St Paul’s remain in the leading pack of Division Two with Cushendun’s win

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 2A
St Paul’s 3-16 Cushendun 1-20

ST PAUL’S picked up a crucial win on their home ground on Wednesday to maintain their challenge for hurling honors in Division Two.

It was a four-way tie at the top heading into the evening’s action and the West Belfast side are now one of three teams still leading the table with as many games remaining as they scored goals at crucial moments to see off a Cushendun side who had been hot on their heels throughout the second period.

The hosts were dealt a blow in the opening minute when Declan Quinn was forced off with a nasty hand injury and Caolan Ó Duibhfinn’s subsequent free-kick went wide.

The early exchanges were fairly even, with Callum Kilgore pointing the visitors forward, only for Caolan Crossan to hit back and this was them as Ó Duibhfinn twice responded to points from Johnny Morgan and a sideline from Connloath McNeill.

St Paul’s would then enjoy a big minute with 13 up when Daire Stevenson went long and it was Patrick Doyle who reacted first, getting on the end before crashing past Gareth Magee and from the poc-out intercepting Doyle to force the return just inside the near post for a second goal.

McNeill and Ó Duibhfinn traded placed balls before Cushendun started to get on top with McNeill on point from a free and away play, while Conor McHugh produced a neat finish from the left wing.

Ó Duibhfinn broke the cycle with Aidan McSparran as the half ended as it began with another exchange of points from Duffy and Morgan, with St Paul’s leading 2-6 to 0-9 at the break.

Cushendun will have been happy with their response to those goals and even happier with how they spent the third quarter as Conor McHugh scored an early free and McNeill then came out of the game to reduce the gap to one.

A free Ó Duibhfinn was the home reply before McHugh canceled it out and although St Paul’s extended the lead again with points from Declan Chapman and Ó Duibhfinn, Cushendun gained the upper hand with an Aidan McSparran score sandwiched between points from McNeill. the team level.

Crucially, Emmett’s were never able to get ahead by the nose as an excellent touch from Caolan Crossan put the hosts ahead and although McHugh equalized again, the hosts once again replied as Mark Munce and Thomas Duff surged forward to give their team a to concede a goal.

Although Cushendun once again reduced it to the minimum, another big moment went St Paul’s way when Ó let Duibhfinn fly with a free ball in his own half that fell, was missed by everyone and took the ball into the net via the ruck bounced.

The visitors felt they needed a goal and McNeill scored an inside free which fell to Alex McMullan who went wide.

They would eventually grab a lifeline as the game entered extra time with a Donal O’Hara delivery touched by Conor McHugh before O’hara tried again but his effort sailed over.

Perhaps fittingly, it was Ó Duibhfinn who had the final say from a free-kick, taking his tally to 1-9 after the hour, with St Paul’s looking to secure a huge win and stay level at the top of the table with three rounds remaining.

ST PAUL: C Murray; C O’Carroll, F Sewell, T Auld; D Stevenson, L Walsh, T Duff (0-1); M Munce (0-1), D Quinn; C Ó Duibhfinn (1-9, 1-6 free), D Chapman (0-1), P Phillips; P Doyle (2-1), C Crossan (0-2, 1 sl), C Duffy.
subtitles: B Burns for D Quinn (1), S Munce (0-1) for C Duffy (41), P Donnelly for D Chapman (43), C Killleagh for M Munce (51), C Murray for P Doyle (55).

CUSHENDUN: G Magee; M McSparran, A Corbett, M ​​McHugh; T Scally, D O’Hara (0-1), J McKay; A McSparran (0-2), A Breslin; D McQuillan, C Kilgore (0-1), C McNeill (0-9, 5f, 1 65, 1 sl); C McHugh (1-5, 0-2f), J Morgan (0-2), A McMullan (0-1).
subtitles: C Bannon for M McHugh (34), P McKeegan for J McKay (43), J O’Connell for A Breslin (58)

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)

Midweek results
O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 1A
Cushendall 3-23 O’Donovan Rossa 1-18
Dunloy 1-17 Loughgiel 1-20

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 1B
Portaferry 1-17 Ballycran 2-21
Naomh Éanna 1-24 Ballygalget 1-12

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 2A
St Paul’s 3-16 Cushendun 1-20
St Gall’s 3-13 Carey 0-23
Glenarm 0-24 Clooney Gaels 0-18

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 2B
Still 4-14 Loughgiel II 2-19
Sarsfields 1-16 Carryduff 0-14

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 3A
Lámh Dhearg 1-10 Creggan 1-22
Rasharkin 0-18 Cloughmills 1-18

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 3B
Armoy 3-24 All Saints, Ballymena 0-14
Na Magha 1-13 Glenravel 3-11

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 4A
St Brigid’s 3-23 Loch Mór Dál gCais 3-12
Ardoyne 1-17 Gort na Mona 2-20

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division 4B
St Gall’s II PP Loughbeg harps
Latharna Óg PP St Paul’s II

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Football League Division Three
St Agnes’ 2-11 St Malachy’s 1-12
Wolfe Tones 4-5 Ireland and 3-17