Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Ardoyne hurlers bring years of famine to an end

Junior B Hurling Final

Ardoyne 0-18 Loch Mor Dal gC ais 1-11

Success may have been a long time coming for the hurlers of Ardoyne Kickhams, but they completed a historic double with a win in the Junior B hurling championship over Loch Mór Dal gCais at Musgrave on Saturday afternoon to build upon their earlier league success.

Last year, the North Belfast side fell to St Brigid’s in the decider and they were in no mood for a repeat, finding a way over the line in a game that was extremely hard going for both teams as the rain poured throughout, cutting up the well prepared pitch as the game progressed.

The previous game between these two sides in the round robin stage and played in similar dismal conditions finished in a draw, so anticipation was high to see if Loch Mór could bring the Ardoyne men’s unbeaten run to an end in the final game of the season.  It was apparent from early on in this highly competitive match though that the men from the north of the city were determined to bring the championship home after several years of near misses.

Conditions were not favourable to the forwards and while the majority of the scores came from placed balls that was a credit to both free-takers who missed very little with Ardoyne’s Aran Stewart finishing with 14 points to his name – 13 from frees – while Loch Mór’s Darragh Turley converted nine of his chances.

Despite the atrocious underfoot conditions, both sides served up a highly entertaining game.

Loch Mór opened well and Bailey Graham put them on the board when pulling on a loose ball that just about cleared the bar.

Stewart replied with his first point from frees and then Oisin MacAnBhiocaire split the posts from a tight angle to put Ardoyne into the lead and went on to have one of his best displays in an Ardoyne jersey that galvanised the Ardoyne team.

Ardoyne led by two points after 12 minutes, but Turley stroked over four frees in succession to put Loch Mór ahead by the same margin. Aran Stewart then stepped up to the mark for Ardoyne and responded with a display of free taking that was inspiring in the atrocious conditions.

At the half time whistle Ardoyne were ahead by 3 points as both teams headed for the shelter of the dressing rooms.

Half Time: Ardoyne 0-11 Loch Mór 0-8

The second half could not have started better for Loch Mór as Turley lined up a free from inside his own half just a minute in but this time it dipped and Ferdia Carson rose to get a deft flick and divert it into the net. However, a subsequent point from play from MacAnBhiocaire left the minimum margin between the two sides.

Stewart and McAuley engaged in their own private sharp shooting duel with Stewart pushing the Ardoyne men ahead anytime Loch Mór looked like pulling back their lead. While Ardoyne exerted increasing pressure on Loch Mór, the conditions were such that their lead was always vulnerable. However, two moments of inspiration put the game beyond any remaining doubt. Substitute Enda Slattery scored an exquisite point from a narrow angle for Ardoyne that was followed by a wonder catch from the inspirational Paul Baker in the Ardoyne full back line.

As the final whistle blew, the years of frustration for the Northenders had come to an end and the celebrations were about to start. “Going into that last quarter, there was no way we were going to lose,” said manager Conor Barnes, “We went down into the trenches there, quite literally because of the state of the pitch, and the players were super right to the end. We’ll enjoy our day today – it’s amazing.”

Man of the Match was a close contest between Stewart and MacAnBhiocaire for Ardoyne. Given the former’s display of free taking along with his inspirational display of skill and commitment the honour narrowly goes to Aran Stewart.

Given the extreme conditions, credit must be given to both teams who gave full commitment and the game was played in a great spirit. The match officials allowed the game to flow and contributed to a great game of hurling. Special thanks to St Brigid’s for having the pitch well prepared to withstand the atrocious conditions for this County Final.

Ardoyne: 1 JP Agnew, 2 Pascal Clarke, 3 Paul Baker, 4 Cathal Clarke, 5 Sean Searle, 6 Caolan Wallace, 7 Micheál McGreevey, 8 Dean Goodall, 9 Paul McGuigan, 10 Oisin Mac An Bhiocaire 0-3, 11 Cahal Keown, 12 Pearse Hull, 13 Matt McKillen, 14 Aran Stewart 0-14 (0-12f), 15 Jim Og McAuley, Cormac Barnes, Paul O’Halloran, Joe McDowell, Conor Flannery, Stephen Hill, Eoghain Mac An tSearraig, Eamon MacLochlainn, Matthew Crommie, Patrick McGreevy, Padraig O Deorain, Cormac Curran, Enda Slattery 0-1

Subs: P McGreevy for C Keown (42), C Barnes for M McKillen (55), E Slattery (0-1) for P Hull (57).

