Month / September 2018

by thesaffrongael

Glenavy through to the semi-final

South West U16B semi-final

Glenavy U16s made it into their league semi-final with a convincing home win against St. Mary’s Rasharkin. The home team started the brighter of the two teams and ran into an early lead with goals from Finn Malley and a brace from Paddy O’Leary. Glenavy’s defence stood strong to Rasharkin

attacks in the opening exchanges and held them scoreless past the 20 minute mark when they conceded a penalty which Rasharkin duly converted. Timmy Honeyford, Cain Shannon, Jack McCann and Michael Fox gave a solid performance throughout to help keep Rasharkin

at bay. In attack points from Darragh Armstrong, James Mulholland , Matthew Lawlor and Rory Nelson left Glenavy in a very strong position at halftime leading 3-9 to 1-0. In the second half Rasharkin came out fighting and scored the first point of the half

with Conall Hanna pushing the effort over the bar. Hanna minded the Glenavy net well throughout and his kick outs were excellent. With his kick outs and Finn Malley and Matthew Magee having the upper hand in midfield, Rasharkin found it an uphill battle to

get a foothold in the game. With more of the ball and some excellent attacking play from Callum Crighton, Glenavy pressure soon led to a penalty which was expertly converted by Matthew Lawlor. Darragh Armstrong tagged on another couple of points from frees

and play before Paddy O’Leary completed his hatrick and added on a great point from play to bring his total to 3-1. Glenavy introduces Lorcan Murphy into the game and it wasn’t long before he made his mark on the game with a fine goal. The industrious Rory

Nelson and James Mulholland all got on the score sheet along with Pearse Connaughton before the scoring was finally wrapped up by Darragh Doherty. Ben Armstrong, Chris O’Hare and Caolan McClenaghan all came on to see Glenavy into the semifinals. Commiserations

to Rasharkin and good luck to Glenavy in their semifinal!

by thesaffrongael

Ahoghill hold off St Brigid’s comeback

Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship (Preliminary round)

St Mary’s Ahoghill 2-10 St Brigid’s 1-12

Geordie McGuckin reports from Quinn Park, Ballymena

St Mary’s Ahoghill progressed to the quarter final of the Senior Football Championship and a chance to renew acquaintances with Kickham’s Creggan in a couple of weeks’ time when they stood firm to hold off the determined challenge posed by Second Division side St Brigid’s at Ballymena on Saturday afternoon.

The Clooney men had been in good form previously in their league offerings and although it did take them a little while to hit their stride in this one when the impressive James O’ Connell concluded an end to end approach with a 6th minute goal they never were headed afterwards.

The corner forward’s major strike came after the city lads had nipped a couple clear and the ‘three pointer’ proved the difference at the break as his side took respite with a 1-06 to 0-06 advantage.10

St Brigid’s with Jack Dowling working hard to make impact in the central zone in which Neil (Boris) O’ Connell and Martin Graham held sway reduced the deficit early in the second period, and a couple of early points saw them come within the minimum but that was to prove as close as they would get, and when Patrick Graham bagged a superb 42nd minute goal the margin was at five points.

Ahoghill maintained a clear lead right until the end of the allotted sixty minutes and beyond but although the never say die attitude within the ranks of the St Brigid’s men paid dividend when second period replacements Ruairi O’ Neill and Peter Lundy conspired to see the latter rise highest to punch the formers cross to the back of the net, the score brought them within the minimum, but time had beaten them and the score had arrived just seconds before the long blast.

It was a case of city versus country and First Division paired with the Second as St Mary’s Ahoghill crossed swords with the top rated side a grade below.

The Musgrave men may well have arrived cast in the ‘outsiders’ role but more than prepared to give it a lash as fully underlined in the opening minutes and early white flags raised by Ronan Mc Grady and James Smith without reply underlined firm intentions.

Ahoghill had been caught napping as the South Antrim men had sprung to action in haste, and had earned a two point advantage by the 3rd minute but although the St Mary’s men took time to get their bearings on the manicured Ballymena sod their opening score was to prove worth the wait and delivered in excellence.

A Stephen O’ Connell interception initiated the counter strike, and as the leather was transferred in sequence via the central defender, Patrick Graham, Eamon Brady, PJ O’ Connell and Eoin Neeson in turn to reach corner forward James O’ Connell who promptly palmed it to the back of the net to give his team the lead.

