A Jackson McGreevey goal from a free in the dying minutes of injury time earned St Gall’s a draw in this fiercely contested Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1 opener at St Patrick’s Park Ballyvoy on Saturday.
Playing with a slight breeze in the opening half the Milltown men opened strongly and found the Carey net after just forty seconds, courtesy of Sean McGreevy.
Jackson McGreevey added two quick points as the visitors dominated the opening exchanges before Conor McBride got Carey off he mark with a point.
Back came the Milltown side and they struck another blow, when Martin Napier found his way through the home rear guard for a second goal, to give his side a seven point cushion after ten minutes.
It wasn’t looking good for the home side at this stage but they were now starting to “find their feet” and a Paddy Gillan goal and points from Con McKinley cancelled out similar scores from McGreevey frees to leave the half time score 2-6 to 1-4 in favour of the visitors.
The second half was a “carbon copy” of the first but in reverse as Paddy Gillan found the St Galls net to bring Carey right back in to this enthralling contest.
From the 31st minute it became point for point as the sides traded scores before a 42nd minute Chris Butler goal gave Carey the lead for the first time.
Tempers were becoming frayed as both sides accumulated frees which marksmen McKinley for Carey and McGreevey for the visitors punished the respective offenders.
Carey stretched their lead to three and looked to have made a remarkable turnaround until McGreevey stepped forward to fire a free to the net for a last second equaliser.
Casement SC Antrim Junior Hurling Championship, Group Two
Gort na Móna 0-13 St Brigid’s, Cloughmills 1-19
Cloughmills St Brigid’s fought their way back from six behind at half time to beat Gort na Mona convincingly at Enright Park on Saturday evening in the opening game of the Casement Social Club JHC Group 2
Playing down the slope, and with the wind at their backs, the home side had the better of things in the first half and with Declan Hughes, Patrick McCaffrey and the evergreen Desi McClean leading the way they opened up a six point lead by half time.
With the strength of the wind a major factor it was clear six was never going to be enough for the Turf Lodge men and soon after the restart the Biddies started to reduce the deficit. Three pointed frees by Eoin Dobbin showed the visitors were on the right path and they were soon back on terms when Laim Kearns, Ruairi Laverty and Mickey Devlin hit the target.
It was all one way traffic now as the Gorts struggled to get a foothold and what was a big task soon became massive as they were reduced to 13 men. Smyth and Dobbin saw the Biddies open a gap and when Liam Kearns got in for the only goal of the game there was no way back for the home side.
With everything in their favour at this stage the Cloughmills men pushed home their advantage and they were nine to the good by the time match referee John O’Connor sounded the final whistle.
GORT NA MÓNA: J Kelly Jnr; J Connolly, C Devlin, C Henry; D Dixon, P McHugh, N Gibson; N Henry (0-1), G McKenna; N Healy, P McCaffrey (0-4, 2 frees), D Boyd; D Hughes (0-1), T McCaffrey, D McClean (0-7, 4 frees)
Subs: E Loughran for D Dixon (15), M McMullan for J Connolly (24), M Carlin for N Healy (38)
CLOUGHMILLS: C McKernan; M Dobbin, S McKendry, S Martin; K O’Boyle (0-1), C Blair, J Duffin; R Laverty (0-2), J Smyth; E Dobbin (0-9, 7 frees), M Devlin (0-2), L Kearns (1-2); C Butler,O Corrigan, S Smyth (0-2).
Subs: C Laverty for O Corrigan (41), R Dobbin for J Smyth (44), M Reid (0-1) for C Butler (50), C McGuckian for S Martin (53).
Three first half goals swung this game decisively in the way of Tir na nOg as they overcame the challenge of a battling Shane O’Neill’s in Feystown on Saturday evening in the opening game of the Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Playing with the wind at their backs in the opening half the Randalstown side got their tactics spot on as they launched a high ball in on top of towering full forward Darragh Fagan but there was more than a touch of fortune about their opening goal.
Glenarm keeper Michael Abram misjudged a dropping delivery from Ciaran Logan and it ended in the net in the third minute to move the visitors 1-2 to 0-0 ahead with their points coming from Darragh Fagan and Sean Duffin.
Niall McGarel opened the Glenarm account with a point in the 5th minute but the visitors replied through a Sean Duffin free and a Ciaran Logan point from play and at this stage it was all Tir na nOg.
It took the home side a time to get up to speed but a Ben O’Boyle point and a goal from the dangerous McGarel in the 12th minute brought them to within two points of their opponents before Ciaran Logan replied again for the Whitehill side to move them three in front by the 10th minute.
Shane O’Neill’s were coming more and more into it however and Aidan Scullion struck a great long range point and Niall McGarel pointed a free to leave just one it with 12 minutes gone.
