A first quarter hat-trick of goals from Conrad Bailey and a last quarter hat-trick from midfielder Tom Richmond book-ended a comprehensive victory for Cross & Passion Ballycastle against St Mary’s CBGS Belfast in the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup semi-final in Dunloy yesterday. With John Og Darragh also in top form and ‘Mushy Og’ McMullan always dangerous on the edge of the square the Ballycastle college were unstoppable as they secured a final place against the winners of Thursday’s second semi-final between St Killian’s and St St Patrick’s Maghera in Ballymena.
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As has been the case for the past number of years, members of Casement Social Club presented a cheque to the Antrim county board at half time in the hurling final. Our picture shows committee Anne Creggan (secretary) , Joe Compston Joe MCallin and Maria Toner presens a cheue for £25,000 to county chairman Seamus McMullan at half time in Sunday’s Antrim Senior Hurling final at Pairic MacUílín, Ballycastle
Moneyglass advanced to the semi-final of the Ulster LGFA Senior Football championship with a comprehensive win over Down champions, Bredagh as storm Ashley made conditions difficult at their new Loughbeg Road ground on Sunday evening.
A goal from Orlaith Prenter in the 11th minute saw St. Ergnat’s take brief respite from the elements as they headed to the dressing rooms leading 1-6 to 0-4 at the break but at this stage it was still very much in the balance.
After the break the Marian Hill side pushed on to add three further majors through Aoife Leahy, Cliona Griffin and Orlath Prenter to run out convincing winners in the end and set up a semi-final meeting with Ulster champions, Clann Eireann.
It was St. Ergnat’s who opened strongly at Loughbeg Road as Orlaith Prenter pointed them ahead from a free in the 3d minute but the visitors were then handed the opportunity to take the lead but Maebh Kelly had her penalty saved by Aine Devlin in the St. Ergnat’s goals.
Leah Stewart added a point for the home side and this was immediately followed by Orlaith Prenter’s opening goal in the 11th minute to move the home side five in front.
Bredagh had been under the cosh but Laoise Duffy opened their account with a point in the 15th minute with Prenter replying at the other end before Maire O’Neill and Eva Hicks for the visitors exchanged further points.
Hicks added her second of the evening to close the gap to four before Prenter from her second free of the afternoon and Eilish Ward exchanged further points to leave it 1-5 to 0-4 in favour of the home side at the break.
The Antrim champions put the game to bed in the third quarter as Aoife Leahy fired home their second goal in the 4th minute and points from Orlaith Prenter (f) and Maire O’Neill moved them nine ahead before Cliona Griffin hammered home her side’s third major of the game in the 10th minute.
The Down champions rang the changes but it would be 18 minutes before Claire Timmony opened their second half account from a free and Aislinn Keenan followed with another from play.
The home side were still very much in control as Laura McCann got her name on the score card with a good point but Bredagh were still fighting hard and were rewarded for their efforts when Eilish Ward finally breeched the home defence to find the net.
It would prove to be too little-too late as Orlaith Prenter responded with her second goal of the evening for St. Ergnat’s, deep into injury time and substitute Bronagh Devlin wrapped matters up with a point in the 35th minute.
The Moneyglass girls will not have long to celebrate and they face a much stiffer test when they travel to Lurgan in the semi-final to take on reigning Ulster champions, Clann Eireann in two weeks-time but in this form they will fancy their chances of causing an upset.
Moneyglass: 1 Aine Devlin, 2 Danielle Duffin, 3 Niamh McIntosh, 4 Niamh Neeson, 5 Aoife Leahy, 6 Sarah O’Neill, 7 Rebecca Bradley, 8 Aoife Kelly, 9 Laura McCann, 10 Annie Griffin, 11 Cathy Carey, 12 Cliona Griffin, 13 Maire O’Neill, 14 Orlaith Prenter, 15 Jo Jo Darragh,
Subs: 20 Leah Stewart, 19 Emma Louise McAreavey, 17 Bronagh Devlin
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Mac Uílín, Ballycastle
A young Ruairi Og fan runs onto the field at the final whistle
It was Sweet 16 for Cushendall on Sunday afternoon as they retained the Volunteer Cup in the midst of Storm Ashley. As the wind battered the north coast, it was Cushendall who weathered the storm to edge out Dunloy by just the minimum.
