Antrim Hurling League Division 2

Cloney Gaels Ahoghill 1-14 – 1-21 Cushendun Emmets

Referee: Sean Elliot

Pics by Micky Morgan

Cushendun Emmets got their ACHL Division 2 promotion hopes firmly back on track with an incredibly resilient second-half display against Cloney Gaels in Ahoghill on Sunday. Despite going down to 14 men early in the second half, the Emmets completely dominated the final thirty minutes, overturning a half-time deficit and restricting the home side to just two points from placed balls after the break.

The game started at a frantic pace, with Cloney taking early control. After Conor McHugh opened the scoring for Cushendun in the first minute, the home side hit five unanswered points in a blistering four-minute spell. Fionbarr O’Neill was accurate from the dead ball, while Ronan Graham and Donal Graham both found their range from play to give Ahoghill a 0-05 to 0-01 lead by the fifth minute.

Calum Kilgore kept Cushendun ticking over with two fine scores, but Ahoghill continued to dictate the early exchanges. Ronan Graham was causing serious problems for the Emmets’ defense, and points from Noah Friel and Donal Graham extended the home side’s advantage to 0-10 to 0-04 by the 12th minute.

Slowly but surely, Cushendun found their feet. Conlaoth Loaf McNeill began to make his presence felt, knocking over consecutive points (one free) to narrow the gap. Then, in the 21st minute, the game’s first major turning point arrived. A long-range effort from Calum Kilgore dropped dangerously onto the edge of the square, where Colm McKeegan caught it cleanly and fired past Aiden Graham in the Ahoghill net.

That goal sparked a major momentum shift. McKeegan and McNeill quickly added points to put Cushendun back in front. However, right on the stroke of half-time, Ahoghill struck a crucial blow. A 21-yard free was saved on the line by the Cushendun defence, but Ronan Graham was the quickest to react, pulling the breaking ball on the ground into the net to restore Ahoghill’s lead going into the dressing rooms: 1-12 to 1-10.

Whatever was said in the Cushendun huddle at half-time clearly worked, as they emerged for the second half with serious intent. They hit four points in the opening six minutes through Conor Bannon, Conor McHugh, Calum Kilgore, and Andrew Breslin to snatch back the lead.

But disaster struck for the Emmets in the 8th minute when goalscorer Colm McKeegan was shown a red card, leaving them to play the remaining 22 minutes with 14 men.

If Ahoghill thought the numerical advantage would swing the game back in their favor, they were sorely mistaken. The Cushendun defense tightened their grip remarkably, completely shutting down the Ahoghill attack from open play. In fact, the home side would only register two more points for the entire half—both coming from Conor Crossey frees in the 20th and 21st minutes.

At the other end, the 14 men of Cushendun played with superb composure and efficiency. Calum Kilgore added three more points to his tally, putting in a massive shift around the middle, while Andrew Breslin and Conlaoth McNeill kept the scoreboard ticking over. Substitutes were used to great effect to keep the legs fresh, and Dominic Sharkey put the icing on the cake with a well-taken point in the 32nd minute to seal a highly impressive 1-21 to 1-14 victory.

This was a massive win for Cushendun, built on a foundation of second-half grit and defensive organization, and it firmly places them back in the promotion conversation.

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Teams & Scorers

CUSHENDUN EMMETS: John V Morgan; Calum Kilgore (0-6), Mark McSparran, Paddy Morgan; Andrew Breslin (0-2), Thomas Scally, Matthew McCartin; Pierce McKeegan, Colm McKeegan (1-1); Conor McHugh (0-2), Archie McSparran, John-Joe O’Connell; Conor Bannon (0-2), Conlaoth McNeill (0-7, 0-3 frees), Pierce Bannon (0-1). Subs Used: Fiontan McQuillan for JJ O’Connell, Dominic Sharkey (0-1) for C Bannon, Liam Magee for P Bannon.

ST MARY’S AHOGHILL: Aiden Graham; Patrick Dougan, Fionbarr O’Neill (0-3, 0-2 frees), Bernard Graham; Eoin Graham, Eamon Brady, Conor Crossey (0-2 frees); Ronan Graham (1-4, 0-2 frees), Jack McFall, Donal Graham (0-3); Owen Jr. Neeson (0-1), Daniel O’Neill, Noah Friel (0-1). Subs Used: Ben Friel for J McFall, Michael Martin for N Friel.

