Month / January 2018

by thesaffrongael

Antrim acts excel at Ulster Scór na nÓg Final

s5

St. Mary’s Aghagallon winners of the Léiriú Stáitse at the UlsterScór na nÓg final in Downpatrick on Saturday.

The Ulster Scór na nÓg Final took place on Saturday in a packed St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick.  4 Antrim acts were in the final which was a huge achievement for the County.

The Ceili Dancers from Aghagallon danced their socks off and gave a beautiful performance of the Cross Reel in their third successive Ulster final. But luck wasn’t on their side and unfortunately missed out on the Ulster title this time. Meabh Mc Neill from Lamh Dhearg was next up in the solo singing competition and performed excellently. She sang a lovely song about the Island of Gola but sadly missed out on Ulster glory to a singer from Cavan.  Mary Kate Bonnes from Tír na nÓg was the shining star that she always is and had the audience laughing many times during her great performance. Unfortunately  she missed out on an Ulster title but will no doubt be back fighting for the title again next year. Aghagallon were the last Antrim act to perform in the Léiriú section. Their acting, attention to detail and expressions were amazing and they were crowned Ulster champions. This was an amazing achievement for these young people and they will now go on to compete at National level in the All Ireland Final in Sligo IT on 17th February.

Left: The Aghagallon ceili dance team and Right: Mary Kate Bonnes from Tir na nOg who both turned in excellent performances at Scór na nÓg.

The results were as follows :

TORTHAÍ  SCÓR   NA  nÓG  ULADH

Results from Saturday’s  Scór Finals in Ulster.

Rince Foirne- Killeavy GAA- Co. Ard Mhacha

Amhránaíocht Aonair- Cian Murray , Cabhán

Aithriseoireacht – Derrygonnelly GAA, Fear Manach BaileadGhrupa – Cornafean,  An Cabhán

Léiriú Stáitse- St Mary’s Aghagallon, Co Aontroma

Ceol Uirlise – Fintona Pearses GAA, Co Thír Eoghain

Rince Seit – Glenuilinn GAA, Co. Dhoire

The Ulster Scór na nÓg Final took place on Saturday in a packed St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick.  4 Antrim acts were in the final which was a huge achievement for the County.

The Ceili Dancers from Aghagallon danced their socks off and gave a beautiful performance of the Cross Reel in their third successive Ulster final. But luck wasn’t on their side and unfortunately missed out on the Ulster title this time. Meabh Mc Neill from Lamh Dhearg was next up in the solo singing competition and performed excellently. She sang a lovely song about the Island of Gola but sadly missed out on Ulster glory to a singer from Cavan.  Mary Kate Bonnes from Tír na nÓg was the shining star that she always is and had the audience laughing many times during her great performance. Unfortunately  she missed out on an Ulster title but will no doubt be back fighting for the title again next year. Aghagallon were the last Antrim act to perform in the Léiriú section. Their acting, attention to detail and expressions were amazing and they were crowned Ulster champions. This was an amazing achievement for these young people and they will now go on to compete at National level in the All Ireland Final in Sligo IT on 17th February.

 

The results were as follows :

TORTHAÍ  SCÓR   NA  nÓG  ULADH

Results from Saturday’s  Scór Finals in Ulster.

Rince Foirne- Killeavy GAA- Co. Ard Mhacha

Amhránaíocht Aonair- Cian Murray , Cabhán

Aithriseoireacht – Derrygonnelly GAA, Fear Manach BaileadGhrupa – Cornafean,  An Cabhán

Léiriú Stáitse- St Mary’s Aghagallon, Co Aontroma

Ceol Uirlise – Fintona Pearses GAA, Co Thír Eoghain

Rince Seit – Glenuilinn GAA, Co. Dhoire

The Ulster Scór na nÓg Final took place on Saturday in a packed St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick.  4 Antrim acts were in the final which was a huge achievement for the County.

The Ceili Dancers from Aghagallon danced their socks off and gave a beautiful performance of the Cross Reel in their third successive Ulster final. But luck wasn’t on their side and unfortunately missed out on the Ulster title this time. Meabh Mc Neill from Lamh Dhearg was next up in the solo singing competition and performed excellently. She sang a lovely song about the Island of Gola but sadly missed out on Ulster glory to a singer from Cavan.  Mary Kate Bonnes from Tír na nÓg was the shining star that she always is and had the audience laughing many times during her great performance. Unfortunately  she missed out on an Ulster title but will no doubt be back fighting for the title again next year. Aghagallon were the last Antrim act to perform in the Léiriú section. Their acting, attention to detail and expressions were amazing and they were crowned Ulster champions. This was an amazing achievement for these young people and they will now go on to compete at National level in the All Ireland Final in Sligo IT on 17th February.

 

The results were as follows :

TORTHAÍ  SCÓR   NA  nÓG  ULADH

Results from Saturday’s  Scór Finals in Ulster.

Rince Foirne- Killeavy GAA- Co. Ard Mhacha

Amhránaíocht Aonair- Cian Murray , Cabhán

Aithriseoireacht – Derrygonnelly GAA, Fear Manach BaileadGhrupa – Cornafean,  An Cabhán

Léiriú Stáitse- St Mary’s Aghagallon, Co Aontroma

Ceol Uirlise – Fintona Pearses GAA, Co Thír Eoghain

Rince Seit – Glenuilinn GAA, Co. Dhoire

by thesaffrongael

O’Boyle the CPC hero as they pip St Killian’s in thrilling final

Danske Bank Leonard Cup finalLeonard Cup final 3CPC’s Michael O’Boyle solos towards goal during his team’s Leonard Cup final win over St Killian’s at Allen Park, Antrim. Pic by John McIlwaine

Cross and Passion Ballycastle 3-11 St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-10

A beautiful point struck off his left at full pace as he raced up the left side-line in injury time, underlined Michael O’Boyle’s contribution to an excellent Danske Bank Leonard Cup final in Allen Park, Antrim this afternoon.

