ACHL Division 2 

St Pauls 1-18-5-22 Clooney Gaels 

From Kevin Herron at Shaws Road

James O’Connell netted a hat-trick and finished with 3-11 overall as Clooney Gaels romped to a 5-22-1-18 victory over St Pauls at the Shaws Road on Sunday afternoon. 

The score line might suggest it was one-way traffic, however the opening half was anything but as both sides swapped the lead until O’Connell netted his first goal with the last play of the half to give his side a 2-11-1-10 advantage. 

It was a lead they would extend and three goals in a ten-minute spell between the 40^th and 50^th minute ensured that the points were secure. 

Clooney started on the front foot with Ronan Graham and James O’Connell dropping the first two scores inside of three minutes. 

Lorcan Philips responded for the hosts, but Clooney extended their lead with the game’s opening goal. 

A slick attacking move opened up the St Pauls defence and Patrick Graham slipped the ball across to Colla McDonnell to flick home and give his side a 1-02-0-01 lead. 

St Pauls hit back as Aaron Carey floated over a point, though three unanswered points followed courtesy of PJ O’Connell , Colla McDonnell and a converted James O’Connell free. 

Back-to-back frees from Daire Stevenson in-between another placed ball from O’Connell had St Pauls within touch and an 11^th minute Lorcan Philips goal reduced arrears further, leaving a single point between the sides (1-06-1-05). 

St Pauls restored parity through a point from Declan Chapman, although James O’Connell converted his third free of the half and then swung over his second from play. 

Stevenson was first to reply with his third free of the half, Chapman then drew the sides level for the second time and Caolan O’Duibhfinn popped over to ensure his side were ahead for the first time in the half. 

James O’Connell’s personal tally rose- converting another two placed balls in-between Chapman’s third from play to draws the sides level at 1-10 apiece. 

Clooney would end the half strongly and regained their lead. Owen Neeson swung over an angled point and with the final move of the half a slick move saw the ball popped through the hands and finished with James O’Connell sending a low effort to the net to net to give his side a 2-11-1-10 lead at the midway point. 

The visitors extended their lead upon the game’s resumption through points from James O’Connell and Owen Neeson. 

Tiarnan Auld would float over a reply from range, but ten minutes into the second half the game was almost beyond St Pauls as Clooney fired in their third goal of the afternoon. 

It was another impressive attack that concluded with James O’Connell picking out Donal Graham to slam a low finish past Chris Murray and make it 3-13-1-11. 

Momentum was very much with the Clooney men as Ronan Graham sent over a terrific angled score and PJ O’Connell floated over another from distance. 

Points were traded between Daire Stevenson (free) and Eoin Graham before the final two goals of the game arrived. 

Midway through the half Patrick Graham picked out to James O’Connell to hammer home his second goal. 

O’Connell would secure his hat-trick ten minutes from time, Colla McDonnell and Patrick Graham linked-up with Graham’s pop across the box dispatched by O’Connell at the back post to ensure his side were 5-16-1-12 to the good. 

With the game well beyond doubt, St Pauls had a brief period response as Daire Stevenson notched up two further scores- one from distance and the other from a converted free, with Declan Chapman adding to his personal tally in-between. 

Clooney matched that with three in a row themselves, Eoin Neeson clipped over his third point of the day and talisman O’Connall added another two points, one from play and the other from a free. 

The last six scores were evenly traded between the sides, substitute Declan McGreevy swung over and Marcus Munce landed a terrific point from range for the hosts- though O’Connell and Neeson replied each time for Clooney. 

Free-takers O’Connell and Stevenson each added a further point in the closing stages of a one-sided half as the visitors ran out 5-22-1-18 winners at the conclusion to leave Belfast with the points. 

St Paul’s: Chris Murray, C O’Carroll, M Munce (0-01), C Gallagher, T Auld (0-01), L Walsh, T Duff, S Lawell, A Carey (0-01), D Stevenson (0-07, 0-06f), C O’Duibhfinn (0-01), D Chapman (0-05), L Philips (1-01), F Sewell, B Burns. Subs: D Maguire for C O’Duibhfinn (33), S Munce for B Burns (37), D McGreevy (0-01) for S Lawell (45), Callum Murray for C Gallagher (55). 

