August 16, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Lamhs advance to semi-final

U-16 B Football Championship Quarter-final

Lamh Dhearg 6-13-0-12 St Mary’s Rasharkin

By Kevin Herron at Hannahstown

The old saying that goals win games was certainly applied at Hannahstown as Lamh Dhearg booked their place in the semi-final of the U-16 B Football Championship with a 6-13-0-12 win over Rasharkin.

Lamh Dhearg captain Michael Braniff popped the ball over the bar to give his side the lead, that was eventually doubled by Kieran Fay-Kelly.

The opening goal arrived after five minutes at Hannahstown a blistering strike from Fay-Kelly after some excellent movement in the hosts forward line.

A converted James Higgins free got Rasharkin off the mark – but Kieran Fay-Kelly conjured up his second goal of the evening, rifling past Oisin Johnston after super work from Conall McGuigan and Braniff in the build-up.

Callum Montgomery was the visitors stand-out performer over the course of the 60 minutes and the tall midfielder responded to the Lamhs second goal.

But with little over ten minutes until the break a third Lamhs goal would give the Hannahstown side some breathing space.

Fionn Mervyn gathered the loose ball at the byline and powered his way into a promising position before applying the finish from a tight angle to make it 3-02-0-02.

The sides traded scores through Shea Fegan and James Higgins – though back to back points from Daire McArdle and Aodh Tumelty stretched their sides lead into double figures.

Rasharkin ended the opening period with two excellent scores courtesy of Callum Montgomery and full-back Sean Condron – Michael Braniff claimed his second point of the half in-between as Lamh Dhearg headed in at the interval with the goals of Fay-Kelly and Mervyn separating the sides at 3-06-0-05.

Cormac McMullan closed the deficit upon the games resumption with a well taken point – though Kieran Fay-Kelly clinched his third goal of the evening shortly after.

Lamhs captain Michael Braniff kicked successive points in the aftermath with Kelvin Kelly replying for Rasharkin at the other end.

Braniff (free) and Cormac McMullan exchanged points before the midway point, after which Lamh Dhearg claimed goal number five through Conall McGuigan – a blistering strike that gave Rasharkin keeper Oisin Johnston no chance and made it 5-09-0-08.

The visitors tagged on back to back points through James Higgins and Kelvin Kelly and but for an outstanding save from Rhys Camlin and a scrambled goal-line clearance; would have bagged a couple of consolation goals.

With eight minutes remaining the hosts claimed their sixth goal of the evening, a fine turn and strike from Michael Braniff whose shot crashed off the right hand post and in.

Again Rasharkin replied through John-Paul Hasson and despite Michael Braniff kicking his last score at the other end Kelvin Kelly would end his sides scoring for the evening.

Lamh Dhearg emptied their bench late on with youngsters Evan Stanley and Sean McCarthy (free) registering points in between another from McGuigan and at the conclusion it was the Hannahstown men that claimed their place in the last four and a meeting with St Pauls.

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Late Gribbin strike ensures Cargin progress

Under-16A Football Championship (quarter-final)

Erin’s Own Cargin 4-12 St James Aldergrove 2-13

A late goal from Cargin’s Callum Gribbin settled this U16A football Championship game in Toome last night. With the result still in the balance and time almost up Gribbin struck the killer blow to put the contest out of reach of a battling Aldergrove.

Second half replacement Gribbin got on the end of a move started in defence by corner back Hugh O’ Donnell with the impressive Conhuir Johnston leaving several trailing in his wake to place Gribbin who made no mistake.

The Toome lads held a five point advantage at half time and that lead had increased to 3-11 to 2-05 when full forward Conhuir Johnston bagged his hat trick when he raised a third green flag at the end of the third quarter.

The visitors were first to strike with David Johnston and Ronan Aiken raising whites apiece but Erin’s Own, who had been well beaten by Aldergrove in the league were ahead by the 13^th minute with four unanswered points through Eunan Quinn (2), Tom Shivers and Conhuir Johnston.

Aldergrove regained advantage when Ronan Aiken found the net at the other end but the home side, after a tentative opening slowly gained control. Cahir Donnelly, Conan Johnston, and Diarmuid Mc Peake got to grips in defence while Conan Kennedy was more than willing to take the game to the opposition, carrying the ball forward at every opportunity.

Conhuir Johnston struck with a second goal as Conan Johnston, Shane Gribbin, and Eunan Quinn combined to open the way for the talented full forward as Cargin settled well to the task to put his side into a 2-07 to 1-05 interval advantage.

Cargin began the second in a similar mode but the impressive Daniel Shiels grabbed a 42^nd minute goal to bring an end to a period of the home sides dominance in which they had raised four white flags. Conhuir Johnston completed his hat trick shortly after and the home side looked in charge.

