Month / May 2021

by thesaffrongael

St Pauls secure O’Donnell Cup after high scoring decider

O’Donnell Cup Final: St Pauls v St Brigids

Kevin Herron reports from Woodlands

St Pauls secured the O’Donnell Cup on Thursday evening after coming out on top over St Brigids in a high scoring and vividly enjoyable encounter at Woodlands.

Dillon Rogers-Duffy gave his side an early lead and James McDonnell fisted over before a reply with James Morrisey from St Brigids.

St Pauls restored their two-point lead through a curling point from Oisin Gamble and then secured the games opening goal through Rogers-Duffy – who palmed to the net from a Ben MacManus pass.

A quick fire second goal would arrive through Oisin Gamble but Joseph Logan shot low to the net at the other end.

The Shaws Road side were on top for the majority of the half and extended their lead with Dillon Rogers-Duffy adding to his goal and early point of three of his sides’ four unanswered scores in a row and Ben MacManus providing the other.

St Brigids eventually responded through two converted frees from Peter Molloy and an excellent point from James Morrisey to ensure they were still in with a fighting chance at the interval.

Peter Molloy added his third score from the placed ball after the break – but his side should have the net but for an almighty scramble on the St Pauls goal-line after Joseph Logan had struck the post.

Rogers-Duffy and MacManus combined for St Pauls response ace marksman Duffy added his second free of the evening.

Ceran Cowan looked to have sent St Pauls on the way to victory as palmed to the net for his sides third of the contest.

However St Brigid’s weren’t giving up and hit their second goal of the evening almost instantly through John Higgins.

A converted free followed courtesy of Peter Molloy before Michael McCann steered the ball between the posts.

But Dillon Rogers-Duffy converted his third free of the evening and then scored a wonder point after taking a pass from James McDonnell, selling a dummy and then popping the ball over.

Peter Molloy converted a further free to keep his side in touch, though the game was up for St Brigids as St Pauls found their fourth goal of the evening.

In a carbon copy of the first MacManus laid the ball off to Dillon Rogers-Duffy who shot low to the net.

Molloy and Ceran Cowan to trade late scores as St Pauls ran out winners to claim the 2020 O’Donnell Cup at the end of an absorbing contest.

by thesaffrongael

Oisins win convincingly but McGarry put on a show for the Shamrocks

Under 15 Hurling League

Loughgiel Shamrocks 5-8 Glenariffe Oisins 6-16

The goals and points flowed at Fr Healy Park on Thursday evening when the young hurlers of Loughgiel and Glenariffe turned on the style to hit 11 goals and 24 points between them. The Lion’s share of the scoring was done by the visitors who produced some great hurling, but the Shamrocks full forward Roan McGarry gave an individual display that will be talked about for a long time, hitting all but one score of his team’s total of 5-8. The young Oisins had a better overall mix and a wider range of players who hit the heights on the night, but McGarry’s display stood out.

Glenariffe started with a point from centre back Niall Magee but McGarry made his first mark on two minutes with a sweetly taken goal. However the Oisins flow wasn’t really interrupted and points from Calum McIlwaine and Oisin Mort (2) sent over points while Orrin O’Connor and Michael Fury banged in two goals to give their team a 2-5 to 1-1 lead at the first half water break.

Two points and a goal from McGarry just after the restart brought the gap down to a single score but his goal was answered in less than a minute by Oisin Mort and the visitors went on to open up a five point gap by half time.

A scoring burst which yielded goals by Canice McIntosh and Oisin Mort, plus two points from Niall Magee and Calum McIlwaine stretched the lead to 13 points and Loughgiel looked dead and buried, but Roan McGarry brought them right back into contention with two goals inside a minute. However the Glenariffe boys regained control in the final quarter and some excellent scores from Phelim Ward Nial Magee and the excellent Peadar McDonnell saw them pull 14 clear, before Loughgiel’s corner forward Daniel O’Mullan grabbed a brilliant goal in the finals seconds.

LOUGHGIEL

Tiernach McLean, Dan Henry, Codai McGarry, Caolan Reid, Dara McGivern, Ashdon McGarry, Ryan O’Boyle, Liam Glackin, Preston McGarry, Oisin Conolly, Ronan Fitzgerald, Conan Johnston, Daniel O’Mullan, Roan McGarry, Tadgh McKendry.

GLENARIFFE

Cahir McNaughton, Oran McClintock, John Scullion, James Kearney, Eoghan Robbin, Niall Magee, Colla Ward, Calum McIlwaine, Daniel Douthart, Peadar McDonnell, Orrin O’Connor, Phelim Ward, Oisin Mort, Michael Furey, Joe Leech.

by thesaffrongael

Latecomers Larne get the job done

Antrim Hurling League Division 4

Loch Moor Dal gCais 1-14 Latharna Og 0-19

A communications error meant that when Latharna Og turned up to play Loch Mor dal gCais in Mullusk, the home team and referee were at another Belfast council pitch in Falls Park. Now to be fair some of our boys arent that great at marking but being approximately eight miles from your direct opposition player is just too far even by some of our defenders standards. So a mad dash across Belfast ensued, the Larne boys just making it into the pitch at least 15 minutes after the scheduled throw in time.

The manic preparation and lack of warm up didn’t stop free scoring defender Cathal McKillop scoring 4 points along with single points from Jack McAllister, Matt Devine, Conor Matthews, Phil McKendry, as well as Kieran McKillop hitting the high notes with a point just before halftime to give the boys from the Brustin Brae a slender 0-9 to 1-5 lead at the break. Mickey McCullough got the Loch Mor goal, while three of the points came from ace marksman Darrach Turley.

The second half saw a ding dong battle ensue with the Lough Neagh amalgamation edging into the lead with two early points. In a game littered with wides and fouls Conal McAteer pointed from three frees either side of a Loch Mor point to regain a one point advantage for the yellow and blue. Like he did on Sunday, substitute Conor O’Boyle got his name on the score sheet to edge Latharna Og clear. Both teams then scored from frees. Mathew Devine starting his first game in eight years replied with a point to another Turley point from Loch Mor.

The home side regained the lead midway through the second half with three unanswered points in. The Latharna Og half backline of Shields McKillop and Mark Petticrew stood up and stopped the leaks before team captain McKillop pointed a free from distance to once again level the scores.

Darren Martin and Ryan O’Donnell then both swung over spectacular long range points from wide on the right hand side of the pitch to ease Latharna Og two clear with the minutes slipping away. Turley cut it back to the minimum with another pointed free but McKillop replied for the East Antrim men to seal the victory.

Loch Mor scorers

Darragh turley 0-9, Micheal McCullagh 1-2 Matthew Jones 0-1 Ruari bannon 0-1 Bailey Graham 0-1

Latharna Og scorers

0-5 Cathal McKillop 0-5 Conal McAteer 0-2 Matt Devine 0-1 Jack McAllister 0-1 Conor Matthews 0-1 Phil McKendry 0-1 Kieran McKillop 0-1 Conor O’Boyle 0-1 Darren Martin 0-1 Ryan O’Donnell

41Carl McCormick, Caitlin McIlwaine and 39 others1 Comment2 SharesLikeCommentShare

LOCH MOR

Bailey Graham, Daniel Bell, Declan Phillips, Aaron Monaghan, Gerard Pickering, Conor Jones, Ruairi Bannon, Martin Braniff, Ruairi Moran, Matthew Jones, Cormac Dwyer, Paul Molloy, Darragh Turley, Murtagh Moran, David Michael McCullagh.

LATHARNA OG

Seamus Og McCurry, Thomas Carson, Barra Petticrew, Darren Martin, Mark Petticrew, Cathal McKillop, Caolan Shields, Ryan O’Donnell, Philip McKendry, Kieran Mulvenna, Conor Matthews, Matthew Devine, Ciaran McKillop, Conal McAteer, Jack McAlister

by thesaffrongael

O’Connell goal snatches it for the Gaels

ACHL Div.2A

Clony Gaels 1-18 Emmet’s Cushendun 1-16

Emmet’s Cushendun were left wondering how they had let this one slip against Cloney Gaels in Cloney last night. The North Antrim side led from start to finish and were two in front going into injury time when James O’Connell got on the end of a pass from Donal Graham to fire to the net.

The visitors made all the early running and deservedly led 1-4 to 0-1 after 15 minutes with Harry Kilgore getting the goal in the 4th minute and adding a point with David Kilgore 0-2 and Aidan Corbett their other marksmen while Cloney Gaels only reply came from mid-fielder, Frankie Neeson.

After the first water break the Ahoghill side had a wee bit of success and points from PJ O’Connell and Ronan Graham cut the visitors lead to two but Cushendun came back with three of their own to re-establish their dominance on the game.

David Kilgore was the man who led the Emmet’s charge as he fired over two great points in the 21st minute and he added another in the 24th minute to bring his personal tally to 0-5 as his side continued to impress.

