Carey Faughs and Tyrone champions Carrickmore have met before in the Ulster Club Hurling Championship. Just three years ago, the Tyrone men travelled to Ballycastle to take on the Faughs and the men from the Red Hand county, who were managed that year by former Ballycastle and Antrim defender Cormac ‘Hippy’ Donnelly, left victoriously after beating the Faughs by six points.

This was Brendan McTaggart’s report of the game that day

Carey undone by Tyrone champions

Nov 28^th 2021

Carey’s Ulster campaign ended at the first hurdle in Ballycastle on Sunday when they were beaten by Tyrone champions Carrickmore in the quarter final of the Ulster Intermediate Championship. Coached by former Ballycastle and Antrim star Cormac Donnelly the Tyrone champions were sharper from the start and their ability to get goals at vital times gave them the edge. Carey trailed by eight at half time, but a goal in the first minute of the second half breathed new life into their challenge. They edged their way back into the game but with the gap pared back to a goal they had a player sent off which proved a real game changer. With an extra man Carrickmore used the ball very cleverly and soon regained the upper hand and edged clear again to record a six point win.

Speaking after the game joint manager Cormac Donnelly said he had watched Carey a few times during their Antrim Championship campaign. He felt their strength was their ability to start well in their games and said they were determined not to let them do it this time around. The Tyrone men did just that and the early goals gave them an edge they would not relinquish.

In a nip and tuck opening quarter, Carrickmore took control of the game with two goals in the space of barely two minutes with Ruairi Slane and Cormac Murray finding the back of the Faughs net.  It came in the middle of a wonderful purple patch for Eire Og as they held Carey Faughs scoreless for 12 minutes while opening a seven point lead themselves.

Their third major came as the clock went into first half stoppage time with referee Tarlach Conway awarding the Carrickmore men a penalty for an infringement on Bryan McGurk.  Dermot Begley stepped up and while Carey ‘keeper Doug McAuley got his hurl to Begley’s effort, the sliotar deflected into the back of the net.

Despite having opened an eight point lead by the half time whistle and full value for that lead, Eire Og were pushed onto the back foot right from the restart.  The Antrim champions bagging a major with barely 10 seconds of the second half gone.  Shea Hunter sending the ball to the edge of the square and James Black pouncing on the loose sliotar to reignite Carey’s Ulster challenge.

The Antrim men had the wind at their sails and began to turn the screw, upping their intensity and not giving the Carrickmore men the space they allowed them in the first half.  They had the sliotar in the back of the net with just five points between the sides but Caolan McCaughan was judged to be inside the square with the Derry official calling a square ball.

A point from Slane was all Eire Og could manage before Begley took his tally to 1-2 for the game with his second free but things changed just before the second half water-break with the game in the balance.  John McBride seeing red and Carrickmore controlled the contest in the time that remained. 

Carey pushed and played with the same intensity and vigour but Eire Og’s better use of the sliotar and ability to find a man in space shone in the closing stages to seal a five point victory and their maiden win over the Antrim champions at provincial level.  They now have a date with the winners of Lisbellaw and Newry Shamrock’s in the semi final.

The Scorers

Carey Faughs

Connor McBride 0-8 (5f’s); James Black 1-1; Conlith McKinley 0-2; James McCouaig (1f); Caolan McCaughan 0-1

Carrickmore

Dermot Begley 1-2 (1-00 pen, 2 f’s); Ruairi Slane 1-1; Sean Og Grogan 1-1; Justin Kelly 0-3; Cormac Murray 1-00; Anthony Crossan 0-1; Conor Grogan 0-1

The Teams

Carey Faughs

Cahal McAuley, Daniel Hill, Sean McBride, Eoin Hill; Michael McVeigh, Peadar McVeigh, James McCouaig, Daniel McBride, Patrick Butler, Shea Hunter, John McBride, Caolan McCaughan, Patrick Gillan, James Black, Connor McBride

Subs: Conlith McKinley for D McBride (HT) Daniel McKinley for E Hill (49), Patrick

U-21 B Football Championship Quarter-final

Lámh Dhearg 3-13-2-02 Glenavy

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown

For 50-minutes of Sundays U-21 Quarter-final encounter, it was one-way traffic as Làmh Dhearg looked to be advancing to the semi-final with ease and although they did have plenty of breathing space in the end, Glenavy finished strongly and should have had more to show in their 3-13-2-02 defeat at Hannahstown.

