by thesaffrongael

Faughs hold on to seal final place with narrow win over Glenarm

McKeever Hotels Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship

Carey Faughs 0-17 Glenarm Shane O’Neill’s 1-1

Carey Faughs secured a hard-fought victory over Glenarm in the Antrim Intermediate Hurling semi-final at the Antrim Centre of Excellence at Dunsilly, holding on for a 0-17 to 1-13 win to book their place in the final against neighbours Cushendun. Despite a relatively low-scoring first half, the well-contested match provided an entertaining spectacle that went right down to the wire.

Carey Faughs started brightly, with Patrick Gillan opening the scoring in the first minute. James ‘Rocket’ Black quickly doubled the advantage, and a further point saw Carey race into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead by the fourth minute. Glenarm responded through Niall McGarel in the fifth minute, but Carey maintained control, extending their lead to 0-5 to 0-1 by the 10th minute following a 20-metre free from Gillan and a long-range effort from Shea Hunter.

Glenarm began to settle into the game, with McGarel pointing a free. A missed goal opportunity involving two pf tje fprwardl temporarily stalled their momentum, but they quickly recovered after Conlith McKinley pointed from 40 metres for Carey. Daniel Black fired back for Glenarm to narrow the gap to 0-6 to 0-4. Sustained pressure from Glenarm paid off as McGarel scored twice in quick succession—including a superb effort from the left flank—to level the match at 0-6 apiece by the 20th minute.

Carey regained the initiative with a 60-metre point from Shea Hunter and a quick follow-up score from Callum Cane. Hunter struck again from distance on 29 minutes to put Carey three ahead, but Glenarm finished the half strongly. Ciaran Magill pulled a point back before Daniel Black broke away to send the ball over the bar, leaving Carey with a slender 0-9 to 0-8 lead at the break.

Glenarm stormed out of the blocks in the second half. Ciaran Magill fired over a fantastic point from the sideline in the first minute, followed immediately by a second. A third unanswered point from distance suddenly put Glenarm two points clear. Carey finally registered their first score of the half on eight minutes through a Gillan free, and Shea Hunter levelled the game two minutes later with a beautiful strike from the 65-metre line.

The final quarter saw Carey slowly pull away. Gillan proved unerring from placed balls, converting frees in the 13th and 17th minutes. Michael Furey responded for Glenarm from distance to make it 0-13 to 0-12, but Carey accelerated again. Gillan pointed another free, which was brought fforward following dissent, and Caolan McCaughan added a fine score from play. Fiachra McVeigh stretched the lead further in the 25th minute, though his effort was immediately cancelled out by Glenarm’s Sean O’Boyle.

After Gillan converted yet another free on 28 minutes, Carey looked comfortable with a four-point cushion. However, dramatic late scenes saw Glenarm substitute Paddy McAuley fire a goal with the last puck of the game, cutting the deficit to the bare minimum. The referee’s whistle sounded seconds later, ensuring Carey Faughs survived the late scare to advance to the final.

Paddy McAuley’s goal came just too late to save Glenarm as the final whistle sounded from the puc-out

Carey Faughs: 1 Steven McGinn, 2 Dónall McKinley, 3 Sean Mc Bride, 4 Eoin an Chnoic, 5 Michael McVeigh, 6 Peadar McVeigh, 7 Shea Hunter, 8 Zach Mac Eacháin, 9 Pádraig de Buitléir, 10 Conlith Mac Fhionnlaoich, 11 Caolán Mac Eachin, 12 Seán Mc, 13 Pádraig Ó Gileáin, 14 Séamus Ó Duibh, 15 Fiachra McVeigh, 16 Cathal Mc Auley, 17 Ryan Mac Uaid, 18 Colm Ó Catháin, 19 Breandán Mac Uaid, 20 Eoin McKinley, 21 Eoin Mac Fhearaigh, 22 Seamus Seosamh Ó Broin, 23 Oisín Ó hÉilí, 24 Criostóir Butler, 25 Cathair Brogan, 26 Colm McBride, 27 Conall Mac Fhearaigh, 28 Séamus Mac Néill, 29 Aindriú Mag Fhearaigh, 30 Ádhamh Hughes.

Glenarm: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Ciaran McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 John Scullion, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Ciaran Magill, 7 Michael Furey, 8 Conal Ward, 9 Aidan Scullion, 10 Sean McDermott, 11 Niall McGarel, 12 Daniel Black, 13 Dylan McLaughlin, 14 Darren Hamill, 15 Sean O’Boyle, 16 Liam Mulvenna, 17 Declan McDermott, 18 Niall Rodgers, 19 Aidan O’Neill, 20 Liam Og McLoughlin, 21 Liam O’Neill, 22 Ben O’Boyle, 23 Paddy McAuley, 24 Sean O’Hare, 25 Rory Mulvenna, 26 Ryan McLoughlin, 27 Ryan O’Boyle, 28 Anthony McNeill, 29 Shea McConnell.

