Six scores in the opening half, all of them points, followed by four scores in the second half, all of them goals was enough to steer Glenravel over the line ahead of St Endas in a match played in blustery conditions where the wind, rain and temperature were more like November than July. Indeed had it not been for daylight when referee Fiontan McCotter blew the final whistle shortly after 9pm you would have been forgiven for thinking this was a winter friendly rather than a mid summer league affair. Both teams’ destiny in terms of league position were pre determined prior to throw in so so both management teams had the opportunity of experimenting with team selection.
A strong wind blew down the pitch away from the changing room end which Glenravel played with in the opening half. However that wind played havoc with accurate passing and it took both teams ten minutes to register a score which came in the form of a point from St Endas big midfielder Niall McKeown. That would prove to be the only time St Endas led as Glenravel’s David Higgins and Eamon Fyfe pointed to nudge the visitors ahead. Fionntan O’Connor levelled on thirteen minutes in what would prove to be St Endas last score of the half as Glenravel wrestled control of the game and put over the next four points from the boots of Conleth O’Loan, Eamon Fyfe, Niall Hynds and Shea O’Broin to put Glenravel ahead 0-06 to 0-02 at half time. Having had the advantage of a strong wind the visiting support would have been dubious if that lead would be enough.
That doubt was really tested when St Endas recorded the first three points of the second half; Niall McKeown and a brace from Donal Walsh brought the home side back within one point of the opposition. But in a two minute period Shea O’Broin and Peader McDonald had netted to restore a seven point lead for Glenravel 2-06 to 0-05. Back came St Endas undeterred and they scored four points in as many minutes to leave three between the teams as we entered the final quarter. Niall Hynds goaled for Glenravel to double their lead but again St Endas came back with points from Stephen O’Connor and Odhran McKenna as they refused to lie down. The sucker punch however was delivered by Shea O’Broin who scored his second goal of the game with only five minutes normal time left. to restore Glenravel’s seven point advantage. But as they had throughout the game, St Endas refused to throw in the towel and they would record the final two points of the game coming from Leo O’Loingsigh and Stephen O’Connor leaving a five point gap when Fointan McCotter decided it was home time much to the relief of the frozen folk who braved the early July elements to support their teams.
For more pics by JJ Lawell from this game click on the link below
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel
On what could arguably have been the coldest summer evening in memory, it would take referee Lorenzo McMullan’s canary yellow ‘Réiteoir’ jersey to bring a splash of summer colour to the evening.
Sarsfield’s would come into this evening’s game needing a win to bolster their points to avoid relegation. That proved to be a difficult task against an in-form Shamrock machine and Sarsfield’s would be hampered with fielding a few ‘walking wounded’ as the season draws to a close.
A slightly later start than usual as the game tried to take full advantage of the evening light, but heavy clouds threatening a down pour at any instant smothered the elusive orange ball and left Fr. Healy Park grateful of at least a dry evening.
An eager Sarsfield’s could have been the first to point, but their shot at Loughgiel’s road end uprights went wide from a free as Donal McKernan learned that the wind would play a part in tonight’s game. It would be Loughgiel’s Cahal Hargan that would take the honours of pointing first from fifty metres out down the centre of the field.
Hargan would be in action soon for another point down the centre of the field, after Roan McGarry cruised his 65m puck over Andrew McStay’s bar.
Sarsfield’s Donal McKernan offered a dream sideline puck into the hands of Garry Lennon and a shot on goal put Loughgiel’s Mark Christie to the task but the sliotar cut wide across the goal mouth, leaving Christie with little to do.
Picking up his sliotar on the dugout side of the pitch, Odhran McFadden made a run down the left side and split the uprights for a fine point. Nine minutes had elapsed with Loughgiel 0-04 Sarsfield’s 0-00, but Sarsfield would get traction on the game after McMullan spotted an apologetic Donal McKinley lifting a ball that should have bounced a bit. The subsequent free by Donal McKernan found the ball net over the bar and Sarsield’s had a score on the board, quickly followed by their second point as McKernan fired a hefty puck into the wind all the way back from the dugouts.
Loughgiel’s minor call up, Liam Glackin was in solid form tonight and with quick reflexes, snatched a ball that was destined for a black and green jersey. Glackin protected the sliotar on his run and offloaded to Odhran McFadden, pointing for Loughgiel’s fifth point.
Sarsfield’s decided to play the short puck out in the first half and if it wasn’t won or broken down by Loughgiel, it would work its way down the dugout side of the field. From there, Loughgiel’s Ciaran McKay would battle it out for possession and on this occasion, after rolling the sliotar onto his stick, lobbed it into a waiting Maol Connelly playing full forward, and Connelly made no mistake at finding the net from short range.
