Month / March 2020

by thesaffrongael

Action continues in divisions 2 & 3

Football League Fixtures (Sunday March 15th)

With both the county footballers and hurlers in action at the week-end, the fixtures as established by the CCC may well be subject to change.

The Hurlers play Kerry in Croke Park in the Division 2A final while the footballers are away to Wicklow in a ‘must win’ division 4 game.

Division Two (all games at 1.00pm)

Kickham’s Ardoyne v St James Aldergrove

Newly promoted Ardoyne have struggled in their opening two games. They lost out to Tir na nOg in the opening round and fared no better last time at St Teresa’s and they are faced with a similar searching task again as reigning Intermediate champions Aldergrove visit.

Aldergrove did lose their opening game to Dunloy and the Crumlin men will be hoping to make amends on this their first trip to the city in 2020.

Ardoyne will hope to open their account but they may well struggle this time with an away win the most likely result.

St Teresa’s v Tir na nOg Randalstown

This one features likely contenders for honours in the division as St Teresa’s, who were relegated from division 1 last year play hosts to Tir na nOg who have been up there in contention in this grade for a while.

Tir na nOg have recorded a couple of wins to date with victories over Davitt’s and Ardoyne and they will be hoping to retain that winning habit.

St Teresa’s did open account at the expense of the visiting Ardoyne last time and that victory suggested they are well prepared and intent on a quick return to the top flight.

A close affair does seem in prospect in a game which could go either way, but ground advantage may just tilt the balance in favour of the Glen road men.

Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Paul’s

A win at Crumlin in the opening round of the league strongly suggested that Dunloy have wintered well and the dual club look to have an eye firmly fixed on the big ball at present.

That win underlined current well-being as they welcome newly promoted St Paul’s to Pearse Park.

All Saint’s proved too strong for the Shaw’s road men last term and this looks like another stern test as they take the road to the country.

Dunloy will start this one as strong favourites and they may well gain another positive result.

All Saints Ballymena v Patrick Sarsfield’s

All Saints were impressive in a win over St Paul’s in the opening round but will face a much stiffer test against the visiting Sarsfields.

Sarsfield’s lost out to the visiting Moneyglass last time and they will be hoping for a better result at Quinn Park.

The Ballymena men will start as favourites and they should secure another couple of points.

Division Three (all games at 1.00pm)

Eire Og v St Patrick’s Lisburn

St Patrick’s Lisburn, the reigning Junior champions have suffered back to back defeats in their two outings to date and they will be seeking to turn the proverbial corner in this one as they visit Eire Og.

St Agnes v Patrick Pearses

St Agnes have started the season very much on the positive with back to back wins over O’Donnell’s and St Patrick’s ensuring table topping status at present.

The Woodlands men will be looking to keep on the winning trail here as the play hosts to Pearses and they may well prove up to that task.

St Comgall’s Antrim v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

Adrian Dougan’s St Comgall’s got off the mark with a win over Laochra Loch Lao last time and they may well retain the winning habit again in this one as Mc Crory Park residents O’ Donnell’s pay a visit.

St Malachy’s v Laochra Loch Lao

St Malachy’s opened their account with a win over Ballycastle in round one and although this looks a tougher assignment the men from the Markets may well gain another brace of points over visitors Laochra Loch Lao.

by thesaffrongael

NORTH ANTRIM U12 AIRBORNE 2020

  • North Antrim GAA

DIVISION 1 Fixtures

Venue:              Dunloy

    Date / Time:     Saturday  14thMarch  12:00pm TO 1:30PM

   TEAMS   Dunloy ,  Ruairi og ,  Loughguile,  Oisins, Ballycastle,  Naomh Eanna, Naomh Padraig.

