Aghagallon recorded their first win in several games on Wednesday evening with a well-earned five-point victory over Aldergrove. A strong second-half showing included an amazing performance by Jonny Hannon, a crucial goal from Ruairi McShane and the return of county players Adam Loughran, Eunan Walsh, and Ruairi McCann to swing the result in the home side’s favour.
The first half was evenly balanced, with both teams sharing periods of dominance. Pauric Maginnis and Ciaran Maginnis were on target early for Aghagallon, while Aldergrove’s corner forward, Seamus McGarry, looked sharp scoring from both play and frees. McGarry ended up with a tally of 1-07. By the 28th minute, Aldergrove had moved three points clear, but Jonny Hannon landed a two point free to leave it level at the break: 0-08 apiece.
Aghagallon took control early in the second half, with Hannon, McCann, and Loughran all pointing. Then came the game’s turning point: in the 42nd minute, McShane finished off an attack through the middle and a well-taken goal, giving his side a six-point cushion.
Aldergrove hit back with a goal themselves, from their star performer Seamus McGarry, around the hour mark, but any chance of a comeback was halted when an Aldergrove player received a straight red card for a high tackle on Ciaran Maginnis as the Aghagallon man drove forward.
Aghagallon capitalised on the extra space in the closing stages. Hannon, who finished with 0-11, added two more scores, while Michael McStravick and Loughran added insurance points to seal the result.
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Ballycastle recovered from a slow start to get the better of league leaders St John’s in Sunday’s Antrim Senior Hurling League game at Pairc MacUilin. The Corrigan Park men wee 0-07 to 0-02 ahead after just seven minutes, but once they got going the men from the Town reeled their visitors in and three goals in the second quarter saw them go in at the break with a 3-12 to 0-12 lead.
The second half was much more even, and lower scoring but Ballycastle held their own during that period and ended up winning by ten.
St John’s, who were short a few regulars, started strongly and with Oisin McManus and Shea Shannon leading the line they hit the first two points of the game. Niall McKenna pulled one back on two minutes but the visitors pushed on and points from Aaron Bradley., Oisin McManus and Michial Dudley found the target to stretch the gap to four. McKenna came back with one from play for the Town, but Shannon and McManus stretched the lead to five by the ninth minute. As the half progressed Ballycastle started to find their range and three in a row from Conor Donnelly set them on a run and they had it back to a point when the game really changed.
On 22 minutes McKenna set up Conor Donnelly for a goal and two minutes later Darragh Donnelly added another major with a great finish. Oisin McManus hit three points for the Johnnies but the home team finished the half with goal number three, this time from veteran full forward Neal McAuley to give his team a 3-12 to 0-12 half time lead
McAuley increased the lead to ten in the first minute of the second but McManus replied right away for the visitors. The Corrigan Park side had a chance to get back into it when they were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute, but McManus was off target and two long range points from Seamus McAuley had the gap out to eleven at one point. That gave the home side enough breathing room and they kept answering each St John’s point to seal the win.
Despite the defeat St John’s still hold on to top spot, though Rossa, Dunloy and Loughgiel all have a game in hand on them and on Ballycastle. They face West Belfast rivals Rossa at Corrigan next time out on Wednesday 25th June in what should be a very interesting contest.
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Brendan McTaggart reports from Rossa Park, Belfast
If ever there was a game that typified the saying ‘a game of two halves’, this was it. 11 points down at half time, Dunloy put in a much improved second half to record a four point win over Rossa.
This was a hugely entertaining game of hurling that saw both sides take breath-taking scores from open play and neither taking a backward step. Rossa scoring 1-13 from open play while Deaglan Murphy was accurate from placed ball with six of his seven points coming from frees. Thomas Morgan was a major threat throughout, particularly in the first half. The Rossa forward would score 1-3, his goal coming towards the end of the first half and put daylight between the sides going into the interval.
