May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 by thesaffrongael

The ‘Best 15’ footballers launched today

Today the Saffron Gael launches a new article and its one I’m sure will generate a lot of interest as the site goes into year 4 since our launch in May 2017.

We are asking contributors to name the best 15 club footballers from within their time involved with their own club. Remember it’s only a bit of fun and like our very successful team of the week competition it’s unlikely that your selection will find universal agreement.

Say something about the players in your selection and to set the ball rolling Dunloy native and Saffron Gael contributor, Brendan McTaggart gives us his best 15 Dunloy footballers that he has watched.

Brendan’s too young to remember the great Dunloy football championship winning sides from the 1920’s and 30’s so his side includes players from the last 30 years or so and it’s a formidable looking outfit.

Hopefully we will be able to publish a team every day for the next number of weeks but that depends on representatives from each club sending us your best 15 footballers that you have had the privilege to watch.

Later we are going to extend the ‘best 15’ to hurling and you might start sending us your best club 15 hurlers as soon as possible but for now here we go with the best 15 footballers from Dunloy

Brendan McTaggart’s best 15 Dunloy football team

Mission impossible. Some quite brilliant players in both codes have wore a Dunloy shirt and I’ve tried to narrow them down into a starting 15 from the last 30 years. Far from an easy task and even now when I’ve finished I could make a few changes in either team. But here it is. My attempt at Mission Impossible.

Dunloy’s Best 15 since 1990 – Football

Sean Doherty
Conor Cunning
Conor McKinley
Eamon Downey
Nigel Elliott (senior)
Gregory O’Kane
Kevin McQuillan
Dermot McFerran
Johnny McAleese
Gareth McAllister
Colm McGuckian
Benny McGarry
Kevin McAllister
JJ McFerran
Chris Kearns

There’s plenty to chose from. Dunloy have produced plenty of quality ‘ballers’ through the years who were equally as gifted with the big ball as they are with the sliotar. A few notable absences and first names on the bench – Paudie Shivers, Malachy Molloy, Joe McErlain, Sean McIlhatton, Darren Webb and Tony McGrath while Justin Dooey got pipped to the number one jersey by Sean Doherty.

Woody played in the forward line in recent years but his displays on the edge of his own square during Dunloy’s championship run in ’07 were immense. Gregory O’Kane could have made any team in the county in any era in my own opinion. Just like his exploits with a hurl, ‘Dick’ excelled and read the game like no other. Nigel ‘senior’ was another was one of the first names on the sheet while Kevin McQuillan brought his talents from underage through to the seniors. Eamon Downey was better known for his displays from half back as a marauder and occasionally in midfield but a superb reader of the game and I’ve moved him back a line to include ‘the Bear’ in front of him.

Midfield was difficult. I moved ‘Parrot’ to wing forward as I just had to make room for ‘Big Paws’ while Dermot McFerran was one of Dunloy’s mainstays for many’s a year in midfield. McFerran was another strong ball carrier and excellent in the air while Johnny was one of the best clean catchers of a ball I’ve ever witnessed. Loved a tackle and relished the challenge and to be honest, he had to be in there for his famous ‘air horn’ celebrations. Legendary throughout the village.

The forward unit was difficult to choose. That being said, my first two names on the sheet were ‘The Dip’ and ‘JJ’. Benny was the most naturally gifted footballer I ever witnessed and could turn his marker in a phone box while JJ’s vision, accuracy and partnership with The Dip was one of the best ever. On the gaelic pitch and soccer!

Cookie was a fierce competitor and strong ball carrier and a natural at number 11 while Kevin ‘Rev’ McAllister is the ageless man. Some say he’ll be 38 on his next birthday, some say he’s playing as well now as he did 20 years ago. Chris ‘Powder’ Kearns led the Dunloy attack for many’s a year and had a burst of speed that saw him leave his marker for dead more often than not.

