Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-final

St Johns 1-16-0-15 St Galls

From Kevin Herron at the Bear Pit

A 53^rd minute goal from substitute Conor Johnston proved to be the difference as St Johns held off the challenge of St Galls to book their place in the last four of the Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship with a 1-16-0-15 win at the Bear Pit on Saturday afternoon.

The west-Belfast affair was full of excitement and bite with tempers fraying on a couple of occasions- notably when St Galls Sean Burke caught Ciaran Johnston with a high challenge and referee Kevin Parke produced a red-card.

It was in the aftermath of that incident that the younger Johnston sibling popped up with the game’s only goal to set-up a clash with Loughgiel in the semi-final next weekend.

The Johnnies entered the game as favourites against a St Galls side that were without influential stalwarts Karl Stewart, Conor Burke and Tomas O’Ciarnan. Meanwhile Conor Johnston was only deemed fit enough to start on the bench for St Johns.

St Galls landed the opening two scores of the game- both converted frees from CJ McGourty.

Domhnall Nugent hit back with a converted free from range and the sides were level when Shea Shannon picked out the run of Conall Morgan who fired the ball between the posts.

A third CJ McGourty free restored St Galls advantage but Conall Bohill was on-hand to steer over a leveller almost instantly.

Just after the first water-break St Johns hit the front for the first time through Domhnall Nugent (free) with CJ McGourty replying for St Galls.

St Johns then opened up a three-point gap with Shea Shannon converting a close-range free and landing a 65’ in the aftermath- before Padraig Nugent slipped the ball to Andrew Magowan for a smart score.

For the fifth time in the half CJ McGourty successfully nailed a place ball but St Johns increased their lead with Shea Shannon adding a further two-points, one a free and the other a fantastic effort from play. Ciaran Johnston then gave his side a 0-10-0-05 lead midway through added time.

But St Galls closed the deficit through an impressive angled point from Mark Napier and a sixth McGourty free to leave three-points between the sides at the interval (0-10-0-07).

The sides traded early second-half scores through CJ McGourty and Shea Shannon. St Galls were heavily reliant on talisman McGourty with two further successes to ensure the bare minimum separated the sides.

On the 40^th minute Sean Burke appeared to slide in and catch Ciaran Johnston accidently- but tempers frayed and Kevin Parke had a decision to make. After taking a while to consider his options the Hightown official opted to show Burke a red-card and St Johns had a numerical advantage for the remainder of the game.

St Galls pulled themselves level though on the 45^th minute with CJ McGourty landing his 10^th free of the contest.

Although St Johns replied immediately through Padraig Nugent – their lead was chalked out instantly through a terrific Jackson McGreevy point which had the sides level at 0-12 apiece.

Half-time substitute Aaron Bradley landed a monster score to edge St Johns back in front- but St Galls had an instant response with Aodhan Gallagher linking with Aidan Irvine for the leveller.

A water-break in the aftermath was just enough time for the crowd to catch their breath and St Johns emerged the hungrier side in the aftermath and landed a knock-out blow.

Conall Bohill led a charge forward and popped a high diagonal pass onto Conor Johnston who passed the ball to the net to give his side a 1-13-0-13 lead.

The Whiterock men were in the box-seat and landed two further points on the spin through Domhnall Nugent and Simon McCrory

St Galls were thrown a lifeline on the hour-mark when Conall Morgan fouled Kieran McGourty and Kevin Parke signalled for a penalty.

Jackson McGreevy seized responsibility but Johnnies keeper Declan Creggan emerged victorious in the battle of wits and saved the penalty.

The Johnnies then landed their final score of the afternoon through goal-scorer Johnston. St Galls were in need of goals but late points from CJ McGourty and brother Kieran were in vein as the Johnnies held out to secure their semi-final place next Sunday afternoon.

St Johns: D Creggan, S Wilson, D Nugent (0-03, 0-02f), C Carson, C Morgan (0-01) , S McCrory (0-01), C Bohill (0-01), J Peoples, A McMahon, O Donnelly, C Johnston, P Nugent (0-01), S Shannon (0-05, 0-03f, 0-01 65’), A Magowan (0-01), M Bradley. Subs: A Bradley (0-01) for O Donnelly (HT), R McNulty for J Peoples (HT), C Johnston (1-01) for C Johnston (46), D McKernan for S Shannon (60+4), D McKeogh for C Johnston (60+11).

