Mighty Shamrocks off to a flying start

REIGNING champions Loughgiel Shamrocks made a successful start to the defence of their North Antrim Under 12 Indoor Hurling League when they won all their games on the opening day of this year’s competition.

Based at St Patrick’s College in Ballymena the young Shamrocks started off with a 4-0 win over Dunloy 2nds, and they picked up full points in their next game despite being pushed all the way by host club All Saints in a thrilling game that ended 4-3. They then went on to beat Tir na nOg Randalstown by two goals to one in another tough game before edging out St Glenravel by a similar scoreline in yet another hard game.

Dunloy recovered well from that early defeat to win their remaining three games against All Saints, Randalstown and Glenravel while All Saints won two, lost two and drew one.

Creggan came out on top at St Comgall’s in Larne as they beat Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm 2nds 2-0, Larne 4-0, Ruairi Og Cushendall 2nds 3-2 and Glenariffe Oisins 3-2 to pick up full points.

Cushendall won two games, drew one and lost one while Glenariffe had a mixed day, beating Larne 6-0 before later losing to Glenarm by a similar scoreline.

With the St Enda’s teams unable to travel because of the adverse weather conditions all the teams at the Ballymena and Larne venues only played four games instead of the scheduled five.

In Cross & Passion College Ballycastle the home team won all five of their games as they beat Cushendun 6-1, Glenravel 2nds 5-0, Loughgiel 2nds 4-1, Glenshesk 2nds 9-0 and Cushendall 3-0. That defeat was however Cushendall’s only defeat as they won all the rest of their games with a bit to spare and like Ballycastle look contenders for the title.

At Our Lady of Lourdes, Ballymoney none of the teams collected full points though Dunloy A remained unbeaten with three wins over Glenshesk (4-1), Shane O’Neill (1-0) and McQuillan’s 2nds (6-0) and a 1-1 draw with St Mary’s Rasharkin to top the table. Glenshesk won their other three games as they beat McQuillan’s 3-1, Rasharkin 4-0 and Glenarm 3-1 to remain very much in contention.

Sean Stinsons Ahoghill were unable to travel to Ballymoney which meant all the teams had a bye in one of their rounds.

In Coleraine, Dungiven were the dominant team winning three of their four games and drawing the other one. Burt and Buncrana 2nds did not travel because of the snowy conditions which meant there were a few gaps in the programme but there was plenty of quality on show as Dungiven beat Coleraine 4-0, Strabane 4-1and Cloughmills 3-0 but they were denied the clean sweep by Cushendun 2nds who caused a bit of a shock to earn a 2-2 draw. The Cushenun boys beat Strabane and Coleraine but were beaten by Cloughmills.

Dungannon were the surprise packets at Edmund Rice College in Glengormley and after drawing their opening game with Down side Ballygalget they won their three remaining games, beating Sarsfields 3-0, Breda 4-1 and the host team St Enda’s 3-1 to top their group. St Enda’s had made a good start to the day as they recorded wins over Breda and Ballygalget, but they came unstuck against Dungannon and a Sarsfields side who won one, drew two and lost one in a mixed day.

The games at Swatragh were played on Sunday and again the weather played a part with Donegal sides Buncrana and Carndonagh unable to travel. Slaughtneil were the form team with four big wins over Creggan 2nds (7-1), Dungiven 2nds (7-2), Swatragh (6-1) and Strabane 5-0 to top the table with become the highest scorers of the weekend.

Host club Swatragh finished second in the group with two wins and a draw while Dungiven 2nds finished third.

The top teams from each section will play against each other next weekend to decide the make-up of the finals, which will be held the following week in the Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena.