Gort na Móna made it two wins out of two in the Junior Hurling Championship when they produced a strong second half to beat Lamh Dhearg in Saturday’s round 2 game at the Bear Pit. The sides were level at the break on 1-07 apiece after a hard fought first half but the Turf Lodge men got the upper hand in the second period to win by five.
The evergreen Dessie McClean got the Gorts away to the perfect start with a goal in the first minute, and though Adam Murray pulled a point back for the Hannahstown men three in a row from Darren Boyd, Dessie McClean and Patrick McCaffrey gave them a bit of a cushion.
A goal by the Lamhs’ captain Paddy Mervyn got his side back into the contention and they held the upper had duing the last ten minutes of the opening half to draw level at half time on 1-07 apiece.
Gorts midfielder Niall Henry edged his team in front two minutes after the restart but Hannahstown hit back with a Conor McConville goal three minutes later. The Lamhs didn’t get long to enjoy their advantage though as back came Gort na Móna with a goal from corner forward Manus McMullan. It was score for score for the next ten minutes until Gorts midfielder Patrick McCaffrey delivered a telling blow with his team’s third goal. That put the Turf Lodge men in charge and two more Thomas McCaffrey points and one from Dessie McClean stretched the gap to eight, and though Sean Paul Gibson came back with late goal for Lamh Dhearg it was a case of too little, too late and the Gorts go into their final group game in weeks’ time with confidence.
TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Fifty years ago in 1975 these two Clubs met in the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship decider in Glenariffe with the men in green and white the eventual winners in what was to be their first County Championship win. On Saturday evening, just along the coast in Glenarm, Glenravel again secured victory against the north Belfast men, but they had to work very hard on this occasion to secure the win. A strong wind blew straight down Pairc Ui fhearsithe towards the road end of a ground named after famed Antrim Gael Arthur Forsythe rendering this a game of two halves with the eventual winner being the team who maximised the conditions better. That would prove to be Con Magees Glenravel but trailing on the scoreboard by seven points with twenty minutes played even their most ardent supporters must have wondered about the decision to play into a strong breeze when offered the decision after winning the toss. In the end a ten point victory masked the challenge they faced in that opening period but in truth the better team over the hour prevailed.
The opening twenty minutes of this game was marked by fundamental mistakes from Glenravel being punished by a slick operation from the City men with Patrick McGreevy chief protagonist. McGreevy was unerring from placed balls and ably assisted by Matt McKillen, Cormac Barnes and Paul McGuigan the men in black and white had opened a seven point gap on their opponents and looked good value for that lead. But Glenravel took control in the closing ten minutes to reduce that gap to three points with Sean McKay, Conleth O’Loan and Cormac McKeown starting to find some space inside the Ardoyne back line. Those four points brought us to the half time break with Glenravel trailing by three and it could certainly be argued that the game was won and lost with those scorers as Con Magees would have gone in with their tails up when in reality they had been dominated across the thirty minutes spell.
The second half proved to be total domination from Glenravel as their opponents dropped one or two sweepers into defence to try to and swell the onslaught leaving no room for adventure up front. When the final whistle blew Ardoyne had only managed three points in thirty minutes but Glenravel putting sixteen points over in the same period to secure a second victory in this round robin championship group.
Ardoyne now face a tricky assignment away to St Brigid’s in the final round robin game whilst Glenravel will travel to Davitts in their next outing.
TO SEE MORE OF BRIAN McKEE’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Brendan McTaggart reports from Rossa Park, Belfast
Cushendall kicked off the defence of the Volunteer Cup with a two point win over Rossa on the Shaw’s Road, Belfast on Saturday afternoon. Goals in either half from Neil McManus paved the road to their victory but this was a titanic tussle between two sides who yielded little.
With the wind blowing towards one corner of Rossa Park, it felt like this would be a game of two halves and while on paper that’s how it transpired, it looked like this had a draw written all over it at the end of the hour.
The Ruairi’s had overturned a five point half time deficit with 10 minutes of the contest remaining but couldn’t shake off the Rossa challenge. Three times they took the lead in the time that remained, it turned out to be third time lucky for the champions with Fiontan Bradley’s second point of the contest the game sealing score.
McManus would finish top of the scoring charts with six points of his 2-8 coming from placed ball while Joseph McLaughlin and Bradley shared four points evenly during the hour. Defensively, Eoghan Campbell excelled in the first half in a free role while he was pivotal in the Ruairi’s turning the screw in the second half. Ryan McCambridge and Paddy Burke also shone for the ‘Dall in defence while Eoin Gillan’s puck outs in the second half were landing deep in the heart of the Rossa defence, causing plenty of problems for the home side.
