Month / October 2021

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel and Dunloy start favourites

Antrim Senior Camogie semi-finals

Saturday 23rd October

Ahoghill, 4pm: Dunloy v Cushendall

Saturday’s semi-finals’ day in Antrim with the games running simultaneously in Ballymena and nearby Ahoghill.

The big attraction is arguably in Slemish Park in Ballymena with Loughgiel putting their title on the line against Ballycastle in a repeat of last year’s final.

The Shamrocks are going for their eight successive crown in Antrim and four of the last seven finals have featured final victories over their seaside neighbours.

After a closely-fought final in Armoy two years ago, Ballycastle were expected to challenge hard in last year’s final. However the wide open spaces of Portglenone suited Loughgiel and they were able to create the openings for Roisin McCormick and Caitrin Dobbin to run at the Town defence. The game was over well before the final whistle with McCormick claiming Player of the Match on 1-9.

McCormick and Dobbin also shone bright in Croke Park last month as of course did Maeve Kelly who is the main threat to the Shamrocks continuing their domination in the Glens. Maeve and her younger sister, county minor All-Ireland winning captain Fionnuala, hit five goals between them last Sunday against Cushendall. The Loughgiel defence however will be a lot more difficult to break down.

Ballycastle also have other exciting minors coming through in Nuala Devlin and Rhiana McBride, but it would be a lot to expect that they are ready to offer the kind of support to the older Kelly that will be needed to stop Loughgiel.

The Shamrocks had seven players that started in Croke Park for Antrim, another three came in as substitutes while there were a further four in the panel. That is the kind of experience that gets club teams through tight games.

Despite that Loughgiel suffered defeat to Dunloy in their last outing, a round robin championship fixture two weeks ago.

It was a closely-fought game right through and Dunloy showed the type of determination required to win at the top level, perhaps even to take their first title in 18 seasons.

Now their semi-final task is to beat Cushendall in Ahoghill. In the round robin game between the pair a few weeks ago, Dunloy were easing up in the second half when they lost Chloe Drain to a straight red card just before the second water break.

Cushendall closed the gap slightly in the time left, but they are not really in a position to challenge the Cúchulainn’s who will have Drain back in defence after serving her suspension of two matches.

Nicole O’Neill, Caoimhe Conlon and Aileen McManus all have the experience to guide younger players such as Áine Magill, the Molloy sisters and Cassie McArthur through to their first county final.

Many of the Cushendall players featured in the 2018 final which didn’t go so well for them. Colleen Patterson and the Cosgrove and McKillop sisters are strong experienced players but the ‘Dall don’t have the overall team play to really trouble Dunloy.

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Camogie Fixtures

This weekend fixtures – some still to be confirmed

Senior championship semi-finals

Saturday 23rd October

Ahoghill, 4pm : Dunloy v Cushendall

Ballymena, 4pm : Loughgiel v Ballycastle

Intermediate championship semi-final

TBC : Loughgiel v Creggan

Junior championship semi-finals

Saturday 23rd October

11am in Cloughmills: Loughgiel 3 v Brídíní Óga 2

2pm in Ahoghill: Cushendall 2 v St John’s Belfast

Junior Shield quarter-Finals

Saturday 23rd October

11.30am in Sarsfield’s : Sarsfield’s v Naomh Éanna

Sunday 24th October

12pm in Creggan: Creggan 2 v St Paul’s-Loch Mór

by thesaffrongael

Busy football championship weekend in Antrim

Championship Week-End 25th/26th October (Previews)

The knock out phase of the football championships in all grades feature prominently in a week end of activity with the quarter-final stages of the senior grade, and semi-finals of both the Intermediate and Junior down for decision.

The action gets under way on  Saturday with a couple of senior quarter-finals set to proceed whilst Sunday features a bumper package of ties, six in all with the remaining senior rounds to proceed together with the semi-finals of both the Intermediate and Junior competitions.

The governing body, the CCC will no doubt be keeping a wary eye on the sky as the week-end approaches hoping for suitable conditions as the bumper programme gets under way.

Sat 25th Oct

 Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship (quarter-finals)

Dunsilly (1.00pm)

St Brigid’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon

This one gets the championship show on the road as St Brigid’s and Aghagallon cross swords at Dunsilly with a place in the semi-final the prize for the victors.

St Brigid’s fared well in their round robin travels to the quarter finals with wins over both Casement’s and Ahoghill and a draw at Clooney ensuring they topped the table at conclusion.

The South Belfast side seemed to gain in stride as the season proceeded and they will attempt to go a step further on the championship trail in this quarter-final test.

St Mary’s Aghagallon have been knocking on the championship door in recent years and having gained a first ever Minor title recently they will be striving to make it a double.

They had to dig deep to gain passage into the quarter-final with a 1-13 to 2-08 victory over St Enda’s in their last game in the preliminary series and they will look to continue in similar positivity here.

A good crowd is anticipated at the Antrim ground for this one and a close encounter is anticipated with the St Mary’s side given a tentative vote.

Hightown (3.30)

Erin’s Own Cargin v St Gall’s

Cargin ended a long winning championship sequence by St Gall’s when they claimed a first round victory over the Milltown men at Cloney back in 2015 and the reigning champions will start as favourites when they meet again at Hightown on Saturday.

The Toome men went on to claim the title in 2015 and have followed up with a further five and they must pass the Gall’s test again this term if they are to proceed in defence of their hard earned crown.

