Month / April 2018

by thesaffrongael

Good start for Ballycastle

All County Camogie League – Division 110 copyBallycastle’s Caoimhe Wright.

Ballycastle 4.15 Rossa 1.3

Ballycastle got their season off to a good start with a strong win over Rossa at Pairc MacUillin on Tuesday evening. In wet and blustery conditions, it was the home side that settled the quickest with early points from Caoimhe Wright, Tara O’ Neill and Maeve Kelly before Rossa responded with their first point from a free from Sarah Armstrong. Ballycastle would respond with their first goal of the evening. Some hard running from Emma Connor brought about a penalty, which was expertly finished by Caoimhe Wright to give the home side a 1.3 to 0.1 advantage after 10 minutes. However, Rossa responded with a goal of their own through Eimear Byrne and it looked like it was game on. However further points from Wright (3), Tara O’ Neill (2) and Emma Connor followed by a goal from Connor gave the home side a strong 2.9 to 1.2 lead at half time.

It was a scrappy start to the second half with neither side getting used to the poor conditions, but once Ballycastle settled into their stride, further points from Wright (4), O’ Neill and substitute Laura Dallas opened up an unassailable lead. Two goals from O’Neill settled the game before Rossa got their solitary score of the second half from a free.

Final Score Ballycastle 4.15 – Rossa 1.3

Ballycastle

  1. Danielle Mc Michael, 2. Fionnuala Toner, 3. Niamh-Ann Donnelly, 4. Cliodhna Donnelly, 5. Catherine Mc Shane, 6. Kathryn Donnelly, 7. Bronagh McKeague, 8. Meabh O’Neill, 9. Maeve Kelly, 10. Sarah Mc Kinley, 11. Emma Connor, 12. Aoife Toner, 13. Caoimhe Wright, 14. Aine Donnelly, 15.Tara O’Neill

 

Rossa

  1. Louise McMullan, 2. Tierna Johnston, 3. Eimear Matthews, 4. Clodagh McMenamin, 5. Dearbhla Lees, 6. Muirinn Quinn, 7. Orla Mc Call, 8. Nicole Killen, 9. Natalie McGuinness, 10. Aisling McCall, 11. Bronach Orchin, 12. Caoimhe McNiece, 13. Sarah Armstrong, 14. Caoimhe Quinn, 15. Eimear ByrneCRLL3073 copyEmma Connor.
by thesaffrongael

McNeill goal comes too late to deny Dunloy

 

0R6A9746

Rasharkin’s Eamon McNeill drills the sliotar through a crowded goal mouth but the score came too late to deny Dunloy in this Countess of Antrim Cup game played at Dreen tonight

Countess of Antrim Cup

Rasharkin 1-15 Dunloy 0-19

A goal from Rasharkin’s outstanding forward, Eamon McNeill as the game entered time added on closed the gap to the minimum and threatened to send this dinger of a contest into extra time but visitors Dunloy stood firm in the closing minutes to edge this Countess of Antrim game by a point.

The men from Dreen gave as good as they got right from the throw in and at the end of the opening half the sides were level at 0-10 to 0-10 as Paul McKillen’s side matched their neighbours score for score.

Indeed the home side led the contest 0-5 to 0-2 after 12 minutes and were good value for that lead with McNeill leading the way with four points and the other coming from Declan McKay. Michael Murphy had opened the scoring for the Cuchullain’s and Shane Dooey fired over their second from long range.

Ciaran Elliott, Shane Dooey and Michael Murphy for Dunloy reigned in the home side at the end of the first quarter and at this stage Dunloy seemed to be taking control. Michael Murphy edged the visitors ahead for the third time but Rasharkin responded with their first point since the 12th minute from Conor McKeever to draw level.

The visitors looked certain to edge ahead once more when Liam McCann raced clear on goal but James O’Mullan came bravely off his line to deny the corner forward. Every ball was being contested with great ferocity and Eamon McNeill edged St. Mary’s in front once more with ten minutes remaining to the break and at this stage Dunloy introduced Nicky McKeague for Noel Murphy and the substitution was to have a major impact on proceedings.

Mckeague pointed a free with his first touch of the ball and then sent over an excellent point from near the touchline to announce his arrival. Eamon McNeill and McKeever responded once more for the Dreen side and at half time the protagonists could not be separated with the score standing at 0-10 each.

It was more of the same after the break with Eamon McNeill and Nicky McKeague involved in a winner take all shoot-out as McKeague edged Dunloy ahead from a 40 yard free in the second minute and McNeill replied from a massive long range effort with four minutes gone.

