IHC Group 2
St Gall’s 0-11 Tír na nÓG 1-17

Tir na nOg took a step closer to a place in the semi-finals when they proved too good for an understrength St. Gall’s in miserable conditions at Milltown on Sunday.

Their hosts, St. Gall’s were in a similar position and this defeat puts them out of the running for second place in Group 2 and with a number of regulars unavailable, they never really looked like winning this one.

Before the game began both teams and spectators observed a minutes silence in honour of former St Gall’s Senior player Kieran McGrath who passed away last week.

Both sides entered the game on the back of strong performances with St Gall’s getting their first win against Cloughmills last time out and Tír na nÓg being edged by the smallest of margins against championship favourites Glenariffe.

It was visitors Tir na nOg who took early control in this one with the Duffin brothers, Caoimhin and Sean pivotal in their dominance and they led by eight points at the break and the gap remained much the same throughout the second half.

It was St. Gall’s who opened the scoring when Dubhaltach Wilson pointed a free from distance after he was fouled in the opening throw-in before Ciaran Logan and Sean Duffin replied from play to move Tir na nOg ahead for the first time.

Emmet Murray struck an excellent point as he burst past the St Gall’s backline and struck his effort over the bar to edge his side further ahead and Dylan McLarnon found himself in unfamiliar territory and his shot dipped over.

Piarais McCaffrey came to his side’s rescue as the visitors continued to press and he was called into action on two occasions to make goal-line stops and looked assured under the dropping ball.

Sean Duffin led the way for the Randalstown side and top scored with six points for his side and his dead ball prowess kept a healthy margin between the sides as the game progressed.

Dubhaltach Wilson tried all in his power to get the Milltown side going with two points in as many minutes but Tir na nOg struck a decisive blow when Colm Duffin was first to react to the breaking ball to finish from close range.

That score gave Tír na nÓg a commanding lead at the break as the scoreboard read 1-10 to 0-5 and it was going to take a big improvement from St. Gall’s if they were to get back into it in the second half.

The visitors were in no mood to relinquish what they had achieved and Sean Duffin quickly increased their lead on the restart before Ciaran Logan added another from a great strike from mid-way inside the St Gall’s half.

Wilson struck in reply for St Gall’s before Mark Napier got his first of the evening and added another to reduce the deficit to within five after the corner forward’s frees sailed between the posts.

Caoimhin Duffin, who had been outstanding at centre-half escaped his defensive duties to send a long range effort between the posts to once again re-establish control for his side.

Ciaran O’Neill and Daniel Martin got in on the action after the pair struck a point apiece either side of Ronan Crossan’s second score of the game for the home side.

St, Gall’s were battling hard to get their own game going but the visitors defence were giving nothing away with their closing down and blocking frustrating the Milltown side’s efforts with Mark Napier being man-marked and having to settle for just a single point from open play after a brilliant defensive display from Brandon McLarnon.

Niall Fallon had the chance to give some momentum to his side’s cause but he was closed down by a resolute visitors defence and the sliothar was cleared to safety.

Joe McCormick and Sean Duffin rounded off the scoring in what was a keenly contested encounter but one brilliantly managed by the Randalstown side who move into second place in the group after a huge victory on the Falls Road.

A win or even a draw for Tir na nOg against Shane O’Neill’s on the final day of the Group stages would guarantee them a place in the semi-finals and on this form they look quite capable of achieving it.

Should they lose then Cushendun and Glenarm could still gate crash the play-offs so the Whitehill side’s fate is now very much in their own hands.

St Gall’s: P McCaffrey; E Loughran, M Marlow, O McIlhatton; E Walsh, G Adams, C McCaffrey; J Hopkins, D Churchill; A Mackle, J O’Reilly 0-1, D Wilson 0-5 (0-2f); R Crossan 0-2, S McAreavey, M Napier 0-3 (0-2f)

Subs: N Fallon, T McAleenan, A Mullan, A Healy, S Adams, E Farrelly, A McDonagh, K Wilson

Tír na nÓg: K Sheerin; B McLarnon, D McLarnon, M Smith; C Duffin 0-1, C O’Neill 0-1, R O’Neill; S Duffin 0-6 (0-4f), D Martin 0-1; D Fagan, E Murray 0-1, C Logan 0-3; J McCormick 0-2, S McKinley, C Duffin 1-1.

