Loughgiel won their fourth minor title in a row when they beat Cusehndall in Sunday’s final in Ballycastle. Red hot favourites going into the game the young Shamrocks found the going tough in the opening half as wind assisted Cushendall opened up a five point lead by half time. The Ruairis actually stretched their lead to six early in the second half, but Loughgiel gradually reeled them in and with corner forward Roan McGarry in superb form from both frees and from play, they eventually took over to run out winners by eleven points.
Joseph McLaughlin put Cushendall ahead from a free in the second minute of the game, and they had a series of good chances to increase that lead but were wayward in their shooting. It was fourteen minutes before Darragh Patterson got Loughgiel’s first score to level up the game but McLaughlin came back with one at the other end to put Cushendall back ahead. Roan McGarry’s first point on 17 minutes tied things up yet again but as the half progressed Cushendall began to get on top and points from John Mitchell and Fiontan Bradley. Ronan Fitzgerald replied for Loughgiel, but Joe McLaughlin and Oran McCambridge pointed with a minute of each other to put the Ruairis 0-6 to 0-3 ahead.
Jack McCloskey, who played with a bad shoulder injury, got a point from a free and Roan McGarry added another from play, but a point from play and a goal from a penalty by Joseph McLaughlin gave Cushendall a five point lead at the half time whistle.
When Thomas McLaughlin got the first point of the second half to increase the lead to six within a minute of the restart Cushendall must have felt they were in with a chance, but a goal and three points from corner forward Roan McGarry in a devastating six minutes spell turned the game in the Shamrocks favour.
Codai McGarry and Roan McGarry put the winners two clear, but Cushendall kept in the race and a Thomas McLaughlin point on 47 minutes kept them in touch. Points from Ronan Fitzgerald, Roan McGarry and midfielder Liam Glackin began to put a bit of daylight between the sides, but Oran McCambridge replied for Cushendall to keep the Ruairi’s hopes alive.
However Loughgiel finished with a flurry scoring goals through substitute Conan Johnston and Jack McCloskey, plus four more points to run out winners by eleven and claim their fourth title on the trot.
Above – L-R, Tony Shivers presents the cup to team captain Ben McGarry, the Saffron Gael Man of the Match award to younger brother Roan McGarry, while corner back Ashdon McGarry points out the four in a row
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pairc Mac Uilin, Ballycastle
As the clock ticked into the last minute of the hour in Ballycastle, Cushendall looked like they had the job done. Eight points ahead, three minutes of injury time to come and the Ruairi’s could have been forgiven for thinking on the decider.
Loughgiel had other ideas. Two goals from Rian McMullan and Maol Connolly either side of a point from James McNaughton left Cushendall hoping for the sharp shrill of Colm McDonald’s whistle. It eventually came as the Ruairi’s booked their place in their first decider since 2019 but they were pushed all the way by a Loughgiel side who will feel like they left this one behind them.
That being said, some of the play from Cushendall was scintillating. Moreso in the second half when they looked to cut loose on a number of occasions. The passing for their second and third goals was sublime and impossible to defend against. Vision, craft, running off the shoulder and sharp finishes. It had the Ruairi’s faithful in Pairc Mac Uilin purring.
Cushendall substitute Christy McNaughton had three touches of the ball during his short cameo and scored a goal and two points. He is seen here celebrating the goal before having to retire again through injury
In a first half where both sides really cancelled each other out, Cushendall were reliant on Neil McManus for their scores. The Ruairi’s talisman fired over their opening six points (four frees) while Loughgiel did the majority of the early running. With Maol Connolly busy in attack and Christy McGarry causing plenty of problems for the Ruairi’s, Eddie McCloskey and James McNaughton pulling the strings, the Shamrocks looked like they had more scoring options. A stream of early wides from the Shamrocks looked like it would take the sting out of their challenge but by the time James McNaughton fired over his third point of the tie, Loughgiel has opened a two point lead with six minutes of the first half remaining.
The Ruairi’s had that lead halved before scoring the opening goal of the game. McManus gathering the sliotar and finding substitute Fred McCurry in space. He passed the sliotar to Sean McAfee and he made no mistake despite the close attentions of Chris O’Connell.
