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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.

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Faughs back in the qualification mix

Andersonstown SC AntrimIHC, Group One 

St Gall’s 2-15

Carey 2-20

Carey Faughs got themselves back to winning ways with a hard earned victory over a battling St. Gall’s for who qualification is now beyond reach following this defeat at Milltown on Friday night.

The home side looked to be heading for their first Group 1 win when they led the Ballyvoy side by 2-10 1-9, six minutes into the second half following a goal from the penalty spot from Ryan Ervine.

Ronan Crossen received his marching orders for his reaction to the foul that led to the penalty and when Patrick Friel followed him after being shown a second yellow the game began to turn in favour of the ‘Faughs’.

The hosts had been the better side in the opening half and were dictating matters until that double dismissal with the visitors taking full advantage of the extra men.

Immediately after Ervine’s success from the spot, Mark Napier had added a point to move St. Gall’s five ahead but Callum Cane’s second goal of the evening midway through the second period swung the momentum in favour of the Carey men.

Top-scorer Conal McGlynn hit the first two of his nine points for Carey with Conlith McKinley and Shea Hunter on target.

St Gall’s were their equal during this period with Patrick Friel, Cormac Sheehan and two from Marcus Donnelly – the second after a superb team move – ensuing the sides were level at 0-4 apiece after 14 minutes.

Then came the game’s opening goal as a ball inside broke to Callum Cane who found the St Gall’s net.

 It brought an immediate reaction from the hosts and after Fergus Donnelly hit back with a point, St Gall’s struck with an excellent goal of their own as Ronan Crossen spun his marker and raced towards goal from the left and fired past Stephen McGinn to give his side the lead.

Points from Tomás O’Ciarán and Cormac Sheehan followed before McGlynn hit back with one for Carey and the Milltown side were starting to take control.

Ronan Crossen is fouled with St. Gall’s awarded a penalty but Crossen received Red for retaliating

They hit a number of wides at this stage and Carey took advantage with Fiachra McVeigh and John McBride replying at the other end to leave just one in it at the break when St. Gall’s might have been further ahead.

Cormac Sheehan and Caolan McCaughan traded points within the opening five minutes of the restart before a huge moment that would see this game turn on its head.

Ronan Crossen received Red for his reaction to the penalty that Ervine fired past McGinn after consultation with his umpires, referee Barry Winters dismissed the St. Gall’s man but allowed the penalty to stand.

McGlynn and Mark Napier swapped points as Carey then began to chip at the lead with Cane and Patrick Butler on target.

A pointed free from O’Ciarán kept the gap at three with 43 gone, but after Friel picked up his first yellow for a foul which McGlynn punished, the North Antrim men struck with a second goal as a long ball broke to Cane who finished first-time for his second of the evening.

Friel was then issued a second yellow in the space of just two minutes for a late hit on James Black and now St Gall’s were one behind on the board and two short in personnel.

Carey took advantage to push the gap out to five with McGlynn (two), Hunter and Cane pointing, but to their credit, St Gall’s did not give up and they managed to get to within a goal with two to play.

McGlynn gave Carey a bit more breathing space from a free before St Gall’s sub Sean McAreavey tried his luck from a 20-metre free that flashed outside the post and a further McGlynn free sealed victory for a Carey side who are back in the qualification mix with St Gall’s now out of the race.

St Gall’s: K McGreevy; D Churchill, E Rush, G Mac Adhaimh; P Friel (0-1), T O’Ciarán (0-3, 2f), R Irvine (1-0 pen); J Hopkins, F Donnelly (0-2); N O’Neill, M Donnelly (0-4), R Crossen (1-0); C Sheehan (0-3, 2f), E Walsh, M Napier (0-2, 1f).

Subs: O McIlhatton for C Sheehan (46), S McAreavey for F Donnelly (54)

Carey Faughs: S McGinn; Z McCaughan, S McBride, P Gillan; J McCouaig, J McBride (0-1), S Hunter (0-2); E Hill, C McCaughan (0-2); C McGlynn (0-9, 8f), J Black, F McVeigh (0-2); C Cane (2-2), C McKinley (0-1), P Butler (0-1).

Sub: S Mathers for E Hill (58)

Referee: Barry Winters (Dungannon)

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by thesaffrongael

Final round of the SHC will decide quarter final pairings

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to this weekend’s senior hurling championship with the group games coming to an end.

