Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Antrim U20s face Westmeath in Mullingar

Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship – Tier 2

Westmeath v Antrim at Cussack Park, Mullingar

Antrim Under-20s step into the unknown tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on Westmeath in the Leinster Championship in Cussack Park, Mullingar. (Throw-in 2pm).

Liam Glackin who played at full back in the Ulster final for Antrim in their win over Down and at centre back in CPC’s Paddy Buggy final win. The selectors will have to decide what suits him best in Mullingar

When we spoke to team manager Michael McShane he sounded upbeat about things, saying that training has been going really well since beating Down in the Ulster final three weeks ago. The four senior players in the panel, Sean McKay, Cormac McKeown, Aodhan McGarry and Joseph McLaughlin were away last weekend with the senior squad at their warm-weather training camp in Portugal, returned a few days ago and trained with the rest of the squad last night.

Michael and his management team will not name the starting 15 until they arrive at Cussack Park as there are a couple of players with slight niggles and they want to asses them in the morning to be sure they are good to go. However the Ballycastle man assures us that the spirit in the camp is very good. They have worked very hard for a few months now and are really looking forward to the challenge of playing in Tier 2 in Leinster.

Aodhan McGarry
Niall Magee
Callagh Mooney

Their group in the second tier contains Westmeath and Meath and McShane stressed that nothing short of a win on Saturday will suffice. One team of the three advances to Tier 1 and that is something the management team have set their sights on since the campaign started. They have seen Westmeath in action on a couple of occasions and have been impressed with what they saw.

“I have got to see the opposition in action in a couple of games. They are a very big, strong team and they play a very distinctive running game. We know that any time you go into Mullingar to play Westmeath you are going to be up against it.” Like ourselves their aim is to get into Tier 1 and to do that they need to win tomorrow. McShane added “ To be honest whoever loses tomorrow will be more or less out of it.”

The way the group works sees whoever loses out tomorrow facing Meath next weekend, while the winners of tomorrow’s game face the same opposition the following weekend on April 12th.

Summing up McShane added “We are all very excited about this game, which should have a real championship feel about it, We are really looking forward to it and hopefully we get the win.”

The Saffrons have qualified for this stage of the competition by winning the Ulster title which saw them beat Derry and Down in the round robin section, and them beat Down in the final in Ballycastle. Down provided stiff opposition in that final and at half time there was only four points between the sides. However they pulled away in the second half and were comfortable enough winners in the end.

McShane and his team have had a wide selection to pick from, especially with St Killian’s winning last season’s Paddy Buggy Cup (All Ireland Colleges B Championship) and Cross & Passion doing the same this year. There is deep pool of talent available and they have been given their chance during a series of challenge games, plus their Ulster campaign.

Oran Donnelly
Charlie McAuley
Ben O’Kane
Fiontann Bradley who was top score in the Ulster final win over Down

We would expect to see a team along the lines of the one that beat Down in the Ulster final. Cormac McKeown did not start that day because he selected to start on the senior team the following day against Laois in the National Hurling League Division 1 B game at Corrigan Park. However he did get a run out during the second half of the Down game and looks certain to start tomorrow.

Team manager Mickey McShane

The team who beat Down in that Ulster final was

Antrim: Eoghan Richmond; Ciarán McAllister, Liam Glackin, Malachi McGibbon; Charlie McAuley, Ben O’Kane, Niall Magee; Sean McKay, Calum McIlwaine; Aodhan McGarry, Oran Donnelly, Thomas McLaughlin; Callagh Mooney, Joseph McLaughlin, Fiontan Bradley

Subs: Sean Óg Blaney for C McAllister (28); Cormac McKeown for O Donnelly (38); Orrin O’Connor for J McLaughlin (58); Austin Birt for L Glackin (58)

Scorers: F Bradley 0-10 (5fs); A McGarry 1-1 (1f); J McLaughlin 0-3; S McKay 0-2; O Donnelly 0-2; C Mooney 0-2; O O’Connor 0-2; N Magee 0-1; C McIlwaine 0-1; C McKeown 0-1

THE WESTMEATH LINE-OUT

Tomorrow is the biggest game most of these young men have faced. The stakes are high and it promises to be a great contest. Get yourself down to Mullingar to cheer them on.

