Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Dunloy impress as they put Rossa to the sword

Antrim U21 Hurling Championship semi-final

O’Donovan Rossa 1-14 Dunloy Cuchullain’s 2-24

Dunloy set up a final meeting with Cushendall when they turned on the style at Rossa Park on Monday evening to see off the challenge of Rossa. Following their win over Ballycastle the previous week the Cuchullains were sharp throughout the field and were always in control of the game.

Rossa took the lead from a Diarmaid Rogan free, but found their scores hard to come by. The visitors were soon level when Eoin McFerran sent over the equaliser and they hit the front when Jack Martin pointed from distance. Rogan came back with an equaliser but Aodhan McGarry, Luke McFerran and Jack Martin replied with scores for the Cuchullains as the gap began to open.

They went seven clear with ten minutes of the opening half remaining, four of them coming from the ultra-reliable Aodhhan McGarry while Oisin McCallin chipped in with a fine score. Their rhythm was disrupted when Rossa hit back with a goal from Diarmuid Rogan, but the young Cuchullains soon recovered from that setback and pushed on to lead by 1-14 to 1-04 at the interval.

The ten point lead soon went out to eleven as Luke McFerran drilled over just seconds after the restart. Hard though they tried Rossa could not contain the talented Dunloy side. McCallin then set up Paudi Martin for their sides second goal and it soon became clear that the size of the winning margin was the only thing to be decided.

Rossa kept plugging away and Pearse Short and Ruairi Murray pulled a couple of points back. They were never able to get the major scores they needed and the impressive Cuchullains pushed on to win by thirteen points and will go into next week’s decider as firm favourites to take the title.

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ROSSA: D Boylan; P Moyes, C Boyle, F McDonald; C Shortt, R Murray (0-1), B Hegarty; D Rogan (1-8, 0-7f, 0-1 ’65’), B McCauley; L McEnhill (0-1), P Short (0-2), M McKiernan; C Walsh (0-1), E Trainor, N May.

Subs: S Cunningham (0-1) for N May (19), D Morgan for M McKiernan (40), B Crawford for B Hegarty (60), S McDonald for F McDonald (60).

DUNLOY: E Richmond; R Cunning, S Og Blaney, M Trainor; F McMullan, B O’Kane, J Magee (0-1); J Martin (0-3), A McGarry (0-9, 3f, 2 65s); B McCloskey, L McFerran (0-1), E McFerran (0-3); P Martin (2-3), R Mort, O McCallin (0-4).

Subs: C McMullan for M Traynor (33), C McMullan for F McMullan (44), E O’Kane for B McCloskey (51), C Mullan for L McFerran (53).

REFEREE: Paddy Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

FOR MORE OF BERT TROWLENS PHOTOS FROM THE ROSSA V DUNLOY GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Cushendall’s late goals sink the Shamrocks

Thomas McLaughlin grabs a high ball in this challenge with Loughgiel’s Conor Dickson during the Under 21 Hurling Championship semi-final on Monday evening.

The game started like a whirlwind and after Loughgiel’s Darragh Patterson hit the opening score, right from the throw-in the ‘Dall came back with two inside 30 seconds from Joseph McLaughlin. The Shamrocks hit back and the sides were level on 3 apiece after three minutes as the blistering early pace of the game continued and three from Oran McCambride, Oisin Woodhouse and Fiontan Bradley put the home side 0-5 to 0-3 in front with less than five minutes on the clock.

Conor O’Mullan and Christy McGarry brought Loughgiel level again but a goal from Joseph McLaughlin and six points on the bounce from the home side started to see daylight appear between the teams, the Ruairis leading by 1-10 to 0-5 at the end of the first quarter. The Shamrocks closed the gap with points from a Christy McGarry free and one from play from Conor O’Mullan but Cushendall pulled away again with a goal from Fiontan Bradley on 22 minutes. Eight in arrears Loughgiel were in danger of being cut adrift, but they battled their way back into contention with four points in the last seven minutes of the half, one from play by Pearse Patterson and three from Christy McCarry frees to trail by just four at the half time whistle. (2-12 to 1-11)

Within a minute of the restart the gap was down to two as top scorer McGarry and Ronan McCollum swung over points, though Joseph McLaughlin and Callagh Mooney pushed the gap out to four again in the next three minutes. A Joseph McLaughlin free stretched the gap to five, but Loughgiel hit back with a goal from Ben McGarry and suddenly it looked to be anybody’s game.

