Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship

Cloney Gaels 3-18 Cushendun Emmet’s 1-17

A fantastic display by Cloney Gaels corner forward James O’Connell, which saw the ex-county star end with 2-11 to his name, steered his team to victory over Cushendun in Wednesday evening’s opening game in the Intermediate Hurling Championship round robin at Ahoghill.

The corner forward had been well shackled during the opening twenty minutes of the game when he was held scoreless from play, but he was always a danger and in the final ten minutes of the opening half he cut loose to score 1-3 and give his team the lead at the break. His second goal came ten minutes from the end of the game, with the outcome in the balance, before adding two more points to take the game away from the visitors and get his team off to a great start.

Cushendun will be disappointed at the outcome, but they can take heart from a good display that had them in the game up until the last ten minutes, and in David Kilgore and Conlaoith ‘Loaf’ McNeill they had two men who pushed O’Connell hard for the man of the match award. Kilgore turned in a brilliant performance, scoring seven points from play, while ‘Loaf’ was not far behind. The full forward ended with 1-6, his well taken goal from play, while two of his points from frees were superb, one of them from well inside his own 65.

The game started at a hectic pace and Cloney Gaels had two points on the board inside the first minute, the first a pointed free by O’Connell at the throw-in and the other from play by full forward Donal Graham. Cushendun hit back with a great gem of a score from David Kilgore and one from a ‘Loaf’ McNeill free, and after O’Connell put the home team back in front Loaf struck for his team’s goal on seven minutes, firing the ball past Francis Neeson after catching a great ball sent in from the corner by Harry Kilgore. Two quick points from the same players, both from play put the Emmet’s four clear and they appeared to be getting on top, but the Ahoghill men never panicked and over the next ten minutes they clawed their way back, outscoring the visitors by 4 to 1, the points coming from Ronan Graham, Donal Graham, Borris O’Connell and James O’Connell, while Harry Kilgore got the Cushendun point.

Cushendun came back and two brilliant points inside a minute from David Kilgore and one from a Loaf McNeill free which put them four clear again just seven minutes out from half time, but the rest of the half belonged to O’Connell as he finally shook off the shackles of the Emmet’s defence to fire home his first goal before adding a pointed free. Conrad McDonnell responded with a point to edge Cushendun ahead again, but two more from O’Connell in the 28^th and 30^th minutes gave the home side a one pointe lead at the break. (1-10 to 1-9)

The second half started like the first, at breakneck speed, and David Kilgore had two points on the board inside 90 seconds to put his team back in front. James O’Connell levelled from a free but a massive strike from McNeill from inside his own levelled matters again and Pearse Bannon put the visitors back ahead after being put clear by David Kilgore.

Back came Cloney with two points from play by O’Connell, one them from a tight angle on the left, but David Kilgore struck again to level the game for the fifth time. Neill Borris O’Connell got Cloney’s noses back in front but three in a row from David Kilgore, Conrad McDonnell and Loaf McNeill, just on the third quarter mark, swung the pendulum back in the Emmet’s favour.

That was as good as it got however for the Cushendun men and when James O’Connell got in behind their defence to drill a ground shot to the net there was a definite swing in the home team’s favour. Substitute Eoin Graham added a point, and though Loaf landed another massive point for the Emmet’s it was to be their last score, while O’Connell two more before a great break by Patrick Graham saw the left half forward place full forward Donal Graham for his team’s third goal.

In the last seconds of the game a Cushendun player received a bad injury following an accidental collision with an Ahoghill opponent. The player needed medical attention and an ambulance was called, which arrived inside half an hour. A word of praise for those who attended to the stricken player and I know you will all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery

CLONEY GAELS

Francis Neeson, Harry O’Donnell, James Magee, Dairmaid Graham, Finbar O’Neill, Bernard Graham, Daniel O’Nell, Eamon Brady, Neill O’Connell, Owen Neeson, Thomas McGlone, Patrick Graham, Ronan Graham, Donal Graham, James O’Connell.

Subs – Colla McDonnell and Eoin Graham

CUSHENDUN

Gareth McGhee, Sean Hamilton Aidan Corbett, Jack McKay, Tom Scally, Conor McHugh, Matthew McCartin, Oisin McMahon, Pearse Bannon, Harry Kilgore, David Kilgore, Calum Kilgore, Conlaoith McNeill, Conor Bannon.

Subs – Gavan McCormick and Dominic Sharkey

Referee – Fionntan McCotter

Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1 

Sarsfields 1-25-4-16 Oisin’s Glenariff

Kevin Herron reports from the Bear Pit 

Michael O’Boyle saved Oisins blushes at the Bear Pit on Wednesday evening after Sarsfields overturned a seven-point deficit at the break in this thrilling 1-25-4-16 draw. 

A double from David Kearney and further goals from Seamus McDonnell and Caolan O’Connor had given the visitors a 4-09-1-11 lead at the midway point. 

However, Sarsfields slowly clawed their way back into the game and levelled late-on before Kevin McKernan looked to have steered them to victory. 

It wasn’t to be though as O’Boyle salvaged a draw for Oisins with the final play to ensure that the sides would leave with the share of the spoils in an entertaining Group 1 clash. 

Oisin’s hit the front from their first attack through a Seamus McDonnell point, though Kevin McKernan executed a side-line cut between the posts in response. 

The opening goal arrived after four minutes when a high ball landed in the square and McDonnell rifled low to the Sarsfields net to give his side a 1-01-0-01 lead. 

Niall McKenna and Alex O’Boyle (free) traded scores and the duo then landed terrific efforts from range in shortly after. 

Sarsfields closed the deficit to a single point after Daniel McKernan floated an angled shot between the posts and Niall McKenna notched up his third point of the half. 

A converted Alex O’Boyle free brought his personal tally to 0-03 but his side fell behind approaching the quarter-hour mark. 

A free from Niall McKenna dropped short of the target but Ryan Carson flicked the loose ball to the net to give the Paddies a 1-05-1-04 advantage. 

McKenna extended the lead after picking up the loose ball and swinging a high effort between the posts. 

Though Oisin’s restored parity thanks to an angled effort that spun between the posts from Seamus McDonnell and a third free from Alex O’Boyle.

Sarsfields edged in front again when Kevin McKernan dropped a ball on top of Niall McKenna to float a shot accurately over the bar. 

On 18 minutes the lead changed hands again and Oisin’s would stay in control for majority of the evening. 

The visitors hit the front for the third time in the half courtesy of a low David Kearney strike that squeezed into the net to make it 2-06-1-07. 

In response Donal Moran landed a fantastic point from range, however that was brief rest bite as Glenariff found a second goal in as many minutes and their third inside of twenty minutes. 

Naoise Ó Faoláin did well to keep the initial effort from Seamus McDonnell at bay but could do nothing to prevent Caolan O’Connor sweeping the rebound home from close range to give his side a 3-06-1-08 lead. 

Points were traded in the aftermath between Niall McKenna and Alex O’Boyle before Sarsfields talisman McKenna converted his first free of the evening. 

Six-minutes before the break a fourth goal increased Glenariff’s advantage, it was a second goal of the game for David Kearney after previous goal scorer O’Connor slipped the ball through on the overlap and Kearney fizzed a low effort to the net to make it 4-07-1-10. 

Further points from Alex O’Boyle (free) and Caolan O’Connor extended the visitors increasing lead with Donal Moran producing another effort from range that dropped between the posts to ensure the Paddies ended the half with a point but were 4-09-1-11 in arrears and had work to do in order to salvage anything from proceedings. 

Back-to-back Alex O’Boyle points at the beginning of the second half extended his sides lead, the first coming from his fifth placed ball and a third score from play would follow. 

In response Niall McKenna dropped a free over the bar to get the Paddies up and running – but they were unable to make further inroads and as the respective free-takers traded further placed-balls. 

Sarsfields had clocked up three scores on the spin with McKenna taking a fine pass from Ryan Carson and guiding the ball between the posts and Kevin McKernan landing a shot over from range to reduce arrears to six (4-12-1-15). 

For the eighth time in the evening talisman O’Boyle and McKenna cancelled each-other out from frees. 

Oisins inched further clear when Donal Kearney delivered the ball up the channel and substitute Paul McDonnell floated a shot between the posts. 

Momentum was slowly shifting as the Paddies landed five scores unanswered, Niall McKenna brought his free tally to five to with another two placed balls in-between a fine Kevin McKernan effort. 

Half-time substitute Darragh McGuiness made his presence felt and Daniel McKernan squeezed a high angled effort inside the posts to make it a two-point game (4-14-1-21) with little under ten minutes remaining. 

Alex O’Boyle briefly halted the comeback, converting his eighth free of the contest- although Sarsfields soon picked up where they left off. 

Anthony McGarrigle picked out Enda McCartan on the overlap and he directed a high shot over the bar.  

The bare minimum separated the sides when Kevin McKernan sent an effort over the bar from range for his fourth point and with a minute to go the hosts tied things up. 

McKernan found the run of brother Daniel who flighted his shot between the posts to make it 1-24-4-15. 

The home side sensed victory was within the taking and they hit the front in time added on with Kevin McKernan doing enough to steer his shot over the bar. 

Oisins were now the side under pressure but continued to advance into the hosts attacking third courtesy of winning a few side-line balls. 

Eventually their opportunity to restore parity came and Michael O’Boyle seized it- landing the late pressure shot- which would prove to be the final act of the evening to secure a 1-25-4-16 draw as both sides left content with a point a piece in the end. 

Sarsfields: N Ó Faoláin, D Johnston, J Cunningham, M McCavanagh, N Ó Maoláin, E Rodgers, D Moran (0-02), E McCartan (0-01), K McKernan (0-05, 0-01f), A McGarrigle, D McKernan (0-03), R Carson (1-00), D McKernan snr, N McKenna (0-13, 0-05f), C McKernan. Subs: B Jackson for N Ó Faoláin (HT), D McGuinness (0-01) for D McKernan snr (HT), M Johnston for M McCavanagh (HT). 

Oisins: P McMullan, M Haughey, N Murray, Daniel Kearney, Donal Kearney, CR Patterson, M Gettens, O Kearney, S McIntosh, A O’Boyle (0-11, 0-08f), D Kearney (2-00), O Gillan, M O’Boyle (0-01), S McDonnell (1-02), C O’Connor (1-01). Subs: P McDonnell (0-01) for O Gillan (40), D McKillop for S McIntosh (49), A Cosgrove for O Kearney (55). 

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)

Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship

The Intermediate Hurling Championship gets underway this evening (Wednesday August 3^rd) with four games down for decision. Always the most competitive of all the championships, with up to half a dozen teams genuine contenders for the title, tonight’s games fall into that category.

GROUP 1

Con Magees v St Gall’s @ Fr Maginn Park

Probably the most clear-cut is the meeting of last year’s Junior champions Con Magees and St Gall’s at Fr Maginn Park in Group 1. It is a big step up from Junior to Intermediate and the Glenravel men will find the going tough. However ‘Tub’ McKernan and Henry Duffin have been working hard with the side over the past couple of months and they will be looking forward to testing themselves against a team in a higher division.  Chris Dornan has been making steady progress with St Gall’s this season but a third placed finish in the bottom section of the division was not a good showing. Glenravel didn’t set the world alight in the league either finishing in the bottom half of Division after the split.

Any betting man would have to go for the men from the Bog Meadows and they have to get the vote. Home advantage will be a boost to for Glenravel but St Gall’s still start favourites.  

Sarsfrields v Oisins @ the Bear Pit

The other game in Group 1 is much harder to call as Sarsfields host the Oisins. When they met in the league a couple of months ago Sarsfields recovered from a bad start to win by 1-21 to 2-14, the game changing dramatically after Oisins had a man sent off. Sarsfields put together a good run at the end of the league, winning their last three games, while it was the opposite for Glenariffe who lost their last three, a couple of them quite heavily.

However the Oisins are getting back to somewhere near full strength after a bad run of injuries and will be in much better shape tonight. They also don’t have the dual club worries that Sarsfields have. The Paddies are competing in both codes and a win over Dunloy on Saturday’s IFC was a great start for them.

This really is a hard one to call. Glenariffe will have to show a marked improvement on recent displays, but with most of their big guns back in action the might just do it, but Im going to opt for a draw.

GROUP 2

Cloney Gael’s v Cushendun Emmet’s @ Cloney

Cushendun Emmet’s, who played their hurling in Division 1 this season, start IHC campaign with a trip to Ahoghill to take on Division 2 runners-up Cloney Gaels and to be honest that is as tough a task as you could ask for. The Emmet’s did not win a game in the top division this year, though they put in impressive displays against Ballygalget, Ballycastle and St Enda’s. Going all this time without a win cannot be good for confidence, but they know they can compete much better at this leve. With PJ and James O’Connell leading the line up front for the Cloney men they have put together some top class displays in recent weeks, accounting for Bredagh and Tir na nOg with relative ease. However they suffer more than most from being a dual club, with most of the players fielding in both codes, and their defeat to Moneyglass on Sunday evening may have taken a toll.

Cushendun will be itching to get back to winning ways but with centre back Donal O’Hara missing tonight they could find the going tough.    

