Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Scintillating Shamrocks seal place In semi’s

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter-Final

Loughgiel 3-27 Rossa 0-20

Sunday 18 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

For 40 minutes at Dunsilly, this was a titanic tussle of free flowing hurling littered with touches of brilliance.  Loughgiel and Rossa were playing out a mini-classic with the type of hurling that left even the neutrals in attendance at Dunsilly purring.  In the end, Loughgiel’s brilliance in the final quarter gave the Shamrocks an emphatic victory to book their place in the semi-final against Cushendall.

The contest was end to end for long periods.  Loughgiel with their young attack firing.  Paul Boyle defying physics and gravity while the experience of Eddie McCloskey was pulling the strings.  The lightning speed may not be there these days but Eddie remains a step ahead between his ears.  The perfect foil for the likes of James McNaughton, Shan McGrath and Dan McCloskey to play off.

But at the other end of the pitch, Aodhan O’Brien was performing minor miracles for a Rossa team who had lost Adrian Kenneally before throw in.  A blow for the Jeremiah’s given they were without the talents of Michael Armstrong (injured) and Stephen Beatty (suspension).  Scoring points from ridiculous angles and frees from any range, O’Brien was outstanding.  For 30 minutes he was helped by the mercurial talents of James Connolly until he too had to come off injured, just before half time.  Seaghan Shannon, Dara Rocks, Eoin Traynor and Stephen Shannon shinning for long periods but effectively the game left them midway through the second half.  O’Brien looked like his race was run, moving to the edge of the square while Loughgiel fired over four points in as many minutes.  Taking a four point lead to seven in the space of as many minutes and the Shamrock’s never looked behind them.  Two Paul Boyle majors in the space of five minutes added gloss to the score line but Loughgiel’s overall play was certainly eye catching.  Slick passing, movement off the shoulder and speed of thought was mesmerising.  

On a day where Rossa needed everything to fall their way to possibly make the last four, Loughgiel were in simply irresistible form and looked to have found a winning combination in attack to compliment a strong defence.

The opening quarter was helter-skelter hurling with 15 points scored, eight of those to the men in red and white.  It was almost exhibitional hurling but neither side could lay a glove on the other such was the speed of thought and play shown by both sides.

But for all the brilliance on show, Loughgiel’s first goal came from an error in the Rossa defence.  Dan McCloskey’s effort for point but it was blocked and Rossa ‘keeper Philip Crean looked to stop the sliotar from going out for a ’65.  Shan McGrath picked his pocket however and fired to the back of the net in the 17thminute.  It didn’t stop Rossa’s and Aodhan O’Brien however.  In a first half where he would score seven points, Loughgiel couldn’t stop him and they did try.  

Stephen Shannon’s mammoth score in the 22nd minute left the minimum between the sides but Loughgiel rallied.  Points from Eddie McCloskey (two) and three from McNaughton (one free) were answered by O’Brien and Thomas Morgan to leave the Shamrocks 1-14 to 0-13 ahead at the half time whistle.

The second half didn’t start with the same feverish entitlement than the first but a brace of scores from O’Brien (free) and Eoin Traynor preceded points from Eddie McCloskey and Stephen Shannon.

O’Brien split the uprights in the 36th minute to leave the minimum between the sides but that was as close as the Shaws Road men got to the Shamrocks.  Incredibly, they would only register another two points in the 24 minutes plus injury that remained while Loughgiel found a bewildering level of brilliance Rossa just couldn’t live with.

Paul Boyle at his blistering best while McNaughton danced and weaved his magic from open play and frees. With 15 minutes of the quarter-final remaining, five points separated the sides.  Rossa brought Adrian Kenneally on to the full forward line in the hopes of some magic but they couldn’t curtail the Loughgiel juggernaut.

The Shamrock’s second goal came in the 52nd minute with six between the sides.  McNaughton providing the assist for Boyle who soloed through on goal and sent the sliotar to the back of the net.

Eddie McCloskey’s sixth point of the match followed before Loughgiel’s third major followed in the 57thminute.  McNaughton standing over a free just inside his own half and well within his range but played the sliotar into the path of substitute Maol Connolly.  Finding Boyle in space, Connolly passed and Boyle’s finish was emphatic.  A simple yet brilliant move that underlined the Loughgiel performance.

