Month / October 2021

by thesaffrongael

Gaeil Oga edge Rossa in scoring fest

U15B HC Final

Na Gaeil Oga 5-17 Rossa 4-11

Na Gaeil Oga outscored Rossa in a real goal-fest of an U15B Hurling final at St Teresas on Saturday. In an excellent game of hurling that produced 9 goals and 28 points over the hour it was the combination side that emerged victorious but a gallant Rossa certainly played their part and hurling was the real winner on the day.

It was Na Gaeil Oga who were first to register when Sean Og McLaren pointed them ahead in the 4th minute and Conor McConville followed from a free to move them two ahead. The same player added another before Liam McEnhill opened Rossa’s scoring with a point in the 6th minute.

Na Gaeil Oga were starting to enjoy a bit of success and Sean Og McLaren added a point in the 6th minute. Callim Fegan Lappin followed with another point and then Oisin Boyle in the Rossa goal pulled off a spectacular save as the opposition threatened.

After a defence splitting solo run Conor O’Neill got in for the game’s opening goal in the 12th minute for Na Gaeil Oga and they tagged on a flurry of points with Liam McEnhill replying with a Rossa goal in the 15th minute but at the first water break it was the combination side who led by 1-8 to 1-2.

Rossa opened the second quarter with a spring in their step to hit two further points through Corey Walsh and McEnhill but Na Gaeil Oga responded with a point from Sean Og McLaren and the same player added two points before Liam McEnhill replied with Rossa’s second goal in the 26th minute. At the halftime whistle the scoreline was

Na Gaeil Oga 1-12 v 2-6 Rossa

The second half began with Na Gaeil Oga hitting 1-1 in the first minute, after the throw in the ball was played in by Fionn Jemfrey which McLaren fielded and finished to the net followed by another point.

Na Gaeil Oga then opened the gap with 3 further goals from Sean Og McLaren the widened the gap to 15 points at one stage. Despite the goal fest both keepers were in excellent form.

The gallant and defiant Rossa team showed that they weren’t going to give up and mounted a comeback with a further 2 goals from the their full forward Liam McEnhill

It was nip and tuck in terms of possession all the way after the second water break with McLaren bringing his personal total to 4-6 and McEnhill bringing his personal total to 4-4 as both sides produced some excellent scores with Liam McEnhill in unbelievable form for Rossa but the Shaw’s Road side were unable to close the gap on a Na Gaeil Oga side where Fionn Jemrey was a constant threat.

Sean Og McLarnen top scored for the winners with Conor McConville finishing with 0-7 and Fionn Jemfrey adding 0-4 and Callim Fegan Lappin another who impressed in a solid team performance while Oisin Boyle, Corey Walsh and Niall May gave it everything for Rossa while Liam McEnhill was the top scorer for the Shaws Road side

At the full time whistle it was

Na Gaeil Oga 5-17 v 4-11 Rossa

Na Gaeil Oga: Andrew McStay, Eoin Coleman, Odhran Lee, Anton McKenna, Shea Doran, Corey Camlin, Jay Ward, Conor McConville, Sean McCarthy, Conor O’Neill, Fionn Jemfrey, Conlai Mervyn, Seamus McGuigan, Sean Og McLaren, Callim Fegan Lappin Subs: Daire Jeffmfrey, Daniel McConville, Ronan Webb, Matthew Murray, Daniel Mulholland

Rossa: Oisin Boyle, Fionn Cregan, Shea Cunningham, Josh McIvor, Shea Flynn, Conall Shortt, Jude Collins, Corey Walsh, Colm Boyle, Keevan Grieve, Niall May, Ruairi McDonagh, Daea Boylan, Liam McEnhill, Daniel McGurk. Subs: Daire Morgan, Rossa Taylor, Larlaith Rogan.

