Bathshack SHC Group 2 round 1

St. John’s 0-25 Loughgiel 1-20

St. John’s and Loughgiel served up a great championship opener at Corrigan Park yesterday with the home side threatening to run away with it at one stage but forced to withstand a late Loughgiel comeback at the end.

In a sometimes bruising contest the Corrigan Park side lost two players late in the game, one to a straight Red and the other to a second yellow but did enough over the hour to justify their two point win.

St. John’s made a blistering start to this one and shot into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 8^th minute with Ruairi Galbraith 0-3 (1 ‘65’) and Ciaran Johnston on target while the visitors hit a number of wides with the posts proving an elusive target for the Shamrocks.

Rian McMullan finally got them on their way as he pointed a free in the 9^th minute but it brought another response from the ‘Johnnies’ with Ruairi Galbraith, Andy McGowan, Conor Johnston and Aaron Bradley all on target as a hungrier St. John’s moved 0-8 to 0-1 ahead by the 12^th minute and at this stage they were threatening to run away with it.

Conal Bohill for St. John’s and Donal McKinley for Loughgiel exchanged further points and Peter McCallin added a fine long range score before Ciaran McKay got forward for the visitors third score in the 20^th minute.

It was St. John’s who continued to hold the upper hand as the Loughgiel wide tally increased and Paddy Nugent and Oisin McManus extended the home side’s lead with Rian McMullan replying with two converted frees for the Shamrocks.

The visitors were battling hard to get themselves into contention and enjoyed some success in the period leading up to half time with Declan McCloskey 0-2 and Rian McMullan finding the target and Aaron Bradley and Michael Dudley replying for the Whiterock men to leave them 0-14 to 0-8 ahead at the short whistle.

Loughgiel needed a good start to the second half but in the event it was St. John’s who opened the second as they had the first with the impressive Ruairi Galbraith adding three quick-fire points to extend his side’s lead to 9 with only five minutes of the second half gone

The hits were going in hard and fast as referee Colum Cunning issued a number of yellow cards and Loughgiel came back with points from Eddie McCloskey and Paul Boyle as they tried to get themselves back into contention.

The home side were determined not to let that happen as the excellent Ruairi Galbraith replied from a couple of well struck frees before Loughgiel responded again through a Rian McMullan free and a fine long range point from Declan McCloskey.

Things were certainly livening up as the intensity of the game stepped up another notch with Aaron Bradley on target for St. John’s before the Shamrock’s came storming back with three on the trot through the impressive Rian McMullan to leave just three in it with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Peter McCallin and Michael Dudley edged the home side five in front again and when Dudley and McManus added two more with time almost up St. John’s looked home and hosed but Loughgiel were far from finished.

Rian McMullan, Rory McCloskey from a ‘65’ and Daniel McCloskey were all on target before Oisin McManus eased the pressure with a ‘Johnnies’ point at the other end but the momentum was now very much with the visitors as they battled to salvage something from the game.

They were handed a lifeline when a long range shot from around mid-field ended in the ‘Johnnies’ net as the game moved into added time with the home side reduced to 13 men as things threatened to boil over but the final score of the game fell to Conor Johnston to see his side home by two points.

A typical championship game between two strong and determined sides but in the end it was St. John’s who did enough to claim both points though Loughgiel will rue the number of wides they shot over the hour and it is an area they will want to improve on when they meet Ruairi Og at Dunsilly in round 2 on the 19^th of August.

St. John’s travel to St. Enda’s on the same day and a win there would put them in a strong position for a quarter-final spot.

St. Johns: 3 Ryan McNulty, 4 Odhran Carleton 5 Peter McCallin, 6 Padraig Nugent, 7 Conal Bohill, 8 Michael Bradley, 9 Michal Dudley, 10 Andy McGowan, 11 Domhnall Nugent, 12 Conor Johnston, 13 Ciaran Johnston, 14 Aaran Bradley, 15 Ruairi Galbraith, 16 Declan Cregan 17 Oisin McManus, 22 Ciaran McKenna

Loughgiel: 1 Chris O’Connell, 2 Caolan Blair, 3 Christy McGarry, 4 Ciaran McKay, 5 Daniel McCloskey, 8 Declan McCloskey, 9 Donal McKinley, 10 Eddie McCloskey, 11 Enda Og McGarry, 18 Paul Boyle, 19 Rian McMullan, 20 Ronan mcCloskey, 21 Rory McCloskey, 22 Ruairi McCormick  

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship 

Rossa 3-31-3-18 Carey Faugh’s

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa

2021 runners-up Rossa got their senior championship campaign off to a winning start after a 3-31-3-18 win over Carey Faugh’s at a sun-baked Pairc Rossa on Saturday afternoon. 

Aodhan O’Brien scored ten of his sides first half points and a goal from Dara Rocks saw them hold a 1-20-0-07 half-time lead. 