Tir na nOg responded once more as Joe McCormick, Brandon McLarnon and EamonOg McAllister struck three on the bounce with Ciaran Magill and Dylan McLaughlin keeping the home side in touch with points at the other end.
There was little between the sides at this stage but disaster struck for the Feystown side as Eamon Og McAllister pointed to edge them further ahead and then the defence got themselves in a tangle when they failed to deal with a high dropping ball into the danger area and Darragh Fagan got the final touch to steer to the net.
Dylan McLaughlin for Glenarm and Sean Duffin exchanged further points before another inviting delivery caught the home side out again and Sean Duffin finished first time to the net to leave his side 3-10 to 1-8 ahead at the break.
Duffin increased the visitors lead with a pointed free on the restart and Ciaran McKeown added another from play to move them 10 in front before Niall McGarel got the home side off the mark with a good point.
The Whitehill men were playing the more expansive hurling and finding their men easier than their opponents and Joe McCormick sent over a fine point with Aidan Scullion replying with an excellent point for Glenarm.
Both sides were giving it everything and some of the exchanges were not for the faint hearted as Sean Duffin from a ‘65’ and JoeMcCormick increased the visitors lead and another from Kevin McCann had them 10 in front after 10 minutes and at this stage well in control.
The home side were busting a gut to get themselves back into contention and Brendan McDermott struck a good point as Matthew Black replaced Declan McDermott and Sean O’Boyle came in for Sean O’Boyle in an effort to add fresh legs to the Glenarm challenge.
Their best forward, Niall McGarel pointed a free and added another from play by the 16th minute and Sean Duffin for Tir na nOg and McGarel again exchanged points from frees to leave six between the sides.
The home side needed a goal at this stage but it never really looked like coming with Ciaran O’Neill and Caoimhin Duffin dominant in a strong Randalstown defence and Ciaran Magill and Darren Hamill struck late points for the home side and Sean Duffin concluding the scoring for a strong Tir na nOg.
In the other game played in Group 1, Carey Faughs came from behind to draw with St. Gall’s in Ballyvoy and Tir na nOg entertain the Faughs at Whitehill on the 18th August while Cushendun get their first outing in the group away to St. Galls the following day.
Shane O’Neill’s: Michael Abram, Liam McLoughlin, Barry Hamill, Ronan Rodgers, Matthew Black, Declan McDermott, Aidan Scullion, Ciaran O’Boyle, Ben O’Boyle, Brendan McDermott, Darren Hamill, Dylan McLaughlin, Aidan O’Boyle, Ciaran Magill, Niall McGarel,
Subs: Matthew Black for Declan McDermott, Sean O’Boyle for Ben O’Boyle, Blain McDermott for Ronan Rodgers.
Tir na nOg: Kevin Sheerin, Brandon McLarnon, Ciaran O’Neill, Dara Martin, Conor McCamphill, Caoimhin Duffin, Daniel Martin, Aaron McNeilly, Ciaran McKeown, Sean Duffin, Ciaran Logan, Eamon Og McAllister, Joe McCormick, Darragh Fagan, Kevin McCann
Subs: Neill Shannon and Emmet Martin
Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)
Glenarm treasurer, Brendan Ward presents a sponsorship cheque to Paddy McIlwaine, who received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael before the Shane O’Neill’s v Tir na nOf Intermediate Hurling Championship opener in Feystown on Satuday.
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon
Clooney Gael’s hopes of reaching the Ulster Intermediate Hurling Final were ended this afternoon after they went down 2-21-1-15 to Liatroim Fontenoy’s in Dungannon.
Despite the Down Champions losing Cormac Lynch to a 12th minute red-card, they were far more efficient over the course of the afternoon and had too much for the Ahoghill outfit.
James O’Connell’s 19th minute strike had given Clooney a glimmer of hope after a slow-start, but Pearse Davidson’s shot was spilled to the net before the break as Liatroim held a six-point lead at the interval.
Collie Murphy’s charges kept Clooney at arm’s length, and they failed to get within four-points of them over the course of the sixty minutes with a late Jarlath McAleenan goal the icing on the cake for the Fontenoy’s – who meet Middletown in the decider in two-week’s time.
Liatroim were fast out of the traps in Dungannon with five scores on the spin, Pearse Og McCrickard took a pass from Pearse Davidson and shot over the opener.
Clooney’s James O’Connell fires home the games opening goal
An angled score from Sean Duggan followed and in between a long-range point from Tiarnan Murphy- Pearse Og McCrickard landed frees.
It took Clooney seven minutes to register their first reply when Patrick Graham was held-up on route to goal and James O’Connell stroked over the resulting free.
