Month / May 2021

by thesaffrongael

Football previews for Wednesday night

Fixtures (Wed 19th May)

The second round of the football league fixtures are scheduled for Wednesday evening with games fixed in all of the divisions.

Division One (7.15 pm)

St Enda’s Glengormley v Lamh Dhearg

Both these sides suffered defeat in round one and they will be in search of a win in this one as St Enda’s welcome the Hannahstown men to Hightown.

St Enda’s lost out by a couple of points at Aghagallon in their opener whilst Lamh Dhearg failed to cope with their visitors Cargin, but although this may well be a close affair ground advantage could tilt the balance in favour of the Glengormley men.

Erin’s Own Cargin v St Mary’s Ahoghill

Cargin gained an opening day win up at Hannahstown in their opening game and they will play hosts to the Ahoghill men in this one as they welcome the Clooney men to Toome.

The county champions underlined their strength in depth in round one and they will enjoy ground advantage this time.

St Mary’s were certainly not at their best in round one as they failed to cope with the visiting Creggan and this looks like another difficult assignment.

Ahoghill are cable of better than what they showed on Sunday last but they will do well to cope with Cassidy’s men who will start as firm favourites.

Kickham’s Creggan v O’ Donovan Rossa

Both sides opened their respective accounts in round one when Creggan proved too strong for the Clooney men whilst Rossa, thanks to a late Colm Fleming point gained a last gasp win over the Johnnies.

Creggan will return to home base in a confident mode as they play hosts to heir city rivals and although Rossa may well give them a run for their money Kickham’s should maintain their positive start with another win.

St John’s v Casement’s Portglenone

Casement’s were pipped at the post last time when a late Peter Henvey goal gained an away win for the visiting St Brigid’s.

The Bannsider’s will travel to Belfast for this mid-week fixture and a test which is certain to await them on the Whiterock road.

St John’s lost their opening game when a last minute Colm Fleming point saw them denied a share of the spoils on the Shaw’s road as Rossa secured the points.

Paddy Nugent’s charges will return to Corrigan Park in search of restitution on their own sod, and although another close one looks probable the home side may gain a narrow verdict.

St Brigid’s v St Gall’s

St Brigid’s return to Musgrave Park in this one after gaining a smart away win last time with victory over Casement’s at O’ Cahan Park with a smart return to action.

They play hosts to St Gall’s in this one as the Milltown men travel with an opening round victory at the expense of the visiting Gort na Mona.

Padraig O’ Muiri has taken the reins at St. Gall’s this term and he will look for continued improvement at the home of the former All Ireland club champions.

A close one in prospect with just a tentative vote awarded to the home side.

Gort na Mona v St Mary’s Aghagallon

Gort na Mona having  run St Gall’s to a couple of points in round one have home advantage for this one as they pay hosts to Aghagallon.

The West Belfast side will fancy their chances in this one but St. Mary’s

Got off to a home win last week and a late goal from Eunan Walsh sent them on their way to a two point win over the visiting St. Enda’s.

A positive start for the South West side and although they will not have it all their own way in this one they may well gain a narrow verdict.

Division Two (all games at 7.15 pm unless stated)

Kickham’s Ardoyne v Michael Davitt’s (8.30 pm)

Although they did lose out to Glenavy in round one North Belfast based Ardoyne did chalk up a good score tally having scored an admirable 1-14 in the process.

Davitt’s proved no match for the visiting Glenravel in the opening round and although they may well be capable of better the present climate does suggest a win for Ardoyne is more than likely.

Con Magees Glenravel v All Saint’s Ballymena (7.30pm)

An all South West affair in this one as close rivals Con Magees and All Saints are set to cross swords.

Glenravel had a fine opening round win over Davitt’s whilst the Ballymena men proved no match for the visiting Tir na nOg and while All Saint’s are more than capable of better another win for the home side looks probable.

Tir na nOg Randalstown v St Pauls

Tir na nOg staged a strong second half come-back to convincingly beat All Saints last time and their opening win at Ballymena strongly suggests they are capable of winning this one. St Paul’s opened their 2021 account in the positive when they claimed a two point win over St Teresa’s but this does look a more difficult task for the Shaw’s road side at Whitehill with Tir na Nog awarded the vote.

St Teresa’s v Patrick Sarsfields

Having lost out to St Paul’s in round one former first division side St. Teresa’s have home advantage this time as they welcome Sarsfields to the Glen Road.

Sarsfield’s failed to cope with the visiting Moneyglass last time as the reigning Intermediate champions came away with a seven point victory and the Paddies will do well to open account in this one.

