The Intermediate Hurling Championship gets underway this weekend with Group 1 games on today (Saturday) and the Group 2 matches down for decision tomorrow.
In what is in my opinion is the toughest and most competitive section across all our championships, hurling and football, there are five teams in Group 1 and six in Group 2, with as many as eight or nine of those capable of winning it.
Today’s games are in Group 1, which has five teams, sees the 2022 Junior champions Glenarm take on last years’ Junior winners Cloughmills at Feystown at 5pm, while St Gall’s host Oisins, Glenariffe at the Bog Meadows at the same time. Carey Faughs, who by virtue of the fact they won promotion to Division 1 this season, are the overall favourites for the title, have a bye today and will get a chance of viewing their future opponents Shane O’Neill’s, whom they host in two weeks’ time.
It is an early start for the six teams in Group 2 tomorrow with all three games having a throw-in time of 1pm, because of the All Ireland Football final. Tir na nÓg take on Con Magees Glenravel at Whitehill, Sarsfields welcome Cushendun Emmet’s to the Bear Pit while Cloney Gaels have home advantage against St Paul’s
Davitt’s made a great start to their 2024 Junior Hurling Championship campaign when they travelled to the Cricky on Friday evening in their first round robin game of the campaign. With both team’s missing a few regulars Davitt’s took full advantage and going ahead in the early stages they maintained their dominance until the end. With Stephen Thompson leading the line with 2-1 for the Davitt’s Park outfit they scored a significant win and with just three in their group they are all but assured of a semi-final spot before Rasharkin at home in two weeks’ time.
Early scores from Stephen McGivern, Peter Og Carleton and Christopher Gallagher gave Davitt’s a good base to work from and though Ardoyne came back with a point from Patrick McGreevy, the gap was back out to three when Marcus Toner split the posts for the visitor. Matt McKillen pulled one back for the home side, but Davitt’s stretched their lead to four when Toner and Gallagher found the target for Davitt’s.
The decisive period of the game came on twenty minutes when Ardoyne were desperately unlucky to see Dean Goodall’s shot rebound of the post when a goal seemed certain. Davitt’s took full advantage and when the ball was cleared up the field, Stephen Thompson found space near to goal and fired to the Ardoyne net. To make matters worse for the home side Thompson grabbed his second goal soon afterwards when what appeared to be a shot for a point dipped at the last second and ended up in the net to put the visitors 2-8 to 0-5 clear at the short whistle.
Ardoyne now had a mountain to climb and they kept battling hard, but each time they reduced the gap Davitt’s found an answer. As weather conditions worsened as the game progressed it became ever harder for the home side to get themselves back in contention and when Davitt’s grabbed their third goal as the deluge hit hard in the dying minutes, there was simply no way back.
Ardoyne have the consolation on knowing they will be in the knock out stages no matter what way the other games go, but they have a four week wait before travelling to Rasharkin on August 24th, and that is far from ideal. Davitt’s on the other hand have home advantage when they face the men from Dreen in two weeks’ time and are now in a very strong position.
ARDOYNE: JP Agnew; P Clarke, P Baker, E Mac Lochlainn; C Wallace, K McCallin, C Barnes; D Goodall, P McGuigan; D Moore (0-1), P McGreevy (0-6, all frees), M Cromie; M McKillen (0-1), P Heaney (0-2), C Trainor.
Subs: C Curran for C Barnes (HT), P Hull for M Cromie (45), S Hill for M McKillen (58), P O’Neill for C Mac Lochlainn (59)
DAVITT’S: G Cosgrove; L McCaffrey, J Parke, O Cosgrove; P Og Carleton (0-1), C Heaney, D Mooney (0-1); M Og Rowntree, C McKee (0-4); M Toner (1-4, 0-2f), S McGivern (0-3), C Maguire; S Thompson (2-1), A Rowntree, C Gallagher (0-2, 1f).
Subs: G Nelson for O Cosgrove (19), D Whelan for A Rowntree (59), E Gallagher for G Nelson (60)
REFEREE: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)
For more pics by Brian McKee click on the link below
Last season’s beaten finalists Armoy got their 2024 campaign off to a winning start when they beat Gort na Móna in Friday evening’s Junior Hurling Championship opener in Armoy. When they led by 1-04 to 0-00 after ten minutes it looked like it was going to be an easy evening for the Glen Rovers side, but as it turned out it was far from easy as the visitors fought their way back into the game. Six in arrears at the interval Gort na Móna came back strongly at the start of the new half and a Dessie McLean point and a goal from Patrick McCaffrey cut the gap back to just three points. There was just four points between the sides midway through the second half and there were a few anxious looks among the home support, but with Trevor Linton leading the line they found their rhythm again and late goals from Owen Kinney and Kieran McToal helped them run out winners by thirteen points.
