ACHL Division 2

Tír na nÓg Randalstown 0-22 – Mac Uílín Ballycastle 2-14

Venue: Randalstown – Date: Tuesday, 27 May 2026

Match report: Gerard Kelly | Photos: Dominic Kelly

Tír na nÓg claimed a hard-earned two-point victory over Mac Uílín Ballycastle in a thrilling Antrim ACHL Division 2 encounter at Randalstown on a glorious sun-drenched evening.

The final scoreline of 0-22 to 2-14 tells only part of the story of a contest that fluctuated dramatically, but through it all one player stood head and shoulders above the rest — Sean Duffin, whose long-range striking was nothing short of magnificent from the first minute to the last.

A late Dermot Donnelly goal for the visitors reduced the margin to a single point deep in injury time and ensured a nervy finish for the home support, but Duffin’s earlier intervention in the 63rd minute had already added the crucial insurance score, and Randalstown held onto take the points in a match that neither side deserved to lose.

Randalstown Storm Out Of The Blocks

Playing in perfect summer conditions, Randalstown set about their opponents from the very first puck and produced a stunning opening spell that immediately put Ballycastle on theback foot.

Duffin opened the scoring inside the first minute — a trademark long-range effort that set the tone for what was to follow — and Joe McCormick doubled the lead on 2 minutes.

Further points followed in quick succession as Connor McCamphill (6th), Ciarán Logan (8th) and Tiaman Bonnes — twice, in the 10th and 12th minutes — had the home crowd roaring.

Callum Campbell had provided Ballycastle’s only reply in the 2nd minute, and when Duffin drove over another stunning long-range point in the 14th, the home side led 0-08 to 0-01.

It was one of the most dominant opening quarters seen at this ground in recent years.

Ballycastle, credit to them, refused to capitulate. Cormac Dallas pointed on 15, James McLister on 16, and Dallas again on 20. Críostai McAuley — playing under the cloud of a booking picked up in the 13th minute — added his own contribution, as did Conall Magee and Seán Brogan to gradually close the gap.

Duffin split the posts once more on 30 for good measure, and the sides went to the interval with Randalstown leading 0-11 to 0-09 — a two-point advantage that flattered Ballycastle given the opening quarter.

Campbell’s Goal Rocks Randalstown

The second half produced end-to-end hurling of the highest quality. Brogan and McAuley struck quickly for Ballycastle to level proceedings, and in the 36th minute, Campbell found the net to edge the visitors in front for the first time.

Randalstown’s Emmet Murray responded immediately on 37 to retake the lead, but McLister added two in the 38th and 39th minutes and Campbell pointed again on 43 as Ballycastle threatened to take control.

Randalstown, however, were not for turning. Tiaman Bonnes, outstanding throughout with five points from play, continued to lead the charge, and Sean McKinley — lively after his introduction — landed two excellent scores in the 46th and 47th minutes to swing momentum back toward the home side.

Ciarán O’Neill (48th), Daire Martin (49th) and Bonnes (50th) followed in a three-point burst that pushed Randalstown four clear. Duffin’s sixth point of the evening in the 51st minute, another thunderous long-range effort, extended the advantage further.

Nervy Finish But Randalstown Hold On

Ballycastle refused to go quietly. Mark McClean pointed on 55, and McAuley added two further scores in the closing minutes to reduce the deficit as the game entered the final stages. Then, deep in injury time, Dermot Donnelly buried a goal to make it 0-21 to 2-13 — a single point in it — and set up a breathless finish.

But it was Duffin who had the final say. The Randalstown number seven, ice cool under pressure, drove over a point in the 63rd minute to make it 0-22 to 2-14 and secure a two- point win that his individual performance richly merited.

The final whistle was met with roars of relief and delight from the home faithful.

The Verdict

This was as entertaining an evening of hurling as you could wish for. Randalstown’s early dominance was exceptional, and their ability to withstand Ballycastle’s rallies — twice —showed real character throughout the squad.

Duffin’s tally of six long-range points was the performance of the evening, but Tiaman Bonnes (0-5) and the contributions of McKinley, Logan and the ever-busy Bonnes gave Randalstown a breadth of scoring that Ballycastle simply couldn’t match.

For the visitors, Callum Campbell (1-2), Dermot Donnelly (1-0) and McAuley’s five points made for an admirable collective effort, and they will feel that on another day they might have taken something from this game. But on this occasion, Randalstown deserved their win.

TÍR NA NÓG RANDALSTOWN: Kevin Sheerin; Daire Martin (0-1), Oliver McAtamney, Manus

Smith; Ryan O’Neill, Caoimhín Duffin, Sean Duffin (0-6); Connor McCamphill (0-1), Ciarán O’Neill (0-1); Emmet Murray (0-1), Ciarán Logan (0-2), Tiaman Bonnes (0-5); Joe McCormick (0-1), Colm Duffin, Sean McKinley (0-2). Also used: Jude Storrie for R. O’Neill.

