Year / 2019

by thesaffrongael

Rossa advance to Semi Final with victory over All Saints

U16A Football Championship quarter-final

Rossa 2.9 All Saints 2.8

A keenly contested Quarter Final between the 2 championship favourites with both sides displaying quality football and maturity at times that bellied their youthful years.  These 2 sides contested the u.14 county Feile title 2 years earlier with Rossa emerging victorious. 

The first half began with All saints dominating possession for long spells but found a resolute Rossa defence difficult to break down.  Rossa played with 13 men behind the ball and utilising a 2 man full forward line with Liam Carr a useful target man. Albeit he was well marshalled by the impressive Patrick Ferris. Rossa looking a threat on counter attack. 

The game was largely played in the Rossa half in the first half and All Saints scored a fortuitous goal from Ciaran Campbell that was misjudged by the Rossa Keeper.

Shaun O Callaghan and Tyrone Mitchell dominated the midfield battle with some clever use of possession and defensive cover.

After 15 mins of the first half, All Saints led by 1.3 to 2 points.  Rossa then scored 3 points in a row with Barra McCaffrey impressive from frees. This was followed by a goal with Rossa from Michael Mc Dade leaving the score 1.3 to 1.5 Rossa.  All saints continued to press as half drew to a close with 3 unanswered points to lead at the break by the narrowest of margins 1.6 to 1.5.  

As the 2nd half commenced, Rossa got the first 2 scores of the half to take a 1 point lead.  There were some good passages of play and the decent size crowd were enthralled by the ebb and flow of the game. Each side exchanged a point apiece to leave Rossa 1 point up. 

All saints continued to probe via the industrious and hard working Ronan McKillop.  A cross field pass by Ciaran Campbell was punched to the net by Jamie Montgomery to leave All Saints leading by 2 points with 7 minutes to go.

As the clock wound down, Rossa closed the gap to a one point game with just over 1 minute to go.  Rossa produced an excellent counter attacking move with a break from half back ending with midfielder Rairi Murray placing a low shot into the corner of the net to take a 2 point lead as game drew to a close.

All saints continued to chase the game and worked a couple of scoring chances, Oisin O Mullin had a screamer of a shot destined for the roof of net, saved and tipped over the bar by the Rossa keeper.  This left the minimum margin of 1 point between the teams.  All saints won primary possession again from the kick out but couldn’t register a score on the board.  Rossa holding on for a one point victory on a scoreline of 2.9 to 2.8.

This was a keenly contested game by 2 excellent sides who both gave their absolute all.  The work rate and effort of both teams was exceptional with some talent on show.

Standout performers for both sides were Shaun O Callaghan, Ronan Mc Killop, Patrick Ferris and Richard Mc Cann on the All saints side with Barra McCaffrey, Patrick Moyes, Owen Trainor, Rory Murray, Liam Carr and Michael McDade all impressing for the victors.

With nothing between these teams, Rossa advance to the next round where they will face a good Cargin side.  

All Saints Team: Daniel McCoy, Jude Casey, Patrick Ferris, Paddy O Brien, Ryan Martin, Michael Read, Richard McCann, Shaun O Callaghan, Tyrone Mitchell, Ronan McKillop, Cal O Brien, Jamie Montgomery, Oisin O Mullin, Ciaran Campbell, Joseph O Rawe.

Sub: Ciaron McQuillan for Ryan Martin 45 mins

Not used: Dara Killough, Niall Devine

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks stroll into semi final

Bathshack.com

Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

St Gall’s 0-15 Loughgiel 3-23

Friday August 16

Brendan McTaggart reports from De La Salle Park, Belfast

Loughgiel became the first team to book their place in the semi-finals of the senior hurling championship with a resounding win over St Gall’s on Friday evening.  Two first half goals put the Shamrocks in control, Eddie McCloskey and Shay Casey finding the back of Kurtis McGreevy’s net after a close opening to the match with St Galls matching their opponents score for score.  Jackson McGreevy from placed ball and Kieron McGourty prominent throughout the first half.  But a late scoring burst and a goal from Shan McGrath at the death added gloss to the score line

Loughgiel turned the screw in the second half and began to stretch their lead with man of the match Mark McFadden hugely influential while the Shamrock defence didn’t give St Galls an inch.  They held St Galls to just five points after the interval, all from Jackson McGreevy while James McNaughton top scored for the north Antrim men with 0-7 (four frees) over the hour.  The most notable stat from Friday evening is the number of men in a red and white shirt who added their name to the list of scorers.  10 different scorers with an impressive 3-18 of their overall tally coming from play in a dominant performance as the Shamrocks advance to the last four ahead of steam.

Loughgiel showed three changes from their win over St John’s with Declan McCloskey, Odhran Laverty and Donal McKinley making the starting 15 while St Galls weren’t at full strength themselves.  Rumours beforehand were rife and the absentees were confirmed with CJ McGourty started on the bench.

