Cushendun stayed in the race for a semi-final spot in the Intermediate Hurling Championship when they beat Cloughmills in Friday evening’s Round 3 game at the Biddies Ballyveely Road ground. The Emmet’s still need other results to go their way to make the semi-finals, but keeping themselves in a position to take advantage, if that should happen, was vital.
Tir na nÓg’s win over St Gall’s on Sunday makes the Emmet’s task even more difficult, but not impossible, for if they win their last game against St Gall’s on Saturday 20th September and Glenarm were to beat Tir na nÓg the following day, then all three will be level on points, with score difference the deciding factor to see who joins Glenariffe Oisins in the semi-finals. In that respect Cushendun may rue conceding 1-02 in injury time against the Biddies with the points already wrapped up.
Eoin Dobbin gave Cloughmills and early lead on Friday evening but Cushendun came back to hit six without reply, three of them from Conlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill, two from Sean McKay and one from Aidan Corbett to lead by 0-06 to 0-01 after thirteen minutes. The next ten minutes were evenly contested with scores from James O’Boyle and Eoin Dobbin (2) adding to the home side’s tally and Thomas Scally, Conor McHugh and Matthew McCartin replying in kind for the Emmet’s. Three in a row from Michael Devlin, Ryan Watson and Ruairi Laverty cut the gap back to just two by the 25th minute, but Loaf McNeill pushed that gap out to five by half time with three in a row, two of them from frees, to send his team in with a five point lead at the break (0-12 to 0-07).
The Biddies cut the gap back to four when Cathal Mullan got the opening point of the second half, but Liam Kearns and Conor Laverty hit back for the Emmts to cut the lead back to four again by the thirty sixth minute but four points inside two minutes, three of them from Sean McKay and one from Conor McHugh pushed the lead out to eight. However they never got an opportunity to rest on their laurels as the home side hit back with four of their own, two from Mickey Devlin and one each from Johnny Duffin and Conor Laverty, and once again there was just four between them.
Cushendun eventually got a breathing space when Loaf McNeill fired home two penalties inside four minutes, but again the home team came back and James O’Boyle hit back with a goal from play. That score was cancelled out when the Emmet’s hit the next three scores, two points from Sean McKay and Conor McHugh, plus a goal from Leo Morgan to increase the lead to twelve points and seal the win. However the Biddies never gave up the fight and points from James and Kevin O’Boyle, plus a last gasp goal from the latter in injury time took five points of the Emmet’s score difference, something they might regret in two weeks’ time.
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Rossa set up a quarter final meeting with Belfast rivals St John’s when they travelled to Ballyvoy on Sunday and beat Carey Faughs in Round 3 of the Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship. Both teams went into this game searching for their first win of the campaign, but Rossa were strongly fancied to beat last year’s Antrim and Ulster Intermediate champions having put in strong displays against Cushendall and Loughgiel in games one and two.
James Rocket Black gave Carey the lead inside the first minute with a sweetly struck point from a narrow angle on the left, to raise hopes among the home fans, but those hopes were quickly dashed when Rossa’s Thomas Morgan had the ball in the Carey net a few seconds later. Points followed in quick succession from Pearce Short, Declan McCartney, Gerard Walsh, Declan McEnhill, plus two more by McCartney to go 1-07 to 0-02 ahead.
Carey came back with a point from Conor McBride and when a long delivery from Conlith McKinley went all the way to the Rossa net thing began to look a bit better for the home side. Aodhan O’Brien came back with a point for Rossa but three in a row from Patrick Gillan cut the gap back to just four after 13 minutes. That was as good as it got for the home side though as Rossa began to stack up the scores and with Deaglan Murphy, Declan McCartney, Gerard Walsh and Tommy Morgan adding scores they pushed on to lead by 1-120 to 1-10 at half time.
Conditions worsened early in the second half and scores became harder to get but the Belfast men kept pressing. Gerard Walsh got their second goal when he flicked the ball over the line after a good save by goalkeeper Daniel McBride.
Substitue Eoin Trainor got in on the scoring act as Deaglan Murphy, Dominic McEnhill and Pearse Short added to their total and while Carey were outhurled in many departments James Black, Conor McBride, Shea Hunter and Patrick Gillan showed they hurl in any company.
