When Joseph McLaughlin scored his 12th point of the game in the second minute of injury time to put Cushendall 0-19 to 0-18 ahead it looked like the Ruairis had sealed the win, but they tried to work the ball out from defence with a short poc out, and the move broke down resulting in a Portaferry free which gave their marksman Paudie Doran the chance to fire over the equaliser and the young corner forward made no mistake.
Jospeh McLaughlin who scored 12 points for the Ruairi Ogs
This was a highly entertaining game, in which both teams had chances to seal the win, but in the end they had to settle for a draw which leaves the Down men on nine points with all their games played and they will hope that Sundays final round of games go their way to keep them in the top half of the table.
Portaferry started well and were 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after seven minutes, Matthe Conlan getting the opener and free take Paudie Doran getting the other two.
Joseph McLaughlin had been off target with a couple of early frees for Cushendall but once he hit his first in the ninth minute it settled the nerves of the young corner forward and he added two more in the next five minutes, which, with the aid of one from play by Alex Delargy, put the home side ahead. It was score for score for the remainder of the first half and the sides were level at the end of normal time, but the men from the Ards finished strongly and points from Finn Turpin, Ciaran Milligan and Caolan Taggart in added time gave them a 0-11 to 0-8 lead at the interval.
Cushendall’s Andrew Delargy in action against Portaferry
McLaughlin got the first point of the second half to cut the gap to two, but Portaferry stretched their lead to four as Finn Turpin and Paudie Dorran found the target. McLaughlin and Alex Delargy brought the gap back to two, but Doran stretched the lead to three again by the 43rd minute. Cushendall got back on level terms when the hit four of the next five points but with ten minutes left to play two Caolan Taggart points put the Down men back on top. McLaughlin and Dominic Delargy hit the target to bring the Ruairis level going down the home straight, and when McLaughlin edged them ahead in injury time it seemed the had done enough. However Portaferry was given the chance to earn a share of the spoils from a 63rd minute free and he again found the target to gives his team a precious league point to take with them on the long journey home.
Ryan McCambridge in action against Portaferry’s Eoghan Sands
CUSHENDALL
Eoin Gillan, Michael Quinn, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke, Scott Walsh, Ryan McCambridge, Stephen Walsh, Alex Delargy, Martin McClafferty, Andrew Delargy, Dominic Delargy, Ed McQuillan, Paddy McGill, Emmet Laverty, Joe McLaughlin
PORTAFERRY
Pearce Smyth, Darragh Mallon, Caolan Taggart, Tom Murray, Barry Trainor, Conor O’Neill, Ciaran Milligan, Matthew Conlan, Conor O’Prey, Finn Turpin, Eoghan Sands, Conor Fay, Noah Rodgers, Daithi Sands, Paudie Doran
O’Neill Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 1
Carey Faughs 0-22 Ballycastle McQuillan’s 1-11
Carey Faughs bridged a 62 year gap when they beat their neighbours Ballycastle in Division 1 of the Antrim Hurling League at Ballyvoy on Wednesday evening. Leading by three points at half time the Carey men took complete control in the second half, outscoring their opponents by nine points to four, all nine of them coming from corner forward Conor McBride, and all nine of them from frees.
James Black in action in Carey’s win over Ballycastle in Division 1 of the All County Hurling League.
McBride was in tremendous form for the home team, hitting six in the first half, to help his team to 0-13 to 0-7 lead at the break. He actually missed a couple early in the second half but soon regained his composure to add nine more. However it was more than a one man show by the Faughs, who had stars all over the field, like James Rocket Black who played in a sweeper’s role and Shea Hunter who starred at centre back
The early stages of the game saw Carey get the upper hand as they went 0-5 to 0-2 ahead, but Ballycastle got back on level terms when ‘Rambo’ McCarry fired home a goal on twelve minutes. McBride sent over a point to put Carey back ahead, but three points without reply from Tiernan Smyth gave the Ballycastle a two point lead by the 17th minute. However Carey dominated the remainder of the first half and two neatly taken points from corner forward Paddy Gillan, two by McBride and one from James Rocket Black saw them go in at the break with a three point cushion.
Tiernan Smyth who was Ballycastle’s top scorer.
The pace of the game died a little early in the second half but McBride’s stretched the home team’s lead even further with three points from frees. Seamus McAuley pulled one back for Ballycastle but two more by McBride opened the gap still further. When McBride tagged on a couple more it was clear there was no way back for Ballycastle and though Tiernan Smyth did manage to send over two more points, McBride ended the half with three in a row to wrap up a six point winning margin.
Carey
Daniel McBride, Somhairle Matthew, Colm McBride, Daniel Hill, Michael McVeigh, Shea Hunter, Zach McCaughan, Caolán McCaughan, Conlith McKinley, Fiachra McVeigh, John McBride, James McCouaig, Patrick Gillan, Seamus Black, Conor McBride.
Ballycastle
Craoistai McAuley, Oran Kearney, James McShane, Jack McGowan, James McLister, Conor Boyd, Eoin McAlonan, Ronan McCarry, Ryan McCook, Cain Waldron, Seamus McAuley, Cathal Conor, Tiernan Smyth, Orann Donnelly, Lorcan Donnelly.
The introduction of Sean Duffin early in the second half proved a game changer and saw Tir na nOg come from five points down to win by four in this excellent division 2 league encounter in Feystown on Wednesday night.
Duffin, who was unable to start due to an injury he picked up in an ACFL Division 1 game against St. John’s on Sunday, was introduced at a time in the contest where Shane O’Neill’s were dominant and fully worthy of their five point lead.
Duffin would finish the game with a personal tally of 10 points. (5 frees) and
Glenarm will wonder what happened in the closing minutes of this very tight tussle between two strong physical sides.
Ciaran O’Neill who scored the opening goal for Tir na Nog
The first score of the game fell to the boys from Whitehill as Ciaran O’Neill fired to the net after 30 seconds after being set up by Emmet Murray.
Glenarm responded and Benny McDermott pointed in the second minute to get his side off the mark.
Ciaran McKeown restored the visitors three point advantage with a nice score from midfield but Glenarm’s began to gain a foothold and Niall McGarel hit a brace of points from two placed balls on the 8th minute to close the gap to one.
It was end to end stuff at this stage and Aaron McNeilly converted a free for the visitors but Shane O’Neill’s were coming more and more into the game and Ciaran Magill, working out round the “45” intercepted a clearance and wasted no time by driving the sliotar over the bar.
Ciaran O’Neill replied with a point for the visitors before Kieran “Murph” O Boyle for Glenarm slotted over a sweet effort from 50 yards, much to the approval of a good home support.
Things continued to swing from end to end and Joe McCormick and Aaron McNeilly from a free edged the visitors three ahead by the 15th minute and they appeared to once again be gaining the upper hand.
Ciaran McKeown, Tir na nOg and Niall McGarel, Shane O’Neiull’s in a race for possession
Glenarm were having none of it and Niall Mc Garel drove over another dead ball effort from 45 yards, closely followed by Darren Hamill piercing the evening sky with a free from over 80 yards.
Back came the Whitehill side and Ciaran O’Neill added to his early goal with a point from out on the wing on the 21st minute but it was Shane O’Neill’s who finished the half with a florish.
In the remaining nine minutes before the short whistle the Feystown boys hit a purple patch as they added 5 unanswered points to move three in front at the break.
The first of these scores came from Ciaran Magill, winning a ball deep out on the wing and pointing and Niall Mc Garel hit a hat-trick of scores, with two great efforts from play and another converted free.
The last score before the interval came after great play by McGarel who fed Dylan McLaughlin who slipped past two defenders and shot for goal with his shot parried over the bar by Tir na nOg keeper, Kevin Sheerin.
Sean Duffin (21) who scored 0-10 after being introduced as a sub and swung the game Tir na nOg’s way
Halftime. Shane O Neills 0:12 Randalstown 1:06
As the second half got underway, Ciaran O’Neill got the Randalstown men on their way with a point in the opening minute but the home side where starting to get on top winning early exchanges and finding their men more easily.
Ciaran Magill collected a ball and cutely found Benny McDermott in space and he responded by splitting the uprights.
On 32 minutes it was wing forward Magill who collected a stray ball to drive over the Randalstown bar and Dylan McLaughlin added another from 40 yards as the Feystown crowd found their voice.
It wasn’t looking good for the visitors at this stage and they rang the changes with Sean Duffin entering the contest to replace Manus Smith and slowly the game began to turn in favour of Tir na nOg.
Niall Mc Garel got his seventh point of the evening for Shane O’Neill’s but Sean Duffin was showing early promise after entering the fray and pointed on the 38th minute.
Glenarm’s Brendan McDermott grabs the sliothar
Back came McGarel from a placed ball effort but it was Duffin who showed his prowess with two points from play, and a free to get the visitors comeback up and running.
Tit for tat seemed to be the order of the day as again Mc Garel showed his sharp shooting from another free, raising the white flag but Duffin again reduced the arrears, slotting over a free of his own from distance.
The same player increased his personal tally to six but in the 51st minute Daniel Black, working hard around midfield, won a ball and after breaking a tackle pointed a delightful effort, which turned out to be Glenarm’s last score in this encounter.
The visitors finished with a flurry with Sean Duffin the main threat and he pointed a sublime effort from a sideline puck before following up from two free’s to level the contest
Randalstown tails were up and substitute Dara Martin took advantage of slack marking to score a second goal for the Whitehill boys.
