The Casement SC Junior Hurling Championship continues tomorrow and barring slipups the quarter-final places could well be decided after tomorrow’s round of games.
All Games 2-00 pm.
Group 1
Latharna Og v St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s will make, what I would guess, is their first visit to Brustin Braes to face a Latharna Og side who have risen like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes after a number of years in exile and are now a force to be reckoned with in Junior hurling.
The Larne men couldn’t have got a much tougher draw in this year qualifier’s and lost out to Shane O’Neill’s, Glenarm last day out after recording a good win away to Davitt’s on day one. Glenarm had already lost to St. Paul’s on the opening day in Feystown and barring a big upset the Shaw’s Road side should win this one to top Group 1.
Shane O’Neill’s v Davitt’s
Shane O’Neill’s recovered from their opening day defeat to St. Paul’s and avoided the proverbial banana skin when they travelled to Brustin Braes and defeated Latharna Og last week and they are likely to have too much fire power for visitors, Davitt’s and they should go forward to join St. Paul’s in the quarter-finals
Group 2
Lamh Dhearg v St. Teresa’s
Con Magee’s, Glenravel have already qualified from Group 2 with wins over St. Teresa’s on the opening day of the group and a home win over Lamh Dhearg last day out so tomorrow’s meeting of the Hannastown men and St. Teresa’s is a winners take all encounter and while Lamh Dhearg have home advantage St. Teresa’s might well gain the result they require.
Group 3
St. Agnes v Robert Emmet’s Cushendun
St. Agnes lost in a tight encounter against Loch Mor Dal gCais last week and they take on the giants in this group, Emmet’s, Cushendun in Belfast. Cushendun started this campaign as firm favourites and served notice on day one with a comprehensive win over Loch Mor and should have too much in the tank for the ‘Aggies’ tomorrow.
Group 4
Kicham’s Ardoyne v St. Mary’s Rasharkin
Rasharkin travel to Fennell Park to face Kickham’s Ardoyne having defeated All Saints, Ballymena at Dreen on the opening day. All Saints pushed the home side until late in the game before the St. Mary’s men pulled away to win by seven points.
Last week All Saints got their qualification chances up and running when they hit 2-27 against Ardoyne and while the artificial surface at Fennell Park may suit the home side, anything other than a Rasharkin win is hard to envisage.
Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Championship
Gort na Móna finally enter the fray in the Intermediate Hurling Championship tomorrow when they take on Cloney Gaels Ahoghill at Enright Park. The Turf Lodge men have been shut down for a couple of weeks now because of a Covid case in the club, though not directly involving the hurlers as far as I am aware, but it can’t be an ideal way to prepare for a championship match. The last competitive game of hurling they played was back on July 22nd when they lost out to Tir na nOg in the league down in Randalstown by 3-17 to 2-13.
Sunday’s opponents Cloney Gaels come into the game with a six point win over Oisins under their belts in the opening round of games two weeks ago. The Ahoghill men were in top form that day and though they went into the game as outsiders they again proved what a resilient bunch they are by putting on a great display to record a 1-17 to 0-14 win. A draw on Sunday will be enough to see them through to the semi-final but they face a tough task against a Gorts side that were county junior champions just two years ago.
The Gorts other game against Oisins, which was postponed due to the Covid lockdown at the club, has been rescheduled for Wednesday evening (Aug 26th) in Waterfoot.
In Group 1, which was labelled the ‘group of death’ before the start of the championship, Carey Faughs are through to the semi-final with six points, after wins over Creggan and Sarsfields. These two meet tomorrow at the Bear Pit knowing that a win may not be enough to get them the best loser place as the fourth semi-finalist. Creggan have a six point deficit and the Paddies are five in arrears ,so one of them would need to have a big win to stand any chance of taking that much sought after fourth place.
In Group 2 Tir na nOg and St Brigid’s Cloughmills go into their final group game, both with a win over Armoy under their belts, and are in the strange position that a draw would probably take them both through. Of course with Group 1 still up in the air because of Gort na Móna situation nothing it certain but a draw in Randalstown tomorrow would rule out Creggan and Sarsfields, who can only end with two points at most.
However if one of them were to win convincingly, and Cloughmills or Tir na nÓg win by three points, the loser will have two points and a zero points score difference.
If it sounds crazy and hard to understand that is because it is the craziest system ever introduced for a knock-out championship.
Good luck to all involved tomorrow……and to all who have to work it all out.
I didn’t think it was possible, but last weekend was a step up in intensity and excitement from the previous. Leaving Rossa Park I was both bewildered and delighted. Bewildered at what had transpired in the hour and a half previous and delighted that I am privileged to gaze upon the beautiful game. I mentioned it in my report of the game, I really do pity those who know nothing of hurling. The Eighth Wonder of the world and the gift that keeps on giving.
Rumour has it, Chrissy McMahon’s equalising point is still travelling down the Stewardstown Road. Hit from a different time zone and could have gone for another 50 yards. I wrote in my report it was physically and metaphorically it was a gargantuan score for the Cuchullains. They knew they got out of jail in Rossa Park. They got a point from a game they had no right to for long periods. They made changes during the game both in personnel and tactically to somehow get back into the game. Ronan Molloy nullified the threat of James Connolly while having a stormer on the Dunloy half back line.
I say ‘somehow got back into the game’, I’m still not quite sure how it all happened but as I was reminded by Gregory O’Kane at the full time whistle: “Sometimes managers get it right as well.”
Yet it took an act of brilliance from Paul Shiels to spark the Dick Turpin-esque ending in the 15th minute of additional time. There will come a day when Dunloy will no longer have the services of ‘Shorty’, that will be a sorry day. Not just for the Cuchullains but for hurling in general. A genius with the ash and sliotar in his hand and we are blessed to be able to watch him.
Dunloy travel to Corrigan Park on Sunday. Somehow unbeaten and somehow still with their fate in their own hands. The Johnnies have qualified for the next round. Whether that’s straight to the semi’s or a quarter-final berth depends on this contest. The Cuchullains need a win to guarantee their championship rein continues. It all adds to what will be a cracking contest.
St John’s had an outstanding performance from Conor Johnston against Ballycastle. Ominous for the Cuchullains that the younger of the Johnston brothers has hit such imperious form and timing perfect as far as the Corrigan Park men are concerned. An attack as good as anything in the county and a work rate to match. This one is billed as Match of The Day and rightly so. The cameras will be there for those who can’t make it. I’ll be purchasing it so I can re-watch it back.
Twitter is where it all happens these days post-match. I like having a look and gauging reaction after the games – Rossa manager Colly Murphy hit the nail on the head with his response. “We could blame the referee however if that’s the added time then we play to the whistle which we didn’t.” I don’t think there’s anything more his side could have done on the day. They brought an intensity I haven’t saw from a Rossa side in a long time and matched it with a game plan that almost bought them the scalp of the champions.
How they are sitting with one point from two matches right now is one of life’s great mysteries. Playing Cricky McGuinness in full forward has come more by accident than design but the Rossa man has been more than a handful on the edge of the box. Brilliant in the air, he gives another option that combines beautifully with the youthful exuberance of Tiarnan Murphy, the guile of his brother Deaglan and the outrageous talents of Connolly.
The problem Colly Murphy has, and I say problem with tongue in cheek, is Mickey Armstrong. He plays so well in a number of positions, where do you best play him? A ball winner, a point taker, a grafter. I’ve always said I like to see him in the middle third and that’s where he spent the majority of his time against Dunloy. Armstrong on his game could be key for the Jeremiah’s against the luckless Ballycastle.
Neal McAuley thought he’d done the business last Sunday against St Johns when he went for glory from distance. He didn’t and like Dunloy, the Town are unbeaten but winless in this most bizarre of championships. Again, like Dunloy, Ballycastle know a win puts them through to the next round. What round that will be is the conundrum to end all conundrums. The permutations are mind blowing. We’ll leave it that winner takes all in both matches. If there’s more draws then it’s going to get messy.
The other group is more straight forward and as expected, Loughgiel and Cushendall are leading the way. The Shamrocks overwhelmed St Galls with James McNaughton leading the scoring charts as they racked up a big score. They’re in the semis with a game to spare and they travel to the Hightown Road to face a Naomh Éanna side who acquitted themselves well against the Ruairi’s last day out. They made life difficult for Cushendall and signs they are ready to kick on from their Intermediate glory of 12 months ago. Anything other than a win for Hugh McCann’s side will be a major upset but the Mighty Town men will be hoping to maintain their performance levels.
