Portaferry made the long journey to Cushendall for a 12 noon throw in and their efforts were rewarded as they came away with both league points after a six point win over the Ruairis at Pairc Mhuir
Portaferry’s Ciaran Milligan hand passes the ball away
Five early points from Ryan O’Neill Shane Conlan, Cahal Coleman, Niall Milligan and Niall Fitzsimons, in reply to one from Cushendall’s Paddy McGill put them on the front foot from the start. There was a bit of a lull in the middle third of the first half when the scoring dried up, but a scoring burst between the 20th and 25th minutes by the visitors, through Niall Fitzsimons, Cahal Coleman, Ryan O’Neill and Padraig Doran tightened their grip on the game, but a goal by Cushendall’s Andrew Delargy brought his back into contention and trailed by just four at half time.
Paddy McGill sends over a Cushendall free
Scoring four of the first five points in the early stages of the second half put the Ards men back in charge, but points from Oisin Woodhouse, Paddy McGill, (2) and Padraig McKillop kept Cushendall in touch. It was score for score down the home straight with the accurate free taking pf Cathal Coleman keeping Portaferry clear of the danger and they had six to spare at the end as they made the return journey down the Ards Peninsula.
Portaferry’s Shane Conlan had a little helper as he left the field at the end of the game
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After a poor opening day display against Belfast Saints, Ardoyne got their season back on track with a determined and skilful display against O’Donovan Rossa at Fennell Park. Both sides entertained the gathered crowd with a very competitive game played in a good spirit in which both sides had their periods of domination.
The afternoon began with the teams holding a Minute’s Silence in memory of the tragic loss of Fionnuala Walsh from the Rossa community.
Rossa were first to get the scoreboard ticking over with a point from Jim Close in opening minute. Ardoyne were quick to respond with a Cormac Barnes making his presence known for Ardoyne with a nice pass to Paddy Heaney who duly dispatched the sliothar over the bar. The in-form Padraig McGreevy eased Ardoyne ahead only to see Niall May bulge the net for the men from the West.
With 10 minutes gone and opening exchanges over, Ardoyne began to dominate with McGreevy and Barnes causing havoc in the Rossa defence. The Falls Road men stuck with Ardoyne and finished the half with two consecutive points to leave 7 points between the sides at half-time.
Both Rossa and Ardoyne observe a minutes silence for recently deceased Fionnuala Walsh from the Rossa club
Half-Time: Ciceam Ard Eoin 2-10 Rossa 1-06
It was the men from the West who came out the blocks strongly as the second half got underway. They dominated the first 15 minutes of the half with Conor O’Neill knocking over points from both play and frees that saw Rossa put 8 points on the scoreboard to only one point in reply from Ardoyne.
Rossa had by now reduced the deficit to 2 points. Paddy Heaney stepped up for the Ardoyne men, and along with the growing influence of Aran Stewart and the accuracy of McGreevy, Ardoyne regained the imitative and scored 3-03 without reply in the final 15 minutes. Cormac Barnes had one of his best displays in the Ardoyne jersey, finishing with 2-02 to his credit, including an inspirational overhead strike that somehow ended up in the Rossa net.
A great display of hurling from both teams with each one learning much that will benefit them as the season unfolds.
Ciceam Ard Eoin: Connor O’Neill, Sean Searle, Paul Baker, Cormac Curran, Dan Moore, Caolan Wallace (1-0), Paul Mcguigan, Piarais Hull, Dean Goodall, Paddy Heaney (0-01), Matt McKillen, Aran Stewart (0-04), Cormac Barnes (2-02), Padraig McGreevy (2-09, 6f), Diarmuid Martin, Enda Slattery, Eamonn MacLochlainn, Cahal Clarke, Stephen Hill, Martin McLaughlin, Fiachra McVicker, David Saunders, Paul O’Halloran
O’Donovan Rossa: Niall Crossan, Setanta McDonald, Andrew McLean, Conall Shortt, Fiachra McDonald, Niall Devlin, Adam Devlin, Conor O’Neill (0-08, 6f), Matthew McKernan (0-01), Conor Rocks, Michael Murray, Jim Reynolds, Niall May (1-02), Michael Close, James Close (0-03, 1f)
Referee: Niall Clifford
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Dunloy recorded their first victory of the season with a fifteen point win at home to Ballygalget. Second half goals from Anton McGrath and Tom McFerran laid the foundation for the win, aided by a fine display of scoring from Nicky McKeague who barely put a foot wrong over the hour.
Had it not been for a string of top class saves by Ballygalget net minder Eoin Clarke the margin of victory could have been even greater. The visitor’s keeper was in great form as he produced a fine exhibition to prevent Dunloy from increasing their scoring.
Oran Quinn
It was the visitors who started the stronger, against the wind, with three points in a row from Oisin Coulter, Eoin Pucci and Shea Pucci. It took until the 7th minute for Dunloy to register when full forward Gabriel McTaggart opened Dunloys account.
