ACHL Division 3

Creggan 2-23 Lamh Dhearg 0-15

Kickham’s Creggan secured their second win in the league with 2.08 to spare over visitors Lamh Dhearg. 

 In 22 degrees humidity, not what you would expect for a game of hurling in this part of the world, it wasn’t long until the home side increased the heat on their visitors.  Proceedings started slow enough with Creggan on top with10 minutes gone (0.04 – 0.03) with points apiece from Thomas McCann, Cormac Rice, Morgan Nelson and Sean Duffin. 

Lamh Dhearg’s response was sluggish although they managed 3 points from Dan Murray, Sean Paul Gibson and Aidan Murray, to put little between the sides.  Creggan dominated for the next 20 minutes raking up a comfortable tally by further added points from Lee Johnston, Thomas McCann and a decisive goal, 14 minutes in, from Cormac Rice. 

Kickham’s were getting the upper hand although Lamh Dhearg wouldn’t lie down and 2 points from Dan Murray and Niall McGarry, narrowed the gap with 27 minutes gone.  Creggan were winning the dirty ball as their midfield coped well with the visitors.  As we ebbed towards the break, 4 points from Morgan Nelson, 2 from Sean Duffin and respectively one a piece from Lee Johnston and Liam McCann put them in a strong position at half time.

HALF TIME SCORE:      CREGGAN 1.13 v LAMH DHEARG 0.05.

In such fine weather, Robert Emmett’s referee, Paul McSparran, got proceedings underway for the second half.  Lamh Dhearg were first to register a score with another point from Aidan Murray, as the visitors tried to eat into Creggan’s lead.  They increased their tally with 2 further points from Aaron Ferris and Dan Murray and the management had to make a decision on a 20 metre free. 

They went low but Creggan’s keeper, Oran McCann, stopped it on the line.  This is probably where the visitors’ luck ran out.  As play resumed it was nip and tuck for both sides; Creggan managed 3 points from Sean Duffin, Morgan Nelson and Liam McCann, all raising the white flags.  Half way through the second half both teams hit 5 points apiece and both teams were evenly matched as possession ebbed and flowed. 

The visitors’ downfall was their increasing tally of wides in both first and second halves.  With 10 minutes to go, until the final whistle, the home side were up 1.19 to 0.12.  Creggan were much more intelligent with the ball as their confidence grew, sensing victory as the contest grew to a close.  Lamh Dhearg only managed a further 2 points with scores from Ciaran Boyd and Aidan Murray as they battled on now in search of goals, having several efforts stopped by the Creggan defence. 

This was too little too late.  Creggan romped home with 4 added points from Liam McCann, Corman Rice and 2 from Morgan Nelson.  Sean McAuley added salt to the wounds with an injury time goal to conclude proceedings.  To be fair, Lamh Dhearg’s inaccuracy in the first half cost them the game as they almost matched Creggan’s score for score..

Referee, Paul McSparran, was well in control of the game, letting the play flow and not wasting any ink in his note book in a good natured game.

 Creggan:            1. Oran McCann, 2. Peadar McGuckian, 3. Aidan Maguire, 4. Senan O’Boyle, 5. Liam McCann (0.04), 6. Kealan McCann, 7. Jake McAteer, 8. Sean Duffin (0.05), 9. Niall McAuley, 10. Morgan Nelson (0.09), 11. Lee Johnston (0.02), 12. Thomas McCann (0.01), 13. Sean McAuley (1.0), 14. Cormac Rice (1.02), 15. Joseph Smyth, 16. Michael Maguire (for Joe Smyth 50^th minute).

Lamh Dhearg:  1. Rhys Camlin, 2. Fiachra Clenaghan, 3. Odran Waldron, 4. Tiernan McKenna, 5. Dan Murry (0.03), 6. Ryan Diamond, 7. Fion Mervyn, 8. Aidan Murray (0.06), 9. Ciaran Boyd (0.01), 10 Nial McGarry (0.01), 11. Mark Finnegan (0.01), 12. Seanpaul Gibson (0.01), 13. Donal Martin (0.01), 14. Gerard Smyth, 15. Aaron Ferris (0.01).

Referee: Paul McSparran (Cushendun)

ACFL Division 3

Armoy 1-11 Bredagh 2-13

League leaders Bredagh withstood a strong second half rally from Glen Rovers, Armoy to claim both points and maintain their place at the top of division 3 in a hard hitting contest in Armoy on Sunday.

The slick moving Down side were quickly into their stride as Ryan Curran set up Eoin Kennedy for a goal in the third minute after Ben Christie had opened their account from a first minute point.

Emmet O’Hara got Glen Rovers off the mark with a 7^th minute point but Ben Christie restored the visitors four point advantage, two minutes later.

Armoy were enjoying their share of possession but dropped a number of long range attempts short into the hands of Bredagh keeper, Ian Galway who was safe and assured throughout the game.

Eoin Boyle finally got the distance right as he pointed for the home side in the 13^th minute but it brought another response for a visitor’s side whose slick passing was opening up the Armoy defence.

