Above – The captains of the nine Ulster counties with Ulster President Oliver Galligan and Terry McCrudden of sponsors Bank of Ireland. Pic by John Merry
Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Draw
The
official competition launch and draw for the 2020 Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna
Cup took place on Wednesday 4th December at Riddel Hall, Belfast.
Players and
officials from each of the competing nine counties attended the draw along with
a large media presence.
The draw
was conducted by Ulster GAA President Oliver Galligan and Terry McCrudden, on
behalf of competition sponsors Bank of Ireland.
Terry McCrudden of tournament sponsors Bank of Ireland draws his home county out the of the bowl first in Section 2
Oliver
Galligan, Ulster GAA President commented:
“The Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup gives our county teams the
opportunity to get back to much needed competitive action ahead of the National
League.
‘‘Our supporters also enjoy getting back out to follow their teams after
the inter-county off-season. Over 45,000 supporters attended our games last December
and January and we expect another series of exciting matches in the 2020 competition.”
The three groups in this year’s McKenna Cup
Terry McCrudden, Regional Manager, Bank of Ireland added: “We’re delighted to sponsor the Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup for another year and see our partnership continue to go from strength to strength. Our purpose as a Bank is to help our customers, colleagues and communities to thrive, and so we recognise the importance of supporting everyone involved in making a competition like this so successful. We’re looking forward to another exciting season of competition fixtures between the Counties. We wish everyone taking part the very best of luck!”
At the end of the evening we spoke to Antrim captain Declan Lynch
Penalty shoot-outs have been a hot topic amongst GAA followers this championship season and North Belfast club Ardoyne Kickhams GAC hosted a shoot-out with a difference last week to raise awareness of mental health issues.
It was an Antrim versus Down affair at Fennell Park as Lamh Dhearg’s John Finucane and Chris Hazzard of St Colman’s, Drumaness took turns between the posts to try and stop spot kicks from club members as well as sporting stars such as Saffron football captain Declan Lynch, Olympic boxing medallist Paddy Barnes and Cliftonville’s FC’s Joe Gormley.
The event was organised in conjunction with Mindskills Training, an organisation that works to prevent suicide and raise awareness of mental health issues.
“GAA players are known for being physically fit but the message from the day is that being healthy doesn’t just mean physical health, we must look after our mental health too. Both elements play a part in our wellbeing,” said Ardoyne Kickhams Chairman Philip McTaggart, who is also a trainer with Mindskills.
“Mental health issues can affect anyone but services receive just 0.2 per cent of the health budget. It is everyone’s interest to talk about it and I would encourage all GAA clubs to start the conversation, particularly with their young members about who they can talk to if they are having any issues.”
Antrim Gaels figured strongly in last weekend’s
awards ceremonies with a host of players and officials picking up prestigious accolades.
At the Ulster President’s Awards inner in the Canal
Court in Newry there was a double for the Cunning cousins from Dunloy with
Conal receiving the Ulster Hurler of the Year award with his cousin Colum
receiving his award for refereeing the Joe McDonagh Hurling final between Laois
and Westmeath.
Conal Cunning from Dunloy received the Ulster Hurler of the Year award
The Antrim team who won the All Ireland Under 21 Football
title back in 1969 received a Special Recognition award for what was Antrim GAA’s
greatest ever achievement while Sean McManus of Rossa received a Club Coaching
award.
Gerry McCann picked up the award on behalf of the Antrim Under 21 All Ireland winning team of 1969
Colum Cunning received the award for refereeing the Joe McDonagh Cup final
On Saturday afternoon Ulster Camogie held their
awards ceremony in the Armagh City Hotel. Noreen Graham of Ahoghill picked up
the Bridie McMemamin Shield Player of the Year award for her part in the St
Mary’s side’s great Ulster success. Brona McIntyre of Loughgiel received the
award for Best County Final Match Programme for her brilliant design and publication.
Seamus McAleenan, a regular contributor to the Saffron Gael, was awarded the PRO
of the Year trophy while Kathryn Bradley of St John;s Carnlough received the
Chairperson’s Award for her great work with the Ulster council.
Above – Alex Delargy scores the second of his two first half goals in Tuesday evening’s McGurk Cup win over Armagh
Conor McGurk Cup – Section A
Antrim 3-19 Armagh 1-14
Tuesday December 3
Brendan McTaggart
reports from the Dub, Belfast
Antrim got their
McGurk Cup campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday night with a
comprehensive win over Armagh in the Dub.
