Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Ballycran 3-18 Dunloy 1-13

A skeleton Dunloy team, shorn of their county players, were no match for Ballycran in Sunday’s opening league game at McKenna Park.

The men in black and amber made a great start and boosted by two goals from full forward Stuart Martin they were 2-4 ahead before Dunloy had raised a flag, the points coming from Chris Egan (2), Paul Sheehan and Liam Savage.

Full forward Anton McGrath pulled a goal back to get Dunloy on the scoresheet, and points from Eamon Smyth and Nicky McKeague gave things a better look, but the home side pushed on  with a Chris Egan goal plus points from James Coule, (2), Liam Savage and Sheehan to lead by 3-9 to 1-5 at half time.

Points from Barry Scott, Nicky McKeague (2) and Ronan Molloy at the start of the second half closed the gap to just six and there was a bit of hope for the visitors, but Ballycran came back strongly and their forwards sent over a series of excellent points to win convincingly in the end by 3-18 to 1-13.

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Cushendall 0-23  Ballycastle 1-15

Cushendall started their league campaign with a five point win over Ballycastle on Sunday at Pairc Mhuir. In bright, breezy and cold condition it was score for score during the earky part of the first half with Dominic Delargy, Paddy Magill and Ronan McAteer figuring strongly for the Ruairis, while Neal McAuley and Fergal McKiernan and Lorcan Donnelly showing well for the Town. Five minutes before half time Ballycastle led by 0-7 to 0-6 but Cushendall hit four inside three minutes, two of them from Paddy Magill and two from right half forwards Ronan McAteer to lead by 0-10 to 0-7 at the interval.

Emmet Laverty and Paddy Magill scored early in the new half to increase the lead to five, and though Lorcan Donnelly pulled one back for Ballycastle, further points from Paddy Magill and Alex Delargy put the home side six ahead.

Neal McAuley sent over a free for Ballycastle but the introduction of young Joe McLaughlin added a bit of impetus to the home side, scoring three points inside five minutes to stretch lead even further.

Lorcan Donnelly and Neal McAuley kept the Town in touch with points in the 47^th and 49^th minutes, to all but seal the win. Magill, Delargy and Christy McNaughton put the gap out to ten, and though Ballycastle finished with a Lorcan Donnelly goal from a free, and two from play by Fergal McKiernan and Mark McLean it was a case of too little, too late for the visitors as Cushendall had the victory wrapped up.

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Cushendall 5-19 Portaferry 5-15

Cushendall kept their slim chances of winning the Division 1 league title alive when they beat Portaferry in Saturday’s high scoring game in Cushendall. However the men from the Ards are still firm favourites to win their first title in almost 20 years, for if they beat St John’s in their final game in Portaferry on Wednesday evening the title will be theirs. Cushendall on the other hand would need to beat Dunloy in their final game and hope that the Johnnies do them a favour in Portaferry.

In the game itself Portaferry got away to a strong start and after Sean McAfee and Neill McManus put them two ahead the visitors came back strongly and goals from Daithi Sands and Tom McGrattan, plus points from Callum Smith and Fionn Turpin had them six clear after eight minutes. A minute later McManus hit back when he fired a free to the net and after adding a point, Scott Walsh was also on target to cut the gap back to a single point.

Ronan Blair pointed for Portaferry to put them two ahead again but two goals from play from Alex Delargy and Sean McAfee swung the game back in the home team’s favour.  The goals weren’t finished yet however and on 22 minutes Tom McGrattan got his second and his team’s third. Ronan Blair and Daithi Sands pointed to bring the Down men level on 29 minutes, but Neill McManus edged the Ruairis back in front at the end of a thrilling first half.

Cushendall’s Liam Gillan and Portaferry’s Ronan Blair exchanged points early in the second half before McManus got his second goal from play which heralded a change. Ronan Blair replied with a point but the home team got eight of the next nine points, six of them from McManus and two from Niall McCormick to open a six point gap as the game went into injury time.

Portaferry came back with a goal from centre back Caolan Taggart to keep their hopes alive, but McManus slammed the door on their chances when he landed the last score of the game from a free.

CUSHENDALL

Eion Gillan, Liam Gillan, Aaron Graffin, Ronan McAteer, Mark Donaghy, Eoghan Campbell, Ryan McCambridge, Scott Walsh, Niall McCormick, Dominic Delargy, Sean McAfee, Francis McCurry, Alex Delargy, Neill McManus, Paddy McGill.

PORTAFERRY

Pearce Smyth, Ronan Smyth, Callum Smyth, Ryan Convery, Barry Trainor, Caolan Taggart, Ciaran Savage, Matthew Conlan, Fionn Turbitt, Conor O’Prey, Ronan Blair, Niall Milligan, Tom McGrattan, Daitihi Sands, Eoghan Sands

Referee – Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

ACHL Division One

Dunloy 2-18 Loughgiel 1-16

Saturday 23 July

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

It mightn’t have been pretty for long periods of the hour on Saturday afternoon but it was every bit the intense and exciting affair you expect from these two rivals.  Dunloy and Loughgiel served up another drama filled 60 minutes with the result only decided by a touch of brilliance from Nigel Elliott deep into injury time.