Six games done and dusted, three to play and we have our first knockout scenario of the championship on Saturday evening.

The current format of the championship has its detractors and naysayers but for me, other than the obvious number issue in one of the groups, it’s the best format we’ve had.  It’s not knockout championship that everyone yearns for, but given the calendar, split county/club season and player availability, it’s the best format possible.

While Group 1 has been seen as a foregone conclusion in regards to who will automatically qualify for the semi-finals, the quarter final positioning remains to be settled.  Last day out, Ballycastle and Naomh Éanna played out a draw that perhaps isn’t much of a surprise.  The Town looked to have sealed the win when they were two clear going into injury time but scores from Ruairi Donaghy and Niall O’Connor brought the Hightown Road men back from the brink.

Tiarnan Smyth was in fine form for Ballycastle, 1-4 of his 1-7 coming from open play while Neal McAuley was rolling back the years.  The scenario for Ballycastle is simple, a win against Loughgiel and they top the group, avoid a defeat by more than 10 points and they will come up against either St John’s or Rossa in the quarter finals, leaving Naomh Éanna to face either Cushendall or Dunloy in the other quarter final.

It will have been four weeks since the Shamrocks last match when they welcome Ballycastle to Healy Park on Sunday.  It’s far from a perfect scenario when you’re looking to build momentum within a championship schedule.  They are in a no-win situation where they are expected to win and if they don’t do it with some flair if not panache then the doubters will be there and pressure begins to build.

For what it’s worth, I fully expect them to win and with a bit to spare.  While some might look upon the four-week break as a negative, I see it as the carrot Loughgiel management will need to focus their side.  They’ll come in hungry for championship hurling and in front of their own crowd, they’ll want to put on a show.

Group 2 currently sits as most would have expected.  Reining champions Cushendall welcome Dunloy to their backyard with a semi-final place at stake while Rossa make the short journey to Corrigan Park to face St John’s – anything other than a win for the home side will see them knocked out of the championship.  If a local derby needed any more spice, it’s just been doused in petrol.

The two sides met in a similar situation last week in the football championship, St John’s coming out on top.  If I were to put a name down on a docket for this one, I’d side with the Shaws Road men. 

Since 2017, the Volunteer Cup has resided in either Cushendall or Dunloy.  The Cuchullains with five titles and the Ruairi’s with two in that time frame.  Saturday evening will be a contest between the two sides who have championship pedigree and should be a mouthwatering contest.  It’s not exactly a winner takes all scenario, but with a place direct to the semi final on the line, perhaps this one might mean more for the Cuchullains.  Many of their squad are involved in the football quarter final against St Brigid’s next Sunday and another championship contest six or seven days later would be far from ideal. 

Dunloy’s last outing with the big ball against Lamh Dhearg, they did so resting many of their dual stars and taking others off during the hour.  A nod, perhaps, to the significance of the Cushendall game in the eyes of the Dunloy management.

The Cuchullains were hugely impressive against Rossa last day out, especially in the first half.  Their hunger in the middle third, movement and speed had their opponents’ chasing shadows.  Nigel Elliott with a super performance while Keelan Molloy was at his irresistible best.  They managed the second half professionally, keeping Rossa at arm’s length.

Cushendall made light of the ridiculous conditions later the same day against a St John’s team who flattered to deceive.  On the day, Joseph McLaughlin gave an exhibition of free taking while Scott Walsh’s performance in the half back line was top drawer.  The Johnnies threatened a second half comeback with the elements at their back but it never fully materialized with the organization of the Ruairi’s and their ability to recycle the sliotar shining in the rain…..and puddles.  I can’t let this game go without sending out an apology of sorts to Dominic Delargy – it was he who managed to score his sides first goal and not Ciaran Neeson as I reported. 

Back to this game. 

It’s been a while since Cushendall have beaten Dunloy in the championship.  From memory, I think it’s 10 years.  There has been a couple of draws in there but the Cuchullains always seem to have that something extra when it comes to these contests.

That being said, Cushendall are a different animal and have improved from last year, even without the services of Neil McManus.  He hasn’t hurled in the championship yet, but was part of the panel against St John’s.  Likewise, Conal Cunning for Dunloy.  Injury has left him watching on the sideline for the opening two matches, he is nearing back to full fitness but whether Saturday comes too soon remains to be seen.

Prediction time.

