Ballycran sealed the Antrim Division 2 Hurling League title last night at the Bog Meadows when they beat St Gall’s by 2-17 to 0-06 points.
Conditions were not ideal for free flowing hurling but the men from the Ards showed just why they are top of the table as they rushed to a 1-10 to 0-04 lead at half time.
After the change of ends, the black and amber pushed on and grabbed a second goal through substitute Darragh Kelly to win in the end by seventeen points.
After the game County Committee member Joe Edwards presented the league trophy to team captain Lucas Boyd.
Joe Edwards presents the Division 2 League title trophy to Ballycran captain Lucas Boyd after his teams won over St. Gall’s at the Bog Meadows
With the division 2 title already heading to Ballycran, this meeting of 5th and 6th in the table was more about the bragging rights and preparation for the Intermediate Championship but Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s never the less served up an exciting game of hurling.
Only a point separated the sides at half time with St. Gall’s leading 2-11 to 3-7 as the teams headed to the dressing rooms with both sides playing their part in some excellent passages of attacking play.
Dan O’Neill fired to the St. Gall’s net to give Cloney Gaels an early lead with Ethan Walsh finding the Cloney net in the 5th minute as play swung from end to end.
Fionnbar O’Neill, Dan O’Neill, PJ O’Connell, Ronan Graham and Fionnbar again brought the home sides total to 1-5 by the 11th minute With Gregory McGreevey responding with a couple of fine efforts for the Milltown Row side.
Cloney Gaels were enjoying the better of the exchanges at this point and PJ O’Connell increased their lead when he fired home their second goal in the 13th minute with St. Gall’s responding with a flurry of points from Gregory McGreevey before a long range effort from their keeper found its way to the Ahoghill net.
PJ O’Connell replied immediately with his second goal of the game at the other end but it was St. Gall’s who dominated the closing exchanges as Aaron Mackle, Niall Fallon 0-2, Ethan Walsh and Mark Napier all added points to leave them leading by the minimum at the break.
Three quick points at the start of the second half from Fionnbar O’Neill, Donal Graham and Owen Neeson saw Cloney Gaels move two ahead but thee converted frees in reply from Niall Fallon had the visitors back in front again by the 9th minute.
It was end to end stuff as the game continued at a fast pace with Dan O’Neill for Cloney pointing before Mark Napier got through for the visitors third goal to see them hit the front once more.
Fionnbar O’Neill and Ronan Graham replied with points for the hosts as the game continued at break neck pace but St. Gall’s looked to have secured the points when Segdae MacAdhaimh fired home their fourth goal of the afternoon with 12 minutes remaining.
The Gaels looked in trouble despite points from Ronan Graham 0-2 and Bernard Graham in response to two from Daniel Churchill and Niall Fallon when they trailed by three as the game crept into time added on.
They showed their never-say-die attitude however and were rewarded when Diarmaid Graham fished to the net in the 34th minute to give them a share of the spoils, much to the delight of the Cloney faithful.
Another exciting hour-plus hurling in Ahoghill following last week’s late winning goal against Creggan and while the league title is out of sight for both sides both Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s can be happy with their form as we edge closer to the championship.
Featured Image: Colla McDonnell celebrates after netting for Cloney Gaels
ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gaels 4-21 Kickham’s Creggan 4-20
There have been many fine contests between these two South West rivals over the years and this one at Cloney on Sunday rates up there with the best of them.
Two excellent hurling teams going head to head over the hour in a game of end to end hurling with fortunes swinging one way and then the other.
With time almost up the Kickham’s looked to have wrestled the initiative for Cloney Gaels when they led by a goal and a point in response from a Colla McDonnell free didn’t seem enough as the clock ticked down.
In one last dramatic piece of action however James O’Connell sent his shot to the Creggan net to grab a win from the jaws of defeat, much to the delight of the Cloney faithful who were privileged to witness this great game of hurling.
Dan O’Neill who found the net for Cloney Gael’s opener
Both sides went at it tooth and nail right from the throw in as Morgan Nelson pointed Creggan ahead but their lead didn’t last long as Dan O’Neill robbed Odhran Hampsey before finishing to the net for the game’s opening goal.
O’Neill turned provider as Colla McDonnell added a second for the home side in response to a point from Sean McAuley as Conor John Crossey was forced to retire with a finger injury to be replaced by Owen Neeson in the Ahoghill side.
