Andersonstown SC IHC Semi-Final

Cloney Gaels v Kickham’s Creggan

Sunday 2-00 (Randalstown)

By Paddy McIlwaine

This year’s Intermediate Hurling championship has been a real thriller to date with both groups undecided until the last round of games. In Group 1 it was Cloney Gaels who finished tops on 9 points from five starts but they had to win their final game against St. Gall’s in Cloney to ensure qualification.

Four wins and a draw from five starts however suggests that the Ahoghill men are in rude health with those victories coming against Glen Rovers, Gort na Mona, Cathaoir an Ri, and St. Gall’s with a draw against Glenariffe Oisin the only blip on their record.

It was perhaps in that draw against Glenariffe in Cloney that the Ahoghill side showed their real character however. The visitors looked to be in a strong position at half time when they led by six points.

After the break the sheer intensity of the home side slowly wore down the opposition and they drew level by the 18^th minute and looked to be taking over but Oisin came back strongly with the lead changing hands several times before Alex O’Boyle brought matters level for the final time with a pointed free for the visitors in injury time.

In the other group things were slightly more clear cut with Emmet’s Cushendun winning all four of their games to finish on eight points from four starts including a 2-16 to 1-15 win over Kickham’s in Cushendun but that was the Creggan men’s only defeat in the group stages.

As in Group 1 things were not decided until the final day and Kickham’s travelled to Shaw’s Road knowing that a victory over St. Paul’s would probably guarantee them a place in the semi-final but aware that a win for Sarsfield’s over Cushendun at the Bear Pit could leave three sides on six points each and that score difference could come into play.

Cushendun spared the mathematicians the problem of deciding who qualified when they defeated the ‘Paddies’ by five points to win the group with Creggan securing second place by that win over St. Paul’s.

Meetings between Cloney Gaels and Kickham’s have always been keenly contested and hard to call and Sunday’s semi-final meeting at Whitehill is unlikely to be any different.

Both these two South West rivals have a rich hurling history with both clubs winning Ulster Junior and Intermediate hurling titles in the past and the Kickham’s going all the way in the Junior championship to win the All Ireland in 2014.

Cloney Gaels came close to All Ireland glory seven year’s earlier before losing out to Danesfort of Kilkenny and while those results are unlikely to have any bearing on Sunday’s game they never the less show the rich vein of hurling history in both clubs.

Cloney Gaels were last year’s beaten finalists, losing out to Tir na nOg in the final at Dunsilly and are determined to go one better this year but their South West rivals Creggan will be determined to stop that happening.

The Ahoghill side are vastly experienced and most of Sunday’s lineout have seen it all before. Martin Graham has proved an excellent keeper since his switch to the number 1 jersey at the start of last season.

Stephen O’Connell, James Magee, Eamon Brady, Fionnbar O’Neill, the Graham’s, Francis Neeson and Thomas McGlone will bring their vast experience into Sunday’s semi-final but it’s up front that the Gaels have the real aces in the pack in PJ and James O’Connell, both potential match winners on their day.

Their opponents on Sunday, Kickham’s, Creggan have a number of players who are no strangers to the big occasion with Sam Maguire, Aidan Maguire, Aidan McKeown, Rory McCann, Thomas McCann, Kevin Rice and Oran McCann all excellent hurlers and like Cloney, they have their own ace in the pack in county captain Conor McCann.

Conor McCann for Creggan and James and PJ O’Connell for Cloney Gaels are likely to come in for some very close attention on Sunday and the ability of both defences to contain the oppositions danger men may go a long way to deciding the issue.

However both teams have others who could be potential match winners on the day and there might not be too much between the sides come 3-10 pm on Sunday but Cloney Gaels have shown this year that they can dig out results when the chips are down and I expect Hugh Dobbin’s side to shade a tight semi-final by a couple of points.

Andersonstown Social Club Antrim Intermediate Championship Group 1

Gort na Móna 0-7 Carey Faughs 7-29

Paul McIntyre reports from The Dub.

