Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter-Final

St Johns 2-21 Loughgiel 1-22

Sunday September 12

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pairc Ui Cheallagh, Portglenone

St John’s and Loughgiel just don’t do dour and drab encounters, do they?  Under the floodlights of Pairc Ui Cheallagh, they laid out a feast of championship hurling for the big crowd to devour.  It was an epic, titanic tussle that had everyone gripped from the first whistle.  In the end, goals from Conor and Ciaran Johnston proved to be the telling scores, one in each half as the Johnnies edged Loughgiel by two points to finally come out on top of a close contest.

In recent seasons, St John’s have been involved in so many battles with extra time and replays coming and going with the Corrigan Park side coming out on the wrong side of them.  They didn’t need extra time or a reply on Sunday evening but this was every bit the gargantuan battle we expected beforehand.

Loughgiel came into the game with something to prove to themselves after their performance against Rossa seven days ago and they improved immeasurably.  James McNaughton was once again their star man with a breath taking display, roaming all over the pitch but the inside forward duo of Chirsty McGarry and substitute Rian McMullan brought the Shamrocks to life while Ciaran McKay was tireless from half back.  The Shamrocks are backing their youth and how they responded to the belief instilled in them.  Eleven minutes into the second half and St John’s looked to be taking control of this quarter-final with Ciaran Johnston’s brilliant goal helping them to an eight point lead but Loughgiel responded by scoring 1-4 in the space of five minutes and but for the brilliance of Simon Doherty between the posts, it could have been more.  Rian McMullan with the goal while Paul Boyle’s rasping drive was saved superbly.

If anything the Loughgiel momentum was staved by the second half water-break.  They were in full throttle and with the wind at their sails but St John’s dug in once again in the final quarter of a match they were never behind in.  From racing into an early four point lead by the seventh minute to opening a six point lead after Conor Johnston’s goal, the Johnnies always had an edge on the scoreboard.  Conor Johnston’s goal coming after great work from Michal Dudley down the right.

It was a night for leaders and both sides had them in spades.  Domhnall Nugent didn’t need to do his Roger Federer impression this time around but he was immense at centre half for the Johnnies while Michael Bradley and Michal Dudley were always in the thick of the action.  Ciaran Johnston was quite brilliant also and his goal typified his performance.  Quick feet, powerful running, composure to evade tackles and a rasping drive when he had the half a yard he needed.  Tony McCloskey and Shan McGrath both in close attendance but his goal was unstoppable.

At the other end of the pitch, Loughgiel looked to the youthful exuberance of Christy McGarry and Rian McMullan.  Both made an absolute nuisance of themselves every time the sliotar went into the danger area and both had a hand in the Shamrocks goal.  Paul Boyle delivering a ball into the inside forward line with Christy McGarry contesting.  He couldn’t get the sliotar cleanly but Rian McMullan was on hand to sweep home in the 46^th minute.  

The Shamrocks could have had another goal with the next attack but Christy McGarry’s effort came back off the foot of the upright just before the water break.

In a game where scores were taken from all angles and on a breathless night where it seemed like distance didn’t matter when it came to chances, there was none better than James McNaughton.  13 points to his name, four from play and one of the scores of this and any championship.  His feet were touching the whitewash of the side line and close to half way, McNaughton struck off his back foot and under pressure from two St John’s defenders.  It mattered little to the Shamrocks star man.  A point from the Gods as he looked to lead the Loughgiel challenge against a defiant St Johns team.  

The Corrigan Park men showed their attacking prowess once more with Shea Shannon brilliant and metronomic from placed ball.  Conor Johnston at his fleet footed best while they used the sliotar intelligently to create chances.

Chances that came and went for both sides, especially at the end of the first half where Loughgiel will look back on a series of wides that with hindsight, cost them dearly as the Johnnies always held that edge.

The closing stages were nervy with the Shamrocks throwing everything they had in their armoury.  Simon Doherty was called into action and stood tall for his side when Rian McMullan had another sniff of a goal but this was the Johnnies time.

