Ballycastle held off a second half rally by Portaferry at Pairc MacUilin on Saturday evening to win the league points in a high scoring game.
Eleven points up at the break (2-13 to 0-08) after playing with the aid of a stiff breeze it appeared to be plain sailing for the home side, but when man of the match Cahal Coleman hit back with a goal and two points in the first five minutes of the second half it was clear they were still very much in contention. Darragh Donnelly came back with a goal for Town to ease the pressure but when eighteen year old Coleman completed his hat-trick with goals in the 41st and 43rd minute the Ulster champions appeared to be on their way to the win.
However Ballycastle never gave up the fight and a goal by Darragh Donnelly, following great work by Seamus McAuley and Tiernan Smyth, gave them the breathing space to get them over the line.
Coleman made his mark early with two quick points, but a goal by Arden Kelly helped Ballycastle to a 1-03 to 0-02 lead after five minutes and a second goal on fifteen minutes by Conor Donnelly put them 2-06 to 0-05 in front. Coleman kept the Down men in touch with three of the next four points three points in two minutes in first half injury time from Conor Donnelly (2) and Darragh Donnelly sent them in at the break with a 2-13 to 0-08 lead.
Eighteen year old Cahal Coleman who scored 3-9 in his team’s defeat to Ballycastle
The early goal from Coleman and two quick points showed that Portaferry were still in contention and Darrgh Donnelly’s goal from the home side helped settle the home side. However whenever Coleman came back with two more points before the three-quarter mark the gap was down to eight. Portaferry’s fourth goal by substitute Noah Rodgers was followed two more Coleman points and there was just four between the sides.
The visitors must have fancied their chances of taking both points at his stage, but Darragh Donnelly’s goal, gave the Town the upper hand again and they held on to win by four.
Darragh Donnelly fires in Ballycastle’s fourth goal
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Last year’s Junior Championship finalists, St. Mary’s Rasharkin and Glen Rovers Armoy met in the division 3 league at Dreen on Saturday with the men from the Glen gaining a bit of revenge for that loss to today’s opponents, St. Mary’s in last year’s final.
Glen Rovers started with a stiff breeze at their backs and had the sliothar in the Rasharkin net within two minutes. Brian Og O’Neill in the Rasharkin goals made a good catch and raced from his goals but his clearance only found Thomas Burns and his long delivery was diverted to the net by Joseph McFetridge.
Jack Quinn replied immediately with a point at the other end but the visitors were looking the sharper and PJ McBride fired over at the other end.
Conr McKeever closed the gap to a goal once more but Glen Rovers were starting to take control and Tarlach McBride, PJ McBride and Ciaran McCormick hit three on the bounce to move them 6 ahead before Jack Quinn replied with a point for St. Mary’s.
Both sides were fiercely contesting every ball but the Armoy press was more sustained and their short passing game was working a treat while too many attempted passes for the home side were going astray or being intercepted.
Conor McKeever raised his second white flag of the afternoon from a free in the 15th minute but Tarlach McBride replied with a monster score for the visitors before Brian Og O’Neill in the Rasharkin goals pulled of an excellent save to deny Timothy Burns.
The Glen Rovers high press and team work was starting to tell as they added a point from a ‘65’ from Tarlach McBride and the same player added another from a free before Emmet O’Hara struck a fine point from play to move the visitors nine ahead.
Conor Christie then hit a sweet over the shoulder point with Tarlach McBride adding another fine score and O’Hara’s late point for the visitors in response tothe Conor McKeever’s third of the half from a 45 meter free, left it 1-12 to 0-4 for Armoy at the break.
Just what influence the strong breeze would have in the second half was what most people would have been asking and given its strength, that 11 point half time lead certainly didn’t look insurmountable.
Timmy Burns put a spanner in the Rasharkin works in the opening minute however as he pulled first time on the ground to beat Brian Og O’Neill from close range to increase that lead to 14 and it looked a long way back for the reigning Junior Champions.
They refused to concede however and Conor McKeever got them going again from a free in the 3d minute but Emmet O’Hara replied with a point at the other end.
Back came the home side and Conor McFerran gave them a glimmer of hope when he deflected a long delivery past Conor Devlin and points from McKeever and Thomas McMullan had it back to nine after 13 minutes.
Substitute, Trevor Linton briefly relieved the pressure and Conor McKeever and Tarlach McBride exchanged further points to keep significant distance between the sides.
Another point from Ciaran McKenna stretched the Armoy lead to 12 with 10 minutes remaining to affectively kill of the game as a contest but St. Mary’s battled all the way to the final whistle.
Conor McKeever who top scored for Rasharkin
Conor McKeever, who was their top scorer, sent two sublimely struck side-line cuts between the uprights and added another from a ‘65’ and Tiernan O’Boyle hit a fine point in reply to one from the excellent Tarlach McBride to conclude the scoring.
This win moves Glen Rovers to the top of the league on 6 points after 3 rounds but Rasharkin are handily placed in joint second on five points with Gort na Mona and Dunloy’s second string.
The home side were missing a number of key players due to injury and will be confident of getting back to winning ways when they become available while Armoy look capable of being challengers for the title on Saturday’s performance.
Rasharkin: 1 Brian Og O’Neill, 2 Connor Higgins, 3 Daniel Doherty, 4 Daniel Hasson, 5 Connaire Doherty, 6 Aidan McKeever, 7 Tiernan O’Boyle, 8 Cathair Henderson, 9 Conor McFerran, 10 Declan McKay, 11 Thomas McMullan, 12 Jason McGregor, 13 Conor McKeever, 14 Terry McGregor, 15 Jack Quinn.
