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by thesaffrongael

Cushendall secure semi-final place in Darragh Cup

Darragh Cup quarter final at Pairc Mhuir Cushendall

Cushendall 4-26 Ballycastle 2-15

A very impressive second half performance by Cushendall saw them secure a place in the semi-final of the Darragh Cup with a convincing win over Ballycastle at Pairc Mhuire on Friday evening. The home team were on top throughout the game but when Ballycastle hit 1-03 in a three minutes spell just before half time, they appeared to be back in the game. However the Ruairis finished the half strongly with a point from star of the show Fiontan Bradley and two from Conleth McNaughton to push their side six clear at half time. (1-15 to 1-09)

After the change of ends Cushendall pushed on and an early goal from Fiontan Bradley, plus points from Thomas McLaughlin, Orin McCambridge and Cahir McCambridge put the game beyond Ballycastle, but the boys in black and amber kept battling away and points from Niall McClean Conor Boylan and a Conor Donnelly goal kept them in contention. Donnelly was leading the line for the ‘Town’ with some great scores, but Cushendall always had an answer and Bradley and Cahir McCambridge added two more goals going down the home stretch to set up a semi-final meeting with neighbours Glenariffe-Glenravel, back in Cushendall next Friday evening.

Loughgiel had a big win over Tir na nOg in the other quarter final to set up a semi-final meeting with arch rivals Dunloy

Ruairi Og

Shane Coulter, Paddy Morgan, Conor McCann, Charlie McAllister, Alex McCambridge, Aidan Campbell, Dairmuid McManus, Callagh Mooney, Oran McCambridge, Ryan McAuley, Thomas McLaughlin, Nicholas McLaughlin, Cahir McCambridge, Fiontan Bradley, Conlaodh McNaughton

Ballycastle

Ruairi Laverty, Tiernan Staunton, Dara Donnelly, Dara Kinney, Conor Boylan, Niall McClean, Oran Baudant, Conor Donnelly, Oisin Donnelly, Thomas McKee, Conor Mooney, Peter Laverty, Ruairi McShane, Conor Anderson, Finn McGaughey.

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by thesaffrongael

Big win necessary if Antrim are to progress

Tailteann Cup

London v Antrim

Pairc Esler Newry – Sunday 1-45

The trip to Newry to face London on Sunday in the final group game in the Tailteann Cup is one that not too many in the Saffron County seem to be talking about at present with spirits a little low following heavy defeats to Westmeath and Limerick in the opening two games.

A sterling performance against All Ireland champions, Armagh back in April the 12th at Corrigan Park suggested Andy McEntee’s Saffrons were on track for another serious Tailteann Cup challenge.

Despite losing that one eventually by 11 points the home side posted 1-23 and displayed some of the fighting spirit that had been missing during a mediocre league campaign that eventually saw them relegated to division 4.

Paddy McBride whoes goal came too late to influence the Limerick result and Adam Loughran who has recently returned to the side after injury

London should provide the opportunity to get a win under their belts, but it’s not a given and even then a win might not be enough to earn them a quarter-final play-off place.

It’s been a difficult season for Antrim and since they overcame a Leitrim team who were in disarray, back in February we have struggled to put 70 minute performances together.

A narrow defeat away to Laois left them looking over their shoulder and defeats to Sligo and Kildare saw them relegated to the bottom tier.

That sterling 45 minute performance against Armagh had raised hopes going into the Tailteann Cup but they faced a difficult opener away to a Westmeath side that many felt were unfortunate to be relegated from division 2.

And so it proved to be as a Luke Loughlin inspired Westmeath ran out convincing winners against the Glens men, Loughlin posting 1-17 which matched Antrim’s total for the day.

A win over Limerick, who had defeated London in round 1, would have put Antrim right back into a potential qualification spot but again the Saffrons failed to deliver with the visitors pulling away to win comfortably despite a late Paddy McBride goal.

A win over the Exiles in Newry would salvage something from a disappointing season but a win might not be enough to secure that quarter-final play-off spot.

To achieve that they must beat London as a draw will result in their exit due to an inferior scoring difference and even with that, it may require a handsome win as only three of the third-placed teams advance with New York entering at the knockout stages.

Antrim who need a big win in Newry to keep their season alive

As it stands, Antrim’s scoring difference could be their undoing as they will probably need to better what Tipperary achieve against Leitrim by six points to ensure they are not the lowest-ranked of those third-placed teams.

The sides last met at Corrigan last year with Antrim running out 3-11 to 2-10 winners and the Exiles will fancy their chances of taking a major scalp against an opponent who may be low in confidence.

