Glenariffe-Glenravel booked their place in the final of the Antrim Minor A Hurling final when the beat Rossa in Sunday’s semi-final in Waterfoot. On top from the start the home side grabbed an early goal through Calum McIlwaine and with points from Phelim Ward and and some excellent scores from man of the match Orrin O’Connor, including his team’s second goal, they went on to lead 2-08 to 0-4 at half time.
Rossa pulled a couple of points back at the star of the second half and with the breeze behind them they closed the gap a little. However the home team soon reasserted their superiority and with Joe McKay joining Phelim Ward and Orrin O’Connor in the scoring ranks they stretched their lead even further and were 5-19 to 1-6 ahead at the break, the Rossa goal coming from full forward Finn Jemfrey from a penalty.
GLENARIFFE-GLENRAVEL
Ben Duncan, Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Michael Furey, James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort, Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion, Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christoper Leach, Oisin Gillen, Phelim Ward, Joe McKay
ROSSA
Andrew McStay, Fiachra McDonald, Shea Cunningham, Setanta McDonald, Jay Ward. Jude Collins, Conal Shortt, Corey Walsh, Keevan Grieve, Ruairi McDonald, Liam McEnhill, Niall May, Dara Boylan, Fionn Jemfrey, Fara Morgan.
Referee- Darren McKeown
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Match report and photo album from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park
A mizzling afternoon with a strengthening breeze blowing from the clubhouse up the pitch and a battling Ballycastle team managed to get the better of Loughgiel as the Shamrock’s struggled to get the sliotar up into Ballycastle’s half during the first thirty minutes.
Ballycastle pegged Loughgiel to a no score against their own six points and Shamrock supporters held out for a possible swing in fortunes as they took the breeze on their backs in the second half but despite chances that fizzled out short or wide, the Town doubled their score and a goal for good measure.
Referee Shane McDonnell took charge at noon, after presiding over some of the games up in Fr. Barrett Park for the North Antrim GAA U12.5 Festival of Hurling. It would be two minutes before Ballycastle made a foray into their scoring zone and Grainne Hunter would stir the large Fridge Raiders scoreboard into action with the Town’s first point. Hunter would return for a second point minutes later as it was deflected up and over the bar.
Over the next fifteen minutes, Hunter would strike again, with two more points and one from Kaci-Lee Hunter as Loughgiel fought to try and make their five frees count into the wind without success.
Ballycastle looked like they were building a move as Hunter found Shannon McQuillan in a useful space but Loughgiel’s Ellie Glackin would be solid throughout the entire game and denied this attempt as it went out for a 45 and Ballycastle’s Emmer Connor made that six points to Loughgiel’s none as McDonnell blew for half time.
The expectation of a move from Loughgiel in the second half hung on how they would take advantage of the blustery breeze and could Ballycastle push into the wind close enough to score. The answer to that came quickly as McQuillan pointed from the edge of Loughgiel’s 13m box after one minute and thirty on the clock. McQuillan would clip another two points from frees as Loughgiel struggled with getting the passing distance correctly, as sliotars ran on for Ballycastle jerseys to roll up and turn over.
McQuillan would show further style at thirteen on the clock as she delivered her sliotar deep into Loughgiel’s Eimear McGivern’s net. Fortune and favour would assist the sliotar to drop short but deflected off the stick of Kara Brolly and up into McGivern’s net. This would be the only goal from Ballycastle, as McGivern had a solid run of saves throughout the game and a long puck out aided at least a dozen healthy clearances.
Ballycastle were to face the wrath of the wind, and four successive frees would drop short for Loughgiel to clear back out. Town supporters would have to wait until twenty five minutes elapsed as another goal attempt was foiled but the Town were able to turn that over for their point from Hunter.
Ballycastle were by now over the line with twenty seven minutes gone in the second half but an eager McQuillan pointed after a clever pass from Tara McAfee, and as Loughgiel’s Eibhlín Kearney cleared the sliotar from a Ballycastle attack, Grainne Hunter turned that over the bar to move Ballycastle to 1-12.
