Minor Hurling League Division 1

Ruairí Óg, Cushendall 5-12 Oisín Magee Gaels 1-12

Venue: Páirc Mhuire, Cushendall

PICS BY SEAN TROWLEN

A breathtaking four-goal haul from star man Conlaodh McNaughton powered Ruairí Óg, Cushendall to a convincing victory over Oisín Magee Gaels in this Minor Hurling League Division 1 clash at Páirc Mhuire.

Despite the commanding final scoreline, this was a game of two distinct halves. The visiting combination side of Glenariffe Oisin and Glenravel Con Magees utilized a strong breeze to their advantage in the opening period, causing real problems for the home defence before Cushendall clicked into a different gear.

Both sides traded early wides as they settled into the contest before Nicholas McLaughlin opened the scoring for Cushendall with a free in the fourth minute. However, backed by the wind, the Gaels quickly found their rhythm. Oisín Gillan leveled the game with a fine point before rattling the back of the net just two minutes later to give the visitors a 1-01 to 0-01 lead.

Canice McIntosh stretched their advantage with a well-taken score, but Cushendall struck back at the 16-minute mark when Conlaodh McNaughton fired home his first goal of the day.

Oisín Magees continued to press, with McIntosh deadly from placed balls, keeping his side ahead 1-04 to 1-02 as the half drew to a close. But the momentum shifted dramatically in the final minutes before the whistle. McNaughton struck for his second goal at the 28-minute mark, instantly followed by a McLaughlin free and a point from McNaughton himself. That late 1-02 blitz turned a deficit into a 2-04 to 1-04 lead for Ruairí Óg at the interval.

If the visitors were hoping to reset at halftime, their hopes were dashed within 60 seconds of the restart. McNaughton burst through to complete his hat-trick in the very first minute, effectively breaking Oisín Magees’ resistance. Jake Laffan quickly added a point to extend the gap to seven.

To their credit, the visitors kept fighting. Oisín Gillan, Conol Boyd, and Canice McIntosh all raised white flags to keep the scoreboard ticking, but they simply had no answer for McNaughton. The Ruairí Óg talisman knocked over two quick points before securing his fourth goal of the game in the 38th minute, pushing the score out to 4-07 to 1-07.

From there, the home side comfortably dictated the terms of engagement. Nicholas McLaughlin and Jake Laffan kept the umpires busy with well-taken points, while Oisín Gillan battled hard at the other end to grab a couple of consolation scores, including a free.

The game grew slightly more physical in the final ten minutes, resulting in yellow cards for a few players. However, Ruairí Óg had the final say when Jayden Kinney McNaughton found the net in the 55th minute to cap off a brilliant second-half team performance.

• Star Man: Conlaodh McNaughton (Ruairí Óg) – An unplayable 4-04 from play.
• Turning Point: Cushendall’s 1-02 scoring burst in the final two minutes of the first half, which wrestled the lead away from Oisín/Magee just as they looked to be heading into the break on top.
• Key Scorers (Ruairí Óg): Conlaodh McNaughton (4-04), Nicholas McLaughlin (0-05), Jake Laffan (0-03), Jayden (1-00).
• Key Scorers (Oisín/Magee): Oisín Gillan (1-04), Canice McIntosh (0-05), Conol Boyd (0-01).

Ruairí Óg

 1. Shane Coulter, 2. Charlie McAlister, 3. Paddy Morgan, 4. Cormac Burke, 5. Sean McAuley, 6. Conor McCann, 7. Callum Quinn, 8. Rian Laverty, 9. Shane McQuillan, 10. Jayden Kinney McNaughton, 11. Nicholas McLaughlin, 12. Conall Óg Trainor, 13. Jake Laffan, 14. Connlaodh McNaughton, and 15. Cahir McCambridge.

Oisin Magee Gaels 1. Benjamin Duncan, 4. Charlie Dunne, 5. Carter Kerr-McKillop, 6. Ronan Magee, 7. Niall Montgomery, 8. Dara Ward, 9. Odhran Kerr, 10. Niall McKeown, 11. Cadhan Graham, 12. Conall Boyd, 13. Dara Higgins

TO SEE MORE OF SEAN TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/ZXu7K2AESszTTK/?invite=b6198c7d-5d42-4648-a8b7-4c92dcde956c

In the other games in Division 1 of the Minor League Dunloy beat Ballycastle 3-12 to 2-13 in Ballycastle, Loughgiel beat Rossa by 4-14 to 1-14 at Rossa Park, St Paul’s beat St John’s 0-23 to 1-15 at Corrigan Park while Sarsfields beat Gort na Mona beat Sarsfields by 4-11 to 2-26 in a real thriller at Enright Park.