by thesaffrongael

O’Kane leads All Saints to championship glory

Girls U14 B Football Final

All Saints 2-4 Lamh Dhearg 1-2

All Saints U14 girls gave an inspired performance on Sunday to win the U14B County Championship when they defeated a determined Lamh Dhearg team at Quinn Park. The final which was played in front of a big crowd in Ballymena was a fast flowing, competitive game from the throw in. All Saints with the wind at their backs in the first half made the better start and inspired by their Captain Anna O’Kane they soon took the lead. O’Kane scored all their points in the first half and also converted a penalty to give the Saints girls a 5 point lead. Lamh Dhearg were well in the game though and it took a wonder save from Saints keeper Orlagh McNally to keep them at bay. The Saints defence were tenacious all day and led by Ella McLaughlin and Amy Kerr they were clearing any danger that came their way. The main worry for the Saints as the half time whistle sounded was,had they missed too many chances with the wind at their backs. Would the 5 point lead be enough? It didn’t look like it was as Lamh Dhearg came roaring back at the start of the 2nd half, however the Saints defence, as in the Semi Final were superb, tackling fiercely and working extremely hard to prevent any easy goals. However the goal did come and suddenly the gap was only 2 points Balymena and the girls were struggling to get up the pitch. They survived a couple more scares and then a great move that started with McNally’s kick out and travelled the length of the pitch as O’Kane placed Cadhla Crawford in for a goal. The lead was now back to 5 and then with Kate Hasson winning a vital kick out the final whistle sounded to bring huge celebrations from the Saints players and supporters. A brilliant all round display from the All Saints girls in a great match which their opponents contributed massively to. The Saints forwards were dangerous throughout led by Anna O’Kane who scored 1-3 of their total but the basis for this win was a defensive unit who simply wouldn’t be breached. Hugely impressive displays all round but especially Ella McLaughlin and Maria Mitchell who handled dangerous opponents really well. A great advert for ladies football and a first title for a talented group of All Saints girls.

Keeping it in the family! Anna O’Kane who top scored for All Saints with her sister and father Micky who managed the side
by thesaffrongael

Heartbreak for St Louis as St Pats strike late for victory

Cluiche Ceannais Corn Eimhear

St Patrick’s, Maghera 2-11 St Louis, Ballymena 3-7

Monday October 25

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pairc Ui Chathain, Portglenone

With three minutes to go at a sun kissed Pairc Ui Chathain, it looked like St Louis long wait for a maiden Corn Eimhear victory was finally over.  Ciara Boyle had just converted a ’45 to edge the Ballymena girls into a four point lead and were looking comfortable.

St Pat’s and Carla Collins had other ideas.  

As the clock ticked into the last minute of the hour, Collins smashed a ’45 into the back of the St Louis net and sparked a revival.  Fittingly, it was Collins who scored the winning score in the second minute of injury time to seal the Maghera schools 12th title and first in 12 years.

It was a heart breaking end for St Louis who looked to have cooked up the perfect storm in the second half. Until Collins’ heroics at the death, they held St Pat’s to just one point after the half time interval with Eimear McGivern outstanding between the posts.  A double save before the second half water break looking like the moment they had broken the St Pat’s challenge.

St Patrick’s started the final well and after nine minutes raced into a three point lead.  Collins with three points (one free) and Sinead Mellon getting on the score sheet with Anna McKillop the solitary point for St Louis.

The St Louis girls were just finding their feet in the final however and had taken the lead by the 12th minute.  McKillop’s second point of the game preceded a goal from Cara Burns.  Ciara O’Boyle’s initial effort blocked and Burns controlled superbly before firing to the back of the net.

A brace of frees from Collins was the response from St Pats as they steadied the ship once more but St Louis rocked them once more with their second goal of the game with five minutes of the first half remaining.  Boyle once again involved but it was a wonderful piece of ingenuity from Enya Neeson to finish at the back post.