St James Aldergrove v St Joseph’s Glenavy

This is a local derby as Crumlin based Aldergrove welcome their near neighbours Glenavy for what may well be a close affair.

Both started the 2021 season on the positive with Aldergrove returning from a trip to Dunloy with points secured while Glenavy gained the day over the visiting Ardoyne at Chapel Hill with ground advantage suggesting a win for the Crumlin men in this one.

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Cuchullian’s Dunloy

Games between these South West rivals are usually close affairs and this one may well fall into the same category as Moneyglass play hosts to the men from Dunloy.

Moneyglass did record a fine away win over Sarsfields and this would suggest they can maintain that winning habit in this one unless Dunloy can put last Sunday’s reversal to Aldergrove behind them.

Division Three (7.15 pm)

Patrick Pearses v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

Cardinal O’ Donnell’s started the season well with a win over Laochra Loch Lao and although this looks a more difficult task as Pearses visit, the McCrory Park side can continue on the positive.

Laochra Loch Lao v St Agnes

The Aggies opened account first time out when they proved a couple of points better than the visiting Ballycastle and this may well prove a stiffer test but they may well prevail.

Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle v St Mary’s Rasharkin

St Mary’s Rasharkin impressed in their opening round win over the visiting Mals and the Dreen can record another win as they travel to North Antrim to take on Ballycastle, Mc Quillan’s.

Eire Og v St Comgall’s Antrim

St Comgall’s opened account with a fine win over the visiting Pearses on Sunday last and Adrian Dougan’s men are fully expected to continue that good form in this one as they visit Eire Og.

St Malachy’s v St Patrick’s Lisburn

St Malachy’s lost their opening game when they found the Rasharkin men too hot to handle and they face another firm test in the second round as the play hosts to the Lisburn men with an away win possible.

by thesaffrongael

Brid Og win the Nipper Quinn C Shield

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa

On Sunday the Nipper Quinn finals of 2020 came to a conclusion. The early curtailment of the 2020 season meant the finals were unable to take place but the South Antrim CCC afforded the teams the opportunity to contest the finals from last year before the 2021 season begins and the long wait was certainly worth it with some great hurling on display at Pairc Rossa which was in pristine condition.


Nipper Quinn C Final- St Paul’s B v Brid Og :`

The first final of the morning saw Divison Two league winners Brid Og take on St Paul’s B in the C decider.

The Shaws Road side were first off the mark through a converted free from Dillon Rogers-Duffy but Brid Og responded with a goal from Fionn McCann.
This prompted a response from St Paul’s and they hit the net through a Ronan Leonard free which looped to the net.
It was a nip and tuck opening half and Fionn McCann found the net for the second time to restore his sides lead with Rogers-Duffy replying with his second free of the half.
Kaiden Farrell put St Paul’s ahead for the second time with a low finish from close-range.
Brid Og cut the gap through a Rory Conroy free but Odhran Brennan did likewise at the other end to ensure his side held a two-point lead at the interval.
Although the second half was lacking scores it certainly wasn’t lacking in effort.
Brid Og eventually made their pressure pay off as Ronan Taylor dipped and fired low to the net to nudge his side ahead by the minimum.
It was end to end stuff in the aftermath as the game reminded the balance until the final minute when Taylor popped over the bar to ensure his side ran out winners and completed the league and Championship double.


by thesaffrongael

St Enda’s beat Gorts in B final

Nipper Quinn B Final – Gort na Mona v St Enda’s

Gort na Mona made a fast start to the B decider, taking the lead through a converted Nathan McKenna free and it was from the same scenario that the games opening goal arrived.
McKenna floated a high free into the area and Daire Kennan touched the ball home to give the Turf Lodge outfit a clear advantage.
Shea Bell got St Endas off the mark with a converted free but a second goal from Ruairi Scullion had Gort in the ascendancy.
Nathan McKenna picked off two terrific scores from range as his side appeared to be in control at the midway point in proceedings.


St Endas’s required a fast start to the second period and got the opening point through Christopher Roberts.
They followed that with a goal as Shea Bell’s free was dropped into the danger area and Barra McGrath rifled home.
Bell converted his second free of the contest to leave just a goal separating the sides and midway through the second period the final was all square with Barra McGrath blasting home his second of the game.
Nathan McKenna restored his sides lead with his second converted free, though a terrific point from Joseph Mackin levelled for the second time.
The Hightown side hit the front for the first time through a third placed ball from Shea Bell and completed a fanatic second half turn around with a goal from Darragh Quinn to ensure the trophy was heading to Glengormley.

by thesaffrongael

Paddies are Nipper Quinn Shield A Champions

Nipper Quinn A Final- Sarsfields v St Galls:

