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by thesaffrongael

Steady progress earns Creggan the points

ACHL Division 3

Con Magee’s 0-9 Kickham’s Creggan 0-15

PICS BY CLAIRE FAWL

North Antrim’s glorious sunshine brought Glenravel’s faithful out in numbers but the home side just couldn’t make a strong enough impact on the Creggan midfield and backline over the hour.  The visitors were pretty much in control of the game, even though one point separated them at half time – Creggan 0.06 v Conn Magee 0.05.  The visitors closed the contest with 6 points to spare. 

 Glenravel had the scoreboard up and running 3 minutes in with Ciaran Laverty pointing of the hurl to put his side one point up.  The visitor’s response was instantaneous, two points from Cregggan’s half forward, Morgan Nelson gave them a lead that they would not relinquish. 

Glenravel’s Sean McKay was on form playing a blinder keeping the home side within touching distance of the visitors with four points in the 9th, 15th, 24th and the 29th minute, three from the placed ball and one from play.  McKay was one of only 2 scorers for the home side in the first half, although their tally could have been more only for a series of wides.  

With both teams sounding each other out, Creggan had the more momentum, winning the majority of the dirty ball and four scores added – 2 points for Sean Duffin and one apiece for Liam McCann and Cormac Rice, but it could have been worse for the home side had Glenravel’s keeper, Chris McCann, not stopped Rice’s effort on the line, he resulting deflection returned over the bar by Rice. 

As we approached the short whistle there was nothing between the teams as both teams battled to add to their tally.

HALF TIME SCORE:      CREGGAN 0.06 v CONN MAGEES 0.05.

 Loughgiell Ref, Declan McGarry, got proceedings up and going again, with Creggan increasing their lead with two more pointed frees from Nelson.  McKay cancelled this out with 2 pointed frees for the home side to put the minimum between the sides, Creggan 0.08 v Glenravel 0.07.  

The game was evenly matched at this stage although Creggan were getting more opportunities, missing as many as they were scoring.  As Glenravel struggled for possession their conversion rate cost them dearly. 

Creggan’s midfield dominance finally paid rewards with 4 unanswered points from Michael Maguire, Morgan Nelson, Liam McCann and Sean Duffin, giving the visitors a 6-point lead. 

Glenravel battled on and were thrown a life line when the visitors were reduced to 14 players with 10 minutes on the clock.  Awarded a 20 metre free, there was only one decision to be made, to go low and to get back in the game.  

 McKay drove the ball low and in the ruck it went narrowly wide.  A goal at this stage would have put the home side back in contention but it wasn’t to be. 

Creggan, now a man down, had to pull an extra man back into defence as they withstood the relentless pressure from the home side in search of a goal that never came. 

The visitors kept calm and held their nerve, adding 2 further points to their tally, with Sean McAuley getting onto the score sheet and Morgan Nelson securing his 8th point of the game.  Glenravel’s Sean McKay equalled Nelson’s tally of 8 points, being one of only two scorers for the Glenravel side.

 Referee, Declan McGarry, controlled the proceedings well and had a good game.

 CONN MAGEES: No.1 Chris McCann, No.2 Caolan Mullan, No.3 Caolan Lennon, No.4 Eoin McCusker, No.5 Jonathan Fyffe, No.6 Rian Lennon, No.7 James Duffin, No.8 Odhran McAleenan, No.9 Darragh Donaghy, No.10 Declan Trainor, No.11 Sean McKay (0.08), No.12 Ciaran McIlfatrick, No.13 Adam McAuley, No.14 Ciaran Laverty (0.01), No.15 Conor Laverty, No.21 Eoin Butler, No.22 Eoin Duffin.

CREGGAN: No.1 Oran McCann, No,2 Michael Carey Small, No.3 Aidan Maguire, No.4 Paedar McGuckian, No.5 Liam McCann (0.01), No.6 Keelan McCann, No.7 Senan O’Boyle, No.8 Jake McAteer, No.9 Sean Duffin (0.03), No.10 Morgan Nelson (0.08), No. 11 Lee Johnston, No.12 Dermot Mulholland, No.13 Sean McAuley (0.01), No.14 Cormac Rice (0.01), No.15 Mick Maguire (0.01).

Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)

by thesaffrongael

Flurry of goals swings it All Saints way

ACMFL Division 2A

All saints 5-7 Portglenone 1-13

A flurry of 2nd half goals saw All Saints come out on top in an entertaining encounter at a sunny Slemish Park.

Portglenone started the game well and were utilising their two young talented corner forwards, Burns and McKeever with both of them getting on the scoreboard early to take a 3 points to 1 lead after 10 minutes. 

It was very competitive around the middle 3rd but All Saints were defending well despite a lot of Portglenone possession. A fine Callum King score brought it back to a one-point game.

The slemish Park men then had a period of dominance and points from Bradley and McKeown gave them to the lead. Casements responded with a fine score from Duffin from a tight angle wide on the right and an excellent save form Finn Connon in the Saints’ net kept the game level.

Casements took the lead with a well taken free from Doherty but Ballymena responded with a well taken McDermott point from out on the left to square the game once more. 

A fine team move from defence to attack, and a classy finish by Laverty saw Ballymena take the lead but Burns responded in kind and the teams went in at 6 points each at the break. 

Ryan McKeever was having a fine game in the sweeper role and set up another opportunity for Doherty to point. Mitchell was introduced at HT for Saints and a fine run out wide ended with him squaring the ball to the back post where McKeown had a simple tap in to the net. Ballymena kept the pressure on and another Mitchell run saw Bradley get in for a goal to stretch the lead to five. 

Portglenone were still battling hard and some fine scores from Duffin and 2 from placed balls from the accurate boot of Doherty brought them back to 2. A turnover saw Saints break up the field and a fine run by Bradley saw him fouled in the box and he duly dispatched the resulting penalty to the net.

After a narrow wide for Casements a short kick out for Saints saw the ball get turned over and young McKeever got in to finish clinically to the net. After a pause in play for an injury, the Ballymena men responded in kind, and a marauding run from Kacmarek saw him slot the ball calming to the net and the margin was back to 5. 

Doherty responded with another excellent score for Portglenone but it was cancelled out by a fine score from Harry Connon.  Another fine move saw McKeown get in behind the defence and he finished with aplomb for his 2nd goal of the game with 5 minutes remaining. 

Casements to their credit kept the pressure on, but fine defending kept them at bay, apart from a couple of well executed placed balls and a screamer of a point from 40 meters by Doherty.  Ballymena held on for the win, but the margin of victory wasn’t reflective of how tight the game was. A great game to watch and both teams will improve from it. 

ACMFL Division 2A Results

Moneyglass 0-12 Rossa 3-8

Tir na nog 2-10 Na Gaeil Oga 1-9

Naomh Gall 11-7 Ardoyne 0-5

by thesaffrongael

McAllister hat-trick earns Naomh Eanna another major scalp

ACHL Division 1

Naomh Eanna 3-18 Dunloy 2-13

St. Enda’s continue to punch above their weight in division 1 of the ACHL and on Sunday at Hightown Cuchullian’s Dunloy became their latest conquests. The Hightown side brought their winning streak to four in seven starts as they battle to establish themselves in the top grade.

A Ciaran McAllister hat-trick would prove the defining scores in the end as St. Enda’s ran out 8 point winners over their visitors to maintain their recent good league form.

Dunloy travelled to Hightown without their county contingent but still fielded a strong side and the Cuchullian’s must have fancied their chances with the sides tied at 1-8 apiece at half-time.

However it was Naomh Eanna who found the extra gear after the break as they outscored their visitors by double scores to run out convincing winners in the end and this win will surely add to their confidence as the season goes on.

The sides were evenly balanced during the opening half with Cormac Jennings, Luke O’Connor and Joe Maskey hitting early points for the Hightown men and Aodhan McGarry, Eoin McFerran and Nicky McKeague replying for the visitors before McFerran fired home the game’s opening goal to put the visitors ahead.

