Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

Photographer and GAA writer who has been covering hurling, football and camogie for almost forty years
by thesaffrongael

MacManus and Johnston guide Johnnies to victory

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Group 2 – Match Day 2

St John’s 2-24 Ballycastle 2-18

Sunday 24 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

St John’s recorded their opening win of the championship on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Ballycastle with six to spare.  It was a much-improved performance from the Corrigan Park side who flew out of the traps in the first half, playing at a high tempo and huge intensity that rarely waivered throughout the hour.

Conor Johnston and Oisin MacManus did the majority of the scoring for the Johnnies, Johnston hitting 1-6 from play and while MacManus hit four of his final tally of 10 white flags from placed ball, his point taking from open play was at times, exhibitionary, especially in the second half.  Aaron Bradley got the Johnnies second goal, coming at a time when Ballycastle looked like they were mounting a resurgence but it was the organisation of the St John’s defence and work rate in rucks and break down that ultimately was the difference.

Oisin Donnelly, Donal Carson and Peter McCallin all putting in a super shift while Jack Bohill, Ronan Donnelly and Conal Bohill excelled in defence.

Ballycastle will be disappointed with their first half showing.  It’s the second game that they took too long to get going.  Yes, they were playing into a wind but they took too long to get to the speed of the game and match the intensity St John’s started with.

That being said, when Seamus McAuley found the back of the St John’s net in the 56th minute, they had their backs up and looked to pile on the pressure.  The ‘Town’s midfielder would top score for his side with 1-7 while substitute Ciaran Clarke marked his return to the black and amber with a poachers goal in the last minute of the hour to give his side hope in what was a frenetic finally.

Conor Boyd and Oran Kearney, Cathair Donnelly and Tiernan Smyth all caught the eye for Ballycastle but ultimately they left themselves too much to do in the second half.

The opening 10 minutes of the game largely set the tone for the first half with Ballycastle struggling to get to grips with the physicality and intensity that St John’s began the game with.  The Whiterock Road side had six points on the board with a solitary point from Conor Donnelly the response from Ballycastle.  Shea Shannon (3), Conor Johnston and MacManus all raising the white flag.  Indeed were it not for the bravery of Ryan McGarry between the sticks for Ballycastle, St John’s could have had the games opening goal in that period of time.  Domhnall Nugent’s long puck out causing consternation in the Ballycastle defence and when the ball dropped to Donal Carson, his first timed effort was deflected wide.

Four points in barely two minutes from Shannon, Conal Bohill, Johnston and Aaron Bradley put nine between the sides at the end of the first quarter.

A point from Tiernan Smyth seemed to give Ballycastle a boost but that was short lived with Johnston scoring the opening goal of the game.  Bradley spraying the sliotar cross-field into the path of Carson who found McCallin.  He was swarmed by the Ballycastle defence but somehow managed to find Johnston who made no mistake.

That goal gave Ballycastle the nudge they needed as they hit four points unanswered.  Scores coming from Cathair Donnelly, McAuley (2) and Ronan McCarry and it could have been better for the Town when Donnelly tore through the heart of the St John’s defence but he drilled his effort just over the bar.

MacManus (free) and Johnston pointed to put nine between the sides once again, Johnston taking his tally to 1-3 for the half but Ballycastle and Seamus McAuley had the final say when he pointed a free in the third minute of injury time with what was the last action of the half to leave the half time score 1-12 to 0-7.

Ballycastle needed a quick start to the second half and through Ronan McCarry, Tiernan Smyth and Seamus McAuley (free), they had reduced the deficit to five points inside the opening four minutes of the restart.

The Johnnies response was ultimately the winning of the game however.  Shannon (free) and Johnston split the uprights before Bradley scored his sides second major.  Oisin Donnelly sending the sliotar into the heart of the Ballycastle defence and when the danger wasn’t cleared, Bradley was on hand to find the back of the net and put 10 between the sides after nine second half minutes.

