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by thesaffrongael

Davitts cause huge upset in Junior Hurling Championship

Casement Social Club Antrim JHC Quarter-final

Davitts 3-13-2-13 Lámh Dhearg

Kevin Herron reports from Davitt Park

The noise that greeted the final whistle at Davitt Park on Saturday afternoon told the story of unbridled joy as Davitt’s caused a huge shock in their 3-13-2-13 win over Lámh Dhearg in the Junior Hurling Quarter-final.

The hosts opted to play with the wind advantage on a sun-soaked afternoon at their Beechmount base and went in at the break with a four-point lead after twice netting through Marcus Toner and Anthony Rowntree.

They held the Lámhs fightback off until deep in the second half when substitute Mark Finnegan rifled home from the spot and Gerard Smyth lashed home seconds later to reduce arrears to a single point but kept their nerve to claim a deserved win and book a spot in the semi-finals in two weeks’ time.

Lámh Dhearg were first off the mark on a perfect afternoon for hurling with Adam Murray converting two frees within the first four minutes, the first after he was chopped down and then a foul on Odhran Waldron led to the second.

It took Davitts until the 10th minute to find their opening score – however it was to the game’s first goal and would edge them ahead.

Donn Whelan dropped a side-line cut into the small square and the Lámhs defence were unable to cut it, resulting in Marcus Toner swooping and sending a low effort to the net.

A foul on Calum Fegan gave Murray the chance to tie things up and he obliged, with Donal Martin then swinging over his sides first from play to restore the Hannahstown men’s advantage.

Points were exchanged between Deaglan Mooney and Adam Murray (free) but quickfire points from Lámhs captain Daniel Murray and Calum Fegan gave their side a three-point cushion.

It would be almost ten minutes before Lámh Dhearg would score again and in that time Davitts edged back in front.

Donn Whelan dropped over his first free of the afternoon and Colm McKee popped over twice on the bounce to level.

A second converted free from Whelan gave his side the lead for the second time, it was short-lived though as Adam Murray sent a free into the path of Gerard Smyth to swing over and open his account for the afternoon.

The hosts hit the front again before the break and crucially found the second goal when Anthony Rowntree claimed position and took off into a scoring position before pulling the trigger.

A further point from Marcus Toner before the break had Davitts 2-06-0-08 to the good and in a positive position at the midway point.

They would extend their lead in the opening minutes of the second half with Whelan dropping a free between the posts and Colm McKee’s shot taking a deflection and looping over the bar.

It took Lámh Dhearg until the 37th minute to respond in the form of a Ciaran Boyd point and half-time substitute Mark Finnegan then landed two superb scores to half the deficit with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Adam Murray doubled his personal tally from the placed ball to have a single point separate the sides with 10 minutes plus injury time remaining.

Davitts were without a score in 16 minutes; though Donn Whelan doubled their lead from a converted free and on the 54th minute they took what seemed to a giant stride towards victory when Marcus Toner dropped in a ball that Rhys Camlin spilled, and Anthony Rowntree appeared to flick home in the confusion to give his side a 3-09-0-13 lead.

The visitors looked to be sinking when Whelan dropped over another free and then was then gifted one from play after a wayward puck-out landed straight to him and he floated over unopposed.

Lámh Dhearg needed goals and quickly and their first clear-cut opportunity in the game came after referee Chris Brown awarded then a 57th minute penalty that Mark Finnegan blasted home.

A quickfire second arrived when Gearoid Cosgrove sent his puck-out straight to Gerard Smyth in front of goal and Smyth rifled home from close-range to reduce arrears to a single score once again (3-11-2-13).

Cool heads were required from the hosts and talisman Whelan sent over his sixth free of the contest with the insurance score arriving through an angled point from Christopher Gallagher.

The Lámhs couldn’t safe face and force extra-time- which may have proved an injustice- and the final whistle was greeted with huge delirium from the Davitts players and support as they deservedly booked a semi-final spot in a fortnights time.

DAVITTS: G Cosgrove, C Rainey, T Toland, O Cosgrove, P Carleton, C Heaney, D Mooney (0-01), M Og Rowntree, C McKee (0-03), M Toner (1-01), S McGivern, D Whelan (0-07, 0-06f), S Thompson, C Rowntree (2-00), C Gallagher (0-01). Subs: C McGowan for S Thompson (52).

