Doherty Group Intermediate Championship Final

Loughgiel 0-12 Dunloy 1-6

Cuchullain’s Dunloy looked to be in pole position in this Intermediate Camogie Championship final at Cloney on Saturday afternoon when they turned around leading 1-6 to 0-7 at the halfway stage despite playing into the elements.

A goal from Dearbhail Elliott had put them in a strong position with Eimear McMullan converting three frees to keep the scoreboard ticking and Mary McArthur 0-2 and Adria McAllister completing their first half total.

Rose McMullan kept the Shamrocks in touch as she converted 0-5 from frees with Eimear McKinley and Anna McKillop their other first half scorers and McMullan’s free taking would ultimately prove the difference

With the elements now in their favour Dunloy were expected to push on and they did enjoy the lion’s share of possession in the opening 10 minutes of the second half with the Loughiel defence repelling everything that came their way.

It seemed only a matter of time until Dunloy would add to their first half total but it was Loughgiel who soaked up the early pressure before opening the scoring themselves through the stick of Rose McMullan in the 10^th minute.

As the Loughgiel momentum grew the opposition began to concede needless free and McMullan continued to punish every indiscretion with points in the 14^th, 18^th and 20^th minute to move her side ahead.

There was no quarter being asked or given as Dunloy fought to open their account but they missed a couple of descent chance from frees or were being denied by a rock solid Shamrock’s defence.

At the other end Loughgiel looked in for a goal when Erin McMullan robbed keeper, Aimie Shirt but Grace Kearns got back to make a timely interception before clearing the danger.

It was Loughgiel who would have the final say with Eimear McKinley concluding the scoring with an injury time point to move her side three ahead, the Shamrocks only score from play in the second half, but it proved enough to see the girls in White & Red lift the trophy.

Una McGovern, Sarah Flavin and Shauna Doran were solid in a Shamrocks defence who all played their part in closing down their opponents and denying them space.

Anna Smyth and Louise McKillop worked hard at midfield while Rose McMullan gave an exhibition of free taking in attack. The Loughgiel number 10 would end the game as top scorer with 0-9 to her name.

Dunloy certainly played their part in making this a very competitive and entertaining contest and Eimear McMullan, Grace Kearns, Micha Kearns, Dearbhail Elliott and Mary McArthur were in fine form but in the end their inability to turn opportunities into scores in the second half proved their downfall.

Loughgiel: Shauna McKillop, 2 Caoimhe McGarry, 3 Una McGovern, 4 Brianna McCloskey, 5 Sarah Flavin, 6 Shauna Doran, 7 Zoe Cassley, 8 Louise McKillop, 9 Anna Smyth, 10 Rose McMullan, 11 Ceala Dobbin, 12 Theresa Hill, 13 Anna McKillop, 14 Eimear McKinley, 15 Carlina Sullivan

Dunloy: 1 Aimie Shirt, 2 Kerry Rose Drain, 3 Grace Kearns, 4 Ciara McMullan, 5 Carragh Boyle, 6 Eimear McMullan, 7 Sarah Louise Kearns, 8 Micha Cunning, 9 Erin Trainor, 10 Clannaid O’Kane, 11 Dearbhail Elliott, 12 Adria McAllister, 13 Erin McMullan, 14 Mary McArthur, 15 Orla McMullan

Carly McNamee for Clannaid O’Kane

Referee: Sean McLaren

McKeever Hotels Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship

Carey Faughs 0-17 Glenarm Shane O’Neill’s 1-1

Carey Faughs secured a hard-fought victory over Glenarm in the Antrim Intermediate Hurling semi-final at the Antrim Centre of Excellence at Dunsilly, holding on for a 0-17 to 1-13 win to book their place in the final against neighbours Cushendun. Despite a relatively low-scoring first half, the well-contested match provided an entertaining spectacle that went right down to the wire.

Carey Faughs started brightly, with Patrick Gillan opening the scoring in the first minute. James ‘Rocket’ Black quickly doubled the advantage, and a further point saw Carey race into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead by the fourth minute. Glenarm responded through Niall McGarel in the fifth minute, but Carey maintained control, extending their lead to 0-5 to 0-1 by the 10th minute following a 20-metre free from Gillan and a long-range effort from Shea Hunter.

Glenarm began to settle into the game, with McGarel pointing a free. A missed goal opportunity involving two pf tje fprwardl temporarily stalled their momentum, but they quickly recovered after Conlith McKinley pointed from 40 metres for Carey. Daniel Black fired back for Glenarm to narrow the gap to 0-6 to 0-4. Sustained pressure from Glenarm paid off as McGarel scored twice in quick succession—including a superb effort from the left flank—to level the match at 0-6 apiece by the 20th minute.

Carey regained the initiative with a 60-metre point from Shea Hunter and a quick follow-up score from Callum Cane. Hunter struck again from distance on 29 minutes to put Carey three ahead, but Glenarm finished the half strongly. Ciaran Magill pulled a point back before Daniel Black broke away to send the ball over the bar, leaving Carey with a slender 0-9 to 0-8 lead at the break.

