Lámh’s maintain 100% record

Northern Switch Gear Senior Football ChampionshipGroup 1

Lámh Dhearg 2-10 Dunloy 1-6

Sunday 1 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Slemish Park, Ballymena

Lámh Dhearg progressed to the quarter finals as Group 1 winners as they saw off Dunloy with seven points to spare.  It was a controlled performance from the Hannahstown side who made the most of the elements in the first half and kept the Cuchullains at arm’s length after the restart.

They did have to withstand a Dunloy fightback with the Cuchullains reducing the five point half time deficit to the minimum just five minutes into the second half but with Paddy Cunningham in imperious form, the Lámh’s showed their experience of such occasions.

With both sides already guaranteed a place in the last eight, this might have been seen as a dead rubber but it was played with some niggle – perhaps with memories of the last encounter between the sides in the championship of 2023.

Cunningham would top score for the Lámh’s with three of his seven points coming from play while Marc Jordan and Daniel Murray scored their majors.  Murray’s goal settling his side after Dunloy looked to be gaining an upperhand in the contest.  Jordan, Terry McCrudden and Owen McKeown were lively throughout with Conor Murray giving the Dunloy defence plenty to think about.

Eoin McFerran excelled for the Cuchullains while Deaglan Smith was heavily influential throughout.  Aodhan McGarry and Ryan McFarline were busy throughout but Dunloy found the going tough to penetrate a well organised Red Hands defence.

The Lámh’s showed one change from their win against Aldergrove with Ross Murray coming into the starting 15 while the Cuchullains made six changes from their win against Naomh Éanna – Dunloy juggling their players on dual responsibilities.

Playing with the aid of a considerable breeze at their backs, the Lámh’s made a strong start in the opening quarter.  They had Dunloy on the backfoot for long periods in that 15 minutes and opened a five point lead.  Marc Jordan with strong, trademark runs and opened the scoring while Cunningham’s first free of the match followed to double their lead in the second minute.

The opening major came in the seventh minute and came through a strong counter attack, led by McCrudden.  He lured the Dunloy defence and passed to Cunningham.  He found Jordan in space in front of the Dunloy goals and he had the easiest of tasks, palming the ball to the back of the net.

Any Dunloy attacks were fleeting but they did have a massive goal opportunity in the 10th minute.  Michael Smith laying the ball into Karl Fitzpatrick and while his effort was on target, he went for placement over power and was never likely to beat Gerard Smyth in the Lámh Dhearg goals.  With Eoin O’Neill in space on the outside of Fitzpatrick, it was a massive chance that the Cuchullains really should have done better from.

A brace of points from Cunningham stretched the Lámh’s lead to seven points, the second of those coming from play and a quite brilliant score.  Wide on the left, it was an instinctive score and one that we’ve seen plenty of times through the years.

It would mark an end to that initial dominance from the Lámh’s with Dunloy beginning to get a foothold in midfield.  Lámh Dhearg wouldn’t score for another 15 minutes and while Dunloy had the lions share of possession in second quarter, their approach was more methodical as they tried to break through a solid Lámh Dhearg defence.

The opening Cuchullains score came from Eoin O’Neill in the 18th minute and a free from Anthony Smith doubled their tally four minutes later.  Their renaissance could have been better, but they recorded a couple of wides when in good position.

Scoring chances were at a premium in the time that remained but a pacey counterattack from the Lámh’s resulted in Owen McKeown splitting the uprights while Anthony Smith doubled his tally with a brilliant score, wide on the right with his left foot.  A super score against the elements and with next to no angle to work with.  It left the Lámh’s 1-5 to 0-3 ahead at half time.

Five points was far from an insurmountable deficit for Dunloy to recover from and while Cunningham fired over his third free and fourth point of the match made it six, Lámh Dhearg wouldn’t register another score for 18 minutes as Dunloy forwards went to work.

Brothers, Michael and Deaglan joined Anthony Smith on the scoreboard before Chrissy McMahon found the back of the Lámh Dhearg net in the 35th minute.  The Dunloy forwards forced a turnover ball and Karl Fitzpatrick bore down on the goals.  He unselfishly passed to McMahon and he was the coolest man in Slemish Park with his finish.

