Our senior hurlers had a fruitless journey this evening as they journeyed round the lough to Tannaghmore Gardens to take on the Seán Treacy's of Lurgan in round seven of the Armagh League.

On a still, sun drenched evening the Cilles didn't get out of the blocks in the first half and the North Armagh men made hay out of our lacklustre display. The half-time scoreline of 4-10 to 0-9 in Seán Treacy's favour was a true reflection of the play with the Black and Red jerseys second to the breaking ball and generally chasing maroon for the first half hour. Seán Treacy's direct play, crisper striking and accurate score taking were all strong features of a dominant opening half.

We had some bright passages ourselves though with Darragh Coney battling hard throughout and some neat score taking from Chris Kearns (0-5, 0-3 from frees), Ryan Duff (0-2) and a point a piece from Oisín Mór and Vinny McCann to give the travelling support something to shout about.

The lads regrouped at half time and the introduction of team captain Paul Maguire into the defence tightened things up with AJ McCann also entering the fray in the full forward line providing an attacking outlet throughout the second period.

Paddy McCusker was performing heroics between the posts in the third quarter despite the concession of two further goals which left an inevitability about the result but despite this the Cilles worked their way back into the game and controlled the match for most of the fourth quarter as goals from Tony O'Hagan (2-0) and Rory (1-0) and further points from Vinny McCann (0-2), Chris Kearns, Rory, Caolán McLaughlin, Pete Corr and the pick of them from AJ McCann all helped to put a glean of respectability on the scoreboard as referee Pat Walsh blew the full-time whistle with the Lurgan men prevailing on a 6-16 to 3-16 scoreline.

Although it was disappointing to lose the game the players can take great heart from the way they applied themselves after half time and with a sharper start might have gotten closer than the nine point deficit.

Foireann NCC: Paddy McCusker, Darragh Coney, Irwin Donnellan, Tighearnáin Daly, Odhrán McMurray, John McGuigan, Chris Kearns (0-6), Conor Doherty, Ryan Dubh O'Neill (0-2), Peter Corr (0-1), Vinny McCann (0-3), Rónán Maguire, Rory Poncánach Ó Néill (1-1)), Tony O'Hagan (2-0), Oisín Mór Ó Néill (0-1)

Fir Ionaid: Paul Maguire, AJ McCann (0-1), Caolán McLaughlin (0-1), Sheá Devlin, Eric Kirwan, Jarlath Canavan, Dan Taffe, Liam McIllvenna