by thesaffrongael

Late goals seal vital win for Loughgiel

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship


Loughgiel 2-21 Rossa 0-15

At Randalstown

Pics by Michael Corcoran

Two late goals helped Loughgiel secure a vital 12-point victory over Rossa at Randalstown and kept them firmly in contention for a place in the semi-finals of the Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship.

The Shamrocks appeared to be in control when they led by seven points at half-time, but Rossa produced a spirited second-half fightback and reduced the gap to just two. However, a Roan McGarry goal halted their revival before Paul Boyle struck Loughgiel’s second major in added time.

Loughgiel must now prepare for a repeat of last year’s county final when they meet champions St John’s in their last group game in two weeks’ time, with their prospects of securing a semi-final place resting on the outcome.

Rossa also remain in the hunt for a quarter-final place. A draw against Ballycastle on the final day would take the Shaw’s Road men through, while victory for the McQuillan’s club would see them advance at Rossa’s expense.

Rian McMullan opened the scoring inside the first minute, but Tiarnan Murphy quickly replied for Rossa. Points from Shan McGrath and Rosie Fitzgerald edged Loughgiel ahead before Luca McCusker reduced the gap to one.

Loughgiel then began to take control. Betty McKee converted a free before Boyle and McGrath increased their advantage to 0-7 to 0-2. Dáire Murphy temporarily interrupted the Shamrocks’ run, but another McGrath point and a Roan McGarry free stretched the lead to six.

Tiarnan Murphy registered his second score for Rossa, only for Fitzgerald to respond with two points on either side of a Dáire Murphy free. McMullan and McGarry then pushed Loughgiel eight clear before McCusker’s late reply left the Shamrocks leading by 0-13 to 0-6 at the interval.

Gerard Walsh opened the second-half scoring from a free, and the teams exchanged points during the opening stages. McMullan and Dan McCloskey were on target for Loughgiel, while Dáire Murphy converted two frees and Walsh sent over a 65 for Rossa.

A McGarry free kept Loughgiel six ahead, but Rossa then produced their best spell. McCusker and Liam McEnhill scored from play before two more Dáire Murphy frees cut the deficit to 0-16 to 0-14 with just over eight minutes of normal time remaining.

The momentum appeared to be with Rossa, but Loughgiel delivered the game’s decisive score almost immediately. McGarry found the net in the 52nd minute to move the Shamrocks five points clear and bring Rossa’s comeback to an abrupt halt.

McGarry followed his goal with two converted frees before McGrath added his fifth point from play. Dáire Murphy replied with his seventh point for Rossa, but McGrath answered at the other end before Boyle struck Loughgiel’s second goal to put the result beyond doubt.

Rossa’s difficult finish was compounded when Walsh was shown a red card in added time, and McGarry completed the scoring with his eighth point of the contest as Loughgiel closed out an emphatic 2-21 to 0-15 victory.

Loughgiel Shamrocks

  1. Cormac McFadden
  2. Rory McCloskey
  3. Liam Glackin
  4. Tiernan Coyle
  5. Caolan Blair
  6. Decky McCloskey
  7. Ben McGarry
  8. Betty McKee
  9. James McNaughton
  10. Rian McMullan
  11. Rosie Fitzgerald
  12. Dan McCloskey
  13. Roan McGarry
  14. Paul Boyle
  15. Shan McGrath

Scorers:
13. Roan McGarry (1G, 6P)
21. Shan McGrath (6P)
14. Paul Boyle (1G, 1P)
10. Rian McMullan (3P)
11. Rosie Fitzgerald (3P)
8. Betty McKee (1P)
12. Dan McCloskey (1P)

Substitutions:
Tiernan Coyle (17) → Enda Og McGarry (3) (23:58)
Betty McKee (8) → Bicky McGarry (20) (48:45)
James McNaughton (9) → Jack McCloskey (15) (51:47)
Dan McCloskey (12) → Snowy McGarry (19) (55:33)
Paul Boyle (14) → Tiago McGarry (23) (63:36)

