Month / September 2018

by thesaffrongael

Support your club, support our site and enable us to cover all our championship games

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Hurling Championship this weekend

It’s hurling championship this weekend and once again the Saffron Gael will be there covering all the championship games as we did with the football championship last weekend. Indeed we covered four Junior Football championship games, three Intermediate Football Championship games, four Senior Football championship games as well as championship games at U16 and minor level in North Antrim, South West Antrim and South Antrim. Add to that games from the ladies football championships and Junior Camogie championship final and you’ll probably agree that Gaelic Games in Antrim have never had this level of coverage.

Coverage at this level comes at a financial cost and as access to the saffron Gael website is free we once again appeal to businesses in the area of clubs involved in this weekend’s championship games, whatever code to take an advert supporting their local team.

The advert will be included in previews of the weekend’s games later in the week and on your team’s match reports at the weekend. We got a good response last weekend with businesses in the Moneyglass area taking adverts and we had support from Glenravel and Portglenone to mention a few. Those adverts will be carried on to the next round as all three clubs advanced at no extra cost so, I’m sure you’ll agree, represents good value.

If you own a business in Glenarm, the Glen Road, (St. Teresa’s), Cushendun, St. Paul’s, Creggan, Carey, Cushendall, Sarsfield’s, Rossa, St. John’s, St. Enda’s or St. Gall’s and you want to show your support for your club while helping us to keep this site going here’s what to do.

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY

If you have a business in the area of any of the teams playing in this weekend’s games we offer you an opportunity to show your support for your side and in doing so helping us to maintain our coverage of all these games by placing a banner advert, wishing your side good luck.

The cost of the advert is £60-00 and will appear on your side’s match report and, if they advance it will appear again on subsequent reports for no extra charge. As a bonus we will also add your advert to this preview if you get it to us before Friday. We have included adverts from some of our sponsors and advertisers on this preview.

To place your advert contact us on ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk or john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk or for further information ring us on 07511111378 or 07885226348

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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS

by thesaffrongael

Glenavy impress as they secure a final place

kennedyCentre copy-textKennedy Centre Antrim LGFA Intermediate Championship

St Joseph’s Glenavy 8-11 Con Magees 2-10

2017 Junior Champions, Con Magee’s Glenravel had a tough introduction to Intermediate Championship against recent senior grade, St Joseph’s Glenavy, at a splendid Chapel Hill pitch in Glenavy on Sunday.

The more experienced home side settled quickly and got two early points quickly followed up with a well taken goal from their excellent full forward Fionnula Connor. The hard working Caoimhe Duffin opened Glenravel’s account with a goal in the 4th minute and by the time the green and whites scored their opening point, Glenavy had tagged on another goal and two points. As the game settled down the second quarter broke fairly even as a Torie Edgar goal & points from Laoise McKenna (2), Molly Woulahan & Kirsten Edgar brought the visitors back into the game but three goals from Fionnuala Connor (2) and Grainne McLaughlin gave the home side a nine point lead at half time.9

To get a foothold in the game Glenravel needed a strong start to the second half but it was the home side who were in charge now. Victoria Edgar pulled a point back but by the time she got her next point in the 10th min the prolific home attack had added another 2-1 through corner forward Ellen Morgan to really put the tie beyond Glenravel’s reach. That said the Division 2 team battled right to the end. Laoise McKenna added another point. Molly Woulahan doubled her tally, with a well taken point from distance, and a Clare Emerson free in the final minute saw the Con Magees girls go down fighting.

But it was Glenavy who bossed the game and the win sees them progress to play St Brigid’s in the County Final in what should be a very competitive game

Glenavy: Fiona Rogan, Beth Hamill, Elisha Caffola, Mary McStravick, Natasha O’Neill, Kathy Scannell, Bronagh Forrestor, Orla Fay, Eva Cafolla, Chloe Doone, Graine McLaughlin, Bronagh Cunningham, Ellen Morgan, Fionnula Conor, Megan McGarry.

