Category / Division 1

by thesaffrongael

Strong First Half Seals Dunloy Victory

Senior Hurling League Division One

Dunloy 3-16 Ballygalget 1-14

Sunday 19 April

Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballygalget

Dunloy maintained their winning start to their league campaign as they defeated Ballygalget with eight to spare.  The foundations for the win were laid in the first half that saw the Cuchullains bag their three goals, two in the space of 60 seconds before the half time whistle.  Although they did manage to reach double figures with their wide count in the opening 30 minutes.

Ciaran Elliott (two) and Oisin McCallin were the Cuchullains who scored the goals while defensively, the Cuchullains were well organised and gave Ballygalget very little openings.  Daire McMullan and Ryan McGarry excelled while Ryan Elliott’s puckouts were excellent throughout.

The home side fared much better in the second half and like Dunloy, struggled with their accuracy in front of the target.  They managed to restrict Dunloy to just one point in a ten minute spell that saw them score 1-4, Shea Pucci hit the post with a major chance while also recording three wides.

Dunloy finished the game strongly however to extinguish any hopes of a Ballygalget win.

It was a first half the visitors dominated and they should have been further ahead before the short whistle.  Yet, it was Ballygalget who started the game on the front foot.  Michael Dorrian opening the scoring and while Oisin McCallin fired the opening point over for Dunloy in the third minute, points from Marc Fisher and Owen McDermott (two) had the home side three clear after the opening 10 minutes.  They would only register another two points in the remaining 20 minutes however as Dunloy took over.

Two points separated the sides when Ciaran Elliott scored his first goal of the game.  Nigel Elliott with the ball into corner as Ciaran collected, rounding his man with a burst of pace and finished expertly.

Fisher dissected the posts for his first of the contest but four unanswered points from McCallin (two frees), Chrissy McMahon and Tom McFerran stretched Dunloy into a four point lead.

A brilliant point from McDermott in the 23rd minute, wide on the left and over his shoulder was the ‘galget’s last score of the half as Dunloy finished strongly.  Points from McCallin (free) and Nicky McKeague preceded a brace of majors at the end of the half.  The first coming from McCallin as he finished superbly from a Paudie McGillihan pass while Ciaran Elliott finished well having received the sliotar from Ryan McGarry to leave the half time score 3-8 to 0-6 in Dunloy’s favour.

The home side opened the scoring in the second half but a trio of points from Tom McFerran, Nigel Elliott and McCallin stretched Dunloy’s lead further.  Points from Michael Dorrian and Fisher (free) were answered to by points from McFerran brothers Eoin and Tom but the home side began to find momentum. 

Points came from Dorrian and John McManus before Oisin McCamphill split the uprights with an excellent score from wide on the left but the home side were well on top.  Their defence were dealing with the ball coming their way and Dunloy couldn’t get any change.  Points followed from Fisher and substitute Dara Pucci (both frees) before Owen McDermott took his tally to 1-3 for the afternoon with a super goal after collecting a long pass from Fisher.

Dunloy looked to have weathered the home side’s momentum however with a brace of scores from McMahon although they managed to reach the 20 mark with wides overall before McDermott had the final say of the game in the first minute of injury time.

Ballygalget will hope to get back to winning ways when they host Loughgiel next Sunday while Dunloy will hope their momentum continues when Naomh Éanna visit Pearse Park on the same day.

TEAMS

DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Oran Quinn, Daire McMullan, Sean Og Blaney; Aodhan McGarry, Eamon Smyth, Ryan McGarry; Aaron Crawford, Paudie McGilligan; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Ciaran Elliott, Oisin McCallin, Chrissy McMahon

Subs: Eoin McFerran for A Crawford (36), Conor Kinsella for S Og Blaney (42), Oisin McCamphill for O McCallin (45); A Crawford for P McGilligan (59)

Scorers: O McCallin 1-5 (4fs); C Elliott 2-00; C McMahon 0-4 (1f); T McFerran 0-3; N McKeague 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; E McFerran 0-1; O McCamphill 0-1

BALLYGALGET: Eoin Clarke; Michael Toner, Ciaran Watson, Connaire Monan; Marc Fisher, John McManus, Brook Byers; Jordan Doran, Caolan Coulter; Oisin Coulter, Michael Dorrian, Cathal Coulter; Eoin Pucci, Daniel Toner, Owen McDermott

Subs: Shea Pucci for E Pucci (30); Dara Pucci for S Pucci (45); Cian Clarke for Caolan Coulter (51); Artie Og Birt for Cathal Coulter (51)

Scorers: O McDermott 1-4; M Fisher 0-5 (3fs); M Dorrian 0-3; J McManus 0-1; D Pucci 0-1 (1f)

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

by thesaffrongael

Cushendun finish each half strongly to stay unbeaten

Antrim Hurling League Division 2

Cloughmills 2-10 Cushendun 1-20

Report and pics by Micky Morgan

Going into this Division 2 Antrim Hurling League fixture at Fr Leonard Park, most pundits were anticipating a rather one-sided contest between table-topping Cushendun Emmet’s and a struggling St Brigid’s Cloughmills side. However, the game overseen by referee Fiontan McCotter proved to be anything but straightforward for the league leaders. It ultimately took a strong finish to both halves for the visitors to secure the points and avoid a major upset on the road.

The home side started brightly, defying expectations when James O’Boyle opened the scoring in the second minute. Cushendun quickly settled with points from Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill and Connor McHugh, but Cloughmills struck a major blow in the ninth minute when James Doherty fired to the net. The Emmet’s response was immediate, with Colm McKeegan raising a green flag of his own just a minute later to swing the momentum back. The visitors then began to dictate the pace, tagging on points through Loaf, Shane McQuillan, McKeegan, and Pierce Bannon to build a solid lead. Cloughmills remained fiercely competitive, however, and a brilliant sideline cut from Michael Devlin was soon followed by a Stephen Smith goal in the 25th minute to keep the hosts right in the mix. True to the pattern of the game, Cushendun rallied just before the break. A flurry of late first-half scores from McHugh, Loaf McNeill, and Callam Kilgore ensured the Emmet’s took a 1-11 to 2-05 lead into the dressing rooms.

The second half continued in a similarly tense vein. Connor McHugh extended the Emmet’s lead straight from the restart, though Michael Devlin quickly replied with a free for the hosts. The sides essentially went score for score through the middle third of the half. Loaf was highly dependable from placed balls for the visitors, while McHugh continued to consistently trouble the home defense. Cloughmills simply refused to lie down, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with a spirited point from Dara Waterson and a quickfire brace from Conor Laverty. When Devlin slotted another free in the 28th minute, it left the score at 1-17 to 2-10, meaning just four points separated the sides as normal time elapsed.

With the game hanging in the balance and an upset still a distinct possibility heading into injury time, Cushendun drew on their league-leading pedigree to finally put the contest to bed. Conor ‘Smiley’ McHugh stepped up when his team needed him most, taking complete control of the dying minutes. He fired over three crucial points in the 31st, 33rd, and 35th minutes—the final one coming from a free—to finally break Cloughmills’ resistance. Those late interventions secured a hard-fought 1-20 to 2-10 victory for the Emmet’s, leaving them with a seven-point winning margin that perhaps didn’t fully reflect just how hard they had to work for it.

Cushendun (Total: 1-20)

  • Connor McHugh: 0-09 (1 free)
  • Conlaoth McNeill: 0-07 (5 frees)
  • Colm McKeegan: 1-01
  • Shane McQuillan: 0-01
  • Pierce Bannon: 0-01
  • Callam Kilgore: 0-01

St Brigid’s Cloughmills (Total: 2-10)

  • Michael Devlin: 0-04 (2 frees, 1 sideline cut)
  • James Doherty: 1-01
  • Stephen Smith: 1-00
  • Conor Laverty: 0-02
  • James O’Boyle: 0-01
  • Ryan McFarlane: 0-01
  • Dara Waterson: 0-01

  • TO SEE MORE OF MICKY MORGAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/3G8xzp8khxpoce/?invite=6e4f4f7a-e497-4a92-aae1-c79c5bd9465e

by thesaffrongael

Antrim’s late comeback earns them their 12th Ulster title

Ulster Minor Camogie Final

Antrim 2-17 Derry 2-16

Venue- CushLig an Airgid – Cushendun

The Ulster minor camogie final at Cushendun on Saturday evening delivered a classic encounter, with Antrim ultimately retaining their title in a 2-17 to 2-16 thriller against a resilient Derry side. While a dramatic 56th-minute goal from Emma Quinn looked to have secured a fifth title for the Oak Leaf county, the holders demonstrated remarkable composure in the closing stages. Late points from Eimear McCaughan and Player of the Match Caoimhe McErlean allowed Antrim to claw back the lead and secure the trophy for the 12th time in their history.