That was his 10th point to add to two first half goals as Cross and Passion came from behind at the death to win back the Cup they last held two seasons ago.

O’Boyle of course was critical to the outcome as his two early goals set opponents St Killian’s a problem to reel in.

The first came in the 11th minute, a fine solo run and strike, and was followed four minutes later by a crisp strike from the penalty line after he was bundled over in the area.

That put his side 2-1 to 0-2 ahead and, although St Killian’s hit the next four points in response, Cross and Passion finished the half strongly with O’Boyle adding a free and then Oisin Elliott brilliantly taking a short stick pass from Damian Quinn’s stick to find the net.

That meant the teams turned over at 3-2 to 0-6 and they traded three scores each in the opening 10 minutes of the second half before Fintan McQuillan’s long range free touched off a defender’s stick beating goalie Kevin McAuley to put St Killian’s back in the frame.

Damian Quinn responded immediately with a point from play, but Ciaran Magill tied the game in the 47th minute when he grabbed the sliotar to blast low to the net.

Again Ballycastle hit back positively with three points from O’Boyle, the first from play and then two from frees one of which was outside the 65 metre line.

St Killian’s then hit their third goal to tie the game once more on 3-9 each, Pearse McKeegan’s long free falling nicely for sub Dara Mort to stab home from close range.

The game was now in the last ten minutes and excitement high and it looked like the Tower were eventually break for home when Aidan Scullion burst out of defence, soloed to the opposing 45 metre line and fired over an outstanding individual score.

O’Boyle however had other ideas and he levelled from a 65 in the 57th minute, before adding the coup de grace a few minutes later. Garron Tower had chances in injury time, but Enda óg McGarry and his defence held strong to cross the line.

In overall St Killian’s probably looked the stronger all round team, but they didn’t have the penetration of O’Boyle to back up a solid outing from his team-mates.

St Killian’s : J McAllister, G Leech, L McLaughlin, C McCollam, P McKeegan, A Scullion 0-1, D Magill, C Hynds capt, M Emerson, F McQuillan 1-5 frees, C Magill 1-1, E McSparron 0-1, C McKeegan 0-1, S McDonnell 0-1, S McIntosh.

Subs : S O’Boyle for S McIntosh (HT), D Mort 1-0 for C McKeegan (37).

Cross & Passion : K McAuley, J McGowan, E óg McGarry, C McGarry, C McGlynn, D Devlin, R McClean, R McMullan, C McKinley, M O’Boyle, E Laverty, O Elliot, C O’Mullan, C O’Connor, D Quinn

Subs : C McAuley for D Quinn (57)

Referee : Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)267Seamus McAleenan of Ulster Colleges presents the Danske Bank Leonard Cup to CPC captain Rian McMullan after his team’s win over St Killian’s in today’s Leonard Cup final at Allen Park, Antrim. Pic by John McIlwaine

by thesaffrongael

Big Breakfast aids Kevin Bell Repatriation fund

B29

Glenavy GAC held a ‘Big Breakfast’ fund raiser for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund in St. Clare’s Hall Glenavy on Sunday on behalf of the Bradley family whose son Mathew died in a hit and run incident in Liverpool on 3rd November last year. Over four hundred people attended the event in St. Clare’s hall and Mathew’s three sisters, Clare, Roisin and Megan welcomed people on behalf of their parents, Donal and Margaret. Having such a large turnout was testimony to the high regard Mathew was held within the Glenavy Community and to the support provided by the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund.

Mathew had played Gaelic football for Glenavy from U.10 through to Minor and was a keen follower of GAA. He was a very popular and well known young man in Glenavy and in many other parts of the country, where he was known for his high quality workmanship, whilst working with his father Donal in Cornerstone Paving. As a talented landscape gardener, he moved to England, where he won a gold medal as part of the Surrey based Landform team, at the prestigious Chelsea Flower show.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund were of great support and assistance to the Bradley family at the time of Mathew’s death and continue to provide support to those families who are met with the hardship of repatriating the bodies of loved ones who have died suddenly abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances, back to Ireland. The money raised today will no doubt help other families faced with similar circumstances.

St. Joseph’s GAC would like to thank everyone who supported the event and a special thank you to all the volunteers who worked hard to make the breakfast the success that it was.

 

by thesaffrongael

John O’Boyle RIP

John O’Boyle RIP  –  Erin’s Own, Cargin38 (2)A

Antrim GAA and the Cargin club in particular lost a real stalwart at the weekend when John O’Boyle died on Saturday in hospital after a short illness. The 62 year old will be fondly remembered by many South West Gaels as a decent, straight talking trusted man who served our association faithfully over many years.

John sat on the South West Committee for more than 15 years as a CCC officer and was currently treasurer of the divisional board. He also sat on the All County CCC.

He was a big supporter of hurling despite never playing the game competitively himself. He refereed for over 20 years at underage hurling as well as senior.

South West Chairman Jim Mc Grath described John as “one of the most effective, moral and highly regarded members of the South West Committee. We have lost a true Gael and stalwart of the GAA. He devoted his life to and represented all that was good about the GAA”

A minute’s silence was observed in his memory before all the games in the Paddy McLarnon Memorial Under 21 Football tournament in Creggan on Saturday and Sunday.

John is survived by his mother, brothers and sisters. May he rest in peace.

John’s Funeral Mass will be held today, Monday in Cargin chapel at 11.00am.

Ar dheas Dé go raibh a anam