Loch Mór: 1 Cathan O hEireamhoin, 2 Brogan Graham, 3 Sean Burke, 4 Aaron Monaghan, 5 Declan Phillips, 6 Conor Jones, 7 David McAreavey,  8 Martin Branniff, 9 Cormac Dwyer, 10 Cal Burke, 11 Matthew Jones, 12 Darragh Turley 0-10 (0-10f) 13 Bailey Graham 0-1, 14 Ferdia Carson (1-0), 15 Michael McCullough

Subs: M Robb for C Burke (38), R Bannon for A Monaghan (38), P Molloy for D McAreavey (55).

Referee: Chris Brown

by thesaffrongael

Biddies advance as Lamh’s flatter to deceive

CASEMENT SC JHC Semi-Final

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills 1-20 Lamh Dhearg 0-9

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills recovered from a slow start to sweep aside the challenge of a Lamh Dhearg side who flattered to deceive in the opening exchanges of this Casement Social Club JHC semi-final in Cloughmills on Saturday afternoon.

After Mickey Devlin had given the home side the lead with an excellent long range point it was the Hannastown side who sprung to life to hit the next four points with Odhran Waldron, Adam Murray, Michael Herron and Murray again from a 7th minute free putting them three in front and looking good.

The visitors would only add one further first half point however as Cloughmills suddenly realised they had a game on their hands and a couple of superb side-line cuts from Michael Devlin, which sandwiched an Eoin Dobbin point from play had them back on level terms by the 13th minute.

Dobbin followed with a couple of converted frees by the 17th minute and a fine point from Reece Watt from close to the side-line  had the ‘Biddies’ three in front and in control.

The Cloughmills side were now firing on all fronts as their opponents struggled to contain their pace and precision and James Doherty got his name on the score board with two well taken points.

Another long range effort from the sweet striking Devlin and a converted ‘65’ by Eoin Dobbin moved the Cloughmills side seven ahead by the 23d minute with Mark Finnegan replying with Lamh Dhearg’s first point for 23 minutes to leave the home side 0-11 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

After a slow start, the Cloughmills defence had taken control but they were thankful to Chris McKernan who made a sharp save to deny the visitors in the second minute of the new half.

Donal Martin did get the first point of the half for the visitors in the 5th minute but the Hannastown side were conceding too many frees and these were being punished by the radar like accuracy of Eoin Dobbin.

Dobbin added two more in the 6th and 9th minutes with Liam Kearns getting one in between from play and as St. Brigid’s threatened to overrun the opposition, Conor McConville in the Lamh Dhearg goal brought off an excellent save to deny them.

Dobbin added another point from a free before things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Aidan McGuigan got his marching orders following a second yellow card in the 11th minute.

To their credit Lamh Dhearg responded with a pointed free from Adam Murray and another from play from Mark Finnegan to give them a glimmer of hope but the Cloughmills reply was immediate and decisive.

Eoin Dobbin added another pointed free and substitute Odhran McCurdy put the contest to bed with a goal in the 25th minute with Dobbin adding to his ever increasing total from the placed ball in the 26th and 28th minutes.

The Hannastown side kept fighting against impossible odds and Christopher McKernan pulled off his second good save of the half as they briefly threatened before Odhran Waldron struck a late consolation point to bring matters to a conclusion

After a slow start, Cloughmills went on to play some excellent hurling and their well organised defensive structure denied Lamh Dhearg the space and time they needed.

Mickey Devlin’s two points from side-line cuts and a couple of massive efforts from deep in his own half were worth the admission money on their own while Eoin Dobbin’s free taking was right out of the top drawer.

Cloughmills now face neighbours, Glen Rovers in the final in a fortnight’s time and it promises to be an interesting decider with Cloughmills having defeated Armoy in the Junior Feis Cup final earlier in the year but Armoy gained revenge when they met in the league in Armoy.

Cloughmills: 1 Christopher McKernan, 2 Sean McKendry, 3 Kevin O’Boyle, 4 Stephen Martin, 5 Johnny Duffin, 6 Geoffery Og Laverty, 7 Corey Blair, 8 Joe Smyth, 9 Martin Dobbin, 10 Reece Watt, 11 Ruairi Laverty, 12 Liam Kearns, 13 James Doherty, 14 Michael Devlin, 15 Eoin Dobbin, 18 Odhran McCurdy, 21 Oran Corrigan

