The Junior Hurling championship continues today and throws up a number of interesting contests and the picture of who is going to emerge to the group stages could be a little clearer comes ten past five this evening or maybe not
Group 1
Davitt’s v Lamh Dhearg
Lamh Dhearg travel to Davitt’s with an opening round win over All Saints under their belts but will face stiff opposition in Michael Davitt’s who led Rasharkin at half time last Tuesday before capitulating in the second half. Lamh Dhearg went through division 4 of the league unbeaten but Davitt’s played their hurling in division 3 and with home advantage could edge a tight one and a draw can’t be ruled out.
All Saints v Rasharkin
Rasharkin took a while to shake off the challenge of Davitt’s at Dreen on Tuesday night but a strong second half performance saw them emerge victorious with something to spare and they will feel confident that they can extend their winning start when they travel to Ballymena to play All Saints.
Junior B champions All Saints pushed Lamh Dhearg hard last time out before losing for the third time this year to the Hannatown side and will start as underdogs for this one but home advantage will put them in with an outside chance of causing a major upset.
Group 2
St. Teresa’s v Loc Mor Dal gCais
Lock Mor and St. Teresa’s both suffered defeat on day one with the Lough Shore side losing heavily to championship favourites, Shane O’Neill’s in Crumlin while St. Teresa’s were beaten at Glenravel but pushed the Glen’s men hard and with home advantage should have too much for the beaten Junior B finalists
Shane O’Neill’s v Con Magee’s
This one could be a real cracker as Con Magee’s travel to Feystown buoyed by their opening day win but they face strong opponents in Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm. Shane O’Neill’s reached the division 3 league final before losing to Carryduff, their only defeat this year and with home advantage should edge this one.
Shane O’Neill’s v Con Magee’s
This one could be a real cracker as Con Magee’s travel to Feystown buoyed by their opening day win but they face strong opponents in Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm. Shane O’Neill’s reached the division 3 league final before losing to Carryduff, their only defeat this year and with home advantage should edge this one.
Casement SC Antrim Junior Hurling Championship Group 1
Lámh Dhearg 1-22-1-16 All Saints, Ballymena
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Lámh Dhearg got the better of All Saints Ballymena for the third time this season after a tight opening encounter to the Casement SC Junior Hurling Championship at Hannahstown saw the hosts run out 1-22-1-16 winners on Tuesday evening.
After a succession of early wides, the opening score arrived courtesy of Daniel Murray’s converted free with Ciaran Neeson landing a fantastic point immediately after to quickly draw All-Saint’s level.
Murray swung over his first from play of the evening to restore his sides lead and Declan Lynch then offloaded to Fionn Mervyn who split the posts and doubled the host’s advantage.
Neeson halved the deficit with a free in response, but Gerard Smyth came out and gathered before confidently floating over a point.
Back-to-back scores from Damian Gillan and Daire Hasson drew the visitors level and despite Daniel Murray edging his side back in front a Ciaran Neeson free restored parity at 0-05 apiece.
All Saints were ahead for the first time on 20 minutes after Luke O’Rawe flicked the ball out wide for Gillan who picked off his second score of the half.
But less than 60-seconds later the opening goal saw the lead change hands again. Declan Lynch floated a shot towards goal, it dipped, and Ciaran Cassley was caught out trying to swing the danger clear as it bounced past him and gave Lámh Dhearg a 1-05-0-06 lead.
A third point from Damian Gillan instantly made it a one-point game with Aidan McGuigan then hitting back at the other end after All Saints survived a scramble in their defensive third.
Daniel Murray extended the lead with his fourth point of the half following a nice Fionn Mervyn pop off and he would add a further point before the half was out, in-between a converted Ciaran Neeson free.
Neeson converted his fourth free to ensure that just two-points separated the sides at the interval (1-08-0-09).
Lámh Dhearg made a bright opening to the second period and increased their lead with three points on the spin.
Declan Lynch added to his first half goal with a simple conversion in front of the posts and Aidan McGuigan doubled his personal tally in the aftermath.
A drag down on Ronan Fegan afforded Daniel Murray the opportunity to further extend the lead and he did just that with his second converted free of the evening.
