Glen Rovers Armoy booked their place in the Junior Hurling Final when they beat Lamh Dhearg in extra time in Saturday’s semi-final at Armoy. The home side appeared to be in trouble when Lamh Dhearg led by a point going into second-half injury time but man of the match Tarlach McBride saved the day when he sent over a late equaliser to tie the scores at 0-19 to 1-16. As things turned out Glen Rovers dominated the ten minutes each way extra time, McBride adding three more pointed frees to his impressive tally, while the Hannahstown side got one through midfielder Ciaran Boyd.
After the change of ends the home side really took a grip on things and after an early Adam Murray point for the visitors Trevor Linton hit a decisive score when he fired home from close range to put four between the sides. When the McBrides, PJ and Tarlach, added points the gap was out to six, but Lamh Dhearg kept their hopes alive with another Ciaran Boyd point with four minute left to play. However that was as close as they got and PJ and Tarlach McBride added further points in the run-in to secure a place in the final against Con Magees, Glenravel in two weeks’ time.
The first half opened with an Adam Murray point for Lamh Dhearg but six in a row from Armoy, five of them from Tarlach McBride, put them in control and they went on to lead by 0-12 to 1-5 at the interval, the Lamhs goal coming from corner forward Conor G McConville.
Lamh Dhearg made a strong start to the second half with four points from Adam Murray and one from his namesake Dan Murray to move their side two clear. It was eight minutes before Tarlach McBride got one back for Armoy and though Declan Lynch replied right away for the Lamhs, McBride and Trevor Linton hit back to leave just one in it. The Hannahstown side stretched their lead with three more Adam Murray points and one from midfielder Fionn Mervyn to go five ahead and they appeared to be well set for the win, but Tarlach McBride again stepped up to the mark with three unanswered points, all of them from frees. When Adam Murray and Declan Lynch came back with points in the 60th and 61st minutes their place in the final seemed assured, but Tarlach McBride saved the day for the home side with yet another point under pressure to seal their final place.
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WHEN Dessie McClean stretched Gort na Móna advantage to six points with a free in the 32nd minute, it looked as if the Belfast side had overcome the “disadvantage” of playing a championship semi-final on their opponents’ home patch.
However the game was turned on its head over the next ten minutes with Con Magee’s bagging three goals to take control. The wind had also picked up for the second half in favour of the north Antrim team.
Those factors helped Glenravel take charge of their own destiny, but the real X-factor was the increase in intensity from the home side. They hassled and harried particularly in the half-back and midfield area and clearances now went the distance into the danger area. Defence was aggressive but disciplined while Declan McAuley and Sean McKay seemed to be everywhere. The scores followed while at the other end even the super accurate Dessie McClean was pulling frees and shots wide of the target.
When Paul O’Neill blew the final whistle, Glenravel had outscored Gort by 3-12 to 0-4 over the second half hour; the Belfast side really struggled to get a foothold in the match over the final quarter.
Con Magee’s made the running in the early part of the game as well, but seemed to run out of ideas and energy as half-time approached. Sean McKay was on fire over the opening ten minutes with four shots and four points from open play. Conleth O’Loan hit one from play and one from a free and Con Magee’s seemed to be coasting with a lead of 0-6 to 0-2.
The McCaffreys then gave Gort na Móna a foothold with three points inside three minutes. Although Declan Traynor responded to make it 0-7 to 0-5, Gort’s influence on the game was growing. Dessie McClean pointed a free, Thomas McCafferty hit one from play and then Dessie McClean fired over a side-line and suddenly they were in front with 20 minutes gone. Neil Henry from distance made it 0-9 to 0-7. Two scores from Conleth O’Loan evened things up with 26 minutes gone. But Gort na Móna made a huge statement in the minutes remaining in the first half with points each from Thomas McCaffery, Conor McCann, Neil Henry, Manus McMullan and finally Dessie McClean from a free right on the whistle to leave it 0-14 to 0-9.
Another McClean free opened the second half. The rest of the game however was all about Glenravel. Two goals inside 85 seconds brought them level; the first from Sean McKay cutting through the centre and then a long ball out of defence found Declan Traynor turning his player and running in on goal.
