Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Cushendall: 2-25 (31) Naomh Eanna 0-15 (15)

Now that the county season has been put to bed Cushendall had their full team available or the first time this season on Wednesday evening when they faced Naomh Eanna in a re-arranged game at Pairc Mhuir, Cushendall. Fergus McCambride got the home team’s first score but the next four call came from the stick of Neill McManus, the first from 65 and the other three from play at the went 0-5 to 0-0 clear. Matthew O’Hare got the Glengormley men on the scoreboard after 12 minutes, and he added another four minutes later but Cushendall were well on top and as county players Paddy Burke and Ryan McCambridge joined McManus on the scoreboard as the Ruairis raced to an 0-12 to 0-5, Naomh Eanna’s own county man Joe Maskey also getting on the scoreboard.

The second half started with Naomh Eanna being more prominent on the scoreboard with Maskey adding two and O’Hare again chipping in with one, and for twenty minutes it was virtually score for score. Howeer Cushendall were able to up the pace and after hitting four points in a row through Sean McAfee (2) and Neill McManus (2) they dealt the visitors a double blow when Andrew Delargy and Sean McAgee grabbed goals apiece inside a minute.

Naomh Eanna kept plugging away and they came back with four in a row of their own with Conor Bradley and Matthew Hare getting two each before McAfee capped a fine second half display with the last score of the game.

Antrim Hurling League Division 3

Armoy 3-12 Glenarm 5-19

Three goals in the last five minutes were not enough to save Armoy from defeat in Monday evening’s re-arranged Division 3 League game. By the time the later treble came the game had long been decided as a rampart Glenarm side went on a second half scoring spree against a 14 man Armoy side who had lost a man to a straight red card.

Visitors Glenarm started with three points inside two mintues, two from Niall McGarel and one from Kieran O’Boyle, but a pointed 65 by Trevor Linton settled the Glen Rovers men and they outscored the visitors by six points to two to lead by a points at the end of the first quarter. However when Niall McGarel got in for his team’s first goal the tide turned back in Glenarm’s favour. Dylan McLaughin and Aidan Scullion added points in quick succession and though PJ McBride pulled a couple back form Armoy, Glenarm finished the first half with a flurry with Ciaran Magill adding two from play and Padraig McDermott one before a sideline cut from full forward Ben O’Boyle deceived the home goalkeeper and ended up in the back of the net.

Eight to the good starting the second half Glenarm increased their lead with points from Sean O’Boyle and Ciaran Magill, and when Magill added his team’s second goal there was no way back for the home side. To make matters worse they lost a player to a straight red card soon afterwards and to rub further salt in the wounds McGarrel completed his hat-trick with two more goals.

The gap was nearing the twenty point mark when suddenly Armoy hit back with three late goals, two of them from centre forward Tommy Burns to add a better look to the scoreboard.  

Antim Hurling League – Division 1

Cushendun 2-15 Portaferry 2-27

It was an early start for league leaders Portaferry who made it all the way from the Ards to Cushendun for an 11-30 start, but their 81 mile journey was well rewarded as they continued their unbeaten run, and headed home with the points yet again.

Having said that Cushendun will be happier with their performance, for although they were beaten by 12 points in the end, they showed a marked improvement from their recent performances.

Cushendun fared well in the opening half and trailed by just four at the break, 1-8 to 1-12, their goal coming from corner forward John V Morgan, while Tom Grattan hit the net for the visitors. Portaferry’s  corner-forward Ronan Blair continued his good form this season hitting 0-9 overall during the hour, six of them from frees.

The second half saw the Down men begin to pull away as Blair, centre forward Conor Mageean and right half forward Conor O’Prey hit some great scores.

Cushenun kept battling and Conor McHugh, who was playing at centre forward, grabbed a goal and six points, one of them from a sideline cut. Conlaoth McNeill was also in fine form from placed balls for the home side hit six from seven attempts, but the league leaders packed just too much punch and in the end had 12 points to spare. They have now moved three points ahead of their nearest rivals Loughgiel in the league race, with a game less played.

Portaferry’s next outing is on June 19^th when they host third place St John’s, while the Emmet’s are not in action again until Wednesday June 22^nd when they take on second placed Loughiel in Cushendun.

CUSHENDUN

1. Gareth Magee
   2 – Oisin McMahon
   3 – Aidan Corbett
   4 – Aidan McSparron
   5 – Thomas Scally
   6 – Donald O’Hara
   7 – Jack McKay
   8 – Pearse Bannon
   9 – Callum Kilgore
   10 – David Kilgore
   11- Conor McHugh (Smiley)
   12 – Harry Kilgore
   13 – Conor Bannon
   14 – Conleth McNeill (Loaf)
   15 – John V Morgan

PORTAFERRY

1. Paddy McNally
2. Ciaran Savage
3. Calum Smyth
4. Ryan Convery
5. Deaglan Mallon
6. Caolan Taggart
7. Barry Trainor
8. Matthew Conlon
9. Eoin Magee
10. Conor O’Prey
11. Conor Mageean
12. Conor Faye
13. Ronan Blair
14. Conor McGrattan
15. Eoin Sands