Ryan McCambridge and McNaughton (free) swapped scores before the short whistle to leave Cushendall two clear at the half way mark.
In a half where both sides flattered to deceive, neither really took control of the contest. Both hit wides that were out of character but Cushendall just made less mistakes to edge the opening half.
Loughgiel’s Paul Boyle gets past Cushendall’s Eoghan Campbell during the opening half
With an air of anticipation still rumbling around Pairc Mac Uilin, the game was well in the melting pot. Shan McGrath and McManus (free) swapped white flags but the Shamrocks began to misfire. McManus and McAfee split the posts either side of Maol Connolly’s 39th minute point before Cushendall put daylight between the sides with their second major. A brilliant move involving Niall McCormick, Paddy McGill and McAfee before Alex Delargy hit the back of Eoin Gillan’s net.
Six points separated the sides and Loughgiel looked to the bench with Rian McMullan, Enda Og McGarry and Rian McKee all being introduced with a positive impact. Loughgiel bgean to dominate the middle third and with Connolly taking over the free-taking duties, he fired over before McMullan scored with his first touch since coming off the bench. The Shamrocks couldn’t make the most of their dominance however with four wides and a free dropping short before McManus fired over for Cushendall’s first score for nine minutes.
Late goals brought Loughgiel back to within a point, but Cuhendall held out to book a final place.
Loughgiel were thrown a life line when Liam Gillan saw red for a second yellow card. Referee McDonald booking Gillan for bringing Eddie McCloskey to the ground when he had the Cushendall goal in his sights. Connolly converted the resulting free to leave five between the sides.
Substitute Christy McNaughton fired over either side of points from McMullan and Rian McKee before he would score the Ruairi’s third major. Another brilliant move resulted in McNaughton in space and while O’Connell got his hurl to the sliotar, he couldn’t stop it from crossing the line.
With their championship hopes hanging in the balance, Loughgiel rolled the dice one more time. Their first goal came from a piece of quick thinking by Connolly from a free. Playing a one-two with Eddie McCloskey, they found McMullan in space and he hammered the sliotar to the back of the net. James McNaughton followed it up with his fourth point of the semi final in the first minute of injury time.
Neill McManus gave another man of the match performance to get Cushendall home
Another quick free from ‘keeper O’Connell this time found Eddie McCloskey. His effort was stopped but the Shamrock’s recycled and Connolly was in the right place at the right time.
But time had ran out for the Shamrocks. They couldn’t muster another opportunity to take the tie to extra time and Cushendall held on. A gripping end to another titanic battle between these two giants of the game with the Ruairi’s taking the honours.
Maol Connolly sends over a Loughgiel point.
TEAMS
Loughgiel: C O’Connell; T Coyle, T McCloskey, Ronan McCloskey; C Blair, D McCloskey, Rory McCloskey; D McCloskey, J McNaughton (0-4 3f); P Boyle, E McCloskey, D McKinley; C McGarry (0-2), M Connolly (1-4 2f), S McGrath (0-2)
Subs: Shay Casey for D McCloskey (46); Rian McKee (0-1) for R McCloskey (44); Rian McMullan (1-2) for D McKinley (44); Enda Og McGarry for R McCloskey (49)
Cushendall: E Gillan; L Gillan, P Burke, M Burke; S Walsh, E Campbell, M Donaghy; A Delargy (1-00), R McCambridge (0-1); D Delargy, S McAfee (1-1), N McCormick; A McNaughton, N McManus (0-10 6fs), P McGill
Subs: Ronan McAteer for M Donaghy (14); Fred McCurry for D Delargy (23); Christy McNaughton (1-2) for P McGill (44); Fergus McCambridge for S McAfee (54); Shane McKenna for C McNaughton (inj)
A hat-trick from Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill paved the way for an Emmet’s Cushendun victory over Oisin Glenariffe in this Andersonstown SC IHC semi-final in Cushendall on Saturday. McNeill hit his first when he drilled a 25 meter free to the Oisin’s net in the 25th minute and went on to add two more in the second half as his side booked their place in the final against Cloney Gaels in two weeks-time.
In a high scoring and entertaining encounter, Cushendun had the upper hand for most of the contest but in the end it was McNeill’s goals that were to prove the difference and matters boiled over deep into injury time with an unsavoury incident that saw four players get their marching orders.
The early exchanges were fairly even with Conlaoth McNeill giving the Emmet’s the lead from a pointed free in the opening minute and Sean McIntosh and Michael O’Boyle replying for the Waterfoot side before McNeill brought matters all square again from a 7th minute free
Emmet’s Gareth Magee dives to his left to pull off an excellent save
The Oisins were enjoying the better of the exchanges at this stage and Alex O’Boyle put them ahead for the second time from a sublime sideline cut and after Calum Kilgore fired over the equaliser, O’Boyle repeated his earlier piece of magic from another sideline cut.
Slowly though the division 1 basement side began to get to grips as Conor Bannon and Calum Kilgore replied with points and two more Alex O’Boyle pointed frees for Glenariffe brought a Cushendun response from Conor Bannon, David Kilgore and a pointed free from talisman, McNeill.
An Oliver Kearney point brought another reply from a Conlaoth McNeill free but when Seamus McDonnell’s shot was deflected to the net for an Oisin’s goal things looked to be swinging in favour of the Waterfoot men.
Seanie McIntosh added a point to move the Oisin’s 1-8 to 0-8 ahead and the Oisin’s side looked to be heading to the break in the lead but ‘Loaf’ McNeill replied from another pointed free before drilling a free to the Glenariffe net.
Alex O’Boyle, who top scored for Oisin’s sends over a point
Before their opponents had time to recover Conor McHugh fired home a second goal for the Emmet’s with Alex O’Boyle replying with the final point of the half in injury time to leave Cushendun 2-10 to 1-9 ahead at the break with all still to play for in the second half.
Oisins needed a good start to the second half but in the event it was the men in green and black who struck a decisive opening score with David Kilgore getting their third goal with only a minute of the new half gone.
Alex O’Boyle and Calum Kilgore exchanged a couple of points each by the 40th minute as the game continued to flow at a blistering pace and when Seanie McIntosh raced through for a great individual goal for Oisin’s in the 44th minute it was back in the melting pot.
Alex O’Boyle added a point as the Glenariffe comeback gathered pace, much to the delight of their support but a Conlaoth McNeill goal in the 49th minute swung the momentum back in favour of Cushendun.
Loaf found space at the far post and drilled his shot low to the Glenariffe net and when he completed his hat-trick with a carbon copy of his previous goal with 8 minutes of normal time remaining it was as good as over.
Cushendun’s centre half, Donal O’Hara comes out to clear his lines
Alex O’Boyle, who carried the Oisin’s greatest scoring threat, replied with two pointed frees and another from play by the 55th minute but these were merely consolation scores at this stage of the game and it was Emmet’s who finished on the front foot.
Calum Kilgore, and Pearse Bannon replied with points with Loaf McNeill opting to take a point from a penalty deep in injury time before a game that had been simmering boiled over in injury time with the Oisin’s receiving three Red cards and a Cushendun player joining them on a second yellow.
The Emmet’s now meet Cloney Gaels in the final in two weeks-time and it promises to be a real cracker with the Ahoghill side hitting 4-16 in their semi-final win over St. Gall’s on Friday night and the Cloney men have a win over the Emmet’s in the opening game of the group qualifiers.