Tom McFerran and a Nicky McKeague free brought the game level for the first time but a brace of Eoin Pucci points between an impressive score from wing half back Kevin Molloy kept the Down men in front before Dunloy began to gain a foothold.
The visitors wouldn’t score again until the 26th minute when Eoin Pucci recorded his fourth of the half.
In between three pointed Nicky McKeague frees along with scores by Anton McGrath, Deaglan Smith and Ryan McFarlane gave the home side a five point lead.
With four minutes left in the first half Deaglan Smith was denied by Eoin Clarke and the Ballygalgert net minder also denied Anton McGrath as Dunloy began to turn the screw.
Dunloy would however finish off strong with frees from Nicky McKeague (2) and one from substitute Padraig Martin to give them a 0-13 to 0-06 lead at the break.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first with Dunloy outscoring their opponents all over the pitch.
Padraig Martin got the first score of the half for Dunloy with the impressive Eoin Pucci replying for the visitors but Tom McFerran stretched the home teams lead to nine points after he picked off two scores on the trot.
Anton McGrath
Eoin Clarke continued to provide stern resistance for the visitors, denying Anton McGrath and then Gabriel McTaggart soon after with two fine saves. Dunloy continued to ask questions of the visiting keeper and it was Anton McGrath who finally found a way past him.
A ball in from Paul Shiels caused problems in the Ballygalget back line where McGrath found an inch of space to fire low past Clarke from close range.
The visitors kept battling and Eoin Pucci (2) and Cathal Coulter replied with points but they suffered a blow when Ben Teggart dismissed following a reckless pull under the dropping ball with referee Colm McDonald issuing a straight Red.
Nicky McKeague then went on a one man scoring spree with four scores on the trot, firing over three frees and one from play to really put his side well clear.
Tom McFerran put the game out of sight for Dunloy when he fired low to the net to cap off a good hour for himself personally.
Cormac Coulter & Eoin Pucci continued to work up front as they replied for the Down men but it was all too little at this stage of the game.
Hard work tends to see rewards and that was the case for Shea Pucci. He forced a turnover on his own 45, before battling through and firing to the net. A fine individual reward for the work he put in over the hour.
Dunloy saw the game out with scores from Nicky McKeague(3), Oisin McCamphill & Ryan McFarlane.
An entertaining game from both sides who were able to let all of their panels get some much needed game time.
Dunloy’s Paul Shiels
Dunloy: Paul Doherty, Oran Quinn, Daire McMullan, Padraig McGilligan, Eamon Smyth, Paul Shiels, Kevin Molloy (0-01), Tom McFerran (1-03), Deaglan Smith (0-01), Ryan McFarlane (0-02), Nicky McKeague (0-13 – 10 frees), Conal Kelly, Ryan Mort, Gabriel McTaggart (0-01), Anton McGrath (1-02). Subs – Padraig Martin (0-02), Cathair McCloskey, Oisin McCamphill (0-01)
Ballygalget: Eoin Clarke, James Higgins, Ciaran Watson, Joseph Smyth, Ben Teggart, Cathal Coulter (0-01), Rory Teggart, Michael Toner, Eogan McDermott (0-01), Eoin Pucci (0-08 4 frees), Shea Pucci (1-00), Oisin Pucci (0-02), Cormac Coulter (0-01), Michael Dorrian, Fergal Gilmore. Subs – Odhran Birt, Ben Murray, Conaire Monan, Ryan Watson, Ciaran Moran
Ballycastle bounced back from last week’s defeat to Rossa when they beat Loughgiel in Sunday’s league game at Pairc MacUilin. Leading by o-13 too 1-06 at half time they maintained their dominance throughout the second half and in the end had seventeen points to spare as new manager Cian Waldron collected his first league win.
Full forward Neal McAuley opened the scoring when he caught a high ball on three minutes and sent it between the post and five minutes later they went two up when Ciaran Butler was sent clear by Cathair Donnelly to add a point. Loughgiel opened their account on nine minutes with a point from Shan McGrath before Mark McClean sent over from distance, but once again Loughgiel came back with a point, this time from a free on thirteen minutes.
A strong run from left half forward Darragh Donnelly ended with a well taken point midway through the first half and Seamus McAuley added one from a free on nineteen minutes to open the gap to three, and they stretched their advantage to five when centre forward Ciaran Butler added points in the twenty-first and twenty-second minutes, the second one coming after good work by half-back Ardan Kelly.
Ciaran ButlerRambo McCarry
The Shamrocks brought the gap back to four when Shan McGrath sent over another free but Seamus McAuley pointed from midfield for the home side after good work from Oran Kearney and in a strong spell Cathair Donnelly, Conor Donnelly and Neal McAuley all found the target.