The lively O’ Connell followed with an 11th minute point and another followed a couple of minutes later but St Brigid’s with Pat Finnegan and Cathal Conway leading resistance were not about to be left far behind and a 23rd minute point from the latter ensured they had drawn alongside.

Peter Webb, Michael Cummings and the accurate Ronan McGrady had split the posts previously in answer to similar scores from Ahoghill’s Eoin Neeson and James O’ Connell and it was 1-03 to 0-06, but the Clooney men were quick to regain composure and to dominate the remainder of the period as PJ O’ Connell stood tallest.

The dual star ensured his side resumed the lead in the 26th minute after the St Brigid’s net minder Kevin Mc Govern had done well to divert a Ronan Graham low delivery aimed at the corner of his net away from the target.

PJ O’ Connell was first to seize the parried leather and return over the bar and when he delivered a 35 metre free in the same direction a couple of minutes later and followed with another just in time added, Ahoghill had earned a 1-06 to 0-06 lead at the break.

St Brigid’s having started the better in the first period replicated that in the second portion as early white flags raised in the opening phase by Ronan Mc Grady, as he sent a 30 metre free between the posts and when replacement Peter Lundy sent Peter Webb in for another they were hot on the trail of the Clooney men and just a point behind.

A good interchange between Martin Graham and the tireless Danny O’ Neill opened the way for the very busy Eoin Neeson in for a good 37th minute score and although Cathal Conway made quick reply for the Saints at the other end the Clooney boys were about to make firm bid for home.

PJ and his sibling James added points apiece and although James Smith replied in kind at the other end the Clooney boys were just about to deliver what looked a ‘killer blow’ as Patrick Graham’s sumptuous strike yielded a smashing goal.

The wing half back who had impressed throughout on his efforts in patrolling the wing, upwards and downwards had been denied by the woodwork on two previous occasions as he sought to find the net but not this time as he raced forward to reach an inch perfect Eoin Neeson delivery and deftly lob the leather over the advancing keeper to nestle in the back of the net to ensure a 50th minute 2-09 to 0-10 lead for the St Mary’s men.24

Ronan Mc Grady added a point to the St Brigid’s total but quickly negated by a Neil O’ Connell solo effort and a fine score in kind at the other end and although the former was on hand to supply another shortly thereafter the clock was ticking towards duration and Ahoghill looked secure and almost assured of progress.

St Brigid’s were not about to ‘cease and desist’ in their efforts to make a comeback and the latter stages saw them strive to make inroads.

The Clooney men stood tall however with the O’ Connell’s, Stephen and Neil as well as centre back  Joey Hamill who had made a huge contribution to the cause and a four point margin was maintained when the clock neared 65 minutes.

St Brigid’s were to gain some reward for their honest endeavours eventually as replacement Ruairi O’ Neill’s floated cross was punched to the back of the Ahoghill net by  his fellow substitute who had made impressive advancement to fist the leather home.

The late strike had reduced the Ahoghill lead to the minimum again the major had arrived as consolation and just a few seconds before the match official sounded the long blast and a 2-10 to 1-12 final score had secured a place in the last eight for the St Mary’s men.

Referee Gerard Dougan (Creggan)

Teams

Ahoghill

Francis Neeson, Eamon Brady, Stephen O’ Connell, Bernard Graham, Patrick Graham (1-00), Joey Hamill, Eoin Graham, Neil O’ Connell (0-01), Martin Graham, Danny O’ Neill, Eoin Neeson (0-02), Sean Mc Mahon, PJ O’ Connell (0-004), Donal Graham, James O’ Connell (1-04).

Subs

James Magee for S Mc Mahon

Ronan Graham for R Graham

Sean Mc Mahon for N O’ Connell

St Brigid’s

Kevin Mc Govern, John Toner, Conor King, Ben Sinnot, Michael Cummings, Patrick Finnegan, Oran Boyle, Cathal Conway (0-02), Jack Dowling, Rusiri O’ Neill, James Smith (0-02), Peter Webb (0-02), Niall O’ Donnell (0-01), Ronan Mc Grady (0-04), Enda Clarke

Subs

Peter Lundy (1-00) for N Mc Donnell

Ruairi O’ Neill for P Webb

Ethan Carlin for E Clarke

Pics by John McIlwaine

 

by thesaffrongael

McKeown steers Con Magees to semi-final

Spar advert copyAntrim Junior Football Championship – Quarter Final

Con Magees 3-10 Pearses 2-5

Pics and report by John McIlwaine

A fine individual scoring display by left half forward Josh McKeown which yielded a goal and six points, helped Con Magees Glenravel to a 3-10 to 2-5 victory over Pearses in Saturday’s Junior Football Championship quarter final at Quinn Park, Ballymena on Saturday. McKeown was the main scoring threat for the Glenravel men, hitting 1-3 in a dominant first half, on a day when Pearses luck deserted them completely. In corner forward Liam Deegan the North Belfast men had a player who didn’t deserve to be on the losing team. He tortured and teased the Glenravel defence throughout the game as he scored all if his team’s 1-5 and had a little more luck been on his side he could well have doubled that tally.

Josh McKeown opened the scoring for Con Magees inside a minute with a point from play, but Deegan soon had Pearses back on terms with a neatly finished point from the right wing. McKeown put his team back in front on five minutes and he struck a telling blow a minute later when he raced through to pick up a pass from Martin McCarry and blast the ball home from the edge of the square. It all seemed plain sailing for the Glenravel side at this stage but when Pearses went straight up the field Daniel Magee rifled a ball off the underside to the Glenravel crossbar it was a stark warning to them just how big a threat their opponents posed. The ball was eventually scrambled away but Deegan reacted quickest to gain possession and sent the ball over the bar. A minute later Deegan soloed in along the endline and found full forward Daniel Magee on the edge of the Con Magee square but the full forward elected to catch the ball instead of palming it to the net, and again an opportunity was lost.

Glenravel took further control of the game on thirteen minutes when good work in the right corner by Aidan O’Donnell created the opportunity for Declan Traynor to fire home his team’s second goal and though Deegan came back with two more points in the 14th and 20th minutes Glenravel finished the half strongly with two points from Conor McNeill and one from Josh McKeown to lead by 2-6 to 0-4 at half time.24

When McKeown opened the second half with an early points the Con Magees were nine ahead and apparently coasting but when Pearses were awarded a free on the winners 13 metre line, and the Glenravel players were contesting the referee’s decision, Liam Deegan reacted brilliantly and fired a bullet of a shot high into the top corner of the net to cut the gap back to six. McKeown and Deegan exchanged points to keep the gap at six before a Conor McNeill point and a cleverly taken goal from Aidan O’Donnell all but wrapped up the Glenravel win. They could never quite relax however as Deegan came close to grabbing goals on two more occasions, shaving to the outside of the posts when from frees with the goalmouth lined. As it turned out he was to remain scoreless during the final quarter, but it certainly wasn’t for the want of trying and the Con Magees defenders will be hoping they don’t meet a player with such flair when they meet O’Donnell’s in the semi-final in two weeks’ time.CRLL3747 copy

CON MAGEES

Shaun O’Boyle, Neil McCafferty, Paul McCurry, Michael Laverty, Gareth McKeown, Niall Swann, Mark O’Connor, Conor Carey, David Higgins, Conor McNeill, Kieran McKeown, Josh McKeown, Declan Traynor, Martin McCarry, Aidan O’Donnell.

Subs – Ciaran O’Connor for McCafferty; Sean Paul McKenna for O’Donnell; Brian O’Neill for McKeown; Conleth O’Loan for Traynor.

PEARSES

Eamon McKenna, Luca Giannetto, Thomas McFarlane,  Aodhan McCavanagh , Patrick Nolan, Aidan Bannon, Naoise O’Cullín Mac, Ciaran Magee, Cormac O’Neill,  Oisin Grew, Piaras Donaghy, Conal Campbell, Liam Deegan, Daniel Magee, Darren O’Neill.

Referee – Brendan Toland

by thesaffrongael

Success for All Saints at Ulster Og Sport

Spar

Having won the County Og Sport, All Saints went forward to represent Antrim in the annual Ulster GAA 7-aside Og Sport blitz hosted at a splendid Lavey GAC in Derry.

They were drawn in a tough group which included Bellaghy (Derry), Gweedore (Donegal) and Newtownbutler (Fermanagh).

They began their opening round of Group games with a convincing 2.9 to 1.2 win over Gweedore.

Next up were pre-tournament favourites and last year’s Derry u.14 County Champions, Bellaghy.

They had defeated a good Newtownbutler side in their opening game and restricted All Saints to few scoring opportunities opening up a 7 point half time lead.  Bellaghy continued to dominate the 2nd half and won comprehensively on a scoreline of 3.7 to 0.4.

