A goal by Erin’s Own player, Ronan Gribbin after 20 minutes
proved the difference in the end as Antrim overcame the challenge of Down at a
wet Dunsilly this morning. Gribbin finished in style to give his side a lead
they were never to lose as Hugh McGettigan’s side went on to control the
contest.
14 men Antrim dug deep to overcome the challenge of holders
Down in difficult conditions at Dunsilly. The young Saffrons led 1-5 to 0-5 at
the half way stage but were reduced to 14 men when Peter King was Black carded
and sin binned early in the second half and shortly after his return Pat
Shivers received a Red card.
A well organised Antrim defence, who were always ready to
counter, stood firm and with Adam Loughran and Dominic McAteer always
threatening up front they matched the Mourne men all the way with the margin remaining
at three at the full time whistle.
A fine win for Antrim under 20s against the holders of the Leo Murphy cup, Down but despite winning by 3 points the Antrim lads will be disappointed with the margin of victory.
Down keeper, Tommy Convery watches as Adam Loughran’s penalty rebounds of tghe upright to safety
They carved open the Down defence a number of times in the first half when Peter Henvey had a shot brilliantly saved and Cormac McGettigan got on the end of a fabulous move only to see his shot come off the underside of the crossbar and also hitting the post before going wide.
It was left to Ronan Gribbin the Cargin wing half back to
score the only goal of the game and this proved the difference throughout this
wonderful contest.
Both teams played some great football despite the wintery
conditions and the game was still in doubt until the final whistle.
Antrim led 1-5 to 0-5 at the short whistle with Gribbin’s
goal proving the difference. Peter Henvey weighed in with two first half points,
Rory Brolly 0-2 and Cormac McGettigan were their other first half scorers.
Down were still well in contention at this stage with their scores
coming from Patrick Brooks, Tom Close, Matthew Cunningham and Cormac O’Rawe
0-2.
Dominic McAteer of Antrim takes a tumble
The second half saw more great football from the home side and
Antrim managed to control large parts of the game despite playing most of the
half with 14 men.
The Saffrons lost Peter King to a black card and just as he
was about to return the outstanding Pat Shivers saw Red.
Antrim had a chance to increase their lead when McGettigan
was hauled down on the way to goal. Man of the match Adam Loughran saw his shot
come of the post and this set the game up for a grandstand finish.
The Antrim lads dug deep in the last quarter and a great score
from Adam Loughran from a wonderful pass from Dominic McAteer showed that the
home side not only could tackle and work but they could play with style and
skill when they had to.
Despite being down to 14 for most of the second half Antrim
never really looked in trouble with Adam Loughran, Pat Shivers, Eoin Hynds and
Dominic McAteer keeping the score board ticking over and they now look forward
to another home game against Louth who recorded a fine win over Tyrone today.
The Down second half scorers were Ryan Connolly, Cormac O’Rawe
0-3 and Patrick Brooks.
Antrim: 1 Gary Murray , 2 Eamon Kelly 3 jamie la mont, 4 Eunan McAteer, 5 John Morgan, 6 Cormac McGettigan, 7 Ronan Gribbin, 8 Peter King, 9 Eoghan McMenamin, 10 Arron McNeilly, 11 Peter Henvey, 12 Adam Loughran, 13 Dominic McAteer, 14 Pat Shivers, 15 Rory Brolly. Subs Daniel Foster for Eamon Kelly 20minutes Eoin Hynes for John Morgan 46 mins Ciarán ONeill for Rory Brolly 55mins Conal McDonald for Dominic McAteer 56 mins Blood sub Dominic McAteer for Eunan McAteer
Down Panel: Tommy Connery, Jamie O’Hagan, Lorcan Toal, Eoin Murdock, Caolan Cunningham, Ronan Murphy, Cormac O’Rawe, Tom Close, Paddy Brooks, Ryan Collolly, Eoghan Byrne, Tim Prenter, Dean Rice, Callum Fitzsimons, Jamie Lynch, Ruairi McCormick, Eoin McCrickard, Matthew Carville, Conor McNulty.
Antrim Senior team manager, Lenny Harbison and chairman, Ciaran McCavana at today’s game at Dunsilly
All eyes and thoughts will turn to Páirc Tailteann on Sunday
afternoon as Antrim face Offaly in the Kehoe Cup Final. It’s the second year running the Saffron have
made the decider after they tasted defeat to Westmeath 12 months ago, more
about that later.
The route to Sunday’s final had been fairly straight forward
for Darren Gleeson’s men. An opening day
win against Meath at Sunday’s venue got the Saffrons season off and
running. Goals from Alex Delargy,
Michael Bradley and Domhnall Nugent helping them on their way to an 18 point
victory (3-27 to 1-15).
