2023 Mageean Cup winners St Killian’s made a winning start to this year’s campaign when they beat St Mary’s CBGS in Cushendall on Wednesday. An early Ciaran McCann goal gave the Tower a good start and they soon opened a five point lead (1-04 to 0-02), but the Belfast boys battled back and goal from Lewis Rafferty and two points from Oisin Boyle and one from Odhran Donnelly saw them take the lead. However St Killian’s settled into the game and by half time they had opened a 1-14 to 1-08 advantage.
The third quarter saw both sides add four points apiece but the Tower began to edge further ahead in the final quarter and a goal from Cahir McCambridge wrapped up the win.
The Tower’s next outing is against St Louis Ballymena on Tuesday next at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel with a 4-30 thow-in.
St Killian’s : C McCambridge 1-2, C McCann 1-1, C McIntosh 0-9, 8fs, O Gillan 0-5, 1f, C Leech 0-3, N McLaughlin and D McNaughton 0-2 each, N McKeown 0-1.
St Mary’s: L Rafferty 1-1, O Boyle 0-7, 5fs, O Donnelly 0-2, D Jemfrey, M Murray and C Mulligan 0-1 each.
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Naomh Padraig created history on Saturday when the club (in its 10th year) won its first ever “A” hurling title with a win over Gael na Cliniti (Cushendall & Glenariffe) in the North Antrim U14 championship final
Naomh Padraig went into the game as favourites having already won the league and the Tain Og Div 1 titles. However Gael na Cliniti who had beat reigning champions Dunloy in the semi final were in no mood to lie down and they produced a great display which nearly got them over the line. The game all square going into injury time – a power packed 90 seconds saw Naomh Padraig clinch the title in a fantastic advert for u-14 hurling.
Naomh Padraig started off well and two points from play from the fantastic Eoghan Lorcan “Bobo” Bradley got them up and running. The next few scores came from frees as Ruairi McQuillan and John og Darragh exchanged points. Gael Na Clinti were starting to get a foothold in the game as Sean McAuley and Lorcan McNaughton were driving them forward, with McAuley scoring a great point on the run from out on the wing. However John og Darragh who was a constant threat despite being double marked at times, added a good reply from play. Full back Ben Linton and Patrick McClean were rock solid in the Naomh Padraig defence. With 5 mins to go in the first half Naomh Padraig got in for the all important goal. Midfielder Killian Cassidy drove at the heart of the GNG defence before off loading to that man “Bobo” Bradley. Bradley showed the same instincts as his brother Fintan had shown in the earlier minor final with a rasper to the back of the GNG net. Gael Na Clinti responded with another converted free before Killian Cassidy sent over the final score of the half from play to send Naomh Padraig into the half break 1-7 to 0-7 ahead.
The second half was a real tense affair – as Gael Na Clinti started to claw their way back into the game. Centre half forward Lorcan McNaugton was having a real battle with Ollie Joe McAlonan – both lads starting to have a real influence on the game. McAlonan was ably assisted by Caleb McCaughan and Malachy McSparren.
Sean McAuley from frees was the main source of scores for GNG whilst Naomh Padraig’s scores were coming from their two big forward threats John og Darragh and Eoghan Lorcan Bradley.
With time heading into the last five minutes Gael Na Glinti had 2 great goal chances but Naomh Padraig keeper Liam McCelland was outstanding – pulling off two great saves and clearances. McCelland’s puckouts also a feature of the game.
With a minute to go, centre forward McNaughton drove through to equalise the game 1-10 to 0-13. The game was in the melting pot and the next score was going to be crucial. Killian Cassidy won the vital puckout and sent the ball into space for Conrad Bailey. Bailey found his full forward “Bobo” Bradley who in turn found his younger brother Oscar and he fired over the score of the game and put Naomh Padraig into the lead heading into injury time. They won the puck out and that man Bobo Bradley fired over another fantastic score from play on the wing. Moments later captain John og Darragh scored another point from play from distance and Naomh Padraig were three up and time almost up.
However their was one more attack and Gael Na Clinti delivered a long ball into their forwards, the ball broke and they pulled on the breaking ball. However it rose too high and went over the bar and that was their last attempt to try and snatch a draw.
The ref blew the final whistle and Naomh Padraig had hung on and created history with their first ever “A” title. The scenes of emotion from their supporters was evident as they congratulated their young stars.
Both teams can be proud of their effort and the quality of the hurling was excellent, played on a fantastic surface in Cushendun.