Loughgiel’s Christy McGarry get away from Cushendall’s Callagh Mooney during the U21 semi-final at Pairc Mhuire

Two minutes later Cushendall had the ball in the net at the other end when Oran McCambridge drilled one in from a narrow angle on the right, but Loughgiel kept themselves in contention when Christy McGarry sent over two more points from frees. Cushendall were finding the scores increasingly hard to come by and Loughgiel drew level by the 50th minute as McGarry tagged on another point from a free and Liam Glackin added one from play.

The Shamrock fans must have felt their team were in with a great chance at this stage but the home side found another gear down the home straight as they outscored the visitors by 3-1 to a single point. The first goal came from Oran McCambridge and the other two from Joseph McLaughlin who completed his hat trick to seal the win and book his team’s place in the final against Dunloy next Monday evening in Ballycastle.

FOR MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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CUSHENDALL

Liam McGhee, Alex McCambridge, Daire Mort, Michael Quinn, Mark Emerson, Callagh Mooney, Conor McCollum, Joseph McNaughton, Austin Birt, Oisin Woodhouse, Joseph McNaughton, Oran McCambridge, Fiontan Bradley, Padraig McKillop, Thomas McLaughlin

Subs – Aodhan Campbell for Mark Emerson;

LOUGHGIEL

Codai McGarry, Cahir Connolly, Ruairi McCormick, Conor Dickson, Conal McCloskey, Liam Glackin, Ben McGarry, Tiago McGarry, Christy McGarry, Eoin McGarry, Darragh Patterson, Pearse Patterson, Ronan McCollam, Ronan Fitzgerald, Conor O’Mullan

Subs – Finn Henry for Conor O’Mullan; Ryan O’Boyle for Ronan Fitzgerald; Oisin Connolly for Liam Glackin

Referee – Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

by thesaffrongael

History made at Slemish Park

U21B Hurling Championship semi-final

All Saints 2-12 Lamh Dhearg 1-7

Chris Dornan wore a smile as wide as Slemish Park as he walked off the field after his All Saints side made their little bit of history with this win over Lamh Dhearg in the semi-final of the U21 B Hurling Championship.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Cushendall native, who manages the Senior team, the Ballymena club fielded a side at this level for the first time and it proved to be a very successful night for Dorney’s side.

The visitors certainly played their part in a typically rugged championship encounter and were level at half time when the sides retreated to the dressing rooms tied at 0-6 each.

Jakub Kaczmarek ( Above and featured image) fires home his second goal to secure All Saints their place in the U21B Hurling final

The Ballymena management made a vital switch at half time when they moved Jakub Kaczmarek to the edge of the square and the switch was to pay dividends as the strong running number 10 struck with two excellent goals to swing the contest decisively in favour of the home team.

His first came with ten minutes remaining at a time when the visitors had hauled back a four point deficit to draw level at 0-10 to 1-7 and he ensured that there would be no way back for a battling Hannastown outfit as he fired home his second with only a minute remaining.

Darach Bradley put the home side ahead with a pointed free after 30 seconds and the All Saints number 11 would be an important contributor as he hit four of his side’s six first half points with Sean McDermott and Daniel Kelly their other marksmen.

Lamh Dhearg matched them all the way through the opening half where they had wind advantage with Ciaran Boyd, Adam Murray 0-2, Finn Mervyn 0-2 and Donal Martin their first half scorers and Boyd was unfortunate to see his shot come back of an upright with 7 minutes gone.

Conor McConville, Lamh Dhearg and Tiernan McGurk, All Saints challenge for the ball
Darch Bradley who scored 0-9 for All Saints in their win over Lamh Dhearg

The home side lacked penetration up front during the opening half and Kaczmarek’s switch to full-forward for the second 30 minutes proved a master stroke.

Indeed they might have had a goal as early as the second minute but Rhys Camlin in the visitors goals brought of a superb double save to deny Jakub Kaczmarek and Darach Bradley on the follow up.

All Saints seemed to be taking control however as Daniel Kelly and Darach Bradley with three on the bounce move them four ahead by the 13th minute and they looked to have found their grove.

Lamh Dhearg had other ideas however and they struck back with a goal from Conal McGuigan in the 15th minute, their first score of the second half and when Ciaran Boyd followed immediately with a point the sides were level.

