December 14, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Lavey get over Drumloman hurdle

St Paul’s FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Championship quarter-final

Erin’s Own, Lavey 1-16-0-11 Drumloman Gaels, Cavan

From Kevin Herron at Colaiste Feirste

Derry champions Lavey booked their place in next Sunday’s semi-final of the St Paul’s FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Championship after seeing off Cavan champions Drumloman Gaels 1-16-0-11 in this afternoon’s quarter-final at Colaiste Feirste.

Lavey were strongly fancied to progress to the last four but were made to work hard for victory as Drumloman made the faster start and led through early scores from Cormac McKeogh and Matthew McGahern (free).

It took Lavey until the midway point in the opening half to respond through a Matthew Downey free and the corner-forward levelled proceedings from the same scenario on 17 minutes.

McGahern and James McGurk traded further scores but Drumloman again opened up a two-point advantage. Cormac McKeogh cut inside and curled over his second point and McGahern converted his third free of the half to give the Cavan champions a 0-05-0-03 lead.

But Lavey hit back for a second time through a third free from Matthew Downey and a straightforward point from cousin Enda.

Matthew McGahern nudged his side ahead for the forth time in first-half injury-time but Matthew Downey responded as both sides tallismen ended the half with 0-04 from the placed ball and the sides were drawn level at 0-06 apiece.

Lavey hit the front for the first time through a Jamie Duggan point early in the second-half and four further scores followed as the Derry champions began to flex their muscles.

Matthew Downey played the providers role in the next score as Ryan McGill steered the ball over, while cousin Calum Downey engineered a fine score.

Calum’s brother Enda would convert back to back frees to give his side a 0-11-0-06 lead approaching the final quarter.

It took Drumloman until the 46^th minute to finally respond and claim their first score of the second-half through Dara Sheridan.

But at the other end a fantastic team move saw James McGurk combine with namesake Patrick and Rory McGill finished with a fine point to double his tally.

With 13 minutes on the clock Lavey had the chance to secure victory as James McGurk bore down on goal and just as he was about to pull the trigger the Lavey number 12 was felled by Ben Tierney and referee Kieran Eannetta had no hesitation in signalling for a penalty and black-carding Tierney.

Matthew Downey seized responsibility for the kick but passed up the opportunity, blazing a low effort wide of Declan Goldrick’s goal as Drumloman Gaels were let off the hook.

The Cavan side grew in confidence and back to back points from McGahern (free) and Ryan O’Reilly cut the deficit to three with little under ten minutes remaining (0-12-0-09).

The sides traded further scores through Jamie Duggan and O’Reilly before Lavey squandered a further goal chance through Rory McGill. McGill wriggled free of danger and shot low at Declan Goldrick but the Drumloman shot stopper was equal to the effort.

With two minutes remaining Dara Sheridan popped the ball over on the turn to make it a two-point game.

That was to be as close as Drumloman would come however as Lavey saw the game out in time added on.

Matthew Downey added to his four converted first-half frees with two late points from play, sandwiched between a third converted free from cousin Enda Downey.

Matthew then atoned for his earlier penalty- finding the net with the final kick of the game. The move began with Lavey having some defending to do, but Rory McGill burst away from danger and his high lopping ball was intercepted by Downey who shot low past Goldrick to give his side a 1-16-0-11 victory at the conclusion.

Lavey must wait until the conclusion of tomorrow’s quarter-final clash between Cargin and Eniskillen Gaels to see who they will meet in next Sunday’s last four clash on the Shaws Road.

Lavey: J Scullion, J Duggan, S O’Neill, S Melaugh, N Duggan, R Farrell, Ryan McGill (0-01), C Collins, J Duggan (0-02), P McGurk, J McGurk (0-01), Rory McGill (0-01), C Downey (0-02), E Downey (0-03f), M Downey (1-06, 0-04f).

Drumloman Gaels: D Goldrick, B Tierney, J O’Reilly, T Harten, A Briody, C McKeogh (0-02), D Sheils, L Corr, C O’Reilly, R O’Reilly (0-02), D Sheridan (0-02), P Devine, C Coyle, M McGahern (0-05f), J Coyle.