Much like Wednesday evening, Dunloy were wasteful in front of the target and missed a number of frees that threatened to derail any momentum they might gather but the introduction of Nigel Elliott and Oisin McCallin at half time helped the visitors to Rossa Park gain more attacking threat and physicality in the middle third.
McCallin, making his debut in the senior team, scored Dunloy’s major five minutes after the restart as the Cuchullains fired over 1-9 to just two points coming from the home side in the opening 10 minutes of the second half that went a long way in determining where the league points would go to at the final whistle.
The opening quarter was fairly even with Rossa holding a one point lead. Morgan, Deaglan Murphy, Dominic McEnhill and Eoghan McMenamin all getting on the scoresheet while Eoin O’Neill, Keelan Molloy, Luke McFerran and Nicky McKeague split the uprights for the Cuchullains.
The visitors could have had the opening goal of the contest in that same period of time but Tom McFerran saw his rifled effort coming back off the post.
Rossa turned the screw in the second quarter and with their forwards making use of the ball being played into them, they began to put their efforts into points on the board.
Morgan (two), Corey Walsh, McEnhill (three) and Murphy (free) all split the posts before Dunloy registered another score through McKeague.
The home side had a half chance of a major within that same period of time but James Connolly gave himself the most acute angle to work with before firing into the side netting.
Rossa’s goal came in the 29th minute and thanks largely to the predatory instincts of Morgan. He looked to collect a high, cross field ball that went his way but Daire Murphy collected before sending the sliotar into Morgan’s path. Knowing he was under pressure and with Eoghan Richmond reducing the angle, Morgan pulled first time to find the back of the bet and put the Rossa lead to double figures and take his own tally to 1-3 for the first half.
Deaglan Murphy’s fifth free of the half left 11 between the sides with the score 1-13 to 0-5 in favour of the home side.
While it was a substantial wind blowing, it didn’t feel like an 11 point advantage. It was going to take a quick start to the second half for the Cuchullains to get anything out of this contest and they certainly delivered.
Three points in the opening two minutes from Tom McFerran, Deaglan Smith and McKeague were answered to by a Deaglan Murphy free but the momentum was with the Cuchullains in the early stages.
Further scores came from McCallin and McKeague (free) before the Cuchullains found the back of the Rossa net. Eoin O’Neill forcing a turnover from a short puck out and passing to McCallin in space. The young Dunloy forward made no mistake when left with the goal at his mercy.
Tom McFerran and McEnhill swapped points, the Rossa man with his fifth point of the afternoon but another run of three Dunloy points in as many minutes from McCallin, Deaglan Smith and McKeague (free) left the minimum between the sides after just nine minutes of the second half.
Indeed, it could have been even better for the visitors but Eoin O’Neill’s effort was well saved by Donal Armstrong in the Rossa goals.
McMenamin’s second white flag kept the scoreboard ticking for the home side at the other end of the pitch but Eoin O’Neill and McKeague fired over to leave the sides tied with a quaretr of the hour remaining.
The Cuchullains had another sniff of a major but Luke McFerran saw his effort come back off the upright as his side went purring through the gears.
Substitute Tiarnan Murphy restored the Rossa lead with his first touch from his introduction but that was as good as it got for the home side. Dunloy had another goal chance, Luke McFerran once again but he was superbly denied by the Rossa defence as he bore down on goal.
Points followed from McKeague (’65), substitute Seaan Elliott (free) and Deaglan Smith’s third of the match to take Dunloy into a two point lead with a little over six minutes remaining.
A brace of scores from the Murphy’s – Tiarnan and Deaglan (free) restored parity once again but Dunloy finished with a flourish with Seaan Elliott instrumental. He would fire over three points in as many minutes (one free) with Murphy’s seventh free the solitary response from the home side as the clock ticked into injury time.
Dunloy would add further scores from McKeague and Seaan Elliott (free) while Luke McFerran was once again denied a major with Donal Armstrong pulling off a quite brilliant diving save to deny him with the goal at his mercy.