North Antrim chairman Paddy Gray presents the trophy to Naomh Padraig captain John Og DarraghGael Na ClinitiNaomh Padraig
South Antrim completed the Stout McDonald U-14 hurling championships over recent weeks with St Paul’s, St Galls and Lámh Dhearg all claiming success in their respective deciders.
Stout McDonald A Final
Rossa 0-2-2-11 St Pauls
Last year’s Stout McDonald finalists returned to the decider, but this time it was a rather more one sided encounter as St Pauls retained the trophy with a 2-11-0-2 victory at neighbours Rossa.
St Pauls were first off the mark through a converted Daire Gault free after 7-minutes and Gault doubled the lead from play following Bradley McDonnell’s pop off.
They extended their lead after Odhran O’Carroll’s shot dropped over with Gault then converting his second free.
The opening goal arrived just past the midway point in the half after Gault’s free dropped and Bradley McDonnell’s low shot found the net to make it 1-4-0-0.
Further scores from Ben Gamble and Lewis Hardy before the break saw their side in control at the interval and on course for retaining the Stout McDonald trophy.
The visitors picked up where they left off with Daire Gault notching his third converted free, but Rossa finally replied when Sé Whittaker kicked the loose sliother over.
A converted free from Cormac Carabine followed through Odhran O’Carroll sent over his second point of the afternoon.
Talisman Daire Gault brought his personal tally for five and four from frees with another conversion and his side then added a second goal shortly afterwards.
Lewis Hardy floated a high ball in and Fionntan Burns was able to guide the ball home to make it 2-09-0-2.
Late points from O’Carroll and Burns completed a straight forward victory for St Pauls as they retained the Stout McDonald.
Stout McDonald B Final
St Galls 2-13-1-4 St Endas
St Galls response to having their advantage cut to a point in the aftermath of Dillon Foy’s goal was to power home two goals of their own through Lorcan O’Rawe and Lewis McNeill as the Milltown outfit claimed the Stout McDonald B Championship with a 2-13-1-4 win over St Enda’s at Hannahstown.
St Enda’s began brightly with Dillon Foy and Odhran McAllister slinging over early points, and Conn Culbert halving the deficit with a converted free to get St Galls up and running.
Culbert tied things up temporarily though Odhran McAllister hit back from the same scenario to ensure his side kept themselves out in front.
The free-takers traded further placed balls and Eoin Rodgers then landed a 65’ to ensure the sides were level at 0-4 apiece.
St Galls would hit the front for the first time when Rodgers picked out Culbert to pop over their first from play of the afternoon.
They would double their lead before the half was out, Rogers placed ball dropped and Lewis McNeill was able to scoop up and fire over to give his side a 0-6-0-4 lead at the interval.
The Miltown outfit extended their lead upon the games resumption with Conn Culbert landing his fourth free of proceedings and then Oliver Crossan conjured a fine score to double their half time advantage.
The opening goal of the game was a much needed St Enda’s score as Dillon Foy steered the ball beyond the reach of Aodhan Mullan to make it a one-point game (0-8-1-4).
St Galls responded at the other end and restored their four-point lead with a goal of their own.
Rodgers dropped in a free and Lorcan O’Rawe gathered and flashed a shot high into the top corner past Lorcan Smyth.
They then found a second goal a few minutes later, despite the best efforts of Lorcan Smyth to keep the ball out in a congested six-yard line, Lewis McNeill did enough to steer the ball over the line and make it 2-8-1-4.
Their side were in control in the aftermath as Oliver Crossan doubled his personal account from play and Conn Culbert sent over a further free shortly after.
Culbert landed his first from play and a converted 65’ from captain Eoin Rodgers followed with Lewis McNeill sending over a further free before the game was out to wrap up a 2-13-1-4 win at the final whistle.
Stout McDonald C Final
A strong Lámh Dhearg side romped to the victory in the Stout McDonald C decider over a youthful but determined Gort na Mona outfit.
Early goals from Oran Agnew and Caiden McKay set the tone for the Hannahstown side with Ryan and Oran Hughes chipping in with points between Connolly Boyd netting a reply for Gort and Oisin Rea adding a point.
After an entertaining start the Lámhs seized complete control with Dylan Quinn helping himself to 4-5 unanswered scores and a further point followed after Rory Mulholland got himself on the scoresheet.