The home side made an encouraging start to their opening championship match and went toe to toe with the Shamrocks in the opening quarter.  Karl Stewart, Kieron McGourty and Jackson McGreevy (four frees) finding the required range while Barney McAuley, James McNaughton (two), Mark McFadden (two) and Eddie McCloskey landed points for the Shamrocks as the sides were tied at six points each after 15 minutes.

Loughgiel scored the opening goal of the tie in the 16th minute with Eddie McCloskey firing to the back of the net, Duck McFadden with the assist and it signalled a change of gears for the Loughgiel men.  St Galls responded with Jackson McGreevy (free) and Kieron McGourty but McNaughton (free) opened a two point lead before Shay Casey scored their second goal in the 22nd minute.  Callum McKendry’s initial shot saved by Kurtis McGreevy but Casey was first to the loose sliotar and made no mistake to put the Shamrocks in control. 

McNaughton and Eoghan Farrelly swapped scores in the 25th minute but Loughgiel finished the half on top. A brace of frees from McNaughton with McAuley and Donal McKinley also splitting the posts left the Shamrocks eight points ahead at the interval.

The late scoring burst gave Loughgiel the cushion they needed to control the tie and after a sedate start to the second half, they began to find their range once more.  Odhran Laverty, Casey, substitute Shan McGrath and McAuley splitting the uprights while the home side responded with four points (three frees) from Jackson McGreevy in the same period to leave nine between the sides going into the final quarter.  The Galls man took his personal tally to 0-11 for the match in the 51st minute but Loughgiel went through the gears in the time that remained.  They maintained their intensity and were unyielding with their attacking play in the closing stages.  Crisp passing, direct ball, cross field passes and all with intensity, Loughgiel went through their array of hurling prowess in the final ten minutes.  McGrath and Odhran McFadden along with substitute Odhran McMullan took the Loughgiel lead to 12 points before Casey took his tally to 1-2 for the match.

The third Loughgiel goal came in the last minute of normal time, McGrath also taking his tally to 1-2.  Collecting a long ball, he was initially hooked by Joe McDaniels but he collected the loose sliotar and fired a rasping drive to the bottom corner.  James McNaughton rounded off the scoring in injury time with his seventh white flag of the match as the Shamrocks booked their spot in the last four with 17 points to spare.

The last five minutes of the first half and those closing stages of the game proved to be the difference.  St Galls battled impressively between times and maybe the score line gives an unfair reflection of what they brought to the game on Friday evening.  Defensively they were disciplined but the Shamrocks had too many threats all over the pitch.  The visitors curtailed the influence of Kieron McGourty in the second half while Gregory McGreevy and Anthony Healy never stopped in the engine room.  The Loughgiel defence was once again on top form, not conceding from open play in the second half while Donal McKinley and Mark McFadden complemented each other well in the first half and gives them another option going forward but as it is, Loughgiel roll on and have their sights firmly set on a semi final once again.

TEAMS

St Galls: Kurtis McGreevy; Stephen Morrison, Joe McDaniels, Liam McCluskey; Niall O’Neill, Aodhan Gallagher, Ciaran McCaffrey; Gregory McGreevy, Anthony Healy; Karl Stewart, Kieron McGourty, Jackson McGreevy; Jack Hopkins, Antoin McCaffrey, Eoghan Farrelly.

Subs: Lorcan O’Ciaran for E Farrelly (28); Oran McIlhatton for C McCaffrey (51)

Scorers: Jackson McGreevy 0-11 (10 f’s); Kieron McGourty 0-2; Karl Stewart 0-1; Eoghan Farrelly 0-1.

Loughgiel: Chrissy O’Connell; Declan McCloskey, Tony McCloskey, Ronan McCloskey; Odhran Laverty, Tiernan Coyle, Odhran McFadden; Donal McKinley, Mark McFadden; Barney McAuley, Declan Laverty, Callum McKendry; James McNaughton, Eddie McCloskey, Shay Casey.

Subs: Shan McGrath for D McKinley (HT); Declan Gillan for O Laverty (43); Odhran McMullan for D Laverty (48); Ryan McKee for M McFadden (54); Nicholas McNaughton for B McAuley (59).

Scorers: James McNaughton 0-7 (4 f’s); Eddie McCloskey 1-2; Shay Casey 1-2; Shan McGrath 1-2; Mark McFadden 0-3; Barney McAuley 0-3 (1 f); Odhran McFadden 0-1; Odhran Laverty 0-1; Donal McKinley 0-1; Odhran McMullan 0-1.

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

by thesaffrongael

One way procession as Ahoghill advance to the semi-final

Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final

St. Mary’s Ahoghill 9-30 Ballycastle 0-1

This Junior camogie quarter-final turned into a one-way procession as St. Mary’s Ahoghill proved much too strong for visitors Ballycastle at Cloney tonight. The home side led from start to finish and three goals in the opening seven minutes set the tone for what was to follow.

Catriona Graham got the first after 30 seconds and Noreen Graham added two more as the home side laid siege on the visitors goal. Catriona Graham, Maura Downey and Noreen Graham added a flurry of points as the gallant Ballycastle third string battled bravely to contain the incessant surge towards their goal.

