Month / October 2021

by thesaffrongael

Drama as St Comgalls seal title after penalties

GYMCO Junior Football Championship

Final

St Comgalls, Antrim 0–18 Rasharkin 0-18 (aet)

St Comgalls win 3-2 on penalties

Sunday October 31

Brendan McTaggart reports from Ahoghill

St Comgall’s and Rasharkin played out a classic final on Sunday afternoon with the junior crown on the line. In the end, it was the men from Antrim town who held their nerve form the penalty spot, substitute Peter McAuley with the decisive spot kick.

It was an epic final between two evenly matched sides with momentum swinging like the proverbial gate and both sides looking like they had it won at the end of the hour.  The sides were tied incredibly on 10 occasions over the 80 minutes with two points the biggest lead either side held at any stage.  The fate of the junior championship was decided by the lottery of penalties but that will matter little to the St Comgall’s.

Dylan Murdock fired over the first of his two points for the opening score of the match after barely 30 seconds.  A delightful score with the outside of his boot to get the Antrim men up and running.  Rasharkin started the final brightly as well with Eamon McNeill’s instinctive point in the second minute opening the scoring for the men from Dreen.  Early ball into the Rasharkin marksman and a classy finish we’ve seen plenty of over the years. 

A free from Shane Hasson and point from Conor McFerran opened a two point lead for Rasharkin by the seventh minute.  St Comgall’s began to find their way into the final with Miles Devine the man with the answers as they turned a two point deficit into a two point lead in the space of 10 minutes.  A brace of frees from Devine preceded Murdock’s second score of the game and the score of the first half from Tom Pratchett.  The St Comgall’s centre half forward finishing off a fine move involving James McCabe and Joseph Webb.

St Comgalls had set up to stop Rasharkin from delivering quick ball into McNeill and Conor McFerran and a mix of patience and guile, they had the upperhand for most of the opening quarter.

  • Joseph Webb fires over a St. Comhghall’s point

A free from distance from Andrew Hasson and composed finish by Fearghal Kennedy restored parity to the score once more but Devine was punishing any discretions by the Rahsarkin defence with an exhibition of free taking to open a two point lead for his side once more.

Andrew Hasson’s second and third free’s of the game came either side of a score from Conor McAuley to give St Comgall’s a one point lead at the half time whistle.

Half time score, St Comgall’s 0-8 Rasharkin 0-7.

Like the start of the game, St Comgall’s opened the scoring after the restart with their first attack.  Patrick O’Connor with the finish but Rahsarkin began the second half with more urgency and noticeably delivering the ball into their forward line more quickly.

A trio of points from Andrew Hasson (one free) gave the men from Dreen a one point lead by the seventh minute of the second half before a superb score from Conor McAuley from wide on the left brought St Comgall’s level.  It was brief respite for the Antrim men however as Rasharkin were flying in the third quarter.  A fisted point from Gerard O’Hagan fired them into the lead once more before McNeill’s second of the match in the 42nd minute brought the Rasharkin crowd to life at Ahoghill.

St Comgall’s threatened at the other end of the pitch and but for the brilliance of Tiernan O’Boyle, they could have scored the opening goal of the final.  Conor McAuley seeing his effort bravely saved from point blank range by the Rasharkin shot stopper.  Murdock fired over with the outside of his boot to leave the sides tied on 12 points each at the second half water break.

An instinctive finish from Tom Patchett gave St Comgall’s the lead once more but Andrew Hasson was proving any free inside of 50 yards was being punished as a further brace of frees gave Rasharkin a two point lead with five minutes of the hour remaining.

  • Rasharkin’s Fergal Kennedy breaks from defence

St Comgall’s and Devine hit back however with three points from their star player (one free) giving them a one point lead in the third minute of injury time.