Loughgiel bounced back with a brilliantly taken goal by Rian McMullan who lobbed the Ballycastle goalkeeper but just on half time Seamus McAuely sent over a 65 to give his team a four point lead at the interval. (0-13 to 1-06)
A Conor Donnelly goal early in the second half really lifted the home side and they pushed on as Donnelly hit three in a row to stretch the lead to ten, before they stretched their advantage even further when Seamus McAuley and Darragh Donnelly split the Loughgiel posts. Midway through the second half Neal McAuley delivered the killer blow when Tiernan Smyth picked him out with a pass and while Rian McMullan came back with a point for the Shamrocks it was to prove their only score of the half. Ballycastle finished strong and they added a few more points before the end, the stand out one coming from Rambo McCarry in the final minute.
Conal Colgan for Dermot Donnelly, Cathal Connor for Darragh Donnelly, Gavin McToal for Connor Donnelly, Reuben McClean for Cathair Donnelly, Callum Campbell for Ciaran Butler
LOUGHGIEL
1 Shea McDonnell
2 Connor Dickson
3 Enda og McGarry
4 Cahir Connelly
5 Caolan Blair
6 Nickolas McNaughton
7 Conal McCloskey
8 Ryan McKee
9 Patrick Laverty
10 Rian McMullan
11 Eoin McCarry (replaced by Tiernan Coyle 50min)
12 Shan McGrath (off injured at ht replaced by Conor O’Mullan )
13 Charlie O’Hagan (Replaced by Danny McAuley 40mins)
14 Ronan McCollum ( replaced by John F Connelly 40mins)
A superb goal from Glenavys’ Aoibhinn Monaghan swung this Lidl LGFA division 4 final Antrim’s way and they went on to claim the title and secure their return to division 3 next season.
Trailing by two points in the 52nd minute, Monaghan got on the end of a well-constructed build-up to fire past Haren in the Fermanagh goal to give her side the lead.
In a very competitive final where both sides gave it everything, Antrim ended the game with 14 players while Fermanagh finished up with 13.
It was Fermanagh who were first out of the start traps and Joanne Doonan fired over their opening point. Lara Dahunsi levelled for Antrim before a Bronagh Devlin free edged the Saffrons ahead.
Antrim’s Lisa Dahunsi in action agains Fermanagh
Antrim were beginning to find their rhythm and Maria O’Neill found the back of the net in the ninth minute to put four points between the sides.
Fermanagh responded and the excellent Eimear Smyth brought them back on level terms by the17th minute. It was end to end at this stage and Devlin fired over another free in the 19th minute before a Smyth free drew the side’s level for the third time.
In the final five minutes of the half Smyth kicked over two points while Doonan got her second of the game to give the Ernesiders a 0-9 to 1-3 lead going in at the break.
Fermanagh extended their lead to four on the restart with a point from Lisa Maguire and at this stage Antrim were struggling to turn opportunities into scores.
Indeed it was Fermanagh who were looking the more dangerous and Aine Devlin in the Saffron’s goals pulled off a fine double save to keep the opposition at bay.
It took Antrim 13 minutes to register their first score of the second half when Devlin fired over a free; their first score for 24 minutes but Fermanagh’s replied and Smyth pointed a free to keep her side ahead.
The same player added her seventh point of the game in the 49th minute to put a goal between the sides and at this stage the Ernesiders looked on their way to the title.
Things swung in favour of Antrim however when Fermanagh full-back Ciara Clarke was sin-binned in the 52nd minute and a minute later Aoibheann Monaghan produced a brilliant finish to put her side a point ahead.
In a feisty closing four minutes Antrim were reduced to 14 in the 56th minute when Aine Tubridy received a yellow card and Fermanagh then suffered a similar fate when Doonan was sin-binned to leave them with 13 players.
It was still in the balance but Maria O’Neill sealed the win for Antrim with a point in the 59th minute to bring the biggest cheer of the day from the Antrim support and herald scenes of wild celebration.
Scorers – Antrim: M O’Neill 1-1, B Devlin 0-4 (4f), A Monaghan 1-0, L Dahunsi, L Agnew 0-1 each.
Fermanagh: E Smyth 0-7 (1’45, 4f), L Maguire, J Doonan 0-2 each.
Antrim celebrate after defeating Fermanagh in the Lidl division 4 league final
Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, L Dahunsi, A Kelly; B Devlin, N Jones, M O’Neill. Subs: L Agnew for Jones (35), A Monaghan for Kelly (36), C McKenna for Coleman (47).
Fermanagh: A Haren; S McQuaide, C Clarke, E Keenan; A O’Brien, C Murphy, C Bogue; N McManus, M McGloin; S Barrett , C Martin, L Maguire; J Doonan, E Smyth, A McCabe. Subs: S McCarville for O’Brien (47), E Murphy for Keenan (54), S Barrett for Boyle (55), B Smyth for McCabe (57).
Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare).
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