Month / February 2020

by thesaffrongael

Creggan Kickham’s awards dinner

Creggan Kickhams held their annual awards dinner on Friday night in the Tullyglass Hotel where their football team received their O’Cahan Cup medals but the highlight of the night was the presentation to the Ladies team who won last year’s Junior Football Championship. There were also presentations to the team who were runners up in the Antrim Junior Camogie Championship plus special presentations to two members and a mentor who were members of the Antrim Under 21 Football Championship team of 1969. Saffron Gael went along to capture the action

  • Club chairman Olcan McAteer made special presentations to Dessie McAleer (centre) and Sean Maguire (right) who were members of the Antrim team who won the 1969 All Ireland Under 21 Football Championship and to Patsy Totten who was a selector on the team
  • The Creggan team who were runners up in the Junior Camogie Championship were honoured at the club dinner.
  • Ladies Football manager Michelle Bradley (centre) presented the Senior Ladies Footballer of the Year award to Ciara McCollum (left) and Caoimhe McCoy
  • Katie McCann receives the Minor Camogie Player of the Year at the Creggan dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.
  • Eunan McAteer receives the Most Improved Camog award on behalf of Aoife McAteer from Maureen McConville
  • The Creggan team who won the 2019 Ladies Junior Football Championship received the medals at the club’s annual awards dinner in the Tullyglass Hotel.
  • Tony McCollum present the Rosemary Marron Cup for Senior Camogie Player of the Year to joint winners to Sarah Long and Ciara McAuley
  • Ladies Football team manager Michelle Bradley (centre) presents the Most Improved Ladies Player of the Year to joint winners Aine McAteer and Catriona McAteer.
  • The Creggan team who won last season’s O’Cahan Cup are seen here at the club’s awards dinner in the Tullyglass Hotel.
  • Club chairman Olcan McAteer (left) presents the Camogie Club Person of the Year award to Stephen Colgan
  • Club chairman Olcan McAteer made a lifetime achievement award to Brian Bateson at the Creggan Kickhams dinner in Tullyglass Hotel
  • Paddy McAteer presented the Minor Footballer of the Year award on behalf of joint winners Dominic McAteer and Ethan Carey Small
  • Gerard McNulty presented the Under 21 Footballer of the Year award to Jimmy McCann.
  • Patsy Totten presents the Reserve Footballer of the Year award to Dermot McCann
  • Tony McCollum presents the Hugh Marron Trophy for Senior Footballer of the Year to Ruairi McCann
  • Conor McCann receives the Senior Hurler of the Year award on behalf of Conor Small from Sinead Sargant
  • Ladies Football Chairperson Ciara Maguire presents the Ladies Football Clubperson of the Year award to Sinead Sargant
  • Club chairman Olcan McAteer presented the Spirit of Creggan Awards to Peter McLarnon and Vincent Maguire who along with Paddy Marron, Seamus Dougan and Danny Dougan (missing from photo) received the award for outstanding work in the club during the past year.
  • Oisin Kerr received a special presentation for his role as goalkeeping coach with the Ladies Football goalkeepers Roisin McMinn and Aine McAteer
  • Ladies Football manager Michelle Bradley, who was last year’s Club Person of the Year presents this year’s award to Colm McLarnon
  • Paula and Tommy McCann at the Creggan Kickhams dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.
  • The Mauire family are pictured with Sean’s award
  • Patsy Totten and members of his extended family at the Creggan dinner
Michelle Bradley and Tony McCollum presented a cheque on behalf of the Creggan club to John McIlwaine of the Saffron Gael at the club’s awards dinner in the Tullyglass Hotel
by thesaffrongael

Ulster Club Leagues continue this weekend

The Ulster Club football leagues continue this weekend and after two rounds of games Eoghan Rua, Coleraine, Ballinderry and Lavey lead the way, the Co. Derry trio all on four points from two games. It hasn’t been such a good start for the Antrim clubs taking part however with league and championship winners, Erin’s Own Cargin losing their opening game to Eoghan Rua while Aghagallon have lost to Dungannon Clarkes and Ballinderry.

Roger Casements, Portglenone and St. Brigid’s have fared better with the Casements travelling to John Mitchells, Claudy on day one and recording a good win and performing well again on day two before losing by three points to Eoghan Rua. Newly promoted St. Brigid’s travelled to Bryansford and came away with an impressive 4-3 to 0-9 victory on Friday night after going down to Lavey by three points the previous Sunday and both clubs will take a lot of heart from those performances.

The Antrim champions, Cargin have an opportunity to put their first points on the board when they travel to Ballinascreen next Wednesday night while Portglenone will have to wait until next Sunday when they entertain Ardboe while St. Brigid’s play Balinascreen on the same day.