Subs: D McLornan, T Bonnes, B Fitzgerald, C McCamphill, D Martin

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Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1 – Round 3

Saturday 6^th September

Report by Niall Kelly from Páirc Naomh Pól

Naomh Pól 7-25    Naomh Mhuire, Ros Earcáin 0-16

A goal hungry Naomh Pól swept aside the challenges of Rasharkin on Saturday afternoon with an emphatic win to boost their chances of progression. Their objective was crystal clear; secure a win and do so with as substantial a margin as possible. With thirty points to spare, the Shaw’s Road men put a significant dent in their score difference battle with Clooney Gaels to see who follows Creggan into the knockout stages of this year’s intermediate competition. A deluge of goals in the first half from Declan Chapman, Sean Munce and a double from Sean Óg McLaren saw them take a handsome thirteen-point lead at the interval before their firepower upped the ante in the second with further majors from hat-trick hero McLaren, Caolan Ó’Duibfinn and Caolan Crossan. To their credit, the visitors battled valiantly despite the margin and Conor McKeever, Donagh Quigg and Conor McKillop all put in a fine hour’s hurling.

The hosts wasted little time in getting started and raced into an early four-point lead thanks to scores from Declan Chapman, Sean Lawell, Caolan Ó’Duibfinn and Sean Óg McLaren. Rasharkin’s attacked were isolated in the opening exchanges, but they eventually got motoring and did reply positively thanks to fine scores from Donagh Quigg and Conor McKeever. Sean Munce and McKeever traded further points before the home side began to turn the screw midway through the half.

Caolan Crossan angled his effort to perfection before a towering point sailed over from their linchpin Stephen Rooney. The signs now were ominious for the visitors as St Paul’s were constantly peppering their goal and already veered a few opportunities to net wide of the mark. McLaren made no mistake though on the eighteenth minute as he capitalised on a defensive error, cooly despatching to the onion bag from close range.

Despite a response from Donagh Quigg, the hosts had their sights set on further damage of the Rasharkin net. Declan Chapman demonstrated his predatory instincts minutes later as he pounced on Lorcan Phillip’s blocked point attempt to steer home with ten minutes of the half remaining. Yet again, Rasharkin responded with a white flag from Quigg but their reprieve would be short-lived as the hosts goaled yet again. Sean Munce ensured that their whole full forward line had a major to their name as he swept a clever effort to the net, putting the finishing touches on a drilled pass from Chapman.

The visitors were camped in their own half and try as they might, they couldn’t negotiate an escape route as Naomh Pól were relentless in their offensive pursuits. McLaren would then strike yet again as he latched on to Mark Munce’s clever pass to unleash to the net for the second time on the twenty fifth minute. Rasharkin desperately needed some inspiration and found this in the form of their chief marksman, Conor McKeever. The domineering number twelve sent over the next three points before Caolan Crossan finished the first period with a fine effort from range leaving the scores at 4-09 to 0-08 at Fiontann McCotter’s short whistle. 

The second thirty kickstarted in a similar fashion to the first as the hosts hit the first four unanswered scores with Lorcan Phillips, McLaren and a double from Ó’Duibfinn increasing the margin. Yet again, it would be Quigg who would respond for Rasharkin and yet again… St Paul’s would retaliate with a green flag thanks to a rasping effort from that man McLaren. His low, drilled effort nestled nicely in the bottom corner as the young full-forward completed his hat-trick.

The men in blue and yellow could’ve been forgiven for giving up the ghost given the deficit, but they refused to lie down and hit a purple patch just before the final quarter. It was no surprise that the sole source of these scores was their ace, Conor McKeever, who fired over four impressive points including a soaring effort from range.

Perhaps this flurry of points provided the catalyst for the hosts who seized momentum back in their favour and finished off the game in incessant nature again as they looked to inflict as much damage on the scoreboard as possible. Sean Munce and Caolan Ó’Duibfinn had the umpires brandish their white flags before substitutes Conall Finnegan and Garrett Cowan announced their arrival with well-taken points.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Rasharkin’s substitute keeper, Kevin McLernon, was bombarded with shot after shot as St Paul’s sought further majors. The visitor’s number 16 responded defiantly though as he thwarted them on multiple occasions. However, he was powerless to stop Ó’Duibfinn whose driven attempt just crept in.

Sean Munce and Conall Finnegan added further scores either side of a McKeever free before the hosts grabbed their seventh goal of the afternoon on the fifty sixth minute as Caolan Crossan managed to roll the ball in from close range among a melee of bodies and spills. A trio of points from Ó’Duibfinn in response to consolation scores from Terry McGregor and Brain Óg O’Neill would see out proceedings with the men in red and white sealing a commanding 7-25 0-16 win.