The large ‘Fridge Raiders’ scoreboard displayed Loughgiel 1-05 Sarsfield’s 0-02 [in actuality it said Oisin’s from a previous game in case you spot that in the photos] and quickly changed to Sarsfield’s 0-03 as Garry Lennon lost his marker on a slip but unaware of an unmarked goal run opportunity, pointed instead. Move of the night must surely go to Sarsfield’s Daniel McKernan (Snr), winning a ball in front of his dugout, McKernan passed to Lennon who quickly fell into trouble from an advancing Loughgiel posse. McKernan offloaded back to a sweeping McKernan who had moved the full width of the pitch for a fine hurling point.
With Loughgiel 1-05 Sarsfield’s 0-05 on the scoreboard, the Shamrock’s seemed to have another gear in the box and ran up six points before Sarsfield’s replied with a point from a free, twenty-three minutes into the first half.
Another minor call up, Loughgiel’s Roan McGarry wasted no time in dropping a short range free over McStay’s bar after Eoin McGarry was tumbled around the 20m mark, and that was followed swiftly by two points from Hargan, one of those was the fruits of a ball hard won by Glackin on the low side of the pitch.
When Lorenzo McMullan spotted a helmet tap from Seamus Dobbin, Donal McKernan had the last chance to point before McMullan blew for the half, but the sliotar sailed wide of the mark leaving a half time score Loughgiel 1-14 Sarsfield’s 0-05.
The second half had a tactical air about the first twenty minutes as Loughgiel played to get close to strike for a goal as their confidence and score margin grew and Sarsfield’s played for goals as it was the only real hope of closing the gap. That period of play witnessed the sliotar going from one end of the pitch to the other, keeping Christie and McStay busy but after 23 minutes, Loughgiel had notched up another five points to Sarsfield’s three.
It wasn’t until the twenty-sixth minute that the bombardment on McStay would produce a result as a persistent Roan McGarry delt a hammer blow with a goal assisted from a timely pass from Connor O’Mullan, slipping the sliotar past McStay into an open net.
With little to no injury time accumulated in the second half, Sarsfield’s Daniel Smyth would close the scoring after 29 minutes from a free awarded as Anthony McGarrigle was brought down around the 45m line.
Seconds before the final whistle, Sarsfield’s Ruairi McAreavey took an injury to his right leg and offering prudence, McMullan blew for full time so that McAreavey could be attended to properly.
This was a different result tonight, compared to the first encounter back in April when five points separated sides on a Sarsfield’s 1-14 v Loughgiel 1-19 scoreline. Sarsfield’s Spectator sentiment overheard along the sideline summed it up “Looks like we are going down, the great escape is over…”
St. James Aldergrove recorded their second win in this year’s division 1 campaign when they proved too good for an understrength Creggan in Crumlin on Wednesday night.
A win would have given the visitors a place in the play-offs and Creggan started the match strongly scoring 1-3 against a strong wind in the first 10 minutes against 0-3 for Aldergrove.
In a purple patch, Aldergrove dominated the last 20 minutes of the opening half scoring 4 -6 to go in 4-9 to 1-3 ahead at the break. Prominent for Aldergrove in this period of dominance were, B McQuillan, S McGarry, C McGarry, K Jones and F Burke.
The game was effectively over as the sides changed ends but Creggan kept working hard to reduce the deficit in the second half but with little success. Aldergrove’s defence stood strong with both teams scoring 5 points each in the 2nd half to give Aldergrove the win 4-14 to 1-8.
This win comes too late for Aldergrove to affect their league position in what hasn’t been a great campaign but it will surely give them confidence as they go into the play offs in 10 days-time.
Carey moved to the top of the Division 2 Hurling League table when they beat Glenarm on Wednesday evening at cold and windy Ballyvoy and in doing so avenged the defeat they suffered just three days ago in the reverse fixture just three days ago.
Leading by a point at half time Carey really got on top after the change of ends and with the diagonal wind in their favour they hit 1-04 without reply at the start of the second half to move eight points clear of the visitors, and though the Glenarm men came back with a goal entering the last ten minutes the Faughs were able to hold them at arms’ length and were good value for the victory. The win moves them level on points with their opponents on 18 points, but ahead on score difference, but both sides are just two ahead of St Paul’s who play both Carey and Glenarm in the next week in what should be an exciting run-in.
The first half was evenly matched with both team’s struggling in the windy and cold conditions. Carey got the upper hand when man of the match Conor McBride got the game’s first goal on eight minutes with a brilliant strike from a penalty. In truth the home team could well have had a couple more majors had it not been for a series of great saves by ‘Dunga’ Abram in the Glenarm goal, but some excellent score taking from Conor McBride for the home side and Niall McGarel for the visitors left just a point between the sides by half time. 1-5 to 0-7
Carey’s strong start to the second half saw them open a gap as one from play by McBride and two from James Black frees pushed the gap out to four by the fourth minute…. and when midfielder Calum Kane got in for the Faughs second goal a minute later it was going to be a long way back or the Shane O’Neill’s men.
