Category / Intermediate Hurling Championship

by thesaffrongael

Rooney rocket keeps St. Paul’s championship hopes alive

Andersonstown Antrim IHC, Group 2

Sarsfield’s 1-19 St Paul’s 3-14

A Stephen Rooney rocket in the dying second snatched victory for St. Paul’s over Sarsfields at the Bear Pit on Wednesday night and throws Group 2 of the Andersonstown IHC wide open.

Niall McKenna looked to have sealed it for Sarsfield’s when he fired to the visitors net with five minutes of normal time remaining to put seven between the sides but St. Pauls came back strongly to snatch it at the death and they now join Con Magee’s, Sarsfield’s and Creggan on 2 points but the Shaw’s Road side have played a game more and have an inferior score difference.

 Niall McKenna had led the way for the ‘Paddies while Daniel McKernan was also prominent for a Sarsfield’s side who looked to be heading for a top spot in the group with Oisin Glenariffe before Rooney put a spanner in the works.

St Paul’s were first to score as Mark Munce split the posts just 35 seconds in, but two in reply from Oisin Coleman gave the hosts the lead for the first time.

Conall Finnegan came back for the visitors to tie the contest for the second time and then a good move involving Stephen Rooney and Thomas Duff placed Lorcan Phillips who drilled his shot low to the net from a difficult angle.

Sarsfields looked shocked but with Niall McKenna leading the way they came back strongly with four on the bounce to draw level but again St. Paul’s found a response.

Daire Stevenson split the posts and Caolan Crossan added two more, one from play, to move the Hoops 1-6 to 0-6 ahead after 18 minutes but the visitors would not score again until injury time in the first half.

It was Sarsfield’s who finished the half strongly with seven unanswered points with McKenna leading the way and Ryan O’Neill, Gary Lennon and Coleman all to the fore.

Points from Marcus Munce and Caolan Crossan in time added on kept St. Paul’s in touch at the short whistle where they trailed by two but were very much back in contention.

The home side looked once again to be asserting control of the contest when they hit the first four scores of the second half but St. Paul’s came back once more as Marcus Munce, Daire Stevenson and Caolan Crossan replied at the other end.

Sarsfields hadn’t raised a flag for 12 minutes but Donal McKernan got them going again with a point at the other end and when county man, Niall McKenna drilled the sliotar to the net to put his side seven ahead with five remaining it looked all over.

St. Paul’s had displayed a never say die attitude throughout the contest and they picked themselves off the floor once more and Daire Stevenson finished a dropping free from Caolan Crossan to the net.

St. Paul’s were now on top as Thomas Duff pointed and Caolan Crossan added two more to leave just one in it as the tension grew before McKenna replied from a free to put two between the sides.

A Niall McKenna free in reply seemed enough to see Sarsfield’s through but there was still time for that late drama as St Paul’s won a free some 20 meters from goal.

Up stepped Rooney to drill his shot through a crowded goalmouth to snatch it for the visitors and hand his side a championship lifeline with one game remaining.

In the other game in Group 2 played Glenariffe defeated |Glenravel 3-20 to 0-15 while in Group One, there was a 2-19 to 2-12 win for Cushendun over Tír na nÓg and Carey defeated Glenarm 3-25 to 4-11.

Sarsfield’s: G McKernan; B McGibbon, J Daniels, M McCavanagh; J Cunningham, C McKernan, E McCartan; K McKernan (0-1 free), Daniel McKernan; D Smyth, N McKenna (1-11, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), R O’Neill (0-1); Donal McKernan (0-1), G Lennon (0-2), O Coleman (0-3).

Subs: R McAreavey for R O’Neill (42), D Coleman for B McGibbon (47), A McGarrigle for O Coleman (56), R McKenna for J Cunningham (56)

St. Paul’s: C Murray; C Gallagher, F Sewell, T Auld; T Duff (0-1), S Rooney (1-0 free), L Walsh; M Munce (0-3), C Finnegan (0-2); D Stevenson (1-2), C Crossan (0-6, 4 frees), D Chapman; S Munce, L Phillips (1-0), B Burns.

Subs: C Duffy for C Gallagher (HT), A Carey for C Finnegan (42), D McGreevy for B Burns (59)

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)

by thesaffrongael

Carey get a late scare on the way to their first win

Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 1

Carey Faughs 3-25 Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm 4-17

Carey Faughs survived a late wobble to win their first game of the campaign when they hosted Glenarm in Wednesday evening’s Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 3 match in Ballyvoy.

