All Saints secured a solid win over St Paul’s Reserves, though it was far from a polished performance overall. Playing against the wind in the first half, All Saints worked hard to gain a foothold in difficult conditions.
While the play was often scrappy, they were clinical when chances came their way. Goals from Michael Connolly and Cormac Magill proved key in building a lead. Further scores came from Eoin McGuigan and Pearse Martin, while Damian Gillan added a free in the first half.
Despite not being at their fluent best, All Saints went in at the break with a strong 2-7 to 0-6 advantage. Defensively, All Saints had some standout performers. Robert Crooks, Archie McGreevey and Finn Connon were particularly strong, dealing well with the conditions and limiting St Paul’s to chances from distance.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, All Saints never fully hit top gear but remained in control. One of the standout moments was a superb long-range point from Gary Miskella, splitting the posts from his own half.
The introduction of substitute’s added energy late on, with Patrick Doherty making a big impact and finishing with 2-1 to put the result beyond doubt.
St Paul’s Reserves, who were also fielding minor and senior teams on the same day, played well throughout and showed plenty of endeavour. However, their shooting let them down at key moments, with a number of missed chances preventing them from really closing the gap.
In truth, it wasn’t a flowing display from All Saints, but they showed resilience, defended well, and took their chances when it mattered most.
While this was not a game that will live long in the memory, Ardoyne headed back across the city with both points secured from this Div 4 Hurling League fixture. The opening half was dominated by the Northenders with Patric McGreevy leading the way in collecting the scores.
Two early scores from play from McGreevy set the tone for the rest of the half with St Galls finding it difficult to stay in touch. Stephen McIlhatton though put over St Galls opening point, with Odhran Delany following up with an exquisite point from a tight angle. The rest of the first half was dominated by an Ardoyne team that despite keeping a healthy lead, never really got themselves into top gear.
Ardoyne kept the scoreboard ticking over and by the 15th minute were 8 points ahead. Goals from Cormac Barnes and Caolan Wallace threatened to overrun a St Galls side that were finding it difficult to get a handle on this game.
Half-Time: Naomh Gall II 0-05 Ciceam Ard Eoin 2-08
The second half did not prove to be as one sided, with St Galls matching the Ardoyne men on the field. Despite this, they were let down by wayward shooting that saw them missing opportunities to put any meaningful pressure on Ardoyne.
It was 10 minutes before they eventually got their first score of the second half but they will be encouraged in that they held Ardoyne to a total of 4 points in the second half. Although Ardoyne never looked in danger of losing this game, they will be disappointed in their second half scoring ability and their inability to stamp their authority on the game.
The frustration of both teams was evidenced in the number of frees awarded. However, Ardoyne will be pleased with two points secured, while St Galls will be hoping for a better display in the next game away to All Saints.
Naomh Gall: Lorcan O’Ciarnan, Stephen McIlhatton(0-01), Michael McMullan, Maghnus Dunne, Ciaran McCaffrey, Anto Healy, Simon Dowds, Tiernan McAleenan, Aodh Mullan, Josh Southern (0-05, 3f), Tom Ghee, Mark McArevey, Paul Loughran, Odhran Delany(0-02), Dylan Meighan, Adam O’Hare, Caoimhin Pierce
Ciceam Ard Eoin: Connor O’Neill, Cormac Curran, Paul Baker, Dean Goodall, Paddy Heaney, Pascal Clarke, Matthew Crommie, Pól McGuigan, Diarmuid Martin, Patric McGreevy(0-06, 3f), Matt McKillen(0-02), Cormac Barnes(1-0), Caolan Wallace(1-0), Micheál McGreevy(0-03), Patrick McKillen, Pól Og McGuigan(0-01), Sean Searle, Enda Slattery, Aran Stewart, Cahal Clarke, Emmet Corey, Stephen Hill, Pearse Hull, Fiontan Lagan, Michael Lee-Murphy
Referee: Hugh Torney
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All Saints got their ACHL division 4 campaign off to a winning start when they produced a strong second half comeback to defeat Junior B champions, Loch Mor dal gCais at a windy Quinn Park on Sunday.
Playing into a strong wind in the opening half, All Saints faced a tough challenge from the throw-in. Loch Mór Dál gCais used the conditions well, keeping the scoreboard ticking over through Darragh Turley’s accurate free-taking.
