June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 by thesaffrongael

Aldergrove ‘Best 15’

Today Stephen Graham gives us his ‘Best 15’ from St. James’ Aldergrove. ‘Grumpo’ has served the Crumlin club as a player and committee member for over 3 decades and was a solid corner-back who played alongside many of his selection on today’s team.

Not everyone will agree with his selection. It’s just one man’s opinion.

Just a bit of fun!

Stephen Graham’s ‘Best 15’

Having played Senior football for Aldergrove from 1986 to 2014 I have selected my side from the players I played with during that time. I have excluded the players who left th3e club to play for anyone else because it is an Aldergrove 15. We have some players who won championships in 1977 and 2019 and our team in 1997 won 38 consecutive games.

The St. James’ Aldergrove side who were IFC winners in 2019

This is my ‘Best 15’ Aldergrove footballers

1 Paddy Campbell Jnr: Great hands, smart kick outs and played like a sweeper giving his defenders confidence. Paddy was also a great outfield player and played on the 97 team.

2 Chris McVeigh: Captained last year’s Intermediate Championship winning team. Chris is a pacey defender who can play anywhere in the back 6. He was part of the Antrim 2009 squad who got to the Ulster final and also enjoyed success with Jordanstown.

3 Seamus Henry: Just winding down his career when I started to play. Seamus was a teak tough defender who relished a challenge. He was a championship winner in 1977. A great reader of the game who always seemed to have time on the ball.

4 Paul Mallon: Gave 320 years of service at corner back. Usually got the man marking job and was rarely exposed and could mix it if he had to. He played on the 97 team.

5 Chris O’Kane: Another Intermediate Championship winner from last year. A Rolls Royce of a player who looks comfortable in any position and would make any team.

Chris McVeigh is selected at right-back on Stephen Graham’s ‘Best 15’

6 Joe Donnelly: Played number 6 from 17 years of age and was in the Antrim squad when he was 19. A great tackler with great timing and his departure to Australia really hurt us as a club.

7 Anto Fenney: Another of the 97 team who went a season unbeaten. A great attacking half-back who scored plenty. Edges out Dan Feeney and Mickey Brown who played on the 97 team.

8 James Brazier: I played with James from 1979 to 2014 for Aldergrove. He was a club legend who played mid-field for us in his mid-40’s. A great fielder of the ball who captained the 97 team.

9 Joe Henry: (The Guy) An outstanding Grove player and leader. A great fielder of the ball who scored plenty from mid-field.

10 Hugh Henry R.I.P.: Another who played well into his 40’s. A great athlete and a box to box runner who scored plenty too. Hugh was an inspiration to Aldergrove coming through the ranks and a member of the 77 championship winning team.

*Seamus Henry who is predicted to have a bright future by Stephen Graham*

11 Fearghal Burke: A brilliant link man who always brings others into play. A great passer of the ball who scored a brilliant point to win us the Intermediate final last year.

12 Mark ‘Snap’ McGivern: Pacey two footed player and a scoring machine with great balance who works hard for the team. He played on the 97 team.

13 Seamus Blaney: A goal machine who could mix it when he had to. Strong, Pacey, direct and loved scoring. Played on the 1997 team.

14 Christy McGarry: Selected at 14 with a free role but could play anywhere. A really smart footballer and ball carrier. He was manager of the 97 unbeaten team, so I’m selecting him as player-manager.

15 Simon McQuillan: Get the ball to Simon and he will score. At times he was unmarkable. In the late 90’s and early noughties he was top scorer every season. Played on the 97 team.

Fearghal Burke gets the number 11 jersey

16 Micky Brown: Strong pacey defender who hit some great long range scores.

17 Marty Flynn: Great hard working scoring forward who brought great organization.

18 Bobby Kennedy: Great calming full-back who never lost a high ball.

19 Allan Kelly: Great ball player who could play anywhere with pace to burn.

20 Seamus McGarry: The only one I didn’t play with but has to be on any Aldergrove panel. If all goes well he could go on to be our best ever forward. Scored 0-10 against Monaghan in an U21 game for Antrim. Still 2 or 3 years away from his peak.

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by thesaffrongael

The Carey twins grew up to play football…..but on the wrong side of the Bann

Last week I posted photos of the Antrim v Kerry National Football League quarter final in Croke Park, the last photograph in the set being one of two little boys dressed in full Antrim kit, taken on the Croke Park pitch. We all wondered just who these young men were and when I discovered they were the Carey twins from Moneyglass my mind began to race…. Did they go on to play for St Ergnat’s or did they even progress to county level?

**The boys in Croker with Martin sporting an early version of Under Armour**

The story I had pictured in my head turned out to be a bit different than what really happened, for though both of them went on to play club football, and one of them wore the county jersey – and better still won an All Ireland minor medal – it turned out to be on the wrong side of the Bann.

