February 23, 2021February 23, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Rasharkin honour award-winners

St Mary’s GAC, Rasharkin have honoured their 2020 award-winners, but they have had to make do without the acclaim of the traditional live audience.

The club handed over the prizes at a socially distanced outdoor presentation at Dreen, showcasing the winners via their social media account and through the local media.

Chairperson Thomas Doherty said it was important the club made time to pay tribute to the efforts of all its members under difficult circumstances.

“The 2020 season will be remembered for a very long time as the season that nearly didn’t happen,” he said.

“We began the year with much optimism across all three codes before the season was curtailed in March.

“The summer months brought championship activity back to our pitches, and coaches all worked hard to ensure the safety of our players and members of all ages.

“We could not have a formal awards ceremony this year, but as a club, we felt it was important to mark the efforts and performances of our teams, players and volunteers over the season.”

***Karol Doherty receives the Dan Doherty Trophy for Clubperson of the Year.***

Karol Doherty picked up the Dan Doherty Trophy for Clubperson of the Year after excelling in his many different commitments throughout the life of the club.

***U14 coaches Christina Smyth, Amy McMullan and Fiona Mooney accept the McKillop Shield for Juvenile Team of the Year on behalf of the U14 camógs.***

After being narrowly defeated in the county final, the U14 camogie team picked up the McKillop Shield for Juvenile Team of the Year.

Seasoned campaigner Conor Hasson received the Gerry Dalrymple Trophy for Footballer of the Year, while the energetic Colm Kennedy was awarded the Christy Hardy Trophy for the Most Improved Footballer.

Conor McKeever’s work leading the line during the hurlers’ run to the junior championship final saw him take the Eugene Gribben Trophy for Hurler of the Year, while Fergus Quigg picked up the McMullan Cup for Most Improved Hurler.

Aoife McFerran capped a fine season for the senior camogie team by clinching the Ciara McLaughlin Trophy for Camóg of the Year, while Niamh Mooney and Eimhéar Hardy shared the Most Improved Camóg award.

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Sean Stinson’s were champions in 2007

Today we take a look back at an all-county final in 2007 between Sean Stinson’s and Michael Davitt’s at Enright Park. I think it is an U12 final but unfortunately I don’t have a report from it. Sean Stinson’s, an Ahoghill-Portglenone combination who no longer exist, won the game and it’s interesting to see how many of those on duty went on to represent their respective clubs and county at senior level.

Sean Stinson’s celebrate after defeating Davitt’s in the 2007 U12 final at Enright Park

County officer Tony McCollum presents the U12 Cup to Sean Stinson’s captain, Patrick Graham

February 21, 2021February 21, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel win replay to clinch their 12th title

Yesterday we posted a report of the 1993 Antrim Camogie final in which Loughgiel drew with Dunloy in a great game in Cushendall. Today we have the report and pics from the replay as Loughgiel won their twelfth title and Mary McMullan collected her seventh medal

1993 Antrim Senior Camogie Final – Replay

Loughgiel 4-5 Dunloy 3-5

Loughgiel moved to the top of the Camogie roll of honour when they beat Dunloy in a thrilling final replay at Cushendall. In a game that was equally as exciting as last week’s drawn affair the Shamrocks withstood a great rally by the gallant losers to collect their fourth title in five years and their twelfth in all.

Grace McMullan opened the Loughgiel account with a second minute point but Dunloy bounced back with a fine goal from Brenda McGrath to take a two point lead. Two minutes later Loughgiel struck what was to prove a telling blow when they scored two goals within a minute. The first came from Rosie Butler, who found the net after a Grace McMullan free had been blocked out, while the second came from Moira McGouran, who pulled a ground stroke to the net from outside the twenty metre line.

**Camogie Association President Brídín Uí Mhaolagáin from Dublin, who had spent her early years in Dunloy where she played for the Cuchullains club, throws in the ball to start the 1993 final replay**

Dunloy hit back and cut their arrears to a single point when Brenda McGrath grabbed her second goal of the game, but the cheers for McGrath’s goal were still ringing in the air when Grace McMullan had the ball in the net at the other end with a great finish.

An early exchange of points at the start of the second-half between Dunloy’s Sinead McMullan and Loughgiel’s Grace McMullan. Rosie Butler added a point for the Shamrocks but Dunloy replied with a goal from Majella McMullan to keep her team very much in touch with just eleven minutes to play.

**Dunloy’s Anne McKee in action against Loughgiel’s Mary McMullan and Bernie Carey.**

A goal from Moira McGoran and a point from Rosie Butler put the Shamrocks six clear bit four points from Sinead McMullan brought the Cuchullains back to within two points. It looked to be anybody’s game and when Dunloy pressed hard for the winning goal there was an almighty scrambled in the Loughgiel square. Loughgiel goalkeeper Imelda Gillen saved the day for her team and when her long clearance was picked up by player of the match Grace McMullan she fired it over the bar to seal the win.

**Camogie Association Presideng Brídín Uí Mhaolagáin presentsthe cup to Loughgiel captain Imelda Gillen after her team’s replay win over Dunloy in Cushendall.**

Loughgiel scorers – Grace McMullan 1-3; Rosie Butler 1-2; Moira McGouran 2-0;

Dunloy scorers – Brenda McGrath 2-0; Sinead McMullan 0-5; Majella McMullan 1-0.

Referee – Catherine O’Hara

February 20, 2021February 20, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Dunloy fought back to earn a draw in the 1993 final

1993 Antrim Senior Camogie Final

Back in 1993 Loughgiel and Dunloy met in the final of the Senior Camogie Championship in Cushendall, and what a game it was. After a great battle the two sides could not be separated and they had to come back the following week where once again a large crowd turned up to see another top class game.

Final ends in stalemate

Loughgiel 3-5 Dunloy 3-5

On a day when Loughgiel were bidding for their twelfth Senior title, Mary Connolly was bidding for her seventh winners medal.

Leading by ten points after just ten minutes play Loughgiel appeared to be in cruise control as Grace McMullan, Rosie Butler, Christine McGaughey and Maura McGaughey all hit the Dunloy net. However the Cuchullains girls staged a great fightback and goals from Sinead McMullan and Oonagh Elliott helped them stage a great fightback to earn a second bite of the cherry.

Loughgiel scorers – Grace McMullan 0-4; Rosie Butler 1-1; Christine McGaughey 1-0; Maura McGoran 1-0.

Dunloy scorers – Sinead McMullan 1-4; Oonagh Elliott 1-2; Majella McMullan 0-1; Brenda McGrath 0-1.

Tomorrow we will carry pics and report from the replay

February 18, 2021February 18, 2021 by thesaffrongael

When St Louis girls were a force in Ulster

Ulster Colleges Girl’s football

Today we feature photographs from an Ulster college’s game between St. Louis Ballymena and St. Mary’s Magherafelt in what I believe was a quarter-final in Cookstown. I don’t have a report from the game but from memory St. Louis edged a tight contest.

As with an article I posted earlier in the week featuring Antrim and Jordanstown in a McKenna Cup game, this game featured Antrim players on both side and quite a number of these girls went on to represent Antrim and enjoyed success at club and county level.

Adrian Quinn was the driving force behind St. Louis at the time and the Ballymena college enjoyed quite a bit of success under the tutorage of the former All Saints player who went on to manage the Ballymena club’s ladies side for a period.

If anyone has any further info or a report on this game or if I have got my facts wrong drop me an e.mail at ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk and I will be glad to add it to this article and hopefully it will bring back fond memories to those who participated that day.