Loughgiel turned in an impressive display to beat Cushendall on Wednesday evening in the Minor Hurling League at Pairc Mhuire, winning in the end by nineteen points.
There was little to choose between the teams in the opening quarter and Joseph McLaughlin and Fintan McKillop gave Cushendall the lead, Ronan Fitzgerald and Roan McGarry came back with two for the Shamrocks. Joseph McNaughton briefly restored the home team’s lead but the pattern continued and by the end of the opening quarter they were level on six points apiece.
At his stage Loughgiel began to gain the upper hand and four points in a row, two from Jack McCloskey and one each from Liam Glackin and Roan McGarry helped them open a bit of daylight between the sides and by half time they were 0-14 to 0-8 to the good.
The gap widened as they hit the first five scores of the new half, three points from Jack McCloskey and a goal and a point from Darragh Patterson. Cushendall had a brief spell where they hit three unanswered points through Joseph McLaughlin (2) and Fintan McKillop, but the failed to score in the final quarter, while Loughgiel hit 1-5, the goal from Jack McCloskey to win convincingly.
All Saints hurlers were presented with the Division 4 League trophy at the Cricky on Tuesday night but their hosts Ardoyne spoiled the party by coming from eight points down ten minutes into the second half to beat the Ballymena men by two in the end. Apparently the All Saints management had been made aware earlier in the day that the title was already secured, but decided not to tell the team until after the game. The match itself was a good contest, and although All Saints were short six regulars, they competed well against an Ardoyne side who were playing their last game of the season. After falling behind to two Ardoyne points from Sean Searle, wearing 14 but playing more around the middle of the field, but Damian Gillan had them level by the sixth minutue. Gillan and Cassley put them three clear by the midway stage of the first half but Ardoyne hit back with a goal to retake the lead.
Match referee Chris Brown presents a trophy to All Saints captain Damian Gillan.
A strong last ten minutes by the visitors to the opening half saw them pull clear with four points in a row, three of them from Damian Gillan and one from Cassley, and when Gillan got in for a goal on 30 minutes they were six clear. It could have been nine had Ardoyne goalkeeper JP Agnew not made a brilliant save from Liam Cassley deep in injury time, and when Oisin McVicker came back with a point for the home side there was just five in it at the break.
When Damian Gillan got his team’s second goal early in the second half the signs were good for the Ballymena men, but they only scored four more points for the remainder of the game as Ollie Bellew’s side took over. A goal from long distance got the north Belfast men going, and after adding two more points Sean Searle drew them level when he blasted a penalty to the All Saints net.
Liam Cassley celebrates after scoring All Saints opening goal
Gillan briefly got All Saints back ahead, but Ardoyne finished strong hitting three in a row from Sean Searle frees, and though Conor O’Rawe pulled one back in injury time it was a case of too little too late.
The reaction after the game was a little strange as the Ballymena players showed their disappointment, but when the management broke the news that they were already champions the mood was greatly lifted and the celebrations soon began.
Match referee Chris Brown from St Paul’s, who did a very good job during the game, had the honour of presenting a trophy to the All Saints captain Damian Gillan and it was a nice touch to see the Ardoyne team sportingly applaud the presentation.
Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship
Cushendun 3-22 St Paul’s 1-13
Cushendun bounced back from their midweek defeat at Ahoghill to beat St Paul’s in Sunday’s Senior Hurling Championship game at CushLig an Airgid in the Intermediate Hurling Championship.
After falling behind to a free by Conall Duffy for St Paul’s the home team levelled through Conor McHugh and it was score for score during the next ten minutes with Duffy and Murray on target for St Paul’s while Harry Kilgore, Loaf McNeill and John V Morgan hit the target for the Emmet’s.
Points from McNeill and Harry Kilgore put the home team a point ahead but Sean Munce brought St Paul’s level on fourteen minutes, but the next ten minutes saw the Emmet’s get on top. Loaf McNeill edged them back ahead on sixteen minutes before grabbing the first goal of the game, when he drove a 20 metre free all the way to the net. Calum and David Kilgore added points to put the gap out to six, and though Conall Duffy pulled one back for the visitors, David Kilgore popped over a point before finishing a flowing move with his team’s second goal one minute from half time. Declan Chapman came back with two quick points for St Paul’s to keep his team in touch, but there was still seven points between the sides by the time Ciaran McCloskey blew the half time whistle.
Kevin Murray cut the gap back to six with a pointed free from distance at the start of the second half, but Cushendun came back with five unanswered points, three of them from Conlaoth McNeill, and one each from Pearse Bannon and David Kilgore to stretch the advantage to eleven. Anthony Gallagher and Seán Mac Corraidh pulled two back for the Shaw’s Road men but the rest of the game was dominated by the Emmet’s. Pearse Bannon and David Kilgore popped over points, and though Murray replied with one from a 65, four in a row from Matthew McCartin, Conlaoth McNeill, Conor McHugh, Conrad McDonnell and Pearse Bannon put the game beyond St Paul’s reach
Full forward Seán Mac Corraidh got his customary goal for the visitors two minutes from time with a great finish, but Pearse Bannon had the final say for the home team to seal a 3-22 to 1-13 win.
