Report and Pics: Joe Rice

ACHL Division 2

Kickham’s Creggan 4-17 Carey Faughs 0-12

Kickham’s Creggan find themselves top of the league after one round of the ACFL following Sunday’s emphatic victory over last year’s division 2 champions, Carey Faughs at their Staffordstown Road ground on Sunday.

Carey, who opted to remain in division 2 for 2025, travelled to the Lough Shore to get their campaign under way. The conditions were excellent with bright sunshine and a slight breeze.  A larger than normal crowd had gathered to watch what was expected to be a close encounter, but this wasn’t the case as the home side romped home with 17 points to spare.

 It took 4 minutes for Creggan’s Conor McCann to trouble the scoreboard with a point from play.  With 10 minutes gone, Matthew Rodgers and Sean McAuley had increased the home side’s tally to lead 0.3 – 0.0.  Callum Cane got the visitors up and running with a point on the 11^th minute, but Creggan’s response was almost immediate with a point from Conor Small.  Conall McGlynn cancelled Small’s point out as both sides traded scores heading up to the short whistle.  

Kickham’s Sean Duffin, got on the score sheet with 2 fine points from play before Conor McGlynn and Conor McBride reduced the gap to two.  Creggan’s first goal came when Matthew Rodgers dropped a high ball in over the goalkeeper’s head to increase the distance between the 2 teams.  Conor McGlynn converted his 3^rd free of the first half and the last score until the break was another point from play from Sean Duffin.

 HALF TIME SCORE:  CREGGAN 1.07 – CAREY 0.05

 Referee, Sean Elliott, got second half proceedings under way and a confident Creggan increased the gap to 6 points from a converted free by Conor McCann.  Carey’s response was to convert 2 frees of their own from Callum Cane and Conor McBride as their confidence started to grow and the game started to open up as a contest. 

Both sides battled hard and scores were hard to come by with both guilty of inaccuracy.  The home side’s Matthew Rodgers got his second point while his team mate Thomas McCann got on the score sheet.  The visitor’s Conor McBride, hit a purple patch with 3 unanswered points before Creggan responded with a 40 minute free from Conor McCann. 

Two goals in quick succession from Sean Duffin and a converted penalty from Conor McCann killed the game as a contest.  With 15 minutes left on the clock, Carey could only add a further 2 points, one each from Caolan McCaughan and Callum Cane, while Creggan went up through the gears with 3 points from Sean McAuley, a third from Matthew Rodgers, a second from Thomas McCann before Conor Small got the home side’s 4^th goal, Creggan were home and dry. 

The last score of the game was from Kickham’s substitute, Dan Doran, with a point from play moments after entering the play.  Creggan’s management will be delighted with the margins of this comfortable win, while Carey were unfortunate to lose 2 men through injury, which didn’t help their cause.

 This win puts Creggan top of the league on score difference after one round of games but the Kickham’s won’t be getting too carried away with this result. Last year’s Intermediate and league champions Carey were without a number of players and undoubtedly their results will improve as the season progresses.

Creggan:  No.1 Shay Devlin, No.2 Peadar McGuckian, No.4 Senan O’Boyle, No.3 Aidan Maguire, No.5 Dan Doran (0.01), No.6 Ruairi McCann, No.7 Jake McAteer, No.8 Sean Duffin (0.03), No.9 Kealan McCann, No.10 Matthew Rodgers (1.02), No.11 Thomas McCann (0.02), No.14 Conor McCann (1.04), No.13 Sean McAuley (0.04), No.15 Conor Small (1.01), No.17 Michael Maguire, No.16 Joseph James Smyth, No.19 Lee Johnston, No.21 Michael Carey Small, No.20 Danaan O’Hara, No.26 Ryan McGrath, No.24 Conor Loughran, No.25 Ronan McGuckian, No.23 Paul Colgan.

Carey:  No.1 Jimmy Joe Burns, No.2 Kevin Murphy, No.3 Zach McCaughen, No.4 Oisin Healey, No.5 Somhairle Mathers, No.6 Caolan McCaughen (0.01), No.7 Daniel McBride, No.8 Callum Cane (0.03), No.9 Ryan McQuaid, No.10 Adam Hughes, No.11 Darren McGowan, No.12 Fiachra McVeigh, No.13 Ryan McQuaid, No.14 Conor McBride (0.05), No.15 Conal McGlynn (0.03), No.17 Collum McKiernan, No.18 Eoin McCarry, No.19 Eoin McKinley, No.20 Michael McCormick, No.21 James McNeill.

 REFEREE:  SEAN ELLIOTT, LAMH DHEARG.

O’Neills Antrim ACHL Division Two

Sarsfield’s 2-18

Carryduff 1-24

Visitors Carryduff claimed the points on day one of the ACHL Division 2 when they overcame a strong challenge from Sarsfields at the Bear Pit on Sunday.

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The visitors played their way into the contest after a slow start and led by two at the break following a quick exchange of goals, but powered home in the second period with a late Sarsfield’s goal a mere consolation.