Points from Conrad McDonnell, Callum Kilgore and Conleth McNeill saw the sea-siders establish a very convincing seven point lead as half time approached but the home side dug deep to hit back with late points from James O’Connell, Bobby Magee and Colla McDonnell to cut the gap to seven at the turn over.

Cloney Gaels looked to be getting on top when they hit the first four points of the second half through Dan O’Neill, James O’Connell, Donal Graham and James O’Connell again to close the gap to three but Cushendun were not about to throw in the towel and they replied through Conleth McNeill and Harry Gilgore to move five ahead once more.

This Ahoghill side are never beaten however and they responded with points from Dan O’Connell 0-2, PJ O’Connell, Patrick Graham and Thomas McGlone and the momentum seemed to have swung the way of the home side again but this excellent Cushendun side quite simply refused to bend the knee. Conleth McNeill fired over at the other end and then Harry Kilgore lofted a ‘65’ between the uprights and at this stage the Emmet’s looked to have done enough to take the points.

Donal Graham had an opportunity to level the game on 29mins but a wonderful save from Cushendun keeper Gareth Magee from point blank range was put out for a ’65’ which O’Connel fired wide but Cloney staged one last attack and in the 32 minute Donal Graham won a high ball and laid it off to the in rushing James O’Connell who sidestepped a defender an drove the ball across the keeper into the back of the net.

Another couple of hard earned points for Cloney Gael but the feeling at the final whistle must have been as much about relief as anything else and they will be the first to admit that they were pushed to their limits by a very good Cushendun side.

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Cloney Gaels: Martin Graham, James Magee, Bernard Graham, Diarmaid Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Neil O’Connell, Eamonn Brady, Francis Neeson, Thomas McGlone, Owen Neeson, Ronan Graham, PJ O’Connell, Colla McDonnell, Donal Graham, James O’Connell

Subs: Patrick Graham for Colla Mc Donnell. Dan O’Neill for Owen Neeson. Dominic Neeson for Ronan Graham. Gerard Graham for PJ O’Connell

Emmet’s Cushendun: Gareth Magee, Sean Hamilton, Aidan Corbett, Jack McKay, Conor McHugh, Donal O’Hara, Thomas Scally, Matthew McCartan, David Kilgore, Eoin Magee, Harry Kilgore, James Morgan, Callum Kilgore, Conleth McNeill, Dominic McQuillan.

by thesaffrongael

Ruairis made to work by dogged Naomh Eanna

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Cushendall 2-21 Naomh Eanna 1-18

Cushendall got the better of visitors Naomh Eanna on Wenesday evening at Pairc Mhuir, but they were made to work for their victory by the Glengormley men who fought from start to finish.

Early points from Eoin Conlon and Ruairi Donaghy put Naomh Eanna two ahead by the third minute but Cushendall drew level by the seventh as Fergus McCambridge and Paddy McGill fired over. The visitors came back with three in a row, two from Cormac Jennings and one from Niall O’Connor, but two McGill points from frees cut the gap back a single point by the tenth minute. The decisive score of the opening quarter came on 13 minutes when Christy McNaughton fired in the first goal of game which put the Ruairis 1-6 to 0-7 ahead by the water-break.

The second quarter saw Cushendall open a bit of game as Feruse McCambridge and Andrew Delargy picked off some nice points, but Noamh Eanna were right back in it when Cormac Jennings grabbed a goal three minute from the break to leave them trailing by just two points at half time.

When Christy McNaughton set up Paddy Sharpe for Cushendall’s second goal two minutes into the second half they looked like pulling away, but a dogged and determined Naomh Eanna side and two points from Ruairi Og and Cormac Jennings left them trailing by just four at the second half water-break 0 2-15 to 1-14.

The scoring rate dropped off a little in the final quarter but Cushendall were able to find a reply each time the visitors edged closer and two late Christy McNaughton points saw them over the line with six to spare.

CUSHENDALL

Eoin Gillan, Shane McKenna, Martin Burke, Liam Gillan, Scott Walsh, Terry McAllister, Mark Emerson, Alex Delargy, Andrew Delargy, Dominic Delargy, Eoin Laverty, Fergus McCambridge, Paddy McGill Fiontan McQuillan.

NAOMH EANNA

Martin Curran, Dara Maguire, Rian Gillan, Manus Mullan, Cormac Ross, Mark Donaghy, Matthew O’Hare, Eoin Conlon, Ryan Bogue, Ruairi Donaghy, Rian O’Connor, Eddie O’Connor, Killian Jennings, Philly Curran, Cormac Jennings

Referee – Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel).