Bathshack Antrim SHC Group 1 round two
Ballycastle 1-15 St Enda’s 1-15
WHEN Niall O’Connor stroked over the equalising point just over three minutes into added time in Ballycastle on Saturday evening, Naomh Éanna got nothing less than they deserved from this tie.
Tiarnán Smyth, who has regularly deputised for Ryan Elliott in the Antrim goals over the past couple of seasons, made a huge impact in the first five minutes with a goal and two points to put the home side 1-2 to 0-1 up.
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But when the play settled a little, points from Cormac Jennings (two frees), Eddie and Niall O’Connor had the Glengormley side level by the end of the first quarter.
However, quick points from Seamus McAuley, Ronan McCarry and a Tiernán Smyth free once more opened a gap and Ballycastle led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.
Joe McToal fluffed a gilt-edged goal chance in the opening minute of the second half and Ballycastle seemed to fade out of the game, while points from Cormac (two) and Killian Jennings brought Naomh Éanna level.
Although James McShane and Smyth put Ballycastle back in the lead, Eoin Conlon’s 44th-minute goal put the visitors ahead for the first time at 1-10 to 1-9 and Niall O’Connor stepped up to add on three points and his side were two up in the 52nd minute.
Neil McAuley also scored three times around this period and when Conor Boyd (two) and Tiarnán Smyth tagged on points it looked as if Ballycastle were going to hold on for victory.
But injury-time points from Ruairí Donaghy and O’Connor rescued the Glengormley side and they will await the outcome of the final group game, the Loughgiel v Ballycastle derby, to discover whether they progress as second or third-placed qualifiers. A defeat by more than 10 points would leave Ballycastle in third spot.
Overall it was a mistake-riddled game not helped by the heavy pitch; too much possession was given away cheaply, while Naomh Éanna’s shooting (13 wides) almost let Ballycastle through for a win their second-half performance wouldn’t have deserved.
Ballycastle T Smyth 1-7, 0-3 frees, N McAuley 0-3, C Boyd 0-2, R McCarry, S McAuley and J McShane 0-1 each.
Naomh Éanna E Conlon 1-0, N O’Connor 0-5, 3 frees, C Jennings 0-5, 2 frees, E O’Connor 0-2, R Donaghy, K Jennings and C Bradley 0-1 each
