This Thursday, January 15th, the “Mighty Halfpacers” of Belfast are trading the winter coats for sunglasses as they jet off to the Sunshine State for the Tampa Bay GAA Suncoast 7s Hurling Blitz.
Established in 2018, the Halfpacers are a recreational hurling collective for the “more experienced” player. Comprising older lads who still have the hunger for the game—some veterans of the sport, others who have picked up the hurl later in life—they play for the love of it, prioritizing camaraderie and the social scene over intense competition.
This trip marks a significant milestone for the group. having already graced the hallowed turf of Croke Park, the Halfpacers are taking things to the “Next Level” with their first major international tour.
The Squad A travelling party of 26 players will make the trip, representing a mix of roughly 12 different clubs across Belfast and beyond, alongside several “free agents” unaffiliated with any specific club. They will compete against teams from across the USA in what promises to be a festival of hurling.
The Itinerary The tour kicks off in style on Friday night with a “meet and greet” puck-around on the white sands of Madeira Beach. The lads will join the other competing teams for a few beers to watch the sun go down over the bay—a far cry from a wet Tuesday night training session in Belfast!
Saturday sees the serious business (or as serious as Halfpace hurling gets) with the 7s Blitz itself. Following the action, the team will head to downtown St. Petersburg for the official afterparty hosted at Mary Margaret’s Irish Bar. The rest of the trip will be spent chilling out, enjoying the Florida weather, and making connections within the growing US social hurling scene.
The “Chicago Express” The squad includes a very special guest appearance. Micky Brady, a Rossa legend with two Senior Football Championship medals and a clean sweep of underage hurling titles to his name, is flying down from Chicago. Micky has been living in the Windy City for 31 years and will link up with the boys for a reunion to remember.
The Travelling Party: Brendy, Joe O’Neill, Ryan O’Neill, Ally, Gerard, Aódh, Colm, Ramey, Colm McKenna, Desi, Seamus, Tony, Canice, Ryan Jackson, Paddy, Neil, Kevin, Mark, Joe McG, Antóin, Daniel, Gearoid, Paul, Ozzy, and Micky Brady.
It promises to be an epic trip for the Mighty Halfpacers!
The main man Brendan Murray Brendan Murray of the Halfpace Hurlers presents a sponsorship to Bert Trowlen of the Saffron Gael
Joseph McLaughlin who played at corner forward against Kildare. Pic by John McIlwaine
Antrim fell to a one point defeat on Sunday afternoon to bow out of the Walsh Shield at the hands of Kildare. The Lilywhite’s staged a late comeback of sorts, registering the final three scores of the hour to win by the minimum as the Saffrons were left to rue their profligacy in front of the target.
In a second half where they would reach double figures in wides, it was a period just after the three-quarter mark where Davy Fitzgerald side hit four wides in succession in less than five minutes that proved to be decisive in the end. Kildare were certainly wasteful themselves in the first half but they saw out the match at the death with a purple patch that was the winning of the game.
Antrim failed to capitalise on two early second half goals that really should have been the foundation for victory but credit to the home side, they never wavered and despite the slow start to the second period, got the scoreboard ticking.
The returning Conal Cunning was top scorer for the Saffrons, all of his six points came from placed ball while he had a hand in creating the goals scored by Jack McCloskey and Paul Boyle.
Others who caught the eye were Ruairi McCormick and Niall O’Connor in defence, Eoin O’Neill in midfield and Domhnall Nugent was assured between the sticks for the Saffrons.
Jack Sheridan was top of the scoring charts for the Lilywhites, registering 10 white flags from placed ball in a peerless display in awful conditions while he had plenty of support in attack from Gerry Keegan. Cathal McCabe in midfield was another for Brian Dowling’s men who had a strong hour while substitutes Jack Travers and Liam O’Reilly would end up with the vital scores at the death.
With conditions worsening as the game progressed, it was a dogfight for possession with neither side yielding. The first half was played with a bit of bite, threatening to boil over on a couple of occasions but Kildare edged the opening 30 by the minimum, 0-8 to 0-7.
The opening six minutes of the second half saw Antrim score two goals and hit the upright with another chance as they started superbly. Paul Boyle making a break from midfield before finding Coby Cunning. He unselfishly passed inside to Jack McCloskey and he would make no mistake after just two minutes of the restart.
The second major came with the next meaningful attack. Gerard Walsh with the side line cut and finding Coby in space. He went for goal and while his powerful effort was saved superbly by Paddy McKenna between the sticks, but Paul Boyle was first to the rebound to put the Saffrons five clear in the 34th minute.
Kildare registered their opening point of the second half through wing half back Paul Dolan soon after but Antrim carved out another goal chance with the next attack. Boyle once again making the break from midfield before finding Joe Maskey. His effort came back off the post and Kildare cleared the threat.
That miss seemed to give Kildare a lift as they began to find some fluency in their play. With Sheridan’s accuracy from placed ball punishing any Antrim indiscretions and Muiris Curtin becoming more influential, the home side began to eat into the Antrim lead.
