Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Enda’s through to first quarter-final

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

Bathshack SHC Group 1

McQuillan’s 0-19 Naomh Eanna 3-18

St. Enda’s produced their best performance of the season and perhaps the best result in their history when they defeated McQuillan’s Ballycastle in the final game of the group stages at Leyland Road today to advance to their first SHC quarter-final.

Both sides were pointless going into today’s do or die tie with the McQuillan’s most people’s favourites given both side’s performances in Group 1 to date but it was St. Enda’s who performed much better over the hour to deservedly advance to the play-offs.

It was Ballycastle who made the better start however with Ciaran Clarke (f) and Tiernan Smith pointing them ahead before Cormac Ross replied with St. Enda’s opening score in the 4th minute.

The home side were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges however and Seamus McAuley had his shot tipped over by Naomh Eanna keeper Martin Curran and followed with another point to move his side three in front after 7 minutes play.

Phillip Curran replied from a free and Ryan Bogue received Yellow as things began to liven up and a couple of Ciaran Clarke frees, one direct from a sideline cut, and another from Eamon Elliott moved the Castle five in front but an Eddie O’Connor goal and a point from a Philly Curran free left just one in it at the first water break.

Curran levelled matters with a point on the restart but Conor Boyd replied for the Leyland Road side to keep their noses in front before an interception in the Ballycastle half and a swift counter attack saw Phillip Curan finish to the net for his sides second goal with 20 minutes on the clock.

Conor Boyd and Tiernan Smith responded with points for the home side and another from a Ciaran Clarke free in response to two for Cormac Ross had the Glengormley side ahead by the minimum at the short whistle and their travelling support in fine voice.

Ballycastle were in need of inspiration as matters got under way again and Ciaran Clarke provided it as he hit three unanswered points to edge his side ahead by the 4th minute but Eddie O’Connor and Ruairi Donaghy hit back with similar scores for St. Enda’s to bring matters level by the 8th minute.

Eoin Jennings replace Eamon Elliott in the Ballycastle side and was soon on the score-board, replying to a Daniel Lowry point with one of his own  but the 2019 Ulster Intermediate champions were growing in confidence and Lowry pointed again before Ryan McGarry brought off a great save to deny Phillip Curran.

The visitors were on the ascendancy and Killian Jennings added a couple of points by the 14th minute before James McLister responded with a good point from an acute angle to keep the Ballycastle challenge alive.

The game was now being dictated by a confident visitor’s side however and Daniel Lowry struck with their third goal, just before the water break to move them 3-12 to 0-16 ahead going into the final quarter.

The momentum was very much with Naomh Eanna as Eddie O’Connor extended their lead with a point in the 18th minute and it became clear that it wasn’t going to be Ballycastle’s day when Martin Curran pulled off an excellent save to deny Seamus McAuley as the home side tried to respond.

Cormac Ross, Matthew O’Hare and Ruairi Donaghy added to the visitors total going down the home straight with Ciaran Clarke on target for McQuillan’s with a pointed free and another from play but there was to be no way back for the home side with Philip Curran pointing an injury time free and Cormac Ross concluding the scoring from a ‘65’ to send St. Enda’s through to their first senior quarter-final

McQuillan’s: 1 Ryan McGarry, 2 Oran Kearney, 3 Thomas McIlroy, 4 Cormac Donnelly, 5 Conor Boyd, 6 Matthew Donnelly, 7 Neal McAuley,  8 Mark McClean, 9 Eamon Elliott, 10 Ciaran Butler, 11 Ciaran Clarke, 12 James McLister, 13 Tiernan Smith, 14 Kevin Barry McShane, 15 Seamus McAuley

Naomh Eanna: 1 Martin Curran, 2 Eoin Conlon, 3 Rian Gillen, 4 Niall O’Connor, 5 Cormac Ross, 6 Mark Donaghy, 7 Joe Maskey, 8 Ryan Bogue, 9 Luke O’Connor, 10 Eddie O’Connor, 11 Ruairi  Donaghy, 12 Matthew O’Hare, 13 Killian Jennings, 14 Daniel Lowry, 15 Phillip Curran,

Referee: Tarlach Conway

by thesaffrongael

Cuchullains book place in semi’s

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Group 2

St Johns 1-26 Dunloy 2-30

Sunday September 5

Seaan Elliott goes for goal but Simon Doherty saves bravely with Jimmy Peoples in close attendance at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park

It’s not often a team will hit 1-26 and come off the wrong end of the score line.  That’s the fate that faced St John’s on Sunday afternoon as the Cuchullains ran out seven point winners to top Group 2.

