Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 2, Round 1

Saturday 26^th July

Report by Niall Kelly from St Gall’s

Naomh Gall  1-13         Shane Uí Néill 3-16

Glenarm opened their Championship campaign with an emphatic win at Milltown Row over St Gall’s on Saturday evening. It was yet another example of the old cliché, a game of two halves. Trailing by three at the break, the visitors produced a scintillating second period to catapult themselves to a handsome nine point win. On the 38^th minute, St Gall’s chief marksman Dubhaltach Wilson had fired over his sixth score of the evening to extend his side’s lead to five points and all seemed rosy for the men in blue and white. This was perhaps the catalyst for the Glenarm resurgence as they dominated the final 20 minutes of proceedings, outgunning their hosts 2-09 to a single point. Daniel Black’s rasping goal deep into added time certainly was the exclamation point and added an extra gloss on the scoreline to cap off a great result.

It was Naomh Gall, however, who came out of the traps with a greater spring in their step and had established a 0-03 0-01 lead in the opening ten minutes. A double from Wilson and a fine score from Ronan Crossan under pressure coming either side of a Sean O’Boyle point for the visitors.  It was nip and tuck between the two as both battled hard to gain the ascendancy. A fine score from Daniel Black reduced arrears to a point before the hosts responded in spectacular fashion through James O’Reilly with a monster point from range.

Further points were exchanged between Dylan McLaughlin and Dubhaltach Wilson before St Gall’s began to flex their muscles and had extended their lead to three midway through the first half. Wilson was on fire for the hosts and sent over a lovely effort over the shoulder before talisman Jackson McGreevy unleashed a colossal effort from long range to split the posts.

The visitors resilience was never in question though and they had once again cut the gap to two points with sharpshooter, Niall McGarel, despatching two from the placed ball before Dylan McLaughlin and Wilson traded points. With the half coming to a close, the game kicked up a notch as both teams sought to feed their forwards with every opportunity and caution was thrown to the wind. It was the hosts who found the net first, however, and it was no surprise as to the source who provided it. Dubhaltach Wilson negotiated himself just enough space to fire his effort on goal and despite the best efforts of netminder Michael Abram, who managed to get a touch on it, the sliotar still found its way across the line.

Glenarm would respond instantly though with a major of their own and again it was in fortuitous style as Declan McDermott latched on to the ball from close range amongst a melee of players to tap in beyond the despondent Kurtis McGreevy in goals.

With the opening half into time added on, St Gall’s finished the half the stronger as Wilson fired over from a free before Mark Napier navigated his effort to perfection from a tight angle before the teams retired for their half-time breather with the scores 1-09 to 1-06 in favour of the home side.

Whatever words of wisdom were imparted on the players at half time from the Glenarm coaching staff, it certainly seemed to do the trick as they were a force to be reckoned with the in the second period. Although it was St Gall’s who started the opening exchanges with a little more potency. Scores from Fergus Donnelly, Gregory McGreevy and Dubhaltach Wilson coming either side of a Dylan McLaughlin effort had opened up a five point gap with twenty remaining on the clock.

It was then that the Glenarm renaissance began as they transitioned through the gears seamlessly to take a stranglehold of affairs. Daniel Black doubled his tally to start chipping away at the lead before Niall McGarel’s two placed ball attempts found their mark perfectly. St Gall’s desperately sought to quell the advances of the visitors and launch attacks of their own, but Glenarm had other ideas and their relentless pressing and vigour would continue to open up scoring opportunities.

A finely crafted score involving Sean and Kieran O’Boyle was finished well by Darren Hamill before Hamill turned provider for Dylan McLaughlin and suddenly the sides were at a deadlock with ten minutes remaining. Not fully satisfied just yet, the Glenarm onslaught continued as they bombarded the host’s defence. A pull down in the box on Daniel Black resulted in a penalty and it seemed now there was no stopping them.

Darren Hamill was the man responsible to convert and just about managed to do so as the ball trickled over the line after Kurtis McGreevy had come agonisingly close to denying the Glenarm number 6. Nevertheless, the men from the north coast had their tails up and refused to give their counterparts any respite. Yet another fine score from Dylan McLaughlin was greeted with deafening roar from the travelling faithful before substitute Conal Ward put his imprint on proceedings with a fine effort.

Trailing by five with only five remaining, St Gall’s knew now it was time for the ‘Hail Mary’ route and barraged the Glenarm defence with ariel attacks. It just wouldn’t stick for the hosts though and they had to suffice with a point from the impressive Fergus Donnelly which would be too little too late.

With bodies pushed forward in the hope of a last gap couple of goals, St Gall’s were vulnerable to the counter and when Niall McGarel broke through their last line of defence, he unselfishly squared to Daniel Black who made no mistake pinging the ball into the top left corner of the net.

