by thesaffrongael

Cushendall take the points in Portaferry

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Portaferry: 2-11 (17) Ruairí Óg, Cushendall: 3-16 (25)

PICS BY SEAN TROWLEN

Ruairí Óg, Cushendall traveled down to the Ards Peninsula on Sunday and emerged with a hard-fought eight-point victory over Portaferry in Division 1 of the Antrim Hurling League. Despite a commanding first-half performance from the visitors, a blistering start to the second half by Portaferry made for a tense encounter before Cushendall eventually regained control and pulled away.

The opening thirty minutes were heavily dominated by Cushendall, who built a substantial lead thanks to early accuracy and two crucial goals. Neil McManus and Joseph McLaughlin kept the Ruairí Óg scoreboard ticking over efficiently from placed balls, while Portaferry relied primarily on frees from Cahal Coleman to keep their tally moving.

Cushendall’s Scott Walsh solos out of defence during Saturday’s Antrim Senior Hurling semi-final against St John’s at Dunsilly. Pic by John McIlwaine

The decisive moments of the first period came when the Ruairí Óg forwards broke through the Portaferry defense to find the back of the net. Both Thomas McLaughlin and Sean McAfee raised green flags from play, putting Cushendall in a strong position, and by the time the half-time whistle blew, the visitors held a commanding 11-point advantage, leading 2-11 to 0-06.

Portaferry’s Resurgence

Whatever was said in the Portaferry dressing room at the break had an immediate and explosive impact. The home side burst out of the blocks upon the restart, completely shifting the momentum of the game within the opening two minutes.

Cahal Coleman, their standout threat from the first half, struck for two rapid-fire goals from play—the first just 51 seconds into the half, and the second less than a minute later. With their tails up, Portaferry continued to press hard. Points from play by Matthew Conlan and Shane Conlan quickly followed. In the blink of an eye, the 11-point half-time deficit had been slashed to just three points.

Just as the pressure reached its peak, Cushendall found the crucial response they needed to halt Portaferry’s momentum. In the 9th minute of the second half, Joseph McLaughlin found space to fire home Ruairí Óg’s third goal of the afternoon.

That strike proved to be the turning point, effectively bursting the Portaferry bubble and steadying the ship for the visitors. From there on out, Cushendall managed the remainder of the game with composure. While Cahal Coleman and Shane Conlan added a few more points for the home side, the gap proved too large to close again.

Cushendall’s bench also made a strong impact, with substitute Christy McNaughton slotting over two points (one from play and one from a free). Joseph McLaughlin continued his reliable free-taking, and Thomas McLaughlin capped off the afternoon with a late point from play in the 31st minute to seal the win.

Overall, Cushendall will be pleased to leave Portaferry with the points, having shown the resilience required to absorb a fierce second-half rally and finish the job.

Portaferry

1. Darragh Mallon, and 4. Ronan Smyth. 5. Cathal Moreland 6. Callum Smyth, 7. Ciaran Milligan, 8. Matthew Conlan, 9. Shane Conlan, 10. Conor Fay, 11. Deaglan Mallon, 12. Cahal Coleman, 13. Calum O’Neill, 14. Niall Milligan, and 15. Noah Rogers.

Cushendall

1. Conor McAlister, 2. Aodhán Campbell, 3. Martin Burke, 4. Conor McCann, 5. Scott Walsh, 6. Stephen Walsh, 7. Charlie McAuley, 8. Callagh Mooney, 9. Edward McQuillan, 10. Sean McAfee, 11. Joseph McNaughton, 12. Neil McManus, 13. Oisín Woodhouse, 14. Thomas McLaughlin, 15. Joseph McLaughlin.

Subs – Christy McNaughton

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by thesaffrongael

Strong First Half Seals Dunloy Victory

Senior Hurling League Division One

Dunloy 3-16 Ballygalget 1-14

Sunday 19 April

Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballygalget

Dunloy maintained their winning start to their league campaign as they defeated Ballygalget with eight to spare.  The foundations for the win were laid in the first half that saw the Cuchullains bag their three goals, two in the space of 60 seconds before the half time whistle.  Although they did manage to reach double figures with their wide count in the opening 30 minutes.