Note:  All matches 5minutes
Teams Start Finish Ref Score Keeper
N Eanna V N Padraig 12:00 12:05 Oisins Loughgiel
Ballycastle v Dunloy 12:06 12:11 N Eanna N padraig
Ruairi og V Oisins 12:12 12:17 Ballycastle Dunloy
Loughgiel V N Eanna    12:18 12:23 Ruairi og Oisins
N Padraig v Ballycastle 12:24 12:29 Loughgiel N Eanna
Dunloy V Oisins 12:30 12:35 N Padraig Ballycastle
Loughgiel V Ruairi og  12:36 12:41 Dunloy Oisins
N Eanna V Ballycastle 12:42 12:47 Ruairi og Loughgiel
Ruairi og v N Padraig 12:48 12:53 N Eanna Ballycastle
Dunloy V Loughgiel 12:54 12:59 N Eanna Ballycastle
Oisins V Ballycastle 1:00 1:05 Dunloy Loughgiel
N Eanna V Ruairi og 1:06 1:11 Oisins Ballycastle
N Padraig v Dunloy 1:12 1:17 Ruairi og N Eanna
Loughgiel V Oisins 1:18 1:23 N Padraig Dunloy
Dunloy v N Eanna 1:24 1:29 Loughgiel Oisins
Ballycastle v Ruairi og 1:30 1:35 Dunloy N Eanna
Loughgiel v N Padraig 1:36 1:41 Ballycastle Ruairi og
N Eanna v Oisins 1:42 1:47 Loughgiel N Padraig
Ruairi og v Dunloy 1:48 1:53 Oisins N eanna
Loughgiel v Ballycastle 1:54 1:59 Ruairi og Dunloy
N Padraig v Oisins 2:00 2:05 Ballycastle Loughgiel
             
             
   

North Antrim U12 Airborne 2020

DIVISION 2 Fixtures

Venue:              Dunloy

    Date / Time:     Saturday 14th March   2:10pm

 Teams:

 GROUP 1   Loughgiel 2,   Dunloy2,  Ballycastle,  Glenarm,                            

 GROUP 2   Loughgiel 3,   Dunloy 3, Naomh Eanna , Oisins , Ruairi og

Note:  All matches 5 minutes
Teams Start Finish Ref Score Keeper
Loughgiel 2 V Glenarm 2:10 2:15 Ballycastle Dunloy
Ballycastle 2 V Glenarm 2:16 2:21 Dunloy Loughgiel
Loughgiel 2 V Dunloy  2 2:22 2:27 Glenarm Ballycastle
Dunloy V Ballycastle 2 2:28 2:33 Loughgiel Dunloy
Ballcastle 2 V Loughgiel 2 2:34 2:39 Dunloy Glenarm
Dunloy 2 V Glenarm 2:40 2:45 Ballycastle Loughgiel
  v          
GROUP 2   GROUP 2     GROUP 2  
Loughgiel 3 V Ruairi og 2 2:50 2:55 Dunloy Oisins
Oisins 2 V N Eanna 2 2:56 3:01 Ruairi og Loughgiel
Dunloy 3 V Loughgiel 3 3:02 3:07 Oisins N Eanna
Ruairi og 3 v Oisins 3:08 3:13 Dunloy Loughgiel
N Eanna 2 v Ruairi og 3 3:14 3:19 Loughgiel Oisins
Oisins 2 v Dunloy 3 3:20 3:25 N Eanna Ruairi og
Oisins 2 v Loughgiel 3 3:26 3:31 Dunloy N Eanna
Dunloy 3 v N Eanna 2 3:32 3:37 Oisins Loughgiel
Ruairi og 2 v Dunloy 3 3:38 3:43 N Eanna oisins
N Eanna 2 v Loughgiel 3 3:44 3:49 Ruairi og Dunloy

North Antrim U12 Airborne 2020

DIVISION 3  Fixtures

Venue   Tir Na nOg

    Date / Time:     Saturday 7th MARCH  12.00pm

    Teams:  Creggan,      ST Ergnats,      All Saints ,        N Eanna,         N Padraig,    Glenravel,       Ruairi og.

