Andersonstown SC IHC Fixtures & Previews

It’s not quite knockout time in the Andersonstown SC IHC yet but it’s starting to feel like it. In Group 1 in particular the margin for error is minute following last Sunday’s round of games with three and possibly four teams still in the shakeup with two games remaining. Cloney Gaels top the group on 5 points, followed by Glenariffe Oisin and Cathaoir an Ri on 4 but the Ballyvoy side have played a game less and Wednesday night’s clash at St. Patrick’s Park should make things a little clearer but will not decide qualification.

Group 1 all games Wednesday 6-45pm,

Cathaoir an Ri v Cloney Gaels

Cloney Gaels staged a great comeback on Sunday to earn a draw against Glenariffe Oisin in Ahoghill. Trailing by 7 at the break, the Gaels stepped it up after the break with the free taking of James O’Connell an important part of that comeback. Cathaoir an Ri had their game against Gort na Mona on day 1 postponed because of Covid issues in the West Belfast camp but have slipped in under the radar with wins over St. Gall’s on day 2 and Armoy on Sunday past.

A win here would put them in pole position and would certainly damage the Ahoghill men’s chances of a top 2 place and I would expect this one to be very keenly contested and could go either way but the greater need of the Ahoghill side may see them edge it though another draw certainly can’t be ruled out.

Glenariffe Oisin v Gort na Mona

Glenariffe Oisin have been involved in two draws to date against St. Gall’s at home and Cloney Gaels away and they realistically need to win this one to keep themselves in the play-off frame. Gort na Mona have lost to both St. Gall’s and Cloney Gaels in their two fixtures to date and would need a step up in performance if they are to get anything from the journey to Waterfoot with Alex O’Boyle and Co. the likely winners

Naomh Gall v Glen Rovers

Home advantage should be enough to edge this one in favour of a Naomh Gall side who will have one eye on fixtures elsewhere as they harbour hopes of gate crashing a play-off place and a win over the Armoy side would move them onto five points and set them up nicely for a visit to Cloney Gaels on day four should the Ahoghill side lose in Ballyvoy.

Pos	Team	P	W	L	D	F	A	Diff	PT
1	Ghaeil Chluanaidh	3	2	0	1	88	57	31	5
2	Glenariffe Oisin CLG	3	1	0	2	73	49	24	4
3	Cathaoir an Rí	2	2	0	0	56	38	18	4
4	Naomh Gall	3	1	1	1	62	59	3	3
5	Gort na Móna CLG	2	0	2	0	34	62	-28	0
6	Glen Rovers	3	0	3	0	44	92	-48	0

Group 2 all games 6-45pm

Things look a little bit more-clear in a Group 2 containing only 5 teams as opposed to 6 in Group 1 with Kickham’s Creggan and Emmet’s Cushendun topping the table with 2 wins from 2 starts. Sarsfield’s sit two points behind and at this stage the two promotion places are likely to go to two of these three but as in Group 1, nothing is set in stone

Robert Emmet’s v Kickham’s Creggan

Both sides have made positive starts to their championship campaigns with Creggan recording big wins over both Sarsfield’s and St. Brigid’s Cloughmills but this is the first time they have taken to the road and the visit to Cushendun looks like providing a much sterner test.

The Emmet’s defeated St. Brigid’s on day 2, having sat out the opening round and had 11 points to spare over St. Paul’s on day 3 so something will have to give tomorrow night. ‘Loaf’ McNeill has been in scintillating form for the seasiders, notching up impressive scoring totals while Creggan will look to county captain, Conor McCann to get them over the line.

There shouldn’t be too much between them at the end but home advantage could edge it the Emmet’s way.

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills v Patrick Sarsfield’s

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills have made a poor start to their championship campaign with defeats at home to Cushendun and a hammering last day out at Creggan and will be hoping to restore some pride when Sarsfield’s make the long journey to Cloughmills.

A win would keep the Belfast side in the hunt for a promotion place and with Niall McKenna leading the way they should have enough in the tank to win this one.

