September 12, 2021September 13, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Gaels through to semi-final

Andersonstown SC IHC Group 1

Cloney Gaels 1-26 St. Gall’s 3-17

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

Cloney Gaels are through to the Andersonstown SC IHC semi-final following a three point win over visitors St. Gall’s in Cloney tonight. The visitors needed a win to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals and during the opening half they matched the Ahoghill side score for score.

Indeed they led by 2-3 to 1-5 after 12 minutes with their goals coming from Mark Napier and Tomas O’Ciarain and the Cloney goal scored by James O’Connell. O’Connell led the Cloney scoring charge during the opening half contributing seven points to add to his goal with the other points coming from Tomas McGlone, Ronan Graham 0-2, Donal Graham, Owen Neeson and Dan O’Neill.

The visitors matched them score for score for most of the opening half with Jackson McGreevey leading the way with 0-6 and Tomas O’Ciarain and Mark Napier getting their other two points to leave them trailing by two at half time and it looked anybody’s game at this stage.

The Milltown men made a fast start to the second half with points from Marcus Donnelly, Tomas O’Ciarain, Jackson McGreevey and Patrick Friel in the opening three minutes but the Gaels came back strongly with points of their own through James O’Connell 0-2, Ronan Graham and Owen Neeson to restore their two point lead by the 5^th minute.

The visitors cause certainly wasn’t helped when they had O’Ciaran sent off in the 10^th minute but they continued to make life difficult for the eventual winners. Mark Napier added another for St. Gall’s to close the gap to one but Cloney Gaels replied through James O’Connell 0-2, Frankie Neeson, Tomas McGlone and O’Connell again to stretch their lead to six by the 13^th minute.

Two more St. Gall’s points from the excellent Jackson McGreevey were cancelled out by points from the equally impressive James O’Connell and Ronan Graham as the home side continued to hold the upper hand with Bernard Graham doing sterling work as the extra man.

The visitors battled manfully until the end with Jackson McGreevey leading by example and adding a further 0-3 to his total and Antoin McCaffery getting their final point but the Ahoghill side were always able to find a response and points from James O’Connell, Boris O’Connell, Tom McGlone and Ronan Graham saw them run out winners by three points to top Group 1

Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Stephen O’Connell, 3 James Magee, 4 Eamon Brady, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Daniel O’Neill, 8 Francis Neeson, 9 Neil O’Connell, 10 Owen Neeson, 11 Thomas McGlone, 12 Ronan Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Donal Graham, 15 James O’Connell, Subs: Eoin Graham for Colla McDonnell, Gewrard Graham for Donal Graham.

St. Gall’s: 1 Kurtis McGreevey, 2 Duhaltach Wilson, 3Joe McDaniel, 4 Stephen Morrison, 5 Lorcan O’Ciarain, 6 Aodhan Gallagher, 7 Niall O’Neill, 8 Jack Hopkins, 9 Marcus Donnelly, 10 Tomas O’Ciarain, 11 Jackson McGreevey, 12 Patrick Friel, 13 Mark Napier, 14 Antoin McCaffery, 15 Sean McAreavey

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

September 12, 2021September 13, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Johnston Majors seal win for Johnnies

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter-Final

St Johns 2-21 Loughgiel 1-22

Sunday September 12

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pairc Ui Cheallagh, Portglenone

St John’s and Loughgiel just don’t do dour and drab encounters, do they? Under the floodlights of Pairc Ui Cheallagh, they laid out a feast of championship hurling for the big crowd to devour. It was an epic, titanic tussle that had everyone gripped from the first whistle. In the end, goals from Conor and Ciaran Johnston proved to be the telling scores, one in each half as the Johnnies edged Loughgiel by two points to finally come out on top of a close contest.

In recent seasons, St John’s have been involved in so many battles with extra time and replays coming and going with the Corrigan Park side coming out on the wrong side of them. They didn’t need extra time or a reply on Sunday evening but this was every bit the gargantuan battle we expected beforehand.

Loughgiel came into the game with something to prove to themselves after their performance against Rossa seven days ago and they improved immeasurably. James McNaughton was once again their star man with a breath taking display, roaming all over the pitch but the inside forward duo of Chirsty McGarry and substitute Rian McMullan brought the Shamrocks to life while Ciaran McKay was tireless from half back. The Shamrocks are backing their youth and how they responded to the belief instilled in them. Eleven minutes into the second half and St John’s looked to be taking control of this quarter-final with Ciaran Johnston’s brilliant goal helping them to an eight point lead but Loughgiel responded by scoring 1-4 in the space of five minutes and but for the brilliance of Simon Doherty between the posts, it could have been more. Rian McMullan with the goal while Paul Boyle’s rasping drive was saved superbly.

