The hurling action gets underway this evening (Friday) at 6:30 when Cloughmills host Rasharkin in the Intermediate Hurling Championship at Fr Leonard Park. With both teams looking for the first win in the competition, there result will have no great significance but both will keen to get a win under their belts.
Over in Ahoghill, at the same time, Cloney Gaels take on Shane O’Neill’s, also in the Intermediate Championship in a game of high significance. If unbeaten Shane O’Neill’s come out on top, then they are sure of a place in the knock- out of stages, but if Cloney were to upset the apple cart, then they’re back in the title race. However defeat would end their season prematurely.
The third game of the evening is set for pitch 2 at Dunsilly, and it brings together group joint leaders of Group 1. Armoy Glen Rovers. and Lamh Dhearg who have two wins apiece. The result of this game will put the victors in a very strong place
This is awesome – Get behind this great effort! Ger McFadden from Loughgiel and Shay McGinley from Cushendun are running from Cork to Cushendun to raise money for Cancer charities
From everyone at Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC, we want to wish the very best of luck to these lads as they continue their incredible 350-mile challenge — 15 marathons in 15 days in aid of Children with Cancer UK
As a club, we know only too well the strength that comes from community, from people rallying together and standing behind one another when it matters most
This challenge has a deeply personal meaning for both families involved, and every mile is being run for children and families facing the unimaginable.
Over £10,000 raised already is a fantastic achievement, and we hope the Shamrocks community gets firmly behind them as they push on through the miles ahead
66 miles down and plenty still to go, keep driving on. The Shamrocks are behind you
You can keep up to date on how the lads are doing by giving them a follow on their Cork to Cushendun fb page
Na Piarsaigh delivered an impressive performance to overcome Ard Eoin in this North Belfast derby, producing a clinical display from start to finish.
The opening half belonged largely to Na Piarsaigh, who settled quickly and built a strong lead. Aoibhea Stanton was central to their attacking success, contributing the majority of her side’s scores. Ard Eoin worked hard to stay in touch but were frustrated by a number of wides that prevented them from building momentum on the scoreboard.
The contest took another turn in the first half when Ard Eoin were reduced to 14 players following a straight red card. Shortly before the break, Na Piarsaigh’s number 6 was shown a yellow card with around 30 seconds remaining in the half, reducing them to 14 players temporarily into the second half.
Na Piarsaigh wasted no time after the restart, scoring within 20 seconds of the throw-in to maintain their dominance and set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Despite the challenges, Ard Eoin continued to create opportunities and got their reward through Meghan Turley, who produced an excellent personal tally of 1-1 from play. Natasha Rooney also added a point from a free kick to complete Ard Eoin’s scoring.
Ard Eoin’s task became even more difficult in the closing stages when a player received a yellow card with ten minutes remaining, reducing them to 13 players. However, both teams continued to play positive football, with plenty of skill and well-worked passages of play on show throughout.
In the end, Na Piarsaigh’s sharp finishing and attacking efficiency proved decisive as they ran out deserving winners, while both sides contributed to an entertaining derby played in a competitive spirit.
Antrim Intermediate Football Championship at Glenavy
St Joseph’s Glenavy held their nerve to defeat St Comgall’s Antrim by the narrowest of margins in a highly entertaining Intermediate Football Championship contest on Saturday evening.
The visitors made the brighter start, with Ruairi Griffin opening the scoring after a minute and a half. James McCabe later converted a 45, while Ryan Clarke proved accurate from placed balls as St Comgall’s established an early foothold.
Glenavy gradually settled and Finn Shannon opened their account in the ninth minute. James Monaghan added a free before the home side struck a two-pointer to move ahead.
St Comgall’s Torin Hodkinson jumps for joy after scoring the only goal of the game
St Comgall’s goalkeeper Caolan McKeown produced an outstanding point-blank save midway through the half to keep his side in contention, and further frees from Clarke ensured there was never much between the teams.
Ciaran Loney landed a superb individual point under intense pressure in the 27th minute before Darragh Brown completed a good Glenavy move with another score in added time. Clarke replied from a free, but Glenavy went into the interval holding a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage.
The home side resumed strongly, with Monaghan kicking an excellent point inside the opening minute and following it with a converted free five minutes later.
St Comgall’s refused to let the game get away from them. Griffin fired over a fine point under pressure before Torin Hodkinson struck the game’s only goal in the 11th minute, finishing clinically to the net and turning the contest in the visitors’ favour.
Glenavy responded immediately through an excellent two-pointer from Leon Lavery, but Hodkinson converted a free at the other end before Louis Higgins added another point from play.
With the outcome hanging in the balance, Monaghan produced another excellent individual score in the 20th minute to bring Glenavy level. Both teams had chances during a tense closing period, but neither could establish control.
Clarke edged St Comgall’s ahead from a free as the game entered added time, only for Pearse O’Neill to reply with the decisive two pointer at the other end.
That late score secured a 0-13 to 1-9 victory for Glenavy after a well-contested encounter. St Comgall’s will rue several missed chances, but the home side just about deserved the result after battling back from Hodkinson’s second-half goal and finding the crucial score when it mattered most.
