Category / U21 Hurling Championship

by thesaffrongael

Antrim see off Down challenge but there is work to be done before clash with Laois

Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship Play-Off

Down 1-13 Antrim 3-17

Paul McIntyre reports from Ballycran.

Crucial goals, scored at crucial times, helped Antrim see off a spirited Down side at Ballycran on Tuesday evening and advance to set up a round two clash against Laois next Tuesday evening in Navan.

Goals either side of the half time whistle from Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan and Michael McGarry helped put the Saffron’s in a commanding position but Ronan Sheehan’s side battled gamely and only for a missed penalty in the 45th minute, the final quarter could’ve had a very different look to it.

Tom McGratten who top scored for Down

Speaking after the full time whistle, coach Johnny McIntosh was keen to praise all twenty players that took to the field.  “We’re happy, and as we said to the players, we’re very happy with the impact and the attitude of the subs coming on. They made a big difference. We never probably played as well as we would’ve liked. We probably got a lucky break just before the half to get a goal and that put us ten up and that maybe gave us a wee bit more comfort at half time that we probably deserved to be honest. In fairness to the lads, they kept tearing away, they made the chances for themselves.”

While happy with the result, McIntosh knows that next week will require a a step up in performance if they are to advance any further in the competition. “We’ve a load to work on, absolutely tonnes to work on. We know we have a massive challenge on our hands next Tuesday night. We know what we have and we know what we have to do and we know we’ve a big challenge ahead for us, but we have tonnes to improve on and that’s the main thing. We certainly know what went on here today and it will not do next week so we’re looking forward to it and we’ll see how we’ll go.”

It was a cagey opening period with Down’s Tom McGrattan twice putting the hosts ahead with Daire Murphy twice levelling matters for Antrim. These opening four scores all came from placed balls and the fifth one was also a free as Declan McCloskey pushed Antrim ahead for the first time after 9 minutes.

The first score from play arrived in the 10th minute from Loughgiel’s McMullan before McGrattan’s third free cut the arrears to just one point.

Seanie McIntosh registered his firts score of the game on 13 minutes and this proved to be the catalyst for a period of total dominance for the young Saffrons as they outscored their hosts 1-7 to 0-1 before the half time whistle.

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Antrim full back Rory McCloskey

Niall O’Connor, Ciaran McQuillan and Cormac Donnelly were the dominant players in the middle sector, and with Conal Bohill’s strong direct running causing Down all sorts of problems, Antrim made the most of playing with a strong first half breeze.

McIntosh and Michael McGarry helped establish a four point lead before Murphy converted a further three frees before Bohill saw his attempt at goal bounce off the inside of Cathal Lavery’s right-hand post.

After McGrattan conjured up a point from nothing for Down, McMullan struck for Antrim’s first goal on the stroke of half time. Murphy’s shot was pushed away by Lavery and the Shamrocks attacker was quickest to the loose ball and pounce to give his side a ten point half time lead, 1-11 to 0-4.

After Sean Hughes had opened the second half scoring for Down, Antrim struck for the games second goal on 33 minutes. Another trademark run through the Down defence, Bohill picked out Michael McGarry who rifled past Laverty to open up a 12 point lead.

McMullan from a free and a further McIntosh point kept Antrim well on top before two Sean Hughes points brought Down to within 10 points when they were given a lifeline to get back into the contest.

Rory McCloskey was adjudged to have been holding Down replacement Francis Caldwell and referee Leon Reynolds awarded a penalty, but Stuart Martin’s effort failed to trouble Paul Doherty, and the Dunloy netminder was able to clear the ball to safety.

Antrim’s Seanie McIntosh runs at the Down defence

Down to their credit kept plugging away and two minutes later McGrattan found a way past Doherty to give the Mournemen a much needed boost, but they still trailed 2-14 to 1-9.

Four minutes later and any sign of a late comeback from the hosts were put to bed. McQuillan’s effort at a point seemed to be drifting harmlessly wide, but while everyone else turned away to await the puck out second half substitute Dannan McKeough kept the ball in play and rounded his marker to fire past Lavery for Antrim’s third goal.