We will leave it up to clubs to nominate someone to send us their selection so if you would like to take part send us your ‘Best 15’ club footballers from your own club to ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk or john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 by thesaffrongael

The Saffron Gael journey started three years ago today

The men of 1970. Tomorrow, May 29th, the Saffron Business Forum had planned to honour this great team at their annual Business Lunch at the Crown Plazza Hotel. Covid 19 has put paid to that but hopefully before this year is out they can be back together again to talk about their great campaign of 1970 when they won the Division 2 League title and the All Ireland Intermediate Championship

The journey started three years ago today with the announcement of the Saffron Gael website. The following evening we covered our first game, the Under 21 Hurling final between Dunloy and Loughgiel in Armoy. Since then we have published a further 4,298 stories, covering games in hurling and football, both male and female. The Covid 19 pandemic has affected all of our lives and has hit hit this season very hard, but we soldier on hoping some day in the not to distant future to get back out to a game…..any game. In the mean time we will continue to post stories from the past, not what we all want to see, but it is an opportunity to preserve our county’s history. Thank you all for your continued support so far an hopefully when this is all over we will meet again on the green fields of Antrim, and further afield and celebrate properly the game we all love. A special word of thanks to all our sponsors, without whom this would not be possible. I would also like to thank all the Saffron Gael team who have written reports, taken photos and tavelled the length and breadth of the country to keep this campaign going.

**The Antrim team who played Tyrone in the 2009 Ulster Senior Football final in Clones**

**The men of ’89. The Antrim team who played Tippeary in the 1989 All Ireland final**

**The Antrim team celebrate on the steps of Croke Park as team captain Mairead McAtamney lifts the O’Duffy Cup after he team’s win over Tipperary in the 1979 All Ireland Senior Camogie final**

May 24, 2020May 27, 2020 by thesaffrongael

Strong Second Half Performance Sees Antrim Through

Antrim Minor hurlers followed the success of their U21 counterparts when they collected the Ulster Minor championship with a good win over Derry in Owenbeg on he 21st July.

Ulster Minor Hurling Final 2014

Antrim 0-17 Derry 0-9

A srtong second half performance saw Antrim overcome the dogged challenge of a battling Derry in the Ulster Minor Hurling Final at Owenbeg last Sunday. The sides were level at half time but after the break the young Saffrons found anoither gear to pull away and win comfortably in the end.

Indeed Paul McKillen’s side should have won by much more but were wayward in their shooting, recording 14 wides in the second half to add to their 5 first half misses. Antrim now face Galway in the quarter-final and manger paul McKillen was adament after the game that this performance would simply not have been good enough to serioussly challenge the boys from Connaught.

With Loughgiel mid-field partnership of James McNaughton and Carthal McMullan to the fore, Antrim showed three changes from the side who defeated Down in the semi-final with James carey, Caolan McCaughan and Seaghan Shannon coming into the starting lineup.

A couple of early points from Cushendall’s Christy McNaughton gave Antrim the perfect start and James Carey marked his call to the side with another to make it 0-3 to 0-00. Another point from McCaughan saw the saffron lead 0-4 to 0-1 by the 9^th minute and at this stage it all seemed to be going to plan.

Derry began to get to grips however and their ploy of dropping high ball in and around the Antrim square began to pay dividend as Pronsias Burke split the uprights to record Derry’s second score of the game. Christy McNaughton replied for the visitors to restore their three point advantage and when Darra Rocks added another the Saffrons looked to taking complete control once more.

Derry had other ideas however as they battled for every ball and they finished the half with a flurry with Eamon Magill, O’Reilly (0-2) and a superb long range free from Burke put them right back into contention with the sides level at the break on 0-6 each.

BACK IN FRONT

After the break Antrim seemed to step up a gear and Christy McNaughton pointed them ahead from an early free with Rocks following with his second of the game to move his side two in front. McNaughton added another massive free before Ciaran Steele opened Derry’s second half account to keep his side in touch.

Antrim were now beginning to create more space, aided by the strong breeze as McCaughan added a point and then Owens in the Derry goal pulled off a great save to deny McCurdy a certain goal, the Derry net minder coming bravely off his line to block the corner-forwards close range effort.

Antrim were now calling the shots however as they hit three unanswered points to put further daylight between the sides and Christy McNaughton added two late scores to put a better look on the scoreline.

Antrim manager Paul McKillen will be trying to arrange a couple of friendlies prior to his sides forthcoming game against Galway and he knows that it will take a considerable improvement on this performance if his side are to make any impact against the lads from the West.