It was a hammer blow at the time with Ballycastle playing with more urgency and intent since the restart.  They responded with points from Seamus McAuley and Conor Donnelly but the sides went score for score in a period of time that Ballycastle needed to take a foothold in the game.

Going into the final 10 minutes, the lead was stretched to 11 when Ballycastle found another gear.  Conor Boyd and substitute Diarmuid McShane both raised white flags before Seamus McAuley hammered the sliotar to the back of the net from a free fully 25 yards from goal.  It left six between the sides with four to play but St John’s responded with points from MacManus (2) to quell any thoughts of a Ballycastle comeback.

With the clock ticking into the last minute of the hour, Ballycastle found another major with Ciaran Clarke showing his predatory and poachers instincts to be in the right place and the right time but time was not the friend of the Town.

Ballycastle continued to push for another major that would bring them to the brink of an unlikely turnaround but St John’s and Oisin MacManus weren’t to be denied.  He would split the posts either side of Johnston’s sixth white flag of the afternoon with a Cian Baudant ’65 the only response for the Town.

The win takes St John’s to three points as they welcome Dunloy to Corrigan Park in two week’s time while Naomh Éanna will travel to Ballycastle on the same day.  With the Cuchullains the only team guaranteed progress, it’s still all to play for in Group 2.

The one chink of light for Ballycastle fans was the return of Ciaran Clarke (left) who came on in the second half and scored his team’s second goal

TEAMS

ST JOHN’S:  Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Conal Morgan, Jack Bohill; Ronan Donnelly, Conal Bohill, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Shea Shannon; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Aaron Bradley; Donal Carson, Oisin MacManus, Peter McCallin

Subs: Caoimhin Hanna for S Shannon (48); Daragh McGuinness for P McCallin (48); Ruairi Galbraith for D Carson (52); Michail Dudley for A Bradley (inj)

Scorers: O MacManus 0-10 (4fs); C Johnston 1-6; S Shannon 0-5 (3fs, 2’65’s); A Bradley 1-1; C Bohill 0-1; D McGuinness 0-1

BALLYCASTLE:  Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Cian Baudant, Ryan McCook; Mark McClean, Conor Boyd, Ronan Laverty; Seamus McAuley, Cathair Donnelly; Ronan McCarry, Eoin McAlonan, Darragh Kelly; Conor Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Tiernan Smyth

Subs:  Ciaran Clarke for M McClean (36); Diarmuid McShane for D Kelly (43); Ardan Kelly for E McAlonan (49); Dermot Donnelly for Conor Donnelly (53)

Blood Sub:  Jack Magowan for Cathair Donnelly (inj)

Scorers:  S McAuley 1-7 (1-5fs); T Smyth 0-3; C Clarke 1-00; Conor Donnelly 0-2; R McCarry 0-2; Cathair Donnelly 0-1; C Boyd 0-1; D McShane 0-1; C Baudant 0-1 (1’65)

Referee: Darren McKeown (Naomh Gall)

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by thesaffrongael

Creggan beat Sarsfields to stay unbeaten

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 1

Kickhams Creggan 3-19 Patrick Sarsfields 0-13

Creggan made it two wins out of two in Group 1 of the Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship when they proved too strong for visitors Sarsfields at Pairc Kickham on Saturday evening. The Kickhams men had just too much firepower for the Paddies, winning in the end by fifteen points

Little Tiernan Wasson greets the two team captains and match referee Piarais McCaffrey before the game. Pic by Claire Fawl

On a perfect evening for a game of hurling, Kickhams and Sarsfields both went after the scores in the early stages with Diarmuid Mulholland striking first for Kickhams in the first minute and Fionn Jemfrey replying within 10 seconds for Sarsfields. Fionn would go on to score the next two points for the Paddies, only for the hard working Tommy McCann to hit back with a point and a well-earned goal. Caolan McKernan got his first point in the 7th minute with Dan Doran replying for Kickhams. Then the impressive Morgan Nelson, who was causing Sarsfields all sorts of problems, scored a screamer of a goal in the 9th minute and followed that with 2 points and in the 14th minute Diarmuid Mulholland got in on the act with a goal of his own.