Cushendun: 1 Gareth Magee, 2 Sean Hamilton, 3 Aidan Corbett, 4 Jack McKay, 5 Tom Scally, 6 Donal O’Hara, 7 Oisin McMahon, 8 Matthew McCartin, 9 Conor McHugh,10 Conlaoth McNeill, 11 Harry Kilgore, 12 Calum Kilgore, 13 Conror Bannon, 14 David Kilgore, 15 John V Morgan
Oisin’s: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Michael Haughey, 3 Niall Murray, 4 Daniel Kearney, 5 Donal Kearney, 6 David Kearney, 7 Conor Robert Patterson, 8 Alex O’Boyle, 9 Odhran Gillan, 10 Michael Gettens, 11 Caolan O’Connor, 12 Michael O’Boyle, 13 Oliver Kearney, 14 Seamus McDonnell, 15 Seanie McIntosh, 16 Seanan McToal, 17 Paul McDonnell, 18 Aaron Cosgrove, 19 Shea McDonnell, 20 Shane O’Connor, 21 Randal McDonnell, 22 Ciaran Farrell, 23 Ciaran Black, 24 Ben O’Boyle, 25 Daniel McAuley
Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)
Glenariffe’s Caolan O’Connor in action during his team’s IHC semi-final against Cushendun in Cushendall. pic Michael MorganCushendun centre back Donal O’hara in action during his team’s win over Oisins Glenariffe in the semi-final of the Intermediate Hurling Championship in Cushendall. Pic by Sean Paul McKillop
A personal tally of 0-8 from Conor McKeever paved the way for an excellent victory for St. Mary’s Rasharkin over a fancied St. Brigid’s Cloughmills and this keenly contested Casement SC JHC semi-final in Dreen on Saturday.
The big number 15 was in great form, both from play and from placed balls but he was only one of an excellent all round home side who’s greater desire and fighting spirit got them through to a final where they will face Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm.
It was the other Conor, Conor McFerran who got Rasharkin off to the perfect start as he pointed after 15 seconds to serve notice that his side were up for the task in hand and when Conor McKeever followed with another in the opening minute the home side were on their way.
Cloughmills looked rattled by the intensity of the St. Mary’s opening as McKeever sent a long range free between the uprights and followed with another from similar distance to move Naomh Muire 0-4 to 0-0 ahead with only 8 minutes gone.
Team captain, Shane Hasson sets up another Rasharkin attack
St. Brigid’s went into this one as favourites and the former division 2 side showed glimpses of just why they were tipped as favourites as they came back with points from Liam Kearns, and long range frees from Aaron Smylie and Ruairi Laverty to close the gap to the minimum by the 11th minute and suddenly we had a real championship clash on our hands.
Liam Tunney makes an outstanding save to deny Cloughmills corner forward Corey Blair.
The visitors might have gone ahead two minutes later but Liam Tunney in the Rasharkin goals brought off an excellent save to deny Corey Blair before Conor McKeever replied from a free at the other end to extend his side’s lead.
Things were beginning to liven up with a few meaty challenges going in from both sides as Liam Kearns from a free and Ruairi Laverty with an excellent point from distance for the Cloughmills side kept the travelling support on their feet and in fine voice.
Just when it looked like the visitors were getting on top it was that man McKeever who came back for the Dreen side as he pointed a 20th minute free and added another from play to edge his side two in front but an excellent point from corner-back, Martin Dobbin in reply left it finely balanced at the break.
Rasharkin started the second half as they did the first and Shane Hasson moved them two in front with a point after 10 seconds but the Biddies came back strongly with two from the excellent Liam Kearns to tie it at 0-8 apiece by the 38th minute.
Corner-back, Martin Dobbin who’s point just before half time kept Cloughmills in touch
McKeever for Rasharkin from another free and Smylie with a massive point from his own half had the side’s level once more at the end of the third quarter and it still looked anybody’s game at this stage but this would prove to be Cloughmills final score as the St. Mary’s intensity started to tell.
Shane Hasson struck an inspirational point to give Rasharkin back a lead they would not again lose and Conor McKeever brought his personal tally to 0-8 from a ‘65’ in the 58th minute before substitute Conor McKillop followed with the last point of the game to see the home side into the final.
St. Mary’s went into this one as underdogs but they showed the battling qualities that they will need again in abundance when they face Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm in a final where they will again start as outsiders.
That is unlikely to bother them and indeed could provide that bit of motivation they need and while Shane O’Neill’s have been the form team in both league and championship this year they will face a Rasharkin side who will relish the challenge.
Conor McKillop jumps for joy at the final whistle as Rasharkin book their place in the Junior final with a win over Cloughmills
Shane O’Neill’s recorded their fourth win of the season over Glen Rovers, Armoy at Feystown on Saturday to advance to the final of the Casement SC JHC but despite the margin of victory they were forced to fight all the way in a sometimes bruising battle.