The momentum swung both ways with both sides showing glimpses of their best form.  The home side defensively looked a step up from what they have shown at different times this season.  Phelim Duffin and Oran Quinn yielding very little while the experience of Kevin Molloy at the heart of the Dunloy defence told as the game progressed.

With six minutes of the hour remaining, Dunloy took a five point lead and looked odds on to see out the time that remained but Loughgiel dug deep and turned the screw.  Rian McMullan instrumental from open play and had Shan McGrath bagged his goal chance, the Shamrocks could have been gone ahead before Elliott’s major in the fifth minute of added time.

The Shamrocks started brightly and did all the early running.  Eddie McCloskey was playing in a deeper role with the two Ryan’s, McKee and McMullan occupying the Dunloy full back line.  Points from Paul Boyle, Rory McCloskey and Donal McKinley opened a three point lead inside the opening five minutes.  McKinley would finish the hour with four points beside his name in an excellent performance.

The game was held up when Dunloy full back Conor McKinely had to come off injured with what looked like a shoulder injury and when referee Tarlach Conway resumed play, Ryan McGarry and Ryan McMullan swapped scores before the home side scored the opening goal of the game in the 11^th minute.  Deaglan Smith pressurising the Loughgiel defence before forcing a turnover and finding Conal Cunning.  Coby still had plenty to do but he finished well to get the home sides challenge a shot of adrenaline.

From then, the next quarter of the game belonged to the home side.  Despite playing into the wind, they held Loughgiel scoreless for 12 minutes while keeping the scoreboard ticking at the other end of the pitch.  Points from Gabriel McTaggart (two), Nicky McKeague (two frees), Nigel Elliott, Cunning and Deaglan Smith were only answered by McKinely and a ’65 from Declan McCloskey.  The Cuchullains leading by five with three minutes of the first half remaining.

The Shamrocks finished the half well on top however scoring 1-3 in next to no time.  Ciaran McKay beginning the onslaught raising the white flag before combining well with Eddie McCloskey and scoring Loughgiel’s goal in the 30^th minute.  Further scores from Declan McCloskey and Ryan McMullan gave the visitors to Pearse Park a one point lead at the short whistle.

The home side looked like they needed half time and they definitely took their eye off the ball in the closing stages of the first half.  Loughgiel took full advantage and would have been content to go in with the score board reading in their favour given how the first half unfolded.  The introduction of Odhran McFadden and Caolan Blair in defence seemed to tighten the Shamrock defence, allowing their forwards to make hay.

The second half started like a run away train with six points on the board in the opening five minutes.  Conal Cunning, Eoin McFerran, McKeague (free) and McTaggart finding their range while a brace of scores from McKinley was the response from the Shamrocks.

Dunloy seemed to turn the screw once again and looked to gain an element of control as they reduced Loughgiel to just two points in 17 minutes.  McKeague with four points (two frees) and scores from Nigel Elliott and Kevin Molloy came while McMullan and Declan McCloskey (’65) replied for Loughgiel. 

With time running out, Dunloy held a five point lead and Loughgiel kept going.  A brace of frees from Ryan McMullan preceded a mammoth free from Declan McCloskey to reduce the Dunloy lead to two points in the third minute of injury time.  They were increasing the pressure on the Dunloy defence and when Odhran McFadden’s pointed effort came back off the upright, the sliotar fell for McGrath but his effort went wide.

Dunloy breathed a sigh of relief and with the next attack ensured they took the derby bragging rights.  Eoin McFerran’s effort for a point dropped short and Nigel Elliott timed his run to perfection, leaping highest among a crowd of players to deflect the sliotar from the most acute of angels.  The touch of an angel to defy an angle and ensure a win for the Cuchullains.

TEAM

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Conor McKinley, Oran Quinn; Aaron Crawford, Kevin Molloy, Eamon Smyth; Nicky McKeague, Ryan McGarry; Eoin McFerran, Gabriel McTaggart, Deaglan Smith; Chrissy McMahon, Conal Cunning, Nigel Elliott

Subs: Ciaran Elliott for C McKinley (8); Karl O’Kane for A Crawford (60)

Scorers: N McKeague 0-7 (all frees); C Cunning 1-2; N Elliott 1-2; G McTaggart 0-3; K Molloy 0-1; R McGarry 0-1; E McFerran 0-1; D Smith 0-1

Loughgiel: Cormac McFadden; Tiernan Coyle, Tony McCloskey, Ruairi McCormick; Declan Gillan, Declan McCloskey, Rory McCloskey; Ciaran McKay, Enda Og McGarry; Shan McGrath, Donal McKinley, Paul Boyle; Ryan McKee, Ryan McMullan, Eddie McCloskey

Subs: Odhran McFadden for R McCormick (29); Caolan Blair for D Gillan (29); Maol Connolly for P Boyle (HT); John Francis Connolly for E Og McGarry (46); Finn Henry for R McCloskey (60)

Scorers: R McMullan 0-5 (2 f’s); D McCloskey 0-4 (2 ‘65’s 1f); C McKay 1-1; D McKinley 0-4; R McCloskey 0-1; P Boyle 0-1

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Ballinascreen)