Ballycastle made it four wins in a row in Division 1 of the Antrim Hurling League when they beat Ballycran at Pairc MacUilin on Sunday.
The Down men went three clear in the early stages but a point from Neal McAuley and a goal by Ronan Laverty put the Town ahead. Conor McCarry pointed to increase the lead to two but a Conor Woods gave Ballycran back the lead. However a goal by Seamus McAuley put the home side back in front and after points from Rambo McCarry and Darragh Donnelly Neal McAuley hit his second goal of the game to give the Town a 3-6 to 1-10 lead at half time.
Points by Tiernan Smyth, Darragh Donnelly and Conor Donnelly stretched the Ballycastle lead at the start of the second half and when a long ball by Conor Donnelly deceived the Ballycran goalkeeper and ended up in the net the gap was out to seven. Rambo McCarry added a point and soon afterwards goal number five arrived, Conor Donnelly again on the scoreboard.
It seemed an easy run in at this stage but it was from it as Ballycran hit back with two goals of their own as Conor Woods got his second of the game and Jake Miskimmon added his team’s third but Ballycastle held on to win by seven in the end
When Glenravel went in at half time with a three point lead in Wednesday evening’s Division 1 League game against Creggan it looked like they were in with a chance of getting a result, but Creggan came out in the second half and blew the visitors away, scoring 2-11 while holding the visitors to a single point to maintain their place in second place in the league table.
Creggan’s Ruairi McCann who scored seven points in his team’s win over Con Magees, Glenravel
The signs were there from the very start as the Kickhmas flew from the traps with a goal from corner forward Conor Johnston and four unanswered points, two of them Ruairi McCann,, one from Fintan Close and the other from goal scorer Johnston to open a seven point lead.
An Eamon Fyfe point in the tenth minute got Glenravel going and they began to settle into the game with further points from Fergus Donaghy, Aidan O’Donnell and Declan Traynor, and when O’Donnell landed a 2-pointer midway through the half they were back to within a point of the home side.
Glenravel’s Conlith O’Loan in action against Creggan’s Fintan Close
Creggan came back with two pointed frees from Ruairi McCann but Glenravel stayed in the chase when O’Donnell landed another two pointer and when Fyfe added a point three minutes from the break they were back on terms. Creggan squandered a great chance of a goal a minute later and in first half injury time the visitors took advantage when Conor McQuillan finished off a good move with a well taken goal to give his team an unlikely one goal lead at the interval. (1-06 to 1-09)
Just as they had done in the first half Creggan raced away at the start of the second and Matthew Rodgers, James McCann and Kevin Small added points before Conor Johnston got his second goal to put his team a goal ahead. The gap grew wider as Rodgers and Ruairi McCann (2) sent over points before Eamon Fyfe got Glenravel’s first score of the second half. As it turned out it was to be their only score as Creggan took complete control, with substitute Shea McCann making a real impression by scoring a goal and four point to help his team to an emphatic 3-18 to 1-10 win.
TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
‘Goals Win Games’ is the old adage utilised on many an occasion and it rang true on Wednesday eveniing following a closely fought and hugely entertaining affair as Cargin played host to the All Saint’s, Ballymena in early summer sunshine on an excellent Toome sod.
The home side enjoyed a great start to the game as Sean O’ Neill and Jamie Gribbin combined to send the full forward away to find the net just minutes into the division one league encounter.
Laverty, better known as a defender made no mistake and when presented with the opportunity was not to miss the chance blasting to the back of the net and adding a point shortly thereafter with David Johnston raising a further white flag the Toome men were away in style.
All Saint’s got their scoring show on the road in the seventh minute as Peter Mc Reynolds raised a white flag and the visitors gained in composure, but with the ever impressive Tomas Mc Cann added a couple of scores to earn a four point advantage for his side by the 10th minute
The Saints having got their bearings, soon got their scoring show on the road, and by the 20th minute as Patrick Feeney, Paidin Mitchell (2), and Paddy Mc Aleer split the posts only a single score separated the contestants with the early Laverty goal securing a 1-05 to 0-05 advantage at the 20th minute.
The last minutes of the first saw the home side gain in impetus and although a few chances were spurned Cargin lead 1-09 to 0-06 at the sound of the short blast.