Note:  All matches 6 minutes  
Teams Start Finish Ref Score Keeper
All Saints V Glenravel 12:00 12:06 N Padraig Ruairi og
N Padraig 2 V N Eanna 3 12:07 12:13 All Saints Glenravel
St Ergnats V Creggan 12:14 12:20 N Padraig N Eanna
Ruairi Og  3 V Glenravel 12:21 12:27 St Ergnats Creggan
All Saints V N Eanna 3 12:28 12:34 Ruairi og Glenravel
N Padraig 2 V Creggan 12:35 12:41 N Eanna All Saints
N Eanna 3 v Ruairi og 3 12:42 12:48 Creggan N padraig
N Padraig 2 v St Ergnats 12:49 12:55 Ruairi og N Eanna
Creggan v All Saints 12:56 1:02 St Ergnats N Padraig
N Eanna 3 v Glenravel 1:03 1:09 Creggan All Saints
Ruairi og 3 V Creggan 1:10 1:16 N Eanna Glenravel
All Saints v St Ergnats 1:17 1:23 Ruairi og Creggan
Creggan v Glenravel 1:24 1:30 All Saints St Ergnats
N Padraig 2 v All Saints 1:31 1:37 Glenravel Creggan
St Ergnats v Ruairi og 3 1:38 1:44 N Padraig All Saints
N Eanna 3 v Creggan 1:45 1:51 St Ergnats Ruairi og
Ruairi og 3 v N Padraig 2 1:52 1:58 N Eanna Creggan

North Antrim Airborne 2020

Each club will have to provide a referee and a score keeper
so please remember whistles and notebooks / pens

Note:  Schedule is again tight – so please ensure teams / refs /
scorekeepers are ready to go straight away after each match finishes

Rules

  • Matches will be 7 a-side (goalkeeper / 2 backs / 2 midfielders and 2 forwards) which will be played straight through (Note:  Check venue for duration of matches as this varies)
  • 2 points will be allocated for a clean catch (not from a hand pass or a ‘pop-pass’) / 1 point for a goal / 2 points for a point
  • The ball will not go ‘dead’.  In the event of a point teams will play on.  Play will only stop for fouls or full time or if a goal is scored
  • Players cannot solo with the ball.  They can take their steps, tap onto the hand, take their remaining steps and release the ball
  • If a foul is awarded the (player fouled has to take the free) in the interest of player safety, the free taker can only go for a point
  • Mentors are encouraged to ensure all players get as much game time as possible
  • Each team must play with a goal keeper (must were a keepers jersey or bib)
  • Teams must supply a referee and score keeper
  • Two mentors of each team are permitted into the indoor halls during match
  • If a player deliberately strikes or lashes out at an opponent player he will be sent off and will not be able to play for the remainder of matches on the day.

North Antrim wish to remind all teams of the strict SILENT SIDELINE rule.  Players or mentors are not permitted to speak / shout at the referee or officials.  If this happens the offending club may not be included in the following weeks fixtures.

Please ensure the players leave the changing rooms tidy along with the spectator’s area respecting the facilities of host club.

by thesaffrongael

St Mary’s strike late to sink Red High

Danske Bank Foresters Cup Quarter-final

St. Marys 5-16-2-15 Red High, Downpatrick

From Kevin Herron at Woodlands

St. Mary’s CBGS were staring down the barrel of a quarter-final elimination from the Forester’s Cup this afternoon but 3-02 without reply in the final six-minutes saw last season’s Leonard Cup winners overcome the tricky examination set by Red High, Downpatrick – with a 5-16 to 2-15 win at Woodlands.

It was a truly thrilling contest of hurling throughout the sixty minutes that was level at the break- despite Diarmaid Rogan hitting the net early-on.

Dubhaltach Wilson conjured up a second goal almost ten minutes into the second half but Tom McGrattan gave Red High a lifeline and Oisin Coulter struck a second goal – which nudged his side in front.

St. Mary’s didn’t press the panic button though as Wilson, Ruairi Devlin and Adam Churchill all found the net late-on to ensure their side took their place in the last four of the competition.

On breezy day at Woodlands it was St. Mary’s who hit the front through a converted free from captain Fionn Mervyn.

But Red High- playing with the wind advantage in the first-half- replied through Tiernan Connolly and then led through a point from midfielder Michael Dorrian.