Although they were brought along to Antrim matches by their granddad Paddy Carey, Anthony and Martin Carey lived in Greenlough, and grew up playing their football in Derry. Their dad Brendan was a Moneyglass man but when he married Christina from Gortin, Co. Tyrone, they bought a house in Clady, “between their two ‘home’ counties”, though you feel Brendan got the better part of that deal.

Their Granda, although originally a Loughgiel man, had settled in Moneyglass and was actively involved in the St Ergnat’s club, and was a member of the South West Antrim committee. He followed the Antrim footballers and brought the two boys along to the games, so when Antrim booked a quarter final place against Kerry in 1989 the two young Derry men were dragged along, dressed in Saffron, and got the chance to stand on the sacred sod of Croke Park to have their photos taken.

**Martin with the John Mitchell’s team who won the 2014 Britsh Championship and in action in Croke Park against Brosna of Kerry in the All Ireland Junior Club final in 2015**

As it turned out Martin would be back at headquarters to play on that same sod in All Ireland finals, not once but twice, during his football career. The first time he wore the red and white of Derry as the Oak Leaf boys beat Meath by 1-12 to 0-8 in the 2002 All Ireland Minor final, and again in 2015 when he wore the blue and yellow of John Mitchell’s Liverpool in the All Ireland Club Junior Football final, when they suffered an agonising one point defeat to Brosna of Kerry. Growing up the boys tasted success together with Greenlough at juvenile and senior level, the highlight coming when they won the Derry Intermediate title in 2008.

**The boys together on the Gleenlough minor team**

Martin worked as a teacher in Liverpool for almost ten years and got involved with the local club there, while Anthony moved to the other side of the world to Melbourne, Australia. He was involved with Padraig Pearses club for many years until injuries and work commitments forced him to give it up. He is now married with two children, Paddy (named after his granda) and Mia, but gets out to the Pearses now and again for a look at what’s going on. Martin moved from Liverpool to Doha, Qatar where he now teaches English.

**Anthony’s children Paddy and Mia Carey at the Pearses annual Sevens in Melbourne**

The road has had a lot of turns for the two little boys in the Antrim kit on that day in Croke Park in 1994. That fleeting vision I had of them wearing the Saffron kit at adult level turned out to be way off the mark, but they still played the game their granda Paddy had hoped they would……..even it was on the ‘wrong’ side of the Bann.

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by thesaffrongael

Corrigan Park development starting to take shape

Antrim and St John’s officials met at Corrigan Park on Monday to give the press an update on the redevelopment work at the famous old ground. Work had just got underway on the new development when the Covid 19 pandemic brought it to a halt, but the good news is the work was not delayed as much as first feared and things are getting back to normal. Work on the 500-seater stand and terracing on the Black Mountain side of the ground is starting to take shape and the steel for the new stand was starting to be put in place this week.

**Corrigan Park Development Group chairman Collie Donnelly (centre) with St John’s chairman Gerry McCann (left) and county chairman Ciaran McCavana at Monday’s update at Corrigan Park.**

Former Antrim county chairman and St John’s stalwart Collie Donnelly, who is the Corrigan Park Development Group chairman, was very upbeat about the chances of the work being finished for the proposed completion date of October, despite the Covid related delay.

“Thankfully, the Corrigan Park project was already started (before the Covid 19 pandemic) and any projects that were started were able to continue. It’s a facility that is very much needed obviously for a club that has 30 teams with one pitch and a facility where we can also play county games, especially with Casement Park being out of commission.

**Members of the Antrim GAA and St John’s GAC** **joined Collie Donnelly at Monday’s event at Corrigan Park**

The renovation work at Corrigan is being co-funded by Croke Park, the Ulster Council, Antrim county board and St John’s club and will prove a very useful addition to the county. When pushed by Saffron Gael if there was any chance that the project being completed in time to host any of this season’s Antrim county finals Collie Donnelly said he had high hopes that it may still be possible, especially since the county had now been given another two weeks of leeway to complete their fixtures.

**Club Aontrmo chairman Niall Murphy, is interviewed by the BBC’s Mark Sidebottom.**

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by thesaffrongael

Aghagallon ‘Best 15’

Today we look at St. Mary’s Aghagallon through the eyes of a former player who wishes to remain anonymous. Our man has went for former players for most of his selection but has come up with a strong looking lineout. Not everyone will agree with his selection. It’s just one man’s opinion.

Just a bit of fun!

