Casement Social Club, Antrim Junior Hurling Championship – Group 2, Round 3 

Lámh Dhearg 2-21-2-11 All Saints, Ballymena 

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown 

Lámh Dhearg prevailed in a winner take all encounter with All Saints and progressed to the quarter-final of the Casement Social Club Antrim Junior Hurling Championship with a 2-21-2-11 victory at Hannahstown on Sunday evening. 

Both sides went into the game without a win and knowing that a third straight defeat would mean their respective years hurling would end. 

Early points were traded between Adam Murray and Eoin McGuigan within the first 60-seconds. 

It was the Saints who would land the games first goal when Darach Bradley flashed a low free to the net inside of four minutes. 

Murray (65’) and McGuigan traded the next two scores and Murray added a further point from a free before the Hannahstown men netted themselves and hit the front. 

Conor Herron broke the resulting puck-out and slipped a pass off to Conor McConville jnr, he flicked the ball inside to Murray who opted for a popped pass to Aidan McGuigan to slot home and make it 1-3-1-2. 

All Saints almost had their second of the evening, but Paddy Joe Herron made himself big to deny Bradley his second. 

The Lámhs doubled their advantage when Donal Martin evaded heavy pressure and swung over, but the visitors restored parity through a third McGuigan point of the half and a fine Luke O’Rawe shot that sailed over in the strong breeze. 

Frees were exchanged between Murray and Bradley before the hosts opened up a two point advantage again. 

Daniel Murray took a pass from McConville and made space for a shot that flew over, with Adam Murray adding his third free. 

The pattern of the half continued as successive frees from Darach Bradley drew the sides level for fifth time. 

Bradley and Murray traded further placed balls before the All Saints talisman clipped over his first from play. 

For the final time in the half the sides were locked level at 1-9 apiece thanks to a Ciaran Boyd attempt that snuck inside the far post. 

It was Lámh Dhearg who would inch ahead before the conclusion, Adam Murray was on hand to fire a 65’ between the posts to ensure his side were 1-10-1-09 ahead at the midway point. 

Playing with the aid of a strong breeze towards the Upper Springfield Road end, Lámh Dhearg added to their slender advantage with Adam Murray hitting his second point from play. 

A second goal then followed when Declan Lynch dropped a high ball into Murray’s path, his shot lacked power and was easily gathered by Ciaran Cassley and as the All Saint’s keeper went to clear, Murray blocked him down and sent the ball across the square where Daniel Murray took the reins and shot to the net to make it 2-11-1-09. 

Cassley was unable to continue after injuring his knee and deputy Luke Walsh was fortunate that one of his first jobs wasn’t picking the ball from the net after Declan Lynch’s long range drive came back out of the underside of the bar. 

Lámh Dhearg were moving through the gears with no surprise that Adam Murray continued to add to his increasing tally, he would land three of a further five unanswered scores from play, with Donal Martin doubling his account and Sean Paul Gibson sweeping over. 

All Saints were without a score since the 27th minute but gave themselves a glimmer of hope with a 48th minute goal. 

Damian Gillan burst forward and opted for a hand pass across to Liam Cassley to flick home and make it 2-16-2-09. 

Adam Murray replied with his third 65’ of the evening and Darach Bradley got his side’s opening point of the second period. 

Two further Adam Murray points followed, one from play and the other from a free with Luke O’Rawe dropping over All Saints final score of the contest. 

Lámh Dhearg would finish the scoring through Boyd and Murray (free) to ensure double figures separated the duo at the conclusion and that their side would secure passage to the last eight and a trip to Musgrave Park to take on St Brigid’s in two weeks time. 

JHC Group 2

Gort na Mona 1-10 Glen Rovers 1-17

Glen Rovers Armoy earned their place at the top of Group 2 of the Casements Social Club JFC and a place in the semi-finals after a 7 point win over their nearest rivals, Gort na Mona at Enright Park on Sunday.

Despite playing into the breeze the visitors got off to a flying start and Turlach McBride pointed them ahead from a free after 30 seconds before Kieran McToal and PJ McBride followed from play to leave the three ahead after 4 minutes.

Patrick McCaffrey got the hosts off the mark with a point in the 5^th minute but Conor Christie replied immediately for the visitors before Neil Henry hit a great long range point for the ‘Gorts’ to close the gap to 2 with 7 minutes gone.

The play was end to end at this stage and further points from PJ McBride and Turlach McBride for Glen Rovers brought a reply from Neil Henry and a Patrick McCaffrey free and the gap remained at two after 11 minutes.

Gort na Mona pressed again and Conor Christie in the Armoy goals made a great catch from under his bar and cleared the danger before Conor McCaffrey struck a fine point from out on the left to leave just one between the sides.