Loughgiel continued to add to the score board, their foot to the throat of Rossa’s championship and they played with relentless brilliance.  Emphatic, mesmeric, spell binding hurling from the men in red who set up a mouth watering semi final with Cushendall in two weeks time.

TEAMS

Loughgiel: Chrissy O’Connell; Tiernan Coyle, Rory McCloskey, Ronan McCloskey; Enda Og McGarry, Declan McCloskey, Odhran McFadden; Dan McCloskey, James McNaughton; Paul Boyle, Eddie McCloskey, Donal McKinley; Rian McMullan, Shay Casey, Shan McGrath

Subs: Ruairi McCormick for Ronan McCloskey (12); Caolan Blair for Rory McCloskey (18); Declan Gillan for O McFadden (40); Maol Connolly for R McMullan (44)

Scorers: P Boyle 2-4; J McNaughton 0-9 (4fs 1 ’65); E McCloskey 0-6; S McGrath 1-3; D McCloskey 0-2; E Og McGarry 0-2; R McCormick 0-1

Rossa: Philip Crean; Conor Boyle, Chris McGuinness, Ciaran Orchin; Stephen Shannon, Gerard Walsh, Eoin Traynor; Seaghan Shannon, Aidan Orchin; Dara Rocks, James Connolly, Aodhan O’Brien; Thomas Morgan, Cormac McGettigan, Dominic McEnhill

Subs: Diarmuid Rogan for J Connolly (30); Adrian Kenneally for D Rogan (44); Owen May for A Orchin (56)

Scorers: A O’Brien 0-11 (3fs 2’65s); T Morgan 0-3; Stephen Shannon 0-1; E Traynor 0-1; Seaghan Shannon 0-1; D Rocks 0-1; J Connolly 0-1; G Walsh 0-1

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

by thesaffrongael

Cloney Gaels cruise into semi-final

Andersonstown SC IHC Group 2

St. Paul’s 1-14 Cloney Gaels 4-22

Cloney Gael’s overcame the challenge of St. Paul’s in what was essentially a ‘dead rubber’ to finish top of Group 2 of the Andersonstown SC IHC and secure their place in the semi-final in two weeks-time against St. Gall’s.

Indeed that top spot had been already secured after their last game away to Gort na Mona on the 2nd September and Cloney Gaels would have been forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal for this one but the management team of Hugh Dobbin and Shea O’Hagan were determined to keep the momentum going.

Places are still up for grabs going into the semi-final and one man who did his chances of getting on the team sheet against St. Gall’s is youngster, Colla McDonnell who finished this game with a hat-trick as the Cloney attack ran riot.

James O’Connell once again gave a fine exhibition of free taking, converting five, (2 ‘65’) and one from play while Donal Graham struck some excellent scores from play and recorded 0-6 on the day.

Ahoghill now meet St. Gall’s in two weeks-time while Emmet’s Cushendun and Oisin Glenariffe meet in the other semi-final and both games look hard to call.

Ahoghill scorers: Colla McDonnell 3-1, Donal Graham 0-6, James O’Connell 0-6, Eoin Neeson 1-2, Gerard Graham 0-3, Thomas McGlone, Fionnbar O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Paddy Graham (01 each)

Colla McDonnell who scored 3-1 in his sides win over St. Pauls
James O’Connell who scored 0-6
Donal Graham contributed 0-6 of his side’s 4-22 total
by thesaffrongael

Johnnies edge Town to reach last four

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Quarter-Final

St John’s 1-18 Ballycastle 1-17

Sunday September 18

St John’s edged Ballycastle in the opening quarter-final on Sunday afternoon with the minimum between the sides at the end of a frenetic second half.  Oisin McManus with what turned out to be the winning score in the second minute of injury time, coming from a ’65 and taking his tally to 1-7 for the game.  The Town had chances in a final ten minutes that neither side really took control off.  When Eoin McAlonan pointed from distance he left the minimum between the sides with ten minutes remaining.  They never pushed on however, leaving the door open for the Johnnies who misfired in the closing stages but did enough to earn the win.

The two goals were major scores in this game and came in either half when one side looked to be in control.  Ballcastle led by three when Oisin McManus netted in the closing stages of the first half while the Johnnies stretched ahead by four when Cathal Conor found the back of Simon Doherty’s goal.  Smyth was a shinning light for Ballycastle with his forward play immaculate and always giving the Town an option.

The opening exchanges were dominated by Ballycastle who started much brighter than the Corrigan Park men.  They opened the scoring with a brace of frees from Tiernan Smyth, either side of Oisin McManus opening score.

The opening goal chance fell to Conor Hand in the 10th minute after Michael Bradley and Shea Shannon combined to find him in space but Ryan McGarry was well placed to save his effort.

Points from Aaron Bradley and McManus (’65) followed but Ballycastle looked more hungry than St John’s and pressurised them at every opportunity.  Scores from Smyth (three frees), Diarmuid McShane and Seamus McAuley were answered by a solitary score from Aaron Bradley for St John’s to give The Town a three point lead with eight minutes to go in the first half.

A brace of scores from Shea Shannon and Michael Dudley were answered by Ronan McGarry and Diarmuid McShane.  McShane’s score the result of excellent inter-play from Ballycastle to set him free and restore the Town’s three point lead in the last minute of the first half.

St John’s struck with the next play to stave the Ballycastle challenge.  Ciaran Johnston gathering the sliotar in a world of space in the heart of the Ballycastle defence.  Dragging the defenders his way, he found McManus in space and he finished emphatically.  McAuley and Ronan McGarry pointed in response to Dudley and McManus (free) to leave the scores tied at 0-11 to 1-8 at half time.

St John’s started the second half a different team and had Ballycastle on the back foot.  Shea Shannon took centre stage, firing three points in an eight minute period that saw the Johnnies take control while McManus scored his first from play in the same time to give their side a four point lead.

Ballycastle needed a response and found it through Cathal Conor.  Winning the sliotar in a contest he looked second favourite for, Conor charges at goal and fired to the back of the net in the 39th minute.  A score Ballycastle badly needed and revived their hopes of making the semi-final.

The St John’s response was quality.  Substitute Oisin Donnelly and Aaron Bradley brought them three ahead.  Smyth answered for Ballycastle with a free but they should have had another major midway through the half.  Joe McToal overcooked his pass to Smyth who was in acres of space and the goal at his mercy.

A brace of McManus frees were answered by scores from Conor Boyd and McToal and when Eoin McAlonan pointed in the 50th minute, a grandstand finish was set up for the final ten minutes.

It never really materialised.  St John’s dominated without ever taking their chances. A run of six wides in the closing ten minutes always kept Ballycastle in touch while Ryan McGarry’s save to deny McManus from point blank range was right out of the top drawer.

A McManus free was answered by a Joe McToal point as the game entered injury time.  McManus took his tally to 1-7 for the hour with a ’65 but they had further chances to stretch their lead that came and went.  Ballycastle rolled the dice deep in injury time with Seamus McAuley’s free dropping on the edge of the square, all the Town could muster was a free from Diarmuid McShane as referee Kevin Parke called time before the sliotar could be pucked out.

St John’s progress to the semi-final and a repeat of their clash with Dunloy at the same stage last year in two weeks-time.

TEAMS

St John’s: Simon Doherty; Conal Morgan, Ryan McNulty, Odhran Carleton; Peter McCallin, Padraig Nugent, Michael Bradley; Andy McGowan, Shea Shannon; Michail Dudley, Conor Hand, Ciaran Johnston; Rory Galbraith, Aaron Bradley, Oisin McManus

Subs: Oisin Donnelly sub C Hand (HT); Domhnall Nugent for R Galbraith (52); Ciaran McKenna for P McCallin (60)

Scorers: O McManus 1-7 (4fs 1 ’65); S Shannon 0-4; A Bradley 0-3; M Dudley 0-2; R Galbraith 0-1; O Donnelly 0-1