As Down tagged on a few late points Antrim advanced largely unscathed as McMullan brought proceedings to and end as he clipped over his sixth score with the final puck of the game.

Down’s James Clarke in action against Antrim’s Declan McCloskey

Teams & Scorers:

Down: Cathal Lavery, Ciaran Savage, Michael Toner, Eoin Pucci, Rory Brown, Aodhan Furlong (0-1), Ryan Convery, Ciaran McMullan (0-1), Caolan Coulter (0-2), Eoin Magee, Sea Hughes (0-2f), Owen McDermott, James Clarke, Stuart Martin, Tom McGrattan (1-7, 4f).

Subs: Ryan O’Neill for McDermott (33), Francis Caldwell for Clarke (42), Jon Fisher for Magee (47), Oran Young for Savage (47).

Antrim: Paul Doherty, Donal Kearney, Rory McCloskey, Conor Henry, Enda McGarry, Niall O’Connor, Declan McCloskey (0-1f), Ciaran McQuillan (0-1), Cormac Donnelly, Daire Murphy (0-5f), Conal Bohill, Ronan McAteer, Rian McMullan (0-6 2f), Michael McGarry (1-1), Seanie McIntosh (1-3).

Subs: Dannan McKeogh (1-0) for Bohill (47), Caoimhn Heaney for Kearney (50), Ciaran Magill for E McGarry (52), Ryan Hill for McAteer (57), Oliver Kearney for M McGarry (60).

Referee: Mr Leon Reynolds (Armagh)

  • Dannan McKeogh fires in Antrim’s third goal

by thesaffrongael

Town snatched U21 title after great last quarter

Down Memory Lane

Antrim Under 21 Huring final 2012

Ballycastle 2-13 Cushendall 1-15

Team captain Paul McLernon lifts the Neill Patterson Memorial Cup for the U21 Hurling Championship after Ballycastle’s win over Cushendall in the 2001 Under 21 final in Loughgiel

A fantastic final quarter saw Ballycastle snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against luckless Cushendall in Saturday evening’s pulsating Under 21 Hurling final at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel to claim their third title at this grade in six years.

Four minutes into the second-half Cushendall looked winners all the way when they stretched their three point half-time advantage to six, and they were five ahead again entering the final quarter after replying to a brief Ballycastle comeback.  The Ballycastle defence had been struggling against a potent Dall forward line, with full forward Dominic Delargy tormentor in chief, but when it mattered most they raised their game and during the final nineteen minutes of play (sixteen normal time and three of injury time) they conceded just one more point, and that came from Cushendall midfielder Paddy McNaughton.

Dominic Delargy celebrates after scoring the Cushendall goal.

At the other end the twin strike partnership of Ciaran Clarke and Conor McGarry got to work and boosted by a goal from McGarry in the fifty-third minute they edged one point ahead to set up a finish which will long be remembered. Paddy McNaughton’s fine point on the run brought the Ruairi Og level in the fifty-fifth minute but in the five minutes of normal time which remained, plus the three minutes of extra time, they failed to raise another flag.

Ballycastle appeared to have thrown their chance away when Ciaran Clarke missed from a free and Eoin McAlonan squandered two great chances from play, and when the ball broke to Cushendall sharpshooter Eoin Laverty thirty meters from goal there seemed to be only one outcome.

 When Laverty pulled his shot wide of the target extra-time seemed the likely outcome, but Ballycastle got one more opportunity and Conor McGarry wrote his name in the record books with a brilliant point which clinched a remarkable game and sent the Neill Patterson Cup back to ‘The Town’.