The Glenarm men had already recorded home and away wins in the league against Saturday’s opponents and added a win over the same side in group 2 of the qualifiers and so went into this one as firm favourites but the men from the Armoy Glen were determined to cause an upset on this occasion.
In what turned out to be a battle of attrition they matched the Glenarm side for most of the opening half and took the lead after six minutes when a Turlough McBride free from deep in his own half was finished to the net by Owen Kinney.
Darren Hamill had given the home side the lead with a point in the second minute and the Feystown side responded to Kinney’s goal with one of their own, a minute later as Kevin O’Boyle directed a low shot past Conor Devlin.
Darren Hamill who was in great scoring form as Shane O’Neill’s defeated Armoy in the Casement SC JHC semi-final in Feystown on Saturday
The visitors were giving it everything at this stage and Tommy Burns and Owen Kinney restored their lead by the 9th minute as they fired over but just as it looked like they were gaining the initiative, Niall McGarel replied with an excellent goal for Glenarm to restore his side’s advantage.
It was end to end stuff as PJ McBride replied for the visitors with two quick fire points and a long range free from Turlough McBride had it all square after 18 minutes but significantly a number of wind assisted frees from the long striking McBride had sailed just wide of the uprights at this stage.
Shane O’Neill’s slowly wrestled control back from the opposition in the closing stages of the half as Darren Hamill started to impose himself and the former Antrim county man converted two frees and another from play and Dylan McLaughlin managed to get his name on the score card to leave the home side 2-6 to 1-5 ahead at the break.
With the wind now at their backs Shane O’Neill’s would have been expected to push on in the second half and when Niall McGarel pointed in the 2nd minute things appeared to be going to plan.
Niall McGarel who caused the visitors defence plenty of problems and scored 2 goals for the home side
The visitors introduced a couple of subs at this stage as play became scrappy and disjointed with the man in the middle kept busy to keep a lid on matters before dismissing Owen Kinney in the 13th minute following an off the ball incident with an umpire calling his attention to the matter.
It was a further two minutes before Darren Hamill raised the second white flag of the half from a long range free before Trevor Linton finally got Glen Rovers off the mark from a free in the 17th minute.
The Glenarm response was immediate and decisive as youngster, Niall McGarel raced clear to fire to the net at the other end. PJ McBride replied with a point but further points from Darren Hamill and McGarel and a goal from Dylan McLaughlin put Glenarm in a strong position with 8 minutes remaining.
The visitors decided to go route one at this stage as they pushed ‘Rocky’ Dillon forward and he brought a good save from Michael Abram in the Glenarm goals but the Shane O’Neill’s net minder could do nothing to stop Eamon McCaughan from kicking the sliotar to the net from close range after making another save from the same player.
A couple more points from Darren Hamill in reply to one from PJ McBride kept the score board ticking but the route one approach from Armoy was now posing a few problems and Trevor Linton finished from close range after another scramble for his side’s third goal with four minutes of normal time remaining.
Trevor Linton who helped lead the Armoy comeback
It was as close as the visitors would get however and despite five minutes of added time Shane O’Neill’s reasserted their control with Hamill adding three further points and Sean O’Boyle bringing a great save from Conor Devlin at the expense of another before Dylan McLaughlin concluded the scoring.
Shane O’Neill’s will now meet Rasharklin in the final in two weeks-time, the St. Mary’s win over Cloughmills raising a few surprised eyebrows in the hills over Glenarm but nobody in Feystown was dismissing the enormity of the task they will face in what should be a tight final.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 25 Conal Ward, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Liam Og McKaughin, 5 Padraig McDermott, 6 Declan McDermott, 8 Daniel Black, 9 Kieran O’Boyle, 10 Sean O’Boyle, 11 Darren Hamill, 12 Dylan McLaughlin, 13 Kevin O’Boyle, 14 Ciaran Magill, 15 Nial McGarel 18 Ben O’Boyle Subs: Sean O’Hare, Aidan O’Neill, Kieran O’Boyle, Liam Mulvenna
