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by thesaffrongael

Magic McClean earns Gort na Mona a share of the spoils

Casement SC Antrim JHC Group 2

Gort na Móna 1-18 Lámh Dhearg 2-15

Despite a personal haul of 1-14 from former Antrim County player, Derssie McClean, Gort na Mona had to settle for a share of the spoils in this keenly contest Junior Hurling Championship encounter against Lamh Dhearg at Enright Park on Saturday.

The draw was enough however to secure them second spot in the group ahead of Saturday’s opponents on score difference but the Hannastown men will also go through to the quarter-final.

Lamh Dhearg  will be disappointed they didn’t see it out after leading by four with ten minutes remaining and two as the game edged into time added on but conceded two late frees which the mercurial McClean converted to give his side the draw they needed.

Patrick McCaffrey was first to register as he pointed he Gorts ahead in the second minute but Adam Murray brought the sides level with his first free of the day.

Points from Thomas McCaffrey and Nathan Gibson edged the home side back ahead and Odhran Waldron replied for the visitors but at this stage the scores dried up for a time as both sides wasted chances.

It would be nine minute before Adam Murray added his second of the day to bring the side’s level again and a further seven before Dessie McClean made his first contribution of the evening to edge Gort na Mona ahead for the third time.

McClean had taken 16 minutes to announce his arrival but he would go on to have a massive influence on the game and would ultimately provide the scores to give his side a share of the spoils.

He added two more converted frees with Odhran Waldron and Mark Finnegan replying for the Hannastown side before McClean weighed in with two more as Gort na Mona enjoyed the better of the exchanges.

The Mona Bye Pass men might well have had a goal at this stage but wasted a good opportunity but they made their next opportunity count and after Ryan McCamlinn saved from Tiernan O Cadhlaigh, McClean gathered the rebound and fired to the net.

Lámh Dhearg responded well with three points on the bounce from substitute Evan Stanley – who had replaced the injured Ryan Diamond – and a pair of Murray frees, but another from McClean left the hosts 1-9 to 0-9 ahead at the interval.

It was the Red Hands who made the better start to the second half as Murray pointed a free before Padraig McHugh was adjudged to have fouled Gerard Smyth with referee, Piaras McCaffery pointing to the penalty spot and Finnegan hammered the resulting free to the corner of the net.

Dessie McClean levelled matters again with Odran Waldron edging the visitors ahead once more before Lamh Dhearg got in for a second goal in the 38 minutes as a long ball broke to Waldron and he fired home despite the best efforts of Gort’s goalkeeper Caolan McCrory.

Waldron extended the gap out to four and it looked like the points would be heading up the road to Hannastown but Gort na Móna replied through three McClean frees and a fine effort from Thomas McCaffrey to draw level once more with time almost up.

Two more from the excellent Finnegan looked again to have sealed the win for Lamh Dhearg as McClean as Murray exchanged further score to keep the gap at two.

There would be a final twist in what had been an excellent contest as Gort na Mona were awarded a late fee which McClean converted and then another free was moved forward for dissent with McClean becoming the Gort’s saviour.

McClean finished with 1-14 to his name and 13 of those points came from the placed ball as his side now have a home quarter-final against Ardoyne to look forward to while Lámh Dhearg will head to Davitt’s

Gort na Mona: C McCrory; J Connolly, P McHugh, L Dixon; G McKenna, Neil Henry, N Gibson (0-1); J Hicks, T O Cadhlaigh; D McClean (1-14, 0-13f), T Morton, T McCaffrey (0-2); Niall Henry, P McCaffrey (0-1), M McMullan.

Subs: J Monaghan for Niall Henry (36), D Hughes for L Dixon (45), M Carlin for M McMullan (55).

Lamh Dhearg: R McCamlinn; N McGarry, A McGuigan, C Camlinn; T McKenna, R Diamond, D Murray; C Boyd, F Mervyn; A Murray (0-6, 5f), M Finnegan (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), O Waldron (1-4); M McGarry, G Smyth, C Lappin.

Subs: E Stanley (0-1) for R Diamond (22), O Lee for M McGarry (51)

Referee: Piarais McCaffrey (St Gall’s)

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by thesaffrongael

Oisins cut loose in second half

Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 2

Oisins 4-18 Glenarm 1-11

A great second half performance from Glenariffe Oisins saw them beat old rivals Glenarm in Saturday’s Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 2 games at Waterfoot to keep themselves on track for a semi-final place. There was little between the two teams in the opening half, and though the Oisins led by 2-06 to 0-09, it could have been so much different had the visitors no missed a penalty in the first half and had a late goal ruled out for a throw ball in the build-up seconds before the half time whistle.

