St Mary’s Rasharkin kept themselves in the league title race when they travelled to Glenravel and beat the Con Magees by ten points. With both team field short a good few regulars the visitor always had the upper hand, and thought Glenravel stayed in touch until the last ten minutes, two quick goals from substitute James Higgins ten minutes from time killed the game as a contest.
Donagh Quigg goal in the third minute got Rasharkin off to a good start and with three points from full forward Conal McKeever and one from Quigg they moved 1-03 to 0-02 ahead by the tenth minute, the Glenravel points coming from Conlith O’Loan. The home team got a boost when a long delivery from midfield ended up the Rasharkin net but McKeever kept picking off the points for Rasharkin and by half time they had moved three points clear again, 1-09 to 1-06.
Another pointed free by Conlith O’Loan at the start of the second half cut the gap to two Rasharkin hit back with a bank when centre forward Quigg soloed through the middle of the Glenravel defence and planted the ball in the net. O’Loan pulled one back for the home team but a point by midfielder Conor McFerran and two by Conor McKillop stretched theier lead. A goal by Glenravel corner forward Luke Loughlin kept his team in touch but five minutes later Terry McGregor finished the game as a contest with two goals in as many minutes.
Four points without reply from Joe McKay, Rian Lennon, Conlith O’Loan and Adam Neeson showed a bit of resistance from the home team but Rasharkin were home and hosed and they finished with points from McMullan and Quigg to win by ten in the end.
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O’Donovan Rossa produced a storming finish to edge this excellent contest at Rossa Park on Sunday against a Portaferry side who will feel that they should have got something from this game.
The men from the Ards peninsula led 4-14 to 3-11 early in the final quarter after making a strong comeback which saw them hit goals through Cahal Coleman, Deaglan Mallon and Shane Conlan and Rossa looked in bother.
They found a response through the free taking of Deaglan Murphy and a number of fine long range points from James Connolly and Aodhan O’Brien to edge two in front with time almost up with Portaferry’s late response from Cahal Coleman coming up just short.
Murphy would be a major contributor over the hour for the Shaw’s Road side and he fired over a long range free to get them on their way and added another from a ‘65’ to sandwich a goal from James Connolly and a point from Eoin Trainor.
Portaferry took a time to settle but came back with points from Deaglan Mallon, keeper Pearse Smith from deep in his own half and a long range free from Cahal Coleman to announce their arrival.
A second goal from Connolly when he got the final touch to a long delivery put Rossa 2-3 to 0-3 ahead but Portaferry replied again through the excellent Cahal Coleman 0-2 and Deaglan Mallon to leave just three between the sides.
Connolly for Rossa and Barry Trainor and Deaglan Mallon for the visitors, exchanged points as play swung from end to end and Deaglan Murphy and James Connolly for Rossa and Trainor for Portaferry exchanged further minors as the pace of the game intensified.
The visitors then looked in for a goal but Donal Armstrong in the Rossa goal pulled off a smart save with Deaglan Murphy and Eoghan McMenamin concluding Rossa’s first half scoring and Eoin Magee replying with a monster score for the Ards men.
HT 2-7 TO 0-10
Free taker Murphy edged Rossa four in front on the restart and Pearce Short increased that lead to five before Cahal Coleman finished off a well worked move for Portaferry’s opening goal.
Normal service seemed to have been restored when the impressive Deaglan Murphy finished to the net for the home side’s third goal but the visitors were coming more and more into the game.
Deaglan Mallon closed the gap to two once more with an excellent finish to Donal Armstrong’s net and Niall Fitzsimmons struck a fine long range point before Shane Connlon moved the ‘Ports’ four ahead with his side’s third goal of the contest.
It was compelling viewing as James Connolly and Deaglan Murphy for Rossa exchanged further point with Conor Fay for the visitors and another Murphy free found response from Niall Fitzsimmons following a mix-up in the Rossa defence.
A fourth Portaferry goal from Noah Rogers following a smart turn looked to have put the men from the Ards in a strong position but indiscipline would cost them dearly going down the home straight.
Rossa would out score their opponents 0-8 to 0-3 in the run in to full time with Murphy adding three frees to his impressive total and James Connolly 0-3 and Aodhan O’Brien 0-2 seeing them home by the minimum.
Niall Fitzsimmons, Noah Rogers and Cahal Coleman were the Portaferry marksmen during those final exchanges and they will be scratching their heads on just how they let this one get away from them.
