Andersonstown Social Club Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2

Sarsfields 1-23 St Paul’s 0-13

Paul McIntyre reports from The Bear Pit.

Fourteen man Sarsfields gave their championship campaign the shot in the arm it badly need with a convincing thirteen point win over neighbours St Paul’s at the Bear Pit on Saturday afternoon.

Played in soaring temperatures before a big crowd, Collie McGuiness’ side controlled this contest for the majority, although he was glad to see half time following the dismissal of wing back Caolán Mervyn. Mervyn was given a straight red for his part in an off the ball incident after referee Darren McKeown consulted with his umpires in the 26^th minute.

St Pauls outscored their opponents in the closing stages of the half with Stephen Rooney and Caolán Crossan taking the battle to the hosts, but in the second half it was all one way traffic as Sarsfields turned a five point lead into a convincing win with Niall McKenna and Daniel McKernan to the fore.

As hard as St Paul’s tried, they couldn’t scale the heights that saw them claim an opening day win over Cloughmills as Sarasfileds showed no mercy by taking points at every opportunity and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

It was a display full of heart and passion and one dedicated to Sarsfields stalwart Sean McGuiness who is seriously ill in hospital. Sean’s sons Collie and Niall are in charge of the Lenadoon outfit and the players were quick to dedicate the win to one of Ulster’s best hurling ambassadors and his family at this tough time.

The game started at breakneck speed. Donal McKernan clipped over a sideline ball before Cailllin Caldwell doubled the lead straight from the restart.

Crossan opened St Paul’s account from a free in the 6^th minute but it was all Sarsfields and further score from Gary Lennon, McKenna and Donal McKernan opened up a four point gap after only 8 minutes.

Sean Lawell and Carson did manage to cut the arrears to two points but Daniel and Donal McKernan restored the four point buffer.

Joe Gillen kept St Paul’s in the tie by denying Caldwell a goal in the 15^th minute before Michael Johnston shot wide from a tight angle. Instead, they had to settle for Lennon adding his second of the day and at the first waterbreak Sarsfields were well in command at 0-8 to 0-3.

Sarsfields then opened up a six point lead, 0-10 to 0-4. A sweeping move involving Darragh McGuiness and McKenna was finished off by Daniel McKernan before the homeside lost Mervyn after that tussle with Carson.

St Paul’s pushed up on the Sarsfields sweeper for the closing stages of the half and the move seemed to be paying off, however the final act of the half was left to Daniel McKernan who steadied a rocky period for his side with the final score of the half.

Half time score, Sarsfields 0-12 St Paul’s 0-7.

St Paul’s trailed by nine at half time in their opening group game in which they managed to comeback and win, but Sarsfields denied them that opportunity with a very productive and workmanlike performance.

No sooner than had the second half started, McKenna and Daniel McKernan pointed for a seven point lead. Despite the best efforts of Anthony Gallagher and Cairbe O’Caireallain, St Paul’s weren’t able to make any serious inroads into the Sarsfields lead and with David Ward’s razor-sharp puck outs continually picking out Daniel McKernan, it was hard to see how St Paul’s were going to find a way back into the contest.

Daniel McKernan was a constant thorn in the side of St Paul’s all day, not only from frees but also with his direct running and when he pointed for the ninth time in the 51^st minute, it gave his side a nine point lead at 0-20 to 0-11.

The game was well beyond St Paul’s now but they didn’t give up the ghost and Ward had to react sharply to deny Carson a goal in the 55^th minute.

One goal did arrive in stoppage time.

Caldwell was fouled in the square and with the last puck of the game, player of the match Daniel McKernan stepped up to lash the to the net from the resulting penalty and to cap off a fine all round team display.

Teams & Scorers:

Sarsfields: David Ward, James Cunningham, Niall McAlea, Malachy Campbell, Caolán Mervyn, Michael Johnston, Jim McKernan, Gary Lennon (0-2), David Johnston (0-1), Niall McKenna (0-4), Caillin Caldwell (0-2), Daniel McKernan (1-10 4F), Donal McKernan (0-4 3F), Mark Rea, Darragh McGuinness.