The Crumlin lads had other ideas however and led by the talented Daniel Shiels they set about reeling back their hosts. The visitors piled on the pressure and looked on their way to complete an unlikely comeback as they reduced the deficit to a couple of points, 3-11 to 2-11 by the 57^th minute.

Daniel Shiels led the way with five excellent points and with both David Johnston and Ronan Aiken making contribution they looked very much on the march.

The visitors might well have been back on terms but Cargin net minder Shea Laverty came to his side’s rescue with a good save to deny Shiels after a strong approach in the 55^th minute.

The Cargin lads, having seen what had previously looked a comfortable advantage eroded, looked in some trouble and those problems were exacerbated further when centre forward Eunan Quinn was issued with a black card in the frantic activity of the closing stages.

Progress to the last four now looked in doubt as Aldergrove pressed in pursuit of further scores with time still on their side but as they pressed forward Cargin’s corner back, Hugh O’ Donnell made a vital interception.

Cahir O’ Donnell completed the clearance and Conhuir Johnston collected and broke through the middle before placing Callum Gribbin to finish with aplomb.

Aldergrove kept battling in the closing stages which included seven minutes added time but the home side stood firm in defence and a late Shane Gribbin point saw them through to a place in the semi-final.

Cargin: Shea Laverty, Hugh O’ Donnell, Cahir Donnelly, Diarmuid Mc Peake, Cahir O’ Boyle, Conan Johnston, Conan Kennedy (0-01), Odhran Molloy, Charlie Mc Cann, Shane Gribbin (0-01), Eunan Quinn (0-07), Caomhinn Kennedy, Kian Scullion, Conhuir Johnston (3-02), Tom Shivers (0-01)

Subs:

Ben Mc Larnon for C Kennedy

Callum Gribbin (1-00) for K Scullion

Aldergrove: Ruairi McBriar, Ruairi O’ Neill, Logan Fleming, Eamon Magee, Aiden Irvine, Malachy Burns, Dylan Brazier, Eoin Gough, Adam Connolly, Glenn Dunham, David Johnston (1-02), Ronan Aiken (0-02), Conal Hanna, Matthew Keenan, Dan Shiels (1- 09)

Referee Richard Leahy (St Comgall’s)

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Aldergrove complete the double over neighbours Glenavy

Antrim Division 2 Football league

St.James’ 1-10 St.Joseph’s 1-9

Local parish rivals Aldergrove and Glenavy met in the second round of the league at Crumlin on a cold miserable Wednesday evening. Torrential rain just before the throw-in meant the players had to contend with a wet slippery pitch. One bright note was the return of Aghagallon referee, Gregory Walsh back in the middle after a long illness.

The visitors playing up the hill were first on the score sheet with a Michael McCourt pointed free but Brian McQuillan and Seamus McGarry replied with points to put the reds in front. We then had the first goal of the game when Thomas Gallagher was alert and finished to the net for the visitors to restore their lead. Fergal Burke responded for St. James’ to close the gap to one when he split the posts but the ever reliable Michael McCourt added to his tally with a pointed free. Owen Gallagher, one of six brothers in the St. Joseph’s panel, burst through from midfield to land an excellent point but back came the Crumlin men with a move that started in defence and finished with Fergal Burke finding the back of the net. The final score of the half was a point from an acute angle by Fergal Burke to leave the home side leading by the narrowest of margins at the break.

Halftime score St.James’ 1.04 St.Joseph’s 1.03

From the throw-in Owen Gallagher broke free and landed the equalizing score but Seamus McGarry showed all his experience to slip his marker and put his side back in front. Connor Morris got on the score sheet with an excellent point as play continued to swing from end to end. The young Chapel Hill side was tiring on the heavy pitch when the management made three changes which settled the side down. Thomas Gallagher closed the gap to the minimum when he split the posts with a beauty before Brian McQuillan replied to extend the home sides lead with a point from some distance. Owen Gallagher showed all his class when he jinked through for a point for the visitors but when Seamus McGarry while under severe pressure was fouled, he landed a point from the resultant free to edge the home side two in front once more.

With darkness closing in the game would not have been finished had it not been for the floodlights being turned on as James Gallagher and Fergal Burke exchanged points with time running out. James Gallagher was now operating on the edge of the square and added a pointed free and one from play to leave the scores level and it was clear this one was going to go to the wire. The visitors then enjoyed a period of ascendancy and could have settled the issue but were guilty of some poor shooting and were to pay for those misses. From a kickout late in the game Aldergrove’s Brian McQuillan won possession and drove the ball over the bar for what turned out to be the winning score.