McKeague then struck two points and Liam McCann added another in quick succession as the visitors moved three clear and when Mckeague pointed a free in the 10th minute the Pearse Park men had edged four in front for the first time.

That man McNeill responded with a point in the 13th minute but again Liam McCann responded and when the impressive James Scally was forced to retire with a hand injury it wasn’t looking good for the home side.

Rasharkin quite simply refused to bow the knee however and came back again with a great point from mid-fielder Donagh Quigg in the 24th minute but again Nicky McKeague replied for the visitors. Another Eamon McNeill point cut the deficit to four with three minutes remaining and it looked over at this stage but Rasharkin refused to throw in the towel.

Gerard Dixon in the Dunloy goals came to his side’s rescue as he denied Conor McKeever from close range but the Rasharkin pressure finally paid off when McNeill was on hand to drill the sliotar to the net through a crowded goal mouth with only seconds to go.

It was as close as they were to get however and it is Dunloy who now advance to the next round of the Countess of Antrim but they were made to fight all the way by a Rasharkin team who have improved immeasurably this year under the guidance of Paul McKillen.

Gerard Dixon was safe and assured in the visitors goals while Karl O’Kane, Ciaran Elliott, Stephen McGuigan and Cathair McGuiggan defended stoutly. Shane Dooey worked tirelessly at mid-field and Michael Murphy, Liam McCann and substitute Nicky Mckeague were the stars in attack.

James O’Mullan in goals and Daniel Doherty, Conor Hasson and James Scally were the pick of a tenacious Rasharkin defence. Thomas McMullan and Donagh Quigg battled manfully at mid-field while Eamon McNeill was their star man in attack and had good support from Conor McKeever and Declan McKay.

Rasharkin: James O’Mullan, Liam Tunney, Daniel Doherty, Conor Doherty, Aidan McKeever, Conor Hasson, James Scally, Donagh Quigg, Thomas McMullan, Eamon McNeill, Shane Hasson, Emmet McFerran, Declan McKay, Connor McKeever, Daniel Hasson.

Subs:  Conor Donaghy for James Scally,

Aidan Darragh for Daniel Hasson

Ger Dixon,  Adam Mullan,   Karl Okane,   Adam Okane ,  Paudie Shivers, StephenMcGuigan, Cathair McGuigan,   Shane Dooey,  Ciaran Elliott, GabrielMcTaggart,  Micheal Murphy,  Paudie Conlon,  Ali Dooey,  Ronan Molloy, Liam McCann

Subs: Nicky McKeague for Micheal Murphy

Chrissy McMahon for Liam McCann

Niall Smyth for Gabriel McTaggart

Referee: Jackie Carson (Ruairi Og)

 

by thesaffrongael

Portglenone get off to a winning start

0R6A8432

Oisin Doherty who scored 0-3 from mid-field as Casement’s defeated Tir na nOg at Whitehill on Monday night

ACMFL Division 1

Tir na nOg 0-5 Portglenone 3-11

Casements Portglenone made an impressive start to their ACFM League campaign when they travelled to Whitehill on Monday night and recorded a resounding victory over the home team. Ruairi Hagan led the way with 1-3 with Jordan Hynman and Jack McAleese were the other goal scorers for the O’Cahan Park lads with Oisin Doherty playing a leading role with three points from mid-field. This the sides first game at this level since the breakup of the Sean Stinson’s combination and on this showing they look more than capable of holding their own in this division.

Casement’s Portglenone: Ruairi Mc guigan , Kevin o kane , Declan Dobbin (C) , Fintan Mc larnon , Christie convery (0-1) , Cormac Mooney , Ruairi Mc aleese , Ciarán lynch , Oisín doherty (0-3) Jordan hyndman (1-1) , Connor Marron , Harry Lennon (0-1) Ruairi Hagan (1-3) , Callum Lynch (0-1) , James Mc Larnon (0-1) Subs : Brian Lewis (0-1) Jack Mc aleese (1-0) Aidan Mc aleese