Subs: Kevin Ward for Campbell (47), David McAllister for Johnston (61).

St Paul’s: Joe Gillen, Ciaran O’Carroll, Gerard Carberry, Sean Bradley, Daire Stevenson, Frankie Sewell, Sean Lawell (0-2), Declan Campbell, Marcus Munce, Andrew McMorrow, Anthony Gallagher (0-2), Caolán Crossan (0-8 5f), Stephen Rooney (0-1), James Farrell, Cairbe O’Caireallain (0-1),

Subs: Conall Finnegan for McMorrow (38), Declan McGreevy for Chapman (50), Kevin Murray for O’Caireallain (57), Michael Walsh for Gallagher (57).

Referee: Mr Darren McKeown (St Galls)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship

Group 1

Two of the teams in Saturday Group 1 of the Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Championship will taste action for the first time as Carey Faughs and Gort na Móna join the fray. These two were to play each other on Tuesday evening at Pairc Enright but the game was postponed because of a bereavement in the Gorts club.

The men from Turf Lodge travel down to Ahoghill where they face a Cloney Gaels team who opened with a win at Armoy on Tuesday evening and they will be pushing to grab another two points to put them top of the group.

Carey Faughs, who to have played the Gorts on Tuesday, get their campaign underway with a home game against St Gall’s. Christ Dornan’s men shared the points with Glenariffe Oisins on Tuesday evening and with a game under their belts they got to Ballyvoy in confident mood. With only two teams qualifying from each group the pressure is on both teams, and Carey could find the going tough having not played a competitive game since their league semi-final with Cushendun back in July.

Dropping a point on Tuesday evening at Milltown puts Oisins under pressure and they will be hoping to not only beat Armoy tomorrow, but also by a big score. Of course the Glen Rovers men will have other ideas and they are capable of causing an upset.

Group 2

With just five teams in Group 2 one of the teams have a bye each round and this time around Creggan sit it out, fresh from their win over Sarsfields on Tuesday evening.

That win puts Sarfields under a bit of pressure and their game against their neighbours St Paul’s in the Bear Pit on Saturday is vital. Last year’s Junior champions appeared to be in bother when they trailed Cloughmills by nine at half time on Tuesday, but they turned things around with a fantastic second half to snatch the win. Anything less than a win and Sarfields season could be over, and knowing this should drive them on to victory.

Having had a bye the first day puts Cusheundun a bit on the back foot, but their opponents on Saturday, Cloughmills are under even more pressure having let a nine point lead slip on Tuesday at St Paul’s. Cushendun come into the championship as many peoples favourite, having won promotions to Division 1 for next season. However they know the championship is different gravy and they need to hit the ground running this time around.

All games throw in at 4pm

Andersonstown IFC Group 2

Kickham’s Creggan 3-18 Patrick Sarsfield’s 1-15

 In weather too hot for hurling, Sarsfields arrived in Creggan with a full squad and a healthy sub-bench intent on getting their Andersonstown IFC campaign off to a good start.  The homeside had a full squad available as well and the scene was set for a good game of championship hurling. 

When these two teams met last year in the Bear Pit Creggan ran out winners by the narrowest of margins.  Referee, Vincent Boyle got things underway with  Creggan pointing from a throw-in.

 Sarsfields settled quicker and boosted by a Daniel McKernan goal they led by 1-6 to 0-5 at the first water break.  Creggan got themselves back into the game and a Kevin Rice goal gave them the edge going in at half time as them led by a single point.

• 

 HALF TIME SCORE:          CREGGAN 1.10 v PATRICK SARSFIELD 1.09

 The temperature seemed to increase and with a low sunset visibility was poor for the home-side as they played into the sunshine.  Both teams traded point for point with Creggan marginally ahead by a point with 40 minutes gone. 