Playing their best hurling in years the Faughs led by eight at half time and came flying out of the traps at the start of the second half to stretch that lead to seventeen after 42 minutes, hitting a series of wonder scores on the way. Glenarm staged a mini revival with a goal and three points, but the Faughs came again with four quick points in a row to lead by 15 with five minutes of normal time left on the clock.

Everything was done and dusted, or so it appeared, but nobody told the Glenarm men who produced a stunning final rally that produced three goals and a point to leave just five between the sides at the end.

Glenarm started the game with two quick points from Niall McGarel, but Conor McBride and Shea Hunter had the Faughs level by the fourth minute. It was point for point during the next seven minute until Conor McBride got Carey’s opening goal and when Josh Mullan got a second the Faughs started to open a gap, and they pushed on to lead by 2-13 to 0-11 at half time.

With Conor McBride and James ‘Rocket’ Black in fantastic form the home side turned on the style in the third quarter as they hit 1-7 to just a single reply for Glenarm, the Faughs goal coming from a long delivery from Shea Hunter which deceived Michael Abram in the Glenarm goal and somehow ended in the net. The gap was now seventeen points and you feared his could be an annihilation, but Glenarm dug deep and points from Benny McDermott and Niall McGarel (2) were followed by a goal from Blain McDermott.

Their good work appeared to have been wasted at hit Carey came back with four in a row, two from Sean McLoughlin and one each from Conor McBride and Rocket to lead by 15 with just five minutes to play. However Glenarm had bit of fight left in them still and in an extraordinary rally they battled back again as Shane Magill, Dylan McLaughlin and Benny McDermott fired in goals, while Blain McDermott added a points to leave just five between them in the end. Once again the Intermediate Hurling Championship has proved to be the pick of all the championships. Last years’ Junior Champions Glenram cannot make the knock-out stages, but they have acquitted themselves well. They have one game still left to play when they host group leaders Cushendun in Feystown on Saturday evening and Carey will be hoping they can do them a big favour by getting a result there.

Carey are still needing others to do them a favour if they are to make it through but if Cushendun beat Glenarm on Saturday and Tir na nOg beat St Gall’s then their race will over before their last game of the campaign in Cushendun in two weeks’ time.

by thesaffrongael

Emmet’s take a step nearer the semi-finals

Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 1

CUSHENDUN EMMET’S 2-19 RANDALSTOWN TIR-na-nOG 2-12

PRICELESS PREDATOR Conor McHugh crashed home two sensational goals to lift the Emmet’s closer to qualifying for the Intermediate hurling championship semi-finals. It was tough going for the Antrim Coast side who didn’t shake off tenacious Tir-na-nOg players until McHugh’s half volley past netminder Kevin Sheerin four minutes from time.

Substitute Conrad McDonnell unselfishly steered a fabulous chest-high cross from the right wing into McHugh’s path.

Conor, better known as ‘Smiley’ shortened the caman – and flashed that rocket shot to the net.

Pearse Bannon followed with a point, to secure a seven points cushion.

The drama was not quite over as Joe McCormick, the visitor’s nippy corner forward fizzed a volley past Gareth McGhee to set up a stirring finish – but the clock was almost up for the home side.

Hopes of an upset were severely dented in the 45th minute when full back Stephen Carey received his marching orders for a high tackle on McHugh – who was homing in on goal.

Referee Mark O’Neill of Armoy, had no option other than show Carey the line. To compound the Randalstown blow they contrived to miss good scoring chances from turnovers.

Mercurial McHugh seemed to be involved in all the major happenings, even though lining out at full forward.

He was all over the show, and often shoring up his own defence. Right at the death Conor was perfectly position to cut out a last gasp Randalstown raid.

During the first session both outfits missed many chances, Cushendun’s radar being a fraction off eight times in the opening quarter before going in at the break with a four-point advantage, 0-12 to 0-8, three excellent points from play each coming off the stylish stickwork of David and Harry Kilgore and Fintan McQuillan. Randalstown positioned themselves well,finding plenty of space between midfield and the opposition’s halfback line.

Outstanding again for Tir-na-nOg was winger Sean Duffin who bagged eight points (seven frees). Also positive was centre forward Ciaran Logan, who plundered three points – while their first goal rattled the host side in the 12th minute of the second half – a gem by Eamonn Og McAllister.

