Year / 2019

by thesaffrongael

Lamh Dhearg juvenile awards

Lamhs holds 35th annual juvenile presentation at Devenish Complex

By Kevin Herron

The Devenish ballroom hosted Lámh Dhearg’s 35th annual juvenile presentation on Saturday 16th of November .

Guest speaker for the evening was Paula O’Hagan, captain of Clonduff All-Ireland intermediate winning camogie side. Paula delivered an inspirational address to all gathered for the evening.

Senior footballer and Antrim forward Kevin Quinn was also in attendance to help hand out awards on the evening and senior football captain and Lord Major John Finucane was also able to make a late appearance – having switched on the Christmas tree lights at Belfast City Hall.

Sean McIlhatton updated players and parents on plans for the new second pitch. This week the money raised to date has broken £100,000 .

Guest’s Paula and Kevin handed out individual and team honours on the evening.

Congratulations to all recipients:

Hurling:

U-10 Hurler of the Year – Matthew Murray & Oisin McLaren

U-12 Most improved Hurler – Mark McGinley

U-12 Hurler of the Year – Conor McConville

U-14 Coca-Cola Perpetual Trophy Award – Sean McCarthy

U-14 Most improved Hurler – Corey Camlin

U-14 Hurler of the Year & Féile Skills award – Donal Martin

U-16 Most improved player – Aidan Morrow

U-16 Hurler of the Year – Michael Braniff

Camogie:

U-10 Most improved Camog – Katie Flynn

U-10 Camog of the Year – Aoife Craig

U-12 Most improved Camog – Catriona Doran

U-12 Camog of the Year – Jodie Peoples

U-14 Most improved Camog – Carly Lowe

U-14 Camog of the Year – Ciara Maguire

U-16 Most improved Camog – Roise Cunningham

U-16 Camog of the Year – Isla Annett

Girls football:

U-10 Girls Most Improved Player – Eimear McCambridge

U-10 Girls Player of the Year – Aoife Craig

U-12 Girls Most Improved Player – Aoife Fitzsimons

U-12 Girls Player of the Year – Lauren Smyth

U-14 Girls Most Improved Player – Aimee Owens

U-14 Girls Player of the Year – Isla Annett

U-16 Girls Player of the Year – Raicheal Mulholland & Robyn Murray

Boys football:

U-10 Boys Most Improved Player – Tiernan Lee

U-10 Boys Footballer of the Year – Dylan Fegan

U-12 Boys Most Improved Footballer of the Year – Joseph Cleland

U-12 Boys Footballer of the Year – Ronan Webb

U-14 Boys Most Improved Football of the Year – Conall McGarry

U-14 Boys Footballer of the Year – Declan Young

U-16 Boys Most Improved Footballer of the Year – Matthew O’Boyle

U-16 Boys Footballer of the Year- Niall McGarry

Individual awards:

Diarmuid Frazer Memorial Cup – Dylan Fegan

Youth Culture Award – Aoife Fitzsimons

Charlie Smyth Award for Most Overall Improved Player – Erin Craddock

Sam McGarry Award for Outstanding Commitment and Desire – The Gaisce Volunteers

& mentor Damo McGuigan

Davy McGarry Award for Youth Personality of the Year – Tiernach Fegan

Special thanks to everyone who helped organise the evening and donate prizes for the ballot and thank you the staff at the Devenish Complex

Creggan Christmas Party 2019
by itisconor

Kickhams Creggan GAC and Creggan Primary School Christmas Party

On Sunday 15th December from 10.30am to 1.30pm, Kickhams GAC and Creggan Primary School hold the Annual joint club and school Christmas Party event. This year all parents, grandparents, guardians, aunts, uncles, friends, sisters, brothers, cousins and guests have been asked to please join them.

During the event, Santas Grotto will be in place, coffee & cake will be available and if you want to pick up some playing or leisure wear for yourself or for a child, the GAA Swap shop is returning for another year.

Santa will be prepping his book in the grotto and his elves will be ready with the coffee and cake. Join in on the festive community craic, its always a fantastic event.

All your support is greatly appreciated and they look forward to welcoming you all to the Primary School on Sunday.

Swap Shop 2

The Swap Shop is returning after its success last year at the Annual joint Christmas Party Event. All funds donated will go straight to the Saffron Gael providing extensive coverage of GAA, events and much much more for all local communities across Antrim and they want to show their support and appreciation by doing their part to help maintain their status and help them with running costs.

Swap Shop 2 is for trading or swapping old or unused gear that can go to another local family with young children starting to play or practice for 2020.

Look in your house and if you can swap or trade any of these items then please bag them and bring them along: boots, gloves, socks, shorts, jerseys, helmets, trainers, hurling & camogie sticks, hats, scarves, jackets, skinnies, hoodies, Thermals, playing balls and anything else that may be unused or you think could benefit another family or child this Christmas and new year.

If you’ve any questions contact Conor by email pro.creggankickhams.antrim[at]gaa.ie

by thesaffrongael

Pat Battler Mullaney RIP

By Dennis O’Hara

PAT ‘Battler’ Mullaney, one of Antrim and Ulster’s most accomplished hurlers, died last weekend.

The stylish forward also campaigned with distinction with the Belfast Rossa GAC.

He belonged to a ‘Golden Age’ of hurling – during the 1950’s and early 1960’s – and was a key performer for a rampant Rossa side that was the first team to clinch four successive Antrim Senior Hurling Championships, the opener in 1956. The fabulous formation also paraded the uniquely gifted dual county and provincial star, Seamus ‘Stout’ McDonald.

