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by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle and St Enda’s share the points

Bathshack Antrim senior Hurling championship:

Group 1

Ballycastle 1-15 Naomh Eanna 1-15

A Niall O’Connor point just over three minutes into added time at Pairc MacUilin on Saturday evening, gave visitors Naomh Éanna a share of the spoils in their second round tie in the Bathshack Antrim senior hurling championship. Ballycastle, who were playing thier first game of this year’s championship campaign, appeared to have sealed the win when they went two points clear with time almost up, but they couldn’t hold on and the visitors came back to share the spoils.

Tiarnán Smyth, who has regularly deputised for Ryan Elliott in the Antrim goals over the past couple of seasons, made a huge impact in the first five minutes with a goal and two points to put the home side 1-2 to 0-1 up.

But when the play settled a little, points from Cormac Jennings (two frees), Eddie and Niall O’Connor had the Glengormley side level by the end of the first quarter. However quick points from Seamus McAuley, Ronan McCarry and a Smyth free once more opened a gap and Ballycastle led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

Joe McToal had a good goal chance in the opening minute of the second half and Ballycastle seemed to fade out of the game for a while as points from Cormac (two) and Killian Jennings brought Naomh Éanna level.

Although James McShane and Smyth put Ballycastle back in the lead, Eoin Conlon’s 44th minute goal put the visitors ahead for the first time at 1-10 to 1-9 and Niall O’Connor stepped up to add on three points and his side were two up in the 52nd minute.

Neil McAuley also scored three times around this period and when Conor Boyd (two) and Tiarnán Smyth tagged on points it looked as if Ballycastle were going to hold on for victory. But injury time points from Ruairí Donaghy and Niall O’Connor rescued the Glengormley side and they will await the outcome of the final group game, between Loughgiel v Ballycastle to discover whether they progress as 2nd or 3rd placed qualifiers. A defeat by more than 10 points would leave Ballycastle in third spot.

Overall it was a hard fought game, not helped by the heavy pitch and too much possession was given away cheaply. Naomh Éanna’s shooting (13 wides) almost cost them and though both teams are through to the knock out stages regardless of the result, they will know they need show a marked improvement next time out.

Ballycastle: T Smyth 1-7, 0-3 frees, N McAuley 0-3, C Boyd 0-2, R McCarry, S McAuley and J McShane 0-1 each.

Naomh Éanna: E Conlon 1-0, N O’Connor 0-5, 3 frees, C Jennings 0-5, 2 frees, E O’Connor 0-2, R Donaghy, K Jennings and C Bradley 0-1 each.

Ballycastle: R McGarry, O Kearney, D Donnelly, C Colgan, J Magowan, C Boyd, E McAlonan, R McCarry, S McAuley, C McAuley, J McShane, O Donnelly, T Smyth, N McAuley, J McToal.

Subs: L Donnelly for D Donnelly (40), R McCooke for C McAuley (40), C Waldron for O Donnelly (48)

Naomh Éanna: M Curran, D Maguire, M McGibbon, R Edgar, E Colgan, N O’Connor, J Maskey, C Jennings, R Diamond, L O’Connor, R Donaghy, E O’Connor, C O’Connor, K Jennings, C Bradley.

Subs: P Curran for E Conlon (50), O Breen for K Jennings (50), M O’Hare for E O’Connor (56).

Referee: R Matthews

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by thesaffrongael

Doherty the go-to man as Portglenone claim the Laverty Shield

Laverty Shield Final

Casements 4-16 St. James 4-6

An excellent Casements, Portglenone proved too good in the end for St. James, Aldergrove in this high scoring Laverty Shield final at Whitehill on Saturday evening. The young Bannsiders looked like running away with it from early in the game but St. James’ to their credit, kept battling to the end and struck with three late goals to put a much better reflection on the final scoreline.

Odhran Doherty was the go-to man for the Casement’s as he dictated matters from mid-field for long periods and contributed 0-11 on the night with a superb exhibition of scoring both from play and frees.

It was the young Casements who were fast off the mark when Conor Burns pointed them ahead following a fine save from Daniel McCuthcheon in the Adergove goals

Two points from Odhran Doherty and another from Burns had the Casements four ahead with nine minutes gone before Lewis Smyth finally got the Crumlin side on their way from a pointed free in the 13th minute.

