Antrim Senior Hurling Championship final: Dunloy 5-14 Ballycastle 2-9
SLEEK all-action Dunloy hurling which left Ballycastle second best in the Antrim senior hurling final, put a question mark over the chances of the defeated finalists in the Ulster hurling showpiece as Antrim’s nominated representatives.
An amazing 22 points had been recorded after just 25 minutes, with Dunloy having bagged 3-6 to Ballycastle’s 0-7.
In the end it all appeared so simple as Dunloy strode the route to maintaining their hold on the title and claim their fifth of the decade.
The entire Ballycastle full-back line could not cope with Allister Elliot’s skill as he weaved his way toward goal to volley the sloithar past veteran Dessie Donnelly in goal in the fourth minute.
Gregory O’Kane then left Donnelly bent double when he picked up a pass from Ciaran McGrath to score. With a second goal added, Dunloy added a third with just two points filed by Gregory O’Kane frees.
The third goal in the 11th minute, came when Nigel Elliot’s cute crossfield pass was met on the surface by ash wielding Liam Richmond.
Ballycastle, however, remained in touch and left memories of Dunloy’s first half aggression with comforting thoughts that Michael McShane’s superb goal sliced the gap to just two goals at half-time.
On the evidence of yesterday’s display, it seems only a suspension could stop Dunloy reclaiming their Ulster mantle before posing as pressing challenge on the All-Ireland crown.
Dunloy: S Elliot (cpt), F McMullan, P Molloy, S McIlhatton, S McMullan, Gary O’Kane, S Mullan, C Cunning, C McGuckian, P McMullan (1-0), A Elliot (1-4), L Richmond (1- 2), C McGrath (1-1), Gregory O’Kane (1-4), N Elliot (0-2).
Subs: J Elliot for N Elliot (36mins), D McMullan for S McIlhatton. Ballycastle: D Donnelly, M Dallas O Colgan, T Kinney, P Jennings (cpt), C McAuley, R Donnelly, P McKillen (0-2), Benny Hill, G Maybin, A Campbell, K Kelly (0-1), M McShane (2-4), B Donnelly, P Boyle.
Subs: C Kelly for P Boyle (24mins), M McConnon for B Hill (46mins).
Referee: B Reid
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AIB Ulster Club Football Championship quarter-final: Ardboe 1-7 St John’s 1-7
Brian McGuigan to Ardboe rescue
TYRONE minor star Brian McGuigan rescued Ardboe amid high drama at Pomeroy yesterday when he floated over a late equaliser to set up an AIB Ulster Club Championship replay at Corrigan Park next Sunday.
The Tyrone champions will count themselves lucky to have escaped, for seconds earlier Johnnies substitute Collie McKnight thought he had grabbed the winner, but his effort curled away at the last minute and came back off a post.
It was a battling second half for the Antrim champions, who soaked up intense Ardboe pressure to set up effective counter attacks from which they could have fashioned an unlikely victory.
And they were aided by some wayward passing and poor shooting from a Tyrone side which also allowed itself the luxury of a missed penalty in the first half.
That was the first of a series of crucial moments.
Both sides had chances in the closing eight minutes, and it was Brian McGuigan who seized the opportunity, taking a short free from brother Frank to split the posts and give his side another chance to book a semi-final place.
Ardboe: R McElroy, S Devlin, B Hurl, M Cummings, C Devlin, F Devlin, E Donnelly, M Coyle, P McElroy (0-1), G Wylie, B McGuigan (0-1), F McGuigan (0- 5), D Coyle, S Coney, A Quinn (1-0).
Subs: J Cummings for D Coyle, K Quinn for Wylie. St John’s: B McNulty, L McCurdy, M Bohill, A McGowan (0-1), G Adams, J Kelly, M O’Neill, J Murphy, D Swail, P Curran (0-1), J Wilson, D Kennedy, E McKenna, B Mackin (0-1), E McAtamney (0-4).
Subs: C Heatley (1-0) for Kennedy, D Rafferty for McGowan, C McKnight for McKenna.
Ref: B Crowe (Cavan)