They progress to the semi-finals and another meeting with Dunloy in two week’s time as Loughgiel’s championship dream ends for 2021.  

TEAMS

St Johns: Simon Doherty; Aidan McMahon, Ryan McNulty, Jack Bohill; Conal Bohill, Domhnall Nugent, Conall Morgan; Michael Bradley, Oisin Donnelly; Michal Dudley, Shea Shannon, Conor Johnston; Donal Carson, Ciaran Johnston, Peter McCallin

Scorers: Shea Shannon 0-11 (8f’s, 2’65s); Conor Johnston 1-3; Michal Dudley 0-3; Domhnall Nugent 0-1; Conal Morgan 0-1; Michael Bradley 0-1; Peter McCallin 0-1

Loughgiel: Chrissy O’Connell; Seamus Dobbin, Tony McCloskey, Ronan McCloskey; Ciaran McKay, Damon McMullan, Declan McCloskey; Dan McCloskey, Shan McGrath; Donal McKinley, Eddie McCloskey, Paul Boyle; Michael McGarry, James McNaughton, Christy McGarry

Scorers: James McNaughton 0-13 (8 f’s, 1 ’65); Christy McGarry 0-3; Rian McMullan 1-00; Eddie McCloskey 0-2; Ciaran McKay 0-2; Donal McKinley 0-1; Paul Boyle 0-1

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

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Bathashacks Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals

Brendan McTaggart previews the Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship matches this weekend.

The jockeying for position has finished and the battle lines have been drawn.  A double-header, a head-scratcher, a rethink and eventually a change of plans but the bottom line is we have two quarter-finals tomorrow and knockout championship in the race for the Volunteer Cup.

It’s been a week from hell for those trying to schedule these fixtures, a task I wouldn’t enjoy.  I was told once that it’s impossible to please everyone, I think that’s what the ‘think tank’ behind the fixtures were faced with.  From a doubleheader in Dunsilly, we’ve moved to one game at 4:30pm in Dunsilly and the second at Portglenone under the first class floodlights of Pairc Ui Cheallagh.  It’s not the ideal scenario and doesn’t allow for attendances at all three games for those who would be that way inclined and let’s face it, there is more than a few.  They have a choice to make to embrace the “Nothing Beats Being There” slogan used for so long.  Unfair?  Probably.  What was the alternatives?  Move the quarter-finals to the Monday evening in separate floodlit venues and allow the All-Ireland ‘Sunday’ to remain free and the camogs have their rightful day in the sun?  I’m not sure if it was ever an option.  A Monday night for senior hurling championship games would be a rarity but it could have been problem solved.

Anyhow, there’s no point in looking at what could have been or what we might think should have been.  The hand the four clubs have been dealt with is:

Naomh Eanna vs Cushendall @ Dunsilly.  4:30pm

St Johns vs Loughgiel @ Portglenone. 7:30pm

To say Cushendall will come into their game with Naomh Eanna as strong favourites is an understatement. Last year was the first time in an incredibly long, long time the Ruairi’s haven’t made at least the semi-final of the championship.  They fell at this hurdle to Rossa a little over 12 months ago and while it caused more than a few ripples through Cushendall, they’ve got the reaction they were after since.

They have won the League and Reserve Championship while runner-up to the Shamrocks in the Feis at a foggy Cushendun. They finished second in Group 2 on score difference but have been playing their way through the gears in the process.  Against Dunloy they could have won it at the end and as Colum Thompson described superbly in the recent ‘DallCast’, they had to beat St John’s twice.  They got off to a cracking start before St John’s clawed their way back into the game and made Cushendall dig a little deeper.  Six goals and a comfortable win against Tir na nOg followed and the Ruairi’s are in the mix once again.  

They have a more fluent look to their side this year with runners in the middle third as they look to youth and experience.  They have the ability to break lines at speed with Scott Walsh and Ruairi McCollam from half back, Alec Delargy in midfield along with Fergus McCambridge and Niall McCormick up top, Cushendall look like a team evolving.  They still have the tried and trusted, the experience and Ruairi legends Neil McManus, Arron Graffin, the Burke brothers and Eoghan Campbell while Ryan McCambridge has played in defence this year, arguably his most efficient position.