When the teams came back out for the second half the Oisins were transformed. They stretched their lead out to seven before Glenarm raised their first flag. After Niall McGarel got the Shane O’Neill’s men restarted with a point from play, the Oisins hit back with 1-2 to all but seal the win. The victory puts them in a strong position as they join Carey Faughs as the only unbeaten teams in the group, but they still have two more games to play, one of them away to last years’ Junior champions Cloughmmills before finishing thier campaign at home to Carey. A win against the St Brigid’s men in Cloughmills would virtually seal a semi final place, but with Carey to face in the inal game nothing is garunteed just yet.

Seanie McIntosh got the first score of the game in the third minute but Niall McGarrel hit back with two in a row for Glenarm and when Aidan Scullion sent over a long range free things looked promising for the visitors. Glenariffe then got a big boost when corner forward Seanie McIntosh got his team’s first goal, drilling the ball home from close range, but Niall McGarel pulled a couple back for Glenarm to keep the gap manageable and the sides were level on eighteen minutes on 1-3 to 0-6.

Four minutes later Alex O’Boyle flicked a ball in to right half forward Kieran McKendry and he fired home from close range and when O’Boyle and Seanie McIntosh added points the home side were flying it. Glenarm did have a couple of goal chances themselves in the final minutes of the half when goalkeeper Michael Abram was called forward to take a penalty, but though his shot was well struck well it went to the right of the upright and wide. In injury time there was another chance for the boys in blue when Aidan Scullion cut in from the right of goal, but in his attempt to hand-pass the ball inside to the unmarked Michael Furey he was adjudged to have thrown the ball to Furey and the goal was disallowed.

Three ahead at the break Glenariffe were quickly into their stirde at the start of the new half and Alex O’Boyle, Brogan O’Connor, O’Boyle again and Oliver Kearney stretched their lead to seven. McGarel came back with one for the visitors but Conor Patterson broke through to fire in goal number three with five minutes still to play.

Dan Black cut through the middle of the Oisins defence to score his team’s second goal and Oisins goalkeeper Paul McMullan saved a penalty from Niall McGarel before the home team hit another run of four unanswered points before Mark O’Neill sounded the final whistle.

OISINS

Paul McMullan, Patrick McIlwaine, Niall Murray, Niall Magee, Calum McIlwaine, Michael Haughey, Daniel Kearney, Oliver Kearney, Odhran Gillan, Kieran McKendry, Alex O’Boyle, Orrin O’connor, Brogan O’Connor, Seanie McIntosh, Conor Patterson.

GLENARM

Michael Abram, Joshua Quinn, Barry Hamill, John Scullion, Aidan Scullion, Darren Hamill, Declan McDermot, Kieran O’Boyle, Daniel Black, Ciaran Magill, Blain McDermot, Michael Furey, Nial McGarel, Sean O’Noyle.

Referee – Mark O’Neill

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by thesaffrongael

Doherty the go-to man as Portglenone claim the Laverty Shield

Laverty Shield Final

Casements 4-16 St. James 4-6

An excellent Casements, Portglenone proved too good in the end for St. James, Aldergrove in this high scoring Laverty Shield final at Whitehill on Saturday evening. The young Bannsiders looked like running away with it from early in the game but St. James’ to their credit, kept battling to the end and struck with three late goals to put a much better reflection on the final scoreline.

Odhran Doherty was the go-to man for the Casement’s as he dictated matters from mid-field for long periods and contributed 0-11 on the night with a superb exhibition of scoring both from play and frees.

It was the young Casements who were fast off the mark when Conor Burns pointed them ahead following a fine save from Daniel McCuthcheon in the Adergove goals

Two points from Odhran Doherty and another from Burns had the Casements four ahead with nine minutes gone before Lewis Smyth finally got the Crumlin side on their way from a pointed free in the 13th minute.

Two more from the excellent Doherty moved the Bannsiders five ahead by the 20th minute and when Christy McDonnell got forward to palm an inviting cross from Tom Duffin to an empty net it wasn’t looking good for the team in red.

The Portglenone pressure was relentless as Doherty and McDonnell added further points before Liam Og Cullen raised Aldergrove second white flag of the evening from a 29th minute free.

Back came the Casements and they struck with a second goal when Conor McCann’s shot on goal was partially blocked but it looped over the despairing grasp of Daniel McCutcheon and ended in the net.

Odhran Doherty who scored 0-11 as Portglenone defeated Aldergrove in the Laverty Shield final at Whitehill on saturday evening

The final score of the half fell the way of the Crumlin side when Lewis Smyth sent a long range free between the uprights but it looked a long way back as the sides headed to the dressing rooms with Portglenone holding a convincing 11 point lead.

St. James returned to the action determined to make inroads into the Casements lead and after Odhran Doherty pointed a free after 30 seconds they came back with an excellent goal from Liam Og Cullen in the second minute.

