Category / Division 2

by thesaffrongael

Carryduff’s late snatch and grab seals victory over Cushundun

Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Cushendun 3-14 Carryduff 3-15

Carryduff produced a dramatic late comeback to inflict the first defeat of the season on hitherto unbeaten Cushendun Emmets in a thrilling Antrim Hurling League Division 2 clash at the Riggs, winning by a single point, 3-15 to 3-14. Two late goals from the Down visitors turned the game entirely on its head, leaving Ballycran as the sole remaining unbeaten side in the division.

The visitors bolted out of the gates, racing into a four-point lead within the first five minutes. Donal Rooney opened his impressive tally from a free, quickly followed by points from David Morrissey, Oran Teague, and James Laverty. Cushendun finally settled in the seventh minute when Loaf McNeill converted a 65, but Rooney kept the scoreboard ticking over for Carryduff. The turning point of the first half came in the seventeenth minute when Dominic Sharkey found the back of the net for the Emmets, dragging them right back into the contest. A flurry of scores from Loaf put Cushendun ahead, but Carryduff responded instantly with a twenty-fifth-minute goal from Ciaran O’Callaghan. However, a late major just before the whistle from Leo Morgan ensured Cushendun went into the dressing room with a narrow advantage, leading 2-06 to 1-08 at the break.

The second half began as a tight, point-for-point affair. Rooney continued his dead-eye accuracy for Carryduff, while Connor McHugh, Sharkey, and Loaf kept Cushendun’s noses in front. In the eighth minute of the half, Cushendun seemed to take a definitive grip on the tie when Colm McKeggan fired in their third goal of the day, extending their lead to 3-09 to 1-11. Carryduff’s Rooney duo, Donal and Eoin, slotted points to stay in touch, but as the half wore on, the Emmets appeared comfortable. Scores from Pierce Bannon, McHugh, and Connor Bannon had the home side looking well on their way to maintaining their flawless league record.

Trailing as the game entered its dying stages, Carryduff engineered a spectacular smash-and-grab. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Darragh Goodwin rattled the Cushendun net, breathing sudden life into the visitors, and Sean O’Callaghan quickly added a point to close the gap further. Though McHugh pointed to momentarily stem the tide, disaster struck for the Emmets a minute later. Lorcan McCaughey capitalized on the shifting momentum, burying Carryduff’s third goal to incredibly put the Down men two points clear with time evaporating. Cushendun threw everything forward in a desperate search for a late match-winner, and deep into injury time, they carved out a golden opportunity to snatch the victory. However, Conor McHugh’s well-struck shot flew agonizingly over the crossbar, and the final whistle blew on a sensational one-point victory for Carryduff.

TO SEE MORE OF MICKEY MORGAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Creggan secure the points in Staffordstown

ACHL Division 2

Kickham’s Creggan 0-17 Ballycastle 2nd’s 0-13

Report: JoeRice

 The Loughshore lads welcomed MacUilin’s on a bright Sunday afternoon.  Many of the home side supporters would have seldom seen black & amber jerseys lined out on their field.  Nevertheless, Ballycastle’s Second Team were here looking for their first win of the League Competition. 

First to score was Conall McGee pointing from play in the 2nd minute and from the initial stages Ballycastle dominated by winning most of the turnovers, but they failed to convert these into scores.

Slowly the home side steadied themselves and their first score came from Morgan Nelson on the 7th minute, adding a further 2 converted frees on the 8th and the 11th minute.  The visitors responded with 3 on target frees, one from James Blackwell and 2 from Feargal McKiernan on the 12th, 14th and 16th minute respectively.  With 16 minutes on the clock, MacUilin’s were in front. 

Creggan drew level with a fine point from play from Sean Duffin, but this was cancelled out as Gavin McToal edged the visitors’ ahead on the 23rd minute.  It was level again on the 26th minute when Rory McCann scored his 1st of 4 points of the contest before  Cormac Dallas put the visitors 2 in front with 2 superb frees from distance.   

The sides were level once again as Morgan Nelson and Teddy McKeown added to the home side’s tally.  The final 2 scores from the 1st half were from Rory McCann, Creggan, and one from Feargal McKiernan, MacUilin’s, to leave it all square at half time on 8 points apiece. Referee, Chris Brown, got proceedings underway in the 2nd half in a good natured encounter where he had little use for his notebook.  Creggan started the 2nd half better while MacUilin’s struggled for scores being guilty of several wides. 

Creggan’s marksman, Morgan Nelson, converted 3 frees and when his teammate, Sean Duffin, added a point from play it gave the home side a 4 point cushion.  It was 11 minutes into the 2nd half before Feargal McKiernan got MacUilin’s 1st point, however, at this stage they were struggling to close the gap. 

The home side’s confidence grew when Morgan Nelson and Rory McCann added 2 further points to lead by 4 with 15 minutes remaining on the clock.  Ballycastle’s Feargal McKiernan got his 4th point of the game to leave just one score between them, but Creggan surged ahead with Mick Maguire, Rory McCann & Keelan McCann securing 3 unanswered points without reply. 

As we headed towards the last 5 minutes plus extra time, Ballycastle threw everything at the Lough shore lads looking for the goals that never came, but they did add 3 further points from Callum Campbell, Luke Connolly and James Bakewell to narrow the gap, however, they had just run out of time. 

The last score of the game was from Morgan Nelson’s ‘65’ to give the home side a 4 point cushion and their 1st win of the campaign.

Creggan: No.1 Conor McCann, No.2 Paedar McGuckian, No.3 Dillan Hamfey, No.4 Sennan O’Boyle, No.5 Aidan McIlwee, No.6 Keelan McCann(0.01), No.7 Aidan McKeown(0.01), No.8 Sam Maguire, No.9 Daniel Dornan, No.10 Lee Johnston, No.11 Mick Maguire, No.12 Sean Duffin (0.02), No.13 Ronan McGuckian, No.14 Morgan Nelson (0.07), No.15 Sean McAuley(0.01), No.21 Thomas McCann, No.30 Rory McCann(0.04).

Ballycastle: No.1 Anthony Mullan, No.2 Conor Mooney, No.3 James Bakewell(0.04),No.4 Oisin McAuley, No.5 Oisin Donnelly, No.6 Cormac Donnelly, No.7 Jack McGowan, No.8 Conal Magee, No.9 Luke Connolly(0.01), No.10 Tadhg Donnelly, No.11 Callum Campbell(0.01), No.12 Feargal McKiernan(0.03), No.13 Cormac Dallas(0.02), No.14 Dermot Donnelly, No.15 Gavin McToal(0.01), No.17 Eoin Boylan, No.18. Niall McGarry, No.19 Rory McShane, No.20 Thomas McIlroy.

Referee: Chris Brown

TO SEE MORE OF CLAIRE FAWLS PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME (PLUS THE HALF TIME GAMES) CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

McAlister leads Carryduff to victory

ACHL Division 2

Carryduff 3-16 Ahoghill 2-12

A strong second half performance by Carryduff, led by the excellent Conor McAllister saw them overcome the challenge of Cloney Gaels in the ACHL Division 2 in Carryduff on Sunday. The hosts got off to a bright start with McAllister pointing in the first minute and following with a goal with 2 minutes gone.

Cloney responded with a point from Ronan Graham and a goal from Dan O’Neill but the Down men were moving the ball with precision and looked dangerous every time they attacked.

Conor McAllister brought his side’s total to 1-2 with another point before mid-fielder Donal Og Rooney weighed in with three of his own and one from the elusive McAllister and another from Eoin Rooney had the hosts 1-6 to 1-2 ahead by the 14th minute, the visitors second point coming from Donal Graham.

Two more from Donal Graham and Colla McDonnell for the visitors had the gap down to two by the 20th minute and that was how it remained at the break with James Lavery, James Woods and Lavery again on target for Carryduff and a Colla McDonnell double and one from Dan O’Neill leaving it 1-10 to 1-8 at the short whistle.

Carryduff got the second half off to a blistering start as Donal Og Rooney converted a ‘65’ in the opening minute and then a shot from McAllister deflected off an Ahoghill stick and finished in the net and the Down men were 6 ahead with only three minutes of the new half gone.

Cloney Gaels looked rattled but they came back with points from James O’Connell and a Colla McDonnell free but Carryduff were slowly getting on top. They replied through the excellent Conor McAllister with two on the bounce and another from substitute Tom Hickson put further distance between the sides.

