December 19, 2019December 19, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Creggan Juvenile Awards

Creggan Kickhams held their juvenile awards on Wednesday evening in the club hall which was filled to capacity with football, hurling and camogie players from four to sixteen years. The Saffron Gael were tehre to capture the action.

December 18, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Conall J Roberts-Ulster Young Referee of Year

St. John’s Conall J Roberts has been awarded the Paul McKeever award for Ulster young Referee of the year at the Ulster Referee awards in Monaghan. Conall took up the whistle at a young age under the guidance of his grandfather, former referee and county chairman Jim Murray and the young whistler has made his way up through the ranks, refereeing a number of championship games in Antrim this year culminating in the final of the Minor Football championship between Cargin and St. Brigid’s.

The Saffron Gael extends its congratulations to Conall and wishes him every success in his future refereeing career.

Conall Roberts, the man in the middle at the Minor Football championship final between Cargin v St. Brigid’s

December 18, 2019December 18, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Queens Future Stars Hurling team

By Seamus McAleenan

QUEEN’S GAA last evening announced their first ever Queen’s Future Stars hurling team and while there is a significant presence from Antrim and the Ards, biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Oisin Marley from St Columba’s Stranorlar.
The Setanta club player has already made his mark in under-age hurling in Donegal and has won back-to-back Ulster Poc Fada title. Slotting into the half-forward line he is the only player from outside Antrim and Down to make the team announced by Gavan Duffy, Queen’s GAA Development Officer.

EIGHT of the Antrim contingent come from the schools situated in the north of the county with four of those in the Cross & Passion Ballycastle panel that eclipsed the Danske Bank Mageean Cup last month.
Christy McGarry scored a point in that win over St Mary’s CBGS Belfast, while club mate Ruairí McCormick also makes the team along with McQuillan’s goalie James Bakewell and midfielder Oisin Elliott from Dunloy.
St Louis defender Conor Dickson brings the Loughgiel representation to three while they also supply a second Dunloy player, Daire McMullan whose father Damian hurler for the Saffrons.
Continuing the Loughgiel and Saffron connection, Sean Paul McKillop’s son Pádraig makes the forward line representing St Killian’s Garron Tower who also have Daniel Kearney in defence.
Ballygalget’s Eoin Pucci is one of two players from Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock in the selection. Eoin’s father Michael is a former Down hurler while his school-mate James Clarke and the three players from St Patrick’s Downpatrick all hurl for clubs from the lower Ards.
Clarke is from Ballycran, Oisin Coulter, like Pucci from Ballygalget, while Ryan O’Neill and Finn Turpin hurl for Portaferry.
Gavan Duffy welcomed the addition of a hurling team to the Future Stars programme.
“Queen’s are now into the 5th year of our Future Stars programme and with the inclusion of hurling this year for the first time we are delighted with its continued progress. We at Queen’s will continue to support and celebrate the work carried out within Ulster Schools.
“The level of skill and commitment shown by all those who took part is a tribute to the work being done at schools level across the province.”

2019-20 Queen’s University Future Stars Hurling team is:
1 James Bakewell (Cross & Passion Ballycastle and McQuillan’s Ballycastle)
2 Conor Dickson (St Louis’ Ballymena and Loughgiel Shamrocks)
3 Daire McMullan (St Louis’ Ballymena and Dunloy Cúchulainn’s)
4 Daniel Kearney (St Killian’s Garron Tower and Oisin’s Glenarriffe)
5 Ryan O’Neill (St Patrick’s Downpatrick and St Patrick’s Portaferrry)
6 Enda McCartan (St Malachy’s Belfast and Sarsfield’s)
7 Ruairi McCormick (Cross & Passion Ballycastle and Loughgiel Shamrocks)
8 Oisin Elliot (Cross & Passion Ballycastle and Dunloy Cúchulainn’s)
9 Eoin Pucci (Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock and Ballygalget Mitchel’s)
10 Oisin Marley (St Columba’s Stranorlar and Setanta Hurling Club)
11 Christy McGarry (Cross & Passion Ballycastle and Loughgiel Shamrocks)
12 Padraig McKillop (St Killian’s Garron Tower and Ruairí Óg Cushendall)
13 Finn Turpin (St Patrick’s Downpatrick and St Patrick’s Portaferrry)
14 James Clarke (Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock and St Joseph’s Ballycran)
15 Oisin Coulter (St Patrick’s Downpatrick and Ballygalget Mitchel’s)

December 17, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Fund raising event in memory of Darrly Heatley raised £8,170 for the heart charity C.R.Y.

This week Oonagh and the Heatley family handed over a cheque for £8,170 to the heart charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), proceeds of the highly successful Cycle/Walk/Run held in memory of Darryl Heatley at Tir na nÓg Randalstown on October 28^th.

Tragically Darryl died suddenly in 2018, aged just 39, and as his death was Cardiac related his widow Oonagh and the Heatley family decided that CRY Screening would be a worthy recipient for the funds raised at the October event.

Darryl was a club member and former player of Tir na Óg GAC but also supported coaching in his neighbouring club Kickhams Creggan GAC. He was held in high esteem in the local community as was evidenced by the fantastic turn-out of over 500 at the fund raising event in his memory, which was held on what would have been his 40^th birthday.

Oonagh and the Heatley/Kearney families wish to express their thanks to everyone who supported this initiative by either participating, donating money or their time by volunteering during the event.

C.R.Y. has confirmed that screening has been secured for the Tir na nÓg club for the 2020 season. Dates for these screening will be announced in due course.