For those not able to travel the game is being streamed live on Clubber

by thesaffrongael

CPC win Gaelfast Year 8 Cup

Gaelfast Year 8 Antrim Cup Final

This year’s edition of the Year 8 Antrim Cup culminated this afternoon at the Dunsilly Training Complex, with hurlers from Cross and Passion, Ballycastle and St Killian’s College, Garron Tower competing in a high quality, high scoring encounter with the former coming out on top after establishing early daylight in the tie and retaining their Antrim Cup crown for a third straight year, despite a valiant late fight back from the St Killian’s lads.  

Cross and Passion came sprinting out of the blocks into an early lead, with Oisin Richmond splitting the posts in style to open the scoring. This was quickly followed up with points from Ronan Smith, Ruairi Hennessy, a fine score from range from captain, Sean Johnson and two really classy points from Ruairi McQuillan – something which became a running theme throughout the afternoon.

Sevie Trowlen responded well from a free to get St Killian’s underway in the tie, after good work from Niall McKay. However, further CPC scores from McQuillan and the ever-impressive Iarla Gillan restored daylight in the tie, before Joe Richmond rifled home his first goal of the afternoon to consolidate CPC’s early dominance.

Dogged defensive work from Odhran McLaughlin and Fionnbhar Atcheson in the heart of the St Killian’s defence, accompanied with fine saves from keeper, Patrick Harris, kept them in the tie, however the onslaught from CPC continued throughout the first half. A goal for the industrious Jake Feetham was followed by Joe Richmond’s second of the day, before Ruairi Hennessy found the back of the net to wrap up a supremely impressive first half display for the Cross and Passion side.

The second half saw St Killian’s coming out with a point to prove, with end to end action throughout. Early goals were exchanged by Ronan Smith, Sevie Trowlen and Jake Feetham, with a few fine points struck by Conrad Bailey to continue the rapid scoring trend of the first half. St Killian’s began to battle hard in the midfield through Ronan O’ Loan and Niall McAuley, picking up much more possession now and looking inside to find their forwards. However, the immovable Conall McAuley was often there to put a stop to any imposing danger.

Noah McAuley entered the fray and immediately found the net, before Jude Montgomery responded in equal form, finding the back of the net for St Killian’s in stylish form. This inspired a fight back in the St Killian’s corner, with the determined Trowlen finding the net for the second time, before Niall McAuley helped himself to a brace of goals too. With their tails up, St Killian’s continued to attack, with Jack Black putting one between the posts. However, CPC continued to be ruthlessly efficient in attack with Oisin Richmond finding the net, and Oisin McCaughan and Ruairi McQuillan putting the game to bed with more quality scores for the winning side.

It was a game that was played in good spirits on both sides, with the two year 8 sides boasting a truly impressive amount of skill all around.

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by thesaffrongael

Cushendall book McAuley Cup final place

McAuley Cup semi-final in Armoy

Cushendall 3-17 Loughgiel 0-18

Cushendall booked their place in the final of the McAuley Cup at Armoy on Sunday with an eight point semi-final win over Loughgiel.

Both teams were short a good few regulars but they still produced a high scoring and entertaining game. Loughgiel went ahead in the early stages with points from Rian McMullan and Conor Deery but when Sea McAfee put Cushendall ahead with a goal in the third minute they held the upper hand for much of the game. Rian McMullan was picking off the points for the Shamrocks, with Enda Og McGarry and Conor O’Mullan adding to the tally but a second goal for the Ruairis by corner forward Ciaran Neeson and points from Padraig McKillop, Paddy Sharpe and Dan Delargy helped them to a 2-08 to 0-10 lead by half time.

Delargy increased Cushendall’s lead six minutes into the second half to push the gap out to five, but Loughgiel stayed in touch with good scores from ‘Bubbles’ McMullan (2) and Eoin McGarry (2). Half way through that second period the veteran Paddy McGill, who had been introduced at half time, started to make his prescence felt and two points inside a minute gave the Ruairis a bit more breathing space.

The Shamrocks got themselves back into contention when they hit four points without reply, two from Bubbles and one each Eoin McGarry and Donal McKinley, but Cushendall finished strongly and after McGill got another point, Padraig McKillop and Fergus McCambridge did likewise before Paddy Sharpe put the icing on the cake with an injury time goal

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by thesaffrongael

Under 20s finish strong to beat Dunloy

McAuley Cup Senior Hurling Tournament at Armoy

Antrim Under 20s 1-15 Dunloy 0-12

Antrim Under 20s produced a strong second half to beat and understrength Dunloy in Saturday’s McAuley Cup semi-final at Armoy. Mickey McShane’s team, who are preparing for a Leinster Championship meeting with Westmeath next weekend, stepped in when Glenariffe were unable to field, and though it was not a full strength team because of tomorrow’s challenge game against Laois in Dublin, it gave both sides a good workout.