It wasn’t quite the night the Saffrons had in mind though as they had to
play for 65 minutes of the match with a man less after the early dismissal of
Gerard Walsh but like last Saturday, Antrim were slick all over the field in
the opening half. 10 different scorers
and a defence rarely looked like conceding a goal, the Orchard County’s major
coming midway through the second half and a superb piece of skill from
substitute Ruairi Convery.
A brace of first half
goals from Alex Delargy along with a man of the match performance from
clubmate, Paddy Burke helped Antrim to an 11 point win over a dogged Armagh
side. Dan McCloskey, Eoin O’Neill,
Phelim Duffin and Domhnall Nugent all shone in the Saffron shirt with Niall
McKenna producing another impressive performance when introduced in the second
half.
Dommhal Nugent who gave another fine display at full-forward
Showing nine changes from the team that disposed of Meath with ease three days previous, Antrim started well with Conor Johnston firing over his first of five points for the match before Nugent doubled their advantage soon after. The Saffrons were stopped in their tracks when Walsh was red carded. They continued with their good start however and led by five points before Nathan Curry opened Armagh’s account in the eighth minute.
Antrim held a three
point lead when Delargy scored his first goal of the evening. A long puck out from Conor McAllister was
gathered by Nugent and he laid the sliotar into the path of Del who made no
mistake after 11 minutes.
Further scores from
Conor Johnston, O’Neill, James McNaughton and James O’Connell took the Antrim
lead to double figures with five minutes of the half remaining and while Dean
Gaffney (free) and Danny Magee responded for Armagh, Antrim and Delargy had the
final say of the half.
A long ball to the
heart of the Armagh defence and Nugent was under the dropping sliotar,
instructing Delargy to stay down, the St Johns man flicked the ball into his
path and Delargy finished emphatically.
An O’Connell point soon after left the Saffrons leading 2-11 to 0-5 at
the interval.
A 12 point lead and
another solid performance, this time with 14 men and Antrim controlled the
second half – just as they did against Meath.
Armagh rallied after the restart and hit four points unanswered with
Donnelly (three) and Magee but while the Saffrons were misfiring after the
interval, they never looked like yielding the advantage they earned in the first
half.
Further scores from substitutes Niall McKenna and Ryan McCambridge along with Conor Johnston opened a ten point lead before Armagh hit the score of the game. Devlin intercepting a pass before sending the sliotar high towards Convery on the edge of the square. The former Derry start doubled one handed overhead and caught the sliotar in perfectly in mid air to send it flying past McAllister to give his side a glimmer of hope for the 17 minutes that remained.
Conor Johnston grabs and Antrim score during the first half
Antrim remained composed however and with McKenna, Michael Bradley and Conor Johnston all adding further scores in response to McGuinness, Convery, Magee and Gaffney, the Saffrons led by eight before they scored their third goal in injury time. Conor Johnston with an impish move along the end line before sending the sliotar across the goal where Armagh full back Ciaran Clifford deflected the sliotar and wrong-footed Woods between the sticks.
A comfortable victory
for Antrim who now turn their thoughts to Saturday and a meeting with Wicklow
at Abbotstown as they continue their Kehoe Cup campaign.
James McNaughton solos up the sideline
TEAMS
ANTRIM: C McAllister; P Duffin, Ciaran Johnston, P
Burke; R Molloy, TT Butler, G Walsh; D McCloskey (0-1), N McKeague; J
McNaughton (0-1), Conor Johnston (1-5, 2 frees), J O’Connell (0-3); A Delargy
(2-0), D Nugent (0-1), E O’Neill (0-2). Subs: S Rooney for TT Butler
(ht), M Bradley (0-2) for D Nugent (ht), N McKenna (0-3, 1 65) for E O’Neill
(49), R McCambridge (0-1) for J O’Connell (52), M Donnelly for N McKeague (60).
ARMAGH: F Woods; P Quinn, C Clifford, G McKeown; B
Short, S Renaghan, C Devlin; F Donnelly (0-2, 1 65), P McBride; E McGuinness
(0-4), N Curry (0-1), T O’Neill; M McClatchey, D Gaffney (0-3 frees), D Magee
(0-3). Subs: K McKernan for B Short (8), R Convery (1-1) for M
McClatchey (20), O Keenan for T O’Neill (55), D Grant for D Gaffney (60), O
McCann for E McGuinness (68).
REFEREE: Colin Murray (Down)
Antrim manager Darren Gleeson gives his veiws on Tuesday evening’s game