The Cuchullains were well on top in the middle third and putting Gerard Smyth under pressure from his restarts but the Lámh’s experience shone as they weathered the Dunloy pressure.

Cunningham got his second of the half with a brilliant score with the outside of his left boot before Declan Lynch fired over.  Lynch’s score coming at the end of a patient move that saw them hold onto the ball and wait for the right moment to execute.

The Lámh’s second major came in the 46th minute and the result of a powerful running move that saw a serious of quick and incisive passes.  Daniel Murray with the finish but it was a quite brilliant team move that Dunloy were powerless to stop.

Murray’s goal looked to take the wind out of the Dunloy sails as the Lámh’s were happy to keep possession and frustrate the Cuchullains.  Eoin O’Neill doubled his tally for the match with a brilliant score with the outside of his boot in the 50th minute but it would prove to be Dunloy’s last of the match.  Lámh Dhearg and Cunningham had the final say with a brace of points (one free) to add further gloss to the scoreline.

The Lámh’s will face Creggan in two weeks time while Dunloy will face St Brigid’s with a place in the last four on the line.

TEAMS

Lamh Dhearg: Gerard Smyth; Ben Rice, Mark McGarry, Ross Murray; Owen McKeown, Declan Lynch, Declan Smyth; Pearse Fitzsimmons, Marc Jordan; Daniel Murray, Terry McCrudden, Shaun McManus; Paddy Cunningham, Michael Herron, Conor Murray

Subs: Declan Dunne for S McManus (35); Callum Tegan-Lappin for D Murray (55); Fionn Mervyn for R Murray (60)

Scorers: P Cunningham 0-7 (4fs); M Jordan 1-1; D Murray 1-00; D Lynch 0-1; O Murray 0-1

Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Oran Quinn, Eoin McFerran, James Scally; Chrissy McMahon, Deaglan Smith, Ciaran McQuillan; Aodhan McGarry, Ryan McFarline; Tom McFerran, Caolan Gillan, Eoin O’Neill; Anthony Smith, Michael Smith, Karl Fitzpatrick

Subs: Cathaoir McCloskey for J Scally (42); Barry McCloskey for K Fitzpatrick (48); Anton McGrath for C McMahon (54); Kevin McQuillan for E O’Neill (54)

Scorers: C McMahon 1-00; A Smith 0-2 (1f); E O’Neill 0-2; M Smith 0-1; D Smith 0-1

Referee: Conall Roberts (Naomh Eoin)

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Vernon penalty earns Mals the draw

JFC Group 2

Eire Og 0-14 St. Malachy’s 3-5

An injury time goal from the penalty spot from Ciaran Vernon earned St. Malachy’s the draw they needed to qualify in second place in Group 2 of the Junior Football Championship and denied Eire Og the win their second half performance probably deserved.

It was the men from the Markets who enjoyed the better of the opening half and a goal from Anton McGreevery sent them on their way to a three point half time lead.

After the break Eire Og sprung to life and hit eight of the first nine points as they took control, the St. Malachy’s-cause not helped when they had two players Black carded midway through the half.

A Stephen Carson goal with five minutes remaining handed St. Malachy’s a lifeline but it seemed to have been all in vain when the Og’s led by three going into injury time when Vernon struck for that late equaliser.

It was Eire Og who were first off the mark when Kevin Clarke pointed them ahead in the 5th minute but St. Malachy’s hit the front with a goal from Anton McGreevey and would go on to lead by three at the break.

Ciaran Vernon from play and from a Mark and Shea Lynch were the men on taget for St. Malachy’s while Kevin Clarke and Conor McKenna were the Eire Of marksmen.

After the break the Doire Achaidh sie took control with Kevin Clarke 0-3 and Peter james Toal sharing six unanswered points by the 10th minute and St. Malachy’s only reply at this point coming from a well struck free off the ground from Cristoir Devlin

Two more from Clarke and corner back, Jarlath Devlin looked to have put it beyond reach before Carson replied with that goal in the 25th minute, only St. Malachy’s second score of the half.

