ACHL Division 2

Shane Uí Neills   2 – 15

   Carey                0 – 20

Report & Pics: Pete Hyndman

A really enjoyable game of hurling between two clubs at the mid to lower end of the table and for the supporters the admission fee was worth it to see a super hours hurling that had absolutely everything!! Hooks, blocks, some excellent score taking, and we’ll throw in some fantastic saves also.

Niall Mc Garel was in superb form for the hosts with his scoring accuracy from free’s and from open play while Carey’s James Black was a main threat for the visitors. 

James “Rocket” pointed early in the game before Niall McGarel slotted over a 40 yard free and another point a few moments later from Carey was also cancelled out as McGarel found space and pointed from distance.

Conall Mc Glynn drove over a free for the visitors before a quick response from Mc Garel hit a brace of points from two more free’s. The score’s were coming thick and fast in the early stages of this match, and a clearance out of defence was collected by young Antrim star Niall McGarel who pointed his fifth of the evening.

Connor McBride and James Black replied with a free each for the boys in green to level the game and at this stage there was little between the sides.

Mc Garel was a man on a mission and changed wings before he claimed the sliotar. He evaded a tackle and hit a brilliant effort over Christopher Butler’s bar and a few moments later he split the uprights again for a two point lead for Glenarm.

Darren Mc Gowan reduced the deficit with a nice score from the wing and Conall Mc Glynn levelled this game for a third time with a place ball effort. The boys from Ballyvoy had Callum Cane and Rocket to thank for the next couple of scores to gain a slender two point lead.

Glenarm’s keeper Michael “Dunga” Abram was called upon as a Carey player tested him from 20 yards, but Dunga pulled off an amazing diving save. As the ball was cleared up the pitch McGarel darted forward and shot goal-ward only for Chris Butler to parry the ball wide for a “65”, which was subsequently shot wide.

The Feystown boy’s tails where up after the previous passage of play when young John Scullion charged towards the Carey goals.  He was being fouled but the referee played advantage.

Scullion entered the box and drove the sliotar deep into the corner of Butler’s goals to the delight of the home crowd.

Glenarm had now gained the upper hand and added another brace of points before halftime with Ciaran Magill and Scullion adding a point to his previous goal.

HALFTIME     Shane Uí Neill  1 -09       Carey Faughs  0 -09

Ryan McQuaid pointed early in the second half to reduce the arrears to a couple of scores.

A few minutes later, with both defences working hard and keeping the early second half threats to a minimum the referee awarded the home side a penalty after an infringement on a Glenarm forward.

Up stepped Niall McGarel who took his time before lifting the sliotar on his stick and struck the ball sweetly beyond Chris Butler who could only parry the ball into his net.

Fiachra McVeigh rifled over a point for the visitors for their 11^th point of the evening but back came the versatile McGarel who added to his tally with a 60 yard free.

Tit for tat was the order of the day as Rocket pointed with team-mate Callum Cane getting his second point in this tight-match. 

Two needless fouls from the Ballyvoy boys resulted in McGarel sending over two more white flag efforts to move the home side five ahead and it was a further 8 minutes before Carey scored with Connor McBride slotted over a free.

Ciaran Magill then won a ball out of a ruck and shot high into the evening sky and dissected the uprights beautifully before Niall McGarel converted another free for the hosts.

Carey Faugh’s James Black responded with a nice effort from midfield and 

Connor McBride sent over back to back free’s eating into the Glenarm 3 point lead.

In the latter stage of the second half McGarel pointed again, before a late surge of points from Rocket, Callum Cane and McBride concluded this epic game with a 1 point win for Shane Uí Neills.

Shane Uí Neills: Michael Abram, Joshua Quinn, Barry Hamill, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Michael Fury, Darren Hamill, Kieran O Boyle, John Scullion, Ciaran Magill, Dylan Mc Laughlin, Sean O Boyle,  Conal Ward, Aidan Scullion, Blain Mc Dermott.

Gerard Burns for Conal Ward 55mins, Sean O Hare for Sean O Boyle 57mins.

Carey: Chris Butler, Zach Mc Caughan, Sean Mc Bride, Patrick Gillan, Somhairle Mathers, Peadar Mc Veigh, Conall Mc Glynn, Patrick Butler, James Black, Andrew Mc Garry, Connor Mc Bride, Darren Mc Gowan, Callum Cane, Fiachra Mc Veigh, Ryan Mc Quaid.