Rossa will look at the five minutes before half time where they went from Eoin Trainor scoring a goal with a tidy finish and being sent off with the next attack for a second yellow card. Six points was the difference at the time in their favour and with the elements against them in the second half, it was going to take a gargantuan effort to get anything out of the game. But my how they came close.
Trainor would finish with 1-1 while Tiernan Murphy knocked over three points in a super game in the middle third. His brother Deaglan was top of the scoring charts for Rossa with seven of his eight points coming from frees. Three of those coming in the second half and while he will be disappointed with the one he missed at the death when his side trailed by just one point, all of Murphy’s frees came from distance and not one of them would have been classed as a ‘gimme’.
Defensively, the half back line of Aodhan O’Brien, Gerard Walsh and Stephen Beatty were excellent. O’Brien having to come off as the game entered the final 10 minutes proved to be a massive blow while Beatty’s ingenuity to clear the sliotar from crossing the line after a brilliant piece of skill from McManus felt like a match defining moment.
The home side got out of the blocks quickest and had four points on the score board inside the opening eight minutes. Points from Deaglan Murphy (two frees), Trainor, O’Brien and Tiernan Murphy while Ryan McCambridge provided the solitary response for the Ruairi’s.
Cushendall began to get to grips with the challenge being posed and the elements to hit back to back points through Joseph McLaughlin and McManus (free) before the first goal of the game came in the 10th minute. Joe McNaughton finding Paddy Burke in space, Burke drilled the sliotar low only for Armstrong to get his hurl out to keep it from crossing the line, McManus was first to the rebound however and pulled first day to the back of the net.
The Rossa response was excellent however. They restricted Cushendall to just one further point in the next 10 minutes while they hit points from Declan McCartney, Deaglan Murphy (free), O’Brien and Walsh to leave two between the sides. O’Brien’s second of the match coming from distance while Walsh’s move to the edge of the Cushendall square was proving to be a masterstroke by the Rossa management.
McManus’ second free of the half reduced the deficit to the minimum before Rossa hit another purple patch. Points from Seaghan Shannon and Tiernan Murphy were followed by Trainor’s major in the last minute of the 30. Declan McCartney delivering the sliotar Crossfield towards Tiernan Murphy, he broke the sliotar to the ground where Trainor gathered and set for goal. He made no mistake to put six between the sides going into first half injury time.
The Rossa joy was short-lived however with Trainor seeing red after a second yellow card for a challenge on Austin Birt.
Deaglan Murphy put seven between the sides before a brace of points from McManus (free) and a trademark point from Paddy Burke left the half time score 1-12 to 1-7 in Rossa’s favour.
Half time came at the best possible time for the home side and allowed them to reorganise. The Ruairi’s started superbly however with Martin Burke and McManus (free) halving the deficit in the opening two minutes.
Cushendall’s second goal came in the fifth minute of the second half and owed much to the brilliance and experience of McManus. Paddy Burke delivered a crossfield ball where McManus found a yard of space. He had just nudged Joseph Mulholland to get the yard of space, catching the sliotar he turned and rifled the sliotar to the top corner, giving Armstrong no chance between the sticks.
Walsh and McManus swapped scores, both from ridiculous angles before Rossa began to find their footing in the half. Points from the Murphy brothers, one for Tiernan and two from Deaglan were answered to by a point from Joe McNaughton to leave the home side two points ahead going into the final quarter.
The Ruairi’s finished the contest in the ascendancy however and while Rossa were never far away, Cushendall always managed to edge in the lead.
Points from substitute Padraig McKillop, a McManus free and Fiontan Bradley put the Ruairi’s ahead for the first time since McManus’ major in the 10th minute. Murphy pointed a free from distance either side of McManus’ sixth white flag from a placed ball and only for a piece of brilliance from Stephen Beatty, the Cushendall man would have had a hat-trick.
Thomas McLaughlin sending the sliothar into the heart of the Rossa defence and McManus broke it into his path. He took aim for goal one handed, looking to lob Armstrong but Beatty chased back to deny him with a flick of his hurl.
With two minutes remaining, Murphy’s seventh free of the evening restored parity once again but it was Cushendall who finished on top. Brilliant points from McManus and Bradley ensured the Ruairi’s got off to a winning start.