Gort na Mona would finish the first period strongly as Oisin Rea and Michael Campbell both found the net either side of Patrick Glennon and Dylan Quinn points- though it was the Hannahstown side that were firmly in control at the break.
The sides traded early second half points through Caiden McKay and Connelly Boyd. Dylan Quinn added his fifth goal of the afternoon with Boyd replying from a free.
The goals continued to flow with Caiden McKay and Ryan Hughes getting in on the act with Oisin Rea and Connolly Boyd carrying the fight for a Gort na Mona side that continued to battle on, however at the conclusion it was Lámh Dhearg who ran out convincing winners.
DAMIAN LAVERTY’S late free sealed a stunning second half fightback and saw Cross and Passion edge past St. Marys’ in their opening Leonard Cup encounter with a 2-20-3-16 victory on the Glen Road on Wednesday afternoon.
The visitors had a strong opening quarter but found themselves in arrears at the break and by the 35th minute trailed 2-13-0-10, but they slowly got to grips and closed to within a point in the dying embers and held their nerve to leave with victory at the conclusion.
Paidi O’Kane got Cross and Passion off the mark in the early stages with the Ballycastle outfit shooting into the breeze blowing towards the Monagh By-Pass end.
A converted Matthew O’Neill free restored parity quickly and O’Neill added his first point from play shortly afterwards.
CPC largely dominated the opening 10-minutes and it soon reflected on the scoreboard as Killian Cassidy tied things up for a second time and a converted O’Kane free edged them back ahead.
A fine Damien Laverty score extended their advantage with O’Kane converting a further free and Tom Richmond finding aim to give their side a 0-6-0-2 lead.
Despite Jude Gamble landing a fine point from range that was met by two in reply from the visitors courtesy of Cahir McCloskey and Ronan Elliott (free).
The same pattern presented itself following Matthew O’Neill’s third point of the half, with Killian Cassidy sending over successive scores in less than 60-seconds as his side held a 0-10-0-4 advantage.
The opening goal arrived midway through the opening period and it was a much needed goal for St. Mary’s.
Matthew O’Neill headed for goal but saw his angled shot kept out by Liam McClelland, but Sian McMullan reacted quickest and flashed the loose ball to the net.
A converted Matthew O’Neill free followed the hosts were back in business as they began to get to grips with things in attack whilst keeping the backdoor shut.
They would keep Cross and Passion scoreless for the remainder of the half and by the 25th minute had clawed their way level after O’Neill added a further point from play and another from the placed ball.
The Glen Road outfit led for just the second time after Gerard Delaney landed an angled score and just before the break Matthew O’Neill brought his tally to seven with another placed ball as the hosts led 1-9-0-10.
St. Mary’s picked up where they left off before the interval with O’Neill adding to his personal tally and things would get better when Conan Mulligan raced onto a precise forward pass and had the composure to lift the ball over the keeper and it dropped in to make it 2-10-0-10.
Jude Gamble landed a long range free, goalscorer Sian McMullan got his first point of the afternoon and Matthew O’Neill swung over his fourth from play.
Cross and Passion ended a scoreless spell that stretched just over 20-minutes and it was a vital score as Cahir McCloskey rifled to the net to reduce arrears by a third (2-13-1-10).
In the aftermath, Ronan Elliott converted a free and McCloskey notched his second point of proceedings.
Successive Matthew O’Neill points- one from a free and the other from play- would restore his sides six-point advantage, though the pendulum was shifting with the game in the final quarter.
Damian Laverty converted two frees either side of a John Og Darragh point. Darragh doubled his tally and Cahir McCloskey clipped over a 54th minute point to reduce the deficit to the bare minimum.
The hosts looked to have given themselves a platform to victory when they netted for the third time through Cristoir McCabe, but at the other end Damian Laverty drilled a converted free to the net to make it 3-15-2-17.
With two minutes to spare Paidi O’Kane dropped a shot over to pull his side level, though there was still time for the lead to change hands.
St. Mary’s regained the lead through a Gerard Delaney point, though John Og Darragh popped over a further equaliser.
It was the Ballycastle side who held their nerve at the last, earning themselves a late free that Damian Laverty converted.
The hosts were unable to reply and force a share of the spoils as Cross and Passion held out for a 2-20-3-16 victory in what was a quality game of hurling.
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Intermediate Hurling Championship – Semi-Finalat Quinn Park, Ballymena
Oisin 4-19 Cloney Gaels 1-13
A dominant period in the opening 10 minutes from Oisins Glenariffe put them in a commanding position as they overcame the challenge of a slow starting Cloney Gaels in this second Intermediate hurling championship semi-final in Ballymena on Monday night.