O’Donovan Rossa

  1. (1) Donal Armstrong
  2. (2) Niall Crossan
  3. (3) Ciarán Orchin
  4. (4) Corey Walsh
  5. (5) Declan McCartney
  6. (6) Gerard Walsh
  7. (7) Diarmaid Rogan
  8. (8) Stephen Beatty
  9. (14) Eoin Traynor
  10. (10) Dominic McEnhill
  11. (11) Dáire Murphy
  12. (12) Luca McCusker
  13. (13) Aodhan O’Brien
  14. (24) Dara Rocks
  15. (23) Tiarnan Murphy

Scorers:
11. (11) Dáire Murphy (7P)
12. (12) Luca McCusker (3P)
6. (6) Gerard Walsh (2P)
23. (23) Tiarnan Murphy (2P)
21. (21) Liam McEnhill (1P)

Substitutions:
(10) Dominic McEnhill (10) → (21) Liam McEnhill (21) (30:53)
(23) Tiarnan Murphy (23) → (22) Deaglan Murphy (22) (35:57)
(24) Dara Rocks (24) → (15) Thomas Morgan (15) (36:03)
(7) Diarmaid Rogan (7) → (19) Jack O’Loughlin (19) (50:14)
(12) Luca McCusker (12) → (27) James Connolly (27) (55:54)

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by thesaffrongael

Four-goal Cushendun maintain perfect championship record

Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship – Round 4
Cushendun Emmets 4-14 Randalstown 1-12
Whitehill

Cushendun maintained their perfect record in the Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship with an impressive 11-point victory over Randalstown at Whitehill.

The Emmets have now collected four wins from four and are virtually assured of a semi-final place. However, they must still avoid defeat against Glenarm at a neutral venue in two weeks’ time to secure direct passage to the last four. A Glenarm victory would see the Feystown men overtake them, although Cushendun are already guaranteed at least a quarter-final play-off.

Harry Kilgore opened the scoring for Cushendun after two minutes before Randalstown’s Tiarnan Bonnes replied from a free. Kilgore restored the visitors’ advantage, with Loaf McNeill, Shane McQuillan and Fiontan McQuillan adding further points as the Emmets moved 0-6 to 0-2 ahead.

Sean Duffin kept Randalstown in contention from placed balls, but Cushendun struck for their opening goal after 19 minutes. Fiontan McQuillan’s initial shot was saved, but Loaf McNeill reacted quickest to turn the rebound into the net.

Duffin added three more frees before the interval, but Cushendun landed another major blow on the half-hour mark. Fiontan McQuillan raced onto a through ball and fired past the advancing goalkeeper to leave the Emmets 2-8 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.

McQuillan struck again inside the opening minute of the second half, finding the net after another good save from the Randalstown goalkeeper.

The home side responded positively. Duffin converted two early frees before Eamon Óg McAllister produced a fine finish in the fourth minute, driving the ball low into the bottom corner to reduce the gap to 3-8 to 1-7.

Cushendun quickly steadied themselves. Harry Kilgore sent over his third point before Conor McHugh’s long-range effort caught the goalkeeper off guard and dropped over the bar.

Paddy Morgan then effectively settled the contest when he grabbed Cushendun’s fourth goal in the 11th minute, the corner back showing the forwards how it is done to stretch their advantage to 4-10 to 1-7.

Duffin continued to punish infringements from frees and Sean McKinley also found the target for Randalstown, but the home side could not get close enough to seriously threaten the Emmets’ lead.

Loaf McNeill, Shane McQuillan and Sean McKay completed Cushendun’s scoring as the visitors safely closed out their fourth consecutive championship victory.

Cushendun now face Glenarm in a decisive final group fixture, knowing a win or draw will secure a semi-final place, while Randalstown’s championship campaign ended in defeat despite Duffin’s ten-point contribution.