In all, this was an excellent game of hurling that was played in the right manner. Rossa will look at a period midway through the second half where they left a number of scores behind that could have turned the advantage their way but Dunloy’s second half was a timely boost for the Cuchullains as they got back to winning ways. They are on their travels to the City again when they next look to the league as they play St John’s on 29 June while Rossa will make the short journey across to the Whiterock Road four days earlier in their next match.
TEAMS
ROSSA: Donal Armstrong; Oisin McVicker, Gerard Walsh, Niall Crossan; Stephen Shannon, Chris McGuinness, Aodhan O’Brien; Corey Walsh, Deaglan Murphy; Dominic McEnhill, Declan McCartney, Daire Murphy; Thomas Morgan, James Connolly, Eoghan McMenamin
Subs: Tiarnan Murphy for J Connolly (42); Liam McEnhill for C Walsh (50); Conall Shortt for O McVicker (inj)
Scorers: D Murphy 0-7 (6fs); T Morgan 1-3; D McEnhill 0-5; E McMenamin 0-2; T Murphy 0-2; C Walsh 0-1
DUNLOY: Eoghan Richmond; Oran Quinn, Ryan McGarry, Conor Kinsella; Eamon Smyth, Eoin McFerran, Keelan Molloy; Oisin McCamphill, Nicky McKeague, Deaglan Smith; Aodhan McGarry, Luke McFerran, Eoin O’Neill
Blood sub: Phelim Duffin for C Kinsella (15, reversed 20)
Subs: Nigel Elliott for O McCamphill (HT); Oisin McCallin for A McGarry (HT); Seaan Elliott for N McKeague (50); Nicky McKeague for E O’Neill (51); Phelim Duffin for E Smyth (57)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-8 (3fs 1 ’65); S Elliott 0-5 (3fs); O McCallin 1-2; D Smith 0-3; E O’Neill 0-2; T McFerran 0-2; L McFerran 0-1; Keelan Molloy 0-1
REFEREE: Barry Winters (Dungannon)
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A James McNaughton inspired Loughgiel finished strongly to gain a point from this excellent ACHL Division 1 encounter against St. John’s at Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening.
Trailing by four, Antrim county star McNaughton struck with his second goal of the game in the 33d minute to close the gap to the minimum and followed with a point from a 34th minute free to give the visitors a draw which on the balance of play they just about deserved.
It was the visitors who made the early running with Christy McGarry and James McNaughton sending them into an early two point lead before Oisin McManus got the ‘Johnnies’ on the score card when he pointed a free in the 4th minute.
The visiting Shamrocks continued to set the early pace as Ryan McKee from distance, Rory McCloskey and Paul Boyle moved them four ahead with only seven minutes on the clock.
League leaders, St. John’s raised their second white flag when free taker McVicker pointed his second of the contest and when Ruairi Galbraith got on the end of a good move to finish to the net they were ahead for the first time.
Shea Shannon and Dannan McKeogh added further points for the Corrigan side before Sean Wilson limped out of the contest to be replaced by Caoimhin Hanna.
Loughgiel were right back in the contest as James McNaughton struck with his side’s opening goal in the 15th minute and Domhnall Nugent in the St. John’s goals pulled off a fine save as the visitors threatened for a second.
Shea Shannon and Declan McCloskey exchanged points and Oisin McManus and Paul Boyle for the visitors exchange further minors before McManus scored a good goal for the team in blue to bring them right back into contention.
The excellent James McNaughton added two late pointed free for the Shamrocks and Ryan McKee added another long range effort from play with Ruairi Galbraith’s reply for the home side leaving it all square at the break.
It was the turn of John Francis Connolly in the Shamrock’s goals to come to his side’s rescue on the restart before Caolan Blair replaced Ruairi McCormick in the visitors defence.
James McNaughton moved Loughgiel ahead from a free in the opening minute but St. John’s began to exert their control on matters and Shea Shannon and a couple of fine points from Oisin McManus had them two ahead after 7 minutes.
