Above – Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne who scored a hat-trick of goals to seal the Dungiven school’s win

Ulster Shools Hurling – Forresters Cup

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 4-10 Cross & Passion College Ballycastle 3-08

GCD Dungiven got their first win an Ulster Schools Hurling A competition when they beat Cross & Passion College in Tuesday’s Forresters Cup game at Owenbeg. Unfortunately for the Derry boys it was not enough to see them make the semi-final but it was a historic milestone for the college in schools hurling.

Fielding half of the team who beat Aquinas in the final of the Casement Cup (Colleges B) competition at the Dub just before Christmas, the Dungiven boys fell1-4 to 0-1 behind after CPC started strongly with a goal from star forward Cadhan Crawford.

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire team captain Darragh O’Loughlin

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire began to settle and when Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne replied with a goal and Emmet Og Mac Íomhair and Dylan Ó Heireamhoin added points they were right back in the game. The excellent Crawford, who ended with 3-2, grabbed his second goal to keep CPC very much in the hunt, but Ó Duibhne hit back right away with another superb goal, and when he added his team’s third a few minutes later the Dungiven school were ahead.

With Crawford and Oisin McCallin showing well for the Ballycastle boys it was score for score as the teams headed down the ‘home straight’ but a brilliant solo run and goal by Emmet Og Mac Íomhair sealed the win for the Dungiven side who must be thinking of what might have been after losing last Friday’s game against St Killian’s by a point, with the last poc of the game.

The four semi-finalists are St Pat’s Maghera, St Killian’s, St Louis and Rathmore while the B semi-finalsts are Gaelcholáiste Dhoire, CPC, St Mary’s and OLSP Knock

RORY McQuillan, manager of Cushendun Robert Emmet’s senior side, could not separate the contributions of two outstanding players when selecting the club’s senior Player of the Year for 2023. So, he divided the spoils for the Emmet’s annual Presentation Dinner held in Cushendall Golf Club. Honoured were tigerish tackling corner back Sean Hamilton and the ever mobile smart finishing midfielder Conor McHugh. “Both players are very dedicated players and their performances proved vital in our win of the Division Two league title,” said Rory, whose back-up reserve team supremo faced a similar dual dilemma in selecting the second-string team’s Player of the Year. Eugene also split the silverware with Aidan McSparran and Michael McHugh. They were key contributors in the winning of the McCaughan Cup.

The Players’ Player award for the McQuillan Shield went to senior team skipper Jack McKay.The Club Person of the Year also had a tied outcome – of Liam Mulholland and the Emmet’s busy referee Paul McSparran.

The Wilson Cup for dedication to the club was presented by the Club’s main sponsor, Wilson Motors of Rathkenny by John Wilson to John O’Hara.

The main players were well represented by such star turns as the inimitable ace marksman Conlaoith ‘ Loaf ‘ McNeill, outstanding centre backs Donal O’Hara and ‘Most Improved’ player Sean McKay, rock steady wing backs Sean Hamilton and Jack McKay, tight tackling play anywhere Thomas Scally.

Missing from the impressively attended gathering was ex-county player Conor McHugh, presently on holiday in Australia where he linked up with two other absentees, the Kilgore brothers – Harry and David.

Soon, Rory McQuillan starts his tough training routine for the new season,and the enthusiasm of the young tigers hoping to clinch places in the senior side was palpable during the gala evening. There are places to be filled, such as gaps up front left by news of retirement by classy front men – ‘Wee’ Dominic McQuillan and Conrad McDonnell.

Both plundered spectacular scores during last season, none more so than a drop-shpt goal by McDonnell.

Also, there is uncertainty of having the gifted wingers, Kilgore brothers back from Down Under.

Manager Rory also awaits the medical recovery of craggy centre full back Aidan Corbett- and news of back-damaged goalkeeper supreme Gareth McGee..

Waiting on the wings for full time recognition are such youngsters as Aidan McSparran, Colm McKeegen and Pearse McKeegan,

Lady Chairperson Helen Magee processed a clockwork running programme. “We enjoyed an excellent turnout of players. Also in attendance was our ever present main sponsor John Wilson of Wilson Motors, Rathkenny and his wife Margerie.”

The top guest list included former club players, Fr Noel McHenry and one-time St MacNissi’s College President – Fr Paddy Delargy, who is a Trustee of the Emmet’s along with Dr John McSparran.

Long serving Committee member, Mrs Pearl McQuillan highlighted the unique honorary squad member in Oscar-winning film actor James Martin.

“During our weekly Quiz night in Randal McDonnell’s we presented James with a club jersey – numbered 23. Since he was a youngster he has been attending our charity Quiz along with his parents Ivan and Suzanne. Not many hurling clubs can boast of having an Oscar winner in their ranks.”

Antrim hurlers face a baptism of fire when they take on All Ireland champions Limerick in the opening game of National Hurling League today in Thurles.

With the Saffrons short a host of regulars from the past few years, due to the retirement of Neil McManus, after a long and distinguished career, plus the decision of Dunloy’s Nigel Elliott, Ryan Elliott, Seaan Elliott, Keelan Molloy and Eoin O’Neill all stepping away after two very hard seasons with club and county the season ahead was always going to be very difficult. Things have been made a lot worse with the squad hit by a host of injuries and today’s team will be without regulars Paul Boyle, Eoghan Campbell, James McNaughton, Eoin McFerran and Conal Bohill, most of whom lined out against Dublin in the Walsh Cup two weeks ago.

The new league set-up for the 2025 season means there is going to be no relegation from the top two divisions this season. The top three teams in 1A and 1B, plus the winner of the play off between the fourth team in each group will make up a new seven team Division 1 next season, with those who don’t make the cut forming Division 2.

The Limerick team named for today is well short of the side that won last year’s All Ireland final, which is a little bit of good news, while one other piece of good news for Saffron fans travelling to the game is that it is fixed for Semple Stadium in Thurles, rather than Limerick, which cuts 100 miles off the round trip