Niall McKenna is named at corner forward on the team to face Offaly
They played Wicklow in the second group game and another
facile victory. 12 months previous they
laboured against the Garden County, in December they had the game won inside 20
minutes. James McNaughton with an
electrifying cameo before having to come off injured but still managed to score
two goals before coming off after 28 minutes.
Conor McCann with another two majors while Delargy had the goal-den
touch again in a 5-27 to 2-10 victory.
Last Saturday’s McGurk Cup Final doubled up as the
semi-final and despite a slow if not laboured start, Antrim ran out comfortable
winners against Down at the Dub. Niall
McKenna and ‘Del (yes, again) with the goals in a 2-19 to 0-13 win.
With no disrespect to the counties played so far, Antrim
would have expected to reach the final without much alarm. They’ve shown good form with the attack
firing and defence solid but rarely tested.
Challenge matches against Galway and Slaughtneil presented sterner tests
and Sunday will be the same. Offaly won
their semi-final against Meath with 15 points to spare and an eight goal route
against the Royal County.
Gerard Walsh starts at right half back
Despite captaining Ballyhale to another club All-Ireland final and a titanic battle against Slaughtneil, Michael Fennelly remains in charge of the Faithful County and they have been making light work of their passage to Sunday’s final. Meath did manage to score 3-18 themselves but an inspired performance from Oisin Kelly ensured they made safe passage to Sunday’s final. Kelly scored two majors in either half, Sean Cleary (two) and Liam Langton (two) with the others as the Faithful County recorded a 8-18 to 3-18 win.
In previous matches against Offaly, we’ve often harked back
to that day at Croke Park in 1989. Now,
we needn’t look any further than O’Connor Park, Tullamore and June last
year. Despite an early and questionable
Martin Burke red card, the Saffrons outfought, out-manoeuvred and out-hurled
Offaly in their own back yard. Neil McManus
top scored with 0-10 while Dunloy duo Nigel Elliott and Keelan Molloy (two)
with the goals.
The Faithful County were on a slippery slope six months ago
and while they did put in a decent performance that day, Antrim were well
worthy of their 3-23 to 4-18 win. The
score line not reflecting the Saffrons performance on the day.
With the team already named, Antrim will have six changes
from that day. Keelan Molloy is named to
make his first start in the Saffron shirt in a strong looking side and with a
strong bench, Antrim are in good shape at this stage of the season.
James McNaughton came on in the McGurk Cup final win over Down but gets the nod to start this time.
12 months ago they took defeat from the jaws of victory
against Westmeath in Abbotstown. Five
clear with not much time remaining, the Saffrons were taken to penalties that
day. The least said about the penalties
the better but they’ve came close to taking the Kehoe Cup and make a return to
the Walsh Cup. Sunday represents a
chance to go one better.
Gleeson has named just seven players from the starting 15
against Westmeath from last year’s final but it’s an exciting looking line up
that has huge potential. Offaly are
going through resurgence in form but Antrim have hit the ground running so far
in the 2020 season. It will be a stern
test but one the Saffrons should meet.
Creggan emerged winners of the annual South West Antrim
Allianz Cumman na mbunscoil indoor hurling competition at the Antrim Forum
today.
In a tournament that saw teams take points from each other
regularly it was always going to be a fiercely competitive affair. In the round
robin group stages St Colmcille’s Ballymena emerged on top, gaining the right
to face Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel in the semi-final, the other semi saw
local rivals Mount St Michael’s
Randalstown and Creggan go head to head.
In the first semi a determined Mary Queen of Peace team
stunned St Colmcille’s with their hunger and excellent fast paced hurling,
running out 4-0 winners. The second semi was close fought with no inch being
given, indeed it was decided in extra time with a “golden goal”,
Creggan winning 3-2.
Creggan Primary School, winners of today’s Cumman na mBunscoil South West Primary school’s indoor hurling tournament at Antrim Forum.
The final therefore saw Creggan go up against the Glenravel boys. Creggan were fastest out of the blocks and looked to have the competition sewn up, holding a 2 goal lead with time almost up. A dramatic fight back saw Mary Queen of Peace score 2 lightning quick goals to force the game into extra time. Showing their experience from the semi-final Creggan struck a “golden goal” early to take the title and bring an end to an excellent days hurling.
Antrim schools have nine players on the Danske Bank Colleges All Star Hurling team which was released yesterday with Mageean Cup winners Cross & Passion having four, runners up St Mary’s CBGS three,
while St Louis Ballymena and St Killian’s Garron Tower have one each. CPC have Conall McGlynn at corner back, John McAlister and Seamus McAuley at midfield while Michael O’Boyle is at right-half forward. Owen May is in the right corner for St Mary’s with Daniel Churchill at right half back and Caolán McKernan at centre back while St Louis Rory McCloskey takes the left half back slot with Garron Tower’s Ronan McAteer filling the no. 11shirt at centre back.
Press Eye – Belfast, Northern Ireland – 08th January 2020 – Photo by William Cherry/Presseye 2020 Danske Bank Ulster Schools GAA Hurling All Stars. 2020 Danske Bank Ulster Schools GAA Hurling All Stars. Back Row, L-R, Owen May, James Clarke, Sean Campbell, Fionn Devlin, Leo Passmore, Cain Ferguson, Rory McClokskey, Caolan McKernan, Michael O’Boyle. Front, L-R, Seamus McAuley, Ronan McAteer, Jimmy Smyth, Chairman of Ulster Schools’ GAA Council, Conall McGlynn, Oonagh Murtagh, Head of South Business Centre at Danske Bank, John McAlister, Sean Hughes.
2019/20 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Hurling All Stars
1. Leo Passmore – Loreto Coleraine
2. Owen May – St Mary’s Belfast
3. Fionn Devlin – St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon
4. Conall McGlynn – Cross & Passion Ballycastle
5. Daniel Churchill – St Mary’s Belfast
6. Caolán McKernan – St Mary’s Belfast
7. Rory McCloskey – St Louis, Ballymena
8. John McAlister – Cross & Passion Ballycastle
9. Seamus McAuley – Cross & Passion Ballycastle
10. Sean Campbell – Abbey CBS Newry
11. Ronan McAteer – St Killian’s Garron Tower
12. Michael O’Boyle – Cross & Passion Ballycastle
13. Sean Hughes – Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock
14. Cain Ferguson – St Ronan’s Lurgan
15. James Clarke – Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock
2019-20 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Hurling All-star Profiles
· Goalkeeper : Leo Passmore
School : Loreto Coleraine Club: Eoghan Rua Coleraine.
Leo was the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ All-star goalie last year and wins his second award.
He has played both hurling and football for Loreto College and has collected Ulster schools’ medals for Danske Bank Br Mallon Cup (3), Treanor Cup, Irish News Cup, Casement Shield and Rannafast Shield. He has represented Derry at under-age level and has won two Celtic Challenge medals
· Right Corner Back : Owen May
School : St Mary’s CBGS Belfast Club: Rossa, Belfast
Owen has represented his school through the age groups including the recent Danske Bank Mageean final. He has played in the Celtic Challenge Cup final with Antrim, but has enjoyed most success with his club O’Donovan Rossa with whom he has won two Antrim Féile na nGael medals, under 16 league and championship and a Minor B championship.
· Full-back : Fionn Devlin
School : St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon Club: Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon.
Fionn is the second member of his family to collect an Ulster Schools’ All-star, following his brother Ruairí eight years ago.
Fionn won a Danske Bank Casement Cup medal with Scoileanna Thír Eoghain last year and has represented his school in both hurling and football.
He has represented Tyrone through the age-groups and won an All-Ireland under 14C medal and he also won an All-Ireland Féile na nGael medal with Eoghan Ruadh as well as two Ulster minor Shield medals.
· Left Corner Back : Conall McGlynn
School : Cross & Passion Ballycastle Club: Carey Faugh’s
Conall has won two Danske Bank Foresters’ Cups, a Leonard Cup and this season’s Mageean Cup with Cross and Passion.
He has represented Antrim at under-age level winning an All-Ireland Celtic Challenge medal.
He has helped his club win a Féile na nGael, under 16 Antrim league and championship titles and a McMullan Cup.
.
· Right-half back : Daniel Churchill
School : St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast Club: St Gall’s, Belfast.
Daniel has represented his school through the age groups in both hurling and football and played in the recent Danske Bank Mageean Cup final.
With St Gall’s, Daniel has won an Antrim under 16 football championship and in hurling the under 16B league and championhip.
· Centre-half back : Caolán McKernan
School : St Mary’s CBGS Belfast Club: Patrick Sarsfield’s, Belfast
Caolán has represented his school through the age groups including the recent Danske Bank Mageean final.
He has represented his county at all underage levels winning an All-Ireland under 16 title and was the Antrim minor team captain in 2019.
A dual player, Caolán has won a minor B hurling championship with Sarsfield’s and in football county Féile na nÓg title and under 16B championship.
· Left-half back : Rory McCloskey
School : St Louis Ballymena Club : Loughgiel Shamrock’s
Rory has played at all levels for St Louis, helping them reach both the Danske Bank Leonard and Foresters’ Cup finals.
He has enjoyed a lot of success with his club Loughgiel – an Antrim Féile na nGael, an under 16 championship, Darragh Cup, and this year the Antrim minor league and championship and the Ulster minor club championship.
He has also played through the age-groups for Antrim, reaching the Celtic Challenge final.
· Midfield : John McAlister
School : Cross & Passion Ballycastle Club: Cushendall Ruairí Óg.
John captained St Killian’s College Garron Tower to a Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup final before transferring to Cross and Passion where he was an integral part of the defence in their Danske Bank Mageean Cup win in November.
He was a member of the Antrim under 16 team that won the All-Ireland B title and he has won a Féile na nGael medal with Ruairí Óg.
John has also won Ulster cross country medals with St Killian’s.
· Midfield : Seamus McAuley
School : Cross & Passion Ballycastle Club: McQuillan’s Ballycastle
Seamus has won two Danske Bank Foresters’ Cups and recently captained Cross and Passion to the Mageean Cup title. He was also Player of the Match in the final.
Seamus has represented Antrim at all under-age levels and is an Antrim Féile na nGael skills’ winner. With McQuillan’s he has won under 12 league and championship medals, under 14 championship and All-Ireland Division 2 Féile na nGael and the under 16 Antrim league.
· Right-half forward : Sean Campbell
School : Abbey VBS Newry Club: Newry Shamrocks.
Sean won a Danske Bank Mageean Cup medal last year as part of the An Dún team and has represented his county at all under-age levels, winning a Celtic Challenge medals in 2017 and was an All-Ireland under 20 finalists in 2019.
An All-Ireland Féile skills’ winner, Sean helped Shamrocks win the Down Junior championship.
He is his school’s MacRory Cup captain and represented Down in minor football last year.
· Centre-half forward : Ronan McAteer
School : St Killian’s College, Garron Tower Club: Cushendall Ruairí Óg
Ronan captained St Killian’s this year in their Mageean Cup semi-final exit to eventual champions Cross and Passion.
He has played for Antrim at under age level up to and including minor and was a member of the Ruairí Óg squad that won the Antrim Reserve championship in 2019.
· Left-half forward : Michael O’Boyle
School : Cross & Passion Ballycastle Club:.Oisin’s Glenariffe
Michael is the second member of his family to be awarded an Ulster Schools’ All-star with brother Alex picked as full-forward in 2016.
Michael won a Danske Bank MacNamee title with St Killian’s before transferring to Cross and Passion where he has picked up medals for Leonard and Mageean Cups as well as three Foresters’ Cup medals.
With Oisin’s he has won an Antrim under 12 championship.
· Right-corner forward : Sean Hughes
School : Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock Club: Bredagh
Sean was a defender in An Dún’s Mageean Cup winning team last year, before switching to full-forward and winning Player of the Match as Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock won the Danske Bank Casement Cup before Christmas. He also has medals from the Kirk Cup (2), O’Mahoney Cup and McFarland Cup campaigns.
With Bredagh he has won two Down Féile na nGael titles and championships at each age-group
Sean’s father Danny was a midfielder for Down winning three Ulster senior titles, while brothers Cormac and Dónal played in the Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park in 2019.
· Full-forward : Cain Ferguson
School : St Ronan’s Lurgan Club: Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon
Cain is the first player from St Ronan’s College to collect an Ulster Schools’ Hurling All-star. Last year he was a key player for Scoileanna Thír Eoghain in their Danske Bank Casement Cup success.
Cain has represented Tyrone at all age-groups and has won an All-Ireland under 14 C title. He has recently been called into the senior panel for the 2020 season.
With Eoghan Ruadh he won an All-Ireland Féile na nGael medal as well as two Ulster minor Shield medals.
· Left-corner forward : James Clarke
School : Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock Club: St Joseph’s Ballycran.
James is the youngest player in the All-star team at 16 and he was also selected in the full-forward line in the Queen’s Future Stars’ team.
With Knock he has won the Danske Bank Leopold and Kirk Cups to which he added the Casement Cup in the week before Christmas.
James has won a Down under 14 league with Ballycran and has also played soccer at representative level.
Antrim’s interest in
the McKenna Cup ended tonight when they lost by eight points to a sharp Down
side in Newry but the Saffron’s manger, Lenny Harbison will be happy enough with
his side’s performance if not the overall result.
Antrim made quite a number of changes from the side who defeated Fermanagh on Sunday in Ahoghill with Creggan’s Oisin Kerr, Ronan Delargy, Casements, Mark Gardner and Eamon Fyfe of Glenravel making their county debuts.