A productive day at the office for Shane O’Neill’s who secured two vital points in what is a very tricky group. They showcased the talent they have in their ranks and will look to replicate their performance from the final twenty minutes in all games going forward. For the hosts, the scoreline is probably a little harsh on them. They too enjoyed positive spells in the game, and it was only really the final ten minutes were they fell away. Their next meeting with Glenariffe, although a tricky prospect, could provide the fuel to ignite their Championship hopes.

Teams:

St Gall’s:

 K McGreevy; D Churchill, G Adams, O McIlhatton; M Marlow, J McGreevey (0-01,) E Walsh; J Hopkins, F Donnelly (0-02,) J Hopkins; G McGreevy (0-01,) J O’Reilly (0-01,) D Wilson (1-06;) M Napier (0-01,) S McAreavey, R Crossan (0-01)

Glenarm

M Abram; A Scullion, B Hamill, C McLoughlin; K O’Boyle, D Hamill (1-01,) M Furey; J Scullion, C Magill; N McGarel (0-06,) D McLaughlin (0-05,) B O’Boyle; D McDermott (1-00,) D Black (1-02,) S O’Boyle (0-01)

Substitute scorer:

C Ward (0-01)

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Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship

Group 1 Round 1

St Brigid’s Cloughmills 1-14 Tir na nÓg Randalstown 2-14

Tir na nÓg produced a strong finish to get their Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign off to a winning start against Cloughmills on Friday evening. Sixteen minutes into the game it appeared that the Randalstown men were cruising to an easy win as they led the home side by 1-06 to 0-02. The only thing in doubt appeared to be the size of the winning margin, such was the visitors’ dominance, but all of a sudden they ground to a virtual halt as Cloughmills started to get a grip of the game and four points from frees by corner forward Eoin Dobbin were followed by a brilliant individual goal from top of the right Ruairi Laverty and the sides went in at the break on level terms, Cloughmills 1-06 Tir na nÓg 1-06.

When the Biddies got the first three points of the second half it looked like last year’s beaten semi-finalists were in trouble, but slowly but surely they began to regain the upper hand and boosted by a goal from centre forward Colm Duffin they clawed their way back to win in the end by three.

Tir na nÓg got away to a great start and points from Sean McKinley and John Higgins had them two clear after three minutes. Cloughmills were struggling to mount an attack and it was seven minutes before got their first score, a well taken point by centre forward Callum McKendry. Back came the Randalstown men with three in a row from Joe McCormick, Conor McCamphill and Ciaran O’Neill stretched their advantage to five after twelve minutes as they dominated throughout the field. Stevie Smyth pulled a point back for the home side on sixteen minutes, but when Tir na nÓg goalkeeper Kevin Sheerin came up to fire penalty past his Cloughmills counterpart Christopher McKernan the game appeared be slipping from the home team’s grasp.

Not so however as the home team began to knuckle down and four pointed frees by Eoin Dobbin in a seven minutes spell got them back into contention. Caleb Smith came back with a point from play for Tir na nÓg to put them three clear again, but a fantastic individual goal from corner forward Ruairi Laverty, which he fired home after a sixty metre solo run sent them in at the break on level terms.

When the Biddies rattled off three points inside the first five minutes of the second half the travelling fans must have wondered just what was happening, but the Whitehill men steadied the ship and points from Darragh Fagan, Emmet Murray and Colm Duffin tied thing up by the 42^nd minute. Ruairi Laverty got the Biddies back in front with a well taken point, and though Duffin levelled matters for the visitors Dobbin again gave his team the lead with a pointed free at the end of the third quarter. 

The score that turned the game back in Tir na nÓg’s favour came on 47 minutes when Colum Duffin grabbed his team’s second goal and when brother Caoimhin, Ciara Logan and Oliver McAtameny put them three clear. With five minutes left for play Dobbin brought the gap back to two again but Ciaran Logan had the last say and a late point got them over the line.

CLOUGHMILLS

Christopher McKernan, Johnny Duffin, Sean McKendry, Rian Dobbin, James Doherty, Geoffrey Og Laverty, Kevin O’Boyle, Conor Laverty, Odhran McCurdy, Seamus Dobbin, Callum McKendry, Stephen Smyth, Ruairi Laverty, Corey Blair, Eoin Dobbin.  

TIR NA NOG

Kevin Sheerin, Brandon McLarnon, Dylan McLarnon, Manus Smith, Ciaran O’Neill, Caoimhin Duffin, Daniel Martin, Conor McCamphill, Emmet Murray, Darragh Fagan, Colm Duffin, Josh Higgins, Joe McCormick, Sean McKinley.

