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by thesaffrongael

Strong opening see’s Glenravel ease to victory 

O’Neills ACFL Division One 

Con Magee’s 0-17-0-11 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Fr Maginn Park 

Con Magee’s had six points to spare in their 0-17-0-11 win over Lámh Dhearg at Fr Maginn Park on Wednesday evening. 

The hosts hit six-scores unanswered in a dominant and largely one-sided opening half with Calum Higgins landing the opening score inside of two minutes. 

Eamon Fyfe kicked a two-pointed free and Eamonn Ward steered over a further point from play to make it 0-4-0-0. 

Fyfe added his second placed ball off the evening and he would kick his first from play between a Conleth O’Loan point to open up a seven-point lead with 19 minutes on the clock. 

Lámh Dhearg eventually responded in the form of an angled Adam Murray score and Terry McCrudden’s lobbed effort scaled the bar seconds later. 

The Hannahstown men were slowly getting to grips on things as Darren Bellew fisted over and then added a second score a minute later to cut the deficit to two (0-7-0-4). 

Glenravel regained the initiative before the half concluded with Higgins doubling his account, Shea O’Brien shooting over and Rian Lennon on target to give their side a 0-10-0-4 lead at the midway point. 

Paddy Cunningham converted an early free at the beginning of the second half, though Daniel McQuillan responded for the hosts. 

Fyfe and Adam Murray (free) traded further scores before the visitors rallied and hit four without reply.

Paddy Cunningham kicked a second free of the half and a two-pointed Declan Breen attempt was tipped over by Shaun O’Boyle to make it just one. 

With little over ten minutes remaining two points separated the sides as Owen McKeown clipped over his first of the evening and Paddy Cunningham kicked a straight-forward free to make it 0-12-0-10. 

A much needed Aidan O’Donnell point lifted Con Magee’s going down the home stretch and Shea O’Brien doubled his personal tally for the evening in the aftermath. 

Frees were exchanged between Paddy Cunningham and Fyfe as both sides were punished for breaches of a lack of numbers in defence in close proximity. 

Fyfe (free) and O’Donnell would add to respective tallies before the game was out as Con Magee’s eased to the two-points and moved to within a point of Lámh Dhearg in the middle of the table. 

Con Magee’s: S O’Boyle, C Carey, C McQuillan, C Henry, C O’Loan (0-1), R Lennon (0-1), E Ward (0-1), D McQuillan (0-1), C Higgins (0-2), J Martin, E Fyfe (0-7, 0-3x1f, 1x02f), F Donaghy, S O’Brien (0-2), S McKay, A O’Donnell (0-2). Subs: C McKeown for J Martin (39), D Traynor for F Donaghy (53). 

Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, D Murray, P Mervyn, M McGarry, D Breen (0-1), B Rice, D Martin, C Boyd, E Matassa, O McKeown (0-1), D Bellew (0-2), E Stanley, P Cunningham (0-4f), T McCrudden (0-1), A Murray (0-2, 0-1f). Subs: P Fitzsimons for C Boyd (30+1), S McCarthy for E Stanley (30+1), Ross Murray for M McGarry (HT), J Quinn for T McCrudden (51), S McManus for A Murray (55). 
Referee: Seamus Shannon (Rossa)

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by thesaffrongael

Goals make the difference as Dunloy book final spot

Senior Camogie Feis Cup semi-final

Dunloy 5-11 Ballycastle 0-13

Despite the scoreline favouring the home side as having a comfortable win this semi-final of the Feis Cup was anything but that as Ballycastle gave as good as they got for the full hour.

Goals win games is a well-worn, and sometimes overused, phrase at times but for the home side it was what did the damage in this game.

Ballycastle started much the better side playing into a strong breeze and had the best of the opening ten mins of the half. Points from Riana McBride & Sionainn Graham opened a three-point lead for Ballycastle.

It took Dunloy a bit of time to get settled into the game and when they did find their feet and passing, they found the back of the net in quick succession.

