Category / U21 Hurling Championship

by thesaffrongael

Cushendall’s late goals sink the Shamrocks

Thomas McLaughlin grabs a high ball in this challenge with Loughgiel’s Conor Dickson during the Under 21 Hurling Championship semi-final on Monday evening.

The game started like a whirlwind and after Loughgiel’s Darragh Patterson hit the opening score, right from the throw-in the ‘Dall came back with two inside 30 seconds from Joseph McLaughlin. The Shamrocks hit back and the sides were level on 3 apiece after three minutes as the blistering early pace of the game continued and three from Oran McCambride, Oisin Woodhouse and Fiontan Bradley put the home side 0-5 to 0-3 in front with less than five minutes on the clock.

Conor O’Mullan and Christy McGarry brought Loughgiel level again but a goal from Joseph McLaughlin and six points on the bounce from the home side started to see daylight appear between the teams, the Ruairis leading by 1-10 to 0-5 at the end of the first quarter. The Shamrocks closed the gap with points from a Christy McGarry free and one from play from Conor O’Mullan but Cushendall pulled away again with a goal from Fiontan Bradley on 22 minutes. Eight in arrears Loughgiel were in danger of being cut adrift, but they battled their way back into contention with four points in the last seven minutes of the half, one from play by Pearse Patterson and three from Christy McCarry frees to trail by just four at the half time whistle. (2-12 to 1-11)

Within a minute of the restart the gap was down to two as top scorer McGarry and Ronan McCollum swung over points, though Joseph McLaughlin and Callagh Mooney pushed the gap out to four again in the next three minutes. A Joseph McLaughlin free stretched the gap to five, but Loughgiel hit back with a goal from Ben McGarry and suddenly it looked to be anybody’s game.

Loughgiel’s Christy McGarry get away from Cushendall’s Callagh Mooney during the U21 semi-final at Pairc Mhuire

Two minutes later Cushendall had the ball in the net at the other end when Oran McCambridge drilled one in from a narrow angle on the right, but Loughgiel kept themselves in contention when Christy McGarry sent over two more points from frees. Cushendall were finding the scores increasingly hard to come by and Loughgiel drew level by the 50th minute as McGarry tagged on another point from a free and Liam Glackin added one from play.

The Shamrock fans must have felt their team were in with a great chance at this stage but the home side found another gear down the home straight as they outscored the visitors by 3-1 to a single point. The first goal came from Oran McCambridge and the other two from Joseph McLaughlin who completed his hat trick to seal the win and book his team’s place in the final against Dunloy next Monday evening in Ballycastle.

FOR MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/cTVb5PmCfgL2zt/?invite=016dd0a9-1845-4901-a547-c45ba1a6ae5c

 

CUSHENDALL

Liam McGhee, Alex McCambridge, Daire Mort, Michael Quinn, Mark Emerson, Callagh Mooney, Conor McCollum, Joseph McNaughton, Austin Birt, Oisin Woodhouse, Joseph McNaughton, Oran McCambridge, Fiontan Bradley, Padraig McKillop, Thomas McLaughlin

Subs – Aodhan Campbell for Mark Emerson;

LOUGHGIEL

Codai McGarry, Cahir Connolly, Ruairi McCormick, Conor Dickson, Conal McCloskey, Liam Glackin, Ben McGarry, Tiago McGarry, Christy McGarry, Eoin McGarry, Darragh Patterson, Pearse Patterson, Ronan McCollam, Ronan Fitzgerald, Conor O’Mullan

Subs – Finn Henry for Conor O’Mullan; Ryan O’Boyle for Ronan Fitzgerald; Oisin Connolly for Liam Glackin

Referee – Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

by thesaffrongael

History made at Slemish Park

U21B Hurling Championship semi-final

All Saints 2-12 Lamh Dhearg 1-7

Chris Dornan wore a smile as wide as Slemish Park as he walked off the field after his All Saints side made their little bit of history with this win over Lamh Dhearg in the semi-final of the U21 B Hurling Championship.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Cushendall native, who manages the Senior team, the Ballymena club fielded a side at this level for the first time and it proved to be a very successful night for Dorney’s side.

The visitors certainly played their part in a typically rugged championship encounter and were level at half time when the sides retreated to the dressing rooms tied at 0-6 each.