**St John’s midfielder Michael Bradley**

If anything the Loughgiel momentum was staved by the second half water-break. They were in full throttle and with the wind at their sails but St John’s dug in once again in the final quarter of a match they were never behind in. From racing into an early four point lead by the seventh minute to opening a six point lead after Conor Johnston’s goal, the Johnnies always had an edge on the scoreboard. Conor Johnston’s goal coming after great work from Michal Dudley down the right.

It was a night for leaders and both sides had them in spades. Domhnall Nugent didn’t need to do his Roger Federer impression this time around but he was immense at centre half for the Johnnies while Michael Bradley and Michal Dudley were always in the thick of the action. Ciaran Johnston was quite brilliant also and his goal typified his performance. Quick feet, powerful running, composure to evade tackles and a rasping drive when he had the half a yard he needed. Tony McCloskey and Shan McGrath both in close attendance but his goal was unstoppable.

At the other end of the pitch, Loughgiel looked to the youthful exuberance of Christy McGarry and Rian McMullan. Both made an absolute nuisance of themselves every time the sliotar went into the danger area and both had a hand in the Shamrocks goal. Paul Boyle delivering a ball into the inside forward line with Christy McGarry contesting. He couldn’t get the sliotar cleanly but Rian McMullan was on hand to sweep home in the 46^th minute.

The Shamrocks could have had another goal with the next attack but Christy McGarry’s effort came back off the foot of the upright just before the water break.

***James McNaughton makes a high catch during Sunday’s epic clash with St John’s in Portglenone.***

In a game where scores were taken from all angles and on a breathless night where it seemed like distance didn’t matter when it came to chances, there was none better than James McNaughton. 13 points to his name, four from play and one of the scores of this and any championship. His feet were touching the whitewash of the side line and close to half way, McNaughton struck off his back foot and under pressure from two St John’s defenders. It mattered little to the Shamrocks star man. A point from the Gods as he looked to lead the Loughgiel challenge against a defiant St Johns team.

The Corrigan Park men showed their attacking prowess once more with Shea Shannon brilliant and metronomic from placed ball. Conor Johnston at his fleet footed best while they used the sliotar intelligently to create chances.

Chances that came and went for both sides, especially at the end of the first half where Loughgiel will look back on a series of wides that with hindsight, cost them dearly as the Johnnies always held that edge.

The closing stages were nervy with the Shamrocks throwing everything they had in their armoury. Simon Doherty was called into action and stood tall for his side when Rian McMullan had another sniff of a goal but this was the Johnnies time.

They progress to the semi-finals and another meeting with Dunloy in two week’s time as Loughgiel’s championship dream ends for 2021.

***Ciaran Johnston fires in a St John’s goal early in the second half***

TEAMS

St Johns: Simon Doherty; Aidan McMahon, Ryan McNulty, Jack Bohill; Conal Bohill, Domhnall Nugent, Conall Morgan; Michael Bradley, Oisin Donnelly; Michal Dudley, Shea Shannon, Conor Johnston; Donal Carson, Ciaran Johnston, Peter McCallin

Scorers: Shea Shannon 0-11 (8f’s, 2’65s); Conor Johnston 1-3; Michal Dudley 0-3; Domhnall Nugent 0-1; Conal Morgan 0-1; Michael Bradley 0-1; Peter McCallin 0-1

Loughgiel: Chrissy O’Connell; Seamus Dobbin, Tony McCloskey, Ronan McCloskey; Ciaran McKay, Damon McMullan, Declan McCloskey; Dan McCloskey, Shan McGrath; Donal McKinley, Eddie McCloskey, Paul Boyle; Michael McGarry, James McNaughton, Christy McGarry

Scorers: James McNaughton 0-13 (8 f’s, 1 ’65); Christy McGarry 0-3; Rian McMullan 1-00; Eddie McCloskey 0-2; Ciaran McKay 0-2; Donal McKinley 0-1; Paul Boyle 0-1

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

September 12, 2021September 13, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Cathoir an Ri and Oisin can’t be separated

Andersonstown SC IHC Group 1

Cathaoir an Ri 2-14 Glenariffe Oisin 1-17

Before today’s clash between Cathaoir an Ri and Glenariffe Oisin in Group 1 in Ballyvoy a win for either side would have left them fairly sure of qualification for a place in the semi-finals, depending on how other games in the group ended.