Despite the difficult conditions, All Saints showed great determination and work rate across the pitch. Their defence held firm under pressure, limiting Loch Mór Dál gCais to mainly long-range efforts and preventing any goal chances.
Going forward, scores were hard-earned into the breeze. Damian Gillan contributed two valuable points from play, while Pearse Martin added a free. A number of promising attacks were built, but the conditions made shooting difficult, reflected in three wides.
Around the middle third, Archie McGreevy and Luke Mulholland worked tirelessly, competing well for breaking ball and helping to keep All Saints in contention despite the elements.
Half Time: All Saints 0-03 LM 0-06
With the advantage of the wind in the second half, All Saints produced a dominant display to overturn a three-point deficit and run out comfortable winners. Goals from Eoin McGuigan and Daniel Kelly were key moments in the turnaround, while Damian Gillan added four from play and Pearse Martin adding from frees.
In midfield, Archie McGreevy and Luke Mulholland covered huge ground and played a vital role in shifting momentum after the break. The impact from the bench also proved decisive, with substitutes Jack Magill, Robert Crooks, Sean O’Brien, Gary Miskella, and Dan Kelly all making strong contributions as All Saints pulled away.
All Saints: Ronan McAllister, Finn Connon, Dwayne McKee, Kevin Brady, Dan Gray, Cormac Magill, Niall Savage, Luke Mulholland, Vinney Esler, Eoin McGuigan, Pearse Martin, Michael Connolly, Archie McGreevey, Damian Gillan, Fintan Brady Subs P Doherty, J Magill, J Downey, R Crooks, L Wash, G Miskella, D Kelly, S O’Brien, A Casey, D McGettigan, J Mooney
The sport of hurling has been given an unprecedented boost on Belfast’s Malone and Lisburn roads where the St Brigid’s club has been crowned Antrim Division Four champions with a game to spare.
The men from Musgrave Park took on and beat Rossa seconds at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday evening in an epic top of the table clash, which saw the fledgling squad from South Belfast prevail by seven points.
St Brigids teenage marksman James Kelly, who bagged 1-14 in their previous outing against Ballymena All Saints weighed in with a remarkable 0-17 haul ( 0-9 from play) in the historic win which guaranteed St Brigids – formed just five seasons ago – would be playing division three hurling in 2026.
But this was far from a one man performance, corner forward David Prenter pounced for the “ Biddys” opening goal which he buried after 5 minutes, Oisin “ willo the wisp” McDonnell added a second shortly after.
A delicious over the shoulder point from Fionntain Cleary followed and then came a long range effort from teenager Donnacha McGurk which gave the away team a ten points interval lead.
But Rossa came with an early third quarter surge, James Close popped over three points from midfield and then two second half goals sniped in quick succession saw the West Belfast outfit take the lead with five minutes remaining on the clock.
But St Brigid’s, minus two talismanic leaders in the injured Phelim Lennon & Nial Murtagh, found a way.
With the clock ticking, Dara Sidebottom thieved a ball from a ruck on Rosa’s 13m line and found Cathal Conway with a subtle hand pass and the latter first timed to the “ onion bag”.
Game on.
Nearing injury time, Conway – a grizzly bear of a man – returned the compliment, emerging from a forest of sticks to boot the ball into the raiding Sidebottom’s path, which he whipped on first time low of his left. The net bulged and the covered stand heavily populated with travelling fans convulsed in a guttural roar.
Deep into injury time, James Kelly -the schoolboy with ice in his veins & kryptonite in his wrists – landed another monster free from 85m, St Brigid’s had hurled themselves into history.
The whistle sounded, Brian McGurk, so pivotal as goalkeeper let out a primal shriek, Jake Massingham who’d been a contender for man of the match at corner back, jumped higher than an Eastern bloc pole vaulter, Peter Heaney who played with a groin tear had a perma smile tattooed on his face that was wider than the mouth of the Lagan, Peter Middleton back with titanium screws in his ankle after a year out had played like a man in titanium armour; Todd Engman from Minnesota had a hurl in his hand & a tear in his eye, Darren Hamill hugged his boy Pearce, coach and player, father & son- suspended somewhere between disbelief and ecstasy – ; John McGuckian -a veteran of many campaigns with St Brigid’s Cloughmills – who thought he’d seen it all before confessed that he hadn’t, Conor McElhatton, Cuan Polley, Mikey Kerr and Michael Burke, three pups and an aul gnarly dog, jigged and leapt uncontrollably; big Jack Pardy from Offaly, stood wide eyed like a majestic lighthouse, unshakable & unsinkable as he’d been all season.