The Slemish Park side had hit half a dozen wides at this point but Jakub Kaczmarek became their hero when he raced through on goal and kicked the sliothar past the advancing Rhys Camlin to move the home side three in front.

The superb Darach Bradley added two points and Kaczmarek put the icing on a fine performance as he fired home his and his sides second goal with time almost up to secure a place in next week’s final against Sarsfields.

All Saints: 1 Luke Walsh, 2 Finn Connon, 3 Peadar McGuckian, 4 Diarmuid Casey, 5 Senan O’Boyle, 6 Harry Connon, 7 Archie McGreevey, 8 Sean McDermott 0-1, 9 Daniel Kelly 0-2, 10 Jakub Kaczmarek 2-0, 11 Darach Bradley 0-9, Fintan Brady, 13 Eddie McKendry, 14 Tiernan McGurk, 15 Ciaran Logan.

Subs: Caolan Laverty for Tiernan McGurk

Lamh Dhearg: 1 Rhys Camlin, 3 Odhran Kane, 4 Corey Camlin, 5 Reece Groves, 6 Finn Mervyn 0-2, 7 Niall McGarry, 8 Ciaran Boyd 0-2, 9 Aidan Morrow, 10 Adam Murray 0-2, 23 Aidan McKeague, 12 Donal Martin 0-1, 13 Eoin Murray, 14 Conal McGuigan 1-0, 15 Sean McCarthy, 22 Conor McConville

Referee: Seamus Shannon (Rossa)

For more pics from the All Saints v Lamh Dhearg game click on the link below

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by thesaffrongael

Rampant Gaels off to a winning start

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 1

Cloney Gaels 3-26 St. Paul’s 2-16

Cloney Gaels hit an impressive 3-26 as they overcame the challenge of Visitors St. Paul’s in the opening Group 1 game of the Intermediate Hurling Championship in Ahoghill on Sunday.

The final score-line was a little unkind to a St. Paul’s side who played some excellent hurling but didn’t have the accuracy of a free scoring home side who denied them space at the other end of the field.

Cloney Gaels led 1-13 to 1-9 at the end of a fairly even opening half with both sides missing good goal opportunities but the turning point came 7 minutes into the second half when Colla McDonnell fired to the corner of the visitors net.

Patrick Graham hit a third for the Ahoghill side at the end of the third quarter to put it out of reach of the visitors who kept battling to the end and were reward with a consolation goal from Patrick Doyle in injury time.

It was visitors St. Paul’s who were first on target with Declan Chapman pointing them ahead in the opening minute with Ronan Graham striking the equaliser from 60 meters with four minutes on the clock.

A James O’Connell free and another by the same player from a ‘65’ had Cloney Gaels two ahead by the 8th minute with Conall Duffy replying to close the gap to one.

Duffy then saw his effort on goal come back of an upright and Aiden Graham pulled off a good save to deny Lorcan Phillips who was quickest to react on the follow up and it seemed to bring the home side to life.

James O’Connell from a free, Dan O’Neill and Colla McDonnell added points and then Graham hit a great effort from out on the left to move the home side five in front by the 13th minute.

Caolan O’Duibhfinn wasted a good opportunity to bring the visitors back into contention before Eamonn Brady raced through for a good point at the other end and when Eoin Graham fired to the net at the end of the opening quarter, the Gaels had moved 9 ahead.

It was just reward for the Cloney number 14 who’s pace and strong running had opened up the St. Paul’s defence on at least three previous occasions with St. Paul’s calling full-back Frankie Sewell ashore soon after and introducing Caoimhin Killyleah with Bairre Burns moving to full-back.

It brought about improvement as the Shaw’s Road side began to enjoy some success with Sean Munce, Conall Duffy, Caolan O’Duibhfinn and Lorcan Phillips adding points in reply to one from Diarmaid Graham for the home side.

Further points from Declan Chapman and a 31st minute goal from the same player had it back to five at the halfway stage with James O’Connell keeping the score board ticking for the Gaels.

Phillips hit another point, 30 seconds into the second half to close the gap to four and James O’Connell and O’Duibhfinn  exchanged pointed frees before Patrick Graham moved Cloney five ahead once more.

McDonnell’s goal in the 7th minute came after a bad miss from James O’Connell and saw the Ahoghill men find another gear as O’Connell 0-2 and Bobby Magee extended their lead to 9 by the 12th minute.

