The Sarsfields Senior Camógs and Ladies Footballers reently set off on their virtual coastal trek of Ireland which worked out at 3232KM challenge in aid of Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid. The girls challenged themselves to complete the round trip in 10 days, which starts and finished at the Bear Pit.
The girls chose Women’s Aid as they are a much needed charity during this time as Domestic violence has increased by 33% since the beginning of lockdown in the North and calls to domestic violence helplines have increased by 50% during this period of time. This charity also means a lot to women and families within our club and wider community and that this money would go a long way. The target was set at £1500 as like many other charities, covid 19 has impacted Women’s Aid ability to fundraise and this money would be a much needed boost for resources.
For the duration of the challenge, the girls showed determination, hard work and commitment as they dropped the hurls and balls and swapped their football boots for trainers as they walked, ran, cycled and rowed virtually across Ireland. Despite being apart, the girls worked tremendously as a team and absolutely smashed their challenge.
All in all, the girls completed their challenge in just 9 days totalling at 3232KM and got back to the Bear Pit a day early. They smashed their target and raised £2,900 for Women’s Aid from which so many local women, children and families will benefit from. Despite the blistered feet, torn muscles and tired legs, the girls were amazing throughout and never gave up. Well done to everyone involved, an amazing achievement for a much needed cause!
Yesterday I posted an article on the Dunloy footballers who enjoyed great success during the 20’s and 30’s, collecting six senior championships. Some of those victories were achieved against teams who no longer exist in Antrim football but who were very prominent at that time and it would be great to hear about them and bring Antrim Gaels a little bit of their history.
James Stephens immediately comes to mind and they were a real force in Antrim at the time, winning championships in 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1922 which included six in a row, a wonderful achievement by anybody’s standards.
Going back to the start of the last century a team called Seagan An Diomais won five Senior Championships in 1903, 1906, 1908, 1909 and 1910 and I have to be honest, I hadn’t heard of them but my curiosity was immediately heightened.
O’Connell’s, (3) Gaelhil Uladh (3) and Otlamh Fodhla (2) Tir na nOg, Belfast (1) were other names who came jumping out at me from the statistics page and it would be great to hear about their history and get reports and photographs of those finals if there are any about.
Sarsfields captain, Jimmy Ward and Glenravel captain, Colm O’Loan with the SFC Cup before the 1966 final. Glenravel defeated Sarsfields to collect their only Senior Championship to date
O’Neill Crowleys won a senior championship in 1905 but no longer exist and I was surprised to find that clubs like Eire Og (1948), Pearses (1968), Ardoyne (1932 &37), Mitchells (1911 &12) and O’Donnell’s (1940) all won Senior Championships.
Glenravel of course won their only senior championship in 1966 and I was privileged to have attended that final while Tir na nOg, Belfast were champions back in 1902.
As we know Eire Og, Pearses, Ardoyne, Mitchells, O’Donnell’s, Glenravel and Pearses still exist and are going strong but it would be great to get reports and photographs from their senior championship successes.
If any of our readers have reports and photographs from those championship successes or a bit of info on the history of those clubs it would be great to hear from you. I feel it is important that the history of these clubs is not lost.
Just heard the sad news of an old friend and college classroom colleague, Alex McDonnell of Portglenone has passed on. He was buried yesterday (Monday May 18).
May he rest in peace, a true gentleman.
Like myself, Alex was a first year student when St MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower opened for business in September 1951.
He was a natural sportsman, gifted especially in playing Gaelic football.
A tricky winger he once represented a Con Magee’s Minor team in the late 1950’s.
I think, but not sure, he also made the Antrim minor football teams of 1956 and 1957.
I believe he first played senior club football with the Roger Casements GAC Portglenone, before switching to play for the St Mary’s Ahoghill football team.
During his five-year boarding stint at Garron Tower he competed for the College in Rannafast Cup, Corn-na nOg Cup and MacRory Cup teams. He was a clever soccer player in a fun college competition: also a very evasive slip and slide boxer for a spell at the Tower, before the gloves were confiscated.
Alex, just to prove his versatility, took up the game of hurling, and was a member of the Tower team that retained the Ulster Colleges senior hurling title in 1955.
Alex is back row right.