LÁMH DHEARG: R Camlin, C Camlin, A McGuigan, F Mervyn, N McGarry, SP Gibson, D Murray (0-01), C Boyd (0-01), A Murray (0-06f), C Fegan (0-01), O Waldron, E Stanley, D Martin (0-01), G Smyth (1-01), M McGarry. Subs: M Finnegan (1-02, 1-00p) for M McGarry (HT), T McKenna for E Stanley (46).

REFEREE: Chris Brown (St Pauls)

by thesaffrongael

Semis direct for the ‘Dall

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 2

Cushendall 1-24 Dunloy 0-19

Saturday 7 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Paírc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall

Cushendall made the first major statement in the Antrim senior hurling championship on Saturday evening as they swept aside the challenge of Dunloy.  It was a ruthlessly efficient display from the Ruairi’s who played with precision, speed and quality to lead this contest from start to finish.

Played in bright sunshine and with the evening showing little signs of cooling, this encounter spiced up in the second half with the officials needing eyes on the back of their head.  Don’t let anyone tell you this was a dead rubber.  It wasn’t.  Both sides wanted to win this one and the Ruairi’s were well worthy or the margin of victory.

Seaan Elliott top the scoring charts for the Cuchullains with eight white flags while Keelan Molloy continued his fine scoring form with five white flags from play.  Joseph McLaughlin once again topped the scoring charts in another impressive outing for the Ruairi’s, firing 1-9 with his goal coming early in the second half while four of the other starting six forwards also got their names on the scoresheet.  With Neil McManus also getting over 20 minutes of the match into his legs, the Ruairi’s attack shone and with 1-17 coming from play, they were in scintillating form.

Defensively, they restricted the Cuchullains to just one serious goal chance throughout the hour, Aodhán McGarry missing the target when faced with the chance in the first half.  Led superbly by the Burke brothers and Scott Walsh, Dunloy never looked like eating into the five point half time lead the Ruairi’s had earned. 

The home side upped their intensity in the second half in answer to the Cuchullains playing with more vigour and hunger after the restart.  Both sides had a man sent off late in the game, Ed McQuillan and Ronan Molloy seeing red for an off the ball incident but it had little bearing on the outcome of this game.

Both sides made two changes from their previous games with McQuillan and Paddy McGill coming in for the Ruairi’s while Daire McMullan and Aodhán McGarry made the starting 15 for the Cuchullains.

It was an even opening quarter with McLaughlin’s free taking to the fore for the home side while Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy were on target for the Cuchullains.  With the sides tied at four apiece, it was Fergus McCambridge’s first of two points that got brought the first moment of brilliance in the game.  Soloing through the middle of the pitch and unable to put the sliotar into his hand again, McCambridge split the uprights off his hurl to give the Ruairi’s a five points to four lead.

With the next attack, it was a piece of genius from Keelan Molloy that created a half goal chance for the Cuchullains.  Eoghan Campbell looked to have the Dunloy man tied up but a flick of his hurl and the vision to spot the run of Aodhán McGarry on the run, he laid the sliotar into his path.  McGarry bore towards Conor McAllister’s goal but his unorthodox shot went to the right hand side of the post and wide.

It was a let off for the Ruairi’s and they made the most of their luck.  They outscored Dunloy 0-6 to 0-2 in a six minute period with Ryan McCambridge, McLaughlin (two), McQuillan and Fred McCurry finding their range while points from Kevin and Keelan Molloy were the only response for Dunloy.

Five points was the difference and that remained until the end of the half, every time the Cuchullains looked to eat into the Cushendall advantage, the home side always found that little extra to keep Dunloy at arm’s length.

The Cuchullains needed a fast start to the second half, but it was the home side who were quickest out of the blocks.  A pointed free from Paddy McGill was followed by McLaughlin’s goal in the 38th minute.  The sliotar sent to the left hand side of the Dunloy defence and as the sliotar broke, McLaughlin was there.  He stole in behind and once the sliotar was in his hand, there was an inevitability in the outcome.  Despite the angle being less than favourable, McLaughlin found the back of Ryan Elliott’s net to open a nine point lead.

Mid-way through the half that lead was stretched to 11 with McManus firing over a brace of points just minutes after his introduction.

The Cuchullains did begin to find their range with Chrissy McMahon, Keelan Molloy and a brace from Seaan Elliott (one free) coming in just under four minutes in response to Ryan McCambridge’s third point of the match.

With eight minutes of the hour remaining and plenty of niggle, referee Colm McDonald issued red cards to Ronan Molloy and Ed McQuillan after consultation with his linesman.  It did little to calm affairs though and the officials did well to keep a lid on proceedings.

