Category / Division 4

by thesaffrongael

Con Magees go marching on

All COunty Hurling League – Division 1

Latharna Og 1-07 Con Magees 2-20

Photos and report by Brian Quinn

Latharna Og welcomed Con Magees to a blustery Brustin Braes for this ACHL Division 4 fixture, motivated to show their improvement since the opening day fixture against the same side that resulted in a heavy loss of 6-14 to 0-2.

Division 4 high flyers Con Magees have won all league fixtures going into this game and started the game with intent, Sean McKay opening with a point in the first minute against the breeze and quickly followed by a point from McIntyre and a third for Kerr. 

Latharna opened their account in the 6th minute with a 40 yard free from Ryan O’Donnell before McKay did likewise in the 8th minute for the visitors. Further quick scores for McIntyre and that man McKay increased the difference between the sides and it looked like despite the Larne men’s industrious work, a heavy defeat could be on the cards. 

Latharna battled on though and on the 15th minute, Philip Craig was the most alert to a loose ball in the box and pulled home to keep Larne in this game. The scoreboard was kept busy with points for Lismore, O’Donnell and McGoldrick for the Brustin Brae natives and Kerr, McIntyre and McKay did likewise for the vistors to make the half time score, Latharna Og 1-05 Con Magees 1-09.

With the change of sides, Con Magees had the wind on their backs and key man McKay got them up in running with a point in the 31st minute, quickly followed by a goal from the impressive McIntyre who fired past the helpless Keenan and from then on Con Magees hit another 0-8 unanswered to ensure the scoreboard matched their dominance on the field. 

The home side had battled hard but in the second half Con Magees had too much and showed why they are the league leaders. There were good performances from McIntyre and Kerr but the stand out performer was Sean McKay, scoring 0-8 and looking dangerous everytime the ball was near. 

For Latharna, there will be better days but they should take heart from the improvements from that first game with a poor second half the difference here today. Ryan O’Donnell was the home teams’ best performer, working hard and scoring 0-4.

LATHARNA OG

Keenan,O’Neill, Petticrew, Barkley, Carson, Matthews, Martin, O’Donnell (0-4), McKendry (Inj 22), Lismore (0-2), McGoldrick (0-1), Hegarty, Martin,  Craig (1-0),  Stewart

Subs Milliken Bergin McKillion Regan Rolston Rogan

CON MAGEES

Donnelly, McAuley, Carey, Atcheson (0-1), McDonnell, Duffin, O’Loan,O’Neill, Fyfe (0-2),McIntyre (1-5), Burns, Donnelly, McElroy, Kerr (1-2), McKay (0-8), Subs O’Hagan, McCann (0-1), McAleenan (0-1)

Referee Ciaran Mc Closkey (Loughgiel Shamrocks)

by thesaffrongael

St. Teresa’s get back to winning ways

ACHL Division 4

All Saints 2-9 St. Teresa’s 4-12

After suffering a first league defeat away to Glenravel on Monday night St. Teresa’s got back to winning ways when they made another trip to the South West on Wednesday evening to play All Saints.

St Teresa’s pointed after 30 seconds to give them the perfect start at a sunny Slemish Park. The home side took a while to settle into the game with the Belfast men making all the early running. Another point and goal gave them a five point lead before Damian Gillan and Padhraig Magill replied for the Saints. Growing in confidence the home side were dealt another blow when St Teresa’s star man Phil Maguire ran through and despite being put under pressure finished to the corner of the net with a one handed swing. The sides then traded points with a pointed free for Gillan and one from Vinney Esler keeping the Ballymena men in touch. St Teresa’s stretched their lead with 5 points with Maguire again punishing the Saints although they kept battling for every ball and got their reward when Niall McGarry finished to the net just before the half time whistle.

The second half started in similar fashion as the first with St Teresa’s making all the early running. A long delivery was misjudged and ended up in the back of the Saints net to extend the gap to double figures. Back to back frees from Gillan and a long range point from Esler reduced the gap before St Teresa’s cancelled it out at the other end with another goal. Late scores from Gillan, Padhraig Magill and a goal from his brother Cormac kept the scoreboard ticking over but it was the Belfast men, led by top scorer Maguire who ran out eventual 9 point winners

All Saints: Anthony Mitchell, PJ O’Kane, Chris McAfee, Frank Casey, Sean O’Rawe, Colum Neeson, Marty McNally, Brendan McDonnell, Vinney Esler (0-2), Paul Scullion, Padhraig Magill (0-2), Cormac Magill (1-0), Niall McGarry (1-0), Barry Dorrity, Damian Gillan (0-5)

Subs. Terence Diamond for Marty McNally

by thesaffrongael

Larne take the points at the Brustin Braes

All County Hurling League Division 4

Laharna Og 4-19 Loch Mor Dal gCais 1-13

Report and photos by Brian Quinn

On a perfect evening for hurling, Laharna Og hosted Loch Mor Dal gCais at the Brustin Braes hoping to bounce back after their recent defeat by Naomh Colum Cille. Likewise, Loch Mor Dal gCais arrived in Larne hoping for a much needed victory and it was the Lough Shore men who opened the scoring with the first two points. 

Laharna opened their account in the 4th minute with a McGoldrick point followed by a McDonnell free before Loch Mor took the first goal of the game after some good work by Darragh and Drayne. Laharna replied quickly with a well taken goal by Matthews before the sides took turns splitting the sticks with points for McKendry, Martin and Matthews. Lismore looked dangerous for the Larne men and burst the net on the 21st minute after some good work by McDonnell in the middle of the field.

Going into the half-time break it was a game that felt it could have been taken by either team, though the Larne men had the edge on the scoreboard with a 2:9 to 1:7 lead.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with both sides taking turns at keeping the scoreboard moving with further points from Matthews and O’ Donnell whose free taking accuracy was evident.

At this stage of the game with the result uncertain, it was the Larne side who took control with a goal from McNeill followed by four unanswered points to pull away with Loch Mor unable to keep pace. 

The fourth goal of the night for Larne was another piece of Lismore magic who had a solid game alongside McKendry and Shields but it was Conor Matthews who was the star man scoring 1:6 and looking dangerous the whole game.

Larne – C KeenanB Petticrew, A O’Neill, G Bergin, T Carson, C Shields, C Martin, R O’ Donnell, P McKendry, P Craig, N McGoldrick, D Martin, M Lismore, S McNeill, C Matthews

Subs – D Hegarty, 

Loch Mor – G PickeringM Morgan, L Burke, A Monaghan, C Jones, G Dunlop, S Burke, R Moran, G Pickering (Jnr), L Rooney, B Graham, M Braniff, R Bannon, J Drayne, P Darragh

Subs – M Bell, D Bell, C McAreavey, M McDonnell, 

by thesaffrongael

Blistering first half performance paves the way for All Saints’ victory

ACHL Division 4

Ardoyne Kickham’s  1-5 All Saints 2-17

All Saints, Ballymena made it three wins from five starts in their first season back in ACHL action when they travelled to Fennell Park on Sunday and proved too strong for an Ardoyne side, making their own return to the All County hurling leagues this year.

 The visitors blistering first half performance was enough to seal the two points as they held Ardoyne scoreless in the opening thirty minutes whilst posting 2-14 themselves. Goals from Barry Dorrity and Paul Scullion paved the way and efficient shooting and great defending at times from PJ O’kane and in particular, Chris McAfee at full back gave the Ballymena men a healthy half time lead.

Injuries to Gary Miskella, Kieran Butler and Paul Scullion, who had all posted scores in the first half halted the Saints momentum as they found scores harder to come by but eventually ran out fifteen point winners

All Saints: Anthony Mitchell, PJ Okane, Chris McAfee, Frank Casey, Sean O’Rawe, Colum Neeson, Vinny Esler, Brendan McDonnell (0-2), Gary Miskella (0-1), Luke O’Rawe (0-2), Padhraig Magill (0-2), Paul Scullion (1-0),  Barry Dorrity (1-2), Kieran Butler (0-3), Damian Gillan (0-5)

Subs Marty McNally (0-1) Ronan Laverty, Enda Casey

by thesaffrongael

Glenravel prosper against wayward St Teresa’s

Glenravel 1-15  St Teresas 1-11

Aodh O’Loan reports from Fr Maginn Park

Glenravel hurlers stretched their lead at the top of Div 4 with a four point victory over second place St Teresa’s at Fr Maginn Park on Monday evening, but had the visitors been less wasteful of golden chances in this game the story could have been very different. St Teresa’s piled on the pressure with wave after wave of attacks across both halves but their accuracy let them down and continually they had to rely on centre half forward, Philip Maguire from frees. Maguire finished with 0-07 to his name – all from frees. An impressive tally but not enough on the night to secure the points.

