An injury time goal from full forward Eoin Trainor gave Rossa victory over Cushendall in Sunday’s Division 1 League game at Pairc Mhuir, a result which sees the Belfast men move to the top of the table on score difference.
Rossa were four clear with eight minutes of normal time still to play, but three pointed frees from Joe McNaughton and one from play by Fiontan Bradley brought the Ruairis level as the game entered injury time. It looked like the point would be shared but Rossa won possession in the 72nd minute and his Trainor’s shot from forty metres found the net to keep his team’s recent good run going. Bradley came back with a point but it was too little, too late for the home side and the final whistle sounded on the poc out.
The first twenty minutes of the opening half were evenly matched with both teams scoring well but goals from corner forward James Connolly, midfielder Deaglan Murphy and Corey Walsh sent Rossa to the changing room with a 3-12 to 1-09 advantage, the Cushendall goal coming from Joseph McNaughton.
Cushendall got back into the game when they hit the first five points of the second half, three of them from McNaughton and one each from Fred McCurry and Padraig McKillop. Rossa edged ahead again and had opened up a four point lead by the 52nd minute, but four in a row from the home side brought things level. A draw looked to be on the cards, but Rossa came again and ET sealed the win for the Shaw’s Road men to keep them level at the top with Loughgiel and city rivals St John’s
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An injury time goal from Ballycastle captain Ronan ‘Rambo’ McCarry secured the league points when McQuillan’s made the long trip down the Ards peninsula on Sunday afternoon.
Early scores were exchanged in Ballygalget, Ardan Kelly, playing at number 7, with his first of 3 for the visitors, 2 of which were superb scores from the half back line.
Ballygalget went 0-03 0-01 up with Eoin Pucci on target from the dead ball for 2 of the opening scores.
Ballycastle’s Conor Donnelly, who collected his Ulster Colleges All Star on Friday night, took charge & wrestled through for the game’s first goal to give his team the lead again.
The town’s captain, McCarry, got his first score of the day with a well taken point before young Ardan Kelly picked off his second from long range. The home side answered that with a goal of their own, a superb effort from full forward Shea Pucci who rifled the sliotar to the top corner of the Ballycastle net.
Points were exchanged as the game remained a closely contested affair, the pick of the scores a long range effort from McQuillan’s Seamus McAuley that sailed between the uprights from inside his own half.
The Down men went into the break 2 points to the good at 1-11 to 1-09.
Ballygalget came out of the blocks fastest for the second 30 minutes, and went 4 points up with Eoin Pucci’s accuracy from frees aiding his team’s cause.
Seamus McAuley was able to match that accuracy for Ballycastle though to keep his team within touching distance.
Ardan Kelly Daragh Donnelly
Points from Daragh Donnelly, Kelly and McCarry then brought the game level. The teams would be tied on two more occasions, Ballycastle’s substitute Criostai McAuley making an impact, before Captain McCarry hit the telling blow, after good work from substitute Daragh Kelly. ‘Rambo’ made no mistake seeing the sliotar to the net to give Ballycastle the advantage deep in injury time. Although Ballygalget mustered another point from the poc out, the lobbed effort from the corner dropping just over the bar as they attempted to seek out a goal opportunity, there was no time for a comeback as the long whistle sounded on the poc out and the points were set to head back up the road with the travelling town men.
Teams
Ballygalget
Eoin Clarke, James Higgins, Ciaran Watson, Joseph Smyth, Ben Teggert, Cathal Coulter, Rory Taggart, Cormac Coulter, Michael Toner, Eoin Pucci, Eoin McDermott, Michael Dorian, Ben Murray, Shea Pucci, Daniel Toner
Ballycastle
Eamonn Elliott, Oran Kearney, Conal Colgan, Ryan McCook, Mark McClean, Ronan Laverty, Ardan Kelly, Seamus McAuley, Cathair Donnelly, Ronan McCarry, Orann Donnelly, Daragh Donnelly, Conor Donnelly, Neal McAuley, James McShane
St Johns brought Rossa’s unbeaten start to the Division One hurling league to an end with a hard fought 1-23-2-19 win over their Belfast rivals on the Shaws Road on Sunday afternoon.
League leaders Rossa were looking to chalk up their fifth win on the bounce, whilst the Johnnies were hoping to bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign away to Loughgiel last weekend.
The visitors began brightly and hit the first three scores unanswered, Michael Bradley took a lay-off from Oisin McManus and steered over, McManus converted a free and Dannan McKeogh popped shortly afterwards.