Back to back Adam Churchill points an angled effort from Pearse Short had their side 0-04-0-02 to the good- though Fearghal McManus struck two excellent points to level by the 10th minute.

The opening goal arrived 11 minutes in, Fionn Mervyn’s free was claimed by Dubhaltach Wilson- who fizzed a cross that was volleyed past Rossa McGrath by Diarmaid Rogan to make it 1-04-0-04.

The next eight scores were traded between the sides- Conor Leneghan and Dubhaltach Wilson exchanged points in the aftermath of Rogan’s goal. Rogan would extend his sides lead, only for Michael Dorrian to conjure up his second score of the half.

Conor Boyle and Adam Churchill twice opened up a four-point advantage- though on both occasions it was Tom McGrattan who replied instantly, the first from a converted free and the second from play.

Red High could have hit the net themselves but McGrattan was denied by Caoimhin Duffy- the St. Paul’s youngster pulling off a terrific save.

Free-takers McGrattan and Wilson did the business fort their sides again and back to back scores from McGrattan (free) and Ferghal Casey reduced arrears to a single point (1-09-0-11).

An inspirational Conor Boyle point looked to have given St. Mary’s a two-point lead at the interval, but McGrattan took his half-time tally to 0-06 with successive scores to ensure it was level pegging at the midway point.

McGrattan missed the opportunity to add to his and Red High’s tally at the beginning of the second half and Dubhaltach Wilson didn’t pass up two of his early second half frees- opening up a two-point gap again.

Ben McCauley added a point in the aftermath and on 39 minutes a superb catch at midfield from Diarmaid Rogan supplied Wilson with a goal opportunity and the St Galls forward cut in at the by-line and drew Rossa McGrath from his line before batting to the corner of the net to give his side a 2-16-0-13 lead.

Tom McGrattan and Diarmaid Rogan traded points in aftermath and midway through the second-half Red High threw themselves a lifeline.

McGrattan was slipped in around 20-yards from goal and he rifled past Caoimhin Duffy to half the deficit.

Niall Fallon hit the side netting soon after and was crowded out after nipping in to claim possession in-between McGrattan converting a free to close the deficit to two with ten minutes to play.

The game was very much on a knife-edge and with 6-minutes to play Red High hit the front for the first time since the 4th minute.

A scramble in the area saw the ball fall to Oisin Coulter and Coulter flicked the ball past Duffy to nudge his side 2-15-2-14 ahead.

St. Mary’s didn’t hit the panic button however and levelled through a Dubhaltach Wilson free.

Within thirty-seconds of landing the equalising score Wilson claimed his second goal of the game with a delightful high shot into the roof of the net after going through one-on-one with McGrath.

Substitute Ruairi Devlin then pointed from a Wilson cut-back and put the game to bed with a goal sixty-seconds later.

The scoring was complete in added time as referee Paddy Tumelty signalled for a penalty after a foul on Devlin.

Diarmaid Rogan saw his effort saved by McGrath but Dubhaltach Wilson pulled the ball across and Adam Churchill rifled to an empty net to give St. Mary’s a 5-16-2-15 win – a harsh score line on Red High- who performed exceptionally.

 St. Mary’s CBGS: C Duffy, P Moyes, S Hughes, M McCluskey, F Mervyn (0-01f), N McGarry, P Short (0-01), E McBriarity, C Boyle (0-02), A Churchill (1-03), B McCauley (0-01), D Rogan (1-02), D Wilson (2-05, 0-04f), N Fallon, R Morgan. Subs: R Devlin (1-01) for M McCluskey (HT); M McCluskey for S Hughes (51).

Red High, Downpatrick: R McGrath, O McGrattan, A Rogan, S Mageean, C Lenaghan (0-01), R O’Neill, J Ruddy, F Turpin, M Dorrian (0-02), L McCabe, T McGrattan (1-08, 0-06f), T Connolly (0-01), F Casey (0-01), O Coulter (1-00), F McManus (0-02).