Job done as far as the Naomh Pól management are concerned. Two vital points secured and with such a handsome margin of victory, they have now cut the score difference with Ahoghill from sixty-four to twenty eight. Their meeting with neighbours Sarsfields is now a crucial game. The Paddies have endured a disappointing campaign and have failed to register any points on the board. Surely though, they will be determined to spoil their rivals aspirations and an intriguing battle at the Bear Pit is in prospect on the 20^th of September.

For Rasharkin, the journey from Junior hurling to Intermediate is a challenging one to navigate. Although it was a hefty defeat, the Dreen men can take solace in their resilient attitude and will look to build on this going forward.

Teams:

Naomh Pól:

K Murray; P McKevitt, F Sewell, T Auld; M Munce (0-01,) S Rooney (0-01,) C Killyleagh; S Lawell (0-01,) D Quinn; Caolan Ó’Duibfinn (1-09,) C Crossan (1-02,) L Phillips (0-01;) S Munce (1-03,) S Óg McLaren (3-03,) D Chapman (1-01)

Substitute scorers:

C Finnegan (0-02)

G Cowan (0-01)

Naomh Mhuire, Ros Earcáin:

L Tunney; C Higgins, A McKeever, D Hasson; C McKillop, J Higgins, T O’Boyle; B Óg O’Neill (0-01,) C McFerran; T McMullan, D Quigg (0-04,) C McKeever (0-10;) J McGregor, T McGregor (0-01,) C Donaghy

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IHC Group 2

Shane O’Neill’s 2-14 Oisins 3-17

Pics by David Humphreys

Oisin’s Glenariffe cemented their place at the top of the IHC Group 2 and a place in the semi-finals with a good win at Feystown over Shane O’Neill’s on Saturday night to leave the race for second place wide open.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with Niall McGarel and Dylan McLaughlin for the home side and Seanie McIntosh and Alex O’Boyle for the visitors exchanging points to leave it 0-2 apiece after five minutes.

Slowly though Glenariffe began to take control as Odhran Gillan and Calum McIlwaine pointed to move them two ahead before Colla Ward raced through the heart of the Glenarm defence before finishing confidently for the game’s opening goal.

Seanie McIntosh added a point to move his side six ahead by the 10^th minute before McGarel replied with Glenarm’s third point of the evening from a free in the 12^th minute.

It was starting to look ominous for the home side as Orrin O’Connor saw his well hit shot crash back of the Shane O’Neill’s crossbar but the visitors continued to find opening in the home defence.

Alex O’Boyle, Michael O’Boyle, Daniel Kearney and a superb effort from Niall Magee moved them 1-9 to 0-3 ahead before Niall McGarel again briefly eased the pressure from a couple of well struck frees to leave it 1-9 to 0-5 in favour of the visitors as Darren McKeown sounded the half time whistle.

With the wind in their favour the home side were expected to respond on the restart but it was Alex O’Boyle who increased the Oisin’s lead from a pointed free in the opening minute.

A superb point from Ciaran Magill in reply failed to bring about the necessary response from his colleagues and it was Glenariffe who produced another telling blow when Seanie McIntosh fired out of reach of Michael Abram for their second goal of the evening.

McGarel replied from another converted free as David Kearney replaced Michael Haughey in the Oisin’s side and the visitors continued to call the shots with Daniel Kearney splitting the posts before McIntosh set up Michael O’Boyle with a deft pass for their third goal of the evening.

Alex O’Boyle added a point before the hard working Ciaran Magill replied with Glenarm’s 8^th point in the 14^th minute but the Feystown side were being made to workhard for their scores as the visitors defence continued to deny them space.

Colla Ward and Magill exchanged further points before Glenarm hit their best patch of the game with Niall McGarel from a free and Declan McDermott and Darren Hamill with two converted ‘65’s bringing their total to 0-13 with seven minutes remaining.

These scores brought another response from the group leaders as ace marksman, Alex O’Boyle from a free and Oliver Kearney from play moved Oisin’s 11 ahead again by the 27^th minute and it was as good as over.

To their credit Shane O’Neill’s kept battling to the end and a good point from Ciaran Magill was followed by a goal from the same player with Alex O’Boyle punishing a rash challenge with a point at the other end.

The men in Blue were now fighting for pride and Aidan Scullion rose to bat a hanging delivery to the net in reply to another O’Boyle converted free to conclude the scoring and put a much better look on the final score-line.