Sarsfields though weren’t going to lie down and scored 3 points from Jay Maguire, Anthony McGarrigle and Fionn Jemfrey in respone to one from Morgan Nelson that finished Kickhams scoring and Caolan McKernan and Ryan  Carson replied for Sarsfields to leave the Kickhams leading 3-07 to 0-09 at halftime

Creggan corner forward Matthew Rodgers in action during his team’s win over Sarsfields. Pic by Claire Fawl

In the first 15 minutes of the second half Kickhams hit 10 points without reply with points coming thick and fast from Sean Duffin (2), Morgan Nelson (5), Ruairi McCann, Dan Doran and Tommy McCann putting Kickhams in a commanding lead. Again Sarsfields came back with 5 points of their own through Oisin Coleman, Caolan McKernan, Enda McLarnon, Daniel Smyth and Anthony McGarrigle.  Caolan Mc Kernan scored his fourth point and Sarsfields last point on the 24th minute and a Tommy McCann point followed by two more points from Morgan Nelson to bring his total for the hour to 1-10.

Also a special mention to Jake McAteer and Kealan McCann in the Kickhams back line for going through a mountain of work

CREGGAN

Shea Devlin, Dylan Hinfey, Jake McAteer, Peadar McGuckian, Senan O’Boyle, Keelan McCann, Aiden McKeown, Dan Doran, Ruairi McKeown, Sean Duffin, Thomas McCann, Sean McAuley, Diarmuid McCann, Morgan Nelson, Matthew Rodgers

SARSFIELDS

Andrew McStay, Darragh Coleman, David Johnston, Aidan McKiernan, Jay Ward, Caolan McKernan, Enda McCartan, Nicholas O Mullane, Daniel Smyth, Oisin Coleman, Anthony McGarrigle, Jay Maguire, Noah McGivern, Fionn Jemfrey.

Referee – Piaras McCaffrey

Sarsfields Daniel Smyth in action during his team’s IHC clash with Creggan. Pic by Claire Fawl

https://myalbum.com/album/sYLGJyaGQKuAU3/?invite=e8f8de68-325b-4494-9e88-4229b1724604

by thesaffrongael

Super Shamrocks make it two from two

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Group 1 – Match Day 2

Loughgiel 4-25 Rossa 3-18

Saturday 23 August 

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

Two goals in the opening minutes of the second half proved to be the platform the Shamrocks needed for winning this game as they swept aside the challenge of Rossa.  It was an impressive second half from Loughgiel who managed to hit 3-16 in the second 30 minutes with all but three of their final tally of 4-25 coming from open play.

James McNaughton top scored with 2-6 for his hours work but he had plenty of support around him with Paul Boyle and Roan McGarry chipping in with majors while Ronan ‘Rosey’ Fitzgerald raised the white flag on five occasions.

Defensively, Deaglan and Rory McCloskey were excellent while the puck outs of Cormac McFadden were a huge attacking threat, played with pace and precision.

Rossa will rue those opening exchanges to the second half and having led by three points midway through the first half, they looked to have curtailed the Shamrocks attacking threat.  Deaglan Murphy put in another top performance with nine of his 11 points coming from placed ball with the Rossa goals coming from Gerard Walsh and substitute Thomas Morgan.  Walsh’s majors coming from a 21 yard free and a penalty and while Morgan’s goal reduced the deficit to six points with the same amount of the hour to be played, the Shamrock’s finished this contest strongly to maintain their winning start to the championship.

Louhghgiel made a bright start to the game and but for a last gasp hook by Stephen Beatty on Paul Boyle, they could have had the games first goal in the opening attack.  The opening five minutes saw the sides share six points between them with a brace from Deaglan Murphy (one free) and a Liam McEnhill effort coming in response to scores from Darragh Patterson, Boyle and Declan McCloskey.