It was far from a classic final but that will matter little to the Ruairi Og’s as they wrote their name on the senior championship trophy for the 16th time. The wind had a major say in how both teams approached the decider with even the simplest of tasks made more difficult. Both sides would play a short passing game that relies on precision and speed. The speed was there but Storm Ashley was playing havoc with the precision. It came down to who made the fewest mistakes and after a strong first half playing into the breeze, the Ruairi’s pushed for home in the second.
Captain Neil McManus was his metronomic best from placed ball with a flawless display while their half back and midfield were exceptional. Ruairi McCollam with an awesome display while Eoghan Campbell’s influence on the game grew greater as the game went into the final quarter.
It was Ed McQuillan who scored their major. It came in the 45th minute and gave Cushendall a cushion, and while the Cuchullains hit back through a Seaan Elliott penalty, the Ruairi’s finished strongly.
Dunloy’s Keelan Molloy caused the Cushendall defence a lot o problems with his strong running in the second half
Dunloy will look at the opening 30 minutes when they dissect this game and rue the missed chances they had. 12 wides while hurling with a gale at their back and 12 minutes into the game before they would open their account from open play. When they did begin to find their rhythm, they managed to put daylight between the sides with a six point lead at the interval. Keelan Molloy instrumental, Seaan Elliott at his impish best while Nicky McKeague vindicated his selection with an excellent hour for the Cuchullains.
Against the elements, the Cuchullains are usually a force to be reckoned with, but 18 second half minutes passed before they would add to their half time tally. The precision wasn’t there and sometimes the wrong decision with the final execution. A lot of that can be down to the storm, most of it down to Cushendall pressure.
Both sides showed changes from their semi-final wins with Sean McAfee and Ed McQuillan coming in for Cushendall while Nicky McKeague and Anton McGrath made the Dunloy 15. Having won the toss, the Ruairi’s elected to play against the wind. It turned out to be a massive toss to win. The opening 15 minutes was a bedding in period for both sides with the opening four scores coming from placed ball, McManus and Seaan Elliott with two each. Elliott would go close to the opening goal of the game but the Ruairi’s netminder, Conor McAllister made the first of two superb saves in the first half.
A brace of points from Keelan Molloy and Paul Shiels gave Dunloy a two point lead midway through the first half while Joseph McLaughlin split the uprights for Cushendall’s first from play in the 17th minute. It would be first half injury time before the ‘Dall would register another score however as Dunloy clicked into gear.
A super score from distance by Keelan Molloy preceded the opening goal of the game. Kevin Molloy sending the sliotar towards the Dunloy full forward line where Anton McGrath broke the ball into the path of Eoin O’Neill. ‘Sammy’ would react quickest and had one thought on his mind, making no mistake from close range.
O’Neill would go close moments later after Aodhan McGarry and McGrath combined to set him free but McAllister was equal to his rasping drive.
Scores followed from Seaan Elliott (’65), Aodhan McGarry and Keelan Molloy to extend the Dunloy lead to seven. It could easily have been more but for some wayward shooting.
As the clock ticked into first half injury time, Cushendall were awarded a penalty with referee Ciaran McCloskey spotting an infringement between Phelim Duffin and McLaughlin. McManus stepped up to take the penalty and struck it well but Ryan Elliott produced a quite brilliant save to deny the Cushendall captain. McManus would convert the resultant ’65 to leave the half time score 1-8 to 0-5 in the Cuchullains favour.
Ryan Elliott turns Neil McManus’ penalty around to post just before half-time
Given the wind, Cushendall would have been delighted to be trailing by just six points but they made a slow start to the second half and it was nine minutes old before they would open the scoring. McLaughlin with a point from the most ridiculous angle on a day when everyone was struggling with the elements, it was the genius of McLaughlin who used it to his advantage.
The Ruairi’s were denied a goal chance moments before McLaughlin’s piece of magic. Fergus McCambridge with the chance but he was denied by Shorty Shiels and a block at full length, putting his body on the line for his side.
Cushendall were starting to click into gear and Ryan McCambridge fired over from wide on the right and under pressure to leave four between the sides.
Any moments of attacking pressure from Dunloy were fleeting as they looked to play their short passing game but they were denied by McAllister again when McGrath went close but the Cushendall ‘keeper dived at full length to stop the sliotar.
Fergus McCambridge and McLaughlin fired over either side of a gargantuan free from Conor McAllister. Just outside his own ’21, the Cushendall ‘keeper added his name to the list of scorers to leave one between the sides…..It must surely be the longest frees ever scored in a county final.
As the match ticked into the 45th minute, Cushendall produced a moment of magic for their goal. Eoghan Campbell with a quick side line into the path of Fergus McCambridge. Close to the corner, McCambridge spotted the run of Ed McQuillan as he evaded the Cuchullains defenders. Gathering the sliotar on the gallop, McQuillan fired past Ryan Elliott to give Cushendall the lead and mean the Ruairi’s hit 1-5 without reply.
The fans on the bank behind the Rathlin goals jump for joy as Ed McQuillan celebrates scoring his team’s goal
Dunloy needed a response and found one through Nigel Elliott. Looking to find his way through the Ruairi’s defence, he was adjudged to have been fouled and Dunloy were awarded a penalty. Seaan Elliott made no mistake with his drive and the Cuchullains edged into the lead once again with 12 minutes remaining.
Cushendall’s response was match defining and ultimately championship winning. They would hit five of the next six points in an eight minute period that saw Campbell take the game by the scruff of the neck. Scores came from Campbell, McManus (two frees), substitute Paddy McGill and Ronan McAteer while the solitary response from the Cuchullains came through an Eoin O’Neill point.
Seaan Elliott and McManus would swap scores before the Cushendall captain put three between the sides in the last minute of the hour with his seventh point of the final.
The Cuchullains pushed for the goal that would bring the game to extra time but they got no joy from a packed Cushendall defence. Shiels would fire over a brace of frees deep in injury time but time was not a friend to the Cuchullains.
Cushendall celebrate their first back to back wins since the 2014-15 seasons and have their eyes set on an Ulster semi final with the winners of Slaughtneil and Banagher in four weeks time.
Cushendall goalkeeper Conor McAlister makes a gallant effort to stop Seaan Elliott’s penalty as flies to the net to put the Cuchullains back in front again midway through the second half
TEAMS
Cushendall: Conor McAllister; Liam Gillan, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ruairi McCollam; Fred McCurry, Ryan McCambridge; Ronan McAteer, Neil McManus, Fergus McCambridge; Ed McQuillan, Sean McAfee, Joseph McLaughlin
Subs: Paddy McGill for S McAfee (40); Alex Delargy for F McCurry (53); Ciaran Neeson for E McQuillan (58); Andrew Delargy for R McCambridge (60+3)
Scorers: N McManus 0-7 (5fs 2’65s); J McLaughlin 0-3; E McQuillan 1-00; F McCambridge 0-1; R McAteer 0-1; E Campbell 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; P McGill 0-1; C McAllister 0-1 (1f)
Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Oran Quinn, Ryan McGarry, Phelim Duffin; Eoin McFerran, Paul Shiels, Kevin Molloy; Seaan Elliott, Tom McFerran; Nicky McKeague, Aodhan McGarry, Keelan Molloy; Nigel Elliott, Anton McGrath, Eoin O’Neill
Subs: Chrissy McMahon for A McGrath (44); Gabriel McTaggart for A McGarry (52); Paudie Martin for T McFerran (57)
Scorers: S Elliott 1-4 (1-00 pen, 2fs, 2’65s); E O’Neill 1-1; Keelan Molloy 0-3; P Shiels 0-3 (2fs); A McGarry 0-1
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
Neil McManus fires over a late point to seals the Ruairis win
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Andersonstown Social Club – Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Carey Faughs 1-19 Oisins Glenariffe 0-15
Saturday October 19
Brendan McTaggart reports from Healy Park, Loughgiel
A strong end to either half and a goal from Conlith McKinley ensured the Intermediate Hurling championship would return to Ballyvoy on Saturday afternoon for the second time in three years. Seven points separated the sides at the end of the hour, perhaps a slightly unfair on the Oisin’s on the overall balance of play but there’s no doubting that Carey were worthy winners.
