St Mary’s Aghagallon completed a great week for the club in Glenavy on Sunday night. After securing the All County u16 Division 1 title during the week they added the All County Og Sport u15 title beating Sarsfield’s by a scoreline of 4-10 to 0-4. They will now go on to represent the county in the Ulster Og Sport competition. Congratulations to all players and management. Og Sport team Gabhan Baine, Ciaran Maginnis, Edward Wilson, Jonny Hannon, Padraig Gowdy, Enda McCartan, Ethan Lavery, Christopher Rogers, TJ McBarron and Aaron Crooks.
A hat-trick from Ahoghill’s prolific scorer, Noreen Graham and a personal tally of 3-2 paved the way for an emphatic victory for St. Mary’s Ahoghill over holders Loughgiel in this Antrim Junior camogie championship quarter-final at Fr. Healy Park last evening.
St Marys Ahoghill travelled to Loughiel for the Antrim Camogie Junior Quarter Final. The 5pm throw-in time clashed with the scheduled throw-in for Ahoghill footballers in their Senior Championship match taking place in Corrigan Park, so unfortunately Ahoghill’s supporters and families had to split to separate ends of the county. There was a further delay, but the match finally got underway at 5.20pm and 3 minutes in Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham, found the net to give her side the perfect start.
Caitriona Graham won the Loughgiel puck out and struck again
only to send it wide but she redeemed herself from a 7th minute free making it
1-01 to 0-00 with Maura Downey returning the subsequent puck out straight back in
for another point as the Cloney girls enjoyed a great staret.
Loughgiel won the breaking ball and went on the attack but Emma McGlone cleared her line, only for the home side to respond again with Shauna McKillop getting them on the scoreboard with a fine goal. Aine Graham responded immediately pointing at the other end for Ahoghill following a ball in from Maura Downey.
It was end to end stuff in the opening ten minutes as
Loughgiel got a point from Sinead McAleese and Ahoghill’s Caitriona Graham replying
from a free, making it 1.04 to 1.01.
Loughgiel continued to push up on the visitors but Tracey Hardy cleared
the sliotar to Noreen Graham who went for goal. It was saved resulting in a 45
which Caitriona Graham sent over the bar.
A foul on Noreen Graham saw Shamrocks Kathryn Kelly, get a
yellow card but although nothing came of the Ahoghill free, Caitriona Graham
won the ball coming out and scored a point from play.
A Loughgiel free produced nothing, and shots from Ahoghill’s
Maura Downey and Noreen Graham were unsuccessful as play swung from end to end. 20 minutes in Loughgiel were awarded a
penalty and Caitriona Graham was shown a Yellow card. Shauna McKillop stepped up to take the penalty
but Angela Townsend pulled off a great save and although Loughgiel were in for
the rebound, they sent it wide.
Soon after the No. 14
received a booking but nothing came from the Ahoghill free and a subsequent
free for Loughgiel saw Carla McGarry, sprint on to the pass to score their 2nd
point giving them 1.02 on the board.
Ahoghill were quick to counter-attack and Noreen Graham was
on target for another goal, but Shamrock’s keeper Siobhan McAuley got a stick
to it, however a pull on Noreen’s jersey saw her step up to take the free which
she swiftly put between the uprights.
Further attacks from Loughgiel proved unsuccessful as defenders
Mairead McCloskey and Nicola Doherty cleared their line and the home side sent
a couple wide. A chop by Shauna McKillop
saw Caitriona Graham take another free which she played across to Fiona Blaney
but Loughgiel were sharp to intercept, however Caitriona Graham turned them
over, feeding the ball to Downey, who struck it over the bar followed quickly
by another from play by Catriona Graham leaving it 1.09 to 1.02 at the break
for the Cloney side..
