ACHL Division 2

Creggan 3-14 St. Paul’s 2-18

In ideal conditions, St Pauls travelled to Staffordstown to face Kickham’s in a helter-skelter game that was played at break neck speed.  Both teams battled continuously for 60 minutes, but it was the City side’s Caolan O Duibhfinn ,injury time free, that edged them a point ahead and secured the points.

 The visitors’ Sean Munce had a white flag raised within the first minute and his colleague Seamus MacDomhnall pointed seconds later.  Creggan responded on the 3^rd & 4^th minute with a point a piece for Morgan Nelson and Ruairi McCann to level proceedings before Nelson scored again to edge his side ahead for the first time.

O’Duibhfinn won the puck out and soloed from the centre of the park before firing to the Creggan’s net from close range. Three more pointed frees from play for the visitors, Sean Og MacHabhraim, Conal MacAnChrosan and Conal O Fionnagain, had the visitors 5 points ahead and Sean Og MacHabhraim and Seamus MacDomhnall stretched the lead to 7 and the gap increased between the sides. 

Thomas McCann and Sam Maguire for the home side narrowed the gap again to 5 with 17 minutes on the clock.  With Creggan struggling for possession, the City side were impressing all over the field with 4 more points from play for Sean Og Machabhraim, Lorcan MacPhilib, Caolan O Duibhfinn and Conal O Fionnagain. 

Their management must have been impressed with 7 different players notching up scores.  Creggan’s Ronan McGuckian and Lee Johnston narrowed the gaps slightly, but when Seamus MacDomhnall found the net in the 26^th minute, things were not looking good for the home side.  When Referee, John O’Connor, blew the whistle for Half Time, many of the Creggan supporters would have felt that this was one that was already out of reach. 

HALF TIME SCORE:  CREGGAN 0.7 v ST PAULS 2.12

 As proceedings got underway for the 2^nd half, the Creggan management had made a reshuffle and within one minute of the restart Creggan’s, Kevin Rice, had raised the green flag to signal his side’s intention to finally get into the game.  Rice added the next point on the 39^th minute followed by a goal on the 41^st minute to narrow the gap to 4 points. 

The home sides, Morgan Nelson, reduced the deficit further to 3, pointing from a goal scoring effort that just nipped over the bar.  The visitors had no answer for this and struggled all over the field.  It wasn’t until the 42^nd minute that Sean Og MacHabhraim got his side’s 1^st score from play for the second half. 

Creggan kept up the pressure with 2 points from Ruairi McCann and a converted free from Morgan Nelson, levelling the sides and the home team had the momentum.  Nelson got his side’s 3^rd goal of the game on the 46^th minute to put them 3 points up and it was looking good for the Staffordstown Road side.

The visitors responded however with 3 points on the trot from Caolan O Duibhfinn to level the proceedings once again.  With minutes left on the clock, Nelson put the home side ahead once again from a converted free with St Pauls replying again, from a Caolan O Duibhfinn free. 

Teddy McKeown edged Creggan ahead once more on the 61^st minute as the game moved into injury time  but Caolan O Duibhfinn replied from another free to tie the contest once more and it looked like ending all square.

As the game moved 3 minutes into injury time, O’Duibhfinn was once again called upon to step up and take a 30 metre free to edge his side one ahead and as we approached the final whistle, Creggan were handed a lifeline but Morgan Nelson’s free from 40 metres out in the dying seconds which sailed agonisingly wide of the post. 

Referee, John O’Connor, concluded proceedings to what was an extremely exciting contest, a game of 2 halves where St Pauls dominated the 1^st Half while Creggan will feel they did enough in the second to get something from the game.

 CREGGAN: Conor McCann, Conor McLarnon, Aidan McIlwee, Peadar McGuckian, Sennan O’Boyle, Kealan McCann, Teddy McKeown (0.01), Sam Maguire (0.01), Ronan McGuckian (0.01), Lee Johnston (0.01), Daniel Dornan, Morgan Nelson (1.05) Thomas McCann (0.01), Sean McAuley, Kevin Rice (2.01), Ruairi McCann (0.03).

 ST PAULS: Criostoir O Muiri, Paul MagAoidh, Marcas Munce, Tiernan Auld, Caoimhin Killyleagh, Lorcan MacPhilib (0.02), Thomas O Duibh, Conal O Fionnagain (0.02), Deaglan O Coinne, Sean Munce (0.01), Sean Og MacLabhraim (0.03), Caolan O Duibhfinn (1.06), Shea MacConboirne, Caolan Mac An Chrosan (0.01), Seamus Mac Domhanall (1.02), Deaglan Chapman, Odhran O Donnghaile, Cian Mac Cana, Aaron O Ciara, Padhraic Mac Dhaibheid.

REFEREE:  John O’Connor

Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Cushendun 3-14 Carryduff 3-15

Carryduff produced a dramatic late comeback to inflict the first defeat of the season on hitherto unbeaten Cushendun Emmets in a thrilling Antrim Hurling League Division 2 clash at the Riggs, winning by a single point, 3-15 to 3-14. Two late goals from the Down visitors turned the game entirely on its head, leaving Ballycran as the sole remaining unbeaten side in the division.