Ruairi McCormick edged the Shamrocks ahead but it would be their last score for 10 minutes as Rossa took a semblance of control.  Their cause was helped with Loughgiel hitting a number of uncharacteristic wides and dropping four shots short but the Shaws Road men built a three point lead through scores from Eoin Trainor and three from Deaglan Murphy (all frees).  It could have been better for the Jeremiah’s with Dominic McEnhill going close to a major but his effort was half blocked before McFadden cleared the danger.

The opening goal came in the 19th minute through a piece of individual brilliance from James McNaughton.  Leaping like a salmon among a crowd, McNaughton caught the sliotar and headed for goal.  There’s no doubting he had a major on his mind and he made no mistake with an unstoppable drive.

Dan McCloskey split the uprights either side of another Deaglan Murphy free before Niall Crossan made a brilliant block to deny Paul Boyle Loughgiel’s second goal of the evening.

The sides went score for score in the time that remained with a brace from Deaglan Murphy (one free) and Joe Mulholland coming in response to scores from Patterson, Boyle and Fitzgerald to leave the half time score 1-9 to 0-11 in the Shamrocks favour.

Rossa probably did enough to edge the first half and Loughgiel got a lift from McNaughton’s brilliance to stop the west Belfast side from opening further daylight between the sides.

The second half was barely 15 second old when Loughgiel fired their second major of the contest.  Ruairi McCormick looking for a point but his effort dropped short into the hands of Donal Armstrong.  The Rossa ‘keeper looked for options but his clearance was blocked by Roan McGarry with the sliotar going into the back of the net.  A piece of brilliant opportunism from the young Loughgiel forward but reward for chasing down what many would have seen as a lost cause.

Loughgiel’s third major came with the next attack through Boyle.  The county star was causing the Rossa defence plenty of problems and while they looked to have curtailed that threat when Gerard Walsh moved to mark him, Boyle showed his class with this major.  Collecting the sliotar in the left hand corner, he rounded his marker and set for goal.  He fired low despite a less than favourable angle and found the back of the net.

A point from substitute Diarmuid Rogan briefly halted the Loughgiel charge before Fitzgerald and McNaughton (free) opened a nine point lead after just six second half minutes.

Loughgiel turned the screw in the next 10 minutes, outscoring Rossa six points to two.  Scores coming from Fitzgerald (2), Dan McCloskey, McNaughton (2) and Roan McGarry with Deaglan Murphy (free) and Gerard Walsh firing over for Rossa.

Murphy brothers Deaglan and Tiernan got the Jeremiah’s firing again and despite Fitzgerald splitting the posts for the Shamrocks, Rossa looked to have found a way back into the game through Gerard Walsh’s first goal of the game.  Standing over a 21 yard free, the county star fired low and beat the red wall on the line to reduce the deficit to eight points.

Scores from McNaughton (free) and substitute Shan McGrath  briefly halted the Rossa charge but a goal from substitute Thomas Morgan breathed more life into the city side.  Morgan showed his predatory instincts to pull the sliotar over the line after Cormac McFadden did superbly to deny Diarmuid Rogan from close range.

McNaughton and Deaglan Murphy (free) swapped scores before Liam McEnhill hit his second of the game to leave six between the sides and while there was just three minutes remaining, Rossa looked to have the momentum in the closing stages.

Any thoughts on an unlikely result for the Jeremiah’s were quashed by McNaughton.  First splitting the posts for his sixth white flag of the game before firing his second major.  Declan McCloskey with a brilliant catch before finding McNaughton on the charge.  He went on a trademark run and made no mistake.

Points followed from Roan McGarry (two) and Conall McCloskey to open a 13 point lead but Gerard Walsh had the final say.  The Rossa man fired his second major of the game through a penalty but it was merely a consolation score.

Loughgiel now head to a meeting with the Ruairi’s in Cushendall in two weeks time in a contest that will determine who finishes top and secure passage to the semi finals.  Rossa will travel to Ballyvoy with their 2025 championship on the line against the Faughs.

