ACHL Division 2

SHANE UÍ NEILLS   2-19      CARRYDUFF  1-27

Report and Pics: Pete Hyndman

Possibly a bit of a dead rubber game, but try telling these two teams who supplied the sizeable crowd with a hammer and tongs contest, with a no quarter given attitude!!

Both clubs stood strong and pressured their opponents into needless fouls which were punished by two excellent free-takers. For the hosts Dylan McLaughlin shot 7 free’s from a 11 point tally.

Donal Rooney for the visitors was also in superb form shooting 7 frees, a “65” in a 12 point salvo from the young midfielder.

Both clubs also had 7 different scorers each, which would be a pleasing performance for any manager to enjoy.

Carryduff grabbed this game by the scruff of the net and shot 1-02 without reply in the first 4 minute’s.  Oran Teague was the first point taker, a few moments later a few bodies in the box fighting for a loose ball resulted in a foul on a Carryduff player which the referee awarded a penalty. Ronan Beatty stepped up and drove the ball beyond Michael Abram for a “major” score.

Donal Rooney followed up with a fourth minute free.

Glenarm hit back immediately as Conor McLornan in the Carryduff goals fumbled a high ball and Liam Mulvenna was quick to react and pulled a ground stroke with the ball nestling nicely into the corner of the nets.

Sean O Callaghan hit the next score before team-mate Donal Rooney slotted over his second free of the afternoon.

Glenarm where trying hard to find a score, and it came from a tight angle out on the wing where Aidan Scullion drove over a lovely effort. Glenarm’s centre half forward Dylan McLaughlin started to win a few tussles and fought to get the ball and tagged over a point before Rooney pointed another free for the visitors.

Declan McDermott reacted next to a ball up the wing and hand passed to McLaughlin to hit Glenarm’s third point.

Sean O Callaghan rifled over a point for Carryduff, before another impressive effort from the home side’s Aidan Scullion.

Tit for tat seemed to be the order of the day because Donal Rooney replied almost immediately with a 40 yard free.

On 21 minute’s Dylan McLaughlin split the uprights with another free for the Feystown boys before Donal Rooney replied from play and   Sean O Callaghan added to the Carryduff tally.

On 23 minute’s Dylan McLaughlin sent another free over the bar. On the puck out, the ball was delivered back towards Mc Laughlin who rolled a couple of tackles and sent a high speculative effort over McLornan’s bar.

In the second quarter of this exciting game Darragh Goodwin hit a point, with his colleague Rooney adding another free to his collection of place ball efforts.

Glenarm’s Ben O Boyle working in the half forward position slotted over a nice point as the clock was reading 25 minute’s.

Carryduff’s Rooney pointed again from a needless free by the home side, following up was Ronan Beatty with a point from the wing.

A hat-trick of points from the home team gave them a small bit of respite with two long range frees from the stick of McLaughlin and another strike from County player Aidan Scullion.

Sean O Callaghan responded with an away point just before the short whistle.

HALF TIME    Shane Uí Neills    1-11    Carryduff   1-14

Dan Black entered the fray at the start of the second half as Declan McDermott had been carrying a leg injury for the boys in blue.

Ronan Beatty and Sean O Callaghan added to the south Belfast side’s tally with a point a piece.

Dylan McLaughlin was proving to be a crucial asset to the home side as he hit three points without reply, a pair of frees and after a piercing run he pointed a superb effort reducing the deficit to two points.

Back came the opposition with Rooney hitting a “65”, and a free, and a fine solo effort from Conor McAllister.

The score’s were coming thick and fast and back came McLaughlin for Glenarm as he tagged onto a breaking ball and struck it from all of 30 yards, the ball flew beyond the Carryduff keeper for Glenarm’s second green flag effort. 

Oran Teague responded with a point from out near the side-line before Rooney lobbed over another free.

Ryan Mc Loughlin collected a ball and before being hooked, shortened his hurl and hit a nice effort for the boys from North Antrim before Gareth Lynch replied for the visitors.