Sarsfield’s Fionn Jemfrey landed the first score of the season for Sarsfield’s despite Carryduff protests the shot was wide and Jemfrey doubled the advantage with Caolan McKernan and Oisin Coleman also on target.

At this stage the home side were looking good with Carryduff were off finding the target elusive but Donal Rooney opened his account from a free in the 8^th minute.

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However, the Paddies were calling the shots with strong pressure forcing a turnover that Daniel Smyth pointed and then Donal McKernan converted a sideline.

Eventually the South Belfast side settled into their rhythm and began to get into their stride as after an exchange of points, Donal and Eoin Rooney and Lavery would fire over points to help their side into the lead for the first time.

Donal McKernan replied from a free, but Carryduff were on a roll and they opened a three-point gap late in the half.

Sarsfield’s responded through McKernan pointing and then Enda McCartan found Jemfrey to lash to the net and at this stage the smart money was on the home side.

However, Carryduff responded in kind with Sean O’Callaghan’s initial effort saved by Daniel McKernan, but Ciaran O’Callaghan finished the rebound to help his team into a 1-12 to 1-10 advantage at the interval.

They added to that lead at the start of the second half with Conor McAlister leading the way and he would finish the game with six points. He landed the first two on the restart before the hosts hit back when Donal McKernan found Daniel Smyth with a superb crossfield sideline to score.

After Rooney pushed the gap out to three with a 65, points from Anthony McGarrigle and Brendan Jackson left one in it, but this was as close as Sarsfield’s would get. 

Carryduff finished on the front foot to hit five of the next six points through McAlister and Rooney to extend the gap to six in added time before Fionn Jemfrey responded with his second goal.

This gave Sarsfield’s a lifeline, but they couldn’t engineer another opportunity as Carryduff claimed the opening day points and could be a side to watch this year. 

Sarsfield’s: Daniel McKernan; D Coleman, J Cunningham, M McCavanagh; J Maguire, C McKernan (0-1), R McKenna; A McGarrigle (0-1), E McCartan (0-1); D Smyth (0-2), Donal McKernan (0-7, 3f, 2x65s, 1 sl), O Coleman (0-2); J Ward, A McKiernan, F Jemfrey (2-3).

Subs: B Jackson (0-1) for M McCavanagh (26), N McAlea for J Maguire (40).

Carryduff: C McLornan; N McArdle, C Cassidy, C Goodwin; M Conway, D Goodwin, O Wyer; O Teague, D Rooney (0-11, 8f, 2x65s); J Lavery (0-3), C McAlister (0-6), C O’Callaghan (1-0); S O’Callaghan, J Woods (0-1), E Rooney (0-3).

Subs: D Sharkey for N McArdle (50), C Ennis for S O’Callaghan (50), C O’Reilly for C O’Callaghan (58), M McCaughey for E Rooney (59).

Referee: John Dornan (East Belfast) 

O’Neills ACHL Division One 

Rossa 1-19-0-16 Ballycastle 

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa

Rossa got their hurling league campaign off to a winning start, after holding off a strong Ballycastle fightback to claim a 1-19-0-16 win at Rossa Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The hosts dominated the early exchanges on the scoreboard with Deaglan Murphy converting two frees, popping over from play, assisting a Pearse Short point and then landing a magnificent angled score from out by the sideline. 

Neal McAuley opened Ballycastle’s account from a converted free, with Murphy adding his third placed ball at the other end. 

The elder of the returning Murphy brothers continued to add scores at will, conjuring up another free, younger brother Daire got in on the act  and a further Deagaln score from play opened up a 0-9-0-1 lead. 

Ballycastle would claw their way back into proceedings in the later stages of the half but for the meantime had to time their scores with Tiernan Smyth squeezing a shot inside of the posts. 

Rossa almost claimed the opening goal when Deaglan Murphy slipped a pass inside to Pearse Short, but Short was bottled up by full-back Dermot Donnelly. 

Four unanswered points would follow though, Deaglan Murphy adding another two placed balls, Eoghan McMenamin swung an angled shot over and Stephen Beatty dropped a fine point from range. 

The visitors ended the half in ascendancy with three unanswered scores of their own. Lorcan Donnelly floated a shot over from Dermot Donnelly’s layoff, he then got his angles right shortly afterwards and Cahir Donnelly would provide another before the short whistle, though they did have their work cut-out- trailing 0-13-0-5 at the interval. 

Half-time substitute Tiarnan Murphy clipped over the opening score of the second period and an Eoin Trainor score shortly afterwards had the winning margin at double figures. 

Like the opening half, Neal McAuley got his side up and running from the placed ball- dropping a 65’ over and it was the first of five in a row that halved the deficit for the visitors

Conor Donnelly opened his personal account for the afternoon, Cahir doubled his and further points from Seamus McAuley and Neal McAuley from play made it 0-15-0-10. 

Momentum was momentarily halted thanks to Deaglan Murphy’s seventh converted free of the day, though Neal McAuley responded from the same scenario at the other end. 

McAuley punished a further three infringements in the aftermath as Ballycastle had closed to within two-points with little over five minutes remaining (0-16-0-14). 

