A late brace of points by Aaron Kerr and impressive mid-fielder Eoin Magennis gained the day and sealed victory for Aghagallon over their visitors from Cargin on Saturday afternoon.
The Toome lads after a slow start gained in confidence as the game progressed and with Jack Harney and Carl McCann getting a grip in the central zone, a 35th minute Conleth Hamill goal saw them take the lead early in the second half.
The home side were strong in their response with Eoin Maginnis leading the way at mid-field and he replied to a Fiontan Hardy 48th minute point to move the Lough Shore side into the lead.
The visitors may well have gained advantage in the 50th minute as Fiontan Hardy sent replacement Sean Og Bovill in on goal but the latter’s effort was just off target with a defender getting the block on the shot.
With nothing separating the sides into the last phase a share of the spoils looked possible but with Eoin Magennis leading the way the home side finished on the front foot.
A 52nd minute 40 metre free from full forward Sean Gowdy gave them the advantage and despite the best efforts of the visitors, the home defence stood strong.
Cargin, with Jack O’ Neill and Conleth Hamill leading the way were denied access to the posts in the closing stages as Aghagallon closed the door.
A late point from wing half back Adam Kerr put the home side two points clear and when Eoin Maginnis followed suit from a 45 metre free Aghagallon had opened a three point gap to cross the winning line three points clear.
Aghagallon: Jack Hatchell, Ryan Wilson, C Mulholland, Dara Smyth, Aaron Kerr, Chris Hannon, Eamon Brady, S Mc Guigan, Eoin Maginnis (0-02), Michael Mc Gurgan (0-01,Aaron Loughran (0-02), Eoin Bracken, Ronan O’ Connor, Sean Gowdy (0-03), Ben Dervan
Cargin: Daniel Mc Cann, J Quinn, Patryck Matchik, Tom Mc Cann, Jack O’ Neill, C Scullion, Sean Mc Peake, Carl Mc Cann, Jack Harney, Fintan O’ Donnell, Fiontan Hardy (0-01), Patrick O’ Neill |(0-01), Dara O’ Boyle, Conleth Hamill (1-00), Cillian Scullion (0-01),
Subs: Sean og Bovill, Dara Mc Auley
Referee: R Leahy
This win sees Aghagallon join St. Brigid’s and St. John’s on 3 points at the top of the division after 2 rounds of games.
O’Neill Sportswear Antrim Hurling League – Division 2
Cushendun Emmet’s 2-16 Cloney Gaels Ahoghill 0-15
Pics and report by Micky Morgan
Two first half goals from Colm McKeegan proved to be the difference in this ACHL Div 2 game when Cloney Gaels were the visitors to Cushendun.
The Ahoghill men had opened up a four point lead in the first ten minutes, but McKeegan got the Emmetts going with his first goal in the twelfth minute. After a great catch on the edge of the square, he beat Martin Graham in the Ahoghill goals only to see his effort rebound off the crossbar. First to react, McKeegan pulled on the ground and managed to squeeze the sloither under Graham to raise the green flag. Cushendun pushed on, and with Connlaoth McNeill punishing Ahoghill from placed balls, they had opened up a four point lead by the time McKeegan got his second major of the day. Following Aidan McSparran’s high ball into a crowded square, McKeegan rose highest to flick the ball to the back of the Ahoghill net. Both teams added two points apeice in the run in to half time which meant Cushendun took a six point lead in at the interval. (2.09 to 0.09)
Cushendun’s Conor McHugh and Cloney Gael’s James O’Connell battle it out
Cushendun opened up the second half with two quickfire points from Connor McHugh, the first probably the best score of the day. As Fionnbar O’Neill broke out of the Ahoghill defence, McHugh managed to rob the ball from his hand, and with his back to goal ‘Smiley’ calmly pointed to extend the hosts’ lead.
Ahoghill searched for the goal that would bring them back into it, but the Cushendun defence, led by the impressive Donal O’Hara, were a match to any threat Aghoghill threw at them. With the visitors having an off day in front if the posts, shooting thirteen wides over the hour, and the ever reliable Connlaoth McNeill winning the battle of the free takers, Cushendun saw out the game for a comfortable eight point win.
Brendan McTaggart reports from UMPC Nolan Park, Kilkenny
A demolition job.
Antrim came to Nolan Park with hope and left with more questions than answers on Sunday afternoon as the Cats tore them asunder.
It was a clinical, professional performance from Kilkenny who played with incredible intensity, accuracy and just a level above anything Antrim could produce.
32 points – a bit of a beating in any man’s book but when you consider they had 13 different scorers and 4-11 off the bench, perhaps this was a statement performance from last years beaten All Ireland finalists?