The legendary Mullaney was involved in some notable county conflicts, an era that included players such as Kevin Armstrong, Seamus Gallagher, Billy Feeney, Robbie and Brendan Elliott, Brendan ‘The Bear’ Donnelly, Bobby McMullan, Dessie Cormican, Paddy Morgan and Johnny Coyle.

One of the outstanding victories during which Mullaney produced inspired stick work was the NHL 7-4 to 5-5 win against mighty Kilkenny at Corrigan Park in 1953. ‘Battler’ was also heavily involved in Antrim’s win of the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship of 1959.

The death of Pat Mullaney, once a competent and competitive amateur golfer at the Balmoral and Ballycastle Clubs, followed the recent passing of another ex-Antrim hurler of the 1950’s – Pat Flynn of Belfast Patrick Sarsfields.

by thesaffrongael

Silverbridge pay the penalty as Termon advance

FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament (Preliminary Round)

Termon (Donegal) 1-10 Silverbridge (Armagh) 0-6

This preliminary round of the St. Paul’s tournament, played at Colaiste Feirste  saw a good Termon of Donegal overcome the challenge of Silverbridge of Armagh to advance to the quarter-final where they will face Emmyvale of Monaghan next Sunday, 15th December. 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.

After the break McFadden was offered the opportunity to increase the Termon lead from the same scenario but this time the Silverbridge keeper dived full length to his left to make an excellent save and deny the Termon man.

It had little influence on the result however and in a low scoring second half Termon outscored Silverbridge 0-3 to 0-2 and on this showing will fancy their chances of giving the fonaCAB tournament a real rattle.

by thesaffrongael

Kilcoo open with a win at St. Paul’s

fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament quarter-final

Kilcoo 3-6

Killyclogher 1-4

Kilcoo minors took the first step in matching the achievement of their senior side when they proved too good for a battling Killyclogher in the opening game of the St. Paul’s minor tournament at Shaw’s Road today.

In a game that took some time to come to life, first half goals from Jimmy Magee and two from man of the match, Justin Clarke put the Magpies in a commanding position at the break but Killyclogher grabbed a lifeline in the final moments of the half with Oran Toal intercepting a stray pass and playing in Potter who fired to the net.

Justin Clarke was outstanding for the Mourne side throughout as his side controlled the opening half and had a lot of the hard work done by the half way stage. The Tyrone side will rue the concession of those first half goals however with the second and third the result of poor defending and when Gavin Potter was sent off two minutes after the restart it was always going to be a big ask for the Tyrone side.

This game took a while to come to life with Justin Clarke getting the winners off the mark with a point from a 12th minute free. Both sides had wasted opportunities prior to this score, but Kilcoo were off target with a couple of efforts, while Killyclogher dropped several short when playing into the breeze.

Clarke added another with an excellent point from play before Porter opened Killyclogher’s account as he cut in from the left before firing over.

It was the Down champions who began to take command of matters at this stage as Shealan Johnston sent an excellent hand pass over the Killyclogher defence to free Jamie McKee and McKee fired confidently to the Killyclogher net for the game’s opening goal.

Mark Hayes for the Tyrone champions and Justin Clarke traded points before Clarke reacted quickly when his side were awarded a free and as the opposition defence switched off he sent his shot from 20 meters past Oran Grimes in the Killyclogher goals.

Killyclogher responded through a Potter point at the other end but Kilcoo struck with their third goal with three minutes remaining to the break when Clarke gathered a misplaced kickout by Grimes and his low shot across goal deflected off the far post and into the netand with a three-goal cushion, it was looking good for the Down champions,

Grimes redeemed himself when he got his fingers to a screamer from Clarke to tip over just before half time to leave Kilcoo leading 3-4 to 1-3 at the short whistle.

With the wind behind them seven points didn’t look an unassailable lead but in an early altercation Kilcoo’s Jack Devlin was booked and before play restarted Potter received his marching orders for the Tyrone men after McCusker went down injured.

What already looked a difficult task for Killyclougher had become a much tougher task and despite their best efforts they never really looked like getting back into contention in a very low scoring second half.

Justin Clarke got Kilcoo on their way with a pointed free in the 40th minute and while Joe McGurk responded with a good point, a Shealan Johnston free on 44 minutes for KIlcoo was to prove the final score of the game.

KIllyclogher went searching for goals but Michael Rafferty’s shot sailed just wide of the post and that was as close as they got to the goal that might have reignited their challenge.

Luke Clarke was issued a black cark in stoppage time to add to his previous yellow with this upgraded to red but it had no effect on the final outcome and it is Kilcooo who now go forward to the semi-final.

Kilcoo: A Curran; C Rogers, T Fettes, C Madine; L Clarke, A Morgan, M Hynes; N Doyle, R Tumelty; J Morgan, S Johnston (0-1 free), J Devlin; J Clarke (1-5, 1-3 frees), S McCusker (1-0), J McKee (1-0).

Killyclogher: O Grimes; C Conway, J McSorley, M Devlin; M Rafferty, J Rafferty, O McGettigan; O McCann, D Monaghan; B Quinn, O Toal, J McGurk (0-1); G Potter (1-2), M Hayes (0-1 free), L Higgins. Subs: C O’Hagan for O McGettigan (HT), P Corcoran for B Quinn (44).

Referee: Brendan Toland (Antrim)