Covid 19 has put paid to the local awards dinners this year so we will take a look back at some of the club’s dinners from ten years ago. We start with the North Antrim dinner from 2010 in the Glens Hotel, Cushendall. Loughgiel were there in big numbers, having won their first Senior Championship title for 21 years. James McLean, a man very much in our minds these days, handed out the silverware as North Antrim Chairman
North Antrim secretary Mary Kane presents the North Antrim Senior Hurler of the Year award to Cormac Donnelly at last week’s dinner in the Glens Hotel, Cushendall. INBM 45-770CS
Loughgiel captain Johnny Campbell (right) and vice-captain Barney McAuley (left) with chairman James McLean at the North Antrim dinner in the Glens Hotel, Cushendall. The boys picked up the Antrim Senior Hurling Club Championship, the Ulster Senior Hurling Club Championship and the All County Hurling League trophies. INBM 45-771CS
North Antrim secretary Mary Kane with Ballycaslte captains Matthew Donnelly (left) who received the Feis Minor Sevens trophy, Cormac Donnelly who received the Antrim Under 21 Championship and the North Antrim Player of the Year and Dairmuid McShane who received the Under 12 Championship trophy. INBM 45-772CS
Cloughmills St Brigid’s joint captains Liam Kearns (left) and Michael Morrison (right) receive the Antrim Junior Hurling Championship cup from chairman James McLean at the North Antrim dinner in the Glens Hotel, Cushendall. INBM 45-773CS
Chairman James McLean with Loughgiel captains Aaron Chrisite (left) and Darwin Watt who picked up the Under 10, Under 12 and Under 14 League and Feile na nGael trophies at the North Antrim dinner in the Glens Hotel, Cushendall. INBM 45-774CS
St Mary’s Rasharkin players who picked up team awards at the North Antrim dinner in the Glens Hotel, Cushendall. L-R, Shane Hasson (Minor B Hurling and Intermediate Football Championship trophies), Kealan Darragh, (Under 16 Division 2 Hurling League and Championship), Calum Scullion (U10 Hurling blitz), North Antrim chairman James McLean and Daniel Doherty (Minor B Hurling Championship). INBM-45-775CS
Cushendall Ruairi Og players and officials who received awards at the North Antrim dinner. L-R, John McKillop (Darragh Cup), Paddy McNaughton (Minor Hurling Championship and Minor League), Hugh McCann (N.Antrim fixtures secretary), Mark Donaghy (Senior Reserve Championship), Ronan McCambridge and Ruairi McAuley (P7 Championship). INBM 45-776CS
North Antrim secretary Mary Kane with who presented the Senior Feis Football trophy to Dunloy’s Kevin McQuillan and the Ulster League and Senior Feis Hurling trophies to team manager Gary O’Kane. INBM 45-777CS
Chairman James McLean presents the Countess of Antrim Cup to Nathanial Hunter of Carey Faughs at the North Antrim dinner in the Glens Hotel, Cushendall. INBM 45-778CS
Chairman James McLean with Glenshesk’s captains at the North Antrim dinner in the Glens Hotel. L-R, Shay Hunter (Airborne Div 1), Ronan McErlean (Indoor Div 2) and Daniel McBride (Under 12 B Championship). INBM 45-779CS
With club presentation evenings falling victims of the Covid-19 pandemic this year the Saffron Gael is offering clubs the opportunity to do the next best thing by selecting their various award winners at each level and sending us their selection in the various categories and a photograph of the award winners and the initiative has received a positive response.
Today Antrim’s newest club, Wolfe Tones of Greencastle get the ball rolling and we offer our sincere thanks to their PRO, Fintan Quinn fror his work in putting this presentation together.
Re-Birth of Wolfe Tones celebrated
THE re-birth of Gaelic Games in the Greencastle area began in hope more than expectation just over 12 months ago when Serpentine Road man Aodhan Moloney gathered together a small squad to play Laochra Loch Lao in a challenge game.
It was immediately apparent through the power of social media that there was a demand for a football team based in and around Greencastle town-land and the Lough-shore Parishes on the north Belfast/Newtownabbey border.