The Shamrocks came out firing on all cylinders after the
break but Ahoghill keeper Angela Townsend confidently cleared the shots on
target. Both side missed opportunities before Emma McGlone intercepted a
Loughgiel side-line which she fed in to Maura Downey whose shot was cleared but she turned over
the clearance to make sure the second time, sending over 7 minutes into the second
half. The home side were creating chances but failing to convert as Ahoghill broke
again with Maura Downey being denied by the Loughgiel keeper, however Caitriona
Graham fed a great ball to Noreen Graham who split the posts once more.
Ahoghill’s Sinead McKenna, fought tirelessly and
successfully cleared an intense Loughgiel attack, with Tracey Hardy finding
Aine Graham, who placed her namesake, Noreen and she fired home her second
goal. Ahoghill introduced Marion Graham
for Annemarie O’Neill, this was Marion’s first game since a nasty ankle injury
last year. A foul on Loughgiel’s Brona
McIntyre in mid-field saw a break in play and allowed the home side to make a
change, Bernadine Hegarty making way for Lauren O’Boyle, and Ahoghill bringing
on Bronagh Graffin for Ciara McGuigan.
Another Loughgiel free saw Carla McGarry split the posts and
at the other ends Noreen Graham looked to be in for another goal however she was
denied by the home defence and at the other end Eadaoin McGarry, broke up the
resulting counter attack. Carla McGarry added another point for the Shamrocks but
this would be their last score of the game.
Ahoghill’s McGarry came to her side’s rescue clearing
several dangerous balls and she fed the ball to Emma McGlone and she combined
with Maura Downey, Aine Graham to set up Noreen Graham and the latter added the
visitors’ 3rd goal.
Ahoghill‘s Nicola Doherty made way for Sub Caitlin McLaughlin as the visitors continued to empty their bench and the visitors continued to call the shots as Tracey Hardy found Marion Graham and she found Paula Gribbin, who had been earlier denied by the keeper but this time she made no mistake with a goal, bringing Ahoghills’ tally to 4-11
This was to prove the game’s final score and Visitors, Ahoghill, are through to the Semi- final next Saturday 31st, when they meet Armoy, who defeated Rasharkin 2.12 – 2.07
Ahoghill: AngelaTownsend,
Nicola Doherty, Mairead McCloskey, Sinead McKenna, Emma Mcglone, Eadaoin McGarry,
Tracey Hardy, Caitriona Graham (0.04), Fiona Blaney Captain, Noreen Graham(
3.02), Aine Graham ( 0.01 ), Maura Downey( 0.03
), Annemarie O’Neill, Paula Gribbin 1.0, Ciara McGuigan, Bronagh
McGuigan, Marion Graham, Fionnuala McKeever, Hannah Downey, Bronagh Graffin, Caitlin
McLaughlin, Dervla Graffin, Caitlin O’Hagan
Antrim’s hopes of reaching the TG4 All-Ireland junior
football final were ended on Saturday afternoon as Louth shot the Saffrons down
with a 3-15-1-05 win in the semi-final at Clones.
The wee County were in control of the contest and led
0-06-0-01 before Lara Dahunsi gave her side renewed hope with a goal before the
break.
But an injury to inspirational captain Saoirse Tennyson
early in the second-half was a major body-blow to Sean O’Kane’s side who only
managed two second-half points in comparison to a dominant Louth side that hit
3-05 with a brace from Kate Flood and another from substitute Lauren Boyle.
The Saffrons preparations for the game were less than ideal
as an injury to Mairead Cooper saw the St Pauls forward miss out and the
scheduling of the Antrim club Championship meant that Sean O’Kane’s charges
missed a week of training in the build-up to their biggest game of the season.
Louth were keen to avenge April’s semi-final League defeat
at the same venue and opened the scoring through a converted Kate Flood free.
Cathy Carey levelled proceedings from the same scenario but
the wee County were the more clinical of the sides in the opening exchanges.
Rebecca Carr restored her sides advantage with Louth’s
second free of the afternoon and Kate Flood doubled her account with a fine
point that curled over the bar.
A second converted free from Flood was followed by a double
from Niamh Rice as Antrim trailed 0-06-0-01 with 19 minutes on the clock.