It was pretty even after this as Cormac Jennings continued to carry the St. Enda’s challenge with two further points and Luke O’Connor 0-2, Luke O’Connor added to the St. Enda’s total.

Meanwhile Nicky McKeague, Aodhan McGarry, Eoin McFerran and Gabriel McTaggart had added to the visitors total and the Cuchullian’s looked to be heading to the dressing room with a three point lead.

St. Enda’s struck with a late goal from Ciaran McAllister however to bring the sides level and leave it all to play for in the second half.

Eoin McFerran got in for his second goal, early in the second half but Naomh Eanna stuck by their task as Ollie Breen, Eddie O’Connor and three from Joe Maskey kept them very much in touch.

Ciaran McAllister got in for a second goal as Nicky McKeague, Aodhan McGarry and Paul Shiels added points for the Cuchullian’s but when McAllister completed his hat-trick for the home side it was as good as over.

Eddie O’Connor, Cormac Jennings added points to ensure there would be no way back for Dunloy with Dunloy’s only response coming from Shiels and McFerran points for the visitors.

This win leaves St. Enda’s on 8 points from 7 starts and they sit just one place behind Dunloy who have the same number of points but a superior score difference.

by thesaffrongael

Late Sands point leaves it all square in Cushendall

ACHL Division 1

Cushendall 1-18. Portaferry 0-21

Cushendall and Portaferry couldn’t be separated in this excellent division 1 clash in Cushendall on Sunday. With the sun shining down from above these sides produced a score-fest of hurling which kept the supporters on their toes throughout.

Level at half time, it looked like the Ruairi Og’s had finally done enough to grab both points when Joseph McLaughlin pointed them ahead from a free as the game edged into time added on but Portaferry replied immediately through Daithi Sands to take a share of the spoils.

It was score for score during the opening half with Francis McCurry pointing Cushendall ahead before the visitors were forced to make an early substitution with Daithi Sands replacing Ciaran Savage after 6 minutes.

Joseph McNaughton moved the Ruairi’s further ahead from a free before Daithi Sands opened the visitors account with a point in the 5th minute.

McLaughlin for the home side and Cahal Coleman and Niall Fitzsimmons for Portaferry kept the scoreboard ticking before Francis McCurry and Stephen Walsh edged the home side three ahead by the 12th minute.

Back came Portaferry with points from Eoin Magee and two from Padraig Doran in response to one from Alex Delargy and there was absolutely nothing between these sides as play swung from end to end.

A Joseph McLaughlin ‘65’ and another from play by Joseph McNaughton got the Ruairi’s noses in front once more with Padraig Doran hitting three of the next four points for the visitors in reply to one from McCurry for the ‘Dall’ to leave them one ahead by the 26th minute.

Play continued at a breakneck pace in the run in to half time with Padraig Doran and Shane Conlan edging the visitors ahead but the final score of the half fell to Joseph McLaughlin to leave it all square at the short whistle.

Half Time Score Cushendall: 0-11(11) portaferry: 0-11(11)

Sean Milligan replaced Cahal Coleman in the Portaferry side at the start of the second half with Austin Birt replacing Conor McCollam in the Cushendall side with seven minutes gone as the visitors edged ahead with an early Niall Fitzsimmons point.

The county champions replied emphatically when Joseph McNaughton finished to the net in the 4th minute to edge his side two in front with Sean Milligan replying immediately with a point for the visitors.

Conor Fay added another to bring the sides level once more as play continued at breakneck pace as Ryan Delargy replaced Patrick Sharpe in the Cushendall attack.

At this stage the visitors appeared to be gaining the upper hand as Daithi Sands 0-3 and Eoin Magee added four points in reply to one from Joseph McNaughton as Tom Murray came into the action for Deaglan Mallon in the visitors side with 12 minutes remaining.

Once again Ruairi Ogs would find a response as Joseph McLaughlin, Joseph McNaughton and Ciaran Neeson moved them ahead once more with Padraig Doran replying from a free in the 23d minute.

It still looked anyone’s game as Eoghan Sands entered the fray to replace Colm O’Neill with Padraig McKillop coming into the action to replace Alex Delargy as both sides shuffled their line-ups.