CUSHENDUN
Gareth McGhee, Sean Hamilton, Aidan Corbett, Jack McKay, Tom Scally, Donal O’Hara, Archie McSparran, Oisin McMahon, Matthew McCartin, Conor McHugh, Harry Kilgore, David Kilgore, Calum Kilgore, Conlaoth McNeill, John V Morgan.
ST PAUL’S
Kevin Murray, Caoimhin Killyleagh, Fiontan Gallagher, Conor Gallagher, Tiernan Auld, Frankie Sewell, Marcas Munce, Conall Finnegan, Sean Lawell, Caolan Duibhfinn, Anthony Gallagher, Declan Chapman, Conall Duffy, Seán Mac Corraidh, Sean Munce.
Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1
St Galls 2-17-2-13 Creggan Kickhams
Kevin Herron reports from Milltown
St Galls fought back from two-points behind at the break to see off Creggan with a 2-17-2-13 victory at Milltown on Sunday evening.
The visitors dominated for large spells of the opening half with Kevin Rice’s early strike helping them into a 1-08-0-05 lead.
But Anton McCaffrey netted before the break and St Galls quickly got back on terms afterwards and hit the front with substitute Sean McAreavey making an impact from the bench and Mark Napier pulling in some vital scores.
A Morgan Nelson goal helped Creggan eventually restore parity, but they were undone late-on by a Napier goal in injury-time that helped the hosts to victory and a second win in the Group.
Sean Duffin got Creggan off the mark early-on and things got better when Kevin Rice made an angle for himself and shot low past Kurtis McGreevey and to the net.
The visitors extended their lead through a point from Oran McCann before Jackson McGreevy initiated a reply for St Galls.
Duffin floated over his second point of the half and the Staffordstown outfit almost had a second goal when Aidan Maguire picked out Morgan Nelson, the wing-half forward looked to be heading towards the target but opted for a point.
It was largely one-way traffic and Creggan moved 1-05-0-01 ahead after Kevin Rice adjusted his run and steered the ball between the posts.
St Galls were in need of some inspiration and Niall O’Neill produced an excellent effort from range that sailed between the posts.
The sides traded the next four scores equally, Creggan twice re-established their seven-point lead with points from Sean Duffin and Morgan Nelson.
On both occasions the hosts produced points of their own at the other end, Fergus Donnelly picked out Jackson McGreevy to swing over his second point and Mark Napier then produced a stunning score from a difficult angle.
Napier quickly doubled his tally for the evening, but Kevin Rice guided a shot between the sticks to ensure Creggan were in control with a 1-08-0-05 lead.
Although that lead would be halved before the interval, on 26 minutes a fantastic long ball into the forward-line from Jackson McGreevy was seized by Anton McCaffrey- who turned and sent a low shot to the net past Brendan Prenter.
Fergus Donnelly would clip over a point in the aftermath and at the break, only two-points separated the sides, and it was all to play for.
St Galls began the second period on the front-foot with Ryan Irvine converting a free and Jackson McGreevy producing a fine point from range to tie things up at 1-08 apiece.
McGreevy would nudge the Miltown side ahead for the very first time and Mark Napier fizzed a shot over the crossbar to double their advantage.
Their lead was halved when Oran McCann converted a free to get Creggan up and running again.
Napier would bring his tally to four for the evening with a straight-forward placed-ball and substitute Sean McAreavey wasted no time in making an impact from the bench with a point that give his side a 1-12-1-09 lead.
The Galls extended their lead through a further Napier free- though with 12 minutes remaining Creggan salvaged a lifeline.
Morgan Nelson fires home his sides second goal
Declan McCann hoisted a high ball forward, a flick-on fell invitingly to Morgan Nelson and his low shot flew past Kurtis McGreevy to bring the deficit back to the bare minimum.
Substitute McAreavey would double his tally, but at the other end Oran McCann picked out namesake Ruairi to float over a reply and bring it back to a one-point game.
Ruairi McCann then got to the resulting puck-out and laid the ball off to Sean Duffin- who swung over the equaliser to tie the game up a 1-14-2-11.
Points were again traded in the aftermath with Patrick Friel edging St Galls ahead and Oran McCann restoring parity through a close range free.
Friel doubled his tally from out wide and gave the hosts an advantage that they wouldn’t let slip in injury-time.
The crucial score arrived two minutes in after Sean McAreavey chased a lost cause and recycled the ball to Mark Napier to fire to the net and give their side a 2-16-2-12 lead.
Oran McCann converted a free in the aftermath to ensure that his side would at least have the chance of an equaliser if time allowed it, but they wouldn’t get that chance as Sean McAreavey floated over his third point from his introduction to ensure that St Galls made it two-wins from two at the start of their Championship campaign.
