Senior Hurling League
Division One
Dunloy 2-23 Ballycastle 0-15
Sunday 28 June
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy maintained their course for the league title with a comfortable win over Ballycastle on Sunday afternoon. A 14 point victory that saw them score two goals in the first half and their starting front six all on the scoresheet by the short whistle, the Cuchullains gave Ballycastle a torrid afternoon. An eye opening 2-18 of Dunloy’s final tally coming from open play with Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning top of the scoring charts once again.
With a makeshift half back line keeping a lively Ballycastle attack at bay, the Dunloy goals came from Ciaran Elliott and Nicky McKeague, helping the home side to develop a lead and daylight between the sides in the first half.
In fairness, both sides were missing plenty of regulars and the Town were certainly more effected. They did have solid performers in Conor Boyd and Eamon Elliott, the Ballycastle netminder producing a number of top saves throughout to deny the Cuchullains while Ardan Kelly and Cadhan Crawford always looked threatening in attack. Kelly in particular with a number of runs from midfield that kept the Dunloy defence honest.
The first goal of the game came in the fourth minute with the sides tied on one point apiece. Oisin McCallin and Seamus McAuley (free) raising white flags before Ciaran Elliott’s mahor. Sean Og Blaney delivering a crossfield that saw Elliott steal out in front of his marker. He was round him before the Ballycastle defence could react and made no mistake with his effort.
A brace of scores from Nigel Elliott followed before McCallin’s second point of the contest. The young Cuchullain had more on his mind when drilling low but his effort was stopped superbly by Eamon Elliott with the sliotar deflecting over the bar.
A ’65 from McAuley gave the Town their second point of the afternoon in the ninth minute but Dunloy maintained their strong start. Chrissy McMahon pointing before Nicky McKeague’s major in the 12 minute. McKeague was in a world of space when he received the pass but the work rate of McMahon in the build-up to dispossess the Ballycastle defence laid the chance on a silver plate.
Coby Cunning brought the best out of Eamon Elliott shortly after as Dunloy looked to go for the jugular but they did extend their lead to double figures after the opening quarter with scored from Ciaran Elliott and Coby Cunning.
The McQuillan’s seemed to find their footing in the second quarter and outscored Dunloy for the remainder of the half. Scores coming from Seamus McAuley, Boyd, Kelly, Crawford, Ronan McCarry and Niall McKenna while the Dunloy scores came from McMahon, Seaan Elliott, McKeague and Nigel Elliott to leave the half time score 2-10 to 0-8 in Dunloy’s favour.
Despite playing against the wind in the second half, Dunloy made a strong start to the second half. Paudie McGilligan and Coby Cunning splitting the uprights in the first minute while Seaan Elliott tested the reflexes of Eamon Elliott between the sticks. Coby converted the resulting ’65 and while Dunloy were well on top, their accuracy was letting them down in front of the target.
Ballycastle opened their second half account with a free from Seamus McAuley but they were denied a major with Ryan Elliott denying Neal McAuley moments later.
A run of four unanswered points from McKeague, substitute Eoin O’Neill and a brace from Cunning extended the home sides lead further before Kelly split the uprights for his second point of the game in the 47th minute.
Seaan Elliott responded with his second white flag of the half before Niall McKenna and Ronan McCarry responded for the Town. Seamus McAuley tested the abilities of Ryan Elliott in between the sticks with a fiercely driven 21 yard free but the Dunloy shot stopper was equal to his effort.
Dunloy continued to keep the scoreboard ticking in the final 10 minutes with Coby Cunning raising the white flag on another four occasions while Cian Baudant, Seamus McAuley and Ardan Kelly responded for the home side.
With just one match remaining in the league, the Cuchullains know that a positive result against St John’s on Wednesday evening will see the league crown returning to Pearse Park while Ballycastle’s next game isn’t until 8th July when they host Cushendall in their final game.
TEAMS
Dunloy Starting XV: Ryan Elliott; Oran Quinn, Ryan McGarry, Sean Og Blaney; Barry Scott, Aaron Crawford, Eamon Smyth; Seaan Elliott, Paudie McGilligan; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Chrissy McMahon; Ciaran Elliott, Conal Cunning, Oisin McCallin
- Subs: Eoin O’Neill for O McCallin (HT), Ryan Mort for S Og Blaney (44)
- Scorers: C Cunning 0-9 (4fs, 1’65), N McKeague 1-2, C Elliott 1-1, N Elliott 0-3, O McCallin 0-2, C McMahon 0-2, S Elliott 0-2, P McGilligan 0-1, E O’Neill 0-1
Ballycastle Starting XV: Eamon Elliott; Oran Kearney, Conal Colgan, Patrick McAlonan; Cian Baudant, Conor Boyd, Eoin McAlonan; Niall McClean, Ardan Kelly; Ronan McCarry, Orann Donnelly, Neal McAuley; Seamus McAuley, Niall McKenna, Cadhan Crawford
- Subs: Cormac Donnelly for P McAlonan (44), Darragh Donnelly for E McAlonan (44)
- Scorers: S McAuley 0-5 (2fs, 2’65s), A Kelly 0-3, R McCarry 0-2, N McKenna 0-2, C Crawford 0-1, C Baudant 0-1, C Boyd 0-1 (1f)
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Rasharkin)
To see more of Brendan’s photos from the game, select the link below….
https://myalbum.com/album/zC5okpi5nUHMWj/?invite=808f7ea5-572e-4722-b6b9-cb95d6d1ac1b