Cushendall turned in a strong display when they beat Ballycastle in Monday evening’s Under 21 Hurling quarter final at Pairc MacUílin. The Ruairis were dominant for most of the game and they lead by five points at half time (1-09 to 0-07). The trend continued in the second half and though Ballycastle battled hard but they lacked the scoring power of their opponents who went on to win by nine in the end.
Top scorer Joseph McLaughlin opened Cushendall’s account in the second minute and though Conor Donnelly soon had Ballycastle back on terms. four points in a row, two from Fiontan Bradley and one each by Joseph McLaughlin and Oran McCambridge, saw the visitors put a bit of daylight between the sides. It was score for score over the next ten minutes, before points from Padraig McKillop and Fiontan Bradley stretched the Ruairi Og lead to six.
Ballycastle hit back with four in a row, three of them from Craoisti McAuley and one from Conor Donnelly to cut the deficit back to one, but Joseph McLaughlin sent one over from a sideline ‘cut’ and one from a free to put Cushendall three ahead at the interval.
Cushendall struck a telling blow early in the second half and after Joseph McLaughlin had increased the lead to four Oran McCambridge struck the first goal of the game to stretch his team’s lead to seven. Cadhan Crawford pulled one back for the Town but two more from Joseph McLaughlin frees put the gap out to eight by the end of the third quarter.
The home team hit three of the next four points, two of them from Crawford and one from Conor Donnelly, but three in a row from the McLaughlin brothers Joseph and Thomas and one from Callagh Mooney virtually sealed the deal. Conor Donnelly gave Ballycastle a glimmer of hope when he fired home a goal three minutes from time, but it was a case of too little, too late as Cushendall pushed on to a semi-final meeting Glenariffe/Glenravel in a week’s time.
TO SEE MORE OF SEAN PAUL’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Glenariffe/Glenravel booked a semi-final place against Cushendall when they beat Sarsfields in Monday evening’s quarter final in Waterfoot. Fielding a team short a good few regulars the home side found the going tough in the first half and led by just five at the break. A Fionn Jemfrey point in the first minute of the second half got Sarsfields back to within four but once they got going Glenariffe-Glenravel pulled away to win by eight in the end.
In what was at times a bad tempered game, which saw four mentors and one player receive red cards, the home side made the perfect start and Daniel Kearney had the ball in the Sarsfields net in the first minute and when Canice McIntosh added a point they were four to the good. Anthony McGarrigle, who was to be Sarsfields best man, pulled a couple back from frees and though the excellent Oisin Gillan added a couple of good points for the home side, Sarsfields were back to within a couple of points when corner forward Darren Delander grabbed a great goal on 14 minutes.
A second goal, this time from Daniel Kearney, eased the pressure on the home side with Oisin Gillan and Cormac McKeown sending over poinst they pulled clear, but McGarrigle kept picking off the points for the visitors and at half time they were only five behind. (2-08 to 1-06)
When Jemfrey got the first point of the second half it looked like it was going to be tight, but Glenariffe/Glenravel three quick points, two from Christy Leech and one from Canice McIntosh started to ease the pressure. McGarrigle came back with another point for the Paddies but a brilliant solo goal from Oisin Gillan and one soon afterwards by Cormac McKeown gave the home team a bit of breathing space. Jemfrey and McGarrigle kept plugging away for Sarsfields but the home side were in control by this stage and when Canice McIntosh got their fifth goal there was no way back for the visitors.
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
DARACH BRADLEY popped over an injury time winner as All Saints came out on top in a ding-dong battle with Lámh Dhearg in the U-21 B Prelim clash at Hannahstown on Monday evening.
Adam Murray converted an early free and Aaron Kennedy added a second point from play as the Lámhs opened the evening scoring on a soggy and dull evening in Hannahstown.
Darach Bradley replied from a free and added a second between a further Murray placed ball.
The opening goal fell to the visitors after a strike came off the post and Bradley stabbed the loose ball over the line to give All Saints a 1-2-0-3 advantage.
Murray closed the gap with his third free of the half before Darach Bradley (free) and a Fintan Brady score from play opened up a goal lead.
Lámh Dherarg closed the deficit to a single point through successive Murray frees late in the half and the hosts could have led at the interval, but Luke Walsh parried Murray’s penalty as All Saints held a narrow 1-4-0-6 lead.
Darrach Bradley who top scored for All Saints with a total of 1-7 on the eveningAdam Murray who scored 0-11 (0-10 f’s) for lamh Dhearg
Parity was restored within sixty seconds of the restart as Murray added his sixth of the evening and he edged his side back in front from a further placed ball a few moments later.