At the time of writing the Antrim team for Sunday had not been announced. Will Antrim take the opportunity of giving players who have been in the panel all year but have seen little football, an opportunity?

I expect that Andy McEntee will go with his strongest available lineout and if Antrim can play to their potential over the 70 plus minutes then they are capable of posting a score that would keep their season alive.

by thesaffrongael

Short goal seals it for Rossa at Hightown

ACHL Division 1

Naomh Éanna 1-15 O’Donovan Rossa 1-18

Photographs: JJ Lawell

A Pearce Short goal eight minutes from time was the decisive score as Rossa overcame the challenge of St. Enda’s in a well-contested game at Hightown on Wednesday.

There was little between the sides during a contest where the points were important for contrasting reasons with Rossa keen to maintain their place at the top of the table while Naomh Eanna wanted to climb out of the bottom 3.

Naomh Éanna got off to a flying start with Niall O’Connor and Joe Maskey firing over early points at Hightown.

Deaglan Murphy replied for Rossa from a free, but Naomh Eanna were flying and added points through Cormac Jennings and Frank Kane as they dominated the early exchanges.

Rossa began to grow into the contest however and replied with a hat-trick of scores from Murphy – one from play – to draw level before edging ahead with points from James Connolly, Eoghan McMenamin and Seaghan Shannon.

Maskey ended a barren 17 minutes for the hosts from a free after they had shot a number of wides, but McMenamin and Murphy hit back at the other end.

The hosts looked in for a goal late in the half but Brendan Cormican screwed his shot wide when a goal looked on  and Rossa went in at the break with a 0-10 to 0-6 lead after Jennings and Murphy traded late scores.

Murphy extended the Rossa lead from a free early in the second half, but Naomh Eanna grabbed the goal they needed as Ruairi Donaghy got onto a long delivery and despite being closed down, he created the space to fire home.

Cormac Jennings followed with a point as Naomh Eanna started to threaten with Murphy replying at the other end but it was the hosts who were calling the shots and Maskey, O’Connor and Luke O’Connor were all on target as the Hightown side hit the front again.

Rossa replied and points from Murphy and Joe Mulholland tipped the balance back in their favour, but Donaghy levelled again from a free.

It was all to play for heading into the final quarter, with Murphy hitting three of the next four points from placed balls, while he was denied a goal by Niall McGivern.

However, that goal would arrive in the 52nd minute as a Mulholland shot was parried by McGivern but Short was first react to the break as he finished to the net.

Donaghy and James Connolly swapped points, but another Donaghy free and Cormac Jennings’ fourth from play left three between the sides as the clock ticked down.

Naomh Éanna pressed hard in the closing stages but a number of high deliveries failed to produce the goal they needed and they had a late appeal for a penalty waved aside as Rossa held on for the win that keeps them top of the table.

Naomh Éanna: N McGivern; R Eager, D Maguire, O Ó Quinn; E Conlon (0-1), N O’Connor (0-2), M McGibbon; C O’Connor, C McAlister; R Donaghy (1-3, 0-3f), M Mullan, J Maskey (03, 1f); F Kane (0-1), C Jennings (0-4), B Cormican.

Subs: D Maguire for M Mullan (HT), L O’Connor (0-1) for B Cormican (35), R Gillan for F Kane (49), E O’Connor for O Ó Cuinn (53)

Rossa: D Armstrong; O McVicker, C Orchin, N Crossan; C McGuinness, G Walsh, A O’Brien; J Mulholland (0-1), E Trainor; S Shannon (0-1), P Short (1-0), D Rogan; E McMenamin (0-2), J Connolly (0-2), Deaglan Murphy (0-12, 9f, 1×65).

Subs: Daire Murphy for D Rogan (43), T Morgan for S Shannon (43), L Carr for E Trainor (56), C Walsh for Deaglan Murphy (60+1)

Referee: Piarais McCaffrey (St Gall’s)

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by thesaffrongael

Armoy finish strongly to take the spoils

Antrim Hurling League Division 3

Armoy 2-22 Glenravel 2-14

If ever there was a game of two halves – this was it. Trailing by thirteen points at half time Glenravel came out a different team second half and closed the gap to two points but in the closing minutes the home side recorded a goal and three unanswered points to leave a comfortable enough gap of eight points in the end.

The first half was all one way traffic as Armoy were able to find there men with ease and with Tarlach McBride in hot form from placed balls they cruised to a half time lead of 1-15 to 0-05. Sean McKay being chief marksman for the visitors.

