McKeever Hotels Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship:

Carey Faughs 1-24. St Brigid’s Cloughmills 1-16

Venue: Fr Leonard Park, Cloughmills

Stage: Round-Robin Qualifying Section (Round 1 of 5)

Carey Faughs began their Intermediate Championship campaign with a decisive victory over 2016 Ulster champions St Brigid’s Cloughmills. In the first of five round-robin matches for both teams, Carey established an early dominance that Cloughmills ultimately could not overcome, A quick start by the visitors, which saw them open a tea point lead by the 12th minute set the foundation for the win, and even though the Biddies had the gap back to five at a stage in the second half, they had left themselves just too much to do to bridge the divide.

Carey Faughs burst out of the gates, commanding the first ten minutes of the game. Callum Kane opened the scoring in the first minute, and James ‘Rocket’ Black followed up with an impressive 50-yard point shortly after. Black continued his playmaking by setting up Shea Hunter for a point from 40 yards out. Patrick Gillan and Conall McGlynn added points from frees to extend the early lead. At the eight-minute mark, Carey found the back of the net when Black hand-passed to Kane, who drove it home to make it 1-5 to 0-0. Caolan McCaughan and McGlynn added further points before Cloughmills finally got on the scoreboard in the 12th minute with a pointed free from top scorer Mickey Devlin.

Cloughmills began to rally late in the half, sparked by a fantastic defensive run from centre back Ruairi Laverty, leading to another Devlin free. Carey’s Patrick Gillan responded with a brilliant point over his shoulder, but Cloughmills kept the pressure on. Despite a 60-metre point from Ryan McFarline, and another pointed free by Devlin, with the last puck of the half, Carey held a comfortable 1-9 to 0-6 lead at the break.

The second half was a much more competitive affair, but Carey’s ability to respond to every Cloughmills challenge kept the game out of reach. Patrick Gillan opened the half with a point from a free out on the right wing. Mickey Devlin kept Cloughmills in the fight with back-to-back pointed frees, while corner forward Ryan Watson added another from play. Carey’s James Black then set up Gillan for another score, followed quickly by Gillan tagging on two more points from ‘placed balls’. Carey had a close call when a short run from the wing resulted in a shot off the crossbar, with Cloughmills unlucky not to capitalise on the rebound for a goal.

As the half progressed, Conall McGlynn, Peadar McVeigh, and Conlith McKinley all fired over excellent points to keep Carey ahead, with McKinley’s strike sailing over from the left side from 60 meters out. Cloughmills’ Devlin orchestrated a great run, passing out to the wing where the ball was fired just over the bar, cutting the deficit to five points. However, Carey’s Caolan McCaughan and Shea Hunter immediately answered with critical points to halt the Cloughmills momentum. A late surge from Cloughmills saw Ryan McFarline score from long range and Devlin accidentally point a ball he had intended to drop into the square but the points were in the Faughs possession by this stage and it was never going to be enough to close the gap, as McCaughan and Butler added the final points of the match, securing a 1-24 to 1-16 victory for Carey.

St Brigid’s Cloughmills

1 Christopher McKernan, 2 Jack McDowall, 3 Sean McKendry, 4 Rian Dobbin, 5 Reece Watt, 6 Ruairi Laverty, 7 Johnny Duffin, 8 Kevin O Boyle, 9 Aaron McGuckian, 10 Ryan McFarline (0-2), 11 Michael Devlin (0-8), 12 James Doherty, 13 Stephen Smyth, 14 Eoin Dobbin, 15 Ryan Watson

Carey Faughs

1 Steven McGinn, 3 Sean McBride, 4 Eoin Hill, 5 Michael McVeigh, 6 Peadar McVeigh (0-2), 7 Shea Hunter (0-2), 8 Conall McGlynn (0-3), 9 Patrick Butler (0-1), 10 Conlith McKinley (0-1), 11 Caolan McCaughan (0-4), 12 John McBride, 13 Patrick Gillan (0-10) 14 James Black (0-1), 18 Callum Kane (1-01), 17 Ryan McQuaid.

Referee – Colm McDonald

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Casement Social Club, Antrim Junior Hurling Championship Group 1 

Ardoyne 0-17-0-20 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Fennell Park 

Pics by Philip of PMC.jpeg

Lámh Dhearg edged to a 0-20-0-17 victory in the all Belfast derby in the first game of the Casement Social Club Antrim Junior Hurling Championship against Ardoyne at Fennell Park on Friday evening. 

Coming off the back of their Division 4 triumph, the hosts would have to look no further than their opponents for some Championship inspiration following their success after the Lámhs reached the semi final stage of the Junior Championship following their Division 4 title win in 2021. 

Lámh Dhearg wouldn’t fall behind over the course of the game, but were unable to generate clear day light, only leading by as much as five-points at one stage. 

The Hannahstown men went in front when Donal Martin picked out Adam Murray from a sideline ball and Murray laid it off to Odrán Waldron to swing over the opening score. 

