ACHL Division 4

Latharna Og 2-17 St Galls 1-13

Latharna Og emerged victorious as the proverbial game of two halves took place last night as the wind howled from South to North in the townland of Ballytober. One side scored three points against the wind in the first half and the other side scored five against the wind in the second. The first side to score was Latharna Og as Ryan O’Donnell fired the sliotar into the breeze and over the bar.

St Galls announced their arrival with a goal sandwiched between two points before that man Conor O’Boyle gained ground on the left wing then riffled a score between the uprights. St Galls had their best period of the game dropping 5 wind assisted points out of the sky and over the bar.

The midfield duo of McKendry and O’Donnell added a point apiece to the tally but these were cancelled out by two St Gall’s points before Ciaran Martin pointed just before the players took refuge in the changing rooms from the elements at half time.

The scores on the doors at half time were 0-5 to 1-10in favour of the visitors

Late comer and top scorer Michael Lismore joined the proceedings for the second half as Latharna Og attacked the Cairncastle end with the wind in their sails. Before the second half was 3 minutes old the unpunctual Lismore planted the sliotar in the Gall’s net.

Ryan O’Donnell then pointed from play but St Galls replied immediately from a free to maintain a 5 point distance.

Latharna Og not only recovered the deficit but ventured two points ahead as the McKillop twins, Lismore, McAlister 0-2 and O’Donnell 0-2 all fired balls over the unanswered points into recently repaired catching net.

Heavy rain then joined up with his old pal howling wind to make the weather conditions even more unpleasant. St Galls drew level with two points just as the blustery rain started and it looked like this one was going to go right down to the wire.

The pressure was onbut Latharna Og kept their composure to do the simple things right against the conditions. The Larne side were awarded a sideline around the 65 meter line and Ryan O’Donnell reacted quickly to send the ball backwards into the path of onrushing corner back Darren Martin.  Martin was still in his own half but his well struck, lonmg range effort nestled in the back OF THE St. Gall’s net

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This took the wind out of the St Galls sails and the victory was sealed with 4 further points from Phil McKendry, Ronan McKillop, Jack McAlister and Ryan O’Donnell. Next up Latharna Og finish the week taking a Sunday drive down the coast road to play Cushendall.

Latharna Og: Craig D Martin B Petticrew Carson M Petticrew C McKillop McNeill O’Donnell McKendry O’Boyle R McKillop K McKillop Shields McAlister C Martin

Subs: Lismore Darragh

Scores: 0-6 Ryan O’Donnell 1-1 Michael Lismore 0-4 Jack McAlister 1-0 Darren Martin 0-2 Phil McKendry 0-1 Ronan McKillop 0-1 Ciaran Martin 0-1 Cathal McKillop 0-1 Conor O’Boyle

ACHL Division 4

Latharna Og 2-20 St Brigids 4-10

Photographs: Paul McIlwaine

Latharna Og got back to winning ways with a home victory over St Brigid’s. The game started well with both teams giving each other room to play. Michael Lismore scored the 1st point for the home team after St Brigids raised three flags. Ryan O’Donnell added a point before the net was rattled by Michael Lismore. St Brigids added their fourth point after Lismore (2) and O’Donnell stretched Latharna Og further into the lead to earn a 4 point advantage (1-5 to 0-4) Corner forward Athony O’Neill and midfielders McKendry and O’Donnell (2) added 4 more points.

St Brigids fought back to bring it back to 3 point game with two points and a goal as a result of a goalmouth thumble. A Ryan O’Donnel free and a Jack McAlister point from play was replied with a pointed free from the visitors. Similarly an O’Donnell free and a point as a result from a surging forward from Phil McKendry was replied with another pointed free. The game was spun on its head when two quick goals from St Brigids either side of a Michael Lismore point gave the City side a one point lead. Phil McKendry levelled the game, Lismore edged the Craigyhill Terrors in front and Ronan McKillop accentuated the lead thumping the ball into the net. To restore a 4 point lead. Naomh Brid cut into the lead with a scored free.

Anthony O’Neill scored his second point of the day and Kele McAuley his first. Conor O’Boyle came off the bench to shoot a quick fire double over the bar to finish the home side scoring at 2-20. St Brigids never gave up and a late rally resulted in a goal and a point but not enough to claw the game back. Final score 2-20 to 4-11 and a three point win for Larne. This was the first of three games in a seven days for Latharna Og, On Wednesday night another Belfast team St Galls come down for a 7.30 throw in.