Subs: Oisin Doherty for Jason McGregor, Brendan Kelly for Jack Quinn
Sunday 27 April at Corrigan Park, Belfast – Throw in: 2pm
Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Sunday’s Leinster Championship game between Antrim and Kilkenny at Corrigan Park.
After the disappointment of last week’s trip to the sunny south-east, Antrim welcome Kilkenny to Corrigan Park on Sunday in search of their first win of the Leinster championship campaign.
It’s always a huge occasion when the Cat’s come to town and when you throw in a championship match into the mix, Sunday will be no different. What Antrim hope will be different is the quality of officiating from their contest against Wexford. When we spoke with Davy Fitzgerald after the game, to say he was irate would be the understatement of the century. Apoplectic may come closer to best describing the Saffrons Bainisteoir but Antrim’s performance against the ‘Yella Bellies’ while good for long periods, will need serious improving if they are to come close to a Kilkenny side who are on the hunt for major honours.
It’s been 10 years since Liam McCarthy visited the banks of the River Nore, the longest barren spell for the Black and Amber for almost 70 years but they are chasing their sixth Leinster Championship in a row.
Sunday will be the third year in a row Antrim will line up against Kilkenny and they won’t need reminding of those past results…. We’re going to do it anyway. In 2023, Kilkenny had 17 points to spare while last year the final score read 5-30 to 0-13 in Nolan Park. The Saffrons bounced back from that game to defeat Wexford in what was a quite brilliant performance – can they bounce back again after last Saturday’s defeat? That would be a massive ask.
They will be without Niall McKenna again as he continues his recovery from injury while it may come too soon for Conor Johnston. Seaan Elliott was taken off with a knock picked up against Wexford and Fitzgerald said himself that it wasn’t looking good for him to be ready for Sunday’s game.
Kilkenny are forced into two changes from their win over Galway seven days ago with Tommy Walsh and Stephen Donnelly coming in for Shane Murphy and Adrian Mullen. Both men picked up injuries during that game in Nolan Park and they continue to be without the experienced duo of TJ Reid and David Blanchfield.
The 15 that Derek Lyng has chosen still reads like a who’s who of hurling, however. Huw Lawlor and Richie Reid form the spine of their defence with Mikey Carey and Paddy Deegan making up a strong half back line. Eoin Cody has shook off the knock picked up against Galway to start in a full forward line that will have Martin Keoghan while Kerry native Fionan Mackessy will line out on the ’45 – a talented hurler and a man that needs no introduction to this group of Antrim players.
Scott Walsh lines out at left half forwardKeelan Molloy starts right half forward Eoghan Campbell moves to midfield
Against Galway, Kilkenny had 13 different scorers and out of the 3-24 hit, 3-21 came from open play. Quite an astonishing stat with their goals coming from Adrian Mullen, Martin Keoghan and Eoin Cody as they ran out comfortable winners with 12 points to spare.
For Antrim, they had prolonged periods of being competitive against Wexford at the beginning of each half. Soon after the restart, just two points separated the sides and Antrim looked to be gaining some momentum, indeed with 12 minutes remaining they trailed by just five points. Some of their interplay was excellent but the home sides goals proved to be sucker-punches. Too often, they were on the wrong side of questionable calls from the official as frustration became apparent from the side line.
The dominance of Lee Chin and Antrim’s inability to curtail his influence will have been a concern for the Saffrons management team as they prepare to come up against a side who are another step up in class.
Antrim continued to battle however, something you would always associate with a Davy Fitzgerald side and they will have to bring those same battling qualities when Kilkenny come calling on Sunday.
The Antrim team to face Kilkenny at Corrigan Park tomorrow
County secretary Frankie Quinn has stepped down from the post last weekend after seenteen years of service. Last night he attended senior hurling training at Dunsilly with members of his family where the hurlers presented him with a signed jersey. Two weeks ago the senior footballers presented one before the Ulster Senior Championship game against Armagh at Corrigan Park.
We at the Saffron Gael would like to wish Frankie a happy retirement and thank him sincerely for all his support since we started the project eith years ago
Donal Murphy, Andy McEntee and Peter Healy make a special presentation to Frankie Quinn before the Antrim v Armagh Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter final at Corrigan Park two weeks ago.
Lámh Dhearg are delighted to announce that the leading vertically-integrated international construction materials group in Ireland, Breedon, have generously become a partner of the club and sponsor of their senior teams.
At the launch Chairman Brian Smyth warmly welcomed Breedon’s Fraser Thom, Products and Materials Director and David Cleland Manager of Breedon Ireland along with club trustees Jackie Duffy , Pat McCague and Sean Maguire , committee members and representatives from their senior teams.
Brian spoke proudly of how the club is rapidly expanding in terms of facilities and teams and acknowledged the members working hard in the functioning of the club . He commented “Breedon partnership is very exciting and will undoubtedly be a major help and boost in running the senior teams in the club. We are very excited and looking forward to building a very strong and productive partnership with Breedon in the next few years. The club are very appreciative of Breedon securing the partnership .”
Breedon’s Fraser Thom thanked the club for such a hospitable welcome and commented “Building on our previous sponsorship of the women’s team, we are delighted to progress our partnership with Cumann Lámh Dhearg CLG to become the official sponsor across all senior teams.
Creating a positive impact in the local communities in which we work is an ongoing commitment for us at Breedon. Supporting Lámh Dhearg, a club with a long-standing dedication to developing sport and community in their West Belfast locality, is a perfect fit for us
We look forward to following and wishing the senior teams well as they advance this season and into the future”.
The club would encourage all members to support Breedon and any of our other many generous partners if the opportunity arises as they are all vital in facilitating the successful promotion and development of Gaelic games in the club.