Carey Faughs proved too strong for a makeshift Gort na Móna on Tuesday evening to claim a semi-final berth in the years Andersonstown Social Club Antrim Intermediate Championship.

Going into the game the North Antrim side had to win by a margin of at least 25 points, if not, it would mean Glenariffe would be facing off against Cushendun in Sunday’s semi-final.

In the end they achieved that target by the half way stage as they lead 4-17 to 0-2, and despite a spirted showing from the West Belfast side, a further 3-12 in the second half ensured that the Faughs will have another day out on Sunday.

Neil Henry shot the Gorts into an early lead but a determined and focused Carey then took over and by the first waterbreak they lead 3-7 to 0-2.

Caoláon McCaughan claimed the first goal after just three minutes before Séamus Black claimed a quick fire double just before the end of the first quarter.

Carey then totally dominated the second quarter and on 29 minutes Caoláon McCaughan turned provider for Connor McBride to slam home his sides fourth goal.

Backed by a large travelling support, the Faughs were in no mood to let up and three minutes into the second half Caoláon Mac Eacháin fired to the net for his second major of the evening.

Henry and Ryan Cahill tagged on scores for Gort na Móna but a stronger and fitter Carey kept the scoreboard ticking over as they made the most of every opportunity to make sure they were well clear of the magic number of 25.

As the contest ticked towards stoppage time Connor McBride brought his tall to 3-10 for the evening with two goals in less than a minute, with the first one in particular being a little bit special.

After being first to Seamus McCouaig’s long free, the corner forward flicked the ball over his marker’s head to fire past Mark Rea in the Gorts goal.

Attention now turns to Sunday’s semi-final against Cushendun, throw-in is at 2pm.

Teams and Scorers:

Gort na Mona: Mark Rea, James Connolly, Gavin McKenna, Liam Dixon, Patrick Cournane, Padraig McHugh, Conor Healy, Sean Doyle (0-2), Neil Henry (0-3f), Ciarán McMullan (0-2), Ryan Cahill, Tiarnán Ó Cadhaigh, Reece Coleman, Declan Hughes, Conor McCann,

Subs: Niall Healy for McCann (15), Darren Boyd for Ó Cadhaigh (47).

Carey Faughs: Cathal McAuley, Daniel Hill, Sean McBride, Zach Mac Eacháin, Michael McVeigh (0-2), Peadar McVeigh, Seamus McCouaig (0-1f), Daniel McBride (0-3), Patrick Butler (0-1), Shea Hunter, Sean McBride (0-1), Caolán Mac Eacháin (2-4), Patrick Gillan (0-6), Séamus Black (2-1), Connor McBride (3-10 6f 1 ‘65’).

Referee: Mr Darren McKeown (St Galls).

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Andersonstown SC IHC Group 2

St. Paul’s0-13 Kickham’s Creggan 5-21

Joe Rice reports from Shaw’s Road

Creggan travelled to Shaw’s Road on Sunday knowing that a victory would probably guarantee them a place in the semi-final of the Andersonstown SC IHC semi-final but aware that a win for Sarsfield’s over Cushendun at the Bear Pit could leave three sides on six points each and that score difference could come into play.

In the event they need not have worried as the Emmet’s win made that scenario irrelevant but the Staffordstown Road side were determined that they would put up a big score, just in case and so they did.

Shaws Road was the venue for Sunday’s clash with St. Pauls & Kickhams Creggan.  The home side were chasing their second win of the competition while the visitors were in search of their third win.

Referee, Brendan Toland, got proceedings underway and for the first 5 minutes both sides battled frantically with neither managing to score but the home side supporters raised their collective voice when Proinsias O’Suiligh popped over a 20 metre free. 

Creggan levelled matters a minute later with Kevin Rice cutting a side line over the bar and brothers, Liam McCann and Oran McCann, put the visitors 2 in front with 9 minutes gone. Declan McGreevy pointed from play and a second free from Proinsias O’Suiligh had the sides level with 11 minutes gone.