Latharna Og: Craig D Martin McAuley C Martin McNeill Matthews M Petticrew McKendry O’Donnell Lismore McKillop McAlister Darragh B Petticrew O’Neill Subs O’Boyle Carson Scores 1-5 Michael Lismore 0-6 Ryan O’Donnell 0-3 Phil McKendry 1-0 Ronan McKillop 0-2 Anthony O’Neill 0-2 Conor O’Boyle 0-1 Jack McAlister 0-1 Kele McAuley

Antrim Hurling League Division 4

St Brigid’s 3-20 St Paul’s 2nds 3-16

Pics from St Brigid’s website

Sunday May 8^th will live long in the memory of all involved with the Naomh brid senior hurlers from South Belfast. The Musgrave park outfit recorded a first ever competitive win in Division four of the Antrim league against a lively St Paul’s team in front of a small but boisterous home crowd.

 Naomh Brid hurlers, playing in only their second competitive season got off to the perfect start when midfielder Fintan Cleary flighted a sideline cut all the way to the back of the St Pauls net; Cleary who lives just the poc of a ball away on Stockman’s Lane, would finish the day with 1-14 to his name, the teenage midfielder would prove unerringly accurate from both dead-balls and open play.

 But over the hour it was the new boys team-play which proved the difference, Phelim Lennon, a former Antrim minor, fizzed home a well struck second goal and another would shortly follow for the irrepressible “Biddies”. Oisin McDonnell received the ball just beyond the 20m line and jinked  his way around two defenders before off-loading a deft hand pass into the path of Niall Duffy and at full pace the St Aquinas schoolboy drilled in a low shot to beat the Paul’s keeper at his near post.

 THE homeside lead 3-12 to 0-5 at the short whistle but had to sustain a spirited second half fightback from St Pauls. Playing with the breeze the Shaws Road men rattled off three second half goals of their own to make a real contest of the game. But Naomh Brid would not be denied, the experienced John McGuckian proved a very effective ball winner at full forward and also chipped in with two classy points. Cleary, Lennon and midfielder Eoghan O’Mainnin all kept the umpires busy over the closing quarter; Bryan Hallihan expertly marshalled the defence from centre half back & behind him McEwan, Lundy and Heaney were equally resolute. Kevin Grieve gave a mature performance in nets for the hosts, his poc outs invariably finding a team mate to provide a regular attacking platform.  

 In a fitting footnote to the game award winning screenwriter Declan Lawn ( Salisbury poisonings ) was sprung from the Naomh Brid bench and showing scant regard for his own safety hurtled into a series of boneshaking tackles which not only raised the decibels on the sideline but also sounded a timely  note of defiance that Naomh Brid would not be denied their breakthrough win. As the final whistle shrilled the home fans raised the roof for their hurlers who had just raised the bar for St Brigids hurling.  

NAOMH BRÍD

1. Kevin Grieve2. Tony McEwan3. Chris Lundy4. Peter Heaney5. Michael Burke6. Bryan Hallihan7. Joe McCarney8. Fintan Cleary9. Eoghan O’Mainnin10. Niall Duffy11. Phelim Lennon12. Noel McCann13. Oisin McDonnell14. John McGuckian15. Garrett Gilleece
17. Declan Lawn18. Niall Murtagh19. Oliver Lennon

Fintan Cleary 1-14Phelim Lennon 1-3Niall Duffy 1-0John McGuckian 0-2Eoghan O’Mainnin 0-1

   

ACHL Division 4 – Round 3   (01-05-22)                                                                                              Naomh Pól 2nds 0:12   Naoimh Uile 4:19

Ballymena hurlers travelled to Belfast on May Day and recorded their third win in as many outings in the ACHL against St Paul’s 2nds at Shaw’s Road

While a number of “stags “were in Cardiff celebrating a club mate’s upcoming wedding, those who remained showed little inclination for romance as they romped onto the pitch like young bulls let out to spring grass for the first time.

And just like young bulls it took them some time to get used to their surroundings as positional switches and novel line ups seemed to cause confusion in the ranks.

The first half was peppered with uncharacteristic defensive errors and wayward shooting. But St Pauls’ were guilty of similar profligacy as both teams struggled to settle down. In the end goals from Eoin Magee and James O’Boyle kept All Saints in front at half time.

Half Time: Naomh Pól 0:07   Na Naoimh Uile 2:05

Ballymena were a transformed team in the second half – while maintaining the same intensity they started to play with composure and “heads up hurling”. The defense closed down attacking threats with increasing confidence; aerial ball was won in the middle third and shots that had drifted wide in the first half started to pierce the uprights with regularity – capped by goals from Jack Magill and Ciarán Neeson.