Thomas Morgan would fire home a second goal for the hosts early in the second period, before Carey hit 1-05 unanswered- their goal coming from Patrick Gillan. 

A third goal from James Connolly saw off the brave Carey renaissance, though the Faugh’s would end strongly with goals from James Black and Connor McBride ensuring they ended the day with 3-18 – a margin that would win many a hurling game. 

James Connolly had Rossa off the mark early on, but Connor McBride levelled through a converted free. 

The hosts always just about kept their noses in front in a tight opening as Aodhan O’Brien restored the hosts lead and would move them three-points clear, converting a free in-between a Dominic McEnhill point from range. 

Successive frees from John and Connor McBride had Carey back to within a single point and next two scores were traded from the same scenario as O’Brien and Connor McBride continued to offer proficiency from the placed ball. 

Rossa opened up a four-point lead with three scores on the spin for the second time. Eoin Trainor landed a fine point from range, Thomas Morgan cut inside and shot over and James Connolly laid the ball into the path of Adrian Kenneally to steer a shot high and over and make it 0-08-0-04. 

Confidence was with the Shaws Road outfit and another three scores made it six unanswered. 

Stephen Beatty combined with Aodhan O’Brien to land his second point from play of the half and fourth overall. 

He would register his third free moments later and Dara Rocks would later drop a high shot over the crossbar. 

Carey Faugh’s eventually responded in the form of a fourth converted free from Connor McBride. 

Aodhan O’Brien would match McBride’s personal tally from free’s with the games next score and the hosts pulled further clear when Dara Rocks took a pass off the shoulder from James Connolly and crashed a low shot into the corner of the net to put his side 1-12-0-05 advantage. 

Further scores from Michael Armstrong and O’Brien had the 2021 runners-up in firm control. Carey had relied heavily upon the free-taking of Connor McBride to keep in touch and eventually notched up their first score from play through Conlith McKinley. 

For the second time in the half; Rossa hit six-points on spin- Aodhan O’Brien claimed half of his sides six, adding another two-frees to his tally. 

In-between Seaghan Shannon, Dara Rocks and Stephen Beatty all contributed as they hit 1-20 before the half was over. 

Carey responded with Connor McBride landing his fifth free of the half, but at the interval it was one-way traffic as Rossa were 1-20-0-07 to the good and well on their way to two-points. 

Within three-minutes of the restart Rossa had claimed their second goal of the afternoon. Dara Rocks slipped the ball off to Thomas Morgan to powerfully finish past Daniel McBride in the Carey goal. 

Patrick Gillan landed a magnificent reply for the Faugh’s- though goal scorer Morgan added back-to-back points and O’Brien then converted his first free of the half and seventh overall. 

Carey kept the scoreboard ticking with Connor McBride adding his sixth converted free of the day and then striking his first from play with a superb, angled effort. 

Points were traded between Morgan and John McBride and although the visitors were 2-24-0-11 behind, they were beginning to find more joy on the scoring front.

A second Connor McBride point from play was followed by a converted free from range by James Black to make it three-points on the spin. 

Midway through the second half and the Faugh’s hit the net, James Black saw his shot come off the large post and Patrick Gillan was first to react- firing past Donal Armstrong to narrow the margins slightly.

John McBride notched up his third score of the afternoon as Carey’s purple patch saw them score 1-05 unanswered. 

Rossa got things back on track with a third goal on 48 minutes courtesy of a stinging drive from James Connolly that had them 3-24-1-14 up. 

Dara Rocks and Connor McBride traded the next two scores before Adrian Kenneally and Dominic McEnhill floated over points in quick succession. 

Conlith McKinley doubled his account for the afternoon and James Connolly replied from a free for Rossa as the hosts closed in on registering 30-points. 

The Faugh’s would finish strongly and restore some pride, James Black converted a free and a few minutes later another of his frees bounced and caught out Donal Armstrong to find the net and make it 3-28-2-17. 

Connolly landed a free in response, but Carey found a third goal when Connor McBride blasted home a free from 21-yards. 

Rossa landed their 30^th point of the game through Eoin Trainor and sides traded the final scores through frees from Black and Connolly. 

Rossa: D Armstrong, C Boyle, C McGuinness, N Devlin, A Kenneally (0-02), M Armstrong (0-01), E Trainor (0-02), Seaghan Shannon (0-01), A Orchin, D Rocks (1-03), S Beatty (0-01), A O’Brien (0-11, 0-07f), T Morgan (1-04), J Connolly (1-04, 0-03f), D McEnhill (0-02). Subs: Stephen Shannon for M Armstrong (40), D Rogan for D Rocks (55). 