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As we approached the first water break there was only 2 points between the sides, Keelan McCann getting the fourth score for Creggan but it was the turn of the visitors’ supporters to show their appreciation as Creggan turned the screw with Morgan Nelson getting his first point of the match. 

Oran McCann added 2 further scores in the 24^th & 25^th minute and Dermot Mulholland added to the visitor’s tally at the 27^th minute mark.  Oran McCann popped over 2 additional frees to his tally in the 30^th minute just as Conor McCann, after a positional swap, bagged the Staffordstown’s men’s first goal.  As half time approached, Rice added to his tally with a point from play with Proinsias O’Suiligh replying with a point for the home side as the half time whistle sounded just on the whistle.

HALF TIME SCORE:          ST.PAULS 0-04 v CREGGAN 1-12

As thesecond half got under way, it looked like Creggan had done enough to win the contest but in the back of their minds they knew that the score difference could make or break their chances of reaching the semi-final. 

With nothing to lose, the home side exerted early pressure on the Creggan goal with several goal mouth opportunities coming to nothing while Creggan’s net minder, Emmet long made a number of interceptions and cleared his lines.

Creggan resumed the second half as they ended the first half scoring at will with Liam McCann adding to his tally with 3 further points and a goal.  County Star, Conor McCann, added a further 3 points while Kevin Rice was on target with 0-2 of his own.

With 41 minutes gone Creggan were 17 points in front when Fionntain Gamble responded for the home side.  Declan McGreevy popped over a 65 while Marcus Munce got his first score to reduce the deficit to 14 points going into the second water break..

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As the fourth quarter under way Creggan turned the screw and  Morgan Nelson bagged 2 majors minutes apart while Aron O’Ciara & Deaglan Chapman replied with a couple of consolation scores. 

With the contest decided, both teams emptied their benches and Dermot Mulholland pointed for the visitors while Oran McCann increased his tally with 2 more points.  Stiofan O’Ruanaidh and Proinsias O’Suiligh replied for the home side with points in the 53^rd and 55^th minute but these were merely consolation scores at this stage of the game. 

Sam Maguire got Creggan’s last point of the game in injury time and Morgan Nelson scored a second goal to bring his personal tally to 2-02.  St. Paul’s kept going to the final whistle and were rewarded for their efforts with the final  2 points of the game from Marcus Munce and Caoimhan O’Muiri.

 ST. PAULS: 1 Joe Gillen, No.2 Sean Bradley, No.3 Fionntan Gamble (0.01), No.4 Aron O’Ciara (0.01), No.5 Ciaran O’Cearuill, No.6 Stiofan O’Ruanaidh (0.01), No.7 Conall O’Fionnagain, No.8 Marcus Munce (0.02), No.9 Deaglan Chapman (0.01), No.10 Anthony Gallagher, No.11 Proinsias O’Suiligh (0.04), No.12 Gerard Maguire, No.13 Declan McGreevy (0.02), No.14 Seamus O’Fearail, No.15 Michael Walsh, No.16 Caoimhin O’Muiri, No.17 Aodhan Grego, No.18 Conall Magee.

KICKHAMS CREGGAN: No.1 Emmet Long, No.2 Jake McAteer, No.3 Declan McCann, No.4 Danaan O’Hara, No.5 Sam Maguire (0.01), No.6 Aidan Maguire, No.7 Aidan McKeown, No.8 Tiernan McLarnon, No.9 Rory McCann, No.10 Conor McCann (1.02), No.11 Morgan Nelson (2.02), No.12 Oran McCann (0.09), No.13 Liam McCann (0.04), No.14 Keelan McCann (0.01), No.15 Kevin Rice (0.03), No.16 Oliver Duffin, No.17 Michael Maguire, No.18 Joe Smyth, No.19 Thomas McCann, No.20 Enda Maguire, No.21 Sean Donnelly, No.22 Sean McAuley, No.23 Dermot Mulholland (0.02), No.24 Lee Johnton, No.25 Matthew Nelson, No.26 Owen Grant.

REFEREE:                            Brendan Toland (Lamderg).

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Andersonstown SC IHC Group 1

Cloney Gaels 1-26 St. Gall’s 3-17

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

Cloney Gaels are through to the Andersonstown SC IHC semi-final following a three point win over visitors St. Gall’s in Cloney tonight. The visitors needed a win to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals and during the opening half they matched the Ahoghill side score for score.

Indeed they led by 2-3 to 1-5 after 12 minutes with their goals coming from Mark Napier and Tomas O’Ciarain and the Cloney goal scored by James O’Connell. O’Connell led the Cloney scoring charge during the opening half contributing seven points to add to his goal with the other points coming from Tomas McGlone, Ronan Graham 0-2, Donal Graham, Owen Neeson and Dan O’Neill.

The visitors matched them score for score for most of the opening half with Jackson McGreevey leading the way with 0-6 and Tomas O’Ciarain and Mark Napier getting their other two points to leave them trailing by two at half time and it looked anybody’s game at this stage.

The Milltown men made a fast start to the second half with points from Marcus Donnelly, Tomas O’Ciarain, Jackson McGreevey and Patrick Friel in the opening three minutes but the Gaels came back strongly with points of their own through James O’Connell 0-2, Ronan Graham and Owen Neeson to restore their two point lead by the 5^th minute.

The visitors cause certainly wasn’t helped when they had O’Ciaran sent off in the 10^th minute but they continued to make life difficult for the eventual winners. Mark Napier added another for St. Gall’s to close the gap to one but Cloney Gaels replied through James O’Connell 0-2, Frankie Neeson, Tomas McGlone and O’Connell again to stretch their lead to six by the 13^th minute.

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Two more St. Gall’s points from the excellent Jackson McGreevey were cancelled out by points from the equally impressive James O’Connell and Ronan Graham as the home side continued to hold the upper hand with Bernard Graham doing sterling work as the extra man.

The visitors battled manfully until the end with Jackson McGreevey leading by example and adding a further 0-3 to his total and Antoin McCaffery getting their final point but the Ahoghill side were always able to find a response and points from James O’Connell, Boris O’Connell, Tom McGlone and Ronan Graham saw them run out winners by three points to top Group 1

Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Stephen O’Connell, 3 James Magee, 4 Eamon Brady, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Daniel O’Neill, 8 Francis Neeson, 9 Neil O’Connell, 10 Owen Neeson, 11 Thomas McGlone, 12 Ronan Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Donal Graham, 15 James O’Connell, Subs: Eoin Graham for Colla McDonnell, Gewrard Graham for Donal Graham.

St. Gall’s: 1 Kurtis McGreevey, 2 Duhaltach Wilson, 3Joe McDaniel, 4 Stephen Morrison, 5 Lorcan O’Ciarain, 6 Aodhan Gallagher, 7 Niall O’Neill, 8 Jack Hopkins, 9 Marcus Donnelly, 10 Tomas O’Ciarain, 11 Jackson McGreevey, 12 Patrick Friel, 13 Mark Napier, 14 Antoin McCaffery, 15 Sean McAreavey

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

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Andersonstown SC IHC Group 1

Cathaoir an Ri 2-14 Glenariffe Oisin 1-17

Before today’s clash between Cathaoir an Ri and Glenariffe Oisin in Group 1 in Ballyvoy a win for either side would have left them fairly sure of qualification for a place in the semi-finals, depending on how other games in the group ended.

By 5-40 both sets of mentors and players were doing their sums in an attempt to work out the permutations and a possibility of four teams ending on 7 points each was a distinct possibility depending on how Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s finished in Ahoghill tonight.

An hour earlier the protagonists of this game went into action to provide a game of real championship intensity that had everything. Brilliant scores, spectacular saves and hurling of an intensity that kept the good crowd in attendance in Ballyvoy right on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

Cathaoir on Ri were first to threaten with the sliothar rebounding of the Oisin post after 30 seconds but it was visitors Glenariffe who scored first when Alex O’Boyle pointed a free in the second minute and the Oisin number 12 was to have a major influence on the final result with an exhibition of free taking right out of the top drawer.

