Antrim Hurling League Division One

Dunloy 1-23 Ballygalget 2-27

Wednesday June 8

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Seven points separated these sides at the end of 60 minutes at Pearse Park as Ballygalget put in a strong performance to see off the Cuchullains.  A goal in either half from Caolan and Cormac Coulter laid the foundations for the ‘Galget’ but it was a man of the match performance from Oisin Coulter that caught the eye.

The Ballygalget forward finished the hour with eight points beside his name, all from play.  A magnificent performance where he tested the Cuchllains defence to its fullest.  Marc Fisher top scored for the Ards men with 0-9, five of those from placed ball but the most significant stat of the evening belonged to the number of scores from play.  Of their 2-27, Ballygalget amassed 2-22 from open play.  A healthy turnaround to go back down the road with the evening closing in.

The Cuchullains struggled in the first half but the introduction of Eoin McFerran and Nigel Elliott at half time gave them another dimension in the second half.  The visitors already held a 10 point lead at the half way mark but between them, the half time substitutes scored 1-5, Elliott with the goal in another match on his return to the Dunloy squad.

Chrissy McMahon top scored with seven points at the end of the hour while Nicky McKeague finished with 0-6, five of those coming from placed ball.

During that second half, Dunloy hit 1-7 to just one white flag from the visitors.  Really turning the screw and looking like they could salvage something from the game but that momentum was gone after Barry Scott was red carded with 11 minutes remaining.

Despite the damp and murky conditions, this turned out to be a score-fest with both sides taking some wonderful scored throughout.

The first goal came in the seventh minute with the home side leading by the minimum.  Michael Og Doran with the precise assist to Caolan Coulter and the ‘Galget inside forward cut inside before giving Callum Mullan no chance.

Dunloy’s response was typically confident.  Three scores inside five minutes cancelled out the Ballygalget goal but the visitors dominated the second quarter scoring 13 points in a devastating 15 minute spell, punctuated by two brilliant points from side line cuts by Fisher.  Ballygalget taking a 1-16 to 0-9 lead at the interval.

The visitors scored their second major eight minutes after the restart having already extended their lead to 13 points.  Michael Og Doran’s initial shot was well saved by Mullan in the Dunloy goals but Cormac Coulter was first to the rebound.

The Cuchullains responded superbly however with Nigel Elliott and Eoin McFerran’s influence telling.  Their goal came in the 41^st minute after McFerran broke from midfield, passing to Anton McGrath who laid the sliotar to Elliott.  He made no mistake to give the home side hope of getting something out of the game.

The Cuchullains had upped their intensity but the red mist descended on Scott after tangling with James McGrath off the ball.  Referee Tarlach Conway had no option but to issue a red card, reducing the Cuchullains to 14 men for the time that remained.

In the following five minutes, Ballygalget took their lead to 12 points once more with Oisin Coulter in superb form.  Dunloy pushed in the time that remained and had a number of half goal chances but a run of five points unanswered meant Ballygalget took the league points on offer with seven points to spare.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Callum Mullan; Eamon Smyth, Karl O’Kane, Cahir McCloskey; Kevin McKeague (0-1), Dara McMullan (0-1), Paudie McGilligan; Nicky McKeague (0-6 3f, 2’65), Anton McGrath; Gabriel McTaggart (0-2), Kevin Molloy, Ryan Mort; Ciaran Elliott, Barry Scott (0-1), Chrissy McMahon (0-7)

Subs: Eoin McFerran (0-4) for K Molloy (HT); Nigel Elliott (1-1) for R Mort (HT)

Ballygalget: Eoin Clarke; Joseph Smyth, James Higgins, Michael Toner; John McManus (0-2), Conall Fay, John Hughes; Jordan Doran, Paul McManus; Oisin Coulter (0-8), Marc Fisher (0-9 4f, 1 ‘65, Ciaran Watson (0-2); Caolan Coulter (1-1), Michael Og Doran (0-3), Cormac Coulter (1-1)

Subs: James McGrath for J Higgins (23); Eoin McDermott (0-1) for Caolan Coulter (54); Eoin Pucci for Cormac Coulter (54); Ryan Watson for J Doran (56); Daniel Doran for C Watson (56)

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Ballinascreen)

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Loughgiel 3-22 Rossa 1-17

Loughgiel kept their league title hopes alive when they beat Rossa at Fr Healy Park on Sunday. There was little between the sides in the opening half and just a point separated them at half time, but after the break the Shamrocks began to get the upper hand and they pushed on to win by eleven points.

Early points from Eddie McCloskey and Ciaran McKay gave Loughgiel the lead but Rossa came back with points from Stephen Beatty, Jamesie Connolly and Conal McPartland to edge ahead.