Jakub Kaczmarek ( Above and featured image) fires home his second goal to secure All Saints their place in the U21B Hurling final

The Ballymena management made a vital switch at half time when they moved Jakub Kaczmarek to the edge of the square and the switch was to pay dividends as the strong running number 10 struck with two excellent goals to swing the contest decisively in favour of the home team.

His first came with ten minutes remaining at a time when the visitors had hauled back a four point deficit to draw level at 0-10 to 1-7 and he ensured that there would be no way back for a battling Hannastown outfit as he fired home his second with only a minute remaining.

Darach Bradley put the home side ahead with a pointed free after 30 seconds and the All Saints number 11 would be an important contributor as he hit four of his side’s six first half points with Sean McDermott and Daniel Kelly their other marksmen.

Lamh Dhearg matched them all the way through the opening half where they had wind advantage with Ciaran Boyd, Adam Murray 0-2, Finn Mervyn 0-2 and Donal Martin their first half scorers and Boyd was unfortunate to see his shot come back of an upright with 7 minutes gone.

Conor McConville, Lamh Dhearg and Tiernan McGurk, All Saints challenge for the ball
Darch Bradley who scored 0-9 for All Saints in their win over Lamh Dhearg

The home side lacked penetration up front during the opening half and Kaczmarek’s switch to full-forward for the second 30 minutes proved a master stroke.

Indeed they might have had a goal as early as the second minute but Rhys Camlin in the visitors goals brought of a superb double save to deny Jakub Kaczmarek and Darach Bradley on the follow up.

All Saints seemed to be taking control however as Daniel Kelly and Darach Bradley with three on the bounce move them four ahead by the 13th minute and they looked to have found their grove.

Lamh Dhearg had other ideas however and they struck back with a goal from Conal McGuigan in the 15th minute, their first score of the second half and when Ciaran Boyd followed immediately with a point the sides were level.

The Slemish Park side had hit half a dozen wides at this point but Jakub Kaczmarek became their hero when he raced through on goal and kicked the sliothar past the advancing Rhys Camlin to move the home side three in front.

The superb Darach Bradley added two points and Kaczmarek put the icing on a fine performance as he fired home his and his sides second goal with time almost up to secure a place in next week’s final against Sarsfields.

All Saints: 1 Luke Walsh, 2 Finn Connon, 3 Peadar McGuckian, 4 Diarmuid Casey, 5 Senan O’Boyle, 6 Harry Connon, 7 Archie McGreevey, 8 Sean McDermott 0-1, 9 Daniel Kelly 0-2, 10 Jakub Kaczmarek 2-0, 11 Darach Bradley 0-9, Fintan Brady, 13 Eddie McKendry, 14 Tiernan McGurk, 15 Ciaran Logan.

Subs: Caolan Laverty for Tiernan McGurk

Lamh Dhearg: 1 Rhys Camlin, 3 Odhran Kane, 4 Corey Camlin, 5 Reece Groves, 6 Finn Mervyn 0-2, 7 Niall McGarry, 8 Ciaran Boyd 0-2, 9 Aidan Morrow, 10 Adam Murray 0-2, 23 Aidan McKeague, 12 Donal Martin 0-1, 13 Eoin Murray, 14 Conal McGuigan 1-0, 15 Sean McCarthy, 22 Conor McConville

Referee: Seamus Shannon (Rossa)

For more pics from the All Saints v Lamh Dhearg game click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/AaCtabmyBmezex

by thesaffrongael

Smyth’s dominance paves way for ‘Paddy’s’ win

U21B Hurling Championship

  Tír na nÓg 1-13 Sarsfields 3-14

Tír na nÓg were first out of the blocks in this U21 B Hurling championship semi-final at Randalstown, with an opening point coming from Tiarnan Bonnes for the home team. Daniel Smyth responded with three consecutive points for the Stewartstown Road men, including a free and a ’65. This was a sign of what was to come as Smyth proved to be the difference between these two sides, although the first half belonged to the Whitehill men.

Tir na nÓg had the measure of Sarsfields in the opening half hour and looked to be comfortable as the half-time whistle saw them ahead by 1-07 to 0-05. The ‘Paddy’s’ struggled to find any kind of cohesion under the gloomy skies and the home team must have believed that they had the upper hand as they left the field for the half-time break.

