Ballycastle and Loughgiel turn the tables on their Feis Cup conquerors

All County Hurling League Division One COMPREHENSIVELY beaten by Dunloy just three nights earlier Ballycastle bounced back to turn the tables on the county champions in Friday evening's re-arranged league game at Pairc MacUilin to keep alive their hopes of remaining in the top flight.

When the sides met in the Feis Cup semi-final on Tuesday night Dunloy had handed out an embarrassing beating to the young McQuillan's, who in fairness were still in celebration mode after their U21 final success two nights earlier. However this time around it was Ballycastle who looked shaper from the start and boosted by a goal from twenty metre free by Malachy Dallas they went on to open up a 1-6 to 0-3 half-time lead.

Dunloy did manage to pull a goal back in the second-half but a goal and three points from corner-forward Ciaran Clarke kept the home side in control and they sealed their second league win of the season with thirteen points to spare.

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BALLYCASTLE – Ryan McGarry, Paul McLernon, Cormac Donnelly, Dermot Donnelly, Mickey Dallat, Matthew Donnelly, Ciaran Davidson, Kieran Kelly, David Donnelly, Shane Staunton, Malachy Dallas, Gerard Laverty, James McLister, Kevin Barry McShane, Ciaran Clarke.

Loughgiel also reversed their Feis Cup semi-final defeat when they beat Cushendall in Sunday evening's league game at Healey Park. Like Ballycastle the Shamrocks had been well beaten by the same opposition a few days earlier, but they showed great strength of character to come back and recored a 2-17 to 2-14 win.

Cushendall had slightly the better of the opening half and led by a point at the break with centre-forward 'Natty' McCambridge grabbing a goal for the Ruairi Ogs.

Loughgiel were much improved in the second-half and a sparkling performance by Liam Watson saw them take control. Watson fired in a goal from a twenty metre free and Benny McCarry also bagged a goal to wrap up the win, a result which keeps the league very interesting indeed.

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LOUGHGIELl – DD Quinn, Ronan McCloskey, Paul Gillan, Mark McFadden, Jams Campbell, Declan Laverty, Martin Scullion, Conal Dobbin, Donal McKinley, Eddie McCloskey, Oran McFadden, Joey Scullion, Liam Watson, Declan Laverty, Aiden McCloskey.

CUSHENDALL – Ronan Kearney, Mickey McCambridge, Odhran Scullion, Terry McAllister, Martin Burke, Neil McManus, Sean Delargy, Declan McKillop, Kevin Elliott, Paddy McGill, Natty McNaughton, Conor Carson, Aiden McNaughton, Karl McKeegan, Paddy McNaughton.