Glenarm stormed out of the blocks in the second half. Ciaran Magill fired over a fantastic point from the sideline in the first minute, followed immediately by a second. A third unanswered point from distance suddenly put Glenarm two points clear. Carey finally registered their first score of the half on eight minutes through a Gillan free, and Shea Hunter levelled the game two minutes later with a beautiful strike from the 65-metre line.

The final quarter saw Carey slowly pull away. Gillan proved unerring from placed balls, converting frees in the 13th and 17th minutes. Michael Furey responded for Glenarm from distance to make it 0-13 to 0-12, but Carey accelerated again. Gillan pointed another free, which was brought fforward following dissent, and Caolan McCaughan added a fine score from play. Fiachra McVeigh stretched the lead further in the 25th minute, though his effort was immediately cancelled out by Glenarm’s Sean O’Boyle.

After Gillan converted yet another free on 28 minutes, Carey looked comfortable with a four-point cushion. However, dramatic late scenes saw Glenarm substitute Paddy McAuley fire a goal with the last puck of the game, cutting the deficit to the bare minimum. The referee’s whistle sounded seconds later, ensuring Carey Faughs survived the late scare to advance to the final.

Carey Faughs: 1 Steven McGinn, 2 Dónall McKinley, 3 Sean Mc Bride, 4 Eoin an Chnoic, 5 Michael McVeigh, 6 Peadar McVeigh, 7 Shea Hunter, 8 Zach Mac Eacháin, 9 Pádraig de Buitléir, 10 Conlith Mac Fhionnlaoich, 11 Caolán Mac Eachin, 12 Seán Mc, 13 Pádraig Ó Gileáin, 14 Séamus Ó Duibh, 15 Fiachra McVeigh, 16 Cathal Mc Auley, 17 Ryan Mac Uaid, 18 Colm Ó Catháin, 19 Breandán Mac Uaid, 20 Eoin McKinley, 21 Eoin Mac Fhearaigh, 22 Seamus Seosamh Ó Broin, 23 Oisín Ó hÉilí, 24 Criostóir Butler, 25 Cathair Brogan, 26 Colm McBride, 27 Conall Mac Fhearaigh, 28 Séamus Mac Néill, 29 Aindriú Mag Fhearaigh, 30 Ádhamh Hughes.

Glenarm: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Ciaran McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 John Scullion, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Ciaran Magill, 7 Michael Furey, 8 Conal Ward, 9 Aidan Scullion, 10 Sean McDermott, 11 Niall McGarel, 12 Daniel Black, 13 Dylan McLaughlin, 14 Darren Hamill, 15 Sean O’Boyle, 16 Liam Mulvenna, 17 Declan McDermott, 18 Niall Rodgers, 19 Aidan O’Neill, 20 Liam Og McLoughlin, 21 Liam O’Neill, 22 Ben O’Boyle, 23 Paddy McAuley, 24 Sean O’Hare, 25 Rory Mulvenna, 26 Ryan McLoughlin, 27 Ryan O’Boyle, 28 Anthony McNeill, 29 Shea McConnell.

Referee – Kevin Parke

TO MORE OF DYAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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Moneyglass (Antrim Champions) v St Eunan’s (Donegal Champions)

Taylorstown Road, Moneyglass – Sunday at 2 pm

Defending Ulster senior club champions St Ergnats Moneyglass open their title defence this Sunday in their new grounds at the Taylorstown Road, when they welcome Donegal champions St Eunan’s for a highly anticipated first-round clash. While the Antrim champions are looking to build on last year’s historic All-Ireland run, the Letterkenny side is stepping onto the provincial stage for the first time in 21 years.

For St Eunan’s, the return to Ulster senior football has been a whirlwind. Fresh off a decisive victory over Termon in the Donegal final last weekend the Letterkenny side will relish the challenge.

Standing in their way is a formidable Moneyglass outfit. Last year, under the guidance of Donegal’s Maxi Curran, they became Antrim’s first-ever Ulster senior club champions and came agonizingly close to All-Ireland glory at Croke Park. Having recently secured their sixth county crown, their ambition remains undiminished.”

Moneyglass continues to balance emerging young talent with the invaluable experience of seasoned leaders like Cathy Carey. Carey has been the shining light in Moneyglass and Antrim football for many years now, her competitive spirit still as strong as ever.

This years championship format is structured differently, following the same pattern that most counties now use, but many would argue that straight knock-out football is the more exciting format and should be maintained. Change has come however so Moneyglass and St Eunan’s are drawn into a group alongside the Fermanagh champions (either Kinawley or Derrygonnelly, who meet in their own decider this Sunday). And so another exciting chapter in the Moneyglass story begins on Sunday on the Taylorstown Road

Junior A Hurling Championship Final

Sarsfield’s v Lamh Dhearg – Sunday 4-00pm Davitt’s Park

Adam Murray’s 53rd minute goal for Lamh Dhearg was crucial in his side defying the odds and reaching the Final of the Casement Social Club Antrim JHC with a 1-14-0-13 victory over Glen Rovers Armoy at Dunsilly.