Cushendun scorers: Fiontan McQuillan 2-3 (0-2 frees), Loaf McNeill 1-2 (0-1 free), Paddy Morgan 1-0, Harry Kilgore 0-3, Shane McQuillan 0-2, Conor McHugh 0-2, Callum Kilgore 0-1, Sean McKay 0-1.

Randalstown scorers: Eamon Óg McAllister 1-0, Sean Duffin 0-10 (frees), Tiarnan Bonnes 0-1 (free), Sean McKinley 0-1.

by thesaffrongael

Gort na Mona survive defensive lapses to secure top spot

Antrim Junior Hurling Championship
Group Two
Gort na Mona 3-21
Davitts 3-12
At Hannahstown

Featured Image: Desi McClean who scored 0-9 for Gort na Mona,

Gort na Mona survived three first half defensive lapses to secure their place at the top of Group 2 of the JHC with a 3-21 to 3-12 victory over a resilient Davitt’s side in a bruising contest at Hannahstown on Saturday afternoon.

.Despite what the nine-point margin suggests, the Mona Bye-Pass men were forced to work hard for this win in a game that was fiercely contested and certainly wasn’t for the faint hearted.

In the end it was the attacking brilliance of Patrick McCaffrey and Desi McClean that was instrumental in out gunning their rivals.

The game opened with an immediate shock for Gort na Mona. A blocked clearance from goalkeeper Caolan McCrory allowed Anthony Rowntree to intercept and find the net within the opening minutes.

Ruairi Scullion fires home Gort na Mona’s opening goal

The early setback forced the Turf Lodge men to chase the game. Desi McClean provided the leadership required, settling nerves with an array of frees and a spectacular sideline cut that sailed between the uprights.

Ruairi Scullion briefly put Gort in the driving seat with a close-range goal, but defensive vulnerability struck the Mona Bye-Pass side again. Rowntree capitalized on a loose strike to secure his second goal, before a long-range 65-yard free from Davitt’s standout player, Sean Smyth slipped past McCrory into the net. Despite conceding three goals, Gort’s superior point-scoring efficiency via Thomas McCaffrey and McClean ensured they carried a 1-13 to 3-03 lead into the break.

Second-Half Dominance

The second half saw Gort na Mona tighten their grip on the fixture by shifting away from defensive errors and maximizing their attacking depth. Neil Henry and Darron Boyd registered fine points from play to keep the scoreboard ticking. The decisive blow came when McClean and Scullion combined to feed Patrick McCaffrey, who slotted into an empty net.

Davitt’s relied heavily on the accurate free-taking of Smyth to stay within striking distance as the intensity raised on the pitch. However, McClean’s master-class from placed balls ensured Davitt’s could never close the gap. McCaffrey put the result beyond doubt five minutes from time, pouncing on a scrambled clearance to fire a rocket into the top corner.

Davitt’s Marcas Toner runs at the Gort na Mona defence

Gort na Mona progress straight to a home semi-final in Turf Lodge in four weeks, though their management will want to address the concession of three soft goals while Davitt’s drop into the quarter-finals but can take massive confidence from their ability to breach the Gort defence ahead of the knockout rounds.

Gort na Mona XV: C McCrory; T Ó Cadhlaigh, G McKenna, C Connolly; T Morton, D Keenan, M Rea; P McCaffrey 2-6 (0-1F), N Henry 0-2; T McCaffrey 0-3, S Doyle 0-1, N Healy; R Scullion 1-0; D McClean 0-9 (0-7F)

Davitt’s XV: A McLaughlin; J Winters, C Heaney, N Maginn; O Heaney, D Mooney, M Rowntree; C Gallagher, P Carleton; M Toner 0-2, S Smyth 1-9 (1-6F), C Maguire; P Reid, A Rowntree 2-0, C Rainey 0-1

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

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by thesaffrongael

St John’s run continues but Ballycastle made them work for their win

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship – Round 2

St John’s 1-22 Ballycastle 1-18

St John’s secured their place in the knockout stages of the Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship with a hard-fought 1-22 to 1-18 victory over Ballycastle at Slemish Park, Ballymena. Ballycastle, who previously lost their opener to Loughgiel, fought bravely and even held a three-point lead in the first half before falling short. They will now face Rossa in a decisive final round-robin game to determine the remaining knockout qualifier.