The visitors bolted out of the gates, racing into a four-point lead within the first five minutes. Donal Rooney opened his impressive tally from a free, quickly followed by points from David Morrissey, Oran Teague, and James Laverty. Cushendun finally settled in the seventh minute when Loaf McNeill converted a 65, but Rooney kept the scoreboard ticking over for Carryduff. The turning point of the first half came in the seventeenth minute when Dominic Sharkey found the back of the net for the Emmets, dragging them right back into the contest. A flurry of scores from Loaf put Cushendun ahead, but Carryduff responded instantly with a twenty-fifth-minute goal from Ciaran O’Callaghan. However, a late major just before the whistle from Leo Morgan ensured Cushendun went into the dressing room with a narrow advantage, leading 2-06 to 1-08 at the break.

The second half began as a tight, point-for-point affair. Rooney continued his dead-eye accuracy for Carryduff, while Connor McHugh, Sharkey, and Loaf kept Cushendun’s noses in front. In the eighth minute of the half, Cushendun seemed to take a definitive grip on the tie when Colm McKeggan fired in their third goal of the day, extending their lead to 3-09 to 1-11. Carryduff’s Rooney duo, Donal and Eoin, slotted points to stay in touch, but as the half wore on, the Emmets appeared comfortable. Scores from Pierce Bannon, McHugh, and Connor Bannon had the home side looking well on their way to maintaining their flawless league record.

Trailing as the game entered its dying stages, Carryduff engineered a spectacular smash-and-grab. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Darragh Goodwin rattled the Cushendun net, breathing sudden life into the visitors, and Sean O’Callaghan quickly added a point to close the gap further. Though McHugh pointed to momentarily stem the tide, disaster struck for the Emmets a minute later. Lorcan McCaughey capitalized on the shifting momentum, burying Carryduff’s third goal to incredibly put the Down men two points clear with time evaporating. Cushendun threw everything forward in a desperate search for a late match-winner, and deep into injury time, they carved out a golden opportunity to snatch the victory. However, Conor McHugh’s well-struck shot flew agonizingly over the crossbar, and the final whistle blew on a sensational one-point victory for Carryduff.

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ACHL Division 4

Naomh Eanna 0-8  Ardoyne 2-19

Report & Pics Brian McKee

Ciceam Ard Eoin took to the field concerned that the unbeaten start to their league campaign was at risk given the loss of a number of key players from their starting 15. However, the players on the pitch responded by stepping up their game to achieve a comprehensive win over near neighbours Naomh Eanna at a sunny Hightown.

Pádraig McGreevy opened the score for the Northenders with his first of seven points from frees, with brother, Michael following up with a point from play. The opening 10 minutes was a fairly even game, although Naomh Eanna were finding it difficult to get scores on the board with John McGoldrick pulling the score back with his first point of the day. The lack of scoring ability for Naomh Eanna was to prove fatal as the game progressed with John McGoldrick the only black and amber player to get his name on the score sheet.

Ciceam Ard Eoin took control of the game as we approached 15 minutes gone, and in truth, they never looked like they were in danger of losing. Michael McGreevy proved that he was not just a scorer from frees as he swung over a point from a tight angle on the sideline. Cormac Barnes used his speed to race through the Naomh Eanna defence but he was brought down for a penalty as he looked set to let fly. Michael McGreevy was content to send it over the bar to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Cormac Barnes got a well worked point for Ciceam Ard Eoin, but with 10 minutes left in opening half it was Michael McGreevy stamping his authority on the game as he rifled over 6 points without reply. John McGoldrick finished the half with 3 points for Naomh Eanna, but the strength of Paddy Heaney was proving too much to handle as the first half finished with the men from Ardoyne 7 points ahead.

Half time: Naomh Eanna 0-03  Ciceam Ard Eoin 0-10

The second half opened up with a point from a McGoldrick free, but any thoughts of a Naomh Eanna comeback were firmly squashed as Barnes replied with a point. Barnes was brought down for a penalty but Tomás O Córráinn produced an inspirational save to temporarily stem the black and white tide.

Ciceam Ard Eoin were now dominant and while McGoldrick did his best to keep Naomh Eanna in the hunt, the lack of a supporting crew proved too much for him to make a significant impact. Padraig McGreevy maintained the pressure with a great goal from play as he cut through the Naomh Eanna defence. Brother Michael was not to be outdone though as he came back with a goal of his own.

With 15 minutes to go, Ciceam Ard Eoin emptied their bench but the gap was too much for Naomh Eanna to bridge and it was the men in black and white who collected the two points to remain on top of Division 4.