St. Paul’s were still contesting every ball and replied with points from Caolan O’Duibhfinn and Stephen Rooney but when Patrick Graham got in for Cloney Gaels third goal it looked as good as over.

James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell, Eoin Graham and substitute, Jack McFall added to the Cloney total with four on the bounce before Patrick Doyle pulled one back for the visitors with six minutes remaining.

O’Connell from a free and Fionnbar O’Neill with a massive point, Eoin Graham and Dan O’Neill concluded the scoring for the home side with Caolan O’Duibhfinn from a free and Doyle’s injury time goal putting a better look on the final score-line.

This win sees Cloney Gaels join Tir na nOg and Sarsfields at the top of the table. The Whitehill side recorded a facile win over Con Magee’s at Whitehill while Sarsfields had three to spare over Cushendun at the ‘Bear Pit’

Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Daniel O’Neill, 10 Donal Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Eoin Graham, 15 James O’Connell

Subs: Shea Neeson, Jack McFall, Neill O’Connell, Eoin Neeson, Charlie McCloskey

St. Paul’s: 1 Chris Murray, 2 Ciaran O’Carroll, 3 Frankie Sewell, 4 Tiarnan Auld, 5 Thomas Duff, 6 Stephen Rooney, 7 Marcas Munce, 8 Sean Lawell, 9 Bairre Burns, 10 Caolan O’Duibhfinn, 11 Lorcan Phillips, 12 Declan Chapman, 13 Conall Duffy, 14 Patrick Doyle, 15 Sean Munce

Subs: Ciaran Killyleah, Declan Quinn, Liam Walsh, Callum Murray

Referee: Darren McKeown

TO SEE MORE PICS BY BRIAN McKEE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Rejuvenated Paddies bounce back to shock the Emmet’s

Intermediate Hurling Championship – RR1

Sarsfields 2-20 Cushendun 3-14

Pics by Mickey Morgan

Sarsfields fought their way back from eight points down after 38 minutes to beat Cusheudun by three in Sunday’s Intermediate Hurling Championship opening round-robin game at the Bear Pit. When Conlaoth McNeill pointed for the Emmet’s to put them eight clear, seven minutes into the second half, it appeared that the Cushendun side had safely negotiated their opening round game, but incredibly the visitors never raised a flag for the next 23 minutes as Sarsfields took control of the match, and by the time McNeill scored again in injury time the game had slipped from their grasp. The goal brought them back to within three and suddenly there was a little bit of hope of salvaging something, but the Paddies held firm and sealed the win with a bit to spare, a victory that transforms their season.

Relegated to Division 3 this season there were few pundits who gave the Paddies much of a chance in this game, and when Cushendun had the better of the first half, things appeared to be going that way. Conor McHugh hit the opening score for the visitors on three minutes but Sarsfields hit back two minutes later with a goal by corner forward Malachy Campbell to take a two point lead. They stretched their lead to four as Donal and Niall McKernan added points, and though ‘Loaf’ McNeill pulled one back for Cushendun, the gap was soon out to five when Caolan and Donal McKernan swung over two points inside a minute.

Cushendun started to settle into the game and three points from McNeill and two from Conor McHugh saw them draw level with the Belfast men. A great goal by Conrad McDonnell on 18 minutes put the Emmet’s three clear and though Donal McKernan came back with a point, it was to be the Paddies last score of the half and Cushendun produced a storming finish to the half with a second goal from Conrad McDonnell, plus three pointed frees from Loaf McNeill to lead by six at half time. (2-10 to 1-07)

Niall McKenna pulled one back for Sarsfields at the start of the second half to cut the gap to five, but when Cushendun hit back with two points from McNeill and one from Callum Kilgore, to stretch their lead to eight, the visiting fans must surely have thought the win was secure.

However things turned out much differently than expected and after Niall McKenna pulled back a couple of points a sideline ‘cut’ was sent in around the Emmet’s goal area where Donal McKernan rose brilliantly to double the ball to the net. Suddenly the Paddies were in charge all over the field and two points from McKenna and one from Caolan McKernan brought them level and they pushed on to lead by six with just two minutes left for play. Cushendun ended a twenty three minute scoreless spell when Loaf McNeill fired in a goal, but Sarsfields held their nerve in a hectic finish to seal a remarkable win.    

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