September 5, 2018September 7, 2018 by thesaffrongael

Three Senior Football Championship ties this weekend

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While the Junior and Intermediate Football championships take centre stage there are three interesting Senior Football Championship preliminary round games on the fixtures list and all three are likely to attract good crowds and a fair deal of interest.

Ahoghill v St. Brigid’s (Ballymena Saturday 1-30)

St. Mary’s Ahoghill make the relatively short trip to Ballymena on Saturday where they will meet division 2 league leaders, St. Brigid’s in the first of three SFC preliminary games and the Clooney men will start this one as favourites. Ahoghill are now a long established division 1 side and while they haven’t figured recently in the challenge for honours they have never the less proudly maintained their division 1 status.

St. Brigid’s look certain to join them in division 1 next year as the Musgrave Park side currently sit at the top of division 2 with only a couple of rounds remaining and last year’s Intermediate champions will arrive in Ballymena in confident mood. Jack Dowling, Enda Clarke, James Smith, Peter Webb and Ruairi O’Neill will lead the St. Enda’s challenge and they could give the St. Mary’s men a run for their money.

Ahoghill are an experienced outfit however and in Francis Neeson, the Graham’s, O’Connell’s, and Neeson clans and Dan O’Neill they have players who usually step up to the mark when the going gets tough and they may have just too much know how for their division 2 opponents.

Casement’s Portglenone v O’Donovan Rossa (Creggan Sunday 1-30)

Casement’s Portglenone have had a good season in division 1 this year and sit in a very healthy sixth place with 14 points from 14 starts. The best of those wins were against St. Gall’s who were leading the division 1 table at the time with the O’Cahan Park side defeating the Milltown men both home and away to make people sit up and take notice. They defeated Rossa in the first round of fixtures at Rossa Park before the league split and a home win over St. John’s is another big scalp they have taken this year.

Rossa have been decimated this year by defections and injuries and find themselves precariously close to the drop to division 2 and will go into Sunday’s game at Creggan as massive underdogs but they certainly shouldn’t be ruled out. Stephen Beatty, Richard Gowdy, Sean Finch, Sean Pat Donnelly, Donal Armstrong, Darren Grego and Christopher McGuinness are the men likely to carry the Rossa challenge and the Shaw’s Road side will give it everything.

League form would suggest that Casement’s will overcome the challenge presented by the city men and the Delargy’s, the McAleese’s, the Kelly’s, Niall McKeever, Michael Hagan, Kieron McKenna and company have the fire power and know how to earn them a place in the next round.

Lamh Dhearg v St. Mary’s Aghagallon (Glenavy Sunday 5-30)

Last year’s Senior football champions, Lamh Dhearg face a tricky preliminary round opener against an improving St. Mary’s Aghagallon and following an indifferent league campaign they would do well not to take their eye of the ball if they are to advance.

The contest becomes more intriguing given the fact that St. Mary’s are managed this year by former Lamh Dhearg player, Kevin Murray who’s brother Ryan will be a key man in the Lamh Dhearg attack while another brother Conor will miss the tie following a long term injury sustained playing for Antrim in the All Ireland qualifiers against Sligo. Donal Nugent, who was a key member of last year’s side, will also miss out after transferring to Warwickshire for their championship earlier in the year.

Aghagallon have had a second solid season in division 1 after promotion from division 2 and an U21 success two years ago and retain most of that youthful side with a couple of years in division 1 now behind them. Gavin O’Neill, Pat Brannigan, Caolan Farr, Oisin Lenehan, Ruairi Loughran, Eunan Walsh and Ruairi McCann are the men who will lead the St. Mary’s challenge.

John Finucane, Aaron McCaufield, Declan Lynch, Eoin McKeown, Terry McCrudden, Paddy Cunningham and Ryan Murray are the men that the holders will look to if they are to take the first step to retaining their title and while they are likely to be pushed to the wire they should advance.

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY

If you have a business in the area of one of the six teams playing in this weekend’s Senior Championship 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 two of our sponsors on this preview.

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September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 by thesaffrongael

A look at this weekend’s Intermediate Football Championship

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It’s down to serious football championship action this weekend and there are quite a number of mouth-watering clashes in all three grades. Here we take a look at the Intermediate Football Championship and try to predict the outcome of the games scheduled.