Kevin Clarke and Per James Toal added late points and Eire Og looked on their way to victory before the late drama that saw man of the match, Vernon grab the equaliser from the spot with virtually the last kick of the game.

St. Malachy’s: 1 Thomas Rice, 2 Dylan Dobbin, 3 Eoin McIntosh, 4 Cathal Jordan, 5 John Paul Lagan, 6 Caoimhin Corr, 7 Mark Connolly, 8 Pearse Hanna, 9 Anthony Dobbin, 10 Reece Lagan, 11 Anton McGreevey, 12 Criostoir Devlin, 17 Shea Lynch, 14 Jack McGivern, 15 Stephen Carson, 25 Ciaran Vernon

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McLaughlin on song as Ruairi’s defeat the Johnnies

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 2

Cushendall 2-14 St John’s 1-8

Sunday 25 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Quinn Park, Ballymena

Cushendall sealed a comfortable win against St John’s at a rain drenched Quinn Park on Sunday evening to make it two from two in the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship.  The reigning champions led from start to finish in a contest that saw both sides battle with the treacherous underfoot conditions. 

With the rain unrelenting, there was talk of this tie being moved to Dunsilly but the pitch passed the inspection conducted at 3:30pm.  Whether or not it would have passed the same inspection by the time throw in came at 5pm is another story.  The water on the pitch throughout made this one dangerous for hurling and when you throw in the blood and thunder of a championship tie into the mix, it’s maybe a miracle that no one was seriously injured.

The contest itself was dominated by the Ruairi’s.  Joseph McLaughlin adding to his burgeoning reputation with a final tally of 1-10 while on another day, Scott Walsh would have been an easy pick for man of the match.  The Cushendall man was imperious in defence along with Paddy Burke who excelled.

The champions played with their usual panache and a mix of guile and power, running from deep while defensively they kept scoring opportunities to a minimum.  The Johnnies made a number of changes from their opening day defeat to Dunloy with Domhnall Nugent, Oisin Donnelly, Jack Bohill, Ryan McNulty and Enda McGurk all making the starting 15.  Nugent was used as a target man and caused plenty of problems with his strength and awareness while Donnelly and McNulty had strong games for the Corrigan Park side.  They were shorn of time and space in attack however with a game that was played largely on Cushendall’s terms.  Shea Shannon, Aaron Bradley and Conor Johnston all looked lively but couldn’t make much inwards in an imperious Cushendall defence that yielded just two points from open play for the whole contest.

Cushendall would finish the game down to 14 men after substitute Sean McAfee was given a straight red card for an off the ball altercation but there was no time for the numerical advantage to help the St John’s cause.

Cushendall started brightly and had a three point lead after the opening eight minutes.  Fergus and Ryan McCambridge splitting the posts added to a brace of frees from McLaughlin.  Conor Johnston with the solitary response for the Johnnies.

The Belfast side were struggling with the elements with a couple of efforts missing the target before Shea Shannon’s first free of the match reduced the Cushendall lead to two.  They wouldn’t register another score for 17 minutes however as the Ruairi’s went through the gears.  McLaughlin’s third free of the match was followed by a super score from Paddy Burke.  Soaring down the left and leaving the St John’s challenges in his wake, Burke split the posts with ease.  A score that’s fast becoming a trademark for the Cushendall man.

The first goal came in the 18th minute through a route one ball into the heart of the Johnnies defence.  Fergus McCambridge sending the sliotar long and with it just dipping below the cross-bar, Simon Doherty had to deal with the danger.  He couldn’t hold onto the sliotar and Ciaran Neeson was on hand to fire into the net with a first time swing.

A further three points followed from Paddy Burke and a brace of McLaughlin frees before the Ruairi’s were celebrating a second goal.  Dominic Delargy winning the ball on the left before finding Andrew Delargy.  He passed square to McLaughlin and he made no mistake in the 23rd minute to give his side a 2-9 to 0-2 lead.

