Creggan’s Liam Quinn and Dominic McAteer who played their part in St. Mary’s Magherafelt’s victory over St. Patrick’s Maghera at the weekend

Danske Bank MacRory Cup semi-final

St Mary’s Magherafelt 6-7 St Patrick’s Maghera 1-13

From Séamas McAleenan in Páirc Seán de Brún Bellaghy

As in the other semi-final between St. Ronan’s Lurgan and St. Patrick’s Armagh, Antrim players played a major part in St. Mary’s victory over St. Patrick’s Armagh in this MacRory cup semi-final played in Bellaghy at the weekend.

Represented on the Magherafelt side were four players from Kickham’s Creggan with Jamie McCann, Tiarnan McAteer, Dominic McAteer and Liam Quinn to the fore as St. Mary’s hit six goals to confound the punters and send the South Derry seat of learning through to a second consecutive final.

Indeed the Antrim representation would have been greater but Moneyglass’ Eamon Kelly, who played on last year’s winning side did his cruciate in the first MacRory match of the season and is out until 2019.

St. Patrick’s Maghera went into this game as favourites following a strong MacRory campaign but conceded three goals in each half and were well beaten in the end by their deadly rivals from the ‘Convent’.

The south Derry derby attracted 3,500 to Bellaghy delaying the throw-in by almost 15 minutes, but the holders were quickly out of the blocks, Cormac Murphy winning a penalty after 10 seconds of play.

Daniel Bradley hit it low to the ‘keeper’s right, but that score ignited Maghera and they hit four points in a row over the next ten minutes with quick, long low balls into Alex Doherty and Lorcan McWilliams in front of goals.

However as the first half wore on, Magherafelt shored up that route with Ciaran Doyle at sweeper and Conall Devlin and Bradley dropping back to pick up possession off the impressive Tiarnach Donaghy in the middle, and Maghera were on the back foot.

Maghera led 0-5 to 1-1 when in the 18th minute an intricate passing move ended with Tiarnach Donaghy tapping in from close range. Goal No 3 arrived in the 24th minute, a high ball in from Jamie McCann was bundled over the line by Liam Quinn and the Convent turned over at 3-2 to 0-7 having played against the breeze.

Although Lorcán McWilliams pointed a free on the re-start, St Mary’s walked in a fourth goal with Tiarnach Donaghy punching it home from close range in the 34th minute.

Quinn added a point, before a pivotal moment, defender James Crawford collecting his second yellow card in six minutes and St Mary’s were down to 14 players. Yet they hit back with a soccer-style goal finished by Simon McErlain in the 42nd minute to go 5-3 to 0-10 clear.

Maghera had plenty of possession for the last 20 minutes but Magherafelt were very tight at the back, with the 53rd minute penalty slotted home by Alex Doherty their only concern.

Maghera had closed the gap to four points in the 58th minute, but St Mary’s finished strongly, a point from sub Connor O’Neill, followed immediately by a walk in goal for Cormac Murphy and a huge free on the side-line from Tiarnan McAteer.

St Mary’s: O Lynch; C Doyle, G Lupari, L óg McElhone; J Crawford, S McErlain 1-0, J McCann; R Keenan, T Donaghy 1-0; D Bradley 1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-3 frees, T McAteer 0-2, 0-1 free, C Devlin; L Quinn 1-1, C Murphy 1-0, J McErlain.

Subs: D McAteer for D Bradley (46), A McCluskey for R Keenan (53), C O’Neill 0-1 for L Quinn

St Patrick’s Maghera: N McNicholl, T McCusker, T Walsh, C McShane 0-1, D McNicholl, O McGill, P McLaughlin, O McWilliams, J McAtamney 0-1 free, E Mulholland, R Mullan, D McLaughlin, A Doherty 1-4, 1-0 pen, L McWilliams 0-7, 0-6 frees, T McHugh.

Subs: E Hawe for T McCusker (HT), E Doherty for T McHugh (38), PJ McAleese for E Mulholland (47)

Referee : S Hurson (Tyrone)

 

 

 

 

Antrim and Lamh Dhearg’s Ryan Murray was Antrim’s scoring hero as the Saffron’s overcame a resolute London in the NFL Division 4 in Ruislip on Sunday. Ryan, an ardent follower of the Saffron Gael spoke to us today and gave his thoughts on the game and how he feels the team are progressing this season.

Ryan Murray Interview

SG –  Ryan you turned in a man of the match performance against London on Sunday. How do you feel about your performance.

RM

Like any performance both personally and as a team there is always plenty of room for improvement but I suppose I was happy that I racked up a decent tally of 7 or 8 points and helped the team to a much needed win away in London. However as a player your always wanting to improve and be better the next time you step out on the field, so the 2 wides I kicked I will review and see how I can improve.

The win against London was essential to keep our aim of promotion on track, it was a very tense game on Sunday with London showing why they had gained a win and a draw in their last two games against Wicklow and Limerick. We did well to come in at half time a point down (0-8 – 0-7) playing against a strong breeze and in the second half I felt we were much the better team but never really pushed on as we would have liked and put the game to bed. Much credit to London though, they kept coming at us and they were very accurate converting a very high percentage of their attacks into scores. Thankfully with around 10 mins to go we managed to get a few unanswered scores and create a lead which we maintained until the end of the game.

All in all, it was good win in Ruislip and a good weekend for team bonding. The way Gaelic is these days you tend to see more of your team mates than your family at times but a lot of the lads are close friends outside the county setup which helps and so it is always a good laugh staying away for games, being on the flight and hotel together etc.

SG –  The team have played 7 competitive games this year, three in the McKenna cup and four in the league how do you feel the team are progressing.