Ballycastle started strong following and after surviving an early goalmouth scramble, which seemed certain to produce a St John’s goal, the took the lead with a free from Cadhan Crawford. St John’s quickly found their rhythm through an Oisin Mac Manus free and a 60-metre strike by Aaron Bradley. Ronan Laverty and Crawford kept the scoreboard ticking for Ballycastle, building a brief three-point lead but St John’s responded with a flurry of points, including a long-range effort from Conal Morgan and scores from Michael Bradley and Conall Bohill. Niall McKenna and Conor Boyd found their range from play for Ballycastle to maintain pressure, but late first-half points from Oisin Donnelly, Mc Manus, and Aaron Bradley ensured St John’s took a slender two-point lead into the break.

The second half erupted immediately as Aaron Bradley and McKenna traded quick points in the opening minute. Shea Shannon pushed St John’s further ahead before a dramatic 90-yard delivery from Ballycastle’s Eoin McAlonan deceived Domnhal Nugent in the St John’s goal, and found the net, leveling the game. The pivotal moment arrived in the 40th minute when Aaron Bradley soloed through the defence to bury a decisive goal for St John’s. Goalkeeper Domhnall Nugent added an inspirational long-range free, while substitute Ronan Donnelly delivered vital scores down the stretch. Ballycastle battled fiercely, with Seamus McAuley adding to their tally, but a crucial late save by Nugent against Ballycastle’s Conor Donnelly preserved the St John’s advantage. Ballycastle ultimately rued a string of five consecutive second-half wides that stalled their comeback momentum.

Ballycastle1 Eamon Elliott (GK), 2 Oran Kearney, 3 Conal Colgan, 4 Cathair Donnelly, 5 Darragh Donnelly, 6 Conor Boyd, 7 Eoin McAlonan, 8 Ronan Laverty, 9 Tiernan Smyth, 10 Neal McAuley, 11 Seamus McAuley, 12 Darragh Kelly, 13 Conor Donnelly, 14 Niall McKenna, 15 Diarmaid McShane, 16 Ruairi McShane (GK), 17 Ardan Kelly, 18 James Bakewell, 19 Oisin McAuley, 20 Cormac Donnelly, 21 Jack McGowan, 22 Patrick McAlonan, 23 Ciaran McKeague, 24 Niall McClean, 25 Cadhan Crawford, 26 Callum Campbell, 27 Reuben McClean, 28 Mark McClean, 29 Conal Magee, 30 Lorcan Donnelly, 31 Oisin Donnelly, and 32 Vincent O’Donaghue.

St John’s 1 Domhnall Nugent (GK), 2 Conal Morgan, 3 Ciaran Johnston, 4 Lorcan McCallin, 5 Enda McGurk, 6 Sean Wilson, 7 Ryan McNulty, 8 Caoimhin Hanna, 9 Aaron Bradley, 10 Oisin Donnelly, 11 Shea Shannon, 12 Conall Bohill, 13 Donal Carson, 14 Caolan Wilson, 15 Oisin Mac Manus, 16 Simon Doherty (GK), 17 Ruairi Galbraith, 18 Danaan McKeogh, 19 James Wilson, 20 Michael Bradley, 21 Michael Darragh, 22 Ronan Donnelly, 23 Fionntan McKinney, 24 Tomas Adams, 25 Conor Hand, 26 Barry McFall, 27 Odhran Carleton, 28 Daire King, 29 Conor Johnston, and 30 Fearghal MacManus.