Lamh Dhearg: 1 Conor McConville, 2 Christopher Nolan, 3 Sean Paul Gibson, 4 Tiernan McKenna, 5 Daniel Murray, 6 Padraig Mervyn, 7 Fionn Mervyn, 8 Ciaran Boyd, 9 Aidan McGuigan, 10 Mark Finnegan, 11 Declan Straney, 12 Adam Murray, 13 Odhran Waldron, 14 Michael Herron, 15 Donal Martin

Referee: Piarais McCaffery

by thesaffrongael

McCann steadies the Creggan ship to set up a final meeting with Sarsfields

Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final

Creggan Kickhams 3-11 Cushendun Emmet’s 0-14

Former county captain Conor McCann guided his team to the final of the Intermediate Hurling Championship with a man of the match display in Saturday’s semi-final against Cushendun at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel. McCann, who missed all of last season through injury only returned to action a few weeks ago, but he showed just how vital he is to his team as he scored 1-10 of their 3-11 total, four of those points coming in the last eight minutes to pull his team clear of danger.

Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill who top scored for Cushendun

Cushendun, for whom Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill was top scorer, battled to the end but it just wasn’t their day and the concession of two goals in the 25th and 27th minutes was a blow they never recovered from.

Playing with the wind and rain at their backs Cushundun came close in the opening seconds when David Kilgore’s low shot was just inches wide of the post, but they struggled to get to the pace of the game, despite the elements being in their favour.

Kevin Rice got Creggan off to a great start when he fired in a low angled shot, and though the Emmet’s goalkeeper Gareth McGhee got a hurl to the ball he couldn’t prevent it crossing the line. Corner forward Diarmuid Mulholland added a point from a free on five minutes before McCann got his first two points from frees in the 7th and 8th minutes to pull his team six clear.

David Kilgore got his team on the scoreboard with a point in the 10th minute, but that was cancelled out by McCann, who added his third pointed free a minute later, but there was some relief for the Emmet’s fans as Loaf McNeill added two quick points, one from a free and the other from play to cut the deficit to four by the end of the opening quarter.

McCann got a great point from an awkward angle on 18 minutes, but the Emmet’s were starting to get back into the game and a sideline ‘cut’ by McNeill saw corer forward Oisin McMahon win possession before turning and firing over the Creggan crossbar. Loaf added one from a free on 21 minutes, Fiontan McQuillan followed that with a well taken score from play and when David Kilgore sent over a real beauty from distance the tide appeared to be turning.

Creggan’s Kevin Rice and Cushendun’s Jack McKay battle under a high ball

However that is when disaster really struck the Emmet’s as Creggan hit back with two goals in as many minutes. Conor McCann got the first from a penalty after match referee Darren McKeown adjudged that Cushendun goalkeeper Gareth McGhee had taken the Creggan man down in the large square, but things got even worse two minutes later when a harmless looking ball by Thomas McCann slipped from McGhee’s grasp and ended up in the back of the net. McGhee has been one of the top goalkeepers in this county for many years now, but as we all know his position is a lonely place to perform. Probably every player on the field yesterday let a ball slip from their grasp in those desperate conditions but the mistakes by the poor old goalkeeper are always highlighted.

That goal put the gap out to six again, but McNeill gave his team a boost with two late points to send them in at half time, just four behind.

Cushendun’s David Kilgore in action during the IHC semi-final against Creggan in Glenravel

McNeill brought the gap back to three when he sent over a great score in the opening minute of the second half, but McCann responded with the first of his six second half points. McCann and McNeill exchanged points in the 33rd and 40th minutes to keep the gap at four, but Creggan went through a spell when a number of chances went astray as McCann’s radar appeared to malfunction, and when McNeill came back with two points at the other end the gap was suddenly back to just two.

Hopes were high for a really exciting finish, but Cushendun failed to raise another flag in the final eight minutes, plus injury time, while McCann steadied the Creggan ship as he hit over four unanswered frees to see his team through to a final meeting with Sarsfields in two weeks’ time.

Man of the match Conor McCann battles with Cushendun’s Donal O’Hara, Conor McHugh and Thomas Scally during the IHC semi-final at Fr Maginn Park.

CREGGAN

Cormac Rice, Aiden Maguire, Aidan McKeown, Jake McAteer, Sam Maguire, Kealan McCann, Liam McCann, Sean Duffin, Ruairi McCann, Morgan Nelson, Oran McCann, Kevin Rice, Thomas McCann, Conor McCann, Diarmuid Mulholland.