Fixtures:

Sunday 9th Feburary

Dungannon Thomas Clarke  v Bryansford

  • 11:00 AM

Referee: Dan Mullan

Ardboe 11:00 AM

Referee: Darren Mc Keown

Kilcar 11:00 AM

Referee: Ryan Walsh

Wednesday 12th Feb 2020

Round 2

Ballinascreen 8:00 PM

Referee: Mark O Neill

Saturday 15th Feb 2020

John Mitchel’s GAC, Claudy v CLG Chill Chartha

Round 3

Claudy 11:00 AM

Referee: TBC

Sunday 16th Feb 2020

Round 3

O’Cahan Park 11:00 AM

Referee: TBC

Coill an Chlochair Naomh Mhuire v Clann na hÉireann Carraigin

Round 3

Killyclogher 11:00 AM

Referee: TBC

Round 3

O Neill Park, Dungannon 11:00 AM

Referee: TBC

Round 3

Bryansford 11:00 AM

Referee: TBC

Naomh Bríd v Ballinascreen

Round 3

QUB Dub Malone Playing Fields 12:30 PM

Referee: TBC

Monday 17th Feb 2020

St. Mary’s Aghagallon v Lavey

Round 3

Pairc Na nGael 8:00 PM

Referee: TBC

2020 Ulster GAA Football Senior Club League

Pos. Team P W L D F A Pts
1 Eoghan Rua 2 2 0 0 47 24 4
2 Ballinderry 2 2 0 0 39 17 4
3 Lavey 2 2 0 0 25 19 4
4 Dungannon Thomas Clarke GAA 1 1 0 0 16 9 2
5 Naomh Bríd 2 1 1 0 22 19 2
6 Roger Casements Portglenone 2 1 1 0 29 27 2
7 Coill an Chlochair Naomh Mhuire 1 1 0 0 13 12 2
8 Ballinascreen 1 0 1 0 12 13 0
9 Ardboe O’Donovan Rossa 1 0 1 0 12 15 0
10 John Mitchel’s GAC, Claudy 1 0 1 0 11 16 0
11 Bryansford 1 0 1 0 9 15 0
12 CLG Chill Chartha 1 0 1 0 8 17 0
13 St. Mary’s Aghagallon 2 0 2 0 18 38 0
14 Clann na hÉireann Carraigin 1 0 1 0 11 31 0

In the Intermediate league Con Magee’s Glenravel travelled to St. Malachy’s Castledawson last weekend where they lost by seven points and are in action again this Sunday 9th February when they play Glenullin at Fr. Maginn Park at 11.00am. In the Junior grade, Na Piarsaigh suffered a heavy defeat on day one to a strong Fr. Rocks, Cookstown and are not in action again until next Sunday when they travel to Ballerin

by thesaffrongael

Lets hope Davitt’s get the day they deserve as the champions come to town.

By John McIlwaine

We are all hoping that storm Ciara holds off for a few hours yet and that Davitt’s get the day they deserve for the opening of their brilliant new grounds tomorrow at 1-30. We don’t know of course how strong a team Tipperary will take with them to Davitt Park but we know they will be formidable no matter what fifteen the men in blue and gold field. Antrim will be pushed to the limit to stay with them but that is exactly what Darren Gleeson and his backroom team want. Regardless of tomorrow’s outcome being prepared for next weekend’s clash with Offaly is what really matters.

Liam Sheedy and his backroom team celebrate on the steps of Croke Park last August after their team’s win over Kilkenny. Pic by John McIlwaine

The opening two games have been less than impressive. Not the effort it has to be said, but the opposition haven’t presented the type of challenge that we had hoped for, though it has to be said playing conditions played a big part both days. Tomorrow and next weekend the games will be played ‘on top of the ground’ which is what we want to see. Davitt Park is in great condition and hopefully it will see both teams put on a show.

I would expect Antrim to start with a team along the lines of the ones who played against Mayo and Wicklow, but expect to see substitutes introduced at regular intervals. There are a lot of players who have worked really hard over the past few months and they deserve to see some action. We don’t know what team Liam Sheedy will have with him but hopefully there will be good sprinkling of superstars on show. They have lost their opening two games in the league but they could easily have come on top on each occasion and the hurling played in their defeats to Limerick and Cork has been right out of the top drawer.  They are a team of stars who last year lit up Croke Park on the biggest day of the year.

The boys in blue and gold celebrate their All Ireland sucees.