Entering the final quarter Glenarm’s McLaughlin again reduced the arrears to 3 points with a converted free but points by Beatty and McAllister increased their lead to five.

Darren Hamill judged a “65” to perfection in the swirling wind across the pitch.

Carryduff’s Sean O Callaghan’s work rate in this game was rewarded with a great point from near the centre of the field.

On 54 minute’s Aidan Scullion kept the score board ticking over for the home side with a mighty point from distance, with Dan Black dissecting the uprights from distance also.

Time was near up but young Rooney held his nerve to point twice from free’s  to keep the 5 point lead for Carryduff to conclude the scoring.

A great match for the purists and hurling fans alike. Both clubs deserve massive credit as the fielding, stick-work, scoring and blocking was in abundance throughout the 60 minute’s.

This game should stand both teams well as they now enter the hard training as Championship begins in about 3-4 weeks.

Glenarm: Michael Abram, Aidan O Neill, Joshua Quinn, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Ryan Mc Loughlin(-01), Darren Hamill (1 “65”), Ciaran O Boyle, John Scullion, Ben O Boyle (-01)Aidan Scullion (-04), Dylan Mc Laughlin(1-11, 7f) Conal Ward, Liam Mulvenna(1-00)Sean O Hare, Declan Mc Dermott.

30 mins Daniel Black(-01) for Declan Mc Dermott,  51 mins Sean Mc Dermott for Liam Mulvenna, 56 mins Paddy Mc Auley for Sean O Hare.

Carryduff: Conor McLornan, Fearghal Casey, Conor Cassidy, Ciaran Goodwin, Darragh Goodwin(-01) James Woods, Michael Conway, Donal Rooney(-12, 7f,1″65″)Lorcan Mc Caughey, James Lavery, Conor Mc Allister(-02) Oran Teague(-02) Gareth Lynch(-01) Sean O Callaghan( -06)Ronan Beatty( 1-03) 

 56 mins. Ronan Kelly for Conor Mc Allister. 

Main pic above – Conor Boyds shot for a late game saving goal is defeltectd wide by Loughgiel defender Conall McCloskey in Thursday evening’s thriller at Fr Healy Park. Pic by David Humphreys

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Loughgiel 1-14 Ballycastle 1-12

Loughgiel produced a strong last quarter to come from behind and beat Ballycastle in Thursday evening’s Antrim Hurling League Division 1 game at Fr Healy Park. Ballycastle appeared to be in a strong position when they led by three points at the end of the third quarter, despite missing a penalty and a couple of simple frees, but the Loughgiel defence stepped up to the mark, despite losing a defender to a straight red card, restricting the visitors to a single point, while the forwards sent over six points to end winners by two.

Christy McGarry gave the Shamrocks a dream start with a goal in the opening minute, but the Town hit back strongly with four points in a row from Seamus McAuley, Conor Donnelly and Niall McKenna (2) before McKenna set up Conor Donnelly for a goal in the 13^th minute. Loughgiel got going again in the 16^th minute when top scorer James McNaughton sent over a free, and the left half forward added three more in the next seven minutes, in reply to one from Tiernan Smyth for the visitors, to cut the gap back to a single point.  Niall McKenna pushed the gap out to two again five minutes before the break, but points from Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee and James McNaughton drew the Shamrocks level, but Seamus McAuely edged the visitors back in front in first half injury time to give them a 1-07 to 1-06 lead

Ballycastle stretched the lead with two points from Niall McKenna and Daragh Kelly early in the second half to put three between the teams but points from Bubbles McMullan and Jack McCloskey brought back to a single point again in the 39^th minute.

Two minutes later Ballycastle had the chance to take a grip on the game again when they were awarded a penalty, but Neal McAuley’s well struck shot was brilliantly saved by Cormac McFadden in the Loughgiel goal and the gap remained at one. Cormac Donnelly and Seamus McAuley did add the next two points to put the visitors three clear again but the scoring started to dry up. Loughgiel. Two by James McNaughton and one from Ryan McKee brought the Shamrocks level by the 22^nd minute, but Conor Donnelly sent one over from out on the wing to edge Ballycastle back in front. However that was to be their last score and James McNaughton levelled a minute later. McNaughton put his team in front with time almost up and substitute ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald increased the lead to three from distance in injury time to seal the win.  Ballycastle did have a late chance of salvaging the game when Conor Boyd’s shot whizzed through a packed goalmouth, but it was deflected wide for a 65 by defender Conall McCloskey and match referee Colm Cunning sounded the final whistle.