Rasharkin pushed for another equaliser and St Comgall’s were reduced to 14 men when Conor McAuley saw red for an overzealous tackle on Pearce Kelly.  The men from Dreen rolled the dice and brought ‘keeper O’Boyle up to take a free from close to 55 yards only to see his effort dropping short and a goal bound effort was deflected wide.  Tiernan O’Boyle stood over the resulting ’45 in the sixth minute of injury time and celebrated as soon as he made contact with the ball.  The rest of the crowd watched on as the ball sailed over the bar with effectively the last touch of the hour with the sides tied on 15 points apiece.

With cramp hitting both teams in extra time and bodies falling everywhere, it was a survival of the fittest in the additional 20 minutes but again, neither side could pull away decisively.  James McCabe and Devine (free) fired over either side of Shane Hasson’s free for Rasharkin in the opening 10 minutes but the men from Dreen edged ahead with five minutes remaining once again.  Andrew Hasson and Fearghal Kennedy raising the white flag to give their side hope of taking the crown but St Comgall’s and Devine had other ideas.  His ninth point of the game, seventh free of the match from 45 yards out brought the sides level for the tenth time and neither side could find a winner in the time that remained.

Penalties to decide who would be junior champions and it was St Comgall’s who blinked first.  James McCabe’s penalty was saved superbly from Tiarnan O’Boyle after Andrew Hasson fired the opening penalty.  Ruairi O’Boyle’s penalty fired wide of the left post as Miles Devine’s penalty made sure it was ‘as you were’ on the score line after two penalties each.  Shane Hasson’s spot kick cannoned back off the cross bar before Caolan O’Loan’s converted his spot kick to make it advantage to St Comgall’s.  Tiarnan O’Boyle found the top corner with his spot kick before Tom Pratchett’s penalty sailed over the bar to leave the sides tied on two successful spot kicks each after four penalties.

Anto Watson saved Seamus Ellis’ diving to his right hand side paving the way for Peter McAuley to fire the winning spot kick and send the St Comgall’s faithful into delirium.  A cruel way to end a final but Rasharkin more than played their part in a hugely entertaining final.  Scant consolation for the men from Dreen who will ply their trade in Division 2 in 2022.  For St Comgall’s, the season rolls on with a journey in Ulster to look forward to.

TEAMS

St Comgalls: Anto Watson; Kian Walker, Ryan McAuley, Caolan O’Loan; Dylan Murdock, Michael McCabe, Ruairi Graffin; Danaan O’Hara, Miles Devine; James McCabe, Tom Patchett, Patrick O’Connor; Conor McAuley, Joseph Webb, Paddy Quinn

Subs: Louis Higgins for D O’Hara (41); Aaron McGaw for K Walker (48); Peter McAuley for J Webb (59); Rory McLarnon for R Graffin (ET 5)

Scorers: Miles Devine 0-9 (7 f’s); Dyland Murdock 0-2; Conor McAuley 0-2; Tom Patchett 0-2; James McCabe 0-1; Patrick O’Connor 0-1

Rasharkin: Tiernan O’Boyle; Pearce Kelly, Emmett McFerran, Conor Doherty; Gerard O’Hagan, Conor Hasson, Fearghal Kennedy; Jack Quinn, Ruairi O’Boyle; Andrew Hasson, Donagh Quigg, Seamus Ellis; Shane Hasson, Eamon McNeill, Conor McFerran

Subs: Odhran McGarrell for G O’Hagan (46); Oran McFerran for E McNeill (59); Callum Montgomery for C Doherty (ET 13)

Scorers: Andrew Hasson 0-9 (7 f’s); Eamon McNeill 0-2; Shane Hasson 0-2 (2 f’s); Gerard O’Hagan 0-1; Fearghal Kennedy 0-1; Conor McFerran 0-1; Tiernan O’Boyle 0-1 (’45); Odhran McGarrell 0-1

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

by thesaffrongael

Late goal surge seals it for the Shamrocks

Under 20 A Hurling Championship

Loughgiel Shamrocks 3-12  Ballycastle McQuillan’s 1-12

A strong finish saw Loughgiel win the Under 20 Hurling title at Armoy on Saturday as they came from behind to beat a Ballycastle side who had led from the third minute when Tiernan Smyth got their only goal of the game. The boys from the Town had led by four at half time and while the Shamrocks and were still two to the good at the second water break. Jack Egan edged the black and amber three clear by the 51st minute but Loughgiel produced a stroming finish as they grabbed three late goals to win by six.