James McNaughton who came on as a sub during the Walsh Cup Shield defeat to Kildare. Pic by John McIlwaine
Antrim scored their opening point of the second half in the 47th minute and would only register another two white flags in the time that remained. That final quarter littered with missed chances or efforts dropping short while Kildare were making the most of the Antrim misses.
When Cormac McKeown pointed in the 59th minute, the Antrim lead went to two points with four minutes of injury time announced and the Saffron looked safe. However Sheridan landed his 10th free of the contest before Travers raised a white flag from wide on the right to draw the sides level with all thoughts turning to a potential penalty shoot-out.
Antrim created one last chance with a precise passing movement that saw them find James McNaughton in space, his effort from distance fell to the right hand side of the posts and wide yet with time running out, Kildare registered the winning score through O’Reilly with what was the last action of the contest.
Given this was the first competitive game of the year after last weeks contest with Offaly fell foul to the weather, this was never going to be once for the purists. When you couple in the fact that the wind and underfoot conditions were horrendous, results are secondary.
In a little over a months time (8 February), these two sides will face each other again with important league points on the line. Fitzgerald will be hoping for more fluency and accuracy from his side while conditions may be more favourable for any sort of hurling!
All thoughts now turn to the opening league match with Wexford (away) on 24 January.
Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald
TEAMS
ANTRIM: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Eoin McFerran, Ruairi McCormick; Gerard Walsh, Joe Maskey, Sean McKay; Eoin O’Neill, Ryan McCambridge; Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle, Sean Duffin; Jack McCloskey, Conal Cunning, Joseph McLaughlin
Subs: Niall O’Connor for S McKay (30); Seaan Elliott for J McCloskey (39); Conor Johnston for J McLaughlin (39); James McNaughton for E O’Neill (44); Cormac McKeown for S Duffin (53)
Ryan McCambridge who linded out a midfield against Kildare
Scorers: C Cunning 0-6 (6fs); J McLaughlin 1-1; J McCloskey 1-00; E O’Neill 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; C McKeown 0-1
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Evan O’Briain, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Alan Goss, Cathal McCabe; Caolan Smith, Gerry Keegan, Tim Ryan; Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, James Dolan
Subs: Jack Travers for T Ryan (41); Darragh Melville for J Dolan (47); Liam O’Reilly for E O’Briain (51); Michael Owens for D O’Meara (51); Tom Power for G Keegan (53)
Scorers: J Sheridan 0-10 (10fs); G Keegan 0-2; M Curtin 0-2; P Dolan 0-1; J Travers 0-1; L O’Reilly 0-1
Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald has named his team for tomorrow’s season opener against Offaly in the Walsh Cup at Tullamore. With a few regulars stepping down from the sqaud at the end of last season there are a few new faces on show. Coby Cunning, who will share the captaincy with Niall O’Connor, makes a welcome return to the Saffron colours after missing all of last season through injury, a big boost to all concerned.
For those unable to make the journey to Tullamore the game will be streamed live on Clubber
Ruairi Og Cushendall v Sean MacCumhaills Ballybofey – Throw-in 1pm
Cushendall must not be complacent when the take on Donegal champions Sean MacCumhaills in Sunday’s Ulster Minor Hurling final in Ballinascreen. Last Sunday the boys from Ballybofey made history by becoming the first Donegal side to reach the final of this great tournament and they are determined to write another chapter tomorrow when the face the Antrim champions.
Sean MacCumhaills manager Jamesie Donnelly is hoping they can end the year on a high after already upsetting the odds twice. The Tir Connell side were outsiders when they took on Tyrone champions Carrickmore in the Ulster Shield final, but depite having a depleted squad, they came out on top.
Sean MacCumhaills, Ballybofey
Winning the Shield put them through to the semi-final of the cup competition where they faced Down champions Ballygalget and low and behold they upset the odds again to set up Sunday’s showdown with Cushendall.
In their semi-final Cushendall had a hard earned win over Dungiven in a really competitive game. The Derry champions matched the Ruairis score for score for most of the game and when they edged ahead going down the home straight the Antrim champions appeared to be in trouble. However they battled on and after Fiontan Bradley hit the equalising score in the last seconds, Nicholas McLaughlin won the game when his attempt for a point dropped in below the crossbar in injury time for the match winning goal.
Cushendall full forward Fiontan Bradley in action during last week’s semi-final win over Dungiven
Cushendall goalkeeper Shane Coulter was man of the match last week with a series of outstanding saves while in a solid full back line Conor McCann stood out. Although named in the forwards Callagh Mooney did a lot of defending last week and was a vital cog in the Cushendall team as were the McLaughlin brothers Nicholas and Thomas. Connlaodh McNaughton and Shane McQuillan hit vital scores while Fiontan Bradley was a constant danger, despite being closely marked throughout the hour.
Sean MacCumhaills manager Jamesie Donnelly is confident his team will not be found wanting “We’re here on merit, we’re in uncharted territory but we’ll go to Ballinascreen and give it one hell of a lash. We’re not going up to take part in the occasion, we’re going up to play hurling and we might never get this chance again.”
Cushendall will go in as strong favourites but sometimes that is not a good thing and they will need to be on their toes to capture the club’s third Ulster title and their first since 2013.