Glen Rovers full forward Owen Kinney flicks the ball back over the Gorts crossbar during Friday evening’s JHC opener in Armoy
The home side sprung from the traps and points from Conor Christie, Trevor Linton, Turlach McBride and Eoin O’Boyle, plus a goal from Linton, which he fired in off the ground, gave them a 1-04 to 0-00 lead in the tenth minute.
The evergreen Dessie McClean opened the visitors score with a point on eleven minutes and when Thomas McCaffrey added another things began to look a bit more promising for the Belfast side. Thomas Burns and Owen Kinney came back with points for Armoy to restore the seven point advantage, but with McClean at the heart of everything they did Gort na Móna began to claw their way back and three in a row from McClean and one from Caffrey left just three between the sides. McClean grabbed another on 27 minutes but the home side finished with a flurry with points from Arthur Devlin and Linton to go in at the break with a 1-10 to 0-07 lead.
As the rain began to fall again at the start of the second half the Turf Lodge men closed the gap back to just two points when McClean grabbed an early point and when corner forward Patrick McCaffrey grabbed a goal, just two points separated the sides. Trevor Linton settled the home side’s nerves when he hit three, and Turlach McBride hit another between the 28th and 32nd minutes, but McClean (2) and McCaffrey hit back again to close the gap.
The visitors kept themselves in contention up until the final ten minutes but Armoy finished strongly and a well taken goal by Owen Kinney and one from substitute Kieran McToal wrapped up the win and got the Rovers campaign off to a flyer.
Gort na Móna’s Dessie McClean who was excellent for the Turf Lodge men
Cailin McCrory, James Connolly, Gavin McKenna, James Aaron Hicks, Brendan Cousins, Padraig McHugh Mark Rea, Tiernan Morton, Neil Henry, Niall Healy, Darron Boyd, Thomas McCaffrey, Dessie McClean, Patrick McCaffrey.
REFREE – Paul McSparran, Cushendun.
For more pics from the Armoy v Gort na Móna game by Dylan McIlwaine click on the link below
A Donal Martin goal for Lamh Dhearg after 15 minutes proved the decisive score in the end as the Hannastown side fought off a sustained challenge from All Saints in this Group 2 opener in Belfast on Friday night.
Both sides played their hurling in division 3 this year with Lamh Dhearg recording a big league win over tonight’s opponents who suffered relegation back to division 4 despite putting in some good performances.
It was Lamh Dhearg who opened the scoring when Daniel Murray pointed them ahead from a 45 meter free in the 5th minute before Damian Gillan struck an excellent point for the visitors to bring it all square after 7 minutes.
Mark Finnegan who was in fine scoring form for Lamh Dhearg in their win over All Saints
It was the home side who took control at this stage as they struck points through Mark Finnegan, Donal Martin and Fionn Mervyn to move three ahead by the 10th minute.
All Saints might have been back on terms soon after when a good move opened the way for Eoin McGuigan but he pulled his goal attempt just wide of the post.
The visitors replied with a pointed free from Damian Gillan but then had an appeal for what looked a good point waved away and when Donal Martin placed his shot out of reach of Saints keeper, Ciaran Cassley at the other end in the 17th minute, the Hannastown side were six in front and looking comfortable.
A minute later Cormac Magill struck a fine long range effort at the other end and it heralded a good period for the visitors as Magill again, Damian Gillan and Eoin McGuigan added further points in reply to one from Mark Finnegan and just a goal separated the sides.
Harry Connon and Jack Magill had now assumed control at mid-field as the visitors began to dominate and a late pointed free from Damian Gillan saw the Lamh Dhearg lead cut to two at the short whistle.
Damian Gillan, All Saints takes a tumble during the Group 2 JHC opener against Lamh Dhearg at hannastown on Friday night
HT Lamh Dhearg 1-6 All Saints 0-7
Martin Finnegan extended the Lamh Dhearg lead to three on the restart with Damian Gillan replying with a point for the Ballymena side to cut the deficit to two once more and set a precedence for what was to follow.
Donal Marin for Lamh Dhearg and McGuigan with another massive effort for the visitors kept the gap at two and Fionn Mervyn and Liam Cassley exchanged further minors before Mark Finnegan moved the Hannastown side three in front from a 12th minute free.
The Ballymena side were giving it everything as McGuigan closed the gap to two again but the free taking of Mark Finnegan continued to keep Lamh Dhearg noses in front as he replied with his 5th point of the evening.