The win for Rossa sets up a mouth-watering quarter final meeting with St John’s in two weeks’ time, with the winners of that due to face county champions Cushendall in the semi-final.
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A Dessie McClean inspired Gort na Mona proved too slick for Davitt’s in this Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final at Enright Park on Sunday.
The excellent McClean would account for 0-11 of his side’s 0-18 total and his unerring accuracy from the placed ball punished every indiscretion that the Falls Road side committed over the hour.
It was Colm McKee who got Michael Davitt’s off to a good start with a point in the 1st minute but that would be the only time they led as McClean replied with three from play and a converted free in the 8th minute.
A scrambled goal from Cormac Maguire had the visitors back on level terms with 1o minutes gone but they only flattered to deceive as Gort na Mona continued to call the shots.
McClean from a 12th minute free had the men from the Mona Bye-pass back ahead and Thomas McCaffrey followed from long range as the home side began to dominate.
Dessie McClean matched McCaffrey’s effort with another from long range and he added a couple of converted free by the 18th minute as the one way traffic towards the Davitt’s goal continued.
Davitt’s were working hard to get going and break the shackles of the opposition and their best player, Caoimhin Rainey replied with a point but it only served to bring another response from the home side.
Darron Boyd landed a monster effort and Dessie McClean from a ‘65’ and a great point from play from an acute angle left the ‘Gorts’ 0-12 to 1-2 ahead at the break and good value for their lead.
If they were to get back into contention then Davitt’s needed to up the ante in the second half and Caoimhin Rainey raised their hopes as he sent over with only 2 minutes gone.
It failed to bring the necessary response from his colleagues however as Gort na Mona assumed control and Connor McCann, Dessie McClean (f) and another good point from play moved them nine ahead at the end of the third quarter.
Sean Doyle added 2 more and a long range special from Neil Henry moved the ‘Gorts’ 12 ahead by the 21st minute.
Davitt’s were still giving it everything and were finally rewarded for their efforts when Caoimhin Rainey got in for a superb second goal and Nathan Maginn added a late point but it only served to put a better look on the final score-line and it is the Turf Lodge side who will now contest the semi-finals.
In the other quarter-final played on Sunday, Lamh Dhearg produced the performance of the day to defeat St. Brigid’s 0-24 to 1-12 at Musgrave Park and will now join Gort na Mona in the semi-final draw where Glenravel and Armoy have already qualified as group winners.
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Tir na nOg took a step closer to a place in the semi-finals when they proved too good for an understrength St. Gall’s in miserable conditions at Milltown on Sunday.
Their hosts, St. Gall’s were in a similar position and this defeat puts them out of the running for second place in Group 2 and with a number of regulars unavailable, they never really looked like winning this one.
Before the game began both teams and spectators observed a minutes silence in honour of former St Gall’s Senior player Kieran McGrath who passed away last week.
Both sides entered the game on the back of strong performances with St Gall’s getting their first win against Cloughmills last time out and Tír na nÓg being edged by the smallest of margins against championship favourites Glenariffe.
Michael Marlow, St Galls and Colm Duffin, Tir na nOg challenge for the sliothar
It was visitors Tir na nOg who took early control in this one with the Duffin brothers, Caoimhin and Sean pivotal in their dominance and they led by eight points at the break and the gap remained much the same throughout the second half.
It was St. Gall’s who opened the scoring when Dubhaltach Wilson pointed a free from distance after he was fouled in the opening throw-in before Ciaran Logan and Sean Duffin replied from play to move Tir na nOg ahead for the first time.
Emmet Murray struck an excellent point as he burst past the St Gall’s backline and struck his effort over the bar to edge his side further ahead and Dylan McLarnon found himself in unfamiliar territory and his shot dipped over.
Piarais McCaffrey came to his side’s rescue as the visitors continued to press and he was called into action on two occasions to make goal-line stops and looked assured under the dropping ball.
Sean Duffin led the way for the Randalstown side and top scored with six points for his side and his dead ball prowess kept a healthy margin between the sides as the game progressed.
Dubhaltach Wilson tried all in his power to get the Milltown side going with two points in as many minutes but Tir na nOg struck a decisive blow when Colm Duffin was first to react to the breaking ball to finish from close range.
That score gave Tír na nÓg a commanding lead at the break as the scoreboard read 1-10 to 0-5 and it was going to take a big improvement from St. Gall’s if they were to get back into it in the second half.