St Galls: K McGreevy, C McCaffery, J McDaniel, S Morrison, N O’Neill, A Gallagher, A Irvine (0-01), J Hopkins, J McGreevy (0-01), CJ McGourty (0-11, 0-10f), S Burke, K McGourty (0-01), S McAreavey, A McCaffery, M Napier (0-01). Subs: M Donnelly for A McCaffery (43), L McCluskey for A Irvine (58), A McCaffery for S McAreavey (60+1).

Referee: Kevin Parke (St Endas)

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Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

O’Donovan Rossa 2-11 Ruairí Óg Cushendall 0-16

Paul McIntyre reports from Páric Eánna, Glengormley

O’ Donovan Rossa caused the first major upset in Antrim hurling for a number of years when they held off a late challenge from Cushendall to book a semi-final spot against champions Dunloy next weekend. The Ruairí Ógs came into this clash as firm favourites but they came up against opponents that with a little bit more luck, could’ve won Group 1 and already be in the semi-finals. A last-minute defeat on day 1 against St John’s before grabbing a draw from the jaws of victory against reigning champions Dunloy may have raised a few eyebrows, but not many outside Pairc Rossa would’ve seen them being victorious today. However the men in blue and gold had total belief in themselves and they showed it on the field, playing with tenacity and skill from start to finish.

Cushendall were never really fluid at any stage and after conceding two goals in the third quarter they were always playing catch up. They did come close at the last and they appeared to be unlucky not to get a free when substitute Shane McNaughton was tackled high late in the game, but overall they can have few complaints as they were beaten by a better team on the day.

With less than a minute on the clock Cushendall’s Aidan McNaughton struck a blistering shot from 21 metres at Donal Armstrong in the Rossa goal, but Rossa half back Chris McGuiness somehow got across and put his body on the line to deflect the sliotar out for a 65. That block set to tone for the rest of the game as the Belfast outfit grafted their way to a deserved one-point victory. From that moment Cushendall, were aiming to reach the Antrim decider for the eight-consecutive year, knew they were in a battle.

Cushendall certainly made them work for their win. They lead by two points at half time but two goals in the third quarter from Stephen Beatty swung the game in Rossa’s favour. After the second half water break the Rossa defence were camped deep in their half and twice they had to clear the ball off their line as substitute Shane McNaughton made a nuisance of himself. Patrick Burke made a telling run into the heart of the Rossa defence only to be denied by a brilliantly timed tackle by Gerard Walsh. And when a further free from Neil McManus was blocked on the Rossa line in the 61^st minute, the Ruairí Ógs surely knew then that it wasn’t to be their day.   

It was a slow start to the contest with all the early scores coming placed balls. There was eight minutes on the clock when Dominic McEhill scored the first point from play, finishing off a lovely Rossa move involving Aódhan O’Brien and Thomas Morgan. Cushendall continued to rely on McManus for their scores in what proved a difficult day for free takers with a swirling wind causing havoc.

At the midway point of the first half Rossa held a slender two-point lead, 0-5 to 0-3, despite playing into a fresh breeze, but after the first half water break it was all Cushendall.

McManus pointed a retaken free after his original effort went wide before Aidan McNaughton finally landed a score from play, and Eoghan Campbell quickly grabbed a second, but just when it looked like the sides would turn around at the break level, McManus and McNaughton pushed the Ruairí Ógs two ahead to leave the score 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

Stephen Beatty switched to full forward to give Rossa a much more physical presence on the edge of the square and the switch brought success very quickly. Only two minutes had elapsed when he gathered a high ball, and despite being marked by two defenders and losing a hurl, he still managed to swivel and kick the sliotar to the back of the net.

Nine minutes later the same tactic worked again. Aidan Orchin took a short puck out off Donal Armstrong and delivered from his own half deep into the Cushendall twenty metre line. From a mass of player emerged Beatty and he ran direct to goal and gave Conor McAlister no chance to put three between the sides.

Those two scores set up a nail-biting finale as both sides went hammer and tong at each other, but try as they did, the Dall couldn’t break the Rossa defence and the Belfast side prevailed in a cracker to book a semi-final clash with Dunloy next week.

Teams & Scorers:

Rossa: D. Armstrong, D. McEhill (0-1), N. Crossan, A. Orchin, G. Walsh (0-1), C. McGuinness, S. Shannon, S. Beatty (2-1), J. Connolly (0-6 5f), S. Shannon (0-1), A. O’Brien, D. Murphy, T. Morgan (0-1), M. Armstrong, T. Murphy.

Subs: D. Rocks for D. McEhill 42 mins, C. Shannon for T. Murphy 44 mins, E. O’Neill for M. Armstrong 53 mins, D. Murphy for D. Rocks 58 mins, E. McMenanin for A. Orchin 62 mins.

Cushendall: C. McAlister, J. McCurry, M. Burke, A. Graffin, F. McCambridge, P. Burke, R. McCambridge, N. McCormack, E. Campbell (0-3 1 ‘65’), A. McNaughton (0-4), N. McManus (0-9 6f, 1 ‘65’), A. Delargy, P. McGill, C. Carson, S. Walsh.

Subs: D. Delargy for S. Walsh & S. McAfee for C.Carson both HT, S. McNaughton for A. Delargy 47 mins.

Referee: Mr Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

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Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship

Quarter Final Preview by Colum Thompson

Ruairi Og v Rossa – Sat @ 4pm at St Enda’s Hightown

Cushendall fan and Saffron Gael contributor Colum Thompson takes a look at his team’s quarter final with Rossa at Glengromley on Saturday.

Isn’t it just typical that the best series of matches that we’ve had in The Antrim Senior Hurling Championship in recent memory have been closed to neutrals? We’ve been sitting watching score updates on twitter, listening to the results and reading the match reports from “The Group Of Death” involving Dunloy, St. John’s, Rossa and Ballycastle engrossed in what sounds like top quality championship action. In game one a well seasoned St. John’s, who’ve been knocking on the senior championship door for the past five years, used all their experience to escape Rossa Park with a one point win.

Very few pundits were giving The Shaw’s Road men much chance but it was a game they could and possibly should have won and although it yielded no points in the group it did show that Rossa could compete. A week later and lady luck deserted Rossa once more when reigning Champions Dunloy needed an injury time point to force a draw. In the final group game against Ballycastle, who had been making waves themselves, Rossa finally got the rub of the green and the victory their hurling had deserved during the campaign. It’s been a brilliant series of matches from The Jeremiah’s and they have duly qualified for a quarter final meeting with Ruairi Og Cushendall. They go into the game as underdogs, in bonus territory and with nothing to lose which is a wonderful way to approach a knock out championship match. Without doubt their star man during this campaign has been James Connolly who is now delivering on his undoubted potential. They have proven ball winners up front in Stephen Beattie and Michael Armstrong and they will cause any back line problems. And with Gerard Walsh and Stephen Shannon in defence they are solid at the back.

   So what of Cushendall? This might sound strange given we lost against Loughgiel and laboured at times against St. Enda’s but I’m happy enough at this stage. Let me elaborate. On a number of occasions over the years I’ve watched Cushendall flying in the league, winning Feis Cups and then falling at the championship hurdle. When Cushendall win a championship it has to be done the hard way, never straight forward. We need bumps on the road, last gap wins and moments that would have you covering your eyes but in the bubbling hot cauldron of championship chaos sometimes we thrive. Had we have won three games, got maximum points and looked impressive I’d have almost been worried. We’ve never topped a group in the championship round robbin and that suits me just fine.

Ruairi Og only get the bit between their teeth in knock out or when their backs are against the wall. Have no doubt about it our backs are against the wall given Rossa’s current form and if we are to win the championship this year it’ll be a hard road. Nobody said it was going to be easy. There have been positives for Cushendall in the group stages. Joe McCurry has been in excellent form in defence and has nailed down a starting spot. Neil McManus returned from a niggling injury against St. Gall’s and perhaps most interestingly Shane McNaughton has returned to make three excellent cameo appearances all of which saw him on the scoresheet. Paddy Burke is also in excellent form as we’ve come to expect. He sets a high standard and expects others to follow his lead.

   Unlike many pundits I’m not going to trot out the usual patronising clichés. Let’s get this straight Cushendall are favourites. Can Rossa win this game? Yes, undoubtedly. They have some superb hurlers who are full of confidence and they are a coming force again. Unless Cushendall bring their A game they will be in trouble. But I expect Cushendall to finally come to life in this year’s championship. They should have enough craft, guile and experience on this occasion. The Dall by 4.             