Fast forward a year and the club is now a fully affiliated GAA unit that has had over forty men pull on the Wolfe Tone’s green and white hoops at various different stages.
Despite much of the hard work being done at meetings, over the telephone and Zoom, on our social media channels and through filling in various documents the playing panel more than matched the dedication and endeavour of the volunteers tasked with making the dream a reality.
Players from all six counties in the north of Ireland, Merseyside and Tipperary have turned out for the Tones and we have amongst our numbers complete novices through to an All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship winner.
Although we shipped some heavy defeats along the way we did manage to secure six wins from 15 games over the course of the last 12 months. The Committee of Greencastle Wolfe Tones would like to thank each and every one of our members, management team, financial donors and shirt sponsors Jim and Sandra O’Toole, of Riverside Consulting, Worcester, England formerly of north Belfast.
Our awards were won by the following people
Player of the year – Kieran Moloney
Whitewell man Kieran pipped club captain Paul Carlin to the award and is a deserving recipient of the POTY gong following a solid first season with the Wolfe Tones. Strong, athletic and brave Kieran is an asset to the team and found the back of the net a number of times this season including a vital goal which helped us to a league win over St Patrick’s Lisburn. Legend has it he is eligible for New York and may yet feature in the Connaught Football Championship.
Young player of the year – Gerard McDonnell
This was a close run contest between Lansdowne man Gerard and Paul McAdorey. The former had a solid juvenile career at St Enda’s Glengormley and we hope he will be turning out in green and white for many years to come. McDonnell scores consistently from play and set-pieces and big things will no doubt come from the nippy forward in 2021.
Newcomer of the year – Paul McAdorey
Paul McAdorey was in contention for both the POTY and YPOTY awards and is a deserving winner of the Newcomer of the Year title. Despite being completely new to Gaelic Games the Bawnmore man is a massive player for Wolfe Tones and will likely be a mainstay of the squad for 10/15 years should he stay on the scene. His highlight of the season was an incredible 2-4 from play when Greencastle secured their first ever competitive win with a comprehensive win over East Belfast.
The next big thing – Conor McMullan
Conor came to the club as a competent soccer player who was keen to get involved in the ‘family business’. Blessed with the core attributes to be a handy footballer Conor kicked on and has now made a spot for himself in defence his own. Sandsy is competitive and will no doubt be telling Kieran Moloney he’s the 2021 player of the year elect.
Club-person of the year – Stephen McCourt
Chairman Stephen McCourt is the clear and resounding winning of this award. It would be fair to say that Wolfe Tones would likely not exist never mind be on the cusp of entering children’s teams into blitzes next year and participating in the All County Junior Football Championship. McCourt lives and breathes Greencastle Wolfe Tones and is an invaluable asset to the club.
It was double success for Dunloy in this great competition with Angela Cunning receiving a runner-up spot for her brilliant shot of her son Conal and mum Eilish playing hurling silhouetted against a sunset. Our very own Brendan McTaggart has also a photo in the book after grabbing a celebration shot of the Doherty brothers Peter and Martin celebrating at the end of the Antrim Intermediate Football final where Moneyglass beat Dunloy after an epic second half comeback.
AIB & Sportsfile this year teamed up with the Gaelic Games community around the country to tell the story, in photographs, of a season like no other. The tougher this year was, the stronger we became. Nowhere was this more evident than in Gaelic Games. For long periods, even though club gates closed, and games ceased, club chairpersons, players and volunteers were never busier. In the first few weeks alone, 9,000 GAA club members provided support for almost 35,000 people. The Toughest Season tells this story through photography. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be matched by the AIB Together Fund and will go to AIB’s partner charities AGE NI, Alone, FoodCloud, Pieta & Soar.
Angela Cunning
It is a great honour to have photos included in such a historic and prestigious publication and both should be rightly proud of it. The book, which will raise money for a seclection of AIB Partner Charities, AGE NI, Alone, FoodCloud, Pieta & Soar and will be available from December 9th.
