Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Semi-Final

Cushendall 1-27 St John’s 0-26 (aet)

Saturday 5 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

The big crowd in Pearse Park, Dunloy were treated to a quite brilliant game of hurling on Saturday afternoon as Cushendall and St John’s played out a thriller.  It took another 20 minutes of extra time to separate the sides but in the end, it was Cushendall who lived to fight another day and the Johnnies who headed back up the M2 wondering what they have to do to reach another county final.

This contest had everything you’d want from a game of hurling.  Thrills, spills, outrageous scores, mind boggling saves and the odd glaring miss.  It all added to the occasion.  Neil McManus with 14 points, 10 from placed ball and a few he’d like back again.  Of the four he hit from play, each one oozed class.  One under pressure but a swing of the hurl over the shoulder and it split the posts, two when you could noticeably see the man taking that split second to compose himself before striking.  Moments like that were few and far between, but McManus is and always has been the type of player that can find time in the mayhem of it all.

His old(ish) sparring partner had a massive say in the outcome of this game also.  Paddy McGill came on with nine minutes of the hour remaining and finished with three points beside his name and gave the Ruairi’s that wee shot of impetus when it was needed. 

The Johnnies, admirably, died with their boots on.  As a manager, it’s all you can ask of your team.  They left it all out on the pitch and in Conal Bohill they have a player capable of the impossible.  A brilliant game in half forward and half back.  He was everywhere when needed for St John’s while Peter McCallin was outstanding at centre half back while Oisin Donnelly’s work rate and output was phenomenal and Conor Johnston was at his impish best, with Oisin MacManus showing his skills from placed ball and the rest.

From a neutral point of view, the intensity the Johnnies brought, especially in the first half, was mesmerising.  The Ruairi’s played with a healthy wind advantage but they had neither time nor space to make hay.  Both sides packed the middle third and it wasn’t a place for the feint of heart.  Bodies were on the line, advantage was being played and the whistle wasn’t there at times.  Far from a criticism of Colm McDonald and his team, it added to the game.  It was a brilliant spectacle and the crowd were on the edge of their proverbial seats with every puc-out.

A two point lead was a slender advantage for the Ruairi’s and when Oisin MacManus fired over a ’65 in the 49^th minute for his 10^th point of the game, St John’s went into a deserving two point lead.

It would be a bit much to say Cushendall were teetering, but if they were ever grateful for the brilliant determination of Paddy Burke, they found it when it was needed.  The clock had just ticked into the 52^nd minute when he went on a trademark rampage down the left, drawing in defenders and finding Ronan McAteer in space.  Defenders closed in, McAteer pulled, the net bulged.

The Johnnies showed their powers of recovery in the time that remained.  Cushendall went ahead by two after a brilliant side line point from Shea Shannon but MacManus and substitute Darragh McGuinness forced extra time. 

Extra time and not many had moved from whatever vantage point they had taken around the pitch.  St John’s had the wind at their back and went into a four point lead, Conor Johnston, MacManus and Shannon at it again from a side line finding their range.  Ciaran Johnston instrumental, a defensive rock and hitting points from a different postcode and his brother Con Jon causing mayhem.  Cushendall dug deep, there aren’t many who have the powers of recovery like the Ruairi’s and through Neil McManus they have the man for the big occasion.  Two frees before referee Colm McDonald called for half time in extra time, McManus was doing his bit for his side.

The second half belonged to the champions.  Points from McGill, Campbell and Ryan McCambridge edged them clear and finally put an end to the St John’s challenge.

It was a game that no one wanted to end.  It was a game that showcased the brilliance of our game.  It was a game that neither team deserved to lose and a game that St John’s will wonder how they came out second best.  Cushendall did what Cushendall do, they find a way like all great champions do.  They move on to the county final in two weeks time as the defence of their crown continues.