Loughgiel were pushing up, despite a wide margin to close in the remaing minutes, Neala Clarke embarked on a long solo run that although drifted wide, McDonnell pulled back for a foul. Katie Glackin tucked that well over the bar for Loughgiel’s only point in the game as McQuillan took the honour of closing the Town’s account with a point that was assisted by a sublimely delicate pass from Tara McAfee.
McDonnell blew with a minute extra, leaving the scoreboard Loughgiel 0-01 Ballycastle 1-13 in today’s Antrim Camogie Junior Championship Group 1.
Antrim Camogie Senior Championship group game Loughgiel v Dunloy 14th Sept 2024
Loughgiel 6-10 Dunloy 0-08
Match report and photo album from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park
A porridge sky shifting quickly across the horizon was governed by a strong southerly breeze running up the length of the pitch in Fr. Healy Park, but the mild temperature helped to avoid spoiling the afternoon for many of the supporters lining the pitch. An in-form Shamrocks side clicked into gear and ran out the convincing winners as Dunloy struggled to find a weakness to leverage, despite taking the game to the hosts in the first five minutes.
Six Shamrock goals, divided equally between the two halves, dealt a blow to the Cuchulainns, reminiscent of July’s league game at Pearce Park. Dunloy will no doubt take stock, regroup and will want to avoid meeting Loughgiel in the semi final, at least not before dusting off today’s loss.
Owen Elliott took charge of the game and with Loughgiel electing to play into the wind, towards the clubhouse, promptly got proceedings underway, throwing in down towards the low side of the pitch. Dunloy’s Katie Molloy pointed within the first two minutes from a pass laid off by Brid Magill. Aine Magill was quick to bring trouble back to Loughgiel but a brave block from Emma McFadden forced Magill to work and persevere for her point. With Dunloy two on the board, Eobha McAllister would make that three just before Christine McCloskey was awarded a free but free taker, McFadden, was unable to reach the posts against the wind, leaving Dunloy to smother the sliotar into safety.
The sliotar didn’t stay safe for too long as Loughgiel’s Caitrin Dobbin netted on the nine minutes followed by a fine point from Roisin McCormick from around the hosts’ dugout area. Play commenced with Loughgiel returning back to cause the visitors more problems but Elliott blew for a foul on McCormick and that was safely dispatched for back to back points with twelve gone on the clock.
Loughgiel kept applying pressure and had Annie Lynn drifting the sliotar off target from a McCormick pass that looked promising but the Loughgiel supporters would settle for a second goal on twenty minutes as Lucia McNaughton delivered into a sure-footed McCormick as she moved with authority into the striking zone.
It wouldn’t all be about the full forward line though, as McCormick swept back deep on the puc-out, finding Clare McKillop holding a right wing back position running into space. McKillop would solo run half the length of the field before delivering over the bar for her point.
With twenty one minutes on the large Fridge Raiders scoreboard, Loughgiel’s Annie Lynn shook the back of Mary Martin’s net and the Shamrock’s tally of goals were now three and three points to Dunloy’s three points.
Awarded a free in her own half, Loughgiel’s McNaughton quickly offloaded to McCormick but a dying sliotar was spilled wide by Dunloy for the 45. McCormick tucked the 45 over the bar, followed by a free for a foul on Anna McKillop. A welcome point from play came from Caitrin Dobbin with twenty nine on the clock, after a sequence of interplaying hand passes with Christine McCloskey as the two Shamrocks weaved their way up to within Dobbin’s striking distance.
Although the Cuchulainnes hadn’t raised a flag in nearly twenty five minutes, they were grinding out every ruck, chasing every ball and when an overly eager Amy Boyle pushed Katharine Mullan, Elliott awarded a free and Nicole McAtamney lifted Dunloy up by the point just before Elliott blew for half time, leaving the scoreboard to announce Loughgiel 3-06 Dunloy 0-04.