Shannon increased that lead to three from a 10th minute free as Eoin McGarry replaced Darragh Patterson in the visitor’s defence and McNaughton (f), Eoin McGarry and McNaughton from another free had it all square again with 13 minutes gone.
Both keepers had to be on their toes as play swung from end to end as Oisin McVicker for the Johnnies and Ryan McKee from a long range effort for Loughgiel exchanged points and it was clear this one was going to go down to the wire.
Jack McCloskey edged the Shamrocks ahead again and McNaughton fired over from deep to edge the visitors ahead again but once again the Whiterock men found a response as substitute Lorca Heenan finished to the net with virtually his first touck.
The intensity of the game continued to grow with Rian McMullan and James McNaughton adding to the Loughgiel total and Michael Bradley and Patrick Laverty exchanging further points.
A goal from Donall Carson in the 27th minute and points from Michael Bradley (0-2) moved the home side four ahead and looked to have sealed it for St. Johns as the game crept into time added on.
The men in red quite simply refused to concede defeat however and it was that man McNaughton who became their hero when he drove a close range free to the net before following with a late pointed free to leave it all square at the end.
St. John’s: 1 Domhnall Nugent, 2 Ronan Donnelly, 3 Conall Morgan, 4 Jack Bohill, 5 Daragh McGuinness, 6 Ryan McNulty, 7 Enda McGurk, 8 Sean Wilson, 9 Shea Shannon, 10 Aaron Bradley, 11 Michial Dudley, 12 Dannan McKeogh, 13 Donall Carson, 14 Oisin McManus, 15 Ruairi Galbraith.
Subs: 16 Conor Flannery, 17 Michael Bradley, 18 Caoimhin Hanna, 19 Michael Darragh, 20 21 Lorcan Heenan
Loughgiel: 1 John Francis Connolly, 2 Ben McGarry, 3 Enda Og McGarry, 4 Ruairi McCormick, 5 Declan McCloskey, 6 Rory McCloskey, 7 Conall McCloskey, 8 Ryan McKee, 9 Darragh Patterson, 10 Rian McMullan, 11 Christy McGarry, 12 James McNaughton, 13 Daniel McCloskey, 14 Paul Boyle, 15 Jack McCloskey
Subs: 17 Caolan Blair, 20 Eoin McGarry, 18 Patrick Laverty
Referee: Colm McDonald
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Ballycastle made it back to back league wins on Wednesday evening as they saw off the challenge of Dunloy with two to spare.
In a game that saw the home side hit an eye catching 2-19 from open play, it was the ten minutes either side of half time that was ultimately the winning of the game for the Town. Ballycastle would record 2-10 to just a solitary point from the Cuchullains in that same period of time.
Yet bizarrely, the home side had to come back from seven points down midway through the first half and withstand a late onslaught from the Cuchullains who had them hemmed into their own half for long periods of the final quarter.
Niall McKenna top scored for his side with seven points, three of those coming from placed ball and while the goals came from the impressive Darragh Kelly and Neal McAuley, it was James McShane and Conor Donnelly who were a major thorn in the side of Dunloy.
The Ballycastle duo would record nine points between them, McShane raising his four white flags in the first half while Donnelly’s aerial presence and awareness meant he was a major threat.
Dunloy will look to the number of missed frees during the hour when this game is analysed. Nicky McKeague, who has been exceptional this season, had an ‘off’ night from placed balls but contributed so much more throughout with his work rate. McKeague did top score for the Cuchullains with 0-7, six of those from placed ball while Ciaran Elliott was heavily involved and instrumental. Tom McFerran was the top performer for the Cuchullains, he would finish with five points beside his name by the time referee Patrick Tumelty called time for the end of what was a hugely entertaining contest.
It was the visitors to MacUílín Pairc that made the brightest start and held a two point advantage after five minutes. Points coming from Ryan Mort, Aodhan McGarry and Luke McFerran while Neal McAuley brought the solitary response for his side.
