Conn Mag Aoidh produced a battling performance against St Paul’s, who play a division above them, but ultimately came up five points short in a hard-fought encounter at Fr Maginn Park on Sunday.
The game was made particularly difficult from the outset when a very heavy shower swept across the pitch during the opening ten minutes, leaving underfoot conditions challenging for both sides for much of the contest. Despite this, both teams settled quickly, with St Paul’s opening the scoring before Cormac McKeown and Conleth O’Loan responded for Conn Mag Aoidh.
St Paul’s gradually established a narrow advantage during the opening exchanges, with Sean Og McLaren proving particularly influential from placed balls and open play. Conn Mag Aoidh remained firmly in touch, however, with McKeown converting frees and Rian Lennon and Caolan Lennon also getting on the scoresheet.
The key moment of the opening half came in the 28th minute, when Conn Mag Aoidh were awarded a penalty. Cormac McKeown confidently converted from the spot, giving Conn Mag Aoidh a valuable goal and keeping them within touching distance of their opponents.
The second half began with Conn Mag Aoidh holding a slight one point advantage over their opponents with McKeown again central to their scoring, adding further points from frees and play, while Conleth O’Loan also contributed.
St Paul’s, though, had the greater scoring return from play. Sean Og McLaren struck two goals, while Caolán O Duibhfhinn and Sean Munce also featured prominently on the scoreboard. St Paul’s lead was reduced by a late goal from Conleth O’Loan giving Conn Mag Aoidh hope, reducing the deficit to 22-17.
There was to be no final twist, however, and St Paul’s saw out the remaining exchanges to claim a 3-13 to 2-11 victory which keeps the Shaw’s Road men in the hunt for a knock-out place.
Despite the defeat, there was plenty of encouragement for Conn Mag Aoidh. To stay within five points of a team competing in the division above, particularly in such difficult conditions, demonstrated the resilience and competitive spirit of the Conn Mag Aoidh side. On another day, a little more efficiency at key moments could have made the outcome considerably closer.
An Owen Neeson hat-trick paved the way for a Cloney Gaels win over visitors, Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm and puts them back into contention for a place in the play-offs.
Glenarm made the journey to Ahoghill on Friday night with three wins already under their belt and favourites to gain the win that would cement their place at the top of Group 2.
It didn’t quite work out that way however and it proved a tough evening for the Feystown boys, as Shane Uí Neills came up against a strong and determined Ghaeil Chluanaidh outfit, who eventually proved too powerful over the sixty minutes.
Dan O’Neill and James O’Connell pointed the home side into an early lead before Darren Hamill set up Niall Rodgers for a goal for the visitors with only four minutes gone.
Owen Neeson (15) fires home to complete his second half hat-trick as Cloney Gaels defeated Shane O’Neill’s in Group 2 of the IHC
Patrick Graham then levelled matters with a well-taken score, bringing the sides back on terms after the early exchanges.
Glenarm were beginning to settle into the contest, and Daniel Black stepped up to put the Feystown boys’ noses ahead, raising another white flag and giving the visitors a slender advantage as the game continued at a lively pace.
The Gaels then hit a purple patch, with Conor Crossey pointing from play before Colla McDonnell showed his accuracy from the placed ball, converting a brace of frees to swing the momentum back in favour of the home side.
Patrick Graham, followed with his second point of the game, as Ahoghill began to find their rhythm.
The hosts were moving the ball with greater purpose, while the visitors were being forced to work hard to stay in touch.
Glenarm’s Niall McGarel reacted quickest to a loose ball, showing good composure to win possession before sending over a well-taken point, reducing the arrears and giving the Feystown boys a timely lift as they looked to regain a foothold in the contest.
Shortly afterwards, James O’Connell added another white flag for the Gaels, before team-mate Eamonn Brady followed up with a well-taken point, as Ahoghill continued to keep the pressure on the visitors.
Glenarm’s Dylan McLaughlin then showed his quality with a fine solo effort, driving over a superb point for the team in blue and keeping the Feystown boys within touching distance as the contest continued to ebb and flow.
The classy James O’Connell and Patrick Graham were proving influential for the Gaels, with both players showing excellent composure on the ball and keeping the scoreboard ticking over as Ahoghill continued to apply pressure.
Shane O’Neill’s rallied in the closing stages of the half however with Darren Hamill converting a couple of frees and a ‘65’ while Aidan Scullion and Kieran O’Boyle added points from play to leave it all square at the interval.