Noreen Graham completed her hat trick by the end of the opening quarter as the Cloney girls continued to carve open an over stretched visitors defence with the strong running Maura Downey striking some excellent points and Louise McNeill in the Ballycastle goals coming to her side’s rescue on a number of occasions.

The Ballycastle captain was left with no chance as the onslaught continued however as Noreen Graham fired home her fourth and her sides fifth goal and by half time the home side had this one well and truly wrapped up when they led 5-18 to 0-1, the Ballycastle score coming from the hard working Beck Ellis who pointed a 23d minute free.

Ahoghill continued to press on the restart with Fiona Blaney and Caitriona Graham driving them forward from mid-field and a strong defence denying Ballycastle any opportunity to add to their first half total.

The superb Maura Downey hammered home goal number six in the second minute of the second half and another from the equally impressive Noreen Graham after five minutes saw Ahoghill move out of sight of their opponents.

Further goals from Aine Graham in the 9th and 10th minutes brought the home side’s tally to nine and the goals dried up after that with the home side content to finish with a flurry of points

Ahoghill go forward to meet Loughgiel in the semi-final and they are likely to face a much stiffer test in that one but it is a challenge Dermot Graham’s side will welcome and on tonight’s showing they shouldn’t fear anyone.

Their defence didn’t have a lot to do over the hour but they dealt competently with anything that came their way while Catriona Graham and Fiona Blaney controlled matters from mid-field. In a very lively attack Maura Downey, Noreen Graham and Aine Graham were the players who provided the greatest threat and the majority of the scores.

Before throw in I overheard the Ballycastle management asking for a big effort throughout and despite the scoreline he got it in bagful’s. Louise McNeill in goals couldn’t be faulted for any of the Ahoghill goals and saved her side from an even bigger hammering while Justine Kelly, Caoimhe Hunter and Laura Neill were best in a defence who worked their socks off.

St. Mary’s Ahoghill: Angela Townsend, Nicola Doherty, Mairead McCloskey, Sinead McKenna, Emma McGlone, Eadaoin McGarry, Tracy Hardy, Catriona Graham, Fiona Blaney, Paula Gribbin, Aine Graham, Maura Downey, Anne Marie O’Neill, Noreen Graham, Ciara McGuigan. Subs: Caitlin McLaughlin, Dearbhaile Graffin, Fionnuala McKeever, Caitlin O’Hagan, Brona McGuigan

Ballycastle: Louise McNeill, Justine Kelly, Sinead McBride, Caoimhe Hunter, Nuala McCaughan, Riona Loufthouse, Laura Neill, Emer O’Neill, Beck Ellis, Louise McNeill, Grainne O’Neill, Ciara Mathers, Briege McCarry, Aideen McGee, Kierna McGinty.

Referee: Jimmy Totten Cargin)

    by thesaffrongael

    Dixon points Glenavy through to next round

    Photographs: Bert Trowlen

    U16B Football Championship

    St Joseph s 2-13 St Endas 2-8

    St Joseph s came out on top of a combative U16 championship game despite a late surge by the Hightown Gaels.

    Darragh Armstrong struck 1-2 and Eoin Dixon top scored with 0-8 as Glenavy withstood a late comeback from the visitors to advance to the next round of the U16B Championship.

    Starting well St Enda’s opened the scoring with a Sean Murray free but then struggled against a packed Glenavy defence.

    A goal after 8 minutes preceded a period of domination that saw St Joseph’s take a commanding lead 1-5 to 0-1 before Sean Murray pointed two frees.

    The half ended 1-5 to 0-3 despite some late pressure from St Enda’s.

    The second half began with a few changes for Enda’s but they failed to make the best of some good possession. St Joseph s continued to score to lead 1-9 to 0-5 after points from Murray and Eoghan OHare  

    Glenavy hit back with another goal before Ryan Kelly and Colm McCabe points gave a glimmer of hope to the men in black and Amber.  

    To their credit the Hightown boys kept working hard despite trailing 2-12 to 0-7 they then mounted a spirited comeback with goals from Aidan Kelly and Saul Sherlock and another point from Ryan Kelly gave them some hope.

    However late points from Glenavy ensured they ran out winners 2-15 to 2-8.

    Glenavy Panel:  Ronan Hill, Matthew McDermott, Michael Fox, Daniel Hamill, Shay O’Neill, Matthew Lawlor, Joseph Mulholland, Finn Malley, Darragh Doherty (0-1), Rory Nelson, Eoin Dixon (0-8,) Fiontan O’Boyle (0-2), Darragh Armstrong (1-2), Caolan McClenaghan, Michael Morgan (1-1), Lewis Collins Niall, Burke, Ruairi Hamill, Eugene Clenaghan.

    St. Enda’s scorers: Sean Murray 0-3 frees, Eoin O’Hare 0-1, Ben O’Reilly 0-1, Ryan Kelly 0-2, Jude Stewart 1-0, Saul Sherlock 1-0