ACFL Division 2

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills 1-17 Kickham’s Creggan 0-25

 Report: Joe Rice

Kickham’s Creggan travelled to Cloughmills on Sunday with the sides serving up an entertaining game of hurling and providing some excellent scores over the hour.  In a highly competitively first half, the sides were level on a couple of occasions but it was the hosts who finished the half stronger to lead by two at the interval.

After the break it was the Kickham’s who took control as they gained the upper hand around mid-field  and the South West lads pulled away for a comfortable 5 point win as the hosts scoring threat dried up, with St Brigids only able to add 4 points from the placed ball converted by the sweet striking Michael Devlin.

 Referee, Fionntan McCotter, got proceedings underway and Creggan were 2 points up in as many minutes, both off the hurl of Kevin Rice before James O’Boyle responded on the 4^th minute to reduce the gap to 1. 

Creggan’s tally increased with a point a piece from Conor McCann and Morgan Nelson but the home side’s responded from a superb goal from the hurl of Eoin Dobbin, giving Creggan’s keeper no chance. 

As we reached the 15-minute mark it was point for point as Creggan’s Ronan McGuckian, Sean McAuley, Ruari McCann, Morgan Nelson and Sean Duffin added points with  St Brigid’s, Michael Devlin, adding to his tally with 2 further points from play, reducing the deficit to 2 points between the sides. 

Both sides battled on intensely with 3 more points from play for the visitors, Sam Maguire, Sean Duffin and Conor McCann.  St Brigids, for their part, were biting at the heels of the visitors with Stephen Smyth scoring 2 points on the trot in the 15^th & 16^th minute and Geoffrey Og Laverty narrowed the gap to a point with 19 minutes gone before Michael Devlin converted a free to put the sides level. 

Eoin Dobbin nudged St Brigids ahead on the 21^st minute while Ryan Watson increased the gap to 2 points as St. Brigid’s enjoyed a period of domination. Conor McCann converted a free to reduce the deficit to the minimum again but Cloughhmills increased the gap to 3 points with 28 minutes gone through a converted 65 from Michael Devlin and a superb long range point from play by Eoin Dobbin.  Creggan did pull 1 back in injury time with Conor McCann getting the last score of the first half to leave the ‘Biddies’ leading by two at the break.

HALF TIME SCORE:     ST BRIGDS 1.13 v CREGGAN 0.14

Fionntan McCotter had to blow his whistle several times to encourage Creggan out of the changing room as St Brigids lined up eager to resume where they had left off.  Creggan’s Sam Maguire pointed immediately for the Kickham’s  and his team mate, Morgan Nelson added another in the 34^th minute it was all square.   Michael Devlin’s briefly edged the home side ahead again from a free but at this stage of the game the tide was turning and the visitors were starting to take control.

Creggan responded with 3 unanswered points, 2 from Conor McCann and another from Morgan Nelson, to put their team 2 ahead with the home side replying from another free in the 44^th minute by Devlin and as we headed into the final quarter Creggan were dominating all over the field.

St Brigid’s just couldn’t break down the visitors’ defence while at the other end Creggan increased their lead with  points in the 45^th, 46^th and 47^th minutes from Ruari McCann (0-2)and 1 from Conor McCann to edge three ahead.   The St. Brigid’s scoring threat had all but dried up at this stage and again it was left to Michael Devlin to convert a free in the 51^st minute. 

As we headed into the last 5 minutes of normal time, Creggan’s Conor McCann converted 3 more frees to give his team a 5 point cushion and with 3 minutes left of injury time on the clock, Cloughmill’s Michael Devlin converted his 4^th free of the half while the concluding score of the match fell to Creggan’s Morgan Nelson, giving the visitor’s a comfortable 5 point win.