Subs: Corey Walsh for S Shannon (37); Liam McEnhill for O McVicker (42); Diarmuid Rogan for A O’Brien (51); Eoghan McMenamin for T Murphy (58)
Scorers: Deaglan Murphy 0-8 (7fs); E Trainor 1-1; T Murphy 0-3; G Walsh 0-2; A O’Brien 0-2; S Shannon 0-1; D McCartney 0-1
CUSHENDALL: Eoin Gillan; Austin Birt, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke; Ronan McAteer, Eoghan Campbell, Ryan McCambridge; Scott Walsh, Joe McNaughton; Sean McAfee, Neil McManus, Thomas McLaughlin; Fiontan Bradley, Ed McQuillan, Joseph McLaughlin
Subs: Charlie McAuley for J McNaughton (43); Padraig McKillop for A Birt (45)
Scorers: N McManus 2-8 (6fs); J McLaughlin 0-2; F Bradley 0-2; P Burke 0-1; M Burke 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1; P McKillop 0-1
REFEREE: Colm McDonald (Naomh Gall)
TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Cloney Gaels and St. Paul’s couldn’t be separated in Ahoghill on Friday night in Group 1 of the Intermediate Hurling Championship. The home side played with the breeze in the opening half but failed to take advantage of the elements with the contest tied at 0-9 each at the break.
Against the wind Cloney appeared to be gaining the upper hand and had built up a fairly healthy lead but 2 late goals from the excellent Caolan Ó Duibhfinn earned the visitors a valuable share of the points.
It was tit for tat during the opening exchanges in Ahoghill with the sides tied at 6 apiece after 20 minutes with Ó Duibhfinn 0-3, Sean Og McLaren 0-2 and Thomas Duff on the mark for St. Paul’s and James O’Connell 0-3, Patrick Graham, Donal Graham and Colla McDonnell the Cloney marksmen.
Ronan Graham sends over a Cloney point
Sean Lawell, Ó Duibhfinn and Declan Chapman brought the visitors total to 9 by the half way stage with Ronan Graham and ‘Jimmy’ O’Connell 0-2 for the home side ensuring it was all tied as Piaras McCaffery sounded the half time whistle.
The Ahoghill side looked to be gaining control at the start of the second half and they struck with points from James O’Connell which sandwiched a Patrick Graham goal in the 3d minute.
Further points from Colla McDonnell and Patrick Graham had the hosts 7 ahead by the 14th minute and they looked on their way to their second Group 1 win.
The Shaw’s Road side finally opened their second half account when Caolan Ó Duibhfinn split the posts in the 15th minute from a ‘65’ and he followed with another from a free but points from Diarmuid Graham and two pointed frees from Jimmy O’ looked to have sealed it with 8 minutes remaining.
St. Paul’s had other ideas however as Sean Og McLaren pointed and the impressive Ó Duibhfinn followed with a goal in the 28th minute and when he added a second, two minutes into in jury time the fat was very much back in the fire.
In between McLaren added two points for the visitors and O’Connell’s 9th of the evening meant that it was all square at the end of an excellent game of championship hurling.
This result leaves Cloney Gaels topping the table with 3 points from 2 starts while Creggan and Rasharkin are on 2 from one start and St. Paul’s sit 4th with 1 point from 2 starts.
Caolan Ó Duibhfinn who scored 2-7 on trhe nigfht for St. Paul’s
The Ahoghill men travel to Rasharkin in their next game on Saturday the 23d August while St. Paul’s don’t play again to the 6th September when they entertain Rasharkin.
Ahoghill: 1 Aiden Graham 2. HarryO’Donnell 3. Bobby Magee 4. Paddy Dougan 5. Fionnbar O’Neill 6. Diarmaid Graham 7. Dan O’Neill 8. Eamon Brady 9. Conor Crossey 10. Donal Graham 11. Ronan Graham 12. Patrick Graham 13. Colla McDonnell 14. Eoin Graham 15. James O’Connell.
Subs Used: Bernard Graham for Harry O’Donnell, Owen Neeson for Eoin Graham Tom McGlone for Colla McDonnell
St. Paul’s: 1 Chris Murray, 2 Mark Munce, 3 Daire Stevenson, 4 Tiarnán Auld 5 Thomas Duff, 6 Stephen Rooney, 7 Caoimhin Killyeagh, 8 Sean Lawell (0-1), 9 Diarmuid O’Sullivan, 10 Lorcan Phillips, 11 Sean Og McLaren 0-5, 12 Caolan Crossan, 13 Declan Chapman, 14 Caolan Ó Duibhfinn (2-7),15 Conal Finnegan 0-1
A splendid display of goalkeeping from Rasharkin’s Liam Tunney and a rather fortuitous goal from his own half by Conor McKeever saw St. Mary’s Rasharkin claim victory over Sarsfields in an exciting and keenly contested Group 1 opener at Dreen on Friday night.