Referee: Paddy Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

by thesaffrongael

St Mary’s GAC register for charity

On Saturday 29th February St Mary’s GAC Ahoghill held their Annual Club Registration Coffee Morning.  This is always held as a fundraising event for a chosen charity and this year was no different however two charities were chosen to jointly receive the money made.

The Club hold a Registration Coffee morning as it is a great  way to get everyone together before the incoming season as well as getting them registered and since it is always well attended all donations made to the Coffee Morning go directly to Charity.

The chosen charities this year were The Cancer Fund for Children and Bowel Cancer UK.

Club Chair, Gerald McGarry and Registrar William Devlin, assisted by Ella Devlin, presenting a cheque for £525 to Cormac McMullan of The Cancer Fund for Children .

Club Chair, Gerald McGarry and Registrar William Devlin, assisted by Ella Devlin, presenting a cheque for £525 to Sarah Christie from Bowel Cancer UK

The Club wishes to thank everyone who supported the Coffee morning in anyway and Good luck to all who registered for the 2020 season. 

by thesaffrongael

Goals prove the difference for Aggies

All County Football League – Division 3

St Agnes 2-9 V St Patrick’s (Lisburn) 0-9

In a well contested match at Kirkwood’s Park, the teams were level on 5 occasions in the first half. A heavy shower, just before throw in, left the conditions underfoot tricky and a stiff Crossfield breeze, slightly in the home team’s favour, didn’t help either.

A fine point from Josh Mc Mullan opened the scoring for St Pat’s after (5mins). In the sixth minute, Declan Mc Larnon launched the Aggies account with a good score, after a great move started at the back, when Patrick Mulgrew turned over a St Pat’s forward. Ronan Carroll, (12mins) from a free, eased the black and whites in front followed closely by a point for St Pat’s from Ben Mc Mullan. A Declan Mc Larnon free on (15 mins) restored the visitor’s lead. The home team replied with an equaliser with (20 mins) gone and took the lead a few minutes later. However, a nice Matt Murdoch point levelled matters once more at 4pts apiece. St Pat’s went in front again on (23 mins) only for Conal Turley (25 mins) to tie the game up at 5pts each at half time.

St Pat’s, to their dismay, had recorded seven wides as opposed to the visitor’s one wide and one short.

St Agnes went in front four times in the second half through two Ronan Carroll frees, a Conal Turley point and another from Declan Crummey who was put through with a fast hand pass from Declan Mc Larnon, only to see his goal bound shot tipped over the bar by the home keeper. The Aggies suffered a blow on (35 mins) when Kevin Grieve pulled a quad muscle and had to go off. Conor ‘Slim’ Mc Lean replaced him, winning a lot of ball in a gritty second half Aggies performance.

Each time the Aggies went in front St Pat’s replied. Their final score came on (54 mins). The match was now tied at 0-9 each and St Pat’s would come to rue those first half wides and the six dropped shots into the reliable hands of Aggies keeper, Bob Carroll, in the second half.

The Aggies management brought on Conor Gilligan to replace Matt Murdoch on (54 mins). Conor’s first task was to take a free which tailed narrowly wide in the stiff breeze. However, on (55 mins) Conor finished to the net after a quick moving counterattack. Four mins later he sealed the victory for the visitors after Declan Crummey put him in on goal.

Although this game was contested fiercely throughout, St Agnes finished deserving winners, 2-9 to 0-9, virtue of the fact they were much more economical than the home team.

The Referee, Danny O’ Neill, deserves a mention with a strong performance and firmly in control of the match throughout.

St Agnes Team: Bob Carroll, Patrick Carroll, Patrick Mulgrew, Cormac Flannery, Ronan Carroll (0-3) (0-2 frees), Ryan Reilly, Briondain Mc Larnon, Conal Turley (0-2), Cormac Mc Bride, Conor Pelan, Mark Caldwell, Matt Murdoch (0-1), Kevin Grieve, Declan Crummey (0-1), Declan Mc Larnon (0-2) (0-1 free) Subs: Conor Mc Lean for Kevin Grieve (35 mins), Conor Gilligan for Matt Murdoch (54 mins) (2-0)