Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2

Cushendun Emmets 2-16 Creggan Kickhmas 1-15

Cushendun got the better of visitors Creggan in Wednesday evening’s crucial top of Group 2 clash in Cushendun to maintain their unbeaten run and they will travel to the Bear Pit on Sunday evening knowing that a draw would be enough to secure a semi-final spot. However a Sarsfields win by more than five points, and a Creggan victory over St Paul’s by more than six could see the Emmet’s miss out.

Cork man Contleth Ryan has been a major player for the Cushendun this year since his move to the parish at the start of the season and it was him who got them away to a good start with points inside thirty seconds and on two minutes, and when Dominic McQuillan added another on three minutes thing looked very promising.

However Creggan are quality opposition and the men from the Loughshore were soon level as Tommy McCann, Morgan Nelson and Oran McCann fired over to tie things up at three apiece on ten minutes. It was score for score for the next ten minutes as points from Harry Kilgore and Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill (2) for the home team were answered by three from Oran McCann (2) and Aidan Maguire for Creggan but two in a row from Loaf and one from Conleth Ryan helped the emmets to a one point lead at the break. (0-9 to 0-8)

The pace of the game stepped up a notch as the second half got underway and Creggan went ahead with two pointed frees by Oran McCann and one from play by his namesake Thomas to move two in front. Loaf McNeill, playing at right half forward, then hit three on the bounce, two from play and one from a sideline ‘cut’ to put Cushendun back in front, but the accurate Oran McCann sent another free over for the visitors to restore parity.

A point from Conrad McDonnell saw the home team edge back in front but Creggan retook the lead as Dairmuid Mulholland and Oran McCann split the posts with just ten minutes left for play.

These tight games are quite often decided on a break of the ball and Cushendun got that little slice of luck when a good Loaf pass found Harry Kilogre in space and his shot for goal was deflected to the net by a Creggan defender in the 51^st minute. Two more by McNeill in reply to one from McCann for Creggan left the game on a knife edge as the game entered injury time but Conleth Ryan struck a telling blow for Cushendun when he cut through from midfield and fired the ball to the Creggan net.

The Emmet’s fans didn’t get long to enjoy their club’s six point cushion as Ruiri McCann had the ball in the net at the other end of the field thirty seconds later. The fat was in the fire once again until Harry Kilgore settled it all with a late point which gave the home team a four point win.

SCORERS

Cushendun – Conlaoth McNeill 0-9; Conleth Ryan 1-2; Harry Kilgore 0-2; Conrad McDonnell, Dominc McQuillan and Calum Kilgore 0-1 apiece.

Creggan – Oran McCann 0-10; Ruairi McCann 1-0; Thomas McCann 0-2; Morgan Nelson and Dermot Mulholland 0-1 apiece.

CUSHENDUN – Gareth McGhee, Eoin McQuillan, Aidan Corbett, Jack McKay, Tom Scally, Conor McHugh, Mattew McCartin, Conleth Ryan, Calum Kilgore, Conrad McDonnell, Harry Kilgore, Conlaoth McNeill, Dominic McQuillan, Eunan McKillop, Pearse Bannon.

CREGGAN – Emmet Long, Jake McAteer, Declan McCann, Danny O’Hare, Sam Maguire, Aidan Maguire, Aidan McKeown, Tiernan McLarnon, Ruriaire McCann, Conor McCann, Morgan Nelson, Oran McCann, Tomas McCann, Keelan McCann, Dermot Mulholland (23)

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Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1

Carey Faughs 0-13 Cloney Gaels 0-16

Ten minutes into the second half of Wednesday evening crucial Group 1 game in Carey the visitors Cloney Gaels had a man sent off with a straight red card. At that stage the Faughs were leading by three points and were well placed to go on and cement a spot in the semi-finals, but incredibly the home team never scored again for the remainder of the game, despite having a host of chances, and the men from Cloney edged their way back into the game before adding three points in injury time to seal the win.

With ex county player James O’Connell in top form Cloney Gaels dominated the opening ten minutes, O’Connell hitting three points and Ronan Graham and Finbar O’Neill one each as they opened a 0-5 to 0-1 lead, the Carey point coming from their excellent corner forward Conor McBride. With McBride leading the line the Faughs fought their way back and were just two adrift at the first water break (0-3 to 0-5). The fightback continued on the restart and two more from McBride and one from Caolan McCaughan put them ahead, but three more from James O’Connell, in reply to two by McBride before the interval saw the sides deadlocked on 0-9 apiece at the short whistle.

Carey started the second half in top form and added three excellent points in just two minutes, McBride getting two of them and his fellow corner forward Conlith McKinley the other, as they moved three ahead. O’Connell and McBride exchanged points to keep the Faughs three to the good and when the Gaels had substitute Patrick Graham jnr sent off soon afterwards the smart money was on Carey to push on for the win.