Aghagallon ‘Best 15’ footballers

Comment: Aghagallon best 15 please do not put my name to this. Please keep it anonymous thank you.
1 Peter Bunting (George)
Played in goals for the club from U12 until he was 40+ good kick out and shot-stopper and never shut his mouth talking to the players in front of him

2 Gregory Walsh (pretty G)
Great reader of the game was the master of the diving foot block always gave 100%

3 John McStravick (Willie)
Developed from an average forward to one of the best full backs in the county

4 Eugene Lavery (boob)
The man could run for ever and never got tired. Very light on his feet and never gave up

5 Adrian Hannon (H)
The fittest man I ever seen. He was a rolls Royce of a footballer for Aghagallon and like George was there for a lifetime

6 Oliver McStravick (Ollie)
Could read the game like a newspaper nipped in got the ball and away in a flash.

7 Peter Tallon (Foxy)
NEVER got into trouble with the ball in his hands could play anywhere he was asked

8 David McAlernon (Davy mc)
If there’s a better all-round footballer than Davy he’s some footballer. Davy had everything and gave everything for his club.

9 Patsy McLarnon
Listening to the old folk he was the best midfielder in Antrim on his game. Came from Aldergove to Aghagallon to finish his career and left a great impression.

10 Ronan Magee (Ninch)
Ninch was worth at least 5pts a game, a strong fast and great free taker.

11 Adam loughran
Adam has great potential and if he keeps developing the way he has he will have a fantastic career for Aghagallon and Antrim

12 Jarlath McStravick (Yardley)
On his day was un-markable. Great in the tackle and always was a goal or 2 in him

13 Cairan Lavery
Played in Aghagallon best forward line ever, fast, cute, with a great eye for a score.

14 Damien McStravick (DD)
The Complete package with a deadly eye for goal. Who could forget his performance for Antrim minors in Ballybofey?

15 Sean Lavery (squrit)
What a speed merchant this boy was and the hardest shot in the club. He scored for fun.

Great players of note from our great club:

Neil McStravick
Colin Loughran
Gabby Lavery
Martin McVeigh
Ivan Iavery
Colin Mallon
Peter Hamill
Ryan Magee
This is only my opinion! We had great players and everyone who played and kept the GAA alive in Aghagallon in in their own right are Aghagallon legends

June 21, 2020June 21, 2020 by thesaffrongael

Dunloy and Rossa ended level in 1990 final

As we recap on the 30th anniversary of Dunloy’s championship breakthrough we look at the drawn 1990 final when late point by Tony McGrath kept the Cuchullains dream alive

Late McGrath Point Earns Dunloy A Replay

Dunloy 1-14 Rossa 3-08

**Dunloy and Rossa battle it out beneath the dropping ball during the drawn 1990 final in Loughgiel. Pic hand coloured by Paul McLean**

When Rossa’s veteran midfielder Jim Fagen pointed his team ahead one minute into injury time of this highly exciting senior hurling final at Father Healy Park, Loughgiel, it appeared that Dunloy’s championship dreams were shattered once again. However, all was not lost and with just seconds on the clock, midfielder Tony McGrath soloed through the Rossa defence and sent over the equalising point to earn the young Cuchullian’s team a second bite at the cherry.

In the end a draw was a fair enough result for both sides had chances to win it in the dying minutes. Three minutes from time full forward Jarlath Elliott made a great catch near the Rossa goal but he was bottled up by Rossa defenders and kicked the ball narrowly wide and one minute later Rossa’s Jim Reilly looked certain to goal when he pulled one handed on a loose ball in the Dunloy box only for it to go narrowly wide off the target.

Looking back, this game will not be remembered for its classic hurling for after a very good first half it got bogged down somewhat in the second. It was however a very entertaining and exciting contest with fine individual performances where the physical fitness and character of both teams were put severely to the test.

The first half was free flowing and skilful producing some lovely scores but a heavy shower of rain just on half time resulted in slippery conditions and it was of no surprised then that the standard dropped slightly in the second period.

The tempo and keenness of the exchanges however never slackened and few neutrals among the very large crowd will have any complaints about sitting through it all again.

**Gerard Rogan’s hurl is broken as Dunloy’s Jarlath Elliott tries to block down a clearance by the Rossa corner back**

Playing with the breeze at their backs, Dunloy’s hopes received a severe jolt in the opening minutes when Rossa’s Ciaran Barr blasted the ball to the back of the net. Jus the start the Cuchullian’s didn’t want but they put it quickly behind them and a lovely three man move which ended in a Jarlath Elliott point got them on the scoreboard.

Seamus Boyle picked up a loose ball thirty yards out and sent over a point one minute later and team captain Seamus McMullan brought them level when pointed a fifty-yard free after Nigel Elliott had been fouled.

Less than a minute later, McMullan (who was to hit five points from five attempts in the first half) again found the target to put his team ahead for the first time but Rossa were soon back on level terms when Noel Murray fired over from out on the left wing.