St Gall’s, having dominated the Antrim scene for more than a decade have failed to win a championship since 2015 but the Milltown Blues are never far away and are always a threat and signs of revival can be seen in an excellent under-20 side..

They failed to meet the challenge of Creggan on a couple of occasions, home and away in the round robin series, but a last round win at Gort na Mona suggests that they have made progress.

Cargin have already claimed the league title and will start as firm favourites but this could a tougher encounter than some would suggest.

Sunday 26th Oct

Dunsilly (1.00pm)

Lamh Dhearg v Casement’s Portglenone

Lamh Dhearg claimed the title a few years ago when they got the better of the Johnnies in a keenly contested Chapel Hill decider and have looked good in this year’s campaign. The Hannahstown side had an indifferent league campaign and indeed took time to get their championship game up and running as a defeat by St Enda’s suggested but they have finished strongly to top their group.

Casement’s have been knocking on the championship door in the recent past but the Bannsider’s suffered defeats at Ahoghill and St Brigid’s in preliminary games before victory over Ahoghill in their final game assured progress to the last eight.

Niall McKeever had his Red card from that game rescinded but a doubt remains over Dermot McAleese who has been out with a broken jaw and his availability would certainly boost the Port’s chances.

Portglenone face a stern challenge in this one and the Hannahstown men will start as favourites but the South West men are capable of causing an upset.

Hightown (3.30 pm)

St John’s v Kickham’s Creggan

The last quarter-final should attract a big attendance to Hightown as last year’s beaten finalists Creggan face a St. John’s side who raised a few eyebrows by beating Erin’s own in their final group game in Toome to qualify.

Creggan lost to neighbours Cargin in the 2020 final and the Kickham’s will be hoping to go one step further this year and have shown fine form in the round robin series without losing a game.

They recorded home and away wins over St Galls and were not troubled in their meeting with Gort na Mona and will hope to keep that winning run in tact against the Johnnies.

St. John’s last championship win came back in 1998 but they were beaten finalists to Lamh Dhearg in 2018 and will have gained confidence from that recent win in Toome.

Creggan will start as favourites but they will have to be at their best if a last four berth is to be secured.

by thesaffrongael

St Comgall’s and Rasharkin favourites to advance, but the Aggies and Pearses can’t be ruled out

GYMCO Antrim Junior Football Championship

St Comgall’s v Agnes in Glenavy

Last year’s beaten finalists St Comgall’s Antrim are aiming to go one better this term with St. Agnes the side hoping to stop them reaching this year’s final.

St. Comgall’s looked on the way to the league title this term before falling at the penultimate hurdle and that should push them to even greater efforts in the championship.

St Agnes have been there or thereabouts in this grade for a while now and the Woodlands residents have been in good form this season.

They finished just behind table toppers Rasharkin in their group, well clear of the chasing pack.

The Antrim men will start this one as firm favourites and although the Aggies will lack for nothing in effort a win for Adrian Dougan’s men looks probable.

Toome

St Mary’s Rasharkin v Patrick Pearses

This could be a close one as Toome hosts this semi-final between Pearses and St. Mary’s Rasharkin in a repeat of this year’s Division 3 league final.

Rasharkin topped their qualifying group unbeaten and the Dreen side will start as favourite after beating Sunday’s opponents in the league final but that one was close and there might not be too much between them again on Sunday.

Pearses have gained in stature this term and have done well in both league and championship. The North Belfast men finished just behind St Comgall’s in the qualifiers but Rasharkin will enter this one as slight favourites but Pearses will not go down without a fight and little may separate them at conclusion.

That Leauge final in Ahoghill earlier in the season will see the men from Dreen going in as favourites, but Pearses are a very capable outfit who will fancy their chances of gaining revenge.

by thesaffrongael

St Paul’s Secure O’Donnell Cup Double

St Pauls retained the O’Donnell Cup on Sunday afternoon after coming out on top over St Brigids in a highly enjoyable encounter at Woodlands

Dillon Rogers-Duffy gave his side an early lead before a reply from Joseph Logan  from St Brigids who followed up with two more scores from Michael McCann and Peter Molloy to go into the Water break leading 0-3 to 0-1. 

St Pauls gained the upper hand following the water break and drew level from an Oisin Cusack score from distance and another Dillon Rogers Duffy free. St Brigids edged head from another Michael McCann free but St Paus hit back straight away to go into the break level at 0-4 each – following an excellent Dillon Rogers Duffy score from play avoiding a block from his marker Jack Hetherington. 

St Pauls again started the second period a little stronger and went ahead with two frees from Dillon Rogers Duffy and arguably man of the match Oisin Gamble. To their credit, St Brigids stormed back into the game led by Peter Molloy and Joseph Logan and levelled the game at 0-6 a Leicester heading into the second water break. 

The decisive score of the game came just before the water break when St Pauls Darach Casey won another free on the right hand side of the pitch. Oisin Gamble stepped up to score a goal that dropped into the top corner from distance. St Pauls went into the water break a goal ahead at 1-6 to 0-6. 

Again St Pauls picked up the first score after the break from a Rogers Duffy free to go four ahead. To their credit, St Brigids rallied and put a lot of pressure on in the closing stages scoring two frees from Conall Taggart and manufacturers a good goal opportunity but for a great save from the St Pauls net minder Shea Kearns. 

St Pauls were reduced to 12 men for a second bookable offense which seemed to kick them into gear again with a goal chance from Ben MacManus well saved and arguably the score of the game from play from James McDonnell followed by a closing free from the very accurate Rogers Duffy secured two in row McDonnell Cup triumphs for the Shaws Road lads