Sport

Loughiel and Dunloy through to Antrim SHC final after two thrillers

Loughiel's Aaron Bradley and St John's Odhran McFadden in action during today's Antrim SHC semi-final <br />Picture by Hugh Russell&nbsp;
Loughiel's Aaron Bradley and St John's Odhran McFadden in action during today's Antrim SHC semi-final
Picture by Hugh Russell 
Loughiel's Aaron Bradley and St John's Odhran McFadden in action during today's Antrim SHC semi-final
Picture by Hugh Russell 

LOUGHIEL are through to the Antrim senior hurling final after playing out an absolute thriller with St John’s at Dunsilly this evening.

In a game that contained no less than 68 separate scores, St John’s pushed Loughiel all the way and were battling to the very end of extra-time for the goal which would have overturned the slender deficit. Unfortunately for the Belfast men, it was not to be as Loughiel won on a score-line of 2-31 to 5-18 to set up a final decider with Dunloy.

Earlier today, Chrissy McMahon was again the hero for Dunloy as he struck six minutes into stoppage-time to settle another epic semi-final and consign Rossa to a one-point defeat.

In the Antrim football semi-finals, defending champions Cargin withstood a late Lámh Dhearg rally to keep their three in-a-row ambitions alive with a two-point win at St Enda’s. In the other semi-final, a Ruairí McCann goal 20 minutes into the second-half tilted the game in Creggan’s favour as they overcame Portglenone by five points.

Bredagh stunned Ballycran in the Down Senior Hurling Championship yesterday, winning by six points at Carryduff to record their first ever win in the competition. However, Ballygalget’s defeat to Portaferry ensured Ballycran will still contest the county final with the group winners from the shores of Strangford Lough.

Last night, Warrenpoint beat Clonduff 4-2 on penalties after the two sides couldn't be separated by extra-time in the Down SFC quarter-finals, the game finishing 0-20 to 3-11. 

In Tyrone, Dungannon once again rescued a gripping tie with a 59th minute leveller from substitute Patrick Quinn to earn them extra-time against Errigal Ciarán. Paul Donaghy’s eight points brought his haul to 31 over three ties, each one delivering a damaging blow to Errigal’s bid to set up a repeat of last year’s decider and moving Dungannon into the final.

In the other semi-final, Trillick resisted all Coalisland could throw at them at Healy Park and left just enough in the tank to surge through the finish line with a stylish ruthlessness. Simon Garrity and Liam Gray grabbed the all-important goals, but it was Mattie Donnelly who set the pace and controlled the tempo in a masterful display.

In the fourth round of the Derry SFC, there were wins for Ballinascreen, Ballinderry, Glen, Coleraine, Slaughtneil, Swatragh, Loup and Magherafelt.

Gaoth Dobhair and Kilcar were pushed all the way in Donegal but ultimately prevailed against Seán Mac Cumhaill’s and St Michael’s respectively.

WEEKEND RESULTS


Antrim SHC semi-finals: Dunloy 1-22 O’Donovan Rossa 2-18; Loughiel 2-31 St John’s 5-18


Antrim SFC semi-finals: Cargin 3-9 Lámh Dhearg 1-13; Creggan 2-9 Portglenone 1-7


Down SHC: Bredagh 2-17 Ballycran 0-17; Portaferry 2-19 Ballygalget 0-17  


Down SFC quarter-finals: Kilcoo 2-17 Rostrevor 2-11; Ballyholland 1-14 Loughinisland 0-16 (aet); Warrenpoint 0-20 Clonduff 3-11 (aet, Warrenpoint win 4-2 on penalties)  


Tyrone SFC semi-finals: Dungannon 0-19 Errigal Ciarán 2-12 (aet); Trillick 2-13 Coalisland 1-12


Monaghan SFC semi-finals: Ballybay 4-19 Inniskeen 1-25 (aet);


Donegal SFC quarter-finals: Gaoth Dobhair 0-14 Seán Mac Cumhaill’s 1-10; Kilcar 3-14 St Michael’s 3-12; Naomh Conaill 2-16 Glenfin 0-5; St Eunan’s 8-11 Réalt na Mara 0-6  


Derry SFC round four: Ballinascreen 1-12 Bellaghy 0-9; Newbridge 1-15 Ballinderry 2-18; Glen 3-20 Kilrea 1-10; Coleraine 3-10 Claudy 1-14; Slaughtneil 3-21 Foreglen 0-8; Banagher 2-3 Swatragh 0-13; Loup 0-21 Dungiven 1-11; Magherafelt 1-8 Lavey 0-9