The final game in Group stages was against Newtownbutler who had earlier drawn with the Donegal champions, Gweedore.  The winner qualifying for the shield semi- final against either Carrickmore from Tyrone or Killeavy from Armagh.

All Saints got off to a slow start and left themselves with an uphill battle in the 2nd half trailing by 6 points at the break. In a much improved 2nd half performance, they chased the half time deficit and despite creating numerous goal scoring opportunities eventually lost by a margin of 4.

This left All Saints in a competition for the Ulster Og Sport Plate.  The 3 remaining teams were drawn and All Saints were given a bye to the final.  With the other 2 teams, Gweedore and Dunamoyne contesting the semi-final.  The Monaghan Champions emerged as the winners to face All Saints in the Plate Final.

In a very competitive and at times feisty game, it was level at half time with both sides playing good fast football.  It remained ‘nip and tuck’ in the 2nd half with the teams exchanging scores.  All Saints got on top in the closing stages eventually running out winners by the narrowest of Margins on a 2.8 to 2.7 final scoreline.

This resulted in All Saints being awarded the provincial og Sport Plate thus following some illustrious names on the trophy including Cargin, St Johns, Carrickmore and Enniskillen Gaels.

The Og Sport Shield was won comprehensively by Bellaghy, defeating Carrickmore on a scoreline of 7.7 to 0.3.

Overall, an excellent tournament, extremely well hosted by Lavey GAC in conjunction with the Ulster Council and a tournament and 7s concept that should be more widely promoted as there was some excellent football on display.

This was a great day out and an enjoyable experience for the All Saints lads as they continue their underage football journey.

All Saints squad:

Ryan Mc Cartney

Michael Read

Patrick Ferris

Shaun O Callaghan

Ronan McKillop

Ciaran Campbell

Jamie Montgomery

Jude Casey

Paddy O Brien

Richard McCann

by thesaffrongael

Second half goals ensure O’Cahan Cup is bound for Creggan

O’Cahan Cup (final)

Erin’s Own Cargin 0-10 Kick ham’s Creggan 2-7

Kickham’s Creggan are this year’s O’Cahan Cup winners following a win over parish rivals, Erin’s Own Cargin in a tempestuous encounter in Portglenone last night. In a slow burning first half dominated by possession football there was little to indicate the fireworks that were to follow after the break when the sides went to the dressing room level at 0-2 each.

Things stepped up a few notches after the break and referee Kevin Parke had his work cut out trying to keep a lid on things and the St. Enda’s official dismissed Kevin Rice of Creggan at the end of the third quarter with Michael McCann, Gerard McCann and Donagh McKeever of Cargin suffering similar fate after an unsavory incident late in the game.

The opening period under the floodlights at O’ Cahan Park Portglenone proved an unforgettable affair which ended at 0-02 apiece but the quest for the prize on offer livened up considerably in the second half and the fare provided kept the big attendance suitably entertained.

Michael Mc Cann raced away through the middle right from the throw in to see the custodians of the title on the board with an early point and when the mid-fielder was grounded after fetching the resultant kick out his brother Tomas was on hand to send the resultant free kick between the posts.

A positive start from the Toome men but such was not to continue and the Cargin men were not to give further employment to the scoreboard attendant for the remainder of the period.

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Creggan drew abreast of their near neighbors by the 8th minute as their ace marksman Kevin Small raised white flags in sequence but akin to their opponents the Kickham’s were also to continue to the half way juncture without further additions finding the way to the oppositions posts a tough route to follow.

 

The remainder of the first half saw the respective defensive units functioning to the maximum but such praise cannot be afforded to the forward departments in which failure to conclude well laid approach ensured not a flag was raised following over twenty minutes endeavor.

The Cargin men edged the share in the possession but shooting and staunch defending by the Creggan rear guard ensured that the remainder of the half left little to talk about for the good crowd in attendance.

A Tomas Mc Cann late ‘45’ in the 30th minute did come close to crossing the line after a bizarre sequence which saw the ball come back off the post and crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Creggan in turn were limited to less in the way of chances in the second quarter in which the Cargin central pairing of Michael McCann and Kevin McShane held sway but the Kickham’s men were also guilty of wayward tendencies particularly on the offensive.

A poor opening period cried out for better in the second half and indeed the bystanders were not to be disappointed as the second thirty minutes plus were to see standards raised and the drama intensified.