A pointed free from Colla McDonnell and another from play by Eamon Brady hinted at a comeback from the Cloney Gaels but it would prove to be their final score with 14 minutes remaining.

Indeed it was Carryduff who ensured that there would be no way back going down the finishing straight with the excellent McAllister firing home his side’s third goal and Donal Og Rooney putting the icing on a fine personal performance with a point from distance.

Carryduff:

1 Conor McLornan

2 Fearghal Casey

3 Conor Cassidy

4 Ciaran Goodwin

5 David Morrissey

6 Darragh Goodwin

7 Cillian Ennis

8 James Woods

9 Donal Og Rooney

10 Michael Conway

11 Sean O’Callaghan

12 James Lavery

13 Lorcan McCaughey

14 Conor McAlister

15 Eoin Rooney

by thesaffrongael

Glenarm unlucky not to take something from fiercely contested game

Featured Image: Niall Rogers, who had a good game for Shane O’Neill’s

ACHL Division 2

Shane O’Neill’s 1-14 Ballycran 0-19

Shane O’Neill’s, Glenarm and Ballycran served up a fiercely contested division 2 game of hurling at Feystown on Sunday with the Fetstown side desperately unlucky not to get something out of the game.

Trailing by one as the clock counted down the Glenarm side looked to be in for a second goal when youngster, Niall Rogers raced clear on goal where he was taken out by Ballycran keeper, Cathal Lavery but the home side had their appeals for a penalty waved aside and had to settle for a pointed free from Aidan Scullion.

Despite being without the services of Niall McGarel and Ciaran Magill the Glenarm side matched the men from the Ards all the way and the result was in the balance with time almost up.

Ballycran’s Adam Rogan tidies up as Ben O’Boyle moves in to challenge

It was Paul Sheehan who pointed the visitors ahead in the 4th minute and the Ballycran number 12 would contribute 4 of his side’s first half total and seven in all over the hour.

Aidan Scullion brought matters all square by the 8th minute, and like Sheehan, would be a major contributor for the Feystown side with his strong performance at mid-field.

Conor Dorrian, playing at full-forward added two further points to 2 from Sheehan as the visitors led 0-4 to 0-2 with Scullion adding to his early point from a well struck free for the home side.

Some of the challenges were not for the feint hearted as Lorenzo McMullan let play flow and the excellent Darren Hamill struck a couple of frees from distance to tie the contest at 0-5 apiece at the end of the opening quarter.

Aidan Scullion and Paul Sheehan exchanged further points before Niall Rogers edged Glenarm ahead after being set up by Ben O’Boyle but the visitors finished the half on top and Ethan Bell, Conor Woods and a great point from Michael Hughes had them one ahead at the short whistle.

Shane O’Neill’s took a time to emerge from the dressing rooms for the second half but when they did they were quickly into the action with Aidan Scullion levelling matters with a point after 30 seconds.

Things were certainly livening up as Conor Dorrian restored the visitors lead but almost immediately Glenarm hit the front for the second time in the game. Young Niall Rogers showed electric pace as he cut in along the bye-line before placing Paddy mcAuley who finished to the net

The visitors were back on terms however by the fifth minute as Michael Hughes from distance and Sheehan from a pointed free fired over but half time substitute Sean O’Hare split the posts at the other end to edge the Feystown men ahead once more.

Glenarm’s Darren |hamill rises to claim the sliotar

Paul Sheehan and Aidan Scullion exchanged further points to leave the gap at one but Glenarm will reflect on a dominant period where the hit four wides in quick succession that could have put a bit of distance between the sides.

Still they maintained that narrow lead after Conal Ward replied to a superb side-line cut from Sheehan with 9 minutes remaining as Ballycran threw the Miskillins, Jake and Paul into the action.

The Ards men were beginning to get on top and Paul Sheehan (f), Conor Dorrian and Conor Woods were all on target before Aidan Scullion replied with a great long distance effort to leave just one between the sides with three minutes remaining.

Then came the Rogers incident with Lavery perhaps lucky to stay on the field for his challenge and the award a free rather than a penalty which Scullion pointed.