It was a case of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ as Tommy McCann got the final touch to a long delivery from mid-field and deflect his shot past Aiden Graham to make it 2-1 to 1-2 with just ten minutes gone.
The home side responded as James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell 0-2 (f’s), Fionnbar O’Neill and James O’Connell added points, O’Neill’s a massive effort from 70 meters out.
Just when it looked like Cloney Gaels were taking control, Kickham’s made a strong statement of intent as Sam Maguire, Teddy McKeown, Ruairi McCann and Morgan Nelson hit points at the other end and only a goal separated the protagonists after 18 minutes of exciting hurling.
Things got even better for the Staffordstown Road side when Dan Doran found the net to square the contest with 8 minutes remaining to the break and the tit for tat sequence continued in the minutes leading up to the break.
It was the Ahoghill side who fared better however as Colla McDonnell, James O’Connell, Patrick Graham and Ronan Graham found the target with Daniel Doran 0-2 and Ruairi McCann replying for the visitors to leave the ‘Gaels’ 2 ahead at the short whistle.
The early exchanges in the second half remained even with a goal from Kevin Rice moving the visitors two in front by the 6th minute but once again the Ahoghill men found a response.
Things seemed to be swinging their way when a massive free from Fionnbar O’Neill from deep in his own half sailed all the way to the Creggan net and points from Colla McDonnell and James O’Connell edged them three ahead.
Kevin Rice who scored Creggan’s opening goal
PJ O’Connell marked his introduction with a point in response to one from Sean McAuley for the visitors and the point for point exchanges continued with James O’Connell, Fionnbar O’Neill and James O’Connell again on target for the Cloney men and Morgan Nelson and Sean McAuley replying at the other end.
It still looked anybody’s game and Kevin Rice punished hesitancy in the Ahoghill defence to finish to the net from close range to level matters once more with both sides producing some great passages of play.
Morgan Nelson and Ruairi McCann appeared to have sealed it for the Kickham’s as they moved them three in front with only minutes remaining but the final chapter of this compelling drama had not yet been written.
Colla McDonnell, who had been dangerous throughout, pointed a free to leave two between the sides but Creggan had a chance to tie it up when Kevin Small looked in for a goal but Aiden Graham pulled off an excellent save.
And as the Creggan bench called for full-time Cloney Gaels launched one last attack and James O’Connell became their hero as he finished to the net from distance.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Ronan Graham, 7 Eoin Graham, 8 Eamonn Graham, 9 Patrick Dougan, 10 Donal Graham, 11 James O’Connell, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Dan O’Neill, 15 Conor Paul Crossey
Cloney Gaels edged out Loughgiel Seconds by two points in an absolute classic of an ACHL Division 2 encounter at Fr. Healey Park on Wednesday night. A relentless display of attacking hurling saw the Ahoghill men withstand a fierce Loughgiel fightback to claim the spoils in a high-scoring thriller.
Ahoghill flew out of the traps and early scores from Donal Graham, Owen Neeson, Colla McDonnell, James O’Connell, and Owen Graham pushed Cloney Gaels into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after just eight minutes. Loughgiel responded through Ryan Hill and Shay McGrath, but further points from Ronan Graham and Fionnbar O’Neill kept the visitors in control.
Loughgiel found their spark in the 14th minute. Conall McCloskey pointed before the clinical Shay McGrath rattled the net to level the game at 1-5 to 0-8. The teams traded blows intensely from there. Aiden McFadden, Shane O’Boyle, and Patrick Laverty accurate for the Shamrocks, while Colla McDonnell fired home a crucial goal for Ahoghill. Late first-half points from Eamonn Brady and Roan McGarry left Cloney Gaels with a narrow 1-13 to 1-12 lead at the break.
Loughgiel levelled immediately after the restart through a Donal McKinley point, but Cloney Gaels responded instantly. The lethal Colla McDonnell broke through the Shamrocks’ defence to blast home his second goal of the match. McKinley and Conall McCloskey hit back with points for Loughgiel, beginning a frantic sequence where the sides traded scores. Roan McGarry, Patrick Laverty, and Shay McGrath were all on target for the hosts, while McDonnell and James O’Connell kept the scoreboard ticking for Ahoghill.
With the game on a knife-edge, Cloney Gaels struck a definitive blow when Owen Neeson found the net for his side’s third goal. Neeson quickly followed up with a point to stretch the Ahoghill lead. Loughgiel refused to yield, scoring late points from Shane O’Boyle, McGarry, and McGrath to cut the gap back to two but that would be as close as they got.
