ACHL Division 3 

Lámh Dhearg 2-17-0-11 Gort na Mona 

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown 

Lámh Dhearg claimed their first league win of the campaign with a 2-17-0-11 win over Gort na Mona at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening. 

Both sides lost their opening encounters at the weekend and would have been desperate to get up and running with two points at the first opportunity. 

It was Gort na Mona who edged ahead early on through a Neil Henry free, though Daniel Murray levelled at the other end. 

A chop down on the stick of Emmet Loughran led to David Dixon restoring his sides lead from the placed ball. 

Adam Murray would tie things up for a second time from the same scenario after Gerard Smyth was illegally upheld. 

The hosts hit the front when Niall McGarry picked out Michael McGuigan for a point, but Dixon landed his second free of the evening to make it 0-03 apiece. 

Gerard Smyth immediately restored the Lámhs lead, getting on the end of a long puck-out from Rhys Camlin and measuring his shot to perfection. 

A further free from Adam Murray doubled his sides advantage with Dixon reducing arrears to from his third placed ball of the half. 

Lámhs talisman Murray brought his personal tally to 0-04, converting a 65’ and his third free of the half, in between a fantastic long-range point from Emmet Loughran that was the Gort’s first from play and left the score 0-07-0-05 at the interval. 

The hosts extended their lead after the break with Murray adding to his increasing tally of and Michael McGuigan doubling his account after Donal Martin’s shot was smuggled clear and Murray turned provider. 

David Dixon hit back with his fourth converted free and Adam Murray replied with a nice conversion from a tight angle. Points from Ciaran Boyd and a first from play for Murray had their side 0-12-0-06 ahead. 

Although Manus MacMaoliain replied for the Gorts, the gap stretched to back to six on three further occasions. 

Adam Murray conjured up his second score from play following a neat move involving Niall McGarry and further scores followed through Daire Cunningham and Odrán Waldron (free) and Neil Henry (free) and Emmet Loughran had temporarily cut the gap. 

Lámh Dhearg wrapped up the points with 2-02 late on, Daniel Murray popped over his second point of the evening and Gerard Smyth netted a brace in the space of two minutes. 

The first after Michael McGuigan’s shot dropped short and Smyth’s initial effort was kept at bay by John Kelly, the full forward followed up with success. 

Smyth then got on the end of a delightful cross field pass from Joel Brady and squeezed a further effort beyond the reach of Kelly and into the net to make it 2-16-0-09. 

There was still time in the aftermath for Adam Murray to swing over his ninth of the evening for the host’s final score. 

Gort na Mona finished with the last two scores through a Neil Henry 65’ and a converted free from substitute Ryan Cahill- though the final outcome was settled well beyond the replies as Lámh Dhearg claimed the spoils.

Lámh Dhearg: R Camlin, C Nolan, C Boyd (0-01), T McKenna, SP Gibson, O Waldron (0-01f), D Murray (0-02), E Stanley, J Brady, D Martin, A Murray (0-09, 0-05f, 0-01 65’), N McGarry, M McGuigan (0-02), G Smyth (2-01), C McGuigan. Subs: D Cunningham (0-01) for C McGuigan (21), A McCauge for N McGarry (59). 

Gort na Mona: J Kelly, C Healy, C Devlin, L Dixon, N McGivern, N Gibson, A Hicks, J Connolly, N Henry (0-03, 0-02f, 0-01 65’), G Doyle, G McKenna, E Loughran (0-02), D Dixon (0-04f), M Carlin, M MacMaolain (0-01). Subs: R Cahill (0-01f) for M Carlin (36), T O’Cadhlaigh for G Doyle (60), C Scullion for N McGivern (60). 

Referee: Mark McDonald (St Galls)

Antrim Hurling League Division 3

All Saints Ballymena 0-12  Glenravel Con Magees1-13

Four points separated these teams at the end of a hard fought game on a heavy sod in Quinn Park under floodlights. Heavy rain all week meant free flowing hurling was in short supply as both teams tried their heart out on a turf that in horse racing parlance was “soft to medium”. It was a night for free takers and both teams can lay claim to having experts in that department with Ciaran Neeson for the home side and Ciaran Laverty for the visitors providing half of their team’s scores from placed balls. 

The wind went from significant to non existent on several occasions during the match probably confusing both teams equally. Glenravel played into it in the first half and with eight wides and four shots falling short into the keeper’s hands they would have been happy enough to go in at half time all square 0-06 to 1-03. Ciaran Laverty hammering home the Glenravel goal from short range. In that first half Ballymena dominated possession with full forward Ciaran Neeson ably assisted by Damian Gillan and Liam Cassley on the half forward line giving Con Magees plenty to think about. That trio would deliver nine of the dozen points All Saints amassed over the hour. 

Two resurgent teams appeared in the second half with both recording a brace of points each before the half was three minutes old. But Glenravel started to edge in front by a few points and were playing the better hurling at this stage. The Ciaran’s, Laverty and Neeson were putting frees over like it was  the shoot out at the O. K. Corral but try as they might the home side could not close the gap. As the clock strode towards thirty minutes Glenravel had a three point lead forcing All Saints to go for goal but the Green & White rearguard held out. The final counter attack of the evening saw Conleth O’Loan stretch Glenravel’s lead to four points and effectively kill off the game. 

Both teams would have gone into this game with high expectations, buoyed by first round victories at the weekend in Division 3 and Ballymena will definitely think back on a first half dominance which they should have benefitted better from on the scoreboard. They now have a tough encounter next time out away to Cloughmills whilst Glenravel will entertain Lamh Dearg at Maginn Park. Both games throw in at 2pm next Sunday. 

Special mention to All Saint’s Luke O’Rawe who gave a masterclass in sideline cuts over the hour. Despite difficult underfoot conditions O’Rawe’s  artistry in this most difficult skill, made more so by the heavy underfoot sod was a highlight for spectators from both sides. 

Achl Division 3

Gort na Mona 2-5 All Saints 2-11

All Saints made their division 3 debut in style on Sunday when they travelled to Enright Park and recorded a six point win over a Gort na Mona side who never quite got to grips with the speed and movement of Dorny’s men.

The Ballymena side took the game to the opposition right from the start with Ciaran Neeson leading the way with some fine points and Jack Magill and Cormac Magill causing problems for the Gort na Mona defence and at half time they held a 1-4 to 0-4 lead and it looked like anybody’s game.

The visitors had the scent of victory in their nostrils however and the prize of a league opening victory in the higher division seemed to spur them on in the second half and despite conceding two second half goals, they always had enough in the tank to see them home.

A brilliant start for All Saints under the management of former Cushendun and St. Gall’s manager, Chris Dornan they look capable of consolidating their position in division 3 this sason and Dorny will certainly have been pleased by his side’s opening day performance.

All Saints: 1 Ciaran Cassley 2 Dwayne McKee 3 Colum Neeson 4 Kevin Brady 5 Cathair Cunning 6 Luke O’Rawe 7 Daniel Gray 8 Padhraig Magill 9 Conor Matthew’s 10 Damian Gillan 11 Jack Magill 12 Liam Cassley 13 Eoin McGuigan 14 Ciaran Neeson 15 Cormac Magill

Subs: PJ O’Kane, Conrad Duffin for Jack Magill, Diarmaid Casey for Vinnie Esler, Daire Hasson for Cormac Lemon, Sean O’Rawe, Daniel McCoy

Scorers: Ciaran Neeson 1-9 Jack Magill 0-1 Conor Matthew’s 0-1 Cormac Magill 1-0

Antrim Hurling League – Division 3

Glenravel 3-19    Na Magha 2-16

Con Magees Glenravel came out on top on a high scoring, open game of hurling between two very evenly matched teams. The mid-week rain had made Maginn Park soft underfoot and the heavy sod certainly didn’t facilitate fast flowing hurling but both teams served up a fine display of our national game nonetheless. Both teams ended up with total of eight different scorers on the day but two individuals in particular kept the scoreboard men busy. Ciaran Laverty of the home team contributed 1-08 over the hour but the visitor’s Deaglan Foley was probably the best hurler on show and his 1-10 kept the Derry men in the game  and had he been a little bit luckier with some late frees when they were chasing goals the outcome could have been a lot different. 

Glenravel opened the scoring when captain Declan Traynor pointed in the opening minute but three points in succession from the opposition would put Na Magha into a two point lead; Foley and Tómas Gallagher the providers. The home team then started to get on top with an excellent performance from James Duffin at centre half forward providing the pivot for the next six scores; five points and scrambled goal from short range by Sean McKay. Ciaran Laverty and James Duffin would continue to exchange score with Deaglan Foley and the very impressive Keelan Doherty at full forward for Na Magha to leave just a goal in it at half time with Con Magees ahead 1-10 to 0-10.

The second half continued to be a ding dong battle with Foley again dominant in open play and on the scoresheet. Ciaran Laverty extended Glenravel’s lead and when Conleth O’Loan, James Duffin and Ciaran McIlfatrick put over three points in succession it looked ominous for the visitors. With twelve minutes of the half gone, Glenravel’s full forward Shane Woulahan goaled and it looked like the home side would romp to victory. But Deaglan Foley had other ideas and his excellent pointed free was followed by a goal from a thirty yard free and suddenly the visitors were back in the game. Both teams went on to exchange points before Ciaran Laverty goaled for Glenravel and again it looked like a home victory. But one minute later Na Magha would scramble home a goal of their own – they just wouldn’t lie down and in the final five minutes of the game Foley shifted to full forward in search of another major but it wasn’t to be and Glenravel went on to add a couple of points – most notably from young Cormac McKeown who slotted over the score off the day on his first appearance at senior level in the Green and White. Surely a lot more to come from this young man in the years ahead. Na Magha’s Foley and Doherty would record the game’s final two scores but it wasn’t enough as Glenravel ran out victorious on a five point margin. 

Both teams are out again on Wednesday night when Na Magha entertain Cloughmills at home and Glenravel make the short journey to neighbours Ballymena, both games throwing in at 6:30pm.

ACHL Division 3

Rasharkin  1-16 ConMagee’s  2-17

Goals from former All Ireland winning star defender Martin Scullion in the 7^th minute of the first half and another from the same player in the 13^th minute of the second proved the difference as Con Magee’s Glenravel edged out St. Mary’s Rasharkin in a tight contest at Dreen on Sunday.

The sides were level at three points each after five minutes with Conor McKeever, Donagh Quigg and Eamon McNeill on target for Rasharkin and Niall Donnelly, Michael McDonnell and Declan Traynor replying for the visitors, Traynor’s point the pick of the bunch from a sideline cut.

Conor McKillop edged Rasharkin ahead before Scullion struck with the game’s opening goal for the Glen’s men but Rasharkin came back with points from Cormac Gaston and Conor McKeever to draw level again by the 13^th minute.

Scullion and Conleth O’Loan for the Con Magee’s and Cormac Gaston and Conor McKeever for Rasharkin exchanged further scores as the intensity of the game increased with litter quarter asked or given.

Rasharkin were giving as good as they got at this stage and point from McKeever and Gaston edged them ahead after 18 minutes but the scores dried up for the Dreen side at this stage and it was Glenravel who hit the final three scores of the half with Niall Donnelly converting two frees and adding another from play to leave his side 1-8 to 0-9 ahead at the interval.

The home side made a bright start to the second half and dominated the opening ten minutes with Conor McKeever pointing before Eamon McNeill caught a long clearance from Shane Hasson, 45 yards from goal and went on a mazey run beating two defenders before placing the sliotar in the corner of the Glenravel net.

The momentum was very much with St. Mary’s at this stage and they followed with three unanswered point from Conor McKeever 0-2, and Shane Hasson to move four clear before Martin Scullion and Conleth O’Loan replied with Con Magee’s opening scores of the second half.

Shane Hasson increased the Rasharkin lead to three but the Glenravel effort was again gathering momentum and they hit five of the next scores to edge ahead going down the home straight.

Martin Scullion began the Glenravel comeback when he fired to the net in the 12^th minute and Niall Donnelly followed as he pointed two frees and added another from play while Chrisey Quinn got his name on the score sheet for the visitors with Donagh Quigg replying with a point for the Dreen side.

The visitors pushed home their advantage as the game went into time added on with the sweet striking Donnelly converting another free and adding one from play and Conor McKeever getting Rasharkin’s final point but the goal they needed just wouldn’t come.

With two games remaining Rasharkin sit two points ahead of Na Magha but visit the Derry side in their next game and may need something from that game to secure their division 3 stratus for next season while Na Magha finish with a home game against Davitt’s and two wins for the Derry city side would leave them safe.

Rasharkin: 1 – Liam Tunney, 2 – James Higgins, 3 – Conor Doherty, 4 – Daniel Doherty, 5 – Ruairi OBoyle,  6 – Tiernan O’Boyle, 7 – Daniel Hasson, 8 – Shane Hasson,  9 – Emmet McFerran, 10 – Conor McKillop, 11 – Declan McKay, 12 – Donagh Quigg, 13 – Eammon McNeill, 14 – Cormac Gaston, 15 – Conor McKeever.

Glenravel: 1 Ronan Donnelly, 2 Brian O’Neill, 3 Shane Woulahan, 4 Joe Martin, 5 Stephen Atcheson, 6 Rian Lennon, 7 Michael McDonnell, 8 James Duffin, 9 Conor Deery, 10 Niall Donnelly, 11 Chrisey Quinn, 12 Ciaran McIlfatrick, 13 Conleth O’Loan, 14 Martin Scullion, 15 Declan Traynor

Referee: Mark McDonald