This was an open, hard hitting game of championship hurling with both sides taking some fantastic scores from all angles throughout.  The Johnnies were impressive in attack with 1-21 of their total coming from open play and Shea Shannon top scoring.  Michal Dudley and Donal Carson also catching the eye while Conor Johnston went through a mountain of work in the middle third.

Conal Cunning top scored for Dunloy with eight of his 0-11 coming from placed ball and he tortured the St Johns defence from the first whistle.  His movement, touch and accuracy is breath-taking when the delivery comes his way.  Keelan Molloy edged him out for man of the match however with the Dunloy midfielder putting in a tireless shift and raising the white flag seven times throughout the hour.

The Cuchullain goals came at either end of the game with Phelim Duffin’s early major and Seaan Elliott’s goal an immediate response to Shea Shannon’s major for the home side in injury time.  The winners had 10 different scorers on the day and like St Johns, the overwhelming majority of their scores came from open play – an impressive 2-22.  Chrissy McMahon once more with an eye-catching performance while the delivery of ball into the Dunloy forward allowed the Cuchullains to wreak havoc.  St Johns made changes in their defensive unit with Conall Morgan moving into the edge of his own square to pick up ‘Coby’ Cunning while Ciaran Johnston was introduced early into the sweeper position but like last week against Tir na nOg, Dunloy were supreme in the first half.  Against the Randalstown men, they hit 1-18 in the first 30 minutes.  In Corrigan Park they had amassed 1-17 and led by seven points.  Duffin’s goal came in the 6th minute as he passed his way through the St Johns defence before kicking the sliotar beyond Simon Doherty.  It opened a six point lead and gave Dunloy the upperhand.

Conal Cunning tries to escape the clutches of Conall Morgan and Ciaran Johnston

St Johns introduced Peter McCallin in the second half to the edge of the square and while the home side always looked threatening, they couldn’t eat into the Dunloy lead.  Every time they got to within four points, the Cuchullains responded with a couple of scores of their own.

St Johns pushed for goals late in the game with Carson and Conor Johnston both going close before Shannon finally found the back of Ryan Elliott’s goals.  It came in the sixth minute of injury time and reduced the Dunloy lead to four points but the Cuchullains dampened any thoughts of a dramatic turnaround with Seaan Elliott’s major with the next attack.  

The Cuchullains safely book their place in the last four while St Johns have a date with Loughgiel in the quarter-final and a repeat of their epic semi-final from last year.

TEAMS

St Johns: Simon Doherty; Aidan McMahon, Ryan McNulty, Jack Bohill; Conal Bohill, Domhnall Nugent, Conall Morgan; Micheal Bradley, Shea Shannon; Michal Dudley, Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston; Donal Carson, Jim Peoples, Aaron Bradley

Scorers: Shea Shannon 1-8 (4f 1’65); Michal Dudley 0-5; Conor Johnston 0-4; Donal Carson 0-4; Aaron Bradley 0-2; Michael Bradley 0-2; Aidan McMahon 0-1

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Conor McKinley, Conor Kinsella; Ryan McGarry, Eamon Smyth, Ronan Molloy; Aaron Crawford, Keelan Molloy; Eoin O’Neill, Kevin Molloy, Eoin McFerran; Chrissy McMahon, Conal Cunning, Seaan Elliott

Scorers: Conal Cunning 0-11 (8f); Keelan Molloy 0-7; Seaan Elliott 1-1; Phelim Duffin 1-00; Eoin O’Neill 0-3; Chrissy McMahon 0-3; Nicky McKeague 0-2;  Eamon Smyth 0-1; Aaron Crawford 0-1; Anton McGrath 0-1

Referee: Kevin Park (Naomh Eanna)

by thesaffrongael

Cloney and Oisin can’t be separated

Andersonstown SC IFC Group 1

Cloney Gaels 0-24 Glenariffe Oisin 2-18

Cloney Gaels and Glenariffe Oisin couldn’t be separated in this compelling Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling championship clash in Ahoghill today. In a game where fortunes to and froed throughout, the visitors looked to be in a strong position at half time when they led by six points.

After the break the sheer intensity of the home side slowly wore down the opposition and they drew level by the 18th minute and looked to be taking over but Oisin came back strongly with the lead changing hands several times before Alex O’Boyle brought matters level for the final time with a pointed free in injury time.

Glenariffe got off to a flying start with Caolan O’Connor firing to the Ahoghill net after 20 seconds and Alex O’Boyle followed with a point from a free to put them four in front with only a minute on the clock.

PJ O’Connell opened the Cloney account with a point in the third minute but Seanie McIntosh replied immediately with a point for the visitors. Oliver Kearney added a great long range point but the Ahoghill side seemed to be settling into the game when they hit three in a row through Ronan Graham, a James O’Connell free and Ronan Graham again to leave just two in it after 12 minutes.

Alex O’Boyle replied with a good point for Glenariffe but points from Ronan Graham and ‘Boris’ O’Connell closed the gap to the minimum as the whistle sounded for the water break.

Alex O’Boyle extended the visitors lead on the restart from a 60 meter free and James O’Connell replied for the home side in what was becoming the battle of the free takers. Colla McDonnell for Ahoghill and Seanie McIntosh for the Glens men exchanged further points before the game took a dramatic twist.

The visitors were awarded a penalty and ace marksman O’Boyle stepped up to fire past Martin Graham from the penalty spot and suddenly the Waterfoot side had moved five clear with seven minutes remaining to the break.

  • Alex O’Boyle who’s late pointed free gave Glenariffe a share of the spoils
  • James O’Connell who gave a fine exhibition of free taking for Cloney Gaels

The momentum now was very much with the visitors and Kieran McKendry added a point from play and Alex O’Boyle added another from a free with 25minutes gone. James O’Connell (f), Owen Neeson and Neil O’Connell added further points for the Ahoghill men but another Alex O’Boyle pointed free left Oisin leading 2-11 to 0-11 at the break.

The opening exchanges of the second half were fairly even with Daniel Haughey and Alex O’Boyle (f) for the visitors and a couple of pointed frees from James O’Connell for the hosts kept the gap at six with six minutes gone but the balance of play was slowly swinging in favour of Hugh Dobbin’s side.

PJ O’Connell was now operating in attack and James O’Connell punished indiscipline in the Glenariffe defence as he pointed three frees and further points from Ronan Graham, Owen Neeson, Neil O’Connell and Neeson again had the side’s level by the 19th minute with the Glenariffe score coming from Oliver Kearney.

Kearney’s point was the visitor’s first score for 13 minutes but they added another immediately through Seanie McIntosh to edge one in front again but James O’Connell pointed three further frees by the 26th minute to leave the home side two in front and they looked to be heading for another brace of points.

In what was turning into the battle of the free takers Alex O’Boyle pointed from close range and then another from over 60 yards to leave the side’s level again and in a nail biting finish James O’Connell and Alex O’Boyle exchanged further frees in injury time to leave matters all square as the final whistle sounded.

This result leaves the group finely balanced with Cloney Gaels top with 5 points from three starts, Glenariffe on 4 from three starts and Cathaoir an Ri on 4 points from two starts and St. Gall’s one behind.

Cloney Gaels face a tough away encounter when the travel to Ballyvoy on Wednesday night while Glenariffe and Naomh Gall are at home to Gort na Mona and Armoy respectively and things should look a bit clearer after that round of fixtures.