All Saints had the chance to hit back when Mark Lynch collided with Cormac Magill and referee Lorenzo McMullan signalled for a penalty.
Ciaran Neeson seized the responsibility and made no mistake- firing past Francis Dugan to make it 1-11-1-09.
Daniel Murray converted a free in response though Damian Gillan hit back-to-back points to reduce arrears to a single point.
Murray measured up back-to-back frees to restore his sides three-point advantage, but the half was shaping up to be a shoot-out between Murray and All Saints talisman Ciaran Neeson who converted back-to-back frees of his own to make it a single-point game yet again.
The introduction of long-term absentee Mark Finnegan yielded instant dividends as he floated over a point and Daniel Murray swung over his fifth point from play shortly after.
Although the theme of the half returned as All Saints got back to within a single score following a converted 65’ from Neeson and Damian Gillan taking an off the shoulder pass from Eoghan Daly and splitting the posts to make it 1-16-1-15.
Points from Daniel Murray and another from Finnegan gave their side a three-point advantage for the fourth time in the half.
Neeson would add a further free before the evening was out to bring his personal tally to 1-09.
It was the hosts who ended the game strongly, Declan Lynch popped over his second point of the evening and then earned a free which Daniel Murray converted to bring his individual tally into double figures.
Lámh Dhearg lost Aidan McGuigan to a second yellow card late-on, however the 14-men closed the game out with scores from Mark Finnegan and Daniel Murray (free) to give them a 1-22-1-16 win at the conclusion.
Lámh Dhearg: F Dugan, C Nolan, M Lynch, T McKenna, R Diamond, P Mervyn, SP Gibson, M Hamill, A McGuigan (0-02), F Mervyn (0-01), D Lynch (1-02), D Murray (0-13, 0-07f), R Fegan, G Smyth (0-01), P Fitzsimons. Subs: M Finnegan (0-03) for SP Gibson (47), J Brady for G Smyth (50).
All Saints: C Cassley, P O’Kane, C McAfee, K Brady, P Magill, L O’Rawe, C Neeson, G Miskella, V Eslar, C Magill, D Gillan (0-06), C Neeson (1-09, 0-07f, 0-01 65’), D Hasson (0-01), E Daly, D McNally. Subs: R McAuley for D Hasson (52).
Dylan McLaughlin was the hat-trick hero as one of the favourites for this year’s Casement SC Junior Hurling championship, Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm proved too strong for beaten B championship finalists, Loch Mor Dal gCais in Crumlin last night.
Dan Black got the Feystown side on their way with a point in the opening 20 seconds but Declan Phillips replied for the Loch Shore side to tie the contest. It wasn’t long before the Division 3 side were back in front as Sean O Boyle pounced on a loose ball and slotted over the bar in the 2nd minute.
Ciaran “Murph” O Boyle added another but back came Loch Mor and Darragh Turley fired over a “65”reducing the score-line to a point in favour of Glenarm.
A smart run out on the wing led to Kevin O Boyle driving over a delightful score from 35 yards and Dan Black floated over a free before Darren Hamill pointed from a “65”, to increase the visitor’s lead by 4 points.
Loch Mor hit back with a pointed free from young Darragh Turley but Ciaran Magill found space and drove forward and evaded a block to hit the sliotar over the bar.
Moments later McLaughlin won the puck out and evaded a tackle and romped forward and sent a rasper goal-ward and despite the best efforts of net-minder Bailey Graham the ball deflected of his stick and ended in the net.
The visitors were now in charge and Ciaran Magill started the second quarter with a nice effort with Loch Mór’s Turley replying with a point at the other end.
Kevin O Boyle added to his tally with another excellent point from play and on twenty four minutes Dylan McLaughlin floated a ball into the path of Ciaran O Boyle who fired over another score.
A fine solo effort next was a joy to watch as Sean O Boyle won a ball deep out on the wing and with pin point accuracy drove the ball over Graham’s bar. On the stroke of half time Black hit his third score with a point to leave the half time score, Shane Uí Neills 1-12 Loch Mór Dál gCais 0-05.