Half-time: Tír na nÓg 1-07 Sarsfields 0-05

Whatever happened during the half-time break, Smyth came out and put on a master class in scoring for Sarsfields as he picked up 3-06 during a second half in which Tír na nÓg just failed to get a handle on the men in green. Smyth dominated and a score looked on the cards every time he got his hands on the sliothar.

Despite the best efforts of Dylan McLornan in the middle of the field, Tír na nÓg’s foot came off the pedal as Sarsfields moved into a commanding lead and once ahead they were never going to be caught, with Smyth leading the charge.

Tír na nÓg: 1 Aodhan McGuckien 2 Odhran Loughran 3 Patrick McCloskey 4 Paul McCloskey

5 Patrick Higgins 6 Dara Martin 7 Daniel McLornan 0-01, 8 Dylan McLornan 0-03 (1’65)

9 Joshua Higgins 10 Conor Loughran 0-05 (1f) 11 Tiarnan Bonnes 0-02, 12 Shea Devlin

13 Daniel O’Neill 1-0, 14 Conor McKenna 15 Caleb Smith 0-02 (1f) Sean McKeown, Joel Robb, Rory Neeson, Mal Martin, Rory Mullin, Ciaran McCamphill

Sarsfields: 2 Daragh Coleman 4 Ahmad Soda 5 Oisin Coleman 6 Anthony McGarrigle 7 Jay Ward 8 Eoin McBriarty 9 Michael Johnson 10 Conlai Mervyn 11 Daniel Smyth 3-09 (0-5 f, 0-1 65) 12 Eamonn O Cuinneagáin 13 Brendan Jackson 0-1, 14 Fionn Jeffrey 0-1, 15 Oisin Coleman 0-1, 18 Brian Healy 0-2 20 Andrew McStay 23 Ronan McKenna

Referee: Hugh Torney

Click below for more of Brian McKee’s pics from the Sarsfields v Tir na nOg game

https://myalbum.com/album/zoSBZuFgjkiKKM

by thesaffrongael

Rossa hold on for the win over gritty St. Enda’s

Antrim U21 Hurling Championship quarter-final

O’Donovan Rossa 1-15 Naomh Éanna 2-10

Pics by Kevin Herron

Rossa came out top in this excellent U21A Hurling Championship quarter-final at Shaw’s Road on Monday night. The home side were pushed all the way by a gritty St. Enda’s however and their cause wasn’t helped when they had a player sent off, midway through the second half.

It came just after Diarmaid Rogan saw his penalty crash off an upright and just seconds later, the hosts were dealt a double blow when they had a man sent off. However they managed to dig in and see themselves home and set up a semi-final meeting with Dunloy in seven days time.

The hosts had enjoyed much the better start with Corey Walsh getting through for the opening score after two minutes and this was a lead Rossa would hold for the remainder of the game. 

Naomh Éanna wasted a couple of early opportunities but it was Rossa who struck a vital blow when Eoin Trainor finished to the net at the second time of asking after his initial effort had been saved by Oisin O’Conghaile in the visitors goals.

Rogan then converted a 65 and a free before the visitors finally registered through Luke O’Connor in the 12th minute but Trainor and Short replied for the Shaw’s Road men to put them in a strong position midway through the opening half.

St. Enda’s rallied however with O’Connor pointing when a goal looked on and Malachi McGibbon added another from distance.

Corey Walsh replied for the home side, but the momentum was with Naomh Éanna and they were right back in it in the 20th minute as McGibbon dropped a free from his own half into the danger area and the sliotar broke out to Kane who pulled first time to the far corner of the net.

Rogan converted another free in response but Naomh Éanna struck for a second goal in the 25th minute as O’Connor placed Ciaran McAlister and he had space to gather and fire home.

Pic by Kevin Herron

Trainor and O’Connor would exchange points in the lead up to half time and at the break it was Rossa who led 1-10 to 2-4 but at this stage it still looked there for the taking by both sides.

O’Connor cut the gap back to two within seconds of the restart, but Rossa replied with two from Keevan Grieve to move four ahead.

St. Enda’s were starting to gain in confidence as McGibbon fired over a long range free and O’Connor sent over his fifth from play and it was back to two again before Rossa were awarded a penalty after substitute Daire Morgan was bundled over.

Rogan’s well struck effort rebounded of an upright and in the follow up tempers boiled over and Grieve was immediately shown a red before normal service was resumed.

Things appeared to have swung in the direction of the Hightown side as Luke O’Connor’s 65 had the gap down to one, but crucially, Naomh Éanna couldn’t get on terms as Corey Walsh hit back with his third of the evening.

McGibbon from distance for the visitors and Rogan from a close range free exchanged further points as the intensity of the game rose with both teams giving it absolutely everything with the game still very much in the melting pot.  

The Rossa defence was coming under increasing pressure but were well up to the task with Conor Boyle anchoring them superbly.

St. Enda’s pressed again and a McGibbon free as the game entered added time left the minimum in it again, but Rossa broke clear and won a free that Rogan tapped over to seal their passage into the last four.

The night’s other quarter-final saw Dunloy edge Ballycastle by 2-16 to 2-15.

Rossa: D Boylan; B Crawford, C Boyle, B Hegarty; C Shortt, R May, D Cunningham; D Rogan (0-5, 4f, 1 65), M McKiernan; K Grieve (0-2), P Short (0-1), L McEnhill; C Walsh (0-3), E Trainor (1-3), N May.

Sub: D Morgan for D Cunningham (42).

Naomh Éanna: O O’Conghaile; M McAlister, R Eager, Conor McAlister; Ciaran McAlister (1-0), M McGibbon (0-4, 2f), E Duffy; O O’Cuinn, C O’Connor; M O’Gorman, E Logue, L O’Connor (0-6, 1 65); R Bradley, F Kane (1-0), D O’Kane.

Subs: D Mackin for E Logue (HT), C McGinley for E Duffy (51), A Ashe for D O’Kane (56).

Referee: John O’Connor (Ballygalget)

for more of Kevin Herron’s photos from the game click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/4WHsxvPjVi69FU/?invite=addc2de9-595f-4628-893b-270f67875749

by thesaffrongael

Saffrons Recover to Claim U20 Title

Ulster U20 Hurling Cup Final

Antrim 2-13 Derry 0-11

Saturday 11 March

Brendan McTaggart reports from Owenbeg

Antrim recovered from a poor first half at a wintry Owenbeg to take the U20 honours against Derry.  Eight points separated the sides at the end of the hour with Antrim’s majors the difference.  Aidan Scullion finding the back of the net in each half that gave the Saffrons the edge against the Oakleaf men.

Derry will look at the first half when despite taking a one point lead into the break, they really should have been further ahead.  Before Antrim’s first goal, they had held Paudie Shivers men scoreless for 15 minutes but only managed to score three points in that same period of time while firing six wides.  It felt like they had let Antrim off the hook with their lack of accuracy and it proved to be so.  Once Scullion fired the first of Antrim’s majors, Derry never dominated another period of time to effectively put the Saffrons under any score board pressure.

The Saffrons played with more intensity in the second half and Scullion’s second goal midway through the half put daylight between the sides.  The introduction of Darragh Patterson, Cormac McKeown and Jack McCloskey all proving pivotal in the second half as Antrim held Derry to just three points in that period , controlling the game and dominating the Oakleaf men.

Antrim full forward Aidan Scullion gets in among the Derry defence to steer home his team’s decisive second goal during Saturday’s Ulster Under 20 final at Owenbeg

Playing against the wind, Antrim made a bright start.  Aodhan Scullion fired over his first of four match points to open the scoring before James Friel restored parity for Derry.  Both sides were lacking precision in those opening exchanges with the elements certainly not conducive for flowing hurling.  McGarry did split the posts only for Ruairi O’Mianian to bring the sides level once again.

Niall McGarel split the uprights in the 12th minute to edge Antrim ahead once more, a tidy score that underpinned his performance in the opening quarter.  He was proving to be a handful for Derry defence and Antrim couldn’t get enough ball his way.  It would be the Saffrons last score for a quarter of the game however as Derry turned the screw in the middle of the pitch. 