Feichra McVeigh punches the air as he celebrates the Faughs win
They were much more direct in their play and clinical when it mattered in comparisons to Glenariffe who will rue the number of missed chances they had over the 60 minutes. Several missed frees and perhaps guilty of overplaying, the Oisin’s accuracy let them down. Well into double figures in wides and with every missed chance, the Faugh’s made them pay at the other end.
Conall McGlynn top scored with six of his seven points coming from placed ball while Conor McBride excelled. He would end the hour with five points beside his name with McKinley adding a further two points along with his goal.
Defensively, the Ballyvoy side had the answers to anything Glenariffe could throw at them. Sean McBride and Patrick Gillan were excellent in the full back line while Michael McVeigh was superb. Shea Hunter was in the thick of it all and a real threat while ‘Rocket’ James Black got my vote for man of the match. On an occasion when you need your big players to stand up to be counted, Rocket was that man for Carey. His aerial ability and use of the sliotar time and again in both attack and later in defence, Rocket excelled.
Glenariffe had top performers in Conor Patterson, Oliver Kearney and Brogan O’Connor. O’Connor with four points over the hour while the work rate of Orrin O’Connor, Alex O’Boyle, Niall Magee and Phelim Ward could never be faulted. They threw everything they could at Carey in the closing stages but got no change from a brilliant Carey defence.
Carey’s Callum Cane in action against Glenariffe’s Orrin O’Connor, during the Intermediate Hurling final in Loughgiel.
Playing with whatever wind advantage there was to be had at Healy Park, it was Seanie McIntosh who opened the scoring. Converting a ’65 in the third minute of the game. Despite that, it was Carey who looked to have settled much more quickly into their game plan. Callum Cane and Conor McBride edged them ahead while Conal McGlynn went close for goal soon after. Paul McMullan was equal to his effort from an acute angle.
McGlynn and McBride would extend the Carey lead to three before the tenth minute as Glenariffe’s profligacy in front of the target had already begun. Three wides in the same space of time gave energy to the Faughs and they were making the most of the let off.
A super score from McIntosh from wide on the right and under pressure got the Oisin’s firing again before Ciaran McKendry split the uprights.
Glenariffe went close to scoring the opening major of the game soon after with Phelim Ward denied by a heroic piece of defending by the Carey defence.
Carey were getting joy from delivering early ball into their forwards and McGlynn opened a two point lead with his second of the game and first from open play in the 15th minute. The Oisin’s were having the vast majority of the ball and despite points from McIntosh (free) and Brogan O’Connor, they recorded another three wides in the same period of time. They were well placed going into the final 10 minutes of the first half with the scores tied on five points apiece but it was the Faugh’s who finished the half superbly. Four unanswered points from Cane, Caolan McCaughan, Black and McKinley in just under five minutes put some daylight between the sides and while Brogan O’Connor fired over his second of the half, it was McBride who had the final say before the short whistle with his third point of the game to leave the half time score 0-10 to 0-6 in Carey’s favour.
