ACHL Division 3

Glen Rovers Armoy 1-23 — 2-17 St. Mary’s Rasharkin

Glen Rovers Armoy secured their spot in the top half of the league table before the split after emerging victorious from a phenomenal, high-scoring ACHL Division 3 thriller against St. Mary’s Rasharkin. In a match defined by relentless attacking quality, tactical discipline, and a masterclass in long-range point-taking, Armoy’s late composure proved just enough to edge a resilient Rasharkin side by three points.

The battle lines were drawn from the first whistle as Armoy enjoyed a blistering start, racing into a four-point lead within the opening two minutes. Tommy Burns, Emmet O’Hara, Trevor Linton, and Liam O’Hara all raised white flags in a devastating opening salvo. Rasharkin refused to be rattled, slowly growing into the game. Points from James Higgins, Tiernan O’Boyle, and Donagh Quigg, followed by a well-taken effort from Conan McMullan, drew the side’s level at four points apiece after eight minutes.

The remainder of the opening period evolved into a high-octane, point-for-point shootout. Trevor Linton and Emmet O’Hara struck fine scores for Armoy, but they were matched instantly by Rasharkin’s John Kelly and Conan McMullan. Armoy’s Turlough McBride hit his first of the afternoon, only for Donagh Quigg to respond with a point from play and a beautifully struck free, pushing Rasharkin into a 0-09 to 0-07 lead. McBride and Emmet O’Hara continued to spearhead the Armoy resistance, trading scores with Quigg and Conor McKillop to leave Rasharkin leading 0-11 to 0-10 by the 26th minute.

Armoy then found another gear as Conor Christie and Marcas Christie clipped over consecutive points to edge their side ahead. Rasharkin answered immediately when Conan McMullan pointed, before Donagh Quigg produced a moment of magic, racing through the heart of the defence to bury a brilliant goal. McBride responded with an Armoy point, and though Quigg hit back with another score for Rasharkin, the final major say of the half belonged to Armoy. In the 32nd minute, Trevor Linton found space and rifled a crucial goal past the Rasharkin keeper, ensuring Armoy retreated to the dressing rooms with a razor-thin 1-13 to 1-12 advantage.

The second half began at the same frantic tempo. Donagh Quigg split the posts early to level it for Rasharkin, but Armoy hit back with a point from Marcas Christie and a superb long-range free from Turlough McBride. Jack Quinn responded with a fine point for Rasharkin, but a PJ McBride score kept Armoy ahead, 1-16 to 1-14. Quigg then landed a spectacular 70-meter free for Rasharkin, only for Armoy to reply through Ciaran McKenna and another McBride point, leaving it 1-18 to 1-15 after ten minutes of the restart.

Rasharkin struck a massive blow soon after when Conan McMullan found the back of the net to level the game at 1-18 to 2-15, setting up a grandstand finish. The teams traded heavy blows in the closing stages; Tommy Burns put Armoy ahead, but Quigg hit back with a free. Trevor Linton and Quigg swapped points once more before Armoy’s superior finishing began to tell.

In a frantic final few minutes, Emmet O’Hara and Trevor Linton fired over consecutive points from play to give Armoy a vital cushion. With the clock hitting the 29th minute, Turlough McBride showed nerves of steel to slot over a long-range free, putting the game out of reach and good an exceptional 1-23 to 2-17 win for the home side.

Glen Rovers Armoy:  1 Conor Waterson, 2 Colm Mort, 3 Liam Dillon, 4 Timmothy Burns, 5 Kieran McToal, 6 Conor Christie, 7 Ciaran McKenna, 8 PJ McBride, 9 Tarlach McBride, 10 Emmet O’Hara, 11 Ciaran Coyles, 12 Tommy Burns, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Liam O’Hara, 15  Marcas Christie,

St. Mary’s Rasharkin: Liam Tunney, Daniel Hasson, Conor Doherty, Aidan McKeever, Jason McGregor, Tiernan O’Boyle, Connaire Doherty, Aidan McKeever, James Higgins, Donagh Quigg, Conan McMullan, Jack Quinn, John Kelly, Thomas McMullan, Conor McKillop,

Subs: Conor McKeever

Referee: Paul McSparran (Cushendun)

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

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ACHL Division 3

Armoy 3-24 St. Brigid’s 2-17

When Naomh Brid headed to the dressing room at half time, trailing by only three points but with the stiff breeze to come on their backs for the second half they must have fancied their chances of causing an upset.

Their opponents Glen Rovers, Armoy had other ideas however and in a blistering opening to the second half Thomas Burns pointed, Owen Kinney fired home their second goal and Emmet O’Hara and Trevor Linton added further points.

Kinney added the Glen Rovers second goal before free taker James Kelly finally got the visitors opening point in the 7^th minute but by that stage Armoy were 11 clear and it was going to take something special to turn this one around.

It was Trevor Linton who led the Armoy charge during the opening period as he fired over three points to add to an opening score from Kieran McToal and another from PJ McBride had the hosts 0-5 to 0-2 ahead after a lively opening 7 minutes with the Naomh Brid points both coming from James Kelly frees.