For the men from Hightown, this might be a step into the unknown but an undoubted sign they are still on the rise.  They have acquitted themselves well in Division One this year and while some may have considered their win against Ballycastle a shock, it’s a win that has been coming such has been the progression of Naomh Eanna in recent times.  Goals from Eddie O’Connor, Philly Curran and Daniel Lowry ensuring they would record a first win at senior championship level.  Having suffered defeats to Rossa and Loughgiel previously, the Hightown Road men got the win and a debut at this stage.  All without the services of leading marksman John McGoldrick, a player who has flirted with the Antrim senior squad but who’s season has been shortened with a cruciate injury.  They will also be without Eoin Conlon and Cormac Jennings on Sunday but this is a free hit for them.  They will come into the game with no pressure and with that can come the freedom to express themselves. 

Rian Gillen is an excellent defender on the edge of his own square while Cormac Ross, Mark Donaghy and Joe Maskey make-up an excellent half back line.  Philly Curran has seen it all in a Naomh Eanna shirt while Killian Jennings is an excellent forward who will cause problems.

It’s a massive occasion for Naomh Eanna and added to for their management as Michael McCambridge looks to bring about the downfall of his home-town club.  Hurling can throw up these fateful scenarios on occasions but this looks to be a step too far for the Glengormley men. 

St John’s v Loughgiel Shamrocks

The second quarter-final is mouth-watering and the one that immediately jumped out at me after the groups were settled last weekend.  St John’s and Loughgiel will travel to Portglenone to face each other underf the floodlights and a place in the last four at stake.  This has all the makings of humdinger!  

St John’s have, like Cushendall, steadily improved as this championship campaign has progressed.  Against Tir na nOg, they gave the Randalstown men a 12 point lead before winning by eight in the end.  Against Cushendall, they again started slowly and while they fought back, the Ruairi’s finished strongly.  Last day out, they hit 1-26 and still got beat.  There isn’t many teams who will hit that type of scoring and come away in second place but such is the talent in attack for the Johnnies, they have it in their locker to hit such scores.

Aaron Bradley, Donal Carson, Michal Dudley, Conor Johnston and a returning Peter McCallin will cause plenty of problems while Shea Shannon and Michael Bradley in midfield have the makings of an excellent partnership.  In defence, they struggled to contain the Cuchullains but then again, they aren’t the first side to have said the same thing.  They brought Jimmy Peoples into a sweeping position and it didn’t work but the changes they did make defensively last Sunday did have an impact.  Conall Morgan dropping into full back and Ciaran Johnston coming on as a sweeper all giving St John’s options.

Loughgiel come into the quarter-final a sort of wounded animal.  They were disappointing against Rossa last Sunday against Rossa and know they need to improve to progress in this year’s championship.  They are a side in rebuild mode as they look to bring in fresh blood and the prospects are there on the conveyor belt at Fr Healy Park.  Christy McGarry, Paul Boyle and Rian McMullan certainly have huge futures in front of them and experiencing their first full year of senior hurling while they have the talents of James McNaughton, Dan and Tony McCloskey to call upon while Declan McCloskey is burgeoning a reputation for his displays on the half back line over the past couple of seasons.

They will be missing Tiarnan Coyle for the quarter-final tie with the Shamrock’s defender seeing red against Rossa last weekend and they could bring in the experience of Odhran Laverty to help their cause.

They say a wounded animal is dangerous and there’s no doubting Loughgiel would have been hurting after last weekend.  Sunday is a huge test for them and it will be interesting to see how they react to the set-back of defeat.  They will certainly be looking for a reaction but then again, this is Loughgiel against St John’s.  Take Two.  Last year, this was match of the championship.  A semi-final that saw goals galore, extra time, heroic displays and drama aplenty.  No, that is not sensationalist journalism, it was that good.  If Sunday’s game reaches anywhere near this scale, it will be a cracker.  It may take additional time again but I can see the Johnnies making the semi’s.