Gort na Mona were giving as good as they got at this stage of the game but they suffered a severe blow when Colin Lordan finished to their net following a mix-up in defence.

The home side recovered well however and Niall O’Neill hammered home an excellent goal, 3 minutes later and a Patrick McCaffrey pointed free had the sides level with 9 minutes remaining to the break.

It would be the men from the Armoy glen who would finish the better however as Emmet O’Hara and Turlach McBride fired over unanswered point to leave them two ahead at the short whistle.

With the breeze now in their favour it was Armoy who took control at the start of the second half and Trevor Linton, Owen Kinney, Conor Christie from distance and Kinney again from a great over the shoulder effort had them six ahead with 8 minutes gone.

Turlach McBride with another massive effort from distance increased that lead to seven by the end of the third quarter and Gort na Mona were still to open their second half account.

Neil Henry got them off the mark with a point in the16th minute and Padraig McHugh added another but they had keeper, Caolan McCrory to thank for a great save as Armoy tried to counter at the other end.

Gort na Mona were battling hard to get their game going again and Patrick McCaffrey had it back to four with 8 minutes remaining but Glen Rovers were not about to throw away that lead.

The sweet striking Turlach McBride replied with another of his long range specials and followed with another from a ‘65’ before making the points secure with yet another from distance.

Neil Henry pulled one back from an injury time free but the final score of the half fell to Armoy’s Owen Kinney who fired over in the 33d minute to conclude the scoring.

This win sees Armoy top Group 2 and secures a place in the semi-final where they will be joined by Gort na Mona who finished second in the group after suffering their first defeat in this one.

Glen Rovers now advance to a home semi-final while Gort na Mona have a quarter-final to face against Davitt’s who were third in Group 1.

Con Magee’s topped Group 1 and like Armoy, automatically qualify for a home semi-final spot while surprise packets, Naomh Brid who were runners in Group 1 face third placed Lamh Dhearg from Group 2 in the other quarter-final.

Gort na Mona: 1 Caolan McCrory, 2 Conor Healy, 3 Padraig McHugh, 4 Mark Rea, 5 Conor Connolly, 6 Colm Scullion, 7 Tiarnan Morton, 8 Patrick McCaffrey, 9 Neil Henry, 10 Thomas McCaffrey, 11 Darron Boyd, 12 Niall O’Neill, 13 Manus McMullan, 14 Conor McCann, 15 James Aaron Hicks, 17 Christopher Kane, 18 Declan Hughes

Armoy: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Callum Coyles, 3 Shane Devlin, 4 Liam Dillon, 5 Arthur Devlin, 6 Emmett O’Hara, 7 Turlach McBride, 8 Ciaran McKenna, 9 Ronan Lavelle, 10 Thomas Burns, 11 Colin Lordan, 12 PJ McBride, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Joseph McFetridge, 15 Conor Christie, 19 Kieran McToal, 25 Owen Kinney

Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)

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Antrim Junior Hurling Championship

Davitts 1-09  Glenravel 0-12

It was a flat calm summer’s evening in west Belfast with a good dry sod underfoot; conditions perfect for good quality championship hurling. Unfortunately that is not what the spectators were served up as the hurling on display matched the great sky overhead. With little or no breeze both teams will be disappointed at their wides count over the hour, Glenravel particularly so in a first half they dominated but their shooting was nowhere near championship standard and as a result they retired to their dressing rooms a goal down at half time. The flag waving umpires were only called into action on twenty two occasions across the hour and thirteen of those were from placed balls as Conleth O’Loan (Glenravel) and Christopher Gallagher (Davitts) gave a good account in the art of free taking. The highlight of the game was undoubtedly a superb overhead pull from Anthony Rowntree just before half time; a perfect connection to an overhead ball that left Glenravel netminder Chris Quinn with no chance.

Glenravel were guaranteed qualification for the next round before the ball was thrown in and perhaps because of that they changed the team around from the what they had fielded in their previous games and in the opening minutes that proved fruitful as Conleth O’Loan (0-1) and Sean McKay (0-3) lobbed over four points with the home side responding through Colm McKee and Caoimhin Rainey with a quarter of the game gone. But then the visitors hit a barren spell as any ball into their forwards was thwarted by Davitts centre back Caoimhin Heaney sweeping up a lot of loose ball. Heaney gave a great account over the hour and his presence forced Glenravel to shoot from greater distance, though with little reward.

Indeed, in the second quarter their only scores came from Conleth O’Loan frees.  It was during this period that Davitts drew level and overtook their opposition with points from Christopher Gallagher, Oskar Deevey Persson and that wonderful goal from Anthony Rowantree. Referee Chris Brown called a halt to proceedings in the first half with Davitts ahead 1-06 to 0-06 on the scoreboard.