Rian McMullan put Loughgiel ahead in the opening minute with a point from play but Ballycastle came back with a Tiernan Smyth goal and points from Seamus McAuley and Jack McGowan to lead by four by the eight minute. Three points inside two minutes, one from a Rian McMullan free and two from play by ‘Bicky’ McGarry cut the gap to a single point, though a Seamus McAuley point on 13 minute put two between the sides at the first half water break.

Seamus McAuley who top scored for Ballycastle

Another McAuley point from a free in the twenty third minute stretched Ballycastle lead to three, and though Bicky pulled one back for the Shamrocks, McAuley and Smyth hit two on the trot for Ballycastle to move four ahead by the twenty-eight minute. Right half forward Michael McGarry cut the gap back to two with a point from play on thirty-one minutes, but another point from Seamus McAuley just on the half time whistle had the Town four up at the break.

The third quarter was score for score for a long time with Rian McMullan and Michael McGarry cutting the game to three for Loughgiel and Seamus McAuley restoring the four point cushion but just before the second half water break Loughgiel hit two unanswered points through Bubbles McMullan and Damian Quinn to leave just two between the sides on 45 minutes.

Ballycastle still appeared to be in control when Jack Egan pointed to put them three ahead on 51 minutes, but a Loughgiel goal a minute later by the ever dangerous Bicky McGarry brought Loughgiel level.

Ballycastle responded well when Tiernan Smyth restored their lead with a point on 53 minutes but Loughgiel were back on terms when Bubbles McMullan sent over from play just twenty seconds later. It still looked anyone’s game with just five minutes left for play, but a bad mix up in the Ballycastle defence saw Michael McGarry get in for Loughgiel’s second goal, though Tiernan Smyth cut it back to just two at the end of normal time.

In injury time Ballycastle battled to save the game but a goal from substitute Jack McCloksey proved a killer blow and centre back Enda Og McGarry sealed the win with a point from play just before the end.  

Loughgiel’s Declan McCloskey and Shane O’Boyle lift the cup after heir win over Ballycastle in the final of the Under 20 Hurling Championship at Armoy. Pic by Sean Paul McKillop
  • Loughgiel’s Christy McGarry makes a great catch during his team’s win over Ballycastle in the final of the Under 20 Hurling Championship at Armoy. Pic by Sean Paul McKillop
by thesaffrongael

Tir na nÓg take the title with dominant display

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship Final

Tír Na nÓg Randalstown 2-14 All Saints Ballymena 1-10

At a pristine Kelly Park in Portglenone, Tír Na nÓg Randalstown deservedly claimed this year’s Intermediate Championship title after seeing off All Saints Ballymena with seven points to spare.

 After claiming the Division Two title earlier in the season, Michael O’Kane’s side had too much for their neighbours and bar a five minute spell in the third quarter, the Ógs were more than comfortable with anything that the All Saints threw at them.

An early Daniel Martin goal helped favourites Randalstown settle quicker into the contest and in half forward Darragh Fagan, they had the games stand out player.

Fagan contributed seven points to his cause, but the Randalstown bench also made a telling contribution.

Ciaran Dobbin was introduced after 41 minutes. His goal six minutes after being introduced put paid to any idea of an All Saints comeback after the Slemish Park side cut the arrears from seven to just two.

Dobbin also added a point as the Randalstown men saw the game out in convincing fashion to book an Ulster championship date on the 5th December against the champions of Armagh.

Randalstown wasted no time in working the scoreboard operator.

Straight from the throw in Barry McCormick surged forward from half-back and he set up midfielder Darren McCormick for the opening point.

While All Saints were failing to find their way past a watertight Randalstown defence, Martin took advantage of some slack marking in the Ballymena defence to blast home from close range.