There were some fine individual performances with Ryan McNulty, Dara Rocks, James McNaughton, Eoin Conlon, Cathal McMullan and Christy McNaughton in fine form and if they can sharpen up in their finishing then they look well capable of giving hot favourites Galway a run for their money.

May 24, 2020May 24, 2020 by thesaffrongael

Seven Goal Antrim Overpower Down

The Summer of 2014 proved to be a fruitful one for Antrim hurlers with their Minor and U21 teams collecting Ulster titles. The U21 side were in superb for as they overcame Down at the Athletics Ground in Armagh and while Antrim manager, Kevin Ryan was happy with the result he certainly wasn’t happy with the decision of Ulster Council to bring the time of the game forward to accommodate a Reserve Championship game.

Bord Gáis Energy Ulster U21 Hurling Championship Final

Antrim 7-17 Down 1-5

Antrim manager, Kevin Ryan was scatching of the Ulster council after Wednesday night’s Ulster U21 Hurling final between Antrim and Down at the Athletic Grounds had been brought forward by half an hour to accommodate a Reserve Championship game.

“Some of our lads had to finish work at 3.30 in order to be here for this game. It’s a poor reflection on how the Ulster Council view the development of hurling” Ryan said.

However, while the Antrim supremo’s protests seemed valid he could have little complaint about his side’s performance as they systematically took an outclassed Down side apart to earn a place in the All Ireland semi-final against the winners of Cork or Clare.

In doing so Antrim won their sixth Ulster U21 hurling title in a row, overpowering Down in a very one-sided final at the Athletic Grounds.

The Saffrons actually conceded the opening two points of the game, from Down duo Peter Mason and Eoghan Sands, but they hit 1-7 before the break to lead by eight at half-time. Their opening goal came a few minutes before the break through substitute Seán McAfee.

Antrim captain Stephen McAfee lifts the cup as Ulster President Martin McAvinney looks on. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Antrim found the net six times in the second half as they ran riot on Down. Niall McKenna and Saul McCaughan both landed goals shortly after the restart to effectively end the game as a contest, while further goals followed from McCaughan and Connor Burke (2).

Down substitute Conal Fitzsimons found the net for the Mourne County 10 minutes before the end, but it was a brief respite as Ciarán Clarke scored Antrim’s seventh goal mere seconds later to take his personal tally for the game to 1-6.

Antrim will play the winners of the Munster final (Clare or Cork) in the All-Ireland semi-final on August 23. They will be hoping to repeat their achievement of 2013, when they stunned Leinster champions Wexford with a 2-15 to 1-16 victory in the All-Ireland semi-final at Semple Stadium.

Scorers for Antrim: C Clarke 1-6 (2f), S McCaughan 2-1, C Burke 2-0, N McKenna 1-2, Sean McAfee 1-0, D McKernan 0-2, J McGreevy 0-1, M Dudley 0-1, D McCloskey 0-1, R McCambridge 0-1, Stephen McAfee 0-1, E McCaughan 0-1

Scorers for Down: C Fitzsimmon 1-1, E Sands 0-2, J McGrath 0-1, P Mason 0-1

ANTRIM: C Butler; T O Ciarain, P Burke, F Donnelly; J McGreevy, E Campbell, M Bradley; D McGuinness, M Dudley; D McCloskey, R McCambridge, N McKenna; C Clarke, D McKernan, A McAfee. Subs: Sean McAfee for McGuinness (23), S McCaughan for Donnelly (h-t), C Burke for McCloskey (44) E McCaughan for Stephen McAfee (48), M Connolly for Bradley (52).

DOWN: S Savage; M Conlan, M McCullough, G O’Neill; C Taggart, C O’Neill, J McGrath; J McManus, R Brannigan; P Mason, B Nicholson, C Egan; L Savage, S Mageean, E Sands. Subs: B Byers for G O’Neill (37), C Fitzsimmons for Savage (41), A Scott for McManus (55), J Doran for McCullough (55), D Mallon for Mageean (55).

Referee: A Nash (Derry)

CAPTIONS

21) Antrim celebrate after defeating Down in the Bord Gais Ulster u21 Hurling Final at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh on Wednesday night.

Antrim’s Ciaran Clarke in action against Down’s Michael McCullough during Wednesday evening’s Ulster Under 21 Hurling Championship final at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Antrim’s Ryan McCambridge breaks clear of C Taggart of Down during the Ulster U21 Hurling final at the Athletic Grounds on Wednesday night.

