CPC won the annual pre season hurling tournament at Ulster Univserity earlier this week, beating north Antrim rivals St Killian’s in the final. The 11-a-side competition, which is always a good guide to the forthcoming Mageean Cup, attracted eight teams, with CPC, St Killian’s, St Louis and St Mary’s being joined by St Pat’s Maghera, Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock, Rathmore, St Malachy’s and Red High

CPC started their victorious campaign in a group game against Rathmore Grammar, Belfast. The game got swiftly underway in the first minute as CPC forward Conor Donnelly put one past the Rathmore keeper. CPC followed up with a range of scores from Roan McGarry, Conor Donnelly and half forward Ben ‘Swevy’ McGarry, who was also CPC captain on the day, before Rathmore scored from a placed ball shortly before the referee blew the halftime whistle. The second half began with a stylish ‘over the shoulder’ point from Roan McGarry and goal from Swevy McGarry with Rathmore showing no hope of a comeback.

The following 2 group games were little to no different to the result in the first match, as CPC beat St Killian’s, who they then went on to meet in the Cup final, and St Patricks Downpatrick to leave them top of the group going into the semi-finals.

CPC came up against a strong Knock outfit in the semis, who were runners up in their group. CPC had a blistering first half, coming in 2-06 to 0-0 at the interval with scores from Roan McGarry, Tiago McGarry, Swevy McGarry and Callum Cane. Knock got 2 quick frees at the start of the second half which were skilfully placed over the bar. But with the impact of substitute Danny McAuley who settled the nerves with a score at the other end, CPC led themselves to a final against St Killian’s.

Both teams were missing a few key players who are involved in championships at club level, with CPC missing the likes of Paudie Martin, Reece Cunning and Ben O’Kane and St Killians short of Cormac McKeown, Callagh Mooney and James McKeegan but the talent on show was first class.

CPC made the first break as Ronan ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald got the first score of the final when he slotted the ball over the bar with a score on the wing 45 which followed up by a goal from Tiago McGarry when he made a run down the left hand side of the field before bouncing it in front of the keeper and into the back of the net. St Killian’s keeper Thomas McLaughlin pucked the ball down the field before reaching Orrin O’Connor who took no time to put it in the back of the net. CPC scraped a goal before the end of the half from Roan McGarry as they went in 2-03 to 1-2 up at the break. With a downfall of rain at the end of the first half, the conditions were poor leaving the sliotar wet and slippery as easy chances were starting to be missed. The final two minutes were intense when St Killian’s were awarded a free outside the 21 which was saved by goalkeeper Eoghan Richmond and resulted in a 65 moments before the final whistle. The ball was lumped in the square but well defended by the CPC defence before referee Fiontann McCotter sounded the final whistle.

Under 15A Hurling Championship

Naomh Eanna 4-23 Loughgiel 5-16 AET

Loughgiel Shamrocks travelled to the Hightown Road by coach on Tuesday night for the U15 Hurling Championship Semi-Final. The large crowd of spectators gathered at the club were in for a real treat that night.

The Glengormley boys opened the scoring on the night, registering 1-1 early on in the match. However, Loughgiel lads responded well, developing a 5 point lead on Naomh Eanna during the first half. The Naomh Eanna boys picked up the fight and a flurry of points from them brought the sides level just before half time.

The second half was greatly contested, a real spectacle of hurling as the sides traded scores. With both teams sitting level at the 60 minute mark, Naomh Eanna believed that they had sealed the victory when they pointed from a free, 3 minutes into time added on. This excitement for the lads was very short lived, as the Shamrocks responded quickly with a levelling point from a placed ball of their own. This sent the game into extra-time.

As the light faded quickly during the next 20 minutes and both evenly matched teams pushing the barriers of exhaustion, both continued to battle valiantly, hungry for that win and path to the Final.

The Naomh Eanna boys soaked up some late pressure from the Shamrocks during additional time to win by 4 points with a resulting score of Naomh Eanna 4:23 / Loughgiel 5-16.

Players from both sides lay exhausted on the field when the final whistle sounded. What a match…an epic battle and superb effort displayed by both contesting teams, with all players able to hold their heads high. Unfortunately Shamrocks were ultimately pipped at the post and the Naomh Eanna boys will see their journey continue when they take on Dunloy (conquerors of Ard na Rí )in the U15 Final.

Naomh Eanna 

Shea Bell – 1:16 (19)

Thomas Mooney – 1:2 (5)

Colm Kane – 1:2 (5)

Harry Feeney – 1:0 (3)

Darragh Quinn – 0:2 (2)

Aaron Quinn – 0:1 (1)

Loughgeil Shamrocks     

Liam McGarry – 1:8 (11)

Caolan McCollum – 2:4 (10)

Logan McConville – 1:1 (4)

Caolan Christie – 1:1 (4)

Dylan O’Boyle – 0:1 (1)

Cian Higgins – 0:1 (1)

Under 15 A Hurling Championship

Dunloy 6-11 Ard Na Rí 2-10

Dunloy booked their place in the final of the Under 15 A Hurling Championship when they came from behind at half time to beat Ard Na Rí in Tuesday evening’s semi-final at Pearse Park.

In the opening quarter Ard Na Rí had the better of things and led by 1-3 to 0-3 at one stage, the goal coming from Ronan Taylor. Dunloy corner forward Daire Elliott got a goal to level matters on 16 minutes and full forward Jay McAlonan put them ahead with another goal soon afterwards. The young Cuchullains looked strong, but a a goal and two points from Taylor swung the game back in the visitors favour and they went in at the break with a four point cushion.

A pointed free from Dunloy full forward Jay McAlonan early in the second half, plus a goal by substitute Jack McQuillan had Dunloy level and they hit the front when McAlonan got his team fourth goal of the game.

Further goals followed from midfielder James McGarry, whose long free went all the way to the net, and centre forward Anthony Cochrane who broke through on the right and crashed a shot in off the inside of the far post, and there was no way back for the visitors.

Dunloy go forward to play St Enda’s in next week’s final, the Glengormley boys beating Loughgiel in high scoring semi-final at Hightown.  

1. Patrick Scott (PJ Molloy)
2. Joseph Doherty
3. Oisin McGuckian
4. Rory Blaney
5. Seamus McMullan
6. Aaron Doherty
7. Ollie McClements (Jamie McMullan)
8. Eunan Curry
9. James McGarry
10. Damien McMahon (Jack McQuillian)
11. Anthony Cochran
12. John Ferguson
13. Daire Elliott (Shane McGilligan)
14. Jay McAlonan
15. Euan Molloy (Eanna McGuckian)

Ar na Rí

1. Finn Smyth
2. Aaron Flynn
3. Dylan Meighan
4. Séagh McEwan
5. Cairge Mac Adhaimh
6. Fionn McCann
7. Con Flannery
8. Aodhan Pierce
9. Conall Dempsey
10. Conor McIlhatton
11. Reece Angeone
12. Odhran Bellew
13. Barra Bellwe
14. Ronan Taylor
15. Liam Ó Fionnagain

North Antrim Under 13 Hurling Championship

Dunloy: 4-7(19) Loughgiel: 0-2(2)

In what was to be the first leg of a notable double for the club, Dunloy won the Under 13 North Antrim Championship title when they beat Loughgiel in Saturday’s final at Cushendun on Saturday. (The following day they added the South West Antrim Under 13 Football title)

Paudie O’Kane opened the scoring for the young Cuchullains on three minutes when he sent over a point from a free, while Aaron Richmond, Ronan Elliott added points and Ronan Smith hit the first goal of the game. Joe Casey pulled one back for the Shamrocks on 13 minutes. But a second goal from centre back Oisin O’Brien was added to by a point from Ronan Elliott as Dunloy went on to lead by 2-04 to 0-1 at the interval.

Two points from Padai O’Kane were followed by a goal from full forward Cillian Cunning and another by O’Kane while Cody McGarry pulled one back for the Shamrocks from a 45.

DUNLOY

Tom Richmond, Harry Blaney, Peadar Doherty, Noah Bradley, Caden Doherty, Oisin O’Brien, Iarfhlaith O’Kane, Padai O’Kane, Lorcan Martin, Pearse McMullan, Aaron Richomd, Sean Johnston, Ronan Elliott, Cillian Cunning, Ronan Smith.

Subs – Dan Boyle, Fionn McCloskey, Roan Neenan, Blaine Mullan

LOUGHGIEL

Ciaran Hennessy, Rian Maloney, Cody McGarry, Oisin McCloksey, Aidan Barr-Laverty, Aaron Gillan, Charlie Douthart, Cahir McErlane, Ronan McGarry, Lorcan Murtagh, Damian Laverty, Conor Connolly, Oisin McFadden, Joe Casey, Cahir McCloskey.

Subs – Martin Maynes, Liam McKee, Kevin Og McGarry, Callum

Laverty, Charlie Boyd, Tommy Traynor