TEAMS

Cushendall: Conor McAllister; Liam Gillan, Paddy Burke, Charlie McAuley; Stephen Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ruairi McCollam; Fred McCurry, Alex Delargy; Ronan McAteer, Neil McManus, Fergus McCambridge; Ciaran Neeson, Ryan McCambridge, Joseph McLaughlin

Scorers: N McManus 0-14 (10f’s); E Campbell 0-3; R McCambridge 0-3; Paddy McGill 0-3; R McAteer 1-00; J McLaughlin 0-2 (1f); C McAuley 0-1; F McCurry 0-1

St John’s:  Simon Doherty; Jack Bohill, Ciaran Johnston, Ryan McNulty; Conal Morgan, Peter McCallin, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Michail Dudley; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Conal Bohill; Shea Shannon, Oisin MacManus, Aaron Bradley

Scorers: O MacManus 0-12 (8fs, 2 ‘65s); S Shannon 0-3; Conor Johnston 0-3; Ciaran Johnston 0-2; R McNulty 0-2; Darragh McGuinness 0-2; M Dudley 0-1; C Bohill 0-1

Referee: Colm McDonald

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Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter Final

Dunloy 1-24 Ballycastle 1-18

Sunday 22 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel

With eight minutes of this tie remaining, substitute Lorcan Donnelly brought Ballycastle to the brink of causing a major upset.  They had reduced Dunloy’s lead to two points and were playing like a side rejuvenated.  Despite missing the services of Tiarnan Smyth, the Town were playing with championship intensity and at levels many can’t have envisaged.  They were in the mood to prove to the naysayers that there is life in the black and amber.

Neal McAuley rolling back the years and playing a pivotal role for his side at full forward.  Someone may need to carbon date the man.  He was phenomenal for his side and had plenty of support.  Seamus McAuley and Ciaran Butler causing mayhem while the work rate of Ryan McCook and Ronan McCarry in the middle third ensured Ballycastle were competitive.

Dunloy found another gear in the closing stages, however.  Keelan Molloy instrumental, Seaan Elliott at his impish best in the middle of the field while Conal Cunning was relishing being back in a Dunloy shirt for the first time in this year’s hurling championship. 

The Cuchullains would run out six point winners by the time referee Tarlach Conway called for time after seven minutes of injury time.  Nine different scorers and 1-22 of their final tally coming from open play is impressive reading but missed goal chances and well into double figures in wides will give Gregory O’Kane and his backroom team food for thought as they prepare for a semi-final date with Loughgiel in two weeks’ time.

The Cuchullains started this one like a steam train with Cunning firing over with barely 30 seconds on the clock.  Points from Paul Shiels and Aodhán McGarry came either side of a free from Conor Boyd to open Ballycastle account.

The Town thought they had the opening goal of the game in the fifth minute when Neal McAuley deflected the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott.  The green flag was raised but the Ballycastle celebrations were cut short with referee Tarlach Conway calling a square ball infringement.  McAuley would fire over his first free of the match to leave the minimum between the sides. It would be their last score for 12 minutes however as Dunloy clicked into gear.  A brace of points from the hugely influential Seaan Elliott (one free) came before the Cuchullains carved open two goal chances.  Ballycastle ‘keeper Ryan McGarry denying first Nigel Elliott and then a quite brilliant double save to deny Cunning and Eoin O’Neill.

Scores would follow from O’Neill and Seaan Elliott to open the Dunloy lead to five before Conor Boyd split the uprights for his second of the match and briefly halt the Dunloy charge.

Butler and Keelan Molloy split the posts before Ballycastle had another sight of the Dunloy goal.  Neal McAuley breaking the sliotar into the path of Seamie McAuley who pulled first day but his shot fizzed over the bar to leave three between the sides with ten minutes of the half remaining.