ST BRIGIDS:  No.1 Christopher McKern, No.2 Johnny Duffin, No.3 Corey Blair, No.4 Sean McKendry, No.5 Reece Watt, No.6 Ruari Laverty, No.7 Ryan Dobbin, No.8 Geoffrey Og Laverty (0.02), No.9 James O’Boyle (0.02), No.10 Ryan McFarline, No.11 Michael Devlin (0.08), No.12 Conor Laverty, No.12 Ryan Watson (0.01), No.14 Eoin Dobbin (1.02), No.15 Stephen Smyth (0.02), No.16 Cathaoir McFerran, No.17 Dean O’Boyle, No.18 James Doherty, No.19 Seamus Duffin, No.20 Conor McKendry, No.21 Jack McDowell, No.22 Aaron McGuckian, No.23 Kevin O’Boyle, No.24 Dara Waterson, No.25 Michael Reid.

CREGGAN: No.1 Cormac Rice, No.2 Ryan McGrath, No.3 Odhran Hamsey, No.4 Peadar McGuckian, No.5 Sennan O’Boyle, No.6 Kealan McCann, No.7 Daniel Dornan, No.8 Sam Maguire (0.02), No.9 Ronan McGuckian (0.01), No.10 Sean Duffin (0.10), No.12 Ruari McCann (0.04), No.13 Morgan Nelson (0.04), No.14 Kevin Rice (0.02), No.15 Sean McAuley, No.17 Thomas McCann, No.18 Michael Maguire, No.19 Paul Colgan, No.20 Aidan McIlwee, No.21 Shea Devlin, No.23 Conor McCann (0.07).

REFEREE:          FIONNTAN McCOTTER

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/7oEtiouAx3yJvR

ACHL Division 2

Ballycastle 1-11 Cloney Gaels 0-21

Cloney Gaels collected their second win in Division 2 when they travelled to Ballycastle on Sunday and recorded a good win over the Ballycastle second string.

The Ahoghill side looked in a bit of trouble at the halfway point but staged a strong second half comeback to reign in and then overcome the spirited challenge of their hosts.

It was the McQuillan’s who led 1-9 to 0-10 at half time with a goal from Dermot Donnelly in the 22^nd minute sending them to the dressing rooms with a 2 point lead at half time.

Lorcan Donnelly and Callum Campbell for Ballycastle and Noah Friel and Colla McDonnell for the visitors exchanged early points and the tit for tat exchanges continued during the early stages as Patrick Graham, James O’Connell and Colla McDonnell brought their side’s total to 5 by the 13^th minute.

McQuillan’s kept in touch through Lorcan Donnelly and Oisin McAuley and further exchanges between Fionbarr O’Neill and James McShane had the visitors one ahead at the end of the opening quarter.

It was end to end action at this stage as James McShane for McQuillan’s and Fionnbar O’Neill from a sideline cut for the Ahoghill side kept the scoreboard ticking and another from Eoin Graham had Cloney two ahead.

Back came Ballycastle with a point from Lorcan Donnelly with James O’Connell keeping the gap at two with a fine point for the Ahoghill side.

Just when it looked like Cloney Gaels were gaining the upper hand, McQuillan’s replied with a decisive goal from Dermot Donnelly and points from Callum Campbell and Lorcan Donnelly with Colla McDonnell replying with the final point of the half for the Ahoghill men.

COME-BACK

Ahoghill were back on level terms within 6 minutes of the second half with points from Conor Crossey and a Colla McDonnell free and further points from McDonnell and James O’Connell saw them move 2 in front with 8 minutes of the half gone.

It was all Cloney Gaels at this stage as Colla McDonnell (f) and Dan O’Neill extended their lead to four before Lorcan Donnelly finally opened Ballycastle’s second half scoring with a point in the 10^th minute.

It was brief respite for the home side as Cloney Gaels began to turn the screw with Colla McDonnell, Fionbarr O’Neill 0-2, James O’Connell 0-2 bringing the visitors total for the evening to 0-21 with Ballycastle’s only reply coming from a James McShane point with 3 minutes remaining.

A good win for Cloney Gaels who have made a slow start to this year’s league campaign but on the evidence of Sunday’s performance they should soon be climbing up the table.

Ballycastle: 1 Ruairi McShane, 2 Oisin Donnelly, 3 Ciaran McKeague, 4 Conor Mooney, 5 Ronan Laverty, 6 James Bakewell, 7 Oisin McAuley, 8 Callum Campbell, 9 Luke Connolly, 10 Gavin McToal, 11 James McShane, 12 Lorcan Donnelly, 13 Cormac Dallas, 14 Dermot Donnelly, 15 Feargal McKiernan.