McClean responded with a free, but Conleth O’Loan improvised to kick a point and level the game once more. Then in the 41st minute Cormac McKeown burst through for a solo goal and you just felt that the home side were now in charge.
McClean landed his second side-line of the day, but Fergus Donaghy instantly hit a reply. Conleth O’Loan fired over a free and then was wide when a fourth goal looked on. The full-forward made up for the error with the next two points and then swapped a free with McClean.
Time was running out on the visitors and Con Magee’s turned the knife in the time remaining with a point from Donaghy, two from sub Ciarán Laverty and Sean McKay capped a fine individual performance with his fifth point.
Con Magee’s: C Quinn, E McCusker, J Duffin, B O.Neill, J Martin, M McDonnell, C Lennon, R Lennon, D McAuley, C Higgins, S McKay 1-5, F Donaghy 0-2, C McKeown 1-0, C O’Loan 0-11, 5fs, D Traynor 1-1.
Subs: L Loughlin for M McDonnell (44), C Laverty 0-2 for D Traynor (57), R McCormick for S McKay (60 + 5)
Gort na Móna: C MacRory, c Connolly, M Rea, A Hicks, T Morton, N Henry 0-2, P McHugh, S Doyle, P McCaffrey 0-2, T McCaffrey 0-3, D Boyd 0-1, N Healy, C McCann 0-1, D McClean 0-8, 6fs, 2 sls, M McMullan 0-1
Sub: T Ó Cadhlaigh for C McCann (55)
Referee: P O’Neill (Creggan)
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The long wait is over for Loch Mor Dal gCais. On Saturday at Slemish Park in Ballymena they claimed their first senior hurling title when they recorded a convincing victory over Latharna Og from Larne.
Perhaps the absence of a trophy over many years played on the minds of the eventual winners but they took a long time to settle as they were forced into errors by a strong tackling Latharna Og who gave as good as they got during the opening half and would probably fancied their chancers when they closed the gap to the minimum just after the second half got under way.
That was perhaps the wakeup call the men from around the Loch shore needed as they found several higher gears for the remainder of the contest to totally dominate the exchanges and run out convincing winners.
Darragh Turley sends over a Loch Mor point
The opening half was fragmented and scrappy and it was Larne who made the better opening with Ryan O’Donnell dropping an early ‘65’ short before firing over from a similar effort to give his side the lead with 2 minutes gone.
Loch Mor replied through Christopher Robb and a massive free from Bailey Graham to edge in front by the 5th minute but Ron Millar responded at the other end to leave it all square again with 12 minutes on the clock.
Darragh Turley finally got his name on the score sheet to edge Loch Mor back in front but they were being knocked out of their stride by a tough tackling Larne side who drew level again through a Conor Matthews free.
Matthews edged Latharna Og ahead for the second time and his third point of the half after 25 minutes restored their lead once more after Turley had converted a free from 55 meters at the other end.
Darragh Turley had been well contained but he began to have a greater influence on matters in the period leading up to half time and he hit a great point to level matters once more and followed another one from Matthew Jones to leave his side 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.
The sea-sider’s would have been fairly happy with their first half performance but probably felt they could have been closer and when they struck the opening point of the second half through a Conor Matthews free it all appeared to be going to plan.
Two minutes later the game swung significantly in favour of Loch Mor Dal gCais however when a long delivery from Bailey Graham broke favourably to Declan Phillips and his astute pass across goal was batted home from close range by Ferdia Carson.
Ferdia Carson finishes from close range vfor Loch Mor’s second goal
Darragh Turley added a pointed free and then Christopher Robb picked the pocket of his marker before sending over and the Loch shore side were six ahead with only nine minutes of the new half gone.
Robb followed with another excellent point as space began to open up for the men in Maroon & Green who were now moving the ball at speed and accuracy and Latharna Og were finding it difficult to keep in touch.
They were still battling hard but were thankful to their keeper, Darra Kerr who pulled off a couple of good stops as their opponent started to turn the screw.
Darragh Turley added another pointed free before Christopher Robb got in for the second goal and it was as good as over with still 10 minutes plus injury time to play.
