Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

St John’s 1-16 Ballygalget 1-16

On Wednesday evening at Corrigan Park, St. John’s hosted Ballygalget, in a compelling Antrim Hurling League Division 1 clash that ultimately saw the home side claim a commanding 1-26 to 1-16 victory.

The match opened with early scores from both teams, featuring a mix of long-range strikes and individual points. St. John’s gradually built a strong lead, driven by consistent scoring from both open play and dead balls. Oisin MacManus and Oisin Donnelly were particularly instrumental during this period, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with impressive accuracy. Ballygalget stayed in the fight with key scores of their own, including notable long-range efforts from Jon Fisher and Marc Fisher, but they were left to rue several missed opportunities. The visitors’ frustration was compounded by the heroics of St. John’s goalkeeper Domhnall Nugent, who produced two crucial point-blank saves to preserve his team’s advantage. The defining moment of the first half came just before the 26-minute mark when a defensive error by Ballygalget was punished by Ruairi Galbraith, who found the back of the net to leave the halftime score at 1-18 to 0-9 in favour of the home side.

Ballygalget started the second half with immediate intent, as Marc Fisher fired over a point within seconds of the restart. The second period became heavily dominated by frees, with Oisin MacManus consistently splitting the posts for St. John’s and Eoin Pucci matching him with multiple conversions for the Ardsmen. A pivotal moment arrived 17 minutes into the half when Ballygalget were awarded a penalty, but Marc Fisher was unable to convert the opportunity, significantly stalling their momentum. To their credit, Ballygalget responded swiftly; just half a minute later, an end-to-end sweeping move culminated in Shea Pucci finishing to the net for a well-worked goal from play.

Despite this lifeline for the visitors, St. John’s maintained their composure, continuing to score consistently from both placed balls and open play to keep Ballygalget at arm’s length. The home side’s clinical efficiency in front of goal proved to be the difference, while Ballygalget were left to reflect on missed chances. The 1-26 to 1-16 final scoreline was a fair reflection of a game marked by strong individual performances from the likes of McManus and Donnelly for St. John’s, alongside Marc Fisher and Shea Pucci for the visitors.

St. John’s: 1 Domhnall Nugent, 2 Michael Darragh, 3 Conall Morgan, 4 Lorcan McCallin, 5 Ryan McNulty, 6 Enda McGurk, 7 Ronan Donnelly, 8 Caoimhin Hanna, 9 Aaron Bradley, 10 James Wilson, 11 Shea Shannon, 12 Oisin Donnelly, 13 Oisin MacManus, 14 Michael Bradley, 15 Ruairi Galbraith.

Ballygalget: 1 Eoin Clarke, 2 Michael Toner, 3 Ben Taggart, 4 Caolan Coulter, 5 Joe Dynes, 6 Marc Fisher, 7 Conaire Monan, 8 Jon Fisher, 9 Tim Prenter, 10 Oisin Coulter, 11 Shea Pucci, 12 Eoin Pucci, 13 Daniel Toner, 14 Michael Dorrian, 15 Owen McDermott.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/9LZ9iiTC3VTZ5M/?invite=eca7b93b-c400-4721-b5f2-f88464430b88

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Loughgiel Shamrocks 3-22 Glenariffe Oisin 0-20

Loughgiel Shamrocks secured a convincing eleven-point victory over Glenariffe in their ACHL Division 1 encounter, heavily driven by a dominant final-quarter display and a standout performance from corner-forward Roan McGarry. Despite Glenariffe showing tremendous resilience and making it a tightly contested affair for much of the second half, the Shamrocks’ overall accuracy and composure in the closing stages proved to be the decisive factor in this league clash.

There wasn”t a lot between the sides in the opening half but goals from highly impressive midfielder Paul Boyle and full forward Shan McGrath were to prove decisive as they sent the Shamrocks in at the break with a two point lead 2-10 to 0-14

The second half opened with Loughgiel on the front foot as Roan McGarry quickly pointed to set the tone. However, Glenariffe responded strongly to the challenge. Alex O’Boyle registered a crucial score before Seanie McIntosh fired over two quick points to bring the sides level. The Oisíns continued to press their case, highlighted by a fantastic point from Michael O’Boyle. Operating out on the right wing, he expertly collected a long, pinpoint puc-out from Glenariffe goalkeeper Paul McMullan and sent the ball over the bar, keeping his team firmly in the mix and the game very much in the balance.

