A late rally by Loughgiel saw them claim both points in Wednesday night’s Antrim Hurling League Division One game against Ruairi Og at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall.
Two first-half goals by left half-forward James McNaughton, one in the 15th minute and the other in the 25th, helped the wind assisted Shamrocks to a 2-10 to 0-9 half-time lead.
After the change of ends, Cushendall got back into the game, and by the three-quarter mark they had drawn level at 0-17 to 2-11. The home side actually went ahead at that stage and were three to the good, but Loughgiel rallied in the last ten minutes and boosted by a goal from full forward Paul Boyle, they went on to win with three to spare on a scoreline of 3-15 to 0-21.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable game and those unable to attend will get an early chance to see it all again when they two meet in the final of the Senior Feis Cup in Dunloy at 5pm on Sunday.
County team mates Ryan McCambridge (Cuhendall) andn James McNaughton (Loughgiel), share a joke at the final whistle
CUSHENDALL
Christy McNaughton, Fred McCurry, Liam Gillan, Austin Birt, Scott Walsh, Conor McCann, Charlie McAuley, Ryan McCambridge, Callagh Mooney, Nicholas McLaughlin, Ed McQuillan, Sean McAfee, Oisin Woodhouse, Fiontan Bradley, Thomas McLaughlin
LOUGHGIEL
Cormac McFadden, Rory McCloskey, Enda Og McGarry, Eddie Smyth, Colm McCloskey, Declan McCloskey, Caoalan Blair, Ryan McKee, Ronan Fitzgerald, Rian McMullan, Pearse Patterson, James McNaughton, Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Shan McGrath
Referee – Ray Matthews
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Portaferry delivered a devastating second-half performance to secure a comprehensive 6-21 to 1-10 victory over local side Glenariffe in their ACHL Division 1 clash at Waterfoot on Wednesday evening. While the home team held their own for much of the opening half, the Ards Peninsula men took total control after the break, spearheaded by a brilliant man-of-the-match display from their half-forward, Cathal Coleman.
The game began with both sides exchanging early scores. Glenariffe’s Oisin Gillan opened his team’s account in the very first minute, only for Portaferry’s Cathal Coleman to immediately respond. Glenariffe showed excellent early resolve, highlighted by a spectacular point from Conor Patterson inside his own half in the fifth minute. As the half progressed, the visitors relied heavily on Coleman’s accuracy from both play and placed balls, while Glenariffe found their rhythm through Brogan O’Connor and the reliable free-taking of Alex O’Boyle. O’Boyle was instrumental in keeping the home side ticking over, slotting multiple frees to push Glenariffe into a 0-07 to 0-05 lead by the twentieth minute. Portaferry kept the pressure on, with Coleman firing over three consecutive points to reel the hosts back in. Following a point by Portaferry’s Daithi Sands, Glenariffe’s Niall Magee fired over a fantastic score in the twenty-ninth minute to level the match at 0-09 apiece. However, the turning point arrived on the stroke of half-time when Tomas McCracken raced through the Glenariffe defence to raise the game’s first green flag, sending Portaferry into the break with a 1-10 to 0-09 cushion.
The visitors came out flying in the second half. Daithi Sands struck a great point early on, and despite Brogan O’Connor pulling one back from play for Glenariffe, the momentum had definitively shifted. Coleman immediately cancelled out O’Connor’s effort, followed by a long-range free to stretch the lead. The floodgates opened in the thirty-fifth minute when Niall Milligan found the back of the net for Portaferry’s second goal. With their tails up, the visitors dominated possession and the scoreboard. Shane Conlan and Fionn Turpin added to the tally with massive long-range scores. In the forty-first minute, Cathal Coleman capped off his stellar performance with the score of the game, followed shortly by another point from a ’65. Glenariffe briefly interrupted the onslaught when Conor Patterson broke through the lines to fire home a great goal in the forty-fourth minute, but unfortunately for the home side, it would be their final score of the contest. Portaferry’s relentless attack continued as Fionn Turpin and Tomas McCracken kept the scoreboard ticking over. Coleman deservedly got his goal in the forty-seventh minute with a brilliant finish, extinguishing any lingering hopes of a Glenariffe comeback. Further points from Turpin and McCracken closed out the game, reflecting a dominant final quarter that saw Portaferry run out emphatic 6-21 to 1-10 winners.
Dunloy warmed up for Sunday’s McMullan Cup final against Cushendall when they beat Loughgiel in Tuesday evening’s Under 16 Hurling League game at Fr Healy Park.
Both teams scored 17 times during the hour, but it was Dunloy’s ability to grab goals that made the difference in the end. Four of those goals came from the hurl of Paudi O’Kane, who once again gave a faultless display, with two of them in each half.
The visitors struck early with a goal in the second minute and another on eight minutes but Loughgiel hit back with goals of their own from Joe Casey and Cody McGarry. However Dunloy pushed on and by half time they opened up a 4-06 to 2-05 lead.
The second half saw O’Kane add to his tally with two more superb finishes and they went on to win 7-09 to 2-14.
In the other U16 Division 1 games played tonight Ruairi Og beat Ballycastle 3-18 to 3-16 at Pairc MacUílin, while St Enda’s beat Rossa by 2-17 to 2-14 at Hightown.
