The Danske Bank Ulster Schools All Stars, who received their awards at the annual Gala dinner in the Crown Plaza, Belfast on Friday night, were dominated by the three north Antrim schools; Cross & Passion Ballycastle with three awards and Mageean Cup finalists St Louis Ballymena (four) and St Killian’s Garron Tower (three).
Liam Glackin, Conor Donnelly and Ben McGarry of Cross & Passion College, Ballycaslte
Ulster minor club champions Loughgiel have four players in the line-up, two each from Mageean champions St Louis and two of the three CPC players including Liam Glackin who recently captained the Ballycastle school to the Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup.
The four Loughgiel players on the Hurling All Star team. L-R, Darragh Patterson, Jack McCloskey (both St Louis) with Ben McGarry and Liam Glackin (CPC)Joseph McLaughlin, John V Morgan and Cormac McKeown of St Killian’s College, Garron Tower.
The eleven Antrim Hurling All Stars who received thier awards at a gala dinner in the Crown Plaza Hotel
St Louis traditional group who performed at the All Stars Gala
Rossa travelled to Pearse Park on Sunday and recorded a much needed win over a Dunloy side still missing their county players. The visitors made all the running during a first half in which they dominated and looked well on their way to victory when they led 0-18 to 0-6 at half time.
After the break it was the turn of Cuchullian’s to dictate matters as they outscored the visitors 0-11 to 0-4 but it was the Shaw’s Road side who held on for their first win of the present league campaign.
Aodhan O’Brien top scored for Rossa with 0-8 (4 frees) and Darra Rocks 0-4, Aidan Orchin 0-2, Dominic McEnhill 0-3, Eoghan McMenamin 0-2, Eoin Trainor 0-2 and Seaghan Shannon were the men on target for the Blue & Gold’s.
JAMES Morgan’s opportunist goal 73 seconds into the second session at Shaw’s Road stunned St Paul’s and fired the Emmet’s to what eventually became a solid ten-points Division Two victory.
The first half was, as expected between these recurring rivals, a tense nip and tuck affair.
Five points separated the sides at the interval, ten for Cushendun, with Caolan Crossan and Darragh Stevenson clipping over smart shots to keep the city team in touch.
Goals for the Antrim Coast side did the trick, with substitute Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill twice on target.
One minute after Morgan’s major, McNeill replaced Colm McKeegan – and sixty seconds later he nicked the first of his double delight.
His second goal, nine minutes from time, was down to quick thinking. He made certain from a second bite at the cherry, when his 21-yards free was blocked by goalkeeper Chris Murray.
Quick as a flash, the bold ‘Loaf’ – who also plundered two points – pounced on the rebound and drilled the ball to the back of the net.
In between the Loaf strikes, St Paul’s retaliated in the 43rd minute with a goal by corner forward Stephen Munce.
Cushendun fans then became somewhat concerned six minutes from the end when one of their most mobile of forwards, Harry Kilgore received a red card from the match referee.
Up ahead is a crucial top-of-the-table heavyweight showdown against near neighbours, Glenariffe, at The Riggs.
St Paul’s also had a player dismissed seven minutes into the second session.
During the second half, the Emmet’s, despite missing injured centre back Donal O’Hara, stuck to their fast-paced operation – and made good use of power hitting goalkeeper Gareth Magee’s enormous puc-outs.
Once again the ever alert ‘Smiley’ – Conor McHugh – enjoyed a roving commission to pick off an impressive array of points, eight in all, and see the Antrim Coast side over the line.
Teams:
St PAUL’S:-C Murray; C O’Carroll, F Carville, C Gallagher; S Farrell, L Walsh,T Aule; A O’Carroll and R Moore; D Stevenson, C Crossan, C Duffin; D Chapman, F Sewell, S Munce.
Scorers:-D Stevenson, C Crossan (0-4 each), S Munce (1-0), C Duffin (0-3).
EMMET’s: G Magee, M McSparran, A Corbett, S Hamilton; Jack McKay, Sean McKay, C Kilgore; T Scally, D McQuillan; F McQuillan, J Morgan, H Kilgore; C McKeegan, C McHugh, D Kilgore.
Subs:-C McNeill for C McKeegan, P Bannon for C Kilgore, E Magee for D McQuillan, J V Morgan for F McQuillan, A Breslin for J Morgan.
Scorers:-C McNeill 2-2, C McHugh 0-8, J Morgan 1-1, H Kilgore, D Kilgore, D McQuillan, F McQuillan 0-1 each.
Last year’s division 4 winners, All Saints picked up their third point of this year’s division 3 campaign when they drew with Lamh Dhearg in Ballymena on Sunday.
Little separated the sides throughout with the returning Ciaran Neeson making an impact for the Ballymena side with the game’s only goal and he added two points for good measure.
Damian Gillan once again contributed handsomely for All Saints scoring 0-7 with three of them coming from play while Luke O’Rawe struck a sublime point from a sideline cut.
Liam Cassley and Cormac Magill were also on target for the home side while Declan Lynch was the go to man and top scored for the Hannastown side who move onto five points and a mid-table position.
All Saints: Ciaran Cassley 2. Dwayne McKee 3. Colum Neeson 4. Kevin Brady 5. Cathaoir Cunning 6. Luke O’Rawe 7. Daniel Grey 8. Padhriag Magill 9. James O’Boyle 10. Damien Gillan 11. Jack Magill 12. Liam Cassley 13. Eoin McGuigan 14. Joseph O’ Rawe 15. Ciaran Neeson
Subs: Cormac Magill for Jack Magill Gary Miskella for Eoin McGuigan
An incredible 3-13 from ace marksman Alex O’Boyle set the Oisins up for a seven point win over Carryduff at Waterfoot on Sunday. The right half forward was in tremendous form, scoring from both play and from frees, hitting 2-6 in the first half, and 1-07 in the second to see his team home. The win maintains their 100% record in the league and the only undefeated team in the division. The are level on points with their north Antrim neighbours Cushendun, but with a game less played, and things are set up perfectly for the meeting of the two sides on Wednesday week.
While O’Boyle was top man for the Oisins, Carryduff midfielder Gareth Lynch was the go-to man for the Down side scoring 13 points, though the vast majority of those were from frees. Lynch got the opening point of the game in the third minute, but O’Boyle got the next three scores, two of them from frees and one from play.
Donal Rooney sent one over from play and Lynch added another from a free to bring Carryduff level, but O’Boyle struck his first major in the tenth minute to give his team a little breathing space. His second goal came on 16 minutes as the home team pushed on to lead by 2-8 to 0-10 at half time.
Carryduff shot three of the first four points after the interval with Lynch getting his team’s three and O’Boyle the single Oisins point. It was really close at this stage but O’Boyle turned it on again when he hit his third goal and followed it with another pointed free to give his team the edge again.
Carryduff stayed in touch for most of the second half but three points in as many minutes between the 55th and 58th minutes by O’Boyle put the game beyond their reach.
OISINS
Seanan McToal, Daniel McAuley, Niall Murray, Daniel Kearney, Conor Patterson, Donal Kearney, Aaron Cosgrove, Daniel Haughey, Odhran Gillan, Alex O’Boyle, Caolan O’Connor, Oliver Kearney, Ronan Leech, Kevin McDonnell, Seanie McIntosh.
CARRYDUFF
Conor McLornan, Ferghanl Casey, Eoin Rooney, Sean O’Callaghan, Donal Teague, Peter Loughran, Michael Conway, Christopher McConville, Garreth Lynch, Conor O’Neill, James Woods, Tiernan McMeel, Conor O’Rielly, Lorcan McCaughey, Oran Teague.