Friel landed a trio of points from placed ball (1 ’65) but a number of wides from open play and frees hurt the Derry challenge.  They led by two points and were winning every second ball in the middle third with the Saffrons struggling to get out of their own half.

Antrim did finally break the rut and did so in the best possible way.  Joseph McLaughlin finding Scullion who despite being some distance out, went for goal.  His effort fizzed low and Derry ‘keeper Cathan McElhinney managed to get his hurl to the sliotar but he could only deflect it to the back of the net.

The major came against the run of play and it was most definitely needed for the Saffrons as they weren’t at the races against a barrage of Derry pressure.  They followed up Scullion’s major with another McGarel point to go two clear but Derry hit back.  Friel fired over from a ’65 and a free either side of Keelan Doherty’s point to give Derry a 0-8 to 1-4 lead at the short whistle.

Antrim full forward Aidan Scullion pulls the ball to the Derry net for the second of his two goals

Scullion’s major gave the Saffrons a lifeline for the second half.  They had the breeze at their back and had already shown in the first half their forwards were capable of causing major problems.  They needed to tighten up the middle third and the introduction of Darragh Patterson allowed them to do that.  He played at the heart of the defence as a sweeper as Antrim pegged Derry into their own half for long periods of the second half. 

Six minutes had past after the restart when they had retaken the lead.  Scullion and McGarry splitting the uprights before Joseph McLaughlin followed suit after good work by captain Eoin Trainor in the middle of the field.

Antrim too were guilty of a number passing up on a number of chances with their tally of wides growing in those opening exchanges but the first Derry score of the second half didn’t come until the 44th minute, Keelan Doherty finding the target to bring Derry to within touching distance.

It was as close as they got to the Saffrons however as Shivers’ men scored their second major soon after.  Daire McMullan’s long free wasn’t dealt with in the heart of the Derry full back line and Scullion was on hand to pull the sliotar to the back of the net. 

Jack McCloskey fired over with the next attack to put five between the sides as Antrim played with more precision and intensity in the middle of the park.

Substitute Segdae Melaugh split the posts for Derry in the 50th minute to leave four between the sides, Melaugh’s introduction certainly giving Derry another option in attack and he was in the thick of the action for the Oakleaf men but the Antrim defence were well on top with Derry living off crumbs.

The scores began to come a bit more freely in the closing stages with Cormac McKeown, Ryan Mort (two), Aodhan McGarry (free) and Christy McGarry all raising a white flag in a five minute spell that saw the Saffrons add gloss to the score line but it was nothing short of what their second half showing deserved.

Ruairi O’Mianian fired over in injury time for Derry but it was too little too late as Antrim ran out comfortable winners in the end.

They now go into the Leinster championship round robin  where they will play Meath, Offaly and Westmeath.

Antrim: Eoghan Richmond; Ben McGarry, Ruairi McCormick, Dubhaltach Wilson; Daire McMullan, Eoin Trainor, Conor Boyle; Eoin McFerran, Connor Dickson; Aodhan McGarry, Joseph McLaughlin, Christy McGarry; Ryan Mort, Aidan Scullion, Niall McGarel

Subs: Darragh Patterson for C Boyle (HT); Cormac McKeown for E Trainor (41); Jack McCloskey for J McLaughlin (41); Seamie McIntosh for N McGarel (52); Ronan McCollum for A Scullion (58)

Scorers: A Scullion 2-1; A McGarry 0-4 (1f); N McGarel 0-2; R Mort 0-2; J McLaughlin 0-1; C McGarry 0-1; C McKeown 0-1; J McCloskey 0-1

Derry: Cathan McElhinney; Andy McBride, Aimon Duffin, Mark McEldowney; John McAllister, James Friel, Callum O’Kane; Ronan McNamee, Eunan Boylan; Ruairi O’Mianian, Niall McGonagle, Jack Cassidy; Conor Murtagh, Eamon Cassidy, Keelan Doherty

Subs: Segdae Melaugh for C Murtagh (HT); Ruaidhri McLaughlin for R McNamee (37); Conan Bradley for E Boylan (53)

Scorers: J Friel 0-6 (4fs 2’65s); R O’Mianian 0-2; K Doherty 0-2; S Melaugh 0-1

Referee: James Clarke (Cavan)