It would be Ballycran who would grab the initiative as the game edged into extra time with Conor Woods and the impressive Sheehan on target to see their side home by two points

Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Ciaran McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Sean Scullion, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Michael Furey, 8 Conal Ward, 9 Aidan Scullion, 10 Ryan McLoughlin, 11 Dylan McLaughlin, 12 Sean McDermott, 13 Niall Rodgers, 14 Ben O’Boyle, 15 Paddy McAuley

Ballycran: 16 Cathal Lavery, 2 Dominic McGrath, 3 Brad Watson, 4 Adam Rogan, 5 Manus Gilmore, 6 Michael Hughes, 7 Steven Gilliland, 9 Sean McCarthy, 10 Ethan Bell, 11 Conor Woods, 12 Paul Sheehan, 13 Dara Rogers, 28 Conor Dorrian, 15 Eoin Kelly

Subs: 19 Jake Miskimmin, 29 Paul Miskimmin

Referee: Lorenzo McMullan

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by thesaffrongael

Strong opening half puts Glenarm in pole position

ACHL Division 2

Ballycastle Reserves 3-13 Glenarm 2-19

 In the proverbial game of two halves visitors, Shane O’Neill’s did enough with the gale on their backs in the opening 30 minutes to earn victory over McQuillan’s second string in Ballycastle on Sunday.

A goal from Darren Hamill after 8 minutes and a scrambled effort from Patrick McAuley with 23 minutes gone paved the way for the Feystown side as they led 2-13 to 0-7 at the hallway stage.

They were forced to withstand a strong second half rally from their hosts who now had the wind in their sales but a goal from a James Bakewell penalty in injury time, which closed the gap to three, came too late to affect the result.

Darren Hamill and Niall McGarel led the way for the Glenarm men in the opening half with McGarel striking four of his side’s points and Hamill contributing a further six to add to his goal.

Ciaran Magill, Aidan Scullion and Ben O’Boyle added to the Glenarm half time total while Jack McGowan, James McShane, Callum Campbell, Sean O’Hare, Anthony Mullan and Tadh Donnelly were all on target for McQuillan’s.

With the wind now at their backs Ballycastle were expected to launch a comeback and they got off to a flying start when Callum Campbell pointed before Dermot Donnelly followed with a goal with only two minutes gone.

They failed initially to add to that bright opening however with Niall McGarel, Ben O’Boyle and Darren Hamill replying with points for Glenarm before a second goal for McQuillan’s from Gavin McToal in the 16th minute reignited their challenge.

Hamill replied with a Glenarm pointed free but Ballycastle were coming more and more into the game and James Bakewell, Gavin McToal, Callum Campbell and Bakewell with another massive point from distance eat further into the Glenarm lead.

Ben O’Boyle from play and Bakewell from a ‘65’ exchanged further points before Ruairi McShane in the ‘Castle’ goals pulled off a couple of smart saves as Glenarnm threatened on the break.

A Darren Hamill conversion into the breeze from a ‘65’ looked to have sealed it for the visitors as it moved his side six ahead with time almost up but the home side fought to the end and were rewarded with a late goal from the excellent Bakewell from the penalty spot.

It came too late to affect the final result however and it is Shane O’Neill’s who get their division 2 campaign up and running and will be well pleased with this win with a number of regulars missing from their line-up.                                                   

Ballycastle: 1 Ruairi McShane, 2 Oisin McAuley, 3 James Bakewell, 4 Conal Magee, 5 Jack McGowan, 6 Cormac Donnelly, 7 Oisin Donnelly, 8 Tadhg Donnelly, 9 Gavin McToal, 10 Fearghal McKiernan, 11 James McShane, 12 Callum Campbell, 13 Anthony Mullan, 14 Dermot Donnelly, 15 Cormac Dallas,  

Glenarm: 1 Niall Hamill, 2 Sean McDermott, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 John Scullion, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Ciaran Magill, 7 Michael Furey, 8 Conal Ward, 9 Aidan Scullion, 10 Ryan McLoughlin, 11 Niall McGarel, 12 Ben O’Boyle, 13 Sean O’Hare, 14 Darren Hamill, 15 Liam O’Neill, 17 Aidan O’Neill, 18 Patrick McAuley

Referee: Paul McSparran (Cushendun)

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