For the second half, Glenravel put Conleth O’Loan and Cormac McKeown in on the edge of the square and they certainly made good use of the space. In the opening minute of the second half Conleth had the sliothar in the net and the same player followed with two well taken points in quick succession before netting another major. That made 2-02 from O’Loan in the opening four minutes of the second half to reduce the gap to five points and the visitors well on top. Further points from Sean McKay, Declan Traynor, Fergus Donaghy, Cormac McKeown and Conleth O’Loan kept Glenravel within striking distance as their opponents could only manage scores from ace free taker McBride who recorded four in total. So with ten minutes remaining Armoy led by two points, 1-19 to 2-14. Then came the defining moment of the game when a long range effort from Armoy ended up in the net along with Glenravel keeper Chris Quinn That score knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and Armoy would go on to score three further points in the closing minutes and end up victorious by eight points

Glenravel will look back on this game and wonder what might have been had they got out of the traps a little quicker in the opening half and Armoy will just be glad to have got over the line when an upset certainly seemed on the cards. The win keeps Glen Rovers joint top on 11 points, though with an inferior points difference than both Dunloy and Ballycastle.

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by thesaffrongael

McManus’ late strike earns St. John’s a share of the spoils

ACHL Division 1

St. John’s 1-20 Ballycran 0-23

St. John’s and Ballycran served up a score-fest thriller at Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening.

In a game of many twists and turns it was the Corrigan Park side who threatened to run away with it early on but they were thankful to Oisin McManus who fired over the equaliser deep in injury time to give them a share of the points.

It was the Johnnies who came flying out of the start traps with Ruairi Galbraith firing to the Ballycran net after 10 seconds and the same player followed with a point with the game still in the opening minute.

Aaron Bradley added a point to move the ‘Johnnies’ five ahead before Conor Woods got the visitors off the mark with a long range point in the 3d minute.

Poacher turned net minder, Domhnal Nugent pulled off a good save as the visitors fought to get back into contention but slowly the men from the Ards started to settle and reel in the opposition.

Paul Sheehan, Chris Eagan, Connor Dorrian, Phelim Savage and the impressive Eagen again hit five unanswered points to edge Ballycran ahead for the first time after 10 exhilarating minutes before Donal Carson levelled the contest for the second time with 12 minutes gone.

It was now St. John’s turn to enjoy a period of dominance and Danaan McKeogh, Oisin McManus (65) and a long range free, Donall Carson and a great long range effort from Shea Shannon moved them five ahead.

The game was being played at a blistering pace as Paul Sheehan and Oisin McManus exchanged points and another brace of points from Sheehan, the second a superb side-line cut kept the visitors in touch.

Play continued to swing end to end as Ruairi Galbraith for the Whiterock side and the increasingly influential Sheehan exchanged further minors before the visitors were handed the opportunity of drawing level but Domhnal Nugent pulled off a fine stop from a penalty to leave his side three ahead at the break

Half Time  1-10 to 0-10

Paul Sheehan closed the gap to two on the restart from a long range free and it was then the turn of Stephen Keith in the Ballycran goals to come to his side’s rescue with a good save from Galbraith.

The pace and intensity of the game was unrelenting as Oisin McManus (65) and Danaan McKeogh moved the ‘Johnnies’ four ahead with free taker, Sheehan replying from a free and a ‘65’ to keep the visitors very much in touch.

Michael Dudley moved the hosts three in front with a good point from out on the left but Ballycran were coming more and more into the game with David Gilliland, Conor Woods and Chris Eagan responding with points.

Caoimhin Hanna replaced Michial Dudley in the St. John’s side as the game entered the final quarter as Shea Shannon struck a monster point from deep in his own half for the Whiterock side but it brought another response from their visitors.

Paul Sheehan continued to produce a masterful display of free taking as he hit the next three score, the third from a side-line cut, his second of the afternoon and Michael Hughes added another from play and the fat was very much back in the fire.

It was St. John’s turn to respond and Oisin McManus (f), Michael Bradley and Donal Carson brought a loud cheer from the Corrigan faithful as they sensed another important victory but this drama was far from over.

Sheehan hit a fine point from play for the Ards men and Nugent in the St. John’s goals pulled off another good save before Oisin McManus appeared to have given the home side the points when he converted a free in the 33d minute.

Referee Darren McKeown deemed there was still time to play and Chris Eagen equalised before Jake Miskimmin looked to have won it for the Co. Down men but there would be one more play to come.

McManus struck the equaliser for the Whiterock side deep into injury time to the relief of the home faithful and the disappointment of Ballycran who had to settle for the point in the end.

A great game of hurling highlighted by excellent long range points from play, superb free taking and end to end hurling where fortunes swayed and flowed with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

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