Month / November 2021

by thesaffrongael

St. Brigid’s advance to Ulster semi-final

Ulster Ladies Intermediate Club Championship Quarter-final

Killeavey (Armagh) 0-9  St. Brigid’s (Antrim) 5-12

Antrim champions St. Brigid’s proved too strong for their counterparts, Killeavy when they travelled to Armagh on Sunday and recorded an impressive victory over the girls from the Orchard County.

A goal from Theresa Mellon in the 7th minute settled the Saffron champions after they had kicked three wides but they were fortunate not to be back on level terms when the home side saw a goal bound shot come off the upright.

Mellon added a point after 11 minutes as both sides wasted chances before Grainne Boylan got the home side off the mark when she pointed a free in the 15th minute. Boylan added another from play as Killeavey started to enjoy a wee bit of success.

It was short lived however as Theresa Mellon replied with a point for St. Brigid’s and when Aileen McDonnell got in for their second goal the Musgrave Park girls were back on the ascendancy.

Theresa Mellon was proving a handful for the Killeavy defence as she tagged on another point and Abi Carelton added another as the visitors started to turn the screw and Laura Agnew increased the ‘Biddies’ lead with the final score of the half in injury time as the home side’s wide count continued to climb.

Half Time: Killeavy 0-3 St. Brigid’s 2-6

Killeavey needed a good start to the second half if they were to get themselves back into contention and Sara Dornan got them on their way with a point in the 5th minute and when Grainne Boylan pointed a free they must have fancied their chances of closing the gap further.

The visitors had other ideas however as they responded in style with Fionna O’Malley firing home their third goal and Laura Agnew and Abie Carelton adding points to put them back in complete control.

The Belfast side were once again calling the shots as Laura Agnew pointed a free and when Mary Mitchell fired home their fourth goal in the 12th minute it looked a long way back for the Armagh champions.

They kept battling however as Grainne Boylan fired over at the other end but it brought another strong response from the visitors as Laura Agnew breeched the home defence for goal number four in the 14th minute.

The visitors continued dictate matters with Abi Carelton and Grainne Boylan exchanging points from frees and at this stage the Belfast side began to empty their bench. Abi Carelton and Eimhear Currie added further points for St. Brigid’s as the clock ticked down with Grainne Boylan replying with consolation points for the home side to conclude the scoring.

by thesaffrongael

High scoring gorts win Nipper Quinn Shield

Nipper Quinn Shield final

Gort na Móna 5-10          Lámh Dhearg 1-09

Report by Ronan Scullion

Gort na Móna emerged victorious in a very keenly contested game against Lámh Dhearg. It has been said that goals win games and that was certainly the case for the men from Turf Lodge.

Playing with a strong breeze in the first half, Gort na Móna got off to a good start with a sublime point from Lorcán Cordner.  This was followed up by two scores from the impressive Nathan McKenna.  The men from Hannahstown began to get a hold of midfield and fought back with two scores from the industrious Rónán Webb after great fielding from their midfield players.  However, it was Gort na Móna who finished stronger to go into half time 5 points up after a goal and two points from Ruairí Ó Scolláin who had come out to midfield.

Gort na Móna started the second half brightly and began to move the ball really well against a stiff breeze and got another goal and a point courtesy of Ryan Donnelly.  It was then a case of keeping the Red Hands out as they desperately sought to get the goals they now required but struggled to get past the back line of Ó Scolláin, Conor McCusker, Barry El Ouhata, Patrick Brady and Aodhán O’Hanlon.  A goal did come for Lámh Dhearg after a well worked move from a free, which was blasted past Matthew Rice who had pulled off two amazing saves in the game up until that point. However, great work from Daire Keenan, Keelan McCann and Callum Bradley provided Caoimhin Connolly the opportunity to finish the game off with a well taken goal followed by another from Ryan Donnelly.

It was a game that was played in great spirit and with great competitiveness.

Scorers for Gort na Móna:

Nathan McKenna 1-06, Ryan Donnelly 2-01, Ruairí Ó Scolláin 1-02, Caoimhin Connolly 1-00, Lorcán Cordner 0-01

by thesaffrongael

St Paul’s edge out Davitt’s in thrilling Nipper Quinn Cup final

Nipper Quinn Cup Final 2021

Report by Peter McMorrow

With two fantastic finals already that day, pressure was on the Cup Final to maintain a high standard of Hurling. 

Thankfully for all spectators at Rossa Park, the 2021 Nipper Quinn cup final between an excellent Davitts and the undefeated league champions Naomh Pól did not disappoint. 

Great scores from both teams in the first half set the tone for what would be a nail biting decider. Sean Smyth took scores well for the Davitts midfield while a goal from St Pauls forward Brendan Mc Morrow levelled things. 

2 points separated the sides at half way mark and the proceeding half was equally as nip and tuck as the first. 