The hosts were quickest off the mark and led through a converted free and advanced mark from Adam Murray, with Eugene Clenaghan kicking a point in response.

On 9 minutes the opening goal arrived, Rudi Smyth forged forward and offloaded to Fiachra Clenaghan- whose high shot dropped, and Adam Murray palmed the ball to the net to give his side a 1-02-0-01 lead.

Murray doubled his goal account midway through the half with a shot that Matthew Nelson initially turned onto the post but failed to gather as it spun away from his grasp.

He would then kick his first point from play before adding his third goal of the half before the break.

Fionn Mervyn tried his luck with a shot that hung in the air, Murray gathered as it dropped and slammed a low shot past Nelson and into the net to make it 3-03-0-01 at the interval.

The Lámhs talisman added to his ever-increasing personal tally with a converted free and a second point from play and steered another over in-between a fine Niall McGarry point.

Murray and McGarry would pop over further points as their side were 3-09-0-01 to the good with little under a quarter of an hour remaining.

Glenavy ended a scoreless period of over 40-minutes with a consolation goal after substitute Caolan McClenaghan ran onto a long ball and keeping his cool he rolled a shot underneath the advancing Rhys Camlin.

The visitors would end the game with 14-men following Michael Fox picking up a second yellow card for dissent.

In-between Fox receiving his marching orders, Ciaran Boyd and Evan Stanley added points, but Glenavy hit the net for the second time on the 53^rd minute.

Caolan McClenaghan again advanced but his shot struck the base of the post and Rhys Camlin did well to save low down with a follow-up attempt, a third shot at goal skewed across the face of goal to substitute Darragh Brown – who rifled home.

Further chances evaded them as Jim Higham flashed a low shot inches past the post and Darragh Doherty pulled a shot wide from a promising position.

Evan Stanley conjured up two fine points in closing stages with Leon Lavery also providing his sides final score of the contest as Lámh Dhearg ran out 3-13-2-02 winners at the end and advanced to the last four.

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By Brendan McTaggart

Beware the wounded animal.  With their ‘drive for five’ derailed at the semi final stage 12 months ago, Dunloy return to the final hurdle for the Volunteer Cup on Sunday with a point to prove.  A point that was perhaps proven in their performance against Loughgiel two weeks ago.

Dunloy manager Gregory O’Kane, is well used to these occasions at this stage.  Sunday will be his sides sixth final since 2017 and the fourth time these two have met in that same period.  Dunloy have won their previous three contests.  When it comes to knockout hurling in the Antrim championship, this group of Dunloy players know how to get the job done but O’Kane admitted, last year was a step too far for his side: “We probably reached the end of our tether last year and we needed that break.  The lads stepped away from the National League and we’re probably seeing the benefits of that now.  They’re back and hungrier than ever.  They’re all fit and healthy and playing well.”

The Cuchullains have had to deal with dual senior commitments this year again.  Much has been said of number of players involved in both codes – mainly 11 and at times 12 starting in both 15’s, but O’Kane said he feels they’ve dealt with the round robin well: “The round robin has always been about getting through it, managing the players workload, and keeping players fresh and injury free.

“The footballers were unlucky against St Brigid’s.  I felt that if that game had gone on for another five or so minutes, they could have won that game.  It was tough on the lads.”

Against Cushendall in the last round of group games, the Ruairi’s underlined their champions credentials in a dominant display.  Dunloy never met the challenge and paid as O’Kane said, they paid the price: “We weren’t good enough and we know that ourselves.  We know that we’ll need to be better on Sunday but look, every game and every championship game is different.”

That defeat meant the Cuchullains played in the quarter finals and a game against a Ballycastle side who relished the opportunity of causing an upset.  O’Kane said that while they weren’t at their best, he saw signs of his side clicking into gear: “It was the first time this group of players have played in the quarter finals and to be fair, Ballycastle gave us our fill of it.  They hurled well but I always felt like when they got close then we found another gear.”

Their semi-final against Loughgiel laid to rest some of the demons from 12 months ago.  Dunloy played with precision and a slick brand of hurling that saw them reach serious heights in 2022.  It wasn’t a complete performance but the Dunloy manager said: “It was the right time for this group to play Loughgiel.  After the Ballycastle game, we’d put in a serious amount in the training pitch and it all came to fruition that day.  We looked more like ourselves and it was very pleasing to see that performance and the lads getting their rewards for the efforts they’ve put in.”