Four weeks and a day after the sides met at the same venue and the North Antrim men ran out convincing 0-30-2-14 winners, there was a lot more at stake on Saturday evening with the winner progressing to the decider against Sarsfields on Sunday.

Lamh Dhearg went into that game as underdogs but simply refused to let the underdogs tag or that previous group game defeat deflect them from their belief that they could overcome the challenge of favourites Glen Rovers.

Murray top scored for the Hammastown side with 1-7, Colm McConville Jnr also weighing in with scores while the experience of the Herron’s, PJ in goals and Mick at the other end of the field will be vital if Lamh Dhearg are to cause what would be a massive upset.

Sarsfiel’s made the drop from Intermediate at the end of last season and have lived up to their favourites tag with comfortable wins throughout the group stages.

They were pushed to the pin of their collars in the semi-final however by Gort na Mona at Dunsilly before finally running out 0-19 to 0-17 winners over the Mona Bye Pass side.

For the majority of this junior hurling championship semi-final, it looked like there was a shock on the cards.  Gort na Mona had come to Dunsilly to make a mockery of the pre-championship tag adorned on Sarsfields and were in pole position to book a final place.

Leading by three with a little over 10 minutes remaining, Turf Lodge’s finest would only register one more score and the Paddies found an edge in the closing stages.

Sarsfield’s found another gear with a quarter of the game remaining to edge out a gallant opponent. McCartan and Ruairi O’Scollain split the posts by the 48^th minute but the Turf Lodge men would only register one further point in the time that remained.

A brace of frees from Smyth in injury time ensured the Paddies would take the honours and seal their place in the junior decider with Lámh Dhearg their next hurdle on Sunday at Davitt’s.

Kevin McKernan top scored for the Stewartstown Road side and Daniel Smyth, Donal McKernan and Enda McCartan were prominent in the scoring stakes for the ‘Paddies’ who will start as firm favourites on Sunday on the Fall’s Road.

The Wards, David and Jay, Caolan McKernan, Nicholas O’Mullane and Fionn Jemfrey are others who will bring plenty to the table for Sarsfield’s in what looks on paper like a David v Goliath clash and the greater experience of Sarsfield’s should see them through.

Junior B Hurling Championship Final

Ardoyne v All Saints – 7-00pm Dunsilly

Tonight’s (Friday) Junior B Hurling championship final at Dunsilly brings together two sides that will need no introduction to each other. Kickham’s Ardoyne and All Saints Ballymena finished first and second respectively in Division 4 of the ACHL, the North Belfast men finishing two points ahead of the Ballymena men.

Both sides recorded a home win against their opponents in a fiercely contested league campaign with Ardoyne coming out tops at the ‘Crickey’ and All Saints gaining a little bit of revenge with a win at Slemish Park

That game in Ballymena saw Naomh Uile claim a thrilling victory over Ciceam Ard Eoin in a fiery, top-of-the-table clash at Slemish Park. The home side secured two vital league points to keep their title hopes alive, halting Ardoyne’s chance to virtually wrap up the silverware.

In the end it wasn’t enough as the Kickham’s went on to claim the title and will go into tonight’s encounter as slight favourites but they will face a stern challenge from the Ballymena side.

Ardoyne took a time to get going in their semi-final win over Loch Mor Dal gCais at Cliftonville and the North Belfast side trailed 0-2 to 0-8 to the Loch Shore side at the halfway stage and looked in trouble.

The Kickham’s sprang to life however in the second half and gave immediate notice that they were going to have a say in this game, racing into attack and winning a free that was duly pointed by Patric McGreevey. A tense free-taking shoot-out ensued between McGreevey and Turley, with McGreevey taking the honours to drag Ardoyne back to within two points by the 50th minute.

Aaron Stewart began to exert a major influence on the game, landing a long range point from play for Ardoyne. When the final whistle blew for normal time, the sides could not be separated, locked at 1-13 to 0-16.

With Loch Mór reduced to 14 men and Ardoyne finally finding their rhythm, extra time belonged entirely to the home side. With Heaney providing his trademark high-energy game and sharpshooter McGreevey in lethal form, Ardoyne completely shut up shop, keeping Loch Mór scoreless throughout the entire period of extra time. Paul McGuigan’s tireless hard work throughout the afternoon was justly rewarded with a point from play to cap off the scoring.

Patric McGreevey top scored for the Kickham’s and Aaran Stewart, Paul McGuigan, Jim Og McAuley, Paul Baker and Cormac Barnes are just some of the names that Ardoyne will be pinning their hopes of completing a league and championship double on.

All Saints will have something to say about that. They had a fairly comfortable win over Belfast Saints in their semi-final at Woodlands but will know that Ardoyne will provide a much stiffer test in the final.

Ronan McAlister, Dwayne McKee, Robert Crooks, Luke O’Rawe, Damien Kelly, Cormac and Jack Magill and Archie McGreevey are just some of the names leading the All Saints challenge but they are likely to be without Pearse Martin and Eoin McGuigan who both missed the semi-final through injury.

Ardoyne will start as slight favourites but if All Saints can put their best game together then there is unlikely to be much between them at the end.