With a busy schedule of All County fixtures going on, the South West divisional board have found it difficult to get their own competitions complete but last week at Dunsilly they found a slot for their two U17 Cup competitions.
Both the Laverty Cup and Shield have been highly regarded competitions by teams in the South West with the winners of the Laverty Cup never far away when it comes to the All County Minor Championship
On a sunny evening in Dunsilly Roger Casements eventually ran out comfortable winners against a determined St Comgalls team in the final of the Shield.
The first half was a tight affair with St Comgalls really putting it up to the travelling Casements team. Roaming full forward Ryan McKeever along with Odhran Doherty were involved in everything good that Portglenone did in the opening half.
Half time Casements 2-5 Antrim 1-3
The move of wing back Tom Duffin into the Casements forward line in the second half proved to be a masterstroke by the management as his direct running proved too hard to handle for the Antrim defence. Duffin ended the game with 2 goals with big midfielder Oisín Scullion adding another near the end to clinch the game for Casements.
Full time Casements 5-11 Antrim 2-8
Portglenone: 1 Tom Convery 2 Fergus McCormick 3 Conall Morgan 4 Conor Dunlop 5 Christie McDonnell 6 Oisín McAtamney 7 Tom Duffin 8 Ryan McAllister 9 Oisín Scullion 10 Frank McAleese 11 Odhran Doherty 12 Conor McCann 13 Conor McKeever 14 Ryan McKeever 15 Eoin McErlean
South West Committee member, Sean McAtamney presents the Laverty Shield to Portglenone captain, Ryan McAllister
Brendan McTaggart reports from Healy Park, Loughgiel
Main picture – The ball flies past Loughgiel goalkeeper Chrissy O’Connell high into the top left corner of the net for Neil McManus’s goal from the penalty spot
There are times in hurling when you leave the ground saying, ‘I’m glad I was here to witness that.’ Sunday evening in Healy Park, Loughgiel was another of those occasions. Neil McManus may have hung his county hurl up but my God he showed his appetite for the game remains as fervent as ever. 4-9 over the hour in a performance that underlines his reputation as the Roy of the Rovers of hurling – that line unashamedly stolen from Cushendall scribe, Colum Thompson.
Neil McManus fires in the first of his four goals
McManus roamed through the pristine surface of Healy Park using all the experience he has garnered to find where he can cause the most problems. His aerial ability on the edge of the square to create a chance from a dropping ball that ended up in the back of the Loughgiel net. He completed a first half hat-trick with a penalty and a 21 yard free that found either top corner of the Lough Road goals to underline Cushendall’s supremacy against a Loughgiel side who had no answer to the Ruairi’s power players in the middle of the pitch.
15 points at the end of an hours hurling and a score line that certainly didn’t flatter the Ruairi’s. Loughgiel couldn’t make any inroads into a Cushendall defence that had all the answers to the questions posed by the Shamrocks.
You know what you’re going to get from the likes of Paddy and Martin Burke, two top defenders while Scott Walsh’s performance on any other day would have been worthy of a man of the match award.
Conor McAllister’s ability to fire the sliotar 100 plus yards down the pitch from restarts was a massive threat in the Ruairi’s arsenal. Time and again the sliotar was dropping under McManus or Christy McNaughton with Niall McCormack and Joseph McLaughlin never far away for the breaking ball. It’s a ploy that they used with super effect. Ball winners are a huge part in any teams game plan and Cushendall had the upperhand against the Shamrocks full back line.
The Shamrocks for all their youthful talent looked a side shellshocked at the end of the hour. Matches between these two sides in recent memory normally go down to the final whistle and never more than a goal between the sides. This one was over by the time McManus showed his predatory instincts to score his fourth goal in the 39th minute. What followed was the stuff of exhibitions from the Ruairi’s with points coming from all corners.
Loughgiel were reliant on the free taking of James McNaughton and Shan McGrath to keep in touch and despite trailing by eight at the interval, the Shamrocks had it reduced to just three after just eight second half minutes.
It was as close as they got, however. Cushendall had the measure of their attack while with the experience of Andrew McNaughton coming off the bench and the talents of Sean McAfee and Eoghan Campbell also, the Ruairi’s never showed a weakness nor dipped their intensity that would’ve given the Shamrocks a glimmer of hope.