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship, Group One

Ballycastle, McQuillans 1-15

Goals were the difference as Rossa booked a place in the quarter final of this year’s Senior Hurling Championhip at the expense of Ballycastle on Sunday at rain lashed Pairc MacUilín. Two in each half were the scored that did the damage to the home team’s hopes and while they could argue there was an element of luck about the first two, nobody can deny the brilliance of the two second half majors, both of them finished superbly by super sub Thomas Morgan. The first goal two minutes of the game came back off the top of the upright and while it caught the Ballycastle defence off guard as it dropped down in front of goal the same cannot be said for Rossa’s Deaglan Murphy who pounced right away to drill the ball home. The second goal came from a Gerard Walsh penalty on 26minutes and while Ballycastle keeper Benny Connor got his hurl to the ball it spun agonisingly along the goal line before rolling over near the Connor’s left had upright.

However it would wrong to suggest there was anything lucky about Rossa’s overall win for they were fully deserving of the victory which was fashioned out of hard work, determination and a good degree of skill. The good start settled them and while Ballycastle got themselves back into contention a time or two, the Shaw’s Road men were always able to keep their hosts at arms-length.  

Points from Ciaran Clarke and Dairmuid McShane got Ballycastle back into the game following the early goal but Rossa hit back with four points without reply through Deaglan Murphy, Stephen Shannon, and two from James Connolly to lead by 1-4 to 0-2 at the first half water break.

Ballycastle got themselves back into it again after the restart and with points from McShane, McCarry and Clarke to cut the gap back to just two but they were rocked back on their heels again when Gerard Walsh scored the Rossa penalty just before the break.

2-6 to 0-7 to the good at half time they were able to maintain that five point gap as both teams hit three apiece during the first ten minutes of the second half but when Thomas Morgan cut in from the right wing to grab the first of his two goals in the 44^th minute they were in complete control. To their credit Ballycastle hit back to score the next three points, two of them from Clarke and one from substitute Seamus McAuley but just when their hopes were raised again Morgan pounced for his second goal.

Substitute Owen Kinney got a goal back for Ballycastle but Rossa finished strong to seal their place in next weekend’s quarter final against Cushendall in Hightown next Saturday at 4pm.

BALLYCASTLE: B Connor; O Kearney, M Donnelly, J McLister; S Kelly, C Boyd, E Elliott; R McCarry, Cathal Connor; C Butler (0-1), J McShane (0-1), T Butler; D McShane (0-3), N McAuley, C Clarke (0-8, 6 frees 1 65). Subs: S McAuley (0-2) for E Elliott (HT), R McCooke for J McLister (39), Caolan Connor (1-0) for J McShane (45).

ROSSA: D Armstrong; C Orchin, N Crossan, A Orchin; G Walsh (1-0 pen), Stephen Shannon (0-1), C Shannon; A O’Brien (0-1), Seaghan Shannon (0-1); Deaglan Murphy (1-0), J Connolly (0-5, 2 frees, 1 65), S Beatty (0-1); T Murphy (0-1), M Armstrong, C McGuinness (0-1). Subs: T Morgan (2-1) for C Shannon (29), D McEnhill (0-1) for C Orchin (49), D Rocks (0-1) for T Murphy (55), M McGreevy for J Connolly (58), Daire Murphy for A O’Brien (60+1).

REFEREE: Eamonn Hassan (Swatragh)

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Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 1

Sunday August 23

St John’s 1-17 Dunloy 4-19

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast

“That’s why we’re county champions, boys.”  The words of Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane as the Cuchullains gathered after a morale boosting win and significantly improved performance from his side.

It was more like the Dunloy we have become accustomed to seeing for the past three seasons.  Precision and speed in abundance but it was the work rate and graft that forced errors in the St Johns defence and chances.  4-14 from play, nine different scorers and a direct route to the semi’s.  Dunloy performed like champions.

The Johnnies struggled to cope with the movement in the Dunloy forward line.  Coby Cunning and Eoin O’Neill were at their scintillating best and were constant dangers throughout.  The Corrigan Park side had their own danger man in Shea Shannon on their inside forward line and he top scored for the Johnnies with 0-7.  Lightning stickwork and a turn of pace that would frighten the tightest of defences, but Shannon had little support. 