James Kelly who gave a fine exhibition of free taking for Naomh Brid and (Above-featured image) Trevor Linton who was in devastating form for Glen Rovers

The visitors suffered a bad blow when their keeper, Matthew Madden was injured in a collision with Trevor Linton as the Armoy striker chased a dropping ball and flicked over the Naomh Brid keeper’s head at the expense of a goal.

Madden had to be stretchered off after receiving medical treatment with John McGuckian taking over between the sticks and Chris Lundy entering the action, requiring a reshuffle in the Brid’s defence.

After a long stoppage the action got underway again with Linton pointing a 16^th minute free before ace free taker, James Kelly raided the visitor’s third white flag.

Naomh Brid had been second best for nearly all of the opening exchanges but slowly they began to get to grips with McGuckian finding players from his puck outs and a great end to end move saw David Prenter fire to the net in the 23d minute.

As the game moved into an extensive period of first half injury time, Brian McGurk added a second for the Musgrave Park side to close the gap to the minimum with Emmet O’Hara, Eamonn McCaughan and Trevor Linton for Armoy and McGurk for St. Brigid’s exchanging late points to leave it 1-13 to 2-7 for the men from the Glen as Ryan O’Reilly sounded his half time whistle.

Those hopes of a second half comeback for the visitors were quickly dashed in a whirlwind opening period by the home side as they added 2-3 without reply and it was a period that Naomh Brid never recovered from despite another exhibition of free taking from James Kelly for the visitors.

Armoy goal scorer, Owen Kinney is challenged by Jack Pardy

Almost single handed, Kelly would keep the scoreboard ticking for St. Brigid’s from a series of frees and a couple of excellent points from play while Phelim Lennon was also on target but the damage was already done.

Trevor Linton, who was excellent throughout continued to find the target and Tarlach McBride concluded the evenings action from his second long range free of the half to give Glen Rovers what was a comfortable victory in the end.

Armoy: 1 Conor Watterson, 2 Callum Mort, 3 Liam Dillon, 4 Joseph McFetridge, Timothy Burns 6 Tarlach McBride, 7 Kieran McToal, 8 PJ McBride, 9 Conor Christie, 10 Thomas Burns, 11 Eamonn McCaughan, 12 Emmet O’Hara, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Owen Kinney, 15 Liam O’Hara

Subs: 19 Callum Coyles

Naomh Brid: 1 Matthew Madden, 2 Ronan O’Loughlin, 3 John McGuckian, 4 James Massingham, 5 Jack Pardy, 6 Phelim Lennon, 7 Dara Sidebottom, 8 Cathal Conway, 9 Joseph McCarney, 10 James Bready, 11 Brian McGurk, 12 James Kelly, 13 David Prenter, 14 Conor Leonard, 15 Oisin McDonnell

Subs: 17 Chris Lundy, 19 James McCarney, 20 Pearse Hamill

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Glenravel)

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

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ACHL Division 3

St. Mary’s Rasharkin 2-11 Lamh Dhearg 1-10

St. Mary’s Rasharkin claimed the points in a keenly contested division 3 clash at Dreen against Lamh Dhearg on Sunday to keep themselves in touch with the leaders in division 3.

In a low scoring first half the home side led 1-4 to 0-4 at the break with the scoring improving for both sides after the interval as Rasharkin held on for a useful four point victory.

It was Rasharkin who got off to the better start with Thomas McMullan firing to the net for the game’s opening score in the 8^th minute with Conan McMullan moving them four ahead with a point in the 10^th minute.

The scoring dried up for a time with the mid-field exchanges and indeed the general play scrappy at times and it would be another 13 minutes before Conan McMullan sent over his second point of the evening as the visitors struggled to find a score.

25 minutes had elapsed before Adam Murray finally got the Hannastown side off the mark but a minute later Donagh Quigg restored the home side’s four point advantage.

The visitors did finally find their range in the run up to half time with three points, the best of these coming from Donal Martin with Conor McKeever replying for Rasharkin to leave his side 1-4 to 0-4 ahead at the break and all still to play for in the second half.

A point from Padraig Mervyn for the visitors in the opening stages of the second half had it back to 2 as the Hannastown side opened brightly but it brought a strong response from St. Mary’s as Conor McKeever pointed a free before Thomas McMullan found the net for his and Rasharkin’s second goal with 6 minutes of the new half gone.

Conor McConville for Lamh Dhearg and Thomas McMullan exchanged points but the visitors were starting to enjoy some success and Padraig Mervyn and Donal Martin pointed and then got through for a Lamh Dhearg goal with Conor McKeever interrupting those scores with a point for the hosts.

McKeever then pointed a free but it was to be his last action of the evening as he was given his marching orders following a second Yellow and Lamh Dhearg continued to push forward with Donal Martin again on target to close the gap to two with time almost up.

St. Mary’s looked in a bit of trouble but regrouped to finish strongly and Tiernan O’Boyle pointed a free before Donagh Quigg sent over the insurance point in injury time to give his side the points.

A good win for St. Mary’s Rasharkin which brings them level with Lamh Dhearg on 8 points but the Dreen side have 2 games in hand on the Hannastown side with Cuchullain’s Dunloy and Gort na Mona also on 8 in a tight division.

Rasharkin: 1 Brendan Kelly, 2 Conor Doherty, 3 Aidan McKeever, 4 Daniel Hasson, 5 Jason McGregor, 6 Tiernan O’Boyle, 7 Conor Donaghy, 8 Ruairi O’Boyle, 9 Conor McFerran, 10 Conor McKeever, 11 Conan McMullan, 12 James Higgins, 13 Donagh Quigg, 14 Thomas McMullan, 15 Oisin Doherty

Subs Used: Cathal Darragh, Jack Quinn, Liam Tunney

Lamh Dhearg: 1 Padraig Jo’hEarain, 2 Aaron Ferris, 3 Aidan McGuigan, 4 Fiachra Clenaghan, 5 Odhran Waldron, 6 Fionn Mervyn, 7 Dan Murray, 8 Ciaran Boyd, 9 Sean Paul Gibson, 10 Mark Finnegan, 11 Conor McConville, 12 Daniel Mulholland, 13 Padraig Mervyn, 14 Adam Murray, 15 Donal Martin, 16 Shane Gray, 17 Michael McGarry, 18 Conal Megraw,

Referee: John O’Connor   

Antrim Hurling League – Division 3

Naomh Bríd 3-22 Gort na Móna 4-15

St Brigid’s made history with back-to-back wins in Division 3 for the first time, coming out on top after a thrilling contest with Gort na Móna.

Early scores from Toirealach Brolly, James Kelly and Oisín McDonnell got the Biddies off to a strong start, but Gort na Móna responded through Patrick McCaffrey, whose well-taken goal helped the Turf Lodge men edge ahead in a frantic opening spell.

Naomh Bríd battled superbly in the first half. McDonnell forced a turnover before feeding David Prenter, with the ball eventually breaking to full-forward Conor Leonard, who made no mistake as he drilled a low finish into the bottom corner for his first goal of the afternoon. Brolly then added another excellent point from distance to keep the South Belfast side moving.

Gort na Móna hit back through Darren Boyd, who landed three points in succession, but James Kelly’s accuracy from placed balls ensured St Brigid’s stayed in touch. Just before the break, captain Phelim Lennon launched a dangerous ball into the forward line, where Leonard showed great instinct to gather, follow his own touch and unleash a brilliant strike into the bottom corner.

Half-time: Naomh Bríd 2-13 Gort na Móna 3-07

Gort na Móna began the second half strongly, with the McCaffrey brothers again proving influential. However, their momentum was halted when the Gorts were reduced to 14 men following a second yellow card.

St Brigid’s lifted the tempo. Dara Sidebottom picked out McDonnell with a diagonal ball, and he pointed from close range, before Jake Massingham produced a brilliant 80-metre solo run to set up the ever-reliable James Kelly for another score.

Gort na Móna refused to go away, with Thomas McCaffrey finding Patrick McCaffrey, who pointed from close range to leave the sides level with five minutes remaining. McDonnell was then dragged down just outside the penalty area, and Kelly held his nerve to convert the resulting free and edge the South Belfast side ahead.

Gort were then reduced to 13 men after a second player received a red card and with time almost up, David Prenter’s handpass found Leonard, who looked set to complete his hat-trick, only for John Carlin to arrive at the perfect moment and tap home the decisive goal.

It was a superb team performance and a historic day for Naomh Bríd, who secured their second Division 3 win in a row for the first time.

Antrim Hurling League – Division 3

St Brigid’s 4-15 Con Magees 0-20

Naomh Bríd secured their first win of the league campaign with a commanding performance against reigning Antrim Junior Hurling champions Glenravel at Musgrave Park on Sunday

The home side made a bright start, with Brian McGurk and James Kelly setting the tone early on by registering some excellent points. Naomh Bríd’s attacking intent paid off when David Prenter delivered a superb ball across goal to Cathal Conway, who finished emphatically at the back post for his first goal of the game.

Naomh Bríd continued to apply pressure throughout the opening half, and just before the interval, Conn Flannery showed great awareness to intercept a stray Glenravel pass and split the posts, extending the advantage.

Naomh Bríd 2-8 Glenravel 0-8

Glenravel responded well after the break, with Conleth O’Loan striking three points in succession to reduce the deficit. However, James Kelly proved vital for Naomh Bríd, maintaining their momentum with a series of accurate scores from placed balls.

A key moment came with the introduction of Fionn McCann, who made an immediate impact by turning over possession deep in the Glenravel defence. The ball broke to David Prenter, who made no mistake in finding the net to give Naomh Bríd further breathing room.

Glenravel pushed hard in the closing stages and were awarded a penalty with just two minutes remaining, but their effort sailed over the bar, summing up a frustrating day in front of goal.