Over the hour the home side deserved their win as they made much better use of their scoring chances. The visitors were bitterly disappointed in losing their fifth league game of the season by a single point. Both sides will be glad to see the league ending in what both would class as a poor season to date but with championship just around the corner there is still ample opportunity to end their respective seasons with a flourish.

Glenavy; Donard Shannon; Ryan Malley; Conor Hamill; Ruairi Forester; Ryan Phillips; Charles Gallagher; Patrick Gallagher; James Gallagher; Owen Gallagher; Michael McCourt (Anthony Gallagher); Niall McCann; Peter Traynor (Fergal Green); Thomas Gallagher; Ciaran Loney, Fergus Cunningham. (Fergal Henry).

Referee Gregory Walsh (St.Mary’s Aghagallon)

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 by thesaffrongael

SHC Round Robin continues this weekend

The round robin continues this weekend with St Galls and Rossa playing host to Loughgiel and Dunloy. The north Antrim giants recorded wins in their first matches against St John’s and Cushendall and we take a look at what lays ahead on Friday and Saturday as we preview the weekend’s games….

Bathshack.com

Senior Hurling Championship

Group 2

St Galls vs Loughgiel

Friday August 16

St Galls faced with mammoth task against the Shamrocks

By Brendan McTaggart

Venue: De La Salle Park, Belfast

Throw In: 7:15pm

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

St Gall’s make a return to the senior championship on Friday evening when they play host to the Shamrocks at De La Salle Park. The 2018 Intermediate Champions will be making their debut in the round robin stages with the short trip up the Falls Road to Corrigan Park laying ahead in two weeks time.

They will be hoping for better fortunes than their last outing against Loughgiel. In the 2016 quarter-final, Loughgiel had 26 points to spare over the Milltown Row side on their way to their 20^th and most recent senior hurling championship.

Barney McAuley hits a long range free for Loughgiel

It’s fair to say 2019 has been a chastening year for St Galls with the small ball. Playing in Division One, they managed just one league win all year and a couple of draws. The two points coming from a big home win against Ballygalget at the start of July but there have been notable performances throughout the campaign. A hugely creditable draw against Cushendall in the Glen’s after two late goals from Sean McAreavey giving the west Belfast side their first point of the season while a draw at home against Ballycran wasn’t enough to stave off relegation

When the two sides met in June, the match ended 0-13 to 4-18 at the end of the hour in De La Salle Park. Loughgiel were ahead by just one point at the break but second half goals from Dan McCloskey and three in the space of ten minutes from Shan McGrath ensured the Shamrocks were in cruise control in the second half.

The Shamrocks display against St John’s wasn’t one for hurling purists. It was played in horrendous conditions however and despite a brilliant start from St John’s, Loughgiel got over the line with six points to spare – a late Odhran McMullan goal adding gloss to the score line. A gritty, tenacious and dogged display but ultimately a winning start and when it comes to the championship, that’s all that matters.

The rumours circulating out of the St Galls camp surrounding player availability doesn’t make for good reading for the Milltown Row men. Tomás O Ciarán, Conor Burke, Sean McAreavey, Mark Napier and Marcus Donnelly all rated as either doubtful or not available. They will look to Conor and Kieran McGourty for leadership with Jackson McGreevey and Karl Stewart pulling the strings in the middle of the park while Kurtis McGreevy is one of the best ‘keepers in the county.

Loughgiel will be missing the services of Seamus Dobbin after his red card in the Shamrocks victory in match day one against St John’s while they may consider whether to risk starting Liam Watson. The Loughgiel forward taking a blow to the head and was hospitalised, having to come off at half time but other than that, they have a full hand to pick from.

The bookies are so confident of a Loughgiel victory, you would have to place £100 on to get a nugget back. It’s hard to argue against odds like that. It will take something biblical to stop the Shamrocks from booking their place in the semi-finals.

Bathshack.com

Senior Hurling Championship

Group 1

Rossa vs Dunloy

Saturday August 17

Cuchullains favourites but Rossa can cause an upset

By Brendan McTaggart

Venue: Rossa Park, Belfast

Throw In: 2pm

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)

Rossa open their round robin campaign with a home match against Dunloy on Saturday afternoon. The Jeremiah’s are right in middle of a gruelling schedule with their big ball commitments taking precedence during the week when they confirmed their return to Division One at the first time of asking.

They come into Saturday’s match on the back of an aggregate win over Ballycastle in the preliminary round stage. A resounding home win set Colly Murphy’s side up for a 12 point aggregate victory over the Town, despite a much better performance from the McQuillan’s, Rossa always kept them at arms length. Deaglan Murphy starring in the first ‘leg’ with Mickey Armstrong while Thomas Morgan has been the one constant for Rossa in the championship. His performances have illuminated the two matches and will be a handful for the Dunloy defence.