Derry enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, using the breeze to establish a 0-6 to 0-2 lead within the first quarter thanks to the accuracy of Emma Quinn, Grace McCartney, and Ciara O’Loughlin. Antrim found a lifeline when a long-range free dropped into the Derry square, falling kindly for Eimear McCaughan who made no mistake in finding the back of the net. The remainder of the half was a tightly contested affair where both sides traded scores, leaving Derry with a narrow 0-12 to 1-7 lead as the teams headed into the break.

The momentum shifted immediately upon the restart as Antrim hit four unanswered points through Aoife Fitzsimons, Caoimhe McErlean, and Brogan Graham to take a two-point lead within four minutes. Derry responded with a point from Brianna Donaghy and a clinical goal from Emma Quinn to regain the advantage, but the lead was short-lived. Barely a minute later, Louise McBride got the decisive touch on a cross into the danger area to put Antrim back in front.

The final quarter was defined by high tension as Antrim struggled to shake off their challengers. Despite Eimear McCaughan extending the gap to three points, Emma Quinn dragged Derry back into contention with two points before completing her brace of goals to put her side ahead in the final minutes. However, Antrim found the necessary response in the “sting in the tail” finish, as Caoimhe McErlean and Eimear McCaughan split the posts to ensure the title stayed with the Saffron county by the narrowest of margins.

Antrim: Molly McToal, Cara Lynch, Laoise Stone, Isabelle Martin, Hannah Mead, Fiadh Sands, Amy Gault, Erin-Mae Mitchell 0-1, Eimear McCloskey, Aoife Fitzsimons 0-2, Caoimhe McErlean 0-9 (8fs), Cara Delaney, Eimear McCaughan 1-3, Louise McBride 1-1, Brogan Graham 0-1.

Subs: Aoife Neeson for A Gault, Orla Munce for C Lynch

Derry: Aoife McAteer, Treasa Passmore, Ríonach Conlon, Gráinne McElhinney, Ellen Cullen, Ellie McCartney, Hannah Drinan, Áine Young, Ríonach McNally, Brianna Donaghy 0-1, Mary Therese McCullagh 0-1, Grace McCartney 0-3, Sara McTague, Emma Quinn capt 2-8 (0-7fs), Ciara O’Loughlin 0-3.

Subs: Odharnait Ward for S McTague, Aoife Harkin for G McElhinney

TO SEE MORE OF MICKEY MORGAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/ABXjNn6JCLnZyv/?invite=5f9ae540-94e9-4fe5-bd43-6e7e48ba178d

by thesaffrongael

Lightning Strikes Twice as Antrim are Down’ed in the McDonagh Cup

Antrim 0-23 Down 1-22

McDonagh Cup – Round 1

Saturday 18 April

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

It was every inch the war of attrition that was forecast ahead of this Joe McDonagh Cup opener and just like four weeks ago in the Marshes, Down and Donal Hughes had the final say.  A goal in the fourth minute of five added on gave Down the lead for the first time in the contest and ultimately proved to be the winning of the game.

Antrim had chances after.  Their calls for a penalty fell on deaf ears when Keelan Molloy was felled on his way to goal.  The Saffrons wanted a penalty, on reflection they have every right to be frustrated.  Molloy looked like he was through and there was definitely a goal chance on.  But, after consultation with his umpires, referee Thomas Gleeson awarded a free from roughly 25 yards out on the angle.

Gerard Walsh went for goal, Down ‘keeper Pearce Smyth was equal to his effort and yet, there was still time for another play.  In fact, there was time for another two plays.  The game was called in the ninth minute of injury time and Down victorious while Antrim were left with that ‘what might have been’ feeling.

