ACHL Division 1

St. Enda’s 3-26 Cathaoir an Ri 1-17

Following their famous win over neighbours Ballycastle in mid-week, Carey travelled to Glengormley on Sunday hoping to gain their second win of the season. However they came up against a St. Enda’s side who are going well this year and find themselves in 5^th place at the split.

Carey battled well during the opening half and were well in the contest at half time whern they trailed by only three points, but the Hightown side found another gear on the restart and hit three second half goals to win fairly comfortably in the end.

Cormac Jennings led the way for Naomh Eanna during the opening 30 minutes and hit 0-6 while Ruairi Donaghy 0-3, Nialll O’Connor, Eddie O’Connor0-2 and Luke O’Connor were the men on target for the home side.

The Faughs gave as good as they got for long periods during the first half with Patrick Gillan leading the way with 0-3 and Conlith McKinley, Michael McVeigh and Caolan McCaughan leading the charge for the Ballyvoy side.

After the break Naomh Eanna stepped it up a gear with Niall O’Connor leading the way and adding an early goal and completing a successful day for the Glengortmley men and another from Ruairi Donaghy, midway through the half put them into total control.

O’Connor added 3 second half points and Cormac Jennings, Ruiri Donaghy, Cormac Ross, Eddie O’Connor and Joe Maskey added to their total with Conlith McKinley, Michael McVeigh, Peadar McVeigh and Patrick Gillan replying for the North Antrim men

St. Enda’s: 1 Martin Curran, 2 Dara Maguire, 3 Manus Mullan, 4 Malachi McKibbon, 5 Eoin Conlon, 6 Joe Maskey, 7 Cormac Ross, 8 Brendan Cormican, 9 Owen Kennedy, 10 Luke O’Connor, 11 Niall O’Connor, 12 Eddie O’Connor, 13 Ruairi Donaghy, 14 Diarmuid Maguire, 15 Cormac Jennings

Cathaoir an Ri: 1 Daniel McBride, 2 Daniel Hill, 3 Colm McBride, 4  Soimhairle Mathers, 5 Michael McVeigh, 6 James Black, 7 Conlith McKinley, 8 Caolan McCaughan, 9 Fiachra McVeigh, 10 Eoin McKinley, 11 John McBride, 12 Peadar McVeigh, 13 Aaron McBride, 14 James McCouaig, 15 Patrick Gillan

Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)

O’Neill Sportswear Hurling League – Division 1

Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-28 Ballycran 1-15

This top of the table clash between the two unbeaten sides in the division, Loughgiel and Ballycran, turned out to be a disappointment as the Shamrocks proved much too strong for a Ballycran side who were short a good few regulars. The Down men started promisingly and were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after six minutes, but once they got going Loughgiel beat them with relative ease, with an impressive scoring performance which saw them win the end by sixteen points

Two points from Paul Sheehan and one from James Coyle, in reply to one by Cathal Hargan gave Ballycran a good start, but they were soon reeled in by a slick moving Shamrocks side, and two Shan McGrath points brought the home side level. A great solo run and shot by Paul Boyle forced a great double save from Ballycran keeper Stephen Keith, but Declan McCloskey pointed the resultant 65 and when Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan got in for the first goal of the game the Shamrocks were in command and points quickly followed from McMullan (2), James McNaughton (2) and Cathal Hargan to take a firm grip on the game. Nearing half time Ballycran hit three in a row, two from Sheehan and one from Woods, but an excellent point from Shan McGrath just before half time gave the home team a 1-10 to 0-6 lead at half time.

Two early points from Declan McCloskey and Rian McMullan stretched the lead to eight in the opening minute of the second half and it was clear the visitors had an uphill struggle in their hands. Phelim Savage, who had played at centre back in the first half, moved further up the field and he hit two great points to keep his team in touch, but two quick points from Shan McGrath were followed by a second goal from Bubbles McMullan and the only thing in doubt was the size of the winning margin.

Savage and Sheehan kept things ticking over for Ballycran with some excellent scores and Sheehan got a goal from a brilliantly struck 20 meter free three minutes from time, but the Loughgiel forward line were really flying and struck a succession of top class points to seal an impressive win

LOUGHGIEL

Chrissy O’Connell, Tiernan Coyle, Daniel McPeake, Rory McCloskey, Caolan Blair, Declan McCloskey, Damon McMullan, Ruairi McCloskey, James McNaughton, Paul Boyle, Cathal Hargan, Rian McMullan, Daniel McCloskey, Shan McGrath, Christy McGarry

BALLYCRAN

Stephen Keith, Michael Hughes, Patrick Hughes, Brett Hughes, Brett Nicholson, Phelim Savage, Stephen Gilliland, Philip Miskimmin, Scott Nicholson, Ethan Bell, Conor Woods, Paul Sheehan, James Coyle, James Miskimmin.