Ethan Carey Small for Liam McCann. Lee Johnston for Diarmuid Mulholland

CUSHENDUN

Gareth McGhee, Jack McKay, Sean McKay, Sean Hamilton, Calum Kilgore, Donal O’Hara, Thomas Scally, Conor Bannon, Dominic McQuillan, Harry Kilgore, Fiontan McQuillan, Fiontan McQuillan, Connlaoth McNeill, Colm McKeegan, Conor McHugh, David Kilgore.

Subs – James Morgan for Colm Mc Keegan: Conrad Mc Donnell for Fiontan Mc Quillan.

Referee – Darren McKeown

by thesaffrongael

Dominant second half sees Cushendall book final spot

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Cushendall 4-15 Ballycastle 1-9

McLaughlin hat trick sets up the Ruairis

Cushendall secured their place in the final of the Senior Hurling Championship when they beat Ballycastle in Saturday’s semi-final at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel. A hat-trick of goals by their young corner forward Joseph McLaughlin and one from veteran centre forward Neil McManus were the scores that did the trick for the Ruairis. Ballycastle battled hard against the odds and midway through the opening half it appeared there might be a shock on the cards when a goal from Cailin O’Connor gave them a three point lead, despite playing into the driving wind and rain.

Jospeh McLaughlin celebrates after completing his hat-trick early in the second half

However Cushendall came back with a bang and two goals from McLaughlin saw them turn the game back in their favour, the St Killian’s College student making no mistake from close range. Despite trailing by six at half time the Ballycastle side must have felt they were still in the game, but when they came out after half time to find the rain had gone and wind well reduced, they probably knew it was not going to be their day.

However that is not to suggest that Cushendall were not fully deserving of their win, for when they were challenged they were able to up the pace and in Eoin Campbell, Neill McMcManus and Joseph McLaughlin they had players who were a class apart.

Ballycastle were more than holding their own in the opening quarter but in horrendous condition both sides were struggling to find the target. Right half forward Ronan McCollum opened Cushendall’s account with a well taken point but Tiernan Smyth soon had Ballycastle level when he sent over a free at the other end on seven minutes. Neil McManus put Cushendall back in front when he pointed a free from out on the sideline but Smyth had Ballycastle level four minutes later when he sent over at the other end.

Cailin O’Connor celebrates after scoring Ballycastle’s goal

When Ballycastle’s Cailan O’Connor connected perfectly on a free that dropped in around the Cushendall goalmouth, and sent it flying to the net through a crowded goalmouth his team were three clear after sixteen minutes, and things were starting to look promising for the ‘Town’. However they got little time to enjoy their advantage and when Neil McManus intercepted a wayward hand-pass in the Ballycastle rearguard a minute later, he sent Joe McLaughlin clear for the first of his three goals and Cushendall were back on top. Still Ballycastle must have felt they were still in a good position with just five minutes of the opening half still to play, but the Ruairis finished strongly and after Eoghan Campbell soloed out of defence, before sending over a lovely point, McLaughlin added a point from play soon aftewards. Things went from bad to worse for Ballycastle as following the poc-out from McLaughlin’s point he took advantage of another wayward hand pass and fired in his second goal to give his team a six point lead at the break.

Cushendall’s Eoghan Campbell wins possession.

When the sides re-emerged for the second half the rain and the brollies had gone but Ballycastle made a promising start when centre back Conor Boyd sent one over from distance, but McLaughlin cancelled that out a minute later. James McShane cut it back to five again but Cushendall were starting get on top and following a Ronan McCollum point Joseph McLaughlin completed his hat-trick when he burst through from outside the ‘D’ and batted a ball down past Ryan McGarry in the Ballycastle goal.

Conor Boyd kept Ballycastle in touch with his second point of the half but two pointed frees by McManus and one from play by Campbell stretched that advantage even further. McShane pulled another one back for Ballycastle but McManus came back with two in as many minutes, both from frees. A superb point on the run from James McLister lifted Ballycastle spirits but Cushendall were dominant by this stage and it took and incredible save from close range by Ballycastle’s goalkeeper Ryan McGarry to deny McManus.

Points followed from McManus and Campbell before the former finished the goal scoring with a top class strike after cutting in from the left corner.

Ballycastle goalkeeper Ryan McGarry gets a consoling hug from his sons after the game
by thesaffrongael

Late goals seal it for the Rovers

CASEMENT SC JFC Semi-Final

Glen Rovers 3-12 Gort na Mona 0-11

Late goals from Ciaran McKenna and Eoin Kinney sealed victory and a place in the Casement Social Club JHC final for Glen Rovers when they held off a spirited challenge from Gort na Mona in Armoy on Saturday.