The visitors were in no mood to relinquish what they had achieved and Sean Duffin quickly increased their lead on the restart before Ciaran Logan added another from a great strike from mid-way inside the St Gall’s half.
Eamon Og McAllister gets out in front of Ciaran McCaffrey
Wilson struck in reply for St Gall’s before Mark Napier got his first of the evening and added another to reduce the deficit to within five after the corner forward’s frees sailed between the posts.
Caoimhin Duffin, who had been outstanding at centre-half escaped his defensive duties to send a long range effort between the posts to once again re-establish control for his side.
Ciaran O’Neill and Daniel Martin got in on the action after the pair struck a point apiece either side of Ronan Crossan’s second score of the game for the home side.
St, Gall’s were battling hard to get their own game going but the visitors defence were giving nothing away with their closing down and blocking frustrating the Milltown side’s efforts with Mark Napier being man-marked and having to settle for just a single point from open play after a brilliant defensive display from Brandon McLarnon.
Niall Fallon had the chance to give some momentum to his side’s cause but he was closed down by a resolute visitors defence and the sliothar was cleared to safety.
Joe McCormick and Sean Duffin rounded off the scoring in what was a keenly contested encounter but one brilliantly managed by the Randalstown side who move into second place in the group after a huge victory on the Falls Road.
A win or even a draw for Tir na nOg against Shane O’Neill’s on the final day of the Group stages would guarantee them a place in the semi-finals and on this form they look quite capable of achieving it.
Should they lose then Cushendun and Glenarm could still gate crash the play-offs so the Whitehill side’s fate is now very much in their own hands.
St Gall’s: P McCaffrey; E Loughran, M Marlow, O McIlhatton; E Walsh, G Adams, C McCaffrey; J Hopkins, D Churchill; A Mackle, J O’Reilly 0-1, D Wilson 0-5 (0-2f); R Crossan 0-2, S McAreavey, M Napier 0-3 (0-2f)
Subs: N Fallon, T McAleenan, A Mullan, A Healy, S Adams, E Farrelly, A McDonagh, K Wilson
Tír na nÓg: K Sheerin; B McLarnon, D McLarnon, M Smith; C Duffin 0-1, C O’Neill 0-1, R O’Neill; S Duffin 0-6 (0-4f), D Martin 0-1; D Fagan, E Murray 0-1, C Logan 0-3; J McCormick 0-2, S McKinley, C Duffin 1-1.
Subs: D McLornan, T Bonnes, B Fitzgerald, C McCamphill, D Martin
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Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast
A strong first half performance from Dunloy ensured they sealed their place in the last four on Saturday evening. With the winner of the contest taking top spot, the Cuchullains started superbly, scoring 2-6 in a little over 10 minutes to just one point from St John’s to put them in control of the contest.
Dunloy scored an eye watering 5-18 from open play, a stark contrast to their last outing against Naomh Éanna where they spurned numerous goal chances. They looked close to their clinical best with ball in hand on Saturday evening.
Seaan Elliott and Eoin O’Neill scored a brace of majors while Luke McFerran added another. Despite only playing for 30 minutes, Elliott would top score with 2-6 as he formed part of an attacking unit that cut loose on the day. ‘Sammy’ O’Neill excelled on the edge of the square while the piercing runs of Nigel Elliott and Tom McFerran proved to be difficult to counter for the Johnnies.
The sides were tied on three points each after the opening exchanges before Dunloy scored the opening goal in the seventh minute. Kevin Molloy collecting a long puck out from Ryan Elliott before finding Seaan Elliott in space. Elliott unselfishly passed to O’Neill and ‘Sammy’ made no mistake from close range.
Five unanswered points followed before Seaan Elliott scored the second Dunloy goal. Nigel Elliott breaking from a ruck in the middle third. Surveying his options, Elliott found his brother Seaan in space and he found the bottom corner in the 18th minute.
Oisin Donnelly did manage to split the uprights and the home side had a massive goal chance of their own when Donal Carson pounced on a rare error in the Cuchullains full back line but his pulled effort went wide.
A pointed effort from Oisin MacManus reduced the deficit to 10 points with just under 10 minutes of the first half remaining as the home side looked to quell the Dunloy attack. Their own forward unit looked to be misfiring, eight wides in the opening 30 minutes hurt their challenge while the Cuchullains were at their clinical best in the first half.