Incidentally this ignited a fabulous reply by McHugh, seconds later. Picking up a pin-point pass from the irrepressible ‘Loaf’ McNeill, who scored six points -five from frees – the pace and finish of former county player McHugh gave goalie Sheerin no chance.

Also on the mark to keep the Emmet’s ticking over during the early sparring were Fintan McQuillan, with four points and Harry and David Kilgore with three minor each.

Cushendun, with two wins share top of Group One on four points with Randalstown.

EMMET’S: Gareth McGhee; Jack McKay (c), Aidan Corbett, Sean Hamilton; Callum Kilgore, Donal O’Hara, Sean McKay; Pearse Bannon and Conor Bannon; Harry Kilgore, Fintan McQuillan, Conlaoith McNeill; Dominic McQuillan, Conor McHugh, David Kilgore.

Subs: T Scally for S McKay, Conrad McDonnell for Dominic McQuillan, T Scally for Corbett, A McSparran for Conor Bannon. James Morgan for Fintan McQuillan.

Scorers: C McHugh (2-0), C McNeill( (0-6), F McQuillan (0-4), H Kilgore (0-3), D Kilgore (0-3), D McQuillan C Bannon, P Bannon (0-1 each)

TIR NA nÓG:

Kevin Sheerin, Brandon McLarnon, Stephen Carey, Dara Martin: Conor McCamphill, Caoimhan Duffin, Daniel Martin:

Aaron McNeilly and Ciaran O’Neill; Sean Duffin, Ciaran Logan, Eamon Og McAllister: Joe McCormick, Darragh Fagan, Kevin McCann.

Subs – Oliver McAtamney for Fagan,

Scorers: S Duffin (0-8), C Logan 0-3), E McAllister, J McCormick (1-0 each), K McCann (0-1).

Referee-Mark O’Neill (Armoy).

by thesaffrongael

Gallagher’s late double seals St Teresa’s win

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship

Naomh Padraig Lisburn 1-9 St Teresa’s 1-15

Two goals inside a minute from substitute Robert Gallagher late in the game, booked St Teresa’s place in the knock out stages of the Intermediate Football Championship at Kirkwood Park, Lisburn on Sunday. With just there minutes of normal time left to play St Teresa’s were holding onto a one point lead, but a great diagonal ball to John Mallon found the right half forward in space and he in turn sent Gallagher in on goal and the substitute made no mistake as he fired home past the Lisburn keeper to put his side four up. Lisburn were in deep trouble and in their anxiety to get back in the game the kick out was rushed and St Teresa’s intercepted to find Gallagher in behind the defence on his own again, and he gratefully accepted the gift to drill the ball home once again and seal the win. Naomh Padraig substitute Conor Dixon pulled a couple back to cut the gap to five in injury time but the damage had been done and St Teresa’s had secured their place in the knock out stages.

St Teresa’s had the better of things in the opening half and Niall McCann put them ahead on two minutes. Colm Burns brought the home side level a minute later but points from Luke Cassin, Conor O’Rawe, John Erskine and John Mallon had the visitors 0-5 to 0-1 clear by the 13th minute. A point from Francis McMeel kept the home side in touch, but when John Mallon and Philly Maguire tagged on two more for the Glen Road side the gap was out the five. (0-7 to 0-2).

The Lisburn men were in danger of losing touch, but they finished the half really well and three points on the trot from McMeel, Isin Gorman and Ben McMullan left just two between the team. Paul McGoldrick got it out to three when he pointed on 23 minutes and after McMeel brought the home side back within two Niall McCann came back with one from a free to his team a three point cushion in first half injury time.

Lisburn would probably have been happy enough with that considering how they had trailed badly for most of the first half but things got a lot better for them in the 34th minute when Eoin Dixon broke through on goals, and though his shot was parried by the St Teresa’s goalkeeper, right half back Oisin Gorman was on hand to palm the breaking ball to the net to send his team in at the break on level terms.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with St Teresa’s pushing ahead, with Lisburn reeling them in again. John Mallon (2) and Philly Maguire added points for the Belfast men, while Francis McMeel and Conor Dixon replied for Naomh Padraig. There was just a point in it when substitute Robert Gallagher struck his telling double and though the home side got a couple back for Conor Dixon, the damage had been done and St Teresa’s will now prepare for a semi-final

Pic by Martin Brunty
by thesaffrongael

Blistering start gives Emmet’s the edge

Andersonstown SC Antrim IHC – Group 1

St Galls 0-17 Cushendun 2-14

Paul McIntyre reports from De La Salle Park.

