Junior B Hurling Championship

Preliminary Round

Latharna Og 1-8 All Saints 1-21

All Saints, Ballymena produced a strong second half performance to overcome the challenge of a battling Latharna Og, Larne in the Junior B Hurling Championship at Brustin Brae on Saturday.

The Larne side have been unable to field for a number of fixtures this season and it probably told in the end as All Saints, led by the inspirational Damian Gillan pulled away to win with something to spare in the second half.

It was Gillan who got the action underway with his side’s opening score in the 3d minute with Ryan (Rod) O’Donnell tying the contest from a 4^th minute free.

O’Donnell briefly gave the hosts the lead from a ‘65’ before Daniel Kelly evened matters again with a good point from distance to set the pattern for a fairly even opening half.

There were further exchanges from Conor Bell for the Brustin Brae side and ‘Dee’ Gillan for the visitors before Niall Savage and Gillan again edged the Ballymena men two ahead and Conor Bell with an excellent point for the Larne side and Paddy Doherty for the Saints kept the gap at two.

Ryan O’Donnell was in excellent form from the placed ball and he struck two fine efforts to leave it 0-6 to 0-6 after 26 minutes but the visitors finished the half strongly with four unanswered point through Damian Gillan, Daniel Kelly and two from Cormac Magill to leave it 0-10 to 0-6 at the break.

Magill had been getting through a power of work in the opening half without getting the reward his efforts merited but he started the second half as he had finished the first with a point inside 20 seconds.

Ryan O’Donnell responded immediately from a 60 meter free but the visitors were now gaining control with Archie McGreevey, Robert Crooks and Daniel Gray driving them forward from half-back.

The impressive Damian Gillan and Luke O’Rawe added further points before Rod O’Donnell replied for the Larne men and three more on the bounce by the superb Gillan put the visitors 8 ahead by the end of the third quarter.

Cathal McKillop replied from a 60 meter free but All Saints struck a devastating blow when Jack Magill set up his brother Cormac who drove home the game’s opening goal and it was as good as over.

Two more from Gillan and another from Jack Magill piled on the pressure before a long range free from Cathal McKillop dropped short and was finished to the All Saints net by Ruairi Millar to give the hosts some consolation.

It was All Saints who would finish the half as they had started it however and Dee Gillan from a free and Daniel Kelly from play concluded the scoring to see the Slemish park men comfortably home.

Latharna Og: 1 Dara Kerr, 2 Patrick Sherry, 3 Barry Petticrew, 4 Tom Clerkin, 5 Ryan Millar, 6 Cathal McKillop, 7 Brian Rogan, 8 Gary Bergin, 9 Mark Petticrew, 10 Darren Martin, 11 Ryan O’Donnell, 18 Conor Sherridan, 13 Conor Bell, 14 Ruairi Millar, 15 Matthew Magill, 17 Jim McGrann, 25 Daniel Heggarty

All Saints: 1 Ronan McAllister, 2 Kevin Brady, 3 Dwayne McKee, 4 Finn Connon, 5 Daniel Gray, 6 Robert Crooks, 7 Archie McGreevey, 8 Luke O’Rawe, 9 Luke Mulholland, 10 Eoin McGuigan, 11 Cormac Magill, 12 Jack Magill, 13 Daniel Kelly, 23 Patrick Doherty, 15 Damian Gillan, 27 Niall Savage, 17 Paddy Murphy, 25 Joseph Mooney

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/Q6VcBEKeGtpdVZ

JHC Group 3-Round 3

St. Brigid’s 2-13 Sarsfields 1-31

Report and Pics: Brian McKee

Sarsfields secured top spot in this Junior Championship group after a high-powered second-half performance blew past a spirited St Brigid’s side at Musgrave. Despite a brilliant first-half fightback from the hosts, the Division 3 champions showed their experience after the break to run out comfortable winners on a 2-13 to 1-31 scoreline.

Sarsfields started at a blistering pace. They took a first-minute lead through a Daniel McKernan free, quickly followed by points from Kevin Barry McArdle and Kevin McKernan.

St Brigid’s responded with a pointed free from James Kelly—who enjoyed a productive afternoon with six converted frees—but Sarsfields unleashed five unanswered points in response. By the 13th minute, the Paddies led by six. They extended that gap to eight points after 20 minutes, with six different players already on the scoreboard.

The final third of the half saw St Brigid’s spark into life. A vital goal from Oisin McDonnell ignited their revival. Kelly slotted over his second free in the 26th minute. Though Sarsfields hit back with two points of their own, St Brigid’s finished the half with four consecutive scores. This late surge completely revived their prospects, leaving just two points between the sides at the interval.