MAC UÍLÍN BALLYCASTLE: Anthony Mullan; Oisín Donnelly, Oisín McAuley, Conor Mooney; Sean McGowan, Cormac Donnelly, Sean Brogan (0-1); Conall Magee (0-1), Mark McClean (0-1); Callum Campbell (1-2), Cormac Dallas (0-2), Feargal McKiernan; James McLister (0-3), Dermot Donnelly (1-0), Críostai McAuley (0-4).

Also used: Eoin Boylan for F. McKiernan,Tadhg Donnelly for S. McGowan, Niall McGarry for C. Campbell, [24] for C. McAuley

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ACHL Division 3

Armoy 3-24 St. Brigid’s 2-17

When Naomh Brid headed to the dressing room at half time, trailing by only three points but with the stiff breeze to come on their backs for the second half they must have fancied their chances of causing an upset.

Their opponents Glen Rovers, Armoy had other ideas however and in a blistering opening to the second half Thomas Burns pointed, Owen Kinney fired home their second goal and Emmet O’Hara and Trevor Linton added further points.

Kinney added the Glen Rovers second goal before free taker James Kelly finally got the visitors opening point in the 7^th minute but by that stage Armoy were 11 clear and it was going to take something special to turn this one around.

It was Trevor Linton who led the Armoy charge during the opening period as he fired over three points to add to an opening score from Kieran McToal and another from PJ McBride had the hosts 0-5 to 0-2 ahead after a lively opening 7 minutes with the Naomh Brid points both coming from James Kelly frees.

James Kelly who gave a fine exhibition of free taking for Naomh Brid and (Above-featured image) Trevor Linton who was in devastating form for Glen Rovers

The visitors suffered a bad blow when their keeper, Matthew Madden was injured in a collision with Trevor Linton as the Armoy striker chased a dropping ball and flicked over the Naomh Brid keeper’s head at the expense of a goal.

Madden had to be stretchered off after receiving medical treatment with John McGuckian taking over between the sticks and Chris Lundy entering the action, requiring a reshuffle in the Brid’s defence.

After a long stoppage the action got underway again with Linton pointing a 16^th minute free before ace free taker, James Kelly raided the visitor’s third white flag.

Naomh Brid had been second best for nearly all of the opening exchanges but slowly they began to get to grips with McGuckian finding players from his puck outs and a great end to end move saw David Prenter fire to the net in the 23d minute.

As the game moved into an extensive period of first half injury time, Brian McGurk added a second for the Musgrave Park side to close the gap to the minimum with Emmet O’Hara, Eamonn McCaughan and Trevor Linton for Armoy and McGurk for St. Brigid’s exchanging late points to leave it 1-13 to 2-7 for the men from the Glen as Ryan O’Reilly sounded his half time whistle.

Those hopes of a second half comeback for the visitors were quickly dashed in a whirlwind opening period by the home side as they added 2-3 without reply and it was a period that Naomh Brid never recovered from despite another exhibition of free taking from James Kelly for the visitors.

Armoy goal scorer, Owen Kinney is challenged by Jack Pardy

Almost single handed, Kelly would keep the scoreboard ticking for St. Brigid’s from a series of frees and a couple of excellent points from play while Phelim Lennon was also on target but the damage was already done.

Trevor Linton, who was excellent throughout continued to find the target and Tarlach McBride concluded the evenings action from his second long range free of the half to give Glen Rovers what was a comfortable victory in the end.

Armoy: 1 Conor Watterson, 2 Callum Mort, 3 Liam Dillon, 4 Joseph McFetridge, Timothy Burns 6 Tarlach McBride, 7 Kieran McToal, 8 PJ McBride, 9 Conor Christie, 10 Thomas Burns, 11 Eamonn McCaughan, 12 Emmet O’Hara, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Owen Kinney, 15 Liam O’Hara

Subs: 19 Callum Coyles

Naomh Brid: 1 Matthew Madden, 2 Ronan O’Loughlin, 3 John McGuckian, 4 James Massingham, 5 Jack Pardy, 6 Phelim Lennon, 7 Dara Sidebottom, 8 Cathal Conway, 9 Joseph McCarney, 10 James Bready, 11 Brian McGurk, 12 James Kelly, 13 David Prenter, 14 Conor Leonard, 15 Oisin McDonnell

Subs: 17 Chris Lundy, 19 James McCarney, 20 Pearse Hamill

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Glenravel)

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Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

St John’s 1-26 Ballygalget 1-16

On Wednesday evening at Corrigan Park, St. John’s hosted Ballygalget, in a compelling Antrim Hurling League Division 1 clash that ultimately saw the home side claim a commanding 1-26 to 1-16 victory.

The match opened with early scores from both teams, featuring a mix of long-range strikes and individual points. St. John’s gradually built a strong lead, driven by consistent scoring from both open play and dead balls. Oisin MacManus and Oisin Donnelly were particularly instrumental during this period, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with impressive accuracy. Ballygalget stayed in the fight with key scores of their own, including notable long-range efforts from Jon Fisher and Marc Fisher, but they were left to rue several missed opportunities. The visitors’ frustration was compounded by the heroics of St. John’s goalkeeper Domhnall Nugent, who produced two crucial point-blank saves to preserve his team’s advantage. The defining moment of the first half came just before the 26-minute mark when a defensive error by Ballygalget was punished by Ruairi Galbraith, who found the back of the net to leave the halftime score at 1-18 to 0-9 in favour of the home side.

