Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Group 1

Ballycastle 2-15 St John’s 1-18

Six minutes into injury time in Sunday’s Senior Hurling Championship clash at Pairc MacUílín the sliotar broke out to Ballycastle’s Neill McAuley about 70 meters from the St John’s goal. The veteran defender took aim and went for what would have been the winning point. At first he raised his hurl in celebration thinking his shot was on target, but as the ball neared the posts he could see it had drifted the wrong side of the upright and he turned away dejected, knowing a great chance of a semi-final spot was gone.

It was a dramatic end to a dramatic game and in truth it was a fair result, for neither side deserved to lose this epic battle. It was tense and exciting from start to finish and though St John’s appeared to be in control when they led by 0-8 to 0-3 after twelve minutes, they could not contain the genius of Ciaran Clarke who hauled his team back into contention with a series of brilliant scores, including a great individual goal on 25 minutes, to put them 1-10 to 0-12 ahead at the break.

When the Town were reduced to fourteen men at the throw-in at the start of the second half their task appeared massive, but they battled on bravely, but when man of the match Conor Johnston scored his team’s goal just after the second half water break the smart money was on the Johnnies. When he added a points seconds later to put his side four clear with just eleven minutes of normal time left to play they appeared to be in a strong position, but when Ballycastle substitute Dairmuid McShane took advantage of a slip by the St John’s netminder to flick the ball to the net it was game on again. The excitement was a fever pitch as Clarke pushed his team three ahead three minutes into added time, but the Johnnies battled back with two late points to earn a deserved draw, a result that puts them in the driving seat in Group 1

Conor Johnston put the Corrigan Park men ahead inside 30 seconds, but Rambo McCarry had the home side level inside a minute. Johnston worked his magic again seconds later to restore the lead but Ciaran Clarke levelled this up for the second time with a point from a free. Two excellent points from Domnhall Nugent put the Johnnies two clear on seven minutes and though Clarke cut it back just one soon afterwards, four points without reply from Padraig Nugent (2), Michael Bradley and Shay Shannon (from a free) saw the visitors open up a five point gap. The game appeared to be getting away from Ballycastle but Ciaran Clarke steadied the ship with two pointed frees from distance to cut the gap back to three by the first half water break.

Two more from Clarke frees just after the restart were answered by Conor Johntson and Shay Shannon but on 25 minutes Ciaran Clarke turned the game around with two points inside 30 second, before breaking through from midfield and drilling the ball low to the St John’s net to put his side two clear. Shay Shannon sent over two points from frees as the game entered injury time, but a cracking point from corner forward TT Butler gave the Town a slender one point lead at the break.

Ballycastle must have been buoyed by their comeback but when Ryan McCook received a second yellow card for a loose swing on the restart hearts surely sunk. Shay Shannon’s point from the resultant free brought St John’s back on terms and though it too a further six minute for their next score, another peach of a finish from Conor Johnston, they were now in front. Clare missed a couple of very scoreable frees before bringing his team back level again but when they were still level at the second half water break Ballycastle confidence began to grow.

As is so often the case with the water breaks it can act more as a momentum break and so it proved again as Conor Johnston put his team back on top with a goal and a point inside a minute. The Johnnies held onto that four point lead and were looking like winners when Ballycastle got the bit of luck you needed in these situation, and when substitute Dairmuid McShane nipped in to flick the ball to the net it was game on again. Clarke tied the scores with a point from a free out on the sideline before McShane edged the home team in front with an excellent point from play.

When Clarke added another on 33 minutes it appeared that the Town would hold on for a famous win, but well taken points under pressure from Domnhall Nugent and Peter McCallin tied it up once again. Ballycastle did have a couple of chances of a winner but some great hooking and blocking by the Johnnies defence kept them at bay, and though McAuley had a late chances to snatch it his shot drifted wide and so set up enthralling finale to this group on Sunday next.

BALLYCASTLE

Brendan Connor, Oran Kearney Matthew Donnelly Sean Kelly Oisin McAuley Conor Boyd Eamon Elliott Ronan McCarry Ryan McCook Ciarán Clarke James McShane Ciarán Butler Tiernan Butler Neal McAuley Cathal Connor

Subs Séamus McAuley for C Connor

Fergal McKiernan for O McAuley

Dairmuid McShane for C Butler

ST JOHN’S

Declan Cregan, Conal Morgan, Ciaran Johnston, Sean Wilson, Simon McCrory, Stephen Tierney, Ryan McNulty, Andrew McGowan, Aidan McMahon, Conal Bohill, Conor Johnston, Michael Bradley, Shea Shannon, Pdtrick Nugent, Domnhall Nugent.