HALF TIME Ahoghill 0-11 Glenarm 1-08
Straight from the second-half throw-in, the hosts regained the initiative, with Colla McDonnell pointing from play before the classy James O’Connell produced a sublime effort to split the uprights, much to the delight of the home crowd. Ahoghill had started the second period with real purpose, putting the team in blue under immediate pressure.
Darren Hamill then reduced the deficit with a well-struck point before Dylan McLaughlin showed great alertness to win a stray ball and fire over a point, bringing the sides level once again in this keenly contested Intermediate battle.
Two goals in the 7th and 10th minutes, clinically finished by Owen Neeson put the Cloney side firmly in control with Colla McDonnell adding a point before Aidan Scullion and Ben O’Boyle replied with points for the visitors.
Further points from McDonnell in reply to a Darren Hamill converted free had the ‘Gaels ‘ 2-16 to 1-12 ahead at the midway stage of the half and then Colla placed Owen Neeson with a great ball and the Ahoghill attacker made no mistake to complete his hat-trick.
Niall McGarrel and Darren Hamill replied with points for the Feystown side with James O’Connell and Hamill exchanging late scores to leave 8 between the sides at the final whistle.
This win puts Cloney Gaels back in the race for a quarter-final place though they could face a stiff challenge from last week’s conquerors, St. Paul’s who play Glenravel on Saturday.
Despite this defeat Glenarm have done enough to secure a play-off place with three wins from their previous three outings.
Cloney Gaels: Aidan Graham, Patrick Dougan, James Magee, Harry O Donnell, Diarmuid Graham, Bernard Graham, Eoin Graham, Eamonn Brady (-01) Daniel O Neill (-01) Patrick Graham (-03) Ronan Graham, James O Connell (-05) Colla Mc Donnell (04, 3f) Owen Neeson (3-00) Conor Crossey (-01)
Subs. Martin Graham, Ryan Mc Peake, Noel Friel, Donal Graham, Ben Friel, Conal Walls. PJ O Connell,
Shane Uí Neills: Michael Abram, Sean Mc Dermott, Barry Hamill, John Scullion, Kieran O Boyle, Ciaran Magill, Michael Fury, Conal Ward, Sean O Boyle, Niall Mc Garel (-02) Daniel Black (-01) Dylan Mc Laughlin (-02) Aidan Scullion (-02) Darren Hamill (-03, 7f.) Niall Rodgers (1-01)
Subs. Ryan O Boyle (used 44 mins), Sean O Hare, Aidan O Neill, Paddy Mc Auley, Ben O Boyle, Ryan Mc Loughlin, Rory Mulvenna, Liam Mulvenna, Liam O Neill, Shea O Connell, Anthony O Neill.
Reiteóir: Ray Matthews. Rossa
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Paul Dougan, St. Mary’s GAC Ahoghill treasurer presents a sponsorship cheque for £1,000 to Paddy McIlwaine, who received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael, prior to last night’s IHC Group 2
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Cloughmills kept their hopes of reaching the play-off stages alive with a convincing victory over Rasharkin at Fr Leonard Park, laying the foundations with a dominant first-half display.
Two early goals from centre forward Eoin Dobbin helped the home side take control, and by half-time their 3-12 to 0-04 advantage had effectively settled the contest. Rasharkin improved considerably after the break, with James Higgins leading their response, but the damage had already been done.
The result leaves Cloughmills facing what looks likely to be a decisive final group game against St Gall’s, with third place and a route into the knockout stages at stake.
The hosts wasted little time in asserting themselves. Ryan Watson and Mickey Devlin, the latter from a free, opened their account, while Dobbin struck twice for goals during a blistering opening spell.
Devlin added a point from play and Conor Laverty also found the target before another Devlin free left Cloughmills 2-05 to no score ahead after just ten minutes.
There was little respite for the visitors. Devlin sent over from the right wing and Eoin Dobbin followed with a fine effort from the opposite flank as the home side continued to dictate proceedings.
Rasharkin’s problems deepened when a long delivery found its way into their net for a third Cloughmills goal, further extending an already commanding lead.
Thomas McMullan eventually opened the visitors’ account in the 18th minute, but Watt replied with a neat point, striking off his left side from close range.