Ballycastle’s Ciaran Clarke in action during the 2012 final win over Cushendall
  • Conor McGarry, who scored the winning point in injury time, celebrates with Eoin McAlonan and Matthew Donnelly.
  • The McLister brothers John, Paul and James with the Under 21 Cup after Ballycastle’s win over Cushendall. Earlier that week Paul had carried the Olympic torch on its journey through Antrim, on its way to London for the 2012 Olympic Games
  • Under 21 beaten finalists Cushendall.
  • Ballycastle’s Eoin McALonan in action during his team’s Under 21 final win over Cushendall.
  • Ballycastle’s Saul McCaughan is tackled by Cushendall’s Seamus McNaughton during the Antrim Under 21 hurling final in Loughgiel.
by thesaffrongael

McQuillan’s goals send Ruairi’s through to final

U21 Hurling Championship semi-final

Ruairi Og 2-15  St. John’s 1-15

Goals from Ed McQuillan in the 13th minute of the opening half and 16 minutes into the second were the scores that sent Ruairi Og, Cushendall through to the U21 Hurling final after a bruising contest against St. John’s at Slemish Park tonight.

Cushendall looked to be on their way to a comfortable victory when they led 1-10 to 0-7 at the break but the ‘Johnnies’ came strong in the second half, despite having Eoin McParland Red carded in the 40th minute and closed the gap to two at the three quarter mark.

McQuillan’s second goal created a bit of breathing space for Ruairi Og but St. John’s kept going to the final whistle but just couldn’t get the goal that might have sent an entertaining contest into extra time.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with Ed McQuillan and Emmet Laverty on target for the North Antrim side and Donal McKernan and Shea Shannon replying for the Whiterock Road side. Emmet Laverty converted a couple of close range frees to edge Cushendall two in front as Ciaran McKenna was substituted after a strong challenge to be replaced by Ruairi Galbraith.

  • Not this time! Two goal hero, Ed McQuillan is challenged by Odhran Carleton, St. Johns.

Shea Shannon pulled one back for St. John’s with a well struck long range point but Ruairi Og replied with a goal from Ed McQuillan to move four in front with 13 minutes gone. Emmet Laverty and his mid-field partner, Scott Walsh extended the Cushendall lead to six by the 21st minute and Conor McHugh struck a beauty to increase that lead to seven.

St. John’s  tried to respond and a good move opened up the ‘Dall’ defence but Odhran McGrath volleyed over from close range when he might have had a goal. Despite that miss St. John’s came strong again with points from Donal McKernan and Shea Shannon to serve notice that they were still very much in the game.

They continued to look vulnerable on the counter attack however and Ed McQuillan looked to be in for a second goal but was pulled down just outside the area with Emmet Laverty’s attempt on goal deflected wide from the resulting free.

Laverty pointed the resulting ‘65’  and Ed McQuillan got on the end of a great sideline cut from Conor McHugh to extend their lead to six and in the closing minutes of the half Emmet Laverty and Donal McKernan exchanged further points to leave the half time score 1-10 to 0-7 in favour of the Ruairi Og.

  • Aidan McMahon attempts to break through the Cushendall defence

Emmet Laverty struck a massive point on the restart to move his side seven in front but a point from Shea Shannon and an excellent goal from Shea Shannon, who got on the end of an astute hand pass from Aidan McMahon closed the gap to three and St. John’s were right back in the mix.

Cushendall found a response through an Emmet Laverty point and as exchanges intensified Eoin McParland was Red carded for pulling an opponent’s faceguard but it failed to disrupt the Johnnies effort.

After Niall McCormack extended the Cushendall lead with a point in the 9th minute St. John’s responded positively with points from Shea Shannon and McKernan to leave three in it once more and it was clear that this game was far from over.

The boys in Maroon looked in a spot of trouble but they found the appropriate response through the excellent Ed McQuillan who got on the end of a good move to fire home his second goal to put six between the sides with 14 minutes of normal play remaining.

Dannan McKeogh replied with a Johnnies point and then Ruairi Sharpe came bravely of his line to deny Peter McCallin and was hurt in the process but was able to continue after treatment. St. John’s continued to press and a couple of Donal McKernan points left just three in it again by the 28th minute but that was as close as they got.

  • Peter McCallin, St. Johns gets out in front of Francis McCurry to win possession

McQuillan extended that lead to four again and Liam Gillan made a great block to deny McCallin before Shea Shannon and Aaron Bradley points for the Whiterock side and an Ed McQuillan reply for the ‘Dall’ concluded the scoring.

