May 29, 2021May 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Fixtures and Previews (Sunday 30th May)

Another full round of fixtures are scheduled for Sunday with games in all three division.

Antrim are scheduled to meet Leitrim in their third round National League game and this dictates an early start to league proceedings with a 1.30 pm start time.

Division One (1.30pm)

St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Brigid’s

St Brigid’s have commenced their 2021 campaign on the positive and following an opening round success at Portglenone they followed with an impressive ten point win over St Gall’s last time.

The South Belfast side are on the road again and will visit Aghagallon in search of another couple of points.

Aghagallon started the season with a victory over the visiting St Enda’s but failed to follow suit last time when they travelled to Gort na Mona and although the St Mary’s side are back on home soil again in round three they may struggle to cope with their inform visitors.

Gort na Mona v St Enda’s Glengormley

Gort na Mona opened their account last time with a good win over the visiting Aghagallon and they look for the addition of another couple of points here as they play hosts to St Enda’s.

Former Saffron great Niall Ward is at the helm and the West Belfast men have shown good form to date.

St Enda’s remain in search of their opening win this term having endured back to back defeats against Aghagallon and Lamh Dhearg but the home side will start as favourites and they may well gain the day.

St Gall’s v St John’s

An all city affair in this one as St Gall’s play hosts to St. John’s and the home side opened their account with a first round win over Gort na Mona but they failed to follow suit next time losing out to St Brigid’s.

The Johnnies remain without a point as yet after two outings and they will travel over to the Lower Falls seeking a better return.

Paddy Nugent’s charges are going into action without a few county players and they may well struggle to take the points here.

Casement’s Portglenone v Kickham’s Creggan

An all South West encounter as Creggan visit Portglenone and this one may well take top billing in what looks the ‘match of the day’.

Casements had a great result last time when they visited Corrigan and came away with both points after losing narrowly to St Brigid’s in round one and they will look to continue in the same mode.

Creggan have started the season on the positive, having secured back to back wins and they will travel to O’ Cahan Park in confidence.

Little may separate them at conclusion with ground advantage possibly tipping the balance in favour of the Portglenone men.

O’ Donovan Rossa v Erin’s Own Cargin

Cargin have started the season well with back to back wins over Lamh Dhearg and Ahoghill and will hope to continue that good form as they visit Shaw’s Road to meet Rossa.

Damien Cassidy’s charges do seem to be coping well without the services of their county players and will travel in search of another win.

Rossa also remain unbeaten to date in the 2021 season after a draw at Creggan last time which suggests they are going well at present.

The city men will look forward to this visit of their country cousins and a close one looks on the cards with the Toome men just given a tentative vote.

St Mary’s Ahoghill v Lamh Dhearg

Ahoghill have struggled this term and the Cloney men have endured back to back defeats to date.

They did hint at improvement last time out however and will hope to continue with the visit of Lamh Dhearg.

Lamh Dhearg got their first win of the season last time when they gained a narrow verdict at Hightown.

The Hannahstown men won 0-06 to 0-05 but this looks harder and a home win and the acquisition of a couple of points for the home side looks possible.

Division Two (1.30pm)

St Joseph’s Glenavy v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass

An all South West affair in this one as Glenavy welcome the visit of the reigning county Intermediate champions to Chapel Hill.

The St Joseph’s opened this year’s campaign with a first round win over Ardoyne but were beaten on day two by neighbours Aldergrove.

Moneyglass have started the season well with wins over Sarsfield’s and were forced to travel to Dunloy on day two when their own pitch was deemed unplayable where they recorded another good win. The Marian Hill residents do seem to have hit the sod running in 2021 and although they may well face a test on the Chapel Hill arena they may well retain the winning habit.

St James Aldergrove v Kickham’s Ardoyne

Aldergrove are under new management and have impressed in their outings to date.

The Crumlin men opened with a win over the visiting Davitt’s before proving too strong for their close rivals and near neighbours Glenavy last time out.

Ardoyne got their first win last time with a home win over Davitt’s but this looks a sterner test for the North Belfast men with a home win looking the likely outcome.

Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Teresa’s

Dunloy with a number of county players within their ranks have found the going tough to date and have lost both of their opening games.

They will enjoy ground advantage this time and will hope to open account with the visit of St Teresa’s.

St Teresa’s recorded a good win last time at the expense of the visiting Sarsfields with a 1-15 to 1-12 advantage and they will travel with confidence but an opening win for the Cuchullian’s may prove possible.

Patrick Sarsfield’s v Tir na nOg Randalstown

The Paddies remain without a win to date and they will look for better this time as they play hosts to Tir na nOg at the Bear Pit.