McMullan added his second before Ryan McFarline produced one of the scores of the half, soloing out of defence and sending a fine shot over from distance.
Devlin maintained his influence with another excellent point from play and a converted free. Rasharkin then managed successive scores through a Conor McKillop free and a James Higgins effort, before Laverty was on target again approaching the interval.
Cloughmills went in leading by 3-12 to 0-04, reward for a first half in which their sharpness in attack had left Rasharkin struggling to gain a foothold.
The pace dropped considerably on the restart, with nine minutes passing before Rasharkin’s Higgins registered the first score of the second half.
Cloughmills had an opportunity to add a fourth goal when awarded a penalty three minutes later, but Devlin fired wide. He responded by opening his side’s second-half account with a point from play in the 43rd minute.
Higgins was becoming increasingly prominent for Rasharkin and struck two further points, continuing an impressive individual second-half performance.
Devlin converted a free, but Higgins answered again as the visitors enjoyed a much better share of the exchanges.
A long-range Devlin point in the 53rd minute completed the home side’s scoring, with Rasharkin finishing through John Kelly, a Conor McKillop free and a sharply taken late free from Oisin Doherty.
The visitors could take some encouragement from outscoring Cloughmills by seven points to three after the break, but the home side’s explosive opening half ensured there was never any serious threat to the outcome.
For Cloughmills, Dobbin’s early goals and Devlin’s consistent scoring were central to a valuable victory. Attention now turns to St Gall’s, with their championship ambitions still very much alive.
Cloughmills: 1 Christopher McKernan, 2 Jack McDowall, 3 Corey Blair, 4 Seán McKendry, 5 Kevin O’Boyle, 6 Geoffrey Og Laverty, 7 Rian Dobbin, 8 Ryan McFarline, 9 Dara Watterson, 10 Michael Devlin, 11 Eoin Dobbin, 12 Reece Watt, 13 Ryan Watson, 14 Shemus Duffin, 15 Conor Laverty.
Rasharkin: 1 Brendan Kelly, 2 Jason McGregor, 3 Aidan McKeever, 4 Daniel Hasson, 5 Conor Doherty, 6 Tiernan O’Boyle, 7 Conaire Donaghy, 8 James Higgins, 9 Conor McFerran, 10 Thomas McMullan, 11 Conan McMullan, 12 Jack Quinn, 13 Conor McKillop, 14 John Kelly, 15 Oisin Doherty.
Referee – Mark O’Neill
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Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship – Round Three Carey Faughs 2-21 St Gall’s 0-18 At Ballyvoy
Carey Faughs booked their place in the play-offs of the Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship with an impressive ten-point victory over St Gall’s at Ballyvoy.
Having won their opening two games, Carey knew that victory would secure their place in the knockout stages. They produced a dominant first-half display, inspired by man of the match Shea Hunter, to build an eleven-point interval lead.
St Gall’s made the perfect start when Mark Napier opened the scoring inside the first minute, but their advantage was short-lived. Carey replied with four unanswered points, Paddy Butler registering two while Hunter announced his arrival with a pair of superb long-range scores.
Conall McGlynn and Callum Cane added further points before Hunter landed another excellent effort from distance to help the home side move 0-7 to 0-1 ahead after only seven minutes.
Napier briefly interrupted the Carey surge with his second point, but McGlynn and Hunter responded to stretch the gap to 0-9 to 0-2. St Gall’s appeared to have underestimated the threat posed by the Ballyvoy men and struggled to cope with the pace, movement and accuracy of the home attack.
Dubhaltach Wilson pulled one back for the visitors, but McGlynn converted a long-range free and Butler followed with another placed ball. Wilson struck a fine point from the right corner before Hunter and Patrick Gillan added to the Carey total.
Napier registered St Gall’s fifth point in the 31st minute, but Carey delivered the decisive blow deep into first-half injury time. Hunter sent a long delivery towards the St Gall’s goal and Fiachra McVeigh produced a clever overhead connection which sent the sliotar into the net, giving Carey a commanding 1-13 to 0-5 lead at the break.
McGlynn increased the margin with a free at the beginning of the second half, although St Gall’s finally began to show what they were capable of. Niall Fallon and Mac Liam pointed before Hunter raced up the wing to reply for Carey.
Séaghdha McAdam, Mac Liam and Tomas O’Ciarain were all on target during the visitors’ best spell. Wilson then landed a magnificent point from well inside his own half as St Gall’s reduced the deficit to six and briefly threatened to make a contest of it.