By 5-40 both sets of mentors and players were doing their sums in an attempt to work out the permutations and a possibility of four teams ending on 7 points each was a distinct possibility depending on how Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s finished in Ahoghill tonight.

An hour earlier the protagonists of this game went into action to provide a game of real championship intensity that had everything. Brilliant scores, spectacular saves and hurling of an intensity that kept the good crowd in attendance in Ballyvoy right on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

Cathaoir on Ri were first to threaten with the sliothar rebounding of the Oisin post after 30 seconds but it was visitors Glenariffe who scored first when Alex O’Boyle pointed a free in the second minute and the Oisin number 12 was to have a major influence on the final result with an exhibition of free taking right out of the top drawer.

The home side’s own free taker, Conor McBride had something to say about that and he pointed two frees by the 7^th minute to give his side the lead and when the same player got in for a goal in the 9^th minute things were going according to plan for Cathaoir an Ri.

Things began to swing in favour of Glenariffe after that and they hit five unanswered points before the first water break with four of them coming from Alex O’Boyle frees and the other from Seamus McDonnell.

O’Boyle extended the visitors lead on the restart from another free but Conor McBride was showing similar accuracy for the Ballyvoy men and as the free count rose he bagged two of his own and a great point from Daniel McBride and another from Caolan McCaughan had the home side 1-6 to 0-8 ahead as Ray Matthews sounded his half time whistle.

As play got under way again Alex O’Boyle pointed his 7^th free and his side’s 9^th point to level matters once more and Cathal McAuley pulled off an excellent save to deny the visitors as they went looking for their opening goal.

Fiachra McVeigh replied with an excellent point at the other end to restore his side’s lead before the home side got their second goal. ‘Rocket’ Black cut in from the right wing and unleashed a fierce shot which was superbly saved by Seanan McToal. Black doubled on the rebound but again McToal was equal to the task but John McBride was in the right place to return the sliotar to the net.

Three ahead at this stage, John McBride made it four from a free in the 15^th minute and Alex O’Boyle from another free cut the gap to three at the second water break.

The exchanges were going in hard and fast as the final quarter got under way and Patrick Gillen with a good point from play and Alex O’Boyle exchanged further points on the restart but Cathaoir an Ri looked to be gaining the upper hand and JohnMcBride and Conor McBride edged them five in front with 23 minutes on the clock.

Back came the men from Waterfoot and that man O’Boyle got them on their way again when he pointed yet another free, his tenth of the game and when substitute Dan McKillop raced through for to fire to the net in the 22^nd minute the fat was back in the fire and only a point separated the sides.

Mickey Gettens followed with a point to level the contest once more and it was clear that the side who blinked first would lose this one but neither side was prepared to blink. Conor McBride and Alex O’Boyle exchanged further scores and then Seanan McToal brought off another spectacular save to deny McBride at the expense of a ‘65’.

McBride earned the loud applause of the home support when he pointed the resulting ‘65’ and looked to have won the game for the Ballyvoy side and when Alex O’Boyle finally missed one from 70 yards out it looked over for the visitors but Dan McKillop struck with the equaliser in the 32^nd minute to leave it all square at the full time whistle.

FOOT NOTE: As I was about to publish this report news has filtered through that Cloney Gaels have won their final game against St. Gall’s to top Group 1 so (According to my calculations) Cathaoir an Ri will need to win their final game away to Gort na Mona by 25 points to edge Glenariffe on score difference for second place.

Cathaoir an Ri: 1 Cathal McAuley, 2 Daniel Hill, 3 Sean McBride, 4 Zach McCaughan, 5 Michael McVeigh, 6 Peadar McVeigh, 7 Patrick Gillan, 8 Daniel McBride, 9 Patrick Butler, 10 Fiachra McVeigh, 11 John McBride, 12 Caolan McCaughan, 13 Sean McLaughlin, 14 James ‘Rocket’ Black, 15 Connor McBride. Subs: Shea Hunter for F McVeigh

Oisin: 1 Seanan McToal, 2 Michael Haughey, 3 Conor Patterson, 4 Michael McAllister, 5 Donall Kearney, 6 Shea O’Connor, 7 David Kearney, 8 Oliver Kearney, 9 Kieran McKendry, 10 Michael O’Boyle, 11 Caolan O’Connor, 12 Alex O’Boyle, 13 Seanie McIntosh, Seamus McDonnell, 15 Cathal McDonnell. Subs: 20 Dan McKillop, Aaron Cosgrove, Mickey Gettens

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

September 12, 2021September 16, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Super Saffrons are All Ireland champions

All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final

Antrim 2-21 Kilkenny 2-13

Antrim returned to the top table of camogie following a convincing eight point victory over Kilkenny in Sunday’s All-Ireland Intermediate final in Croke Park.