Rory McCamphill, Paul McGarry and Lawrence Smyth hit three on the bounce to move the visitors six ahead with Trevor Linton seeing his well struck free come off the post at the other end.

A couple of late points from Emmet O’Hara for the home side closed the gap to five at the break but Bredagh were fully deserving of their lead as the sides changed ends for the second half.

Rory McCamphill from a free and Tarlach McBride from a similar scenario exchanged early points but a great long range effort from Liam Hogan and another from Ryan Curran had the visitors seven ahead with only six minutes of the new half gone.

The hits were going in hard and fast as Armoy started to disrupt the fluency of the county Down side and Emmet O’Hara saw his shot come back of a post before PJ McBride and Tarlach McBride from a free closed the gap to two.

Eoin Kennedy edged the visitors five ahead again at the end of the third quarter but Glen overs were enjoying more of the play and Trevor Linton (f) and Ian Galway from a ‘65’ exchanged further scores.

Two further points from Hogan and Christie for the visitors looked to have put the result beyond doubt but Armoy kept plugging away and Thomas Burns was on hand to fire to the net from close range after The Bredagh defence failed to clear a Tarlach McBride free that dropped short.

There was only three in it now and that lead was reduced to two when McBride fired over and the momentum was now very much with the home side but Bredagh refused to panic.

Fortune fell their way when they were awarded a free about thirty yards from their own goal and keeper Ian Galway became their hero as his massive shot sailed all the way to the Armoy net with Eoin Kennedy possibly getting a touch.

This win keeps Bredagh top of the league with four wins from four starts, two ahead of Rasharkin who have six points but a game in hand.

Rasharkin travel to Ballymena to meet All Saints and Bredagh entertain St. Brigid’s Cloughmills before travelling to Dreen to meet St. Mary’s on Sunday the 12^th of May and that one could go some way in deciding who will claim top spot come the end of the season.

Armoy: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Calum Coyles, 3 Shane Devlin, 4 Arthur Devlin, 5 Tarlach McBride, 6 Thomas Burns, 7 Joseph McFetridge, 8 PJ McBride, 9 Ronan Lavelle, 10 Eoin O’Boyle, 11 Emmet O’Hara, 12 Conor Watson, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Colin Lordan, 15 Timothy Burns

Bredagh: 1 Ian Galway, 2 Ciaran McMullan, 3 Michael Woods, 4 J Carlin, 6 Mark Patterson, 7 Liam Hogan, 8 Lawrence Smyth, 9 P McGarry, 10 Ryan Curran, 11 Mel Lavery, 22 Ben Christie, 13 Rory McCamphill, 14 Eoin Kennedy, 15 Aaron Maguire.

Referee: Shane McDonnell (Oisins)

All Saints 4-10 Cloughmills 1-19

When Damien Gillan pointed a free, a minute into the second half to put All Saints 2-9 to 0-7 ahead it looked that we were in for a shock at Slemish Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Ballymena side hadn’t won a game in division 3 this year while their visitors, St. Brigid’s Cloughmills were sitting joint top of the division and were expected to collect another brace of points.

It didn’t quite work out that way however and 2 first half goals from Liam Cassley put the home side in a fairly strong position but there was always a feeling that the ‘Biddies’ would come strong in the second half.

And so they did with Eoin Dobbin leading the way with a series of excellent point, both from play and frees and the visitors looked to have turned it on its head when they led by four with time almost up.

The Ballymena side quite simply refused to go away however and an Eoin McGuigan goal and a pointed free from Damien Gillan had it all square with time almost up.

Indeed Chris Dornan’s side looked to have grabbed both points at the end when Sean McDermott fired over but his point was ruled out and so it finished all square.

GOOD START

A Sean McDermott point and three more from Damien Gillan (2f’s) in reply to 2 from Eoin Dobbin had the Ballymena side two in front early in the contest before Reece Watt closed the gap to one with his first of the evening.

Former St. Brigid’s player, Liam Cassley set the contest on fire as he fired home two goals while Eoin Dobbin replied with a couple of points for the ‘Village’.

Darach Bradley and Damien Gillan responded again with points for a sharp All Saints side with Eoin Dobbin and Callum McKendry replying from frees to leave it 2-8 to 0-7 for the Slemish Park side at the interval.

Damien Gillan moved the home side eight ahead from a pointed free on the restart but All Saints lost their way for a time as an Eoin Dobbin inspired St. Brigid’s slowly closed the gap.

A goal from substitute Conor O’Hara in the 15^th minute eased the pressure for a time and moved the Ballymena side three in front but it brought a quick response from the visitors.

Dobbin struck three frees and further points from, Stephen Smith and Liam Kearns and a goal from Reece Watt had it back to one by the 18^th minute.

The sweet striking Dobbin brought it all square from a ‘65’ following a good save from Ciaran Cassley in the All Saints goal and the momentum was now very much with the visitors.