Hard working Shea Murray hit the Davitts defence hard with 3 goals for the Shaws Road men and full back Oisin Cusack offered a superb piece of individual skill with a goal from long range. 

Davitts answered with scores from Padraig Walsh, Kevin Gorman and yet more from Smyth edging a slight lead. 

A goal from a confident James McDonnell free once again put the game in the balance. 

Excellent free taking throughout from St Pauls James McDonnell and Davitts Sean Smyth cancelled each other out as the game clock ran down. 

There was late drama when with St Paul’s holding a two point lead, a last minute free for Davitts in front of goal gave them a chance of snatchign the game, but the shot was bravely stopped by Captain Ciarnan O’Carroll to secure the win for St Pauls. 

A fine display of Hurling from both teams spoiled the crowd and made for a great final.

Pics By Pól Brennan 

by thesaffrongael

Bredagh end St. Ergnat’s dreams

Ulster Ladies Club Championship semi-final

Bredagh 2:14 Moneyglass 1:7 

On a cool, crisp day at Bellaghy pitch, Bredagh (Down) and Moneygless (Antrim) prepared to fight for a spot in the Ulster ladies senior final. Amid the players and the crowd, leaves and spiders drifted in the light breeze.

There were no cobwebs on the Down champions, however, as they claimed the first ball and stormed down the pitch. Although their first shot went wide Clare Timoney converted a penalty when Anna McCann was adjudged to have fouled an opponent to give the Down champions an early lead.

Three minutes gone and Bredagh were three up. This was the start of their control. Strong team play and pace in their attack saw them carry the match to Moneyglass and put the Antrim women on the backfoot. Within the next eleven minutes, the girls in maroon won two frees and converted both to put them 1:2 to 0:0 ahead.

Moneyglass claimed their first score in the fourteenth minute when Orlaith Prenter split the posts but Maria O’Neill was denied prior to Prenter’s score when a brilliant track back and tackle from Orla Duffy denied the St. Ergnat’s forward.

It was Bredagh who took the next score when captain Timoney, impressive with her free taking throughout the match, pointed a placed ball. Moneyglass responded but were off target before Cliona Griffin went on a piercing run to win a free and Orla Prenter applied the finish as she sent over.

Bredagh responded in devastating fashion and they claimed the next seven points after the water break: Eilish Ward with two big scores and Eva Hicks putting her name to four. Moneyglass were forced back onto the defensive at this stage but were finding it difficult to contain a rampant Bredagh attack.

The work rate of Aoibheann McCarvill and Ciara McCreanor gave the Down girls the edge but the Antrim ladies looked to be in for a goal when Bronagh Devlin, made a good interception and attempted to lob the keeper but the ball again sailed agonisingly wide of the posts.

Another inspiring run from Griffin saw O’Neill finish the half with a point but at half time it looked a long way back for the St. Ergnat’s girls when they trailed 1-10 to 0-3.

Moneyglass started the second half on the attack but an early effort sailed wide and Bredagh responded and Viv McCormick got in behind the home defence to fire to the net. The teams then exchanged points but although Moneyglass were enjoying more possession they were being forced out the field and were finding it difficult to penetrate a solid Bredagh defence.

Both sets of defenders were dominant at this stage but Moneyglass added a point and Bredagh got two before the water break. The Down champions were now playing with great confidence and Claire Timoney sent a brilliant ball into Ella Durkan, who fired over the bar.

Moneyglass responded and Niamh McIntosh intercepted and started a move that ended in Orla Prenter again splitting the posts. Prenter claimed the final score of the game when she fired home from the penalty spot but it was too little too late for the Antrim champions.

Bredagh rallied for one final time and Anna McKee looked in for a goal but Aoife Kelly made a timely interception to prevent a goal.

Despite defeat this has been a great season for the Moneyglass side and they can be rightly proud of their achievements. A first Antrim Senior title for nearly a decade and an excellent opening day win in Ulster says a lot about their progress and with a strong youth setup they can look forward to going again in 2022.

 Moneyglass: Anna McCann, Aoife Kelly, Emma-Louise McAreavey, Saoirse McErlian, Sarah O’Neill, Rebecca Bradley, Niamh McIntosh, Laura McCann, Cathy Carey, Cliona Griffin, Maria O’Neill, Christine Webb, Eleanor Mallon, Bronagh Devlin, Orlaith Prenter. Subs: Aine Devlin for Christine Webb, Deirbhle McNicholl for Mallon, Alicia Boyd for Saoirse McErlain

Bredagh: Maeve Deery, Orna Kelly, Kate Keaney, Hannah Murray, Nuala Carvill, Aislinn MacFarland, Orla Duffy, Catherine Burke, Laoise Duffy, Aoibheann McCarvill, Clare Timoney (C), Aoife Laverty, Eilish Ward, Viv McCormack, Eva Hicks.