Despite the Saffrons best attempts in attack – they were
unable to penetrate through a strong Louth defence and Aoife Russell was often
on-hand to turn defence to attack.
With little over ten minutes until the break Antrim were
gifted a lifeline. Louth keeper Una Pearson was slow to react to the loose ball
on the edge of the 6-yard box and Lara Dahunsi scooped the ball up and lofted
it high into the empty net to close the gap and make it 0-06-1-01.
Kate Flood replied with her third converted free of the
half, though back to back points from Dahunsi and a Cathy Carey closed the
deficit to the bare minimum.
Louth were to end the half strongly however and tagged on
three unanswered points before the break.
Susan Byrne, Eimear Byrne and a second point from Rebecca
Carr gave their side a 0-10-1-03 lead and but for an outstanding save from Anna
McCann to deny Carr – things could have been worse for the Saffrons.
Any hopes of an Antrim fightback were dealt a hammer-blow
early in the second-half as captain Saoirse Tennyson collapsed in agony with a
knee injury – the stretcher was required and manager Sean O’Kane was forced
into a reshuffle, introducing Caoimhe Stewart.
When play resumed again it was Cathy Carey who forged the
opening score of the half through a converted free, however it would be 17
minutes before the Saffrons next white flag was raised and in-between Louth
stretched their advantage.
Centre-half back Michelle McMahon popped the ball over in
response to Carey’s free and Rebecca Carr conjured up her third point of the
afternoon.
Louth then took a massive step towards victory with their
opening goal of the game – it came through a familiar face in Kate Flood and
gave the wee-County a 1-12-1-04 lead.
Aine Tubridy shot over the bar in response and it would
prove to be the Saffrons final score of a disappointing afternoon.
They did have the chance to register a consolation goal
after Lara Dahunsi was felled in the area, though Orla Corr was denied by Pearson
in the Louth goal.
Kate Flood top-scored on the afternoon with 2-06 – at the
end of her sides All-Ireland campaign Flood will travel Down Under to ply her
trade for Australian Football outfit Fremantle Freo and on the basis of her
performance Freo have signed an outstanding talent.
Flood confidently kicked two further placed balls and
secured her sides third goal before the whistle – the other strike coming from
Lauren Boyle, who was only fit to make an appearance from the bench but ended
the game with 1-01 to her name.
At the end of a one-sided second period it was Louth who
were able to celebrate reaching back to back junior finals and the Leinster
champions will take on Fermanagh in the September 15th decider at
Croke Park.
It was a disappointing end to what has been a promising
campaign for Sean O’Kane’s charges who just missed out on promotion and
clinched the Ulster Championship in the Tyrone natives first year in charge.
Antrim: A McCann, S Haughey, E Kelly, N Killen, M Hanna, C
Brown, K Farren, S Tennyson, A McFarland, L Dahunsi (1-01), O Corr, N Enright,
C Carey (0-03, 0-02f), E Magee, A Tubridy (0-01). Subs: C Stewart for S
Tennyson (36 mins); M McGourty for N Enright (49 mins); C Taggart for K Farren
(51 mins); A Taggart for O Corr (53 mins); N Webb for A McFarland (55 mins).
Louth: U Pearson, E Hand, S Quinn, S McLoughlin, C Nolan, M
McMahon (0-01), A Breen, E Boyle (0-01), A Byrne, R Carr (0-03, 0-01f), S Byrne
(0-01), A Russell, J McGuinness, K Flood (2-06, 0-05f), N Rice (0-02). Subs: D
Osborne for A Russell (30 mins); L Boyle (1-01) for J McGuiness (38 mins); S
Woods for A Byrne (43 mins); A Halligan for A Breen (54 mins); S Matthews for E
Hand (54 mins).
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Uí Cheallaigh,
Portglenone
Comfortable progression with minimum fuss. It was exactly what Tír na nÓg would have
hoped for and after 20 minutes of this preliminary round tie on Saturday
afternoon, they would have been forgiven for thinking on the
quarter-finals.