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ACHL Division 2

St Brigid’s 5-19 Cloney Gaels 3-16

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills produced their best performance of the season when they overcame the challenge of Cloney Gaels in a high scoring fest of hurling in Cloughmills on Wednesday night.

A goal from Corey Blair in the 20^th minutes sent the ‘Biddies’ to a 1-10 to 0-8 half time lead before the game sprang into life in the second half as the home side hit four more majors to win comfortably in the end.

Dan O’Neill 0-2, James O’Connell 0-3, Owen Neeson, Fionnbar O’Neill and Patrick Graham shared the Cloney first half scores with Ruairi Laverty converting three frees for the hosts and it was the Cloughmills side who held the upper hand at the break when they led by five.

Corey Blair was in imperious form for the home side and he added a second goal, five minutes into the second half before completing a glorious hat-trick with ten minutes gone and it was as good as over.

The big man could do no wrong as he fired home goal number 5 in a man of the match performance and when Seamus Dobbin made it five majors for the evening on 21 minutes the Biddies were home and hosed.

An out of sorts and for long periods, off the pace Ahoghill side never gave up and in a strong finish Fionnbar O’Neill rattled the Cloughmills net and Patrick Graham added two more that put a better reflection on the final score-line.

A great performance for the home side and something to build on for next season. With one game left they sit free from the fear of relegation.

Cloughmills travel to Oisin’s for that final game with the Waterfoot men having already collected the division 2 title but the ‘Biddies’ will want to finish with a bang and a repeat of Wednesday’s performance could see them do just that.

ACHL Division 2

Shane Uí Neills   0-19

  Sarsfields           0-09

Report & Pics: Pete Hyndman

A sizeable crowd attended Fhearsaithe Pairc for this league fixture as a slight wind blew from the pavilion end towards the Feystown Rd.

Shortly before the throw-in, the pitch fell silent as both clubs and supporters stood for a minute silence in memory of  Liam Reid who passed recently.

 Liam was a dedicated hurler, former member and great supporter of the club.  Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. 

With both teams fielding without a few seniors it was up to the others to stake their claim into the starting 15 respectively.

Dylan McLaughlin was a main threat for the hosts hitting 9 score’s, in defence Kieran O Boyle, Darren Hamill and Joshua Quinn stood strong and cleared the Sarsfield threat.   For the visitors Anthony McGarrigle was their top scorer with 5 points and they had their young keeper Jay Ward to thank for pulling off three excellent saves.

Glenarm stormed out of the starting blocks in rip roaring form and pointed twice in quick succession. Young Gerard Burns and Declan McDermott got a point each, with Dylan McLaughlin slotting over a free. Conal Ward was next to score after he evaded a tackle and scored a point for a 4 point cushion. Mc Laughlin got his second point when he split the uprights from play from 45 yards before Anthony Mc Garrigle got a Sarsfield point from a free on 6 minute’s.

Then came another purple patch for the hosts with Darren Hamill converting a “65” and an 80 yard free.   Hamill then turned provider and fed the sliotar to Dylan McLaughlin who got his third white flag effort. Back from a long term injury Daniel Black “Magic” rifled over a free and one from play, giving the home side a 9 point lead.

The “Paddies” then had a brief spell as they hit five score’s on the bounce as Anthony Mc Garrigle hit another free, and then hit Sarsfield’s first point from play on 21 minute’s.

McGarrigle got his third in a row with another converted free and Noah Mc Givern got the next with sharpshooter McGarrigle slotting over another placed ball effort on 27 minutes.

Both sides cancelled each other out before the short whistle for half time.

