As I made my way back from Hightown yesterday my thoughts wandered back to a conversation I had with a colleague following All Saints opening game of the season against Ardoyne in the ACHL Division 4. I had just witnessed my home club suffer a 3-19 to 1-5 defeat to Ardoyne and I despaired at the performance and worried about just where we were going with hurling in the club.

Four days later All Saints were on the wrong end of a 13 point defeat to Latharna Og in Larne though thankfully I didn’t witness that defeat but it appeared things were far from well on the hurling front.

So what do you do if it’s broken? You fix it and slowly but surely that is just what the hurling management and players have done. A few key players had quit because of the lack of numbers at training but those players have returned and a number of young players have come on board and the team got down to serious training and preparation.

The turning point came with a big win over St. Agnes on the 23d May when All Saints recorded an impressive 3-22 and they followed that win up with wins over St. Brigid’s and Eoghan Ruadh before edging out yesterday’s opponents at Falls Park to make it four wins on the trot.

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Lamh Dhearg brought that win to an end as the eventual league winners edged out the Quinn Park side 1-14 to 1-12 in Ballymena but many felt it was All Saints best performance of the season. They went on to lose heavily to the same opposition in the division 4 league final but regrouped for the championship.

That defeat to Latharna Og in the league was avenged in the championship semi-final eight days ago and yesterday’s win over Loch Mor Dal gCais in the Junior B final at St. Enda’s was the icing on a season that can define our future.

So what have we learned? There is no substitute for hard work and regular training. The skills required in hurling can only be taught and polished on the training ground so let everyone concerned make that commitment.

We have good U15 and U17 teams competing successfully in their respective leagues so the structures are in place to push on for promotion next season and test ourselves at a higher level. The Junior A championship is just around the corner and provides another opportunity to measure our progress against better opposition.

In the meantime let’s take a look back at yesterday’s action and celebrations which I’m told went on for a while and congratulations to all concerned in yesterday’s success.

Na Naomh Uile Abu

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Junior B Hurling Final

All Saints 4-11 Loch Mor Dal gCais 0-13

All Saints, Ballymena turned in a strong second half performance to claim the Junior B Hurling title when they overcame the challenge of Loch Mor Dal gCais at a windy Hightown today. The lads from the Lough shore matched their opponent during the opening half and were unfortunate to turn around a point in arrears.

After the break and with the wind at their backs the Quinn Park side upped their game considerably as they denied their opponents time and space while racking up some excellent scores at the other end to pull away for a convincing win in the end.

Playing into the pavilion end and against the wind it was All Saints who threatened first and Cory Little looked in for an early goal but his shot was deflected to safety by Loch Mor keeper, Bailey Graham.

Play switched to the other end as Loch Mor threatened and they had a couple of half chances for a goal of their own but the All Saints defence stood firm under strong pressure. The opening goal did arrive and it was All Saints Benny McDonnell who was the scorer as he soloed through the Opposition defence before firing to the net in the 4^th minute.

McDonnell’s goal brought an immediate response from Loch Mor Dal gCais and they hit back with points from Darragh Turley and Cormac Dwyer and they looked to be in for a goal themselves but Ciaran Cassley came bravely of his line to deny Ruairi Bannon, the All Saints keeper sustaining an injury in the process but was able to continue after treatment.

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Ciaran Neeson, who was to have a massive influence for the Ballymena side, opened his personal account as he pointed a free in the 10^th minute but Loch Mor were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and drawing frees which Darragh Turley was converting into scores.

Just when it looked like the Lough Shore side might be heading to the turnover ahead Ciaran Neeson pulled off a moment of magic as he rose high to field the sliotar and as he landed, turned in one swift movement before firing to the corner of the net.

Loch Mor finished the half strongly with Turley keeping the scoreboard ticking and Ruairi Bannon on target but it was Neeson’s goal who gave All Saints a narrow one point lead as the sides switched ends and it certainly looked anybody’s game at this stage.

Playing into the breeze it was Loch Mor Dal gCais who made the better start to the second half with Lorcan Rooney levelling the contest with a point in the 1^st minute before Darragh Turley pointed them ahead from a 30 meter free with three minutes of the new half gone.

Damian Gillan and Ciaran Neeson replied with points to restore the All Saints lead before Turley pointed another free to level matters again at 2-6 to 0-12. The Ballymena side were starting to get on top however as they hunted in packs, denying their opponents space and Ciaran Neeson pointed from a ‘65’ before Cormac Lemon got in for their third goal in the 8^th minute to open up a four point lead.