Loughgiel’s Ruairi McCormick clear from defence.
Such was the dominance of the Ruairi’s defence, they held Loughgiel scoreless from play from the 34th minute of the game and only another two men in red had their names on the list of scorers – Dan McCloskey and Paul Boyle raising white flags on an evening where they flattered to deceive. James McNaughton top scored with 0-11 beside his name while McGrath had six white flags, 11 of those scores from both men coming from placed ball.
Cushendall added gloss to their performance in the final quarter with Joseph McLaughlin further adding to his growing reputation. He finished with three points beside his name but an afternoon that saw him take on one of the best teams in the county in the championship environment and flourish. Ronan McAteer was another who grew in confidence as the half progressed and in a period of play that saw the Ruairi’s outscore Loughgiel 1-10 to 0-2. 15 minutes of play that was brutally devastating and left the Shamrocks bewildered, pinned in their own half and bereft of ideas on how to stop the barrage of maroon and white coming their way.
It’s fair to say the Ruairi’s threw down a marker and statement of intent for the rest of the county to step up and take notice on Sunday evening. They pushed Dunloy to the pin of their collar in a brilliant county final in 2022 and have aspirations of going one further this year and have a four week break before their semi-final. Loughgiel will lick their wounds from this encounter before casting their eyes towards an improving St John’s side for their quarter-final in two weeks time.
Goal number three for McManus and the Dall as the ball flies high into the right corner from a 20 metre free
TEAMS
Loughgiel: C O’Connell; T Coyle, Declan McCloskey, R McCloskey; E Og McGarry, D McMullan, C Blair; R McKee, P Boyle (0-1); R McCormick, J McNaughton (0-11 7fs), Daniel McCloskey (0-1); S McGrath (0-6 4fs), C McGarry, C Hargan
Subs: R McCloskey for E Og McGarry (HT); D Patterson for R McKee (59); O McFadden for C Blair (59)
Cushendall: C McAllister; P Burke, L Gillan, M Burke; S Walsh (0-1), R McCollum, R McCambridge (0-1); F McCurry, C McClafferty; R McAteer (0-2), N McManus (4-9 1-00pen, 1-2fs, 3 65’s), F McCambridge (0-1); C McNaughton (0-2), N McCormack (0-1), J McLaughlin (0-3)
Subs: A McNaughton for F McCurry (HT); S McAfee for R McCollam (HT); E Campbell (0-1) for C McClafferty (39); E McQuillan (0-1) for F McCambridge (48); P McGill for C McNaughton (53)
Glen Rovers Armoy overcame the considerable challenge of Lamh Dhearg in this top of the table-winner takes all Casement SC Group Junior Hurling Championship meeting in Armoy on Saturday.
In the proverbial game of two halves, it was the men from Hannastown who looked on their way to victory and a direct spot in the semi-final when they led the local side 3-5 to 0-8
It was a much improved Glen Rovers in the second half however as they scored 4-4 while tightening up considerably at the back to overhaul the Lamh Dhearg lead and win by three in the end.
The early exchanges were fairly even with Turlach McBride 0-2, Eamon McCaughan and Owen Kinney on target for the men from the Glen and Aidan McGuigan, Daire Cunningham, Mick Herron and Patrick Mervyn responding at the other end to leave it 0-4 to 0-4.
The game swung dramatically in favour of the visitors however as they struck with three goals between the 15th and 24th minute to put themselves in a commanding position.
Full-forward Gerard Smyth began the onslaught at the end of the opening quarter and added a second in the 21st minute and another from Daire Cunningham put the Lamh’s in a strong position as they went on to lead 3-5 to 0-8 at the short whistle.
Six of Armoy’s first half points came from the stick of Turlach McBride with Owen Kinney and Eamon McCaughan completed their first half total but the Glen Rovers look to have it all to do in the second half.
The home side started the second half on the front foot and within four minutes they had clawed back the visitors lead with Eamon McCaughan rattling the Lamh Dhearg net after two minutes and Owen Kinney following with a second.
Trevor Linton put Glen Rovers ahead with a point from a free in the 8th minute with Declan Straney, Aidan McGuigan and Mick Herron keeping Lamh Dhearg in touch with points at the other end.
Ciaran McKenna put Armoy in a strong position when he fired home their third goal in the 13th minute and when Trevor Linton added another in the 20th minute the game had swung dramatically in favour of the home side.