However no team thrives on adversity quite like Cloney Gaels and they lifted their game and slowly but surely edged their way back into contention. Two more from man of the match O’Connell closed the gap to a single point before full forward Donal Graham brought them level. As they game went into injury time O’Connell put them in front and it was clear Carey were treading water. The men in green had a host of chances to draw level, and indeed seal the win, but a series of shots just went wide of the target, one of them kicked wide from the edge of the ‘square’ when a goal seemed certain.

Of course when you miss that many chances you are in danger of paying the price and the Ahoghill men took full advantage as Owen Neeson and James O’Connell popped over two late points to run out winners by three.

This of course is not the end of the road for the Carey men as they still have two games to play, but it makes their home game with Glenariffe this weekend virtually a knock out affair. A win against the Oisins would bring them level with the Glenariffe men, but they would need to beat them well to move above Sunday’s opponents on score difference. However a win at all would give them a chance and it would all depend on their final game with Gort na Mona, one that was postponed on the opening day because of Covid 19.

Cloney Gaels final game is at home to St Gall’s at the same time on Sunday. A win or even a draw would put the Ahoghill men in the driving seat for top spot, but a win for Chris Dornan’s side would leave the two of them level on seven points, though it would take a victory by at least eight points to see the men form Milltown overtake them on score difference.

All to play for then. That is why the Intermediate Championship is the most exciting of all.

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Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1

St Galls 3-28 Glen Rovers Armoy 1-18

Paul McIntyre reports from De LA Salle Park

St Galls kept themselves in the hunt for a place in this year’s Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship by seeing off Glen Rovers with 16 points to spare.

It was a deserving win for Chris Dornan’s side but the win came at a cost with injuries to Jackson McGreevy (groin) and Tomas O’Ciarain overshadowing the victory.

The pair are rated as major doubts for Sunday’s final round robin game away to Clooney Gaels, where a win is a must if they are to harbour any ideas of lifting this year’s title.

Overall, Dornan will be happy of how his side accounted for Glen Rovers, particularly in the first half when the game was still in the melting pot and a plucky Armoy side were giving as good as they got, but once Fergus Donnelly finished a sweeping move to the net in the 21^st minute, the visitors were left facing an uphill task.

St Galls came flying out of the traps are were three to the good in as many minutes through O’Ciarain twice and one from Sean McAreavey before Thomas Burns opened Armoy’s account.

McAreavey extended the St Galls lead on five minutes when he shot past Conor Devlin from close range after being set up by Antoin McCaffery.

That goal kicked Armoy into life and scores from Conor Christie, PJ McBride and Tarlach McBride cut the gap to two points.

The St Galls full forward line was giving their Armoy markers a torrid time and after just 14 minutes McAreavey brought his tally to 1-3 before Fergus Donnelly pointed to leave the score at the waterbreak, 1-6 to 0-6 in favour of the home side.

McBride closed the gap to two points on the resumption but McGreevy, O’Ciarain and Patrick Friel pushed St Galls lead out to five before Donnelly strike put the Milltown men well in control on 21 minutes.

Burns, Christie twice and McBride led the Armoy challenge but despite losing McGreevy, St Galls went in at the break with a nine point cushion with 1-6 of their 2-14 total coming from McAreavey.

Any ideas of an Armoy fightback were quickly dispelled as four points in the opening three minutes from Lorcan O’Ciarain, Tomas O’Ciarain twice and Marcus Donnelly helped St Galls open up a 13 point lead, 2-18 to 0-11.

Armoy were given a lifeline on 49 minutes when Burns first time shot flew past Kurtis McGreevy in the home goal, but this proved nothing more than a consolation strike.

As the light began to fade over the Bog Meadows, so did the championship intensity as St Galls began to pick off points from Joseph McDaniel, Lorcan O’Ciarain and Jack Hopkins before St Galls claimed their third goal of the evening arrived in the 54^th minute.

Fergus Donnelly stole possession from keeper Devlin on the Armoy right flank and he had the vision to pick out full forward Antoin McCaffery who drilled to ball to the corner of the net from 25 yards.

McCaffery almost grabbed himself a second major minutes later but this time Devlin was on hand to produce a stunning full stretch save to deny the St Galls target man.

As the clocked ticked towards the end of the game, St Galls substitutes Mark Napier, Connla McCarthy and Oran McIlhatton all got themselves on the scoresheet to wrap up victory number two in this years round robin as attention now turns to Sunday evenings winner takes all clash in Ahoghill.

Teams & Scorers:

St Galls: Kurtis McGreevy, Duhaltach Wilson, Joseph McDaniel (0-1), Stephen Morrison, Lorcan O’Ciarain (0-2), Aodhan Gallagher, Daniel Churchill, Jack Hopkins (0-1), Marcus Donnelly (0-1), Tómas O’Ciarain (0-7 1f), Jackson McGreevy (0-1f), Patrick Friel (0-1), Fergus Donnelly (1-1), Antoin McCaffery (1-0), Sean McAreavey (1-6).