Cavan’s Ulster final man of the match played at Creggan
As I photographed the Cavan v Antrim Ulster football championship game at Breffni Park this year and watched the Ulster final last Sunday and the performance of one Thomas Galligan I couldn’t help but be impressed.
I knew I had come across the Lacken player somewhere in the past and a recent conversation with Creggan’s Conor McCann reminded me of just where I had seen the powerful Cavan mid-fielder in action before.
Thomas Galligan starred for Southern Gaels in the Creggan U21 tournament way back in 2018 when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Crossmaglen Rangers and indeed the excellent Galligan received the Bank of Ireland man of the match award on the day.
Cavan’s star performer against Donegal in the Ulster final had been marked out for greatness even earlier in his career however and was part of the St. Patrick’s Cavan team who put a 43 year wait behind them to defeat St. Patrick’s Dungannon in the 2017 MacCrory Cup final, Galligan playing a starring role at mid-field.
Today we take a look back at that meeting of Southern Gaels (A Cavan amalgamation) and Crossmaglen in 2018 at the Staffordstown Road venue of Kickham’s Creggan and bring you Brendan McTaggart’s report on the game along with photographs of Cavan’s latest star on the day.
Thomas Galligan (Third from left back row) in the Southern Gaels side who defeated Crossmaglen in the Creggan tournament in 2018
Bank of Ireland
U21 Club Football Tournament
Paddy McLarnon Cup
Quarter Final
Crossmaglen 1-10 Southern Gaels (Cavan) 1-11
Sunday January 14
Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim)
Teams
Crossmaglen: Jamie McEvoy; Johnny McKeever; Shane Farrelly; Aaron Smylie; Aidan Rushe; Caolan Dillon (0-1); Daniel Cumiskey; Stephen Morris; Rian O’Neill (0-2, 1 f); Ryan McKeever; Oisin O’Neill (1-2); Cormac Donnelly; Miceal McCabe (0-2, 1 f); Callum Kiernan; Coilin O’Connor (0-2)
Subs: Cian McConville (0-1, 1 f) for M McCabe (38 mins)
Southern Gaels: Jimmy Smith; Peter Galligan; David Wilson; Aodhagan Halton; Darryl Buckley; Killian Galligan; Shane Moynagh; Thomas Galligan; Conor Brady; Ryan Madden; Paul Leddy (1-00); Cian Madden (0-6, 5 f’s); Oisin Pierson (0-1); Robbie Fitzpatrick (0-3, 2f’s); Ryan Coyle
Subs: Aaron Reilly (0-1) for O Pierson (54 mins)
Cross come up short in thriller
By Brendan McTaggart
Southern Gaels overcame a resurgent second half performance from Crossmaglen on Sunday afternoon to reach the last four of the Paddy McLarnon U21 club football tournament in Creggan. The minimum separated the sides after the hour, but the Cavan champions will feel that they had to win the match twice to get over the line.
Cross trailed at half time by four points despite playing with the wind in the opening 30 minutes but they staged a dramatic fight back to lead by two points going into the final quarter. A goal from the impressive Oisin O’Neill reviving their hopes in the provincial competition but a man of the match performance from the outstanding Thomas Galligan and six points from the boot of star forward Cian Madden ensured it was the Gaels who were celebrating after a nail biting hour of championship football.
Having retained many from their previous campaign in the competition, the Armagh champions were muted as the pre-tournament favourites, but they will rue their first half when they look back at their performance. A strong wind blew in from Lough Neagh at the Creggan venue and slightly favoured the south Armagh men in the opening 30 minutes but they struggled to cope with the physicality of the Cavan men for long periods of the first half. The Gael’s were dominant in midfield with Galligan and Conor Brady imperious while Robbie Fitzpatrick and Cian Madden were proving to be a handful for the Cross defence.
The Cavan men scored the opening two points of the quarter-final in the second minute, both frees from Cian Madden and while Cross had made a slow start, their defence did well to sustain the early Gaels onslaught. O’Neill got Cross’ first of the match in the fourth minute, a speculative effort from wide on the right bouncing over the bar before Robbie Fitzpatrick and Coilin O’Connor exchanged scores to leave the Cavan men one point ahead after 10 minutes.