St Paul’s v Tir na nOg @ Pairc Pól

St Paul’s open their campaign with a home game against Tir na nÓg at Shaw’s Road. It has been a bit of a struggle for the Belfast side this season, finishing second bottom of the table, and while the Randalstown men have’s set the world alight either, they did manage to stay in the top half at the cut off.

Tir na nÓg won the game between the two sides in the league, and will probably start slight favourites but there won’t be much in it either way.  

Ulster Club IHC Quarter Final

Eire Og, Carrickmore 4-9 Carey Faughs 1-13

Brendan McTaggart reports from McQuillan Park, Ballycastle

Carey’s Ulster campaign ended at the first hurdle in Ballycastle on Sunday when they were beaten by Tyrone champions Carrickmore in the quarter final of the Ulster Intermediate Championship. Coached by former Ballycastle and Antrim star Cormac Donnelly the Tyrone champions were sharper from the start and their ability to get goals at vital times gave them the edge. Carey trailed by eight at half time, but a goal in the first minute of the second half breathed new life into their challenge. They edged their way back into the game but with the gap pared back to a goal they had a player sent off which proved a real game changer. With an extra man Carrickmore used the ball very cleverly and soon regained the upper hand and edged clear again to record a six point win.

Speaking after the game joint manager Cormac Donnelly said he had watched Carey a few times during their Antrim Championship campaign. He felt their strength was their ability to start well in their games and said they were determined not to let them do it this time around. The Tyrone men did just that and the early goals gave them an edge they would not relinquish.

In a nip and tuck opening quarter, Carrickmore took control of the game with two goals in the space of barely two minutes with Ruairi Slane and Cormac Murray finding the back of the Faughs net.  It came in the middle of a wonderful purple patch for Eire Og as they held Carey Faughs scoreless for 12 minutes while opening a seven point lead themselves.

Their third major came as the clock went into first half stoppage time with referee Tarlach Conway awarding the Carrickmore men a penalty for an infringement on Bryan McGurk.  Dermot Begley stepped up and while Carey ‘keeper Doug McAuley got his hurl to Begley’s effort, the sliotar deflected into the back of the net.

Despite having opened an eight point lead by the half time whistle and full value for that lead, Eire Og were pushed onto the back foot right from the restart.  The Antrim champions bagging a major with barely 10 seconds of the second half gone.  Shea Hunter sending the ball to the edge of the square and James Black pouncing on the loose sliotar to reignite Carey’s Ulster challenge.

The Antrim men had the wind at their sails and began to turn the screw, upping their intensity and not giving the Carrickmore men the space they allowed them in the first half.  They had the sliotar in the back of the net with just five points between the sides but Caolan McCaughan was judged to be inside the square with the Derry official calling a square ball.

A point from Slane was all Eire Og could manage before Begley took his tally to 1-2 for the game with his second free but things changed just before the second half water-break with the game in the balance.  John McBride seeing red and Carrickmore controlled the contest in the time that remained. 

Carey pushed and played with the same intensity and vigour but Eire Og’s better use of the sliotar and ability to find a man in space shone in the closing stages to seal a five point victory and their maiden win over the Antrim champions at provincial level.  They now have a date with the winners of Lisbellaw and Newry Shamrock’s in the semi final.

The Scorers

Carey Faughs

Connor McBride 0-8 (5f’s); James Black 1-1; Conlith McKinley 0-2; James McCouaig (1f); Caolan McCaughan 0-1

Carrickmore

Dermot Begley 1-2 (1-00 pen, 2 f’s); Ruairi Slane 1-1; Sean Og Grogan 1-1; Justin Kelly 0-3; Cormac Murray 1-00; Anthony Crossan 0-1; Conor Grogan 0-1

The Teams

Carey Faughs

Cahal McAuley, Daniel Hill, Sean McBride, Eoin Hill; Michael McVeigh, Peadar McVeigh, James McCouaig, Daniel McBride, Patrick Butler, Shea Hunter, John McBride, Caolan McCaughan, Patrick Gillan, James Black, Connor McBride

Subs: Conlith McKinley for D McBride (HT) Daniel McKinley for E Hill (49), Patrick McBride for P Butler (60)

Carrickmore

Conor McElhatton, Jarlath Kerr, Sean Pol Begley, Lochrainn O’Donnaille, Dean Rafferty, Dermot Begley, Anthony Crossan, Ruairi Slane, Justin Kelly, Darragh Grogan, Tony Hughes, Conor Grogan, John McGurk, Sean Og Grogan, Bryan McGurk