RM

I feel we are progressing well, I think the management used the McKenna cup well and got a look at everyone and we had some good team performances and from that Lenny & Brendan selected a small panel of around 28. In the National League so far we got off to winning ways against Leitrim and followed that up with a hard fought win away in Waterford and then slipped up with a draw at home to Wicklow and thankfully got back on track with a win against London. As players we are still learning from every game and I’m sure the management are also in terms of tactics and still getting to  know every players strengths and weaknesses. We have three very tough games left (Laois, Carlow and Limerick) but promotion is still in our hands and we now must step up as a team.

SG –  Lenny Harbison took over the management at the start of the season. What new has he brought to the table.

RM

Lenny has come in this season alongside Brendan Trainor and a full new backroom team. I’d say if you spoke to the majority of the lads on the panel they would say it is a different approach than what we may have been used to. This is my 7^th consecutive year on the Senior Panel and Lenny is the most tactical manager I have played under and I and all the lads are enjoying playing under him and I think regardless if we don’t get the results we want on the pitch this year, each member of the panel will become a better footballer by the end of the year and hopefully this transpires into results on the pitch. Lenny has built a panel of lads who are proud to play for Antrim and that want to represent their county to the best of their ability.

SG –  From my recollections Antrim played Laois in the championship qualifiers in 2015 (Correct me if this is wrong) and you scored a very important match winning goal while Chris Kerr saved a penalty. What are your recollections of that game

RM

Indeed, we played Laois in the championship qualifiers in 2015. I probably had one of my best games in a saffron jersey that day scoring 1-05 from play. I wasn’t named to start that game until about an hour before throw-in  which probably helped my performance as I felt I had something to prove. My recollection from that game is vague in parts, I remember at one stage we trailed Laois by 9 points and Russ (Frank Fitz) & Gearoid Adams spoke to us at half time and told us to step up and get our act together or our season was over. The second half we came out flying which was kick started by Chris Kerr saving a penalty from Ross Munnelly and then Dermot McAleese got the winning goal to defeat Laois by 2-15 to 1-16 in O’Moore Park.

SG –  We played Laois last year and defeated them in Corrigan Park. This weekend’s game will obviously be vital in our push for promotion. How do you see that game going.

RM

Yes, we played Laois last year (2017) in division 3 and got the better of them by two points (1-10 – 0-11) in a very tight game at Corrigan Park. This weekend’s game is crucial for both teams, Laois will be giving everything to get a win and stay top of the division and ultimately, we need to win or our chances of promotion will look very slim.

We will be going into the game as underdogs as Laois have 4 wins and the game is in their own back yard, so the game is really set up as a championship encounter and it is great to be playing games like this in Early March. Laois have a great team with some great players who are known throughout the country but so do we, so the game will come down to who makes the least mistakes and takes the higher percentage of their chances.

SG –  Any other thoughts on how the season is going and any of your own personal thoughts you wish to share with the Saffron Gael.

RM

I’d like to urge all of the Saffron Supporters to come out and support the team this year, to date the support has been great at Corrigan Park and a big thank you to those who made the effort to attend the games in Waterford and London. The players and management are working hard to get the results on the pitch and represent the county to the best of our ability. So, I’d just like to appeal to all of the saffron followers to support the county this year, whether it be development squads, ladies teams or the senior footballers or hurlers. Momentum is building in the county and with Casement Park on the horizon, there is no reason why the county can’t start to make strides forward this year and in years to come.

I’d also like to say well done to The Saffron Gael on their coverage of games both at county and club level for both codes over the past year and hopefully they will be bringing good news to the readers over the coming year.

 

 

2017 feile winners, All Saints Ballymena

South West Fixtures (Sunday 4^th March)

The South West Division will be scanning the skies overhead as the week-end approaches hoping that the predicted storm has abated by Sunday next with the opening round of the Feile competition set for completion.

The under-14 event will proceed to conclusion on a knock-out basis with the eventual winners to proceed to an All County decider against the team which emerges from the South Antrim division.

 

The full draw for round one is as follows;

 

Kelly’s Mace Dunloy Feile

 

Sunday March 4^th at 12.00pm

 

Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Tir na Nog

St Mary’s Rasharkin v Erin’s Own Cargin

St Mary’s Aghagallon v Casement’s Portglenone

All Saint’s Ballymena v St Comgall’s Antrim

St Joseph’s Glenavy v Con Magee’s Glenravel

St James Aldergrove v Kickham’s Creggan (Crumlin 3G at 11.00am)

 

St Enda’s and St Ergnat’s were both awarded byes

 

O’ Cahan Cup

 

The last game in the opening phase of the O’ Cahan cup competition is also down for decision with Con Magee’s Glenravel due to play hosts to St Ergnat’s Moneyglass. (2.00pm)

 

The Glensmen have hinted at improvement of late and they will be seeking to continue on such a positive trail here as they look to ascend the rankings.

They did secure the Junior championship a couple of seasons back and with recent success gained at both minor and under-16 level the Con Magee’s outfit do look on the upward trail.

Moneyglass were did come close to regaining a spot in the top grade last term and with a strong youth based panel involved the St Ergnat’s men will look to take a step or two further onwards this term and they will look for a good start to the 2018 season at Glenravel.

The home side will hope for a good showing but Moneyglass will arrive cast as firm favourites and they may well gain the verdict and a place against Creggan in the quarter final stages.

 

The draw for the O’ Cahan cup quarter finals (dates to be confirmed) as follows;

 

1 St Mary’s Aghagallon v St James Aldergrove

2 Tir na Nog v Casement’s Portglenone

3 St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Kickham’s Creggan

4 St Mary’s Ahoghill v Erin’s Own Cargin

 

Semi Finals

 

2 v 4

3 v 1

 

This will complete the opening round of the South West’s premier competition