That deficit would remain until first half injury time with Dunloy raising the white flag through Aodhán McGarry (two) and Keelan Molloy (two) while Ballycastle had scores from Seamie McAuley, James McShane and a brace from Neal McAuley (one free).  Aodhán McGarry should have scored a major in that period of time but his Ryan McGarry denied him with the goal at his mercy.  The Dunloy forward would make no mistake deep in first half injury time, however.  Nigel Elliott stealing possession in the middle third and finding his brother Seaan in space.  The Dunloy flier sped towards the goal with the Ballycastle defence closing in, he passed to Aodhán McGarry and he fired to the back of the Ballycastle net to leave the half time score 1-12 to 0-9 in the Cuchullains favour.

Both sides were guilty of missed chances in the opening 30 plus minutes recording five wides apiece.  Ballycastle missing a couple of very scoreable frees did little to help their challenge while the Cuchullains will rarely miss such goal chances again.

The second half started just like the first with Cunning splitting the uprights for his second of the match.  The accuracy didn’t improve from either side though with six wides shared between them in the opening 10 minutes.

Points from James McShane and Neal McAuley (free) got the Town firing again before Cunning split the posts again.  Seamie McAuley pointed for his third of the match before Ballycastle were awarded a penalty in the 45^th minute.  Phelim Duffin adjudged to have fouled Seamie McAuley and Ballycastle were given a lifeline.  Conor Boyd stepped up to take the penalty but his shot was driven straight at Ryan Elliott in the Dunloy goals.

Another McAuley free and Ciaran Butler’s first of the second half came either side of Nigel Elliott firing over for Dunloy in the 47^th minute.  Butler would reduce the Dunloy lead to four points with an quite brilliant score wide on the left and under pressure.  The Cuchullains responded with Seaan Elliott’s fourth of the match before Ballycastle scored their major in the 52^nd minute.  Mark McClean working the ball into the path of Lorcan Donnelly and he showed super composure to beat Elliott in the Dunloy goals.

With the game in the melting pot, Dunloy’s response was match winning.  A brace of points from Keelan Molloy followed with the Ballycastle cheers still ringing in the ears of the players.  Counting Molloy’s brace, the Cuchullains would outscore Ballycastle seven points to three after Donnelly’s goal to safely ensure their passage to the last four and a date with the Shamrocks in two weeks time.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Conor McKinley; Paul Shiels, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Aodhan McGarry; Eoin O’Neill, Conal Cunning, Nicky McKeague

Subs: Tom McFerran for P Shiels (44); Gabriel McTaggart for Nicky McKeague (44); Chrissy McMahon for E O’Neill (48); Eoin McFerran for E Smyth (48); Anton McGrath for Keelan Molloy (60)

Scorers: A McGarry 1-3; Keelan Molloy 0-5; S Elliott 0-5 (2fs); E O’Neill 0-3; C Cunning 0-3; N Elliott 0-2; P Shiels 0-1; C McMahon 0-1; G McTaggart 0-1

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Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship, quarter-final
St John’s 0-30 Naomh Éanna 2-15

Pics by MT Hurson

A free flowing St John’s side ran up an impressive total of 30 points as they saw off the challenge of Naomh Eanna with a bit to spare at Pairc Rossa on Saturday, and in doing so set up a mouth-watering semi-final with county champions Cushendall in two weeks’ time.

On top from the first minute the Corrigan Park side were impressive against their Glengormley opponents who found it really hard to get to the pace of the game, struggling to match the Johnnies intensity. The West Belfast side started like a steam train, firing over from all angles, Conor Johnston and Oisin McManus playing starring roles, ‘Jonty’ ending with eight from play and free taker McManus with nine overall, four of them from play.

A quick start saw the wind assisted Johnnies set the scoreboard in motion in the opening minute with Oisin Donnelly firing over and the scores followed from Bohill, Shannon (2) and Johnston as the gap began to widen. Cormac Jennings got Naomh Eanna on the scoreboard and Ciaran McAlister added one from play, but a real barrage of scores from the Corrigan Park outfit saw them his eight without reply to open a twelve point gap.

St Enda’s kept battling though and they got their reward when corner forward Conor Bradley fired to the net late in the first half after good approach work by McAlister. However St John’s hit back with four more before the break to lead by 0-18 to 1-05 by the time match referee Barry Winters sounded the half time whistle.