It’s the Saffron’s first title at this level in 18 years when current selector Elaine Dowds was a player. Dowds came off the bench that day to claim 1-1 against Tipperary in the 2003 decider.

It was a scintillating performance from the Antrim side and once Maeve Kelly waved her way through the Cats defence for the games opening goal on 21 minutes, there was no turning back for Paul McKillen’s side.

The partnership of Róisín McCormick and Kelly have long been tipped for superstardom through the schools and underage structures in Antrim and they delivered on the biggest stage at Croke Park to propel Antrim to victory in the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final.

Team captain Lucia McNaughton lifts the McGrath Cup after her team’s win over Kilkenny

The deadly duo scored a goal and 14 points between them, and with Caitrin Dobbin also weighing in with 1-02, Antrim racked up a remarkable return that no side could match.

The game was decided in a matter of minutes just before the second-half water break, a period that actually began with a goal from a 20-metre free by Sophie O’Dwyer in the 43rd minute.

That gave Kilkenny hope as they closed to within four points, but McCormick and Kelly responded immediately with points before McCormick set up Catrine Dobbin, who finished with the coldness of an assassin, the shot to the far corner worthy of the move that had led up to it.

It was only two minutes after O’Dwyer’s major and the hopes they had harboured had been ruthlessly extinguished.

Both sets of attacks showing good economy in the first half, finishing ruthlessly and with no overtly defensive systems, that meant a welter of excitement for supporters.

It was 1-11 to 0-9 at half-time and only three of those scores came from placed balls as the teams revelled in the open spaces.

Kilkenny started very well and their three half-forwards had pointed inside five minutes, after Kelly had opened the scoring in 58 seconds. In the blink of an eye, the Cats were leading by three, Sarah Walsh, Eva Hynes, Walsh again and Ciara O’Keeffe splitting the posts.

**Celebration time! Antrim players embrace at the final whistle**

Antrim have a nice mix of youth and experience, with the likes of Chloe Drain and Maeve Connolly on the panel that won the Premier Junior title in 2010, while McCormick and Kelly have built up a lot of game time over the past four years.

Beaten finalists by Down last year, they stayed calm though they were extremely fortunate in the eight minute when Danielle Quigley struck the butt of their post and the normally deadly Hannah Scott fresh-aired from the rebound.

Kilkenny will wonder what a goal would have done then, particularly as Antrim went straight up the field for McCormick to point after a run in from the. The Loughgiel starlet followed up with another couple of scores, supplemented by a Lucia McNaughton point for the Saffrons to hit the front, a lead they held at the water break.

O’Dwyer equalised from a free but Kelly lit up Croke Park with a brilliant individual goal in the 21st minute, picking up possession around 30m out, side-stepping wonderfully and then showing good strength to bear down on Sinéad Farrell.

***Player fo the match Maeve Kelly with her mum Una and dad Barry after the game.***

Thereafter it was all about composure, the Ballycastle star regathering after an initial hook to fire low to the net from a rapidly tightening angle. The gap opened to five and that’s how it was at the change of ends.

Kelly had a glorious point after 38 seconds of the restart and the lead was seven when O’Dwyer stunned everyone with her deadly strike.

The reply told you all you needed to know about the mentality of the Paul McKillen and Jim McKernan-managed outfit and the streaked clear, with a flurry of outstanding points after Dobbin’s goal.

Sarah Crowley found the net in injury time for Kilkenny but the last word was left to Nicole O’Neill to confirm Antrim’s Senior status with the final score of the game.

***Roisin McCormick, who was brilliant in the Antrim forward line, can’t hide her delight at the final whistle.***

Antrim: C Graham, C Drain, N Donnelly, M Lynn, C Patterson, C Conlon, M Connolly, L McNaughton (0-01, N O’Neill (0-03), M Kelly (1-05), A Boyle, A Magill (0-01), R McCormick (0-09), C Laverty, C Dobbin (1-02).

Subs: A Connolly for Laverty (38), K Carey McAleese for Magill (50), S Devlin for Patterson (60), L McKenna for Boyle (60+1), K McKillop for M Connolly (60+1)

Kilkenny: S Farrell, N Leahy, R Phelan, C Murphy, S Crowley (1-00), L Fennelly, T Fitzgerald, L Hegarty, C Phelan (0-01), E Hynes (0-02), S Walsh (0-02), C O’Keeffe, S O’Dwyer (1-05), H Scott, D Quigley (0-01).