Referee – Kevin Parke

TO MORE OF DYAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Loaf Points Emmets To The Decider

McKeever Hotels Intermediate Hurling Championship

Semi Final

Cushendun 0-21 Creggan 2-14

Saturday 10 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Glenravel

Cushendun produced a dramatic comeback to seal their place in the intermediate final on Saturday afternoon.  Creggan had held an eight point lead at half time and were playing some fantastic hurling, Kevin Rice and Morgan Nelson causing mayhem in the Cushendun full back line at every opportunity.

The Emmet’s hit back after the interval however and when they needed a big performance, Connlaoth ‘Loaf’ McNeill stepped up to the mark for them.  He finished the game with 14 white flags, 10 of those from placed ball as he gave an exhibition from frees while pointing a sideline and scoring as good a point as you’ll see half way through the second half.

The Kickham’s men were superb in the first half and were full value for their eight point lead.  Morgan Nelson and Kevin Rice with the majors while Oran McCann marked his return to a Creggan shirt for the first time in two in a half years with two points.

Conor McCann was the glue that held Creggan together.  Playing in the six role, McCann was outstanding with a masterful performance.

Cushendun had to dig deep in that second half and with Loaf leading the way, there was an air of inevitability of them taking the lead.  Creggan had chances to take the game into extra time but Cushendun hung on.

Playing with the wind at their back, Kickhams opened the scoring through Kevin Rice.  Cushendun struck back with points from McNeill (’65) and Conor McHugh before Rice doubled his tally in a frenetic start to the game.

A free from McNeill and point from Shane McQuillan came either side of Oran McCann’s first point of the game to give Cushendun a one point lead after 10 minutes.

The next 10 minutes saw Creggan go through the gears, finding the back of the Cushendun net twice in the space of three minutes and putting them in charge of the game.

Conor McCann split the uprights with his first of six frees before Rice scored the opening goal in the 13th minute.  Collecting the sliotar after Conor McCann sent it towards the opposite corner, Rice collected and made a bee-line for the Cushendun goal.  He made no mistake and gave John Morgan little chance between the sticks.

The second goal was the best move of the first half with Keelan and Thomas McCann combining before sending Morgan Nelson through.  His finish was expert like and with a further point along with a score from Aidan McKeown, Creggan were in a commanding position.

Cushendun briefly halted the Creggan charge with Loaf’s third point of the half before Kevin Rice and Conor McCann (free) stretched the Creggan lead to nine points with a little under eight minutes of the half remaining.

A trio of unanswered points from Loaf (two) and Thomas Scally revived the Cushendun challenge but Creggan answered with Conor and Oran McCann raising white flags to leave the half time score 2-10 to 0-8 in Creggan’s favour.

The Emmet’s started the second half with a quick score from Sean McKay and while Conor McCann responded with his fourth free of the match, the Kickhams men had a gilt-edged goal chance in those opening exchanges.

Rice and Nelson combining but Morgan was alert to the danger and made a top save to deny Nelson with the goal at his mercy.

The reprieve seemed to spur Cushendun into life and had the opposite effect on Creggan, however.  The Kickhams wouldn’t register another score for fully 15 minutes and by the time Conor McCann would score his fifth free of the semi final, the Creggan lead was gone.

Cushendun reeled off eight scores in a 14 minute spell that saw them come back from the brink.  Jack McKay and Shane McQuillan finding scores while Loaf’s free taking was exemplary.  He sent over a side line cut in the same period of time while splitting the posts with the kind of instinctive point you would see in a Sunday Game highlights reel – intercepting a pass and firing over all in the one movement.

With the sides tied and still a quarter of the game remaining, it looked like Cushendun were set to push for home.  McCann’s fifth free was answered with a brace of points from Loaf to give Cushendun the lead with a little over five minutes remaining.

Substitute Sean Duffin fired over for Creggan to restore parity to the scoreboard once more as the Kickham’s men showed more fight in the closing stages but points from a Loaf free and Thomas Scally in the 57th minute gave the Emmet’s what felt like a huge, two point lead.

While Scally’s second white flag of the match was Cushendun’s last score of the semi-final, Creggan began to misfire.  Conor McCann saw two frees go to the wrong side of the posts and one played short when they still had time to take the game into extra time.  He would add another free in the second minute of injury time but the Cushendun defence held out to seal a one point win and book the Emmet’s place in the Intermediate decider in two weeks time.