Eoin Mc Kinley for Ryan Mc Quaid.

REFEREE  Declan McGarry

ACHL Division 2

Tir na nOg 2-16 Kickham’s 3-11

Tir na nog, Randalstown withstood a late rally from neighbours, Kickham’s Creggan to take the points in a very competitive ACHL division 2 encounter at Whitehill on Wednesday night.

Little separated the sides over the hour but the home side looked to have sewn things up when they led by six with only minutes remaining.

A  Matthew Rogers point and a goal from Conor McCann, when he drove a 20 meter free through a crowded goalmouth reduced the gap to two and the Whitehill side were forced to endure a few more anxious moments before referee, Barry Winters blew for full-time.

In a game played at real championship intensity it was Colm Duffin who edged Tir na nog into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after being sent through by Emmet Murray.

The referee barely had time to record the score when Matthew Rodgers raced clear at the other end to tie the scoring and then Conor Small got a delicate touch to a Teddy McKeown delivery to redirect the sliotar past Kevin Sheerin and give the visitors the lead.

It was end to end stuff with Sean Duffin hitting a number of fine points for the Randalstown side and when a speculative delivery from Darragh Fagan went all the way to the Creggan net in the 19^th minute the sides were level again.

A pointed Ciaran Logan free and 2 more from the excellent Sean Duffin edged the Whitehill men three ahead but Creggan replied through a Morgan Nelson free and a great point from play to leave just one between the sides.

Sean Duffin for Tir na nOg and his namesake, Sean Duffin for the Kickham’s exchanged late points to leave the home side leading by the minimum as Barry Winters sounded his whistle for half time.

Morgan Nelson brought it all square again from a Creggan free in the third minute of the new half but Tir na nOg replied with three on the bounce from Ciaran Logan 0-2 and a superb effort from Colm Duffin to lead by three with 9 minutes gone.

Kickham’s replied through a Morgan Nelson free but the momentum was very much with the home side at this stage and Tairnan Bonnes, Colm Duffin, Emmet Murray and Sean Duffin put them six in front by the 22nd minute and it looked as good as over.

The visitors were still giving it everything however and Matthew Rodgers pointed before Conor McCann drilled a close range free to the Tir na nOg net to put his side right back into contention.

A minute earlier the same player saw his attempt from a free come back of an upright and with the home support baying for full-time the home defence stood firm to withstand a late onslaught and claim the points.

A very entertaining and competitive game of hurling and over the hour Tir na nOg did just enough to deserve the victory but their opponents kept battling to the end and on another day might have had something for their efforts.

Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Dylan McLarnon, 3 Ciaran O’Neill, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Caoimhin Duffin, 6 Sean Duffin, 7 Sean McKinley, 8 Brandon McLarnon, 9 Connor McCamphill, 10 Ciaran Logan, 11 Colm Duffin, 12 Joshua Higgins, 13 Tairnan Bonnes, 14 Emmet Murray, 15 Darragh Fagan.

Subs: Oliver mcAtamney for Bonnes, Declan Mallon forLogan, Neil Shannon for Fagan, Brian Fitzgerald

Kickham’s: 1 Shea Devlin, 2 Dylan Hinfey, 3 Jake McAteer, 4 Peadar McGuckian, 5 Senan O’Boyle, 6 Kealan McCann, 7 Aiden McKeown, 8 Dan Doran, 9 Ruairi McCann, 10 Matthew Rodgers, 11 Morgan Nelson, 22 Sean Duffin, 13 Conor Small, 14 Conor McCann, 15 Sean McAuley.

Subs: Oran McCann, Conor Loughran, Ronan mcGuckian

Referee: Barry Winters

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

https://myalbum.com/album/vejpauvBFyEPmD

ACHL Division 2

Bredagh          4-22

Shane UÍ Neill    2-09

A sun drenched Cherryvale was the venue today for this middle of the table clash between Bredagh and Shane O’Neill’s, both teams fielding without a few regulars, with the Feystown club the worst affected.

The visitors took the lead through an early free in the first minute by  Ciaran Magill but Bredagh hit back with Blaney slotting over a free, closely followed by another from Kennedy pointing from play.

Ciaran Magill pointed a second free for Glenarm before another brace of points from Hanrahan and Blaney edged the Cherryvale side further ahead but

Dylan McLaughlin cut in from the wing before striking over from a narrow angle.

In the 9th minute Bredagh hit a purple patch with points from Hughes, Hanrahan and O’Neill giving them a 4 point lead and their slick movement and inter-play was starting to cause problems for the visitors.