Aidan O Neill replaced Paddy McAuley at the start of the second half and a purple-patch saw the Feystown boys hit a salvo of points through Dan Black 0-3 and a Magill effort.
Loch Mór’s Darragh Turley showed his accuracy with a point from play out on the “45” but again Shane O’Neill’s responded through Magill and Black before two quick majors really turned this game in favour of the boys in blue.
The first green flag effort came from Kevin O Boyle as he let the ball bounce in front of him before pulling on it and rattling the net. The second came from Ciaran O Boyle who collected a great pass from Daz Hamill before ramming home Glenarm’s third goal.
Declan McDermott, having a solid game at corner back ran up the wing and struck the sliotar from distance over the bar and Dan Black again converted before the end of the third quarter.
After the water break the blue wave continued with Kevin O Boyle pointing before McLaughlin hit his 2nd major of the game. Ciaran Magill added his fifth point before Loch Mor replied with their final point of the game in 54th minute.
Shane O’Neill’s produced a storming finish, hitting a further 2-05 without reply. Substitute Sean O Hare split the uprights and then fed Dylan McLaughlin who fired beyond the Loch Mór keeper. Magill pointed again before young Aidan Scullion got his name on the score-card with a goal when his lofted shot deceived Bailey Graham and nestled in the back of the net.
Scullion added a lovely point to conclude the scoring and get Glenarm’s championship campaign up and running. The Feystown side entertain Con Magee’s Glenravel this Saturday and will face a sterner test while Loch Mor Dal gCais travel to St. Teresa’s.
Shane Uí Neills Niall Hamill, Kieran O Boyle, Barry Hamill, Declan Mc Dermott 0-01, Paddy Mc Auley, Darren Hamill 0-01 1 65, Chrissy Matthews, Aidan Scullion 1-01, Ben O Boyle, Dylan Mc Laughlin 3-01, Daniel Black 0-08 2f, Ciaran Magill 0-07, Kevin O Boyle1-03, Sean O Boyle 0-02, Ciaran O Boyle 1-02. Subs used. Sean O Hare 0-01, Aidan O Neill, Paul Magill, Conal Ward, Ryan Mc Loughlin.
Subs. Ciaran Finnegan, Darryl Mc Mullan, Rory Mulvenna, Joe Cunning, Liam Mc Loughlin, Liam Mulvenna.
Loch Mór Dál gCais. Bailey Graham, Aaron Monaghan, Michael Morgan, Oisin O Boyle, Gerard Pickering, Conor Jones, Daith Mc Areavey, Michael Mc Cullagh, Declan Phillips 0-02, Matthew Jones , Paul Molloy, Darragh Turley 0-04 , Ruairi Bannon, Martin Branniff 0-01.
St. Mary’s Rasharkin staged a strong second half come-back to overcome the challenge of a good Davitt’s side in this opening game of the Casement SC Junior Hurling championship at Dreen last night.
The opening exchanges were fairly even as Conor McKeever pointed Rasharkin into the lead from a free in the 4th minute with Don Whelan replying for the visitors from a 9th minute free to level the contest.
Donagh Quigg for the Dreen side and Stephen McGivern for the visitors exchanged further points and as the end to end play continued Conor McFerran for Rasharkin and Colm McKee for Davitt’s added further minors to leave it 0-3 to 0-3 after 16 minutes.
Marcas Toner edged the visitors ahead for the first time with a point in the 18th minute but Rasharkin replied through Donagh Quigg and Conor McKeever to get their noses in front once more.
Things were certainly hearting up with referee Francis Traynor issuing a couple of yellow cards before Conor McKeever extended the Rasharkin lead to two with a point in the 22nd minute but it was visitors Davitt’s who finished the half strongly to lead at the break.
Don Whelan pointed for the visitors and Peter Carleton finished to the net in the 26th minute with Stephen McGivern and Marcas Toner adding points to leave the city side leading 1-8 to 0-6 at the break and good value for their lead.
If Rasharkin were to turn this one around then they needed a good start to the second half and with James Scally, Thomas McMullan and Kealan Darragh now in the action they set about reeling in the opposition.
