but Ballycastle quickly found their rhythm. Seamus McAuley, taking over the free-taking duties with aplomb, slotted the equalizer. This sparked a strong purple patch for the Town, with Ronan McCarry edging them ahead from play, followed by another McAuley free and a well-taken score from Niall McKenna. By the seventh minute, Ballycastle had deservedly built a 0-04 to 0-01 lead.

When they got going, however, Loughgiel soon closed the gap. Successive points from Rian McMullan, Shan McGrath, and a Jack McCloskey free tied the game up at four apiece. The turning point of the opening half arrived in the 14th minute when Roan McGarry found the back of the Ballycastle net from play.

McGarry followed up with a free to stretch the gap to four, but Ballycastle dug deep to stay in touch. Ronan Laverty and a Conor Boyd free kept the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors. Despite scores from Paul Boyle and another McGarry free for Loughgiel, two crucial late frees from Seamus McAuley ensured Ballycastle went in at half-time trailing by just two points (1-07 to 0-08).

The opening exchanges of the second half were tit-for-tat. Ardan Kelly won a hard-earned free for Ballycastle right after the throw-in, which McAuley duly converted but Rian McMullan responded for Loughgiel, only for Conor Donnelly to fire over a fine point from play to keep the gap at two.

After Orann Donnelly and Roan McGarry traded frees to make it 1-11 to 0-11, Loughgiel clicked into a gear that Ballycastle simply couldn’t match. Rosie Fitzgerald pointed from play before Jack McCloskey struck for Loughgiel’s second goal in the 40th minute, dealing a hammer blow to Ballycastle’s hopes.

Though Niall McKenna and McAuley tried to stem the tide with points for McQuillan’s, the final twenty minutes were completely dominated by the men in red and white. The Shamrocks’ forward line put on an exhibition of shooting. Paul Boyle hit two quick-fire points, while Rian McMullan and Shan McGrath added to their tallies.

As the game entered its closing stages, Ben McGarry was introduced and put on a spectacular cameo, registering four excellent points from play in an eight-minute spell. Substitute Shane O’Boyle and Rory McCloskey also got their names on the scoresheet. Conor Donnelly managed Ballycastle’s final point of the evening in the 51st minute, but by then, the result was beyond doubt.

Loughgiel finished with a devastating flurry of points, running out 2-25 to 0-14 winners. They will head into next weekend’s decider in Dunloy full of confidence.

LOUGHGIEL SCORERS:

• Roan McGarry: 1-06 (0-05f)
• Jack McCloskey: 1-02 (0-01f)
• Rian McMullan: 0-04
• Ben McGarry: 0-04
• Paul Boyle: 0-03
• Rosie Fitzgerald: 0-02
• Shan McGrath: 0-02
• Shane O’Boyle: 0-01
• Rory McCloskey: 0-01

BALLYCASTLE SCORERS:

• Seamus McAuley (11): 0-06 (0-06f)
• Niall McKenna (14): 0-02
• Conor Donnelly (13): 0-02
• Ronan McCarry (10): 0-01
• Ronan Laverty (8): 0-01
• Conor Boyd (6): 0-01 (0-01f)
• Orann Donnelly (12): 0-01 (0-01f)
• Loughgiel: 1 Cormac McFadden, 2 Rory McCloskey, 3 Enda Óg McGarry, 4 Liam Glackin, 5 Ruairi McCormick, 6 Declan McCloskey, 7 Ben McGarry, 8 Eoin McGarry, 9 Rónán Fitzgerald, 10 Rian McMullan, 11 Pearce Patterson, 12 Roan McGarry, 13 Jack McCloskey, 14 Paul Boyle, 15 Shan McGrath.
• Subs
• 16 Shea McDonnell, 17 Caolan Blair, 18 Conall McCloskey, 19 Tiago McGarry, 20 Conor O Mullan, 21 Connor Deery, 22 Conan Johnstone, 23 Oisin Connolly, 24 Charley O Hagan, 25 Paddy Laverty, 26 Shane O Boyle.
• Ballycastle: 1 Eamonn Elliott, 2 Oran Kearney, 3 Conal Colgan, 4 Eóin McAlonan, 5 Cian Baudant, 6 Conor Boyd, 7 Cathair Donnelly, 8 Ronan Laverty, 9 Ardan Kelly, 10 Ronán McCarry, 11 Seamus McAuley, 12 Orann Donnelly, 13 Conor Donnelly, 14 Niall McKenna, 17 Criosti McAuley.
• 16 Anthony Mullan.

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