St Joseph’s Glenavy: 1 Matthew Lawlor, 2 Ruairi Forester, 3 Padhraic McKevitt, 4 Odhran Arthurs, 5 Michael Johnson, 6 Conor Hamill, 7 John Phillips, 8 Darragh Doherty, 9 Ciaran Loney, 10 Fiontan O’Boyle, 11 Paddy Gallagher, 12 Pearse O’Neill, 13 Ryan Phillips, 14 Darragh Brown, 15 Finn Shannon.
St Comgall’s Antrim: 1 Caolan McKeown, 2 Shane Og Gribbin, 3 Iarfhlaith Keating, 4 Dannan O’Hare, 5 Ruairi Griffin, 6 Cathal Donnelly, 7 Micheal McCabe, 8 Louis Higgins, 9 James McCabe, 10 Leo McAlteer, 11 Torin Hodkinson, 12 Aaron McGaw, 13 Dylan Murdock, 14 Miles Devine, 15 Ryan Clarke.
Referee – Fionntan McCotter
Glenavy legend Terry Cormican watches the action from his ringside seat
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Antrim Intermediate Football Championship Group One at Crumlin
Aldergrove 3-20 Gort na Móna 0-17
Aldergrove moved to the top of Group One with six points and guaranteed their place in the knockout stages after an impressive 12-point victory over Gort na Móna in Crumlin.
Two clinical first-half goals gave the home side a valuable advantage before their powerful midfield and prolific attack took control after the interval. Gort na Móna contributed plenty to an entertaining contest, particularly during the opening half, but Aldergrove’s greater cutting edge proved decisive.
The visitors made a flying start, with Manus McMullan landing a well-worked two-pointer after only 90 seconds. Aldergrove goalkeeper Shane O’Neill then did well to tip another dangerous effort over his crossbar.
Seamus McGarry opened Aldergrove’s account with a two-point free before Lewis Smyth struck twice in quick succession, including a well-worked fisted point.
The first major breakthrough arrived in the eighth minute. A poor Gort na Móna kick-out handed Aldergrove possession and Ronan Hanna punished the mistake by finding the net. Connlaodh Hendron followed with a point as the home side began to build momentum.
Gort na Móna responded positively. Eoghan Corrigan scored under pressure before Matthew McConnell produced one of the finest scores of the game, curling over a superb two-pointer from near the left touchline.
Ruairí O’Scoláin and McConnell added further scores, but Aldergrove struck for their second goal in the 14th minute. A sweeping move opened the visitors’ defence and Smyth applied the finish to the net.
Tarlach Enright converted a two-point free for Gort na Móna, but McGarry replied almost immediately before Hanna landed a two-pointer from play.
Desmond McClean and Enright kept Gort na Móna in contention, with Enright also converting a two-point free late in the half. Despite the visitors enjoying a strong spell while playing down the slope, Aldergrove’s two goals left them 2-9 to 0-12 ahead at the interval.
Jack Ireland reduced the deficit with a point only ten seconds after the restart, but Aldergrove quickly reasserted their authority. McGarry completed a move that began deep inside the home defence and then punished another poor kick-out before converting a two-point free.
O’Neill made a brilliant point-blank save at the other end, a moment which prevented Gort na Móna from gaining the goal they needed to transform the contest.
Aldergrove continued to pull away through a succession of well-taken scores. Cormac McGarry landed an excellent point from the left, while Gort na Móna replied through Corrigan and a Tarlach Enright free.
The home side’s strength around midfield, where Ryan Owens was outstanding, allowed them to dominate possession during the closing stages. Substitute scores added further gloss before Hanna struck two points in quick succession.
Aldergrove finally put the result beyond doubt in the 26th minute when substitute Chris McCarthy finished a well-worked team move to the net. Seamus McGarry added another point before the hosts completed a convincing 3-20 to 0-17 victory.
With three wins and six points, Aldergrove now sit proudly at the top of Group One and are assured of qualification. On this evidence, their midfield power, defensive strength and lethal forward play should make them serious contenders for the Intermediate Championship title.
Aldergrove: 1 Shane O’Neill, 2 Corey Fogarty, 3 Emmett Irvine, 4 Logan Fleming, 5 Chris McVeigh, 6 Eoin Gough, 7 Sean Patrick Fay, 8 Ryan Owens, 9 Connlaodh Hendron, 10 Gerald Mallon, 11 Seamus McGarry, 12 Oisin Graham, 13 Ronan Hanna, 14 Lewis Smyth, 15 Cormac McGarry.
Gort na Móna: 1 Anton Farelly, 2 Darren Cahill, 3 Ciaran Donnelly, 4 Padraig Cournane, 5 Tiernan Morton, 6 Michael Savage, 7 Eoghan Corrigan, 8 Jack Ireland, 9 Christopher Carson, 10 Ruairí O’Scoláin, 11 Tarlach Enright, 12 Manus McMullan, 13 Daire Keenan, 14 Desmond McClean, 15 Matthew McConnell.
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