The home side went further ahead when a clearance from defence was intercepted by Kennedy who rode a tackle and sent the ball to the corner of Glenarm’s net.

It was the 16^th minute before Glenarm hit their first point from play as Ciaran Magill fired over from 40 yards but it brought an instant response from the hosts with McCollum sending the sliotar beyond Michael Abram for a second Bredagh goal.

The South Belfast side were showing no mercy and Lavery found some open space and split the uprights before Magill for Glenarm got his fourth point from a converted free.

The men in maroon were calling the shots as they pressed again and Christie drove over a “65”, before a midfield strike from Hanrahan concluded the first half scoring to leave them 10 clear at the break.

HALF TIME Bredagh 2-10  Shane Uí Neill 0-06

Glenarm threatened a comeback at the start of the second half and Declan McDermott got an early point but back came Bredagh with Christie slotting over.

The visitors were pressing hard in the early stages and their best player, Dylan McLaughlin found space and fired the sliotar to the net and the same player added a point from distance. 

A few moments later McLaughlin added another after receiving the ball from a short free and at this stage the visitors were showing glimpses of what they are capable off.

Bredagh soon recovered from the early scoring spree however to again assume control with points from Hanrahan, substitute Sean Hughes, Christie and a nice effort from C Hughes.

Glenarm made a couple of changes at this stage but the scoring continued by the hosts as Sean Hughes and Hanrahan added to their tallies.

Sean Hughes was finding loads of space and picked another passage through the Glenarm defence and sent the sliotar to the net for Bredaghs 3^rd goal and even at this stage it was as good as over.

The visitors kept battling against the odds and their persistence paid off in the 53rd minute when Blaine McDermott pulled with one hand, sending the ball beyond Bredagh keeper, Galway.

Bredagh’s response was immediate as they replied with four unanswered points and Sean Hughes struck a nice point from distance before a high ball into the Glenarm box was stroked to their net by Kennedy for the final action of the afternoon.      

Bredagh: 1. I Galway 2. E. Curran 3. M. Woods 4. E. Brown 5 O. McFlynn, 

6. P. McGarry 7. O Morgan Little 8. M. Lavery 9. C.Hughes 10. B .Christie 

11. J. Hanrahan 12. C. O’Neill 13. F. Blaney 14. E. Kennedy 

15. S.McCollum 

Subs 

Sean Hughes for Conor ONeill 

Tom Dougan for Finbarr Blaney 

Tiarnan Sheehan for Sean McCollum 

Evin Maguire for Odhran Morgan Lyttle 

Cormac Blaney for Cormac Hughes 

Glenarm: 1 M Abram, 2 J Quinn, 3 B Hamill, 4 C McLoughlin, 5 J Scullion, 6 D Hamill, 7 B O’Boyle, 8 K O’Boyle, 9 C Magill, 10 S O’Boyle, 11 D McLaughlin, 12 M Furey, 13 B McDermott, 14 D McDermott, 15 R Mulvenna

Subs:  Gerard Burns for Rory Mulvenna, Sean O Hare for Declan Mc Dermott, Conal Ward for Dylan McLaughlin.

Referee: Ray Matthews

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

https://myalbum.com/album/m6kSSV6ts2MRgP

Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Glenariffe 3-23 Bredagh 4 -17

Sun 11 May 2025

In near perfect conditions for hurling Glenariffe and Bredagh both fielded with a number of regulars missing but still produced a very entertaining game which was in the balance right to the end.

Both teams started brightly and matched each other score for score. Glenariffe opening up with points from Seanie McIntosh and Aaron Cosgrove, but were pegged backed by the hard working Bredagh team with points from Joe Hanrahan and John Dougan. Glenariffe then opened up a gap when Oliver Kearney scored a goal and a point within 60 seconds but once again Bredagh fought their way back into the game with a well worked goal of their own from Ben Christie. Glenariffe who were playing against the breeze in the first half kept their noses in front with scores from Seanie McIntosh, Calum McIlwaine and Brogan O’Connor but they couldn’t shake off Bredagh who where able to pick off scores from Sean McCollum and Ben Christie. Glenariffe where then guilty of a number of wides before Aaron Cosgrove got their second goal of the game to ease the pressure. However we didn’t have to wait long before Bredagh hit back with their second goal from Joe Hanrahan. Both sides traded points for the remainder of the half, Glenariffe’s scores coming from three Seanie McIntosh’s frees and points from play from Odhran Gillan and Brogan O’Connor, to go in at halftime with Glenariffe a point up on 2-12 to 2-11.