Further points from Dobbin and Ryan Watson looked to have secured another two points for the Cloughmill’s side but that goal from McGuigan and a Damien Gillan pointed free left it all square at the final whistle

All Saints: 1 Ciaran Cassley, 2 Dwayne McKee, 3 Padraig Magill, 4 Kevin Brady, 5 Archie McGreevey, 6 Jack Magill, 7 Daniel Gray, 8 Harry Connon, 9 Vinny Esler, 10 Cormac Magill, 11 Eoin McGuigan, 12 Sean McDermott, 13 Damian Gillan, 14 Liam Cassley, 15 Darach Bradley

Subs:  Conor O’Hara for Jack Magill, Fintan Brady for Dwayne McKee, Daniel Kelly for Cormac Magill

St. Brigid’s: 1 Gary McCollum, 2 Rian Dobbin, 3 Corey Blair, 4 Johnny Duffin, 5 Kevin O’Boyle, 6 Martin Dobbin, 7 Geoffery Og Laverty, 8 Odhran McCurdy, 9 Seosamh MacGabhann, 10 Reece Watt, 11 Callum McKendry, 12 Eoin Dobbin, 13 Liam Kearns, 14 James Doherty, 15 Stephen Smith

Subs: Ryan Watson,

Referee: Paul McSparran (Cushendun)

Fighting Saints gain their first point

ACHL Division 3

St. Brigid’s 1-14 Glen Rovers 2-10

In a rematch of last year’s junior championship final, St. Brigid’s Cloughmills held on to win by the finest of margins against old rivals Glen Rovers in Armoy on Sunday to record their second win of the season.

Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, Odhran McCurdy opened the scoring for the Cloughmills men with a fine long range effort but Armoy replied with a well taken score from Emmet O’Hara to tie the game.

Cloughmills started to find their rhythm and with the strong wind in their favour they hit a purple patch, scoring 1.08 without reply, the major coming from James Doherty.

However Armoy recovered well, scoring 1.02 in quick succession, their goal coming from Emmet O’Hara to bring themselves back into contention. Cloughmills responded with two points from Callum McKendry to leave the score 1.11 to 1.03 in favour of Cloughmills at the interval.

After the restart and with the wind now in their favour Armoy immediately began to eat into the Cloughmills lead with scores from Turlough McBride and Trevor Linton to leave six between the sides.

The home side were then awarded a penalty after Colin Liordan was fouled inside the small rectangle but Emmet O’Hara’s well struck shot sailed over.

The visitors to the Glen were coming under more and more pressure but Eoin Dobbin relieved the pressure with a point at the other end.

Both teams were finding it difficult to get to grips with the worsening conditions as the rain poured down but Armoy continued to chip into the Biddies lead and only 4 points separated the sides with 5 minutes remaining. Glen Rovers continued to press and Kieran McToal got on the end of a ball across the square to send it to the Cloughmills net to leave it a 1 point game. Armoy pushed hard for an equaliser in the dying minutes but the Cloughmills defence held out to secure the win.

ACHL Division 3

Na Magha 5-9 All Saints 3-6

All Saints travelled to the Maiden City on Sunday to meet a Na Magha side making their first appearance in this year’s ACHL Division 3. The Ballymena side started well and with the elements in their favour led 2-4 to 1-2 at the break.

A good Na Magha came back strongly in the second half however, hitting four second half goals to take the points and look like a side who can hold their own in division 3 this season.

Aidan Rankin got Na Magha off to a good start with an early goal but the visitors came back strongly with goals from Liam Cassley and Damian Gillan and Gillan then pointed a free to move his side four ahead.

Na Magha were looking a little rusty in their first outing this year but a couple of points from Crossan gave them a foothold but it would be the Ballymena side who continued to edge the opening exchanges.

Jack Magill replied with an All Saints point and Damian Gillan added two before the break to leave ‘Dorney’s’ men 2-4 to 1-2 ahead at the break but with the elements to face in the second half.

The impressive Damian Gillan extended the visitors lead with a point on the restart but Na Magha came back strongly with a goal from McAdams and points from Foley and Doherty to close the gap to one.

A Jack Magill goal edged the Slemish Park side four in front once more but the Derry City men were growing into the game and would finish strongly.

The excellent Foley began the comeback with a point and the same player struck his side’s fourth goal with Gallagher adding two points to put Na Magha in control.

Damien Gillan replied with All Saints final point but it was Na Magha who finished strongly as Doherty grabbed their fifth goal.

A good win for a strong Na Magha side who played some excellent hurling and look capable of giving any side in division 3 a run for their money this year.

For All Saints the rebuilding job continues and their side on Sunday contained a handful of youngsters who will improve as the season goes on and that first win might not be too far away given their performances to date.

Na Magha:  A Grant  C O Donnell  D Shiels  A Campbell  C Durey  C McGoran  M McCloskey  T Rankin  R Mclaughlin  T Gallagher D Foley capt  K Doherty  A Rankin  R McAdams  R Crossan  B Quigley  C Murphy  A McSteen  C O Donovan  A Breslin  K Ponsonby  O ÓDonghaile