Ballygalget started the second half with immediate intent, as Marc Fisher fired over a point within seconds of the restart. The second period became heavily dominated by frees, with Oisin MacManus consistently splitting the posts for St. John’s and Eoin Pucci matching him with multiple conversions for the Ardsmen. A pivotal moment arrived 17 minutes into the half when Ballygalget were awarded a penalty, but Marc Fisher was unable to convert the opportunity, significantly stalling their momentum. To their credit, Ballygalget responded swiftly; just half a minute later, an end-to-end sweeping move culminated in Shea Pucci finishing to the net for a well-worked goal from play.

Despite this lifeline for the visitors, St. John’s maintained their composure, continuing to score consistently from both placed balls and open play to keep Ballygalget at arm’s length. The home side’s clinical efficiency in front of goal proved to be the difference, while Ballygalget were left to reflect on missed chances. The 1-26 to 1-16 final scoreline was a fair reflection of a game marked by strong individual performances from the likes of McManus and Donnelly for St. John’s, alongside Marc Fisher and Shea Pucci for the visitors.

St. John’s: 1 Domhnall Nugent, 2 Michael Darragh, 3 Conall Morgan, 4 Lorcan McCallin, 5 Ryan McNulty, 6 Enda McGurk, 7 Ronan Donnelly, 8 Caoimhin Hanna, 9 Aaron Bradley, 10 James Wilson, 11 Shea Shannon, 12 Oisin Donnelly, 13 Oisin MacManus, 14 Michael Bradley, 15 Ruairi Galbraith.

Ballygalget: 1 Eoin Clarke, 2 Michael Toner, 3 Ben Taggart, 4 Caolan Coulter, 5 Joe Dynes, 6 Marc Fisher, 7 Conaire Monan, 8 Jon Fisher, 9 Tim Prenter, 10 Oisin Coulter, 11 Shea Pucci, 12 Eoin Pucci, 13 Daniel Toner, 14 Michael Dorrian, 15 Owen McDermott.

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Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Loughgiel Shamrocks 3-22 Glenariffe Oisin 0-20

Loughgiel Shamrocks secured a convincing eleven-point victory over Glenariffe in their ACHL Division 1 encounter, heavily driven by a dominant final-quarter display and a standout performance from corner-forward Roan McGarry. Despite Glenariffe showing tremendous resilience and making it a tightly contested affair for much of the second half, the Shamrocks’ overall accuracy and composure in the closing stages proved to be the decisive factor in this league clash.

There wasn”t a lot between the sides in the opening half but goals from highly impressive midfielder Paul Boyle and full forward Shan McGrath were to prove decisive as they sent the Shamrocks in at the break with a two point lead 2-10 to 0-14

The second half opened with Loughgiel on the front foot as Roan McGarry quickly pointed to set the tone. However, Glenariffe responded strongly to the challenge. Alex O’Boyle registered a crucial score before Seanie McIntosh fired over two quick points to bring the sides level. The Oisíns continued to press their case, highlighted by a fantastic point from Michael O’Boyle. Operating out on the right wing, he expertly collected a long, pinpoint puc-out from Glenariffe goalkeeper Paul McMullan and sent the ball over the bar, keeping his team firmly in the mix and the game very much in the balance.

As the half progressed, Glenariffe’s scoring touch suddenly dried up against a tightening Loughgiel defence. The Shamrocks capitalized on this drought, gradually pulling away as they exerted total control over the final ten minutes of the match. By the 29-minute mark, Loughgiel had established a commanding seven-point lead, with Roan McGarry consistently punishing the opposition through his accuracy from dead balls and relentless attacking pressure.

In injury time, McGarry capped off his brilliant individual performance by burying a superbly struck penalty in the 32nd minute, pushing the Loughgiel advantage to ten points and effectively ending any hopes of a Glenariffe comeback. Deep into added time, Loughgiel substitute Finn Henry split the posts with a final late point, stretching the winning margin to eleven and wrapping up a well-deserved victory for the Shamrocks.

Loughgiel Shamrocks: 1 Cormac McFadden, 2 Liam Glackin, 3 Enda Óg McGarry, 4 Caolan Blair, 5 Conall McCloskey, 6 Declan McCloskey, 7 Ben McGarry, 8 Ryan McKee, 9 Paul Boyle, 10 Rónán Fitzgerald, 11 Daniel McCloskey, 12 Eoin McGarry, 13 Roan McGarry, 14 Shan McGrath, 15 Pearce Patterson.

Glenariffe Oisins: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Donall Kearney, 3 Colla Ward, 4 Odhran Gillan, 5 Michael Haughey, 6 Calum McIlwaine, 7 James Kearney, 8 Daniel Kearney, 9 Niall Magee, 10 Brogan OConnor, 11 Alex O’Boyle, 12 Orrin O Connor, 13 Michael O’Boyle, 14 Seanie McIntosh, 15 Oisín Gillan.

Referee – Mark O’Neill

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