Ballycastle: Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Matthew Donnelly, Oisin McAuley; Eoin McAlonan, Neal McAuley, Ronan Laverty; Cian Waldron, Ronan McGarry; Seamus McAuley, Conor Boyd, Joe McToal; Tiernan Smyth, Michael Dallat, Diarmuid McShane

Subs: TT Butler for M Dallat (HT); Dermot Donnelly for R Laverty (36); Cathal Connor for C Waldron (47)

Scorers: T Smyth 1-6 (6fs); D McShane 0-3; J McToal 0-2; S McAuley 0-2; R McGarry 0-2; E McAlonan 0-1; C Boyd 0-1

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Eanna)

by thesaffrongael

Cushendun win well to secure semi-final place

ANDERSONSTOWN SOCIAL CLUB IHC

Cushendun Emmet’s 6-21 Gort na Móna 1-7

Cushendun Emmet’s breezed through to the semi-final of the Intermediate Hurling Championship when they beat Gort na Móna in their final group game on Saturday in Cushendun.

The team controlled the game from start to finish and it was clear from an early stage that they were going to go through. Early points from Donal O’Hara, Conor McHugh and Pearse Bannon were followed by two quick goals from the Kilgore brothers Harry and David. Conlaoth McNeill added a point from a 65 on eight minutes and Harry Kilgore sent one over from play before Dessie McClean got the Gorts on the board in the 13th minute.

Cushendun’s Harry Kilgore in action during his team’s IHC win over Gortnamona in Cushendun. Pic by Micky Morgan

Harry Kilgore got his second goal a minute later, David Kilgore and Tom Scally added points from play and ‘Loaf’ McNeill got another from a 65 before a depleted f Gorts got their second from play through Patrick McCaffrey. Points from Harry Kilgore and Loaf from a penalty were answered by twopointed frees from the evergreen Dessie McClean, but another David Kilgore goal just before the interval put Cushendun 4-10 to 0-4 clear by half time.

David Kilgore completed his hat-trick four minutes into the second half and though Cushendun emptied their bench to give as many players as possible a run out, the scores kept coming, with one of those subs, Conor O’Hara, getting the sixth goal four minutes from the end.

This win sets up an intriguing semi-final with Glenariffe in two weeks’ time. There have been a lot of links between the clubs over  the years, with a good few of the Emmet’s team having played their minor hurling with the Oisins in recent years and this promises to be cracking contest.

CUSHENDUN

Gareth McGhee, Sean Hamilton, Aidan Corbett, Jack McKay, Archie McSparran, Donal O’Hara, Tom Scally, Oisin McMahon, Calum Kilgore, Conor McHugh, Harry Kilgore, Conlaoth McNeill, Conor Bannon, David Kilgore, Pearse Bannon.

Subs – Michael McHugh, Conor O’Hara, Gavan McCormick, Aidan McSparran, Leo Morgan

GORTNAMONA

Mark Rea, Conor Healy, Gavin McKenna, Noah McGivern, Patrick Cournane, Padraig McHugh, David Dixon, James Connolly, Declan Hughes, Patrick McCaffrey, Tiernan Morton, Tiernan O’Cadhlaigh, Manus MacMaolain, Joseph Caddell, Dessy McClean.

Referee – Ray Matthews.

by thesaffrongael

Armoy cling on to clinch semi-final meeting with Glenarm

Casement Social Club Junior Hurling Championship Quarter Final  

Saturday 17th September

Report by Niall Kelly 

Michael Davitts  2-13         Glen Rovers Armoy 3-12

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

Armoy sealed their Junior Semi Final berth after weathering a few nervy last moments in Davitt Park. The Glenshesk men went into proceedings as favourites and after having clinically despatched two majors to Thomas Maguire’s net after five minutes of the second half and with a nine point margin now in their favour, they looked to have fulfilled the role to a tee. Indeed, the men in blue and white were in cruise control and it seemingly appeared they would coast their way to victory. However, a spirited and resilient Davitt’s side, spearheaded by Don Whelan and his magic wand, refused to follow the script and mounted a comeback effort which frayed the nerves of the visiting management and faithful alike during the closing exchanges. Davitt’s number ten can feel somewhat aggrieved not to have finished on the winning team as he notched a dazzling individual tally of 1-10 and his ability from the placed ball kept the hosts within distance of their North Antrim counterparts.

