Cushendall 1-19 St John's 0-10
If there was ever any doubt about the outcome of yesterday's Antrim SHC quarter-final, it was resolved five minutes after the restart when Cushendall, already leading by four points, grabbed the only goal of the game.
A high ball from Paddy McNaughton found Shane McNaughton, who rounded his marked and fired home.
St John's were out of the blocks first when Conor Johnston was on target in the opening seconds and were big contenders throughout the opening quarter and Cushendall needed a couple of Karl McKeegan frees to level matters at 0-5 each on the 15-minute mark.
Despite facing the stiff breeze, Ruairi Og gradually got on top and points from Ronan McGrady (0-2), Eoghan Campbell, Paddy McGill, and another McKeegan free pushed them ahead, while St john's only reply came from Brian Mcfall.
It was inevitable that with second half wind assistance the north Antrim side would take over. Despite Mcfall firing over for St John's in the opening seconds, McNaughton, first with a point and then his fifth minute goal heralded the end.
They pushed on to lead by 10, 1-14 to 0-7, at the end of the third quarter.
Mcfall added three more, but Cushendall eased home and into a semi-final clash with Dunloy.
Dunloy 1-14 Rossa 0-8
DUNLOY held Rossa scoreless for the entire second half - but only managed five points themselves despite the aid of a strong breeze - to send Rossa out of the Antrim SHC and set up a semi-final clash with Cushendall.
The Belfast side were in the game up to the interval when they only trailed by four points. Indeed, they led for five minutes after Pearse finucane got them away inside a minute but Dunloy hit the front when they scored the only goal of the game after six minutes.
Straight from Gareth McGhee's long puck-out, Chris Brogan gained possession before slipping the ball into the path of Paul Shiels, who made no mistake. Three further points, two from Kevin McQuillan and another from Shiels, saw the North Antrim side 1-3 to 0-2 ahead after 15 minutes.
A finucane free kept Rossa in the mix but Shiels, Liam Richmond and Nigel Elliot opened the gap to six.
Rossa, who currently sit at the foot of Division One, showed great spirit to throw everything into the closing 10 minutes of the half. finucane slotted over another free, Johnny McGuinness whacked over a couple, Stephen Shannon took their total to seven from the dead ball and Michael Armstrong got them to within four, 0-8 to 1-9 at the interval.
With wind advantage, Dunloy simply did not come up to the mark scoring just five times in the second 30 minutes, while Rossa shot nine wides and failed to raise a flag.
Shiels kept last year's beaten finalists on track with sixth, 12th and 15th minute scores as the Belfast men shot themselves out of the game. McGhee converted a 20th minute long-range free and Shiels sealed it with his eighth point four minutes from time.
Ballycastle 3-16 Glenariffe 0-4
BALLYCASTLE produced a blistering second half display with 14 men to crush Glenariffe in yesterday's Antrim SHC
quarter-final.
The McQuillan's were under pressure to join the other three North Antrim heavyweights in the semi-finals, and that pressure increased when they had corner-back David Donnelly red-carded in first half injury-time.
However, they outscored the Oisin's 3-9 to a single point after the break to secure a semi-final crack at champions Loughgiel.
The first half was fairly pedestrian stuff, which saw Ballycastle go in at the break leading 0-7 to 0-3, with Ciaran Clarke grabbing 0-5 of that total.
Despite facing a numerical disadvantage, 'the Town' hit the ground running after the break, with Kevin Barry McShane and Peter Dallat firing over before they embarked on a three-goal blitz .
Saul McCaughan was on hand after Senan McToal made the initial save in the 32nd minute and four minutes later they had blown Glenariffe out of the water.
Kieran Kelly scored the second in the 34th minute, again after young McToal had made a partial save, with McCaughan scoring the pick of the bunch two minutes later. further points from Kelly, Stephen McAfee and McCaughan saw Ballycastle lead by 18, 3-12 to 0-3 at the end of the third quarter. 'The Town' then proceeded to empty their bench but still managed four more before the end, McAfee, Peter Dallat and substitutes Mickey Dallat and Chris Boyle all on target.
A totally demoralised Glenariffe side who must have felt they were in with a shout at the break, scored just once in the second half - through Conor McAllister. q Results P45
SCoReRS
Cushendall: K McKeegan (0-7),
S McNaughton (1-2), R McCambridge,
P McGill, R O'Grady (0-2 each), N McManus, E Campbell, C Carson, E Laverty (0-1 each).
St John's: Brian McFall (0-4), M Dudley,
C Johnston (0-2 each), Barry McFall, D Nugent (0-1 each).
Dunloy: P Shiels (1-8), L Richmond,
K McQuillan (0-2) each, G McGhee, N Elliott (0-1 each)
Rossa: P Finucane (0-3), J McGuinness,
S Shannon (0-2) each, M Armstrong (0-1) Ballycastle: S McCaughan (2-1), C Clarke (0-5), K Kelly (1-1), S McAfee (0-3), P Dallatt (0-2), KB McShane, S McGarry, C Boyle,
M Dallatt (0-1 each).
Glenariffe: R McDonnell (0-2), K McDonnell, C McAllister (0-1 each)