The visitors were still battling hard for every ball and playing some good hurling and they looked to be in for the equaliser when Harry Connon raced clear but he shot narrowly wide when a goal looked on.
The visitors were then awarded a close range free as the clock ticked down but Eoin McGuigan’s attempt at goal was well saved by Lamh’s keeper, Rhys McCamlin.
Ciaran Cassley, who had a great game in goals for All Saints gets up to prevent a point
Lamh Dhearg had been under pressure for a spell but they broke forward and Donal Martin fired over what was to prove to be the insurance point at the other end and they now join Armoy on two points at the top of Group 2 after the opening round of games.
Lamh Dhearg: 1 Rhys McCamlin, 20 Christopher Nolan, 3 Odhran Waldron, 4 Tiernan McKenna, 5 Daniel Murray, 6 Ryan Diamond, 7 Fionn Mervyn, 8 Ciaran Boyd, 9 Aidan McGuigan, 10 Donal Martin, 18 Mark Finnegan, 12 Niall McGuigan, 13 Michael McGuigan, 14 Michael McGarry, 22 Niall McGarry, 17 Odhran Lee, 21 Conal Megraw, 26 Aaron Ferris
All Saints: 1 Ciaran Cassley, 2 Archie McGreevey, 3 Eoin McAllister, 4 Kevin Brady, 5 Conor O’Rawe, 6 Padraig Magill, 7 Daniel Gray, 8 Jack Magill, 9 Harry Connon, 10 Cormac Magill, 11 Eoin McGuigan, 12 Sean McDermott, 13 Damian Gillan, 14 Liam Cassley 15 Darrach Bradley
Referee: Piaris McCaffrey
For more Bert Trowlen pics from this game click on the link below
Ardoyne Kickhams and Michael Davitt’s will get the 2024 Antrim Hurling Championships underway this evening when they meet in Group 1of Junior section at 7-15 at the Cricky, on the Cliftonville Road.
Davitt’s, who finished runners-up in Division 4 of the league this season, will start the game as favourites, for though they only finished one place ahead of their rivals on the league table, they had four points to spare over the Kickhams and they won the league game between the two at the Cricky in convincing fashion, scoring 0-25 to Ardoyne’s 2-8.
Championship games can of course be a different matter and both teams will feel they are good enough to get the win, but Davitt’s still gets the vote for the opening night win.
There are only three teams in Group 1 this season so St Mary’s Rasharkin have a bye this evening.
Junior Hurling Championship – Group 2 – Throw-in 7-30 pm
Glen Rovers Armoy v Gort na Mona at Armoy
Last season’s runners up Glen Rovers Armoy face a tough task when they take on Gort na Mona, that game throwing-in at 7-30. Given the fact that Armoy played their hurling in Division 3 this season, while the Gorts were in Division 4, it would suggest that the Glen Rovers men would be favourites going into this one. However the Turf Lodge side won all 12 games in Division 4, while Armoy finished in the bottom section of Division 3, so throws a different light on things. Gort na Mona will fancy their chances in this one, but having come so close to winning the Junior last season, Armoy will feel they have a good chance of getting back to another final.
NB
Just a word of warning to fans travelling to this game. The Armoy Road Races are on this evening and those travelling from Belfast will not be able to go their usual route. Follow the diversion signs to Ballycastle and travel down through the Town to the Marine Hotle corner. Take a right turn and go past the end of the Cushendall Road, before taking a turn off on the right on the Dunamallaght Road which is signposted the for Salthouse Hotel. Less than a 100 yards up that road, take a left turn onto the the Drumavoley Road (not suaitable for Coaches) and carry on that road until it rejoins the Glenshesk Road. Take a right turn and that will take you to the Armoy pitch.
O’Neill Sportswear Junior Hurling Championship Group 2 – Throw in 7-30 pm
Lamh Dhearg v All Saints Ballymena at Hannahstown
In the second game in Group B Lamh Dhearg take on All Saints Ballymena in Hannahstown. Both teams played their hurling in Division 3 this season with the Hannahstown side finishing at the bottom of Section 1 while the Ballymena boys were relegated. When they met in the league Lamh Dhearg were convincing winners on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-07 and so they will start as firm favourites this evenings. All Saints lost their ace marksman Ciaran Neeson this season, their top scorer trying his hand with county champions Ruairi Og Cushendall, and he has already shown that he can match it with the best of them. Hannahstown will start short odds favourite, but as I said earlier, championship hurling is a different game and they will know not to take anything or granted.