TEAMS

Cushendun Starting XV: John V Morgan; Mark McSparran, Archie McSparran, Pearce McKeegan; Jack McKay, Donal O’Hara, Shane McQuillan; Thomas Scally, Calum Kilgore; Harry Kilgore, Conor McHugh, Connlaoth McNeill; Fiontan McQuillan, Sean McKay, Matthew McCartin

Subs: Aidan Corbett for A McSparran (35); Donncha Laverty for H Kilgore (54); Conor Bannon for F McQuillan (54)

Scorers: C McNeill 0-14 (10f); S McQuillan 0-2, T Scally 0-2; J McKay 0-1

Creggan Starting XV: Cormac Rice; Eunan McAteer, Keelan McCann, Paeder McGuckian; Senan O’Boyle, Conor McCann, Aidan McAteer; Jake McAteer, Sam Maguire; Oran McCann, Ruairi McCann, Dan Doran; Morgan Nelson, Thomas McCann, Kevin Rice

Subs: Sean Duffin for T McCann (45); Kevin Small for J McAteer (49); Lee Johnston for D Doran (58)

Scorers: K Rice 1-3; C McCann 0-6 (6f); M Nelson 1-1; O McCann 0-2; A McKeown 0-1; S Duffin 0-1

Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)

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by thesaffrongael

Five Star Cuchullains Book Place in County Final

Above – Dunloy full forward Keelan Molloy punches the air in celebration after scoring his team’s opening goal in Saturday’s runaway win over Glenariffe in Cushendall

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Semi Final

Dunloy 5-21 Glenariffe 0-6

Saturday 10 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Cushendall

Dunloy cruised to the senior hurling final on Saturday afternoon as they dispatched the challenge of Glenariffe with a professionalism and relentlessness that the Oisin’s had no answer to.

Early goals in both halves from the Cuchullains ensured Glenariffe were always under pressure.  Dunloy showed their experience of occasions like these, denying Glenariffe of any opportunity to build momentum and despite the Oisin’s showing work rate in abundance from the first whistle, Dunloy never looked troubled.

Keelan Molloy and Ciarán Elliott raised green flags by the 13th minute before a brace from Nigel Elliott and substitute Chrissy McMahon after the restart put further daylight between the sides.  Molloy would top score with four points along with his major while Dunloy recorded just four points from placed ball out of their total tally of 5-21.

Glenariffe’s radar let them down in the early stages and recorded just one point in the opening half – that coming from a brilliant sideline cut from Alex O’Boyle in the 22nd minute.  They recorded four wides in the opening four minutes, the Oisin’s clearly wanting to apply scoreboard pressure early on despite playing into the elements, they had to make do with a false start.  They would reach double figures in wides before the end of a half that saw Dunloy leading 2-12 to 0-1 before the short whistle.

Dunloy gave an exhibition on how to play into the elements after the restart with their crisp passing and ruthless nature giving Glenariffe nothing to grasp.  They played with dynamism, precision and intensity and rarely lifted their foot off the throttle throughout the 60 minutes.

Molloy got the opening goal of the game barely 90 seconds into the game.  Leaping highest to claim a long puck out from Ryan Elliott, Molloy sped through on goal and made no mistake with a typical Keelan Molloy finish.

The Cuchullains had a seven point lead by the 13th minute when Ciarán Elliott found the back of Paul McMullan’s net.  It came in fortuitous circumstances with Seaan Elliott’s effort for a point coming back off the uprights and the Dunloy inside forward showed his predatory instincts – collecting the lose possession and making no mistake.

Seaan Elliott’s point in the 20th minute put 14 points between the sides when Alex O’Boyle split the posts with a brilliant sideline from 40 yards out.  A superb strike given the elements and showed the belief O’Boyle is playing with this championship.

Glenariffe did have a chance for a major late in the half, Oisin Gillan and Colla Ward combining before the Glenariffe full forward’s first timed effort was stopped superbly by Ryan Elliott in the Dunloy goals.

Given the elements were in Glenariffe’s favour for the second half, they needed a fast start.  What they got was another two Dunloy goals in the opening six minutes of the half.

Nigel Elliott’s first goal came just 80 seconds into the second half, showing his pace and power to beat two men and finish to the bottom corner.

Elliott turned provider for the next Dunloy goal, collecting a pop pass from Ciarán Elliott, Nigel Elliott sped through and unselfishly passed to Chrissy McMahon and he planted the sliotar into the top corner.

Between those goals, Glenariffe scored their first point from open play, a score from Michael O’Boyle in the 34th minute.  The Oisin’s couldn’t get any change out of a brilliant Dunloy defence with Eoin McFerran outstanding.

Dunloy had the lead stretched to 25 points when Nigel scored his second and the best of the lot in the 51st minute.  Keelan Molloy sending the ball cross-field into the path of Seaan Elliott.  Seaan found Nigel haring through the middle with a superb pass and he made no mistake.

With the game long gone, Dunloy continued to make the scoreboard tick.  Molloy, McMahon and Seaan Elliott continuing to raise the white flag as Dunloy cruised to the final with plenty to spare.

It was a disappointing end to a brilliant season for Glenariffe.  Making the semi finals having just come up from Intermediate is no mean fete, defeating St John’s in the quarter final was an immense achievement but they found Dunloy at the business end of the championship a step too far.

Dunloy purred through the gears, tearing Glenariffe apart at will and showing a relentless intensity all over the pitch.  A return to the showpiece final for hurling within the county awaits the Cuchullains.

Ciaran Elliott fires in a Dunloy goal during the second half

TEAMS

Dunloy Starting XV: Ryan Elliott; Aaron Crawford, Daire McMullan, Oran Quinn; Aodhan McGarry, Eoin McFerran, Ryan McGarry; Nicky McKeague, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning, Luke McFerran; Ciarán Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill

Subs: Chrissy McMahon for E O’Neill (30+1); Ben O’Kane for R McGarry (47), Tom McFerran for C Elliott (47); Conor Kinsella for O Quinn (53); Phelim Duffin for A Crawford (54)

Scorers: K Molloy 1-4; N Elliott 2-1; S Elliott 0-5; C Elliott 1-1; C McMahon 1-1; C Cunning 0-4 (3f, 1’65); N McKeague 0-2; L McFerran 0-1; R McGarry 0-1; A Crawford 0-1

Glenariffe Starting XV: Paul McMullan; Odhran Gillan, David Kearney, Conor Patterson; Canice McIntosh, Calum McIlwaine, Niall Magee; Oliver Kearney, Daniel Kearney; Brogan O’Connor, Michael O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh; Oisin Gillan, Colla Ward, Alex O’Boyle

Subs: Patrick McIlwaine for B O’Connor (45); James Kearney for S McIntosh (45)

Scorers: A O’Boyle 0-3 (2f); N Magee 0-1, O Kearney 0-1, M O’Boyle 0-1

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)

One down side for Dunloy was a bad shoulder injury for ‘Sammy’ O’Neill who let the field in severe pain. We all wish Sammy a speedy recovery

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by thesaffrongael

Super Saints claim Junior B title

Junior B Hurling Final

All Saints 1-21 Ardoyne 1-3

Pics by Dylan McIlwaine

In a preview of this game, earlier today I predicted that if they were at their best, All Saints could edge this Junior B Championship final against old adversaries, Kickham’s Ardoyne.

As it transpired Cathaoir Cunnings side were certainly at their best as they produced a high octane performance to blow away an Ardoyne side who pipped them for the division 4 league title earlier in the year.

The scene for this comprehensive victory was set in the opening minutes as the Ballymena men raced into an early lead through Luke Mulholland, Daniel Kelly and a converted ‘65’ from Damian Gillan and it was clear that the Slemish Park side were up for the challenge.

Their high press and slick movement was denying Ardoyne time and space to settle into their own game and by half time the Ballymena side had one hand on the trophy.

By that stage All Saints had built up a substantial 9 point lead as they dominated in nearly every department of the field and the Ardoybne challenge wasn’t helped when they had a player dismissed after 28 minutes.

Missing a number of regulars, Ardoyne never really looked to threaten the opposition who seemed to cover every inch and blade of grass that sat within the perimeter of the Dunsilly pitch.

From the moment Mulholland opened the scoring in the third minute, All Saints dictated the tempo, dominated possession and repeatedly exposed an Ardoyne defence that struggled to contain their opponents’ movement and attacking threat.

The north Belfast outfit eventually opened their account through a Padraig McGreevy free in the 14th minute, but that brief response did little to stem the tide.

Harry Conon landed another point for All Saints in the 17th minute before Cormac and Jack Magill struck in quick succession, stretching the gap and leaving the Belfast side chasing shadows.

Cormac Magill was in splendid form and he then added to Ardoyne’s misery with successive scores as All Saints continued to find space and opportunities at will. The pressure was relentless, with the Ballymena attack operating at a tempo their opponents simply could not match.