Clooney Gaels: A Graham, H O’Donnell, J Magee, D Graham, F O’Neill, C McCloksey, D O’Neill, O Neeson (0-04), PJ O’Connell (0-02), R Graham (0-02), E Graham (0-01), P Graham, C McDonnell (1-01), D Graham (1-01), J O’Connell (3-11, 0-06f). Subs: S Madden for D Graham (46), C McGarry for C McDonnell (53), R Martin for PJ O’Connell (53), C Neeson for P Graham (57). 

Referee: Hugh Torney (Ballycran)

ACHL Division 3 

Lámh Dhearg 3-08-1-19 Cuchuliann’s 

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown

Cuchuliann’s maintained their winning start to the Division 3 campaign but survived a Lámh Dhearg comeback in their 1-19-3-08 victory at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon. 

The Armagh side were a point in arrears at the break, but by the midway stage had outscored the hosts 0-09-0-01 and held a seven-point lead.

Ten minutes later that lead was wiped out as Gerard Smyth and Adam Murray struck to have the game level, but the league-leaders finished stronger and Tom Marley’s goal ensured Cuchuliann’s would travel back to the Cathedral City with the spoils.  

Lámh Dhearg struck the game’s opening goal within four minutes. Sean-Paul Gibson’s clearance from defence was flicked on by Daire Cunningham and further into the path of Adam Murray, his shot was parried, and Paddy Mervyn swooped to find the net. 

Points were traded in the aftermath as Connor Devlin swung over a point in response for Cuchuliann’s, only for Niall McGarry to register his sides first point of the afternoon. 

Lee Murtagh popped over following a nice move with Caolan Rice and Adam Murray struck his first placed ball of the day as Mervyn’s goal was the difference 18 minutes in. 

The Armagh outfit hit a purple patch and registered five unanswered scores to lead for the first time. 

Back-to-back frees from Jordan Murtagh closed the deficit to a single point and Caolan Rice then clipped over his first. 

An angled Tom Marley point ensured his side hit the front and Connor Devlin doubled his personal tally and Cuchuliann’s lead, giving them a 0-07-1-02 lead. 

Lámh Dhearg would finish the half stronger though and regained the lead at the break. 

Adam Murray landed three frees in succession to give his side a slender 1-05-0-07 lead at the midway point. 

Cuchuliann’s dominated the first ten minutes of the second period and six unanswered points moved them five-points to the good after 38 minutes.

They began the half as they meant to go on, winning the break ball and sending Joe Burke in the clear to tie things up. 

Caolan McReynolds gave his side the lead for the second time in proceedings and from that point they stretched ahead through further points from Lee Murtagh, Tom Marley, John Donnelly, and Caolan Rice. 

It took almost ten minutes for Gerard Smyth to muster a response for the hosts was he landed a much-needed point, only for Jordan Murtagh to immediately restore his sides five-point advantage from a free. 

Lee Murtagh and Joe Burke scores ensured that Cuchuliann’s were 0-16-1-06 ahead with a quarter of an hour remaining and the Armagh outfit were well on course for victory. 

Adam Murray converted his fifth free of the contest and there was glimmer of hope for the hosts when Fionn Mervyn dropped a high ball into the square and Gerard Smyth flicked to the net to make it a three-point game with just over ten minutes remaining. 

It was a two score game when John Donnelly picked off a point from range, but Lámh Dhearg were in luck again when Niall McGarry popped the ball off to Odrán Waldron whose long ball was flicked to the net by Adam Murray to reduce the deficit to a single point (0-17-3-07). 

Goal scorer Murray would restore parity a minute later from the placed ball and with five minutes remaining it was game on again. 

Crucially it was Cuchuliann’s who edged ahead late-on, Connor Devlin guided a difficult shot inside the large posts and the clincher came on the 60-minute mark when Tom Marley saw his low shot squirm past Rhys Camlin and into the net. 

Jordan Murtagh would add a late free as Cuchuliann’s ran out 1-19-3-08 winners to maintain their unbeaten start to the league campaign as it approaches the midway stage. 

Lámh Dhearg: R Camlin, C Nolan, J Brady, T McKenna, SP Gibson, O Waldron, F Mervyn, N McGarry (0-01), E Stanley, D Martin, A Murray (1-06, 0-06f), M McGuigan, P Mervyn (1-00), G Smyth (1-01), D Cunningham. Subs: A McCague for M McGuigan (55), A Ferris for D Cunningham (55). 