With the clock reading 60 minutes it was Duffin who had the final say as he fired over the insurance point to give his side the points and break the hearts of a battling Shane O’Neill’s.
Glenarm will rue their missed chances in this game, shooting 15 wides over the hour and they had two goal attempts saved. Darren Hamill, Declan McDermott and Ben O Boyle worked hard in the defence, with Ciaran Magill, Dylan McLaughlin, Brendan McDermott and Niall Mc Garel carrying the scoring threat.
The introduction of Sean Duffin proved a game changer for the winners while Ciaran O’Neill took his early goal well and added two further points and Caoimhin Duffin, Aaron McNeilly and Joe McCormick were others to impress for the winners.
Glenarm Scorers. Daniel Black 0-1, Benny McDermott 0-2, Niall Mc Garel 0-9 (6 frees) Ciaran Magill 0-3, Darren Hamill 0-1 free, Kieran O Boyle 0-1, Dylan McLaughlin 0-2.
Randalstown Scorers. Dara Fagan 0-1, Aaron McNeilly 0-2 Ciaran O’Neill 1-2, Sean Duffin 0-10 (5 frees), Dara Martin 1-00, Ciaran McKeown 0-1, Emmet Murray 0-1.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Liam Og McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Conal Ward, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Declan McDermott, 8 Ben O’Boyle, 9 Brendan McDermott, 10 Sean O’Boyle, 11 Ciaran Magill, 12 Dylan McLaughlin, 13 Sean O’Hare, 14 Aidan Scullion, 15 Niall McGarel.
Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Declan Mallon, 3 Brandon McLarnon, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Connor McCamphill, 6 Caoimhin Duffin, 7 Neil Shannon, 8 Ciaran McKeown, 9 Aaron McNeilly, 10 Ciaran O’Neill, 11 Darragh Fagan, 12 Joe McCormick, 13 Emmet Murray, 14 Oliver McAtamney, 15 Brian Fitzgerald. Subs used: Sean Duffin, Emmet Og McAllister, Dara Martin
The 2023 Antrim Gaa Gaelfast Poc FADA will take place on Sat 10th June in Feystown, Glenarm.
1) It will be hosted by Shane O Neill’s Gac with all competitors meeting there to register at 9.30am before going to the starting point on the course with the first group starting at 10am
2) Each competitor must have someone with them to act as spotter(must be aged 16 or over)
3)There are 4 Categories
U16 Camogie
U16 Hurling
Senior Camogie
Senior Hurling
4)The winner of each Antrim competition will represent the County in the Ulster Poc FADA on Tuesday 20th June with the Ulster winners progressing to the National Competition taking place on Monday 7th August in the Cooley Mountains
In the early stages of this game it looked like we might be in for a shock as Dunloy led the Loughgiel by six points, but once the found their rhythm Loughgiel edged their way back. They drew level nearing half time, and though Dunloy went a point ahead again by the break, when the Shamrocks turned to play with the wind at their back they produced some great hurling to win by eight in the end.
After both teams exchanged points in the opening two minutes Dunloy were given a great boost when Paudie Martin got in to fire home a goal it was score for score for a while as Cathair Gormley, Aodhan McGarry and Ryan Mort all sent over for the home side, with Preston McGarry, Ronan McCollum, Ron Fitzgerald and Roan McGarry replying for the home side. A great solo effort from Barry mcCloskey and another from a Aodhan McGarry free had the gap out to six for Dunloy but Loughgiel were starting to find their feet and it took a great double save by Dunloy keeper Eoghan Richmond to keep them at bay.
However two quick scores from Ronan Fitzgerald and Danny McAuley were followed by two in a minute from Ronan McCollum and when ‘Rosie’ and Tiago McGarry chipped in with two more the side were level with half time fast approaching, though Aodhan McGarry got Dunloy back ahead just before Anthony McAuley sounded his half time whistle. (1-10 to 0-12)
With the breeze behind them in the second half Loughgiel went ahead with two early points and they struck a significant blow when ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald fired low to the Dunloy net to put them four ahead. The excellent McGarry came back with another point from a free for Dunloy to cut the gap back to three, but Loughgiel were on top and after a great point from half back by Ruairi McCormick Daire Patterson delivered a killer blow when he fired to the net after Eoghan Richmond had denied the Shamrocks with two point blank saves.
When centre back Ben McGarry added a point from inside his own half, you felt it could be one way traffic, but Dunloy hit back and a great move was finished to the net by McGarry to cut the gap back to four.
The game was killed off when Loughgiel’s left half forward Danny McAuley cut in along the endline and fired a shot from a narrow angle to the Dunloy net, and though the young Cuchullains kept battling away the gap was too big to bridge at this stage as Loughgiel ran out winners by eight points.