Gort na Mona v St. James Aldergrove (Saturday 2-30 Bear Pit)

This could be the Intermediate championship game of the round with both clubs already battling for a promotion place from division 2 and tied on 20 points from 14 starts, just two behind leaders St. Brigid’s.

Gort na Mona drew level with the Crumlin side by virtue of a 1-8 to 0-10 win in their last league outing at Enright Park, a reverse of the result when they met in Crumlin earlier in the season. On that occasion it was St. James who won by 1-8 to 0-10 so on that form it is hard to separate them.

Aldergrove were expected to make a quick return to division 1 following relegation from the top division on the last day of the season and that dream is very much alive while Gort na Mona have been something of a surprise packet but have been consistently strong this year.

Prediction: It might well take extra time to decide this one but I give a tentative vote to the Crumlin side.

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Tir na nOg v St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass (Creggan Sunday 12-00)

Another game to whet the appetite as these two South West rivals meet. Going on league form the Whitehill side should start as favourites but I don’t expect league form to have much of a bearing on this one. Tir na nOg won both league encounters with their neighbours from Marrion Hill and are still in the promotion race with just two rounds of fixtures to play while St. Ergnat’s faded badly after a good start to the season. The Moneyglass side were hit with a long list of injuries mid-season and are just getting back to something like full strength and on their day they are a match for anyone.

They highlighted that potential when they travelled to Musgrave Park last time out and came away with an excellent draw against league leaders, St. Brigid’s and reports suggest that they are back to something like their best form.

Tir na nOg have had a tough season with quite a few of their players playing on a Tir na nOg hurling team who were in the promotion race in division 2 until quite recently. That side lost to St. Enda’s in the Intermediate hurling championship last time out and ‘Scotchy’ Hagan could have a task on his hand lifting them for Sunday’s early start.

Prediction: The form book would say Tir na nOg but Moneyglass may come into this one the fresher of the two sides and if they can produce their best form might just edge it but it should be mighty close.

St. Enda’s v St. Paul’s (Glenavy Sunday 4-00)

On paper this looks like the easiest of the three Intermediate championship games scheduled for the weekend to predict as St. Enda’s from division1 take on a St. Paul’s side w2ho have just been relegated from division 2. St. Enda’s gained promotion from division 2 last year and have consolidated their position in the top grade with still two rounds of games to play.

Many expected they would play Senior championship this year but have opted for the Intermediate grade and are installed as favourites by virtue of the fact they are in division 1. That favourites tag is not always the easiest one to carry however and St. Paul’s, with nothing to lose will give it everything in the hope of causing an upset.

Prediction: St. Enda’s are a side very much on the upward track and while they might take a time to shake off the challenge of the Shaw’s Road side I would expect them to progress with something to spare.

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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

September 5, 2018September 8, 2018 by thesaffrongael

A really busy weekend as football championships takes centre stage

Junior Football Championship Quarter-Finals

There’s a really busy schedule of football championship games this weekend and, like last year the Saffron Gael are hoping to cover every game. We start by taking a look at the Junior Football Championship and as many as five sides look in with a real chance of going all the way this year.

The action gets under way on Friday night with the Junior Football Championship and a double fixture at Woodlands that should produce two well contested championship games.

O’Donnell’s v St. Comgall’s Antrim (Friday Woodlands 7-00pm)

O’Donnell’s played their football in division 2 this year having gained promotion from division 3 at the end of the 2017 season as runners up to Sarsfield’s. It’s been a tough season for the McCrory Park side and with a couple of games to play they haven’t recorded a win to date and will make a quick return to division 3 next season.

St. Comgall’s have done reasonably well in division 3 this year but look unlikely to gain promotion with St. Patrick’s Lisburn, Kickham’s Ardoyne and Con Magee’s Glenravel joint top of the division at present and the two promotion places look to be between these three.

Just how much this run of results will affect O’Donnell’s remains to be seen and they may well see the Junior Championship as an opportunity to resurrect their season while St. Comgall’s, beaten finalists by Glenravel two years ago, could be thinking along similar lines.

Prediction: I predict a tight contest which could go either way but if St. Comgall’s can produce their best form then they can advance to the semi-final.

Kickham’s Ardoyne v Naomh Padraig Lisburn (Friday Woodlands 8-30)

Both these sides have a win under their belts already with Naomh Padraig proving much too strong for Eire Og at Cliftonville two weeks ago and Kickham’s getting the better of Ballycastle in Ballymena last week.