Darragh Turley replied from a free in the 9^th minute to close the gap to four but this was to be the last time that Loch Mor would score as the All Saints defence, superbly marshalled by Chris McAfee, Luke O’Rawe and Colum Neeson put the opposition attack in a strangle hold.

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Space was beginning to open up as the other end as Neeson sent a ‘65’ between the posts and then hammered a penalty past Bailey Graham following a foul on substitute Cormac Magill and the same player followed with another point from a long range free to move his side 8 ahead at the second water break.

On the restart Loch Mor Dal gCais were offered a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty of their own but Darragh Turley, who had been excellent throughout sent his shot wide of Ciaran Cassley’s upright and with it went his side’s last chance of a comeback.

Ciaran Neeson put the icing on a fine personal performance as he point two late ‘65’s’ to bring his tally for the day to 2-9 and it was fitting that he was the man to step up to receive the trophy.

A good win for a side who started the season badly but have put in a lot of work in recent weeks and today they reaped the reward for that hard work. Ciaran Cassley, Chris McAfee, Colum Graham, Padhraig Magill, Jack Magill, Gary Miskella, Damian Gillan and Ciaran Neeson were excellent in an All Saints team without a weakness on the day and they can now look forward to a tilt at the Junior A title in a few weeks’ time.

Spare a thought for Loch Mor Dal gCais. They were excellent during the opening half and extremely unfortunate not to be ahead at the break. Cormac Lemon’s goal in the 8^th minute and Neeson’s second from the penalty spot finally broke their challenge but as Ciaran Neeson eluded to in his acceptance speech, they will be back again to challenge next season and will have learned from the experience.

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All Saints: Ciaran Cassley, Dwayne McKee, Christopher McAfee, Kevin Brady, Brendan McDonnell, Luke O’Rawe, Colum Neeson, Padhraig Magill, Vincent Esler, Cormac Lemon, Damian Gillan, Gary Miskella, Jack Magill, Ciaran Neeson, Cory Little. Subs Cormac Magill for Kevin Brady

Loch Mor Dal gCais:  Bailey Graham, Aaron Monaghan, Michael Morgan, Oisin O’Boyle, Declan Phillips, Conor Jones, Paul Molloy, Martin Braniff, Cormac Dwyer, Lorcan Rooney, Michael McCullough, Matthew Jones, Murtagh Moran, Ruairi Bannon, Darragh Turley

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

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MORE PHOTOGRAPHS TO FOLLOW LATER

Junior B Hurling final

St. Enda’s: 4-00pm Saturday

Loch Mor Dal gCais v All Saints

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Both these sides went into last Saturday’s semi-finals as underdogs but neither bothered to read the script as a Ciaran Neeson inspired All Saints overcame the challenge of Latharna Og while Ruairi Bannon and Murtagh Moran scored the goals that sank Ardoyne.

The introduction of the Junior B championship a few years back was initially looked upon with some scepticism but in reality has provided a realistic opportunity for those taking part to gain some silverware. This year Saturday’s finalist will both advance to the Junior A competition where they will be joined by teams from division 3 and chances of success look a lot slimmer.

That’s for another day however and the respective management of Loch Mor Dal gCais and All Saints are unlikely to have cast an eye in the direction of the A championship as they concentrate on a Junior B final that can define their season.

There appears to be little between the sides from what we saw last Saturday. Both sides were impressive as they cast aside the mantle of underdogs to overcome the challenge of Latharna Og and Kickham’s and both camps will have gained confidence from their respective victories.

Saturday’s opponents met at Falls Park in the league back on the 20^th June with All Saints emerging victorious on a score-line of 3-17 to 2-18 in a high scoring and entertaining game of hurling.

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As I eluded to in last week’s preview of the semi-final, league results count for little when it comes to championship hurling and that opinion was born out by the results from last Saturday’s semi-finals.

Loch Mor Dal gCais have made steady progress since their formation back in 2013. The club was formed to introduce hurling and Camogie to the lough shore area and has made steady progress to reach their first senior final this Saturday.

They have a superb goalkeeper in Bailey Graham and his massive puck-outs were a feature of last Saturday’s duel with Ardoyne and put his side on the front foot nearly every time he hit one and it is certainly something that All Saints will have to deal with.

Aaron Monaghan, Gerard Pickering Jnr, Conor Jones and Paul Molloy were excellent in defence against Ardoyne with Molloy weighing in with a couple of long range points. Martin Braniff and Cormac Dwyer form a hard working mid-field partnership and both are capable of getting scores.

In attack Ruairi Bannon and Murtagh Moran carry a real goal scoring threat with Bannon hitting 2-2 against the Kickham’s  and Moran getting their other major while Darragh Turley in the other corner has given All Saints plenty of problems in the past and will take careful watching.

