Antrim Minor Hurling Championship – Division 1

Glenariffe-Glenravel 4-16 Cushendall 1-15

Two goal in each half were the key scores as Glenaiffe-Glenravel beat neighbours Cushendall in the opening game if the Minor Hurling season at Waterfoot on Sunday.

The key scores came in the second quarter, the first from Cathair McNaughton on 18 minutes while the second one came just on the stroke of half time through top scorer Orrin O’Connor. Goal number three came midway through the second half, O’Connor striking again while Peadar McDonnell got the fourth in the final ten minutes. Thomas McLaughlin pulled on back near the end for Cushendall, but it was a case of too little-too late as the home side was home and dry by that stage.

Orrin O’Connor, Colla Ward and Calum McIlwaine got the first three points of the game for Glenariffe-Glenravel but Cushendall came back strong with five in a row through Callagh Mooney and two apiece from Thomas McLaughlin and Fionntan Bradly to move two ahead. Two from Peadar McDonnell brought the home side level before Orrin O’Connor grabbed the first goal of the game.

Thomas McLaughlin closed the gap to two but three from O’Connor and one from Peadar McDonnell saw some daylight appear between the sides. Two pointed frees by Fionntan Bradley cut the deficit down to four, but Orrin O’Connor’s goal left seven between them at the break.

Three from Orrin O’Connor frees at the star off the second half stretched the gap to nine but one from play by Callagh Mooney and three from frees by Bradley cut the gap back to five.

Cushendall were still in the hunt but Orrin O’Connor’s second goal closed the door for the Ruairi Ogs and when Peadar McDonnell got the home side’s fourth goal the destiny of the points was well and truly decided.

The next round of games are in two weeks’ time when Glenariffe-Glenravel travel to Ballycastle while Cushendall host Dunloy.

Rossa host Ard na Rí that same day while Loughgiel have a bye.

PICS BY MICKEY MORGAN

Antrim Minor Hurling Championship – Division 1

Loughgiel 1-10 Ballycastle 2-8

Ballycastle withstood a late rally by Loughgiel to edge out their opponents by a single point in the opening game of the Antrim Minor Hurling League Division 1 at Fr Healy Park on Sunday.

In a game where both teams were guilty of a series of missed chances the Ballycastle boys apeeared to have it wrapped up when they five clear going into the final quarter, but they failed to score again despite a number of excellent chances and had to hold on grimly at the end to get the win.

A Cadhan Crawford goal early in the game gave the visitors the upper hand, but Dan O’Mullan hit back with one for the Shamrocks and just a point separated the sides at half time.

A smart save by Ballycastle goalkeeper Anthony Mullan denied Loughgiel’s Conan Johnston early early in the second half and Ballycastle took advantage as they hit four of the next five points two of them from Crawford and one each from Cathair Donnelly and Conor Connelly .

Liam Glackin and Ballycastle’s Conor Donnelly exchanged points entering the final quarter when Ballycastle struck a telling blow with a goal from Oisin Coyles, who was sent clear by Conor Donnelly. That score put the visitors five ahead, but they failed to score again, despite having a series of good chances and Loughgiel closed to within a point as Liam Smyth, Roan Mcgarry, Ronan Fitzgerald and Conan Johnston left just a point between the sides going into injury time.

The home side did have other chances but some great hooking and blocking by the Ballycastle defence held them at bay.

ACHL Division 1 Portaferry v Loughgiel – April 14th 2024

Portaferry 2-7 Loughgiel 2-20

Pics and report by Michael Corcoran

Loughgiel travelled to Portaferry, in the Upper Ards, for the second ACHL Division 1 game of the season. The coastal road down was overcast with every shade of cloudy grey you could imagine. With both squads depleted in key players, it was a game anticipated to deliver every shade of hurling over the hour as younger players mixed with seasoned journeymen. Ray Mathews officiated today’s match and after a short spell of administration around new player injury rules, the sliotar was rolled in sharp on 2 O’clock.

Loughgiel played towards the town and arguably benefited somewhat from the south-south westerly breeze that allowed them to open up their score tally with Declan McCloskey pointing accurately between the uprights. Maol Connelly nudged Loughgiel along with another fine point and Connelly’s form would prove problematic for Portaferry, particularly in the second half.

Portaferry registered their intent with an opening point from Ronan Blair but apart from a second half closing point from Barry Trainor, Loughgiel would impress the small crowd along the pitch perimeter with a volley of points and a finely worked goal from the hand of Conor O’Mullan onto the stick of Eoin McGarry, who slotted it diagonally away from Portaferry’s keeper, Pearce Smyth.

Mathews blew for a second half result of Portaferry 0-2 Loughgiel 1-10. The second half would prove more promising for the ‘Ports’ as Naill Milligan found a way through Loughgiel’s defence for his first goal and the second found its way to the back of the net with a simple pull on the ground to warm up the spectators with hopes of a turnaround. Loughgiel pushed hard into the breeze and Maol Connelly broke free to run at Portaferry’s keeper with no chaperon to hinder a punishing sliotar between Smyth’s legs. Declan McCloskey kept incrementing Loughgiel’s purpose with some very accurate free taking despite shooting into the strong breeze. Portaferry’s younger marksman, Cahal Coleman, had two fine back-to-back points, bringing the Ards men to 2- 06 to Loughgiel’s 2-15 but a well worked hand pass from O’Mullan found the receiving hand of Connor Dickson and once the sliotar found the ball net between the uprights, it felt like Loughgiel were now in control.

The ‘Ports’ closed their account with a final point from Barry Trainor and with a successive volley of points from Connolly and Hargan, referee Ray Mathews blew the game to a close the game with an impressive Shamrocks victory –  Portaferry 2-07 Loughgiel 2-20