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Pos	Team	P	W	L	D	F	A	Diff	PT
1	Kickhams GAC Creggan	2	2	0	0	54	29	25	4
2	Robert Emmets Cushendun	2	2	0	0	50	26	24	4
3	Pádraig Sáirseil CLG	2	1	1	0	44	41	3	2
4	Naomh Pól CLG /St Pauls GAC	3	1	2	0	49	72	-23	2
5	Naomh Brid Cloiche An Mhuillinn	3	0	3	0	50	79	-29	0

Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 2

Armoy 0-20 Carey 6-15

Pics by Frank McCaughan

Despite a promising start Armoy fell to a 13point defeat against their Glenshesk rivals from the other side of the glen on Sunday in round 3 of the Intermediate Championship. Indeed at the first water break they held sway with a 0-8 to 0-4 lead, courtesy of scores from Conor Christie, Tommy Burns , Liam Dillon and 4 from Tarlach McBride frees, with Carey relying on three pointed frees and one from play to keep them in touch. After the break Carey seemed to find another gear and three stellar scores, the first from Caolan McCaughan on the 20th minute was followed by two more on the 28th and 30th minutes from John McBride turned the game around to leave the Faughs 3-8 to 0-10 ahead at the interval.

As in the first half the Glen Rovers came out of the blocks first and pulled back three points one from PJ McBride and two frees from Tarlach McBride, Paddy Gillan opened the second half scoring for the Faughs  with a well taken point, but on the 49th and 52nd minutes Carey breached the Armoy defence again with two goals, both coming from Conor McBride. Entering the last quarter the visitors took full control with further points from James Black, Sean McLaughlin and a sixth goal from Conor McBride.

Tommy Burns and Tarlach McBride added further points for the home side as Carey emptied their bench but the win was secured for the men from Ballyvoy and they now go into Wednesday evening’s game with table toppers Cloney Gaels knowing that another win would go a long way towards qualification of the semi-final

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Andersonstown Intermediate Hurling Championship

Cushendun 0-22 St Paul’s 0-11

Cushendun made it two wins out of two in Group 2 of the Intermediate Hurling Championship when they beat St Paul’s by double scores at CushLig an Airgid on Sunday. The Belfast side had beaten hot favourites Cushendun in last year’s Junior Hurling Championship semi-final on their way to winning the title, so there was an air of caution among the Emmet’s this time around.

A good start helped settle the early nerves and with Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill controling matters from the half forward line, and the defence domininating their area, the home team went 0-7 to 0-1 ahead after fourteen minutes, five of them coming from McNeill and two from David Kilgore. James Farrelly pulled a point back for St Paul’s on 16 minutes but McNeill restored the six point cushion with a point directly from a sideline ‘cut’, one of three he was to score during the game. Caolan Crossan, Gerard Carbery, Declan Chapman and Coneith Finnegan all pointed for St Paul’s before half time, but David Kilgore, Conrad McDonnell, Dominic McQuillan and McNeill again replied for the Emmet’s to leave them five ahead at the half time whistle (Cushendun 0-12 St Paul’s 0-7)

When Anton Gallagher and James Farrell hit the first two points of the second half for the visitors the gap was down to just three and it was clear the Shaw’s Road men were in no mood to throw in the towel, but Cushendun reacted well as they hit five points in a row, two of them from substitute Pearse Bannon, and one each from Conor McHugh, Conrad McDonnell and Loaf, who sent over his second sideline cut. Gerard Carbery replied with one for St Paul’s on 43 minutes but three more from the stick of Loaf McNeill and one from Dominic McQuillan wrapped up the win for the Emmet’s.

CUSHENDUN

Gareth McGhee, Eoin McQuillan, Aidan Corbett, Jack McKay, tom Scally, Donal O’Hara, Mickey Dunne, Conor McHugh, Calum Kilgore, Conrad McDonnell, Harry Kilgore, Conlaoth McNeill, Conleth Ryan, James Morgan, David Kilgore.

Subs – Dom for David; Pearse Bannon for James Morgan, Dominic Sharkey for Loaf; Archie McSparran for Aidan Corbett.