Subs: Mark Napier for J McGreevy (25), Connla McCarthy for T O’Ciarain (38), Ryan Irvine for Churchill (49), Oran McIlhatton for F Donnelly (49), Niall ONeill for McDaniel (49).

Glen Rovers Armoy: Conor Devlin, Tiernan McCaughan, Shane Devlin, Joseph McFetridge, Calum Coyles, Joe McBride, Liam McBride, Arthur Devlin, PJ McBride (0-5 1f), Emmet O’Hara, Conor Christie (0-7 4f, 1 ‘65’), Thomas Burns (1-3), Timothy Burns, Tarlach McBride (0-5 2f), Conor Watterson.

Subs: Frank McCaughan for Timothy Burns (25), Ciaran Coyles for Calum Coyles (41), Daniel Connolly for Watterson (44), John O’Kane for T McCaughan (56).

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

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Andersonstown SC IHC Group 2

St. Brigid’s 0-14 Sarsfield’s 2-23

Sarsfield’s fired themselves back into a place in the play-offs with an excellent display of point taking when they overcame the challenge of St. Brigid’s in Cloughmills tonight. Before the game got under way a minute’s silence was held for former sarsfield’s legend, Sean McGuinness who passed away last week.

The visitors made the running right from the start and were three up after three minutes and went on to lead 1-14 to 0-8 at half time with Daniel McKernan leading the way with a masterful display of point taking.

The home side never gave up but there was no holding the South Antrim side who had scorers all over the field as they ran out winners by 15 points and now look forward to the visit of Cushendun this Sunday for a game that could decide their play-off chances.

Daniel McKernan got the visitors on their way when he pointed a free in the 2^nd minute and he added two more and another from Donal McKernan had the ‘Paddies’ 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 9^th minute with the St. Brigid’s point coming from Liam Kearns.

Kearns and Daniel McKernan exchanged further points but points from Daniel McKernan, Kevin McKernan, a massive score from 60 yards, Caillin Caldwell and another fine effort from Kevin McKernan in reply to points from Aaron Smylie and Liam Kearns for St. Brigid’s had the visitors 0-8 to 0-4 in front at the first water break.

When Eoin Dobbin fired over the opening point on the resumption of play to close the gap to three St. Brigid’s looked to be getting a foothold in the game but Sarsfield’s responded with a point from Michael Johnston and when Niall McKenna put Caillin Caldwell through for the game’s opening goal in the 21^st minute they never looked back.

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Gary Lennon and two more from the excellent Daniel McKernan in response to points from Geoffery Og Laverty, James Doherty and Liam Kearns for the home side had Sarsfield’s in a strong position going into the break when they led 1-14 to 0-8.

Sarsfield’s continued where they had left off on at the start of the second half and Daniel McKernan and Caillin Caldwell extended their lead before Aaron Smylie replied with the point of the game when he fired over from deep in his own half for the home side.

It failed to inspire his colleagues however as the visitors added points from Darragh McGuinness, Niall McKenna and Daniel McKernan with Micky Devlin and James Doherty keeping the home side’s fading chances alive with points leading into the second water break.

Substitute Michael Reid and Liam Kearns added to the home side’s total with points on the restart but when Darragh McGuinness doubled on the sliotar to send to the net from close range in the 21 minute it was as good as over.

Kearns kept the score board ticking with another ‘Biddies ‘ point and another massive effort from Aaron Smylie for St. Brigid’s put a better look on the scoreboard but as the full-time whistle sounded the question on the visitors lips was “who won the Emmet’s v Kickham’s game in Cushendun?”

As the news filtered through that Emmet’s had beaten Creggan the general consensus seemed to be that Sarsfield’s would need to win by a considerable margin on Sunday but based on tonight’s performance and with home advantage that certainly can’t be ruled out.

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St. Brigid’s: 2 Joe Smyth, 5 Martin Dobbin, 7 Aaron Smylie, 8 Liam Kearns, 9 Michael Morrison, 10 Michael Devlin, 11, Reece Watt, 13 Eoin Dobbin, 14 James Doherty, 17 Sean McKendry, 18 Rian Dobbin, 20 Timothy McNeill, 22 Corey Blair, 23 Geoffery Og Laverty,

Sarsfield’s: 1 David Ward, 2 James Cunningham, Niall McAlea, 4 Malachy Campbell, 5 Kevin McKernan, 7 Jim McKernan, 8 Gary Lennon, 9 David Johnston, 10 Niall McKenna, 11 Caillin Caldwell, 12 Daniel McKernan, 13 Donal McKernan, 14 Mark Rea, 19 Michael Johnston, 24 Darragh McGuinness

Referee: Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)

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