Con Magees: Siobhan McMullan, Coleen McNeill, Emma Dillon, Maria McKenna, Eimhear McAleenan, Chloe McAuley, Clare Emerson, Eimear Higgins, Laoise McKenna, Caoimhe Duffin, Kristy Laverty (capt), Kirsten Edgar, Ellen Hynds, Torie Edgar, Molly Woulahan, Niamh McKay,

Subs – Jaimie Woulahan, Aoife Kelly, Dervla Donaghy, Jeni Dillon, Maeve Mulholland, Bronagh Laverty, Bronagh McKay, Caoimhe McKeown, Aimee Traynor, Keira O’Neill, Shauna Kelly, Lucy Carey, Nicole Laverty, Sabrina Speirs, Anita McKeown

Pics by John McIlwaine

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks edge epic encounter

Antrim Minor A Hurling Championship semi-final

Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-29 Ballycastle 3-21 (AEET)

Loughgiel booked their place in the club’s first minor county hurling final in nine years after the saw off the challenge of Ballycastle in an epic encounter at St Patrick’s Park, Carey on Sunday. These two teams stood toe to toe for ninety exhilarating minutes after this absorbing contest ended level at the end of sixty minutes, and level again at the end 10 minutes each way extra time. It took a further five minutes each way to eventually decide it in the end and when referee John Carson blew the final whistle it was the Shamrocks who were victorious.

Playing against a strong breeze in the opening half Ballycastle got away to a great start with a goal following a real scramble in the goalmouth, plus two points from Seamus McAuley and Joe McToal to go five clear. Loughgiel soon settled though and they took complete control of the game for the remainder of the opening quarter as they hit a goal and ten points with just a single Seamus McAuley in reply. Rian McMullan (who ended the game with 0-14 to his name) was electric during this period while Odhran McGrath got 1-3, the goal coming from a 23rd minute penalty. Ballycastle were in danger of going under at this stage but they finished the first half strongly and two points from Seamus McAuley and a goal from a penalty by Ryan Hill left them eight in arrears at the break. (1-16 to 2-5)

Three early second half points from Seamus McAuley (2) and Ryan Hill gave Ballycastle renewed hope and with the breeze at their backs they were right back in the game. However McMullan’s excellent free taking was keeping Loughgiel in control and it wasn’t until the brilliant Seamus McAuley found the Loughgiel net in the 54th minute that they drew level. The Shamrock went two in front and it looked like they would hold on for the win but Colm Butler and Seamus McAuley pulled Ballycastle back level deep in injury time to bring the match to extra time. (1-21 to 3-15)

The sides were still deadlocked at the end of the first period of ten minutes each way extra time, both adding three points to their tally (1-24 to 3-18) and with limbs tiring as the game went on there was just a point apiece in the second period, to it was into new territory as an extra five each way were added. (1-22 to 3-16) but in the final five, with wind advantage Loughgiel added four to Ballycastle’s two to end an epic contest.

LOUGHGIEL

Kevin McAuley, Conor Henry, Declan McCloskey, Enda Og McGarry, Ciaran McKay, Odhran McMullan, Tiernan McAlonan, Shane O’Boyle, Paul Boyle, Conor Deery, Cahal Hargan, Michael McGarry, Rian McMullan, John Francis Connolly, Odhran McGrath.

Subs – Chrissy McMcGarry, Dylan Devlin

BALLYCASTLE

Dylan McMullan, Gary Maybin, Ciaran McKeague, Mark McLean, Cormac Donnelly, Emmet O’Hara, Ronan Laverty, Colm Butler, Lorcan Donnelly, Conor McBride, Ryan Hill, Seamus McAuley, Colm Campbell, Oisin McAuley, Joe McToal.