Lest hope the weather is kind to all those who have bought tickets for the big event. The game won’t be the most important thing tomorrow. This is a day for the clubmen of Davitt’s. Men like chairman Tommy Shaw and his hard working committee and the men they followed over the years at this great club. They have a nomadic existence, playing in many different grounds throughout the city but they now have a ground that is the envy of every club in the county and one they can feel rightly proud of.

by thesaffrongael

Humpy and Jingo lead Antrim camogs into new season

There is still an air of uncertainty about the fixture but if everything goes ahead this weekend two old soldiers will be back on the sideline together when Antrim camogs take on Laois in Division 2 of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois.

Its sixteen years since Paul ‘Humpy’ McKillen and Jim ‘Jingo’ McKernan were last together with an Antrim team, leading the senior hurlers to Christy Ring, Ulster Championship and Division 2 League honours before controversially being ask to step aside. They have remained firm friends ever since and when Paul’s daughter Selina got married just before Christmas Jim and his wife Kate were two of the first names on the guest list.

Roisin McCormick (left) and Lucia McNaughton

A few weeks after the wedding Humpy was approached by County Camogie chairman Vincent Boyle to if he would take charge of the Antrim Senior Camogs this season. The time of the wedding the former All Star had been telling everyone he was going to take a break this season, after having been involved with Rasharkin hurlers of the past couple of years. However when the call came the hurler and competitor in him couldn’t say no and after thinking about it for a few days he gave Jingo a call and the old team were back in the saddle again. Elaine Dowds was also approached but she had commitments for the early part of the season but the lads are hopeful she will be able to come on board when the championship starts later in the season.

Laoisa McKenna (left) and Katie Carey

When I spoke to Paul about how things were going so far he was full of enthusiasm saying that he and Jingo were happy with the commitment the girls have given so far. There have been a few of last year’s panel stepped aside but overall they have a squad of 22 committed to the cause and the boys are not ruling out a few others joining the group as the season progresses.

They have played a couple of challenge games and while it is not always the best way to judge, the girls have done very well with wins over Down and Slaughtneil and according to Humpy the spirit in the camp is good. When the league fixtures came out they were down to play Laois in this weekend’s opener. There was a bit of uncertainty over whether the O’Moore county girls were going to field a team but last week it was confirmed they had their squad together and it was all systems go.

Amy Boyle (left) and Naimh Donnelly

Humpy and Jingo are raring to go and have named their team for the opening fixture in Abbeyleix. It will be tough going as it always is again any of the Laois teams but the boys are hoping they can get away to a good start.

Antrim likely line-up for Sunday is –

Antrim v Laois

1 – Emir Boyle (Loughgiel)

2 – Laoisa McKenna (Glenravel)

3 – Chloe Drain (Dunloy)

4 – Maria Lynn (Loughgiel)

5 – Naimh Donnelly (Ballycastle)

6 – Maeve Connolly (Loughgiel)

7 – Roisin Kelly (Portglenone)

8 – Amy Boyle (Loughgiel)

9 – Emma Laverty (Loughgiel)

10 – Maeve Kelly (Ballycastle)

11 – Anna Connolly (Loughgiel)

12 – Lucia McNaughton (Loughgiel)

13 – Roisin McCormick (Loughgiel)

14 – Katie Carey (Portglenone)

15 – Christine Laverty (Loughgiel)

Subs – Clare McKillop, Caoimhe Duffin , Emily Faloona, Aine Donnelly, Eilis Cairns, Aine Donnelly, Ciara Dobbin  

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Minor Football squad for 2020 announced

Antrim Minor Football Squad 2020

  1. Lorcan Murphy                 St Josephs
  2. Rory Gribbon                     St Ergnats
  3. Conall Hanna                      St James
  4. Antoin McLaughlin          Davitts
  5. Darragh Doherty              St Josephs
  6. Patrick Moyes                   Rossa
  7. Shane Hinphey                 Tir na Nog
  8. Eoin Gough                         St James
  9. Shaun O’Callaghan          All Saints
  10. Conall McGirr                     St Galls
  11. Conleith O’Toole              St James
  12. Eunan Quinn                      Erins Own
  13. Conchur Adams                                St Johns
  14. Sean Duffin                        Kickhams
  15. Eoin Dixon                           St Patricks
  16. Finn Malley                         St Josephs
  17. Odhran Hampsey             Kickhams
  18. Odhran Molloy                  Erins Own
  19. Jack Hannon                       Aghagallon
  20. Hugh Hannon                    Aghagallon
  21. Barra McCaffrey               Rossa
  22. Conchuir Johnston          Erins Own
  23. Ronan McKillop                 All Saints
  24. Aidan McErlean                St Ergnats
  25. Conor Hastings                  Tir na Nog
  26. Callum Montgomery      St Marys
  27. Ryan McQuillan                 Con Magees
  28. Logan Fleming                   St James
  29. Callum Higgins                   Con Magees
  30. Daniel McNicholl (C)       Casements