St. Mary’s keeper, Tunney pulled off a handful splendid stops over the hour and his handling of the sliothar under pressure and his distribution over the hour were instrumental in his side’s victory.
It was Conor McKeever who shot Rasharkin into an early lead with a point in the opening minute but the visitors responded with points from Enda McCartan 0-2 Caolan McKernan and 0-2 to lead by the by the 9th minute.
Liam Tunney, who had a superb game inh goals for rasharkin, clears his lines. Above Featured Image: Conor McKillop who was in excellent scoring form for the home side
McKeever raised his second white flag of the evening but McKernan was on fire for the visitors as he struck two long range frees to increase their lead before a Conor McKeever ‘65’ and point from distance by Tiernan O’ Boyle had it back to 2 with 19 minutes gone.
Caolan McKernan continued to display unerring accuracy from the placed ball as he hit two more before Rasharkin lost a player to a Red card for a reckless swing.
The Stewartstown Road side were calling the shots at this stage with McKernan’s 5th of the contest and McCartan’s third moving them 4 ahead with five minutes remaining to the break.
Donagh Quigg and Conor McKeever responded with points for the men from Dreen but they had their keeper, Liam Tunney to thank for a couple of excellent saves as the visitors threatened to take total control.
The final score of the half fell the way of Sarsfield’s ace marksman, Caolan McKernan who converted a ‘65’ deep into injury time to leave his side leading 0-10 to 0-7 at the interval and the hosts now down to 14 men.
The visitors moved further ahead on the restart with Fionn Jemfrey pointing after 10 seconds but Rasharkin replied through Donagh Quigg and another Conor McKeever converted free to keep in touch.
They looked in trouble when Michael Johnston got in for the first goal of the game for the ‘Paddies’ in the 7th minute but once again St. Mary’s found a response.
Conor McKeever continued to match the free taking prowess of McKernan with another converted free and then a bit of fortune fell the way of the home side when Conor McKeever’s massive effort from his own half deceived Andrew McStay in the Sarsfield’s goal and dipped to the net.
The visitors looked rattled as Donagh Quigg added a 10th minute point and then a terrible mix-up in the visitors defence saw the impressive McKeever finish to the net.
The momentum was now very much with the side in Blue & Amber as McKeever from another free and Donagh Quigg with a fine strike from out on the left put the home side in a commanding position at the end of the third quarter.
Caolan McKernan who top scored for Sarsfields in their defeat to Rasharkin
Sarsfield’s were not finished however as they staged a rally of their own and once again net minder Tunney came to his side’s rescue with his 4th excellent stop of the evening.
The visitors pressed again however as Caolan McKernan pointed a 20th minute free and Anthony McGarrigle added another from play before two more McKernan’s conversions had it back to two with 6 minutes remaining.
It still looked anybody’s game but it was Rasharkin who finished the stronger with McKeever landing another long range effort and McGarrigle replying for the men from the ‘Bear Pit’.
Quigg, McKeever (free) and another from play moved the gap to three with two minutes of normal time remaining with McKeever again responding to a McKernan pointed free in injury time to conclude the scoring.
Rasharkin’s next game is against Cloney Gaels in Rasharkin on the 23d August and is sure to attract a bumper crowd to Dreen as old adversaries renew acquaintance while Sarsfields don’t play again until the Saturday 20th September when they entertain St. Paul’s at the Bear Pit.
Rasharkin: 1 Liam Tunney, 2 Connor Higgins, 3 Conor Doherty, 4 Daniel Hasson, 5 Tiernan O’Boyle, 6 Aidan McKeever, 7 Jack Quinn, 8 Declan McKay, 9 Conor McFerran, 10 Cathir Henderson, 11 Donagh Quigg, 12 Jason McGregor, 13 Conor McKillop, 14 Thomas McMullan, 15 Conor McKeever, 16 Brian Og O’Neill, 17 Terry McGregor, 18 Oisin Doherty, 19 Brendan Kelly
Sarsfields: 1 Andrew McStay, 3 Niall McAlea, 4 Daragh Coleman, 5 Aidan McKiernan, 6 David Johnston, 7 Jay Ward, 8 Caolan McKernan, 9 Nicolas O’Mullane, 10 Enda McCartan, 11 Michael Johnston, 12 Anthony McGarrigle, 14 Fionn Jemfrey, 17 Jay Maguire, 19 Mark McCavanagh, 21 Daniel Smyth, 20 Niall Cardell.
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
TO VIEW MORE OF BERT’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
