Category / Division 1

by thesaffrongael

Cuchuallins Recover to See Off Ballycran

Senior Hurling League

Division One

Dunloy 1-16 Ballycran 0-13

Sunday June 19

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Dunloy senior hurlers and U17 footballers stand with Corpus Christi Gaels observing a minutes silence. Ballycran (not in picture) also paid their respects ahead of the league game at Pearse Park

Dunloy recovered from eight points adrift just after half time to record a six point win over Ballycran on Sunday afternoon.  This wasn’t one for the hurling purists among us with both sides struggling to find any rhythm.  The visitors to Pearse Park couldn’t deal with the elements, despite a bright day in the north Antrim village, the wind was causing havoc with Ballycran hitting a number of glaring wides in the opening 30 minutes.

Despite this, they were well worthy of their seven point half time advantage.  The Cuchullains were restricted to just three points in those opening 30 minutes while their first score didn’t come until the 12th minute of the game.  The home side regrouped at half time however and played more to their abilities in the second half.  They were helped with Ballycran being reduced to 14 men, Michael Hughes seeing red just three minutes after the restart.

The only goal of the game came in the 37th minute, Deaglan Smith finishing an excellent move that halved the Ballycran lead while Nicky McKeague’s accuracy from frees allowed the home side to chip away into the Ballycran lead.  The Dunloy midfielder would top score with 0-8 beside his name, seven from placed ball while Gabriel McTaggart’s four points was just reward for the mountain of work he had gone through.

Deaglan Smith who scored Dunloy’s goal in the second half.
Conor Woods had a strong game at the heart of the Ballycran defence

With county players Ryan Elliott, Aaron Crawford and Phelim Duffin all making a return to the Dunloy starting team, the Cuchullains defence was stronger than it had been in recent league games, yielding just 13 points in an hour of hurling with a number of those coming from distance in the first half while just four from placed ball.  The Cuchullains full back line in particular tenacious throughout.

On a day were graft and work rate were king, style and finesse came second.  Ciaran Elliott, Kevin Molloy, McTaggart and Eoin McFerran all rolled their sleeves up for the home side.

Ballycran will look at the opening 30 minutes to this game and realise this is where the game left them.  So many glaring wides at a time when they were well on top, allowed the Cuchullains to remain in touch.  Defensively they were organised and astute in possession.  Conor Woods immense at half back while he was ably assisted Aaron Dorrian and Gerard Hughes before he had to come off injured.  Phelim Savage was at his impish best and had an intriguing battle with Ciaran Elliott in the middle of the field.  The Dunloy man following Savage everywhere as the Cuchullains set about nullifying his creativity.

Up front, Stuart Martin and Scott Nicholson did the lions share of the scoring for the Ardsmen.  Martin with the first three points of the game while Nicholson gave the Cuchullains defence plenty to think about.

The momentum visibly swung after Ballycran were reduced to 14 men.  The visitors led by eight points at that stage and nine minutes later the Cuchullains were back on terms.  A run of 1-7 without reply gave the home side the ascendancy and Ballycran never really recovered.

McKeague’s frees, defensive dominance and some glittering scores from McTaggart in the final quarter allowed the Cuchullains to take the league points on offer.

The Cuchullains travel to Naomh Eanna on Wednesday night for their next game while Ballycran will welcome Cushendall to their turf on the same evening.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Eamon Smyth, Phelim Duffin, Oran Quinn; Aaron Crawford, Kevin Molloy, Dara McMullan; Nicky McKeague, Ciaran Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Gabriel McTaggart, Eoin McFerran; Chrissy McMahon, Deaglan Smith, Oisin Elliott

Subs: Ryan McGarry for O Elliott (HT); Conor Kinsella for D McMullan (53); Conall Kelly for D Smith (55)

Scorers: N McKeague 0-8 (7f’s); G McTaggart 0-4; D Smuth 1-00; C McMahon 0-2; O Elliott 0-1; E Smyth 0-1

Ballycran: Stephen Keith; James Clarke, Sean Ennis, Lukas Boyd; Aaron Dorrian, Conor Woods, Gerard Hughes; Michael Hughes, Phelim Savage; Ben Arthurs, Stuart Martin, Niall Breen; Scott Nicholson, Ayrton Gleeson, Christopher Egan

Subs: Conor Gilmore for G Hughes (15)

Scorers: S Nicholson 0-4 (2f’s); S Martin 0-3; P Savage 0-2; C Woods 0-2 (2f); A Dorrian 0-1; C Egan 0-1

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

Conor Woods had a strong game at the heart of the Ballycran defence
by thesaffrongael

Cushendall on top as county players return

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Cushendall: 2-25 (31) Naomh Eanna 0-15 (15)

Now that the county season has been put to bed Cushendall had their full team available or the first time this season on Wednesday evening when they faced Naomh Eanna in a re-arranged game at Pairc Mhuir, Cushendall. Fergus McCambride got the home team’s first score but the next four call came from the stick of Neill McManus, the first from 65 and the other three from play at the went 0-5 to 0-0 clear. Matthew O’Hare got the Glengormley men on the scoreboard after 12 minutes, and he added another four minutes later but Cushendall were well on top and as county players Paddy Burke and Ryan McCambridge joined McManus on the scoreboard as the Ruairis raced to an 0-12 to 0-5, Naomh Eanna’s own county man Joe Maskey also getting on the scoreboard.

