Champions cruise through as Cushendall, Ballycastle and Loughgiel secure semi-final spots

Dunloy 3-15 Rossa 1-7

It took them a while to get into their stride, but when they got going county champions Dunloy looked impressive as they convincingly beat Rossa in Sunday evening's Antrim Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final in Healey Park, Loughgiel.

The Division 2 side were competitive during the opening quarter and with Chris McGuinness (2), Matt Devlin and Michael Armstrong on target they were well in the game. However when former county star Paddy Richmond was put clear by Sean Dowds in the twenty-first minute, and blasted the ball to the Rossa net, Dunloy were well on course to a semi-final meeting with Loughgiel in two weeks time.

The champions (who ended with no less thant eleven different players on the scoresheet – including goalkeeper Gareth McGhee) were 1-8 to 0-5 to the good at the break and even though Rossa pulled a point back early in the second-half they tagged on the scores to take command of the game. Rossa revived their fading hopes with a goal from Chris Hamill in the forty-second minute, but Paudie Shivers grabbed the Cuchullains second goal and Paddy Richmond bagged his team's third before the end to set up that semi-final clash with the Shamrock.

Dunloy scorers – Paddy Richmond 2-1, Paudie Shivers 1-0, Sean Dowds 0-4, Liam Richmond 0-2, Conor Cunning 0-2, Gareth McGhee, Colm Cunning, Paddy Doherty, Alastair Elliott, Paul Shiels and Gregory O'Kane (01 each).

Ballycastle 1-17 Glenariffe 1-7

A second-half collapse by Glenariffe saw Ballycastle advance to the semi-final with a 1-17 to 1-7 win in Sunday evening's opening quarter-final at Loughgiel.

The scores were actually level at 1-7 apiece at one stage but Ballycastle pushed for home and hit ten points without replay to seal a semi-final place against Cushendall.

Former Antrim star Malachy 'Cozzie' Dallas was the star man for the town scoring a goal and eight points in a fine individual display. 'Cozzie' accounted for a 1-6 of the 1-7 his team had registered while the game was still in the balance, his goal coming in the first half after Kevin McDonnell had grabbed one for the Oisins in the seventh minute.

As the second-half progressed Glenariffe faded alarmingly and a series of points from Dallas, Stephen McAfee, Ciaran Clarke, Gerard Laverty and Cormac Donnelly saw them home with a bit to spare.

Ballycastle scorers – Malachy Dallas 1-8, Cormac Donnelly 0-2, KB McShane 0-2, Gerard Laverty 0-2, Stephen McAfee 0-2, Ciaran Clarke 0-1.

Glenariffe scorers – Johnny McIntosh 0-4, Kevin McDonnell 1-1, Randal McDonnell 0-2.

Cushendall 5-17 Gortnamona 0-7

Last year's runners-up Cushendall had little difficulty in disposing of Gortnamona in Saturday evening's quarter-final in Dunloy as they romped to a facile 25 points win.

The Belfast side did well in the opening half and were only five in arrears at the break (0-4 to 0-9), but after the change of ends the Ruairis put their foot on the exhilarator and pulled away with ease.

A hat-trick of goals from county Under 21 star Conor Carson really delivered the killer blow to Gortnamona's chances.

Full-forward Carson, who plays in the half-back line with the county U21 team, struck his first in the fortieth minute, added his second three minutes later and completed his hat-trick in the final minutes.

Not to be outdone county senior star Karl McKeegan grabbed a goal and Brian Delargy also had the green flag waving as the 'Dall eased through to a semi-final meeting with Ballycastle.

Cushendall scorers – Conor Carson 3-1, Karl McKeegan 1-3, Shane McNaughton 0-3, Brian Delargy 1-0, Paddy McGill 0-3, Neill McManus 0-2, Donal McNaughton 0-2, Michael McCarthy 0-2, Declan McKillop 0-1.

Loughgiel had a walk-over when their opponents South Antrim withdrew from the competition in the middle of last week, a decision which will surely put an end to this experiment of the division sides made up of Junior and Intermediate clubs. Hardly the preparation the Shamrocks would have wanted going into a semi-final meeting with arch rivals Dunloy in what promises to be a cracking game.