A good game of hurling, played with real championship intensity with Liam Gillan, Jack McKay,  Emmet Laverty, Conor McHugh and the excellent Ed McQuillan the outstanding performers in a Cushendall side who did enough to get them over the line.

St. John’s played their part however and their never say die attitude ensured their opponents could never relax with John Darragh, Conal Bohill, Donal McKernan, Shea Shannon and Dannan McKeogh the men who caught the eye.

Ruairi Og: Ruairi Sharpe, Jack McKay, Liam Gillan, Donal Kearney, Senan Black, Francis McCurry, Ruairi McCollam, Emmet Laverty, Scott Walsh, Niall McCormack, Conor McHugh, Ronan McCambridge, Ed McQuillan, Aiden McKenna, Ruairi McAuley. Subs: Cathal McDonnell

St. John’s: Conor Flannery, Odhran Carleton, John Darragh, Eoin McParland, Odhran McKenna, Conal Bohill, Ciaran McKenna, Shea Shannon, Niall McCann, Donal McKernan, Aidan McMahon, Aaron Bradley, Dannan McKeogh, Peter McCallin, Odhran McGrath. Subs: Ruairi Galbraith,

Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)

by thesaffrongael

Razor sharp Saffrons book Leinster place

Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship play-off

Antrim 3-27 Down 1-13

Antrim produced a display of sharp, crisp, pacey hurling tonight at Páirc Esler in Newry to see of the challenge of Down in the Leinster Under  20 championship play-off. The home side may have been short a few regulars for various reasons but this was as good a display as I have seen from an Antrim team in years. Their precision passing, striking and score taking were right out of the top drawer and though there may not have been any work done in the build up to this game it certainly didn’t show as they hit some excellent scores while running up a score of 3 goal and 27 points to book a place in the Leinster Championship against Carlow in eight weeks’ time.

The young Saffrons had started well hitting a series of great points but their hopes were dealt a blow when Down full forward Ronan Blair grabbed a goal in the 13th minute. However the result was never in any doubt after Seaan Elliott fired a penalty to the Down net in the 18th minute for the Saffrons’ opening goal to give his team a 1-7 to 1-2 lead.

Blair’s major was very much against the run of play as Seaan Elliott

hit three early points and his Dunloy club-mate Declan Smyth (who ended with 0-7 from play) was dictating play around the midfield.

Man of the match Declan Smyth who gave a superb display, scoring seven points from play from midfield. Pic by John McIlwaine

A great flowing movement which saw Dominic McEnhill place Conal Bohill for a second Antrim goal saw the Saffrons pull safely clear and they continued to hold the upper hand as they raced to a 2-17 to 1-6 to half time lead, with eight different players getting their name on the scoreboard.

Niall McCormick was the only Antrim forward not to trouble the score board in the opening half, but he corrected that with a goal on the re-start after Caolan Coulter and Ronan Blair had opened well for Down with points.

Indeed with Phelim Savage dropping back at times behind his half back line, Down played better during the second half and Coulter and Niall McFarland in particular picked off some fine scores.

Down’s Phelin Savage who played very well for the home team. Pic by John McIlwaine

Overall however Antrim kept Down on the back foot and played some excellent hurling, something that definitely pleased assistant manager Gary O’Kane.

“They actually have surprised us along the line with how well they played together.

“Believe it or not we haven’t had any collective training to date, but a number of them are in the senior panel and we would be pleased with their progress.

“However the team play was very good, striking top class, movement off the ball and the awareness of where each other was, you couldn’t ask for better. It gives us an excellent platform to move forward.”

It has to be said that the only down side of the night was the fact that nobody knew this game was on. There was no pre-publicity and it showed in the numbers that turned up to see the game. The old adage that there was more people on the pitch than there was in the stand certainly rang true. Overall I counted seventeen people at the game, which was a real shame for they were denied the chance of seeing some top class hurling.

