Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park
A last minute change of management for Ballycastle could have plunged the Town into disarray, but under the vocal sideline directive from stand-in manager, Barry Kelly, nothing could have been further from the truth as a high spirited black and amber army gave it everything in an attempt to prove they are still a force to reckon with in this year’s championship.
It was a game with as many fouls as points, keeping referee, Jerome McAllister, busy with his damp notepad that took its fair share of the showers. McAllister’s whistle had only finished blowing for the throw-in when Ballycastle’s Maeve Kelly carried out the spoils from a huge ruck and finding Janey McIntosh, the Town had their first point on the board, much to the approval of their supporters.
Loughgiel were quick to respond with points coming from Kirsty McKendry and Amy Boyle and then the game lapsed into a period of toe to toe points at five all before Loughgiel’s, Roísín McCormick, dropped four frees over the bar, almost in succession, to put four points the difference going into the break, Loughgiel 0-09 Ballycastle 0-05.
Ballycastle’s Maebh O’Neill runs out of luck with no stick despite surrounded by a four leaf shamrock
Despite the abundance of fouls in the first half, which had a staccato effect on the game, in between, the pace was frantic at times. Ballycastle’s McIntosh sisters, Elen and Janey persevered deep into Loughgiel’s defence, looking for the breaks and sisters Fionnuala and Maeve Kelly tirelessly gathered sliotars from mid field to feed forward with aid from the omnipresent Emma Laverty.
If Loughgiel had a game plan for the second half, it probably would have said, stick to the game plan. With tenacious composure, the Shamrock’s pointed away quietly with McCormick clipping the lion’s share of scores over the bar and points from Caitrín Dobbin, Orlagh Laverty and a fine point from Lucia McNaughton from a mid air pick pocket off Catherine McShane. Those points set the Shamrock’s on an eleven point difference going into the last minute of the game, before Ballycastle’s Fionnuala Kelly reaped her rewards pushing deep into Shamrock territory and with a simple lob into the top right of the net had the only green flag raised of the evening and the long whistle quickly followed, closing the game Loughgiel 0-22 Ballycastle 1-11.
Loughgiel’s Roísín McCormick reached for another gear to high score again
After tonight’s round of games, Loughgiel sit at the top of the table but there is still everything to play for in the race to securing that valuable slot in the final.
Loughgiel starters and scorers
Emma McAllister, Maria Lynn, Katie Lynn, Finvola McVeigh, Lucia McNaughton 0-01, Emma McFadden, Clare McKillop, Amy Boyle 0-01, Anna Connolly, Katie McKillop 0-01, Roísín McCormick 0-14 (10f, 1×45), Kirsty McKendry 0-01, Orlagh Laverty 0-01, Mary McKillen, Marie Laverty, Caitrin Dobbin 0-01
Ballycastle starters and scorers
Becky Ellis, Cara Delaney, Enya McShane, Aoife Toner, Maebh O’Neill, Niamh Donnelly, Emma Laverty, Fionnuala Kelly 1-00, Maeve Kelly 0-02, Shannagh Heggarty, Nuala Devlin 0-01, Riana McBride, Eimear McCaughan, Janey McIntosh 0-01, Elen McIntosh 0-07 (6f)
You can see more photos from the game by clicking on the link here…
The final scorline must have had the historians scanning the record books as county champions Ruairi Og Cushendall won 10-28 to 0-18 against last years’ Intermediate champions Carey Faughs in Round 2 of the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship game at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel. The Carey men would have been pleased to hit a more than respectable total of 0-18 and Brian Delargy and his management team would be a little concerned by that, but it was at the other end of the field the champions really shone. 10-28 must surely be the biggest total ever recorded and it will certainly do their score difference no harm, but it also begs the question why the Faughs were forced into playing senior this year.
Unfortunately it is the case that the teams winning Intermediate Championship, or even Division 2 League find it very difficult to compete at the higher level, especially in championship. Cushendun were the last team to really make a mark when they came up to senior in the mid to late nineties and reached the senior final in 2000, actually leading Dunloy at half time. St Enda’s are the last to have done it, the Glengormley men surviving in the top division in the league and in the Senior Championship for a few years now.
However those are the exceptions and especially clubs with low number are always going to find it hard to survive at the top level and it might be worth thinking of changing the rules to allow teams to stay in Intermediate unless they win the title twice in a row, or even two out of three. Of course that scenario would rule the likes of Carey out of Ulster, after their provincial success last season, if they were to win titles back to back, but it is certainly worth considering.
Back to Sunday’s game and despite lining out without Neil McManus Cushendall had just too much scoring power for the Faughs defence. Carey started very well and actually led by 0-03 to 0-01 after four minutes, their scores coming from Conal McGlynn and Conor McBride (2), but one the Ruairis found their range there was no stopping them. It was the goals that did the real damage and once Thomas McLaughlin got the first one on ten minutes there was no way back. McLaughlin’s brother Joseph got the second on fourteen minutes and Fiontann Bradley got number three five minutes later. Joseph McLaughlin added number four on 22 minutes, while two inside a minute from Joe McLaughlin and Dominic Delargy sent them in at the break with a 6-14 to 0-09 lead.
The second half was more of the same and with Carey facing the breeze it was even more difficult. To their credit they Faughs battled away against the odds and with Conor McBride leading the line they scored the same (0-09) against the wind as they did with it, while Cushendall mirrored their first half total by hitting 14 points again. The goals were once again the difference and the Ruairis fell a bit short, hitting just four in this thirty minute spell.
Carey finish their campaign with a home game against Rossa in two weeks’ time, while Cushendall host Loughgiel in what will be the biggest game of the campaign so far,
CUSHENDALL
Conor McAllister, Charlie McAuley, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke, Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ryan McCambridge, Francis McCurry, Joseph McNaughton, Ciaran Neeson, Tomas McLaughlin, Ed McQuillan, Fiontann Bradley, Dominic Delargy, Joseph McLaughlin.
CAREY FAUGHS
Jimmy Joe Burns, Zach McCaughan, Collum McKiernan, Michael McVeigh, Conal McGlynn, Conlith McKinley, Shea Hunter, James Black, Callum Cane, Conor McBride, Darren Magowan, Fiachra McVeigh, Patrick Butler, Patrick Gillan.
Referee – Kevin Parke
TO SEE MORE OF SEAN PAUL’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Antrim Masters made the long trek to Annanough GAC, Vicarstown, County Laois on Saturday, with Kerry the opposition for a place in this years prestigious Dr Mick Loftus shield final.
Kerry are one of the premium names in this increasingly prestigious sector, and have been consistently competing at the top table since the inception of Gaelic Masters. Antrim by comparison are a county making progress but remain alien to competing at the business end of the elite tier competitions. Therefore there was no shortage of motivation for the progressive Saffrons, who were also aiming to amend the narrow defeat at the hand of the Kingdom in last years elite section playoff, which took extra time to decide the outcome.
Ryan Boyd worked tirelessly at mid-field in Antrim’s win over Kerry as the Saffrons advance to the Dr. Mick Loftus final where they will meet Cavan
This time round the Saffron county made no mistake, taking the game to their illustrious opponents from the outset and matched them all over the pitch in terms of fitness and ability. The men from the North Eastern part of Ireland looked a much hungrier outfit than those from the South West, a spirit typified by captain Michael Herron who led by example from the throw in.
An early Michael McCarry point settled Saffron nerves but when Niall Sweeney fed Kevin McAllister with an ideally placed diagonal pass and the Dunloy man finished to the net past Kerry custodian Martin Hewitt, the team considered by many to be outsiders in this contest had suddenly extended their lead to four.
It took Kerry ten minutes to open their account, but two points in succession from Thomas McGoldrick and Jeremy King narrowed the deficit and then Hewitt knocked over a fine 45 as the game reached the fifteen minute mark and the first water break. In between these scores however the mercurial Kieran Close was starting to influence proceedings, two individual efforts resulting in white flags that kept the Saffrons ticking over nicely in the lead.
The exchanges were hard and fair, though things did threaten to escalate on a number of occasions, neither team taking a backward step and equally motivated to succeed.
Stephen O’Connell was rock solid in the Antrim defence
Substitute Liam Cassley marked his introduction to the game with a fine solo effort and the All Saints man would go on to make a firm impression as the game wore on. At half time Antrim led by four points, and on the balance of play that was fair enough.
Cassley extended that gap to five early upon the restart, and although Kerry corner forward McGoldrick knocked over a fine effort at the other end to keep the scoreboard ticking over, that man Close made it five up to the Saffrons a minute later.
Ryan Boyd Barry McMahon and Ken Golden were playing their shirts off in the midfield third, gaining vital possession and enabling plenty of quality ball into a lively full forward line where Michael McCarry and Kevin McAllister were thriving. Then when All Saints man Damien Kelly supplied club mate Cassley with an excellent point opportunity, and it looked like a score was certain, the unselfish Cassley slipped the ball to the better positioned Kieran Close who rolled the ball neatly into the corner of the Kerry net and all of a sudden Antrim were seven points to the good.