Goals from Eobha McAllister & Caoimhe Molloy gave Dunloy a three-point lead and they would not relinquish that for the rest of the game.

Riana McBride and Sionainn Graham again responded for the visitors in between points for Eobha McAllister and Dearbhail Elliott. But again, it was the constant goal threat from Dunloy that did the damage to Ballycastle.

Aine Magill cut through the defence just before the break to fire low to the net beyond Erin O’Hara for the home sides third of the night. It gave the home team a 3-05 to 0-06 lead at the break as referee Tony Breen called for the ball.

Unlike the first half it was Dunloy who started the stronger with the first two scores of the half. Eobha McAllister grabbed both with one form the placed ball. Riana McBride responded in kind for Ballycastle, but it was as close as Ballycastle got as Dunloy went on a run of scores that effectively killed the game as a contest.

Points from Eobha McAllister, Caoimhe Molloy and a fine individual goal by Aine Magill pushed the home side even farther in front.

Despite this Ballycastle did create plenty of goal chances, none of which they could convert. A mixture of good defending and saves from Clodagh O’Kane kept them at bay.

An entertaining game from both teams who were missing quite a few of their first team starters but it was Dunloy’s ability to find the back of the net that was the difference.

Dunloy

C O’Kane, L McConville, B McGill, K Boyle, C Crawford, E Kearns, S McIlhatton, Eimear McMullan, M Cunning, K Doherty, C Molloy, E McAllister, Erin McMullan, D Elliott, A McGill – Sub K Mullan

Ballycastle

E O’Hara, M Donnelly, K Mullan, C Delaney, M O’Neill, E McShane, C McShane, A Toner, F McIntosh, M Bakewell, S Graham, E Laverty, E McCaughan, R McBride, N Devlin

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by thesaffrongael

Antrim secure their first championship game with a narrow margin 

Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin makes no mistake in placing the sliotar past Leah Gallagher

Antrim 1:16 (19) Offaly 3:08 (17) 

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran at Roger Casements GAA Club, Portglenone. 

A warm blustery day welcomed one and all to the opening game of this year’s All Ireland Intermediate championship from group 1. Spectators would have to face occasional showers and with both sides sizing each other up in the first half, occasional scoring too. A low scoring first half gave way to a torrent of scores from both teams in the second half, leading to a crescendo of sideline activity as the game lay finely in the balance for either side to win. Antrim would, however, demonstrate nerve and resolve to close the deal and rack up their three points on the table. 

Match referee, Barry Nea, got proceedings underway and was reaching for his notebook in less than thirty seconds, preparing to enter a score from Offaly midfielder, Faye Mulrooney, but the sliotar drifted wide, leaving Antrim to register the first point from Katie Molloy as Molloy and Roisin McCormick performed a tidy 1-2-1 with 2 minutes gone on the board. 

Roisin McCormick prepares to receive the sliotar before pointing one of her three from play

McCormick would be up next with her own point before Offaly’s half forward; Christine Cleary, would get Offaly out of the blocks with a point. Offaly kept that momentum going with another two points, from Caoimhe O’Donovan and Clodagh Leahy just before Molloy clipped the sliotar over the bar from a spearheaded advance from McCormick and Lucia McNaughton. 

Offaly were about to take the lead in the game at four points to three but two back-to-back points from an on-form Molloy pulled Antrim back into a one point lead. Despite numerous advances from Offaly, Antrim managed to keep the Faithful County at bay with that small lead and improved it by one as Molloy earned her fifth point of the first half just as the short whistle drew the first half to an end. 

In the second half, Antrim’s two point lead would soon become nine as McCormick, Molloy, Maeve Kelly and Caitrin Dobbin savaged the catch net over the bar and when Nicole McAtamney played a low sliotar into Cassie McArthur, a wall of Offaly jersey’s forced the offload to Dobbin and at short range with just four minutes elapsed in the second half, the games first green flag was raised. 