Ciaran Elliott (two) and Oisin McCallin were the Cuchullains who scored the goals while defensively, the Cuchullains were well organised and gave Ballygalget very little openings.  Daire McMullan and Ryan McGarry excelled while Ryan Elliott’s puckouts were excellent throughout.

The home side fared much better in the second half and like Dunloy, struggled with their accuracy in front of the target.  They managed to restrict Dunloy to just one point in a ten minute spell that saw them score 1-4, Shea Pucci hit the post with a major chance while also recording three wides.

Dunloy finished the game strongly however to extinguish any hopes of a Ballygalget win.

It was a first half the visitors dominated and they should have been further ahead before the short whistle.  Yet, it was Ballygalget who started the game on the front foot.  Michael Dorrian opening the scoring and while Oisin McCallin fired the opening point over for Dunloy in the third minute, points from Marc Fisher and Owen McDermott (two) had the home side three clear after the opening 10 minutes.  They would only register another two points in the remaining 20 minutes however as Dunloy took over.

Two points separated the sides when Ciaran Elliott scored his first goal of the game.  Nigel Elliott with the ball into corner as Ciaran collected, rounding his man with a burst of pace and finished expertly.

Fisher dissected the posts for his first of the contest but four unanswered points from McCallin (two frees), Chrissy McMahon and Tom McFerran stretched Dunloy into a four point lead.

A brilliant point from McDermott in the 23rd minute, wide on the left and over his shoulder was the ‘galget’s last score of the half as Dunloy finished strongly.  Points from McCallin (free) and Nicky McKeague preceded a brace of majors at the end of the half.  The first coming from McCallin as he finished superbly from a Paudie McGillihan pass while Ciaran Elliott finished well having received the sliotar from Ryan McGarry to leave the half time score 3-8 to 0-6 in Dunloy’s favour.

The home side opened the scoring in the second half but a trio of points from Tom McFerran, Nigel Elliott and McCallin stretched Dunloy’s lead further.  Points from Michael Dorrian and Fisher (free) were answered to by points from McFerran brothers Eoin and Tom but the home side began to find momentum. 

Points came from Dorrian and John McManus before Oisin McCamphill split the uprights with an excellent score from wide on the left but the home side were well on top.  Their defence were dealing with the ball coming their way and Dunloy couldn’t get any change.  Points followed from Fisher and substitute Dara Pucci (both frees) before Owen McDermott took his tally to 1-3 for the afternoon with a super goal after collecting a long pass from Fisher.

Dunloy looked to have weathered the home side’s momentum however with a brace of scores from McMahon although they managed to reach the 20 mark with wides overall before McDermott had the final say of the game in the first minute of injury time.

Ballygalget will hope to get back to winning ways when they host Loughgiel next Sunday while Dunloy will hope their momentum continues when Naomh Éanna visit Pearse Park on the same day.

TEAMS

DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Oran Quinn, Daire McMullan, Sean Og Blaney; Aodhan McGarry, Eamon Smyth, Ryan McGarry; Aaron Crawford, Paudie McGilligan; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Ciaran Elliott, Oisin McCallin, Chrissy McMahon

Subs: Eoin McFerran for A Crawford (36), Conor Kinsella for S Og Blaney (42), Oisin McCamphill for O McCallin (45); A Crawford for P McGilligan (59)

Scorers: O McCallin 1-5 (4fs); C Elliott 2-00; C McMahon 0-4 (1f); T McFerran 0-3; N McKeague 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; E McFerran 0-1; O McCamphill 0-1

BALLYGALGET: Eoin Clarke; Michael Toner, Ciaran Watson, Connaire Monan; Marc Fisher, John McManus, Brook Byers; Jordan Doran, Caolan Coulter; Oisin Coulter, Michael Dorrian, Cathal Coulter; Eoin Pucci, Daniel Toner, Owen McDermott

Subs: Shea Pucci for E Pucci (30); Dara Pucci for S Pucci (45); Cian Clarke for Caolan Coulter (51); Artie Og Birt for Cathal Coulter (51)

Scorers: O McDermott 1-4; M Fisher 0-5 (3fs); M Dorrian 0-3; J McManus 0-1; D Pucci 0-1 (1f)

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

by thesaffrongael

Rossa get the better of Oisins in tight game

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Rossa 0-19 Oisins 0-16

Last year’s Division 2 winners Glenariffe traveled to Pairc Rossa and delivered a performance full of grit and quality, but it was the home side who ultimately secured the points in this highly competitive Antrim Senior Hurling Division 1 encounter. Surviving a missed penalty and immense pressure, Rossa finished strongly to record a 0-19 to 0-16 victory in a match where both sets of forwards showcased exceptional long-range shooting.

Rossa opened the scoring through Eoghan McMenamin, but Glenariffe quickly demonstrated they were more than up for the challenge. Alex O’Boyle was in scintillating form early on, leveling the game from play before showcasing his dead-ball prowess with a free and a beautifully struck sideline cut. The defining moment of the first half arrived when Rossa was awarded a penalty. Deaglan Murphy stepped up to take it, but Glenariffe goalkeeper Paul McMullan produced a stunning, full-stretch save to deny the hosts a crucial goal. Unfazed, Murphy converted the resulting ’65 and added a pair of long-range frees to keep Rossa ticking over.

Glenariffe’s defense put in some unbelievable blocks, keeping the Rossa attack at bay while their forwards capitalized at the other end. Orrin O’Connor slotted over a brilliant point under severe pressure from the right flank, and Aaron Cosgrove finished off a well-worked team move with back-to-back points. However, Rossa managed to edge ahead before the break thanks to fine scores from Sean McEnhill and Dáire Murphy, taking a narrow 0-9 to 0-8 lead into halftime after a hard fought half.

Rossa burst out of the gates in the second half, registering two quick points in the opening minute through Dáire Murphy and Daire Rocks to establish a cushion. The second half soon turned into a spectacular shootout, featuring some extraordinary long-range striking. Glenariffe’s Alex O’Boyle was phenomenal, launching a massive point from the edge of his own ‘D’ and converting another free from deep inside his own half. The Glenariffe sideline made a tactical switch, bringing on Michael O’Boyle for Colla Ward, and it paid immediate dividends as the substitute hit the ground running.

Michael O’Boyle scored twice from play, including a magnificent over-the-shoulder point from the far left wing, while Calum McIlwaine also added his name to the scoresheet with a great point under severe pressure. Despite Glenariffe’s heroics, Rossa’s experience and accuracy ultimately told. Deaglan Murphy was relentless from placed balls, punishing any Glenariffe indiscipline, and Sean McEnhill stepped up in the crucial closing stages, landing two fantastic long-range scores under heavy pressure from the right wing. Despite some frustrations aired on the sidelines regarding the officiating, it was a thoroughly entertaining game. Rossa’s late surge saw them close out the match with a final scoreline of 0-19 to 0-16, but newly promoted Glenariffe will take massive positives from a performance that proved they belong in the top flight.

Rossa

  1. Donal Armstrong
  2. Niall Crossan
  3. Ciarán Orchin
  4. Conall Shortt
  5. Diarmaid Rogan
  6. Declan McCartney
  7. Jack O’Loughlin
  8. Eoin Trainor
  9. Deaglan Murphy
  10. Liam McEnhill
  11. Pearce Short
  12. Conor Boyle
  13. Dara Rocks
  14. Dáire Murphy
  15. Eoghan McMenamin

Oisín CLG (Glenariffe)

  1. Paul McMullan
  2. Odhran Gillan
  3. Colla Ward
  4. Conor Patterson
  5. Cailin Devlin
  6. Daniel Kearney
  7. Donall Kearney
  8. Calum McIlwaine
  9. James Kearney
  10. Niall Magee
  11. Oliver Kearney
  12. Orrin O’Connor
  13. Alex O’Boyle
  14. David Kearney
  15. Aaron Cosgrove

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by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle’s efficienty gives them the edge over wastefull Shamrocks

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-20 to Ballycastle’s 1-19.