Another Murphy free again stopped the visitors momentum and on the 57th minute Rossa looked to have sealed the points when substitute Tiarnan bore down and steered a low shot beyond the reach of Eamonn Elliott. 

Ballycastle rallied briefly through a Seamus McAuley point from play and a sixth converted free from McAuley. 

However, the hosts ended the afternoons scoring through a splendid Tiarnan Murphy attempt that dropped over and point from youngster and substitute Liam McEnhill. 

Donal Armstrong needed to be alert to deny Conor Donnelly in added time and from the resulting 65’, Seamus McAuley floated the ball towards goal and Declan McCartney made a vital stop on the line as Rossa held out for a 1-19-0-16 win and join Sundays other winners on the league summit. 

ROSSA: D Armstrong, C McGuinness, C Orchin, C Boyle, D McCartney, S Beatty (0-1), O McVicker, D Rogan, D Murphy (0-11, 0-8f), C O’Neill, P Short (0-1), Daire Murphy (0-1), D Rocks, E Trainor (0-1), E McMenamin (0-1). Subs: T Murphy (1-02) for C O’Neill (HT), L McEnhill (0-1) for D Rogan (50), M Armstrong for Daire Murphy (55). 

BALLYCASTLE: E Elliott, O Kearney , D Donnelly, R McCook, M McClean, J McShane, R Laverty, S McAuley (0-2), Cahir Donnelly (0-2), J McToal, N McAuley (0-8, 0-6f, 0-1 65’), R McClean, Conor Donnelly (0-1), T Smyth (0-1). Subs: C Butler for R McClean (HT), D Kelly for J McToal (40), A Kelly for R McCook (45), C McAuley for L Donnelly (49), Darragh Donnelly for C Butler (56). 

REFEREE: Paddy Tumelty (LÁMH DHEARG)

ACHL Division 2

 St. Paul’s 0-14 Emmet’s 0-12

St. Paul’s got their league campaign up and running with a good win over a strong Robert Emmet’s, Cushendun on the Shaw’s Road on Sunday.

It was nip and tuck for most of this excellent contest and it was Calum Kilgore who pointed the visitors ahead early in the contest but it would be the only time they led until late in the half.

John V Morgan in the Emmet’s goals pulled of a good save but it was a sign of what was to come as the home side hit the front with points from Sean Munce, Conall Finnegan and Caolan Duffin to take a 0-3 to0-1 lead.

Cushendun began to settle however and Dominic McQuillan, Conrad McDonnell and Andrew Breslin replied with points in answer to one from Declan Chapman and it was all square at 0-4 apiece with little to separate the sides at this stage.

A superb long range effort from inside his own half from Daire Stevenson restored the St. Paul’s lead and another from Caolan Crossan had the hosts two in front but two in reply from veteran Dominic McQuillan had it tied once more.

Once again it was the excellent Caolan Duffin who restored the ‘Hoops’ lead before a cfcouple in reply from Tomas Scally briefly restored the Emmet’s advantage but Caolan Crossan fired over at the other end to leave it 0-8 to 0-8 at the break.

It was St. Paul’s who were first off the mark in the second half as Caolan Duffin pointed to move them ahead once more before Chris Murray pulled of a great save at the other end as the visitors attempted to respond.

Back came the North Antrim side again and Eoin Magee brought the sides level once more with a good point but Thomas Duff split the posts at the other end to put the hosts in front once more.

It was obvious this one was going to go right down to the wire as Dominic McQuillan pointed a ‘65’ for the Glens men but again the home side found a reply and it was Caolan Duffin who pointed from play and then added another from a free to move his side two clear.

Dominic McQuillan was going all in his power to keep the Emmet’s in contention as he converted another free but a superb point from deep in his own half from Daire Stevenson would prove to be the score that would finally break the Cushendun resistance.

John V was at hand as he once again came to his side’s rescue with Paul Magee making the points secure and Conor McHugh responding with a consolation point for Robert Emmet’s.

St. Paul’s: 1 Chris Murray, 2 Mark Munce, 3 Fionntan Gamble, 4 Tiarnan Auld, 5 Thomas Duff, 6 Daire Stevenson, 7 Liam Walsh, 8 Sean Lawell, 9 Caoimhin Killyleah, 10 Caolan Duffin, 11 Declan Chapman, 12 Conall Finnegan, 13 Pol MacAoidh. 14 Caolan Crossan, 15 Sean Munce

Cushendun: 1 John V Morgan, 2 Mark McSparran, 3 Donal O’Hara, 4 Pearse McKeegan, 5 Matthew McCartin, 6 Aidan Corbett, 7 Jack McKay, 8 Aidan McSparran, 9 Andrew Breslin, 10 JohnJoe O’Connell, 11 Archie McSparran, 12 Michael McHugh, 17 Eoin Magee, 21 Calum Kilgore, 14 Shay McGinley, 18 James Morgan, 20 Conor Bannon, 22 Conor McHugh, 23 Conrad McDonnell, 24 Dominic McQuillan, 25 Tomas Scally, 26 Pierce Bannon, 27 Gareth Magee, 28 Colm McKeegan

Referee: Shane McDonnell

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