The Saffrons matched
the Mourne men for a good part of the contest but Down struck with first half
goals from Barry O’Hagan and Corey Quinn to leave the visitors trailing by
seven at half time. Both sides played the possession game and slow methodical
build ups were the order of the night.
Aghagallon’s Ruairi
McCann led the Antrim attack well as the visitors used the ‘Mark’ to good
effect and Lenny Harbinson’s side were still hanging in there with nine minutes
remaining when they trailed by only four points after enjoying a good spell on
top.
Significantly though
Down seemed to find an extra gear as the Saffrons started to tire and they hit
a flurry of points to pull clear in the dying minutes with Barry O’Hagan and
substitute Liam Kerr hitting some excellent scores.
Quinn turned in a
Man-of-the-Match display despite only being on the pitch for 35minutes and
received the Man of the Match award at the end from Paul Slevin of Bank of
Ireland.
Down, like Antrim came
into tonight’s game with a win over Fermanagh under their belts but the margin
of Down’s win had been more impressive and they started as favourites in this
winner takes all encounter.
Down had previously
beaten the Ernemen 1-11 to 0-7 in Brewster Park in the first round and manager
Paddy Tally made several changes to his starting 15 with only Ryan McAleenan,
Pierce Laverty, captain Darren O’Hagan, Johnny Flynn, Conor Poland and Pat
Havern retaining their positions.
Antrim made eight
changes from the side which defeated Fermanagh and Lenny Harbinson was forced
to make a further change in the opening stages when Rickey Johnston was forced
off with a knee injury.
Down made the early
running as they raced into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with Barry O’Hagan and Pat Havern (0-2)
on target and Paddy McBride responding from a free for the visitors.
Antrim debutant Eamon Fyfe
Full-back Ricky
Johnston lasted just seven minutes after pulling up with a knee injury to be
replaced by Paddy Gallagher. By that stage, the hosts led 0-3 to 0-1 after
scoring three points in the first three minutes.
Down struck their
opening goal in the 21st minute when O’Hagan robbed Colum Duffin and reacted
quickest to push his ground shot to the net from close range as it broke
favourably into his path.
Down began to find
space in the Antrim defence with Corey Quinn causing problems and he hit 1-3
from play to give his side a firm grip on the game. By half time Down had moved
into a 2-8 to 0-7 lead and it already looked a long way back for the Saffrons.
Both sides made
changes for the second half with Quinn making way for Conor Maginn and
Carryduff’s Daniel Guinness joining the fray for the second half.
Ruairi McCann got the
opening score of the second half from an offensive mark but Down replied through
Havern and Barry and Darren O’Hagan to move further ahead.
Antrim refused to bow
the knee however and came back strongly with Paddy McBride continuing to punish
defensive errors and Colm Duffin looked in for a goal in the 56th
minute but his shot flew over Mark Hynes crossbar.
Adam Loughran became
the fourth Antrim player to make his debut when he replaced Eamon Fyfe and
marked his introduction with a point before earning a free which McBride
stroked over to leave just four between the sides.
Down replied with some
excellent points to pull clear with Liam Kerr, Hughes and Guinness all on
target with Loughran marking a satisfactory debut for the Saffrons with a late
consolation score.
Despite defeat there was plenty about this Antrim performance to please the management and these two games in the McKenna Cup will have given them the sort of run out they needed as they prepare for the opening game of their National League campaign against Wexford in Glenavy at the end of the month.
ANTRIM: O Kerr; R Delargy, R Johnston, M Gardner; D Lynch, J McAuley, P
Healy; C Duffin (0-1), N Delargy; E Walsh (0-1), P McBride (0-6f), K Quinn; E
Fyfe (0-1), R McCann (0-4, 2f), C Murray
Subs: P
Gallagher for R Johnston (7), R McNulty for E Walsh (ht), E Nagle for C Murray
(ht), C Small for N Delargy (50), A Loughran (0-2) for E Fyfe (55)
REFEREE: M McNally (Monaghan)
DOWN: M Hynes; G Collins, K McKernan, R McAleenan; P Laverty, D O’Hagan
(0-2), R Carr; J Flynn, S Dornan; B O’Hagan (1-2), C Quinn (1-3), C Poland; C
Harney, P Havern (0-5, 1f), R McGarry
Subs: B Gallen for R Carr (27), D Guinness (0-1) for C Poland (ht), C Maginn (0-1) for C Quinn (ht), D Hughes (0-1) for S Dornan (47), L Kerr (0-2) for P Havern (51)
