Antrim Hurling League Division One

St John’s 1-12 Dunloy Cuchullains 1-19

Dunloy travelled to Corrigan Park on Sunday and came away with the league points after recording a seven point win. With teams understrength due to county commitments and injuries there may not have been a lot at stake, but the players on the field always like to be competitive and catch the eye of the selectors.

St John’s started strongly and corner forward Ruairi Galbraith hit the Dunloy net in the opening minutes and Jack Bohill knocked over a point, but the visitors began to find their touch and Chrissy McMahon and Nicky McKeague sent over points at the other end. McKeague’s point was to be the first of ten the midfielder would register over the hour.

Oisin McManus and CJ McKenna kept the Johnnies on top with points apiece but Dunloy came back with points from Deaglan Smith, Barry Scott and Nicky McKeague (2) to draw level. The remainder of the half was nip and tuck. Dunloy went back ahead but injury time points from Oisin McManus and Dannan McKeogh bring the Johnnies level at the break.

After the break Dunloy began to step up the pace a little and with McKeague in top form they began to edge ahead. With Deaglan Smith knocking over an nice point they went three ahead but points from Oisin McManus and McKeogh cut the gap back to a single point midway through the second half.

The visitors gained the upper hand again as Nicky McKeague added to one by Kevin Molly. St John’s closed the gap as McManus again found the target, but Deaglan Smith sealed the win for the Cuchullains with a fine individual goal in injury time.   

ST JOHN’S: S Doherty; A McMahon, R McNulty, O Carleton; J Bohill (0-1), P Nugent, CJ McKenna (0-1); Ciaran Johnston, D McKeogh (0-2); C Hand, O Donnelly, O McManus (0-8, 4 frees); R Galbraith (1-0), L Boyd, P Martin.

Subs: D McCallin for L Boyd (52), L Loughlin for C Hand (54)

DUNLOY: C McMullan; O Quinn, K O’Kane, C Kinsella; K McKeague, D McMullan, C McKinley; N McKeague (0-10, 7 frees, 2 65s), R Mullan (0-1); E McFerran (0-1), R Molloy, D Smyth (1-2); C McMahon (0-1), K Molloy (0-1), G McTaggart (0-1).

Subs: B Scott (0-1) for R Molloy (9), R Mort (0-1) for B Scott (48), C Elliott for R Mullan (50).

REFEREE: Tarlach Conway (Ballinascreen)

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Rossa 2-30 Cushendun 4-19

In a real scorefest of a game at Rossa Park on Sunday Rossa and visitors Cushendun put on a display of scoring that kept the scoreboard operator on their toes from start to finish. Cushendun scored 4-19, which is probably club’s biggest ever score, and lost by five points in an amazing match in which the home side hit 2-30. Cushendun goalkeeper Gareth McGhee scored a goal and two points,  the first point direct from a poc-out which sailed well over the crossbar at the pavilion end of the ground, something the local fans we spoke with said they never saw happen before. His second point was from a free on his own 20 metre line, while the goal also came from a poc-out which dropped just below the crossbar and off the fingers of the Rossa goalkeeper Donal Armstrong and into the net.

The first half the game was score for score with the home team playing ‘up the slope’ and against the strong breeze. Aodhan O’Brien put them two clear in as many minutes but Cushendun went ahead with a goal from David Kilgore and a Conor McHugh point . Thomas Morgan and O’Brien came back with points for  Rossa again and after an exchange of points between O’Brien and Conor McHugh the north Antrim side hit three without reply through the Kilgore brothers David and Harry, and one from Conlaoith McNeill

The Emmet’s appeared to be getting on top but goals in the last ten minutes of the half from Stephen Beatty and Dara Rocks, on either side of McGhee’s goal from the puc-out for the visitors, had them all square at 2-12 apiece at half time.

Playing down the slope in the second half Rossa started to pull away and with Aodhan O’Brien showing great accuracy form frees the gap between the sides began to widen. It looked like the gap between the sides at the end was going to be big, but Cushendun grabbed a couple of late goals through Conor McHugh and Callum Kilgore to cut the gap back to just three entering injury time, but two more O’Brien and Shannon had them five clear at the final whistle.

Antrim All County Hurling Division 1

Portaferry 2-19 Cushendall 2-13

Paul McIntyre reports from St Patrick’s Park

The introduction of Daithi Sands twelve minutes into the second half helped inspire Portaferry to their third win in as many games as their fine start to the season continues.

After featuring for Down in the win over Meath in the Joe McDonagh cup less than 24 hours previously, Sands predatory instincts proved crucial at a time when it looked like the Ruairi Ogs were going to pull away for the win.

The visitors would’ve been more than happy after turning around at the break on level terms after the home side failed to make use of a strong wind.

Hitting a staggering fifteen wides during the first period, the home side must’ve have feared the worst when the ‘Dall’ took an early second half lead, but 2-2 from Sands made sure that Portaferry’s unbeaten start to the season remains intact.

It was a contest for the most part that played in the spirt of the game but tempers spilled over in the 39^th minute and the ugly scenes lasted for a few minutes before referee Kevin Parke could restart play.

As a result of the brawl red cards were issued to Portaferry’s Conor Mageean and Cushendall’s Martin Burke.

The opening exchanges all belonged to Portaferry as early scores from Ronan Blair and Matthew Conlan helped the ports take an early three-point lead.

Alex Delargy broke the Portaferry scoring sequence in the fifth minute but two frees from Blair helped the Portaferry open a five point after 11 minutes.

Despite playing into a strong wind, Cushendall threatened to hit the homeside on the break and the reflexes of Paddy McNally in the home goal denied the Ruairi Og’s on more than occasion.