After falling behind to a Ronan Graham point in the opening minute Glenariffe made a strong response as they hit 2-6 without reply to lead by 11 with ten minutes gone and even at this stage it was hard to envisage a Cloney comeback.
With the wind at their backs on an excellent Quinn Park surface the sea-siders were first to nearly every ball as their pace and intensity clearly knocked the Ahoghill men out of their stride.
Their first goal came from Michael O’Boyle after Diarmuid Graham had been blocked down as he attempted to clear and his brother, Alex added the second with 8 minutes gone as Cloney struggled to put meaningful attacks together.
Alex O’Boyle was in imperious form from the placed ball and he converted three frees during this period of dominance to add to one from Michael O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh and two from Orrin O’Connor.
Cloney danger man, James O’Connell finally got his name on the score sheet from a free in the 11th minute but the Gaels sharp shooter was given little time or space throughout the hour to stamp his influence on the game.
Fionnbar O’Neill raised the South West sides third white flag but his side couldn’t match the hunger or aggression of the opposition and Seanie McIntosh, Conor Patterson and Alex O’Boyle (0-2 f’s) moved the Waterfoot outfit 2-10 to 0-3 ahead by the 17th minute.
Their opponents did create a few half chance with Colla McDonnell denied by timely tackles as he briefly threaten and the pressure finally looked to have paid dividends when Patrick McIlwaine dragged down Patrick Graham as he bore down on goal.
McIlwaine was shown Yellow for his misdemeanour and Fionnbar O’Neill stepped up to take the penalty but his fierce shot was superbly saved by Oisin keeper, Paul McMullan who would go on to make a number of excellent stops over the hour.
Ronan Graham and Seanie McIntosh exchanged points and Fionnbar O’Neill added a long range point for the Cloney men but Glenariffe finished the half as they had started and the excellent Michael O’Boyle pointed before scoring his side’s third goal to leave them 3-12 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
It looked a long way back for Cloney Gaels as they resumed with the breeze at their backs and it was the sweet striking Alex O’Boyle who moved his side further ahead from a free in the third minute.
James O’Connell replied with his second point of the evening and then escaped the shackles of his marker to rifle past Paul McMullan in the 7th minute after being set up by Patrick Graham.
Again the Glenariffe response came from Alex O’Boyle from two more converted frees but Cloney were starting to enjoy a wee bit of success and Colla McDonnell had his fierce shot pushed over by Paul McMullan.
Things threatened to boil over as players from both sides got involved in an unseemly brawl and when the dust settled referee Fionntan McCotter got matters under way again without taking further action.
Dan O’Neill added a point from long range and James O’Connell converted a free as the Gaels effort gathered a wee bit of momentum but their efforts were soon undone when Conor Patterson got in for Glenariffe’s fourth goal following a mix-up in the visitors defence.
The Ahoghill men went looking for goals at this stage but the Oisin defence stood firm and points from Ronan Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill and another from James O’Connell that skimmed over was all they could manage.
Brogan O’Connor got his name on the Glenariffe score sheet and fittingly, the final point of the evening would come from an Alex O’Boyle free as Oisin’s advance to a meeting with Tir na nOg Randalstown in their second successive final in two weeks-time.
Glenariffe: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Patrikck McIlwaine, 4 Cailin Devlin, 5 David Kearney, 6 Niall Magee, 7 Calum McIlwaine, 8 Odhran Gillan, 9 Oliver Kearney, 10 Orrin O’Connor, 11 Conor Patterson, 12 Michael O’Boyle, 13 Alex O’Boyle, 14 Seanie McIntosh, 17 Michael Haughey, 18 Daniel Kearney.
Subs: Colla Ward for Patrick McIlwaine, Brogan O’Connor for Orrin O’Connor, Phelim Ward for Oliver Kearney, Niall Murray for Michael O’Boyle
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham 5 Finbar O’Neill 6 Diarmaid Graham 7 Dan O’Neill 8 Eamon Brady 9 Connor Crossey 10 Owen Neeson 11 Ronan Graham 12 Patrick Graham 13 Colla McDonnell 14 Donal Graham 15 James O’Connell
Subs: Tom McGlone for Donal Graham Neil O’Connell for Diarmaid Graham Shea Neeson for Bernard Graham, Patrick Dougan for Harry O’Donnell
Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)
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