That should have been a marker in the sand for Antrim to push on, but relaxing too early, Offaly’s Mairead Teehan made good of her pickup within Antrim’s box and at short range, flicked the sliotar past goalkeeper, Caitriona Graham, and suddenly Offaly were right back in the game. 

In superlative scoring form, Katie Molloy cruises one of her six points from play over Offaly’s bar

Antrim would welcome three more points compared to Offaly’s two from Grace Teehan, giving the Saffrons a seven point lead but Antrim was about to be tested as Offaly’s substitute, Becky Bryant, was in the right place at the right time to fire back a rebounded save from team mate, Mairead Teehan and that goal was followed in less than a minute later from Teehan herself. When Clodagh Leahy dropped a free over the bar, both sides stood square at seventeen points each with eight minutes of normal time left plus injury. 

Antrim supporters would breathe a sigh of relief as McCormick made good of a foul on Katie Molloy and just in normal time, Antrim’s Annie Lynn would give the Saffrons another point to stretch the lead to two. Offaly’s chance to close that back to one went amiss as the Faithful Counties’ free taker, Clodagh Leahy, made an uncharacteristic error and drifted the sliotar past the upright.  

As referee Nea brought the game to a halt, Antrim could now relax without any threat to their three points in the round robin table, the game ending Antrim 1-16 Offaly 3-08. Antrim are now away to Westmeath on the 14th June for their second game in group 1. 

Antrim panel and scorers 

Caitriona Graham, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Sarah O’Neill, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney, Maeve Kelly 0-02, Roisin McCormick 0-05 (2f), Lucia McNaughton, Cassie McArthur, Katie Molloy 0-06, Caitrin Dobbin 1-02, Becky Ellis, Dearbhail Dobbin, Katierose Bell, Sarah Fyfe, Niamh Neeson, Janey McIntosh, Eimear Johnston, Eavanne Martin, Aisling O’Donnell, Annie Lynn 0-01, Orlaith McAllister, Fionnuala Kelly, Dervla Cosgrove, Colleen Paterson 

Offaly panel and scorers 

Leah Gallagher, Aoife Liffey, Megan King, Cathy Fogarty, Roisin Kinsella, Amy Byrne, Orlagh Phelan, Sharon Shanahan, Faye Mulrooney, Clodagh Leahy 0-03 (1f), Christine Cleary 0-01, Grace Teehan 0-03 (1f), Caoimhe O’Donovan 0-01, Mairead Teehan 2-00, Fianait Dooley, Emer Reynolds, Karla Mannion, Hannah Feenane, kaitlyn Kennedy, Ciara Maher, Orla Kilmartin, Niamh Sheehy, Becky Bryant 1-00, Grainne Kennedy, Emma Buggy, Aoife O’Donovan, Elizabeth Kilmartin, Aine Rigney, Aoife Hoctor, Ellen Regan, Kate Pilkington 

You can see more photos from today’s game by clicking on the following link… 

https://myalbum.com/album/VrpsdAETga5d33/?invite=9c985690-81cd-403f-8332-9896fc7f47ed

by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle battle hard but Cushendall were always in control

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Ballycastle 0-22 Cushendall 1-21

Ballycastle’s bid to salvage something from Wednesday evening’s league game against County Champions Cushendall came up just short after an entertaining contest at Pairc MacUilin. The Ruairis held the upper hand for most of the game and were eight to the good early in the second half, but Ballycastle fought their way back into contention, thanks mainly to the accurate free taking of full forward Neal McAuley, but two was as close as they got in the end.

Cushendall dominated the opening part of the game and were 0-07 to 0-02 ahead after ten minutes, their points coming from Joe McLaughlin (3), Fred McCurry, Ryan McCambridge and Thomas McLaughlin, while McAuley got the home sides two points, both from frees. The middle section of the first half was more evenly contested with McAuley (2), Cathair Donnelly and Darragh Kelly cancelling out scores by Padraig McKillop, Scott Walsh and Joseph McLaughlin, but Cushendall stretched their lead again with three points in two minutes, two of them from Joseph McLaughlin and one from Fred McCurry to pull eight clear once again.  However Ballycastle produced a strong finish to the half and four in a row from, two from McAuley frees and one each from Cathair Donnelly and Darragh Kelly to cut the gap to four, before Thomas McLauglin grabbed the last score of the half to give the Ruairis a 0-15  to 0-10 lead at the interval.