Francis McGarry did find the net in the 22^nd minute to level the tie and just when it looked like Portaferry would carry a three-point lead into the break, Aidan McNaughton found the back of the net after a fine through ball from Andrew Delargy.

After the restart two Christy McNaughton frees and effort from play Paddy McGill looked to have given Cushendall a stranglehold of the game.

A long stoppage in play seemed to break the momentum that the Ruairi Og’s had built up and Portaferry took full advantage.

With ten minutes to go Portaferry lead by one point but goals from substitute Sands gave his side a strong foothold in the contest.

Sands took on and beat Ronan McAteer to fire home Portaferry’s first goal from a tight angle, before pouncing for his second goal with just two minutes remaining when he followed up his own shot to bundle the ball home to wrap up a deserving six-point win.

Teams & Scorers:

Portaferry: Paddy McNally, Ronan Smyth, Callum Smyth, Emmett O’Neill, Deaglan Mallon, Caolan Taggart, Ciaran Savage, Shane Conlan, Matthew Conlan (0-1), Finn Turpin (0-4), Conor O’Prey (0-2), Conor Fay, Ronan Blair (0-7 5f), Conor Mageean, Paudie Doran (0-3).

Replacements: Daithi Sands (2-2) for Fay (42), Ryan O’Neill for O’Prey (50), Niall Mulligan for Turpin (60).

Cushendall: Eoin Gillan, Ronan McAteer, Martin Burke, Shane McKenna, Liam Gillan, Mark Donaghy, Ruairi McCollam, Fergus McCambridge (0-1), Paddy McGill (0-1), Andrew Delargy, Christy McNaughton (0-7 5f), Aidan McNaughton (1-0), Cormac McClafferty, Alex Delargy (0-3), Francis McCurry (1-0).

Replacements: Aaron Graffin for Donaghy (42), Sean McAfee (0-1) for McClafferty (42), Joseph McCurry for Andrew Delargy (51), Eoin McManus for McGill (54), Padraig McKillop for McCurry (57).

Referee: Mr Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)

 Antrim Hurling League Division One

Naomh Éanna 1-16 O’Donovan Rossa 2-17

Rossa travelled out to glengormley on Wednesday evening and after a hard battle with Naomh Eanna, and the elements, came away with a five point win. Trailing by two points at half time after having faced a gale force wind, Rossa appeared to be in a strong position, and so it proved but having said that it took two second half goals from James Connolly to get them over the line.

The home team had first use of the wind but they fell behind to a Aodhán O’Brien point before getting on terms with a well taken point from Cormac Jennings. Mick Armstrong restored the Rossa lead but the home team were starting to find their range and Rian Bogue fired over two points to put them back in front. However Rossa were sticking with their opponents and when just two points separated the sides at half time they knew they were in a strong position. (0-11 to 0-9)

It appeared that Rossa would pull away when they got the breeze at their backs, but Naomh Eanna were resilient and the Shaw’s Road men were made to work for their scores.  Points from James Connolly and Eoin Trainor got them back on terms ten minutes into the second period. Connolly’s opening goal, a great solo effort, came soon afterwards and gave Rossa their first real advantage, but the next four points were shared. Cormac Ross sent over a point from a free to leave just two points between the sides but with eight minutes of normal time to play Connolly struck for his second goal. Aodhan O’Brien pointed to pull the visitors six clear, and though Cormac Jennings did grab a late goal for the home side, it was too late to effect the overall result.

 NAOMH ÉANNA: M Curran; M O’Hare (0-1), R Gillan, D Maguire; C Ross (0-3, 2 frees), R Bogue (0-1), M Mullan; L O’Connor (0-2), O Kennedy (0-1); C Jennings (1-5, 0-2 frees), M McGivern (0-2), B Cormican; K Jennings (0-1 free), R Donaghy, R Edgar.
Subs: N McGivern for M McGivern (22), O Maguire for D Maguire (28), M McGivern for N McGivern (38), E Jennings for M McGivern (52).

ROSSA: P Crean; C Boyle, C McGuinness, C Orchin; Stephen Shannon (0-1), A Kenneally, E Trainor (0-1); C McGettigan, Seaghan Shannon; A Orchin, M Armstrong (0-1), A O’Brien (0-11, 7 frees, 1 65); M McEnhill, S Beatty (0-1), J Connolly (2-3).
Subs: D Rogan for C McGettigan (39), D Rocks for A Orchin (46), C McParland for M Armstrong (60), R O’Neill for S Beatty (60+1).

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Loughgiel 6-22 St John’s 0-13

Loughgiel produced a dazzling display at Fr Healy Park on Wednesday evening to run up a massive score and beat visitors St John’s by 27 points. On a night not ideal for hurling the Shamrocks could do nothing wrong, hitting cores from all angles.

There was little between the sides in the opening ten minutes with points from Ciaran Johnston (2) and Conor Hand answering scores from the home side through Christy ‘Bicky’ McGarry (2), Eddie McCloskey and Declan McGarry to leave just a point between the sides. That was a as good as it got for the Johnnies however as Loughgiel started to pile on the scores, making good use of the gale force win. Michael McGarry started it with a goal on 12 minutes and five points followed without reply to put them 1-9 to 0-3 ahead by the 16^th minute.

Colm McFall pulled one back for St John’s but the Shamrocks were on fire and two further goals from Paul Boyle and ‘Bicky’ McGarry helped them to a 3-16 to 3-16 to 0-12 lead at the break.

An understrength St John’s side faced a mammoth task at the side re-emerged for the second half and that task got even harder when Michael McGarry got his second goal inside two minutes. Three points on the trot from Paddy Nugent, Micheal Dudley and Ciaran Johnston steadied the ship a little for the Corrigan Park side, but Loughgiel hit back with a fifth goal from centre forward Ciaran McKay, and when Declan Gillan got their sixth there was no way back for St John’s.