It was the last score of the half for the St Louis girls though as St Pats finished on top.  Another pointed free from Collins reduced the deficit to one point before they scored their first goal of the final.  Collins with a free from distance dropped short but took a deflection to wrong foot the St Louis defence and land into the back of the net.

Orlaith Hull pointed a free in the third minute of injury time to leave the half time score 1-8 to 2-2 in favour of St Pats.

St Louis moved Ciara O’Boyle further out the field in the second half and it paid dividends as they began to control the middle third.  The St Pats challenge was hurt with a couple of early wides after the restart and St Louis had reduced the St Pats lead to the minimum eight minutes into the second half.

A Carla Collins free in the 41st minute got the score board ticking once again but it was their last score for 19 minutes as St Louis took charge and gained momentum.

A brilliant score from an acute angle by McKillop was followed by brilliance from McGivern at the other end of the pitch.  First of all denying Sinead Mellon before recovering and getting her hurl to a goal bound effort from Collins moments later.

After the water-break, St Louis took the lead with their third goal of the game.  O’Boyle with the pick and drive before unleashing an unstoppable drive towards Rosheen Doherty’s goal.  McKillop’s fifth point of the match followed before St Louis had another chance for goal.  Enya Neeson with the chance but Rosheen Doherty saved superbly.  O’Boyle converted the resulting ’45 as St Louis opened a four point lead.

St Pat’s found another level in the time that remained however with Collins outstanding drive from a ’45 sparking the revival.  With the clock ticking into injury time, Bryson levelled the scores before Collins took her tally to 2-8 with the winning score in the second minute of injury time.

The Maghera side now progress to an All-Ireland semi-final.

TEAMS

St Louis: Eimear McGivern; Meabh McVeigh, Orla Kane, Carragh Boyle; Erin Coulterm Dearbhail Dobbin, Casey Crawford; Emily Sharpe, Alicia Boyd; Enya Neeson, Anna McKillop, Maria Gately; Aoife McKenna, Ciara O’Boyle, Cara Burns

Scorers: Anna McKillop 0-5 (1f); Ciara O’Boyle 1-2 (1 ’45); Cara Burns 1-00; Enya Neeson 1-00

St Pat’s: Rosheen Doherty; Mary McNally, Aine McCullagh, Eimer Skelly; Roisin Bryson, Eimear Doherty, Ellen McCormick; Orlaith Hull, Cait Conway; Eimear Murray, Carla Collins, Caoimhe Chambers; Katie Marie Griffin, Cara McCloskey, Sinead Mellon

Scorers: Carla Collins 2-8 (1-5f, 1-00 ’45); Roisin Bryson 0-1; Sinead Mellon 0-1; Orlaith Hull 0-1 (1f)

Referee: Sean McGuigan (Slaughtneil)

by thesaffrongael

St. Ergnat’s advance to semi-final

Ulster Ladies Football club championship

St. Ergnat’s 3-12 Armagh Harps 3-6

Moneyglass ladies advance to the semi-final of the Ulster senior club championship after a superb win over Armagh Harps at Marion Hill on Sunday.

St. Ergnat’s went into this match as the underdogs and had nothing to lose. Their tails were up after lifting the Antrim senior championship two weeks ago in style so the Marion hill ladies and their management were quietly confident. 

Moneyglass haver blended experience with their emerging youth over the last two years and it has proved a successful formula and the appointment of Odhran McNeilly as manager

has seen the girls step it up a notch and they took control of this game from early on.

Moneyglass dominated the opening exchanges as they took the game to the visitors from the throw in, spurred on by big home support who got right behind their side from the first whistle.

Orla Prenter pointed the home side ahead after three minutes and Cathy Carey added a couple of pointed frees to put them three in front by the 10th minute.

Kelly Mallon finally got the Harps off the mark from a free in the 11th minute but they were struggling to deal with the intensity of the St. Ergnat’s girls who responded positively with points from Cathy Carey, Orla Prenter and Bronagh Devlin and when Maria O’Neill got in for the game’s opening goal it looked a long way back for the Armagh girls.