The Whitehill men saw off the challenge of Rasharkin with
six points to spare in the end but it was ‘carpet slippers and pipe’ mode for
the second half with the hard work and graft put in during the first half. Rasharkin didn’t trouble the scoreboard
operative until the 23rd minute on Saturday afternoon while Tír na
nÓg had run into a nine point lead and were well worthy of that advantage.
Rasharkin couldn’t get their hands on leather during that
opening 20 minutes while Tír na nÓg went about their business with controlled,
methodical precision with Leigh Martin and Aaron McNeilly the chief
tormentors. Martin finished the hour
with seven points with three from open play and while all four of the
Randalstown men’s scores came from Martin in the second half, it was enough to
keep Rasharkin at bay.
The midfield duo of Malachy Duffin and Christy Sheerin were
peerless in the first half while the Tír na nÓg half back line swept anything
their midfield might have missed and that was very little. With the choice of playing a long ball into
Kevin Sheerin on the edge of the square or use the trickery of Martin and the
pace of McNeilly, Tír na nÓg varied their attacks and didn’t let Rasharkin
settle.
The men from Dreen were given a glimmer of hope on the stroke of half time when Conor McFerran laid down a marker for goal of the championship and while they showed more determination, grit and hunger in the second half, they were behind the eight ball after Tír na nÓg’s showing in those opening 20 minutes.
Eamon McNeill cast a frustrated figure for long periods of
this match. A man who on his day can
light up any pitch in the country yet he lived off scraps and wasn’t doing a
good job of hiding his frustrations.
Ryan Lynch was prominent in the second half as Rasharkin looked for the
scores to bring their championship hopes to life but they never
materialised. They showed more
endeavour, heart and a willingness to fight for their shirt in the second
period but Tír na nÓg had their number.
Rasharkin finished the match with 14 men when they had a man send off in the last minute of normal time that saw some ugly scenes develop but it had little baring on the contest. Job done for the Whitehill men who have their sights set on a quarter-final meeting with their neighbours Moneyglass.
Rasharkin actually made a decent start to the match but a
couple of efforts from McNeill went to the wrong side of the posts in the
opening minutes. Such was Tír na nÓg’s
dominance though, they wouldn’t have another effort at goal for close to 20
minutes. McNeilly, Martin and Darragh
Fagan giving the Randalstown side a three point advantage after 10 minutes.
With a mix of patience, long ball and counterattack, Tír na
nÓg were leaving Rasharkin in their shadows as they went about building what
was effectively a match winning lead.
Ciaran McKeown, McNeilly (free), Martin and Fagan taking the Tír na nÓg
lead to nine points after 19 minutes.
Martin’s point the pick of their scores in the first half, showing one
way before shimmying past the Rasharkin challenge and sending the ball over
with precision.
Eamon McNeill finally got the St Mary’s men off and running
in the 23rd minute and while they had more attacking intent in the
closing stages of the first half, Rasharkin already looked a beleaguered team
at that stage.
Both sides lost their way in front of goal before Conor
McFerran lit up this tie in first half injury time. Collecting a long ball from Lynch and wide on
the right, McFerran spotted Sean Paul McAtamney just off his line. With one swing of his right foot and with all
the precision of 45-degree pitching wedge, McFerran managed to find the bottom
corner while lobbing the Tír na nÓg ‘keeper.
Audacious, sublime and an outstanding score that gave Rasharkin a
glimmer of hope for the second half.
If there was ever a bad time for a team to score a goal
however, Rasharkin and McFerran found it.
The goal reduced the lead to five points and it gave them a glimmer of
hope but the half time break took any momentum they may have gained from it and
gave Tír na nÓg a chance to recuperate, rehash and build a plan to ensure they
had safe passage to the next round. And
that they did.
Rasharkin were always going to come out a different animal
after the break and when Lynch pointed barely 30 second after the restart, they
looked like they could do Mission Impossible.
That was as close as they would get to the Whitehill side as they
controlled the second half, always keeping Rasharkin at arm’s length. They shored up their defence and nullified
any attacking threat the Dreen side carried while being methodical and
meticulous while going forward.
