Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

All Saints stay on course with their 5th win of the season

ACHL Division 4

All Saints 4-19 Latharna Og 1-11

All Saints, Ballymena and Latharna Og, Larne served up an entertaining game of hurling in good conditions at Slemish Park in Ballymena on Sunday afternoon.

The scoreline slightly flatters the hosts with the visitors putting in a good shift but unable to match the scoring prowess of their hosts on the day.

The opening half saw the Larne men match their opponents in the scoring stake with All Saints holding a 0-9 to 0-8 lead approaching half time but a goal from Paddy Doherty just before the break saw the Ballymena head to the dressing room leading 1-10 to 0-8.

Damian Gillan, Cormac Magill, JP McGurk and Doherty had shared the point scoring for the home side while the free taking of Darren Martin, Kieran Mulvenna, Tom Clarkin, Cathal McKillop and 2 superb efforts from Ryan McDonnell, (1 sideline cut) kept the visitors very much in touch.

Indeed Latharna Og might have had a goal themselves but Ronan McAllister in the All Saints goals pulled off a good save to deny Mark Petticrew.

Damian Gillan for the home side and Ryan O’Donnell exchanged points on the restart before Paddy Doherty drove a 20 meter free to the Larne net to open up a 9 point lead by the 5th minute as All Saints moved up a gear.

Doherty would finish off his hat trick after being set up by Damian Gillan and complete a memorable evening’s hurling with his fourth with time almost up.

In between Latharna og kept plugging away with their goal arriving through Darren Martin after 5 minutes but despite pushing hard for the remainder of the half they could not breech a tight All Saints defence, well marshalled by Dwayne McKee, the Brady’s and Daniel Gray.

Ryan O’Donnell continued to impress for the visitors with a number of excellent points from distance with Mark Petticrew and Darren Martin also on target.

It was the Ballymena side who pushed on however with Damian Gillan driving his side forward and hitting a number of fine scores and Jack Magill, Cormac Magill and Paddy Doherty all raising the white flag.

This win keeps All Saints in touch with Ardoyne at the top of the leage, the Ballymena side suffering only one defeat to date but Latharna Og’s position at the other end of the table certainly doesn’t do their performance justice and it won’t be too long before they get their first win if today is anything to go by.

All Saints: 1 Ronan McAllister, 2 Kevin Brady, 3 Dwayne McKee, 4 Aodhan Casey, 5 Fiontan Brady, 20 Gary Miskella, 7 Daniel Gray, 8 Vincent Esler, 9 Jack Magill, 10 Michael Connolly, 11 Cormac Magill, 12 Tiernan McGurk, 13 Damian Gillan, 23 Patrick Doherty, 21 Daniel McCoy.

Subs: Paddy Murphy for Vinny Esler, Finn Connon for Gary Miskella

Latharna Og: 1 Rori Millar, 2 Lee Magill, 3 Mark Petticrew, 4 Francis McCambridge, 5 Brian Rogan, 6 Cathal McKillop, 7 Eoin Walsh, 8 Ryan O’Donnell, 9 Kieran Mulvenna, 10 Ryan Millar, 11 Darren Martin, 12 Kieran McKillop, 13 Tom Clarkin, 14 Matthew Magill, 15 Dara Kerr, 19 Jim McGrann

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Glenravel)

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by thesaffrongael

Another good display by Ballycastle

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Portaferry 0-14 Ballycastle 3-20

Ballycastle delivered a another fine performance on the road this week, as they beat Portaferry with a clinical display of goal-scoring and relentless point-taking to secure a dominant sixteen-point victory in the Senior Division 1 Hurling League and keep their unbeaten run in the league to six. The visitors signaled their intent from the first whistle, finding the back of the net only five minutes into the contest when Cadhan Crawford gave the Town an early cushion they would never relinquish.

Portaferry struggled to contain the early momentum as the gap widened significantly following a second goal from Conor Donnelly. This strike propelled the Ballycastle men into a commanding eleven-point lead during the opening period. While the hosts staged a minor revival late in the half to narrow the deficit to 0-09 to 2-11, they headed into the changing rooms with a significant mountain to climb.

The second half began with a brief surge from the Down side, as they notched the first two points to bring the game within a single score. However, that was as close as they would get. MacUilín responded with a devastating scoring burst to re-establish control. The decisive blow arrived midway through the half when Lorcan Donnelly raised a third green flag for the visitors, effectively breaking the Portaferry resistance and allowing Ballycastle to reel off a succession of points from all angles.

The men in black and amber retained control during the final quarter as they outscored their opponents ten points to three in the closing stages. By the time the referee blew the final whistle, the scoreboard reflected a comprehensive 3-21 to 0-14 margin. It was a clinical, high-octane performance from the winners, while Portaferry, who were without a lot of their top players because of county duty, will look to find more defensive stability after failing to match the goal-scoring threat of the traveling side.

BALLYCASTLE – Eamonn Elliott Oran Kearney Cian Baudant Ardan Kelly Conor Boyd Eoin McAlonan Niall McClean Cathair Donnelly Ronan McCarry Seamus McAuley Reuben McClean Dairmaid McShane Conor Donnelly Cadhan Crawford Subs used – James Bakewell Neal McAuley Oisin McAuley Callum Campbell Lorcan Donnelly

by thesaffrongael

CPC cruise into Gallagher Cup final

Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-final

CPC 5-20 St Mary’s CBGS 2-07

Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle delivered a commanding performance against St Mary’s CBGS Belfast in the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-final at Dunsilly. CPC opened the game strongly, establishing early dominance with well-taken points from Iarla Gillan, Killian Cassidy, and Liam Lynn. By the sixth minute, Daire Kearney had soloed through for another point to put the Ballycastle side four up. St Mary’s finally got on the scoreboard in the seventh minute through Ben Gamble, but CPC’s momentum was unrelenting and Kearney, McShane, and Cassidy added further points, and after a goal attempt struck the post, Gillan accurately converted the resulting 65-metre free. Iarlaith O’Kane kept the scoreboard ticking over with a point following a superb catch, and Cassidy landed a stoppage-time point from the 45-metre line to compound the pressure.

The dominance eventually told in front of the net in the 22nd minute when Dara McShane raised the game’s first green flag, finishing a rebound after the St Mary’s goalkeeper parried the initial shot. Six minutes later, Liam Lynn fired in a second goal for CPC, firmly establishing their control of the tie. Iarla Gillan added a great point from 50 metres out, though St Mary’s managed a brief positive finish to the half with an excellent point from Dylan Hand McCallin. Despite this, CPC carried a formidable and well-deserved 2-12 to 0-02 lead into the halftime break.

CPC resumed the second half with the same intensity, with O’Kane and Gillan slotting early points. However, St Mary’s performed much better in the second period, sparked largely by the tactical decision to move their number 14, Dylan Hand McCallin, further out the field. This adjustment paid immediate dividends as St Mary’s rallied with three consecutive points: McCallin converted a free, Dara Ward struck beautifully from outside the 45, and Daire Burke added another. McCallin then produced a moment of individual magic, scoring a brilliant left-sided point on the run. CPC weathered this resurgence with a point off the ground from McShane and a well-taken score from substitute John Og Darragh shortly after his introduction.

The Ballycastle side struck for their third goal in the 20th minute. Following a run and shot by Tom Richmond that was saved, Dara McShane was on hand to send the parried ball into the net for his second goal of the afternoon. St Mary’s continued to fight valiantly and were incredibly unlucky not to find the net themselves when two consecutive near-misses rattled the crossbar. CPC capitalised on these let-offs when Daire Kearney broke through to finish a low shot to the corner for a fourth goal. Cassidy and Kearney added further points from distance before St Mary’s produced the score of the game; a delicately finished goal by Dylan Hand McCallin following a slick pass from Ben Gamble. McCallin added another point in the 31st minute, ending the half well for the Belfast school, though they were never going to bridge the considerable gap. After O’Kane sent a late goal chance high over the bar, final points from John Og Darragh and Dara McShane capped off a comprehensive victory for Cross and Passion College to set up a final meeting next week with St Pat’s Maghera.

Cross and Passion College: 1 Liam McClelland, 2 Cillian Bellew, 3 Ben Linton, 4 Kevin Gillan, 5 Malachy McSparran, 6 Pearse McMullan, 7 Caleb McCaughan, 8 Killian Cassidy, 9 Rory McCloskey, 10 Iarlaith O’Kane, 11 Daire Kearney, 12 Iarla Gillan, 13 Liam Lynn, 14 Tom Richmond, 15 Dara McShane.

St Mary’s CBGS Belfast: 1 Aidan Holbrook, 2 Fionntan Burns, 3 Oliver Crossan, 4 Oran McCann, 5 Eoghan Herron, 6 Darragh Loughran, 7 Seanna Rice, 8 Dara Ward, 9 Ben Gamble, 10 Daire Burke, 11 Anton Corr, 12 Lorcan O’Rawe, 14 Dylan Hand McCallin, 15 Frazer McGivern.

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by thesaffrongael

St Pat’s beat St Killian’s to book Gallagher Cup final place

PICS BY SEAN TROWLEN

Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-final

St Patrick’s Maghera 3-12 St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-5

ST Patrick’s Maghera established a significant half-time advantage in the first of the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-finals in Ballymena yesterday to fend off a wind-assisted St Killian’s Garron Tower in the second half.

St Killian’s only scored once against the breeze, a pointed free from Morgan McNaughton, but they coped well with the constant pressure from Maghera with goalie Seve Trowlen in superb form.

Maghera turned around at the break with a lead of seven points, but their failure to hit the net left them a little vulnerable for a comeback from the Tower. No fewer than seven players contributed the eight points with Harry McCloskey on two scores.

St Killian’s were more in the game with the breeze behind them but found Maghera difficult to handle on the counter-attack.

Quentin Farren was the first goal-scorer in the second half and, although Morgan McNaughton hit back with a goal for the Tower, Patrick O’Loughlin stretched Maghera’s lead with a second goal. Again St Killian’s hit back, with a goal from Tiarnán McAleenan, but Feargal Convery broke for a third Maghera goal ten minutes from time.

Once more the Tower came back with a goal from Niall McAuley, but they still couldn’t close the gap of seven points that had been there from the break. Ryan Murray. Quentin Farren and Feargal Convery were the stars for Maghera while Morgan McNaughton and goalie Seve Trowlen stood out for the Tower.

St Patrick’s will find out their opponents in next week’s final after the second semi-final today (FRIDAY) in Dunsilly at 1pm between St Mary’s CBGS Belfast and Cross & Passion Ballycastle. CPC, winners of the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup with this team last season, will be favourites to set up a repeat of the MacNamee decider.

St Patrick’s: Q Farren 1-1, P O’Loughlin and F Convery 1-0 each, H McCloskey and R Murray 0-2 each, D Boyle, T McKenna, D McGarrity, A Mulholland, M McGrath, M Duffin and D Kearney 0-1 each.

St Killian’s: M McNaughton 1-3, T McAleenan and N McAuley 1-0 each, C Haughey 0-2.

by thesaffrongael

St Patrick’s Rasharkin do the double

Above – St Patrick’s Primary School Rasharkin who beat Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel in the final of the South West Antrim Cumann na mBunscol hurling blit at Tir na nOg. Included is county hurler Sean Duffin

2026 South-West Cumann na mBunscol Hurling Blitz

PICS BY BERT TROWLEN

A fantastic day of hurling was enjoyed at Tír na nÓg Randalstown as the South-West Cumann na mBunscol Hurling Blitz showcased an excellent standard of skill, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout.

Shield winners Millquarter with county player Sean Duffin

The Shield Final proved to be a nail-biting encounter between St. Joseph’s PS Crumlin and Millquarter PS, finishing level in normal time before going to a dramatic ‘Golden Score’ finish, with the boys from Millquarter eventually edging victory.

The Cup Final was equally thrilling, as St. Patrick’s PS Rasharkin avenged their earlier group stage defeat to Mary Queen of Peace PS Glenravel, to claim the title by the narrowest of margins. The victory completed a remarkable double for the Dreen school, following their Camogie success last week. They will now go on to represent South-West Antrim in both hurling and camogie at the upcoming All County Finals.

Schools represented on the day included:
Moneynick PS
Millquarter PS
St. Patrick’s PS Rasharkin
Mount St. Michael’s PS Randalstown
St. Joseph’s PS Crumlin
Mary Queen of Peace PS Glenravel
Creggan PS

Well done to all the players and their teachers for contributing to a wonderful day of hurling, full of excitement, skill and great spirit.