Conor McKeever opened with an early point. Donagh Quigg fired to the Davitt’s net in the 3d minute and James Scally added another point in the 6th and further scores from Conor McKeever, Conor McFerran and the impressive McKeever again closed the gap to one by the 15th minute as St. Mary’s totally dominated the exchanges.
Marcas Toner briefly halted the onslaught with Davitt’s first point of the half in the 16th minute but Conor McKeever and Conor McFerran came back immediately with points for the home side.
Marcas Toner replied again for a Davitt’s side who were now struggling to contain the opposition but when Conor McFerran fired home St. Mary’s second goal in the 21st minute it was as good as over.
The traffic was very much heading in the direction of the visitor’s goal at this stage and Thomas McMullan, Tiernan O’Boyle, Conor McKeever 0-2, Conor and McMullan again hit unanswered points to see St. Mary’s run out convincing 10 point winners.
A great start by the Dreen side who travel to Ballymena on Saturday to take on All Saints in round 2 and they will again start as favourites in that one while Davitt’s have an opportunity to put this defeat behind them when they host Lamh Dhearg at Davitt’s Park.
Rasharkin Team:1 – Aidan Darragh,2 – Conor Doherty,3 – Aidan McKeever,4 – Liam Tunney,5 – Connair Donaghy,6 – Shane Hasson,7 – Daniel Hasson,8 – Declan McKay,9 – Emmet McFerran,10 – Tiernan O’Boyle,11 – Fearghal Kennedy,12 – Ruairi O’Boyle,13 – Conor McFerran,14 – Donagh Quigg,15 – Conor McKeever. Subs: James Scally for Fearghall Kennedy, Thomas McMullan for Liam Tunney, Kealan Darragh for Ruairi O’Boyle, Colm Kennedy for Emmet McFerran
Davitt’s: 1 Jo McCaffrey, 2 Ruairi McIlroy, 3 Thomas Toland, 4 Anton McLaughlin, 5 Jason Park, 6 Thomas Maguire, 7 Colm McKee, 8 Peter Carleton, 9 Don Whelan, 10 Marcas Toner, 11 Stephen McGivern, 12 Canice Mooney, 13 Conor John Sullivan, 14 Anthony Rowntree, 15 Kevin Brady. Subs:Alan Rainey, Oskar Deevy Persson.
The Junior Hurling championship gets under way tonight with teams from division 3 of the league carrying the strongest threat and if I had to make a prediction before a ball is struck my money would be on Shane O’Neill’s, Glenarm.
Championships are not played on paper however and the rest of the sides setting out on their championship campaign tonight will have plenty to say and could very well prove me wrong before the 2021 Junior Championship is over.
Group 1: All games (7-00PM)
JHC Group 1
Lamh Dhearg v All Saints
This will be the third meeting of these sides this year. They met in Ballymena in the league earlier in the season with Lamh Dhearg emerging narrow winners in a game that was arguably their toughest game of the league campaign. Both sides met again the division 4 league final with the Hannastown side running out convincing winners. All Saints put that defeat behind them to win the Junior B Hurling championship, thus qualifying for the A competition but home advantage should swing it Lamh Dhearg’s way.
St. Mary’s Rasharkin v Davitt’s
Ten points separated these sides when they met in the league at Dreen back in June with Rasharkin recording three wins from seven starts and Davitt’s just the one in the division 3 campaign. Davitt’s are capable of better however as they showed last year and I would expect this one to be closer but home advantage should swing it Rasharkin’s way.
JHC Group 2
Con Magee’s Glenravel v St. Teresa’s
Glenravel enjoyed a similar division 3 campaign to Rasharkin with three wins from seven starts while St. Teresa’s had a poor league campaign, losing all seven games but the Glen Road side should never be underestimated in the championship. |Ground advantage should see the Con Magee’s begin their championship campaign with a win however.
Loch Mor Dal gCais v Shane O’Neill’s
Loch Mor had a good Junior B championship campaign before losing to All Saints in the final with both sides then qualifying for the A championship. It might take the Feystown side a while getting used to the unfamiliar surroundings of the Crumlin pitch but I would expect my favourites for the competition to emerge with something to spare.