The gap was out to eight as Glenarm struggled to get any flow in their game and though Sean O’Boyle managed to pull a point back with their first score of the second half, the home team came back with another McBride strike at the other end.
The Faughs then had a man sent off following a second yellow card but it did not really deter them as McBride gave an exhibition of scoring from both frees and from play. There was some hope for the Feystown men when Dylan McLaughlin got in for a goal from play but that was as close as they would get and Carey held on for a deserved win.
Some bad news for the winners was an injury to half back stalwart James McCouaig, who was making his first appearance following a prolonged spell out through injury. He appeared to go over on his ankle and will be undoubtedly miss the final league game with St Paul’s, but the Faughs will then have a spell off in the lead up to their championship opener.
These two will meet back at Barnish in the second round of the Intermediate Championship campaign in what promises to be a very interesting contest, so hurling fans have lots to look forward to in the coming weeks.
For more pics from this game click on the link below
A Conall Duffy goal, midway through the second half proved the defining score as St. Paul’s completed the league double over visitors St. Teresa’s to claim the division 2 title at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday night.
Heading into this encounter, St. Teresa’s led the way at the top by one point, so a draw would have been enough to see them end as champions, but it was St Paul’s who came out tops, in a game that was always close, to regain their place in division 1 next season.
On a night where conditions were far from ideal as the rain and wind drove in from the mountain, the home side had the elements in their favour. Despite that the conditions certainly didn’t help either side and both sides found it difficult to find the target.
St Paul’s opened the scoring from a Lorcan Phillips free and after both sides wasted chances, it was Jay Mallon who levelled matters with his sides opening score in the 12th minute.
Both sides struggled to master the difficult conditions but it was St Paul’s who finally restored the lead with Niall McStravick cutting in from the left and curling over.
The visitors were handed the opportunity to take the lead in the 21st minute after Paul McGoldrick took a tumble over Gary McGroarty and referee Ray Matthews pointed to the penalty spot.
Mallon stepped up and struck his spot kick well, but was thwarted by an excellent save by Jack McAufied who dived to his right to deny the St. Teresa’s man.
As the rain eased for a period St Paul’s pushed on with a couple of good scores with Phillips and Ruairi Hamill firing over to stretch their advantage.
St. Terersa’s were struggling to put their own game together but Eoin Connolly raised their first flag for more than 15 minutes after being placed by McGoldrick.
Scoring opportunities came and went before Conall Duffy found the target with a point for the ‘Hoops’ with virtually the last kick of the half to give his side an 0-5 to 0-2 lead at the interval.
The Glen Road men turned around with the wind in their favour for the second half and the question on most peoples lips was, ‘Would three points be enough for the home side’
St. Paul’s retained possession well early in the second half before Phillips split the posts to extend their lead to four but St. Teresa’s returned fire through a Jay Mallon free and a great point from Francis Dugan from distance.
The home side replied as McStravick fisted over before a great move saw Caoimhin Duffy send Conall Duffy through and he made no mistake as he fired past Murtagh in the St. Teresa’s goals.
It looked as good as over at this stage but to their credit St. Teresa’s came back with a pointed free from Mallon and they might have had a goal of their own when Anton Taylor found himself in the clear but blazed over as McAulfield advanced from his goal.
The visitors kept at it to the end with Niall McCann converting a free and Mallon curling over from the left to close the gap to two with time almost up.
It was all or nothing for the Glen Road men as Anthony Varndell dropped an inviting ball into the area with St Teresa’s requiring a goal, but it was James Farrell who came to St. Paul’s rescue with a fine interception as St Paul’s celebrated their return to the top flight for next season.
St. Paul’s: J McAufield; A Kavanagh, G McGroarty, D O’Sullivan; N Ward, J Farrell, M Duffy; M Munce, C McLarnon; R Hamill (0-1), L McLarnon, Caoimhin Duffy; N McStravick (0-2), L Phillips (0-3, 1f), Conall Duffy (1-1)
Subs: N McAlea for G McGroarty (HT), C Killyleagh for R Hamill (HT), C Hughes for D O’Sullivan (55)
St. Teresa’s: C Murtagh; A Dugan, A Varndell, R Mallon; E Connolly (0-1), C O’Rawe, P Johnston; D McCann, L Cassin; J Mallon (0-4, 2f), N McCann (0-1f), E Hamill; F Dugan (0-1), P McGoldrick, A Taylor (0-1).
Sub: C Mallon for E Connolly (55)
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
For more of Bert’s pics from the game click on the link below