PJ Davidson and Robert O’Hare extended the Fontenoy’s lead but Collie Murphy’s side were reduced to 14-men with 12 minutes gone after Cormac Lynch was adjudged to have pulled a faceguard in an off the ball tussle.
O’Connell doubled his sides scoring for the afternoon from the resulting free and the Ahoghill outfit went about trying to make the most of their numerical advantage.
Liatroim stayed in the ascendancy though and three further scores from PJ McComiskey, Davidson and Ruairi McCrickard (free) had them 0-10-0-02 in front midway through the half.
Jarlath McAleenan swings away to celebrate Liatroim’s second goal
Clooney struck the opening goal of the game with 19 minutes on the clock, PJ O’Connell did the spade work and unselfishly picked out brother James to flick home and give their side a much-needed boost.
PJ then followed up with a point before scores were traded between Pearse Og McCrickard (free) and Neil O’Connell.
PJ Davidson notched up his second point of the half and just before the half time break the Down Champions stretched their lead.
Pearse Davidson dropped a high ball into the square that Francis Neeson came to gather, but he spilled it into the net and Liatroim were 1-12-1-05 to the good.
James O’Connell responded with his first point from play, though his side required a big second half if they were going to turn things around.
Liatroim started the second period on the front foot with Tiarnan Murphy shooting over from a tight angle and Conor McCrickard landing another after a one-two with PJ McComiskey.
Their lead was halved however as James O’Connell converted four successive frees in a six-minute period to bring Clooney back into contention (1-14-1-10).
Clooney’s Dan O’Neill carries the sliotar out of defence
But Liatroim landed three scores on the spin to move seven ahead with little over ten minutes remaining.
PJ McComiskey shot between the posts and both McCrickard’s were on target- Conor from play and Pearse Og converting his fourth free of the afternoon.
Clooney forced it back to a four-point game for the second time in the half with Fionnbar O’Neill dropping a high effort over and O’Connell brothers James (free) and PJ finding range.
Liatroim never really looked under any serious threat as the game ticked towards it conclusion.
Pearse Og McCrickard landed two further placed balls and in-between times Tiarnan Murphy swung over another impressive, angled shot and Conor McCrickard popped over to give their side a 1-21-1-13 lead.
Back-to-back points from PJ O’Connell and Daniel O’Neill finished Clooney’s scoring for the afternoon, but Liatroim weren’t quite done and added a second goal with the final play of proceedings.
Tiarnan Murphy picked out Jarlath McAleenan with a magnificent pass and he flicked low past Neeson to give the Fontenoy’s a 2-21-1-15 victory at the conclusion.
Clooney Gaels: F Neeson, H O’Donnell, J Magee, D Graham, F O’Neill (0-01), B Graham, D O’Neill (0-01), E Brady, N O’Connell (0-01), R Graham, T McGlone, P Graham, PJ O’Connell (0-03), D Graham, J O’Connell (1-09, 0-07f). Subs: E Graham for D Graham (41), C McDonnell for T McGlone (46), O Neeson for R Graham (50).
Liatroim Fontenoy’s: M McCartan, W McCartan, PJ McComiskey (0-02), O Duggan, R O’Hare (0-01), R McCrickard, P Davidson (1-01), PJ Davidson (0-02), C Lynch, T Murphy (0-03), R McCrickard (0-01f), S Duggan (0-01), P Og McCrickard (0-06f), J McAleenan (1-00), C McCrickard (0-04). Subs: M Leneghan for W McCartan (8), B McKey for PJ Davidson (60).
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Doire)
Collie Murphy, the former Rossa player and manager who led Liatroim Fontenoys to victory over Clooney GaelsMicky McCullough, who assisted his former Rossa Colleague at LaitroimClooney manager, Hugh Dobbin with his assistant, Shay O’Hagan before today’s game in Dungannon
Clooney Gaels have a full panel to select from going into Saturday’s Ulster Intermediate Hurling club semi-final against Liatroim Fontenoys at Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Club, Dungannon.
Manager Hugh Dobbin and his backroom team of Shay O’Hagan and Ryan Doherty attended the quarter-final between Saturday’s opponents and Castleblaney Faughs of Monaghan at Pairc Esler and Dobbin was impressed with what he saw.
The game turned into a shoot-out on a par with the one Liatroim Fontenoys had come through in the Down final against Carryduff.
In that game Pearse Og McCrickard had knocked over 19 points. Against Castleblaney his brother Conor, a Munster club football winner this time last year with St Finbarr’s of Cork, hit the first two points inside 70 seconds on the way to collecting two goals and five points. Pearse Og, with the help of eight frees, totalled 1-10.
