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.

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 5^th 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 12^th 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 26^th 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 4^th 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)

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 21^st 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 13^th minute and Ronan Graham weighing in with a point and when the same player got in for his side’s third goal in the 14^th minute they seemed to be getting on top.

The Shamrocks came strongly in the final quarter with a goal in the 25^th 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

Antrim ACHL Division 1 – May 19th, 2024

Ballycastle 5-18 Loughgiel 2-25

Match report and photos – Michael Corcoran

Under a clear blue sky with temperatures heading towards 20°C, Páirc Mhic Uilín was a fitting venue for today’s ACHL league game between Ballycastle and Loughgiel. Spectators would witness a game of two halves as the Shamrock’s forged a lead in the first half from a considerable work rate, but Ballycastle had other ideas in the second half and their persistence would yield a clutch of goals that would halt Loughgiel in their tracks.

Lámh Dhearg’s Patrick Tumelty got proceedings underway and a very early attempt to point from Loughgiel’s Declan McCloskey would float wide, but the half back would soon make amends with an offload to Seamus Dobbin, subsequently passing to Eoin McGarry for the first point of the game.

The Shamrock’s took charge of the first fifteen minutes and consolidated six points before Christie McGarry struck at the heart of Ballycastle’s net, drilling the sliotar under the body of the keeper, giving Ryan McGarry little chance of a save.

Ballycastle had early chances but drifted three of these wide of the uprights. Loughgiel’s Caolan Blair rolled a pacey sliotar up onto his stick and offloaded to a calling Paul Boyle, who pointed the Shamrock’s ninth point of the game before Ballycastle’s Seamus McAuley pointed from winning a Loughgiel puck out. This would put ‘the Town’ in motion and after a series of back-to-back frees awarded from a high stick and tackles deemed heavy by referee Tumelty, Ballycastle slotted those over the bar to roll up another four points on the scoreboard, Ballycastle 0-05 Loughgiel 1-12.

The Town’s fortune would continue to change as Ronan McGarry picked up the sliotar around the 65m mark and from a solo run, found the back of Cormac McFadden’s net.

Loughgiel’s Christie McGarry would enter a very productive spell, slotting two frees, one from a slap on Jack McCloskey’s hand and the other a push on McGarry’s back. McGarry wasn’t finished there, surrounded by Ballycastle defenders as he advanced towards the goals, he made a long hand pass to McCloskey running towards Keeper McGarry’s domain, and McCloskey drilled the sliotar beyond a save and Loughgiel took their second goal.

Both sides would take the game up to the short whistle, with two frees going to Ballycastle, both successfully pointed by Neal McAuley and Lorcan Donnelly before Loughgiel’s Tiago McGarry intercepted a Ballycastle pass and pointed, then Dan McCloskey won a ball from a ruck, spotting and passing to Declan McCloskey who finished the first half with that point. Scores stood at Ballycastle 1-10 Loughgiel 2-17.

Loughgiel’s first half work rate and success in winning Ballycastle puck outs set the Shamrock’s up as favourites for the match, but the lads from the Town had other plans.

Minutes had only passed in the second half when a high ball into Loughgiel’s goal mouth was saved by keeper McFadden, but an alert James McShane rushed in and buried the sliotar into the back of the net. This second goal was met with indifference amongst the Town supporters who had not yet felt a change in the tide as Loughgiel continued to point from two more frees and two points from play from Maol Connelly.

Jack McCloskey would be the recipient of a deep pass into the forward line as Loughgiel turned around a Ballycastle attack. McCloskey wasted little time finding the uprights for a point that brought a roar amongst the Shamrock supporters.

Ballycastle would find new energy from three consecutive points, one came from a free as Loughgiel’s Dan McCloskey was boxed in for an over-carry and two from play before Lorcan Donnelly found Loughgiel’s net and now the Town supporters dared to hope. With a scoreline of Ballycastle 3-14 Loughgiel 2-22, the Shamrock’s didn’t panic with a five-point lead.

Both sides nudged up the score line three points apiece, but it was Christy McGarry’s towering point received from Declan McCloskey that got the Loughgiel supporters excited.

Ballycastle’s Ciaran Butler would put the cat amongst the pigeons with a fourth goal that seemed to come out of nowhere but again the Shamrock’s held their composure with a two-point lead and only a few minutes left on the clock.

Fortune struck the Town when Neal McAuley rolled the sliotar up onto the stick from a loose ball around the 20m mark and opted to drop the sliotar low and hard, just above the defender’s heads but with enough velocity to find the underside of Loughgiel’s bar for Ballycastle’s fifth and match winning goal.

Ballycastle’s Tiernan Smyth pointed in the dying seconds and put the match beyond saving for the Shamrock’s as Tumelty’s long whistle closed today’s proceedings, Ballycastle 5-18 Loughgiel 2-25.

Photo Album for today’s match can be found here…

https://myalbum.com/album/eHD9YUYAeEa7mR/?invite=62585cb1-b4a1-4c53-aa14-a28da2ccb0c3