Tir na nOg have started the season well and followed a win over Ballymena with a hard earned win over St Paul’s and they will travel with every expectation at making it three in a row.

St Paul’s v Con Magees Glenravel

This looks another close one as St Paul’s play hosts to Glenravel. The city men got off to a flyer with an opening round win over St Teresa’s before going down by the minimum at Whitehill last time.

Glenravel had a good start to this year’s campaign with victory over Davitt’s but lost last time against the visiting All Saint’s and they may well struggle to cope with their hosts in this one.

All Saints v Davitt’s

All Saints lost heavily in their opening game to Tir na nOg Randalstown but travelled to Fr. Maginn Park on day two and pipped Glenravel in a game that could have gone either way. |Davitt’s have lost both of their opening games but will travel to Quinn Park in hope of getting some points on the board but home advantage should swing it in favour of the home side.

Division Three (1.30pm)

Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v Eire Og

O’ Donnell’s have really hit the ground running this term and they may well continue on the winning trail as Eire Og visit tMc Crory Park.

St Mary’s Rasharkin v Laochra Loch Lao

St Mary’s Rasharkin remain undefeated thus far with back to back wins over St Malachy’s and Mc Quillan’s and the Dreen men should record their third win from the visit of Laochra Loch Lao.

St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Comgall’s Antrim

This looks a close one as former junior champions Lisburn play hosts to last year’s beaten finalists St Comgall’s and this one could go either way.

St Malachy’s v McQuillan’s Ballycastle

Both sides are without a win to date as the Mal’s play hosts to Mc Quillan’s with the Market’s men, favoured by home advantage given the vote.

May 29, 2021May 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

“You’re only as good as your last game” says Cunningham

By Kevin Herron

Paddy Cunningham believes Antrim will be up against it when Leitrim visit Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon (3 o’clock throw-in).

The Saffrons are bidding for a third win in succession to cement top spot in the Division Four North section of the Allianz National Football League while Leitrim travel to the Whiterock Road without a win in their previous two outings and no chance of claiming a semi-final spot.

Cunningham is expecting Leitrim to provide a stern test but is expecting stiff competition from within the Antrim squad ahead of Sundays clash.

“You’re only as good as your last game and no doubt we’ll be up against it” Cunningham believes.

“Leitrim need to win, they got beat by Louth and they’ve nothing to lose. They will come out and throw everything at us on Sunday. We need to prepare diligently and improve on our mistakes from last Sunday. There is a lot of learning that needs to be taken from 1-15 and then also there is serious competition within the squad as well. There is four or five lads who were unfortunate not to make the 26 and they will be chomping at the bit to get in on Sunday”.

Cunningham is glad to go into Sunday’s game with a guaranteed semi-final spot regardless of the outcome and insists they can go out and try and get the perfect performance.

“It was just great to get the two points against Louth and Sligo” reflected Cunningham

“With getting the two wins it leaves us in the position for a play-off in three weeks to try and get to the league final. It means we can go into Leitrim still looking get a performance – but knowing that we are in a semi-final in a few weeks’ time. From that point of view, it is great for the boys, great for the squad and great for the team”.

The 36-year-old has called on his team-mates to improve on the disciplinary aspect of their game – having conceded three penalties against Sligo last weekend.

Cunningham was a spectator for 64 minutes and admits he was delighted to come off the bench to influence proceedings for the second week running.

“It’s something we definitely have to work on in terms of discipline” admits Cunningham

“We gave away three penalties and that’s something we definitely have to home in on for the semi-final but there’s not much you can do when you’re standing on the subs bench. I was just glad to get in and get an opportunity to try to influence the game and thankfully we done enough to come out on the right side of the it against a very formidable Sligo team”.

May 29, 2021May 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

O’Neill expects tight encounter against Leitrim

By Kevin Herron

Antrim assistant manager Stephen O’Neill is expecting a tough encounter with Leitrim on Sunday.

O’Neill acknowledges that Terry Hyland’s charges have a good set-up and believes that Sundays clash is an opportunity for Antrim’s strong panel to showcase themselves ahead of the league semi-final in two weeks’ time.

“We’ve Leitrim and it will be a very tough game” predicts O’Neill.

“They’ve a very good set-up so we will have to prepare as best we can for that and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to Corrigan Park. There is not much time for recovery for anyone that has picked up knocks or niggles, but it gives the panel a chance to shine as well. That’s what we’re lucky to have here- a very strong panel and every man is pushing each other”.