TEAMS

LOUGHGIEL: Cormac McFadden; Tiernan Coyle, Enda Og McGarry, Liam Glackin; Ben McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Deaglan McCloskey; Rian McKee, Ruairi McCormick; Darragh Patterson, James McNaughton, Roan Fitzgerald; Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Dan McCloskey

Subs: Shan McGrath for D Patterson (49); Conall McCloskey for L Glackin (51); Caolan Blair for E Og McGarry (60)

Scorers: J McNaughton 2-6 (3fs); R McGarry 1-3; R Fitzgerald 0-5; P Boyle 1-2; D McCloskey 0-3; D Patterson 0-2; D McCloskey 0-1; R McCormick 0-1; S McGrath 0-1; C McCloskey 0-1

ROSSA:  Donal Armstrong; Ciaran Orchin, Joe Mulholland, Niall Crossan; Gerard Walsh, Aodhan O’Brien, Stephen Beattty; Seaghan Shannon, Deaglan Murphy; Daire Murphy, Declan McCartney, Liam McEnhill; Eoin Trainor, Eoghan McMenamin, Dominic McEnhill

Subs: Diarmuid Rogan for Daire Murphy (30); Corey Walsh for J Mulholland (HT); Conor Savage for S Shannon (46); Tiernan Murphy for E McMenamin (46); Thomas Morgan for E Trainor (57)

Scorers: Deaglan Murphy 0-11 (9fs); G Walsh 2-1 (1-00f, 1-00pen); T Morgan 1-00; L McEnhill 0-2; J Mulholland 0-1; E Trainor 0-1; D Rogan 0-1; T Murphy 0-1

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

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by thesaffrongael

5-Star Cloney maintain their place at the top

IHC Group 1

Rasharkin 0-16 Ahoghill 5-23

Cloney Gael maintained their place at the top of Group 1 after this comprehensive victory over South West neighbour, St Mary’s Rasharkin and have 5 points from 3 starts with their next outing against Kickham’s Creggan likely to decide who tops the group.

Their Saturday evening opponents were expected to push them hard but in truth this one was well and truly over at the halfway stage when the visitors led 3-15 to 0-8.

The home side never really got started with their resources stretched by a number of absentees and had it not been for net minder, Liam Tunney the damage could have been even greater.

Bernard Graham pointed the Ahoghill side ahead after 20 seconds and Colla McDonnell set up Donal Graham for the game’s opening goal with only two minutes gone.

The blistering pace and astute movement of the Cloney attack was opening up the Rasharkin defence as Owen Neeson, James O’Connell (0-2), Colla McDonnell, Dan O’Neill and O’Connell again moved Ahoghill 1-7 to 0-0 ahead by the 8th minute.

Colla McDonnell helps the sliotar over the line for his second goal of the evening & above (Featured Image) he scores his first

The pressure was relentless and O’Connell added another from a ‘65’ before Declan McKay finally opened the home side’s account with a point in the 10th minute.

McKay’s point appeared to have brought some urgency to the Dreen side and Conor McKeever pointed a ‘65’ and Donagh Quigg followed with another from play to give their side a glimmer of hope.

That hope was quickly extinguished however with Liam Tunney pulling of a couple of superb saves as the visitors tried to respond but James O’Connell added another pointed free and Conor Crossey followed from play before O’Connell set up Colla McDonnell for the Ahoghill sides second goal.

McDonnell and Fionnbar O’Neill added points before Conor McKeever pointed a long range free for the home side’s 4th point of the evening in the 19th minute.

Donagh Quigg, who was the Rasharkin outstanding attacker over the hour, added another but it only brought another decisive response from the men in Red.

James O’Connell and Dan O’Neill extended the Ahoghill lead with Conor McKeever replying from another well struck long range free but there was no stopping the Cloney juggernaut and Colla McDonnell was quickest to react after Tunney had parried a James O’Connell shot as he forced the sliotar home from close range.