Cuchuliann’s: A Murtagh, D Hicks, O Richards, S O’Hagan, D Ryan, G Barton, S McParland, C McReynolds (0-01), T Marley (1-02), J Donnelly (0-02), C Devlin (0-03), C Rice (0-02), J Burke (0-02), J Murtagh (0-04f), L Murtagh (0-03). 

Referee: Paul McSparron (Cushendun)

Antrim Hurling League – Division 4

Belfast Saints 1-17 Loch Mór 2-13

Pics by Martin Brunty

The newly formed St Agnes and St Teresa’s combination Belfast Saints recorded their fourth win from five league games with a brilliant home win at Woodlands versus opponents Loch Mór. 

The Glenavy/Crumlin travelling team started hot taking the lead hitting 1-2 inside the first 5 minutes without reply. 

Belfast Saints key man Philly Maguire got the home team on the score board with two points in a row at the 13min mark in the first half.

A further Declan McLarnon point sparked the game into life. 

Maguire added to his scoring hitting a brilliant goal and a point inside 15mins of the first half. Now a one point game at 1-5 to 1-4 to Loch Mór.

Another from Maguire and Saints forward James Halloran on the 28th min mark brought game 1-8 to 1-6 score at half time with the home side the happier of the two. 

At the second half restart a Philly Maguire point, followed by a Loch Mór goal and point put the away side 2-9 to 1-7 in front with 5 minutes played. 

A further 4 scores from the Saints coming from Maguire, Mark Caldwell, one from Ronan Carroll and Brian Keatings brought the Saints back into the game on the 17th minute mark. A 1-13 to 2-11 game with a point between the sides.

Loch mor added to their tally, taking a two point lead on the 20th minute of the second half with score at 2-12 to 1-13.

But it was the Belfast Saints who finished stronger in the last 10 minutes with Maguire and Ronan Carroll hitting points pushing them into a 1-17 to 2-13 lead, with referee Charlie Hemsworth blowing the whistle for full time.

Fantastic game to watch and despite being behind on a number of occasions the Saints never gave up against a youthful Loch Mór and snatched victory at the very end. 

Final score 

Belfast Saints 1-17

Loch Mór 2-13

Saints Scorers 

Philly Maguire 1-11

Ronan Carroll 0-2

Brian Keatings 0-1

Mark Caldwell 0-1

James Halloran 0-1

Declan McLarnon 0-1

ACFL Division 3

All Saints 1-18 Na Magha 2-14

All Saints staged a strong second half comeback to beat Na Magha of Derry in an entertaining ACFL Division 3 game at Quinn Park on Sunday. The newly promoted division 3 side have been turning in good performances without gaining the results that those performances merit and it looked to be going that way again against the Derry City men.

The visitors struck with two first half goals to lead by 2-8 to 0-10 at the interval and looked on their way to gaining the points they needed themselves but All Saints came back strongly in the second half with a goal from Liam Cassley igniting their comeback.

The Ballymena defence closed up shop in the second half, holding Na Magha to six points and as their forwards found their range, Ciaran Neeson, Eoin McGuigan and Damien Gillan fired over some excellent points.

In a nail biting finish it was Chris Dornan’s side who got their noses in front at the final whistle and this second win of the season moves them onto five points and out of the bottom three and they can be well satisfied by yesterday’s result.

Once again Neeson, who scored 1-15 against Rasharkin on Wednesday night, top scored with 0-11 while Eoin McGuigan, Damien Gillan and Liam Cassley were prominent in an attack that hit 1-18 for the second game in succession but this time with a different result.

All Saints: 1. Ciaran Cassley 2. Conor O’ Rawe 3. Colum Neeson 4. Kevin Brady 5. Cathaoir Cunning 6. Luke O’ Rawe 7. Daniel Gray 8. Padhraig Magill 9. James O’ Boyle 10. Cormac Magill 11. Eoin McGuigan (0-3) 12. Ciaran Neeson (0-11 6f) 13. Damien Gillan (0-3) 14. Liam Cassley (1-1) 15. Daniel Kelly Subs: Archie McGreevy for Cathaoir Cunning (40m) Joseph O’ Rawe for Daniel Kelly (40m)

Referee: Danny O’Neill (Gort na Mona)