A converted free from Patric McGreevy levelled things up and both sides’ next scores came from the same scenario, Adam Murray and McGreevy both landing points. 

Adam Murray converted his second free of the evening after Sean-Paul Gibson was hauled down and he tapped over, though Patric McGreevy found younger sibling Micheál to pop over and make it 0-3 apiece. 

The Lámhs pulled two clear for the first time after Murray dropped over his third free of the half and Donal Martin then flashed a shot over following a nice exchange with Mark Finnegan. 

An angled McGreevy free halved the deficit though Fionn Mervyn guided a shot over on the run and Mark Finnegan opened his account, gathering a free from Aidan McGuigan and swinging an angled shot between the posts. 

After Niall McGarry was blown for overcarrying, Patric McGreevy swept the resulting free over, and a second score followed quickly as Patrick Heaney won the break at midfield and shot over to make it 0-7-0-6. 

Lámh Dhearg would re-establish their three-point lead by the break with talisman Adam Murray sending two further frees over the bar to ensure his side were 0-9-0-6 ahead at the short whistle. 

The second period began like the first as both teams cancelled each other out and equally shared the first four scores. 

Niall McGarry and Donal Martin stretched their sides’ advantage, only for replies from Matt McKillen and Patrick Heaney in between times. 

A second Odrán Waldron point was closely followed by an impressive Mark Finnegan attempt off the back foot that dropped over the bar to open up a five-point cushion (0-13-0-8). 

Ardoyne’s response was terrific and they hit five of the next seven scores to leave themselves very much in the game with a quarter of an hour remaining. 

A fifth McGreevy free kickstarted their purple patch and Patrick Heaney landed his third point of the evening. 

Momentum was briefly halted after Adam Murray clipped a point from range, though another two Patric McGreevy frees narrowed the margin (0-14-0-12). 

Points were exchanged by Odrán Waldron and McGreevy (free) and a further free from their talismanic free-shooter left the bare minimum separating the sides. 

Adam Murray opened up a bit more daylight, converting back-to-back placed balls but his side survived a huge scare with 10-minutes left. 

Daniel Murray’s attempted pass was cut out by Dean Goodall- who strode forward and unleashed a shot that PJ Herron was unable to hold onto and Cormac Barnes looked prime to fire the loose ball to the net, only for Tiarnan McKenna to scope the ball clear in the nick of and preserve his sides advantage. 

Murray cut inside and fizzed over his second point from play of the night, it remained a score game though with Patric McGreevy converting the last of his 10-point haul. 

The last four scores were shared with Mark Finnegan and Murray (free) creaking their side further towards victory and Patrick Heaney and Micheál McGreevy hitting back to ensure Ardoyne were within a goal at the conclusion. 

There wasn’t a major in the offing however as Lámh Dhearg ran out 0-20-0-17 winners at the conclusion and are the early pace-setters in the group ahead of Saturday’s clash between Belfast Saints and Armoy. 

ARDOYNE: C O’Neill, P Clarke, P Baker, C Keown, D Moore, D Goodall, C Wallace, M Cromie, P McGuigan, M McKillen (0-1), J Callinan, P Heaney (0-4), C Curran, M McGreevy (0-2), P McGreevy (0-10f). SUBS: C McShane for J Callinan (HT), C Barnes for C Curran (40), A Stewart for D Goodall (52). 

LÁMH DHEARG: PJ Herron, C Camlin, A McGuigan, T McKenna, F Mervyn (0-1), P Mervyn, A Ferris, J Trainor, N McGarry (0-1), SP GIbson, A Murray (0-10, 0-8f), O Waldron (0-3), M Finnegan (0-3), M McGarry, D Martin (0-2). SUBS: D Murray for M McGarry (24), M Herron for A Ferris (41), G Smyth for O Waldron (55). 

REFEREE: Niall Clifford (Cuchuliann’s, Armagh)

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The McKeever Hotels Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship gets underway this weekend with five matches set for Friday and Saturday.

There are 11 teams in this year’s Intermediate grade, which are split into two groups. Group 1 has five teams, Carey Faughs, Creggan, Naomh Gall, St Brigid’s Cloughmills and Rasharkin, while in Group 2, there are six teams; St Paul’s, Cushendun, Cloney Gaels, Glenravel, Randalstown and Glenarm

There has been one major change to how this competition will run this year, one that will be welcomed by all the clubs, with six teams progressing beyond the group stages instead of four like has been the way in recent years. This eases the pressure on teams, especially those that lose their opening games. The two group winners will automatically reach the semi-finals while the second and third placed teams will go into the quarter-finals which should enhance what has always been an excellent competition.

The action gets underway on Friday evening when Robert Emmets Cushendun host Cloney Gaels in Group 2 at Lig an Airgid in what looks like being one of the stand out ties of the round. The other tie on Friday evening, which is also in Group two, looks like an another interesting game as St Paul’s take on Shane Uí Néill Glenarm at Pairc Pól, Shaw’s Road. With an odd number of teams in this group Kickhams GAC Creggan sit this one out, which gives them a good opportunity to have a looks at some of their opponents.