Antrim’s Conor McHugh comes out of defence with the ball. Pic by John McIlwaine

Antrim : P McMullan, A Crawford, L Gillan, F McCurry, R McGarry, C Boyd, C McHugh (0-1), S Walsh (0-1), D Smyth (0-7), C McFadden (0-3), C Bohill (1-0), N McCormack (1-1), S Elliott (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free), D McEnhill (0-3), E McQuillan (0-1)

Subs : M Close for E McQuillan (41), J McKay for C McHugh (41), M Smyth for C Boyd (47), E Elliott (0-2) for S Elliott (49)

Down : C McAlornan, E Kelly, J Hughes, A Dorrian, C Smyth, T Murray, M McKay, P Savage, J Hanrahan, C Coulter (0-2), N McFarland (0-2), P Davidson (0-1), L McCaughey, R Blair (1-6, 0-6 frees), S Martin (0-2)

Referee : James Clarke (Cavan)

  • Seaan Elliott sends over an early point.
  • Antrim manager Karl McKeegan
by thesaffrongael

Cuchullains retain U21 crown in tame final

Creagh Concrete 1U21 Hurling Championship Final

Dunloy 2-21 Ballycastle 1-12

Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel

A man of the match performance from Keelan Molloy and a ruthless, clinical opening 30 minutes was enough for Dunloy to retain the U21 championship on Monday evening. Just like the 2017 final when the Cuchullains defeated Loughgiel, it was the first half when the match was won and lost. They had 11 points to spare over the Shamrocks in May of last year before recording a 14 point victory and on Monday evening at Fr Healy Park they had 14 points of an advantage over Ballycastle before seeing out the second half and sealing a 12 point margin of victory.

First half goals from Keelan Molloy and Deáglán Smyth gave Dunloy the perfect platform. Molloy would tag on another four points in a scintillating opening 30 minutes by the Dunloy man while Smyth’s major in the 14th minute left Ballycastle with a mountain to climb even at that early stage, opening a 10 point lead. In a first half where they conceded just seven points, the Dunloy defence were watertight. Eamon Smyth dropped deeper and put in an accomplished performance reading the flight of the sliotar to deny countless attacks from Ballycastle. The Dunloy captain swept all before after the opening quarter with the Dunloy full back line in imperious form also.

Ballycastle faired much better in the second half with Dairmuid McShane top scoring for the ‘Town over the hour with 0-6 while the commitment and effort of Tiernan Butler could never be faulted. The double save by ‘keeper Brendan Connor midway through the second half was as good as anything you will see on a hurling pitch. His first effort displayed lightning reflexes to deny Conal Cunning while the bravery shown to thwart Eoin O’Neill a certain major seconds later can’t be taught. Some say you have to be mad to be a goal keeper, I don’t think it’s the defining characteristic to play between the sticks but it certainly helps. Connor’s bravery bordered heroic and deserved to be for a winning cause. Ballycastle scored their goal in the first minute of injury time at the end of the game, Colm Butler with the finish and while they outscored Dunloy in the second half, it did little to take away from a resounding victory for the Cuchullains.

5

Deaglan Smith celebrates after scoring Dunloy’s second goal. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Both sides looked lively from the first whistle with Conal Cunning notching the games opening point after just 15 seconds. The Ballycastle response was swift and could have been perfect but for Ryan Elliott to deny Ben McQuillan while through on goal. Referee Kevin Parke spotted an infringement in the build up though, allowing McShane to open his account and get the Town firing. A Conor McBride point followed moments later and Ballycastle had an early lead after two minutes.

Cunning doubled his tally to restore parity to the score line moments later but the first decisive score of the final came in the sixth minute. Receiving an inch perfect hand pass from Deáglán Smyth, Keelan Molloy found himself through on the Ballycastle goal. His initial shot was hooked and with the sliotar skewing high, Ballycastle ‘keeper Brendan Connor couldn’t clear the danger. Molloy following up his shot and finding the back of the net with the rebound with a smart finish.