The first goal of the tie came soon after when referee Sean Laverty awarded Southern Gaels a penalty. The Antrim official judging that Jamie McEvoy fouled Fitzpatrick and while the Cross ‘keeper saved Paul Leddy’s initial effort, he could only parry the shot back to the Gaels forward who made no mistake with the rebound.
Cross recorded back to back scores in the 18th minute to force their way back into the tie but Southern Gaels had the final say of the half when a superb score from Oisin Pierson and Fitzpatrick’s second white flag of the half ensured the Cavan men held a four point advantage at the short whistle.
It was going to take something special from the Armagh champions to get back into the game after the restart. The elements were now in Southern Gaels favour and they were on top all over the pitch during the first half, it was difficult to see where they could find any inroads.
A Fitzpatrick point from a second minute free after the restart stretched the Gaels advantage to five points but it was to be their last score for 14 minutes and Cross finally went through their gears. Pierson scored the goal that revived their championship hopes once more in the 34th minute after good work from Rian O’Neill. Further points from Caolan Dillon, Rian O’Neill, O’Connor and Oisin O’Neill meant the Armagh champions had reeled off 1-4 without reply and opened a two point lead with 15 minutes remaining. They were starting to find gaps through the heart of the Southern Gaels defence and were taking full advantage.
Two Cian Madden points (one free) restored parity to the sides once again and while Rian O’Neill managed to point a long range free in the 25th minute to edge Cross ahead again, it was the Cavan men who finished strongly. Two free’s from Madden and a point from substitute Aaron Reilly gave the Gaels a two point lead going into injury time. Cross had time to reply though and when substitute Cian McConville split the posts to leave the minimum between the sides again, extra time was a major possibility. Cross threw everything at the Southern Gaels defence in the time that remained but the Cavan men stood strong with Thomas Galligan putting his body on the line to deny Rian O’Neill a certain point at the death with an outstanding block.
Cross are left to wonder what might have been but it’s the Southern Gaels who progress to the last four in two weeks time.
Thomas Galligan celebrates Cavan’s Ulster final win over Donegal where he received another man of the match award
Thomas Galligan receives the Bank of Ireland Man of the match award from Angela Callan, Bank of Ireland
Ah sure, 2020 hasn’t been a bad year so far. Unbeaten, promotion obtained and barring any disasters on Saturday, a final in Croke Park on the biggest day of the hurling calendar.
T’is grand being an Antrim supporter in this, of all years.
A brilliant display against a previously unbeaten Kerry side in this years McDonagh Cup last day out has the Saffrons with more than one foot in this years final and the Kingdom lying in wait for a potential fourth encounter of the year.
It would take a swing of 27 points over the matches at the weekend with Meath needing to beat Antrim and a Carlow win over Westmeath by an accumulative total of more than 27 points. Possible? Anything is possible. It is 2020 and the year to expect the unexpected. There’s a job to be done in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday and Antrim dare not take their eye off the ball against the Royals.
Saturday will be the second time the sides will have met this year with Antrim playing on Pairc Ui Cheallaigh for the first time. A 24 point win against a disappointing Meath side who had two men sent off before half time and a Man of the Match performance from Neil McManus. Remember him? It should be worth noting the Saffrons have got to this stage in the McDonagh Cup without the talismanic Ruairi Og man.
Domhnal Nugent in action during Antrim’s win over Meath in Portglenone
They had 12 different scorers under the late winter sunshine in Portglenone with goals coming from McManus (two), Eoghan Campbell, James McNaughton and Keelan Molloy. The most impressive stat of the day belongs to the tally from play. 5-23 of their 5-27 tally came from open play while conceding just 1-7.
It was a big score racked up from Darren Gleeson’s side but it’s nothing new. It’s a trend the Saffrons have continued to set throughout the year. They have an astonishing ability to create goals from nothing. An ability to break from rucks and carve open defences in the blink of an eye. It’s something that has proven fruitful this year with 12 goals so far in the McDonagh campaign. None have benefitted from this more from their style of play than Conor McCann. The Antrim Captain has scored majors in each of his last six matches, seven green flags raised in that period. An astonishing run to rival the best out there, he’ll be hoping he can keep that run going for a while yet.
