Pics from Sunday’s half time games during the interval of the Antrim v Tipperary National Hurling League game at Corrigan Park where schools from around the county got their chance to show off their skills

National Hurling League Division 1B

Antrim 2-16 Tipperary 4-28

Antrim were put to the sword by a razor sharp Tipperary side at Corrigan Park on Sunday as the Premier County maintained their 100% record, and in doing so qualified for a semi-final meeting with All Ireland champions Limerick next weekend.

Fourteen points down at the break (3-13 to 0-8) Antrim made a better fist of it after the break and had a really good spell when they grabbed two goals through Nigel Elliott and Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan, but the Munster men always had the situation in hand and regained their composure to pull away again to win by eighteen points.

Antrim took an early lead with a Seaan Elliott point, but Tipp soon moved up through the gears and when Mark Kehoe grabbed their first goal in the fourth minute the gap began to widen. The points flowed from a potent attacking force and Antrim were left chasing shadows at times and good work between Sean Ryan and his fellow corner forward Conor Bowe, say Bowe crashed home goal number two. Antrim were not helping their cause with some wayward shooting and ten wides in the opening half alone tells its own tale. Tipp on the other had were very economical with the chances they had and a Pauric Campion’s goal just before the break game his team a 3-13 to 0-8 at the interval.

The second half saw a much improved Antrim side take the field and though they were never going to close the yawning gap a flurry of early scores gave the home side something to shout about. Good work by Domhnal Nugent sent the ever dangerous Nigel Elliott clear on the right and the Dunloy man fired an angled shot to the Tipperary net.

Two minutes later full forward Conal Cumming won possession close to goal and fed the ball out to Rian McMullan who raised his team’s second green flag inside five minutes. There was also a series of well taken points from replacements Scott Walsh, Seamus McAuley and Paul Boyle, but the visitors were always able to final a reply. Their fourth goal came from the impressive Sean Ryan who beat the luckless Ryan Elliott with a fine strike from thirty metres to wrap up an emphatic win.

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Phelim Duffin; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Niall O’Connor; Michael Bradley (0-03), James McNaughton; Nigel Elliott (1-02), Keelan Molloy, Domhnall Nugent; Conal Cunning (0-05, 3 frees, 1 65), Rian McMullan (1-01), Seaan Elliott (0-01)

Subs: Scott Walsh (0-01) for Niall O’Connor (HT), Paul Boyle (0-02) for Seaan Elliott (HT), Caolan McKernan for James McNaughton (52), Seamus McAuley (0-01) for Nigel Elliott (55), Rory McCloskey for Gerard Walsh (65)

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen, Bryan O’Meara; Enda Heffernan (0-03), Ronan Maher, Pauric Campion (1-00); Joe Fogarty (0-02), Alan Tynan (0-02); Kian O’Kelly, Mark Kehoe (1-00), Gearoid O’Connor (0-09, 7 frees, 1 65); Conor Bowe (1-00), John McGrath (0-07, 1 fee), Sean Ryan (1-03).

Subs: John Campion (0-01) for Ronan Maher (26), Johnny Ryan (0-01) for Bryan O’Meara (HT), Paddy Creedon for Kian O’Kelly (49), Dan McCormick for Alan Tynan (53), Cian O’Dwyer for Gearóid O’Connor (64)

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow)

Danske Bank Gallagher Cup Hurling

St Killian’s 6-7 St Pat’s Maghera 4-9

A strong first half performance sets at Killian’s Garron Tower up for a win over St. Pats Maghera in Tuesday’s Gallagher Cup match at Allen Park, Antrim. Three goals from full forward Cahir McCambridge and one from Shane McQuillan gave the north Antrim boys a healthy lead and they went into the break in a starong position, leading by 4-4 to 0-5.

The second half with a different game however as St. Pats came out fighting. A goal and a point within 60 seconds of the restart from PJ Glover got the Maghera school back into the game, and when they added another 1-1 through Fionn Charlton five minutes later the gap was down to just 3. The Tower boys rallied and another goal by McCambridge was followed by one from Connlaoth McNaughton steadied the ship. However St Pat’s were always threatening and  they added a further two goals through St Killian’s did well to end up winning by Joe Conway and Owen O,’Neil to trail at the last by just four points.

Overall there were good performances from Cahir McCambridge, Shane McQuillan and Connor’s McNaughton in the forwards, with Dillon McNaughton working hard at midfield. Paddy Morgan, Kieran Graham and Brian McNeill were very good in defence.