As the half progressed, Glenariffe’s scoring touch suddenly dried up against a tightening Loughgiel defence. The Shamrocks capitalized on this drought, gradually pulling away as they exerted total control over the final ten minutes of the match. By the 29-minute mark, Loughgiel had established a commanding seven-point lead, with Roan McGarry consistently punishing the opposition through his accuracy from dead balls and relentless attacking pressure.

In injury time, McGarry capped off his brilliant individual performance by burying a superbly struck penalty in the 32nd minute, pushing the Loughgiel advantage to ten points and effectively ending any hopes of a Glenariffe comeback. Deep into added time, Loughgiel substitute Finn Henry split the posts with a final late point, stretching the winning margin to eleven and wrapping up a well-deserved victory for the Shamrocks.

Loughgiel Shamrocks: 1 Cormac McFadden, 2 Liam Glackin, 3 Enda Óg McGarry, 4 Caolan Blair, 5 Conall McCloskey, 6 Declan McCloskey, 7 Ben McGarry, 8 Ryan McKee, 9 Paul Boyle, 10 Rónán Fitzgerald, 11 Daniel McCloskey, 12 Eoin McGarry, 13 Roan McGarry, 14 Shan McGrath, 15 Pearce Patterson.

Glenariffe Oisins: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Donall Kearney, 3 Colla Ward, 4 Odhran Gillan, 5 Michael Haughey, 6 Calum McIlwaine, 7 James Kearney, 8 Daniel Kearney, 9 Niall Magee, 10 Brogan OConnor, 11 Alex O’Boyle, 12 Orrin O Connor, 13 Michael O’Boyle, 14 Seanie McIntosh, 15 Oisín Gillan.

Referee – Mark O’Neill

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/zeKChhV8KYj2hd/?invite=5b691325-46fc-4877-865a-be95f0f960bf

Senior Hurling League 

Division One

Ballycastle 0-20 Dunloy 3-24

Wednesday 27 May  

Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc MacUílín, Ballycastle

A brilliant second half performance from Dunloy was enough for them to take the two league points on offer on Wednesday evening as they ended Ballycastle’s unbeaten run in this years league.

The Cuchullains trailed at the interval with Ballycastle leading by one point, in truth, the Town should have been further ahead.  The home side recorded an inordinate number of wides in that opening half that would prove to be costly by the end of the game.  Dunloy went through the gears in the second half, however and with goals coming from Ciaran Elliott and Keelan Molloy adding to Nigel Elliott’s first half effort, the last 10 minutes saw them take the game away from Ballycastle.

Oisin McCallin finished top of the scoring charts with six of his eight points coming from placed ball while Tom McFerran raised the white flag four times in the second half and an overall tally of five points.  Dunloy’s dominance in the second half was down to their defensive organisation however with their half back line excelling.  Ryan McGarry and Eoin McFerran in particular catching the eye.

The home side were excellent in the first half with the movement of their half forward line creating spaces for ball to be delivered into danger areas and while their accuracy let them down more than they would have liked, their ability to punish errors or force errors in the Dunloy defence would have pleased the Ballycastle management.  Five of seven points in a seven minute period in the first half came off errors which Diarmuid McShane in particular was happy to oblige.  He would finish with four points for the half, five overall as he, Conor Donnelly and Seamus McAuley always looked threatening.

Once Dunloy got on top, the Town couldn’t wrestle back the momentum in the final quarter.

In an even opening 10 or so minutes, both sides went toe to toe.  Conor Donnelly, McShane and Reuben McClean (two) finding the target for the home side while Paudie McGilligan, McCallin, Chrissy McMahon and Nicky McKeague had the scoreboard ticking for the Cuchullains.

Further scores from Aaron Crawford and McKeague edged Dunloy ahead but Ballycastle began to get on top and create pressure.  A trio of unanswered points from Conor Donnelly, Seamus McAuley and McShane was answered by a Nigel Elliott point but the home side continued to punish errors in the Dunloy defence.  Conor Donnelly and Niall McClean showing predatory instincts to make the most of the indecision.  A further brace of points from McShane came in response to Tom McFerran’s first of the match to give Ballycastle a three point lead by the 27^th minute.

It was the least their efforts deserved in the first half and when Nigel Elliott found the back of the net for the opening goal of the game, it looked like Dunloy would make the most of the waywardness of the home side.

Ballycastle would add further scores from Neal McAuley and substitute Ronan Laverty while Nigel Elliott responded with the last puck of the half to leave the half time score 0-13 to 1-9 in Ballycastle’s favour.

