Ballycastle - McQuillans

This year as McQuillan GAC reflect on last years centenary celebrations and prepare to enter their second century it was back to the grindstone preparing for the various divisional and county competitions.

In the senior hurling league the club competed well in the early part of the league but on too many occasions failed by narrow margins to achieve successful results. This however changed in the latter half of the league when a string of well earned wins against, Loughgiel, Glenariffe, Ballygalget and Portaferry meant that we finished in a mid league position. The championship promised much and in the quarter final against Dunloy we matched the opposition for long periods but ultimately failed to last the pace and the champions ran out winners in the final quarter.

The minor team produced some fine matches over the Feis weekend to capture the Feis Seven a Side tournament for the first time when beating Loughgiel in a very absorbing final. Following two wins in the championship our U-18's bowed out in the quarter-final at the hands of Cushendall.

At juvenile level the highlight of the year has been the successes of our U-16 hurling team. Feis Sunday in Dunloy brought the return of the long awaited McMullan Cup to Ballycastle when after a hard fought first half McQuillans ran out comfortable winners against Loughgiel. This was followed up by winning the North Antrim League and Championship Shield. The county final followed at the beginning of October and McQuillans secured the title after a tough battle with St Johns at Cloughmills. This team remained unbeaten in all competitions this year.

McQuillans U16's

The U-12 team had some remarkable performances throughout the year in a very competitive league which this year included participants from Derry and South Antrim. During March McQuillans captured the U-13 Astro Turf Winter League when they edged Cushendall in a highly competitive deciding tie at the cold and wet Quay Road Playing Fields. The U-14 team were unlucky to exit both the Feile na nGael and Shield at the semi-final stages but consistent performances throughout the league ensured they were deservedly confirmed league winners during October.

At U-10 level early success came by way of the North Antrim U-10 Div 1 Indoor League where a strong McQuillan side beat St Endas in the final at Ballymena Leisure Centre during February. This success continued when they remained unbeaten in a number of tournaments over the summer. As school beckoned in September we had mixed success in the championships losing by a narrow margin to a strong Cuchulainns team in fiercely competitive U-10 championship final. Just a week later the rivalry was renewed when the same teams met again in the Primary 7 championship and this time McQuillans emerged victorious after another hard fought battle.

McQuillans - P7 Div 1 Championship Winners

Success came to our big ball boys this year when in July our footballers captured the North Antrim Junior Football Shield on Feis Saturday in Dunloy. This was followed up with the Division 6 league title secured when beating All Saints Ballymena in September. This team were extremely unlucky to exit the Junior Football Championship in the semi-final at the hands of McDermotts after extra time having lead by four points with five minutes left to full time.

McQuillans Senior Footballers - Junior Feis Winners & Div 6 Winners

The club hosted the visit of the Munster coaches in May when despite the terrible weather conditions necessitating a move indoors many coaches from all over Antrim greatly benefited from working with the knowledgeable and experienced Munster men. Highly successful U-10 Summer and U-13 Cul Camps were held during July and August and were attended by large numbers of enthusiastic boys and girls. We hope to build on these successes by hosting camps again next year.