Loughgiel and Cushendall battle it out for top spot

By Michael McMullan

THE game of the weekend in Antrim is on Sunday (5.15pm) when Loughgiel host Cushendall at Fr Healy Park to decide top spot in the Group Two of the Senior Hurling Championship.

Both teams have beaten Naomh Éanna and Ballycastle with the ‘Dall’s six goals against the Hightown men putting them top of the group on score difference.

The reward for top spot is a passage straight to the semi-final with the second and third placed teams battling it out in a quarter-finals.

The Shamrocks had to hold off a stiff Ballycastle comeback after Shan McGrath’s goal had put them ahead earlier in the game.

Loughgiel will have an eye on Joseph McLaughlin who bagged three of their goals against Naomh Éanna while Neil McManus hit eight points as he continues to deliver.

There is a winner-takes-all clash in Ballycastle with Naomh Éanna the visitors (Sunday 2pm). Both lost their opening game and the prize is third spot and staying in the championship race.

In Group One, Ulster champions Dunloy are fancied to make it three wins from three and finish top

They welcome St John’s on Saturday (5pm) after comfortable wins over Rossa and Clooney Gaels so far in the competition.

Gregory O’Kane has been able to call on Eoin O’Neill this season as they chase a fifth successive title, something that has never been done.

The club’s footballers, on the back of their win over St Gall’s, have booked their place in the last eight of the Senior Championship.

Late points from James O’Connell and Eoin Graham weren’t enough for Clooney Gaels to down St John’s in the last round, 3-17 to 2-21.

It was close to a huge result for Clooney who will be underdogs going into Saturday’s trip to Rossa (7pm).