It was obvious that this one was going to go down to the wire as Joseph McNaughton for Cushendall and the excellent Padraig Doran 0-2 for the visitors exchanged further minors to move the ‘Ports’ one ahead by the 28 minutes.

Back came the North Antrim men and Francis McCurry and Joseph McNaughton looked to have snatched a last minute victory but Daithi Sands ensured that the visitors would not return to the ‘Ards’ empty handed with that late equaliser.

Cushendall: 1 Conor McAlister, 2 Charlie McAuley, 3 Liam Gillan, 4 Ryan McCambridge, 5 Ruairi McCollam, 6 Stephen Walsh, 7 Conor McCollam, 8 Francis McCurry, 9 Fergus McCambridge, 10 Joseph McNaughton, 11 Alex Delargy, 12 Dominic Delargy, 13 Patrick Sharpe, 14 Ciaran Neeson, 15 Joseph McLaughlin

Subs: 20 Austin Birt, 18 Padraig McKillop, Ryan Delargy

Portaferry: 1 Pearce Smith, 2 Neil White, 3 Ronan Smyth, 4 Emmet O’Neill, 5 Ciaran Milligan, 6 Ciaran Savage, 7 Ryan O’Neill, 8 Shane Conlan, 9 Eoin Magee, 10 Conor Fay, 11 Deaglan Mallon, 12 Padraig Doran, 13 Colm O’Neill, 14 Niall Fitzsimmons, 15 Cahal Coleman,

Subs: 23 Daithi Sands, 18 Sean Milligan, 24 Tom Murray, 22 Eoghan Sands

Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)

by thesaffrongael

Honours evens in the battle of the Reds

ACHL DIVISION 2

Clooney Gaels 3-17 Loughgiel 4-14

Clooney Gaels and Loughgiel played out a memorable draw today in division 2 of the ACHLwith a James O’Connell point in the third minute of injury time earning the Ahoghill side a deserved draw.

It was O’Connell who got Clooney Gaels off to a great start with a goal in the opening minute and during a fast and open first half the sides couldn’t be separated.

The Shamrocks hit three first half goals of their own through Cathir McGrath Danny McAuley and Niall McFadden but a goal from Niall ‘Boris’ O’Connell in the 21st Minute left it 2-12 to 3-9 as the half time whistle sounded.

James O’Connell converted 6 first half frees and a ‘65’ and added 2 from play while Niall O’Connell 0-2 and Colla McDonnell were the other first half point scorers for the Ahoghill side.

Danny McAuley led the way for the Shamrocks with 0-4 while Niall McFadden 0-4, Cathir McGrath and Aodhan McFadden were the Loughgiel first half point scorers.

Clooney Gaels made the better start to the second half with James O’Connell adding 0-3 (2’f’s) by the 13th minute and Ronan Graham weighing in with a point and when the same player got in for his side’s third goal in the 14th minute they seemed to be getting on top.

The Shamrocks came strongly in the final quarter with a goal in the 25th minute and looked to have snatched it at the death when Odhran McGrath pointed them ahead but James O’Connell’s injury time point ensured his side a share of the spoils

Clooney Gaels: Aiden Graham, CharlieMcCloskey, Harry O’Donnell, Joe Logan, Fionnbar O’Neill, Bobby Magee, Dan O’Neill, Eamonn Brady, Conor Crossey, Donal Graham, Ronan Graham, James Magee, Colla McDonnell, Niall O’Connell, Owen Neeson

Subs: Eoin Graham for Joe Logan Patrick Graham for Boris O’Connell, Conor McGarry Charlie McCloskey

Loughgiel: 1. Mark Christie 2. Cathair Connolly 3. Barney McAuley 4. Charley O Hagan 5. Duck McFadden 6. Damien Quinn 7. Odhran McMullan 8. Aodhan McFadden 9. Liam Glackin 10. Niall McFadden 11. Cathir McGrath 12. Ronan Fitzgerald 13. Ronan McCollum 14. Odhran McGrath 15. Roan McGarry

Referee: Hugh Torney