McLaughlin’s major made it 2-5 without reply for the Ruairi’s and with any St John’s attacks fleeting, they weren’t making the most of their limited opportunities in attack.  Four further wides in that same period of time did little to help their cause but they did manage to breach Conor McAllister’s goal line in the 27th minute.  Domhnall Nugent stood over a 21 yard free and the line was filled with maroon and white but the St John’s man still managed to find the back of the net with a low, fierce strike in what was the last score of the half.

With the elements in their favour for the second half, St John’s had a mountain to climb with the 10 point half time difference.  They got off to a strong start with a brace of points from Conor Johnston and Shannon (free) but they came up against a Cushendall defence in imperious form.  It would be a further 14 minutes before they would register another score and while Cushendall managed just two points from McLaughlin frees in the same period, they were controlling the contest.

The Johnnies introduced Lorcan Heenan, Oisin MacManus and Danan McKeogh into the attack and while they gave them fresh impetus, Cushendall weren’t giving away anything easily.  They did manage to reduce the deficit to six points with a run of four frees from MacManus but it was as close as they would get to the Ruairi’s.

A brilliant pointed free from McLaughlin, his eighth of the game, briefly halted the Johnnies charge and he would add a further brace of scores (one from play) as the game ticked towards the end of the hour.

Nine points separated the sides when Cushendall fashioned another goal chance through McLaughlin.  He looked to have been fouled before finding McAfee in space.  The substitute was brought down in the square when through on Simon Doherty’s goal.  With tensions high, handbags were swung with referee Colum Cunning doing well to restore calm.  McAfee would see red for his efforts in the skirmish and the penalty decision was overturned.

It was the last meaningful action of the game as Cushendall dealt with the numerical disadvantage well and time ran out for the Johnnies.  Cushendall now turn their attentions to a meeting with Dunloy in two weeks’ time while St John’s will welcome their west Belfast rivals, Rossa to their back yard in a tie that will be winner takes all and elimination from the senior championship on the line.

TEAMS

Cushendall: Conor McAllister; Liam Gillan, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ruairi McCollam; Fred McCurry, Alex Delargy; Andrew Delargy, Ryan McCambridge, Fergus McCambridge; Ciaran Neeson, Dominic Delargy, Joseph McLaughlin

Subs: Edward McQuillan for F McCurry (HT); Ronan McAteer for D Delargy (HT); Stephen Walsh for L Gillan (51); Sean McAfee for C Neeson (51)

Scorers: J McLaughlin 1-10 (9fs); C Neeson 1-00; P Burke 0-2; R McCambridge 0-1; F McCambridge 0-1

St John’s: Simon Doherty; Enda McGurk, Ryan McNulty, Jack Bohill; Darragh McGuinness, Ciaran Johnston, Andrew McGowan; Aaron Bradley, Shea Shannon; Conor Johnston, Oisin Donnelly, Conal Bohill; Donal Carson, Domhnall Nugent, Peter McCallin

Subs: Oisin MacManus for D Nugent blood sub (41), replaced D McGuinness full sub (46); Danan McKeogh for D Carson (48); Lorcan Heenan for D Nugent (49); Ronan Donnelly for O Donnelly (59); Conor McEvoy for Ciaran Johnston (60+)

Scorers: O MacManus 0-4 (4fs); D Nugent 1-00 (free); S Shannon 0-2 (2fs); Conor Johnston 0-2

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

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Elliott and Molloy lead Cuchullains to victory

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 2

Dunloy 2-19 Rossa 1-12

Sunday 25 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

Dunloy produced another solid performance on Sunday afternoon to ensure they remained unbeaten in the championship and make it two wins from two.  10 points separated the Cuchullains and Rossa at the end of the hour, in truth this contest was probably over at half time. 

It was in the second quarter where the Cuchullains pulled away.  Aodhán O’Brien had just scored the Rossa goal to edge the Shaws Road men ahead but Dunloy’s response was emphatic.  Outscoring their opponents 2-7 to 0-3 and dominating the middle third, Dunloy controlled the second half keeping Rossa at arm’s length.