Glenariffe travelled to Carey on Sunday and came away winners after a fifteen point win over the home side in Ballyvoy. In a repeat of last year’s Intermediate final the Oisins had too much for a Carey side who are still short a few regulars from last years’ side. On top from the start the Oisins found their scores much easier come by, with corner forward Alex O’Boyle dominating the scoring from frees and from play. O’Boyle hit four in a row in the first five minutes in reply to two for the Faughs from Conor McBride. The next next seven points all went to the visitors five of them from O’Boyle and two from Orrin O’Connor before Conal McGlynn broke the sequence with a pointed free from distance, and after Orrin O’Connor got his third point for the Oisins , Callum Cane came back with one for the home side. Seven ahead at this stage the visitors finished the half with points from Seanie McIntosh and Odhran Gillan to go in at the break leading by 0-13 to 0-4
Sean McBride turns away after scroing Carey’s second goal.
A Calum McIlwaine point at the start of the second half increased the Oisins lead to ten, but Carey hit back with point from Conal McGlynn and when Patrick Butler got in for a goal shortly after they were back in the game. Three points from Calum McIlwaine, Alex O’Boyle and Oliver Kearney pushed the gap out to eight again, before Carey found the net again, this time through full back Sean McBride, who had moved up to the edge of the square. Shea Hunter added a point from out on the wing and suddenly the gap looked manageable, but the Oisins hit back right away with a well struck goal from Michael O’Boyle and three more points, two of them from Alex O’Boyle and one from his brother Michael, and when Seanie McIntosh grabbed goal number two there was no way back for the home side.
Action from the half time games
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Antrim produced another disappointing performance as they fell to visitors Limerick in the Tailteann Cup at a bright and sunny Corrigan Park on Saturday evening. Following last week’s defeat to Westmeath in Mullingar the Saffrons were expected to overcome the challenge of a Limerick side who gained promotion from division 4 this season but that’s not how it turned out.
The Leesiders got off to the better start with James Naughton and Iain Corbett pointing them two ahead by the 5th minute but Antrim responded and might have had a goal but Ruairi McCann failed to get a touch on a teasing delivery from his Aghagallon colleague, Eunan Walsh,
Dominic McEnhill who top scored for the Saffrons
The Saffrons seemed to be settling nicely into the game however and Conor Hand and James McAuley replied with points to level matters by the 10th minute.
Peter Nash restored the Limerick lead from a close range free before Eunan Walsh hit a tantalising 2 pointer to move the Corrigan Park side 0-4 to 0-3 ahead by the 18th minute.
That would be as good as it got for the home side as Nash equalised from another free and Danny Neville restored the visitors lead before Marc Jordan’s effort came back of the crossbar as Antrim tried to respond.
Gradually the visitors began to get on top as Antrim took the wrong options or were guilty of handling errors or poor choices and Peter Nash and Tadhg O’Siochru moved Jimmy Lee’s side 0-7 to 0-4 ahead with three minutes remaining o the break.
Dominic McEnhill pulled one back following a period of sustained Antrim pressure but the final score of the half would fall to Limerick’s Cillian Fahy who curled over an excellent late effort to leave his side three ahead at the break.
Antrim introduced Conor Stewart for Patrick Finnegan for the second half with Marc Jordan dropping back into defence and Stewart partnering Conor Hand at mid-field for the second half.
It was visitors Limerick who started the newhalf on the front foot however as Jason Hassett finished a great move with a fine 2pointer.
Antrim replied through a Dominic McEnhill double to close the gap to three once more but again Limerick found a response and O’Siochru pointed at the other end.
Eoghan McCabe clears up the danger as Danny Neville challenges
The visitors were growing in a confidence that the home seemed to lack and they might have had a goal but Emmet Righter stumbled as he was about to race clear and the opportunity went a begging.
Back came the visitors however with Iain Corbett hitting a good point and Dominic McEnhill replying at the other end but the game was slipping away from Andy McEntee’s side and Peter Nash pointed before Emmet Righter took advantage of a misplaced kick out to add another.
It went from bad to worse for the Saffrons when Limerick were awarded a penalty which Iain Corbett converted to move the Leesiders 10 in front at the end of the third quarter and it looked as good as over.
Conor Hand pulled one back for the home side but Limerick were flying and O’Siochru and James Naughton replied at the other end as the visitors confidence grew.
Antrim needed a goal if they were to have any chance of closing the gap but Ruairi McCann had his attempt blocked down before McEnhill sent over a good point as the Saffrons introduced Fionn Magle, Niall Burns and John Morgan.
It was Limerick who continued to create and convert the better chances however and James Naughton added a point with only a couple of minutes remaining. It was substitute Niall Burns who would eventually create the opening for an Antrim goal when he fired across the danger area and Paddy McBride rose to palm home what proved to be the game’s final score.