As Owen Elliott rolled in the sliotar to commence the second half, Dunloy faced an uphill battle against a goal hungry Loughgiel, wind in their faces and for short spells, driving rain. But they never dropped their heads and made Loughgiel work for the sliotar, though McCormick would get the Shamrocks’ tally underway from a free just two minutes in. Dunloy replied with a McAtamney point as Elliott blew for a throw ball infringement.
McCormick was quickly back taking frees for a trip on Dobbin and a foul on Shauna Devlin. With 3-09 on the board for Loughgiel, fortune would favour a dropping ball sent in by Loughgiel’s Anna Connolly, fooling the visitors’ netmondder for goal number four.
A five minute passage of play witnessed a number of fouls, none of which helped anyone’s scoreline but Aine Magill made the most of her run on the high side of the pitch from close to the visitors’ dugout for a fine point with fifteen gone in the second half.
An improving weather spell would have gone unnoticed by Annie Lynn as she dropped her head and offloaded into a running Lucia McNaughton, delivering to the back of Dunloy’s net for the Shamrocks’ fifth goal. McAtamney would reply with two points from two frees with twenty one gone before Keeper Martin would face misfortune again, as Marie Laverty delivered the sliotar at an awkward height, sliding off Martin’s hand and into the net.
Loughgiel closed their account after Christine McCloskey pointed from an assist from sister Marie Laverty. Elliott blew with little gone over the hour, leaving the scoreboard to registering Loughgiel 6-10 Dunloy 0-08.
Loughgiel have one last game left in the table away against Brídíní Ogá, Glenravel this Friday and Dunloy host Ballycastle a week today. That will wrap up the table and we move into the knockout stages.
Loughgiel starters and scorers
Amy Boyle, Clare McKillop 0-01, Katie Lynn, Finvola McVeigh, Maria Lynn, Emma McFadden, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle, Anna Connolly 1-0, Christine McCloskey 0-01, Lucia McNaughton 1-0, Annie Lynn 1-0, Caitrin Dobbin 1-01, Roisin McCormick 1-07 (5f 1×45), Anna McKillop, Marie Laverty 1-0
Photos from today’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…
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Stephen Fitzsimmons finished with a personal contribution of 0-7 to inspire Pearses to a one point victory over Eire Og in this Junior Football Championship encounter at Fennell Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Derriaghy side looked to have matters sewn up when they led by three with three minutes of normal time remaining when they lost Gavin Donnelly to a Black card.
It was the Antrim Road side who took advantage however with Fitzsimmons converting two late frees and another from play and his last point, four minutes into time added on would prove the winner.
It was Eire Og who made the early running with points from Caomhan Daykin and Conal Smyth with Aidan Bannon replying for Pearses before Kevin Clarke moved Eire Og 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the 10th minute.
Fitzsimmons responded with his first of the evening but Eire Og were enjoying the better of the exchanges in a typically competitive Junior Football clash with little quarter asked or given.
By half time the Doire Achaidh side had moved 0-6 to 0-4 ahead with Peter James Toal 0-2 and Conor McKenna on target and Fionn Grew and Stephen Fitzsimmons replying for the Antrim Road men.
Fitzsimmons and Grew had Na Piarsaigh back on terms inside four minutes of the second half resuming as Eire Og lost Ryan Clarke to a Black card and the men in Green took advantage as Aidan Bannon pointed them ahead for the first time.
Two more from Stephen Fitzsimmons moved Pearses three ahead by the 12th minute and they seemed to be taking control but Eire Og came storming back with a goal from the returning Kevin Clarke to draw level at the end of the third quarter.
Clarke’s goal seemed to lift the team in White and red as they added points through Mark Graham and Ronan Donnelly to move two in front with 8 minutes remaining but they were rocked back on their heels when Phil Murray replied with a Pearses goal.
Still the Doire Achaidh side looked to have pulled it out of the fire when substitute Dermot Burns replied with a point before a flowing movement from deep in their own half saw Daykin finish to the net
Daykin’s goal moved Eire Og three in front with three minutes remaining and they looked on their way to the semi-final but Pearses staged a late rally, inspired by Fitzsimmons, to wrestle victory from the jaws of defeat.