Donagh Quigg from play and McKeever from another free brought the Rasharkin St. Mary’s total for the half to 0-8 but a late pointed free from the excellent O’Connell left the Ahoghill St. Mary’s on 3-15 as Paul O’Neill blew for half time.

It wouldn’t get much better for the hosts after the break but they continued to battle hard as Tunney pulled of another great stop to deny Donal Graham from the throw in before Owen Neeson pointed the visitors further ahead.

Donagh Quigg who carried Rasharkin’s greatest threat in attack

At times it looked like Donagh Quigg was fighting a one man battle in attack and he soloed through for a point in the 4th minute as Brian Og O’Neill replaced Daniel Hasson in the Rasharkin side.

Conor McMullan entered the fray for Jason McGregor in an attempt to add some urgency to the Rasharkin attack but Cloney Gaels continued to call the shots as James O’Connell added two further points from frees.

Donagh Quigg continued to provide Rasharkin’s main attacking threat and he replied with two excellent efforts at the other end but a Fionnbar O’Neill penalty conversion put the game totally out of reach with ten minutes remaining.

Quigg and McKeever kept the score board ticking but it was a matter of damage limitation at this stage and when Donal Graham half volleyed to the net for his side’s 5th major of the evening they were out of sight.

The closing minutes saw Conor McKeever and Donagh Quigg add to the Rasharkin total but the visitors continued to score at will with James O’Connell 0-2, Dan O’Neill, Ronan Graham adding to their total and Conor McKeever concluding the scoring with a late Rasharkin point.

Cloney Gaels top Group 1 with 5 points from 3 starts, a point above Kickham’s Creggan who have 4 points from 2 starts with the sides set to meet in Ahoghill on Friday the 5th September,

Rasharkin panel: 1 Liam Tunney, 2 Connor Higgins, 3 Fergus Quigg, 4 Daniel Hasson, 5 Aidan McKeever, 6 James Higgins, 7 Tiernan O’Boyle, 8 Declan McKay, 9 Connor McFerran, 10 Jason McGregor, 11 Donagh Quigg, 13 Conor McKillop, 14 Thomas McMullan, 15 Conor McKeever, 17 Brian Og O’Neill, 18 Conan McMullan,  19 Terry McGregor, 20 Connaire Donaghy, 21 Brendan Kelly.

Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Jack McFall, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Diarmaid Graham, 7 Bernard Graham, 8 Daniel O’Neill, 9 Conor Crossey, 10 Eoin Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Owen Neeson, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Donal Graham, 28 James O’Connell,

Subs: 18 Patrick Dougan, Tom McGlone, Adam Mullan, Noel Friel

Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)

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by thesaffrongael

St Brigid’s seal second place with win over Ardoyne

Casement Social Club JHC Group 1 – Round 3

Friday 22nd August

Report by Niall Kelly from Musgrave Park

Naomh Bríd 2-20    Ciceam Ard Eoin 1-14

St Brigid’s secured safe passage to the knockout stages in this year’s Junior Hurling Championship and guaranteed themselves a home quarter final for good measure, thanks to a hard-fought victory over a dogged Ardoyne side with nine points to spare. With ten minutes to go, this one was all to play for as a single púc of the ball separated the sides with Naomh Bríd 1-16 1-13 to the good. However, a dominant finish to proceedings would see them outgun their opponents with David Prenter’s last gasp goal providing the icing on the cake. Yet again, their talisman, James Kelly, proved pivotal to their success as the young sharpshooter put on an exhibition with his free-taking racking up an impressive 0-16 capping off a fine evening’s work. 

The game burst into life with five scores in as many minutes. Daniel Moore and Matt McKillen found their bearings for the visitors whilst the hosts hit back through scores from John McGuckian and James Kelly before the latter of the two embarked on a slaloming drive forward with a finish to match to edge his side ahead.