Deaglan Murphy converted a free to get his side up and running, he doubled his account a few minutes later and scores from Eoin Trainor and James Connolly edged the Shaws Road outfit ahead for the first time.
A converted Oisin McManus free tied the game for the second time and his side soon restored their three-point advantage.
Ruairi Galbraith dropped an angled attempt over, McManus clipped over his third free of the half and Dannan McKeogh doubled his tally.
An Eoin Trainor point briefly halted the Johnnies momentum before McKeogh slotted over again.
McManus dropped over an angled free as the Whiterock men extended their lead and it increased when Donal Carson added his first of the afternoon.
Successive Rossa points arrived courtesy of James Connolly and Eoin Trainor, but Aaron Bradley and Michael Dudley pointed between a Cricky McGuinness score from range.
The sides traded further points before the half was out through Deaglan Murphy (free) and Enda McGurk as St Johns were 0-13-0-9 ahead at the interval.
St Johns stretched ahead again twice in the opening stages of the second period through McManus conversions, though on each occasion there were response- Diarmaid Rogan stroked over and Deaglan Murphy added to his tally from the placed ball.
McManus brought his tally from frees to 0-8 with two in quick succession and Michael Dudley doubled his personal tally as the Johnnies were 0-18-0-11 ahead approaching the final quarter.
Rossa continued to hang in with Diarmaid Rogan squeezing a shot inside the posts and Deaglan Murphy adding another from a free.
The next six scores were shared equally, Oisin McManus twice pushed the lead to six- notching his first from play and adding his final free of the afternoon with Aaron Bradley conjuring his third score.
The hosts had an answer each time, Deaglan Murphy scored his sixth free of proceedings, Eoghan McMenamin popped over and substitute Corey Walsh then chipped in with a score a few minutes after his introduction to proceedings.
It took until the 53rd minute for the games opening goal, but it was crucial as Donal Carson got to Shea Shannon’s sideline cut and was able to make room and fire past Donal Armstrong to give his side a 1-21-0-17 lead.
Aaron Bradley added a further point and it looked a long way back for Rossa with little over five minutes remaining.
Successive Declan McCartney scores from range lifted the hosts and two minutes into added time Eoin Trainor bagged his side a goal to make it 1-22-1-19.
Goalscorer Carson appeared to ease any lingering nerves with a point at the other end, but Rossa hit the second goal in injury time when Aodhan O’Brien drilled a low free to the net.
The hosts could have snatched a share of the spoils in the aftermath but St Johns held out for a derby victory to move level on points with Rossa at the league summit.
Rossa: D Armstrong, O May, C Orchin, N Crossan, D McCartney (0-3), C McGuinness (0-1), E Trainor (1-3), D Rogan (0-2), Deaglan Murphy (0-6f), Daire Murphy, P Short, O McVicker, E McMenamin (0-1), A O’Brien (1-0f), J Connolly (0-2). Subs: L McEnhill for O May (45), C Walsh (0-1) for D Rogan (49), C O’Neill for E McMenamin (58).
St Johns: S Doherty, M Darragh, C Johnston, J Bohill, D McGuinness, C Morgan, E McGurk (0-1), S Wilson, M Dudley (0-2), A Bradley (0-4), S Shannon, D McKeough (0-3), D Carson (1-2), O McManus (0-10, 0-9f), R Galbraith (0-1).
Referee: Barry Winters (Eoghan Ruadh)
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St. Enda’s built on last week’s win over Ballygalget when they travelled to the Ards on Sunday and came away with an excellent 8 point win over their Co. Down neighbours, Ballycran.
Ruairi Donaghy top scored for the Glengormley side and finished the game with 1-11 to his name (9f’s) and his accuracy from the placed ball ensured that there would be no way back for Ballycran in the second half.
Naomh Eanna led 1-13 to 0-8 at the short whistle and might have been further ahead but hit 8 wides during an opening half where they were on top for most of the time.
It was backs to the wall in the second half with Diamond, Maguire, Conlon, Mullan and man of the match, Edgar outstanding in defence and Ciaran McAllister’s great finish to the net for a second goal ensured that the visitors were always able to keep a healthy distance between the sides.
Brett Nicholson, Conor Woods, Gerard Hughes, Jake Miskimmin and Niall Breen did all in their power to get the home side going but they were playing catch-up for most of the game to a fully focused Naomh Eanna who move above both Sunday’s opponents and Ballygalget in the league table.
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy recorded their third league win of the season on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Cushendall with seven to spare. Played under strong sunshine at Pearse Park, the Cuchullains were worthy of the margin of victory after a hugely entertaining hour of hurling.