Further scores from McShane, Cathair Donnelly and Laverty came in response to points from Tom McFerran and McCallin as Ballycastle made a sprightly start to the second half.  They wouldn’t score for another 12 minutes however as Dunloy began to take control.  A brace of frees from McCallin came before Ciaran Elliott fired in the second goal of the game in the 41^st minute.  McCallin providing the assist after leaving his marker for dead and finding Elliott in space.  McCallin would add another free soon after to give Dunloy a four point lead by the 44^th minute.

Seamus McAuley and substitute Lorcan Donnelly halved that deficit with a brace of points, Donnelly’s effort coming with his first touch of the game but the Cuchullains hit finished the contest strongly.

They would score 1-10 in the last 10 minutes of the game, the goal coming from substitute Keelan Molloy as Ciaran Elliott turned provider while McCallin, McFerran and substitutes Aodhan McGarry and Molloy adding to the Dunloy tally.

A brilliant end to the game from Dunloy who ended up with 11 different scorers over the hour.  They will welcome Portaferry to Pearse Park on Sunday while Rossa will travel to the north coast as Ballycastle will hope to get back to winning ways. 

TEAMS

Ballycastle Starting XV: Eamon Elliott; Oran Kearney, Conal Colgan, James Bakewell; Eoin McAlonan, Conor Boyd, Cathair Donnelly; Ardan Kelly, Cormac Donnelly; Reuben McClean, Seamus McAuley, Neal McAuley; Diarmuid McShane, Conor Donnelly, Niall McClean

• Subs: Ronan Laverty for Cormac Donnelly (24), Niall McKenna for R McClean (40), Lorcan Donnelly for N McClean (47), Reuben McClean for O Kearney (54), Patrick McAlonan for N McAuley (54)
• Scorers: D McShane 0-5; Conor Donnelly 0-4; R McClean 0-2; S McAuley 0-2; R Laverty 0-2; C Boyd 0-1; A Kelly 0-1; N McAuley 0-1; N McClean 0-1; L Donnelly 0-1

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

• Subs: Keelan Molloy for P McGilligan (43); Aodhan McGarry for O Quinn (44); Ben O’Kane for E Smyth (50); Francis McMullan for C McMahon (54); Paul Shiels for N McKeague (57)
• Scorers: O McCallin 0-8 (6fs); T McFerran 0-5; N Elliott 1-3; K Molloy 1-1; C Elliott 1-00; N McKeague 0-2; P McGilligan 0-1; A Crawford 0-1; C McMahon 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; P Shiels 0-1

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)

To see more of Brendan’s photos from the game, click on the link below….

https://myalbum.com/album/mL9yqMsb63TfaZ/?invite=db505334-d561-4b6b-9048-01c424f1f16a

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Portaferry 0-14 Ballycastle 3-20

Ballycastle delivered a another fine performance on the road this week, as they beat Portaferry with a clinical display of goal-scoring and relentless point-taking to secure a dominant sixteen-point victory in the Senior Division 1 Hurling League and keep their unbeaten run in the league to six. The visitors signaled their intent from the first whistle, finding the back of the net only five minutes into the contest when Cadhan Crawford gave the Town an early cushion they would never relinquish.

Portaferry struggled to contain the early momentum as the gap widened significantly following a second goal from Conor Donnelly. This strike propelled the Ballycastle men into a commanding eleven-point lead during the opening period. While the hosts staged a minor revival late in the half to narrow the deficit to 0-09 to 2-11, they headed into the changing rooms with a significant mountain to climb.

The second half began with a brief surge from the Down side, as they notched the first two points to bring the game within a single score. However, that was as close as they would get. MacUilín responded with a devastating scoring burst to re-establish control. The decisive blow arrived midway through the half when Lorcan Donnelly raised a third green flag for the visitors, effectively breaking the Portaferry resistance and allowing Ballycastle to reel off a succession of points from all angles.

The men in black and amber retained control during the final quarter as they outscored their opponents ten points to three in the closing stages. By the time the referee blew the final whistle, the scoreboard reflected a comprehensive 3-21 to 0-14 margin. It was a clinical, high-octane performance from the winners, while Portaferry, who were without a lot of their top players because of county duty, will look to find more defensive stability after failing to match the goal-scoring threat of the traveling side.

BALLYCASTLE – Eamonn Elliott Oran Kearney Cian Baudant Ardan Kelly Conor Boyd Eoin McAlonan Niall McClean Cathair Donnelly Ronan McCarry Seamus McAuley Reuben McClean Dairmaid McShane Conor Donnelly Cadhan Crawford Subs used – James Bakewell Neal McAuley Oisin McAuley Callum Campbell Lorcan Donnelly