Subs – Tiernan Smyth, Tiernan Donnelly, Conor Watterson, Jack McGowan, Dylan Hill

Referee – John Carson (Ruairi Og)

Pics by Sean Paul McKillop

 

by thesaffrongael

Glenravel set up final meeting with Glenariffe

Antrim LGFA Junior B Semi Final
Con Magees 3-9 Sarsfields 1-1
Sarsfields travelled to Glenravel on Sat evening, undefeated in 2018 & hot favourites to progress to the Antrim LGFA Junior B County Final.
In a tense opening half, it was left to the home sides corner forward, Keira O’Neill, to open the scoring in the 9th minute with a well taken point. By half time the scoreline sat at 1-5 to 1-0 to Con Magees, with Sarsfields netting with the last play in the first half. This opening half saw an inspired Maeve Mulholland drive her Glenravel team forward and was rewarded with a goal in 29th minute. Over the half Aimee Traynor converted 3 points with Niamh McKay scoring a point from a penalty in the 28th minute.
In the 2nd half, 3 early Glenravel points from Aimee Traynor & Niamh McKay, opened up an 8 point lead. Substitute Dervla Donaghy netted in the 21st min to seal a Con Magees victory & although points were exchanged between the teams, Donaghy again netted in 28th minute to claim a memorable victory for the home team.
In the other semi final Oisin’s Glenariffe saw off Antrim in a comfortable 3-10 to 1-1 victory with the final set for Sun 23rd Sept at 1pm in Corrigan Park
Teams:
Glenravel: Siobhan McMullan, Una McAleenan, Emma Dillon, Alishia McPeake, Caoimhe McKeown, Bronagh Laverty, Bronagh McKay, Rachel McBride, Maeve Mulholland, Aisling Kerr, Niamh McKay, Maeve Donaghy, Aimee Traynor, Shauna Kelly, Keira O’Neill, Angela Duffin, Lucy Carey, Lauren Edgar, Nicole Laverty, Dervla Donaghy, Niamh Donnelly, Orla Donnelly, Gemma McKeown, Joanne McKeown, Caroline McFadden
Sarsfields: Lisa McShane, Laura Brady, Caoimhe McShane, Aoife McShane, Niamh Rogers, Aisling Dunlop, Erin Andrews, Dearbhla Farrelly, Orlaith Rogers, Ellie Walsh, Caitlin Murphy, Dúana Coleman, Niamh McNally, Clíondhna Lavery, Aoife Caldwell, Tammy Lee Taggart, Naoise Farrelly, Ailbhe Barr, Abbygail McMenamin, Alex McCallin

by thesaffrongael

St Gall’s win U16 A title

South Antrim Under 16A Football Championship final

St Gall’s 2-7 St Brigid’s 0-8

St Gall’s won the South Antrim Under 16A football league title when they beat St Brigid’s in a high quality final at Coilste Fierste on Friday night. Early goals in each half were the scores that got St Gall’s over the line but their defence deserve great credit for holding St Brigid’s at bay during a hard fought final quarter.

Sean Stewart put St Gall’s ahead from a free in the opening minute and when corner forward Odhran McDonald got in for a goal a minute later the Milltown boys were in a strong position. Marcus Lynch opened St Brigid’s account with a point from a free on three minutes but good work by Stewart and Dara Delaney created the opening for Eoin Burke put St Gall’s 1-3 to 0-1 clear by the fifth minute. Lynch kept St Brigid’s in touch with his second point of the game but St Gall’s were having the better of things and further points from Conal McGirr and Sean Stewart put them in a commanding position by the 20th minute, but St Brigid’s produced a strong finish to the opening half and two points from Ronan Boyle and one from Marcus Lynch brought them back into the game by half time. (1-4 to 0-5)

There were chances for both sides at the start of the second half but it was St Gall’s who struck first when centre forward Conla Maguire grabbed his team’s second goal. Two points from Sean Stewart frees in the 36th and 38th minutes strengthened their grip on the game and though Marcus Lynch pulled a couple of points back for St Brigid’s the boys from Milltown were always in control. Full forward Eoin Burke grabbed their final score with ten minutes still to play and though they had to endure a few anxious moments when St Brigid’s had a couple of shots cleared off the goal line and one came back off the upright when a goal looked certain, St Gall’s held on to seal the win.

Pics by Dylan McIlwaine