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship, Group One

Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-14 O’Donovan Rossa 0-21

O’Donovan Rossa turned in a sparkling performance at Healey Park on Sunday to overcome the challenge of Loughgiel Shamrock’s and suggest that they are serious challengers for this year’s Bathshack Senior Hurling championship.

The home side were lethargic at times and were much too reliant on ace marksman, James McNaughton and it was not until the 44^th minute that anyone other than their Antrim county man got their name on the Loughgiel score-sheet.

The Shamrock’s had difficulty breaking down a very solid Rossa defence over the hour and their cause wasn’t helped with the dismissal of Tiernan Coyle in the 22nd minute as the visitors used the spare man to good advantage.

Even before Coyle’s dismissal it was visitors Rossa who were dictating the exchanges and they

looked much more fluid going forward and took some excellent scores over the hour to build a winning tally and claim what was a huge victory away from home.

It was hosts Loughgiel who made the brighter opening however and James McNaughton fired over a point within 30 seconds and then Christy McGarry combined with John Francis Connolly to find McNaughton out to his left and the Shamrocks’ ace marksman made no mistake as he fired past Armstrong in the 3d minute.

Loughgiel flattered to deceive however as Rossa began to gain control and a pair of Stephen Beatty points and another from Tiernan Murphy left the Shaw’s Road side just one adrift and as the half wore on they really started to boss proceedings.

Loughgiel struggled to put meaningful attacks together as they hit just three further scores in the half, all from McNaughton with his ninth-minute point from around mid-field their last score from play for just under 34 minutes.

In contrast, Rossa took control as they took the game to the Healey park side with Deaglan Murphy scoring from play and frees, while Seaghan Shannon got in on the act with a brace either side of the water break.

Loughiel’s cause wasn’t helped when Coyle got his marching orders in the 22nd minute after referee Column Cunning consulted with his umpires and motioned that the Loughgiel corner-back had struck out at Murphy.

The visitors were worthy of their 0-10 to 1-4 half-time advantage with late points from Gerard Walsh and a Murphy free, and then powered on in the third quarter with some excellent scores through Beatty, Eoin Trainor and a real peach from  Aidan Orchin with Murphy also knocking over a couple as Rossa moved eight clear.

McNaughton was doing all in his power to keep his side in the game as he pointed two frees before Dan McCloskey finally became the Shamrock’s second scorer on the day, firing over from deep in the 44th minute.

The gap was six at the water break and Rossa kept the scoreboard ticking over when play resumed with the Murphy brothers leading the charge as Deaglan, Tiernan and Daire all on target.

Loughgiel kept battling away with McNaughton firing two close-in frees just over the bar and he had a third saved on the line, while two late points by substitute Michael McGarry got them to within four, but it was as close as they got and it is Rossa who advance directly to the semi-final with Dunloy while Loughgiel face a quarter-final meeting with St John’s next week.

LOUGHGIEL: C O’Connell; T Coyle, T McCloskey, R McCloskey; R McKee, S Dobbin, Declan McCloskey; J McNaughton (1-11, 0-9 frees), S McGrath; D McKinley, C McKendry, P Boyle; C McGarry, Dan McCloskey (0-1), JF Connolly.

Subs: R McMullan for JF Connolly (28), N McNaughton for C McKendry (30+2), E McCloskey for S McGrath (41), M McGarry (0-2) for C McGarry (51), O Laverty for R McKee (51)

ROSSA: D Armstrong; C Orchin, N Crossan, A Orchin (0-1); Stephen Shannon, A Kenneally, A O’Brien; G Walsh (0-1), E Trainor (0-1); Daire Murphy (0-1),  Seaghan Shannon (0-2), D McEnhill; T Murphy (0-3), S Beatty (0-4), Deaglan Murphy (0-8, 0-6 frees).