Michael McCarry eventually opened the All Saints account with a free on 15 minutes, and ten minutes later McCarry added a second after Fagan had kicked Randalstown into a four point lead.

ALl Saints looked to be in for a goal at this stage and wing half Ciaran McGarry got on the end of a good move and found himself on a one on one with Tir na nog keeper, Sean Paul McAtamney but ther big keeper got down to his left to deny McGarry the goal that migh have ignited the Ballymena challenge.

Two points in quick succession from Fagan opened up a five point lead before All Saints gave themselves a fighting chance as half-time approached.

Sean McVeigh’s long ball into the full forward line was misjudged by Brendan McLarnon, and Saints Brendan McDonnell took full advantage to fire a left foot shot high into the Randalstown net after cutting in along the end line.

But the goal only rallied Randalstown and three unanswered points from Ciaran O’Neill, Fagan and Darren McCormick helped the Whitehill side to a deserving five point half time lead, 1-7 to 1-2.

 Tír Na nÓg Randalstown picked up where they left off at the start of the second half.

Fagan from a free and a point from goal scorer Martin helped open up a seven point lead by the 34th minute.

Both sides lost a player each to black cards in separate incidents within a three minute spell.

First Ballymena’s Emmett Kilough went for a deliberate pull down, before Caoimhín Duffin was ordered off for a similar infringement at the other end.

But it was the All Saints who played the better a man down and five unanswered points saw their arrears cut to just two points, the pick of the scores being Kavan Keenan’s point from a tight angle from the right-hand side.

Michael O’Kane freshened up his attack and the introduction of Christy Sherrin and Ciaran Dobbin helped swing the momentum back in favour of the Ógs.

Cathal McOscar Photography

After Dobbin got in behind the All Saints defence to pounce for a second goal, Sherrin finished off a flowing move after some clever play from another replacement, Eamon Og McAlister.

McAlister’s first time flick taking out two All Saints defenders and from here on in, there was no way back for the Ballymena men.

Despite a gallant effort and a Trojan performance from Sean McVeigh, All Saints couldn’t find a way past a well drilled Tír na nÓg defence, a further free from Fagan and an effort from play from Dobbin sealed a deserved championship win for Randalstown as they added the football title to the hurling one they won last season.    

Teams & Scorers

Tír na nÓg: S.P. McAtamney, Brendan McLarnon, Ciaran McGrellis, Peter Cullen, Ciaran O’Neill (0-2), Barry McCormick, Caoimhín Duffin, Ryan O’Neill, Darren McCormick (0-2), Aaron McNeilly, Sean Duffin, Darragh Fagan (0-7 5f), Tiarnan McKeown, Kevin Sherrin, Daniel Martin (1-1).

Replacements: Ciaran Dobbin (1-1), Christy Sherrin (0-1), Eamon Óg McAlister, Kieran Logan.

All Saints: Conor Brennan, Matthew Downey, Peter McNicholl, James McDonnell, Conal Lennon, Emmett Kilough, Ciaran McGarry, Sean McVeigh, Conor Stewart (0-3 1f), Kavan Keenan (0-1), Michael McCarry (0-4 2f), Peter McReynolds, Ronan McKillop, Paddy McAleer (0-1), Brendan McDonnell (1-1).

Replacements: Joe Rafferty & Shea O’Brien.

Referee: Mr Kevin Parke. (Naomh Eanna)

  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
  • Cathal McOscar Photography
by thesaffrongael

St Paul’s hit back to snatch victory

U20B Hurling final

St Paul’s 5-16 Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm 4-15

A late surge by St Paul’s saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as they got the better of Glenarm in a really entertaining Under 20 B Hurling final at Dunsilly on Saturday.

With five minutes of normal time remaining Glenarm, who had trailed by five points early in the second half, appeared to have turned the game around, and were six points to the good. However St Paul’s whose captain Caolan Crossan was in fantastic form, had another kick in them and two late goals plus a couple of Crossan points saw them over the line.

