Members of Tir na nÓg GAC, plus the family and friends of the late James McVeigh turned out in great numbers at Whitehill on Saturday for the club’s Walk, Run, or Cycle to raise funds for Chest, Heart & Stroke.
James’s parents Louise and Jim Mcveigh donated an all weather Defibrillator box which will provide 24 hour access to this vital piece of equipment for the local community. Balloons were released by James’s siblings, plus nephews and nieces, blue one for Tir na nÓg, black and white for his former club Ardoyne Kickhams and yellow ones for his county Antrim.
A large crowd took part in the event, some walking, some running and others cycling in what was a memorable event for the Tir na nÓg club and the McVeigh family
Bert Trowlen went along for the Saffron Gael to capture the events of the day.
Gort na Móna held off a late challenge from Armoy to qualify for the final of the Junior Camogie Shield at Ahoghill on Saturday afternoon.
Two goals inside a minute from player of the match Aishling Stone and full forward Orlaith Lennon just before the second water break appeared to have wrapped it up for the Gorts but Armoy clawed their way back and were just a point behind deep into injury time, before Stone sealed the win for the Turf Lodge girls with a pointed free.
A hat-trick of goals from Stone in the first half had helped her team to a 3-3 to 2-5 lead at half time, the Armoy goals coming from Jenny Devlin and Erin ‘Clute’ McFetdrige.
Facing a strong breeze in the second half Armoy did well to draw level early with an Niamh Butler point, but disaster struck when they conceded two quick goals in the third quarter. Points from Ciara Devlin and Jennifer Devlin got them back to within two.
As the game went deep into injury time Ciara Devlin cut the gap back to just one, but they wasted two chances to draw level from late frees and Aishling Stone sealed it with a pointed free in the 12th minute of added time to seal her team’s place in the final.
GORT NA MÓNA
Coleen McAvoy, Katie Irvine, Meadhbh Donnelly, Rose Maguire, Lea Bunting, Rachieal Mulholland, Eimear Enright, Emma O’Neill, Graine O’Hare, Sara Kennedy, Anna McCann, Broghan Crossin, Aisling Stone, Orlaith Lennon, Abigail Donnelly
ARMOY
Cathy Christie, Shannon Richmond, Caitie McCaughan, Erin McMullan, Justine O’Hagan, Lucia McCormick, Niambh Butler, Catriona Devlin, Caitlin McCullough, Ciara Devlin, Una Forsythe, Emma Huey, Erin McFetridge, Chloe McArthur, Jennifer Devlin
The long wait for Junior Football Championship success for Naomh Comhghall ended last Sunday in Ahoghill when they defeated St. Mary’s Rasharkin in the final. It took extra time and penalties to separate the protagonists after and epic struggle where the sides were tied 10 times during an exciting war of attrition.
Not the way that Paddy Quinn, Adrian Dougan and his team would have wanted to win it but after disappointment after disappointment in finals over the last decade the boys for the ‘Town’ deserved the wee bit of fortune that fell their way when Anto Watson became the hero for the winners with a late penalty save.
One can’t help but feel sorry for the losers on an occasion such as this but Rasharkin have been excellent this year, winning promotion back to division 2 and when the disappointment of defeat subsides I’m sure they will wish Naomh Comhghall all the best in next year’s Intermediate championship.
On a great day for taking photographs I was only able to publish a selection of the many shots I took on the day so today I’m publishing some more from the game and I hope the men from the ‘Town’ will enjoy another trip down memory lane.
On Friday Cushendall said goodbye to PJ McNaughton, a good and faithful servant to the Ruairi Og Club.
A member of one of Ireland’s great hurling families PJ just missed out on Cushendall’s historic breakthrough in 1981. He was a member of the squad right up to the late seventies when they were knocking on the door, but had hung up his hurl before that famous day in 1981 when they lowered the colours of the great Ballycastle team who were bidding for four in a row.
Not that he turned his back on the hurling, for he was a constant around the club and as the Ruairi’s grew in strength he had the honour of seeing six of his brothers line out on the team that won the club’s second title in 1985 by beating Loughgiel in the final in Glenravel.
PJ’s six brothers who lined out together on the team that beat Loughgiel in the 1985 final in Glenravel.
I covered a lot of games in Cushendall over the years and seldom did I do one that PJ wasn’t there behind the wire on the Lurig side of the ground, down near the pavilion, full of banter and craic, and not always complimentary towards the visiting team, or the home side for that matter, but always there…and always enjoying it.
Another member of the great McNaughton hurling family is gone. Not as decorated as his many of his brothers, but just as fondly remembered and as sadly missed.
To his wife Patricia and their family we offer our sincere condolences.
The Saffron Business Forum Sports Lunch made a return today after a two year abscence and it turned out to be another memorable day at Crown Plazza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge. Guests of honour were former Tipperary Hurling mananger Liam Sheedy and one of his greatest players during his two terms at the helm Brendan Maher. Tyrone’s All Ireland winning captain Padraig Hampsey brought along the Sam Maguire Cup while little Daithi McGabhan got a very special welcome. Overall another excellent day and hopefully a lot of money raised for Antrim GAA
Tyrone captain Padraig Hampsey with the Sam Maguire Cup
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
The crowd stand to applaud at the end of a tribute video to the late, great Anto Finnegan, Antrim football legend
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Members of the Loughgiel School of Dancing who performed at the event
Members of the Loughgiel School of Dancing who performed at the event
Cathal McOscar Photography
Antrim county chairman Ciarn McCavana addresses the guests
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
John McGuckian of event sponsors Tughans
Cathal McOscar Photography
Inies with a montage of the Antrim v Kilkenny All Ireland Intermediate final which was one of items raffled to raise funds at the event
John McGuckian
John McGuckin of event sponsors Tughans with former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy at the Saffron Business Forum Business Lunch in the Crown Plaza Hotel. Pic by Cathal McOscar
Antrim hurling manager Darren Gleeson and his assistant Johnny Campbell
Tipperary star Brendan Maher who was guest of honour at the Saffron Business Forum Business Lunch in the Crown Plaza Hotel. Pic by Cathal McOscar
Former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy and star hurler Brendan Maher, who were chief guests at the Saffron Business Forum Business Lunch in the Crown Plaza Hotel, are seen here with Dominic Kearns of the Saffron Business Forum and Mark Sidebottom of BBC. Pic by Cathal McOscar
Former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy and star hurler Brendan Maher, who were chief guests at the Saffron Business Forum Business Lunch in the Crown Plaza Hotel, are seen here with Dominic Kearns of the Saffron Business Forum. Pic by Cathal McOscar
Dáithí’s Mac Gabhann and his father, Máirtín were special guests at the Saffron Business Forum Lunch
Cathal McOscar Photography
Antrim hurling manager Darren Gleeson and his assistant Johnny Campbell
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
Anna and Inies kept thing running smoothly as usual
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
County treasurer Donal Murphy and his wife Therese with Dermot McAleese of Casements GAC
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Cathal McOscar Photography
Tyrone captain Pádraig Hampsey brought the Sam Maguire Cup along to the Saffron Business Forum Lunch
Dominic Kearns address the guests
Dominc Kearns (right) of the Saffron Business Forum presents a cheque for £1000 to Jim Brady of Antrim Cumann na mBunscol
Mark Sidebottom gets a high five from Daithi and his dad Maírtín
Cathal McOscar Photography
Brian Loughran of the Saffron Business Forum present a cheque of Daithi and his dad Maírtín