Back Row-L to R: Danny McAloonan, Patsy Black, Sean Feeney, Alex Thompson, Denis O’Hara, Jim Mitchell, Alex McDonnell. FRONT: Anthony Logan,Thomas Gillen, Jim McGrath, Willie Devlin (Capt), Paddy McGuckian, Dan Gillen.
Alex progressed from the Tower to attend Queens University. He was a member of the QUB squad that won the 1958 Sigerson Cup. Unfortunately, he took ill during the tournament, and did not feature in the final matches. Thankfully, the quiet man was later presented a Sigerson Cup winner’s medal.
Alex qualified as a schoolteacher, and his work career included a lengthy spell at St Louis Convent, Ballymena. An avid and skillful golfer, he was a long-serving member of Kilrea Golf Club, and also competed in the annual Garron Tower Past Pupils’ golf championship, often staged at Moyola Park.
Like most of you I suspect, I would always have regarded Cuchullain’s Dunloy as a hurling club who have always played football and, certainly in my time hurling has been regarded as the premier game in the North Antrim club.
It hasn’t always been that way however and back in the early 1920’s the Cuchullain’s were a force to be reckoned with at the highest level in Antrim football winning Senior Football championships in 1924, 25 and 26 to complete three in a row and again in 1931, 35 and 36.
The Dunloy football success story goes back a year earlier however when the breakthrough came and they won the Junior Championship on the 18th November 1923, defeating O’Rahilly’s in Dunloy in the final.
By virtue of that win in 1923 Dunloy entered the SFC the following year and against all the odds they reached the final where they came up against the great James Stephens. James Stephens at the time were regarded as one of the top teams in Antrim and had already collected six senior titles and Dunloy would have been regarded as outsiders when the sides met at Corrigan Park.
The match was played in wet conditions on June the 8th and it seemed to be going the way of the city side when they led by three points midway through the second half. A late goal drew the sides level and in extra time Pat Cunning scored the winning point to give the Cuchullain’s their first senior title.
Pat Cunning, who was one of the stars of the game described it as one of the toughest games he had ever played in and recalled the intense excitement in the village that morning as the team assembled in the Band Room prior to the journey to Belfast.
The Dunloy panel that day were: B McNally, W Brogan, J Brogan, W Molloy, R Reilly, J Dillon, J McFerran, H McCamphill, B Cunning, P Cunning, Fr. Cullen, C Kearns, D McKillen, J Hendron, D Brogan, HJ Drain, P McGuckian, P McCamphill.
Dunloy went into the 1925 championship as defending champions and they defeated Larne in the semi-final and went on to meet O’Connell’s in the final. Dunloy enjoyed home advantage for the final and led by six points at half time in almost perfect conditions.
The city side came strong in the second half but the Dunloy defence stood firm with Jack Myles Pat Cunning and John McFerran in brilliant form to run out winners by three points. That final was played in a field at the bottom of the New Road.
“Irish News” 11th August 1925
The County Antrim Football Final between Dunloy and O’Connell’s was played in ideal weather conditions in a field at the bottom of the New Road in Dunloy.
O’Connell’s started brilliantly, pressurising the home team for the first ten minutes of the game and scored the opening point with a lovely shot from Murray. John McFerran and Jack Myles were strong in the Dunloy defence however and O’Connell’s could not maintain that initial force. Dunloy then got into their stride and by the interval led by six points.
In a vigorous second half, both teams played for all their worth and hard knocks were all too frequent. Saddler was outstanding in O’Connell’s defence but, despite the visitors’ desperate efforts to pull the game out of the fire, they had to admit defeat.
Despite a three hour journey to Dunloy, O’Connell’s gave a worthy display and, had it not been for the excitement getting the better of some of their players, a replay may have been necessary. Starring for O’Connell’s on the day were Saddler, Cosgrove, Murray, Boomer and McDonald. Gillan in goal brought off a brilliant save in the second half.
Any of the few shots that came towards B McNally in the Dunloy goal found him on the alert. The magnificent display by Myles in the Dunloy defence secured him a place in the county team against Cavan. He was valuably assisted from the other backs especially Brogan.
McFerran in the middle line also featured brilliantly and was always found backing up the forwards’ attack.