And somewhere amidst the frothing sea of waving hurls, John Rush, a prisoner of a collapsed moment, gazed south over the cityscape, stunned as an Easter island statue beckoning home some unseen ship on a hitherto unimagined horizon.
“ We’ve done it, we’ve done it “
The words spilled from the manager, first a trickle, then a torrent, just like the team he & big Darren had built.
A fine display of point taking by ace marksman, James Kelly kept St. Brigid’s firmly fixed at the top of the table and possibly on their way to promotion to division 3 when they overcame the challenge of a depleted All Saints at Musgrave Park on Sunday evening.
Kelly struck an impressive 1-14 over the hour with 0-12 of his total coming from the placed ball and the visitors will surely reflect on the number of frees they conceded unnecessarily when they look back on today’s result.
James Kelly who scored 1-14 as St. Brigid’s defeated All Saints to maintain their place at the top of division 4
Despite being without half a dozen regulars through injury and other commitments it was the Ballymena men who made the early running with Damian Gillan, Darach Bradley and Eoin McGuigan driving them on as they raced into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
McGuigan hit 0-4 during those opening exchanges with Gillan and Bradley also on target and Fintan Cleary and Niall Murtagh replying for the home side.
James Kelly became the catalyst of a St. Brigid’s comeback as he hit three of the next four points, all falling the way of the Musgrave Park men with Peter Middleton their other scorer to draw level with 19 minutes on the clock.
McGuigan briefly restored the All Saints lead with his 5th point of the afternoon but points from David Prenter, a ‘65’ from Michael Kerr and a goal from the excellent Kelly swung matters decisively in favour of the league leaders.
Damian Gillan from a long range free and James Kelly exchanged late points to put the home side 1-10 to 0-8 ahead and Oisin McDonnell and James Kelly from a massive long range free extended the St. Bigid’s lead to 7 before Damian Gillan replied for the visitors to leave seven between the sides at the break.
Darach Bradley reduced that lead to six within 30 seconds of the restart but All Saints continued to concede unnecessary frees with Kelly gratefully converting two and Michael Kerr and David Prenter adding two more from play.
The St. Brigid’s lead had been extended to 10 with only 4 minutes of the new half gone and it was looking ominous for the Slemish Park side but to their credit they kept battling with Perarse Martin, Eoin McGuigan, Darach Bradley and McGuigan again bringing their total to 0-14.
At the other end the imperious Kelly kept the score board ticking as he converted another three frees and two from play with McGuigan replying to leave 10 in it again with 11 minutes remaining.
All Saints Eoin mcAllister comes out to clear the danger
All Saints threw everything at their opponents during the closing stages with Darach Bradley and Damian Gillan pointing and Bradley finishing to the net from close range in the 29th minute to close the gap to five.
It was as close as they got however and it was free taker supreme, James Kelly who concluded the scoring with his 12th of the game from the placed ball to leave the Musgrave park side 6 to the good at the final whistle.
This win moves St. Brigid’s two points clear of second place Rossa who they are set to meet at Rossa Park on Wednesday the 25th June and that result will go some way in deciding who will win division 4.
There are three rounds of games to play after that however and it could be the last day of the season before we know the eventual overall winners.
St. Brigid’s: 1 Brian McGurk, 2 Oliver Leggett, 3 Conor McElhatton, 4 Dara Sidebottom, 5 Jack Pardy, 6 Michael Burke, 7 Seamus Massingham, 8 Niall Murtagh, 9 Michael Kerr, 10 James Kelly 1-14, 11 Peter Middleton, 13 David Prenter, 14 Fintan Cleary, 15 Oisin McDonnell, 17Finlay Blockley, 18 Owen McCarney, 19 Cuan Polley
All Saints: 1 Ciaran Cassley, 2 Francis Casey, 3 Eoin McAllister, 4 Archie McGreevey, 5 Daniel Gray, 6 Harry Connon, 7 Niall Savage, 8 Damian Gillan, 9 Darach Bradley, 10 Pearse Martin, 11 Eoin McGuigan, 12 Vinny Esler, 13 Antoin Martin, 14 Daniel Kelly, 15 Fintan Brady, 16 Luke Walsh
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