Two more from the excellent Doherty moved the Bannsiders five ahead by the 20th minute and when Christy McDonnell got forward to palm an inviting cross from Tom Duffin to an empty net it wasn’t looking good for the team in red.

The Portglenone pressure was relentless as Doherty and McDonnell added further points before Liam Og Cullen raised Aldergrove second white flag of the evening from a 29th minute free.

Back came the Casements and they struck with a second goal when Conor McCann’s shot on goal was partially blocked but it looped over the despairing grasp of Daniel McCutcheon and ended in the net.

Odhran Doherty who scored 0-11 as Portglenone defeated Aldergrove in the Laverty Shield final at Whitehill on saturday evening

The final score of the half fell the way of the Crumlin side when Lewis Smyth sent a long range free between the uprights but it looked a long way back as the sides headed to the dressing rooms with Portglenone holding a convincing 11 point lead.

St. James returned to the action determined to make inroads into the Casements lead and after Odhran Doherty pointed a free after 30 seconds they came back with an excellent goal from Liam Og Cullen in the second minute.

Doherty was on target again for the team in yellow and their opponents were dealt a severe blow when Cullen received a second yellow after pulling down the Portglenone mid-fielder with 25 minutes remaining.

The Aldergrove management began to empty their bench at this stage but it was Casements who continued to call the shots as Odhran Doherty pointed a free and followed with another from play.

Lewis Smyth replied from a free but things went from bad to worse for the Crumlin side when James McVeigh blocked an attempted clearance before finishing to the net to make it 3-12 to 1-4 with ten minutes of the second half gone.

Full-back, Conall Morgan got forward for a fourth major and it was in danger of turning into a route but Aldergrove continue to introduce replacements as Doherty brought his total for the evening to 0-10.

To their credit 14 men, Aldergrove refused to throw in the towel and replied with points from Cormac Morris and Lewis Smyth before Smyth got through for his second goal of the evening with 8 minutes remaining.

Substitute Rian Hope found himself in acres of space as he finished to the net for a third goal for the Crumlin side and as they began to enjoy a bit of success, Cormac Morris added a fourth to put a much better look on the final scoreline.

There was still 10 between the sides as Joe McCavana sounded his final whistle as Stephen Graham presented the Laverty Shield to Ryan McKeever, captain of an excellent Casements, Portglenone side with Graham congratulating both side for their part in what was a very entertaining game of football.

Casements Portglenone: 1 Eoghan Smith, 2 Christy McDonnell,3 Conall Morgan, 4 Conor Dunlop, 5 James McVeigh, 6 Oisin McAtamney, 7 Ryan McKeever, 8 Odhran Doherty, 9 James McAleese, 10 Conor McCann, 11 Tom Convery, 12 Conor Burns, 13 Frank McAleese, 14 Tom Duffin, 15 Conor McKeever, 16 Thomas Douthart, 17 Ruairi O’Kane, 18

St. James Aldergrove: 1 Daniel McCuthcheon, Adam Magd, 3 Ronan Ferguson, 4 Sean O’Toole, 5 Rory Finney, 6 Cayden Lagan, 7 Liam Og Cullen, 9 Luke Delaney, 10 Fionntan Muldoon, 11 Lewis Smyth, 12 Eoin McAleese, 13 Chris Robb, 14 Jamie Murray, 15 Sean O’Hare, 18 Breagh Maguire, 17 Rian Hope, 19 Nathan O’Hara, 20 Rian Carl, 21 Malachy Kennedy, 22 Cormac Morris, 23 23 Odhran Maguire, 24 Ryan Menary, 25 Lonan Magee

Referee: Joe McCavana Naomh Comhghall

https://myalbum.com/album/U6DVVius3svQTW

by thesaffrongael

Doyle’s goal proves decisive for St Paul’s

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 2 – Round 3

St Paul’s 1-15 Glenravel 0-14

A goal by corner forward Paddy Doyle nine minutes into the second half set St Paul’s on the road to glory as they overcome Con Magees Glenravel by four points in Friday evening’s Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2 game at Whitehill, Randalstown.