It’s going to be close and I wouldn’t rule out a draw, again between these two.  Cushendall’s strength is their defence while Dunloy’s attacking unit when purring is almost unstoppable.  Paddy Power has the Cuchullains at 4/6 while the ‘Dall are 11/8.  The draw at 8/1 looks appealing….

Group 2

Cushendall v Dunloy

Date: Saturday 7 September

Venue: Cushendall

Time: 6pm

Referee: Colm McDonald (Naomh Gall)

St John’s v Rossa

Date: Saturday 7 September

Venue: St John’s

Time: 6pm

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

Group 1

Loughgiel v Ballycastle

Date: Sunday 8 September

Venue: Loughgiel

Time: 2pm

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

by thesaffrongael

St Galls survive Rossa fightback

Reserve Cup Semi-final

Rossa 2-08-2-09 St Galls

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa

Michael Hopkins dropped over the winner in added time as St Galls saw off a determined Rossa fight back in their 2-09-2-08 win in the Reserve Cup semi-final at Shaws Road on Wednesday evening.

The visitors were in the ascendancy for the majority of proceedings and looked to have sealed victory when Sean Burke netted with a quarter of an hour remaining to open up a 2-06-0-06 lead.

However, Rossa hit back and by the 59th minute had pulled level thanks to a stunning strike from Liam Carr. With light diminishing rapidly, extra time in the dark looked on the cards until Hopkins popped over the winner for the Milltown outfit- who advance to the decider for the second year on the spin.

Rossa forged ahead through a fine point from Conal McDonnell but St Galls responded with the games opening goal.

Niall Fallon showed determination to reach the loose ball and lay it off to Conor Ryan on the advance and he slipped it across to Conn Doherty to palm home from close range.

The sides traded scores through Ruairi McDonagh and a super angled point from Ruairi Wilson, and successive frees from Colm Fleming would tie the game up on the 23rd minute.

St Galls re-established their two-point advantage with successive Sean Burke points, on both occasions Burke had a high ball flighted into him on the edge of the square and on both occasions, he turned and picked off the scores.

Rory Grant would send a fine shot between the posts before the break as a single point separated the sides at the interval (1-03-0-05).

A third converted free of the evening from Fleming restored parity in the early minutes of the second half, but Rossa suffered a set-back when Ruairc Murray was black-carded.

Conor Stinton edged St Galls ahead again courtesy of a converted free and they made the most of their 10-minute numerical advantage.

They doubled their account when Sean Burke popped the ball off to Eoghan McCurdy to swing over and goal scorer Conn Doherty then dropped a shot over after a nice link-up with Niall Fallon.

Prior to Murray returning to the fray, Rossa found themselves two-goals behind when Sean Burke lifted the ball over Paudie Shortt to give his side a 2-06-0-06 lead and surely seal their place in the final.

A close-range Colm Fleming free momentarily narrowed the deficit, with substitute Daniel Quinn immediately hitting back at the other end.

The hosts were thrown a lifeline in the 49th minute when referee Sean Elliot consulted with his umpires and awarded a penalty for a foot-block in the area.

Colm Fleming took responsibility and sent Niall McCurdy the wrong way with a confidently dispatched spot-kick that left a goal between the sides.

They made further in-roads when Rory Grant burst forward and swept over his second point of the evening, but Sean Burke landed his third point in reply.

Rossa began to push forward in pursuit of an equaliser and their persistence paid off a minute from the end of normal time when substitute Liam Carr lined up a shot and his low effort curled into the bottom corner to draws the sides level at 2-08 apiece.

In a frenzied finish Sean Burke dropped in an angled effort that crashed off the crossbar and out.

The visitors were then forced to see the game out 14-men as substitute Simon Dowds was black-carded three minutes after coming off the bench.

It didn’t deter the Milltown side who claimed victory two minutes into added time when Michael Hopkins steered a shot between the posts.

Despite Rossa being allowed another attack to salvage a draw, St Galls held out and booked their place in the final next Wednesday evening.

Rossa: P Shortt, J McGurk, A Devlin, F McDonald, R Murray, C McDonnell (0-01), P Moyes, C O’Neill, R Grant (0-02), C Walsh, E Flavin, C Fleming (1-04, 1-00p, 0-04f), M McKernan, R Maguire, R McDonagh (0-01). Subs: J Aughey for F McDonald (HT), L Carr (1-00) for E Flavin (38), P Close for R Maguire (38), C Flavin for C O’Neill (56), S McDonald for J McGurk (56).

St Galls: N McCurdy, E McCurdy (0-01), C Burke, O O’Callaghan, C Maguire, R Wilson (0-01), C McCabe, C O’Kane, C Ryan, J Mervyn, C Stinton (0-01f), M Hopkins (0-01), C Doherty (1-01), S Burke (1-03), N Fallon. Subs: D Quinn (0-01) for O O’Callaghan (19), K McGourty for C Stinton (54), J McDaniel for C O’Kane (57), S Dowds for N Fallon (57).

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lámh Dhearg)

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by thesaffrongael

McCourt pulls the strings as Glenavy advance to Shield final

Reserve Football Shield semi-final

Glenavy 1-13 Moneyglass 1-8

Mickey McCourt pulled the strings as St. Joseph’s Glenavy advanced to the final of the Reserve Football Shield following a good win over St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass at Chapel Hill on Wednesday night.

The home side flew out of the start traps and raced into a nine point lead by the 14th minute as the visitors struggled to get their game together and at this stage it seemed just a matter of how many Glenavy would score.

Tyler Cassidy finally got the visitors off the mark with a point in the 16th minute and with Antrim Over 40’s star, Ryan Boyd leading the charge the Marian Hill side had it back to six at the interval.

Boyd first timed to the net in the 7th minute of the second half to give his side hope but while they were always able to stay in touch they never really looked like overturning the St. Joseph’s lead.

Malachi Doherty who would have a big influence on proceedings, got Glenavy off the mark from a third minute free and further points from Fergus Cunningham, James Monaghan,  Finn Shannon and Doherty again had the men in white five in front by the 12th minute.

The home side were flying and an excellent move opened up the St. Ergnat’s defence and David Nelson fired to the net to move them eight ahead with Fergus Cunningham following with a point and it wasn’t looking good for the men in blue.

Cassidy’s opening point in the 16th minute seemed to waken them from their slumber however and the same player followed with another but Cunningham, Shay O’Neill and sharp shooter Doherty kept the Glenavy score-board ticking with points at the other end.

Veteran forward Ryan Boyd began to have an impact for the visitors however and the big man added three late points for St. Ergnat’s to keep their hopes alive going into the second half.

Malachi Doherty extended the Glenavy lead to 7 from a 4th minute free but Ryan Boyd gave his side a massive boost when he finished soccer style to the net in the 7th minute to cut the gap to four points.

Shay O’Neill for Glenavy and Conor O’Kane for the visitors exchanged points before Finn Shannon extended the Glenavy lead with a well struck long range free in the 19th minute.

Back came the Marian Hill men with a good point from Ben Hamill but they had to thank keeper Rory Gribbon for a couple of excellent saves at the other end as St. Joseph’s attempted to put the game to bed.

Shannon from another free and Ben McCambridge ensured there would be no way back for a battling Moneyglass with Mickey McCourt directing operations for the home side and a late point for St. Ergnat’s star man, Ryan Boyd was all the visitors could manage.

Glenavy go forward to meet Con Magee’s in the Reserve Shield final in a fortnight’s time, the Glenravel      men recording a good victory over Naomh Padraig Lisburn at Fr. Maginn Park in the other semi-final.                                                                                                                                             

Glenavy: 1 Gareth Collins, 2 Rian Phillips, 3 Timmy Honeyford, 4 Michael Fox, 5 Shay O’Neill, 6 Matthew Lawlor, 7 Paul McKevitt, 8 Ben McCambridge, 9 Odhran Arthurs, 10 Malachy Doherty, 12 David Nelson, 13 James Monaghan, 14 Finn Shannon, 15 Fergus Cunningham, 26 Michael McCourt

Moneyglass: 1 Rory Gribbon, 2 Ruairi Duffin, 3 Nate Dixon, 4 Brian Magee, 5 Zach Hamill, 6 Michael McLaughlin, 7 Ben Hamill, 8 Francis Duffin, 9 Declan Neeson, 10 Charlie McCloskey, 11 Tyler Cassidy, 12 Ronan Neeson, 14 Joe Carey, 22 Ryan Boyd, 18 Rory Taggart, 20 Jamie McLaughlin, 23 Conor O’Kane

Referee: Martin Quinn

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