Both teams were short plenty of first team regulars, and it was the home side that showed that bit more bite, intensity and overall fluency in their play. Scoring 2-12 from open play and while they hit double figures in wides, their attacking unit gave the Ruairi Og’s plenty of problems.
Nicky McKeague top scored for the Cuchullains with five points beside his name while both goals came in the first half from Ryan Mort and Ronan Molloy. The home side had eight different scorers over the hour and conceded just 1-7 from open play, defensively they had Cushendall’s number.
Fiontan Bradley’s star continues to shine as he top scored for the Ruairi’s, scoring 1-4 while the midfield pairing of Padraig McKillop and Fergus McCambridge had four points evenly shared between them over the hour. They too had eight different scorers by the final whistle but couldn’t match the intensity of the home side.
The Ruairi’s started the match on top, scoring three unanswered points in the opening five minutes. Bradley and Joseph McNaughton finding their range from placed ball while Fergus McCambridge fired over for the first score from open play.
The home side opened their account with a touch of class from Ryan Mort. McKeague’s free was drilled low and Mort trapped the sliotar into his path before collecting and firing low beyond Eoin Gillan in the Cushendall goal.
That major sparked the Cuchullains into life with further points coming from Ronan Molloy and McKeague (free) before Padraig McKillop split the uprights with his first of two points in the 10th minute.
McKeague and McAuley swapped frees before Daire McMullan fired over a free from the edge of the ‘New D’ – a gargantuan score from the Dunloy defender as the home side controlled the second quarter.
Points from Bradley (free) and McKeague left two between the sides going into the final 10 minutes but it was Dunloy that finished the half with a flourish.
Their second goal came through a brilliant finish from Ronan Molloy after a strong run to hold off the Cushendall challenges. Paudie Martin forcing the turnover before finding Molloy and while he had plenty of work to do, Molloy found the top corner with a sublime effort.
Quickfire scores followed from Luke McFerran, Martin and Paudie McGilligan to leave eight between the sides. Bradley and McKeague frees rounded off the scoring to leave the half time score 2-9 to 0-7 in the home sides favour.
Like the first half, Cushendall made the brighter start after the restart. Thomas McLaughlin split the posts for the opening score before they found the back of Eoghan Richmond’s. Bradley applied the finish after a move that saw the Ruairi’s cut through the heart of the Dunloy defence with a series of handpasses, Sean McAfee with the assist to Bradley’s finish.
Fergus McCambridge fired over moments later as Cushendall reduced the Dunloy lead to three points just six minutes into the second half.
Points from McGilligan and Martin were answered to by Padraig McKillop and Bradley (’65) to leave three between the sides but a run of three unanswered points in as many minutes from Mort, McGilligan and Luke McFerran gave the Cuchullians a six point cushion going into the final quarter.
It was going to take another goal for Cushendall to get anything out of this one, it never looked like it was coming. Oisin Woodhouse added his name to the list of scorers with a score from distance but another run of three points from Kevin Molloy, McKeague (free) and Luke McFerran were responded by a solitary score from Dominic Delargy as Dunloy ran out comfortable winners.
Next up for the Cuchullains is a trip to Naomh Éanna next Sunday while Cushendall play host to Rossa on the same day.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Conor Kinsella, Daire McMullan, Reece Cunning; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Deaglan Smith; Paudie McGilligan, Tom McFerran; Ronan Molloy, Nicky McKeague, Luke McFerran; Paudie Martin, Anton McGrath, Ryan Mort
Subs: Eoin McFerran for D McMullam (41); Ben O’Kane for E Smyth (47); Oisin McCamphill for A McGrath (50); Gabriel McTaggart for R Mort (60)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-5 (4fs); R Mort 1-1; R Molloy 1-1; P McGilligan 0-3; L McFerran 0-3; P Martin 0-2; K Molloy 0-1; D McMullan 0-1 (1f)
Cushendall: Eoin Gillan; Callagh Mooney, Ronan McAteer, Stephen Walsh; Alex McCambridge, Charlie McAuley, Oistin Birt; Fergus McCambridge, Padraig McKillop; Sean McAfee, Joseph McNaughton, Thomas McLaughlin; Oisin Woodhouse, Dominic Delargy, Fiontan Bradley
Subs: Francis McCurry for A McCambridge (HT); Senan Black for F McCambridge (60)
Scorers: F Bradley 1-4 (3fs 1’65); F McCambridge 0-2; P McKillop 0-2; T McLaughlin 0-1; O Woodhouse 0-1; D Delargy 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1 (1f); C McAuley 0-1 (1f)
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)
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