Although the bookies favourites for Sunday’s final, O’Kane said Dunloy are concentrating on themselves and ensuring they are in the right frame of mind come 2pm on Sunday: “We’re in a county final and that’s exactly where we set out at the start of the year to be.  The lads have put in the effort and all we want is for them to be the best version of themselves they can be.  If they do that then it’s left it God’s grace but we’re looking forward to it.”

Danske Bank Mageean Cup

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 3-14 Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock 1-12

AFTER the disappointment of losing last Friday evening’s first ever game in the Danske Bank Mageean Cup, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire bounced back to record their first victory when they beat Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock in Kevin Lynch Park on Tuesday afternoon.

In contrast to the St Louis tie when they only arrived at the pace of the game coming into half-time, Gaelcholáiste had a much better start – helped immensely by a goal from Jude Ó Conaire in the 10^th minute. Although Knock struck for a goal in injury time to go ahead at the break, the Dungiven school’s second goal in the 37^th minute put them ahead again and this time they didn’t let the lead slip.

Dylan Ó hÉireamhóinn and Liam Blaney had swopped points before the Ó Conaire goal opened a gap on the score-board that remained until added time in the first half. Liam Blaney (two), Marc Guest, Frank Kane and Joe Braiff responded to points from Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne, Ciarán Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliam, Daire Ó Lochlainn and Ó Conaire.

Right at the start of that added time Dara Pucci grabbed a goal for Knock to put them ahead by 1-6 to 1-5. The half ended with four more scores, two points for each team, to leave Knock holding a slender lead on the whistle.

Ó Conaire levelled the tie on the re-start, but the ever-dangerous Pucci hit back with a point. The next score, a goal from Emmett óg McKeever in the 37^th minute, lifted the Derry side into the lead and, despite a seventh point in reply from Liam Blaney, the home team had their tails up.

Gaelcholáiste chipped over another couple of points, through Jude Ó Conaire and a free from Cian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide, before Ó Conaire’s second goal in the 49^th minute made it 3-10 to 1-11.

Pucci responded immediately but Gaelcholáiste finished strongly with four points in a row from Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide, Aidan Ó Ceallaigh, Finbarr Ó Muirí and player of the match Ó Conaire. Needless to say, there was a little celebration at the final whistle.

The next game in the group is this afternoon (today – report to follow) in Rossa Park with St Mary’s CBGS taking on group leaders St Louis Ballymena while the final group A game is also at Rossa Park next Tuesday between St Mary’s and Gaelcholáiste.

At the moment St Louis have two wins from two starts with Gaelcholáiste and Knock both on one win each.

Gaelcholáiste: J Ó Conaire 2-4, E óg McKeever 1-1, C Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide and D Ó hÉireamhóinn 0-2 each (1f each), PP Ó Duibhne, C Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliam, D Ó Lochlainn, A Ó Ceallaigh and F Ó Muirí 0-1 each.

OL&SPK: D Pucci 1-2, L Blaney 0-7 (3 fs), F Kane, J Braniff and M Guest 0-1 each

Gaelcholáiste: Caoimhín Ó hÉireamhóin, ⁠Seamus Mac Con Midhe, ⁠Lorcán Ó Muirí, Déaglán Ó Ceallaigh, ⁠Cathal Ó Mianáin, ⁠Daire Ó Lochlainn, ⁠Ger Ó Diolúin, ⁠Daire Ó Daimhín, Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne, ⁠Cian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide, ⁠Emmet Óg Mac Íomhair, ⁠Dylan Ó hÉireamhóin, ⁠Jude Ó Conaire, ⁠Ciarán Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliam, ⁠Finbar Ó Muirí

Subs: Oisín Mag Uiginn for D Ó hÉireamhóinn, Aidan Ó Ceallaigh for C Ó Muirí-MacUilliam

Knock: Cillian Ennis, Ronan Breen, Joe Dynes, Thomas McCusker, Manus Gilmore, Marc Gues, Conor Boyle, Joe Braniff, Luke Doran, Ronan Donnelly, Liam Blaney, Frank Kane, Sean McCollam, Shane O’Connell, Dara Pucci.