Loughgiel's late bid denied

League Division 1

Loughgiel 0-15 Ballycran 1-15

LOUGHGIEL were denied their third win on the trot in the All County Hurling League Division 1 when visitors Ballycran saved a last minute penalty in Saturday evening’s rearranged fixture at Fr Healey Park.

Joey Scullion had the chance to snatch a late win for the Shamrocks with a penalty but he was denied by the visitors goalkeeper Declan Ennis and the men for the Ards peninsula held on for a win that takes them to the top of the table.

Loughgiel, who were without their talisman Liam Watson, took an early lead with a point from a Liam McKillop free but the visitors hit back and a brilliant individual goal from corner-forward Aiden Clarke gave Ballycran the lead. Loughgiel goalkeeper DD Quinn made a magnificent save minutes later to deny Clarke his second goal and then denied James Coyle on two occasions from a twenty metre free and a penalty to keep the Shamrocks in the game.

Points from ‘Skinner’ Laverty and Liam McKillop brought Loughgiel back on terms, but though they added further points through McKillop (2) and Joey Scullion, Ballycran always found a reply and they went on to lead by 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time.

The second half produced a series of fine scores from both teams and after Damian Laverty and Joey Scullion had sent over points Ballycran had their best spell of the game with four cracking points from James Coyle, Scott Nicholson, Simon Wilson and Paul Keith to open up a four point gap by the thirty-seventh minute.

Two very good points from Neilly McGarry and substitute Aiden McCloskey cut the deficit in half before Paul Keith and Joey Scullion exchanged points to keep the game very much in the balance.

The Ards men appeared to have gained a foothold when Coyle hit a couple of quick points, but Loughgiel would not lie down and Eddie McCloskey and Joey Scullion brought the gap back to two again with ten minutes left for play.

Coyle was now in dominant form for Ballycran and he pointed from a free before setting Paul Keith clear for a good score from play, but Joey Scullion hit over a free and Eddie McCloskey struck a fine point on the run to leave just two in it once again.

There was real drama in the final minutes when the Shamrocks were awarded a penalty.

A goal would have put them in front with time almost up but Joey Scullion’s shot was saved by ‘Cran keeper Declan Ennis and as the ball was eventually scrambled away Coyle hit his sixth point of the game at the other end to give his team a three point win and keep their unbeaten run intact.

LOUGHGIEL – DD Quinn, Conal Dobbin, Barney McAuley, Paul Gillen, James Campbell, Johnny Campbell, Martin Scullion, Declan Laverty, Liam McKillop, Eddie McCloskey, Neilly McGarry, Ciaran McKinley, Damian Laverty, Benny McCarry, Joey Scullion. Subs – Aiden mcCloskey and Daniel McPeake.

BALLYCRAN – Declan Ennis, Sean Ennis, Patrick Hughes, Michael Hughes, Simon Wilson, Padraig Flynn, Patrick Gilmore, Terence Masterson, Gary Gordon, James Coyle, Conor Woods, Brendan Ennis, Scott Nicholson, Paul Keith, Aiden Clarke.

REFEREE – Garrett Duffy – (St Gall’s)