Eamon Elliott and Tiernan Butler landed points for Ballycastle either side of Molloy’s first white flag of the final ensured Ballycastle made a positive response to the Dunloy goal but the Cuchullains began to take control. A trio of points from Eoin O’Neill, Seaan Elliott and Molloy before Cunning landed a ’65 in the 12th minute to open a seven point advantage for Dunloy before they scored the second major of the final. Deáglán Smyth collecting a long ball from Anton McGrath before showing his marker a clean pair of heals and applying the emphatic finish.

1-4 without reply for the Cuchullains in the space of six minutes left Ballycastle reeling but a brace of points from McShane (one free) temporarily stopped the rot before Cunning added his second free of the match, taking his tally to four points for the half by the 17th minute.

Dunloy continued to apply pressure with Seaan Elliott and O’Neill firing over two points in as many minutes and while Conal Colgan split the posts for Ballycastle in the 20th minute, it was their last score of the half. The Cuchullains were too hot for Ballycastle to handle in the last ten minutes as they tagged on a further five points – Cunning (free), Molloy (two), O’Neill and Seaan Elliott giving Dunloy a 2-15 to 0-7 lead at the short whistle.

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Ballycastle’s TT Butler in action against Dunloy’s Ryan McGarry. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

It was an incredibly fluent performance from Dunloy, especially after the opening quarter. The Scoring burst of 1-4 in just six minutes put them in control after what was a close opening that they edged. Ballycastle were going to have to do something different in the second half to get back into the game. The Dunloy half back line were dominating the Ballycastle puck outs while Ciaran Elliott and Anton McGrath were instrumental for the Cuchullains. Tiernan Butler and Eamon Elliott started the second half in midfield and while McShane landed his third free of the match, fourth point in total to open the scoring after just 40 seconds, a brace of points from Ciaran Elliott and Deáglán Smyth extended the Dunloy lead.

Smyth’s point in the 33rd minute however would be Dunloy’s last score for 20 minutes. They didn’t have the same fluency they showed in abundance in the opening 30 minutes and while their intensity levels dropped, they did enough at the other end to keep Ballycastle at bay. In that 20 minute barren spell, the Town only managed two points of their own, Oisin McAuley and McShane (free) while the double save of Brendan Connor kept frustrating the Cuchullains.

Cunning landed a brace of points in the 53rd and 55th minutes to quell any notions of a Ballycastle revival in the closing stages. McShane’s sixth point of the match was answered by Cunning (free) and Molloy’s fifth white flag of the hour before Ballycastle scored their goal. With the clock just entering the 61st minute of the final, Colm Butler gather the sliotar 20 yards from goal and found the bottom right hand corner of Ryan Elliott’s net. Conor Boyd landed a long range point in the time that remained but it did little to take any gloss off an emphatic victory for the Cuchullains.

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Dylan McIlwaine presents the Saffron Gael Man of the Match award to Keelan Molloy.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Aaron Crawford, Ryan McGarry, Conor Kinsellan; Ronan Molloy, Eamon Smyth, Callum Scullion; Ciaran Elliott, Anton McGrath; Chrissy McMahon, Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill; Seaan Elliott, Deáglán Smyth, Conal Cunning.

Ballycastle: Brendan Connor; Eoin Hill, Ciaran McKeague, Oran Kearney; Oisin McAuley, Conor Boyd, Conal Colgan; Lorcan Donnelly, Ryan Hill; Eamon Elliott, Colm Butler, Ben McQuillan; Darimuid McShane, Tiernan Butler, Conor McBride.

Scorers for Dunloy: Keelan Molloy 1-5; Conal Cunning 0-8 (5 f’s, 1 ’65); Deáglán Smyth 1-1; Eoin O’Neill 0-3; Seaan Elliott 0-3; Ciaran Elliott 0-1

Scorers for Ballycastle: Dairmuid McShane 0-6 (5 f’s); Colm Butler 1-00; Oisin McAuley 0-1; Conor Boyd 0-1; Eamon Elliott 0-1; Conor McBride 0-1; Tiernan Butler 0-1

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomg Éanna)

Pics by Dylan and John McIlwainePremier 1