Doherty was on target again for the team in yellow and their opponents were dealt a severe blow when Cullen received a second yellow after pulling down the Portglenone mid-fielder with 25 minutes remaining.

The Aldergrove management began to empty their bench at this stage but it was Casements who continued to call the shots as Odhran Doherty pointed a free and followed with another from play.

Lewis Smyth replied from a free but things went from bad to worse for the Crumlin side when James McVeigh blocked an attempted clearance before finishing to the net to make it 3-12 to 1-4 with ten minutes of the second half gone.

Full-back, Conall Morgan got forward for a fourth major and it was in danger of turning into a route but Aldergrove continue to introduce replacements as Doherty brought his total for the evening to 0-10.

To their credit 14 men, Aldergrove refused to throw in the towel and replied with points from Cormac Morris and Lewis Smyth before Smyth got through for his second goal of the evening with 8 minutes remaining.

Substitute Rian Hope found himself in acres of space as he finished to the net for a third goal for the Crumlin side and as they began to enjoy a bit of success, Cormac Morris added a fourth to put a much better look on the final scoreline.

There was still 10 between the sides as Joe McCavana sounded his final whistle as Stephen Graham presented the Laverty Shield to Ryan McKeever, captain of an excellent Casements, Portglenone side with Graham congratulating both side for their part in what was a very entertaining game of football.

Casements Portglenone: 1 Eoghan Smith, 2 Christy McDonnell,3 Conall Morgan, 4 Conor Dunlop, 5 James McVeigh, 6 Oisin McAtamney, 7 Ryan McKeever, 8 Odhran Doherty, 9 James McAleese, 10 Conor McCann, 11 Tom Convery, 12 Conor Burns, 13 Frank McAleese, 14 Tom Duffin, 15 Conor McKeever, 16 Thomas Douthart, 17 Ruairi O’Kane, 18

St. James Aldergrove: 1 Daniel McCuthcheon, Adam Magd, 3 Ronan Ferguson, 4 Sean O’Toole, 5 Rory Finney, 6 Cayden Lagan, 7 Liam Og Cullen, 9 Luke Delaney, 10 Fionntan Muldoon, 11 Lewis Smyth, 12 Eoin McAleese, 13 Chris Robb, 14 Jamie Murray, 15 Sean O’Hare, 18 Breagh Maguire, 17 Rian Hope, 19 Nathan O’Hara, 20 Rian Carl, 21 Malachy Kennedy, 22 Cormac Morris, 23 23 Odhran Maguire, 24 Ryan Menary, 25 Lonan Magee

Referee: Joe McCavana Naomh Comhghall

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by thesaffrongael

Gaels finish strongly to maintain 100% record

Intermediate Hurling Championship

Cloney Gaels 0-21 Cushendun Emmet’s 0-14

Cloney Gaels have one foot in the semi-final of the Intermediate Hurling Championship after they beat Cushendun on Friday evening in poor conditions at Feystown, Glenarm to make it 3 wins out of 3. Cushendun, who are still pointless after three games, did well in the opening half and in the early stages of the second, but when Cloney upped the pace they were able to pull clear and had seven points to spare at the end.

Things have not gone well for the Emmet’s this season and with the Kilgore brothers absent all season and centre back Donal O’Hara out with a broken hand, they faced an uphill struggle after losing their first two games. They started well enough and were 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after seven minutes, Tom Scally and Dominic McQuillan giving them the lead after seven minutes. Cloney began to settle into the rhythm and points from James O’Connell, Ronan Graham and Patrick Graham had them 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after 13 minutes, and it could have been more had it not been for a couple of excellent saves by Emmet’s goalkeeper John V Morgan.

Cushendun then had their best spell of the game and four points on the trot from Sean McKay, Dominic McQuillan, Tom Scally and Conor McHugh had them two clear by the 20th minute. A point on the run by Donal Graham and a great effort from a free from inside his own half by Fionnbar O’Neill put Cloney level. Two points from Conlaoth McNeill put the Emmets two ahead but four on the spin from James O’Connell had the Ahoghill men 0-11 to 0-09 in front by the time referee Paddy Tumelty blew the half time whistle.

The Emmet’s started the second half really well and a pointed 65 from ‘Loaf’ McNeill and one from play by Tom Scally had them level by the 35th minute. It looked like we were in for a close contest, but Cloney took control again and four points without reply, three of them from James O’Connell and one from Patrick Graham, opened a three point gap. Another excellent save by Morgan in the Emmet’s goal was followed by a point from a ‘Loaf’ McNeill free and the Cushendun men were still within reach, but they managed just one more point as a James O’Connell inspired Cloney side pulled away, O’Connell getting three more points and Eamon Brady one to end up seven clear at the end.