Glenravel brought on the Donaghy brothers Daragh and Fergus at half time and they certainly made a difference as the visitors tried to get themselves back into the game. Ten minutes in the teams were all square with a couple of points from O’Loan and a fine long range effort from Daragh Donaghy. Gallagher nudged Davitts ahead from a free but that was followed by three consecutive frees for Glenravel to leave them two points to the good and seven minutes remaining. However, to their credit Davitts fought their way back into the game with two further frees from Gallagher to level things off at full time.

A draw was probably a fair result over the hour and the point secured a table topping position for Glenravel and put Davitts into the next round as well. But both teams will know they will have to improve significantly if they want to remain much longer in the competition.

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Casement Social Club JHC Group 1 – Round 3

Friday 22^nd August

Report by Niall Kelly from Musgrave Park

Naomh Bríd 2-20    Ciceam Ard Eoin 1-14

St Brigid’s secured safe passage to the knockout stages in this year’s Junior Hurling Championship and guaranteed themselves a home quarter final for good measure, thanks to a hard-fought victory over a dogged Ardoyne side with nine points to spare. With ten minutes to go, this one was all to play for as a single púc of the ball separated the sides with Naomh Bríd 1-16 1-13 to the good. However, a dominant finish to proceedings would see them outgun their opponents with David Prenter’s last gasp goal providing the icing on the cake. Yet again, their talisman, James Kelly, proved pivotal to their success as the young sharpshooter put on an exhibition with his free-taking racking up an impressive 0-16 capping off a fine evening’s work. 

The game burst into life with five scores in as many minutes. Daniel Moore and Matt McKillen found their bearings for the visitors whilst the hosts hit back through scores from John McGuckian and James Kelly before the latter of the two embarked on a slaloming drive forward with a finish to match to edge his side ahead.

Ardoyne will rue the minutes that followed midway into the half as the concession of numerous cheap frees were punished ruthlessly by marksman in chief, Kelly, as he was imperious from the dead ball, firing over five in a row. The North Belfast men did respond though as McKillen doubled his tally with a fine point from play before Patrick McGreevy demonstrated his own prowess from frees with two excellent scores from tight angles to narrow the gap to three.

The game was really in the melting pot now and a real ding-dong battle was ensuing for control. Further points were exchanged between the two as shot-stopper Brian McGurk’s pinpoint púc-out was retrieved by Phelim Lennon who made no mistake with his finish before David Prenter opened his account with a great score over his shoulder. Unperturbed, the men in black would fire back with two of their own through the trusty hurl of Patrick McGreevy.

With the clock ticking down to the interval, it would be the hosts who would have the final say. Unsurprisingly, it was Kelly yet again who would prove to be the source of their good fortunes as he further bolstered his burgeoning tally with two more from the placed ball to leave the score at the short whistle, 0-12 to 0-07 in favour of St Brigid’s.

The Ardoyne team-talk at half time was surely centred around stifling Kelly’s opportunities from the dead ball and to be more disciplined in the tackle. This certainly reaped rewards as they began to chip away at the deficit and they opened the half on the front foot with white flags raised thanks to McGreevy from three frees and Matt McKillen who angled his effort to perfection. Kelly couldn’t be silenced for too long though as Ardoyne’s nemesis came back to haunt them yet again with two fine long-range scores.

It would be the hosts who grabbed the game’s first major on the forty-fifth minute. John McGuckian thought he was the one to provide it but was spectacularly denied at close range thanks to Paddy Heaney, however, the Ardoyne net-minder was powerless to deny Phelim Lennon who pounced in the melée to strike high to the net on the rebound.

Six points in arrears, the visitors knew they had to conjure something quickly and were able to find the perfect remedy with a goal of their own. Enda Slattery’s cleverly disguised pass paved Matt McKillen through on goal who finished with conviction. With their tails now aloft, they looked to turn the screw further as McGreevy fired over another two to add to his ever-growing tally before Daniel Moore popped up from midfield to grab another.

As the game approached its climax, only two was now between the sides as a grandstand finish was in proposal. Nevertheless, the hosts extinguished any hopes of a nailbiter with a dominant finish and were first to every break as they limited Ard Eoin to a solitary score from Moore whilst firing 1-05 to add a little gloss to the score line.

James Kelly certainly found his scoring touch again as he split the uprights with four in a row to decimate the visitor’s hopes before Oisin McDonnell pointed from a tight angle. With darkness descending upon Musgrave Park, there was just enough time for David Prenter to grab his side’s second goal with a smart finish.

Credit to both sides for a thoroughly entertaining evening’s hurling. The scoreline perhaps is a little harsh on Ardoyne who battled resiliently throughout and had they held their nerve in the final ten minutes, it could well have been a different conclusion. They are now reliant on a heavy Glenravel win against Davitts tomorrow to have any chance of advancing.

