Casment Social Club Junior Hurling Championship

Con Magee’s Glenravel 2-16 Glen Rovers Armoy 1-6

THE template for the Glenravel hurlers was set earlier in the day by the Ladies Footballers – get out in front at the start and then hit hard in the minute or two immediately after half-time. 

The hurlers took note and two minutes into the second half of this Casement Social Antrim Junior hurling final the Con Magee’s had one hand on the cup with a lead of 1-11 to 1-0!

Armoy simply couldn’t get going in the first half. They initiated the first couple of attacks only for Cormac McKeown to break and point on Glenravel’s first attack.

Conleth O’Loan pointed a free a second or two later and then Declan Traynor fired over two points in quick succession. 

Armoy steadied the ship a little over the next six minutes, but couldn’t make any headway at the other end of the field where they put three efforts the wrong side of the post.

Meanwhile Glenravel continued to add to their total; another point from McKeown, two from Traynor and then a second free from O’Loan and the lead was doubled to eight points with 24 minutes gone.

Then Armoy got their first break. A long delivery in dropped a bit dead and Arthur Devlin ran through to hit the net.

However Glenravel responded positively with two late pointed frees, one each for O’Loan and Seán McKay to make it 0-10 to 1-0 at the break.

Within 20 seconds of the re-start, O’Loan had the sliotar in the net, almost taking too much out of the ball by circling round to the left before composing himself to kick to the net.

Less than a minute later McKay took a lovely pass from McKeown to hit the target. The game looked in the bag at this stage, but Emmett O’Hara did his best to lift Armoy with a point to which Trevor Linton added a free.

However Glenravel were picking up a lot of dirty ball and creating openings like when Rian Lennon broke to feed Sean McKay for their 12th point.

Armoy though hit a good spell in the middle of the second half with two points from O’Hara either side of another Linton free before a shot from out the field came off the foot of the Glenravel upright and was cleared to safety. Had that effort gone into the net at that stage, there would have been just four points in it and momentum with Glen Rovers.

Over the next five minutes however, Glenravel wrestled that momentum back and put the result to bed.

Seán McKay started it off with a free. Within 60 seconds they had added two more via Conleth O’Loan and Fergus Donaghy. McKay added another free before the coup de grace in the 53rd minute. Luke Loughlin broke free and his delivery made its way through to the unmarked Callum Higgins who took the sliotar to the edge of the area and squeezed it under Tim Burns.

Armoy pushed up for the last five minutes plus with subs sprung from both benches, but they only managed to add a free from Turlough McBride.

The conditions were not really suited to exploit hurling skills, but the winners certainly looked the slicker team with strength over the ground ball, pace out of the tackle and then some excellent points.

Emmett O’Hara, Arthur Devlin and Ronan Lavelle worked hard to get Armoy going, but on the evening they were dominated by Glenravel who now move through to the Ulster arena four years after their last foray brought them to the semi-finals.

Con Magee’s: C Quinn, E McCusker, J Duffin, B O’Neill, J Martin, C Lennon, R Lennon, F Donaghy 0-1, D McAuley, C Higgins 1-0, S McKay 0-5, 3fs, D Donaghy, C O’Loan 1-4, 0-3fs, D Traynor 0-4, C McKeown 0-2.

Subs: L Loughlin for D Donaghy (40), M McDonnell for E McCusker (57), C Laverty for D Traynor (57), R McCormick for D McAuley (60).

Glen Rovers: Tim Burns, Callum Coyles, S Devlin, L Dillon, A Devlin 1-0, Thomas Burns, R Lavelle, C Christie, C McToal, T McBride 0-1 f, E O’Hara 0-3, PJ McBride, T Linton 0-2 fs, C Lordan, C McKenna.

Sub: C Doubthart for C Lordan (40), J McFetridge for C Coyles, Ciarán Coyles for T Linton (59).

Referee: P O’Neill (Creggan)

TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/vvLevq6pTtTgzx/?invite=65a47001-5620-4b89-8e08-df58911ef8ee

Junior B Hurling Championship final

Mor Dal gCais 2-16 Latharna Og 0-6

The long wait is over for Loch Mor Dal gCais. On Saturday at Slemish Park in Ballymena they claimed their first senior hurling title when they recorded a convincing victory over Latharna Og from Larne.

Perhaps the absence of a trophy over many years played on the minds of the eventual winners but they took a long time to settle as they were forced into errors by a strong tackling Latharna Og who gave as good as they got during the opening half and would probably fancied their chancers when they closed the gap to the minimum just after the second half got under way.

That was perhaps the wakeup call the men from around the Loch shore needed as they found several higher gears for the remainder of the contest to totally dominate the exchanges and run out convincing winners.