Dunloy kept pushing and prodding the Cushendall defence, looking for goals to eat into the Cushendall lead and they had the deficit reduced to six thanks to the accuracy of Seaan Elliott from placed ball but a brace of scores from Eoghan Campbell added further gloss to the score line for the Ruairi’s who showed just exactly why they are county champions.  They progress to the semi-finals in four week’s time while Dunloy will look to tomorrow’s match in Loughgiel with eager eyes and find out their quarter-final opponents.

TEAMS

Cushendall: Conor McAllister; Liam Gillan, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ruairi McCollam; Fred McCurry, Alex Delargy; Ronan McAteer, Ryan McCambridge, Fergus McCambridge; Ed McQuillan, Paddy McGill, Joseph McLaughlin

Subs: Neil McManus for P McGill (40); Ciaran Neeson for R McAteer (46); Charlie McAuley for A Delargy (54); Andrew Delargy for F McCurry (57)

Scorers: J McLaughlin 1-9 (5fs 1’65); R McCambridge 0-3; P McGill 0-2 (1f); F McCambridge 0-2; M Burke 0-2; E Campbell 0-2; N McManus 0-2 (1f); E McQuillan 0-1; F McCurry 0-1

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Daire McMullan; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Ronan Molloy; Paul Shiels, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Eoin McFerran; Chrissy McMahon, Eoin O’Neill, Aodhán McGarry

Subs:  Nicky McKeague for S Elliott (blood – 23/HT); N McKeague for E McFerran (blood – 41/44); Oran Quinn for D McMullan (41); N McKeague for E O’Neill (45); Deaglan Smith for C McMahon (50)

Scorers: S Elliott 0-8 (5fs 1’65); Keelan Molloy 0-5; C McMahon 0-2; N Elliott 0-1; A McGarry 0-1 (1f); N McKeague 0-1; Kevin Molloy 0-1

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)

by thesaffrongael

Gort na Mona advance after convincing win over Ardoyne

Casement SC Antrim Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final

Gort na Móna 4-20

Ardoyne 2-6

Desi McClean and Patrick McCafferty were the stars of the show as Gort na Móna advanced into the semi-final of the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship at the expense of Ardoyne.

Last year’s semi-finalists started this one as favourites against a side that won Junior B honours last year and the result was never really in doubt from early in the game.

Ardoyne fought hard to stay in touch and opened brightly but they were hit with two late goals at the end of the opening half and never really recovered from that double blow.

Desi McClean stamped his authority on proceedings during that opening half and made a personal contribution of 1-3, his goal coming when he fielded a long ball from Neil Henry’s before turning and burying it in the net.

Ardoyne got off the mark through Padraig McGreevy and although Thomas McCaffrey replied, the North Belfast men would receive a huge confidence booster in the 7th minute as a long free from Paul Baker evaded everyone and dropped into the net.

Desi McClean replied from a free before the North Belfast side looked to be in for a second goal when Sean Searle broke clear on the left but his shot sailed over for a point when a goal looked on.

Gort na Mona began to get on top at this stage with four on the bounce through Patrick McCaffrey (two), Nathan Gibson and a McClean (free), but Ardoyne replied with Patrick Healy pointing after his team had missed a couple of opportunities.

McGreevy added another two from frees to leave just four between the sides with five minutes remaining to the break and it still looked anybody’s game at this stage.

Gort na Móna finished the half strongly however and  Brendan Cousins pointed before a superb sideline cut from McClean was well won by Manus McMullan who played in Darron Boyd to crack an unstoppable shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

In the final minute of the half, the Gorts added a third goal from a McClean penalty after substitute Tiarnan Morton had been dragged down on his way to goal to leave the half time score 3-10 to 1-5 in favour of the home side.

Gort na Mona started the second half as they had finished the first and two minutes after the resumption, McClean controlled a long delivery and found Patrick McCaffrey who made no mistake as he fired past JP Agnew in the Kickham’s goal.

The men from the Mona bye-pass were flying as they struck the next seven points with McCaffrey contributing three, while McClean (free), Thomas McCaffrey and substitute Ciaran McMullan also registered and Padraig McHugh scoring a beauty.

It took Ardoyne until the 54th minute to add to their tally with a McGreevy free and they followed with a goal of their own as Caolan McCrory broke down Patrick Heaney’s dropping shot and Sean Searle hammered home the rebound.

It was mere consolation as McCaffrey replied with two at the other end to bring his tally to 1-7 and substitute Michael Carlin pointed a late free to ensure there would be no way back and the Gorts now go forward to meet Rasharkin.