Creggan were quicker into stride and  raced away directly from the throw in for Kevin Small to secure the opening point and when the centre forward directed a close range free between the posts a few minutes later to punish an indiscretion on Liam Quinn the Kickham’s had nipped a couple clear.

The concluding period having gotten away to a positive start was set to continue in such mode and a sweeping up-field movement on the counter initiated by Cargin keeper John McNabb saw Kieran Close untroubled to send over the bar.

The Toome men with young Jamie Gribbin, who had been employed as a ‘sweeper’ during the opening period, now in a more advanced role looked more balanced on approach but still less than accurate in their finishing as they proceeded to add to the bye ball tally on a couple of occasions in the next phase.

Creggan were not without blame either in their attempts on target but corner forward Liam Quinn raced away on the right hand side to raise a white flag before Kieran Close replied in kind at the other end a couple of minutes later.

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As the end of the third quarter approached the Kickham’s were to be delivered a body blow when a heavy challenge on Michael McCann saw Kevin Rice receive Red and Kevin Madden’s side looked in trouble.

In the event the Staffordstown Road side made a bold bid for glory however and the next few minutes were to see them grab the advantage with back to back goals to gain a seven point lead.

A cute Conor Small fisted cross opened the way for the advancing Ruairi McCann to come from his defensive station to palm to the empty net and when Liam Small grabbed the loose ball in front of the posts, after the Cargin rear guard had dithered in their clearance the nippy corner forward blasted to the back of the net.

The Kickham’s had one hand on the silverware holding a 2-05 to 0-04 lead as the last quarter got under way. Jamie Gribbin raced away on the right hand side to raise a white flag in reply and a foul on the hard grafting James Laverty opened the way for Tomas McCann but Creggan replied and Matthew Rogers found space to send over the bar.

The drama, and indeed the pedestrian pace of the opening period had increased as the second period made progress and although both offensive units were still having some difficulties in locating the posts things had certainly livened up.

Finishing was better and after Tony Scullion created an opening for the ever accurate Kieran Close to raise white, Kevin Small replied from a free at the other end.

Creggan enjoyed a healthy 2-07 to 0-08 advantage and the events of the next minute was to see the Kickham’s in security when an incident which involved several from both sides saw the referee, after consultation with his linesman, issue red cards to Cargin players Michael and Gerard McCann and when Donnach McKeever followed his team mates to the sideline seconds later the Toome men were reduced to twelve.

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Creggan with a two man advantage and a five point lead looked in the calm waters of safety but the twelve man Cargin were not about to make any concession as they returned to the coal face to ensure their neighbors would not be allowed to coast over the line.

A heavy challenge on Ciaran Bradley opened the way for Tomas McCann to send the resultant free kick between the posts in the 60th minute and with time added at the discretion of the referee the Toome men attacked in numbers in the closing minutes.

Creggan were on the back foot and when a foul on Jamie Gribbin was punished as Kieran Close steered the resultant award over the bar in the 32nd minute only a score separated the sides as those in support of the green and gold called for the full time whistle.

Cargin pressed for the remainder as ‘injury time’ extended to four minutes but without reward as the Ricki Johnston inspired Creggan rear guard stood firm and the silverware was Staffordstown road bound when the final whistle signaled a 2-07 to 0-10 victory for the Kickham’s .

A huge victory for the in-form Creggan men who lead the way in the race for the division one title and they will approach their upcoming championship campaign on the positive.

Cargin will be disappointed to have lost their grip on the O’Cahan cup but Damien Cassidy’s men should not leave this stage in despondency, and will look forward to the return of a number of regulars to the ranks for their championship campaign.

Creggan: Oisin Kerr, Aiden Maguire, Ricki Johnston, Conor og Mc Cann, Sam Maguire, Thomas Mc Cann, Ruairi Mc Cann (1-00),Conor Mc Cann,  Kevin Rice, Oran Mc Larnon, Kevin Small (0-05), Tiernan Burke, Liam Quinn (0-01), Tiernan Mc Ateer, Conor Small

Subs

Matthew Rogers (0-01) for T Mc Ateer

Martin Johnston for O Mc Larnon

Paddy Cooey for C Og McCann

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Cargin: John McNabb, Donnach McKeever, Gerard McCann, Gerard McCorley, Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier, James Laverty, Michael McCann (0-01), Ciaran Bradley, Tomas McCann (0-03), David Johnston (0-01), Kieran Close (0-04), Jamie Gribbin (0-01), Odhran McCauley

Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)

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