Half-Time: St Brigid’s 1-09  Sarsfields 0-14

Sarsfields emerged for the second period completely transformed, playing with a renewed intensity that suggested a lot of plates had been broken in the half-time dressing room by Déaghlán Coleman.

Daniel Smyth led the charge, firing over six of his seven points in the second half, while an impressive total of eight different players contributed to the scoreboard after the restart.

Within 12 minutes of the throw-in, Sarsfields had raced into a seven-point lead. Conn Flannery rallied hard to reignite the St Brigid’s challenge, but the final 20 minutes saw the visitors unleash a relentless offensive blitz, capped off by a well-taken goal from Fionn Jeffrey.

St Brigid’s struggled to contain the firepower of their more experienced opponents. Though Donncha McGurk bulged the Sarsfields net in the closing minute, it proved to be a mere consolation.

Both sides now progress into the knockout stages of the Junior Championship. Despite the heavy defeat, St Brigid’s can take heart from their refusal to quit. Undefeated Sarsfields march on full of confidence as they look to regain Intermediate status. On today’s display, they will be very hard to stop.

St Brigid’s: Dara Sidebottom, Conor McElhatton, Michael Kerr, Ronan O’Loughlin, Joseph McCarney, Toirealach Brolly, Conn Flannery, James Kelly (0-06 frees), Jake Massingham, Seamus Brady, David Prenter, Fionn McCann (0-01), Donncha McGurk (1-02), Oisin McDonnell (1-00), Peadar Middleton, Alex Miller Perry, Michael Mullan, Finbar Brockley, Conor Kelly, Garrett Gilleece, John Carlin, John McGuckian.

Sarsfields: David Ward, Dárágh Coleman, Mark McCavanagh, Jay Ward, Jay Maguire, Caolan McKernan (0-01), Donal McKernan (0-03, 1f, 1 ’65), Darren Delander (0-03), Nicolas O’Mullane, Daniel Smyth (0-07, 4f), Kevin McKernan (0-02, 1f), Daniel McKernan (Snr) (0-04), Kevin Barry McArdle (0-06), Niall Mac an Lia, Fionn Jeffrey (1-03), James McKenna, Oisin Coleman, James McKernan, Ciarnan Rea (0-02), Aidan McKernan, Patrick Braniff, Ronan McKenna, Gary Lennon.

Referee: Kevin Parke

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN MC KEE’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/4nQV69kw6efC2P

JHC Group 1

Belfast Saints 1-13  Ardoyne Kickhams 7-19

Ardoyne Kickhams produced a clinical performance against Belfast Saints on a wet and punishing day on the lower slopes of the mountain, marching to a dominant victory driven by an unstoppable master-class from man of the match, Paddy Heaney. Despite a few brief flashes of fighting spirit from the Saints, Ardoyne controlled the midfield and ruthlessly punished their opponents from start to finish, in a game that was effectively meaningless as both teams exited the Championship at this stage..

Ardoyne wasted no time making their mark, with Padraig McGreevy firing over a pointed free in the second minute. While the Saints briefly responded through Robertson—who would go on to score five points—the opening seven-minute deadlock was quickly shattered.

As Paddy Heaney increasingly made his presence felt, Ardoyne clicked into top gear, rattling off five consecutive points before Fiontan Lagan turned the screws completely with a brilliant goal from play.

Saints’ McQuillan managed to interrupt the onslaught with a 15th-minute point, but by the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard read a commanding 1-08 to 0-04 in favour of Ardoyne.

With Moore and McKillen firmly ruling the midfield, Heaney began to dictate the entire flow of the game, ruling the roost throughout the forward line. Just before the break, Belfast Saints mounted a spirited comeback, throwing everything forward to secure two points from McGilligan and a much-needed goal from Clarke.

However, any hope of a Saints revival was instantly snuffed out. Lagan swiftly rifled over a point, and Heaney followed up by sending the sliotar crashing into the back of the net for Ardoyne.

Half-Time Score: Belfast Saints 1-07  Ardoyne Kickhams 4-15

Heaney picked up right where he left off before the interval, opening the second-half with a point from play. The Saints briefly showed their trademark fighting spirit, tagging on four unanswered points over the next five minutes, but it ultimately marked the end of their resistance.