Both teams were struggling to find any rhythm in their play in a low scoring first half as driving rain and a strong breeze left conditions far from ideal. Orrin O’Connor gave Antrim an early lead but Dunloy came back with points from Declan Smith and Nicky McKeague. Oisin McCallin and Roan McGarry came back with points for the young Saffrons but Ryan Mort and Declan Smith replied with points for the Cuchullains to regain the lead. Once again the Under 20s moved ahead Roan McGarry and Liam Glackin hitting the target but Dunloy finished the half strongly and four points in quick succession, three of them from Anton McGrath and one from Nicky McKeague sent them in at the break with a 0-8 to 0-5 lead at the interval.

Dunloy’s Anton McGrath closed the gap to two points when he scored early in the new half but Joe McMaughton and second half substitute Niall Magee hit back with points apiece to put Antrim four ahead. Anton McGrath and Nicky McKeague pointed to keep Dunloy in touch, but the Under 20s finished strong and as they gave a few more subs a run out the dominated the last fifteen minute and a goal and point from full forward Joe McNaughton, and three from Jack McCloskey saw them pull clear at the end.

ANTRIM U20

1. Anthony Mullan (Sub: Sean Og McLarnon – 47min)

2. Sean Og Blaney

3. Austin Birt

4. Tiago McGarry (Sub: Mal McGibbon – 23min)

5. Ben McGarry

27. Ben O’Kane (Sub: Liam Glackin-21min /Sub: Cian Baudant – 42min)

7. Cian O’Connor

8. Darragh Kelly

9. Callum McIlwaine (Sub: Niall Magee – HT)

10. Oran McCambridge

11. Orin O’Connor (Sub: Callagh Mooney – 53min)

12. Niall McClean

13. Roan McGarry (Sub: Jack McCloskey – HT)

14. Joe McNaughton

15. Oisin McCallin 

DUNLOY

  1. Paul Doherty
  2. Phelim Duffin
  3. Daire McMullan
  4. Orin Quinn
  5. Eamon Smith
  6. Kevin Molloy
  7. Padraig McGilligan
  8. Deaglan Smith
  9. Ciaran Elliott
  10. – Conal Kelly
  11. – Nicky McKeague
  12. – Anton McGrath
  13. –Cathair McCloskey
  14. – Rian Mort
  15. – Oisin McCamphill

Referee – Own Elliott

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by thesaffrongael

Strong second half performance sees Tyrone claim another victory

Ulster Minor Football league

Antrim 1-7 Tyrone 2-16

Tyrone pulled away I a dominant second half to sweep aside of an Antrim team who had performed well in the opening half and were good value for their half time lead.

After the break the Red hands upped their game considerably, holding their hosts to three second half points though the Saffrons were denied a couple of second half goals, thanks to some excellent blocking by the Tyrone defence.

It was Cathair McKenna who opened the scoring for Antrim with an early 2 point free but Tyrone responded with points from Brian og McGuckin, Vincent Gormley 0-2 and Peter Colton.

Antrim replied through a Joe Logan Point and Shea Kerans in the Antrim goals pulled of a good save before Daire Keenan finished to the net at the other end to give the Saffrons the lead for the second time.

The home side were giving as good as they got Jack Heatherington fisted over in reply to a point from Peter Colton to give the home side a 1-4 to 0-5 lead at the interval

HT 1-4 TO 0-5

Tyrone seemed to find another gear as the second half got under way with Brian Og McGuckin, Vincent Gorley 0-2 and Darren McAnespie pointing to edge them ahead.

Portglenone’s Odhran Doherty levelled matters again from a well struck free and Padraic O’Connell responded to another Gormley point to level matters once more before the visitors seemed to find another gear.

They kicked a series of unanswered points through Odhran Curran, Aodhan Curry and Peter Colton with Antrim final reply coming from the excellent McKenna though they were denied a couple of goal scoring opportunities.

Odhran Curran’s goal for the visitors killed the game as a contest and it came when he was on hand to tap in from close range following a great save by Kerans in the Antrim goal.

Tyrone added a series of unanswered points going down the home straight with Gormley, Curran, Colton and Corry on target and Pearse McDonnell’s second goal for the Red Hands saw them home comfortably in the end.

Another win for an excellent Tyrone side but Antrim will certainly take something from an excellent opening half and on another day might have had a couple of second half goals.

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