Shan McGrath then got the first of Loughgiel’s three goals when he fired home on seven minutes, and when Eddie McCloskey and Rian McMullan added points a bit of gap began to appear. However the Belfast men hit back with a goal of their own from Rian O’Neill to keep themselves in touch, and though Bubbles McMullan came back with two for the home side, two from Beatty and one from Connolly brought the sides level by the 20^th minute.

As half time approached Rossa edged a point ahead, but and Eddie McCloskey goal on 25 minutes put Loughgiel two ahead again, and it took an injury time point from Thomas Morgan to cut the gap to a single point at the break.

A run of unanswered points from Shan McGrath, Dan McCloskey (2) Christy McGarry and Rian McMullan stretched the Loughgiel lead to six early in the second half and from that stage on Rossa were chasing the game. However the visitors hit four of the next five points through Jim Connolly, Stephen Shannon and Stephen Beatty to bring themselves back into contention.

A Christy McGarry goal on 47 minutes steered the game back in Loughgiel’s favour, and when Paul Boyle and Shan McGrath added points the gap was out to eight. Thomas Morgan and James Connolly kept their team’s hopes alive with two quick points, but Loughgiel finished with a flourish to wrap up the points.

ROSSA

Phil Crean, Conor Boyle, Christopher McGuinness, Andy McLean, Stephen Shannon, Eoin Trainor, Pearse Short, Chris Boyle, Owen May, Conor McPartland, Stephen Beatty, Thomas Morgan, Dairmaid Rogan, Rian O’Nell, James Connolly.

LOUGHGIEL

1 Chrissy 2. Tiernan Coyle 3 Rory McCloskey, 4. Ronan McCloskey.  5. Enda Og McGarry  6. Declan McCloskey. 7 Ruairi McCormick  8 Shan McGrath. 9 Dan McCloskey. 10 Paul Boyle 11 Ciaran McKay 12 Donal McKinley 13 Rian McMullan 14 Eddie McCloskey 15 Shay Casey

16 Odhran McGrath 17 Maol Connolly 18 Ryan McKee 19 Caolan Blair 20 Mick McGarry 21 Christy McGarry

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Cushendun 2-9 Ballycran 4-27

When Cushendun won promotion to the top division last season they knew there would be a few tough days ahead this years. Sunday was one of those days, as they faced a Ballycran side who are in top form this season. The Down men were ruthless as they ran up a big score, most of the damage done in the first half, at the end of which they lead by 4-14 to 1-5.

Ballycran’s four goals all came in the opening half as Ayrten Gleeson and Conor Dorian struck early with majors in the 3^rd and 4^th minutes and by this stage it became clear that the home side were in for a tough afternoon. Conlaoith McNeill pulled on back for the Emmet’s in the seventh minute but it was to be a brief lull as the visitors came back with four points in three minutes through Martin (2) Savage and Arthurs. Bannon and McNeill replied with points for Cushendun but the points kept coming at the other end, while Niall Breen and Gleeson grabbed two more goals in their way to a 4-14 to 1-5 lead at the break.

When you are that far ahead you tend to ease your foot off the throttle a bit and Ballycran did. They scored no more goals but they still managed to add thirteen points, which is good shooting in anyone’s book. Loaf McNeill grabbed another goal for the home side, plus a couple of points, and Harry Kilgore grabbed one, but it was mostly one way traffic as Nicholson, Doran, Martn and Savage picked off the points to wrap up a big, big win.

Cushendun will lick their wounds and look forward to their visit to St Enda’s on Wednesday evening, while Ballycran will welcome their Ards rivals, and table toppers, Portaferry to McKenna Park on the same night in what should be a great battle.

Antrim Hurling Leauge – Division 1

Cushendall : 1-22(25) St Johns: 0-16(16)

A strong spell of scoring midway through the second half, which brought a goal and four points without reply, set Cushendall up for a win over St John’s at Pairc Mhuir on Sunday. With teams fielding without a good few regulars there was nothing to separate them in the opening half, which ended on 0-11 apiece . Paddy McGill did the bulk of the scoring for the home team during this period while Oisin McManus Ruairi Galbraith and Michael Kieley were to the fore for the visitors.

A goal and three quick points early in the second half, two from Padriag McKillop and one from Paddy Magill. Conor Hand and Declan Creggan came back with points for the Johnnies to keep them well in touch but a goal and a point from Cormac McClafferty, two points from Paddy McGill, plus a point from Padraig McKillop saw them open a seven point gap going into the last ten minutes.

It was score for score down the home straight as McGill and McMahon picked off the points, but hard though they tried St John’s just could not bridge the gap and the Ruairis held on for the win.