St Brigid’s though will be delighted with their performances thus far. Few would’ve predicted their results at this stage and they have proven exactly what they are capable of. Two wins against formidable opponents and they ran group-winners, Glenravel, very close. They will surely look to build on these performances and could perhaps be a surprise package in the knockout stages.

Teams:

Naomh Bríd:

B McGurk; D Sidebottom, C Lundy, J Massingham; J Purdy, J McCarney, C McElhatton; N Murtagh, D McGurk; N Duffy, P Lennon (1-01,) J Kelly (0-16;) D Prenter (1-01,) J McGuckian (0-01,) O McDonnell (0-01)

Ciceam Ard Eoin:

P Heaney; C Curran, P Baker, E NicLochlain; A Stewart, M McLaughlin, C McShane; P McGuigan, D Moore (0-03;) C Wallace, C Keown, M McKillen (1-03;) P McGreevy (0-08,) C Barnes, M McGreevy

Referee: Colm McDonald (St. Gall’s)

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Casement Social Club, Antrim Junior Hurling Championship Group 2 

Glen Rovers, Armoy 1-18-1-15 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Armoy 

After the excitment of the road races on Saturday afternoon, all attention turned to the opening round of the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship in the evening as last seasons runners-up Armoy hosted Lámh Dhearg in Group 2- with the hosts just doing enough to edge out the Hannahstown men in a game that toed and froed throughout the evening. 

Calum Fegan shot over the opener for the visitors, but Armoy resonded with successive Turlach McBride free’s before Daniel Murray restored parity in a busy opening to proceedings. 

Lámh Dhearg hit the front again when Gerard Smyth did enough to flick the ball over on the half turn and then Adam Murray doubled his sides advantage. 

The opening goal arrived after 10 minutes and it fell to Armoy when Joseph McFetridge’s close range flick on snuck in at the near post to give his side a 1-2-0-4 lead. 

In reply, Odran Waldron flashed a shot over and Adam Murray landed his first free of the evening to edge the Hannahstown natives ahead again. 

The sides were tied level for the fourth time when Emmet O’Hara dropped a shot over, and they would cancel each other out on two further occassions before the half was out. 

The Lámh’s opened up a three-point lead with Ryan Diamond popping over twice between a second converted Adam Murray free but Armoy hit three-points on the bounce in response. 

Ciaran McKenna grabbed the first, Ronan Lavelle charged forward from wing-half-back and showed composure and Turlach McBride converted his third free of the half. 

Points were traded between Murray (free) and PJ McBride as the sides looked to be heading in at the interval level, however Adam Murray clipped over his fifth of the half from a free as his side held a slender 0-11-1-7 advantage at the break. 

Armoy drew first blood and levelled through a Turlach McBride free six minutes after the restart. 

Murray replied from the same scenario before the hosts forged ahead for the second time in proceedings. 

Subsitute Trevor Linton didn’t take long to make his mark on proceedings with a fine attempt that dropped over and PJ McBride then doubled his account. 

Lámh Dhearg drew level after Fionn Mervyn soloed forward and popped over and Odran Waldron then shot his side infront again approaching the midway point in the second period. 

PJ McBride clipped over the leveller for his side before the hosts stole a march with Conor Christie landing a free and then adding a further from play to open up a 1-13-0-14 scoreline. 

On the 53rd minute the lead changed hands for the eighth time of the evening when Conor Devlin could only partially clear a high ball towards the target and Adam Murray did enough to fire the loose ball to the net and make it 1-14-1-13. 

Scores were traded in the aftermath between PJ McBride and Murray (free) but it was Armoy who held their nerve going down the home straight. 

Shane Devlin tied things up for the last time and a superb free from range by Conor Chrstie had his side in the driving seat. 

An error allowed PJ McBride in and he popped over his fifth score and Chrsitie added another free to seal a 1-18-1-15 win for last seasons runners-up as they bid to go one better this term. 

GLEN ROVERS, ARMOY: C Devlin, C Coyles, S Devlin (0-1), L Dillon, R Lavelle (0-1), T Burns, A Devlin, K McToal, C Christie (0-4, 0-3f), PJ McBride (0-5), E O’Hara (0-1), C McKenna (0-1), J McFetrdige (1-0), C Lordan, T McBride (0-4f). Subs: T Linton (0-1). 

LÁMH DHEARG: R Camlin, C Camlin, C Rafferty, T McKenna, E Stanley, P Mervyn, F Mervyn (0-1), D Martin, D Murray (0-1), O Waldron (0-2), R Diamond (0-2), A McGuigan, C Fegan (0-1), G Smyth (0-1), A Murray (1-7, 0-6f). 
REFEREE: Paul McSparron (CUSHENDUN)