ACHL Division 2

Loughgiel 2^nd’s 1-21 Cloney Gaels 3-17

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.
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• 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.

Date: May 31, 2026

Venue: Pairc MacUilin, Ballycastle

Referee: Lee O’Reilly

Competition: ACHL Division 2

Final Score: Ballycastle II 1-20 | Cushendun 2-16

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

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ACHL Division 2

St. Gall’s 0-14 Tir na nOg 1-16

Tír na nÓg withstood a ferocious second-half fightback from St. Gall’s to claim a vital 1-16 to 0-14 victory at Milltown on Sunday, with Caleb Smith’s first-half goal ultimately proving to be the difference.

St. Gall’s exploded out of the blocks, with corner-forward Dara Delaney splitting the posts just 30 seconds after the throw-in. The Belfast side nearly doubled their advantage moments later, but Tír na nÓg goalkeeper Matthew Dimphinall pulled off a spectacular, crucial save to deny Patrick Friel.

Spurred on by that defensive stand, Tír na nÓg found their rhythm. Emmet Murray levelled the scoring three minutes in, before midfielder Sean Duffin hit two quick-fire points from play. Tomas O’Ciarain hit back for St. Gall’s in the 9th minute, but Joe McCormick immediately responded for the visitors to make it 0-4 to 0-2 at the 10-minute mark.

St. Gall’s rallied dynamically over the next five minutes. Points from Ronan Crossan and Dubhaltach MacLiam dragged the home side back on level terms at 0-4 apiece by the quarter-hour mark.

From that point on, Tír na nÓg completely took over the midfield battle. Tiarnan Bonnes restored their lead with a well-struck free, followed quickly by another white flag. Sean McKinley then punishing a misplaced St. Gall’s puck-out to register a point. The Randalstown surge continued with unanswered points from Emmet Murray and Sean McKinley.

Sean Duffin then extended the lead further by drilling a monster 70-metre free over the bar. A 20-metre free from Dubhaltach MacLiam briefly halted the bleeding for St. Gall’s, but Tír na nÓg hit back through McKinley and another long-range 70-metre free from Sean Duffin on the 30-minute mark.

The decisive blow arrived in the 31st minute. A slick attacking move found corner-forward Caleb Smith on the right side of the square. Smith made no mistake, unleashing a powerful drive across Kurtis McGreevey into the keeper’s right-hand corner to leave Tír na nÓg firmly in the driving seat at the break.

Half-Time Score: St. Gall’s 0-05  Tír na nÓg 1-11

The Belfast men threw everything at the Randalstown side in the second period, inspired by a brilliant performance from substitute Anto Healey (20), but the visitors held their nerve in injury time to secure the two points.

St. Gall’s introduced Anto Healey at the break, and the tactical switch paid immediate dividends. Just 30 seconds into the half, Ronan Crossan blasted over his second point of the day. Tír na nÓg replied instantly when midfielder Sean Duffin showcased his accuracy again, converting a 60-metre free. Crossan responded for the hosts to cut the deficit, but both sides then endured a frustrating, tense period where the woodwork denied clear scoring opportunities, with shots from both teams rattling back off the posts.

Tiarnan Bonnes settled Tír na nÓg with a well-taken free, but Healey then took centre stage for St. Gall’s. The substitute hit a fine point from play, and after Dubhaltach MacLiam converted a free, Healey struck again to leave the scoreboard reading 1-14 to 0-10.

The momentum was firmly with the home side. Wing-back Aaron Mackle surged forward to hit a point, narrowing the gap to six. Tír na nÓg substitute Ciaran McCamphill temporarily halted the charge with a vital response, but St. Gall’s kept pressing. In the 21st minute, Ronan Crossan hit a spectacular point from play, before a MacLiam free in the 26th minute left just four points between the teams.

When the unstoppable Healey struck his third point of the half on the 30-minute mark, a grandstand finish looked guaranteed with St. Gall’s trailing by just three. However, Tír na nÓg showed great composure in injury time. Tiarnan Bonnes won a crucial free and expertly slotted it over in the 31st minute, killing off the comeback and ensuring a five-point victory for the visitors.

St. Gall’s: 1 Kurtis McGreevey, 2 Daniel Churchill, 3 Gairech MacAdhaim, 4 Eoghan McCurdy, 5 Aaron Mackle, 6 Gregory McGreevey, 7 Tom Ghee, 8 Oran McIlhatton, 9 Patrick Friel, 10 Ethan Walsh, 11 Ronan Crossan, 12 Tomas O’Ciarain, 13 Dubhaltach MacLiam, 14 Niall Fallon, 15 Dara Delaney, 20 Anto Healey, 19 Joshua Southern,   

Tir na nOg: 1 Matthew Dimphinall 2 Dara Martin 3 Brandon Mclarnon 4 Manus Smith 5 Ryan O’Neill 6 Caoimhin Duffin 7 Ciaran O’Neill 8 Sean Duffin 9 Connor McCamphill 10 Sean McKinley 11 Emmet Murray 12 Tiarnan Bonnes 13 Joe McCormick 14 Ciaran Logan 15 Caleb Smith 17 Conor O’Neill 18 Jude Storie 19 Kevin Sheerin 20 Ciaran McCamphill 21 Conlith Martin 22 Declan Mallon

Referee: Niall Clifford

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ACHL Division 2

Cloney Gael 2-19 Bredagh 2-24

Bredagh climb above Cloney Gaels at the bottom of the ACHL Division 2 table following this five point win over the Ahoghill men in an entertaining game of hurling at a sun kissed Cloney on Wednesday night.