Danske Bank Forester’s Cup Final 

Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock 3-07-3-09 Cross and Passion College 

Kevin Herron reports from the Dub 

A 39^th minute goal from Roan McGarry ensured that Cross and Passion lead for the third and final time of an epic Forrester’s Cup Final as the Ballycastle outfit ran out 3-09-3-07 winners over Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock in the final at the Dub on Tuesday afternoon. 

Cross and Passion began as favourites but Knock, competing in their first ever ‘A’ hurling final- didn’t read the script and lead at the break thanks to a quickfire double from Ben Teggart and Frank Kane. 

The County Down men recovered from a slow start to the second period to regain the lead through points from Liam Blaney and Ben Teggart. 

McGarry’s strike proved pivotal, and his side hung on despite Kane slicing the deficit with a goal 12 minutes from time that provided a grandstand finish to a breath-taking encounter. 

Knock started brightly and opened their account when Sean McCollum picked out Tomas O’Brien and he found Liam Blaney on the offload to point. 

Caedan Crawford hit back at the other end and Cross and Passion drew the first major blow with a 6^th minute goal. 

Aidan Richmond flicked a pass into the path of Crawford and he in turn found Roan McGarry to guide a shot past Mark Guest and give the Ballycastle side a 1-01-0-01 lead. 

Further points followed with Conor Donnelly conjuring a fantastic point from range and Ronan Fitzgerald converting a free. 

With ten minutes to the break, Knock came roaring back. A foul on Frank Kane saw the East Belfast outfit awarded a free and Ben Teggart opted to go low and blasted to the net to make it 1-03-1-01. 

A role reversal two minutes later saw Teggart drop a long range free into the danger zone and Kane swung a low shot to the net to edge his side back in front. 

Back-to-back points from Liam Blaney saw Knock open up a three-point advantage and the sides would trade further scores before the break. 

Roan McGarry converted a free and Teggart then replied through a 65’ as Knock were 2-04-1-04 ahead at the midway stage of the decider. 

Cross and Passion reduced arrears through a Liam Glackin angled point early in the second period and then got themselves back in front. 

Conor Donnelly burst through the Knock defence and picked his spot in the net to make it 2-05-2-04. 

Parity was restored when Ben Teggart’s free dropped short and Liam Blaney fired high between the posts for his fourth of the afternoon. 

Teggart added to his first half strike with a point from a further placed ball to ensure his side were ahead for the third time in proceedings. 

The pendulum would swing back into Cross and Passions favour on 39 minutes. Conor Donnelly tried to drive into a shooting position but fumbled and the ball was worked into the path of Roan McGarry to flick home and give his side a 3-05-2-06 lead. 

Three unanswered points had given the Ballycastle outfit some temporary breathing space. Ronan Fitzgerald picked off an angled point, McGarry converted a free when Conor Donnelly was felled, and Donnelly would add the last of the three in succession. 

Knock were in need of a score to try and turn the tide and on 48 minutes they found their third goal of the afternoon when Frank Kane gathered, and his shot spun past Ruairi McShane and into the top left-hand corner of the net to make it 3-08-3-06 and ensure it was game on once again. 

A converted Teggart free left the bare minimum between the sides and Knock thought they had managed to claw themselves back level with a Liam Blaney effort that was very close. 

The umpire had originally signalled for a point, although after further consultation with referee Brendan Toland- the man in the middle signalled that Blaney’s effort had drifted an inch wide of the post. 

Roan McGarry nudged his side a further point clear from his third converted free of the contest. 

Two-points remained the difference going into added time, Cross and Passion couldn’t muster a further score that would have left Knock needing a goal to force extra-time. 

The East Belfast side would in fact have the chance to steal victory from the jaws of defeat when the ball was worked into the path of Liam Blaney to bare down on goal. However, Cross and Passion goalkeeper Ruairi McShane made himself big and bravely blocked the subsequent effort. 

They were able to clear their lines in time for referee Toland to bring an epic final to its conclusion with contrasting emotions from both sets of players – unbridled joy for Cross and Passion and devastation for the Knock players, who were immense to a man for the 60+ minutes. 

Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Knock: M Guest, M Gilmore, O O’Neill, T McCusker, S McCollum, B Teggart (1-03, 1-02f, 0-01 65’), J Dynes, L Doran, C Boyle, R Donnelly, L Blaney (0-04), S O’Connell, T O’Brien, F Kane (2-00), J McKay. 

Cross and Passion: R McShane, C McMullan, C Baudant, A McGarry, C Cane, L Glackin (0-01), A Kelly, R Fitzgerald (0-02, 0-01f), C Donnelly (1-02), D Donnelly, O Connolly, A Richmond, R McGarry (2-03, 0-03f), C Crawford (0-01). Subs: L Magee for C McMullan (35), C Johnston for A Richmond (41), O McCallin for C Crawford (59). 

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)