A closer look at McCann’s performances and he’s truly led from the front. A powerhouse on the edge of the square, a knack of being in the right place at the right time to take the plaudits but it’s his ability to win primary possession in the middle third that also helps his side. If anyone would dare call McCann a poacher, they know little about the Saffrons this year. He’s relentless. He gives 100% commitment and brings 100% intensity every time. He’s a leader.
Conor McCann kept his goal run going in the win over Kerry last time out, netting two against the Kingdom.
Meath have made a return to the McDonagh Cup after winning the Christy Ring last year. Their campaign thus far has been fruitless but their last two outings against Carlow and Westmeath show they are a side who shouldn’t be taken lightly. After a disappointing opening day 10 point defeat to Kerry, they pushed Carlow to the pin of their collar while it took a late goal from Luke Loughlin to give Westmeath a four point win last weekend.
The Saffrons have played Meath numerous times in the last few years. Some good memories, some not so good and some that would scare the life out of you. Those who were ‘lucky’ enough to have witnessed the Christy Ring final of 2016, both of them, will know exactly what I’m talking about. Scoreboardgate. I’ll say no more.
Nigel Elliott went the wrong way from the throw-in against Meath in the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2018 but soon made up for his error by hitting a hat-trick in the man of the match performance
The other standout memory from clashes against Meath comes from Antrim’s first match in the McDonagh Cup, three years ago. Pairc Tailteann again and a dodgy start. Nigel Elliott attempting to score at the wrong posts is something you are likely to see in 2020 but it happened in 2017. The Cuchullain, now in Australia, would go on and redeem himself with 3-2 in a man of the match performance and a brilliant overall display from the Saffrons.
Something akin to that performance will do nicely on Saturday. Something akin to how the Saffrons have been playing for the vast majority of 2020 will also do nicely. Croke Park beckons, but there’s a job to do in Pairc Tailteann.
The story so far….
Sun Oct 25
Kerry 1-20 Meath 0-13
Antrim 4-25 Westmeath 1-5
Sat Oct 31
Carlow 2-25 Antrim 5-16
Sat Nov 7
Carlow 1-22 Meath 1-21
Sat Nov 14
Antrim 3-18 Kerry 2-14
Sat Nov 21
Meath 1-19 Westmeath 2-20
When they last met….
Allianz Hurling League
Division 2a
Antrim 5-27 Meath 1-15 – Sunday February 23, 2020
Saffrons Stroll to comfortable win
Brendan McTaggart reports from PáircUíCheallaigh, PortGleannEoghan
Job done and the perennial banana skin avoided. Antrim made it three from three on Sunday afternoon as they swept aside the challenge of Meath in Portglenone. The Saffrons had 24 points to spare in a performance that was every bit as comfortable as it sounds. The Royals had two men sent off for double bookings at the end of the first half but Antrim were already in control with a first half where they dominated the visitors and laid the foundations for a resounding league win.
Keelan Molloy in action during Antrim’s win over Meath in the NHL in Portglenone in February
Darren Gleeson’s men had big performances all over the field in a fine team display. Matthew Donnelly at full back rarely put a foot wrong while Eoghan Campbell and Keelan Molloy’s partnership in midfield continues to grow. The Saffrons star man however was a simple call however. 2-9 over his 70 minutes work, 2-5 from play and a lung busting performance, Neil McManus was in top form for Antrim.
An early goal from Keelan Molloy set the tone for the Saffrons as the crowd gathered into a sun kissed but cold Páirc Uí Cheallaigh. Despite playing into a substantial wind, Antrim showed fluency and cohesion belittling the fact it was three weeks since their last outing.
The second Antrim goal came 10 minutes in. Eoghan Campbell applying the finish and Dan McCloskey with the assist as Antrim opened a five point lead. Meath were reliant on the free taking of Padraig O’Hanrahan for the majority of the game and more so in the first half while Antrim waited until the 25th minute before scoring their first point from placed ball.