They had the luxury of taking off TJ Reid with 25 minutes of the game remaining but the ace marksman was on the field long enough to score 1-3 and show that there’s life in the old dog yet. His movement off the ball and aerial ability left those in attendance drooling if not purring. It was a masterclass that Antrim couldn’t contain but he was that good, there was plenty in the country who wouldn’t.
Antrim set up with a game plan where they looked to suffocate the middle third and defence. They looked to engage in a short passing game, have runners off the shoulder to try and penetrate the Kilkenny defence but they looked lacklustre in comparison to the Cats. Too many passes went astray, too many passes misplaced, some would argue too many passes?
Any joy that did come in a Saffron shirt was short-lived but there were occasions when the footwork of James McNaughton and cunning of Eoghan Campbell had the Kilkenny defence scampering. Those moments were fleeting, at best.
They could and probably should have had a penalty in the 10th minute when Eoghan Campbell had a sight of Eoin Murphy’s goal. He was brought down with the Kilkenny defence on his heels, referee Shane Haynes gave a free and yellow card. From the angle I was watching, it certainly looked like Campbell was felled in the square, not so in the eyes of the Galway referee.
After a solid opening quarter where Antrim trailed by just a point, the home side looked to click into a higher gear. 1-4 in the space of three minutes with midfielder Cian Kenny and Martin Keoghan finding their range but it was TJ Reid who produced the moment of magic to give his side the injection of momentum. A high ball from Paddy Deegan was fetched from the Kilkenny City sky as Reid leapt above Ryan McGarry. An incredible catch that was matched with his finish on the 17th minute. He had been relatively quiet up until that moment but he oozed class from then on.
Kilkenny had their foot on the proverbial Antrim throat at that stage and were awarded a penalty just two minutes later when Tom Phelan was felled by Ryan Elliott. The referee gave the Antrim ‘keeper a black card and awarded the home side a penalty – further compounding the frustration at Campbell’s incident merely minutes earlier. Tiarnan Smyth came on for Niall McKenna as a temporary substitution and with the young Ballycastle native coming in for some flack with his performances between the sticks for Antrim this year but he pulled off a quite brilliant save to deny TJ Reid from adding to his tally from the resulting penalty.
Any time Antrim looked to break free, Kilkenny were their match but Conal Cunning’s frees kept the scoreboard turning. He would finish with 0-5 from placed ball in the first half with further scores coming from James McNaughton and Conor McCann – the Creggan man finishing a well worked move in the 23rd minute.
An 11 point deficit at half time which was probably a fair reflection of the first 35 minutes. Antrim did look like they were frustrating Kilkenny at different times in the first half but Derek Lyng’s charges were simply irresistible in the second half. The loss of Eoin Cody soon after the restart will worry the Kilkenny management with what looked like a knee injury but his replacement gave a stunning performance. Owen Wall’s 30 minute cameo saw him score 3-2 while fellow substitute Billy Drennan finished with 1-6 in a 25 minute performance.
Kilkenny lorded the second half and Antrim chased shadows in what felt like a procession. The Cats looked to be levels ahead of Antrim with the Saffron’s seemingly lacking energy, intensity and just couldn’t match the work rate needed to compete with the Cats.
A rude awakening? We all want to see how we match up against the likes of Kilkenny. On this showing, we’re some way off it. It’s sufficient to say that there’s work ahead if Antrim are going to make any inroads in the Leinster Championship. Wexford travel to Corrigan Park next Saturday reeling from conceding two late goals against Dublin to only share the points on offer. They’ll come with a point to prove, on this showing, so do Antrim.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Conal Bohill; James McNaughton, Niall O’Connor; Michael Bradley, Nigel Elliott, Niall McKenna; Conal Cunning, Conor McCann, Seaan Elliott
Scorers: C Cunning 0-7 (7 fs); J McNaughton 0-2; E Campbell 0-1; C Bohill 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; C McCann 0-1
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan, Mikey Carey; Cian Kenny, Richie Reid; Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody, John Donnelly; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Tom Phelan
Scorers: Owen Wall 3-2; Billy Drennan 1-6 (1-00 pen, 2 f’s 1’65); TJ Reid 1-5 (1f 1’65); M Keoghan 0-3; J Donnelly 0-3; C Kenny 0-3; P Deegan 0-2; S Murphy 0-1; M Carey 0-1; R Reid 0-1; A Mullen 0-1; Jordan Molloy 0-1; Gearoid Dunne 0-1
St. John’s find themselves sitting proudly at the top of division 1 with 6 points from their opening three games and on Saturday it was the turn of St. Enda’s to feel their force at Hightown.
The Glengormley men certainly tested the Johnnies to the limit and a John McGoldrick goal from the penalty spot late in the game brought it back to 2 points but that was as close as they got as St. John’s held on to maintain their early season top spot.