Benen Kelly and the hard grafting John Carron had raised points apiece before Hugh O’ Donnell vacated his defensive duty nipping up the left hand side to split the posts and after the home side missed opportunity to add a second major as a James Laverty assist sent Tomas Mc Cann in on the target only foiled in his effort to find the net by the All Saint’s net minder Ryan Stewart who pulled off a great save to deny.
A James Laverty point allied by a David Johnston delivery looked the last score of the period but such was to belong to the Saint’s wing half back Joe Rafferty just in time added time raising white to reduce the home side’s lead to 1-06 to 0-06 at the short blast.
The second period was in its infancy when Paddy McAleer reduced the home side’s lead by a point as he raced through to split the posts but a Tomas Mc Cann reply in kind soon followed to restore his team’s three point cushion. The Cargin man was posing threats aplenty for the visitors with his searching forward runs a feature, Ballymena men were soon to regain their composure amd Paddy Mc Aleer grabbed another point after Patrick Finnegan’s lightning approach.
The visitors threatened comeback but when the brothers Gribbin combined, following a fetch by John Carron, a subtle combination between the Gribbin brothers Jamie and Callum sent the former away to find the back of the All Saints net, and when the latter followed with a point the home side’s lead was out to eight points. (2-10 to 0-08).
The Cargin men looked to be safe at this stage but their visitors, with Paddy Mc Aleer and Paidin Mitchell leading the way, replacement Michael McCarry grabbed back to back points in the 45th and 47th minutes to close the gap. However at the other end James Laverty and John Carron delivered replies in kind for the Toome men to ease safely ahead once more.
The ever busy Paidin Mitchell and Shaun O’ Callaghan added points apiece to the All Saint’s cause but the home side were to have the last say in proceedings as Tom Shivers, James Laverty and Jamie Gribbin raised white flags apiece to see the county champions cross the line to extend their unbeaten run to eight on a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-14.
Referee Ray Matthews (Rossa)
Teams
Cargin
John Mc Nabb, Sean Og Quinn, Hugh O’ Donnell (0-01), Kevin Mc Shane, Benen Kelly 0-01, Conan Johnston, Callum Gribbin (1-02), Michael Mc Cann, Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-01), John Carron (0-04), Jamie Gribbin(0-02), James Laverty (1-04), Tomas Mc Cann (0-03)
Subs
Jack Harney
Ben Mc Larnon
Pat Shivers
Tom Shivers
All Saint’s
Ryan Stewart, Matthew Downey, Cal O’ Brien, Pater Mc Nicholl (0-02), Patrick Francis (0-01), Seamus Mc Callin (0-01), Joe Rafferty( 0-02), Peter Mc Reynolds(0-01) Emmett Killough, Paddy Mc Aleer (0-03), Brendan Mc Donnell, Ciaran Campbell, Sean Mc Veigh (0-01), Paidin Mitchell (0-02)
Subs
Michael Mc Carry (0-02)
Harry Connon (0-01)
James Gillan
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
As the side’s headed to the dressing rooms at half time during this division 1 game between Tir na nOg and Ahoghill there would have been few if any in the crowd who could have predicted what was to come in the second half at Whitehill on Wednesday night.
The men from Cloney had dominated from throw in and they had built up what looked like an insurmountable 1-10 to 0-4 lead, thanks to a goal from Colla McDonnell in the 10th minute.
Tir na nOg looked a beaten side and their cause wasn’t helped when they had a player dismissed at the end of the opening quarter for verbal abuse and all over the field they were being out thought and out fought.
Martin Graham, Ahoghill fires over the game’s opening point
What transpired in the second half was truly remarkable as the home side sprung into life after the visitors had increased their lead with the opening four points of the second half.
Sean Duffin hit a magnificent 2 pointer and Josh Higgins and Barry McCormick added 2 more, McCormick’s second a 2 pointer and suddenly the Whitehill support came to life as they urged their side to even greater efforts and slowly they began to reel in the Ahoghill lead.
When the excellent McCormick converted a 29th minute free the comeback of all comebacks looked to have been completed but there would be one more decisive twist in this intriguing contest.
As the clock ticked down the Cloney men forced a turnover about 30 yards from goal with the ball fed to Neil ‘Boris’ O’Connell and he passed first time along the ground to Colla McDonnell who gathered and fired past Aodhan Tolan to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The opening exchanges saw the visitors take control and Martin Graham, Noel Crossey 0-2 and Ronan Graham shot them into a four point lead.