Naomh Eanna made a great start to the second half and with Niall O’Connor leading the line they hit the first four scores of the second half, O’Connor accounting for three of them and Ruairi Donaghy one. Shea Shannon and Conor Johnston got the Johnnies going again, but Naomh Eanna were much more competitive now and with the gap down to eight entering the final ten minutes.

When John McGoldrick grabbed his team’s team’s second goal and Joe Maskey added a point to gap was down to just four and there was real hope for Naomh Eanna, but St John’s responded well to the danger with Johnston, Dudley and the accurate McManus among the scorers as they pulled away again to win by nine.

ST JOHN’S: S Doherty; S Wilson, Ciaran Johnston, J Bohill; R McNulty, P McCallin, C Morgan; A Bradley, M Dudley (0-4); O Donnelly (0-1), Conor Johnston (0-8); C Bohill (0-3); D Carson, S Shannon (0-4, 2f, 1 65), O MacManus (0-9, 4f, 1 65).
Subs: M Bradley (0-1) for D Carson (40), R Galbraith for A Bradley (48), D McGuinness for O Donnelly (58), S Tierney for M Dudley (60+2)

NAOMH ÉANNA: M Curran; D Maguire, M McGibbon, R Eager; E Conlon (0-2), R Donaghy (0-2), R Diamond; C O’Connor, C McAllister (0-1); L O’Connor, Cormac Jennings (0-2, 1f), E O’Connor; N O’Connor (0-6, 2f, 1 65), J Maskey (0-1), C Bradley (1-0).
Subs: J McGoldrick (1-1) for C O’Connor (40), P Curran for C Bradley (41), Cillian Jennings for E O’Connor (42)

REFEREE: Barry Winters (Dungannon)

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Quarter Finals

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to this weekend’s knockout matches of the senior hurling championship.

Saturday 21 September 3pm at Pairc Rossa, Belfast

Naomh Éanna v St John’s Referee: Barry Winters

Sunday 22 September 2pm at Healy Park, Loughgiel

Dunloy v Ballycastle Referee: Tarlach Conway

A decent stretch of weather and the senior hurling championship has entered the knockout stage.  Like the great lyricist Dave Grohl once sang, It’s Times Like These You Learn to Live Again.  There is no greater feeling as a fan when it comes to the championship.  The thrill of last chance saloon, the adrenaline goes up a notch, the nails are bitten a little closer to the quick and as for the matches?  Well, it’s now or never.  It’s their championship fate on the line and we have four team who are 60 minutes from the last four or an extended winter.

After the groups, there’s a new name in the quarters.  Dunloy will play for a place in the semi’s for the first time since the inception of this current format.  Winners of the Volunteer Cup in five of the last seven years, they travel on Sunday to Loughgiel as huge favourites against Ballycastle while Naomh Éanna and St John’s kick proceedings off on Saturday.  The Whiterock Road men will start that one as favourites but there’s something stirring in Glengormley and maybe this is the year they make the step to the last four?

Being billed as the Battle of the Saints, the Hightown Road men and St John’s will play for the right to face Cushendall.  Naomh Éanna put in a battling performance against Loughgiel while snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat against Ballycastle.  They’ll go in as underdogs against a Johnnies side who performed superbly against their arch rivals Rossa the last day out.  They had eight points to spare over their Belast rivals, thanks largely to a strong finish and the sharpshooting of Shea Shannon, Conor Johnston and a first half goal from Stephen Tierney.  With Oisin Donnelly, Michail Dudley and Michael Bradley finding their starting places in the 15 and returning from injury, Mickey Johnston’s men could be timing their run to navigate the championship waters. 

Naomh Éanna trailed by just three points at half time against the Shamrocks and had the wind at their back for the second half but goals from All-Star nominated James McNaughton put daylight between the sides.  They needed an injury time score from county star Niall O’Connor to rescue a draw against Ballycastle but they’ll relish the opportunity that knockout hurling brings.  They are a team that has garnered a plethora of experience at this level now and with the sharpshooting of Cormac Jennings, Luke and Niall O’Connor and with the versatility of Joe Maskey, they’ll give the Johnnies their fill of it.

Ballycastle and Dunloy for some will seem like a forgone conclusion.  The Cuchullains will start as heavy favourites, despite their dual efforts in the last week.  Paddy Power having them as short as 1/14 while the Town are 7/1 to cause a massive shock.

Ballycastle put in a strong, defensive performance against Loughgiel last time out but looked toothless in attack.  Their defence was set up well with strong organisation but they made no impact at the other end of the pitch and you feel if they are going to get anthing out of this one, they’re going to need more than just the reliance of Tiarnan Smyth’s frees.

Having played for the footballers in their defeat to St Brigid’s in the championship, Dunloy could welcome back Coby Cunning to their ranks for his first game in the championship.  They have injury concerns with Deaglan Smith who had to leave the field with what looked like a hamstring injury during the same game but other than that, they should have a full hand to pick from.

Having tasted a chastening defeat to Cushendall in the last group game, the Cuchullains will be eager to get back to winning ways.  This might well be a bad time to face Dunloy in the championship and the Town may feel the full wrath of their frustrations.

Prediction Time…

1/14 would make you think this one is over before it starts but in knockout hurling you just never know.  That being said, it’s extremely hard to make a case for Ballycastle coming up against Dunloy.  I expect the Cuchullains to win this one comfortably to set up a semi final with Loughgiel.

The other quarter final has banana skin written all over it for the Johnnies.  They are expected to make the last four and they get the nod from me to do so, but this could go down to the wire if the Corrigan Park men don’t show the form they did against Rossa in their last group games.

To continue the Foo Fighters theme, for two of these teams there will be No Way Back but there’s nothing like knockout hurling to bring out The Best Of You. For Ballycastle Stranger Things Have Happened but the trip to Loughgiel could be the Long Road to Ruin.  While Naomh Éanna continue to rocket at the senior hurling ranks and continue to Learn to Fly, but St John’s have been The Pretender for a number of years now and should make the last four.

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 1

Loughgiel 2-15 Ballycastle 0-11

Sunday 8 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Healy Park, Loughgiel

It wasn’t one for the hurling purists out there but Loughgiel maintained their 100% record in this years hurling championship with 10 to spare against Ballycastle.  In truth, it was a poor contest between these sides and while they weren’t helped with the weather conditions, it was the Shamrocks who played with enough quality to put daylight between the sides.

James McNaughton was imperious throughout, scoring 1-9 with his goal coming after a brilliant piece of individual skill and determination in the second half.  Defensively, it was an impressive performance from Loughgiel who yielded just two points from open play and snuffed out any goal chances that may have come the way of the visitors.  Shan McGrath put in a busy performance, more so in the first half.  He scored the Shamrocks first goal and gave the Town defence plenty of problems, Mc Grath was an excellent outlet for the home side.

Ballycastle set up well to try and starve Loughgiel of time and space in possession.  Conor Boyd was the general at the heart of the defence while Ciaran Butler and Ronan McCarry worked tirelessly.  While they kept the Shamrocks from playing with any fluency, they struggled up front.  Tiarnan Smyth fired over 0-9 with one from open play while the remaining scores came from James McShane and substitute Croistai McAuley.

Playing with wind in the first half, the Town could have had a goal in the opening seconds.  Orann Donnelly’s effort superbly saved by Loughgiel netminder Odhran McFadden.  Smyth fired over his first of four first half frees for the opening score of the contest in the 5^th minute but it would be the only time in the contest Ballycastle would hold the lead.  When Loughgiel got to grips with the visitors to Healy Park, they began to click. 

Their opening score came from Rian McMullan, his first of three in the match while a brace of frees from James McNaughton stretched their lead to two.