The Moneyglass pressure continued and Orla Prenter added another point before Emily Druse gave the visitors some hope when she fired past Anna McCann for a Harps goal in the 23d minute.

It provided only temporary respite however as the St. Ergnat’s came back strongly with Orla Prenter continuing to show unerring accuracy as she fired over two points and Bronagh Devlin added another before Armagh Harps best player, Emily Druse responded with a late point for her side but as the half time whistle sounded it looked a long way back for the Armagh girls.

Druse had been Armagh Harps outstanding performer in the opening half and she was doing all in her power to get her side going and when she pointed in the 5th minute of the second half and followed immediately with a goal the Moneyglass lead had been reduced to four and suddenly we had a game on our hands.

The home side failed to panic however as they came roaring back with a goal of their own and it was the elusive Orla Prenter who got through to raise the green flag. After this it was the Moneyglass defence who stamped their authority on the game as the Harps pushed forward in an effort to get something from the game.

Kelly Mallon led the Armagh challenge and the number 14 added a goal and four points in the run in but Orla Prenter’s second goal in the 38th minute and points from Bronagh Devlin and the hard working Cathy Carey ensured that there would be no way back for the Armagh champions.

Moneyglass now entertain favourites Bredagh of Down in next week’s semi-final and on this performance will be quietly confident of beating the Down champions.

Moneyglass: Anna McCann, Aoife Kelly, Emma Louise McAreavy, Saoirse McErlain, Sarah O’Neill, Rebecca Bradley, Niamh McIntosh, Laura McCann, Cathy Carey, Cliona Griffin, Maria O’Neill, Aine Devlin, Deirbhle McNicholl, Bronagh Devlin, Orlaith Prtenter 

Armagh Harps: 1 Paula Enright, 2 Jessica Hamill, 3 Tanya Savage, 4 Cailin Duffy, 5 Ciara Rath, 6 Sinead Faloon, 7 Leah McGoldrick, 8 Emily Druse, 9 Fionnula McKenna, 10 Siobhan Feeney, 11 Aoife Lennon, 12 Tanya McVeigh, 13 Eimear O’Kane, 14 Kelly Mallon, 15 Megan McShane

Referee: Jude Dixon

by thesaffrongael

McKay hat-trick gives Glenravel victory

U20A Football Championship

Con Magees 4-9 Naomh Eanna 2-10

A Sean McKay hat-trick helped Con Magees Glenravel to a narrow victory over St Enda’s in Sunday morning’s U20 A Football Championship round robin game at Fr Maginn Park. McKay, playing at corner forward grabbed goals in the 5th and 31st minutes of the first half to help the home team to a 3-2 to 0-5 half time lead and he got his third five minutes from time to swing the game back in Glenravel’s favour, after St Enda’s had staged a comeback and eased ahead.

McKay’s goal had opened the scoring in the first half, and added a point soon afterwards as wind assisted Glenravel opened a 1-1 to 0-2 lead at the first water break, the St Enda’s scores coming from Sean McBride and Fionn Neagle. A brilliant double save by Con Magees goalkeeper Adam McAuley denied the visitors what seemed a certain goal early in the second quarter while goals from centre forward Gavin Asher and McKay’s second saw them lead by 3-2 to 0-5 at half time.

St Enda’s came back strongly in the second half and a goal from Conor Eastwood and a Ciaran McKeown point saw them close to within two points. Points for the home side by half forward Rian McQuillan opened the gap to four again, but St Enda’s took control of the game and two points from Neagle and one from a Jude Stewart free left them just a point in arrears entering the last ten minutes.

The Glengormley side hit the front when full forward Matthew McAllister fired the ball to the Glenravel net, and when Sean Bride added a point it looked like they would be heading home with both points. However the home side came again and produced a storming finish as Rian McQuillan sent over three points and Calum Higgins one before McKay completed his hat-trick to seal the win.