A quarter of the match remained though and it was then Kerry got their long awaited spell of domination. Wing half forward Jeremy King was one of Kerry’s most impressive performers and when he struck two quickfire points from distance, neutrals in the crowd would be forgiven for thinking this game was far from over. King again, and then two in a row from the excellent feet of full forward Colm Brosnan, all within a three minute spell there was once again little to separate the teams.
Kerry’s playmaker Terry OSullivan was well marshalled throughout by Antrim’s outstanding Stephen O’Connell, but when he did finally break those shackles and found himself through on goal it took a superb intervention from Antrim stalwart midfielder Ken Golden to deny the Keel man.
Kerry pressed hard to get the deficit to the minimum as both teams threw all they had at it, exchanges varying from hard and fair to what can only be described at times as feisty. Quite simply the game was in the melting pot, and it was a case of who could gain the upper hand going down the final stretch.
Michael Herron, who was excellenmt for Antrim delivers the ball to his attack
Would the Kingdom do what they do, close out tight knit games and come out on the right side, or would this Antrim team that had gone toe to toe for almost an hour find another length or two and somehow find a way to close out a famous result and the possibility of a first ever win for their county against Kerry.
With Colly Connolly and Ryan Daly superb in defence, Stephen OConnell outstanding in half back, putting their bodies on the line time after time, and led by the promptings of Micko Herron and the work rate of Ken Golden and Ryan Boyd, the Saffrons found a way to get the next score of the game. Stylish and composed Barry McMahon dinked a cheeky ball into Rev McAllister who tormented the Kerry defence one more time before unselfishly slipping to fellow corner man Close who dispatched between the posts to lift the siege and extend the lead to three points.
The next score would be vital, and when the opportunity fell to Cargin’s top scorer for a decade or more, Close split the posts to the loudest cheer of the day, bringing his own individual contribution to a goal and five points.
With 90 seconds remaining Big Ryan Boyd rose highest to claim the resultant kick out and for almost a minute Antrim kept possession, Mark Graham sending Liam Cassley in for the games final score and a well-deserved five point victory.
This was an absorbing contest and Kerry were the first to congratulate the Northern side on their victory. No doubt there the teams will meet again in the next few years, but on this occasion no one could deny the Glensmen their moment.
On the day Kerry had superb performers in Thomas McGoldrick, Jeremy King, Colm Brosnan and Don Murphy, and will no doubt regroup and be the force they usually are in 2026.
On the day when every single player in Saffron rose to the occasion, and brought the contest to their illustrious opponents from the off it would be unfair not to highlight the individual contributions of Connolly and OConnell in defence, Boyd and Herron around the middle and Close, McAllister and debutant Cassley up front. The MOM award though would go to Ken Golden, the Mayo veteran producing yet another outstanding display in his adopted Saffron colours.
Whilst the moment will be enjoyed by the panel and seen by many as a further sign of obvious improvement, the prospect of facing Cavan in a few weeks in the final is a sobering one. Cavan defeated Mayo by double digits in the other semi-final and earlier in the campaign scored a rare victory over Tyrone, who have won the Dr Mick Loftus Cup for four years in a row.
Details of the final will be released on Wednesday morning.
Antrim Panel
Sean McGreevy, Mark Graham, Liam Magee, Michael Herron, Liam Cassley (0- 02), Stephen OConnell, Damien Kelly, Ken Golden, Ryan Boyd, Kieran Close (1 – 05), Niall Sweeney, Michael Donnelly, Colin Connolly, Laurence Higgins, James McGreevy, Declan McLarnon, Kevin McAllister (1- 00), Barry Mc Mahon (0 – 01), Michael McCarry (0 – 01), Dominic Neeson, Ryan Daly.
Kerry Panel
Colm Brosnan (0- -02), Colm Casey, Sean Costelloe, John Enright, James Galwey, Martin Hewitt (0 – 01), Jeremy King (0 – 04) , Eoghan Lawlor, Fergus McAuliffe, Thomas McGoldrick (0 – 03), Rory Molloy, Michael Stones Murphy, Michael Blondie Murphy, Gary ODonoghue, Timmy OLeary, Terry Osullivan, Michael J ODriscoll, Frank ORahilly, Fintan McEnery, John Sheehan.
TO VIEW THE CELEBRATION PICS FROM ANTRIM’S WIN OVER KERRY ON SATURDAY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
St John’s recorded their opening win of the championship on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Ballycastle with six to spare. It was a much-improved performance from the Corrigan Park side who flew out of the traps in the first half, playing at a high tempo and huge intensity that rarely waivered throughout the hour.