Both sides are neck and neck in the promotion race and Naomh Padraig can claim the bragging rights in the most recent meeting of the sides when they beat Ardoyne in the league at Kirkwood Park. Eleven points separated the sides on that occasion but I don’t expect Paddy Murray’s side to be too affected by that result.

A lot could depend on who adopts best to the 4G surface at Woodlands and Ardoyne play their home games on a similar surface at Cliftonville while Naomh Padraig looked comfortable when defeating Eire Og on the same pitch.

Prediction: This one, like the previous looks hard to call but Naomh Padraig performed really well before losing narrowly to Sarsfield’s in last year’s final and might just edge it.

Con Magee’s Glenravel v Pearses (Saturday 12-00 Ballymena)

Con Magee’s Glenravel look firm favourites in this one having recorded a 12 point win over Saturday’s opponents in the league in Belfast last time out but league results can’t always be a true gauge when it comes to the championship.

Pearses have a win under their belts in this year’s championship having defeated Laochra Loch Lao in a preliminary round game at Woodlands and on that performance cannot be ruled out but they will have to step it up considerably if they are to have any chance on Saturday.

Prediction: Glenravel were Junior champions two years ago when they defeated St. Comgall’s in the final and have returned to the junior grade after an unsuccessful outing at Intermediate level last year and barring a major upset should have too much in the tank for Patrick Pearses

St. Agnes v St. Malachy’s (Saturday 1-00 St. Teresa’s)

On league form St. Malachy’s will start this one as favourites with 19 points from 16 starts and the lads from the Markets sit just outside the top four while their opponents St. Agnes languish in second bottom place. Only two points separated the sides when they met in the league back in May but St. Malachy’s had 11 points to spare in the return fixture back in July.

Prediction: Roy McLarnon has a habit of getting the best out of his side come the championship and last year they recorded a good win over Ballycastle before going down to eventual finalists, Naomh Padraig. They will have to step up their game quite a bit if they are to win this one and the nod goes to the men from the Markets.

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If you have business in the area of one of the eight teams playing in this weekend’s Junior Championship 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.

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

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks win McCaughan Cup

McCaughan Cup – North Antrim Junior Hurling

Loughgiel Shamrocks 2-22 Carey Faughs 2-12

Loughgiel won the McCaughan Cup at Armoy on Tuesday evening when the beat Carey Faughs in the final in a game that also doubled as a play-off for the North Antrim Junior League.

In a hectic start to a free flowing game Loughgiel made the early running and points from Cahir McGrath (2), Conor Gillan and Patrick Laverty, in reply to one from Fiachra McVeigh, had them 4-1 up by the fourth minute. A Darren McGowan goal brought Carey level and they hit the front in the seventh minute when McGowan added a point, but two points from midfielder Shaun McFadden and one from Corey Blair swung things back in the Shamrocks favour. Fiachra McVeigh and Darren McGowan pointed to level matters by the end of the opening quarter but retook a lead they would never subsequently lose when Cahir McGrath grabbed the first goal of the game on 17 minutes. Fiachra McVeigh and Darren McGowan knocked over points to close the gap to one, but the Shamrocks finished the half strongly with two points from Niall McFadden, one from Shaun McFadden and a goal from Turlough McCarry to stretch the gap to six by half time. (2-10 to 0-7) 877A9515

Two points from Caolan McIlhatton and one from Sean Og McFadden, in reply to just one from Carey’s Kevin Murphy put eight between the sides but a goal from Daniel McBride and a point from Darren McGowan closed the gap to four by the forty first minute. McBride and McGowan answered scores from Loughgil’s Niall McFadden midway through the second half but as the game progressed Loughgiel grew stronger and four in a row from Turlough McCarry, Damian Laverty, Shaun McFadden and Niall McFadden brought them clear of any danger. Daniel McKinley sent over a fine score from half back for the Faughs but the Shamrocks already had the ribbons on the cup and two late points from Niall McFadden and Cormac Watt had them ten clear by the final whistle

LOUGHGIEL

Caolan McGivern, Ciaran McCloskey, Ronan McFadden, Ryan Cassley, Conor Carey, Caolan Blair, Corey Blair, Aodhan McFadden, Shaun McFadden, Sean Og McFadden, Niall McFadden, Turlough McCarry, Patrick Laverty, Cahir McGrath, Caolan McIlhatton.