Lamh Dhearg fought right to the end with Gerard Smyth, Aidan McGuigan and Finnegan adding points but late points from Eamon McCaughan, Trevor Linton and Turlach McBride sealed the win for Armoy.
Glen Rovers top the group and earn an automatic semi-final place but Lamh Dhearg will not be too despondent as they go forward to a quarter-final meeting with All Saints in a fortnight’s time.
New boys, Loughbeg Harps produced their best performance of the season but in the end came up short against a strong Loch Mor Dal gCais side who will contest the final against Kickham’s Ardoyne.
Two goals from full-forward, Brian McManus and one each from Conor McElhinney and Seanchan Duffin in a strong first half performance from Loughbeg kept them in contewntion at the break.
Loch Mor hit four of their own with Bailey Graham, Darragh Turley, Cal Burke and Declan Phillips all on target and five points from the impressive Turley saw them lead 4-9 to 4-5 at the break.
Loughbeg must have fancied their chances of picking up a first win in the competition as the second half got under way and Seanchan Duffin kept the scoreboard moving with a number of well struck frees.
However Loch Mor Dal cGais were always able to keep their noses in front with Darragh Turley continuing to fire over points, six in all to add to his first half total and Bailey Graham finished the scoring with a late goal.
Despite this defeat Loughbeg Harps will take a lot of heart from this performance and it gives them something to build on in the season ahead.
Loch Mor will now play Kickham’s Ardoyne who ran riot against Belfast Saints at Fennell Park to complete their league programme with an 8-12 to 1-12 victory.
Loch Mor Dal gCais: 1 Calthan hEireamhoin, 5 Aaron Monaghan, 3 Sean Burke, 4 James McGorrian, 6 Declan Phillips, 7 Oisin O’Boyle, 8 Cormac Dwyer, 9 Conor Jones, 10 Cal Burke, 22 Michael Morgan, 13 Ferdia Carson, 14 Bailey Graham, 12 Darragh Turley, 18 Aodhan Morgan, 19 Ben Dunlop, 17 Matthew Jones
Loughbeg Harps: 1 Francis Boyd, 2 Gerard Maybin, 3 Diarmuid Scullion, 4 Paul Quinn, 5 Adrian Heggarty, 6 Ronan Devlin, 7 Ruairi Taggart, 8 Callum McStocker, 9 Joseph O’Loughlin, 10 Sean Boyd, 11 Seanchan Duffin, 12 Gary Murray, 13 Ben McLarnon, 14 Brian McManus, 15 Conor McElhinney
Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship
Report by Terence Mulvenna
Pics by Micky Morgan
On a sun kissed Pairc Uì fhearsithe in Feystown the stage was set. The hosts, having narrowly lost their opening two games in the group were playing for a slim chance of qualifying, while their guests knew a win would secure a semi-final berth. In front of a large crowd the home team laid down a marker for what was to come. Played at a blistering pace Ben O’Boyle, Niall McGarel,and Ciàran Magill had Glenarm three up inside three minutes.
A point and a Conrad McDonnell goal on six minutes gave Emmets the lead before four unanswered points for Glenarm, McDermott, McGarel (2), O’Boyle, put a goal in it. A point and a goal from Loaf McNeill gave the lead back to the Dun, but a 90 yard free for Darren Hamill levelled the game and really lifted the home team and the large home support. The second quarter was all about the men in Blue, twelve points to Emmets five, then a McGarel major on half time gave the score 1-19, 2-07.
The second half was all about the Cushendun fightback, and they didn’t disappoint, two goals, McKeegan & Kilgore, and exchanged points with the host brought the teams level and on 60 minutes the travelling team took a one point lead, frantic play ensued, and in the 63rd minute a high delivery to the Cushendun goalmouth was collected by Sean O’Hare who then wrangled his way free to fire low to the net, securing an historic two point victory for Shanè Uì Nèill, 2-25, 4-17. Their first at this level for many a long day and something to be proud of, despite the journey coming to an end for this season.
No wonder the final whistle was greeted with great delight by the home side and supporters. Glenarm cannot now qualify while Cushendun have a “winner takes all” battle with neighbours Carey to join Randlalstown in the semis. That should be some contest at the Riggs.