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Omagh).

December 13, 2019 by thesaffrongael

St. Paul’s-fonaCAB Tournament continues on Saturday

Erins Own Lavey v Drumloman Gaels (Colaiste Feirste-Saturday 4-00 pm)

The action in the St. Paul’s-fonaCAB Ulster Minor Club football championship continues tomorrow (Saturday) when Derry champions, Erin’s Own Lavey face Drumloman Gaels of Cavan at Colaiste Feirste. The tournament has thrown up a couple of excellent games to date with a strong Kilcoo of Down already through to the Boxing Day semi-final and the Derry and Cavan champions hoping to join them after tomorrow’s game.

Erin’s Own Cargin v Enniskillen Gaels Fermanagh (St. Paul’s- Sunday 1-00pm)

Sunday is sure to see a big crowd make their way to Shaw’s Road where Antrim champions Cargin take on Enniskillen Gaels. The Toome side were very impressive in their county final win over St. Brigid’s but the jury is still out on the Cargin lads who turned in a number of indifferent performances during their league campaign.

Erin’s Own suffered defeats to All Saints, Tir na nOg, St. Brigid’s, Aldergrove, Kickham’s Creggan and Padraig Sarsfield’s in a poor league campaign but were a completely rejuvenated side when the championship came around.

They began their championship journey when they travelled to the Bear Pit and reversed that league defeat with a good 1-10 to 1-6 win over Sarsfields and that seemed to give the side confidence and a belief in themselves.

St. Gall’s were their semi-final opponents at Lamh Dhearg, the Milltown side had caused an upset by defeating Aldergrove in the semi-final but never the less were installed as favourites against the Toome side.

Cargin had been putting in a lot of work however under the guidance of Brian McCann, Paddy McCann and Darren Craig and carried their recent improvement into that semi-final, emerging 1-10 to 0-10 winners to book a place in the final against St. Brigid’s.

Darren Craig, Patrick McCann and Brian McCann, hoping to lead Cargin to victory over Enniskillen Gaels at St. Paul’s on Sunday

Twenty four points had separated the sides when they met in the league at Musgrave Park and St. Brigid’s semi-final victory over Aldergrove had installed them as the firmest of favourites to lift the Minor title but Cargin hadn’t read the script.

The Toome lads came flying out of the starting blocks to produce a high octane performance that their opponents quite simply couldn’t match and inspired by a master-class from mid-fielder Pat Shivers they ran out deserving winners.

It proved to be a great day for Erin’s Own with Shiver’s going on to play his part as their seniors took the Senior championship title after a replay against Lamh Dhearg and Paddy McCann, Brian McCann and Darren Craig will be hoping to carry that momentum into Sunday’s game.

Their opponents, Enniskillen Gaels are previous winners of the St. Paul’s tournament and serial winners in Fermanagh but are an unknown quantity going into Sunday’s game though I would expect the Cargin management to have done their homework on the Erne champions.

The Antrim champions will bring a big support with them on Sunday and if the game is tight they could prove to be the Cargin’s ‘16^th man’ and if they can reproduce their Antrim final form then they are capable of advancing to the semi-final.

Termon- Donegal v Emmyvale-Monaghan (Colaiste Feirste-Sunday 4-00pm)

Donegal champions, Termon make the long journey back to Belfast on Sunday following last week’s win over Silverbridge of Armagh at Colaiste Feirste in a preliminary round game of the fonaCAB-St. Paul’s Ulster Minor club championship.

Their opponents on Sunday, Emmyvale of Monaghan make their bow in the tournament and last week’s successful outing for Termon and an impressive win, may see them start this one as favourites

The Tir Connaill champions had it mostly their own way throughout though they did survive a mighty goalmouth scramble.

The Donegal side led 0-6 to 0-2 after 15 minutes and a goal from the penalty spot from Ryan McFadden saw them push on to a commanding 1-7 to 0-4 lead at the halfway stage and they were good value for that lead.

Despite missing a second penalty Termon pushed on to win fairly comfortably though they are likely to face a stiffer test against the Monaghan champions Emmyvale who played their football in Monaghan at U17 level, winning both league and championship.