Ballymena emptied the subs bench giving senior debuts to Daniel McCoy, Diarmuid Casey and Joseph O’Rawe. The youngsters all performed well and when Daniel was fouled after catching an incoming ball he added his name to the score sheet from the resultant free.

Full Time: Naomh Pól 0:12   Na Naoimh Uile 4:19

All Saints now sit at the top of the D4 league table along with Loch Mór Dal gCais. The two sides meet next Sunday in Ballymena – the clash should attract a big crowd so patrons are advised to arrive early for the 2pm throw in.

Ballymena Team and Scorers

Ballymena

1. Ciaran Cassley, 2. Dwayne McKee, 3. Chris McAfee, 4. Kevin Brady, 5. Daniel Gray, 6. Colum Neeson (0:01), 7. Padraig Magill, 8. Gary Miskella, 9. Cormac Magill,10. Eoin Magee (1:00), 11. Ciaran Neeson (1:14 – 6F, 65), 12Daire Hasson, 13. James O.Boyle (1:02) 14, Conrad Duffin, 15. Jack Magill (1:01),

16, Anthony Mitchell, 17. TP McGurk, 18. Daniel McCoy (0:01), 19. Diarmuid Casey, 20. Joseph O’Rawe.

ACHL Division 4

All Saints 0-19 Latharna Og 2-7

All Saints, Ballymena got their division 4 league campaign of to a great start when they defeated Cushendall on Wednesday night before making it two from two with a good win over Latharna Og at Quinn Park this morning.

Ciaran Neeson was the star man against the Ruairi’s , scoring 2-10 on the night and he followed it up with another masterful exhibition of point taking today against the men from Larne who didn’t help their own cause when they had Kellan McAuley Red carded in the opening minute for a rash challenge on the All Saints number 10.

Anthony O’Neill had to drop back from full-forward to defence to plug the gap left by McAuley as Neeson split the up rights twice in the opening five minutes.

To their credit Latharna Og settled and Michael Lismore pointed before Ryan O’Donnell levelled the contest from a long distance free and O’Donnell briefly edged the visitors ahead when he converted a 50 meter free in the 10^th minute but Neeson replied from another free to tie the contest again.

The challenges were going in hard and fast but the home side were beginning to create space and Damian Gillan and Ciaran Neeson from a free and then from play moved the home side two in front before Philip Craig in the Larne nets brought off a good save to deny Cormac Magill.

All Saints went on to lead 0-8 to 0-5 at the break with Gillan and Neeson the marksmen for the Ballymena side and Ryan O’Donnell keeping the score board ticking for the men from Brustin Braes.

It didn’t get any better for the visitors on the restart as Ciaran Neeson had a tantalising deliver flicked over by Gary Miskella and he then sent a ‘65’ between the sticks to move the home side 0-10 to 0-5 ahead with only three minutes of the new half gone.

Luke O’Rawe sent a massive effort over the black spot and a couple more from the excellent Neeson saw All Saints move eight clear at the end of the third quarter and their opponent looked in danger of being overrun but the visitors dug deep.

Michael Lismore drilled a 30 meter free through a crowded goalmouth to the Ballymena net in the 19^th minute and substitute Barry Petticrew might have had another but his close range effort came back of an upright.

All Saints replied with a good point from Damian Gillan but the visitors responded again and a dropping shot from Jack McAllister end in the back of Ciaran Cassley’s net and suddenly a come-back looked on the cards.

It was as close as Latharna Og got however with the home side reasserting their superiority with Damian Gillan, Eoin O’Neill and Cormac Magill all on target and the visitors only response coming from a late Jack McAllister point.

All Saints: Ciaran Cassley, Dwayne McKee, Colum Neeson, Kevin Brady, Daniel Gray, Luke O’Rawe, Vincent Esler, Cormac Lemon, Damian Gillan, Ciaran Neeson, Cormac Magill, Eoin Magee, Conrad Duffin, Gary Miskella, Jack Magill.

Sub: Darra Hasson

Latharna Og:1 Philip Craig, 2 Darren Martin, 3 Kellan McAuley, 4 Caolan Shields, 5 Mark Petticrew, 6 Cathal McKillop, 7 Ciaran Martin, 8 Ryan O’Donnell, 9 Phil McKendry, 10 Conor Matthews, 11 Ronan McKillop, 12 Michael Lismore, 13 Jack McAllister, 14 Anthony O’Neill, 15 Matthew Killough.

Subs: 21 Barry Petticrew, 18 Anthony McNeill, 23 Gary Bergin, 17 Lee Magill

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)