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

17 Ben Friel, 18 Conal Walls, 19 Michael Martin, 21 Owen Neeson

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

Featured Image: Ben Christie who gave a masterclass for Bredagh

 (ACHL) Division 2

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills: 0-12 (12)

Bredagh: 1-22 (25)

Bredagh kick-started their league campaign in style on Sunday, producing a dominant display to brush aside St. Brigid’s Cloughmills. In a meeting between two sides hungry for points at the bottom of the table, the Belfast men’s superior firepower and clinical finishing saw them run out 1-22 to 0-12 winners.

Bredagh signalled their intent from the first whistle, racing into a 0-04 to 0-01 lead within the opening five minutes. They remained on top for the vast majority of the half, spearheaded by an exceptional performance from number 14 Ben Christie. Christie was the standout performer in the opening period, slotting over 0-05 and proving a constant thorn in the Cloughmills defence.

Mickey Devlin who was St. Brigid’s outstanding performer

While Bredagh dictated the tempo, Cloughmills stayed within touching distance thanks to the accuracy of Michael Devlin, who notched four points in the opening period. Further scores from Ruairi Laverty, James O’Boyle, and Conor Laverty kept the home side in the hunt, trailing by just three at the interval.

Half-Time Score: Bredagh 0-10, Cloughmills 0-07.

The second period saw Bredagh find another gear to completely pull away. Ben Christie continued his scoring master-class, adding a further 1-06 to his tally. The game’s only goal arrived in the 25th minute of the half, when Christie was set up by Sean McCollum to effectively end the contest.

Bredagh’s clinical edge was bolstered by scores from Tim Rankin (0-04), John Dougan (0-02), and  Luke Doran (0-04). 13 Frankie Ferguson (0-01) also chipped in to round out a comprehensive team performance. Cloughmills found it much harder to break through a disciplined Bredagh rear guard, anchored by Ian Galway in goal. Michael Devlin, Ruairi Laverty, Geoffery Og Laverty, James O’Boyle and Stephen Smyth provided the only second-half resistance for the “Biddies.” Who were missing a number of regulars but need to get some points on bosard sooner rather than later

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Geoffery Og Laverty on the attack for Cloughmills

An Bhreadach CLG (Bredagh):
1 Ian Galway, 2 Odhran Morgan-Little, 3 Michael Woods, 4 Eoin Browne, 5 Sean Doyle, 6 Patrick McGarry, 7 Liam Hogan, 8 Tim Rankin, 9 Cormac Hughes, 10 John Dougan, 11 Eoin Kennedy, 12 Sean McCollum, 13 Frankie Ferguson, 14 Ben Christie, 15 Luke Doran, 16 Aaron Maguire, 17 Fintan McCollum, 18 Evin Maguire, 19 Mel Lavery, 20 Adam Rankin, 21 Conor O’Neill.

Naomh Bríd (St. Brigid’s Cloughmills):
1 Corey Blair, 2 Jack McDowall, 3 Sean McKendry, 4 Aaron McGuckian, 5 Johnny Duffin, 6 Ruairi Laverty, 9 Dara Watterson, 10 Ryan Mcfarline, 11 Michael Devlin, 12 Conor Laverty, 13 Stephen Smyth, 14 Shemus Duffin, 15 James O’Boyle, 16 Cathaoir McFerran, 17 James Doherty, 18 Dean Boyle, 19 Con chaber Mac Enri, 20 Michael Reid, 21 Ryan Watson, 22 Kevin O’Boyle, 27 Reece Watt.

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/N75w9LdUy7f6QL

ACHL Division 2

Creggan 3-14 St. Paul’s 2-18

In ideal conditions, St Pauls travelled to Staffordstown to face Kickham’s in a helter-skelter game that was played at break neck speed.  Both teams battled continuously for 60 minutes, but it was the City side’s Caolan O Duibhfinn ,injury time free, that edged them a point ahead and secured the points.

 The visitors’ Sean Munce had a white flag raised within the first minute and his colleague Seamus MacDomhnall pointed seconds later.  Creggan responded on the 3^rd & 4^th minute with a point a piece for Morgan Nelson and Ruairi McCann to level proceedings before Nelson scored again to edge his side ahead for the first time.