St Paul’s had held a one point lead at half time 0-9 to 0-8 but just after the break substitute Sean McKay brought Glenravel level. It looked like remaining a close affair but six minutes later Doyle struck the telling blow when he fired home for the only goal of the game, which put a bit of daylight between the sides, and the Shaw’s Road men held the upper hand until the end.

Glenravel had started well as the heavy rain fell and points from Conleth O’Loan, Ciaran Laverty and Cormac McKeown had them three clear after four minutes. Caolan Ó Duibhfinn, who was to finish as top scorer, got St Paul’s on the scoreboard a minute later and he added another from a free soon afterwards, but Conleth O’Loan landed a long range free and Ciaran Laverty sent one over from play to put Glenravel three clear by the tenth minute.

Two by Paddy Doyle and Conal Finnegan brought St Paul’s back to within a point again but James Duffin and Cormac McKeown hit back for the Con Magees to open the gap to three once more. The last ten minutes of the first half saw St Paul’s get on top and five points without reply, two from frees and three from play, all of them from the stick of Caolan O’Duibhfinn which put them two clear in first half injury time, but substitute Sean McKay, who had just come on for the injured Conleth O’Loan, hit the last point of the half to leave just a single point between the sides at the ‘’short whistle.’

When McKay levelled six minutes into the second half it looked like being a closely fought contest, but Doyle’s goal three minute later gave the Belfast side a lead they would not consequently lose. They added another point soon afterwards to open a four point gap and that’s is basically the way it remained as each time Glenravel brought it back to three St Paul’s found a reply as they held out to the final whistle

FOR MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

PPB Performance Youth Athletic Development Camp in Cushendall

Cushendall and Antrim star Paddy Burke hosted the second PB Performance Youth Athletic Development Camp for boys and girls aged 11-15. The three-day camp, held at Páirc Mhuire in Cushendall, attracted a variety of young Gaels from around the Glens. The camp emphasised the holistic development of young GAA athletes, covering fundamental movement skills, strength, speed, and plyometrics both in the gym and on the hurling pitch. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of mobility, lifestyle habits, sports nutrition, and mental skills. Special guests Colleen Patterson and Neil McManus provided valuable insights into the level of preparation required to excel in hurling and camogie.

FOR MORE PICS FROM THIS EVENT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Portglenone win Minor B Camogie Championship final

Geraldines Portglenone 3 – 12 St Johns Carnlough 1.07

A large crowd gathered in Dunsilly on Friday night to watch the Minor B camogie final between Geraldine’s Portglenone and St John’s Carnlough.

Weather conditions were miserable with torrential rain during most of the match, but despite this both teams turned in good displays.

Portglenone took the first point of the game followed quickly by a goal by Eimear Smith, but the Carnlough girls responded with 2 points from Brooke Taggart and Saoirse Campbell before Aoife McGrogan and Aoife McKenna added further points for Portglenone.  Jo Jo Daragh and Hannah Friel added 2 more points before wing forward Eimear Smith rattled home a goal into the Carnlough net.  Whilst the Carnlough forwards were able to press with some fine passing and possession they were unable to convert these into scores and the missed opportunities saw them trailing at the half way point Portglenone 2.07 to Carnlough 0.03.

Carnlough substitute Eimear Ward started strong in the second half adding 2 points, one from a free.  In response Naoise Henry added 2 points followed by a goal from her teammate Aoife McKenna.  In the last 10 minutes the Carnlough defence held firm with some great saves from goalkeeper Leanne Magill whilst Eimear Ward added a goal and 2 more points to the Carnlough score. 

Whilst both teams played some fine camogie in the most difficult conditions, it was the first touch and scoring ability of the Portglenone forwards that made the real difference and resulted in their win. 

Portglenone. Aoife McKenna 1.02, Aoife McGrogan 0.03, JoJo Daragh 0.01, Hanna Friel 0.01(F), Eimear Smith 2.01, Naoise Henry 0.03, Aedin Vallely 0.01

St Johns. Brooke Taggart 0.01, Saoirse Campbell 0.01, Eimear Ward 1.04, Ciara McLaughlin 0.01

FOR MORE OF DAVID HUMPHREYS PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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