The second half started with Naomh Eanna being more prominent on the scoreboard with Maskey adding two and O’Hare again chipping in with one, and for twenty minutes it was virtually score for score. Howeer Cushendall were able to up the pace and after hitting four points in a row through Sean McAfee (2) and Neill McManus (2) they dealt the visitors a double blow when Andrew Delargy and Sean McAgee grabbed goals apiece inside a minute.

Naomh Eanna kept plugging away and they came back with four in a row of their own with Conor Bradley and Matthew Hare getting two each before McAfee capped a fine second half display with the last score of the game.

by thesaffrongael

Emmet’s show improvement but Portaferry still too strong

Antim Hurling League – Division 1

Cushendun 2-15 Portaferry 2-27

It was an early start for league leaders Portaferry who made it all the way from the Ards to Cushendun for an 11-30 start, but their 81 mile journey was well rewarded as they continued their unbeaten run, and headed home with the points yet again.

Having said that Cushendun will be happier with their performance, for although they were beaten by 12 points in the end, they showed a marked improvement from their recent performances.

Cushendun fared well in the opening half and trailed by just four at the break, 1-8 to 1-12, their goal coming from corner forward John V Morgan, while Tom Grattan hit the net for the visitors. Portaferry’s  corner-forward Ronan Blair continued his good form this season hitting 0-9 overall during the hour, six of them from frees.

The second half saw the Down men begin to pull away as Blair, centre forward Conor Mageean and right half forward Conor O’Prey hit some great scores.

Cushenun kept battling and Conor McHugh, who was playing at centre forward, grabbed a goal and six points, one of them from a sideline cut. Conlaoth McNeill was also in fine form from placed balls for the home side hit six from seven attempts, but the league leaders packed just too much punch and in the end had 12 points to spare. They have now moved three points ahead of their nearest rivals Loughgiel in the league race, with a game less played.

Portaferry’s next outing is on June 19th when they host third place St John’s, while the Emmet’s are not in action again until Wednesday June 22nd when they take on second placed Loughiel in Cushendun.

CUSHENDUN

  1. Gareth Magee
    2 – Oisin McMahon
    3 – Aidan Corbett
    4 – Aidan McSparron
    5 – Thomas Scally
    6 – Donald O’Hara
    7 – Jack McKay
    8 – Pearse Bannon
    9 – Callum Kilgore
    10 – David Kilgore
    11- Conor McHugh (Smiley)
    12 – Harry Kilgore
    13 – Conor Bannon
    14 – Conleth McNeill (Loaf)
    15 – John V Morgan

PORTAFERRY

  1. Paddy McNally
  2. Ciaran Savage
  3. Calum Smyth
  4. Ryan Convery
  5. Deaglan Mallon
  6. Caolan Taggart
  7. Barry Trainor
  8. Matthew Conlon
  9. Eoin Magee
  10. Conor O’Prey
  11. Conor Mageean
  12. Conor Faye
  13. Ronan Blair
  14. Conor McGrattan
  15. Eoin Sands
by thesaffrongael

All Square at Corrigan

ACHL Division 1

St. John’s 3-13 Ballycastle 1-19

St. John’s and Ballycastrle served up an entertaining draw at Corrigan Park last night with the teams level on a number of occasions over the hour and a draw was probably a fair result though visitors Ballycastle will rue a missed penalty.

A feature of the game was the free taking from both sides with Oisin McManus landing a number of fine efforts for the ‘Johnnies’ and James Bakewell equally impressive for the visitors in conditions that were far from ideal.

McManus struck a couple of early frees for the Corrigan Park side but a point from Ronan McCarry and a well worked goal from Fergal McKiernan saw the ‘Castle’ hit the front after six minutes. James Bakewell and Ciaran McKeague stretched the visitors lead to four and at this stage the momentum was with the visitors.

Another long range effort from McManus got the home side going again and Ruairi Galbraith and McManus with a free from his own half closed the gap to one as two well matched sides fought tooth and nail for every ball.

Bakewell from a ‘65’ for the visitors and Ciaran Kerr exchanged further points but further points from Seamus McAuley and Ronan McCarry had ‘McQuillan’s’ three ahead after 20 minutes and they looked to be getting on top.

Michael Dudley swung the game back in favour of St. John’s with two points in the period leading up to the break however and he put his side ahead with a goal in the 30th minute, getting on the end of a good build up to leave the home side 1-9 to 1-7 ahead at the break.

Ballycastle were first to register as the second half got under way with James Bakewell striking an impressive long range point and following with another from a free from just inside his own half and the sides were level again with only three minutes of the new half gone.

Play swung to the other end of the field however and Ruairi Galbraith was on hand to return the sliotar to the net after Benny Connor in the visitors goal had brought off an excellent save but the Ballycastle net minder was helpless to deny Galbraith’s follow up.