Like Loch Mor, All Saints will take a lot of heart from their win over Latharna Og and will feel they have enough in store to shade Saturday’s final but their opponents will be thinking along similar lines.

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Ciaran Cassley in goals is a reliable keeper and his form this year has inspired confidence in the men around him. Chris McAfee at full-back and Luke O’Rawe at centre-half provide a strong spine to a defence where youngster Kevin Brady and the experienced Colum Neeson have been consistent.

Vinny Esler and Gary Miskella are hard-working and combative mid-fielders while in attack Ciaran Neeson, Damian Gillan and Conal Little will provide the greatest scoring threat. All Saints will be contesting their third Junior B final in four years having won the trophy in 2018 and lost to Larne in the final in 2019 so they will know what it takes to succeed at this level.

I know it’s a bit of a cliché but the team who rises to the occasion on the day will emerge as winners and this one can certainly go either way but in a tight contest the opportunity of lifting a first trophy at this level could be the catalyst to edge it in favour of the Lough Shore men.

Junior-B Hurling semi-final 

Ardoyne 1-14-3-11 Loch Mór Dal g Cais 

Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly 

Loch Mór Dal g Cais got the better of Ardoyne to claim a place in the Junior-B hurling final after a 3-11-1-14 victory at Dunsilly this evening. 

It was the third meeting of the sides this season, Ardoyne winning the previous two including a league quarter-final meeting little under two-weeks ago and they were shading the semi-final clash until Ruairi Bannon struck either side of the break to move Loch Mór clear. 

Caolan Wallace hit a goal almost instantly to cut the lead to just two- only for Murtagh Moran to find his sides third-which ultimately saw them to a shock-win at Dunsilly. 

Loch Mór hit the opening score through Ruairi Bannon early on – but Daniel Moore swung over the leveller and team-mate Oisin McVicker converted a free to give his side a 0-02-0-01 lead. 

Matthew Jones pointed to draw his side level, though Ardoyne were beginning to get into their stride and hit the next three points. 

Daniel Moore angled over his second point, Paul McGuigan won back possession and picked off a score and Hugh Grieve converted a free to give his side a 0-05-0-02 lead. 

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Points from Ruairi Bannon and Darragh Turley (free) reduced the deficit to a single point, but Ardoyne hit back with back-to-back scores of their own. 

A foul on Pascal Clarke led to Hugh Grieve converting his second free of the half and the lively Daniel Moore swung over his third point.

Darragh Turley and Paul Molloy closed the gap to single point again- Molloy’s score coming after outstanding work from midfielder Cormac Dwyer whose popped pass gave Molloy space and time to conjure the point from range. 

Ardoyne looked to have extended their lead to two-point before the break with an outstanding point from Pearse Hull – but a Loch Mór goal in first half injury-time ensured that they edged in front. 

A Murtagh Moran low drive was deflected, and the ball spun into the path of Ruairi Bannon who dispatched his shot past JP Agnew to give his side a 1-06-0-08 lead at the interval. 

Loch Mór extended their lead through a Martin Braniff point upon the restart and a converted Darragh Turley free put the goal between the sides. 

Oisin McVicker replied with his second free of the evening, however the North-Belfast side fell further behind on 40 minutes when Ruairi Bannon scrambled home his second to give his side a 2-08-0-09 lead and an upset was looking likely. 

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Ardoyne needed a quick response and got it, Oisin McVicker landed a free and on 42 minutes David Saunders floated the ball to Caolan Wallace who drilled low to the net and made it a two-point game. 

It was only a brief comeback though as Loch Mór gave themselves a bit of breathing space again. 

Matthew Jones intercepted JP Agnew’s puck-out and swung the ball across the face of goal where Murtagh Moran was waiting to bat to the net and make it 3-08-1-10. 

McVicker fizzed over a point in response, but three-points separated the sides at the second half water-break and Ardoyne needed to come back strong in the final quarter. 

Murtagh Moran and Oisin McVicker (free) traded scores upon the resumption and Darragh Turley and Pearse Hull did likewise. 

Ardoyne closed the deficit to two-points when Keelan McCallan off-loaded to Pascal Clarke who directed his shot between the posts. 

On 56 minutes a massive chance went a begging for Ollie Bellew’s charges when David Saunders sent a low ball across the face of the Loch Mór goal and substitute Ryan Thompson was unable to steer it in. 

The insurance score arrived for Loch Mór on the 60^th minute with Paul Molloy swinging over his second point from range and thereafter his side saw out the final moments to claim a place in the Junior-B decider against All Saint’s Ballymena next weekend. 