Blistering starts to the beginning of each half helped Cushendun to a three-point win over St Galls at Milltown on Saturday evening.

Of their final total of 2-13, 2-9 was registered in the opening ten minutes of each half as the Robert Emmets got their campaign off to the best possible start.

Dominic McQuillan and Harry Kilgore both found the back of the St Galls net while Fiontan McQuillan finished with 0-7 from placed balls.

The visitors also had goalkeeper Gareth McGhee to thank for their victory. Twice McGhee denied Jackson McGreevy as the home side went chasing victory.

McGhee was forced into a stunning full stretch save in the 26th minute when it looked like McGreevy’s effort was destined for the top corner. Cushendun then had McGhee to thank again deep into second half injury time when he got down quickly to his left to keep out a low drive from a McGreevy free.

It was a save that denied St Galls a deserved share of the spoils and they are still chasing their first championship win after two outings.

Cushendun showed no ill-effects from their long journey to Belfast and after 6 minutes they found themselves three to the good as two frees from Fiontan McQuillan and an effort from play from Calum Kilgore saw the Emmets take an early stranglehold of the game.

Jackson McGreevy opened St Galls account in the 7th minute but Cushendun replied instantly when Dominic McQuillan nipped in behind the home defence to rifle a powerful shot past Kurtis McGreevy in the home goal.

When Pierce Bannon scored in the 11th minute, it looked like Cushendun were going to cruise to victory as they led 1-5 to 0-1, but inspired by Jackson McGreevy, St Galls came roaring back into the tie.

Five unanswered points from the St Galls target man, including a sublime sideline puck, cut the arrears to just one before David Kilgore knocked over Cushendun’s first point in 9 minutes with half time fast approaching.

But McGreevy continued to carry the fight and either side of McGee’s stunning save, the St Galls talisman converted a free and 65 to send the teams in level at the break, with the scoreboard at the short whistle reading St Galls 0-10 Cushendun 1-7.

Cushendun wasted no time in restoring their two-point advantage as efforts from McGhee and Conor McHugh edged the visitors back in front.

Again, it was Jackson McGreevy who responded for St Galls but almost instantly Cushendun took further control of the contest.

Pierce Bannon ran through the heart of the St Galls defence and he picked out Harry Kilgore who had the time and space to pick his spot and claim the visitors second goal of the day.

Cushendun were enjoying a bit of a purple patch and Kilgore, McHugh and two frees from Fiontan McQuillan helped the Robert Emmet’s to a six-point advantage with less than ten minutes left on the clock.

But just like in the first half, St Galls came roaring back.

Jackson McGreevy’s 12th point of the game was followed by efforts from Mark Napier, Cormac Sheehan and Dubhaltach Mac Liam to set up a Grandstand finish and the gap was now only two-points.

Fiontan McQuillan’s free in the 3rd minute of additional time gave the visitors a little bit of breathing space, but there was still time for one more attack from St Galls. And from Jackson McGreevy’s low free, they nearly rescued a deserving point, but McGhee’s sharp reactions denied the St Galls sharpshooter a match saving goal, and ensured that Cushendun return back to the north coast with the victory points.

Teams & Scorers:

St Galls: Kurtis McGreevy, Daniel Churchill, Connlá McCarthy, Ewan Rush, Gairech Mac Adhaimh, Ryan Irvine, Jeff Frampton, Dubhaltach Mac Laim (0-1), Jack Hopkins, Fergus Donnelly, Ciaran McCaffrey, Patrick Friel, Niall O’Neill, Jackson McGreevy (0-12 5f, 2 ‘65’, 1 Sideline, Mark Napier (0-3).

Replacements: Cormac Sheehan (0-1) for McCaffrey (40), Sean McAreavey for O’Neill (43), Leo Morgan for Friel (47), Gregory McGreevy for Churchill (51).

Blood Sub: McCraffrey for Mac Liam (57 – 59).

Cushendun:

Gareth McGhee (0-1f), Jack McKay, Aidan Corbett, Sean Hamilton, Calum Kilgore (0-1), Daniel O’Hara, Thomas Scally, Conor Bannon, Pierce Bannon, (0-1), Harry Kilgore (1-0), Fiontan McQuillan (0-7f), James Morgan, Dominic McQuillan (1-0), Conor McHugh (0-2), David Kilgore (0-2).

Replacement: Conrad McDonnell for Morgan (45).

Referee: Mr Ray Matthews (Rossa).