McQuillan’s Ballycastle maintained their perfect start to the Division 1 campaign, making it three wins from three after a pulsating encounter at Fr Healy Park on Sunday. In a game defined by The Town’s clinical efficiency versus Loughgiel’s wayward shooting, a late surge inspired by the return of Niall McKenna saw the visitors snatch a two-point victory in injury time, concluding with a final score of Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-20 to Ballycastle’s 1-19.

The opening period was dominated by the hosts, but their superiority on the pitch was not reflected on the scoreboard. While the Shamrocks found their range early with points from play by Ronan Fitzgerald, Rian McMullan, and Declan McCloskey, they were guilty of squandering numerous easy opportunities from both frees and open play. Ballycastle manager Cian Waldron was honest about the overall outcome saying “we should have been dead and buried by half time. However his team stayed in touch through the unerring accuracy of Seamus McAuley. Despite trailing 0-7 to 0-3 after another Fitzgerald point and a fine score from Loughgiel’s Eoin McGarry, McAuley’s proficiency from placed balls and long range steadily narrowed the gap. A point from play by Tiernan Smyth eventually brought the sides level, before Ryan McKee restored a slender 0-8 to 0-7 lead for Loughgiel at the interval.

The game ignited just two minutes after the restart when Tiernan Smyth turned provider, feeding Diarmaid McShane, who showed great composure to pull the ball into the Loughgiel net. The Shamrocks responded well to the setback, with Rian McMullan and Eoin McGarry adding clever points from play to keep them honest, while Roan McGarry found his rhythm from frees to level the game at 0-12 to 1-09. The lead traded hands several times; Cathair Donnelly won a free for McAuley to convert for Ballycastle, only for Loughgiel’s Ben McGarry to respond with a fine score. Following another Seamus McAuley free after a foul on Eoin McAlonan, Loughgiel appeared to find their second wind. Two quickfire scores from Roan McGarry pushed the Shamrocks into a three-point lead at 0-18 to 1-12 with fifteen minutes remaining.

The momentum shifted dramatically with the introduction of former county star Niall McKenna, returning from a long-term injury for Ballycastle. McKenna made an immediate impact, scoring a sublime point from the left wing with his first touch. At the other end, Ballycastle goalkeeper Eamonn Elliott proved to be the hero, producing two world-class saves to deny Loughgiel certain goals. Those stops proved vital as Tiernan Smyth and another McKenna effort, following a brilliant catch from a puck-out, cut the deficit to just one. After Roan McGarry and Seamus McAuley exchanged points, Eoin McAlonan landed a massive long-range score to level the game on twenty-nine minutes. In a frantic period of injury time, Diarmaid McShane put Ballycastle ahead, only for the ever-reliable Roan McGarry to level it once more for the Shamrocks. However, Ballycastle had the final say. Showing superior fitness and nerves of steel, McKenna and Seamus McAuley both raised white flags in the dying embers of the game to seal the 1-19 to 0-20 victory for the visitors.

Loughgiel Shamrocks – John Francis Connolly, Liam Glackin, Enda Og McGarry, Caolan Blair, Conall McCloskey, Tiernan Coyle, Ben McGarry, Ryan McKee, Declan McCloskey, Rian McMullan, Ronan Fitzgerald, Eoin McGarry, Roan McGarry, Pearce Patterson, Dan McCloskey.

Ballycastle – Eamonn Elliott, Oran Kearney, Ryan McCook, Conal Colgan, Eoin McAlonan, Conor Boyd, Cathair Donnelly, Reuben McClean, Ardan Kelly, Darragh Kelly, Seamus McAuley, Niall McClean, Ronan McCarry, Tiernan Smyth, Diarmaid McShane.

Subs used – Niall McKenna, Cadhan Crawford, Ronan Laverty,

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by thesaffrongael

Glenarm unlucky not to take something from fiercely contested game

Featured Image: Niall Rogers, who had a good game for Shane O’Neill’s

ACHL Division 2

Shane O’Neill’s 1-14 Ballycran 0-19

Shane O’Neill’s, Glenarm and Ballycran served up a fiercely contested division 2 game of hurling at Feystown on Sunday with the Fetstown side desperately unlucky not to get something out of the game.