Shane O Neills  0-10     Sarsfields  0-06

The Bear Pit team started this third quarter with a point off the stick of James McKernan and Jay Maguire scored a nice effort over his shoulder for the Belfast team.

Glenarm hadn’t scored since the 20^th minute and were thankful as Dylan Mc Laughlin responded with a free from 35 yards. 

In the 40^th minute Enda Mc Cartin scored a point for the visitors which turned out to be their last score in the game.

Aidan Scullion and Ben O Boyle kept the scoreboard ticking with points each for the home side and entering the final quarter Declan Mc Dermott won a high ball before hitting the ball right over the black spot.

McLaughlin converted a free and followed with two more free conversions as Shane O’Neill’s began to put a bit of distance between the sides as the hosts eased their way to victory.  

The visitors were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty but McGarrigle’s effort sailed wide of Michael Abram’s goals.

Late into injury time McLaughlin converted another free and Dan Black concluded the scoring with a nice solo effort, with Glenarm running out winners by 10 points.

Shane Uí Neills: Michael Abram, Ryan Mc Loughlin, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Joshua Quinn, Michael Fury, Darren Hamill  (1″65″,1 f.) Kieran O Boyle, John Scullion, Ben O Boyle (01) Aidan Scullion(01) Dylan Mc Laughlin (08,6f) Conal Ward (01), Gerard Burns (01), Daniel Black (03, 1f) Declan Mc Dermott (02)

Liam Mulvenna for Gerard Burns 55 mins, Aidan O Neill for Josh Quinn and   Paddy Mc Auley for Declan McDermott 56 mins.

Sarsfields: Jay Ward, Oisin Coleman, Daragh Coleman, David Johnston, Michael Johnston, Nicholas O Mullane, Daniel Smyth, Anthony Mc Garrigle (05,4f) Enda Mc Cartin (01) Noah Mc Givern (01) James Mc Kernan(01), Jay Maguire (01) Oisin Coleman, Jack Daniels, Niall Cardwell

Aidan Mc Kernan for Jack Daniels 43 mins, Daniel McKernan for Jay Maguire 54mins.

Referee: Shane McDonnell

ACHL Division 2

Cloney Gaels 5-13 Carryduff 1-20

Cloney Gaels got back to winning ways following a number of recent defeats to Cushendun, Sarsfields and Glenariffe and a draw with Shane O’Neill’s.

Goals win games is the old adage and on this occasion the Ahoghill side hit five, four in the opening half but despite that they were only four ahead at the interval, thanks mainly to the point scoring of Carryduff’s Darragh Goodwin, who registered 0-4 in the first half.

It was Diarmaid Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill and Colla McDonnell who got Cloney Gaels of to a perfect start with three goals in the opening ten minutes and a fourth from Conor Crossey at the end of the opening quarter saw them 4-4 to 0-11 ahead at the short whistle.

The Ahoghill points came from James O’Connell 0-3 and Noah Friel while Conor McAllister 0-3, Ciaran Goodwin, Eoin Rooney and Gareth O’Lionsigh were the other Carryduff point scorers.

After the break Cloney Gaels were more reliant on their point taking though they did add a fifth goal through Fionnbar O’Neill from the penalty spot with two minutes remaining to ensure there would be no way back for the county Down men.

Colla McDonnell added to his opening half goal with 0-2 in the second half while James O’Connell brought his total for the hour to 0-6 while Eoin Graham, Diarmaid Graham, Dan O’Neill and Owen Neeson were the other point scorers.

Donal Rooney led the Carryduff challenge with half a dozen second half points with Eoin Rooney 0-4 also impressing for the visitors and Conor McAllister getting their goal.

A good win for the Ahoghill side which leaves them in joint second place but the victory was somewhat tempered by the fact that Oisin’s Glenariffe claimed the league title on the same day with a win over Shane O’Neill’s in Waterfoot.

With two rounds of games still remaining these games will turn to Championship preparations and Cloney Gaels will hope to build on Sunday’s win as they finish their league programme with away games away to Cloughmills and at home to Tir na nOg.