St Paul’s continued their recent good run with a victory over Dunloy at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday night. In a low scoring game both teams struggled to get to grips with the strong wind but it would be the home side who eventually took control in the first half.
A well worked team goal finished by Liam McLarnon got St Paul’s on top with the teams exchanging points before the break.
HT score St Pauls 1-5 Dunloy 0-4
The wind continued to trouble the sides in the second half with both teams struggling in front of goal. There looked to be life in the Dunloy fight back when a Mickey Smith goal midway through the second period reduced the defecit to two points. St Paul’s though answered back with a couple of points of their own.
In a frantic last 10 minutes Dunloy looked to close the gap but the home side held on for a 3 point win which see them top Division 2.
Cargin retained their winning habit with a 3-12 to 0-09 victory over the visiting St John’s at a windy Shore road venue on Wednesday evening last.
Ronan Devlin’s charges concluded with a 12 point winning margin over their visitors but in the event they were slightly flattered by the final scoreline.
The Johnnies started with the stiff northerly breeze behind them in the opening half and although the West Belfast side arrived at Toome in the role of outsiders they began in a positive mode and had raised four white flags without reply in the opening phase.
The Toome men were hampered by the gusty elements in the early stages with the target proving elusive as was the distribution of the ball and they failed to give work to the scoreboard attendant for the first quarter in which their bye ball total was increasing.
St John’s were quick to close them down in the early stages and with Conal Mc Glade, Ronan Quinn, impressing they had four points on board without reply in the first quarter.
Cargin opened their account through Conhuir Johnston at the start of the second quarter and came strong in the latter stages but the Whiterock men maintained advantage at the short whistle as they led 0-06 to 0-04.
Cargin started the second half aided by the elements and Michael Mc Cann got them on their way with back to back points in the opening minutes and when his sibling Tomas and Tom Shivers added a couple more, the Toome men had nipped into the lead.
As the second half progressed the home Cargin began to get on top and a foul on David Johnston was suitably punished as Pat Shivers delivered the free between to posts and when Tomas Mc Cann was fouled, a few minutes later the big mid-fielder followed suit.
St. John’s were still battling hard with replacement Anto Press looking strong on the counter attack and a foul on the Johnnies substitute in the 44th minute opened the way for Connor Adams to deliver the free kick between the posts to open the visitors second half account.
As the game entered the last quarter the home side began to dominate withGerard Mc Cann excellent under the high ball but the visitors were not finished and a foul on the advancing Press was punished when Andy Mc Gowan delivered the awarded free between the posts.
The home side held a five points lead at this stage but they turned the screw in the closing stages as the visitors finally yielded to the constant pressure.
A Michael Mc Cann, Callum Gribbin combination opened the way for Tomas Mc Cann to find the net in the 55th minute, and Michael McCann again opened the door for the nimble centre forward to beat net minder Eoghan Ruadh Lambert from close range.
The result was not in doubt as the game progressed towards conclusion but after the visitors had claimed a 58th minute point via Conal Mc Glade’ the resultant kick out was gathered by replacement Sean Og Quinn who placed Tom Shivers to finish to the net.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-01), James Laverty, Kevin Mc Shane, Hugh O’ Donnell, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Conan Johnston, Pat Shivers (0-02), Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann 2-02), John Carron, Conhuir Johnston (0-01), Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Tom Shivers (1-03)
Subs
Callum Gribbin
Sean og Quinn
Cahir Donnelly
St John’s: Eoghan Rua Lambert, Daire King, Ronan Quinn, Matthew Mallon, Josh Robb, Conor Mc Evoy, David Mc Garrity, Andy Mc Gowan (0-01), Conal Mc Glade (0-04), Enda Mc gurk, Connor Adams (Adams), Stephen Tierney, Darragh McCallin, Luke Peden
Countess of Antrim Cup – North Antrim Intermediate Hurling
Cushendall 2-11 Carey Faughs Faughs 0-16
Two goals and a point by corner forward Ciaran Neeson turned this Countess of Antrim Cup game in Cushendall’s favour at Pairc Mhuire on Wednesday evening. The Faughs had looked the more likely to advance when two points from Conall McGlynn put them five clear with just five minutes of normal time to play. However Neeson turned things around with two quick goals and though McGlynn came back with a point to level matters in the 60th minute, Neeson landed the winner from a free in injury time.
Carey held the upper hand in the first half and with McGlynn, Callum Cane and Conlith McKinley rulling the roost they pushed on to lead by 0-11 to 0-6 at half time.
When McGlynn stretched their lead to six early in the second half the smart money would have been on them, but the introduction of substitute Oisin Woodhouse had an immediate impact for the Ruairis and with the wind at their came back into the game, Woodhouse hitting four of the next six points.
McGlynn’s two points in the 52nd and 56th minutes appeared to have steadied the Carey ship, but former All Saints star Neeson struck late to give Cushendall the win.
St. Teresa’s remain top of division 2 despite this comprehensive defeat to Michael Davitt’s, their second in two outings. The home side took control at the end of the opening quarter with a goal from Gerard Slane and never looked back.