Glenariffe started the second half well with scores from play from Seanie McIntosh, Brogan O’Connor and Niall Murray but they continued to miss a number of opportunities which helped to keep Bredagh in the game, with their scores coming from John Dougan and Ben Christie. Glenariffe were now beginning to get on top and using the ball better out of defence, and when Oliver Kearney got his second goal of the game you thought they would push on from there. But once again Bredagh came back with their own points and then they were awarded a penalty which was well placed, by John Dougan, in the corner past Seanan McToal, who lined out in goals for the second half. It was now game on again, but Glenariffe responded really well to push on and have their best spell in the game with some great scores. Aaron Cosgrove replied for Glenariffe followed by an Orrin O’Connor point, who had now taken over the free taking duties. Oliver Kearney took his tally to 2-3 for the day with another good point, before his cousin Calum McIlwaine hit two good points in a row to push the gap out to 5 points. Seanie McIntosh who started the second period with a point for Glenariffe got their final point of the half to bring his total to 0-7. That should have been game over at this stage but Bredagh got a consolation goal at the end to finish the game on a scoreline of Glenariffe 3-23 to Bredagh 4-17.

Both team will be pleased with their performances as they were both missing a number of regulars. Glenariffe stay top of the league and remain unbeaten with 6 wins from 6, and Bredagh are a much better team than their league position would suggest and will be a real handful when at full strength.

Glenariffe – P McMullan, P McIlwaine, M Haughey, C Devlin, B O’Connor(0-2), N Magee, C Graham, O Gillan(0-1), C McIlwaine(0-3), O Kearney(2-3), N Murray(0-2), D Kearney, A Cosgrove(1-2), S McIntosh(0-7, 3 frees), O O’Connor(0-3, 2 frees). Subs used – S McToal for P McMullan, R leech for O Gillan.

Bredagh – I Galway, E Browne, M Woods, L Hogan, E Maguire, O McFlynn, E Curran, M Lavery(1-1), T Sheehan, O Morgan Lyttle, J Hanrahan(1-1), J Dougan(1-6, 1 penalty, 4 frees), S McCollam(0-2), B Christie(1-3), F Blaney(0-1). Subs used – C O’Neill for L Hogan, S Hughes for T Sheehan, M Corry for J Hanrahan.

Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Cushendun 0-27 Sarsfields 0-22

Cushendun moved up to fourth in Division 2 of the Antrim Hurling League when they beat Sarsfields in Sunday’s game at CushLig an Airgid. In a high scoring game the home side led by 0-14 to 0-10 going into injury time but three late points by the Paddies but the deficit to a single point at the break. Cushendun regained the upper hand during the second period but they were never really comfortable, and it took two late scores from the home side to put them five clear at the end.

Mark McSparran got the home side on the scoreboard inside the opening minute, but three in a row from the ever accurate Donal McKernan put the Paddies two clear by the sixth minute. Tom Scally brought the gap back to a point before two from Conor McHugh and one by ‘Loaf’ McNeill moved the home team two ahead.  

Another pointed free by Donal McKernan and two from play by Enda McCartan brought Sarsfields level by the 13^th minute, and though Loaf McNeill edged the home side ahead again, McKernan and McCartan replied with points to give the Paddies back the lead. Five points on the trot from Loaf McNeill, Jack McKay, Aidan Corbett, Andrew Breslin and Conor McHugh gave Cushendun a bit of a cushion as half time approached but the Paddies finished the half strongly and two injury time points from Donal McKernan and one from Oisin Coleman left them just one in arrears by the time match referee Mark O’Neill sounded the half-time whistle.

Kilgore, McHugh, McNeill and O’Hara hit four of the first five points of the second half, the other one coming from Coleman for the visitors, and the gap was out to four.

McKernan, McCartan and Coleman closed the gap with well taken points, but the home team hit the next five to give themselves a five point cushion. They held that five point lead with just a minute of normal time to play, when Sarsfields closed to within one score with points from Daniel Smith and Caolan McKernan but the home team sealed the win with late points from Conor McHugh and Conrad McDonnell to win by five in the end.  

TO SEE MORE OF MICKY MORGAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/ZbgNYHYSsiGuvE/?invite=517e5bf0-f953-4189-9b58-e984fdfa9383