Referee – Paddy Tumelty

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by thesaffrongael

Dunloy power home for round two win in the Antrim senior championship

Loughgiel 2-12 Dunloy 3-17 Match referee Paul O’Neill

Report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Fr. Healy Park

On a perfect Saturday afternoon, a large crowd gathered to witness round two of the Antrim Camogie championship fixture between two familar foes. Speculation before the game had supporters thinking that today’s game would be throttled down to accommodate an early round robin stage. But they were wrong. Both squads came out swinging the camán to give spectators a pulsating game and ultimately Dunloy delivered a shot across Loughgiel’s bow with a show of tight camogie and knowing how to be efficient with the scraps around the edge of the Shamrocks’ box and get over the line with some to spare.

Although Dunloy opened up with a point from a set ball in under ten seconds, it was Loughgiel that delivered the first heavy piece of artillery from an alert Lucia McNaughton, pulling on the sliotar just outside the rectangle to tidy up a loose sliotar, in just under the two minute mark.

Loughgiel’s Ciara Laverty looks for a Shamrock jersey in the first half

Points would follow from both sides, with Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty cleaning up a puck out before Dunloy’s Aine Magill, Eobha McAllister and Katie Molloy replied, the latter two points coming towards the end of a lengthy period of physical cat and mouse.

With almost twenty minutes gone in the first half, Loughgiel’s McNaughton found Marie Laverty for a timely point to go one ahead before floating a soaring point of her own, from close to the centre of the pitch. It was toe to toe until Dunloy drew up alongside Loughgiel after Nicole McAtamney slotted her point neatly over the bar from an industrious Caoimhe Molloy, running hard to possess a loose sliotar.

A careless throw of the ball gave the Cuchullin’s their first opportunity to edge into the lead from McAtamney’s set ball, but that was only momentary as Loughgiel’s Orlagh Laverty broke through to deliver the sliotar to Marie Laverty running ahead. Laverty punished the back of the net to shift the Shamrocks back into the lead at 2-04 to 0-08. Another point apiece just before the short whistle left both sides with every thing to do in the second half to secure a win.

Loughgiel looked like they were in their stride but Dunloy’s second half play towards the lough road was text book, drawing the defence out to open up gaps for the omnipresent Eobha McAllister. With barely ten minutes gone, McAllister managed to recycle an attempt at goal from short range, giving the goalkeeper little chance of a save.

A couple of points from set play gave each side level pegging at Loughgiel 2-09 Dunloy 1-12 before an unmarked Aine Magill would punish Loughgiel, striking into an almost open goal. This was a tell tale moment. Dunloy surged ahead by three points, making that six as McAllister dusted off the three points, two of those from set play.

Aine Magill digs out the sliotar and moments later delivers for a green flag

Loughgiel bounced back with two points on the trot but substitute Casey Crawford neutralised one of those with a clean point from a long pass deep from within Cuchullin territory. Loughgiel needed two goals to pull off a tie but a busy Eobha McAllister had other intentions when she offloaded to Caitlin Crawford, running at pace and making no mistake in finding Loughgiel’s net. McAllister would close out Dunloy’s account with another point before Loughgiel had a chance to pull back a goal from an awarded penalty. Loughgiel’s Róisín McCormick drilled the sliotar up under the bar but the sliotar floated just over for the point and the long whistle, Loughgiel 2-12 Dunloy 3-17.

Caitlin Crawford polished off the third and final goal for Dunloy in today’s round two Antrim championship game

Dunloy have changed the narrative of the round robin stages with this win today, but no doubt the Shamrocks will take stock and work on the fix with a less intensive game coming up next week before the challenge from the Antrim league winners, Cushendall.

You can see more photos from the game here…

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Loughgiel starting panel

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Amy Boyle, Ciara Laverty, Anna Connolly, Lucia McNaughton, Annie Lynn, Róisín McCormick, Shanna Deery, Orlagh Laverty, Marie Laverty, Katie McKillop

Dunloy Starting panel

Clodagh O’Kane, Sarah McIlhatton, Brid Magill, Katherine Mullan, Eilis Kearns, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon, Eimear Jonnston, Bronach Magill, Caoimhe Molloy, Caitlin Crawford, Nicole McAtamney, Eobha McAllister, Katie Molloy, Aine Magill

Graphic courtesy of Brona McCollum