Jack Mc aleese for Harry Lennon

Aidan Mc aleese for James Mc larnon

Brian Lewis for Callum Lynch

by thesaffrongael

Road to Clones

On Thursday 12 April, students from the Ulster University will be staging ‘The Road to Clones’, an exciting event in aid of Cancer Fund for Children. The event will take place at The Elk Bar & Complex, Toomebridge with the key topic of discussion focusing on the upcoming Ulster GAA Football Championship.
The 2018 Ulster Championship ‘Road to Clones’ event will involve a range of past and present GAA players, former and current managers, columnists and some well- known TV and Radio pundits from across Ulster. They’ll provide their opinions on the upcoming Championship fixtures and their general thoughts on all things GAA. Already announced panelists include; John and Marty Clarke, Chrissy McKaigue, Kevin Madden, Steven Poacher, Aaron Kernan & Brian McGuigan, not forgetting about 2 of the most sought after pieces of sliverware in the country, The Sam Maguire and The Anglo Celt.
There will be a fundraising raffle in aid of Cancer Fund for Children conducted on the evening with some fantastic prizes up for grabs including a signed county jersey, a pair of All-Ireland semi-final football tickets, a £100 Galgorm Resort and Spa voucher, a County Jersey from O’Neill’s Sportswear plus many, many more!
Tickets can be paid for at the door at a price of £10. Doors open at 7.00pm with a 7.30pm start with light refreshments provided.image1 (1)
by thesaffrongael

Six of the best for Cuchullains against the Lámh’s

20180410_185958

Cuchullain’s Dunloy who defeated Lamh Dhearg in the ACMFL Division 1 on Monday night.

ACMFL Division 1

Dunloy 6-22 Lámh Dhearg 0-1

Tuesday April 10

Pearse Park, Dunloy

BY Brendan McTaggart

Dunloy recorded a comfortable victory over the men from Hannahstown on Tuesday evening as they opened their minor league campaign with a commanding performance.

The Cuchullains were too strong all over the pitch as they rained goals past the beleaguered Lámh Dhearg defence.

The Hannahstown men were given a warning of things to come when the home side were denied a goal twice in the opening two minutes.  Sean O’Neill finding the base of the upright before Anthony Smyth brought the best out of Daniel Hartley, the Lámh’s ‘keeper at full stretch with a brilliant save.

The Cuchullains scored their first goal in the eighth minute, full forward Smyth with his first of three over the hour with a clever finish.  Corner forward Daithi McGuigan found the back of the Lámh’s net with the next attack to give the home side a ten point lead after just nine minutes.

20180410_185758

The beaten Lamh Dhearg side.

The home side continued to rack up the scores with Eoghan and Anton McGrath impressing in attack as the Cuchullains opened an 18 point lead before scoring their third goal – midfielder Callum Scullion with a bullet drive to the top corner.  Smyth added the fourth goal a minute before the interval, a deft chip leaving Hartley scrambling and giving the home side a 26 point half time lead.

Smyth completed his hat trick in the 35th minute before Eoghan ‘Tuggy’ McGrath scored the sixth goal half way through the second half, the Cuchullain’s half forward finishing the match with a personal tally of 1-6.

The Lámh’s battled hard in the second half with the midfield duo of Jack Summersgill and Sean Maguire catching the eye along with Adam Cunningham.  Half back Ross Murray scored the Hannahstown men’s only score in the 46th minute as the Cuchullains controlled the remainder of the game with a commanding performance.

20180410_190046

Team captains Aaron Crawford, Dunloy and Jarad Meighan Lamh Dhearg.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Padraig McGilligan; John Dixon; Patrick Kinsella; Oisin McErlane; Eoin McMullan; Aaron Crawford; Ciaran McQuillan; Callum Scullion; Ryan McFarlane; Rory Mullan; Anton McGrath; Eoghan McGrath; Sean O’Neill; Anthony Smyth; Daithi McGuigan

Subs: DJ Crawley for J Dixon; Cathaoir McCloskey for O McErlane; Barry Scott for E McMullan; Ryan Donnelly for S O’Neill; DJ McKendry for D McGuigan

Lámh Dhearg: Daniel Hartley; Aaron McCloskey; Jarad Meighan; Niall McGuigan; Tony-Sean McCullough; Ross Murray; Rory Courtney; Jack Summersgill; Sean Maguire; Jamie Fegan; Adam Cunningham; Conor Smyth; Tony Nelson; Morgan Pettigrew; Ruairi Cunningham

SCORERS

Dunloy: Anthony Smyth 3-6 (3 f); Eoghan McGrath 1-6 (1 f); Daithi McGuigan 1-3 (1 f); Callum Scullion 1-1; Oiain McErlane 0-2; Ryan McFarlane 0-1; Rory Mullan 0-1; Sean O’Neill 0-1; Anton McGrath 0-1

Lámh Dhearg: Ross Murray 0-1