Subs Peter McCallin, Michael Dudley

Referee – Tarlach Conway

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Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

St Galls 1-10 Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-26

Paul McIntyre was at De La Salle Park

Loughgiel Shamrocks served notice of their intentions to claim back the Volunteer Cup as they saw off the challenge of St Galls at Milltown in clinical fashion. The Shamrocks built on last week’s win over Cushendall to claim top spot in group two and with a visit to St Enda’s next week to come, a semi-final place looks all but certain for Hugh McCann’s side, and if James McNaughton can continue the form he showed today, they just might go a bit further.

McNaughton finished the day with 0-13 to his credit as he glided through the St Galls defence time and time again. Eddie McCloskey and Shay Casey weighed in with a goal each while Tony McCloskey and Neil McGarry were on hand to stop Conor Burke being on the end of any long balls into the St Galls full forward line.

For St Galls it was a tough day at the office. While Chris Dornan’s team refused to throw in the towel, they were just second best all over the field. Jackson McGreevy was the one bright spark for the West Belfast side and he capped a fine performance with 0-5 from play. With Tomás Ó Ciarain already sidelined, St Galls were dealt another severe blow during the week that Karl Stewart will be out for 12 weeks with a broken foot. To make matters worse the were forced to play the final 17 minutes with 14 players following the dismissal of Mark Napier on a straight red card after a tangle with Neil McGarry.

St Galls to their credit started with a bit of fire in their bellies but once again, Lady luck was not their friend. Firstly, they thought that Napier had tied the game at one point each but after much discussion, the umpires signalled wide. Then just a minute later Jackson McGreevy thought he had given his side a lead when his long ball sailed into the net but referee Eamon Hasson penalised full forward Conor Burke for a square ball.

The bad luck wasn’t just consigned to the home side as Loughgiel lost Brendan McCarry with an ankle injury after just 13 minutes. The half forward tried his best to battle on but had to make way with the experienced Joey Scullion coming on in his place.

Shay Casey pointed after 15 minutes to give Loughgiel a 0-5 to 0-2 lead as the teams paused for the first water break. It was a first quarter that was keenly contested but on the resumption the visitors took full control.

James McNaughton struck wide when it looked like a routine score was on the cards but he quickly made up for this glaring miss as he scored three points in the next 90 seconds, before the first green flag was raised in the game on 24 minutes. A high ball into the St Galls square wasn’t cleared and Shay Casey acted quickest, while lying on the deck he still managed to direct the ball to the net after Mark McFadden was denied by Kurtis McGreevy in the St Galls goal. This helped the visitors to a comfortable nine-point lead, 1-11 to 0-5 at half time.

Loughgiel were in total control and on 47 minutes Joey Scullion played Eddie McCloskey in behind the St Galls defence to claim a second Shamrocks goal before the homeside claimed a late consolation when Antoin McGreevy finished expertly to the corner of the net. But the last word was left to McNaughton as he converted a free for his thirteenth score of the afternoon.

Teams & Scorers:

St Galls: Kurtis McGreevy, Jack Hopkins, Sean Burke, Stephen Morrison, Ryan Irvine (0-2), Aodhan Gallagher, Joseph McDaniel, Anthony Healy, Jackson McGreevy (0-5), Marcus Donnelly (0-1), Kieran McGourty (0-1), Patrick Friel, CJ McGourty (0-1), Conor Burke, Mark Napier.

Subs: Liam McCluskey for Sean Burke 40 minutes, Antoin McGreevy (1-0) for Conor Burke 42 minutes, Gregory McGreevy for CJ McGourty 48 minutes, Fergus Donnelly for Anthony Healy 49 minutes, Colm McCloskey for Joseph McDaid 52 minutes.

Loughgiel:

Chris O’Connell, Tieran Coyle, Neil McGarry, Tony McCloskey, Odhran McFadden, Damon McMullan, Declan McCloskey, Mark McFadden (0-1), Daniel McCloskey (0-1), James McNaughton (0-13 6f), Callum McKendry (0-1), Eddie McCloskey (1-3), Shan McGrath (0-1), Brendan McGarry, Shay Casey (1-4).