Playing with the wind in the opening half St. John’s led 1-13 to 0-10 with their goal coming from Lorcan Heenan late in the half. Conor Johnston was in fine scoring form for the Whiterock side, hitting 0-6 first half points while Michael Dudley added three and Shea Shannon and Darragh McGuinness were also on target.
Naomh Eanna kept on their coat tails for most of the opening half with John McGoldrick in sparkling scoring form and the big number 15 accounted for 0-9 of his side’s first half total with Ollie Breen getting the other as they trailed by six at the break.
McGoldrick continued to carry St. Enda’s greatest scoring threat in the second half with wing-half, Joe Maskey also carrying the game to St. John’s and his goal early in the final quarter gave his side renewed hope.
St. John’s were not to be outdone however as they kept the score board ticking away with Conor Johnston adding 0-3 to his first half total and Aaron Bradley and Micheal Dudley all weighing in with vital scores.
St. John’s opened their season with an away win at Dunloy and followed it up with a victory over deadly rivals Rossa on day two and while it’s early days, this win over St. Enda’s will give them belief as they head into the rest of the season.
St. Enda’s: 1 Philly Curran, 2 Ciaran McAllister, 3 Malachi McKibbon, 4 Ronan Eager, 5 Eoin Conlon, 6 Killian Jennings, 7 Joe Maskey, 8 Brendan Cormican, 9 Luke O’Connor, 10 Cian O’Connor, 11 Cormac Jennings, 12 Eddie O’Connor, 13 Oliver Breen, 14 Rian Gillen, 15 John McGoldrick,
St. John’s: 1 Declan Cregan, 2 Conor McEvoy, 3 Ciaran Johnston, 4 Odhran Carleton, 5 Matthew McCartan, 6 Conall Morgan, 7 Daragh McGuinness, 8 Aidan McMahon, 9 Sean Wilson, 10 Conor Johnston, 11 Stephen Tierney, 12 Michael Dudley, 13 Donal Carson, 14 Lorcan Heenan, 15 Shea Shannon, 18 Aaron Bradley
Nestled under the imposing backdrop of Black Mountain, Páirc Phádraig Sáirséil faired up well against recent weather and along with today’s sunshine and a northerly breeze, Sarsfield’s turf would help to deliver an evenly balanced game of tough and tight hurling.
Ray Mathews got the game underway at the odd billed time of 5:05pm and Sarsfield sprang into action with the first point from Ruiri McAreavey.
Loughgiel quickly responded with a point from Eoin McGarry. No side had a distinct advantage from the breeze with it cutting directly across the pitch as the points began to click up on the scoreboard.
With the score at Sarsfield 0-05 to Loughgiel’s 0-03, the home side’s Fionn Jemfry pulled on a ball that wasn’t cleared from Loughgiel’s square to register the first goal of the game.
Loughgiel’s Cahir McGrath wasted no time in responding and lodged a goal and a point in quick succession to leave just one in it at the break, Sarsfield 1-07 to Loughgiel’s 1-06.
After the break, Loughgiel found another gear and added seven more points to Sarsfield’s two and that would eventually stand the Shamrock’s in good stead as both sides then went on an almost tit for tat point exchange.
Sarsfield’s left half forward, Daniel McKernan (Snr) found space deep in Loughgiel’s defence and a fine hand-pass to Nicholas O’Mullane ended in a soaring point, much to the delight of the pacing management team.
The home side’s Talisman of the day, Kevin McKernan, picked up the sliotar directly onto the stick and with one flick, dispatched the ball over Loughgiel’s goalkeeper, CormacMcFadden’s bar.
Scores at this point of the game were Sarsfields 1-16 to Loughgiel’s 1-18. Referee Mathews glanced at his watch from the last call of three minutes but there was just enough time for Loughgiel’s Nicholas McNaughton to demonstrate a brilliant block that he gathered for the final point of the game.
Both sides produced a great evening’s hurling deep in the city of Belfast and having spectators to shade the warming sun from their eyes is a great prelude to the rest of the season ahead.
Sarsfield’s starting panel: Gerard McKernan, Mark McCavanagh, Daragh Coleman, Daniel Smyth, Jim McKernan, Ronan McKenna, Kevin McKernan, Anthony McGarrigle, Ruiri McAreavey, Donal, McKernan, Donal McKernan (Snr), Fionn Jemfry, Oisin Coleman, Niall McAlea
Loughgiel starting panel: Cormac McFadden, Pearce Patterson, Daniel McPeake, Patrick Bradley, Connor, Dickson, Damien Quinn, Conall McCloskey, Nicholas McNaughton, Tiago McGarry, Niall McFadden, Donal McKinley, Ryan Hill, Eoin McGarry, Cahir McGrath, Connor O’Mullan