Cloney Gaels: Martin Graham, Eamon Brady, James Magee, Diarmaid Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Bernard Graham, P.J O’Connell, Francis Neeson, Neil O’Connell, Danny O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Owern Neeson, Colla McDonnell, Dobnal Graham, James O’Connell

Glenariffe Oisin: Seanan McToal, Michael Haughey, Conor Robert Patterson, Martin McAllister, Donal Kearney, Shane O’Connor, David Kearney, Oliver Kearney, Niall Murray, Daniel Haughey, Kieran McKendry, Alex O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh, Seamus McDonnell, Caolan O’Connor. Subs: Dan McKillop, Mickey Gettins, Cathal McDonnell

  • Hugh Dobbin tells the Ahoghill subs to warm up at half time

by thesaffrongael

Final round should decide semi-final places

Casement SC JHC

Group 1

St. Mary’s Rasharkin top Group 1 with two wins from two starts but face their toughest assignment to date when they travel to Hannastwon tomorrow to take on Lamh Dhearg. Lamh Dhearg opened their JHC campaign with a win over Junior B champions, All Saints, Ballymena but were held to a draw at Davitt’s Park next day out.

Rasharkin have recorded good wins at home to Davitt’s and away to All Saints and a win or even a draw at Lamh Dhearg tomorrow would see them win the group. Lamh Dhearg however could also top the group with a win but a defeat and a win for Davitt’s in Ballymena would see the Belfast sides looking at score difference to decide who would join the Dreen side.

All Saints have turned in a couple of descent performances but have no points to date and they will see tomorrow’s ‘Dead Rubber’ as an opportunity to measure their progress.

Group 2

The two games in Group 2 look a lot easier to predict though, like in life, nothing is certain in hurling. Shane O’Neill’s have been excellent in their two games to date, hammering Loch Mor Dal gCais in Crumlin before edging out Glenravel in a much tighter contest in Feystown on day 2.

St. Teresa’s had five points to spare over a much improved Loch Mor on day 2 but will have to find another step up in performance if they are to trouble Shane O’Neill’s tomorrow  and I expect the Glenarm side to record another win.

Glenravel look favourites to join them when they make the journey to Pairc McRuari but the beaten B finalists Loch Mor Dal gCias, like All Saints, will measure their progress this season and if they can run the Con Magee’s close will surely be satisfied.

JH Plate

In the only game scheduled in the Junior Hurling Plate, Latharna Og, Larne should edge it against St. Brigid’s

by thesaffrongael

Nothing decided after tomorrow

Andersonstown IHC

Group 1

Nothing will be decided after tomorrow’s Group 1 Round 3 games in the Andersonstown IHC Group 1 but a win for Cloney Gaels over Glenariffe Oisin could go a long way to securing qualification in the play-offs for the Ahoghill side.

Hugh Dobbin’s side have recorded big back to back wins over Glen Rovers and Gort na Mona in their opening two games and a win over the Waterfoot side would leave them clear at the top but a draw away to St. Gall’s on day one suggests that Glenariffe will provide them with their toughest challenge to date.

Cathaoir an Ri’s game with Gort na Mona was postponed on day 1 because of Covid in the Gorts camp but the Ballyvoy side had a big win over St. Gall’s on day two and would move to 4 points from 2 starts if, as looks likely, they were to beat neighbours Glen Rovers in Armoy tomorrow.

In the other Group 1 game tomorrow St. Gall’s should get their first win over visiting Gort na Mona who have struggled this year but this one could be closer than some people think.

Group 2

In Group 2 Emmet’s Cushendun entertain St. Paul’s tomorrow and will be keen to avenge a Junior championship defeat to the Shaw’s Road side last year. Emmet’s opened their IHC campaign with a win over St. Brigid’s Clouhgmills in their only game to date while St. Paul’s had a win over the same opposition on day one but lost heavily to neighbours Sarsfields in their second game.

There might not be too much between these two tomorrow but with home advantage Cushendun should have enough in reserve to make it two from two.

In the other game in Group 2 tomorrow Kickham’s Creggan, who won their opening game against Sarsfield’s look favourites to build on that winning start when they play hosts to a St Brigid’s Cloughmills side who lost narrowly to St Paul’s on day one before suffering a heavy defeat to Cushendun on day two.