Seaan Elliott was top of the scoring charts, raising the white flag on 11 occasions while Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy and Conal Cunning all had strong games.  Tom McGrattan and Pearse Og McCrickard shared 12 points between them while Daithi Sands was a constant threat.  Caolan Taggart patrolled the heart of the Down defence and pulled the strings and seemed to be at the break of every ball.

Antrim had the help of a strong wind from the first whistle and despite McGrattan opening the scoring, Antrim on top.  They only managed three Elliott frees in the opening 12 minutes though with four wides in the same period hurting their challenge.

The Saffrons continued to use Ruairi Donaghy inside on his own, packing the middle third and looking to break the lines for scoring chances.  The first score by Antrim from open play came in the 15th minute via the hurl of Elliott and while Pearce Og McCrickard responded for Down, Molloy and Eoin O’Neill dissected the uprights to put four between the sides midway through the first half.

That deficit was reduced to three with Sands’ first of the game and while James McNaughton and Conal Cunning found their range, Antrim’s tally of wides had reached eight before the 25th minute of the contest.

The free taking of McCrickard was keeping Down within touching distance everytime Antrim looked to be building a lead while McCambridge and Paul Boyle were raising white flags at the other end of the pitch.  McCrickard’s fourth free proved to be the last action of the half as Antrim took a 0-12 to 0-8 lead into the interval.

The consensus was that four points was never going to be enough, given the strength of the wind.  Down would have been the happier side at the interval, there’s no doubting that yet, for long periods of the second half Antrim were in control.  Everytime Down ate into the deficit, Antrim found a response.  The first 19 points of the second half were tit-for-tat with Elliott’s free taking to the fore for the Saffrons.

Antrim did create a couple of half goal chances, the most notable one saw Molloy and Cunning combining before Molloy’s shot was bravely blocked by a Down defender who launched his body in the path of the sliotar.

The lead was reduced to two points when substitute Marc Fisher dissected the uprights with a point from huge distance in the 64th minute.  Antrim responded with Elliott’s 11th point of the game while they called Pearce Smyth into action to deny McNaughton a goal from a fierce drive but with three minutes of the 70 remaining, Antrim still led by three points.

Down refused to lay down however.  Points from Owen McDermott and a brace of frees from McGrattan brought the sides level in the last minute of normal time.

Antrim regrouped and a brilliant score from substitute Jack McCloskey looked to have the Saffrons off to a winning start in the competition only for Down to score the only major of the game in the fourth minute of injury time.  Ronan Beatty rising highest to pluck the sliotar from the air with a brilliant catch before finding Hughes in space and he made no mistake.

Antrim rallied and sent an aerial assault on the Down full back line looking for a major that never came.  Calls for a penalty when Molloy looked to be through on goal fell on deaf ears, much to the frustration of the Antrim management.

Four weeks ago in Pairc Esler, it felt like Down got the rewards their efforts deserved.  This loss will sting for this Antrim team.  Lady luck didn’t shine upon those in a Saffron jersey and they have a short turnaround now to focus on a Laois side in O’Moore Park in Round Two.

TEAMS

ANTRIM: Cormac McFadden; Oisin Donnelly, Niall O’Connor, Stephen Rooney; Ryan McNulty, Paddy Burke, Joe Maskey; Eoin O’Neill, Paul Boyle; Keelan Molloy, Ryan McCambridge, Conal Cunning; James McNaughton, Ruairi Donaghy, Seaan Elliott

Subs: Conal Bohill for P Boyle (49); Gerard Walsh for E O’Neill (59); Ruairi McCormick for R McNulty (65); Scott Walsh for O Donnelly (68); Jack McCloskey for C Cunning (70+2)

Scorers: S Elliott 0-11 (10f); J McNaughton 0-3; C Cunning 0-2; R McCambridge 0-2; K Molloy 0-2; E O’Neill 0-1; P Boyle 0-1; J McCloskey 0-1

DOWN: Pearce Smyth; Tom Murray, Ruairi McCrickard, Ben Teggart; Barry Trainor, Caolan Taggart, Niall McFarland; Donal Hughes, Liam Savage; Daithi Sands, Finn Turpin, Pearse Og McCrickard; Tom McGrattan, Tim Prenter, Shea Pucci