Dunloy would maintain that two point lead when they would score the first goal of the game in the 12th minute. Collecting a long delivery, Mort raced through on goal and gave Ryan McGarry no chance with his finish.
A brace of points from Kevin Molloy either side of Niall McKenna’s first white flag of the game and when Ben O’Kane fired over for the Cuchullains in the 15th minute, they would see their lead increase to seven points.
It was the home side who took control of the contest in the second quarter however. Dunloy would record just a further two points in the time that remained in the half while Ballycastle would score 1-9. Points from McKenna (3), Seamus McAuley, McShane (3), Ardan Kelly and Conor Donnelly while Darragh Kelly hammered the sliotar home for their first major in the 22nd minute.
Collecting a cross-field delivery, Conor Donnelly laid the sliotar into the path of Kelly and while he still had work to do, he made no mistake when presented with the opportunity.
Three points separated the sides at the short whistle and half time couldn’t come quick enough for the Cuchullains. They introduced Keelan Molloy at the interval but it was the home side who made the perfect start.
Mark McClean sent the sliotar deep into the heart of the Dunloy defence and Neal McAuley made the most of the indecision as he pulled first time to the back of the net as the Dunloy defence were caught on their heels. An opportunistic strike from the Town’s full forward.
Further scores followed from McKenna (free) and Conor Donnelly (2) to stretch the home sides advantage to nine points after just five minutes of the second half.
Dunloy got firing again with three unanswered points coming from McKeague (2) and Tom McFerran but the home side were still posing a threat and could have had a third goal but Richmond was equal to McShane’s kicked effort from close range.
Going into the final ten minutes, Ballycastle held an eight point lead and they looked to hold on to what they had. Packing their defence and leaving just one man in the Dunloy half of the field, Dunloy went about eating into the Ballycastle lead with Tom McFerran influential in the Cuchullains resurgence.
Missed frees looked to derail their charge but they kept chipping away with Eoin O’Neill taking over the free taking responsibility and Oisin McCamphill having an impact off the bench.
Ultimately it was going to take a major to get them back on terms in the time that remained but the Ballycastle defence rarely looked like coughing up the space Dunloy needed. O’Neill had a half chance but his effort flashed wide.
This was an excellent contest between two sides who will face each other again later this year in the championship. For 20 minutes of this game, Ballycastle were excellent and didn’t give the Cuchullains a sniff. Their movement off the ball and puck-outs always had Dunloy guessing but their ability to score from open play and from different areas will have been very pleasing for their backroom team and management.
The league resumes this weekend with Ballycastle playing host to St John’s on Sunday while the Cuchullains travel to the Shaw’s Road looking to get back to winning ways on the same afternoon.
TEAMS
Ballycastle: Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Ryan McCook, Ronan Laverty; Mark McClean, Conor Boyd, Cathair Donnelly; Seamus McAuley, Ardan Kelly; Darragh Kelly, Niall McKenna, James McShane; Conor Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Tiernan Smyth
Scorers: N McKenna 0-7 (3fs); Conor Donnelly 0-5; N McAuley 1-2; D Kelly 1-2; J McShane 0-4; A Kelly 0-1; S McAuley 0-1
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Eoin McFerran, Sean Og Blaney, Oran Quinn; Ben O’Kane, Ryan McGarry, Kevin Molloy; Ciaran Elliott, Jack Martin; Tom McFerran, Nicky McKeague, Luke McFerran; Ryan Mort, Aodhan McGarry, Anton McGrath
Subs: Keelan Molloy for A McGrath (HT); Eamon Smyth for B O’Kane (41); Oisin McCamphill for J Martin (48)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-7 (5fs); T McFerran 0-5; R Mort 1-1; O McCamphill 0-2; Kevin Molloy 0-2; E O’Neill 0-2 (2fs); B O’Kane 0-1; C Elliott 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; L McFerran 0-1
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
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