The men from the Mona bye-pass had staged a strong second half comeback to close the gap to two with 28 minutes of the second half gone but Ciaran McKenna struck with the home sides second goal with time almost up and Kinney was on hand to return the sliotar to the net following a splendid save by Gort’s keeper, John Kelly, deep into in jury time.

John Kelly gets down to make an important save as Trevor |Linton threatens

It was visitors Gort na Mona who opened the scoring with a point from Declan Hughes in the second minute but Trevor Linton replied for Glen Rovers to level matters with four minutes gone.

Owen Kinney looked to have added a goal, a minute later when he finished a hanging delivery to the the Gort na Mona net but the score was ruled out for a square ball infringement.

It was to herald a sustained period of pressure for the home side however as they pushed up on the Gort na Mona defence, forcing turn overs and winning frees which full-forward, Turlach McBride gratefully accepted.

McBride hit three on the bounce by the 9th minute to move his side 0-4 to 0-1 ahead as the visitors struggled to get out of their own half and a great point from Thomas Burns from 70 meters and another converted McBride free had them five in front at the end of the opening quarter.

Turlach mcBride who was in fine scoring form for Armoy

Gort na Mona kept battling away and Neill Henry got their second point from a well struck free from 60 meters and further points from Patrick McCaffery and Darron ‘Diesel’ Boyd had it back to two by the 20th minute.

Turlach McBride stopped the rut with another converted free and then struck another from a ‘65’ following a smart save from John Kelly in the Gort na Mona goals and Trevor Linton added a great point from out near the left hand touchline with Dessie McClean replying for the visitors to leave it 0-9 to 0-5 at the halfway stage.

With the wind now behind them Glen Rovers were expected to push on in the second half but they were guilty of some poor misses  during the opening exchanges despite enjoying a lot of possession.

All seemed to be going to plan when McBride fired over in the 11th minute to opern the second half scoring and move his side five in front but Gort na Mona were beginning to win more possession with Neill Henry getting on top around mid-field.

Neill Henry who led the Gort na Mona comeback

The visitors replied with two in quick succession from Dessie McClean, the second an excellent effort as the Armoy scores dried up and two more from Neill Henry and McClean had it back to a single score by the 18th minute.

Glen Rovers looked in a bit of trouble but they made a decisive break and PJ McBride was on hand to finish to the net from close range after a great save from John Kelly to deny Owen Kinney’s original effort.

Back came the city men and another great point from the impressive Neill Henry had it back to two by the 25th minute and the home side were now defending as if their lives depended on it.

As Gort na Mona pushed forward again they were caught with a decisive break from the Glen Rovers and Ciaran McKenna’s goal with time almost up put a bit of daylight between the sides.

It seemed to knock the fight out of the Enright Park men and Turlach McBride followed with a fine point from distance and Trevor Linton added another before Owen Kinney’s goal deep in injury time put a somewhat flattering slant on the final score-line.

Thomas Burns breaks up a Gort na Mona attack

Glen Rovers went into this one as firm favourites and for long periods of the game they were the better side but the fact that had recorded only one point up to the 18th minute of the second half will be of some concern to the management.

They did produce the goods however when the chips were down with Turlach McBride, Trevor Linton, PJ McBride, Shane Devlin and Thomas Burns their outstanding performers on the day.

Glen Rovers will now meet St. Brigid’s Cloughmills, who defeted Lamh Dhearg in the other semi-final, in the final in two weeks-time and it promises to be an excellent final between keen rivals and deadly neighbours.

Glen Rovers: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Callum Coyles, 3 Shane Devlin, 4 Arthur Devlin, 5 Hugh O’Kane, 6 Thomas Burns, 7 Liam Dillon, 8 Ciaran McKenna, 9 PJ McBride, 10 Eoin O’Boyle, 11 Colin Lordan, 12 Eamonn McCaughan, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Turlach McBride, 15 Owen Kinney.

Subs: Conor Christie for Lordan, Joey mcFetridge for Eoin Boyle,

Gort na Mona: 1 John Kelly, 2 Conor Healey, 3 Christopher Devlin, 4 Connor Connolly, 5 David Dixon, 6 Padraig McHugh, 7 Nathan Gibson, 8 Gavin McKenna, 9 Aaron Hicks, 10 Darron Boyd, 11 Patrick McCaffery, 12 Declan Hughes, 13 Niall Healey, 14 Neill Henry, 15 Dessie McClean.

Subs: Manas Mullan, Brendan Cousins for Conor Healey,  Emmet Loughran for Gavin McKenna

Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)