Pearses: 1 Eamon McKenna, 2 Darren O’Neill, 3 Cormac O’Neill, 24 Marcus Kelly, 5 Phillip Gillespie, 6 Aidan Bannon, 7 Aidan McCavana, 8 Thomas McFarlane, 9 Peter Johnston, 10 Nathan Gorman, 11 Stephen Fitzsimmons, 22 Piaras Donaghy, 13 Phil Murray, 14 Fionn Grew, 15 Sean Moreland, 16 Ryan Nugent.
Eire Og: 1 Mark Hamill, 2 Ryan Clarke, 3 Jarlath Devlin, 4 James McClory, 5 Ronan Donnelly, 6 Mark Graham, 7 Conor Erskine, 8 Peter James Toal, 9 Conal Smyth, 10 Stephen Erskine, 11 Kevin Clarke, 12 Gavin Donnelly, 13 Conor McKenna, 14 Caomhan Daykin, 15 Daniel Campbell, 17 Adam McKenna, 18 Christopher Carberry, 19 Dermot Burns, 21 Eanna McNulty,
Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)
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Portglenone survived an almighty scare in a titanic tussle against St John’s on Saturday evening. With seven minutes to go in this one, all seemed a foregone conclusion. Oisin Doherty had just angled his effort to perfection over the bar to increase the margin to seven and it appeared for all the world that the Bannsiders would simply coast to victory. Naomh Éoin, however, had other ideas as they refused to go out with a whimper. A goal from Conal Quinn with a minute of normal time to go set up a grandstand finish and got pulses racing as the Johnnies had cut the gap to the minimum. St John’s desperately sought to snatch that all elusive equaliser, but time was not on their side. All eyes were on referee Darren McKeown with the St John’s travelling faithful tantalised at the prospect of extra time and the Casement’s band of supporters baying for the final whistle. It was the latter who had their wishes granted as the Whiterock Road side succumbed to the sea of black and yellow defenders in their offensive pursuits as Portglenone just held out to claim the spoils.
The game burst into life as Portglenone rattled the net within the first minute. Dermot McAleese’s pointed effort dropped invitingly for his namesake, Aidan who swivelled perfectly before guiding his effort into the bottom left hand corner of Lambert’s net. St John’s though responded positively through the trusty left foot of Conor Adams who converted a close range free. Despite the setback, it was the men in blue and white who were doing the majority of the probing forward but with scintillating pace in their attacking arsenal, Portglenone were an ominous threat on the counter. Full back Ruairi Hagan epitomised this as he put the finishing touches on a move that was forged in the Casement’s engine room as Niall McKeever and Stephen Kelly combined well to pave the way for Hagan.
Portglenone’s Aidan McAleese (10) drills the ball low to the St John’s net in the opening minute of the game. Pic by John McIlwaine
The Johnnies continued to push and manufactured a few scoring chances but couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard. This was certainly the difference between the two during the first half as the Ports were clinical going forward. Enda Lynn’s electric speed was causing problems and he fashioned an opening which Oisin Doherty finished with aplomb to increase their lead to four with twelve on the clock.
St John’s remained patient though and their calculated approach was rewarded when talisman Paddy McBride split the posts twice with two consecutive efforts to reduce arrears. However, Portglenone’s clinical prowess in front of the posts became more prominent a theme in the final ten minutes of the half. The men in yellow and black hit a purple patch as the short whistle neared with Ronan Kelly, Michael Hagan and Niall McKeever all opening their accounts. But for Eoghan Rua Lambert in goals, matters could’ve been exacerbated further for the Johnnies. Enda Lynn had come storming in on goal after the ball was turned over in midfield and it looked certain the net would rattle but the Naomh Eoin number one managed to deny the former Derry man with a fantastic save.
Six points adrift, St John’s badly needed a score before the short whistle to give them a foothold again. Their number three, Enda McGurk, took the responsibility on his shoulders as he bombed forward to find his bearings to leave the score 1-06 to 0-04 in favour of Portglenone at the interval.