O’Duibhfinn won the puck out and soloed from the centre of the park before firing to the Creggan’s net from close range. Three more pointed frees from play for the visitors, Sean Og MacHabhraim, Conal MacAnChrosan and Conal O Fionnagain, had the visitors 5 points ahead and Sean Og MacHabhraim and Seamus MacDomhnall stretched the lead to 7 and the gap increased between the sides. 

Thomas McCann and Sam Maguire for the home side narrowed the gap again to 5 with 17 minutes on the clock.  With Creggan struggling for possession, the City side were impressing all over the field with 4 more points from play for Sean Og Machabhraim, Lorcan MacPhilib, Caolan O Duibhfinn and Conal O Fionnagain. 

Their management must have been impressed with 7 different players notching up scores.  Creggan’s Ronan McGuckian and Lee Johnston narrowed the gaps slightly, but when Seamus MacDomhnall found the net in the 26^th minute, things were not looking good for the home side.  When Referee, John O’Connor, blew the whistle for Half Time, many of the Creggan supporters would have felt that this was one that was already out of reach. 

HALF TIME SCORE:  CREGGAN 0.7 v ST PAULS 2.12

 As proceedings got underway for the 2^nd half, the Creggan management had made a reshuffle and within one minute of the restart Creggan’s, Kevin Rice, had raised the green flag to signal his side’s intention to finally get into the game.  Rice added the next point on the 39^th minute followed by a goal on the 41^st minute to narrow the gap to 4 points. 

The home sides, Morgan Nelson, reduced the deficit further to 3, pointing from a goal scoring effort that just nipped over the bar.  The visitors had no answer for this and struggled all over the field.  It wasn’t until the 42^nd minute that Sean Og MacHabhraim got his side’s 1^st score from play for the second half. 

Creggan kept up the pressure with 2 points from Ruairi McCann and a converted free from Morgan Nelson, levelling the sides and the home team had the momentum.  Nelson got his side’s 3^rd goal of the game on the 46^th minute to put them 3 points up and it was looking good for the Staffordstown Road side.

The visitors responded however with 3 points on the trot from Caolan O Duibhfinn to level the proceedings once again.  With minutes left on the clock, Nelson put the home side ahead once again from a converted free with St Pauls replying again, from a Caolan O Duibhfinn free. 

Teddy McKeown edged Creggan ahead once more on the 61^st minute as the game moved into injury time  but Caolan O Duibhfinn replied from another free to tie the contest once more and it looked like ending all square.

As the game moved 3 minutes into injury time, O’Duibhfinn was once again called upon to step up and take a 30 metre free to edge his side one ahead and as we approached the final whistle, Creggan were handed a lifeline but Morgan Nelson’s free from 40 metres out in the dying seconds which sailed agonisingly wide of the post. 

Referee, John O’Connor, concluded proceedings to what was an extremely exciting contest, a game of 2 halves where St Pauls dominated the 1^st Half while Creggan will feel they did enough in the second to get something from the game.

 CREGGAN: Conor McCann, Conor McLarnon, Aidan McIlwee, Peadar McGuckian, Sennan O’Boyle, Kealan McCann, Teddy McKeown (0.01), Sam Maguire (0.01), Ronan McGuckian (0.01), Lee Johnston (0.01), Daniel Dornan, Morgan Nelson (1.05) Thomas McCann (0.01), Sean McAuley, Kevin Rice (2.01), Ruairi McCann (0.03).

 ST PAULS: Criostoir O Muiri, Paul MagAoidh, Marcas Munce, Tiernan Auld, Caoimhin Killyleagh, Lorcan MacPhilib (0.02), Thomas O Duibh, Conal O Fionnagain (0.02), Deaglan O Coinne, Sean Munce (0.01), Sean Og MacLabhraim (0.03), Caolan O Duibhfinn (1.06), Shea MacConboirne, Caolan Mac An Chrosan (0.01), Seamus Mac Domhanall (1.02), Deaglan Chapman, Odhran O Donnghaile, Cian Mac Cana, Aaron O Ciara, Padhraic Mac Dhaibheid.

REFEREE:  John O’Connor