Trailing by one as the clock counted down the Glenarm side looked to be in for a second goal when youngster, Niall Rogers raced clear on goal where he was taken out by Ballycran keeper, Cathal Lavery but the home side had their appeals for a penalty waved aside and had to settle for a pointed free from Aidan Scullion.

Despite being without the services of Niall McGarel and Ciaran Magill the Glenarm side matched the men from the Ards all the way and the result was in the balance with time almost up.

Ballycran’s Adam Rogan tidies up as Ben O’Boyle moves in to challenge

It was Paul Sheehan who pointed the visitors ahead in the 4th minute and the Ballycran number 12 would contribute 4 of his side’s first half total and seven in all over the hour.

Aidan Scullion brought matters all square by the 8th minute, and like Sheehan, would be a major contributor for the Feystown side with his strong performance at mid-field.

Conor Dorrian, playing at full-forward added two further points to 2 from Sheehan as the visitors led 0-4 to 0-2 with Scullion adding to his early point from a well struck free for the home side.

Some of the challenges were not for the feint hearted as Lorenzo McMullan let play flow and the excellent Darren Hamill struck a couple of frees from distance to tie the contest at 0-5 apiece at the end of the opening quarter.

Aidan Scullion and Paul Sheehan exchanged further points before Niall Rogers edged Glenarm ahead after being set up by Ben O’Boyle but the visitors finished the half on top and Ethan Bell, Conor Woods and a great point from Michael Hughes had them one ahead at the short whistle.

Shane O’Neill’s took a time to emerge from the dressing rooms for the second half but when they did they were quickly into the action with Aidan Scullion levelling matters with a point after 30 seconds.

Things were certainly livening up as Conor Dorrian restored the visitors lead but almost immediately Glenarm hit the front for the second time in the game. Young Niall Rogers showed electric pace as he cut in along the bye-line before placing Paddy mcAuley who finished to the net

The visitors were back on terms however by the fifth minute as Michael Hughes from distance and Sheehan from a pointed free fired over but half time substitute Sean O’Hare split the posts at the other end to edge the Feystown men ahead once more.

Glenarm’s Darren |hamill rises to claim the sliotar

Paul Sheehan and Aidan Scullion exchanged further points to leave the gap at one but Glenarm will reflect on a dominant period where the hit four wides in quick succession that could have put a bit of distance between the sides.

Still they maintained that narrow lead after Conal Ward replied to a superb side-line cut from Sheehan with 9 minutes remaining as Ballycran threw the Miskillins, Jake and Paul into the action.

The Ards men were beginning to get on top and Paul Sheehan (f), Conor Dorrian and Conor Woods were all on target before Aidan Scullion replied with a great long distance effort to leave just one between the sides with three minutes remaining.

Then came the Rogers incident with Lavery perhaps lucky to stay on the field for his challenge and the award a free rather than a penalty which Scullion pointed.

It would be Ballycran who would grab the initiative as the game edged into extra time with Conor Woods and the impressive Sheehan on target to see their side home by two points

Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Ciaran McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Sean Scullion, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Michael Furey, 8 Conal Ward, 9 Aidan Scullion, 10 Ryan McLoughlin, 11 Dylan McLaughlin, 12 Sean McDermott, 13 Niall Rodgers, 14 Ben O’Boyle, 15 Paddy McAuley

Ballycran: 16 Cathal Lavery, 2 Dominic McGrath, 3 Brad Watson, 4 Adam Rogan, 5 Manus Gilmore, 6 Michael Hughes, 7 Steven Gilliland, 9 Sean McCarthy, 10 Ethan Bell, 11 Conor Woods, 12 Paul Sheehan, 13 Dara Rogers, 28 Conor Dorrian, 15 Eoin Kelly

Subs: 19 Jake Miskimmin, 29 Paul Miskimmin

Referee: Lorenzo McMullan

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