Carey centre forward Shea Hunter in action during his team’s win over Glenariffe in the Intermediate Hurling Final in Loughgiel.
Four points was far from insurmountable given the wind blowing and three points unanswered for Glenariffe in the opening exchanges of the second half saw them reducing Carey’s lead to the minimum. A brilliant score from Brogan O’Connor and frees from McIntosh and O’Boyle for the Oisin’s.
A brace of frees from McGlynn at the other end of the pitch either side of McIntosh’s sixth point of the game (free). The Oisin’s were playing with more fluency and were denied a major with some brilliant goal keeping from Stevie McGinn. The Carey netminder would deny both Brogan O’Connor and Daniel Kearney in quick succession and another brace of wides looked to hurt their challenge.
Carey were playing second fiddle for the majority of that opening quarter of the second half but still held a one point lead. They took full advantage of Glenariffe’s inaccuracy with the only goal of the game in the 45th minute. McKinley got on the end of a long delivery into the danger area and broke the sliotar into his own path. He gathered the sliotar and fired his shot with his effort bouncing in front of Paul McMullan between the sticks for Glenariffe.
It was a massive score and gave Carey a shot of adrenaline at the perfect time. Brogan O’Connor would split the uprights for the fourth time in the game before McGlynn’s fourth kept four between the sides.
Glenariffe continued to push and a brace of frees from O’Boyle cut the deficit to two going into the final ten minutes but the Oisin’s challenge was rocked moments later. Michael Haughey’s game was ended with an off the ball incident involving Conall McGlynn to leave the Oisin’s down to 14 men and facing an uphill task.
A brace of points from Conor McBride got the Faughs firing again and while McIntosh’s sixth of the game left McKinley’s major between the sides with five minutes remaining, it would be Glenariffe’s last score of the game.
Two pointed frees from McGlynn preceded a massive goal chance for Fiachra McVeigh. The Carey substitute going close but was denied superbly by McMullan. McKinley and McGlynn converted placed ball’s in injury time to leave Carey seven point winners at the end of the hour.
It was scenes of sheer joy at the final whistle before a banner was unfurled with the Faugh’s remembering their number 26, ‘Wee Joe’ Hegarty who passed away earlier this year. A lovely touch from the players and club to remember one of their own amongst the unbridled joy that a championship win brings.
A highly emotional moment for the Hegarty family as team captain Shea Hunter gets his photo taken with Wee Joe’s dad Michael, his mum Andrea and sister Katie after the Carey Faughs win over Glenarife in the Intermediate Hurling final in Loughgiel.
TEAMS
Carey: Stevie McGinn; Zach McCaughan, Sean McBride, Patrick Gillan; Michael McVeigh, James Black, Conall McGlynn; John McBride, James McCouaig; Conlith McKinley, Shea Hunter, Conor McBride; Caolan McCaughan, Paddy Butler, Callum Cane
Subs: Fiachra McVeigh for P Butler (HT)
Scorers: C McGlynn 0-8 (7fs); C McBride 0-5; C McKinley 1-2 (1 ’65); C Cane 0-2; J Black 0-1; C McCaughan 0-1
Glenariffe: Paul McMullan; Patrick McIlwaine, Conor Patterson, Niall Magee; Ciaran McKendry, Michael Haughey, Callum McIlwaine; Oliver Kearney, Odhran Gillan; Orrin O’Connor, Alex O’Boyle, Phelim Ward; Brogan O’Connor, Daniel Kearney, Seanie McIntosh
Subs: Connor Kerr for D Kearney (47)
Scorers: S McIntosh 0-6 (3fs 1’65); B O’Connor 0-4; A O’Boyle 0-3 (3fs); C McKendry 0-1; C McIlwaine 0-1
Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)
Oisins centre back Niall Magee in action against Carey’s Conor McBride
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