It was the Ahoghill side who got off to the better start with a goal in the first minute from Dan O’Neill with Colla McDonnell, Ronan Graham and Patrick Graham adding point to keep their side three ahead by the 8^th minute.

The Bredagh points came from the sticks of Sean McCollum, Donal Hughes and John Dougan and at this stage it was end to end with Colla McDonnell 0-2 and Ronan Graham adding to the Cloney score card and Eoin Kennedy 0-2, Ben Christie, Luke Doran and Christie again bringing the Bredagh total to 8 by the 20^th minute.

Fionnbar O’Neill and Colla McDonnell replied for the home side and a second goal of the evening from Dan O’Neill put the ‘Gaels’ in a strong position going into half time where they led by five.

It was visitors Bredagh who made a quick reply at the start of the second half with Donal Hughes, Sean McCollum and Ben Christie all pointing in the opening minute before Colla McDonnell edged the home side three ahead again with 3 minutes gone.

Tim Rankin responded for the Belfast men but a couple in quick succession from James O’Connell kept the Cloney noses ahead before McCollum and O’Connell exchanged further minors.

Further exchanges between Patrick Graham for the hosts and Eoin Kennedy for Bredagh kept it finally balanced in favour of the Ahoghill side but the visitors were beginning to get on top.

Eoin Kennedy had been proving a handful and he fired home his side’s opening goal in the 20^th minute and it seemed to fire his colleagues into action as they dominated the closing exchanges.

Ben Christie 0-2, Sean McCollum 0-2 and two excellent points from mid-fielder, Donal Hughes swung it decisively in favour of the visitors with Ahoghill’s only response coming from Fionnbar O’Neill, James O’Connell and Colla McDonnell.

A good win for Bredagh which sees them climb out of the bottom two and as they get their county men back on board I would expect them to climb further up the table.

Cloney Gaels were missing a few themselves and they should improve as the season progresses if they get everyone fit and for a good part of Wednesday night’s contest they looked to be heading for victory.

Cloney Gaels: 1 Martin Graham, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Ryan Martin, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Eoin Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Paul Crossey, 10 Patrick Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Jack McFall, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Dan O’Neill, 15 James O’Connell

Bredagh: 1 Ian Galway, 2 Odhran Morgan-Little, 3 Michael Woods, 4 Mel Lavery, 5 Patrick McGarry, 6 Niall McFarland, 7 Liam Hogan, 8 Cormac Hughes, 9 Donal Hughes, 10 Luke Doran, 11 Tim Rankin, 12 John Dougan, 13 Sean McCollum, 14 Eoin Kennedy, 15 Ben Christie

Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)

ACHL Division 2

Venue: CushLig an Airgid.

Referee: Fionntan McCotter

Carey Faughs secured a well-deserved 2-15 to 1-13 victory over Cushendun Emmet’s in this ACHL Division 2 clash on Wednesday evening, with a devastating four-minute spell from Conor McBride proving to be the decisive factor.

McBride was the dominant scoring figure throughout the hour. His unerring accuracy from both open play and dead balls kept the scoreboard ticking for the Carey men, ultimately proving too much for the home side to handle

The opening twenty minutes were a tight, point-for-point affair. McBride opened the scoring in the third minute, but Cushendun quickly responded through Pierce McKeegan. The sides traded blows with Dominic Sharkey, ‘Loaf’ McNeill, and Calum Kilgore raising white flags for the Emmet’s, while McBride and Conail McGlynn kept Carey right in the mix with accurate frees.

By the 19th minute, a point from Cushendun’s Fiontan McQuillan left the game finely balanced. However, the momentum shifted entirely in a decisive four-minute window. In the 22nd minute, McBride breached the Cushendun defence to rattle the net for the game’s opening goal. Before the home side could fully regroup, McBride struck again in the 26th minute, grabbing his second major to put Carey firmly in the driving seat.

Late first-half points from John McBride and another Conor McBride free sent Carey into the dressing rooms with a commanding 2-08 to 0-07 lead at the interval.

Cushendun emerged for the second half determined to eat into the deficit, with ‘Loaf’ pointing a free straight after the restart. Carey, however, quickly reasserted their dominance. McBride knocked over three consecutive frees in a three-minute purple patch, followed quickly by a score from Caolan McCaughan to stretch the lead further.

To their credit, the Emmet’s refused to throw in the towel. Conor McHugh hit a quick-fire double, and ‘Loaf’ added another free to keep the scoreboard moving. On the 16-minute mark, Donncha Laverty provided a real lifeline for Cushendun when he found the back of the net, narrowing the gap to 2-14 to 1-11 and giving the home support something to shout about.

Jack McKay followed up with a point to close the gap further, but Carey’s first-half foundation proved too solid to crack. Fiachra McVeigh and Conail McGlynn had chipped in with crucial second-half points to keep Cushendun at arm’s length. Fittingly, it was McBride who tapped over another free to help see the game out. ‘Loaf’ managed one final point for Cushendun in the closing stages, but the Faughs held firm to take the points back to Ballyvoy.

Match Scorers

Cushendun Emmet’s:

• Donncha Laverty (1-00)
• ‘Loaf’ McNeill (0-05, 4f, 1 ’65’)
• Calum Kilgore (0-02)
• Conor McHugh (0-02)
• Pierce McKeegan (0-01)
• Dominic Sharkey (0-01)
• Fiontan McQuillan (0-01)
• Jack McKay (0-01)

Carey Faughs:

• Conor McBride (2-09, 7f)
• Conail McGlynn (0-03, 3f)
• John McBride (0-01)
• Caolan McCaughan (0-01)
• Fiachra McVeigh (0-01)

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