Referee – Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)

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Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 1 – Round 1

Friday 25^th July

Patrick Sarsfields 0-06    Cloney Gaels 1-28

Report by Niall Kelly from The Bear Pit 

Cloney Gaels kickstarted their quest for intermediate glory in emphatic style with a resounding win over Sarsfields. With twenty-five points to spare in the end, it’s fair to say that the visitors were worthy winners. Despite battling for the full sixty, Sarsfields just couldn’t get to grips with the fluidity of their counterpart’s game. The men in red always seemed to be first to the sliotar and when in possession of it, more often than not, picked the right pass as the right time. Their firepower at the business end of the pitch was simply too hot to handle and they were ruthless in front of the sticks with their whole forward line registering scores over the sixty. There were some excellent performers on the evening but there can be little doubt who was the star of the show as Clooney’s chief marksman, James O’Connell, registered a tally of 1-12 over the hour.

The signs were ominous from the get-go for Sarsfields as Clooney raced into a six point lead in the opening ten minutes as the twin threat of James O’Connell and Colla McDonnell ran riot. Matters could’ve been worse too as McDonnell’s thundering effort rattled the Sarsfield’s crossbar agonisingly in what would’ve been a beautifully crafted goal.

The hosts were desperate for a respite and sought to fire the ball long into their full forward line. This nearly reaped rewards as Fionn Jemfrey latched on to one such pass and his drilled effort was well parried away by Aiden Graham in the Cloney goal.

Cloney were relentless though in their offensive pursuits and their high press and constant probing lead to promising turnovers in dangerous areas. Eoin Graham put the finishing touches to one such turnover from a very tight angle with Ronan Graham then following up for his first of the evening.

The game’s only goal came on the fifteenth minute and it was wonderfully fashioned. A driven cross-field pass from Donal Graham was flicked on first time by Colla McDonnell into the path of talisman James O’Connell. The Clooney number 15 made absolutely no mistake as he rifled to the roof of the net with a rasping drive.

The Stewartstown Road side finally opened their account on the twentieth minute as Nicholas O’Mullane sent over a lovely point from range. Their reprieve was to be short lived though as Eamonn Brady surged through to split the posts before Ronan Graham added the finishing touches to another flowing move.

With five remaining until the short whistle, Sarsfield’s misery was compounded further they were reduced to 14 men after one of their players received a red card and the mountain they were tasked with scaling, just seemed to keep growing.  Scores were then exchanged between Fionn Jemfrey and Fionnbar O’Neill as the half came to a close and the visitors retreated to the changing rooms 1-14 to 0-02 to the good.

The men in red signalled their intent in the opening exchanges of the second period with a flurry of scores, mirroring their exploits in the early stages of the first half, with O’Connell, Daneil O’Neill, Patrick Graham and Ronan Graham raising the white flag.

Credit though to Sarsfields, as despite the onslaught they faced, their character never wavered, and they continued to battle. Nicholas O’Mullane doubled his tally with another fine score. The men in black and green had rejigged their game plan and looked to stifle the potent forwards of Clooney. Try as they might though, the men in red refused to be silenced and spearheaded by O’Connell and his exceptional ball-striking, they continued to inflict damage and kept Colm McDonnell’s umpire busy.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the hosts rallied and looked to pounce going forward when they could. Their efforts were rewarded as Ruairi McAreavey split the posts from range before Jemfrey fired two in quick succession from range.

However, it would be a case of too little too late, as Clooney continued to transition through the gears to finish strongly and saw out the game with a few fine long-range efforts. The pick of the bunch –  Fionnbar O’Neill’s monster effort from his own 65 metre line.

The men from Crosskeys will make the journey back down the M2 very contented with their efforts. Their prowess going forward will surely have others taking note of their credentials and it will be intriguing to see how the rest of their campaign unfolds. They certainly have the potential to make a big impact in this year’s competition. For Sarsfields, it was just one of those days. They will look to dust themselves down and be ready to go again in their next outing against Rasharkin.

Teams:

Sarsfields:

D McKernan; D Coleman, J Cunningham, O Coleman; A McKiernan, D Johnston, R McKenna; O Coleman, N O’Mullane (0-02;) E Ó’Cuinneagáin, A McGarrigle, R McAreavey (0-01;) N McGivern, J McKernan, F Jemfrey (0-03)

Clooney Gaels:

A Graham; H O’Donnell, J Magee, J McFall; F O’Neill (0-02,) D Graham, D O’Neill (0-01;) E Brady (0-01,) C Crossey; D Graham (0-01,) R Graham (0-04,) P Graham (0-03;) C McDonnell (0-02,) E Graham (0-02,) J McConnell (1-12) 

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