One down for Buckna in title chase

The Braid side realistically cannot afford to drop any points in their remaining games if they are to stand any chance of overhauling long-time leaders Killymurris Glarryford in the final stages of the title race.

With Glarryford not in action last week, Buckna moved five points closer to their rivals by taking full points from their home clash with Cloughwater - another club to have enjoyed a fine season.

It means Buckna still trail Glarryford by 10 points, but with two games in hand over the pacesetters.

Even allowing for that, however, it seems highly unlikely that Glarryford will slip up in their remaining two games - away to St Patrick's Ballymena and at home to Harryville Men's Fellowship - to allow Buckna in through the back door.

SCOREBOARD

Cuningham 'B' 36 (3), Ballymena Methodist 35 (2): H Lynn 12, M Arbuthnut 7; J Kerr 10, A Bacon 10; P Baird 7, G McAleese 11; B Lynn 7, J Simms 7.

Glenwherry 37 (4), High Kirk 20 (1): A Crawford 7, H Smyth 4; L Davidson 8, T McPeake 9; S Bonnar 10, E Leckey 5; J Bonnar 12, I Hamilton 2.

High Kirk 41 (3), St Patrick's Broughshane 33 (2): H Smyth 8, J Harris 12; T McPeake 8, S Wilson 4; E Leckey 17, T McClintock 7; D Smyth 8, B Clyde 10.

Clough 'A' 26 (1), First Ahoghill 'A' 47 (4): D Wasson 7, D Morrison 13; A McBurney 4, W Morrison 16; J Wasson 9, S Dennis 5; N Wasson 6, A Morrison 13.

Connor 53 (5), Second Broughshane 'B' 21 (0): L White 9, S Harper 8; J Millar 18, V McAlonan 3; T Hill 12, W Barr 3; D Elliott 14, N Graham 7.

St Patrick's Broughshane 27 (0), Second Broughshane 'A' 54 (5): J Harris 5, J Turtle 15; T McClintock 7, H Henry 14; B Clyde 5, C Turtle 13; S Wilson 10, M Montgomery 12.

Buckna 45 (5), Cloughwater 24 (0): J Reid 12, G Kirk 6; S Hamill 12, J Scott 3; R Black 9, R Adams 6; A McCullough 12, W Adams 9.

Killymurris Carnlea 38 (2), Second Broughshane'A'43 (3): J Campbell 13, H Henry 9; T McAlonan 2, J Turtle 18; D McCullough 20, C Turtle 7; I Compton 3, M Montgomery 9.

Ballymena Methodist 38 (3), Cullybackey Methodist 'A' 35 (2): M Arbuthnut 15, T Rock 6; G McAleese 5, N Peacock 10; J Simms 3, C Ramsey 13; A Bacon 15, J Kirk 6.

First Broughshane 45 (4), Cuningham 'B' 32 (1): D Shields 12, H Lynn 6; G Davidson 11, J Kerr 7; D Calderwood 12, P Baird 8; J Gaston 10, B Lynn 11.

St Patrick's Broughshane 33 (1), Killymurris Carnlea 49 (4): J Harris 3, T McAlonan 14; T McClintock 6, J Campbell 15; B Clyde 16, I Compton 2; T Spence 8, D McCullough 18.

Grange 30 (2), Glenwherry 44 (3): H McCullough 0, A Crawford 22; B Millar 5, J Bonnar 8; R Greer 11, L Davidson 10; R Duffin 14, S Bonnar 4.

Glenwherry 46 (4), Ballymena Methodist 27 (1): A Crawford 14, A Bacon 2; L Davidson 9, M Arbuthnut 7; S Bonnar 9, J Simms 12; J Bonnar 14, G McAleese 6.

TABLE

Killymurris Glarryford, played 21, points 80.5; Buckna 19-70.5; Clough 'A' 22-67.5; First Broughshane 21-65.5; Cloughwater 21-60.5; First Ahoghill 'A' 21-60; Glenwherry 21-59.5; Connor 20-59; Killymurris Carnlea 18-57; Cuningham ‘B’ 21-54.5; Cullybackey Methodist ‘A’ 21-54.5; Ballymena Methodist 20-53; Grange 21-52.5; First Ahoghill ‘B’ 19-51; Harryville MF 20-49.5; Second Broughshane ‘A’ 19-49; St Patrick’s Ballymena 21-46.5; High Kirk 21-45.5; Cuningham ‘A’ 20-38.5; CUllybackey Methodist ‘B’ 20-32.5; Craigs 18-32; St Patrick’s Broughshane 20-29.5; Second Broughshane ‘B’ 21-28; Clough ‘B’ 20-19.5.

NELSON CUP

Glenwherry 38, Cuningham ‘A’ 34: A Crawford 16, L McIlroy 3; L Davidson 5, M Fleming 12; S Bonnar 4, A Smith 11; A Bonnar 13, S McKee 8.