Darach Bradley levelled with his fourth free of the contest and a converted Pearse Martin free nudged the Ballymena outfit ahead again.
They extended their advantage with another Bradley free and Tiernan McGurk then popped the ball over to open up a 1-8-0-8 gap.
Adam Murray landed a free from range in response and after Sean McCarthy cleared to Calum Fegan in defence, he in turn picked out Murray to land his first from play of the evening and make it a single point game.
The tide was turning from the resulting puck-out, Calum Fegan gathered and tried his luck from range with a shot that dropped over Walsh and into the net to give the Hannahstown side a 1-10-1-08 lead.
Lámh Dhearg opened up a three-point lead with Adam Murray clipping over his 10th score and ninth from the placed ball.
Corey Camlin, Lamh Dhearg clears his lines as Archie McGreevey moves in to challenge
Both sides traded fantastic points from play courtesy of Darach Bradley and Calum Fegan and after Ronan Webb won a puck-out and the hosts a free, Murray pointed the placed ball to make it 1-13-1-09.
The four-point gap remained until the 54th minute when Pearse Martin rifled low past Rhys Camlin and a single point separated the sides.
The visitors were buoyed and Martin then popped over a leveller with Bradley keeping his nerve late on and swinging over the eventual winner as All Saints ran out 2-11-1-13 winners at the conclusion.
LÁMH DHEARG: R Camlin, C Tubridy, S Doran, D O’Connor, F Clenaghan, C Fegan (1-1), C Camlin, E Stanley, S McCarthy, O Lee, A Murray (0-11, 0-10f), A Kennedy (0-1), R Webb, C McGuigan, R Armstrong. Subs: A Brady for C McGuigan (26).
ALL SAINTS: L Walsh, A Martin, P Murphy, F Connon, H Connon, P Martin (1-2, 0-1f), C O’Hara, A McGreevy, D Bradley (1-7, 0-6f), S O’Brien, D McCoy, T McGurk (0-1), M Connolly, D Kelly, F Brady (0-1). Subs: R Crooks for A Martin (16). REFEREE: Chris Brown (ST PAULS)
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
All Saints GAC Gaelic for Mothers & Others held a very successful blitz on Saturday at their Slemish Park grounds with 9 teams from all over Ulster taking part.
The Ballymena club were absolutely thrilled to receive a grant from Bloc Blinds in support of their Gaelic for Mothers and Others Festival of Football
Their backing means the world to the club — helping them to bring together 9 teams from across Ulster for a day of football, friendship, and fundraising for local charity White Butterfly Foundation.
Taking part in the blitz were All Saints, Glenravel, Moneyglass, Davitt’s, Portglenone, St. Comgall’s, the Loup, Drumrath from Omagh and Limavady Wolfe Hounds and an excellent evening’s fun was had by all.
All Saint’s Ballymena 2-23 Erin’s Own Cargin 5-14 (aet)
All Saint’s win (7-6) on penalties
Benny McDonnell kept his cool to slot home the winning penalty after a marathon ACFL semi-final between Erin’s own Cargin and All Saints Ballymena at a sun kissed Whitehill on Saturday afternoon.
A fast flowing and high scoring game provided entertainment for the good crowd who had gathered despite both sides being short of a number of their regulars with Cargin worst affected.
The Ballymena side looked to have wrapped it up when they led by three deep into time added on in extra time but Cargin were awarded a strongly disputed penalty which Michael McCann tucked away with virtually the last kick of the ball.
A pristine sod and a warm breeze greeted the good attendance with little separating the contestants in the opening minutes as mid fielder Conor Stewart raised the first white flag in the opening minute before similar scores at the other end by Conhuir Johnston and Michael McCann ensured early advantage for the Toome men.
A Paddy Mc Aleer 8th minute point saw the Saints on par and although a white flag was raised by the Ballymena midfielder Stewart, his second score of the evening, Cargin were quick to make reply as a couple of points from Conhuir Johnston sandwiched one by Michael McCann to ensure a 0-05 to 0-03 lead for the Erin’s Own men at the end of the open quarter.
Having slipped into arrears, All Saint’s were soon to regain the lead as Emmett Killlough gathered to send Paddy McAleer away to grab a couple of points before Killough added another and Joe Rafferty followed suit to see All Saint’s move 0-07 to 0-05 ahead after 16 minutes.
Cargin were back in front when Michael McCann despatched a penalty to the back of the net following a foul on the hard grafting Conhuir Johnston but late points from mid fielder Stewart and Paddy Mc Aleer saw All Saint’s nip ahead 0-09 to 1-05 at the end of the opening period.
The second half got under way as the easterly breeze eased and it was Cargin who were first off the mark after young Jack Harney’s defence splitting delivery opened the way for Sean O’Neill to finish to the back of the net.
O’Neill added a 34th minute point before a long range John Carron effort extended the Cargin lead to 2-09 to 0-09 and it looked like the reigning county champions were taking control.
All Saints had other ideas however and Paddy Mc Aleer replied with a 2 pointer before Ciaran Campbell followed with a goal and a point and All Saint’s had nipped ahead at 1-12 to 2-08.
Mid fielder Conor Stewart added a 3d minute point to the All Saint’s total and after the impressive Conhuir Johnston followed suit at the other end the big midfielder was quick to reply to level the issue at 2-10 to 1-13.
The end to end stuff was heightening the enjoyment of the attendance and after David Johnston nipped away to split the posts and give the Toome men back the lead a defence splitting pass from Jack Harney into the path of Michael McCann saw him finish to the back of the net.
It was Cargin who were now enjoying the better of the exchanges as James Laverty and McCann combined to open the way for Sean O’ Neill to fire to the net to move Erin’s Own move 4-10 to 1-14 ahead.
Once again Baker Bradley’s side looked in bother but they continued to show the never say die spirit that had epitomised them throughout the game.
A Jack Harney point threatened to put it out of reach of the Ballymena side but once again they came storming back with Sean O’Callaghan, Joe Rafferty and James McDonnell pointing to bring them level before Paddy McAleer’s fisted effort was ruled out for a square-ball infringement.
It was a thrill a minute at this stage as the excellent James Laverty restored the Cargin lead with the equally impressive Sean McVeigh tying it once more.
All Saints had been reduced to 14 men at this stage and when Conhuir Johnston rattled the All Saints net for their 5th of the evening, deep into time added on they looked on their way to defeat.
Once again they picked themselves up of the canvas and a good move from deep in defence saw Conor Stewart’s goal bound attempt rebound of the crossbar but Joe Rafferty was on hand to bury it to the net and the sides were level for the umpteenth time.
The Slemish Park side introduced Ronan McKillop and Paidin Mitchell at the start of extra time as Sean O’Neill and Conor Stewart exchanged early points before Stewart edged his side ahead again with a point in the 6th minute.
Significantly they kicked a number of bad wides at this stage as Michael McCarry replaced the injured Emmet Killough in the All Saints side and a Sean O’Neill point for the Toome side saw it tied at 5-14 to 2-23 as Cathal McDermott sounded the half time whistle.
The crowd were on their feet as the game got underway again as James Laverty edged the county champions ahead once more but All Saints found another response and looked to have booked their place in the final.
Ronan McKillop, Paddy McAleer (f), Benny McDonnell and Ciaran Campbell pointed to move the men in black three in front but in a dramatic finish Cargin were awarded a penalty and Michael McCann converted to send the game into penalties.
Benny McDonnell became the All Saints hero when he converted the final penalty of the evening to send All Saints into the final where they are set to meet Creggan and it was handshakes all round at Conclusion.
Creggan advance after St. Brigid’s withdrew from the other semi-final and there is a feeling in some quarters that the league should be decided at the end of the league programme.
For the second year in succession Erin’s own finished clear of the pack but found themselves taking part in play-offs at a time of the year when a lot of player are missing through holidays or injury
All Saints: Ryan Stewart, Oliver O’Rawe, KLavan Keenan, Harry Connon, James McDonnell, Sean O’Callaghan, Joe Rafferty, Emmet Killough, Conor Stewart, Connell Lemon, Patrick McAleer, Benny McDonnell, Ciaran Campbell Sean McVeigh, Peter McReynolds
Subs used: Conor Brennan, Michael McCarry, Paidin Mitchell, Ronan McKillop
Cargin: Shea Laverty, Gerard Mc Corley. Kevin Mc Shane, Hugh O’ Donnell, Callum Gribbin, James Laverty (0-2), Conan Johnston, John Carron, Gerard Mc Cann. David Johnston (0-01), Sean O’ Neill (2-06), Jack Harney (0-01), Michael Mc Cann (2-02), Conhuir Johnston (1-05) PJ Quinn)
Subs:
Charlie McCann
Benen Kelly
Ben Mc Larnon
Patrick O’ Neill
Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg:
TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