Although the McCrickard brothers shot the first three points, the Monaghan champions were level by the 6th minute following some fine scores from Eoin Leonard, Déaglán Crowe and Rafter.
Tiarnán Murphy and Pearse Og edged Liatroim ahead before Conall McHugh took advantage of some slack defending to poach the opening goal.
That score lifted ‘Blayney and they battled away with some nice scores to go three points ahead after 22 minutes. But Liatroim hit back with four of the last five points of the half, including a lovely individual point from Conor McCrickard right on the half-time whistle that left the teams equal on 0-12 to 1-9.
The second half opened with two ‘Blayney goals and a goal and five in reply from Liatroim, all inside the first eight minutes.
Full-back Ruairí McCrickard landed a massive free from inside his own half to start the run, but he was barely back in his full-back slot when Thomas Hughes got inside and found the corner of the Liatroim net. Pearse Og shot two points from play to level the game once more only for a long range free from Rafter to go all the way to the Liatroim net in the 5th minute.
Sean Duggan and Pearse Og replied with points before Conor McCrickard found the net from 15 metres.
The teams exchanged two points each before the game-defining score arrived courtesy of an interchange between Tiarnán Murphy and Pearse Davidson that gave Pearse Og a clear run through the centre and he buried the second Liatroim goal.
Colly Murphy Mickey McCullough
Former Rossa colleagues, Collie Murphy and Micky McCullough are the men in charge at Laitroim and they bring a wealth of managerial experience to the job and have the Down champions playing out of their skins.
Murphy said after the game “For a long time, the result could have gone either way. We were pleased the way the goals came from players coming through and feeding off others. We had worked on that in training.
“It is a good result for us tonight, but it only gets us into the next game.
“We have seen Ahoghill play. They are a good side. But we are a decent side too and I think we will give them a good game.”
James O’Connell who scored 0-13 against Cushendun in the Antrim final
Ahoghill collected the Antrim title back on the 15th October when they beat Emmet’s Cushendun in an excellent final at Dunsilly. With just over ten minutes remaining, it looked like Cushendun were on their way to victory but the men from Clooney were in no mood to throw in the towel. Led by the brilliant James O’Connell, the Gaels were simply superb in the closing stages, turning a three point deficit into a four point victory.
James O’Connell top scored with 0-13 for his hours work with five points from play. A scintillating display, especially in the first half where he was simply too good for the Cushendun defence and he is likely to come in for close attention on Saturday but that is something O’Connell is used to.
Clooney Gaels are certainly not a one man team and have scoring potential throughout their team with Patrick Graham, Eoin Graham, Ronan Graham, Neil O’Connell and Fionnbar O’Neill all getting their names on the scorecard in the Antrim final.
James’ brother P.J. can be a match winner himself and is likely to dovetail into a two man full-forward line with his younger sibling with Donal Graham dropping further out the field where he is capable of picking off scores himself.
The team for Saturday is unlikely to show too many changes from the one that started that final against Cushendun back in October. Francis Neeson is an excellent keeper and in front of him James Magee and Bernard Graham anchor a solid and mobile defence where the O’Neill brothers, Dan and Fionnbar are always ready to attack from their wing-half berths.
The towering Neil O’Connell and the tenacious and pacey Eamonn Brady are a formidable mid-field combination while Thomas McGlone, Owen Neeson and Colla McDonnell are all very capable forwards if called upon.
Hugh Dobbin with his assistants, Shay O’Hagan and Ryan Doherty
When I spoke to manager, Hugh Dobbin this week he sounded relaxed and quietly confident that his side can win Saturday’s semi-final in Dungannon. Dobbin has told me this story more than once. “I was asked along to Clooney five years ago to help out with the team for a few weeks until they found a manger” he said
“The fact that I’m here five years later speaks volumes for the Ahoghgill players and all the people around the club. I can’t speak highly enough of them”
Hugh had a special word of praise for his backroom team. “ Shay O’Hagan and Ryan Doherty have put in a power of work while physio Chantelle Loughlin has done an amazing job in getting all the niggling injuries cleared up for Saturday”
Its a month since that Antrim final against Cushendun but Clooney Gaels have kept busy in the interim with challenge games against Dungannon and Slaughtneil and to date everything has been going to plan.
The ground at Eoghan Ruadh is likely to be heaving on Saturday afternoon with Clooney’s loyal support travelling in numbers to cheer on their side and if the Gaels produce anything like their best form then I believe they will advance to the final but it certainly won’t be easy against what looks like a very good Liatroim side.
Come on ye Gaels! Some of the young Clooney Gaels supporters who celebrated their side’s Antrim championship success back in October