The Saffrons opening two encounters have been nip and tuck victories over Louth and Sligo respectively, but O’Neill insists there is a lot more to come in the weeks ahead.

“It was a very lively game and I suppose last week’s game was the same- it was nip and tuck” O’Neill reflected.

“You’ve two very competitive teams that were going toe to toe and that’s what their aim was at the start of the year. Louth had it the week previous, Sligo this week and ourselves. We were just delighted to get the win, but it could have went either way. We are under no illusions that we have a lot of work to do to get to that level. Over the next few weeks, we will hopefully be putting that in”.

Although O’Neill didn’t think his sides performance was good in the victory over Sligo he praised the work-rate and determination on show.

“Our performance against Sligo wasn’t good” admits O’Neill.

“For long periods we didn’t play as we wanted to do- out handling was poor, our decision making at times was very poor. But when things aren’t going well the only thing that you can really control is what you bring to the game, and we cannot fault the lads work-rate, determination, and perseverance just to keep going until the very end. We’re delighted with that aspect”.

O’Neill praised the impact of Paddy Cunningham who has popped up with the winning scores in the previous two encounters and believes his qualities have shone through.

“He did the same against Louth when we needed a score – he had to score” he recalled.

“He has one of the sweetest left foots about and he’s a calm head and that experience has shone because it was a very difficult kick from a tight angle. No better man than Paddy to knock it over”.

May 29, 2021May 29, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Young Saffrons impress in McGurk Cup final win over Down

Conor McGurk Cup final – QUB Senior Hurling Tournament

Antrim 4-24 Down 1-19

Antrim came out on top in Friday night’s Conor McGurk Cup final at Corrigan Park, Darren Gleeson’s young team turning in a great display of fast, sharp hurling to beat Ulster rivals Down by fourteen points. The Saffrons made fifteen changes from the team who lost to Dublin last weekend as Gleeson took a look at the rest of his panel, and it has to be said quite a few of them went a long way in staking a claim for a starting position when the league resumes next weekend against Wexford.

**Down goalkeeper Paddy McNally dives full length to turn away a Shea Shannon shot**

Eoin O’Neill got Antrim off to a great start when he broke through to fire the ball to the Down net on twelve minute, which added to Shea Shannon’s three points put the Saffrons in a strong position. Down kept in touch with points from free taker McManus, and had closed the gap to just four when the Saffrons struck for their second goal through Niall McCormick which stretched the gap to seven, and with Nicky McKeague and Shannon adding further points the went on to lead by 2-10 to 0-8 at the interval.

**Antrim’s man of the match Eoin O’Neill receives his award**

Antrim started the second half, as they had finished the first, and three quick point from Shannon (2) and O’Neill opened up an eleven point gap. Goal number three followed soon afterwards when substitute Peter McCallin combined with his St John’s clubmate Shannon to fire home, but Down pulled a goal back when substitute Ronan McCusker was put clear by Ronan Costello before beating Paul McMullan in the Antrim goal.

There would have been more goals for Antrim had it not been for the heroics of Down netminder Paddy McNally who pulled off a series of brilliant saves.

Four points without reply from the Down men ten minutes from time closed the gap, but the introduction of substitutes Keelan Molloy, James McNaughton, Conor McHugh lifted the Saffrons again and Shannon eventually broke McNally’s resistance as he scored his team’s fourth goal.

ANTRIM: P McMullan; P Duffin, M Donnelly, A Crawford; R McCambridge (0-2), R McGarry, N O’Connor; Ciaran Johnston, N McKeague (0-1); C Bohill (0-1), E O’Neill (1-2), N McCormack (1-1); Dan McCloskey, Conor Johnston (0-2), S Shannon (1-11, 0-7s, 0-3 ’65).

Subs: P McCallin (1-0) for McCormack (43), A O’Brien for O’Connor (43), Declan McCloskey for Ciaran Johnston (51), C McHugh for Bohill (51), J McNaughton (0-1) for O’Neill (60), K Molloy (0-1) for McKeague (62).

DOWN: P McNally; M McAreavey, T Murray, D Rooney; G Hughes, M Fisher (0-3, 0-2fs), N McFarlane; P Savage, PJ Davidson; R McCusker, R Blair, N Fitzsimons; P Doran, O McManus (0-12, 0-10fs, 0-2 ’65), T Prenter.

Subs: D Hughes for Prenter (11), C Watson for Murray (19), M Conlan for McFarlane (HT), R Costello (1-2) for Doran (43), E Sands (0-1) for Davidson (43), M Patterson for Rooney (43), P Sheehan (0-1) for Fitzsimons (57).

REFEREE: J Connors (Donegal).