It got even better for the Whiterock side when the Impressive Oisin McManus got in for a third goal after getting on the end of a long delivery in the 5th minute to put his side six in front and the momentum had swung in the ‘Johnnies’ favour.

Ballycastle refused to panic however and Seamus McAuley, Bakewell 0-2 and Diarmaid McShane fired over points in response to a fine long range effort from Padraig Nugent for the home side and the momentum was very much back with the North Antrim men as they picked off their points going down the home straight.

Seamus McAuley, substitutes Ronan Laverty and Lorcan Donnelly and the superb Conor Boyd were all on target for a strong finishing Ballycastle with Padraig Nugent replying from a long range free for St. John’s to leave the sides tied at the end of a pulsating contest that was a credit to both sides given the difficult conditions on the night.

St. John’s: 1 Simon Donnelly, 2 Louis Boyd, 3 Jack Bohill, 4 Phillip Martin, 5 Aidan McMahon, 6 Padraig Nugent, 7 Ciaran McKenna, 8 Andy McGowan, 9 Conor Hand, 10 Ruairi Galbraith, 11 Ciaran Kerr, 12 Oisin McManus, 13 Michael Dudley, 14 Niall McCallin, 15 Declan Creggan, 18 Luke Loughlin, 19 David Robinson, 20 Colm McFall, 21 Fearghal McManus, 22 Matthew Mallon

Ballycastle: 1 Benny Connor, 2 Oran Kearney, 3 Niall McAuley, 4 Mark McClean, 5 Jack McGowan, 6 Conor Boyd, 7 Ciaran McKeague, 8 Ronan McCarry, 9 James Bakewell, 10 Joe McToal, 11 Seamus McAuley, 12 Eoin McAlonan, 13 Tiernan Smyth, 14 Diarmid McShane, 15 Fergal McKiernan, 17 Lorcan Donnelly, 22 Ronan Laverty

by thesaffrongael

Blair’s accuracy give Portaferry the edge in Ards derby

Antrim All County Hurling League Division 1

Ballycran 0-19 Portaferry 1-19

Paul McIntyre reports from McKenna Park.

An early goal from Daithi Sands proved to be the difference as Portaferry saw off neighbours Ballycran with three points to spare in Wednesday evening’s league clash at McKenna Park.

Sands pounced for the game’s only major in the second minute.

The home defence failed to deal with Conor O’Prey’s surging run along the endline, and when he picked out Sands in the square, the Portaferry marksman fired past Stephen Keith in the home goal.

Try as hard as Ballycran did to reel them in, the accuracy of Ronan Blair was enough to ensure that Portaferry left McKenna Park with six wins from as many matches.

Blair registered a tally of 0-11 over the hour but they also had to thank a watertight defence that was superbly marshalled by Callum Smyth and Ciaran Savage, which goalkeeper Pearce Smyth also looked very assured when called upon.

Conor Woods did his best to help drag his team over the line and finished the contest with 0-9, but Ballycran were unable to create any clear-cut goal chances over the hour and ultimately had to settle for scores from deep or from frees.

Sands early goal made the scoreline 1-1 to 0-0 as the visitors threatened to pull away but efforts from Liam Savage, Michael Hughes and Stuart Martin meant that just one point separated the sides after fifteen minutes with Portaferry leading 1-3 to 0-5.

But the second quarter belonged to Portaferry and four frees from Blair and an effort from play from Matthew Conlon helped the Ports to a five-point advantage at the break, 1-9 to 0-7.

Blair claimed the first two points of the second half to extend Portaferry’s lead to seven but Michael Hughes and Niall Breen helped to kick-start a revival.

Four points from Woods and another effort from Hughes cut the lead to two points with nine minutes to go as the momentum seemed to be swinging in favour of the homeside.

But the introduction of Tom McGrattan gave Portaferry another scoring option and the Ulster Colleges All-Star showed all his class with a wonderfully taken point in the 54th minute.

Woods replied with two ‘65’s but points from Blair and McGrattan wrapped up Portaferry’s sixth win of the season, and a win that sees them leapfrog Loughgiel at the top of Antrim division 1.

Teams and Scorers:

Ballycran:  Stephen Keith, James Clarke, Sean Ennis, Lukas Boyd, Brett Nicholson, Gerard Hughes, Cormac McAlister, Michael Hughes (0-3), Liam Savage (0-2), Conor Woods (0-9 4f 2 ‘65’), Stuart Martin (0-2), Niall Breen (0-1), Scott Nicholson (0-2f), Ayrton Gleeson, Conor Dorrian.

Replacements: Christopher Egan for Dorrian (HT), Phelim Savage for Gleeson (47).

Portaferry: Pearce Smyth, Ciaran Savage, Callum Smyth, Ryan Convery, Deaglan Mallon (0-1), Caolan Taggart, Barry Trainor, Matthew Conlon (0-1), Padraig Doran (0-1), Conor Fay, Conor O’Prey (0-2), Conor Mageean, Daithi Sands (1-1), Ronan Blair (0-11 10f), Eoghan Sands.

Replacements: Tom McGrattan (0-2) for Fay (49), Sean Milligan for Blair (61).

Referee: Mr Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)