Carey Faugh’s: D McBride, E Hill, S McBride, D Hill, M McVeigh, J Black (1-03f), C McGlynn, S McLaughlin, C McBride, C McKinley (0-02), F McVeigh, J McBride (0-03, 0-01f), C McBride (1-09, 1-06f), C McCaughan, P Gillan (1-01). Subs: D Martin for M McVeigh (43 –49 blood sub), F McCarry for C McBride (47), J Mullan for P Gillan (49). 

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Ballycastle 1-16 Dunloy 2-29

Saturday August 6

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pairc Mac Uilin, Ballycastle

Dunloy got the defence of their senior hurling crown off to a winning start on Saturday evening with a resounding victory over Ballycastle.  It was a commanding performance from the Cuchullains who had 11 different scorers over the hour and an impressive 2-22 coming from open play.

The home side set up defensively to deal with the attacking movement of Dunloy but they found the task of keeping them quiet too much on the day with all six starting forwards and two midfielders in green and gold getting their name on the list of scorers just after half time.

Ballycastle showed plenty of spirit and despite a slow start they found their way back into the game in the second quarter, thanks largely to Diarmuid McShane’s goal but Dunloy tagged points over at will and second half majors from Anton McGrath and Conal Cunning allowed them to control the game at their own terms.

The Cuchullains opening to both halves proved to be the defining periods of this contest.  Nine of their opening 10 points came from open play by the 17^th minute while they scored 1-8 in less time after half time.  1-7 of which coming from open play.  Dunloy were at times in irresistible form and playing like a side who wanted to avoid a potential banana skin result in Ballycastle.

Ciaran Clarke top scored for The Town with 0-7 beside his name, four of those coming from placed ball while Seamus McAuley and Conor Boyd also showed well for the black and amber.  They played direct ball into Tiarnan Butler on the edge of the Dunloy square and looked to live of the breaks but the Dunloy full back line were immense throughout and the majority of scores Ballycastle gained came from further out the field.

With 10 points on board in the opening quarter, Dunloy looked like they were going to run away with the opening half but Ballycastle found their rhythm in the second quarter and their goal giving them a timely boost before half time.  Joe McToal collecting the sliotar and driving at the Dunloy defence.  He passed square to take Ryan Elliott out of the game and McShane deflected the sliotar into the Dunloy net.  

Despite Dunloy’s overall dominance in the first half, their lead was reduced to four points at the short whistle, 0-15 to 1-8.

The Cuchullains regained their free scoring touch at the start of the second half, outscoring Ballycastle 0-8 to 0-4 before Anton McGrath’s goal in the 45^th minute.  Ronan Molloy and Conal Cunning combining to release McGrath in front of Ryan McGarry’s goal.

Ballycastle had goal chances of their own, Tiernan Butler going close and bringing an excellent reflex save from Dunloy ‘keeper Elliott but any Ballycastle scores were answered in kind at the other end of the pitch, Dunloy dictating the game and Ballycastle running out of time in their search for answers.

Dunloy’s lead stood at 10 points when Cunning bagged Dunloy’s second major.  A piece of individual brilliance with the Dunloy man collecting the sliotar in the middle third and showing great pace to get clear of the Ballycastle tackles and sending the sliotar to the back of the net.  

The Town continued to look for goals and created an opening for Clarke but Elliott denied him at full stretch in the last minute of the hour.

An impressive opening day win for the Cuchullains who turn their attention to Carey at Loughgiel in two weeks time while Ballycastle entertain Rossa at Dunsilly on the same day.

TEAMS

Ballycastle: Ryan McGarry; Mark McClean, Neal McAuley, Oisin McAuley; James McLister, Conor Boyd, Matthew Donnelly; Ronan Laverty, Seamus McAuley; Joe McToal, Cathal Connor, Diarmuid McShane; Tiernan Smith, Tiarnan Butler, Ciaran Clarke

Subs: Michael Dallet for C Connor (45); Lorcan Donnelly for D McShane (45)

Scorers: C Clarke 0-7 (4 f’s); D McShane 1-1; S McAuley 0-3; J McToal 0-2; T Butler 0-2; T Smith 0-1

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Oran Quinn, Ryan McGarry, Phelim Duffin; Aaron Crawford, Kevin Molloy, Eamon Smyth; Nicky McKeague, Deaglan Smith; Eoin McFerran, Gabriel McTaggart, Nigel Elliott; Chrissy McMahon, Conal Cunning, Anton McGrath

Subs: Ronan Molloy for C McMahon (8); Ciaran Elliott for E McFerran (50); Ryan McFarline for N McKeague (57); Paul Shiels for D Smith (57); Oisin Elliott for C Cunning (60)

Scorers: C Cunning 1-9 (6 f’s); A McGrath 1-1; E Smyth 0-3; D Smith 0-3; G McTaggart 0-3; N Elliott 0-3; N McKeague 0-2; E McFerran 0-2; A Crawford 0-1; C McMahon 0-1; P Shiels 0-1 (1f)

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)