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Ardoyne: JP Agnew, S McGearty, P Baker, A Stewart, K McCallan, P Clarke (0-01), C McShane, P Hull (0-02), C Curran, D Moore (0-03), M McLaughlin, D Saunders, P McGuigan (0-01), O McVicker (0-05, 0-04f), H Grieve (0-02f). Subs: C Wallace (1-00) for C McShane (30), R Thompson for C Curran (39), S Searle for P McGuigan (59). 

Loch Mór Dal g Cais: B Graham, A Monaghan, M Morgan, O O’Boyle, G Pickering jnr, C Jones, P Molloy (0-02), M Braniff (0-01), C Dwyer, L Rooney, DM McCullagh, M Jones (0-01), D Turley (0-04, 0-02f), R Bannon (2-02), M Moran (1-01). Subs: D McAreavey for O O’Boyle (16), E Fallon for G Pickering jnr (56). 

Referee: Lorenzo McMullan (Bredagh)

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Junior-B hurling semi-final 

All Saint’s Ballymena 1-17 – 2-12 Latharna Og 

Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly

Six-days after losing out in the Division Four league final, All Saint’s Ballymena booked a place in the final of the Junior-B hurling Championship with a hard fought 1-17-2-12 win over Latharna Og in this afternoon’s semi-final at Dunsilly. 

Ballymena hit the opening goal of the game inside of five minutes when Jack Magill floated a ball on top of Ciaran Neeson- who didn’t need a second invitation and found the net to give his side a dream start. 

Neeson found his sides first point a few minutes later after Brendan McDonnell floated a quick free into his path and he angled it over the bar. 

Latharna Og hit back through an impressive, angled point by Mark Petticrew, though Neeson added a second from play, converted a free and a fine Cormac Lemon point had All-Saints 1-04-0-01 ahead. 

On 14 minutes it was game on again when a low ball was fizzed across the All-Saint’s area and Michael Lismore thundered a low drive to the net, but a further Neeson point from range ensured that his side were still in relative control and 1-05-1-01 in front at the water-break. 

Cathal McKillop closed the deficit upon the game’s resumption from a converted free- but All Saint’s chalked up three points in a row. 

Gary Miskella swung over the first after a nice interchange with Damian Gillan, Daire Hasson added the next from range and Neeson conjured up his fifth point and fourth from play to open up a six-point lead. 

Back-to-back points from Conal McAteer (free) and Kelan McAuley kept Latharna Og in touch and despite Neeson converting a free- Larne ensured that four-points separated the sides at the midway point with a second McAteer free making it 1-09-1-05 at half time. 

A converted free from Conal McAteer instantly cut the deficit at the restart, but Cory Little had his run halted, and Ciaran Neeson converted his third free of the afternoon. Neeson added another from play after Luke O’Rawe floated a quick free into his path. 

Successive scores from Lismore (free) and McAuley brought it back to a three-point game only for Ciaran Neeson to land a 65’ and give his side a 1-12-1-08 lead. 

On 43 minutes a second goal of the afternoon gave Latharna Og renewed hope. Conal McAteer slipped the ball into the path of Michael Lismore who returned it and McAteer stumbled and saw the ball to the net to make it 1-12-2-08. 

All Saint’s responded with back-to-back points from talisman Ciaran Neeson and Damian Gillan. 

The pendulum continued to swing with Conal McAteer and Kelan McAuley adding successive frees to bring it back to a single point. 

Neeson and McAteer (free) twice traded scores and ultimately the All Saint’s full-forwards tally of 1-13 would prove the difference as he swung over the insurance point late on to secure a place in the decider next weekend after an absorbing and thrilling last four encounter. 

All Saint’s: C Cassley, D McKee, C McAfee, K Brady, B McDonnell, L O’Rawe, C Neeson, V Eslar, G Miskella (0-01), C Lemon (0-01), D Gillan (0-01), J Magill, D Hasson (0-01), C Neeson (1-13, 0-04f, 0-01 65’), C Little.Subs: C Magill for D Hasson (52). 

Latharna Og: S Og McCurry, K McKillop, B Petticrew, D Martin, M Petticrew (0-01), C McKillop (0-01f), C Shields, R O’Donnell, P McKendry, K McAuley (0-03, 0-02f), C Matthews, K Mulvenna, M Lismore (1-01, 0-01f), C McAteer (1-06, 0-04f), J McAllister. Subs: C O’Boyle for K Mulvenna (45), A O’Neill for J McAllister (47). 

Referee: Eamon Hamill (St Teresa’s)

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