Cushendall and St Galls play off for the first time in the Championship since their 2014 final. This match will determine who finishes second and third in the group but the Ruairi’s will be favourites to take the runner up spot. St Gall’s bring a physicality that will match the ‘Dall but you’d fancy Cushendall to take the honours. It is unsure just how close Neil McManus is to returning to the fold but with Aidan McNaughton hitting form, Shane McNaughton putting the acting scripts to one side for the time being and Paddy McGill firing, they will have too much in their armoury for the Milltown Row Azurri.
Prediction time.
Last weekend I fared only marginally better than the previous week. Two out of four but in my defence, where has all the draws come from this year!?
Here goes. Loughgiel and Cushendall, Dunloy and a Ballycastle and Rossa draw.
That has Dunloy and Loughgiel in the semi’s, quarter-final pairings of St Galls and Cushendall against…..argh, no idea. Enjoy what promises to be a cracking weekend of hurling folks, Corrigan Park for me….I’ll be the one saying a Novena and holding a camera.
It’s been four years since the Volunteer Cup has rested in the trophy cabinet of Fr Healy Park. To some that may not be seen as an issue but in Loughgiel it’s bordering on a crisis. After being narrowly pipped by Cushendall in the 2018 final, the Shamrocks have started 2020 like they mean business. After getting the better of arch rivals, the aforementioned Dall in their opening game last week, Hugh McCann’s side duly put St Galls to the sword last Sunday in a devastating manor to take control of Group 2 of this years Bathshack sponsored Antrim Senior Hurling Championship.
‘Two wins out of two, brilliant, absolutely brilliant’ said McCann after Sunday’s win at Milltown. ‘We came here to do a job and we done it. That’s as simple as that and now we are totally focused on St Endas next week’. St Galls bring a physical challenge and they certainly done that today. We knew that coming up here so we had to play to our strengths’ continued McCann.
The win also puts his side within touching distance of a semi-final as the Shamrocks will be massive favourites to claim another win on the road in Glengormley next Sunday and finish the round robin series top of their pool, thus avoiding a potentially nightmare quarter-final clash with a from Group 1, which has become the group of death with no one as yet assured of qualification.
While McCann was quick to praise his squads performance it was hard not to ignore the 0-13 haul from James McNaughton. The wing forward landed six frees in a man of the match display of skill and poise. ‘Outstanding. A joy to watch’ was how his manager described McNaughton’s showing. ‘His balance, his striking. He’s running around with a smile on his face. What more can you ask for?’ continued McCann.
Looking ahead to next Sunday’s final pool game at St Enda’s, McCann admitted to not knowing a lot about the current Ulster Intermediate champions, but for the week ahead, he’ll be nothing but totally focused on the job at hand. ‘In fairness, I don’t know an awful lot about them, but they’ve a lot of good athletes. They’ll move a lot, they’ll move quickly. We just have to set out our stall and see how we go’, while also admitting that we may see Liam Watson taste championship action for the first time this year. Watson wasn’t risked against St Galls because of what his manager described as a ‘niggle’.
With a great blend of youth and experience at his disposal already, the return of ‘Winker’ could have a big say as we approach the business end of the season.
Ard Na Rí staged a great second half comeback to beat Con Magees Glenravel in Tuesday evening’s Under 16 B Hurling Championship game at Fr Maginn Park. At half time the home team appeared to be on their way to their second win of the campaign when they led by 3-8 to 1-6, but Ard Na Rí battled back after half time, scoring 2-7 while holding the home team to just a single point.
Cormac McKeown opened the scoring for Glenravel in the opening minute but the Belfast boys came back strongly with point from Niall Fallon, Fintan Cleary and Dairmuid Martin, before midfielder Fallon grabbed the first goal of the game on nine minutes. Glenravel responded with a goal of their own inside thirty seconds through Conor Larverty to leave just two between the sides but the home team fought back to draw level at the first half water break. When the action got going again Glenravel took control of the game and boosted by goals from Conor Duffin and Joe McKay they pulled away to lead by 3-8 to 1-6 at half time.
Ard Na Rí laid down a marker at the start of the second half when corner forward David Prenter grabbed his team’s second goal inside a minute and that set the trend Fintan Cleary added two points to bring his team level. Niall Fallon put his team back in front on 38 minutes when he scored his team’s third goal and it was plain sailing from this stage on as Cleary added five more points, three of them from frees, to wrap up the win and claim their place at the top of the table.