The accurate striking of Seamus McMullan restored Dunloy’s lead in the ninth minute and after Gregory O’Kane’s short wide from a good position Dunloy for the break they were looking for. Rossa keeper Paddy Quinn caught a long ball but as he soloed out from his goals, he gave away possession and corner forward Jarlath McGrath knocked the ball home to put Dunloy four clear.

**Rossa goalkeeper claers the ball as Jarlath McGrath tackles, but where did the flying hurl (top left) come from?**

**BOURKE SPORTS SUPPORTING SAFFRON GAEL**

Tony McGrath picked up a loose ball around midfield and hit a good point in the fourteenth minute. Less than a minute later, his excellent midfield partner Nigel Elliott scored a real beauty to put his team six ahead at the end of the first quarter.

At this stage Dunloy looked to be in a strong position but suddenly the game switched dramatically and for the next ten minutes Rossa rallied and hit back with some vengeance. Ciaran Barr started the revival when he pointed after being well placed by Donal Armstrong and soon afterwards full forward Jim Reilly took advantage of some leniency in the Dunloy defence and fired a great shot to the net.

As the Dunloy defence struggled to hold the Rossa forwards a slack clearance was picked up by Collie Murphy who knocked over a point to restore parity and within a minute that man Fagan popped up near the Dunloy goal to fire over a point and put Rossa back in front.

Within a space of eight minutes Dunloy had gone from being six ahead to being one point behind with a stiff breeze to face in the second half, the signs did not look good.

To their credit they showed admiral character and for the remainder of the half they regained the initiative to improve their position just before the break. Jarlath Elliott started their come back when he pointed from a Gregory O’Kane hand pass and after O’Kane had missed a goal chance Seamus McMullan pointed the ’65 to put his team back in front.

**Dunloy corner forward Gregory O’Kane goes high for the ball**

Jarlath Elliott showed great skill when scoring a lovely point one minute from the interval. In injury time McMullan hit his fifth point of the half when he split the uprights with a great effort from beyond midfield giving his team a three-point advantage at half time.

With a half time shower leaving conditions very difficult the quality of hurling understandably dropped in the second half. Dunloy, who’s three-point interval lead looked anything but secure improved their position considerably when Jarlath Elliott and Seamus Boyle knocked over points to stretch the lead to five.

Donal Armstrong got Rossa’s arrears to four with a thirty-minute point which incredibly would be the last score for all of sixteen minutes.

During these scoreless minutes Dunloy defended brilliantly and with Dominic McMullan solid at full back, Sean McIlhatton ruling matters at corner back and midfielder Nigel Elliott going through a mountain of work they repelled Rossa best efforts.

However, such heroics can only be survived for so long when your forwards cannot ease the pressure with scores it was inevitable that they could not hold out indefinitely.

Rossa finally broke the deadlock when Noel Murray pointed a free in the fifty fifth minute and almost immediately the city men were level when Jim Close doubled beautifully on a ground ball and sent it to the back of the net.

The remaining minutes were heart stopping as both teams missed opportunities to clinch the game but when Jim Fagan scored his injury time point Rossa looked set for their fifteenth title. It was not to be however, and Tony McGraths late equaliser was no more than his team deserved.

Shane Elliott had a fine hour between the sticks and one diving save he made just before half time from a Donal Armstrong shot was memorable. After a shaky first half Dominic McMullan settled to play a blinder in the second half while Sean McIlhatton, who also looked unsure early on, went on to give a great display.

McMullan’s scoring from frees and from play took the honours in a solid half back line while at midfield Nigel Elliott worked tirelessly and Tony McGrath had his best game for a long time.

The forwards looked impressive in the first half with Jarlath Elliott and Gregory O’Kane particularly prominent, but they faded dramatically in the second half. Alister Elliott did go through some good work however in this period.

Apart from the one slip Paddy Quinn did well in the Rossa goal while in the full back line Gerard Ryan and Chris Condon played well.

Paddy Rogan, who played a real captains part, was the pick of the half backs and while Fagan and Armstrong had some good spells at midfield they generally came off second best.

As with their Dunloy counter parts the Rossa forwards, particularly Ciaran Barr and Jim Reilly, gave their best displays in the first half.

Dunloy team

Shane Elliott, Dominic McMullan, Sean McIlhatton, Seamus McMullan (captain) (0-05), Gary O’Kane, Sean Mullan, Tony McGrath (0-02), Nigel Elliott, Michael Maguire, Seamus Boyle (0-02), Alister Elliott, Gregory O’Kane, Jarlath Elliott (0-04), Jarlath McGrath (1-00)

Rossa team

P Quinn, G Rogan, C Condon, S Murphy, P Murray, A Murray, P Rogan, J Fagan (0-02), D Armstrong (0-02), J Close, C Barr (1-02), C Murphy (0-01), N Murray (0-02), J Reilly (1-00), S Shannon