Niall Donnelly opened the scoring for the Con Magees after four minutes with a free before Philip Maguire (free) and Ciaran Mooney nudged the visitors ahead. Niall restored parity from a free but Maguire again put the visitors ahead and it was clear the table toppers weren’t going to have things their own way in this one. On 19 minutes, the Belfast men carved through the local defence and midfielder Niall McCann fired a rocket to the roof of the net from 20 meteres – Ronan Donnelly in the Glenravel net was grateful to still be alive! Now five points ahead St Teresa’s were dominating the game in all departments. Declan Traynor and Stevie Acheson reduced the gap to three. Maguire and Donnelly exchanged frees whilst  Declan Traynor and Ciaran Mooney did the same from play to leave the Belfast lads ahead by three points at half time on a 1-06 to 0-06 scoreline, but in truth there should have been a much bigger gap had Teresa’s been more efficient in front of goals.

Glenravel goal scorer James Duffin hand passes the ball away

It seemed Glenravel were not sure about coming out in the second half but eventually they did appear and started very strongly with Brain O’Neill now in the corner forward berth pointing after 19 seconds. One minute later Niall Donnelly’s free sailed between the posts and suddenly we were in a one point game.  Maguire then pointed from a free to leave two in it. Con Magees mentors decided it was time to look for reinforcements from the bench and swapped Sean McElroy and Neill McCann with Sean McKay and Odhran McAleenan. St Teresa’s were creating a lot of chances but their wides count was still increasing. Free taker Maguire restored their lead to 3 points from a free but then the home team started to take more control of the game. Substitute McKay scored from a free and centre half forward James Duffin finished off a great move when he goaled on 45 minutes. The home team were now in front for the first time since the opening minutes – a lead they held to the end of the game. Conleth O’Loan put a rasper over the bar to put two between them but St Teresa’s pulled one back to leave us again in a one point game.

Philly Maguire fires over a St Teresa’s point from a free.

On 52 minutes, Padge O’Neill delivered the score of the game with a magnificent sideline cut splitting the posts and raising a cheer from the home support. O’Neill gave a master class in sidelines throughout the game and richly deserved the accolades for a sublime point. With 6 minutes left and all to play for, St Teresa’s were reduced to 14 men and were further punished when Sean McKay scored the resulting free. Glenravel were now on top for the first time in the game and though Maguire’s free on 55 minutes left St Teresa’s with a two point gap to close, Sean McKay replied with a 65 two minutes later. Connor O’Rawe’s 59th minute point gave the away team some hope but Glenravel finished stronger in the end with points from Declan Traynor and Sean McKay were enough to seal victory for the home team on a 1-15 to 1-11 scoreline.

Four points separated the teams on the scoreboard at the end and four points separate them in the league table as well. Glenravel will feel themselves lucky enough to get over the line in this game having pretty much dominated all their games so far in this league. St Teresa’s will look back on what might have been and rue the missed chances they created. Victory was certainly within their grasp and would have left them level on top of the table with Glenravel instead of four points behind. Small margins can lead to large gaps – but then that’s what sport is all about. 

Glenravel’s Conleth O’Loan wins possession.

Finally, a word on Ciaran McCloskey who was in control of the game and refereed it excellently. As we look to recruit more referees into our games this man is a fine role model to look up to. 

Teams

Glenravel:: Ronan Donnelly, Declan McAuley, Conor Carey, Brian O’Neill (0-01), Michael McDonald, James Duffin (1-00), Conleth O’Loan (0-01), Jonathan Fyfe, Padge O’Neill (0-01), Declan Traynor (0-03), Neill McCann, Michael Magee, Stephen Acheson (0-01), Niall Donnelly (0-04, 3f), Sean McIlroy

Subs: Sean McKay (0-04, 3f) for Sean McIlroy, Odhran McLeenan for Neill McCann, Dean Kerr for Niall Donnelly.

St Teresa’s:: Robert Gallager, Philip Glennon, Gerard O’Rawe, Aodhan Dugan, Pierce O’Rawe, Ciaran Rouse, Conor McCann, Niall McCann (1-00), Conor O’Rawe (0-01), Philip Maguire (0-07f), Christopher Turley, Darren McCann, Kevin Burns, Ciaran Mooney (0-02)