If you are involved with your club’s minor team and would like coverage of their games get someone to do a match report and send it to john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk

Last week, Templepatrick Golf Club and the Hilton Hotel played host to a highly successful Antrim Hurlers Golf Day for which Bourke Sports was the main sponsor. The event drew a fantastic turnout of 120 players, all gathering to raise vital funds for the Antrim Hurlers Training Fund. This financial boost comes at a perfect time as the squad gears up for their Joe McDonagh Cup campaign, which throws in this coming Saturday against Ulster neighbours Down at Dunloy at 1:30 PM.

Out on the course, the scoring was highly competitive, but Team OPS—consisting of Seamus O’Prey, Barry Mulgrew, Kevin Toland, and John McCallin—ultimately stole the show. They posted the top score of the day, walking away with the grand prize of four 43-inch TVs. Second place went to Team B4B Group, captained by former county player Neil McAuley alongside Conall Fitzpatrick, David Ferris, and Mark Fraser. The Cushendall trio of Stephen Walsh, Scott Walsh, and Christy McNaughton secured third place, while fourth place was claimed by the St. John’s team of Shea Shannon, CJ McKenna, and Tommy Shannon, who were rewarded with four £50 Hilton vouchers.

Alongside the team events, several players were recognized for standout individual performances. Seamus O’Prey capped off a brilliant day for the winning Team OPS by taking home the best individual score, earning a £150 voucher for McGurk’s. Meanwhile, Scott Walsh of Ruairi Og, Cushendall, smashed the longest drive of the day to win a £100 Amazon voucher, which was sponsored by Fibrus. The event concluded with the highly anticipated raffle, where Kevin Toland, also of Team OPS, was drawn as the lucky winner. He took home a fantastic prize package that included a one-night stay with dinner for two at the Hilton Hotel Spa, plus an additional £100 voucher, rounding off a superb day of fundraising and golf.

Of course Bert Trowlen was there of the Saffron Gael capturing the action along with his trusty assistant Tyler.

Former couunty chairman Dr John McSparran displays his golfing skills as he drives off the first tee at the Antrim Hurlers Golf Day

TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PHOTOS FROM THE GOLF DAY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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Antrim Hurling League – Division 3

Glenravel 0-14 Armoy 3-19 – at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel

The last time these two Clubs met on the hurling field it was under lights in the 2025 Junior Hurling Championship  final in Ballycastle when Glenravel took the spoils. Today it was very different as Armoy avenged that defeat with a very strong second half performance securing a fourteen point winning margin. The home side were forced to field without six of the starting lineup that won the Abbey Shield midweek so it was always going to be an uphill struggle for them; and so it proved.

Armoy opened the scoring in the second  minute and were never level or behind from that point onwards. With four minutes gone they led by three, their points coming from the McBrides, Tarlach and PJ. Joe McKay pulled two points back from placed ball; indeed McKay helped himself to eleven of Glenravel’s scores overall – all from frees in what was a masterclass of the art and it was his free taking that kept Glenravel in the game up  until the Armoy goal fest in the second half which effectively killed the game as a contest. For most of the first half Armoy managed to maintain a four or five point advantage with Tarlach McBride providing most of them – again from placed balls. Armoy led by four on a 0-12 to 0-08 scoreline when the thirty minutes were up but Glenravel closed out the two added minutes with a couple of fine scores, one an eighty metre free from McKay and the other a lovely team move the length of the field allowing Ciaran Laverty to close the gap to two when referee Fergus McAllister blew for half time.

Glenravel brought on a couple of subs at the start of the second half with Odhran McAleenan and Stevie Acheson joining the fray but Armoy, buoyed by a strong breeze pointed in the opening minute and then Conor Christie found himself in an acre of space in front of goal and duly fired to the net. McKay would pull one back for the home team but defensive gaps were starting to appear at the wrong end of the field for Glenravel. Tarlach McBride pointed and Conor Christie popped up again with too much time and space which resulted in another green flag for the men in blue and white. Emmet O’Hara added to Glenravel’s misery and suddenly there was a ten point gap and only a quarter of the game remaining. Ciaran Laverty put over a nice score for the home side before Armoy recorded the best score of the game when Emmet O’Hara raised a white flag from a sideline cut from well out the field. Joe McKay would record another couple of scores for Glenravel but it was the visitors who finished stronger with three unanswered points from Emmet O’Hara, Thomas Burns and Arthur Devlin as they ran out convincing winners 3-19 to 0-14.