Ardoyne will rue the minutes that followed midway into the half as the concession of numerous cheap frees were punished ruthlessly by marksman in chief, Kelly, as he was imperious from the dead ball, firing over five in a row. The North Belfast men did respond though as McKillen doubled his tally with a fine point from play before Patrick McGreevy demonstrated his own prowess from frees with two excellent scores from tight angles to narrow the gap to three.

The game was really in the melting pot now and a real ding-dong battle was ensuing for control. Further points were exchanged between the two as shot-stopper Brian McGurk’s pinpoint púc-out was retrieved by Phelim Lennon who made no mistake with his finish before David Prenter opened his account with a great score over his shoulder. Unperturbed, the men in black would fire back with two of their own through the trusty hurl of Patrick McGreevy.

With the clock ticking down to the interval, it would be the hosts who would have the final say. Unsurprisingly, it was Kelly yet again who would prove to be the source of their good fortunes as he further bolstered his burgeoning tally with two more from the placed ball to leave the score at the short whistle, 0-12 to 0-07 in favour of St Brigid’s.

The Ardoyne team-talk at half time was surely centred around stifling Kelly’s opportunities from the dead ball and to be more disciplined in the tackle. This certainly reaped rewards as they began to chip away at the deficit and they opened the half on the front foot with white flags raised thanks to McGreevy from three frees and Matt McKillen who angled his effort to perfection. Kelly couldn’t be silenced for too long though as Ardoyne’s nemesis came back to haunt them yet again with two fine long-range scores.

It would be the hosts who grabbed the game’s first major on the forty-fifth minute. John McGuckian thought he was the one to provide it but was spectacularly denied at close range thanks to Paddy Heaney, however, the Ardoyne net-minder was powerless to deny Phelim Lennon who pounced in the melée to strike high to the net on the rebound.

Six points in arrears, the visitors knew they had to conjure something quickly and were able to find the perfect remedy with a goal of their own. Enda Slattery’s cleverly disguised pass paved Matt McKillen through on goal who finished with conviction. With their tails now aloft, they looked to turn the screw further as McGreevy fired over another two to add to his ever-growing tally before Daniel Moore popped up from midfield to grab another.

As the game approached its climax, only two was now between the sides as a grandstand finish was in proposal. Nevertheless, the hosts extinguished any hopes of a nailbiter with a dominant finish and were first to every break as they limited Ard Eoin to a solitary score from Moore whilst firing 1-05 to add a little gloss to the score line.

James Kelly certainly found his scoring touch again as he split the uprights with four in a row to decimate the visitor’s hopes before Oisin McDonnell pointed from a tight angle. With darkness descending upon Musgrave Park, there was just enough time for David Prenter to grab his side’s second goal with a smart finish.

Credit to both sides for a thoroughly entertaining evening’s hurling. The scoreline perhaps is a little harsh on Ardoyne who battled resiliently throughout and had they held their nerve in the final ten minutes, it could well have been a different conclusion. They are now reliant on a heavy Glenravel win against Davitts tomorrow to have any chance of advancing.

St Brigid’s though will be delighted with their performances thus far. Few would’ve predicted their results at this stage and they have proven exactly what they are capable of. Two wins against formidable opponents and they ran group-winners, Glenravel, very close. They will surely look to build on these performances and could perhaps be a surprise package in the knockout stages.

Teams:

Naomh Bríd:

B McGurk; D Sidebottom, C Lundy, J Massingham; J Purdy, J McCarney, C McElhatton; N Murtagh, D McGurk; N Duffy, P Lennon (1-01,) J Kelly (0-16;) D Prenter (1-01,) J McGuckian (0-01,) O McDonnell (0-01)

Ciceam Ard Eoin:

P Heaney; C Curran, P Baker, E NicLochlain; A Stewart, M McLaughlin, C McShane; P McGuigan, D Moore (0-03;) C Wallace, C Keown, M McKillen (1-03;) P McGreevy (0-08,) C Barnes, M McGreevy

Referee: Colm McDonald (St. Gall’s)

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