Patsy McGuckian was unusually off colour. J Brogan played a great game, his placing of the ball was very noticeable. The forwards Cunning, Reilly and Kearns played vigorously from start to finish. Fr. Cullen was always found in attack and in defence D Brogan was responsible for some great moves.
1926
Dunloy reached their third final in a row in 1926. The final was a repeat of the 1924 final and was played in Corrigan Park. The score was Cuchullain’s 0-5-James Stephen’s 0-4. The game was played in very wet conditions and this suited the more experienced and much stronger Cuchullain’s side. After trailing by four points at half time, Dunloy eventually gained control.
Points from P Cunning, and D McKillen, midway through the second half, kept the Cuchullain’s in contention.
C Kearns was the hero when he goaled with five minutes remaining to give them a one point victory. This win completed a hat-trick of victories for Dunloy. The achievement was marked by the fact that the county team who defeated Tyrone that year included 14 Dunloy men in their side.
As a result of that success various invitations to play tournament games were accepted from clubs as far away as Donegal.
1927
Dunloy were back in the final in 1927 but lost to a strong Rossa side
1928
Dunloy continued to challenge for football honours in the years that followed and came close to extending their run to four in a row but O’Connell’s gained revenge for their 1925 defeat by beating Cuchullain’s in the final after a replay.
Cuchullain’s failed to make home advantage pay in the first game and were lucky to be level at full-time with Barney McNally in goals making a series of outstanding saves over the hour. In the replay in Corrigan Park Dunloy introduced three new faces in Archie McGowan, Fr. O’Neill and James Kearns and dominated most of the possession.
They led by three points until midway through the second half with all the points coming from Pat Cunning who was the best player on the field. O’Connell’s hit back with a goal and two points to take the lead. Dunloy pressed hard in the closing stages but were unable to turn good possession into scores.
1929
Dunloy were beaten in the North Antrim final by Lamh Dhearg, Toome who went on to take the county title,
1930
Dunloy were beaten football finalists again in 1930, this time losing to Rossa and it was double disappointment for the Cuchullain’s with O’Connell’s beating them in the hurling final.
1931
Dunloy were back in the football final in 1931 where they faced comparatively newcomers, McKelvey’s. The game was played on the 12th July. This historic date must have had an influence on some of the players and officials, as records show the game was abandoned because of a dispute! With Cuchullain’s leading by 0-6 to 0-2 McKelvey’s scored. The Cuchullain’s umpire signalled for a point while his opposite number raised a red flag.
Players and spectators became involved in the dispute. County officials decided the issue by ordering a replay which Dunloy won.
1932
It was back into another final in 1932 and Dunloy were firm favourites going into this game against an Ardoyne side who were playing in their first final. It didn’t work out that way however with the North Belfast men taking the honours.
1933-1934
Dunloy were back in the final in 1933 and 34 but success eluded them in both deciders, losing to St. Gall’s and O’Connell’s respectively. Cuchullain’s came back to claim the SFC crown in 1935 and 36 but lost the 37 final to Ardoyne and the 38 final to Gaedhil Uladh.
Defeats to O’Donnell’s and Sarsfields in the final of 40 and 41 brought an end to a superb period for the footballers of Dunloy. They still compete successfully in the league and championship in Antrim but in recent years have played in division 2 of the league and competed in the Intermediate championship.
A fresh crop of young players have merged in recent years with success at minor and U21 level but hurling has taken over as the number one sport and the Cuchullain’s have enjoyed their fair share of success on the hurling front.
The men from the village are well capable of claiming another success at senior level on the football field and if they can get their strongest side on the field then an Intermediate title is well within their capabilities in the not too distant future.
When St. Gall’s completed an 8-in-a row of Senior Football Championships in 2014 and their 12th in 13 years it would have been hard to envisage it was to be their last to date. A team that had been built on the success of a strong minor and U21 side had dominated Antrim football for more than a decade and many of that successful minor and U21 side had remained on board throughout this record breaking journey.
St. Gall’s went on to win an Ulster title in 2005 and again in 2009 to add to a previous success in 1982 and the 2009 side wrote their names into the history books when they went on to take the All Ireland title under the guidance of present Antrim manager, ,Lenny Harbison.