Gort na  Mona: C McCrory; J Connolly, P McHugh (0-1), M Rea; N Gibson (0-1), N Henry, G McKenna; B Cousins (0-1), J Hicks; C Scullion, D Boyd (1-0), T McCaffrey (0-2); P McCaffrey (1-7), D McClean (2-6, 1-0 pen, 0-4f, 0-1 65), M McMullan.

Subs: T Morton for N Gibson (24), C McMullan (0-1) for D Moore (43), L Dixon for P McHugh (47), T O Caillaigh for J Hicks (49), M Carlin (0-1f) for D McClean (52)

Ardoyne: JP Agnew; P Clarke, P Baker (1-0f), C Wallace; S Searle (1-1), M McGreevy, K McCallan; D Goodall, P McGuigan; D Moore, P McGreevy (0-4, 3f), A Stewart; M McKillen, P Heaney (0-1), C Barnes.

Subs: C McShane for A Stewart (HT), M Cromie for P McGuigan (32), E MacLochlainn for C Barnes (42), C O’Neill for K McCallan (49), P O’Neill for M McKillen (54).

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)

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by thesaffrongael

Nothing decided as Tir na nOg defeat Cloney Gaels

IHC Group 2

Tir na nOg 1-24 Cloney Gaels 3-13

The Intermediate Hurling Championship looks set to go right down to the wire following this high scoring thriller between Tir na nOg and Cloney Gaels at a sun kissed Whitehill on Saturday evening.

Going into this game the Ahoghill side had recorded three wins from three starts and looked odds on favourites to win the group but a power packed performance from the Randalstown side saw them take tonight’s laurels and moves them to the top of the group on score difference.

It was Cloney Gaels who edged the early exchanges as James O’Connell and Donal Graham eased them into a two point lead before Sean Duffin got his side off ther mark from a free in the 6th minute.

O’Connell from another free moved the Ahoghill men two ahead once more but Duffin’s unerring accuracy from the placed ball would prove significant as the home side took control.

Duffin (f), and two from Eamonn Og McAllister saw the home side hit the front by the 9th minute and another from the Tir na nOg sharp shooter and one from Ciaran Logan moved them three ahead.

James O’Connell replied from a free and added another from play as the visitors fought to get their own game together but Josh Higgins responded with a good point to edge Tir na nOg further ahead.

The Whitehill side were fighting with a great intensity and desire as Eamonn Og, Aaron McNeilly and Duffin again moved the Og’s five in front by the 21st minute and further points from Ciaran Logan had them 0-12 to 0-5 in front with five minutes remaining to the break.

Eamonn Og McAllisterkicks home Tir na nog’s second goal in their win over Cloney Gaels at Whitehill on Saturday night

Their opponents had been sloppy and untidy in their passing with the ferocity of the opposition clearly knocking them off their stride but they rallied with a point from Owen Neeson and a goal from the strangely quiet James O’Connell to close the gap to three.

Eoin Graham did the spade work as he cut in with pace from the right wing and O’Connell was on hand to apply the finish from close range and put his side back into contention.

Aaron McNeilly and Niall Devlin added late points for the Whitehill side in reply to one from Owen Neeson for the visitors to leave the half time score 0-14 to 1-7 in favour of the home side and it was a lead they richly deserved.

Duffin would increase that lead to five with his 5th of the evening on the restart and then Aiden Graham pulled off a fine save to deny Darragh Fagan as the home side continued to press.

Cloney Gaels replied with a point from Eamonn Brady but significantly the visitors hit four wides in an 8 minute period where they dominated possession and Eamonn Og McAllister responded with one at the other end before Dan O’Neill finally opened the visitors second half account.

It brought a response from the men from Ahoghill and James O’Connell finished a good move with his side’s second goal to close the gap to the minimum as Emmet Murray replace Niall Devlin in the Tir na nOg side.

Aaron McNeill and Sean Duffin from a free and Owen Neeson and James O’Connell for the visitors exchanged points to keep the gap at one before the Randalstown side stepped it up a gear once more.

Eamonn Og, Sean Duffin 0-2 (f’s) and Ciaran O’Neill struck four on the bounce and then an indirect free from distance by McNeilly fell invitingly for Eamonn Og McAllister who kicked to the net from close range.

It was as good as over at this stage with Josh Higgins and Sean Duffin adding late points but Cloney fought to the end and were rewarded with a late goal from Eoin Graham.

