O’Neill Sportswear Antirm Hurling League – Division 1
Glenariffe Oisins 1-21 St Gall’s 012
Glenariffe made it two wins out of three when they beat St Gall’s in Saturday evening’s Division Two Hurling League game in Wateroot. Leading by two points after a well contested opening half the Oisins dominated the second half and boosted by a goal from second half substitute Calum McIlwaine and superb display of free taking from Seanie McIntosh they pushed on to win by 1-21 to 0-12.
The Belfast side started well as points from Jackson McGreevy and Cormac Sheehan they took a two point lead after five minutes. The Oisins were struggling to hit the target but two pointed fees from Seanie McIntosh in the 8th and 9th minutes brought them level after 13 minutes. It was score for score during the next fifteen minutes Gregory McGreevy, Ronan Crossan and Marcus Donnelly were answered by three more from ‘Tosh’ which tied the scores on 0-8 apiece, but two more late frees by Tosh in the first half injury time put them 0-10 to 0-08 in front at half time.
The Oisins new management team introduced three subs at the start of the second half with Orrin O’Connor, Calum Mcilwaine and Niall Magee all being introduced and each one made an impact as the home team too command of the game. O’Connor got the first point of the half and after McIntosh added another from a free, McIlwaine grabbed the only goal of the game when full forward Arnie Cosgrove flicked a ball across the square that appeared to be going wide, and McIlwaine tapped it home from a yard out.
Mark Napier came back with a couple of points for St Gall’s but the Oisins hit the next six scores as McIntosh added four more, while the O’Connor brothers Orrin and Brogan picked off points. Ronan Crossan and Napier had two late scores for the visitors before Man of the Match McIntosh brought his tally to ten to wrap it all up.
Antrim minor hurlers’ interest in the Leinster Championship was ended on Saturday at Cussack Park, Mullingar when they were outclassed by Westmeath in the penultimate round of the round robin games, the midlands side winning comfortably by 10 after a dominant display.
Despite a very encouraging opening quarter when they opened up four point lead after fifteen minutes, Antrim were playing second fiddle for most of the game, though in Fiontan Braldey, Thomas McLaughlin and Callagh Mooney they had players who could mix it with their opponents.
Antrim had started the game very well and after falling behind to an early Westmeath point they came back strongly with a pointed free by Fiontan Bradley and a great goal from play by Thomas McLaughlin. It was score for score for the rest of the opening quarter points from Ryan Williamson and Eoin Meehan for the home side were answered by Bradley and just on fifteen minutes the Cushendall man struck his third in a row, this time from a 65, to push the lead out to four.
However things started to go wrong for the Saffrons and Westmeath’s dominance in the half back and midfield started to tell, and they came back with three points in two minutes, from Meehan, McKeogh and ace free taker Kian Loughlin. Bradley got Antrim back ahead again with another fine strike from a free but Westmeath were starting to control things around the park and another point from McKeogh was followed by a goal from Casey, who poked the ball home following a goalmouth scramble. Three more points followed from the excellent Loughlin as they went in at the break with a six point advantage.
There were early signs of promise by the Saffrons as the new half got underway, but two early points from Bradley and Oisin McCallin were soon wiped out as Higgins and Meehan hit back for the home side. There was renewed hope for Antrim when a points from Thomas McLaughlin was followed by the Cushendall man’s second goal, a great strike after great work by Bradley, but Westmeath came back with five inside four minutes, free take Loughlin again leading the line.
The only thing in question at this stage was the size of the winning margin as the scores came quick and fast for the men in maroon. Bradly capped a fine individual display with another two excellent points but Westmeath were home and hosed by this stage and now play Offaly in their final game to decide who tops the group.
ST Malachy’s won the all-Belfast shoot-out at An Spórtlann on Friday for the Danske Bank Bro Ennis Shield but the trophy could well have gone to the Ravenhill Road as Aquinas Grammar rattled the cross-bar in the dying minutes.
St Malachy’s got the better start with goals from Brendan Herdman and Odhrán Kelly. But a hat-trick from Player of the Match Aidan Holmes and a brace from Conor Daly put Aquinas ahead and they went in at the break with an advantage of eight points despite a third goal for St Malachy’s via Breadan Finnegan.
The second half turned out to be a real battle with Aquinas playing against the breeze now. They edged closer with three-pointers from Herdman and the excellent Codhrán O’Rourke.
The turning point was a penalty that Finnegan buried to edge St Malachy’s into the lead and they were able to maintain that gap despite points from Holmes, Alex Jackman and Anton Doras.
Those points were cancelled out in turn by Conor Stewart, Sean Doran and Aidan Johnstone to get St Malachy’s over the line.
St Malachy’s: B Finnegan 2-1, B Herdman 2-0, C O’Rourke 1-2, O Kelly 1-1, C Stewart 0-2, A Johnstone and S Doran 0-1 each.
Aquinas: A Holmes 3-4, C Daly 2-0, A Doras 1-1, A Jackson 0-1
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Sunday’s championship game with Kilkenny as Antrim begin their Leinster campaign.
As far as Championship openers come, they don’t come more difficult than a trip to Nowlan Park. That’s the task that faces Antrim hurlers on Sunday afternoon as they begin their 2024 Leinster Championship with a trip to Kilkenny.
Playing the hurling aristocrats, All-Ireland finalists and National League finalists in their own back yard. It’s a far cry from the days of travelling to the likes of Wicklow and playing in a field that definitely could have been doing with the lawn mower down a nick (or three) and more players in the panels combined than spectators… no offence to the good people of Wicklow.