Conor Johnston and Shea Shannon shared 10 points evenly between them, Johnston’s scores all coming in the second half. The Johnnies goals came from Enda McGurk and substitutes Daragh McGuinness and Peter McCallin as they played closer to their capabilities in the final quarter but Dunloy had most of the hard work of this game done in the first half.
Seaan Elliott’s second goal came in the 26th minute, Tom McFerran with the assist but St John’s finished the half well. A brace of points from MacManus and one from Shannon left 10 between the sides at half time.
It could have been a larger deficit but for some last gasp defending from Ryan McNulty to deny Paul Shiels when ‘Shorty’ looked well placed to score his sides fourth major.
That 10 point gap was stretched to 12 with a free from Aodhan McGarry and substitute Chrissy McMahon. St John’s looked to find some momentum however with Donal Carson and Conor Johnston leading the way. Johnston managed to fire over three points unanswered in the space of two minutes to give St John’s hope of overturning the Dunloy lead. Those hopes were dashed however as the Cuchullains rattled over 1-4 unanswered in the space of five minutes. Keelan Molloy (two), O’Neill and Nigel Elliott raising white flags while Luke McFerran added the fourth Dunloy major in the 42nd minute.
McFerran took his tally to 1-1 for the evening moments later to stretch the Dunloy lead to 17 points going into the final quarter. The home side rallied however with two goals in a little over three minutes. Enda McGurk finding the back of Ryan Elliott’s goal after some intricate play between Carson and Johnston while Carson was involved again for McCallin’s goal in the 50th minute. While he looked to be out of options and in the corner, Carson picked out the run of McCallin through the middle with a delightful pass and he made no mistake, finding the bottom corner.
The fifth Dunloy goal came with five minutes of the hour remaining. Eoin O’Neill taking his tally to 2-2 after firing in the rebound to his initial effort that was superbly stopped by Jack Bohill.
The Johnnies continued to play some enterprising hurling at the other end of the pitch and after a goal mouth scramble, substitute Daragh McGuinness pounced to pull the sliotar to the back of Ryan Elliott’s net.
Deaglan Smith and Conor Johnston split the posts in injury time as Dunloy ran out comfortable winners.
This was a super game of hurling between two sides who played with attacking intent. St John’s will rue the 15 minute periods in either half that saw Dunloy put daylight between the sides. They did finish the game well and will take plenty of encouragement from that when they prepare for the quarter finals while the Cuchullains will welcome the break given their dual commitments.
TEAMS
ST JOHN’S: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Conal Morgan, Jack Bohill; Ronan Donnelly, Conall Bohill, Enda McGurk (1-00); Sean Wilson, Shea Shannon (0-5, 4fs); Oisin Donnelly (0-1), Conor Johnston (0-5), Aaron Bradley (0-3); Donal Carson, Oisin MacManus (0-3, 1f), Michael Bradley
Subs: Peter McCallin (1-00) for M Bradley (37); Michail Dudley (0-2) for O MacManus (40); Caoimhin Hanna for O Donnelly (53); Daragh McGuinness (1-00) for D Carson (52)
Scorers: S Shannon 0-5 (4fs); C Johnston 0-5; A Bradley 0-3; O MacManus 0-3 (1f); E McGurk 1-00; D McGuinness 1-00; P McCallin 1-00; M Dudley 0-2; O Donnelly 0-1
DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Eoin McFerran, Oran Quinn; Paul Shiels, Ryan McGarry, Kevin Molloy; Nicky McKeague, Nigel Elliott; Aodhan McGarry, Seaan Elliott, Keelan Molloy; Luke McFerran, Eoin O’Neill, Tom McFerran
Subs: Eamon Smyth for N McKeague (HT); Chrissy McMahon for S Elliott (HT); Deaglan Smith for P Shiels (41); Reece Cunning for P Duffin (48); Aaron Crawford for Keelan Molloy (52)
Scorers: S Elliott 2-6 (3fs, 1’65); E O’Neill 2-2; L McFerran 1-1; Kevin Molloy 0-2; Keelan Molloy 0-2; N Elliott 0-2; A McGarry 0-2 (1f); T McFerran 0-2; C McMahon 0-2; D Smith 0-1; N McKeague 0-1
Referee: Colm McDonald (NaomhGall)
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