ST PAUL’S

Joe Gillan, Ciaran O’Carroll, Fintan Gamble, Sean Bradley, Darragh Stevenson, Stephen Rooney, Andy McMorrow, Conleth Finnegan, Mark Munice, Anton Gallagher, Frank Seneill, Caolan Crossan, Declan Chapman, Gerard Carbery, James Farrell

Referee – Colm McDonnell

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Andersonstown SC IHC Group 2

CREGGAN 1.23 v CLOUGHMILLS 1.08.

Kickham’s Creggan join Emmet’s Cushendun at the top of Group 2 of the Andersonstown SC Intermrediate Hurling championship following two win from two starts. Today it was the turn of St. Brigid’s Cloughmills to experience the scoring power of the Creggan men following their 10-point win over Sarsfield’s last day out.

Visitors, Cloughmills, would have been hoping for better luck and turn around their losing streak in the competition and they got off to a bright start with a Corey Blair point from the throw in.  This was immediately cancelled out when the home side’s Morgan Nelson pointed from play but Michael Devlin got the next 2 points for the visitors to put them 2 ahead and things were looking promising at this early stage of the game.

Creggan’s Thomas McCann and Morgan Nelson levelled proceedings with 13 minutes gone and as we approached the first water-break Creggan added 2 additional points – Kevin Rice & Conor McCann getting on the score sheet. 

With Fifteen minutes gone and only 2 points separating the teams the visitors were dominating mid-field and looked like upsetting the odds as Creggan struggled to put their game together.  Chris McKernan, the Cloughmills net minder, kept his side in the game with some superb saves but after the water-break the Kickham’s went up through the gears

 They added six  further point from Oran McCann (5 from frees) while Morgan Nelson added 2 points to his tally and points from Sam Maguire, Aidan McKeown and Rory McCann put them well on top. Aaron Smylie & Michael Devlin replied with 2 points for the Biddies, 1 from play and a 65 to leave them 11 points behind and when Stephen Smyth received a straight red they faced the 2nd half and an uphill struggle.

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HALF TIME SCORE:  CREGGAN 0.16 v CLOUGHMILLS 0.05

The first 5 minutes of the 2nd half saw both sides miss chances and with numerical advantage Creggan went looking for goals to kill off the contest.  They were foiled on a number of occasion by St. Brigid’s excellent net minder Chris McKernan and a determined defence denying the Kickham’s 3 goaling opportunities.

Creggan’s Thomas McCann got his 2nd point of the day but it was almost 14 minutes before the visitors’ James Doherty scored a point from play and as we approached the 2nd water-break, Thomas McCann added an additional point to his tally.   

As both teams lined out for the final quarter, the home side’s Oran McCann, 10 metres out with only the goalkeeper to beat, blasted high into the net.  As Creggan emptied their bench, Morgan Nelson & Liam McCann got Creggan’s 2 final scores while the visitors replied with a consolation goal from Corey Blair who blasted low through a crowded goalmouth giving the unsighted Emmet Long no chance.

Creggan face a difficult away fixture to Cushendun on Wednesday night while St. Brigid’s entertain Sarsfield’s and will be hoping for a change of fortunes and a first win in the championship

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 (0.01), No.8 Tiernan McLarnon, No.9 Rory McCann (0.01), No.10 Conor McCann (0.01), No.11 Morgan Nelson (0.05), No.12 Oran McCann (0.07), No.13 Thomas McCann (0.03), No.14 Keelan McCann, No.15 Kevin Rice (0.02), No.16 Oliver Duffin, No.17 Michael Maguire, No.18 Liam McCann (0.01), No.20 Enda Maguire, No.21 Sean Donnelly, No.22 Sean McAuley, No.23 Dermot Mulholland, No.25 Matthew Nelson, No.26 Owen Grant.