Subs Chris Magill, Cormac Watt, Damian Laverty, Ronan McFadden

CAREY

Raymond McMullan, Patrick Butler, Christopher Butler, Conor O’Brien, Daniel McKinley, Jack McCaughan, Tiernan McGlynn, Daniel Martin, Pat Murphy, Kevin Murphy, Daniel McBride, Fiachra McVeigh, Gerard McBride, Caolan McCaughan, Darren McGowan

Pics by Sean Paul McKillop

September 5, 2018 by thesaffrongael

St Gall’s secure semi final spot

Antrim Minor A Football Championship – quarter final

St Gall’s 1-14 Con Magees 1-7

St Gall’s secured a semi-final spot against Aghagallon when they beat Con Magees Glenravel in Tuesday evening’s quarter final if the Minor Football Championship at Milltown. The Glenravel boys had their chances, especially in the first half, but some wayward shooting and two excellent saves by St Gall’s goalkeeper Louis McCormick was their undoing as the home team raced to a 0-7 to 0-3 half time lead. After the break St Gall’s pulled clear to open up a 10 point lead and though the Con Magees grabbed a goal midway through the second half they could not bridge the gap as St Galls finished a comfortable seven points clear.

Conor Maxwell gave St Gall’s an early lead when he pointed a 45 in the opening minute and after a scrappy opening Glenravel levelled on nine minute through Eoin Hynds. St gall’s were back in front a minute later when midfielder Lorcan McIlroy found full forward mark McKenna with a well-placed pass and the full forward sent the ball over the bar for a 2-1 lead. Glenarvel then had a let off when St Gall’s blasted wide of an open goal but their respite was short lived and a minute afterwards corner forward Sean Stewart sent over their third point two minutes after that Conor Maxwell put them 0-4 to 0-1 clear with a well taken point.

Niall Burns increased the St Gall’s lead to four with a point in the 21^st minute but Glenravel had their best spell of the match and a good move involving Rian Lennon and Declan McCloskey saw them denied when McCloskey’s goal-bound shot was blocked by McCormick in the St Gall’s goal, and though Lennon ended up pointing the rebound it was scant consolation. Conor Maxwell pointed to restore St Gall’s five point cushion but in first half injury time Darragh Donaghy hit a great score from forty metres for the visitors to cut their half time deficit to four point. (0-7 to 0-3)

If Glenravel were to get back into the game they needed a good start to the second half, but it was the home team who got it when Niall Burns and Odhran McDonald added points after a dominant spell of possession. Sean McKay kept the Con Magees in touch when he pointed a free from 20 meters on 35 minutes but St Gall’s put themselves firmly in the driving seat soon afterwards when Sean Stewart took advantage of a mistake in the Glenravel defence following a short kick-out to grab the first goal of the game. When they added two quick points through Mark McKenna and Sean Stewart Glenravel were in deep trouble, though they grabbed a lifeline on 44 minutes when a quick free kick by Sean McKay put Eoin Hynds through on goal and he sent a left footed drive high into the St Gall’s net. When McKay added a point a minute later the gap was back to six, but that was as close as they would get as St Gall’s got back on top with two quick points by Mark McKenna.

Sean McKay had two more points for Glenravel but Niall Burns, Mark McKenna and substitute Conail Smyth replied to seal a convincing win.

ST GALL’S

Louis McCormick, Oran McIlhatton, Conor Murray, Conla Maguire, Matthew McCaffrey, Conor Ryan, Ronan Gilligan, Lewis McGarvey, Lorcan McIlroy, Paul McLoughlin, Connor Maxwell, Odhran McDonald, Niall Burns, Mark McKenna, Sean Stewart.

COM MAGEES

Conleth O’Loan, Declan McAuley, Sean McCusker, Darragh Donaghy, Cathal Hynds, Ruairi Lennon, Declan McCloskey, Eoin McCusker, Shane O’Boyle, Eoin Hynds, Christopher Laverty, Sean Paul McKenna, Sean McKay, Rian Lennon, Calum Higgins.

Referee – Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)

Pics by Dylan McIlwaine

The Saffron Gael

A look at all things GAA in the Saffron county

Month / September 2018

Three Senior Football Championship ties this weekend

A look at this weekend’s Intermediate Football Championship

A really busy weekend as football championships takes centre stage

Shamrocks win McCaughan Cup

St Gall’s secure semi final spot