The visitors’ response was to send over 2 unanswered points to give them the lead for the first time in the contest as Creggan struggled to reign them in.  For the next 5 minutes the match could have gone either way as both teams were guilty of some poor shooting but the home side kept their noses in front and led by 1-15 to 1-13 at the second half water break

It was the home-side’s 2 goals in quick succession from Kevin Rice and Morgan Nelson that made the difference and gave them the confidence and belief that they had this one in the bag, plus the fact that Sarfields were reduced to fourteen men.

Creggan took advantage of the extra man scoring the next 4 points while the visitors desperately battled in search of goals and the outcome could have been different had it not been for the ferocity of Creggan’s back line and goalkeeper repelling a barrage of low balls delivered to the edge of the square.

 Although the final outcome had the home side 10 points ahead, it would be true to say that the score didn’t truly reflect the balance of play and slightly flattered the Kickham’s.

Creggan: Emmet Long, Jake McAteer,  Aidan Maguire, Declan McCann, Diarmuid Mulholland, Thomas McCann, Sam Maguire, Kealan McCann, Ruairi McCann, Aiden McKeown, Kevin Rice, Oran McCann, Tiarnan McLarnon, Morgan Nelson, Conor McCann, Danan O’Hara. Subs: Joseph Smith, Sean Donnelly, Oliver Duffin, Owen Grant, Lee Johnston

Sarsfields:  David Ward, James Cunningham, Niall McAlea, Malachy Campbell, Caolan Mervyn, Eoghan Rogers, Jim McKernan, Kevin McKernan, David Johnston, Niall McKenna, Caillin Caldwell, Daniel McKernan, Donal McKernan, Mark Rea, Daniel McKernan. Subs:D McAllister for Donal McKernan, Ryan Carson for Daniel McKernan, Michael Johnston for James Cunningham, Kevin Ward for Malachy Campbell, Darragh McGuinness for Jim McKernan

Referee: Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)

Andersonstown Social Club IHC – Group 1 – Round 1

St Gall’s 0-18 Oisins 1-15

An injury time point from Niall O’Neill earned St Gall’s a share of the spoils with Oisins Glenariffe in Tuesday evening’s Intermediate Hurling Championship opening round game at Milltown.

In a hard fought game it looked like Glenariffe had stolen it when Michael O’Boyle scored a late goal to put the Oisins ahead, but the men from the Bog Meadows kept their cool and Niall O’Neill in particular as he fired over to earn his team a draw.

With Jackson McGreevy in top form St Gall’s started strongly and two points from the centre forward and one from corner forward Marcus Donnelly put them 0-3 to 0-1 ahead, the Oisins point coming from Seanie McIntosh. Daniel Haughey hit two in a minute to bring the Oisins level but two more from McGreevy helped the home side to a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the first water break.

Glenariffe picked up the pace in the second quarter and with Seamus McDonnell, Daniel Haughey and Alex O’Boyle showing strongly they edged ahead by half time.

Jackson McGreevy and Tomas O’Ciaran got St Gall’s back ahead but three in a row from David Kearney, Seamus McDonnell and Alex O’Boyle gave the Oisins back the edge. However St Gall’s were starting to dominate when they hit five points without reply between the 44^th and 51^st minutes they seemed well placed to take the victory.

Glenariffe came back with three points from full forward Alex O’Boyle to level matters by the 58^th minute, but man of the match McGreevy and substitute Sean McAreavy fired over to give blues a two point lead going into injury time.

Glenariffe were in trouble but when Michael O’Boyle fired the ball to the net in the 32nds minute it looked like they had stolen it, only for Niall O’Neill to save the day for the Milltown men with a late equaliser.

ST GALL’S

Kurtis McGreevy, Lorcan O’Ciaran, Joe McDaniels, Stephen Morrison, Ciaran McCaffrey, Aodhan Gallagher, Niall O’Neill, Jack Hopkins, Fergus Donnelly, Gregory McGreevy, Jackson McGreevy, Tomas O’Ciaran, Marcus Donnelly, Patrick Friel, Mark Napier.

OISINS

Seanan McToal, Michael Haughey, Conor Patterson, Martin McAllister, Shane O’Connor, David Kearney, Donal Kearney, Niall Murray, Oliver Kearney, Daniel Haughey, Seamus McDonnell, Kieran McKendry, Michael O’Boyle, Alex O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh.

Referee – Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Andersonstown SC IHC Group 1

Glen Rovers Armoy 1-14 Cloney Gaels 1-24

Cloney Gaels greater fire power and a personal tally of 0-13 from James O’Connell proved too much in the end for a battling Glen Rovers, Armoy in this opening game of the Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling championship in Armoy tonight.

The home side matched the visitors during the opening quarter and the sides were tied at 0-5 to 0-5 after 13 minutes but significantly, Cloney Gaels hit six unanswered points to pull away by the 24^th minute before going on to lead 0-15 to 0-7 at the short whistle.

Armoy matched the visitors score for score during the third quarter but a Ronan Graham goal in the 42^nd minute put paid to any chance of a come-back. The home side kept battling to the end and were rewarded with a goal of their own when Conor Christie found the net in the 54^th minute.

It was visitors Ahoghill who were quickest off the mark with points from James and Neil O’Conell but Armoy replied through Emmet O’Hara and Thomas Burns to draw level by the 5^th minute.

Conor Christie edged Armoy ahead for the first time before James O’Connell tied matters for the second time and points from Joe McBride and PJ McBride for Armoy and two from James O’Connell for the visitors left Glen Rovers one in front with ten minutes gone.

The host side wouldn’t score again for another 15 minutes however as visitors Cloney Gaels stepped up the ante with Dan O’Neill levelling matter and James O’Connell hitting three on the trot and five in all before the break.

• 

• 

Ronan Graham, Owen Neeson and PJ O’Connell from a sublime sideline cut from 40 meters in reply to late points from PJ McBride and an excellent long range free from Keeper, Conor Devlin left the half time score 0-15 to 0-7 in favour of the Ahoghill side.

Cloney Gaels rang the changes at half time but it didn’t disrupt their rhythm with Colla McDonnell getting his name on the score card with a couple of points in the third quarter and the excellent Ronan Graham getting the game’s opening goal with 12 minutes of the new half gone.

Armoy responded with points from PJ McBride, Emmet O’Hara 0-2, and two from Tarlach McBride but when Thomas Burns fired wide from the penalty spot they never really looked like getting the scores to bring them back into contention as Cloney Gaels continued to call the shots.

Colla McDonnell, Gerard Graham, Dan O’Neill and the superb James O’Connell 0-5, concluded the scoring for the visitors with Tarlach McBride and the battling Conor Christie pointing before finding the net after 24 minutes for the Glen Rovers but that was to be their final score.

This was a good start for Cloney Gaels but they will face stiffer tests in a strong group which includes St. Gall’s,  Glenariffe Oisin, Cathaoir an Ri and Gort na Mona.

Armoy: Conor Devlin, Shane Devlin, Liam Dillon, Jopseph McFetridge, Colum Coyles, Joe McBride, Arthur Devlin, PJ McBride, Conor Christie, Tarlach McBride, Daniel Connolly, Emmet O’Hara, Frank McCaughan, Thomas Burns, Timothy Burns. Subs: Ciaran Coyles, Eoin O’Boyle, Dylan McIntyre, Aidan McErlain, Odhran McErlain, John O’Kane

Ahoghill: Martin Graham, Harry O’Donmnell, James Magee, Diarmaid Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Bernard Graham, PJ O’Connell, Francis Neeson, Neil O’Connell, Owen Neeson, Patrick Graham, Ronan Graham, Dan O’Neill, Donal Graham, James O’Connell. Subs: halftime, Colla McDonnell for Donal Graham, Gerard Graham for Neill O’Connell. Second half, Dominic Neeson for PJ O’Connell, Connor Crossey for Finbar O’Neill.

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•