CLOUGHMILLS:    No.1 Chris McKernan, No.6 Conor Laverty, No.7 Aaron Smylie (0.02), No.8 Liam Kearns (0.01), No.9 Michael Morrison, No.10 Michael Devlin (0.03), No.11 Reece Wall, No.12 Stephen Smyth, No.14 James Doherty (0;01), No.15 Rory Laverty, No.17 Sean McKendry, No.18 Corey Blair (0.01),

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Andersonstown SC IFC Group 1

Cloney Gaels 0-24 Glenariffe Oisin 2-18

Cloney Gaels and Glenariffe Oisin couldn’t be separated in this compelling Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling championship clash in Ahoghill today. In a game where fortunes to and froed throughout, 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 in injury time.

Glenariffe got off to a flying start with Caolan O’Connor firing to the Ahoghill net after 20 seconds and Alex O’Boyle followed with a point from a free to put them four in front with only a minute on the clock.

PJ O’Connell opened the Cloney account with a point in the third minute but Seanie McIntosh replied immediately with a point for the visitors. Oliver Kearney added a great long range point but the Ahoghill side seemed to be settling into the game when they hit three in a row through Ronan Graham, a James O’Connell free and Ronan Graham again to leave just two in it after 12 minutes.

Alex O’Boyle replied with a good point for Glenariffe but points from Ronan Graham and ‘Boris’ O’Connell closed the gap to the minimum as the whistle sounded for the water break.

Alex O’Boyle extended the visitors lead on the restart from a 60 meter free and James O’Connell replied for the home side in what was becoming the battle of the free takers. Colla McDonnell for Ahoghill and Seanie McIntosh for the Glens men exchanged further points before the game took a dramatic twist.

The visitors were awarded a penalty and ace marksman O’Boyle stepped up to fire past Martin Graham from the penalty spot and suddenly the Waterfoot side had moved five clear with seven minutes remaining to the break.

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The momentum now was very much with the visitors and Kieran McKendry added a point from play and Alex O’Boyle added another from a free with 25minutes gone. James O’Connell (f), Owen Neeson and Neil O’Connell added further points for the Ahoghill men but another Alex O’Boyle pointed free left Oisin leading 2-11 to 0-11 at the break.

The opening exchanges of the second half were fairly even with Daniel Haughey and Alex O’Boyle (f) for the visitors and a couple of pointed frees from James O’Connell for the hosts kept the gap at six with six minutes gone but the balance of play was slowly swinging in favour of Hugh Dobbin’s side.

PJ O’Connell was now operating in attack and James O’Connell punished indiscipline in the Glenariffe defence as he pointed three frees and further points from Ronan Graham, Owen Neeson, Neil O’Connell and Neeson again had the side’s level by the 19^th minute with the Glenariffe score coming from Oliver Kearney.

Kearney’s point was the visitor’s first score for 13 minutes but they added another immediately through Seanie McIntosh to edge one in front again but James O’Connell pointed three further frees by the 26^th minute to leave the home side two in front and they looked to be heading for another brace of points.

In what was turning into the battle of the free takers Alex O’Boyle pointed from close range and then another from over 60 yards to leave the side’s level again and in a nail biting finish James O’Connell and Alex O’Boyle exchanged further frees in injury time to leave matters all square as the final whistle sounded.

This result leaves the group finely balanced with Cloney Gaels top with 5 points from three starts, Glenariffe on 4 from three starts and Cathaoir an Ri on 4 points from two starts and St. Gall’s one behind.

Cloney Gaels face a tough away encounter when the travel to Ballyvoy on Wednesday night while Glenariffe and Naomh Gall are at home to Gort na Mona and Armoy respectively and things should look a bit clearer after that round of fixtures.

Cloney Gaels: Martin Graham, Eamon Brady, James Magee, Diarmaid Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Bernard Graham, P.J O’Connell, Francis Neeson, Neil O’Connell, Danny O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Owern Neeson, Colla McDonnell, Dobnal Graham, James O’Connell

Glenariffe Oisin: Seanan McToal, Michael Haughey, Conor Robert Patterson, Martin McAllister, Donal Kearney, Shane O’Connor, David Kearney, Oliver Kearney, Niall Murray, Daniel Haughey, Kieran McKendry, Alex O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh, Seamus McDonnell, Caolan O’Connor. Subs: Dan McKillop, Mickey Gettins, Cathal McDonnell

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