Neil McManus who scored two goals in the win over Meath in Portglenone in February
The lead was nine points when Alan Douglas saw red for a second booking as Meath grew frustrated at Antrim’s dominance. Both sides had goal chances in the moments that followed, James Toher bringing the best out of Conor McAlister while James McNaughton was denied at the other end of the pitch but an already difficult task for the Royal’s was made a mission impossible with Luke Moran seeing red for a second booking.
Both dismissals changed the complex of the game there after but the visitors couldn’t argue with any of the cards given. Antrim held a deserving 11 point lead at the interval and a firm grasp on the two league points available.
TEAMS
Antrim: Conor McAllister; Phelim Duffin, Matthew Donnelly, Stephen Rooney; Gerard Walsh, Paddy Burke, Joe Maskey; Eoghan Campbell, Keelan Molloy; James McNaughton, Neil McManus, Michael Bradley; Domhnall Nugent, Niall McKenna, Dan McCloskey
Meath: Charlie Ennis; Séan Geraghty, Shane Brennan, Stephen Morris; Keith Keoghan, James Toher, Luke Moran; Mikie Mullen, Patrick Potterton; Damien Healy, Padraig O’Hanrahan, Jack Regan; Michael Burke, Alan Douglas, Éamon Ó Donnchadha
Scorers: Padraig O’Hanrahan 0-8 (6 f’s); Nicholas Potterton 1-1; James Toher 0-2; Alan Douglas 0-1; James Kelly 0-1; Stephen Morris 0-1; Keith Keoghan 0-1
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)
Allianz National Hurling League – Division 2 – February 3, 2019
James McNaughton who was the star of the show in Antrim’s win over Meath in the NHL in Trim in 2019
Meath 2-15 Antrim 3-13
McNaughton snatches victory with last gasp point
John McIlwaine reports from Trim
A brilliant point deep into injury time by star of the show James McNaughton gave Antrim hurlers their first win in Division 2A of the National Hurling League in Trim today. When Meath’s Jack Regan fired a 20m free to the Antrim net two minutes into added time to bring his team level it appeared as if Antrim were to endure heart-breaking slip-up. However there was enough time for Antrim to reply and when the ball came in to Eoin Neill on the 45 metre line his pass found McNaughton who sprinted through on the right to fire over the winning score.
Meath manager Nick Fitzgerald and his players were left fuming, claiming Tipperary referee Johnny Ryan had indicated that Regan’s free was the last poc of the game. Antrim on the other hand felt that time was up even before Meath got their free and that they should have had the game wrapped up long before the late drama.
The Meath manager added that “maybe that’s fairly typical of how the GAA view counties like Meath.”
To be honest Antrim fully deserved the win and it would have been an injustice if they had gone home with anything less than the two points. They held a one point lead at half time after facing a strong breeze and driving rain, three brilliantly taken goals giving them the edge. They controlled most of the second half and after being pegged back to level on a couple of occasions they went three clear ten minutes from time. They had a few good chances of hitting the insurance point but squandered them, and it looked like they were going to pay the price. However McNaughton, who had been brilliant throughout the game, sent the Saffron fans home happy after a score right out of the top drawer.
MEATH: S McGann; G Murphy, S Brennan, S Morris; K Keoghan, S Whitty, J Kelly; J Regan 1-4 (1-0f), S Quigley; D Healy 1-0, P O’Hanrahan 0-6 (0-4fs, 0-1 ’65), D Kelly 0-3; A Douglas, M O’Grady 0-1, K Keena 0-1.
Subs: E Ó Donnchadha for O’Grady (53mins), J McGeown for Quigley (63mins).
ANTRIM: R Elliott; S Rooney, J Dillion, P Duffin; R Molloy, M Donnelly 0-1, C McHugh; S Duffin, C Boyd; N Elliott 0-1, C McCann, J McNaughton 1-8 (0-5fs, 0-1 ’65); E O’Neill 1-2, K Molloy, C Clarke 1-1.
Subs: D McKinley for S Duffin (34mins), C Patterson for Boyd (48mins)