CLONEY GAELS

Aiden Graham, Bernard Graham, Patrick Dougan, Bernard Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill. Neill O’Connell, Danny O’Neill, Eamon Brady, Connor Crossey, Donal Graham, Ronan Graham, Patrick Jr. Graham, Owen Jr Neeson, Owen Graham, James O’Connell.

CUSHENDUN EMMET’S

John V Morgan, Mark McSparran, Archie McSparran, Pearse McKeegan, Sean McKay, Jack McKay, Calum Kilgore, Aidan McSparran, Andrew Breslin, Conor McHugh, Tom Scally, Alex McMullan, Dominic McQuillan, Conrad McDonnell, Conor Bannon.

Referee – Paddy Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

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by thesaffrongael

Rovers advance in heavy conditions at Slemish Park

JHC Group 2

All Saints 1-11 Glen Rover 3-18

Glen Rovers, Armoy completed their Group 2 Junior Hurling Championship with maximum points following this 13 point win over All Saints Ballymena in bad underfoot conditions at a wet Slemish park on Friday night.

Both sides were without key players and for a spell, early in the contest it looked like a youthful All Saints were going to present as challenge to their more experienced opponents.

A goal from one of the Ballymena side’s more experienced campaigners, Liam Cassley closed the gap to the minimum in the 11th minute but before the celebrations died down, Owen Kinney scooped the sliothar home at the other end to restore his side’s four point advantage.

The Armoy side would go on to lead by 2-10 to 1-6 at half time with Kinney collecting a short free from Trevor Linton to fire home his second goal of the half with four minutes remaining to the break.

It was Kinney who got the visitors off the mark when he got his stick to a Turlach McBride free and McBride, Conor Christie, PJ McBride and Trevor Linton moved the visitors 0-5 to 0-1 ahead with the All Saints point coming from Liam Cassley.

After the exchange of goals Ciaran McKenna, Trevor Linton, Conor Christie and Owen Kinney added further points with Darach Bradley and Eoin McGuigan keeping the scoreboard ticking for the home side.

Bradley converted an early second half free to cut the gap to six with Trevor Linton and Timmothy Burns replying for the visitors before another converted free from the excellent Bradley had it back to six again.

Owen Kinney (14) whoes two goals paved the way for an Armoy victory over All Saints at Slemish Park on Friday evening

Linton took advantage of slackness in the home defence to fire home goal number three for the Armoy side and Owen Kinney and Ciaran McKenna followed with point to open up a 12 point gap and at this stage the home side could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel.

To their credit they continued to produce some fine passages of hurling but lacked the penetration to trouble the Armoy defence with a number of promising attacks breaking down.

Cormac Magill struck an excellent long range point with PJ McBride replying for the Glen Rovers with Conor Christie and Turlach McBride from a long range free concluding the visitors scoring and the excellent Bradley hitting two late consolation points for the home side.

This win makes it three from three for the Glen Rovers and sees them top the group with Saturday’s meeting of Gort na Mona and Lamh Dhearg deciding who will finish second and All Saints now eliminated.

Armoy now qualify automatically for a semi-final spot while both Gort na Mona and Lamh Dhearg have quarter-finals to play against the sides who qualify second and third in Group 1.

Turlach McBride, PJ McBride, Conor Christie, Trevor Linton, Ciaran McKenna, Owen Kinney and Thomas Burns were best on the night for a very good Glen Rovers side who will be favourites to win the championship following last year’s defeat to Cloughmills in the final.

Despite finishing pointless in their group, All Saints have played some great hurling and after losing players to other clubs have had to rebuild with a handful of youngsters who look to have a bright future.

Stand in keeper, Luke Walsh pulled off a couple of good saves in the second half while Harry Connon, Archie McGreevey and Darach Bradley are amongst the new faces who have emerged as serious hurlers during this year’s campaign.

All Saints: 19 Luke Walsh, Conor O’Rawe, 3 Eoin McAllister, 4 Padhraig Magill, 5 Kevin Brady, 6 Harry Connon, 7 Archie McvGreevey, 8 Vincent Esler, 9 Jack Magill, 10 Cormac Magill, 11 Liam Cassley, 12 Eoin McGuigan, 13 Fintan Brady, 14 Sean O’Rawe, 15 Darach Bradley

Subs: Diarmuid Casey, Cathaoir Cunning

Glen Rovers: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Callum Coyles, 5 Turlach McBride, 7 Emmet O’Hara, 8 Ronan Lavelle, 9 PJ McBride, 10 Ciaran McKenna, 11 Conor Christie, 12 Eoin O’Boyle, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Owen Kinney, 15 Thomas Burns, 18 Colin Lordan, 19 Conor Watterson, 20 Hugh O’Kane

Subs: Ciaran Coyle for Owen Kinney, Timmothy Burns for Eoin O’Boyle

Referee: Sean Elliott Lamh Dhearg

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