Subs: Cathal Coleman for T Prenter (27); Marc Fisher for T Murray (52); Ronan Smyth for N McFarland (56); Paul Sheehan for P Og McCrickard (61); Owen McDermott for F Turpin (63)

Scorers: T McGrattan 0-6 (2fs); P Og McCrickard 0-6 (6fs); D Hughes 1-1; D Sands 0-2; B Teggart 0-1; C Taggart 0-1; L Savage 0-1; F Turpin 0-1; C Coleman 0-1; M Fisher 0-1; O McDermott 0-1

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)

by thesaffrongael

Antrim face Down in Dunloy as the Joe McDonagh Cup gets underway

Joe McDonagh Cup – Round One

Antrim v Down

Saturday 18 April at Pearse Park, Dunloy – Throw in: 1:30pm

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)

Antrim begin their McDonagh Cup campaign on Saturday afternoon against, as fate would have it, Down in Pearse Park, Dunloy.  After the rollercoaster ride that was the National League campaign and that game in Pairc Esler, the hurling Gods have looked upon Antrim favorably with the schedule and paired us up against our neighbours on the opening weekend.

On the ‘We Are Antrim’ podcast, I said it was the perfect time for Antrim to face Down again.  I stand by that.  It’ll be four weeks since that last gasp Donal Hughes goal denied Antrim in the Marshes and despite plenty of groundwork done since, you have to think that game will be fresh in the memories of the Saffrons.  There was an overriding emotion of hurt and a savage disappointment coming away from that game that can only be a good thing.  If there was motivation needed, they don’t need to look much further.

Antrim will know themselves they didn’t play well enough on the day.  Take nothing away from Down and their performance.  When Antrim took the lead through a late James McNaughton point, it looked like they had got out of jail.  An armed robbery in the Marshes.  It would have been an undeserving victory but one you would certainly have taken and moved on.

It didn’t materialize.  Down were excellent at utilizing space in the Antrim defence with Shea Pucci on the edge of the square immense.  When you have the likes of Daithi Sands and Tom McGrattan in an attacking unit, you’ll always be in with a chance.  A defence well marshalled by Caolan Taggart and Barry Trainor along with Liam Savage in the middle third, Down have proven themselves to be a side who are in with a realistic chance in the McDonagh Cup.

But, in a competition where momentum plays a massive role, Antrim have to get off to a winning start.  Use the hurt from that game, register two points early doors and get the ball rolling.  With tricky away trips to Laois and London to follow, if Antrim are to have success in this competition for a record third time, you feel that a winning start is imperative.

The starting 15 has been named with Cormac McFadden getting a nod for the number one shirt.  Ryan McNulty retains his position in the side after an excellent game against Down while Oisin Donnelly makes his debut in an Antrim shirt, forming a full back line with Niall O’Connor and Stephen Rooney.  Donnelly taking the place of Gerard Walsh in the back six with the Rossa man carrying a knock coming into the game and only fit enough for a role on the bench.

Eoin O’Neill and Paul Boyle form the midfield pairing once again while there is one change in the attacking six.  Ryan McCambridge coming in for Conor Johnston, the game coming too soon for Jonty as he looks to shake off a nasty hand injury.

The four week break since the league will have been used to refocus the mind and shift mentality towards the championship while taking in a warm weather training camp in Portugal, it’s all systems go for Saturday.  We’ve seen the importance of and the positives of these training blocks in Portugal before – incredibly, I was told that it’s cheaper to do this for four days than go anywhere else in the country that might provide the same facilities.  When you hear the list of counties from both codes using the same complex as Davy Fitzgerald’s side, you have to think that it’s a worthwhile exercise and one that the players themselves get behind with the fundraising.  The training is intense, but the bonds that are formed and solidified coming through the likes of this are hugely beneficial to creating that team ethos that is a huge factor in gaining success.

The last time we faced Down in the McDonagh Cup, we came away from Ballycran with a handsome victory in 2022.  Incredibly, Antrim will start with just six of the same starting 15 on Saturday while another came off the bench on that occasion.

Seaan Elliott grabbed two goals that day while Ciaran Clarke, Domhnall Nugent and Conor Johnston added the other majors in a 6-22 to 3-16 victory.  I can’t see that margin of victory again, but I think Antrim will get their championship season off to a winning start.