Referee – Kevin Parke

O’Neill’s Sportswear ACHL Division 1

Dunloy 2-21 St John’s 1-24

Sunday June 4

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Dunloy and St John’s couldn’t be separated in blistering heat on Sunday afternoon with the sides finishing all square at the end of the hour.  This was a hugely entertaining hour of hurling where the Corrigan Park men looked to have done enough to earn the vital league points on offer when they took a three point lead at the end of the game but the Cuchullains finished with a flurry and a draw was probably the fairest result.

With Eoin O’Neill lining out, the home side were still shorn plenty of their county players while the Johnnies welcomed the two Bradley’s, Domhnall Nugent and Conor Johnston into their 15.

The visitors to Pearse Park looked lively in attack and with Oisin MacManus, Michael Dudley and Johnston all dangerous, they gave the Dunloy defence their fill of it and more.  Chrissy McMahon and O’Neill got the majors for Dunloy, one in either half and came at vital times.  St John’s were well worth their four point lead by the 22^nd minute with Ryan McNulty, MacManus and Johnston all heavily involved but Chrissy McMahon’s major brought Dunloy to within touching distance.  Tom McFerran winning the ball in midfield and finding O’Neill in space.  ‘Sammy’ lured the St John’s defence before feeding McMahon and he made no mistake.

In fairness to the Johnnies, they had their goal chances previous to the Dunloy major with Johnston going close on two occasions while ‘keeper Eoghan Richmond did well to stop MacManus’ goal bound effort.

One point separated the sides at the short whistle with St John’s ahead 0-14 to 1-10.  The Johnnies probably deserved to be further ahead given how the first half panned out and after 10 minutes of the second half they had opened a four point lead once more.  MacManus, Johnston, Nugent and Dudley before a brace of frees from Aodhan McGarry brought Dunloy to within two before the second half water break.

The Johnnies goal came in the 49^th minute through the lively Aaron Bradley, Johnston with the assist to give his side a four point lead once more but Dunloy’s second major came with the next attack – Eoin O’Neill, who’s assist set up McMahon’s major in the first half, found the back for Declan Cregan’s goal with an instant Dunloy reply.

With just three minutes of the hour remaining St John’s had a three point lead but scores from McGarry (free), O’Neill and Ronan Molloy ensured the league points were shared at the end of the hour.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Dara McMullan, Kevin McKeague, Oran Quinn; Conor McKinsella, Ronan Molloy, Barry McCloskey; Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Eoin McFerran, Gabriel McTaggart, Aodhan McGarry; Chrissy McMahon, Eoin O’Neill, Ryan Mort

Scorers: A McGarry 0-12 (8fs 1’65); C McMahon 1-3; E O’Neill 1-1; R Molloy 0-2; P Shiels 0-2; R Mort 0-1

St John’s: Declan Cregan; Oisin Donnelly, Domhnal Nugent, Lorcan Heenan; Daragh McGuinness, Michael Bradley, Jack Bohill; Conal Morgan, Aaron Bradley; Ryan McNulty, Oisin MacManus, Michail Dudley; CJ McKenna, Conor Johnston, Ruairi Galbraith

Scorers: O MacManus 0-9 (2fs 1’65); C Johnston 0-5; M Dudley 0-3; A Bradley 1-00; CJ McKenna 0-2; R McNulty 0-2; D Nugent 0-1; M Bradley 0-1; C Morgan 0-1

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

ACHL Division One

O’Donovan Rossa 0-24 Carey Faughs 0-13

Like the majority of sides that have stepped up from division 2 in recent years, Carey are finding life difficult in Division 1 and on Wednesday night the visit to Shaw’s Road proved another testing fixture for the Ballyvoy men.

They came up against a Rossa side inspired by Aodhán O’Brien who finished the evening with nine points to his name over the evening and with Thoams Morgan weighing in with 0-7 there was only going to be one winner.

Morgan’s pace and finishing ability created problems for the visitors throughout, while team-mate O’Brien top-scored with nine from placed balls and play on a good night for the city side.

Carey opened brightly with early points from Michael McVeigh and James Black in the opening minutes before Thomas Morgan got Rossa’s opening score when he fired over.

There was a great pace to the game but both were guilty of missed chances before Aodhán O’Brien got his first of the night from a free to level but another pair of Carey scores through Colm McBride and Patrick Gillan moved the visitors two ahead.

Rossa were starting to find their feet however and O’Brien and Morgan brought them level again with excellent points but again Cathaoir an Ri responded through Daniel Martin. Gradually the hosts began to get on top however as they hit the next four points on the bounce with Morgan, Stephen Shannon from distance and Dara Rocks with two inside a minute.

Daniel Martin replied for the visitors but the momentum was now with the home side as they hit the next three through the impressive Morgan, O’Brien and Eoghan McMenamin to put a bit of distance between the sides.

Colm McBride and O’Brien traded points, the Rossa man from a 65 after Carey goalkeeper Daniel McBride did well to recover with Stephen Beatty breathing down his neck and another Morgan score on the run in from the right helped the hosts into a 0-13 to 0-7 lead at the interval.