Caolan Crossan breaks clear to set up a St Paul’s score late in the game.

Glenarm got off to a flying start and their brilliant corner forward Niall McGarel fired in a goal in the second minute. St Paul’s came back with three pointed frees from Caolan Crossan, and though McGarel briefly restored Glenarm’s lead, man of the match Crossan came back with two more points from frees and a well taken goal from play to give his team a 1-5 to 1-2 lead at the first water break.

The second quarter was evenly contested with some great scores from Carson for St Paul’s and McGarel for Glenarm, but the vital score came just two minutes from half time when St Paul’s corner forward Lorcan Phillips got in for his team’s second goal to help his side to a 2-9 to 1-7 lead at the break.

When St Paul’s stretched that lead to four early in the second half it looked as if they were taking control but Glenarm battled back and in a spell of dominance they scored 2-5 to just a single point in reply from St Paul’s, the goals coming from full forward Caolan Morgan and corner forward Kevin O’Boyle.

With time ticking away the cup appeared to be heading to Glenarm, but they missed a couple of vital frees which kept St Paul’s in touch, and man of the match Carson got them back into contention with a couple of excellent points.

Glenarm’s Ciaran Magill catches a high ball early in the game

A shot from out on the sideline by St Paul’s Caolan Duffin deceived the Glenram goalkeeper and dipped below the crossbar and suddenly the gap was down to a single point. Niall McGarel replied with a point for Glenarm to stretch their lead to two but Carson broke through the Glenarm defence and fired in his team’s fourth goal to put his side a point clear.

Anthony Gallagher pointed for the Shaw’s Road side to put two between the sides, and though McGarel pulled one back for Glenarm, St Paul’s finished strong and a late goal from Lorcan Phillips sealed the win.

St Paul’s

Daire Stevenson, Tiernan Auld, Aaron Carey, Thomas Duff, Gary McGroarty, Anthony Gallagher, Liam Walsh, Marcus Munce, Niall Martin, Caolan Crossan, Michael Walsh, Caolan Duffin, Lorcan Phillips, Ruairi Hamill, Paul Og Donnelly

Glenarm

Conor O’Mullan, Odhran O’Dálaigh, Jay O’Ruin, Kieran O’Boyle, Michael McGarel, Aidan Scullion, Liam McLaughlin, Ronan McCrory, Sean O’Boyle, Kieran O’Boyle, Ciaran Magill, Ciaran Black, Niall McGarel, Caolan Morgan, Kevin O’Boyle.

Referee – Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

by thesaffrongael

Good luck to our LGFA champions in this weekend’s Ulster Club Championship

Antrim LGFA

It is a big weekend for the champions of Antrim LGFA with all three champions involved in the Ulster Club Championship at Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

Today (Saturday) Intermediate champions St Brigid’s travel to Killeavy to take on the Armagh champions in their own back yard, as tough a quarter final task as you could ask for. It is four weeks since the girls won the Antrim title by beating Con Magees Glenravel in the final at Dunsilly. The Musgrave Park side had plenty in hand that day and hopefully they can reproduce that form today in Armagh.

Our Junior Champions Glenavy have home advantage at 2pm today when they take on Armagh Junior Champions St Peter’s Lurgan, a team from just up the road, in the Ulster Quarter Final.

 County star Graine McLaughlin was the star when the Chapel Hill girls beat St John’s in the Antrim final and they will be looking to her again today to provide the scores against their Armagh opponents.

Moneyglass have already taken their first step in their Ulster Club Senior Championship campaign when they beat Armagh Harps in last weekend’s quarter final at Whitehill. Going into the game the Marian Hill girls were outsiders, but they upset the odds with a brilliant display to win by 3-12 to 3-6 and set up tomorrow’s semi-final against Down champions Bredagh. Bredagh are a formidable outfit and once again the St Ergnat’s girls will be the outsiders, but that hasn’t hindered them in any of their games so far and there is no reason why they can’t add another bit of history to the club records.