The Junior Hurling Championship also sees its first action tonight when Ardoyne host Lamh Dhearg at the Cricky.

All tonight’s games have a 7-30 throw in time

On Saturday afternoon St Mary’s Rasharkin face a tough task when they host St Galls in group 1 in Dreen at 4pm, while Tír na nÓg Randalstown (who last season were beaten by Glenariffe in the final) are at home to last season’s Junior Champions Con Magee’s Glenravel at Whitehill. in the final game of Group 1 Cloughmills take on the 2024 Ulster Intermediate champions Carey Faughs in a north Antrim derby at Fr Leonard Park, also at 6:30pm.

In the Junior Championship on Saturday Loch Mhor Dal gCais take on Gort na Mona at Woodlands, while just next door Belfast Saints face last season’s runners-up Glen Rovers Armoy at the Aggies, both these games throwing in at 5pm

The final two games in the JHC take place at 6:30 pm when All Saints Ballymena take on St Brigid’s Belfast at Slemish Park while Latharna Og face Davitt’s at the Brustin Braes in Larne.

JP Corry Antrim Under 21 Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Glenariffe 0-23 St Enda’s 2-07

Glenariffe Oisins booked their place in the semi-final of the Under 21 Hurling Championship when they beat St Enda’s in Wednesday evening’s quarter-final at Waterfoot. The home team dominated the majority of the game and led by ten at the interval, but St Enda’s fought their way back during the third quarter and at one stage the gap was back to just four. However the Oisin’s steadied the ship and pulled away win convincingly in the end.

Oisín Gillan opened the scoring for Glenariffe in the first minute, before St Enda’s responded with a point from Shea Bell on six. Glenariffe quickly established control of the tie when Gillan pointed a 20-meter free, followed by Ronan Leech scoring a point after receiving a well-placed pass from Colla Ward. Oisin Mort added a good point from distance, and Cadhán Graham extended the home side’s lead to 5-1 by the 13th minute. Patrick McIlwaine further increased the advantage to 0-6 to 0-01, before Gillan added two more points, including one from a free. Christopher Leech kept the scoreboard ticking for Glenariffe with a point following a solo run, though Colm Kane briefly interrupted the streak with a point for St Enda’s. Glenariffe finished the half strongly with another point from Christopher Leech, a long-range free by Niall Magee, another from Ronan Leech following a pass by Cadhán Graham, and a final point by Peadar McDonnell to leave the half-time score at an imposing 0-13 to 0-03.

St Enda’s mounted a spirited comeback in the second half, starting with a long-range point from a free by Malachi McGibbon. After Gillan pointed a free for Glenariffe, Ruairi O’Connell Scullion added a point for the visitors, and the momentum shifted significantly five minutes into the half when Darragh Quinn found the net for St Enda’s, following a superb sideline cut by Shea Bell. Brogan O’Connor responded with two points for Glenariffe, but St Enda’s kept pressing their attack. By the 12th minute, Aaron Quinn managed a scrambled goal for St Enda’s, successfully closing the gap to just four points nearing the end of the third quarter.

Despite the sudden pressure, Glenariffe regained their composure to close out the game. Gillan and Brogan O’Connor added points from frees, while Shea Bell pointed a free at the other end for St Enda’s. Colla Ward then cleverly kicked a point over the bar, and Gillan continued his remarkable scoring run with another free and an excellent point from play, set up by Ward. Ward added another point himself, and Gillan fired over two more placed balls to put the home team back in the comfort zone. Malachi McGibbon scored a late point for St Enda’s, but man of the match Oisín Gillan capped off his performance with another excellent point to seal a Glenariffe 0-23, St Enda’s 2-07 win, a result that sets up a semi-final meeting with Ballycastle next Wednesday evening.

Glenariffe: 1. Ben Duncan, 2. Charlie Dunne, 3. Oisin Mort (0-1), 5. Niall Magee (0-1), 6. Calum McIlwaine, 7. James Kearney, 8. Patrick McIlwaine (0-1), 9. Colla Ward (0-2), 10. Brogan O’Connor (0-3), 11. Ronan Leech (0-2), 12. Christopher Leech (0-2), 13. Cadhán Graham (0-1), 14. Peadar McDonnell (0-1), 15. Oisín Gillan (0-12), 17. Conall Boyd.

St Enda’s: 1. Cormac McCann, 2. Ronan Bradley, 3. Joseph Mackin, 4. Lewis Cunnie, 5. Barra McGrath, 6. Malachi McGibbon (0-2), 7. Cairan McAllister, 8. Cian O’Connor, 9. Darragh Quinn (0-1), 10. Frank Kane, 11. Harry Feeney, 12. Colm Kane (0-1), 13. Chris Roberts, 14. Aaron Quinn (0-1), 15. Shea Bell (0-2), 18. Ruairi O’Connell Scullion (0-1), 19. Daniel O’Kane.

Referee – Fionntan McCotter

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