The semi-finals will be played on Sunday December 22nd and Thursday 26th December (Boxing Day) with the final again fixed for New Year’s Day, with all three played at St Paul’s

December 13, 2019December 13, 2019 by thesaffrongael

St Louis end CPC’s reign as Ulster champions

Ulster Colleges Camogie – Corn Uan Uladh semi-final

St Louis Ballymena 1-9 Cross & Passion Ballycastle 1-5

ST Louis Ballymena ended Cross & Passion’s three year rein as Ulster Colleges Senior Camogie champions at Ahoghill on Friday evening when the battled back from a goal behind ten minutes into the second half to outscore their North Antrim rivals by 1-5 to no score in the final ten minutes to book their place in the final.

The holders held a slender 0-5 to 0-4 half time lead after a hard fought first half, but the Kentullagh girls were back on terms early in the second half. CPC hit back with a brilliant individual goal from Nuala Devlin and it appeared they had taken a grip on the game, but incredibly they would not raise another flag for the remaining twenty minutes, plus almost nine of injury time as the St Louis defence took control. The Ballymena school was soon level when Caoimhe Molloy blasted a twenty metre free low to the CPC net and they went on to add four more without reply to seal the win.

In bitterly cold conditions both teams struggled to put together any flowing passages of play and it was down to the free takers to step up the mark in a hard hitting contest. Riana McBride hit four for CPC while Maura Downey was on the mark for St Louis to keep things tied at 4 apiece and it took a point from Annie Lynn, the only score from play in the half, to give the Ballycastle school a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the break.

After Caitlin Crawford brought St Louis level early in the second half Nuala Devlin’s goal gave CPC back the lead, and with the scores hard to come by they must have felt they were in a strong position. However they got no time to enjoy their advantage as less than two minutes later Caoimhe Molloy fired her free to the net. The momentum had now swung in St Louis favour and with midfielder Bronagh Laverty and centre forward Emma Louise McAreavey surging forward at every opportunity they challengers got on top. Caoimhe Molloy added two points to give them a cushion before Downey and Crawford added the insurance scores to see their team through to their third final in a row where they will meet the winners of next week’s second semi-final between St Pat’s Maghera and St Mary’s Magherafelt.

Cross and Passion : Nuala Devlin (1-0), Riana McBride (0-4 frees), Annie Lynn (0-1)

St Louis : Caoimhe Molloy (1-2 frees), Maura Downey (0-5, 0-4 frees), Caitlin Crawford (0-2)

Referee: Owen Elliott

St Louis – Orlagh Convery, Maeve Mulholland, Brigid Delargy, Laura McAleese, Katie Molloy, Eimear McMullan, Sarah McIlhatton, Bronagh Laverty, Aoibhinn McCluskey, Caitlin Crawford, Emma-Louise McAreavey, Caoimhe Molloy, Aimee Traynor, Maura Downey, Kyra Doherty

Subs – Mary McKillen for Aoibhinn McCloskey

CPC – Becky Ellis, Orlagh Laverty, Megan McGarry, Bríd Magill, Fiounnuala Toner, Katie Laverty, Enya McShane, Aine Magill, Ciara Laverty, Nuala Devlin, Caitlin Heggarty, Annie Lynn, Rianna McBride, Cassie McArthur, Clodagh O’Kane.

Subs – Aiobhann Donnelly for Becky Ellis; Faye McIntosh for Clodagh O’Kane; Bronagh Magill for Fionnuala Toner.

Referee – Owen Elliott (All Saints)

December 12, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Geraldines Camogie Club Christmas Fair

December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel Shamrocks Juvenile Awards

Loughgiel Shamrocks held their juvenile presentation awards in the Millennium Centre last weekend where the young teams who have won honours for the club this season received their trophies. Top of the list was the Under 14 hurling and camogie teams who completed the Feile na nGael double in both North Antrim and All County. Hadning out the awards were senior hurling and camogie stars Liam Watson, Eddie McCloskey, Lucia McNaughton and Clare McKillop

Pics by Enda Casey