The home side’s own free taker, Conor McBride had something to say about that and he pointed two frees by the 7^th minute to give his side the lead and when the same player got in for a goal in the 9^th minute things were going according to plan for Cathaoir an Ri.

Things began to swing in favour of Glenariffe after that and they hit five unanswered points before the first water break with four of them coming from Alex O’Boyle frees and the other from Seamus McDonnell.

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O’Boyle extended the visitors lead on the restart from another free but Conor McBride was showing similar accuracy for the Ballyvoy men and as the free count rose he bagged two of his own and a great point from Daniel McBride and another from Caolan McCaughan had the home side 1-6 to 0-8 ahead as Ray Matthews sounded his half time whistle.

As play got under way again Alex O’Boyle pointed his 7^th free and his side’s 9^th point to level matters once more and Cathal McAuley pulled off an excellent save to deny the visitors as they went looking for their opening goal.

Fiachra McVeigh replied with an excellent point at the other end to restore his side’s lead before the home side got their second goal. ‘Rocket’ Black cut in from the right wing and unleashed a fierce shot which was superbly saved by Seanan McToal. Black doubled on the rebound but again McToal was equal to the task but John McBride was in the right place to return the sliotar to the net.

Three ahead at this stage, John McBride made it four from a free in the 15^th minute and Alex O’Boyle from another free cut the gap to three at the second water break.

The exchanges were going in hard and fast as the final quarter got under way and Patrick Gillen with a good point from play and Alex O’Boyle exchanged further points on the restart but Cathaoir an Ri looked to be gaining the upper hand and JohnMcBride and Conor McBride edged them five in front with 23 minutes on the clock.

Back came the men from Waterfoot and that man O’Boyle got them on their way again when he pointed yet another free, his tenth of the game and when substitute Dan McKillop raced through for to fire to the net in the 22^nd minute the fat was back in the fire and only a point separated the sides.

Mickey Gettens followed with a point to level the contest once more and it was clear that the side who blinked first would lose this one but neither side was prepared to blink. Conor McBride and Alex O’Boyle exchanged further scores and then Seanan McToal brought off another spectacular save to deny McBride at the expense of a ‘65’.

McBride earned the loud applause of the home support when he pointed the resulting ‘65’ and looked to have won the game for the Ballyvoy side and when Alex O’Boyle finally missed one from 70 yards out it looked over for the visitors but Dan McKillop struck with the equaliser in the 32^nd minute to leave it all square at the full time whistle.

FOOT NOTE: As I was about to publish this report news has filtered through that Cloney Gaels have won their final game against St. Gall’s to top Group 1 so (According to my calculations) Cathaoir an Ri will need to win their final game away to Gort na Mona by 25 points to edge Glenariffe on score difference for second place.

Cathaoir an Ri: 1 Cathal McAuley, 2 Daniel Hill, 3 Sean McBride, 4 Zach McCaughan, 5 Michael McVeigh, 6 Peadar McVeigh, 7 Patrick Gillan, 8 Daniel McBride, 9 Patrick Butler, 10 Fiachra McVeigh, 11 John McBride, 12 Caolan McCaughan, 13 Sean McLaughlin, 14 James ‘Rocket’ Black, 15 Connor McBride. Subs: Shea Hunter for F McVeigh

Oisin: 1 Seanan McToal, 2 Michael Haughey, 3 Conor Patterson, 4 Michael McAllister, 5 Donall Kearney, 6 Shea O’Connor, 7 David Kearney, 8 Oliver Kearney, 9 Kieran McKendry, 10 Michael O’Boyle, 11 Caolan O’Connor, 12 Alex O’Boyle, 13 Seanie McIntosh, Seamus McDonnell, 15 Cathal McDonnell. Subs: 20 Dan McKillop, Aaron Cosgrove, Mickey Gettens

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

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