Conor Johnston and Oisin MacManus did the majority of the scoring for the Johnnies, Johnston hitting 1-6 from play and while MacManus hit four of his final tally of 10 white flags from placed ball, his point taking from open play was at times, exhibitionary, especially in the second half. Aaron Bradley got the Johnnies second goal, coming at a time when Ballycastle looked like they were mounting a resurgence but it was the organisation of the St John’s defence and work rate in rucks and break down that ultimately was the difference.
Oisin Donnelly, Donal Carson and Peter McCallin all putting in a super shift while Jack Bohill, Ronan Donnelly and Conal Bohill excelled in defence.
Ballycastle will be disappointed with their first half showing. It’s the second game that they took too long to get going. Yes, they were playing into a wind but they took too long to get to the speed of the game and match the intensity St John’s started with.
That being said, when Seamus McAuley found the back of the St John’s net in the 56th minute, they had their backs up and looked to pile on the pressure. The ‘Town’s midfielder would top score for his side with 1-7 while substitute Ciaran Clarke marked his return to the black and amber with a poachers goal in the last minute of the hour to give his side hope in what was a frenetic finally.
Conor Boyd and Oran Kearney, Cathair Donnelly and Tiernan Smyth all caught the eye for Ballycastle but ultimately they left themselves too much to do in the second half.
The opening 10 minutes of the game largely set the tone for the first half with Ballycastle struggling to get to grips with the physicality and intensity that St John’s began the game with. The Whiterock Road side had six points on the board with a solitary point from Conor Donnelly the response from Ballycastle. Shea Shannon (3), Conor Johnston and MacManus all raising the white flag. Indeed were it not for the bravery of Ryan McGarry between the sticks for Ballycastle, St John’s could have had the games opening goal in that period of time. Domhnall Nugent’s long puck out causing consternation in the Ballycastle defence and when the ball dropped to Donal Carson, his first timed effort was deflected wide.
Four points in barely two minutes from Shannon, Conal Bohill, Johnston and Aaron Bradley put nine between the sides at the end of the first quarter.
A point from Tiernan Smyth seemed to give Ballycastle a boost but that was short lived with Johnston scoring the opening goal of the game. Bradley spraying the sliotar cross-field into the path of Carson who found McCallin. He was swarmed by the Ballycastle defence but somehow managed to find Johnston who made no mistake.
That goal gave Ballycastle the nudge they needed as they hit four points unanswered. Scores coming from Cathair Donnelly, McAuley (2) and Ronan McCarry and it could have been better for the Town when Donnelly tore through the heart of the St John’s defence but he drilled his effort just over the bar.
MacManus (free) and Johnston pointed to put nine between the sides once again, Johnston taking his tally to 1-3 for the half but Ballycastle and Seamus McAuley had the final say when he pointed a free in the third minute of injury time with what was the last action of the half to leave the half time score 1-12 to 0-7.
Ballycastle needed a quick start to the second half and through Ronan McCarry, Tiernan Smyth and Seamus McAuley (free), they had reduced the deficit to five points inside the opening four minutes of the restart.
The Johnnies response was ultimately the winning of the game however. Shannon (free) and Johnston split the uprights before Bradley scored his sides second major. Oisin Donnelly sending the sliotar into the heart of the Ballycastle defence and when the danger wasn’t cleared, Bradley was on hand to find the back of the net and put 10 between the sides after nine second half minutes.
It was a hammer blow at the time with Ballycastle playing with more urgency and intent since the restart. They responded with points from Seamus McAuley and Conor Donnelly but the sides went score for score in a period of time that Ballycastle needed to take a foothold in the game.
Going into the final 10 minutes, the lead was stretched to 11 when Ballycastle found another gear. Conor Boyd and substitute Diarmuid McShane both raised white flags before Seamus McAuley hammered the sliotar to the back of the net from a free fully 25 yards from goal. It left six between the sides with four to play but St John’s responded with points from MacManus (2) to quell any thoughts of a Ballycastle comeback.
With the clock ticking into the last minute of the hour, Ballycastle found another major with Ciaran Clarke showing his predatory and poachers instincts to be in the right place and the right time but time was not the friend of the Town.
Ballycastle continued to push for another major that would bring them to the brink of an unlikely turnaround but St John’s and Oisin MacManus weren’t to be denied. He would split the posts either side of Johnston’s sixth white flag of the afternoon with a Cian Baudant ’65 the only response for the Town.
The win takes St John’s to three points as they welcome Dunloy to Corrigan Park in two week’s time while Naomh Éanna will travel to Ballycastle on the same day. With the Cuchullains the only team guaranteed progress, it’s still all to play for in Group 2.