This win sees Oisin’s top the group with one game still to play when they entertain St. Brigid’s Cloughmills on the 21^st September while Shane O’Neill’s will have to defeat Tir na nOg at Whitehill in their final game and hope that other results go their way if they are to qualify.

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IHC Group 1

Cloney Gaels 3-15 Creggan 2-19

Cloney Gaels and Kickham’s Creggan served up a real championship encounter to decide who would top Group 1 in the Intermediate Championship in front of a good crowd, which included Davey Fitzgerald at Cloney on Friday night.

In the proverbial game of two halves it was the home side, despite losing Eoin Graham to a hamstring injury after 2 minutes, who were in command for most of the opening half and goals from Ronan Graham and a couple from Colla McDonnell sent them to the dressing rooms leading 3-7 to 0-9 and good value for that lead.

James O’Connell score 0-6 of his sides 7 first half points as he punished some rash tackling while it was Creggan free taker, Morgan Nelson who was very much to the fore for the Staffordstown Road side with 0-7 of his side’s first half total of 0-9.

Sean Duffin 0-2 was the other Creggan first half scorer while Ronan Graham got the Gaels other point to add to his goal which arrived after 23 minutes.

Colla McDonnell fired home from close range when he punished a defensive mix-up, three minutes before half time and the same player got their third as the game edged into time added on.

Ahoghill will feel on reflection that they might have been further ahead at the break as their high press and slick movement put the Kickham’s under constant pressure and there would have been much to discuss in the visitors dressing room at half time.

Whatever was said certainly seemed to do the trick and Creggan were a different team in the second half as they abandoned their sweeper system, which clearly wasn’t working and took a much more direct approach.

They hit the first three points of the second half through Sean Duffin, Diarmuid Mulholland and Ruairi McCann to close the gap to four by the 5^th minute before James O’Connell got his side off the mark with 7 minutes gone.

The game took a decisive turn in favour of the visitors when Matthew Rodgers fired to the net in the 10^th minute and a point from Conor Small had it back to the minimum at the end of the third quarter.

James O’Connell replied with his 9^th of the evening from a free and when he added another from the same scenario the Cloney side appeared to have weathered the storm.

Creggan were having none of it however as the intensity of the exchanges stepped up another notch with the impressive Morgan Nelson, Diarmuid Mulholland and Nelson again brought the sides level and the same player edged them ahead for the first time from a 50 meter free by the 19^th minute.

Once again the Cloney response came through the stick of James O’Connell who tied the contest for the second time in the 24^th minute and Ronan Graham edged them ahead once more with five minutes remaining.

Just when it looked like the Ahoghill side had regained control it was Kickham’s Creggan whop again responded and Ruairi McCann set up Conor Small for their second goal to restore their lead again and it was clear that this one was going right down to the wire.

Superb free taker, O’Connell converted two on the bounce at the other end but points from Conor Small and a Matthew Rodgers ‘65’ kept the Creggan noses two ahead.

Thomas McGlone replied to close the gap to one again as Cloney Gaels pressed in an attempt to save the contest but that would be as close as they got and it is Kickham’s who now top Group 1.

Cloney Gaels sit only a point behind them but have played a game more and have completed their programme and must wait results from the other group games before they know their fate, but should be safe.

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IHC Group 2

Tir na nOg 1-18 Oisins 2-19

Before the game in Cloney a minutes silence was immpecably observed in memory of youg Glenariffe player, Eunan Harvey who sadly passed away last week.

Only four points separated the top two in Group 2 at the end of a robust and at times tempestuous contest at the neutral venue of Cloney but in truth the score-line flattered the Whitehill side who were chasing the game from early on.

Tir na nOg were much too reliant on the free taking of Sean Duffin and while the big centre-half would finish with 1-11 to his credit for the hour, his injury time goal came with virtually the last play of the game.

Their opponents Oisins Glenariffe had a better spread of scorers and were on top for the greater part of the contest and were worthy winners of a game where a number of tackles were not for the faint hearted.

It was the Waterfoot side who made the early running in Ahoghill and after Colm Duffin fired over the opening point for Tir na nOg, they took control.

Callum McIlwaine replied immediately to square the contest and Seanie McIntosh finished to the net from close range in the 9^th minute as Glenariffe sprung to life.

Orrin O’Connor added a point before Sean Duffin made his first contribution of the evening with a point in the 10^th minute as Tir na nOg tried to find a response.

