McKeever Hotels IHC Group 1

Creggan 2-25 Rasharkin 0-10

Creggan eventually ran out convincing 2-25 to 0-10 winners over Rasharkin, but the final score-line did not fully reflect a competitive opening to both halves.

Rasharkin started brightly and showed early intent, trading scores with the favourites and suggesting they could make a real contest of the game. Conor McKillop was central to their attacking threat, while Creggan took some time to settle into their rhythm.

After the opening ten minutes, however, Creggan gradually began to take control. Conor McCann and Kealan McCann worked tirelessly around the middle third, helping Creggan gain possession and provide a better platform for their forwards. Once the attack began to click, the scores followed.

Kevin Rice struck the game’s opening goal after a Creggan effort came back off the post, reacting quickest to send the rebound to the net. Shortly afterwards Creggan produced a well-worked second goal, with Ruairi McCann providing a lovely assist for Rice to finish again.

Momentum then shifted into Creggan’s favour. Ruairi McCann was particularly effective in attack with Conor McLarnon, Conor McCann and Kealan McCann adding points as Creggan took a commanding 2-13 to 0-04 lead into half-time.

Rasharkin again emerged strongly after the restart and were competitive for the opening ten minutes of the second half. McKillop continued to lead their scoring effort, eventually finishing with six points, while Brendan Kelly, Conor McFerran and Thomas McMullan also got on the score-sheet.

Creggan, though, were able to make good use of the wind as the half progressed. They increasingly punished Rasharkin from distance, with a series of well-taken long-range points gradually stretching the margin.

The Creggan forwards shared the scoring load impressively and that overall attacking display ultimately proved decisive as they comfortably saw out the closing stages to record a 2-25 to 0-10 victory.

Creggan

1. Morgan Nelson
2. Aidan McIlwee
3. Aidan McKeown 0-01
4. Paedar McGuckian
5. Jake McAteer
6. Kealan McCann 0-03
7. Sean McAuley
8. Ronan McGuckian
9. Sam Maguire 0-01
10. Ruairi McCann 0-08
11. Dan Doran
12. Conor McCann 0-04
13. Tomas McCann 0-02
14. Kevin Rice 2-05
15. Conor McLarnon 0-01

Subs used: Shea Devlin for Conor McCann; Michael Maguire for Conor McLarnon.

Rasharkin

1. Brendan Kelly 0-02
2. Daniel Hasson
3. Aidan McKeever
4. Jason McGregor
5. Connaire Donaghy
6. Tiernan O’Boyle
7. Conor Doherty
8. James Higgins
9. Conor McFerran 0-01
10. Conor Kennedy
11. Thomas McMullan 0-01
12. Jack Quinn
13. Liam Tunney
14. Conor McKillop 0-06
15. Terry McGregor

Subs used: John Kelly, Oisin Doherty, Caolan Mane

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/9DrhiwvpgsrTd6/?invite=7773753e-76ca-4e78-b635-f78cac6ecd75

A huge congratulations to the Official Antrim GAA U15 Hurlers on winning the John Doyle Cup in Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary earlier today. Every one of the players should be incredibly proud of the effort, commitment and hard work they have put in over the last few months to reach this level.
A massive thank you to all the coaches and parents for everything you have done throughout the year to support the lads. Your time, effort and commitment has been brilliant.
And to all our supporters who travelled and backed the team — thank you. Your support was hugely appreciated!
Myself and the coaching team are incredibly proud of this group. They played with pride, worked hard for each other and showed great character from start to finish.

A special group of players who have represented Antrim with great pride.
A special thanks to Thurles Sarsfields for the use of their facilities on Friday and for helping make the trip such a memorable one.
A huge thank you also to Tipperary stars Ronan Maher and Caoimhe Stakelum for taking the time to meet the lads. It was a fantastic experience for the players and one they will remember for a long time.
The players travelled out from Thurles to Borrisoleigh on Saturday where they took on Kildare in the semi-final. Corner forward Pearse ‘Mushy’ McMullan was star of the show, the Dunloy player hitting a hat-trick of goals in the 3-11 to 1-14 win. The other scorers were John og Darragh 0-3, Eoin Lorcan Bradley 0-3, Harry Blaney 0-2, Gabriel Stitt – 0-2 and Joe Connolly 0-1
In the final the Saffrons faced Wexford where they again produced the goods and with Oliver Mooney of Ruairi Og, Cushendall playing a brillinat game in the half-back line. John og Darragh was man of the match in the decider, hitting 1-07 of his team’s 2-14, while Joe Connolly got 1-1. Eoin Lorcan Bradley grabbed 0-3, Killian Cassidy 0-2 and Pearse McMullan 0-1

ANTRIM

1. Liam McClelland – Naomh Padraig
2. Martin Maynes – Loughiel Shamrocks
3. Aodhan McNally – Naomh Pól
4. Lewis Hardy – Naomh Pól
5. Ollie Joe McAlonan – Naomh Padraig
6. Damian Power – O’Donovan Rossa
7. Oliver Mooney (Vice Capt.) – Ruairi Óg Cushendall
8. Killian Cassidy – Naomh Padraig
9. Sean McAuley – Ruairi Óg Cushendall
10. Joe Connolly – Kickhams Creggan
11. Harry Blarney – Dunloy Cuchullains
12. Gabriel Stitt (Capt.) – O’Donovan Rossa
13. Eoin Lorcan Bradley – Ruairi Óg Cushendall
14. John Óg Darragh – Naomh Padraig
15. Pearse McMullan – Dunloy Cuchullains
16. Daire Gault – Naomh Pól
17. Dara McShane – McQuillan Ballycastle
18. Dillon Foy – Naomh Éanna
19. Caoimhin McCaffrey – Naomh Éanna
20. Fergus McAuley – McQuillan Ballycastle
21. Mícheal Ó Duibhfinn – Naomh Pól
22. Ronan McGarry – Loughiel Shamrocks
    
23. Management
    • Mark Munce – Naomh Pól
    • Joe Cassidy – Naomh Pádraig
    • Niall Cormican – Naomh Éanna

BATHSHACK SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

The Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship gets underway this weekend. What a game to kick things off: Belfast rivals St. John’s, who are the current champions, meet O’Donovan Rosa at Corrigan Park on Friday evening at 7 p.m.

The two met at the quarter-final stage of last year’s championship. O’Donovan Rossa appeared to have it wrapped up when St. John’s grabbed a late goal to turn the game on its head. From then on, St. John’s beat Cushendall in the semi-final and Loughgiel in the final to bridge a 52-year gap without a title.

Meetings between these two sides are always value for money, be it in the league or championship. The fierce rivalry between the two goes back a long way which makes Friday night’s clash all the more appealing. The Shaw’s Road side will be keen to gain revenge for that defeat in the quarter-final at Glengormley last year. The only thing this time around is that whoever loses the battle is not out of the competition. This is simply the first round of the league section.

The 2023 and 2024 champions, Cushendall, get their campaign underway when they travel to Hightown to take on St Enda’s at Glenormley. (The action getting underway here at 4:00 p.m.) This will be the Ruairis first outing since their shock exit to St. John’s in last year’s semi-final, they will be keen to get back on track, and with a wealth of young talent coming through the club at the minute (which saw them win minor and under-21 the last two seasons), the Ruairis are understandably among the favourites once again. St Enda’s will be keen to prove that they are not just along for the ride and what a boost it would be to their chances by gaining a scalp of this magnitude in the opening round.

Sunday sees the other four teams take their first steps in the 2026 Bath Shack Senior Hurling Championship, with Ballycastle hosting Loughgiel Shamrocks at 2 pm at Páirc Mac Uílín. The Shamrocks last championship appearance in Ballycastle saw them lose the final to St. John’s, and they will be keen to put this right this time around. There has been little between these two sides in their meetings this year in league and Feis cup, and this should be a cracker of a game, with a big crowd expected.

The final game in Round 1 sees last year’s Intermediate Champions Oisins travel to Dunloy for their first senior championship game in quite a few years. This young Glenariffe team has survived to the top division of the league this season and will take great encouragement from that. They will know that a massive task lies ahead of them, but they will be keen to show what they can do on the big stage.

It is four years now since Dunloy last lifted the Volunteer Cup, and they will be keen to get it back in their possession this season. Last year they were distracted by the big ball and showed they can mix up with the best in Antrim football, but hurling is their main focus, and will be striving to get the Volunteer Cup back in their possession come October. The action in this one gets underway at 4-30pm.

McKEEVER HOTELS INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

In the McKeever Hotels Intermediate Championship, it is round three, and Friday evening sees two games down for decision.

In Group 1 third placed Creggan play hosts to bottom of the table Rasharkin and the Loughshore men will see it as a great opportunity to collect two more points and strengthen their bid for a top three place. However, the Kickhams are a long way short of the team that won the 2014 All Ireland Junior Hurling Title, and Rasharkin will feel that they’re in with a chance.

In Group 2 Shane O’Neill’s have home advantage when they take on Tir na nÓg at Feystown on Friday evening at 7:00. The Glenarm men have made a good start with two wins out of two, and if they get the better of the visitors on Friday evening, it should see them through to the knock-out stages. Glenarm have been impressive with wins over St. Paul’s in Belfast and Glenravel at home, will go into this game as favourites against a Tir na nÓg side that scraped past Glenravel in the first outing before coming a long way short against South West rivals Cloney Gaels in the second. The Randalstown men need a win to keep their knock-out hopes alive but they will feel a result is not beyond them.

On Saturday at 2pm at Fr Maginn Park Glenravel, the home team Con Magees, who are still searching for their first point in the competition, face Cushendun who have two wins from their two outings against Cloney Gaels and St Paul’s. Another win for the men from the Glens would surely see them through to the knock out stages and they are strongly fancied to do just that.

Later in the day (4pm) St Paul’s will try and get off the mark in their Intermediate campaign when they host Cloney Gael’s Ahoghill at Pairc Pól, Belfast. The Shaw’s Road outfit face a formidable task against a Cloney side who bounced back from their opening day defeat to Cushendun to beat Tir na nOg convincingly in Round 2, and they will fancy their chances of adding to that on Saturday.

There is only one Intermediate game down for decision on Sunday and it sees St Gall’s travel to Ballyvoy to take on Carey Faughs. Both teams are unbeaten so far, Carey having accounted for Cloughmills and Rasharkin and top now top the group on four points. The men from Milltown have just played one game, beating Rasharkin in Dreen before having had a bye in the last round. A win for Carey would clinch a place in the knock-out stages, but St Gall’s will provide a stern challenge, and a win for the would go a long way towards qualification.

JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

There is one game tonight in the Junior Hurling Championship when Lamh Dhearg, winners last time out  against Ardoyne, welcome Belfast Saints to Hannahstown. The Saints (the St Teresa’s and the Aggies combination) lost heavily in their opening game against Glen Rovers, Armoy and badly need a win tonight to stay in the race for a place in the knock-out stage.

On Saturday Glen Rovers, runners-up in the last two seasons, have Ardoyne as visitors to the Glen, with a 6-30 throw-in. The Belfast men lost narrowly to Lamh Dhearg in their opening game and will need to get a win tomorrow, but it will not be easy against an Armoy  side who handed out a 33 point beating to Belfast Saints in their opening game.

In the other JHC game down for decision on Saturday Davitt’s, who had to sit out the opening day because of Latharna Og’s withdrawal, face Loch Mor Dal who were well beaten by Gort na Móna last time out. That game also has a 6-30 start time.

There is just one Junior game down for decision on Sunday when All Saints Ballymena, who were beaten at home by St Brigid’s in the opening round, face the daunting task of travelling to the Bear Pit to take on Sarsfields.

THIS IS A LINK TO CURLY’S PICS FROM SUNDAY’S BIG DAY AT CROKE PARK

https://myalbum.com/album/oYZQAh59qEegUw