Subs: J Leahy for Hegarty (36), T Donnelly (0-01) for Quigley inj (43), S O’Keeffe for Fitzgerald (46), C Dowling for Scott (55), R O’Keeffe for C O’Keeffe (57)

Referee: Conor Quinlan (Galway)

***Tears for the captain, but happy tears. Lucia McNaughton breaks down after the game while Maeve Connolly reaches out a consoling hand***

September 12, 2021September 12, 2021 by thesaffrongael

U20 FC Group 2

St. Enda’s 1-10 Aghagallon 4-8

Goals from Hugh Hannon in the 56^th minute and another from Jonathan Hanna in time added on killed off the challenge of a battling St. Enda’s in the opening round of the U20 Football Championship at Hightown on Saturday.

The visitors made all the early running and led 1-4 to 0-0 going into the first water break with their goal coming from Hugh Hannon following a flowing move from within their own half after 12 minutes and their points shared by Jonathan Hannon, Padraig Gowdy, Michael McStravick and Enda McCartan.

On the restart St. Enda’s struck with their first score in the 22^nd minute and a good build up involving several players saw Omar Beydilli fire past James Hamill in the visitors goal to get them off the mark.

Fionn Nagle followed with a point but Aghagallon responded and Nathan Kerr in the St. Enda’s goal made a smart save to deny the visitors a second goal.

Aghagallon had regained the initiative and Jonathan Hannon added a point but St. Enda’s were playing with a lot more confidence at this stage and Fionn Nagle pointed a free in the 26^th minute to close the gap to three points.

Things were starting to liven up as Adam Lamb received a yellow for the home side but it was St. Mary’s who finished the half strongly and Michael McStravick split the posts before Hugh Hannon finished a great team move to the net in the 30^th minute and his side looked to be taking control again.

The visitors received a setback however when Michael McStravick received a straight Red as half time approached, leaving them to play with 14 men for the remainder of the game but they looked in a comfortable position, leading 2-6 to 1-2 as the short whistle sounded.

Michael Devenny replaced Omar Beydilli in the St. Enda’s side at the start of the second half and they opened brightly with points from Fionn Nagle and Michael Kennedy but Pauric Maginnis replied with a point for the Visitors with 9 minutes of the new half gone.

Liam Russel added another Aghagallon point before Sean McBride replied with a point for the Glengormley side but the visitors cause received a boost when Sean Murray of St. Enda’s received Red and parity in numbers was restored.

The Hightown side were still battling hard for every ball and looking for the scores to get them back into contention and Max Thomas came to St. Mary’s rescue with a great interception as the home side threatened.

Back came St. Enda’s again and an Eoin Nagle pointed free just before the water break closed the gap to five. Nagle added another from play on the resumption of the final quarter as the intensity of the game increased and the hits went in hard and fast and when Conor Eastwood followed with another with ten minutes remaining the momentum was with the Hightown side.

Things took a turn for the worse however as substitute Matthew McAllister was shown Black for cynical fouling but the home side continued to press and when Sean McBride added a point following a ‘Mark’ there was just two in it and the momentum was with the home side.

Aghagallon had been under the cosh for a time but, as good teams do, they responded with those late goals from Hugh and Jonathan Hannon to take the points despite a late consolation point from Fionn Nagle for the home side.

St. Enda’s: 1 Nathan Kerr, 2 Eoghan O’Hare, 3 Owen Kennedy, 4 Oran McRuagain, 5 Callum Morgan, 6 Ronan O’Neill, 7 Colm McCabe, 8 Ryan Kingi, 9 Sean Murray, 10 Omar Beydilli, 11 Conor Eastwood, 12 Jude Stewart, 13 Michael Kennedy, 14 Fionn Nagle, 15 Sean McBride, 17 Matthew McAllister, 18 Ciaran McKeown, 19 Dylan Kingi, 20 John Joe Walsh, 21 Oran Rooney, m22 Adam Lamb, 23 Michael Devenny

Aghagallon: 1 James Hamill, 2 Max Thomas, 3 Stephen Devlin, 4 Kieran Hamill, 5 Jack Hannon, 6 Seanan Donnelly, 7 Jonathan Hannon, 8 Padraig Gowdy, 9 Pauric Maginnis, 10 Hugh Hannon, 11 Enda McCartan, 12 Jack Nelson, 13 Ruairi McShane, 14 Michael McStravick, 15 Liam Russell, 16 Callum Fitzpatrick

Referee Finton McCotter (Sarsfields)