That’s the journey that Antrim have come through in recent years. It’s easy to forget that but sometimes, you have to take stock before going again.
The column inches that have been filled regarding the injuries this year has been mind-boggling, not to mention those who wanted (if not, needed) a well-deserved break. On that front, things have “Improved dramatically” – the words of team manager, Darren Gleeson.
After the press release last month where it gave the details of the injuries, when we spoke with Gleeson, he confirmed: “Gerard (Walsh), Stephen Rooney, Rian McMullan, Keelan (Molloy), Conal Bohill, James McNaughton, Michael Bradley are all available again. A massive bonus that they’re back and ready for the Championship. Conor McCann and Coby (Conal Cunning) were both nursing knocks but have come through those as well and are on the right side of things.
“You throw in the likes of Ryan Elliott, Nigel and Seaan (Elliott) who have come back and we definitely feel like we’re in a good place. Seaan’s coming back from a nasty ankle injury himself but he’s fit and available.”
Scott walsh has been named at right half back
The injury table hasn’t been cleared, however. Ballycastle duo Seamus McAuley and Ciaran Clarke are a couple of weeks short but it’s better news on Loughgiel’s Paul Boyle: “It’s better news with Paul. All the lads went through a screening check set up by the GAA and GPA at the start of the year. It showed an irregularity with Paul’s heart and we’ve been following the medical advice to get him sorted. He went through a minor procedure but unfortunately it didn’t take, he went through it again in the last 10 days or so and thank God it’s done the business.
“It’s been a hugely worrying and stressful time for Paul and his family. Paul’s as fit as a fiddle and a wonderful player. He had a brilliant club championship and was excellent for us last year. He’ll be back in full training next week.”
Conal Cunning lines out at corner forward
Gleeson and his team are not long back on Irish shores having spent some time in Portugal for an intense, warm-weather training camp. Something that seems to be the ‘norm’ these days but as the Portroe native informed us, Antrim did things a little differently: “It was hugely beneficial and when you look at the weather recently, it couldn’t have been better timed with our training pitches being closed.
“You look at counties going out to Portugal and the likes for training, they’re being heavily funded by sponsors and the likes. But these lads and fair play to the footballers as well, they’ve done the fundraising themselves with a contribution from the county board.
“I think this is what makes it more worthwhile.”
The Saffrons last competitive game will be five weeks ago this weekend when Tipperary came to Corrigan Park. While getting some of the walking wounded back on the pitch, Gleeson told us that they managed to get a couple of challenge games in: “We did have challenge games against Offaly in Abbotstown and Down in Jordanstown. They were brilliant for us in terms of getting lads game time who had been injured. Nothing beats game time in legs in preparation for the Championship. Some of the lads who had been injured probably still need some game time and they’re going back to their clubs this weekend.”
He continued: “Rory McCloskey took a knock and is feeling the effects of a dead leg. We’re monitoring him ahead of Sunday.
Ryan McGarry has been moved back to full-back
“He’s been a real shining light this year in at full back. It’s his second year in the squad and he’s been a huge positive for us. We’ll give him every chance before naming the team.”
On the trip to Kilkenny, you got the sense that Gleeson is relishing the chance to pit his Antrim side against Derek Lyng’s Cats: “Some might see it as daunting but it’s a wonderful opportunity. Playing Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in championship setting, a championship atmosphere. We’ve got the chance to pit ourselves against the League finalists and runners up of the All-Ireland last year.
“We’re massive underdogs, you just have to look at the match in Corrigan last year but we’re concentrating on getting our own performance right. You know what Kilkenny are going to bring; they have savage intensity and savage work rate. You have to match that before you even think about getting anything from the game.”
Since this interview, the team has been named with six of the starting 15 not playing any league games and a further two on the bench. The starting 15 certainly has a more familiar feel to it with Ryan McGarry dropping back a line and Ryan Elliott returning to goals. Conal Bohill joins Eoghan Campbell and Scott Walsh at half back while James McNaughton partners Niall O’Connor in midfield. Michael Bradley makes a welcome return from a long term shoulder injury to start on the three quarter line with Nigel Elliott and Niall McKenna while Conor McCann will line out on the edge of the square where he’ll have Conal Cunning and Seaan Elliott on either side.
Please see our Official Antrim GAA Schools Cup Hurling Year 10 Hurling All-Star Nominations 2023/24. The Winners will be announced on Monday 22nd April 12pm via email to Schools & on our Social media Channels (Antrim & Gaelfast Facebook & Twitter). These players were recommended by School Teachers/Coaches, Antrim GAA Gaelfast staff and Match day Officials throughout the competition. The process to select our Antrim Schools Cup All-Stars was extremely difficult due to the high levels of performance from our players over the blitz days and knockout phases of the competitions. We had over 12 schools and over 300 pupils taking part in our Antrim Schools Cup Hurling Year 8 Competition from January to March. I would like to thank and congratulate our Parents/Guardians, Academy squad mentors, Schools & Club coaches for providing our children with opportunities to develop, take part in our games and be surrounded in the overwhelming Physical, Psychological, Social and Emotional Health & Wellbeing benefits associated with playing GAA Sports. The winners will be invited to St Marys University College on Wednesday 1st May 1pm as part of the Antrim Schools Cup All-Star Awards Event. Other details to follow.