**Can the Rossa rearguard keep Dunloy’s forward line at bay**

Stephen Shannon’s display at centre half for Rossa in Páirc MacUílín was pivotal. Ballycastle went in search for goals with a barrage of high ball into the forward line and Shannon led by example. I’d expect a different line of attack from the Cuchullains but Shannon will once again need to put in a captain’s performance. They will have the talented James Connolly closer to full fitness after a brief cameo late against Ballycastle, whether he start’s is another story but Connolly’s got the ability to change games, sway momentum and create something from nothing. He could have a roll to play over the hour, without a doubt.

The Cuchullains come off the back of winning their opening match in the championship last weekend. A one point win over reigning champions Cushendall in front of a big crowd in Pearse Park but it wasn’t the convincing victory some had expected. The Ruairi’s looked like they were going to push on for victory having reeled in a three point half time deficit and were making all the early running. Gregory O’Kane’s men dug deep in the final quarter with Paul Shiels dropping deep a pivotal move along with the performances of Nigel Elliott and Keelan Molloy.

Gabriel McTaggart will miss out after his red card late in the game against Cushendall but Dunloy will welcome back Nicky McKeague into the squad after his one match suspension was carried over from last year’s campaign and it gives the Dunloy management a decision to make. McKeague is a ‘worker’ and lives in rucks in the middle of the park, you could make a case for him starting without any shadow of a doubt but who makes way? I’ll leave that one to the Dunloy management, a decision I wouldn’t like to be making.

Dunloy will travel to the city as favourites to make it two wins from two but Rossa have shown in recent times that if the Cuchullains aren’t firing, they have the team to punish. The Jeremiah’s will relish the opportunity of hosting the Cuchullains at Rossa Park as they look to exorcise the ghost of last year’s disappointing performances and they’ve been building momentum at the tail end of the league with last weekend’s loss to Ballycastle was off the back of five straight wins. They will come into the tie full of confidence but I see Dunloy winning this one. The Cuchullains have a settled defence with Ryan Elliott’s poc outs a major asset and despite the huge loss of Deaglan Smith from injury and Eoin O’Neill to America, they still have an abundance of firepower in attack. Dunloy to progress but don’t be expecting any landslide victories.

August 16, 2019 by thesaffrongael

Wins for Loughgiel, Glenravel, Armoy and Rasharkin in Junior Camogie Championship

PRELIMINARY ROUND, PART 1
Thursday 15th August
St Paul’s 3-3 Brídíní Óga Glenravel 4-11

Portglenone 4-4 Loughgiel 7-21

Rasharkin 2-14 Cushendall 0-4

St Enda’s 1-2 Armoy 3-4

By Seamus McAleenan

Four games took place tonight in the Antrim Junior championship with three teams winning away from home.
Last year’s beaten finalists Brídíní Óga Glenravel enjoyed a good opening half on Shaw’s Road and led St Paul’s by 2-7 to 0-2 at the break with goals from Aimee Traynor and Oonagh Ward.
Oonagh scored a third goal in the opening minute of the second half, but Aisling (2) and Bróna Reilly hit back with goals for St Paul’s while Niamh Donnelly’s 45 went all the way to the net in a 4-11 to 3-3 win.
Meanwhile in Glengormley, first half goals from Jennifer and Caitriona Devlin (directly from a 45) put Armoy 2-3 to 0-1 up at the break.
Leah Martin added a third goal while Cathy Christie scored three points for the visitors with Cliodhna Kane replying with 1-1 for Naomh Éanna.

Last year’s champions Loughgiel were also on the road and they hit Portglenone for seven! Four of the goals came in the opening half and they turned around with a 4-8 to 2-2 advantage, with Laura McCann finding the net for both Geraldine’s goals
Although Portglenone doubled their first half score with goals from Aoibhinn McCloskey and Niamh Hamill, the Shamrocks were still the dominant team and finished up with a total of 7-21.
Rasharkin was the only home side to win on the night, beating visiting Cushendall by 2-14 to 0-4.
The killer scores came in the 20th and 23rd minutes – goals from Eimear Quigg and Danielle McAllister – and they led by 2-6 to points each from Clare Stewart and Niamh Conlon.
The Cushendall defence did well in the second half, but four points each from Jade Henry and Amy McMullan sent Rasharkin through to a meeting with Armoy (in Armoy) in next week-end’s quarter-finals, while Cushendall will have home venue against Naomh Éanna in the Shield quarter-final.

Rest of Antrim Junior championship first round fixtures
Friday 16th August
Replays Sunday 18th August

Gort na Móna v Sarsfield’s

Ahoghill v Ballycastle 3

Saturday 17th August
Replays Sunday 18th August, 7.30pm
Creggan v Rossa 2