St Galls: K McGreevy,L O’Ciarain, J McDaniel, D Wilson, N O’Neill (0-01), R Irvine (0-01), C McCarthy, J Hopkins, F Donnelly (0-01), T O’Ciarain, R Wilson, J McGreevy (0-04), P Friel (0-02), A McCaffery (1-00), M Napier (1-05, 0-02f).
Subs: S McAreavy (0-03) for F Donnelly (43), G McGreevy for R Wilson (43), C McCaffery for R Irvine (57), C Sheehan for A McCaffery (59).
Creggan Kickhams: B Prenter, A Maguire, A McKeown, J McAteer, D McCann, L McCann, T McLarnon, K McCann, R McCann (0-01), M Nelson (1-02), O McCann (0-04, 0-03f), S Duffin (0-04), D Mulholland, K Rice (1-02), D Carey.
Tir na nOg made it 2 wins from 2 starts in the Andersonstown SC IHC Group 2 when they overcame the challenge of a spirited Gort na Mona in a high scoring goal fest at Whitehill today. The Randalstown side led 2-12 to 2-8 at half time with their goals coming from Colm Duffin and Darragh Fagan while Dessie McClean was in superb form for the visitors, getting both Gort na Mona goals before going on to add two more in the second half.
It was McClean who opened the scoring for the visitors with a point in the first minute but Tir na nOg replied with two from Sean Duffin to go ahead with 7 minutes gone. Neil Henry and Patrick Cournane edged the visitors in front once more before Sean Duffin and Eamon Og McAllister replied for the Whitehill side to restore their lead by the11th minute.
It was inspiring end to end hurling with the only sweeper on duty cleaning up the Tir na nOg dressing rooms and the excellent Dessie McLean levelled matters again before getting the final touch to a dropping ball and flicking it to the net as the men from the Mona bypass hit the front once more.
Sean Duffin for Tir na nOg and McClean for the ‘Gorts’ exchanged further points as the thrill a minute action continued and Colm Duffin got in for the home sides opening goal to draw matters all square again by the 19th minute as an appreciative crowd roared their approval.
The game continued at a blistering pace as Sean Duffin and Aaron McNeilly edged the Whitehill side two in front but back came the visitors once again with the superb Dessie McClean hitting three on the bounce.
It was Tir na nOg who finished the half stronger however with full-back Christy Sheerin striking a great individual point and Sean Duffin, Darragh Fagan 0-3, Aaron McNeilly and Michael Higgins splitting the post before Fagan fired to the net to leave his side four ahead at the break.
Within two minutes of the second half Gort na Mona were back on level terms as man of the match McClean fielded a high ball before turning and rifling it to the net and the same player followed with a point to serve notice that the Enright Park side were not there just to make up the numbers.
Sean Duffin replied with a point but McClean was proving almost unmarkable as he repeated his earlier individual fete with his and his side’s 4th goal and when Darren Boyd followed with a point the visitors looked to be gaining the upper hand.
The champions of two years ago are made of sterner stuff however and a superb goal from Eamon Og McAllister got them on their way again when he fired an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the net in the 6th minute to swing the game back in his side’s favour.
Patrick McCaffrey replied with a Gort na Mona point but Sean Duffin responded with three on the bounce and Josh Higgins followed with another before Colm Duffin got in for a goal in the 16th minute.
At this stage the home side looked on their way to victory as Ciaran O’Neill got his name on the score sheet with a point but Gort na Mona were still giving it everything with Dessie McClean leading the way and he fired over three points (1 ‘65’) by the 22nd minute and when Patrick McCaffrey followed with a goal it was back in the melting pot.
As before the home side made quick reply as Darragh Fagan, Colm Duffin, a superb long range effort from Caoimhin Duffin and another from Sean Duffin gave them some breathing space but it wasn’t over yet.
Gort na Mona came back with a scrambled goal in the 29th minute but this time there would be no comeback as Duffin and Higgins replied with points before their best player on view, Sean Duffin made matters secure when he punished a mistake by the visitors defence to fire to the net.
The final point of the game fell to Gort na Mona’s Neill Henry but it was merely a consolation score and it is Tir na nOg who top Group 2 with 4 points from two games closely followed by Cloney Gaels and Cushendun and the two quarter-final places looks like being between these three with Tir na nOg’s visit to Ahoghill on the 21st August looking like one not to be missed.
Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Neil Shannon, 3 Christy Sheerin, 4 Connor McCamphill, 5 Ethan Higgins, 6 Caoimhin Duffin, 7 Manus Smith, 8 Ciaran O’Neill, 9 Aaron McNeilly, 10 Eamon Og McAllister, 11 Ciaran Logan, 12 Sean Duffin, 13 Niall Devlin, 14 Colm Duffin, 15 Darragh Fagan,
Gort na Mona: I Niall Healy, 2 Liam Dixon, 3 Gavin McKenna, 4 James Connolly, 5 Neil Henry, 6 Padraig McHugh, 7 Mark Rea, 8 Declan Hughes, 9 Patrick McCaffrey, 10 Patrick Cournane, 11 Darren Boyd, 12 Conor McCann, 13 David Dixon, 14 Gary Doyle, 15 Dessie McClean