The opening half was fragmented and scrappy and it was Larne who made the better opening with Ryan O’Donnell dropping an early ‘65’ short before firing over from a similar effort to  give his side the lead with 2 minutes gone.

Loch Mor replied through Christopher Robb and a massive free from Bailey Graham to edge in front by the 5^th minute but Ron Millar responded at the other end to leave it all square again with 12 minutes on the clock.

Darragh Turley finally got his name on the score sheet to edge Loch Mor back in front but they were being knocked out of their stride by a tough tackling Larne side who drew level again through a Conor Matthews free.

Matthews edged Latharna Og ahead for the second time and his third point of the half after 25 minutes restored their lead once more after Turley had converted a free from 55 meters at the other end.

Darragh Turley had been well contained but he began to have a greater influence on matters in the period leading up to half time and he hit a great point to level matters once more and followed another one from Matthew Jones to leave his side 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.

The sea-sider’s would have been fairly happy with their first half performance but probably felt they could have been closer and when they struck the opening point of the second half through a Conor Matthews free it all appeared to be going to plan.

Two minutes later the game swung significantly in favour of Loch Mor Dal gCais however when a long delivery from Bailey Graham broke favourably to Declan Phillips and his astute pass across goal was batted home from close range by Ferdia Carson.

Darragh Turley added a pointed free and then Christopher Robb picked the pocket of his marker before sending over and the Loch shore side were six ahead with only nine minutes of the new half gone.

Robb followed with another excellent point as space began to open up for the men in Maroon & Green who were now moving the ball at speed and accuracy and Latharna Og were finding it difficult to keep in touch.

They were still battling hard but were thankful to their keeper, Darra Kerr who pulled off a couple of good stops as their opponent started to turn the screw.

Darragh Turley added another pointed free before Christopher Robb got in for the second goal and it was as good as over with still 10 minutes plus injury time to play.

Matthew Jones got in on the scoring act and Turley tagged on three superb points from play as Loch Mor pushed home their advantage. The same player concluded his side’s scoring as the game moved into injury time before Latharna Og’s never say die attitude looked like being rewarded.

A last ditch period of attack saw referee Chris Brown spread his hands to indicate a penalty award and up stepped Cathal McKillop to take the free but Loch Mor keeper, Martin Robb dived to his right to save the penalty.

There were scenes of celebration after the whistle when spectators joined their heroes on the Slemish Park pitch as Sean O’Reilly from the CCC presented the Junior B Championship cup to Loch Mor captain, James Magorran.

Magorran was excellent at the heart of a solid Loch Mor defence in front of keeper, Martin Robb whose son Christopher impressed at the other end of the field where he led his lines well at full-forward.

Darragh Turley, when he finally shook off the shackles of the Larne defence was superb for the winners in a side that all played their part.

Larne had a reliable keeper in Dara Kerr and Barry Petticrew and Cathal McKillop in defence, Ryan O’Donnell at mid-field and Conor Matthews in attack were best for a Latharna Og side who quite simply have not played enough hurling this year.

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE FINAL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/tc9AoWznYpPUh9

JHC quarter-final

Gort na Mona 0-18 Davitt’s 2-4

A Dessie McClean inspired Gort na Mona proved too slick for Davitt’s in this Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final at Enright Park on Sunday.

The excellent McClean would account for 0-11 of his side’s 0-18 total and his unerring accuracy from the placed ball punished every indiscretion that the Falls Road side committed over the hour.

It was Colm McKee who got Michael Davitt’s off to a good start with a point in the 1^st minute but that would be the only time they led as McClean replied with three from play and a converted free in the 8^th minute.

A scrambled goal from Cormac Maguire had the visitors back on level terms with 1o minutes gone but they only flattered to deceive as Gort na Mona continued to call the shots.

McClean from a 12^th minute free had the men from the Mona Bye-pass back ahead and Thomas McCaffrey followed from long range as the home side began to dominate.

Dessie McClean matched McCaffrey’s effort with another from long range and he added a couple of converted free by the 18^th minute as the one way traffic towards the Davitt’s goal continued.

Davitt’s were working hard to get going and break the shackles of the opposition and their best player, Caoimhin Rainey replied with a point but it only served to bring another response from the home side.

Darron Boyd landed a monster effort and Dessie McClean from a ‘65’ and a great point from play from an acute angle left the ‘Gorts’ 0-12 to 1-2 ahead at the break and good value for their lead.

If they were to get back into contention then Davitt’s needed to up the ante in the second half and Caoimhin Rainey raised their hopes as he sent over with only 2 minutes gone.

It failed to bring the necessary response from his colleagues however as Gort na Mona assumed control and Connor McCann, Dessie McClean (f) and another good point from play moved them nine ahead at the end of the third quarter.

Sean Doyle added 2 more and a long range special from Neil Henry moved the ‘Gorts’ 12 ahead by the 21^st minute.