The result means that Antrim have lost both of their opening two games in group three and will need to beat London in their final group match in a fortnight’s time to secure a preliminary quarter-final spot. Limerick will take on Westmeath in their final group fixture in a straight shootout for top spot and a place in the quarter-final. Antrim: Mick Byrne, Eoghan McCabe, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, James McAuley, Dermot McAleese, Patrick Finnegan, Conor Hand, Marc Jordan, Ronan Boyle, Adam Loughran, Patrick McBride, Ryan McQuillan, Ruairi McCann, Dominic McEnhill Subs: Conor Stewart for Patrick Finnegan, Fionn Nagle for McCann, Niall Burns for Adam Loughran John Morgan for Ronan Boyle
Eunan Walsh, Antrim goes past Paul Maher, Limerick
Antrim: Mick Byrne, Eoghan McCabe, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, James McAuley, Dermot McAleese, Patrick Finnegan, Conor Hand, Marc Jordan, Ronan Boyle, Adam Loughran, Patrick McBride, Ryan McQuillan, Ruairi McCann, Dominic McEnhill
Subs: Conor Stewart for Patrick Finnegan, Fionn Nagle for McCann, Niall Burns for Adam Loughran John Morgan for Ronan Boyle
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It was a chastening defeat on Saturday afternoon for Antrim hurlers as Galway ran riot at Salthill. 28 points the difference by the time Thomas Gleeson blew the final whistle, six goals conceded and it could have been more. The Tribesmen ran riot as the Saffrons crumbled.
Of the 6-27 scored, just nine of that came from placed ball with Conor Cooney, Conor Whelan, Tom Monaghan and Brian Concannon starring.
Antrim started the contest superbly and for the opening 25 to 30 minutes, they were well in this game. The movement, passing, precision of pass, it was all there. The only thing that was missing was the accuracy in front of the target. Five wides in the opening 15 minutes, a couple dropping short in the same period of time but by the 18th minute Antrim trailed by just one point.
Three points separated the sides going into the 30th minute when the home side finished the half with a flourish. Concannon with the first goal in the 31st minute, a quite brilliant finish to the top corner after strong work by Conor Whelan.
The lead was stretched to seven when Anthony Burns found the net for a second time. Getting on the end of a long ball, he had space and time to pick his spot and fired to the bottom corner of Ryan Elliott’s net.
Antrim’s frustration was compounded even further when Declan McCloskey was sent off for an off the ball incident in the second minute of injury time. A decision that clearly incensed the Antrim management team.
Galway went into the half time break with an 11 point advantage, a man extra advantage and with whatever wind there was blowing at Pearse Stadium, they had it at their backs for the second half.
It was always going to be an uphill task for the Saffrons but any thoughts on a resurgence of sorts was put to bed in the opening seven minutes of the second half. Further goals from Concanon and Burns with points from Monaghan and Conor Cooney stretched the lead to 20 points in the blink of an eye.
Antrim kept their scoreboard ticking through Joseph McLaughlin frees and later Gerard Walsh but the Saffrons rarely looked like getting in behind the Galway defence to test Darach Fahy between the sticks.
The fifth Galway goal came from substitute Declan McLaughlin, Concannon with an outrageous assist as the Tribesmen relentlessly dismantled the Saffron defence.
26 points separated the sides when Antrim managed to breach the Galway defence. Niall McGarel with the finish after the initial run and shot from Paul Boyle was well saved from Fahy but the Glenarm forward was on hand to fire home the rebound in the 67th minute.
The Galway response was to find the back of Ryan Elliott’s net for a sixth time. Kevin Cooney with the finish as the home side coasted home.
Overall, a disappointing performance from Antrim and while it’s safe to say those six or seven minutes before and after half time had a major say in the outcome of this game, there is work to be done ahead of what is a season defining game in Tullamore next Sunday.
Actually it could have been all over as Offaly led Wexford for the vast majority of their fourth round game in Wexford Park and it took a late Lee Chin goal to seal the home side’s win. Had Offaly held on then Wexord and Offaly would both have been on two points, and even Antrim had beaten the Faithful county next week to leave them on same points, their goal difference is so inferior it would not have matered.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Niall O’Connor, Paddy Burke; Declan McCloskey, Conor Boyd, Conal Bohill; Gerard Walsh, Sean McKay; Ryan McCambridge, Eoghan Campbell, Nigel Elliott; Joseph McLaughlin, Eoin O’Neill, Cormac McKeown
Scorers: J McLaughlin 0-7 (6fs); G Walsh 0-3 (3fs); Niall McGarel 1-00; E O’Neill 0-2; C McKeown 0-1
Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Fintan Burke, Darren Morrissey; Seán Linnane, Gavin Lee, TJ Brennan; Cianan Fahy, Ronan Glennon; Tom Monaghan, Kevin Cooney, Conor Cooney; Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Anthony Burns
Scorers: C Cooney 0-11 (9fs); A Burns 2-2; T Monaghan 0-6; B Concannon 2-00; Declan McLaughlin 1-1; K Cooney 1-1; C Whelan 0-2; R Glennon 0-2; D Morrissey 0-1; S Linnane 0-1