Armoy

1 Conor Watterson, 2 Callum Coyles, 3 Liam Dillon, 4 Joseph McFetridge, 5 Colin Lordan, 6 Arthur Devlin, 7 Ciaran McCormick-McKenna, 8 Kieran McToal, 9 Eoin Bailey, 10 Thomas Burns, 11 Tarlach McBride, 12 Emmet O Hara, 13 Cormac Doherty, 14 Mark Christie, 15 PJ McBride.

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Con Magees

1 Michael McDonald, 2 Brian O’Neill, 3 James Duffin, 4 Oisin McKeown, 5 Harry Fyfe, 6 Caolan Lennon, 7 Eoin McCusker, 8 Fergus Donaghy, 9 Niall Dickson, 10 Luke Laughlin, 11 Ronan McCormick, 12 Conor Laverty, 13 Cormac McKeown, 14 Ciaran Laverty, 15 Joseph McKay.

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Cushendall 2-22 Ballygalget 2-07

Venue: Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall

PICS BY SEAN PAUL McKILLOP

Ruairí Óg Cushendall delivered a dominant second-half performance to secure a comprehensive 15-point victory over Ballygalget in this Antrim Hurling League Division 1 clash at Pairc Mhuire. Despite a spirited first-half display from the visitors, which saw them briefly take the lead, Cushendall’s attacking firepower, led by a devastating 2-4 tally from Fintan Bradley, proved too much to handle.

The game began at a frantic pace, with veteran marksman Neil McManus opening the scoring from a free just nine seconds in. Ballygalget’s John McManus replied immediately from play, setting the tone for a tit-for-tat opening period.

Cushendall edged ahead with scores from Callagh Mooney and a massive long-range free from goalkeeper Conor McAllister. Ballygalget stayed well in touch, picking off impressive points from Oisin Coulter, a Marc Fisher free, and another from John McManus to keep the scoreboard tight.

The turning point of the half arrived in the 24th minute. Following an Eoin McDermott point that leveled the game at 0-6 apiece, Ballygalget’s Fearghal Gilmore found the back of the net to stun the hosts and give his side a sudden 1-6 to 0-6 advantage.

However, the Ardsmen’s lead was short-lived. Cushendall responded right away, reeling off four unanswered points before the short whistle. Sean McAuley and Edmond McQuillan found their range, while Neil McManus slotted two crucial late scores (one free, one from play) to send Cushendall into the dressing rooms with a narrow 0-10 to 1-6 lead.

The second half was largely a one-sided affair as Cushendall found another gear. Edmond McQuillan fired over straight from the restart, signaling the beginning of a relentless Ruairí Óg onslaught. Fiontan Bradley quickly added two frees to extend the gap.

Ballygalget managed their only point of the second half in the 38th minute through Brook Byers, but the game was soon put beyond doubt. In the 39th minute, Bradley struck for his first goal of the afternoon. Just four minutes later, the dynamic corner-forward raised his second green flag, completely taking the wind out of Ballygalget’s sails and stretching the lead to 2-13 to 1-7.

Cushendall’s bench also made a significant impact. Thomas McLaughlin, introduced for Christy McNaughton early in the half, registered two fine points from play. EdMcQuillan continued to cause havoc, finishing the day with 0-4, while Neil McManus, Callagh Mooney, Joseph McNaughton, and Austin Birt all tagged on scores to turn the result into a rout.

Deep into stoppage time, Ballygalget substitute Dara Pucci managed to breach the Cushendall defence to grab a late consolation goal, but it was purely academic at that stage.

Scorers for Ruairí Óg Cushendall:

• Fintan Bradley: 2-4 (0-3 frees)
• Neil McManus: 0-5 (0-2 frees)
• Edmond McQuillan: 0-4
• Callagh Mooney: 0-2
• Oisin Birt: 0-2
• Thomas McLaughlin: 0-2
• Conor McAllister: 0-1 (0-1 free)
• Sean McAuley: 0-1
• Joseph McNaughton: 0-1

Scorers for Baile Mhic Uileagóid (Ballygalget):

• Fearghal Gilmore: 1-0
• Dara Pucci: 1-0
• John McManus: 0-2
• Oisin Coulter: 0-1
• Marc Fisher: 0-1 (0-1 free)
• Michael Johnson: 0-1
• Eoin McDermott: 0-1
• Brook Byers: 0-1

Substitutions:

• Cushendall: Thomas McLaughlin for Christy McNaughton (36 mins), Nicholas McLaughlin for Neil McManus (50 mins).
• Ballygalget: Dara Pucci for Michael Johnson (61 mins).