The hosts continued to carry the game to their opponents on the restart with Darra Rocks, O’Brien and Morgan all on target, while McBride was again called into action for Carey to deny Owen May when a goal looked on.

The game was threatening to get away from the North Antrim side, but they dug deep with James Black and Martin pointing but they never really looked like getting the goal they needed to get themselves back into contention.

The home side continued to keep the score board ticking with O’Brien landing back-to-back points and James Black responding from a 65 for the Faughs.

Owen May got his name on the Rossa score card and Morgan added his seventh of the evening with John McBride’s 20-metre free tipped over and James Black landing another from midway in response, but the hosts finished strongly through O’Brien (two), McMenamin and substitute Diarmuid Rogan.

Black did have the final point of the evening, but Rossa were long out of sight as they move into seventh place in the table while Cathaoir an Ri await their first win of the season in a division that has proved testing for newly promoted sides in recent years.

O’Donovan Rossa: D Armstrong; C Boyle, C McGuinness, C Shannon; R Murray, Stephen Shannon (0-1), P Short; Seaghan Shannon, C Orchin; D Rocks (0-3), S Beatty, A O’Brien (0-9, 4 frees, 1 65); T Morgan (0-7), E McMenamin (0-2), O May (0-1).

Subs: D Rogan (0-1) for Seaghan Shannon (43), J Kerr for S Beatty (51), C O’Neill for T Morgan (54), J Reynolds for C Orchin (58), B McCauley for O May (58)

Cathaoir an Ri: D McBride; S Mathers, S McBride, C McBride (0-2); D Hill, J McCouaig, M McVeigh (0-1); C McKinley, J Black (0-5, 1 free, 1 65); F McVeigh, C McCaughan, J McBride (0-1 free); P Gillen (0-1), D Martin (0-3), E McKinley.

Subs: A McBride for E McKinley (49), J Mullan for D Martin (52)

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)

O’Neill’s Sportswear Hurling League Division 1

Ballycaslte 0-17 Ballycran 3-18

Ballycran made the long journey to Ballycastle on Wednesday evening and came away with a ten point victory to maintain joint top spot at the top of the Division table, trailing Loughgiel on score difference, to set up a showdown with the Shamrocks at Fr Healy Park on June 4^th in the last game before the league splits.

A badly depleted Ballycastle team did well in the first half, despite gifting the visitors 2-1 in a five minute spell, but the Down men were dominant after the break and hit some fine scores on their way to victory.

With Neill McAuley rolling back the years at centre back Ballycastle started well and were 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after five minutes, the points coming from a McAuley 65, Lorcan Donnelly and Cathal Connor. Paul Sheehan got the visitors on the scoreboard with a well struck free and though Lorcan Donnelly hit back with one for the home side, Sheehan and Scott Nicholson brought Ballycran back to within a point, before Eoin McAlonan sent one over to put the Town 0-5 to 0-3 clear.

Disaster struck for the home side in a three minutes spell between the 17th and 20^th minute as they let the Down men in for two goals and a point, which brought them from one behind to six ahead, but to their credit Ballycastle battled back really well as they his six points without reply between the 21^st and 29^th minutes to draw level again. Lorcan Donnelly started the run with one from a free before Neill McAuley sent one over from distance after picking up a clever sideline ‘cut’ from Rambo McCarry. Lorcan Donnelly, who was giving the Ballycran defence a lot of problems, added two more, McCarry hit one from play before Reuben McClean brought them level, but the men from the Ards got back ahead just on half time when Scottie Nicholason sent one over from play.

Ballycastle were dealt another blow when Neill McAuley did not emerge for the second half and when Ballycran stated strongly with two points from Sheehan and a goal from James Savage it was clear they would be hard to restrain.

Ballycastle stayed in touch with two points from Lorcan Donnelly and one from Feargal McKiernan, but Ballycran were now controlling the game and they added six on the trot with Scott Nicholson and Conor Dorrian adding two apiece, while Sheehan and Ben Arthurs got the other two. Donnelly and McAlonan pulled a couple back for Ballycastle but Ballycran always had an answer and Dorrian, Nicholson and substitute David Gilliland added points to wrap up a ten point win.

BALLYCASTLE

Craoiste McAuley, Oran Kearney, Conal Colgan, Jack McGowan, James McLister, Neal McAuley, James McShane, Eoin McAlonan, Ronan McCarry, Reuben McLean, Cian Waldron, Cathal Conor, Lorcan Donnelly, Cailin O’Conor, Feargal McKiernan

Subs – Thomas McIlroy, Conor Donnelly, Oisin McAuley

BALLYCRAN

Stephen Keith, Brad Watson, Gerard Hughes, Rory Brown, Aaron Dorrian, Sean Ennis, Cormac McAlister, Liam Savage, Scott Nicholson, Conor Dorrian, Conor Woods, Philip Miskimmin, Ben Arthurs, Paul Sheehan, Jake Miskimmin

Referee – Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)