Erin’s Own Cargin were beaten finalists in 2013 and 2014 and had interrupted the St. Gall’s run in 2006 when they beat Lamh Dhearg in the final and the Toome side will feel that they should have had more championship successes to their credit over the years before finally coming good again in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 and were hoping to make it 3-in-a-row in 2020.
Those who witnessed the St. Gall’s success over nearly two decades will find it hard to believe that it is six years since the Milltown side last won a championship but they are now a side in transition with many of their top players coming to the end of very successful careers. Whether the 2020 championship goes ahead or not is down to Covid 19 but today we look back at the last of the St. Gall’s successes in 2013 and 2014.
2013 final
St Gall’s 0-12 Erin’s Own, Cargin 0-11
St Gall’s won a record equalling seventh consecutive Antrim SFC title at Ahoghill on Saturday when surviving a close shave against a brave Erin’s Own, Cargin outfit.
The 2010 All-Ireland club champions hung on by the skin of their teeth after defender Conor Burke’s arm came to their rescue by denying Tomas McCann a goal right at the death.
Cargin were also left to rue a missed penalty by goalkeeper Jimmy McNabb in the 35th minute.
His spot-kick was saved by his opposite number Chris Kerr and points from Conor McGourty (two) and Sean Kelly rubbed salt into Cargin’s wounds.
Cargin fought back to restore parity with two minutes left on the clock but points from Terry O’Neill and Michael Pollock secured the silverware for the holders.
“I suppose, in the end, the team with the best footballers closed the game out,” St Gall’s manager Carl McCabe remarked to the Irish Independent after the final whistle.
“But we have a few very close shaves – I don’t even know how that one was blocked at the end.”
St Gall’s – C Kerr; C Burke, A McClean, C Brady; J McGreevy, S Kelly (0-1), R Wilson; A Healy, A Gallagher; T O’Neill (0-1), K Niblock (0-3, 1f), N O’Neill (0-1); C McGourty (0-5, 3f), M Pollock (0-1), K Stewart. Subs: B Bradley for N O’Neill, S O’Hara for C McGourty, K McGourty for R Wilson, S McAreavey for K Stewart.
Erin’s Own, Cargin – J McNabb; D McKeever, J Crozier, M Kane; J Laverty, K O’Boyle, R Devlin; P McCann, M McCann (0-1); K Close (0-5, 4f), T McCann (0-1f), E McGrogan; T Scullion, G O’Boyle (0-3, 1f), M Magill (0-1). Subs: G McCann for P McCann, J Carron for E McGrogan.
St. Gall’s 1-11 Erin’s Own, Cargin 0-10
St. Gall’s secured a record eighth successive Antrim SFC title and a 13th in 14 years at the expense of Cargin at Ahoghill.
A stunning CJ McGourty goal in the 18th minute proved all-important as the Milltown men sealed their place in the record books. Cargin opening brightly with points from Ciaran Close and Gerald O’Boyle, but two Michael Pollock efforts had the holders level before Mick McCann edged Erin’s Own back in front.
However, that was the last time the challengers led as Anto Healy equalised before McGourty’s rocket into the top corner of John McNabb’s net gave Ciaran McCabe’s charges a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead.
Close narrowed the gap from a free early in the second half, but the champions always looked comfortable as scores from McGourty, Pollock and sub Kevin McGourty kept them in the driving seat.
Gerald O’Boyle drilled over a 20-metre free in injury-time, but it was a case of too little, too late for the losers.
St Gall’s – C Kerr; R Wilson, C Burke, C Brady; J McGreevy, S Kelly, T O’Neill; N O’Neill, A Gallagher; A Healy (0-1), CJ McGourty (1-4, 0-2f), K McGourty (0-1); M Pollock (0-5, 3f), K Niblock, K Stewart. Subs: B Bradley for K Stewart, K McGourty for A Healy.
Erin’s Own, Cargin – J McNabb; K O’Boyle, J Crozier, M Kane; R Devlin, T Scullion, J Carron; M McCann (0-1), G McCann; K Close (0-2f), J Laverty, O McAuley; T McCann (0-1’45), G O’Boyle (0-6, 5f), M Magill. Subs: P McCann for R Devlin, M Kelly for O McAuley.