Hunter settled Carey with another excellent point before Cane struck the home side’s second goal. That score effectively ended St Gall’s hopes of completing a comeback and restored Carey’s firm grip on proceedings.
Napier and Mac Liam kept the visitors’ scoreboard moving from frees, but Butler and McGlynn responded at the other end. Napier added another from play and Gregory McGreevy also found the target from distance, though St Gall’s could never get close enough to place the home side under serious pressure.
Hunter fittingly dominated the closing stages. He added a point in the 29th minute and then won the resulting puck-out before driving the sliotar straight back over the bar for another outstanding score.
Napier recorded the final point in injury time, but it was Carey’s day. Their third successive victory secured a deserved semi-final place, with Hunter’s long-range striking and all-round influence central to a commanding Ballyvoy performance.
Caolan O’Duibhfhinn was on fire as he led St. Paul’s to their first Group 2 IHC victory when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Cloney Gaels on the Shaw’s Road on Saturday. The Ahoghill men went into this one having posted an impressive 7-22 in their last outing against Tir na nOg but found themselves on the back foot from early in the game against a totally committed St. Paul’s.
James O’Connell got the visitors of the mark with a point after 30 seconds but O’Duibhfinn got in for the game’s opening goal with only a minute gone and it was a lead they would retain for the greater part of the game.
Patrick Graham for the ‘Gaels’ and Sean Og McLornan exchanged further points and an Eamonn Brady point for the visitors had it level with 7 minutes on the clock.
Caolan O’Duibhfinn who’s hat trick paved the way for a St. Paul’s victory over Cloney Gaels on Saturday
James McDonnell and Sean Munce moved the Shaw’s Road outfit two in front and PJ O’Connell and Munce exchanged further minors and further exchanges between Sean Og McAlornan and Colla McDonnell kept the gap at two after 17 minutes.
The greater intensity of St. Paul’s was starting to tell however as they gave their opponents no time to settle on the ball, forcing them into unnecessary errors and a ‘65’ conversion from O’Duibhfinn and a great point from James McDonnell moved the host’s four ahead.
A sideline cut from Conal Finnegan increased that lead to five before Colla McDonnell replied with Cloney Gaels first score for 11 minutes as he converted a free.
It would be St. Paul’s who finished the half on top however as O’Duibhfinn struck a fine long range effort and Sean Munce added another in reply to one from Bernard Graham to leave the hosts 1-10 to 0-8 ahead at the short whistle.
Cloney Gaels needed to step it up if they were to turn this game around in the second half and Bernard Graham got them off to a fine start with a long range point after 20 seconds but it failed to ignite the visitors challenge.
Sean Og McLornan and Stephen Rooney replied with points for the home side with Colla McDonnell responding from a 7th minute free but the home side were still calling the shots.
They struck in devastating fashion to put themselves in firm control as O’Duibhfinn fired home his second goal in the 5th minute and when Stephen Rooney followed with another, a minute later the gap was out to 11 points.
Eamonn Brady attempts to drive Cloney Gaels forward from mid-field
Another Colla McDonnell free and fine long range point from Eamonn Brady brought it back to 9 but when Caolan O’Duibhfinn pointed a ‘65’ and followed with a goal to complete his hat-trick it was as good as over.
Ahoghill kept battling to the end but it was goals they needed and despite their best efforts they could find no way past Christopher Murray and his defence, the St. Paul’s keeper pulling of a couple of excellent stops.
A couple of late points from substitute Owen Neeson was as good as it got for the visitors who now find themselves on 2 points from 3 starts alongside St. Paul’s and Tir na nOg.
Cushendun and Glenarm lead the group on maximum point from three starts so the race seems to be for third place amongst the above mentioned and is unlikely to be decided until the last Group 2 round on the weekend of the 11th & 12th September.
St Paul’s: 1 Christopher Murray, 2 Gerard Maguire, 3 Daire Stevenson, 4 Declan Quinn, 5 Tomas Duff, 6 Lorcan Phillips, 7 Caoimhin Killyleagh, 8 Conal Finnegan, 9 Stephen Rooney, 10 Sean Munce, 11 Sean Og McLornan, 12 James McDonnell, 13 Shea Burns, 14 Caolan Crossan, 15 Caolan O’Duibhfhinn