It was the home side who started brightest and established a 0-04 0-02 lead by the fifteenth minute. Marcus Toner and Don Whelan (3) were on target for Davitts with the ever-dangerous Tommy Burns and Colin Lordan raising the white flag of the umpires for Armoy. The visitors were growing in confidence as the half progressed and Turlough McBride fired over two consecutive frees to level proceedings a few minutes later.

Momentum continued to sway to and fro as both sides duelled valiantly to gain the ascendency but neither could establish any true dominance on the game. Davitts were heavily reliant on the genius of Whelan from placed balls. More often than not though, he delivered, and on the twentieth minute he had re-established the hosts’ lead after guiding the sliotar over the bar with devastating accuracy on three occasions in quick succession.

Armoy were in need of a score and talisman Tommy Burns duly obliged as his long-range, swerving effort crept just inside the post perfectly to invigorate his side. Turlough McBride had his bearings correct once again before Eamonn McCaughan stamped his authority on proceedings as he latched onto a Rocky Dillon pass before curling a sumptuous effort between the sticks to level matters.

Whelan again would respond for the hosts but Armoy were now dovetailing nicely in attack and dealt their hosts a hammer blow just before the interval. Ciaran McKenna’s sideline cut bounced invitingly for the onrushing Tommy Burns who kept his composure before rifling low and hard into the despairing Thomas Maguire’s net. PJ McBride popped up with another point before Whelan just had enough time to reply to leave the scores at half time 0-09 to 1-08 in favour of the men from the Glens.

The opening five minutes of the second half proved to be decisive in the fate of this game as Armoy ran rampant. PJ McBride continued where he left off before the half as he competently despatched from close range before Eamonn McCaughan grabbed his side’s second major as he unleashed a blistering effort into the top left of the Davitts goal. To further add salt in the wounds, ‘Rocky’ Dillon hammered home a penalty two minutes later and Davitts were left dumbfounded.

The hosts though rallied superbly and refused to wilt despite the now ominous gap between the sides. Whelan grabbed another from range before Marcus Toner presented his side with a lifeline after plundering his way through the heart of the Armoy rear-guard and blasting home to the net to galvanise his men. Davitts cut further into the lead as Cormac Maguire and Whelan pointed and suddenly the margin was down to three points with fifteen to go. 

Credit must go to the visitors though who remained composed, PJ McBride replied to a Toner effort and grabbed two inspirational scores to bolster his side before Burns pointed from range and Armoy seemed to have a handle on things again. They were keeping the sliotar well and trying to take the sting out of the game.

Matters then turned fiery and there was a tempestuous atmosphere for the remainder of the game which resulted in Davitt’s netminder receiving his marching orders after a robust challenge on Colin Lordan. A few other altercations were bubbling over too which resulted in a sizable portion of added time. As the clock then ticked through into injury time, Don Whelan sparked hope of completing a revival when he rifled spectacularly to the net from a long range free to trigger a raucous roar from the home spectators. But it was not be as Armoy stood resolute under the high balls that soared in as the game reached its conclusion.

Davitts will take great heart in their performance. They were dogged and determined throughout the game but will no doubt surely lament that opening five minute period of the second half. Despite the scare, Armoy will be fully focused now on their intriguing encounter with Glenarm in the semis. Glenarm have been tipped by many as the favourites to lift the Junior crown but with talented options within their arsenal, Armoy will certainly fancy their chances.

Teams:

Davitts: T Maguire; O Gorman, M Rowntree, C Cunningham; C Heaney, C Gallagher, A McLaughlin; D Mooney, P Óg Carleton; D Whelan (1-10,) S McGivern, M Toner (1-02;) C Maguire (0-01,) A Rowntree, J McNally

Armoy:

C Devlin; C Coyles, S Devlin, A Devlin; L Devlin, E O’Hara, T McBride (0-03;) J McFetridge, J Dillon (1-00;) C McKenna, T Burns (1-03,) E O’Boyle; E McCaughan (1-01,) C Lordan (0-01,) PJ McBride (0-04)

Referee: Danny O’Neill (Gort na Mona)