Domhnall Nugent started the hour on the half forward line and finished it on the edge of the square.  His goal on the 16^th minute was a piece of brilliance but his tussle with Dunloy’s Ryan McGarry was a fascinating sub plot.  The Dunloy man followed Nugent like he was his permanent shadow and nullified his considerable threat. 

St John’s employed Michael Bradley as a sweeper in the first half but when they had to chase the game, Dunloy took advantage.  The forwards get the limelight but the delivery of ball from deep by the Cuchullains was on another level.  Every ball had St Johns on the backfoot with Paul Shiels and Nicky McKeague delivering with incredible accuracy time and again.

The game defining period came shortly after the restart of the second half.  Dunloy held a five point lead at half time but two goals in less than five minutes put them in control and a grip on the contest they never looked like releasing.  Seaan Elliott and Kevin Molloy with the majors and Dunloy cruised the remainder of the half.

The Johnnies started brightly and but for the reflexes of Ryan Elliott, they could have scored the opening major in the third minute.  Conor Johnston’s drive bringing the best out of the Dunloy shot stopper.  They held a one point lead when Keelan Molloy scored the first major of the contest at the other end of the pitch in the eighth minute.  Cunning putting the Johnnies defence under pressure and with the sliotar lose, Keelan Molloy pounced and made no mistake.

A two point lead soon became four at the midway point of the half before Domhnall Nugent bagged the Johnnies goal.  Shea Shannon recycling possession with Conor Johnston before Nugent found a yard of space to crash the ball beyond Ryan Elliott.

Dunloy went through the gears after the first half water break.  Four points in six minutes unanswered sent them on the charge, briefly halted by a superb side line from Shannon.

Cunning’s accuracy from frees and open play along with scores from Seaan Elliott, Keelan Molloy and Nicky McKeague stretched the Cuchullains into a five point half time lead – 1-11 to 1-6.

Five points was far from an insurmountable lead but Dunloy went through the gears at the start of the second half.  Their lead was four before Seaan Elliott scored the Cuchullains second goal.  Shiels passing inside where Elliott sidestepped his marker superbly and drifted through before finishing with aplomb.

The Cuchullains third goal came three minutes later.  Kevin Molloy catching a long ball from a crowd and in the clouds before driving forward.  He had support inside but he went himself and put his side into a 10 point lead.

Dunloy’s fourth major came just after the second half water break and ended any hopes of a St Johns comeback.  Eoin O’Neill sending the sliotar Crossfield to Cunning and he did the rest.

Both sides emptied their benches with players showing signs of their dual commitments and a tight schedule but Dunloy were relentless.  A marker laid down by the reining champions as booked their place in the semi-final and a meeting with either Cushendall or Rossa in the last four.  St Johns have a quarter-final spot to look forward too with city rivals St Galls and the possibility of a date with Loughgiel semi-final.

TEAMS

St John’s: Declan Cregan; Sean Wilson, Ciaran Johnston, Jack Bohill; Stephen Tierney, Simon McCrory, Ryan McNulty; Domhnall Nugent, Aidan McMahon; Padraig Nugent, Conor Johnston, Peter McCallin; Michael Bradley, CJ McKenna, Shea Shannon

Subs: Aaron Bradley for P McCallin (25); Jimmy Peoples for A McMahon (HT); Cónall Morgan for P Nugent (34); Donal McKernan for Conor Johnston (43); Danaan McKeogh for CJ McKenna (55)

Scorers: Shea Shannon 0-7 (2f 1’65); Domhnall Nugent 1-1 (1f); Michael Bradley 0-3; Conor Johnston 0-2; Aaron Bradley 0-2; Jimmy Peoples 0-1; Ciaran Johnston 0-1

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Aaron Crawford, Oran Quinn; Ronan Molloy, Ryan McGarry, Conor Kinsella; Paul Shiels, Nicky McKeague; Keelan Molloy, Kevin Molloy, Seaan Elliott; Eoin O’Neill, Gabriel McTaggart, Conal Cunning

Subs: Liam McCann for S Elliott (50); Ciaran Elliott for N McKeague (50); Chrissy McMahon for Keelan Molloy (53); Eamon Smyth for A Crawford (58)

Scorers: Conal Cunning 1-7 (5f); Keelan Molloy 1-2; Seaan Elliott 1-2; Kevin Molloy 1-00; Eoin O’Neill 0-2; Paul Shiels 0-2; Nicky McKeague 0-2; Chrissy McMahon 0-1; Eamon Smyth 0-1

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