Naomh Eanna: Tomás O Córráinn, Odhrán Matthews, Lewis Cunnie, Ronan Bradley, Brendan Cormican, Conor McAllister, Darragh Quinn, Joseph Mackin, Barra McGrath, John McGoldrick (0-11,5f), Michael McGivern, Dualtach Keenan, Jack Corcoran, Christopher Kinnear, Dónal McMullan, Eoin Jennings, Ruairi Diamond, Darrach Cooper

Ciceam Ard Eoin: Connor O’Neill,  Cormac Curran,  Paul Baker, Sean Searle, Caolan Wallace,  Dean Goodall, Daniel Moore, Matthew Crommie, Pól McGuigan, Enda Slattery (0-01), Pádraig McGreevy(1-11,7f) Diarmuid Martin, Cormac Barnes(0-03), Micheál McGreevy(1-01), Paddy Heaney (0-01), Caoimhín Holland(0-01), Fiontan Lagan (0-01), Pascal Clarke, Stephen Hill, Pól Og McGuigan, Matt McKillen, Patrick McKillen, Aran Stewart, Cahal Clarke, Emmet Corey, Pearse Hull, Michael Lee-Murphy

Referee: Lorenzo McMullan

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Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Glenariffe Oisin 3-15 Ballycastle McQuillan’s 1-22

Ballycastle McQuillans made it four wins out of four in the Antrim Hurling League Division 1 after edging out last season’s Intermediate champions, Glenariffe Oisins, in an absolute nail-biter in Waterfoot. Just like their previous three outings, Ballycastle found themselves in a game that went right down to the wire, ultimately surviving a breathless conclusion to win by a single point. The story of the match was undoubtedly the spectacular scoring duel between Ballycastle’s Seamus McAuley and Glenariffe’s Alex O’Boyle. Both talismanic forwards were in scintillating form, trading blows throughout a contest that truly could have gone either way.

Ballycastle started brightly, opening the scoring with early points from Diarmuid McShane and Tiernan Smith. However, Glenariffe responded emphatically. Alex O’Boyle quickly made his mark, hitting a point and firing home a goal to give the Oisins an early 1-1 to 0-2 advantage. The McQuillans refused to panic and clawed their way back. By the seventh minute, scores from Niall McClean and a Seamus McAuley free leveled the tie at four apiece. Glenariffe quickly regained their rhythm, with O’Boyle converting another free before Brogan O’Connor found the back of the net, capitalizing on a sharp pass from his brother Orrin to extend the Oisins’ lead.

As the half progressed, the sides matched each other stride for stride. O’Boyle and McAuley traded frees, while Aaron Cosgrove and Ballycastle’s Reuben McClean swapped points from play. A point from Glenariffe’s James Kearney kept the pressure on, but the momentum shifted just before the break. After O’Boyle slotted another free, Ballycastle struck a crucial blow, and following a long free into the danger zone, Tiernan Smith gained possession and fired home from close range. McAuley, after an earlier miss, found his range from distance, and McShane tacked on two more points to send Ballycastle into the dressing rooms with a narrow lead, 1-12 to 2-07.

The second half opened with McAuley extending Ballycastle’s lead via a free, only for O’Boyle to instantly reply at the other end. The action flowed end-to-end as Orrin O’Connor split the posts for Glenariffe, while Conor Boyd and Ronan McCarry contributed vital scores to keep Ballycastle’s noses in front. The midway point of the half produced the game’s highlight reel moments. First, McAuley launched a towering free from around 70 meters out. Not to be outdone, O’Boyle stepped up and executed a remarkable sideline cut straight over the bar, dragging Glenariffe back to within two points.

McAuley and O’Boyle traded scores once again, before Brogan O’Connor reduced the deficit to the bare minimum. The tension peaked in the 28th minute when O’Boyle held his nerve to convert a free, leveling the match. However Ballycastle’s response was immediate, with McAuley tapping over a close-range free to restore their one-point cushion. As the clock ticked into injury time, Glenariffe pushed desperately for an equalizer and found it through Oliver Kearney, setting up a grandstand finish.

But cometh the hour, cometh the man. Seamus McAuley kept his cool to tap over a close range free and split the uprights to put Ballycastle ahead one last time. Glenariffe had one final roll of the dice, but David Kearney’s long-distance effort drifted agonizingly wide in the dying seconds. Ultimately, Ballycastle had that little bit of luck youn need down the stretch saw them scrape by with a one-point victory, maintaining their perfect start to the season.

Glenariffe Oisins: 1. Paul McMullan, 2. Michael Haughey, 3. David Kearney, 4. Conor Patterson, 5. Donall Kearney, 6. Daniel Kearney, 7. Cailin Devlin, 8. James Kearney, 9. Calum McIlwaine, 10. Orrin O’connor, 11. Oliver Kearney, 12. Michael O’Boyle, 13. Alex O’Boyle, 14. Brogan O’connor, 15. Aaron Cosgrove.

Ballycastle McQuillans: 1. Eamonn Elliott, 2. Oran Kearney, 3. Ryan McCook, 4. Conal Colgan, 5. Ardan Kelly, 6. Conor Boyd, 7. Eoin McAlonan, 8. Ronan Laverty, 9. Cathair Donnelly, 10. Reuben McClean, 11. Seamus McAuley, 12. Ronan McCarry, 13. Diarmaid McShane, 14. Tiernàn Smyth, 15. Niall McClean.

Referee – Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)

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