Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Group 2

Dunloy 4-30 Glenariffe 1-17

Sunday 16 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Dunloy got their championship campaign off and running with an emphatic win over Glenariffe on Sunday afternoon.  It was a fine attacking display from the Cuchullains who had 11 different scorers over the hour and scored an eye watering 4-23 from open play.  As far as championship openers go, this couldn’t have went much better for the Cuchullains.

Conal Cunning top scored despite being withdrawn from the game with over a quarter of the match remaining.  He would finish with 1-8 beside his name while Keelan Molloy raised the white flag on six occasions before coming off at the same time during the second half.

Ciaran Elliott landed a brace of majors in the first half, his second under somewhat fortuitous circumstances while Nigel Elliott added a fourth in the second half with the home side relentless throughout.

Glenariffe never really got settled into this contest and to say it was a baptism of fire for their reintroduction into the senior championship would be an understatement.  Michael O’Boyle did fire an early major but they couldn’t match the work rate and intensity of the Dunloy attacking unit that forced an number of turnovers and punished any indiscretions.

The 2025 Intermediate champions got off to a dream start with O’Boyle scoring their goal with barely 30 seconds on the clock.  The initial chance for Michael O’Boyle was superbly thwarted by Aaron Crawford who got back to hook his shot and looked like the danger was gone.  The Oisin’s recycled and O’Boyle’s driven shot was deflected into the net off Ryan Elliott’s hurl.

Dunloy responded with a goal of their own.  Coby Cunning breaking free and while his initial shot was well saved by Paul McMullan, Ciaran Elliott was on hand to pull the sliotar to the back of the net.

The Cuchullains began to go through the gears and had a four point lead before they would score their second goal and the visitors were left irate with the decision.  Referee Kevin Parke had blown his whistle as the sliotar came back off the upright, thinking the ball had gone wide.  Ciaran Elliott was first to the lose ball and fired to the back of the net.  The goal stood much to the dismay of the Oisin’s players and while they responded with scores from Brogan O’Connor and Alex O’Boyle (free), Dunloy continued to go through the gears.

Points from Eoin O’Neill, Aodhan McGarry, Nicky McKeague and Keelan Molloy followed while Coby Cunning began to show glimpses of his best, the Cuchullains.  Alex O’Boyle split the posts for his second of the game with the last action of the first half as the home side led 2-18 to 1-6 at the interval.

Oliver Kearney opened the scoring in the second half, landing his first of four to get the Oisin’s firing again.  Keelan Molloy and Calum McIlwaine split the uprights before the Cuchullains scored their third goal.  Nigel Elliott with the assist and Coby Cunning with the finish as Dunloy showed no let up.

Alex O’Boyle and Coby Cunning exchanged frees before the home side found the back of the net for the fourth time in the ninth minute.  Nigel Elliott this time with the finish and while he took a heavy challenge as he went through, his finish was emphatic.

That fourth major was the home sides signal to make changes with Luke McFerran and Chrissy McMahon entering the contest.  Dunloy continued in the same fashion however and while Glenariffe continued to play their own eye catching brand of hurling with Oliver Kearney, Calum McIlwaine, Colla Ward and Brogan O’Connor all impressing, Dunloy continued to put the Oisin’s to the sword.

Both Dunloy substitutes would get in on the scoring act in the final quarter with Nicky McKeague and McMahon taking over the free taking duties.  O’Neill continued to look threatening playing in the inside forward line with Ciaran Elliott almost completing his hat trick late in the game but he was denied with some rash Glenariffe defending when through on goal.

A comfortable win for the Cuchullains who’s attention turns to the big ball now next weekend while Glenariffe will travel to Ballycastle in two weeks time to face Cushendall.

TEAMS

Dunloy Starting XV: Ryan Elliott; Aaron Crawford, Daire McMullan, Reece Cunning; Eamon Smyth, Eoin McFerran, Ryan McGarry; Aodhan McGarry, Nicky McKeague; Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning, Tom McFerran; Ciaran Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill

• Subs: Ben O’Kane for E Smyth (41); Luke McFerran for C Cunning (43), Chrissy McMahon for K Molloy (43); Oran Quinn for R Cunning (49); Paul Shiels for E McFerran (52)
• Scorers: C Cunning 1-8 (3f); C Elliott 2-1; K Molloy 0-6; N McKeague 0-4 (2f); E O’Neill 0-4; N Elliott 1-1; C McMahon 0-2 (2f); A McGarry 0-1, T McFerran 0-1, Luke McFerran 0-1, E Smyth 0-1

Glenariffe Starting XV: Paul McMullan; Odhran Gillan, Colla Ward, Donall Kearney; Calum McIlwaine, David Kearney, James Kearney; Canice McIntosh, Oliver Kearney; Daniel Kearney, Brogan O’Connor, Conor Patterson; Michael O’Boyle, Alex O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh

• Subs: Patrick McIlwaine for Donall Kearney (32); Oisin Gillan for M O’Boyle (48); Michael Haughey for C Patterson (56)
• Scorers: A O’Boyle 0-5 (4f); M O’Boyle 1-1; O Kearney 0-4; B O’Connor 0-2; C Ward 0-1; C McIlwaine 0-1; J Kearney 0-1; Daniel Kearney 0-1; S McIntosh 0-1

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, CLICK ON THIS LINK…

https://myalbum.com/album/X9ay5zr4mUjG84/?invite=a8e702e6-0629-4ae6-ad1e-9111a9cb1918