Matthew Jones got in on the scoring act and Turley tagged on three superb points from play as Loch Mor pushed home their advantage. The same player concluded his side’s scoring as the game moved into injury time before Latharna Og’s never say die attitude looked like being rewarded.
A last ditch period of attack saw referee Chris Brown spread his hands to indicate a penalty award and up stepped Cathal McKillop to take the free but Loch Mor keeper, Martin Robb dived to his right to save the penalty.
There were scenes of celebration after the whistle when spectators joined their heroes on the Slemish Park pitch as Sean O’Reilly from the CCC presented the Junior B Championship cup to Loch Mor captain, James Magorran.
Barry Petticrew tidies up at the back for Latharna Og
Magorran was excellent at the heart of a solid Loch Mor defence in front of keeper, Martin Robb whose son Christopher impressed at the other end of the field where he led his lines well at full-forward.
Darragh Turley, when he finally shook off the shackles of the Larne defence was superb for the winners in a side that all played their part.
Larne had a reliable keeper in Dara Kerr and Barry Petticrew and Cathal McKillop in defence, Ryan O’Donnell at mid-field and Conor Matthews in attack were best for a Latharna Og side who quite simply have not played enough hurling this year.
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Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter Final
St John’s 2-15 Rossa 0-20
Saturday 20 September
Brendan McTaggart reports from Naomh Éanna
A contest between the big two of the West that promised plenty and delivered on Saturday evening. Super scores, brilliant saves, late goals and an unlikely hero. In the end, St John’s lived to fight another day as they snatched a win from the jaws of defeat against Rossa with just the minimum separating the sides.
By the time referee Barry Winters called for time, there wasn’t many in attendance on the Hightown Road who could believe what they just saw in the closing stages. With three minutes of injury time to be played, by the time the clock ticked into the third of them, Rossa led by three points. In fairness to the Jeremiah’s, they controlled the second half and looked to be coasting to victory.
Michael Bradley cares not for anyone coasting nor Rossa victories. A late substitution, Bradley had scored a point with his first touch, his second may possibly have been St John’s second goal.
Yet, while his goal was Roy of The Rovers material, the scene was set for a winner. Step forward one Ryan McNulty. The clock had ticked into the fifth minute of additional time when St John’s rolled the dice one more time. They worked the sliotar superbly to find a man in shooting range and as McNulty took aim, the Johnnies held their breath. He doesn’t score many, but McNulty knew he’d scored as soon as he hit the sliotar. He celebrated, Rossa hearts sank and while there was time for one more play, St John’s had done enough. Just.
Rossa overturned a two point half time deficit with a second half that they held St John’s to just three Shea Shannon frees for 25 minutes. At the other end of the pitch, Deaglan Murphy was at his impish best from placed ball and open play while Eoin Trainor, Thomas Morgan and Tiarnan Murphy were all contributing to the Rossa cause. St John’s weren’t getting much change from a brilliant Rossa half back line who were turning the majority of ball that came their way. Gerard Walsh, Aodhan O’Brien and Stephen Beatty were immense and made the Johnnies dig deep to get this result.
Rossa had the better of the opening exchanges and held a three points to one lead by the fifth minute. The Murphy brothers firing over with Declan McCartnety also splitting the uprights, Conor Johnston with the solitary score for the Johnnies.
The first goal of the contest came with just six minutes on the clock. A brilliant move had Oisin Donnelly in space just to the left of the posts, he shot for goal only for Donal Armstrong to pull off an outstanding save. The sliotar fell for Sean Wilson and while he couldn’t connect cleanly, Conor Johnston made no mistake from close range.
The major gave St John’s momentum and while Tiarnan Murphy split the posts for his second of the match for the next score, Aaron Bradley, Conor Johnston and Shannon (’65) put three between the sides.
Deaglan Murphy and McCartney reduced the St John’s lead to the minimum midway through the half but the Johnnies turned the screw at the other end to score five points unanswered in a little over seven minutes. Shannon with three of those – two from frees and the other from a ’65 while Conal Bohill and Conor Johnston added to the Johnnies tally. It could have been even better for the Corrigan Park side but Conor Johnston was denied a certain goal having been put through by Donal Carson.
Shannon’s ’65 in the 22nd minute was St John’s last score of the half however with Rossa sending over four unanswered scores of their own. A brace of frees from Deaglan Murphy along with scores from Tiarnan Murphy and Dominic McEnhill bringing the St John’s lead to two points at the half time interval.
Despite Rossa dominating the closing stages of the half, they were indebted to Donal Armstrong once again when he denied Donal Carson from close range with a brave save.
St John’s started the second half on top but a series of wides looked to derail their charge and breathe life into Rossa. Scores from the Murphy brothers restored parity to the sides with St John’s struggling for any fluency. Rossa looked to have the momentum and kick on but a brace of frees from Shannon restored the Johnnies half time advantage by the 41st minute.
Rossa’s response looked to be match winning however. Outscoring St John’s six points to one in a ten minute spell that saw the Jeremiah’s go into a three point lead for the first time in the game. Scores coming from Morgan, Deaglan Murphy (3) and Eoin Trainor while Shannon had the sole response for St John’s.
Shannon landed his fourth point of the half to leave two between the sides but another Deaglan Murphy free looked to have done enough for Rossa as the clock ticked into the 60th minute.
Michael Bradley and Dominic McEnhill swapped scores in the 62nd minute before the second major came. As a ruck formed close to half way, Conor Johnston collected the sliotar and took aim for the Rossa goals. The sliotar dropped and as Rossa full back lost his footing. Bradley missed the catch and with Armstrong rushing to close the angle, the St John’s forward had the presence of mind to just flick the sliotar over the line eight yards from goal.
There was still time for a winner and Conal Bohill thought he had it but his effort tailed to the left of the posts and wide. All thoughts were turning to extra time when Wilson and MacManus combined to find McNulty in space. 55 yards out, just to the right of the posts, McNulty made no mistake.
An incredible ending to a game that Rossa looked to have done enough. St John’s looked like a beaten docket in the second half, relying on Shannon’s frees but they dug deep and inflicted the type of defeat on Rossa that has come their way so often over the years. They roll on to another meeting with Cushendall in two weeks time while Rossa will have the winter to contemplate what might have been.
TEAMS
ST JOHN’S: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Ciaran Johnston, Jack Bohill; Conal Morgan, Peter McCallin, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Michail Dudley; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Conall Bohill; Donal Carson, Shea Shannon, Aaron Bradley
Subs: Oisin MacManus for M Dudley (39); Michael Bradley for D Carson (54); Ronan Donnelly for P McCallin (60+3)
Scorers: S Shannon 0-8 (5f, 2’65); Conor Johnston 1-3; M Bradley 1-1; A Bradley 0-1; R McNulty 0-1
ROSSA: Donal Armstrong; Ciaran Orchin, Joe Mulholland, Niall Crossan; Gerard Walsh, Aodhan O’Brien, Stephen Beatty; Christopher McGuinness, Diarmuid Rogan; Dominic McEnhill, Declan McCartney, Deaglan Murphy; Thomas Morgan, Eoin Trainor, Tiarnan
Subs: Liam McEnhill for T Murphy (45); Pearce Shortt for E Trainor (60); James Close for S Beatty (60+2)
Scorers: D Murphy 0-10 (7f); T Murphy 0-3; T Morgan 0-2; D McEnhill 0-2; E Trainor 0-1; D McCartney 0-1; A O’Brien 0-1 (1f)
Referee: Barry Winters (Dungannon)
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Creggan completed their round-robin section of the Intermediate Hurling Championship with a win over Rasharkin under the lights at their Staffordstown Road grounds to maintain their 100% record.
Early points from Diarmuid Mulholland were followed by one from Morgan Nelson at the home team went four clear and they pushed on to lead by 1-06 to 0-00, the goal coming from Nelson. The home side pushed on against a Rasharkin side who had only five of last year’s Junior Championship winning team, and led by 1-12 to 0-02 at half time.
Rasharkin got the first score of the second half but ten minutes in Sean McAuley soloed through to fire high to the top corner and give Creggan their second goal.
Rasharkin came back with a goal of their own through Bull McKeever and he added a couple of points as well, but Creggan were home and hosed and now look forward to a semi-final meeting with runners up in Group 1 in two weeks’ time.
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