Seaan Elliott top scores for the Cuchullains with 1-7, five of those coming from placed ball while Keelan Molloy continued his fine form with 1-4.  Defensively, Ryan McGarry and Kevin Molloy formed the spine of a watertight defence but the whole unit worked well together to deny space for the Rossa forwards.

Aodhán O’Brien finished with 1-3 for his side while Gerard Walsh and Seaghan Shannon pitched in with seven white flags between them, but they couldn’t live with how sharp the Cuchullains were winning breaking ball and retention.  It allowed them to build sustained pressure and their forward line flourished.

Despite the unseasonal and unrelenting weather, the Dunsilly surface was in good condition.  The wind was playing havoc in the early stages, not really favouring either side and swirling around the front pitch but it was Dunloy who adapted quickest. 

They would lead three points to one after five minutes – Keelan Molloy with two outrageous scores from wide on the right along with a ’65 from Seaan Elliott while Seaghan Shannon had the solitary response for Rossa.

Dunloy began to cut loose and with Nigel Elliott in top form, they created two goal chances in those opening minutes.  Elliott was twice denied by Donal Armstrong in the Rossa goals before Thomas Morgan split the uprights to double Rossa’s tally.

A Seaan Elliott free was answered by Gerard Walsh who split the posts with a classy strike to leave the minimum between the sides in the 10th minute.

Chrissy McMahon’s first of the game came before Nigel Elliott found himself through on the Rossa goal once again.  He passed to McMahon who tried to deflect the sliotar beyond Armstrong but his instinctive effort pushed wide of the posts.

The first goal of the game came in the 14th minute.  Eoin Trainor send the sliotar high towards Ryan Elliott’s goal and with the ball dipping viciously, the Dunloy ‘keeper was called into action.  The sliotar went loose and O’Brien was on hand to hit the back of the net.

With Rossa ahead for the first time in the game, the Dunloy response was definite.  A brace of scores from Keelan Molloy and Seaan Elliott (free) followed further scores from McMahon and O’Neill.  O’Brien had a Rossa score in that same three minute period but Dunloy evidently found another gear.

Seaghan Shannon reduced the Dunloy lead to the minimum before the Cuchullains scored their first goal of the contest.  Seaan Elliott delivering a crossfield ball into the path of O’Neill and while he couldn’t gather cleanly, Keelan Molloy gathered at pace.  He still had some work to do before evading the Rossa tackles but finished off his hurl with aplomb.

Rossa had a goal chance of their own with O’Brien in the thick of things once more.  This time he made a dashing run down the right and cut inside, with the angle against him, he passed to Diarmuid Rogan but he couldn’t get the required touch to beat Ryan Elliott in the Dunloy goals.

As if to compound the Rossa misery at missing that chance, Dunloy would score their second goal with the next attack of the game.  Seaan Elliott breaking free and with plenty of grass to run into, Elliott finished to give Armstrong little chance in the Rossa goal.

Seaghan Shannon (free) and Keelan Molloy swapped scores to leave the Cuchullains ahead 2-12 to 1-6 at the interval.

Rossa managed to score the opening two scores of the second half, O’Brien and Walsh (free) splitting the uprights, but the Cuchullains were wasteful in front of the target with three wides in the same period of time.  Dunloy did have another sniff of a major when McMahon was felled inside the large square, referee Ciarán McCloskey awarded a penalty.  Paul Shiels strike was hit with venom but Armstrong managed to deflect the sliotar over the bar with an excellent save.

Walsh (free) reduced the lead to seven once more while Dunloy’s wide count continued to grow at the other end of the pitch, another three efforts missing the targets while McMahon was unlucky not to score another major.  Getting on the end of a long delivery from Oran Quinn, McMahon looked to deflect the sliotar with some purchase in mid-air but Armstrong pulled off another excellent save to deny him.

Walsh’s third free of the match and fourth point overall was followed by a trio of unanswered scores from the Cuchullains.  Substitute Deaglan Smith, Shiels and Seaan Elliott (free) all finding their range to put some further daylight between the sides.