Within the first sixty seconds of the A decider Sarsfields had gained a firm grip of the game through an early goal from Aaron Anderson and a point from Daire Delander.
Their dream start continued with a second goal arriving after three minutes when Sean McGuinness touched home from Conal O’Hagan’s free.
It took St Galls a while to recover but they responded as Padraig Kelly flicked it down and Paul Austin volleyed home.
Three converted Padraig Kelly frees followed as a solitary point seperated the sides at the interval.
Sarsfields caught St Galls cold with a third goal at the beginning of the second half through Daire Jemfrey- who showed great determination to find the net.
Padraig Kelly landed his fourth free of the contest and Dylan Meighan then converted a 65’.
Sarsfields insurance score arrived through a second goal of the contest from Aaron Anderson who dispatched from Sean McGuinness’ offload.
St Galls continued to push the Paddies and hit back with a further placed ball from Meighan but Sarsfields ran out winners in the end to claim the honours on the day.

by thesaffrongael

Cushendall recover from slow start

Rossa 0-13-1-21 Ruairi Og

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa

Cushendall recovered from a slow start to claim a comfortable 1-21-0-13 victory over Rossa in the reserve hurling league on Monday evening at Pairc Rossa.
The Ruairi’s were caught cold in the opening minutes as Jim Reynolds struck Rossa’s opening point and that was followed by a converted free from Conal McParland and a fine Eoin Trainor score.
Ryan Delargy responded for Cushendall and it settled his side down with Scott Walsh picking a fine point from range and Andrew Delargy drawing the sides level at 0-03 apiece.
Rossa got their noses back in front approaching the midway point in the opening half after Conal McParland combined with Reynolds for a splendid second score of the evening.


Though at the first half water break the Og’s were back on terms as Andrew Delargy picked out namesake Dominic who shot over the bar to restore parity for the second time.
Fresh from their breather it was Cushendall who emerged with more energy and they hit the front for the first time through a point from Patrick Sharpe- who was afforded too much time and space before angling the shot over.
Dominic Delargy then doubled the lead after some nice work from Mark Emerson and Dominic Delargy then shot inside the near post to give his side a 0-07-0-04 lead.
Eoin Trainor almost levelled at the other end but a fantastic stop from Conor McAllister denied the 18-year old.
Scott Walsh picked off a fantastic score a few minutes later with Trainor landing a free in response.
The sides continued to trade scores as Fiontan McQuillan’s strike from range was cancelled out but a Daire Matthew’s point and a converted free from Ruairc Murray saw Rossa close to within two-points approaching the break (0-09-0-07).


But the visitors ended the half stronger with points from Ryan Delargy, Scott Walsh and a 65’ from Dominic Delargy giving Cushendall a 0-12-0-07 lead at the interval.
Fiontan McQuillan extended his sides lead upon the resumption but Eoin Trainor then responded with a converted 65’.
The sides traded further scores as Patrick Sharpe angled one over from out by the sideline and substitute Ruairi Murray responded at the other end.
Stephen Walsh then popped the ball over and Conal McParland converted a free in response before Cushendall began to pull away from the Shaws Road side.
Dominic Delargy shot over his fifth of the evening and played a role in the games only goal as he pulled the ball across for a simple tap-in from Colm McKeegan.
Rossa responded with a third Conal McParland point- his first from play, but Patrick Sharpe pointed at the other end.
Points from McQuillan and Sharpe opened up the lead into double figures.
Conor O’Neill and Ruairc Murray claimed the hosts final two scores though Dominic Delargy and Patrick Sharpe replied at the other end as Cushendall ran out 1-21-0-13 winners at the conclusion.


Rossa: C Breathnach, J Quinn, D Murphy, F McIlory, P Short, O May, G McGrath, E Trainor (0-03, 0-01f, 0-01 65’), J Reynolds (0-02), M Murray, R Murray (0-02, 0-01f), C McParland (0-03, 0-02f), J McGreevy, C Rocks, D Matthews (0-01). Subs: R Murray (0-01) for J Reynolds (HT), D Magee for J Quinn (38), M Cunningham for M Murray (43), C O’Neill (0-01) for F McIlory (48).
Ruairi Og: C McAllister, E Gillen, T McAllister, D McGill, M Emerson, S Walsh (0-01), C McCollum, R Delargy (0-02), S Walsh (0-03), P Sharpe (0-04), D Delargy (0-06), A Delargy (0-03, 0-01f, 0-01 65’), M McCann, F McQuillan (0-02), C Brown. Subs: S McKenna for R Delargy (42), C McKeegan )1-00) for C Brown (45).
Referee: Lorenzo McMullan (Bredagh)