Down keeper, Sean Savage clears his lines.

No where to go! An Antrim forward is closed down by C O’Neill and M Conlan of Down.

Two goal Antrim hero, Saul McCaughan solos clear of C Brannigan of Down.

May 23, 2020May 23, 2020 by thesaffrongael

McQuillan’s GAC & Carey Faughs united for epic journey in aid of Marie Curie

McQuillan’s GAC Ballycastle and Carey Faughs have left their on pitch rivalry to the side for a short time, to unite forces to raise much needed funds for Marie Curie.

The charity had issued an ‘Emergency Appeal’ due to Covid19 putting fundraising on hold with funds for Nurses and Hospices being needed now more than ever. Caoimhe McShane, Mc Quillan GAC Club PRO said ‘Both clubs have many members involved in the local Marie Curie group, so it made sense for us work together to raise as much as we can for this much needed service. Their biggest fundraiser takes place at the Lammas Fair and this 400 year tradition has also been cancelled due to the current pandemic.’

This incredible fundraiser has involved club members of all ages, as they use their daily exercise during lockdown, to clock up their kilometres by running, walking or cycling and posting this into their respective groups.

‘It has given everyone a great buzz and the club Social Media platforms have been used to keep everyone motivated. The posts and the videos have been excellent and have really captured the spirit of what we want to achieve. We have also been blessed by the weather and the fact that we live in an area of incredible beauty, with the striking Fairhead linking both Carey and Ballycastle, so it is easy to exercise from our own doorsteps. Everyone is very respectful when we are out, crossing over the road and maintaining social distance, calling out to each other so the banter has also been good. Families have really enjoyed getting in on the challenge and we have club people from everywhere posting in their pictures from Liverpool, Belfast, County Down, Dublin, Derbyshire and even Canada to name a few.’

It had been originally planned for the squads to take on the challenge to race from ‘Fairhead to New York’, but such has been the response they arrived in New York in just 3 days clocking up an amazing 5,855.71km, exceeding all expectations. The organising committee said ‘We decided to keep the challenge going and to continue on to Australia adding a further 16,020km to the journey. There are so many of our younger members from both clubs out in Australia and they had already set up their own group out there clocking their distances and making donations, so we agreed it would be a nice touch to go on and ‘pick them up’, if only we were really able to take them home!’

This target was again smashed and the clubs made it to Sydney with 5 days to spare. The Ballycastle Club PRO vowed that ‘It was a real challenge to get back home again, but the groups within the clubs, not just the players but the ‘Carey Fit Club’ and our ‘Brighter Nights’ crew plus the Committee and Supporters groups were all keen to keep going until the challenge was met’ and that they did.

Within the 14 Day target that was set, they collectively covered a massive 40,592.93km through running, walking and cycling, a phenomenal effort. The equivalent distance of travelling from Fairhead to Sydney via New York and back home to Ballycastle again, with 2,463.93km to spare. That’s a lot of exercise!

The clubs had originally set a fundraising target of £2000, however this amount has also been surpassed as well with over £16,000 pledged to support Marie Curie to date.

Martin ‘Cubby’ Mc Auley, who is involved in the management of both Mc Quillan’s Senior Camógs and Carey Faugh’s Hurlers spoke highly of the epic journey the two clubs have been on, ‘What a fantastic effort from everybody involved with both clubs. To see the phenomenal community spirit at such a difficult time is heart-warming and a pleasure to be a part of. I would like to thank everybody for their efforts locally and from all over the world, raising funds for a cause close to so many hearts in our local community’.

Winnie McGarry, the Treasurer of Marie Curie Moyle group said ‘We have been overwhelmed by the response – the Clubs came to us with this idea and the uptake has been brilliant; it has been fantastic and shows how generous everyone is in times of crisis, especially in these uncertain times, where there are many individuals and organisations in need.’

If you would like to contribute to the McQuillan’s GAC and Carey Faughs fundraiser for Marie Curie go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fairheadnewyork

The Just Giving Page will remain open to allow anyone who has not yet donated to do so. McQuillan’s and Faughs would like to take this opportunity to say a massive Thanks to everyone who has donated so far.