Davitt’s were still giving it everything and were finally rewarded for their efforts when Caoimhin Rainey got in for a superb second goal and Nathan Maginn added a late point but it only served to put a better look on the final score-line and it is the Turf Lodge side who will now contest the semi-finals.

In the other quarter-final played on Sunday, Lamh Dhearg produced the performance of the day to defeat St. Brigid’s 0-24 to 1-12 at Musgrave Park and will now join Gort na Mona in the semi-final draw where Glenravel and Armoy have already qualified as group winners.

TO VIEW MORE OF BERTS PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/nJbYLcetczKvZf

Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final

Belfast Saints 3-23 Loch Mor Dal gCais 2-33

A Darragh Turley inspired Loch Mor Dal gCais finally escaped the shackles of a battling Belfast Saints to advance to the final of the Junior B Hurling Championship at Pairc Una on Friday night.

In a high scoring encounter which provided some excellent scores the sides couldn’t be separated over the 60 plus minutes and it took extra time before the Lough Shore side could pull away.

The early exchanges suggested that Loch Mor Dal gCais would have too much for their hosts as they raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead by the 9^th minute with their goal coming from the impressive Darragh Turley and Martin Braniff, Matthew Jones, Cathan O’Heireamhoin and Turley supplying the points.

Veteran, Phillip Maguire got the Belfast Saints point and the St. Teresa’s man would have a big influence on his side’s performance.

Keevan Og Grieve and Maguire 0-3 responded to Turley’s goal with Turley raising 2 more white flags (1 ‘65’) in reply to leave his side leading by five at the end of the opening quarter.

Maguire was doing all in his power to get the ‘Hoops’ going and he split the posts in quick succession  and Joseph McQuillan, Kieran Grieve and Keevan Og Grieve closed the gap to the minimum by the 21^st minute.

It was Loch Mor who finished the half on top with Darragh Turley pointing 2 frees but they received a setback when Ferdia Carson was shown a second Yellow.

It failed to disrupt their rhythm however as Matthew Jones and 2 more from the imperious Turley had them four to the good at the break and they were good value for that lead

Belfast Saints had it back to a single score within 2 minutes of the restart as he fired over 3 unanswered points before Cathan O’Heireamhoin opened Loch Mor’s second half account with a point.

Things were certainly heating up as the excellent point taking continued as Brian Keatings and Paul Molloy exchanged further scores and the personal scoring battle between Maguire and Turley continued as the main protagonists exchanged scores.

The end to end exchanges continued with Matthew Jones’ point for Dal gCais bringing a reply from Chris McKee and Kevin Grieve for the ‘Saints’ and Turley again responding from a free in the 12th minute.

Kieran Grieve and Turley exchanged further minors and then it was the turn of that man Maguire as he hit three on the bounce to keep the hosts interest in the contest very much alive.

Then it was Darragh Turley’s turn again and after Matthew Jones had split the posts for the visitors, Turley converted 2 frees and added another long range effort from play to put his side back in the driving seat.

Maguire and Turley exchanged further converted frees before Maguire (f), Chris McKee and Keevan Og Grieve with a goal in the 28^th minute edged the home side ahead with two minutes remaining.

It would be the Loch Mor talisman, Turley who would come up with the final score as he pointed a free in the 30^th minute to send an enthralling  game into extra and those who had turned up to witness this excellent game were certainly getting value for their money.

There was a greater sense of urgency, perhaps coupled with some relief as Loch Mor Dal gCais stepped up another notch as extra time got under way and Turley pointed from a free after 30 seconds and added another from play with 3 minutes gone.

The Saints replied through Dylan Grieve but the momentum had swung very much in favour of the Loch Shore men as Martin Braniff and Turley with three fine efforts put a little bit of daylight between the sides as they turned for the second period of extra time.

That man Turley put further distance between the sides on the restart when he rattled the Belfast Saints net in the opening minute and he added a point, direct from a ‘65’ with four minutes gone.

Cathan O’Heireamhoin added a point and two more from the superb Darragh Turley had the visitors out of sight before Phillip Maguire drove a free through a crowded goal mouth for what would be the Saints only score of the half.

The final point of the game fell to Loch Mor Dal gGais’ Cathan O’Heireamhoin but by that stage his side had both feet firmly planted in the decider and a meeting with Latharna Og, Larne.

An excellent game of hurling which produced scores of the highest order where special mention must go to Darragh Turley for Loch Mor and Phillip Maguire for Belfast Saints.

Spare a thought too for a Belfast Saints player who received a head injury and had to be taken to hospital.

We at the Saffron Gael and all Antrim GAA supporters wish him a speedy recovery.

TO VIEW BERTS PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/7zXKjJAkQoHPWn