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Glenarm’s hurlers recorded their second win in three days when they beat Cloughmills in Sunday’s Division 2 League game at Feystown. The victory comes on the back of Friday night’s game with Cloney Gael, which saw them hold out for a win against the Ahoghill side after a keenly contested game. Sunday’s game against Cloughmills was another battle between two teams who fought for every ball over sixty minutes, with a strong wind blowing towards the Feystown Road end which maded conditions quite difficult.
Cloughmills had Michael Dobbin to thank for the majority of their scoreline as he drove over 9 frees and 2 from play, Stephen Smyth hit a tally of 1-02 also.
Shane Uí Neills had Niall Mc Garel firing on all cylinders today as he pointed 8 from open play, plus 2 frees. Team mate Darren Hamill was also a thorn in the away teams side as he hit 1 from play and 5 from frees, but played his captains role well, as he moved the ball on and repelled quite a few Cloughmills attacks. Barry Hamill, John Scullion, and Ben O Boyle worked hard in defence with Michael Fury tracking back to assist.
For the first fifteen minutes or so the game went as predicted for the home side. Getting the early scores and drowning out any threat. Cloughmills played and score’s in small phases and it wasn’t until the second half that they hit a purple patch.
Liam O Neill pointed early for the hosts, before Michael Dobbin hit two frees for the team from the Ballyveely Road.
Darren Hamill slotted over a free to level the game before Sean O Boyle and Liam O Neill put Glenarm ahead by two scores. Glenarm’s Niall Mc Garel was a joy to watch as he pointed from out near the sideline.
Mc Garel added two more long distance efforts to leave the score at -07 to -02.
Stephen Smyth opened his account for the visitors with a nice point before Dobbin adding another free.
A few moments later a perfect cross field ball from Barry Hamill out of defence to his brother Darren who collected the sliotar and split the uprights from forty yards. Mc Garel also lobbed over a fine solo effort as he bounced off a couple of tackles. Hamill then drove over another dead ball effort between the posts.
Cloughmills Stephen Smyth got his second point as he collected a loose ball and scored before Dobbin punished Glenarm with another free.
The scores where coming thick and fast as Mc Garel and Sean O Boyle struck for the hosts, only for Dobbin scoring a free again before James Doherty floated over a point.
Sean O Hare pointed next for the Feystown team but out of the blue Stephen Smyth carved a gap through the Glenarm rearguard and hit a low ball beyond Liam Mulvenna for a goal for the St. Brigids team.
The hosts hit right back with two points from Aidan Scullion and another impressive effort off the stick of Niall Mc Garel.
A free from Hamill was soon cancelled out as Michael Dobbin pointed also from a free to end the first half.
Shane Uí Neills 0-16 Cloughmills 1-09
After the restart Cloughmills Dobbin continued with two more pointed frees, sandwiched between a reply from Glenarm’s Paddy Mc Auley. Eoin Dobbin reduced the arrears with two points one from play and one from a free by the midfield player.
Niall Mc Garel hit a free for the hosts before Dobbin replied for the visitors.
The main threat for the home team McGarel added to his tally with another dead ball effort, but the Cloughmills purple patch continued as they levelled proceedings with a Dobbin free and a Ryan McFarline point!!
Aidan Scullion, having a quieter game than usual, showed a bit of genius when he rolled a tackle and split the uprights to give the Feystown men back the lead and further points from Niall Mc Garel and second half substitute Ryan O Boyle stretched the gap to three.
In another Cloughmills play they levelled this tight battle again as points from McFarline, Ryan Dobbin and Aaron Mc Guckian set up a nail biting finish!
A frantic finish was on the cards but Glenarm responded well and produced the goods late on with Mc Garel hitting the ball with purpose over Cloughmills crossbar to leave the scoreboard level for the fifth time in the game. The home team’s captain Darren Hamill zipped over another free to give his team a one point lead and in the closing minutes Hamill judged a 80 yard free to perfection as the ball went right over the black spot for a two point win, which pleased the home support.
Shane Uí Neills
Liam Mulvenna, Liam Og Mc Loughlin, Barry Hamill, Ryan Mc Loughlin, Ben O Boyle, John Scullion, Michael Fury, Conal Ward, Aidan Scullion -02, Sean O Boyle -02, Niall Mc Garel -08 2f, Liam O Neill -02, Paddy Mc Auley -01, Darren Hamill -01 5f, Sean O Hare -01.
subs
Ryan O Boyle -01, Rory Mulvenna for Ryan Mc Loughlin, Declan Mc Dermott for Ben O Boyle.
Anthony McNeill.
Cloughmills
Chris Mc Kean, Jack Mc Dowell, Corey Blair, Sean Mc Kendry, Johnny Duffin, Ruairi Laverty, Rian Dobbin -01, Eoin Dobbin -01 1f, Aaron Mc Guckian -01, Ryan Mc Farline -02, Michael Dobbin -02 9f, James Doherty -01, Stephen Smyth 1-02, Shemus Duffin, James O Boyle.
Subs
Liam Kearns, Michael Reid, Conor Mc Kendry, Dara Watterson.
REITEOÍR Coly Thompson St. Johns
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