07 June 2010
Ballycastle won their first game of the season in the All County Hurling League Division One when they beat Ballycran by 1-18 to 1-10 in Sunday evening’s game at Pairc MacUillin. So far this season the McQuillan’s had turned in a few useful displays but all they had to show for it was one point from a drawn game with Ballygalget but on Sunday they produced their best display so far to convincingly beat the Down men by eight points.
Fielding a team with eight Under 21 players on show Ballycastle started strongly and it took a couple of excellent saves by Ballycran goalkeeper Stephen Keith to keep them at bay. For a period it appeared that their insistence in going for goals might cost them but some great scores from centre-forward Malachy Dallas helped them open up a 0-9 to 0-7 half-time lead.
Seventeen year old Ciaran Clarke was making an impression at corner-forward and following a strong run early in the second-half Peter Dallat pulled a ground stroke to the Ballycran net for his team’s goal.
‘Cozzy’ Dallas added two quick points to open a seven point gap, but Ballycran hit back with a goal from corner-forward James Coyle and suddenly the result was in the balance again. There were a few nervy moments for the young ‘Castle side as Ballycran closed the gap, but they soon found their feet again and some great scores from Ciaran Clarke, Shane Jennings and Peter Dallat sealed the win and kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.
Ballycastle – Ryan McGarry, David Donnelly, Cormac Donnelly, Paul McLernon, Michael Dallat, Kieran Kelly, Matthew Donnelly, Christopher Boyle, Ryan Donnelly, KB McShane, Malachy Dallas, Gerard Laverty, Shane Jennings, Peter Dallat, Ciaran Clarke.
Ballycran – Stephen Keith, Paddy Gilmore, Patrick Hughes, Michael Hughes, Terence Masterson, Michael Ennis, Padraig Flynn, Sean Ennis, Gary Gordon, Conor Woods, Donal Ennis, Paul Keith,James Coyle, Colm McManus, Aiden Clarke.
Referee – Eamon Hasson (Rasharkin)
County champions Dunloy impressed as they ran up a big score to beat Glenariffe in Waterfoot. The Oisins had turned a few top class displays at home this season, but they were no match for the craft and strength of Dunloy who cruised to a 3-18 to 1-9 win to move to joint top of the league table.
Glenariffe, whose cause was not helped when top forward Johnny McIntosh was red carded early in the second-half, played well in the opening period and three points in as many minutes form midfielder Conor McAlister and fine solo goal from Martin Butler gave them a two point lead. However Dunloy’s Paul Shiels was beginning to have a major influence on the game and he hit five points on the trot to put his team on top by half-time.
Corner-forward Christopher Brogan put Dunloy firmly in the driving seat when he found the net and further goals from Shiels and the veteran Colm ‘Cookie’ McGuckin sealed an emphatic win.
Dunloy – Gareth McGhee, Michael McClements, Paddy Martin, Kevin Molloy, Kevin McKeague, James McKeague, Kevin Martin, Paddy Richmond, Colm Cunning, Paddy Doherty, Liam Richmond, Christopher Brogan, Colm McGuckin, Paul Shiels.
Glenariffe – Seanan McToal, Chris Sheppard, Mark Nulty, Conor Kerr, Conan McToal, Mickey Gettins, Dan McKillop, Conor McAlister, Karl Healey, Martin Butler, Randal McDonnell, Kevin McDonnell, Aaron Cosgrove, Alex McDonnell, Johnny McIntosh.
Referee – Liam McAuley (Glenravel)
Cushendall moved to joint top of the Division One league table when they travelled to Ballygalget and won by 3-16 to 1-14 but it was a different story for Loughgiel who missed the chance to go clear at the top of the table when their trip down the Ards peninsula ended in a 2-15 to 0-16 defeat at the hands of Portaferry.