This win moved Tir na nOg to the top of Group 2 on score difference with today’s opponents joined on four points by St. Paul’s, who defeated Cushendun and Sarsfield’s who beat Glenravel.

So it will go down to the final day of the season with Cloney Gaels entertaining Sarsfields on the 21st September and Tir na nOg away to St. Paul’s on the same day and at the same time.

Tir na nOg: Kevin Sheerin, 2 Manus Smith, 3 Christy Sheerin, 4 Brandon McLarnon, 5 Caoimhin Duffin, 6 Sean Duffin, , 18 Aaron McNeilly, 8 Daniel Martin, 9 Ciaran McKeown, 10 Darragh Fagan, 11 Ciaran Logan, 12 Ciaran O’Neill, 13 Eamonn Og McAllister, 14 Niall Devlin, 15 Josh Higgins.

 Subs: Emmet Murray for Niall Devlin, Neil Shannon for Ciaran McKeown, Conor McCamphill for Josh Higgins

Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Neil O’Connell, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Dan O’Neill, 10 Donal Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 James O’Connell, 14 Eoin Graham, 15 Owen Neeson

Subs: Conor Crossey

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

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by thesaffrongael

Oisins into semi-finals

IHC Round Robin 3

St Brigid’s Cloughmills 3-11 Glenariffe Oisins 3-22

Glenarife Oisins qualified for the semi-finals of the Intermediate Hurling Championship when they travelled to Cloughmills on Friday evening and beat the Biddies by eleven points to keep their 100% record intact. A brilliant second quarter which saw them hit 3-6 without reply in last ten minutes of the opening half put the Glensmen in a strong position, and though they lost their way badly during the third quarter they had done enough to seal the win.

The Glenariffe Oisins team and mentors stand for a minute’s silence in memory of club stawart Mick Graham who died a few hours before the game

Man of the match Seanie McIntosh played a leading role for the Oisins, as indeed did Orrin O’Connor, but Cloughmills matched them in the early stages, and indeed had the home team taken the chances they created in those early stages then it could have been a different matter. Point from the O’Connor brothers Orrin and Brogan matched scores from Stephen Smith and Kevin O’Boyle for the home side before three in a row from McIntosh, and Oliver Kearney (2) started to open a gap.

Callum McKendry and Eoin Dobbin picked off points for the Biddies and they should have had a good few more at this stage had they have taken a succession of chances they created. The game was still close on twenty minutes but the visitors finished the first half strongly, McIntosh starting the run with a goal and a point inside a minute. Orrin O’Connor and McIntosh added point before Conor Patterson cut in from the left corner and fired a shot across the Cloughmills goalkeeper Christopher McKernan to help his side to a 2-13 to 0-06 half time lead.

When Orin O’Connor and Seanie Tosh got the first two points of the second half to stretch the gap to fifteen it all appeared to be plain sailing for the Oisins, but they lost their way badly, only scoring two more points during the next fifteen minutes, while Cloughmills started to claw their way back. Points from Liam Kearns and Eoin Dobbin were followed by a goal from Martin Dobbin from a penalty. Dobbin and McIntosh exchanged points before Corey Blair got his team’s second goal with a precise finish just below the crossbar.

Cloughmills Stephen Smith breaks through to set up an early score

The Oisins still had a good cushion, but they were struggling to reproduce the flowing hurling of the first half, but McInotsh came to his team’s aid when the pressure was on and fired in his team’s third goal on 51 minutes.

Cloughmills hit back inside a minute with their third goal, again from Corey Blair, but Glenariffe gained the upper hand again in the run-in, hitting five points without reply to seal a semi-final place and stretch the winning margin to eleven.

Glenariffe are top of the group and sure of a semi-final place, but if Carey beat them in their final game in two weeks’ time they would move above them on the head to head. Cloughmills have all their games played but if Glenariffe win that last game against Carey then the Biddies would move above the Faughs on the head to head.

Family affair. Down the years GAA teams are full of families taking part in championship games, fathers managing teams with their sons on them. The Dobbins shed a slightly different light on it on Friday evening when Hugh Dobbin, who is manager of Glenariffe Oisins this season, was in opposition to his three sons L-R, Martin, Rian and Eoin, who all saw action with the Cloughmills side in the Intermediate Championship game in Cloughmills. Going to the game my intention was to get the photo before the match when everyone was in high spirits, but I got held up and didn’t get the pic, so I had to do it at the end. The boys naturally took a bit of persuasion but with a bit of coaxing from dad we got it done in the end. Thanks to all invovlved and hopefully some day they will appreciate a little piece of family history.

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