A Tiarnan Smyth ’65 halved the deficit before McGrath’s major came in the 14^th minute.  It came just after the Town had a glimpse of McFadden’s goal and seconds later Ryan McGarry was picking the sliotar out of his net.  What happened in between was quality.  A lightning break of precision and pace culminating with the sliotar in McGrath possession.  He spun clear of his marker before firing high to McGarry’s net with a rifled, unstoppable effort.

They could have added another with their next attack but McMullan’s effort was well saved, the Shamrocks recycled before Dan McCloskey split the uprights to put five between the sides in the 18^th minute.

Ballycastle began to find some inroads with the wind at their back, Smyth firing over three points from placed ball to reduce the deficit to two once again before McNaughton split the uprights with a fine score in the 26^th minute.  Breaking free from a ruck and showing pace and guile, McNaughton’s first from play was a trademark score from the Shamrocks star man.  He and Smyth would trade frees in the closing stages of the half to leave the home side ahead 1-6 to 0-6 at the half time mark.

It was more of the same warfare in the early exchanges but the Shamrocks could and probably should have scored another major.  Darragh Patterson and Enda Og McGarry both going close before McNaughton opened the second half scoring with a ’65.

Smyth opened Ballycastle’s account before Rian McMullan doubled his tally in the 38^th minute. 

James McShane scored Ballycastle’s first from play in the 41^st minute but the Town were unlucky not to score a major moments before.  Orann Donnelly and Seamus McAuley going close but for some outstanding Loughgiel defending, the Town were denied.

Going into the final quarter, the Shamrocks came to life.  A free from McNaughton preceded his major in the 44^th minute.  Paul Boyle collecting the sliotar in midfield before finding McNaughton in space.  Beating three defenders and surely fouled with a high tackle, referee Colum Cunning played an excellent advantage with McNaughton rifling to the back of the net to all but end this match as a contest.

McMullan’s third of the match stretched the Loughgiel lead to eight in the 46^th minute.  Wide on the left and with next to no angle to work with, it was a brilliant score from ‘Bubbles’ and a serious contender for score of the match.

Going into the final quarter, Loughgiel began to play with a bit more fluency, outscoring Ballycastle five points to two and had the luxury of not worrying about a square ball decision not going their way.  Scores for the Shamrocks coming from Paul Boyle, substitute Maol Connolly and three from McNaughton (two frees) while Smyth (free) and substitute Croistai McAuley scoring for the Town.

The result means the Shamrocks have sealed a semi-final position while the Town will face Dunloy in two weeks’ time.

TEAMS

Loughgiel: Odhran McFadden; Tiarnan Coyle, Rory McCloskey, Caolan Blair; Ruairi McCormick, Declan McCloaskey, Damon McMullan; Paul Boyle, James McNaughton; Dan McCloskey, Darragh Patterson, Christy McGarry; Shan McGrath, Enda Og McGarry, Rian McMullan

Subs: Maol Connolly for D Patterson (47); Connor Dickson for T Coyle (56); Nicholas McNaughton for J McNaughton (58); Donal McKinley for E Og McGarry (58)

Scorers: J McNaughton 1-9 (6fs 1’65); S McGrath 1-00; R McMullan 0-3; P Boyle 0-1; D McCloskey 0-1; M Connolly 0-1

Ballycastle: Ryan McGarry; Oran Kearney, Dermot Donnelly, Conal Colgan; Jack McGowan, Conor Boyd, Eoin McAlonan; Ronan McCarry, Ronan Laverty; Seamus McAuley, James McShane, Ciaran Butler; Tiarnan Smyth, Neal McAuley, Orann Donnelly

Subs: Cian Baudant for D Donnelly (41); Cian Waldron for C Butler (49); Croistai McAuley for E McAlonan (52); Mark McClean for R Laverty (59)

Scorers: T Smyth 0-9 (6fs 2’65s); J McShane 0-1; C McAuley 0-1

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

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