Stephen Beatty and O’Brien (free) found the target in response to scores from Seaan Elliott (free) and Eamon Smyth to leave 10 between the sides at the full time whistle.

Dunloy will travel to Cushendall in two weeks time in a contest that will decide who goes straight to the semi-final’s while Rossa will make the short journey to the Whiterock Road and a match that is do or die with the losers out of the championship.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Oran Quinn, Ryan McGarry, Phelim Duffin; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Ronan Molloy; Paul Shiels, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Eoin McFerran; Nicky McKeague, Eoin O’Neill, Chrissy McMahon

Subs: Aodhán McGarry for N McKeague (HT); Anton McGrath for E McFerran (35); Deaglan Smith for C McMahon (46); Ciaran Elliott for S Elliott (55); Kevin McKeague for Kevin Molloy (57)

Scorers: S Elliott 1-7 (4fs 1’65); Keelan Molloy 1-4; E O’Neill 0-2; C McMahon 0-2; P Shiels 0-2 (1 pen); E Smyth 0-1; D Smith 0-1

Rossa: Donal Armstrong; Christopher McGuinness, Ciaran Orchin, Conor Boyle; Stephen Shannon, Declan McCartney, Gerard Walsh; Seaghan Shannon, Eoin Trainor; Stephen Beatty, Pearce Short, Aodhán O’Brien; Dominic McEnhill, Diarmuid Rogan, Thomas Morgan

Subs: Conall Shannon for D Rogan (35); James Connolly for Seaghan Shannon (42); Niall Crossan for C Orchin (51); Oisin McVicker for S Beatty (57)

Scorers: A O’Brien 1-3 (0-1 f); G Walsh 0-4 (3fs); Seaghan Shannon 0-3 (3fs); S Beatty 0-1; T Morgan 0-1

Referee: Ciarán McCloskey (Loughgiel)

Dominant Dunloy outclass Cushendall

Teamkit Antrim senior camogie championship:

Dunloy 2-17 Cushendall 1-6

AFTER the heroics of last Sunday, Cushendall came unstuck in the first half of this Teamkit Antrim senior camogie championship second round game in Dunloy and trailed the home side by  1-15 to 1-0 at half time.

The winners hit seven points in the opening ten minutes including four frees from Nicole McAtamney and two from play for Cassie McArthur. There was a lull in the scoring before Kady McNeill and Cara O’Boyle combined for Orlaith McAlister to get Cushendall up and running with a goal in the 17th minute.

It was a rare foray forward for the sea-siders and Dunloy’s response was emphatic. Cassie McArthur nailed a point within 30 seconds and then Katie Molloy grabbed a goal a minute later. 

By half-time McAtamney had added five more frees and Dunloy had already secured their second win of the campaign.

In fairness Dunloy had played with the wind in their favour during the first half and that was reflected in the fact that they were under a lot more pressure during the second half and could add just a goal and two points over the half hour. A goal and a point came inside the first five minutes from Katie Molloy and their other point was scored by Cassie McArthur in added time.

In between Eva McNeill fired over several points, but the much needed goal never arrived for Cushendall.

Dunloy will sit out Round three of the fixtures on Saturday 31st while Cushendall host Brídíní Óga Glenravel and Loughgiel entertain Ballycastle in a repeat of last year’s final.

Dunloy: K Molloy 2-1, N McAtamney 0-9 frees, C McArthur 0-5, Á McGill, B McGill and C Molloy 0-1 each.

Cushendall: O McAlister 1-1, E McNeill 0-5, 4 frees.

Dunloy: M Martin, S McIlhatton, E Kearns, K Boyle, C Crawford, K Laverty, C Conlon, Á McGill, E Johnson, N McAtamney, B McGill, C Molloy, É McAllister, K Molloy, C McArthur.

Sub: K Mullan for Á McGill (49).

Cushendall: L Mulholland, C McNaughton, S Cosgrove, A McClafferty, A McNeill, E Leech, L Black, C O’Boyle, S McKillop, L McMullan, E McNeill, B Abram, K McNeill, O McAlister, O McCurry.

Sub: A McAlister for B Abram ((47).

Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)

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