The South-West side began the second period in a similar fashion to the first as they bagged another major in the opening exchanges. Enda Lynn’s audacious point off the outside of his left boot was followed up by an Oisin Doherty goal on the thirty fifth minute. Daniel McNicholl’s incisive pass threaded a route through for the Portglenone number thirteen who rounded his man to finish ruthlessly, soccer style, from a tight angle.
Oisin Doherty celebrates after scoring Portglenone’s second goal – Pic by John McIlwaine
Despite the gap increasing to eight, St John’s kept their composure and continued to plug away. The aerial route to Conall Bohill in full forward proved a real outlet for them as the big number fourteen rose highest to win his mark, before competently sending the ball between the uprights.
It was tit for tat between the two in the third quarter as both battled to gain the ascendancy, Ronan Kelly and Danaan McKeogh exchanged points before Ryan McNulty grabbed an excellent point for St John’s as they reduced the gap to five with ten minutes left to go. Two points in quick succession from the Ports though looked to have pave the path to victory wide open. Caolan Tierney finished off a seamless Portglenone counterattack before dangerman Oisin Doherty applied the final touch to another flowing move involving Niall McKeever and Conor McGhee.
With the clock against them, St John’s reverted to aerial bombardment once again with the imposing stature of Conor Hand now deployed in full forward. Ronan Quinn’s lofted ball forward was met by Hand who rose highest to fist over from close range with only five to play.
With the gap seemingly an insurmountable one given the limited time remaining, you could’ve understood St John’s giving up the ghost. However, they refused to lie down and when Conor Adams pointed from a close range free, the men in blue had their tails up. Portglenone desperately tried to evade the press of their opponents but to no avail as St John’s were now dominating the turnover.
With a minute of normal time remaining, Conal Quinn then grabbed the goal that the Whiterock side had yearned for to send the crowd into raptures. Quinn’s effort looked destined for another Johnnies attacker to latch onto but somehow bounced into the net as Kevin Mullan in goal was deceived by the ball’s trajectory,
A mouthwatering finish was now in proposition as the game entered time added on. With two points the margin, nerves were no doubt frayed in the home dugout. Paddy McBride then pointed from a close range free to close the gap to the minimum as those nerves were probably now holding on by a thread.
The West Belfast side continued to forage forward in the dying embers to grab the all-important leveller. However, they were met by a vast expanse of yellow and black jerseys who managed to stifle their efforts and, in the end, quelled the resistance of their opponents to seal a semi final spot.
Championship knockout games are there to be won. It doesn’t matter how. Getting over that line, by hook or by crook, is everything. That will be all that matters for Portglenone, no matter the dramatic fashion. Today, they showed glimpses of the glittering attacking options that they have at their disposal. They know that it will need to be on show more consistently in the next round as they still harbour genuine Championship hopes.
St John’s corner-forward Conal Quinn sends the ball through a thicket of players for his team’s late goal tha closed the gap to two points as the game entered injury time. Pic by John McIlwaine
For St John’s, this one may sting a little. They battled valiantly throughout and remained unfazed by the uphill battle they faced for the majority. Although it’s been a bit of a tumultuous season for them, they’ve had the opportunity to blood a few of their promising youngsters who more than played their part today. They can certainly hold their heads high and be proud of their efforts.
Teams:
Portglenone:
K Mullan; R Delargy, R Hagan (0-01,) C McGhee; D McNicholl, D McAleese, C Tierney (0-01;) N McKeever (0-01,) S Kelly; A McAleese (1-00,) M Hagan (0-01,) N Delargy; O Doherty (1-02,) E Lynn (0-01,) R Kelly (0-03)
Naomh Éoin:
E Rua Lambert; R Quinn, E McGurk (0-01,) C McEvoy; L Pedan, A McGowan, R Donnelly; A Oliver, C Hand (0-01;) R McNulty (0-01,) P McBride (0-04,) S Tierney; C Adams (0-02,) C Bohill (0-01) C Quinn (1-00)
Substitute scorers
C McGlade (0-01)
D McKeogh (0-01)
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