Subs: Cormac Murray for J McGurk (14); John McGurk for D Grogan (45); Oran McKee for A Crossan (49); Oisin Daly for T Hughes (57)

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)

Ulster Intermediate Hurling Club Championship quarter-final

Cathaoir an Ri (Antrim) v Eire Og An Charraig Mhor (Tyrone)

Ballycastle 1-30pm Sunday

Referee: Tarlach Conway

Cathaoir an Ri, the Antrim Intermediate champions, dip their toes into the waters of Ulster for the first time when they take on serial Ulster participants, Eire Og An Charraig Mhor in Ballycastle this Sunday.

The Faughs put a 19 year wait behind them when they defeated Kickham’s Creggan in this year’s Andersonstown SC final at Dunsilly and make a step into the unknown when they face the men from Carrickmore who collected the Tyrone title for the 23d time when they beat Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon in this year’s final.

The Ballyvoy side were excellent in this year’s Intermediate championship and certainly forced people to sit up and take notice when they beat a fancied Emmet’s Cushendun by 11 points in the Antrim semi-final in Armoy.

Their opponent in the final, Kickham’s Creggan had impressed in their semi-final marathon against Cloney Gaels which took extra time to decide with the Kickham’s finishing strongly to win by six points and they would have been regarded as favourites in some quarters going into the final against the Carey men.

The Faughs hadn’t won an Antrim IHC since 2002 when they beat Loughgiel seconds and carried an unenviable record of defeats in the 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 deciders but they put all that behind them this year to produce a strong and polished performance to beat Creggan and get that monkey of their back.

In a tough, uncompromising encounter the Ballyvoy side got off to a great start when Daniel McBride rattled the Creggan net in the second minute after being set up by John McBride.

Caolan McCaughan added a point before Sam Maguire replied with a point from distance for the Kickham’s and a pointed free from Oran McCann left just two between the sides with 8 minutes gone.

The North Antrim side were showing greater hunger and desire however as they hit the next three points on the bounce with Conor McBride (f), Shea Hunter and James ‘Rocket’ Black on target to move them five in front with 13 minutes on the clock.

Carey finished the half superbly as the excellent Conor McBride pointed from play before firing low to the Creggan net to leave his side 2-8 to 0-8 ahead at the break and fully deserving of that lead.

Creggan kept battling to the end but a couple of points from the excellent Conor McBride in reply to one from Oran McCann kept the Ballyvoy men in pole position and there would be no way back for the Kickham’s.

McBride from a free and another from play and a superb effort from James ‘Rocket’ Black saw Cathaoir an Ri move seven clear with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Cathaoir an Ri played with a hunger and intensity that their opponents quite simply couldn’t match. They won the majority of dirty ball over the hour with their defence giving nothing away. Cathal McAuley in goals, Sean McBride, Peadar McVeigh and James McCouaig were best in a rock solid attack who afforded their opponents little time or space.

Daniel McBride and Patrick Butler were on top at mid-field with McBride picking up an early yellow card and being called ashore as a precautionary measure late in the game while their full-forward line of Conor McBride, James ‘Rocket’ Black and Patrick Gillan gave the opposition defence a torrid time

Sunday’s opponents – Eire Og Carrickmore

Carrickmore Eire Óg retained the Tyrone Senior Hurling Championship title thanks to a deserved 0-16 to 0-9 success over Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh.

There was little between the sides throughout the first-half with Cain Ferguson and Dermot Begley among the points for their respective sides before efforts from Sean Óg Grogan and Cormac Munroe helped the winners establish a 0-7 to 0-5 interval advantage.

A Begley brace extended Carrickmore’s lead on the restart before Ferguson and Brannon Molloy responded for Dungannon. Eire Óg finished strongly with points from Ruairi Slane, John McGurk, Brian McGurk and Dean Rafferty to lift the Benburb Cup.

Their opponents in that final and indeed in the majority of Tyrone finals over the years were Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh who have competed in the Antrim leagues for quite a number of years and have proved difficult opponents.

Carey hold their fate in their own hands however and if Catahal McAuley, SeanMcBride, Peadar McVeigh, James McCouaig, Patrick Butler, Patrick Gillan, Caolan McCaughan, James Black and the superb Conor McBride can reproduce the form they have shown throughout this year, then they should be in with a very good chance. The weather forecast for the weekend is giving strong winds and rain on Saturday, but things look more settled for Sunday which is good news for both teams.