The same player added his second of the contest from a free to close the gap to two as the North Antrim side missed a few at the other end but David Kearney settled them with a good point and Oliver Kearney added another to move them 1-4 to 0-3 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.

Disaster then struck the Whitehill side when Sean Duffin was robbed as he attempted to clear his lines and Alex O’Boyle soloed clear before placing Daniel Kearney to finish from close range.

Duffin and O’Boyle traded points from frees and Colm Duffin cut the deficit to two once more as Conor Patterson replaced Niall Murray in the Oisin’s side and O’Boyle pointed another free with Sean Duffin replying from all of 70 meters to keep the Randalstown men in touch.

Tir na nOg were struggling to make the ball stick up front with Michael Haughey sweeping up everything that came his way and Alex O’Boyle landed another free from distance before Ciaran O’Neill became only the third Tir na nOg player to register with a point in the 27^th minute.

Conor Patterson struck his first point of the evening and O’Boyle converted another free and Darragh Fagan looked to be in for a goal at the other end but lost his sliothar as he was closed down and had to settle for a kicked point.

That left it 2-9 to 0-9 for the men from the glens and they were good value for that lead with too many Tir na nOg players not performing and their dependence on the Duffin’s making life extremely difficult.

It was Colm Duffin who pointed an early second half free to close the gap to five but Oliver Kearney and Orrin O’Connor replied with points at the other end and as Glenariffe found another gear, David Kearney and Oliver Kearney again moved them 10 ahead with only 7 minutes of the new half gone.

Ciaran Logan entered the fray for the Randalstown side as the shootout between Sean Duffin and Alex O’Boyle continued but it was Oisins who were still dictating matters.

Another Orrin O’Connor point moved the Waterfoot side 11 ahead at the end of the third quarter with Colm Duffin sending a side-line cup between the uprights in reply but Sean Duffin’s radar then deserted him for a time as he was off target from distance.

Sites adjusted Duffin then landed another long range effort and substitute, Eamon Og McAllister soloed through for a good point to give their side just a glimmer of hope as Glenariffe continued to ring the changes.

Sean Duffin added yet another massive free and Darragh Fagan followed with one from play to cut the gap to six as the ‘Blues’ made one last push but Alex O’Boyle eased the pressure with their first point for 14 minutes.

Duffin had it back to six again with his 10^th and 11^th of the contest and the same player finally got the goal his side needed but it was too little, too late and Seanie McIntosh sealed it for Glenariffe with an injury time point.

In the end the best team won and last year’s beaten finalists will be hoping to go one better this year and on the evidence of what they produced for most of the hour, they look favourites to take the Intermediate title.

There will be some concern as to how they allowed the opposition back to within touching distance in the closing stages but undoubtedly those matters will have been addressed by the time they face Shane O’Neill’s at Pairc Ui fhearsithe on the 6^th of September.

Tir na nOg will be disappointed by their overall team performance but a win at St. Gall’s would put them firmly back in the picture for a qualifying place and their fate still remains firmly in their own hands.

Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Brandon McLarnon, 3 Dylan McLarnon, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Ciaran O’Neill, 25 Sean Duffin, 7 Daniel Martin, 8 Conor McCamphill, 9 Emmett Murray, 10 Darragh Fagan, 11 Colm Duffin, 12 Josh Higgins, 14 Sean McKinley, 17 Ryan O’Neill, 23 Oliver McAtamney.

Subs: Eamon Og McAllister, Caomhin Duffin, Kevin McCann, Ciaran Logan, Tiernan Bonnes

Oisins Glenariffe: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Patrick McIlwaine, 17 Michael Haughey, 3 Niall Murray, 5 David Kearney, 6 Niall Magee, 7 Calum McIlwaine, 8 Odhran Gillan, 9 Oliver Kearney, 10 Orrin O’Connor, 12 Michael O’Boyle, 13 Alex O’Boyle, 14 Seanie McIntosh, 18 Daniel Kearney.

Subs: Conor Patterson for Niall Murray, Brogan O’Connor for Daniel Kearney, James Kearney for Patrick McIlwaine, Phelim Ward   

Referee: Colin Thompson

St. Mary’s Ahoghill treasurer, Paul Dougan presents a sponsorship cheque to Paddy McIlwaine during the half time interval at the Glenariffe-Tir na Nog IFC game in Cloney on Sunday. The Saffron Gael thanks St. Mary’s for their continued generous support and appeal to all clubs to make a donation and help us keep the site going

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