Tir na nOg replied through Sean Duffin and Aaron McNeilly but Colla McDonnell raced through the home defence to fire home the game’s opening goal in the 10th minute.
Ciaran O’Neill raises his hand in celebration after his goal had given Tir na nOg the lead with 8 minutes remaining
Tir na nOg were second best all over the field and would add only two further points from Emmet Murray and Eamon Og McAllister with the dominant visitors adding points from James O’Connell 0-2, Colla McDonnell 0-2, Conor Crossey 0-2 and Patrick Graham to lead 1-10 to 0-4 at the interval.
When Ahoghill increased that lead through Ronan Graham, James O’Connell and the excellent Colla McDonnell on the restart it looked well and truly over but, as they say, it’s never over until the fat lady sings.
Sean Duffin ignited the game with an excellent two pointer as Tir na nOg took over and they added four 2 pointers and when Ciaran O’Neill took advantage of a mistake in the Ahoghill defence to fire to the net, they led by 1-17 to 1-16 with 8 minutes remaining.
Sean Duffin, Eamon Og McAllister and Barry McCormick added points in response to points from James and Neil O’Connell and the Whitehill side looked to have secured two value league points
Colla McDonnell turned the game on its head however with that late finish at the other end to silence the large Randalstown support and the points were on their way back to Ahoghill as St. Mary’s secured their second win of the season.
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1 league 13th May 2025
Loughgiel 4-26 Ahoghill 0-04
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel
It couldn’t have been a surprise to anyone to learn that Loughgiel were the winners of last night’s league game in Fr. Healy Park, but what was interesting though, were the early signs of a robust methodology used to score and defend. Solid communications, reading the game and a strong desire to possess the ball regardless of where it was on the field and make it count, made for a testing game for Ahoghill.
But it wasn’t all about how the Shamrocks performed, St. Mary’s came to the game short of players due to unavoidable commitments and their desire to engage and run all evening was a credit to the panel.
Loughgiel’s Charlene Campbell stretches to jab lift into the hand of a waiting Maeve Scullion
Match referee, Anthony McAuley, set the scene for an enjoyable summer’s evening of camogie when he declared a game of two halves of ten minutes and then retreat to the nearest premises for sherbets or ice creams if you prefer. It got a laugh but both teams were looking forward to a full game and in went the sliotar at 7:15pm for two good halves of camogie.
The tone of the evening was set with an early goal from Loughgiel’s Kirsty McKendry and soon it would be two after Katie McKillop was fed from an Orlagh Laverty-McKendry sequence before Ahoghill’s first point from a big run by Noreen Graham, despite Louise McKillops’ best efforts to hook Graham.
The Shamrocks would take the lion’s share of possession and work the scoreboard with another two green flags and a collection of points from mostly the half and full forward positions, but Ahoghill’s Graham was eager to show there were cracks in Loughgiel’s defence and took the opportunity to drop two more points over the bar before the short whistle blew.
Ahoghill’s Maura Downey has her eyes on the prize in a race for possession with Loughgiel’s Shanna Deery
The second half didn’t throw up any surprises and offered the Shamrocks the opportunity to ease up a little and avoid unnecessary injuries or dehydration cramps given the warm evening, whilst St. Mary’s continued with spirit and sought opportunities to possess and score, despite their only point coming from Roisin Loughlin.
Loughgiel panel and scorers
Shauna McKillop, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Finvola McVeigh, Maria Lynn, Maeve Shannon, Ciara Laverty, Anna Connelly, Louise McKillop 0-02, Katie McKillop 1-05 (3f), Shanna Deery 0-05, Christine McCloskey 1-02, Orlagh Laverty 0-05 (1f), Kirsty McKendry 1-03, Anna McKillop 1-04, Emma McAllister, Zoe Cassley, Erin Connolly, Aoibheann Gillan, Sarah Flavin, Anna Smyth, Ciara Connolly, Carlina Sullivan, Caela Dobbin, Therese McKinley
Ahoghill panel and scorers
Aine Graham, Anna Mitchell, Orla Neeson, Fiona Blaney, Aoife Neeson, Éadaoin McGarry, Caoimhe Scullion, Maura Downey, Enya Neeson, Mollie O’Connell, Noreen Graham 0-03, Anne-Marie O’Neill, Molly Friel, Roisin Loughlin 0-01, Alex Burns
Photos from the game can be seen in the album by clicking on the link below…