The one chink of light for Ballycastle fans was the return of Ciaran Clarke (left) who came on in the second half and scored his team’s second goal
TEAMS
ST JOHN’S: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Conal Morgan, Jack Bohill; Ronan Donnelly, Conal Bohill, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Shea Shannon; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Aaron Bradley; Donal Carson, Oisin MacManus, Peter McCallin
Subs: Caoimhin Hanna for S Shannon (48); Daragh McGuinness for P McCallin (48); Ruairi Galbraith for D Carson (52); Michail Dudley for A Bradley (inj)
Scorers: O MacManus 0-10 (4fs); C Johnston 1-6; S Shannon 0-5 (3fs, 2’65’s); A Bradley 1-1; C Bohill 0-1; D McGuinness 0-1
BALLYCASTLE: Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Cian Baudant, Ryan McCook; Mark McClean, Conor Boyd, Ronan Laverty; Seamus McAuley, Cathair Donnelly; Ronan McCarry, Eoin McAlonan, Darragh Kelly; Conor Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Tiernan Smyth
Subs: Ciaran Clarke for M McClean (36); Diarmuid McShane for D Kelly (43); Ardan Kelly for E McAlonan (49); Dermot Donnelly for Conor Donnelly (53)
BloodSub: Jack Magowan for Cathair Donnelly (inj)
Scorers: S McAuley 1-7 (1-5fs); T Smyth 0-3; C Clarke 1-00; Conor Donnelly 0-2; R McCarry 0-2; Cathair Donnelly 0-1; C Boyd 0-1; D McShane 0-1; C Baudant 0-1 (1’65)
Referee: Darren McKeown (Naomh Gall)
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Creggan made it two wins out of two in Group 1 of the Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship when they proved too strong for visitors Sarsfields at Pairc Kickham on Saturday evening. The Kickhams men had just too much firepower for the Paddies, winning in the end by fifteen points
Little Tiernan Wasson greets the two team captains and match referee Piarais McCaffrey before the game. Pic by Claire Fawl
On a perfect evening for a game of hurling, Kickhams and Sarsfields both went after the scores in the early stages with Diarmuid Mulholland striking first for Kickhams in the first minute and Fionn Jemfrey replying within 10 seconds for Sarsfields. Fionn would go on to score the next two points for the Paddies, only for the hard working Tommy McCann to hit back with a point and a well-earned goal. Caolan McKernan got his first point in the 7th minute with Dan Doran replying for Kickhams. Then the impressive Morgan Nelson, who was causing Sarsfields all sorts of problems, scored a screamer of a goal in the 9th minute and followed that with 2 points and in the 14th minute Diarmuid Mulholland got in on the act with a goal of his own.
Sarsfields though weren’t going to lie down and scored 3 points from Jay Maguire, Anthony McGarrigle and Fionn Jemfrey in respone to one from Morgan Nelson that finished Kickhams scoring and Caolan McKernan and Ryan Carson replied for Sarsfields to leave the Kickhams leading 3-07 to 0-09 at halftime
Creggan corner forward Matthew Rodgers in action during his team’s win over Sarsfields. Pic by Claire Fawl
In the first 15 minutes of the second half Kickhams hit 10 points without reply with points coming thick and fast from Sean Duffin (2), Morgan Nelson (5), Ruairi McCann, Dan Doran and Tommy McCann putting Kickhams in a commanding lead. Again Sarsfields came back with 5 points of their own through Oisin Coleman, Caolan McKernan, Enda McLarnon, Daniel Smyth and Anthony McGarrigle. Caolan Mc Kernan scored his fourth point and Sarsfields last point on the 24th minute and a Tommy McCann point followed by two more points from Morgan Nelson to bring his total for the hour to 1-10.
Also a special mention to Jake McAteer and Kealan McCann in the Kickhams back line for going through a mountain of work
CREGGAN
Shea Devlin, Dylan Hinfey, Jake McAteer, Peadar McGuckian, Senan O’Boyle, Keelan McCann, Aiden McKeown, Dan Doran, Ruairi McKeown, Sean Duffin, Thomas McCann, Sean McAuley, Diarmuid McCann, Morgan Nelson, Matthew Rodgers
SARSFIELDS
Andrew McStay, Darragh Coleman, David Johnston, Aidan McKiernan, Jay Ward, Caolan McKernan, Enda McCartan, Nicholas O Mullane, Daniel Smyth, Oisin Coleman, Anthony McGarrigle, Jay Maguire, Noah McGivern, Fionn Jemfrey.
Referee – Piaras McCaffrey
Sarsfields Daniel Smyth in action during his team’s IHC clash with Creggan. Pic by Claire Fawl