Already struggling to cope with the All Saints onslaught,Ardoyne now faced the prospect of attempting to turn the tide with a numerical disadvantage.

Damien Gillan rubbed further salt into the wounds with another point before the interval, completing a miserable opening period for Ardoyne and sending All Saints into the dressing room with a commanding 0-10 to 0-1 lead.

There was little indication of a let-up after the restart as Gillan pointed a free in the 31st minute to push the Ballymena tally into double figures and underline the scale of the task facing Ardoyne.

To their credit, Kickhams briefly threatened a response. McGreevy pointed in the 36th minute before finding the net shortly after and for the first time in the game there was just a glimmer of hope for the North Belfast side.

However, any thoughts of a revival were swiftly put to bed when the Saints replied immediately with a goal at the other end with Daniel Kelly racing through before powering a powerful effort to the net.

Damian Gillan was proving unmarkable and he added another in the 42nd minute as the Ballymena men reasserted their authority and ensured Ardoyne’s brief spell of momentum would count for little.

With the game effectively settled, Ballymena refused to take their foot of the pedal and Cormac Magill added to their total before Luke O’Rawe got in on the scoring act, further stretching the margin as the All Saints attack continued to rack up scores.

Ardoyne, never gave up but were given precious little opportunity to build any sustained pressure of their own and an already difficult task became impossible when they had a second player sent off as a bit of frustration crept into their play.

Gillan remained central to the Ballymena charge, producing another excellent point in the 53rd minute before completing the scoring three minutes later with another impressive effort.

It was an emphatic finish to an afternoon in which All Saints had controlled the contest from the outset, combining accuracy in front of the posts with an attacking fluency that Ardoyne struggled to live with.

A bad night for an Ardoyne side who quite simply never got going but they will take some consolation from the fact that they have already collected the Division Four title, and promotion to the third tier.

For All Saints, however, this was a thoroughly convincing performance. They were sharper from the throw-in, more clinical in possession and relentless in their pursuit of scores, leaving little doubt as to who deserved the spoils on a very impressive evening at Dunsilly.

Ballymena All Saints: R McAllister; K Brady, D McKee, F Connon; D Gray, R Crooks, N Savage; H Connon 0-1; L Mulholland 0-1, C Magill 0-5, L O’Rawe 0-1; J Magill 0-1, D Kelly 1-3, Archie McGreevey, D Gillan 0-9 (2F)

Subs: Vinny Esler, Luke Walsh, Patrick Doherty, Daniel McCoy, Sean O’Brien, Sean O’Rawe, Fintan Brady, Aodhan Casey, Patrick Murphy, David mcGettigan, Joseph Mooney, Michael Connolly, Christopher McAffee, Eoin McGuigan

Ardoyne Kickhams: C O’Neill; C Clarke, P Baker, E Corey; S Searle, C Wallace, P Clarke; M Cromie, P McGuigan 0-1; A Stewart, C Barnes, D Martin; F Lagan, J Callinan, P McGreevy 1-2

Referee: Seamus Shannon

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by thesaffrongael

Moneyglass start the defence of their Ulster title

Moneyglass (Antrim Champions) v St Eunan’s (Donegal Champions)

Taylorstown Road, Moneyglass – Sunday at 2 pm

Defending Ulster senior club champions St Ergnats Moneyglass open their title defence this Sunday in their new grounds at the Taylorstown Road, when they welcome Donegal champions St Eunan’s for a highly anticipated first-round clash. While the Antrim champions are looking to build on last year’s historic All-Ireland run, the Letterkenny side is stepping onto the provincial stage for the first time in 21 years.

For St Eunan’s, the return to Ulster senior football has been a whirlwind. Fresh off a decisive victory over Termon in the Donegal final last weekend the Letterkenny side will relish the challenge.

Standing in their way is a formidable Moneyglass outfit. Last year, under the guidance of Donegal’s Maxi Curran, they became Antrim’s first-ever Ulster senior club champions and came agonizingly close to All-Ireland glory at Croke Park. Having recently secured their sixth county crown, their ambition remains undiminished.”

Moneyglass continues to balance emerging young talent with the invaluable experience of seasoned leaders like Cathy Carey. Carey has been the shining light in Moneyglass and Antrim football for many years now, her competitive spirit still as strong as ever.

This years championship format is structured differently, following the same pattern that most counties now use, but many would argue that straight knock-out football is the more exciting format and should be maintained. Change has come however so Moneyglass and St Eunan’s are drawn into a group alongside the Fermanagh champions (either Kinawley or Derrygonnelly, who meet in their own decider this Sunday). And so another exciting chapter in the Moneyglass story begins on Sunday on the Taylorstown Road