The Ahoghill side soaked up a lot of pressure during the closing minutes with Aiden Graham and Fionnbarr O’Neill putting their bodies on the line to ensure the points went the way of the visitors
Cloney Gaels: Aidan Graham, Patrick Dougan (Harry O’Donnell 50’), James Magee, Bernard Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Eoin Graham, Eamonn Brady, Conor Crossey, Donal Graham, James O’Connell, Patrick Graham, Colla McDonnell, Owen Neeson, Noah Friel (PJ O’Connell 40’). Subs Used: Ben Friel, Michael Martin, Ryan Martin, Ryan McPeake.
Loughgiel: Shea McDonnell, Cahir Connolly, Aidan McFadden, Ashdon McGarry, Conall McCloskey, Tiago McGarry, Tomas McNulty, Patrick Laverty, Roan Fitzhenry, Donal McKinley, Shane O’Boyle, Pearce Patterson, Roan McGarry, Ryan Hill, Shay McGrath. Subs Available: Danny McAuley, Daniel O’Mullan, Ronan Casey.
A breathtaking Antrim Hurling League Division 2 clash at Pairc MacUilin ended with Ballycastle 2nds securing a dramatic one-point victory over a deeply resilient Cushendun side. In a game defined by sharp shooting and late drama, the hosts managed to keep their noses in front just long enough to claim the win Cushendun burst out of the blocks, establishing a 0-03 to 0-00 lead within the first four minutes. The visitors’ early momentum was driven by the accuracy of ‘Loaf’ McNeill, who converted two early frees, sandwiched around a point from play by Donncha Laverty.
Ballycastle settled into the game soon after, heavily relying on the steady free-taking of Criostai McAuley. McAuley struck twice from placed balls before Lorcan Donnelly fired over his first point to level the game at 0-03 apiece by the seventh minute. The sides continued to trade scores in a highly entertaining first quarter until the game’s first major turning point arrived in the 13th minute: Lorcan Donnelly found the back of the net to give Ballycastle their first goal of the match.
Despite the setback, Cushendun rallied strongly. Callam Kilgore was instrumental, popping over three first-half points, while Thomas Scally, Sean McKay, and Donal O’Hara also added their names to the scoresheet. However, scores from Callam Campbell and Feargal McKiernan, alongside McAuley’s relentless accuracy, brought Ballycastle on terms and the teams went in level at the break 1-09 to 0-12.
The second half was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Ballycastle opened the scoring through Donnelly and McAuley, but in the eighth minute, Cushendun struck back with a brilliantly worked goal. A long, surging solo run by Connor McHugh drew the Ballycastle defence out of position; McHugh then slipped a clever pass to the unmarked McNeill, who fired home from close range to put Cushendun right back in the mix.
Ballycastle responded to the pressure with a flurry of points. Feargal McKiernan and Conall Magee chipped in with crucial scores, while Lorcan Donnelly hit a purple patch, rattling off three consecutive points between the 27th and 28th minutes to stretch the home side’s advantage.
Just as the game seemed to be slipping away from Cushendun, they set up a grandstand finish in the 32nd minute. Awarded a 20 metre free, Loaf stepped up and expertly drove the ball low through a crowded goalmouth to grab his second goal of the day, reducing the deficit to a single point with four minutes of injury time remaining.
In a nervy finale, Criostai McAuley held his nerve to tap over another vital free for Ballycastle in the 35th minute. Cushendun’s Donal O’Hara answered back immediately with a point from play, but time ultimately ran out for the visitors. Ballycastle held on for a hard-fought 1-20 to 2-16 victory.
Scorers
Team
Player
First Half
Second Half
Total
Ballycastle II
Criostai McAuley
0-06 (5F)
0-05 (5F)
0-11
Lorcan Donnelly
1-01
0-03
1-04
Feargal McKiernan
0-01
0-01
0-02
Callam Campbell
0-01
–
0-01
Conall Magee
–
0-01
0-01
Cushendun
Conlaoth ‘Loaf’McNeill
0-04 (4F)
2-00
2-04
Callam Kilgore
0-03
0-01
0-04
Donncha Laverty
0-02
–
0-02
Donal O’Hara
0-01
0-01
0-02
Thomas Scally
0-01
–
0-01
Sean McKay
0-01
–
0-01
Shane McQuillan
–
0-01
0-01
Connor McHugh
–
0-01
TO SEE MORE OF MICKY MORGAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE KINK BELOW