The unstoppable Heaney went on to claim two more goals, while the in-form McGreevey added another green flag to emphasise the gulf between the sides on the day. Ardoyne held total dominion over the final ten minutes as rain slicked the mountain slopes. By the time the final whistle blew, both sets of players were glad to head for the dressing rooms, drawing the curtain on their respective championship campaigns.

Belfast Saints: Conor Grieve, Matt carlin, Niall Connolly, Philip Glennon, Adam O’Rourke, Robert Gallagher(0-5,3f), Shane McCafferty, Joseph McQuillan(0-01), Kieran Grieve, Niall McGettigan(0-04), James Sloan(0-02,1f), Conor O’Callaghan, Dylan Grieve(0-01), Conor McLean, Eoin Clarke(1-0), Caoimhin McNeill

Ciceam Ard Eoin: Conor O’Neill, Aran Stewart, Paul Baker, Emmet Corry, Christopher McShane, Dean Goodall, Paschal Clarke, Dan Moore(0-03), Matt McKillen(0-04,1f), Padraig McGreevy(0-05,2f), Fiontan Lagan(1-01),Micheál McGreevy, Paddy Heaney (3-04), Cormac Barnes, Cahal Clarke, Sean Searle, Pól Stanton, Enda Slattery (0-01), John Callinan (0-01), Stephen Hill

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN MC KEE’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/YgeEhiFkrHoSSw

Antrim Junior Hurling Championship
Group Two
Gort na Mona 3-21
Davitts 3-12
At Hannahstown

Featured Image: Desi McClean who scored 0-9 for Gort na Mona,

Gort na Mona survived three first half defensive lapses to secure their place at the top of Group 2 of the JHC with a 3-21 to 3-12 victory over a resilient Davitt’s side in a bruising contest at Hannahstown on Saturday afternoon.

.Despite what the nine-point margin suggests, the Mona Bye-Pass men were forced to work hard for this win in a game that was fiercely contested and certainly wasn’t for the faint hearted.

In the end it was the attacking brilliance of Patrick McCaffrey and Desi McClean that was instrumental in out gunning their rivals.

The game opened with an immediate shock for Gort na Mona. A blocked clearance from goalkeeper Caolan McCrory allowed Anthony Rowntree to intercept and find the net within the opening minutes.

Ruairi Scullion fires home Gort na Mona’s opening goal

The early setback forced the Turf Lodge men to chase the game. Desi McClean provided the leadership required, settling nerves with an array of frees and a spectacular sideline cut that sailed between the uprights.

Ruairi Scullion briefly put Gort in the driving seat with a close-range goal, but defensive vulnerability struck the Mona Bye-Pass side again. Rowntree capitalized on a loose strike to secure his second goal, before a long-range 65-yard free from Davitt’s standout player, Sean Smyth slipped past McCrory into the net. Despite conceding three goals, Gort’s superior point-scoring efficiency via Thomas McCaffrey and McClean ensured they carried a 1-13 to 3-03 lead into the break.

Second-Half Dominance

The second half saw Gort na Mona tighten their grip on the fixture by shifting away from defensive errors and maximizing their attacking depth. Neil Henry and Darron Boyd registered fine points from play to keep the scoreboard ticking. The decisive blow came when McClean and Scullion combined to feed Patrick McCaffrey, who slotted into an empty net.

Davitt’s relied heavily on the accurate free-taking of Smyth to stay within striking distance as the intensity raised on the pitch. However, McClean’s master-class from placed balls ensured Davitt’s could never close the gap. McCaffrey put the result beyond doubt five minutes from time, pouncing on a scrambled clearance to fire a rocket into the top corner.

Davitt’s Marcas Toner runs at the Gort na Mona defence

Gort na Mona progress straight to a home semi-final in Turf Lodge in four weeks, though their management will want to address the concession of three soft goals while Davitt’s drop into the quarter-finals but can take massive confidence from their ability to breach the Gort defence ahead of the knockout rounds.

Gort na Mona XV: C McCrory; T Ó Cadhlaigh, G McKenna, C Connolly; T Morton, D Keenan, M Rea; P McCaffrey 2-6 (0-1F), N Henry 0-2; T McCaffrey 0-3, S Doyle 0-1, N Healy; R Scullion 1-0; D McClean 0-9 (0-7F)

Davitt’s XV: A McLaughlin; J Winters, C Heaney, N Maginn; O Heaney, D Mooney, M Rowntree; C Gallagher, P Carleton; M Toner 0-2, S Smyth 1-9 (1-6F), C Maguire; P Reid, A Rowntree 2-0, C Rainey 0-1

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/sftKs4CEMHGjw7