Subs: D Rocks for D McEnhill (35), T Morgan for E Trainor (49), C McGettigan for S Beatty (57).

REFEREE: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

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Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Group 2

St Johns 1-26 Dunloy 2-30

Sunday September 5

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park

It’s not often a team will hit 1-26 and come off the wrong end of the score line.  That’s the fate that faced St John’s on Sunday afternoon as the Cuchullains ran out seven point winners to top Group 2.

This was an open, hard hitting game of championship hurling with both sides taking some fantastic scores from all angles throughout.  The Johnnies were impressive in attack with 1-21 of their total coming from open play and Shea Shannon top scoring.  Michal Dudley and Donal Carson also catching the eye while Conor Johnston went through a mountain of work in the middle third.

Conal Cunning top scored for Dunloy with eight of his 0-11 coming from placed ball and he tortured the St Johns defence from the first whistle.  His movement, touch and accuracy is breath-taking when the delivery comes his way.  Keelan Molloy edged him out for man of the match however with the Dunloy midfielder putting in a tireless shift and raising the white flag seven times throughout the hour.

The Cuchullain goals came at either end of the game with Phelim Duffin’s early major and Seaan Elliott’s goal an immediate response to Shea Shannon’s major for the home side in injury time.  The winners had 10 different scorers on the day and like St Johns, the overwhelming majority of their scores came from open play – an impressive 2-22.  Chrissy McMahon once more with an eye-catching performance while the delivery of ball into the Dunloy forward allowed the Cuchullains to wreak havoc.  St Johns made changes in their defensive unit with Conall Morgan moving into the edge of his own square to pick up ‘Coby’ Cunning while Ciaran Johnston was introduced early into the sweeper position but like last week against Tir na nOg, Dunloy were supreme in the first half.  Against the Randalstown men, they hit 1-18 in the first 30 minutes.  In Corrigan Park they had amassed 1-17 and led by seven points.  Duffin’s goal came in the 6^th minute as he passed his way through the St Johns defence before kicking the sliotar beyond Simon Doherty.  It opened a six point lead and gave Dunloy the upperhand.

St Johns introduced Peter McCallin in the second half to the edge of the square and while the home side always looked threatening, they couldn’t eat into the Dunloy lead.  Every time they got to within four points, the Cuchullains responded with a couple of scores of their own.

St Johns pushed for goals late in the game with Carson and Conor Johnston both going close before Shannon finally found the back of Ryan Elliott’s goals.  It came in the sixth minute of injury time and reduced the Dunloy lead to four points but the Cuchullains dampened any thoughts of a dramatic turnaround with Seaan Elliott’s major with the next attack.  

The Cuchullains safely book their place in the last four while St Johns have a date with Loughgiel in the quarter-final and a repeat of their epic semi-final from last year.

TEAMS

St Johns: Simon Doherty; Aidan McMahon, Ryan McNulty, Jack Bohill; Conal Bohill, Domhnall Nugent, Conall Morgan; Micheal Bradley, Shea Shannon; Michal Dudley, Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston; Donal Carson, Jim Peoples, Aaron Bradley

Scorers: Shea Shannon 1-8 (4f 1’65); Michal Dudley 0-5; Conor Johnston 0-4; Donal Carson 0-4; Aaron Bradley 0-2; Michael Bradley 0-2; Aidan McMahon 0-1

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Conor McKinley, Conor Kinsella; Ryan McGarry, Eamon Smyth, Ronan Molloy; Aaron Crawford, Keelan Molloy; Eoin O’Neill, Kevin Molloy, Eoin McFerran; Chrissy McMahon, Conal Cunning, Seaan Elliott

Scorers: Conal Cunning 0-11 (8f); Keelan Molloy 0-7; Seaan Elliott 1-1; Phelim Duffin 1-00; Eoin O’Neill 0-3; Chrissy McMahon 0-3; Nicky McKeague 0-2;  Eamon Smyth 0-1; Aaron Crawford 0-1; Anton McGrath 0-1

Referee: Kevin Park (Naomh Eanna)

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