Joey Scullion (0-2) for Brendan McGarry 13 minutes, Donal McKinley for Mark McFadden 38 minutes, Bernard McAuley for Callum McKendry 45 minutes.

Referee: Mr Eamon Hasson (Swatragh)

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Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Match Day Two

By Brendan McTaggart

Meatloaf sang a song back in the day about ‘Two outta Three’ not being bad.  I wonder what he would have said about my ‘one out of four’ predictions last weekend?  I can only imagine that it would not be song worthy, by any stretch of the imagination.

But……it could have been different. 

A McCal penalty hitting the post, a Snoozer effort drifting wide and Naomh Éanna running out of steam in their senior championship debut.  All if’s, but’s or maybe’s. 

Thanks to Michael Bradley for giving me some shred of confidence to cling onto as a pundit.  Late and all as it was, I’ll take it.

Even if the result for my own club didn’t go the way I wanted, all four matches were close and exactly how you’d want it from a hurling fan’s perspective. 

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It was great to have hurling back.  I was in Pearse Park and witnessed what looked like the first shock of the championship.  Ballycastle pushed the Cuchullains all the way and were unlucky not to come away with anything other than a share of the points.  Squeaky bum time and additional time that seemed to last forever.  The joys of the water break and while it’s got it’s detractors, having so much injury time adds to the tension that only the championship can bring. 

A draw and maybe the awakening both sides needed.  For the Town, they’ve shown that they have the game to make waves in the championship and with a bit more belief, they could have made it over the line.

For Dunloy, maybe any overconfidence they might have had is now gone.  They didn’t hurl or hit the heights they have in the recent past.  Ballycastle didn’t allow them but they fought and dragged their way back into the game.  Moving Ronan Molloy to the half back line proved to be a master-stroke and a major factor in the Cuchullains turning the tide last weekend.

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I’m sure the Cuchullains were disappointed not to get off to a winning start and with their two remaining group matches in the City, they would have wanted two points on the board.  I’d imagine there will be a reaction – something Rossa don’t need to hear.

The Jeremiah’s come undone against their Old Firm rivals last weekend having led for most of the match.  A defeat tomorrow and a Ballycastle win against St John’s will see their hurling championship ended.  A very possible permutation.  Sunday could well be looked upon as knockout hurling for the Shaw’s Road men already.

St John’s and Rossa is a match that really does throw the form book out the window.  Rossa looked like they had it, the Johnnies had the final say.  Their match against Ballycastle will be worth watching.  A win for either side put’s them in pole position in the group.

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Loughgiel travel to the Milltown Row off the back of a morale boosting win against Cushendall.  Their first against their rivals in the championship since the 2016 championship final.  Having watched the game back, the first assessment is the Ruairi’s missed the assuredness of Neil McManus over placed ball and won’t have been jumping over the moon at hitting 18 wide’s.  But in true Cushendall fashion, they hurled the shirt off their backs until the final whistle.  A side who truly never know nor accept defeat.

That match alone saw the return to a Loughgiel shirt for Neilly McGarry and Benny McCarry.  Both with massive games, Neilly in particular on the edge of his own square in fine form while McCarry has that impish brilliance that makes him a constant threat.  Then there’s Liam Watson.  Giving Floyd Mayweather a run for his money for the number of times he’s came out of retirement.  From a neutral, brilliant to see him back, as a Dunloy man, well, not so brilliant. 

The Shamrocks are now in pole position and anything other than a direct route to the semi-finals will be a massive shock.  St Galls and Naomh Éanna might have something to say bout that but that’s the nature of the beast in our game at the moment.

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Any niggles McManus might have had that ruled him out last weekend, I’d imagine Eamon Gillan et al won’t be rushing him back.  The sight of Christy McNaughton having to come off after 20 minutes or so will have been a major setback for both player and club.  Sambo’s youngest has battled his way back from serious knee injuries and showed tremendous determination to get back out on the field once again.  Let’s hope it’s not reoccurrence.

Naomh Éanna travel to the glens with nothing to lose.  They came close last weekend to getting an opening senior championship win on their debut, if they get that win on Sunday the ‘Dall are in trouble.  That, however is a massive ‘if’.

Prediction time.

My time for redemption after last weekend’s disaster.  Loughgiel, Cushendall, Dunloy and Ballycastle.  A very north Antrim feel about that selection when I see it written down.  I’ll be in Rossa Park for those who want to tell me any different.