Martin fired over his first of four second half frees in the
35th minute, Tír na nÓg’s first point for 15 minutes and while they
strung together a trio of wides before Martin repeated the feat in the 45th
minute, Rasharkin didn’t record a score either.
Lynch and substitute Brian Og O’Neill raised white flags in
response to a brace of frees from Martin in the time that remained. Rasharkin tenacious defender Kelly saw red
for violent conduct in the last minute of normal time but Tír na nÓg’s
progression to the next round was all but sealed at that stage.
The Randalstown men progress with a mouth-watering tie in
prospect in the quarters against their south west neighbours, Moneyglass.
TEAMS
Tír na nÓg: Sean Paul McAtamney; Sean Redmond, Niall
Cassidy, Ciaran Logan; Barry McCormick, Caoimhin Duffin, Darren McCormick;
Christy Sheerin, Malachy Duffin; Ryan O’Neill, Ciaran McKeown, Darragh Fagan;
Aaron McNeilly, Kevin Sheerin, Leigh Martin.
Subs: Ronan O’Neill for K Sheerin (42); Ciaran
O’Neill for C McKeown (48); Peter Cullen for C Sheerin (54).
Scorers: Leigh Martin 0-7 (4 f’s); Aaron McNeilly 0-2
(2 f’s); Darragh Fagan 0-2; Kevin Sheerin 0-1; Ciaran McKeown 0-1.
Rasharkin: Tiarnan O’Boyle; Pearse Kelly, Conor
Hasson, Donagh Quigg; Fearghal Kennedy, Emmet McFerran, Fergus Quigg; Shane
Hasson, Thomas McMullan; Jack Quinn, Ryan Lynch, Thomas Doherty; Conor McFerran,
Brendan Etherson, Eamon McNeill.
Subs: Brian Og O’Neill for B Etherson (23); Colm
Kennedy for F Kennedy (44)
Scorers: Ryan Lynch 0-3 (1 f); Conor McFerran 1-00;
Brian Og O’Neill 0-1
On Saturday 24th August at Páirc Chiceam, the Antrim and Derry teams returned to lock horns once more following on from last years successful Special Championship. This was the third year of the unique event and was by far the largest yet with over 30 players involved and a fantastic crowd in attendance.
Players travelled from far and wide to be a part of and play in the match this evening at Kickhams GAC. Rebekah Keane came all the way from Listowel Emmets GAC, Co. Kerry as well as Micheál McCloy from Whitecross GAC, Co. Armagh.
Both teams were given and warm heartfelt welcome onto the field with a guard of honour led by, Creggan and Tír na nÓg underage teams who played in the curtain-raiser.
The momentum grew as the managers finished the team warm-up and referee, Gerard Dougan took the toss with the team captains before lining out. The match then commenced with a throw-in from Antrim Chairman, Ciarán McCavanagh.
A large crowd made up of family, friends and onlookers from all around both Antrim and Derry enjoyed watching on as the teams showcased their skills and talents in an exciting end to end game.
The match proved yet another huge success encompassing everything which the GAA ethos entails – enjoyment, good spirit, family & friendships.
Congratulations go out to all players, managers, family & friends and the organisers at Kickhams GAC Creggan for making this evening possible.
Thank you to Ulster Bank, TeamKit, NI Water, O’Neills, Convery Sportsturf and The Lab for sponsoring water, kits, food and much more for all the players, supporters and their families on the night.
The clubs represented at the Special Championship between Antrim and Derry were: Kickhams GAC Creggan, St. Malachy’s GAC Castledawson, Limavady, Dunloy, Sarsfields GAC, Glen, Desertmartin, Wolfe Tones Bellaghy, Kilrea, Michael Davitts, Whitecross GAC, Ballymaguigan, Moneymore, Bridge Association, Glenravel, Davitts, Cargin, Lavey, Magherafelt, Loup and Listowel Emmets GAC.