Points by Austin Birt and Ciaran Neeson just after the restart strengthened Cushendall’s grip on the game, and though debutant Niall McKenna pulled a point back a goal from a Joseph McLaughlin penalty and a point by Joseph McNaughton put the visitors nine clear and firmly in control. Two more from Neal McAuley frees kept the Town’s faint hopes alive but they finished the half with a scoring burst, five of the last six points to get within two at the end.

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by thesaffrongael

Emmet’s end Oisins’ unbeaten run

Antrim Hurling League Division 2

Glenariffe Oisin 0-12 Robert Emmet’s Cushendun 4-19

Cushendun scored a major victory over league leaders, and hitherto unbeaten, Glenariffe in Waterfoot on Wednesday evening when they overpowered the Oisins in what turned out to be a one sided game. However the main talking point at the end of the game was the injury to Emmet’s left half back Matthew McCartin who was injured in what appeared to be an accidental collision with just two minutes of normal time left for play. It soon became clear the seriousness of the injury and after consultation with the team managers referee Mark O’Neill sensibly called and early halt to the game. The player was treated by his team’s physiotherapists and lay on the pitch for nearly an hour before an ambulance arrived. The good news is that later in the evening there were reports that he was sitting up and talking in his hospital bed. We all wish Matthew a speedy recovery and hope we will see him back in action in the not too distant future.

With seven wins from seven in the league campaign to date the Oisins went into the game as clear favourites, though it had to be noted that Cushendun had looked very impressive when beating Cloney Gaels last time out. They were on the scoreboard early when Matthew McCartin hit the opening point, and though Alex O’Boyle came back with a point for Glenariffe on five minutes, two inside a minute from Conor McHugh and Sean McKay put the visitors 0-03 to 0-01 clear.

Glenariffe kept well in touch with points from Alex O’Boyle and James Kearney but the Emmet’s were gaining the upper hand and in the next ten minutes they hit a goal and six points while just conceding a single point. Sean McKay started the run with the goal while ‘Loaf’ McNeill hit three points and Tom Scally, Calum Kilgore and McKay one apiece. Three pointed frees from the Oisins top scorer Alex O’Boyle closed the gap nearing half time but Cushenun ended the half strongly and a goal from a McNeill penalty, a point from a free by the same player and one from play by Sean McKay sent them in at the break leading by 2-12 to 0-07.

When McNeill opened the second half with a goal and a point inside three minutes it was clear the Oisins were in trouble, and so it proved as they struggled for scores. Cushendun on the other hand kept the scoreboard ticking over, Loaf McNeill leading the charge with a series of scores from play and from frees, completing his hat-trick midway through the half to seal the win.

These two meet again in the opening round of the Intermediate Champions in July, in Cushendun and while the Emmet’s will probably start favourites after this result, Glenariffe will be forewarned of the task that lies ahead and with two or three players back for that game they will be up for the challenge.

Glenariffe

Paul McMullan, Patrick McIlwaine, Niall Murray, Cailin Devlin, Brogan O’Connor, Niall Magee, James Kearney, Odhran Gillan, Oliver Kearney, Donal Kearney, Conor Patterson, Michael O’Boyle, Alex O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh, Orrin O’Conor.

Cushendun

John V Morgan, Pearse McKeegan, Archie McSparran, Andrew Breslin, Callum Kilgore, Doal O’Hara, Jack McKay, Matthew McCartin, Aidan McSparran, Thomas Scally, Sean McKay, Conor McHugh, Conlaoth McNeill, Dominic McQuillan, Conrad McDonnell.

Referee – Mark O’Neill

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