It was St. Teresa’s who opened the scoring at Davitt’s Park on Wednesday evening when John Mallon pointed them ahead from a free but an excellent long range point from Padraig McParland and another from Sean Og O’Neill saw the home side ahead for the first time.
Anton Taylor tied the contest for the second time and further exchanges from Nathan Maginn and Conor McCann left it 0-3 each and at this point there was little between the sides.
Paul McLaughlin edged Davitt’s ahead once more with a fine point and the game then swung decisively in favour of the home side when they turned over a St. Teresa’s kickout and Gerard Slane finished clinically to the net to put them four ahead.
Slane was having a fine game for the Davitt’s Park side and he finished the half with a point to leave his side leading 1-5 to 0-3 at the short whistle and good value for that lead.
Half Time Davitt’s 1-5 St. Teresa’s 0-3
Davitt’s started the second half as they had finished the first, on the front foot and Sean Og O’Neill increased their lead with an early point as Daniel Wallace replaced Padraig McParland in the home defence.
St. Teresa’s tried to respond but with no success and the home side put themselves in a strong position when the ball was worked the length of the field from a kick-out and Conor John Sullivan got on the end of a lob over the top of the visiting defence to fire past Ciaran Murtagh in the visitor’s goal.
The home side were in complete control as Anthony Rowntree got his name on the score-sheet with a point before Eoghan Hamill finally opened the visitors second half account with a point with ten minutes remaining.
Back came Davitt’s as Sean Og O’Neill made it 0-3 for the evening before John mallon replied with St. Teresa’s 5th and final point of the night with Gerard Slane and Conor John Sullivan concluding the scoring with late Davitt’s points.
Following a great start to the season, the wheels seemed to have come off the St. Teresa’s wagon in the last two games but they shouldn’t panic as they still hold top spot in the table.
Thery have a home game on Sunday where they entertain an improving St. Mary’s Rasharkin and can expect nothing easy there but a win would go some way to restoring their confidence.
Davitt’s have made Davitt’s Park something of a fortress in recent times and this win moves them onto 10 points, only two behind the league leaders and on this form they are capable of making a serious challenge for honours this year.
Davitt’s: 1 Aaron Slane, 2 Caoimhin Rainey, 3 Paul McKinney, 5 Nathan Maginn, 6 Padraig McParland, 7 Odhran O’Kane, 8 Niall McParland, 9 Deaglan Mooney, 10 Anthony Hargan, 11 Gerard Slane, 12 Paul McLaughlin, 13 Conor John Sullivan, 14 Anthony Rowntree, 15 Sean Og O’Neill, 16 Jay Maguire, 17 Camhan Slane, 19 James Lindsay, 22 Brendan McKenna, 23 Daniel Wallace, 24 Ryan Park, 25 Michael Connolly
St. Teresas: 1 Ciaran Murtagh, 2 Eoin Connolly, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Aodhan Dugan, 5 Colm McGoldrick, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Conor Mallon, 8 Darren McCann, 9 Stephen Carey, 10 Eoghan Hamill, 11 John Mallon, 12 Paul McGoldrick, 13 Mark Small, 14 Conor McCann, 15 Anton Taylor
St Comgall’s Senior men travelled to The Cricky on Wednesday evening to take on Na Piarsaigh in a top of the table clash in Divison 3
The Antrim men started the brighter of the two teams, putting pressure on their opponents early who appeared to adopt a defensive approach early on. Scores from Tom Patchett and Ryan Clarke gave St Comgall’s an early lead.
With the wind blowing in their favour, the North Belfast men made sure to use it to their advantage, sending long ball after long ball into the Comgall’s back line, from which they scored 2 goals to peg the Antrim men back. Pearse’s continued to pile on the pressure and added to their tally with a few additional white flags, leaving 9 between the sides at the break.
With the wind now blowing in their favour, the Comgall’s ensured to use it to their advantage. The introduction of Ruairi Griffen and Miles Devine gave a lease of life to the attacking threat. Two early scores from Devine from distance shifted momentum in the Comgall’s favour.
The high press and aggressive fielding from midfielders Louis Higgins and Josh Henry, alongside the hard working Aaron McGaw, made it almost impossible for the North Belfast men to get out of their half.
With Pearse’s frustration mounting, so too did the number of fouls – Ryan Clarke scoring a hat-trick of pressure frees.
Louis Higgins pounced on a poor kick out from the Pearse’s netminder, composing himself before slipping in Patchett off the shoulder who made no mistake 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper.
Another Tom Patchett free left 1 between the sides with the Pearse’s still in command. A breaking ball from a Pearse’s kick out saw the Comgall’s on the counter attack, again from the marauding Higgins who drove through the heart of defence before off-loading to Miles Devine on the corner of the square. Devine checked back inside of the defender before sending the size 5 into the bottom corner of the Pearse’s net…a significant moment in the gaem.
Pearse’s fought to the final whistle, pulling a score back, but the Comgall’s defence stood strong with some superb interventions from Cathal Donnelly and James McCabe to ensure the 2 league points made their way back up the M2.
