Month / December 2021

by thesaffrongael

We’ll go and give our all for Creggan and for Antrim – Maguire

By Kevin Herron

Creggan’s Sam Maguire admits that an Ulster Club Championship clash in December was never mentioned between the players this year. 

After clinching the Padraig McNamee Cup on November 14th with a win over Aghagallon- that changed and the Staffordstown Road outfit were able to extend their campaign for another few weeks at least. 

On Sunday the Antrim Champions take on Armagh’s Clann Eirann in the Ulster Championship (1.30 throw-in) at Corrigan. 

Maguire believes the game is a free hit for him and his team-mates and is adamant they will give their all for the club and for Antrim itself. 

“To be honest, Ulster has never ever been mentioned in our squad”, Maguire revealed. 

“The people around the club have maybe talked about it – but we never looked beyond winning Antrim. We’ll go and we’ve got a free hit and we’ll go and give our all for Creggan and for Antrim and hopefully it will be enough”. 

Maguire has one of the most famous names in GAA history and wrote his name in Creggan folklore with a late goal to see off Aghagallon in the County final. 

Sam celebrates with his brother Paddy after the final whistle of the Antrim final which saw Creggan bridge a 67 year gap

Speaking in the immediate aftermath, Maguire felt the victory was credit to the squad for continuing to push year on year. 

“It was something else, you train so hard and only dream of days like this”, he said. 

“We’ve been through the ringer in the last couple of years- we pushed and pushed and pushed and kept coming back. I think it’s credit to us and the boys that we finally got there”. 

Maguire was keen to pay tribute to Aghagallon and believes they will be back challenging again next year. 

“We knew they were never going to go away”,Maguire believed. 

“They’re young, they’re fit, they’re on the crest of a wave with U-15, minor and everything was good around their club. We knew they weren’t going to lie down until the final whistle. They’d a couple of goal chances at the end and two-blocks in a row- they’re the small moments. 

“They went our way, they’ve went against us in the past and it went our way today. No doubt, Aghagallon will be back without a doubt they’ll be back and challenging next year”. 

Having been beaten in the 2018 and 2020 deciders by near neighbours Cargin, Maguire acknowledged the hurt of those two defeats and felt that experience stood by them. 

“I think the experience absolutely stood by us”, reflected Maguire. 

“There were times that we could have panicked, we hit a couple short and in the past we might have hit the panic button and it wouldn’t have went our way. 

Sam Maguire with Ricky Johnston after the game

“But we kept composed, we kept the ball moving and kept the scoreboard ticking over. The goal came from Aghagallon pushing up and trying to get the equalising score themselves and it opened up for us. Definitely, the last two finals and the hurt alone has drove us on and the composure has stuck by us”. 

The old saying that “you can dream of these occasions” was true for Maguire the night before the final as he revealed that he feel asleep carrying out his paternal duties and his dream most certainly came true. 

“I fell asleep the night before feeding the wein and the wife took a photo of me”, revealed Maguire. 

“It made its way into the WhatsApp group and I joked that was me kicking the winner and here we are- maybe it wasn’t the winner but it certainly felt like and the feeling was unreal”. 

by thesaffrongael

Red High seal final place with late scoring burst

Main picture – Man of the Match Tom McGrattan who led his side to their first Mageean Cup final

Danske Bank Mageean Cup semi-final

St Patrick’s Downpatrick 2-17 St Louis Ballymena 1-17

An injury time goal by midfielder Finn Turpin saw St Patrick’s Downpatrick book a place in their first ever Danske Bank Mageean Cup final at the Dub Arena on Friday night.

Tom McGrattan, who had been superb throughout the game, laid on a pin-point pass for Turpin who rounded his marker and fired home from 10 metres out to snatch a victory that had appeared to be getting away from them.

Man of the Match McGrattan had edged Red High in front from a free just a minute earlier, and Turpin’s goal put four points between the sides and with time running out there was no way back for St Louis.

The first half was played at breakneck pace and that only slowed for a period after the second water break when it looked as if nerves were getting the better of both sides when it came to shooting.

After five minutes, the teams had each scored three points. By the tenth minute, St Louis Ballymena’s dangerous inside-forward line had found the net, Jack McCloskey cutting through the cover and converting off the base of the right hand post.

St Louis Daire McMullan breaks from defence during the second half

But within three minutes Downpatrick were a point up, with the brilliant McGrattan going around the left side of the Ballymena defence to rifle to the roof of the net.

Aodhan McGarry responded by pointing from a sideline and by the water-break two well matched teams were level on 1-5 each.

McGarry started the second quarter scoring with a fine point but a run of three successive scores from Finn Turpin, McGrattan and Oisin Coulter edged the Red High ahead again.

However three frees from Jack McCloskey and a point from Ronan McCollam put Ballymena in the lead by 1-11 to 1-10 at half-time.

For the second half Oisin Coulter dropped back to cover Downpatrick’s defence and it cut out the space McCloskey and McCollam enjoyed in the opening half. But it also blunted the winners’ score-taking at the other end, although Pearse Smyth and McGrattan from frees kept the score-board moving.

By the second water break Downpatrick were 1-15 to 1-14 ahead with St Louis now looking for scores from distance.

The next 11 minutes went scoreless. In hindsight Ballymena snatched at a couple of scoring chances that might have put pressure on Downpatrick who pumped a lot of ball in high on the north Antrim defence with no return.

Eventually sub Tom McFerran brought the teams level and McCollam from the left wing gave St Louis the lead with a fantastic score.

Oisin Coulter landed a much needed Downpatrick response in reply and they held firm until Tom McGrattan delivered the match winning scores.

Jack McCloskey fires over a St Louis point from a free

It is scant consolation for Ballymena that they played their part in a fine display of schools’ hurling, but a number of players stood out including Daire McMullan, Connor Dickson and Dara Martin in defence and McCollam and McCloskey in attack until tempered by Downpatrick’s packed back line.

Defence was ultimately the winning of the game, but they would not have got across the line without Turpin, Oisin Coulter and especially the mercurial Tom McGrattan.

Red High’s Michael Dorrian wins possession

St Louis: C Mullan, D Martin 0-1, K O’Boyle, P Patterson, D McMullan 0-2 (1f), CDickson, C McCloskey, F Henry, A McGarry 0-2 (1 sideline), R McQuillan 0-1, C Higgins, D Patterson 0-1 free, R McCollum 0-5 (1f), J McCloskey 1-4 (4f), O McCamphill.

Subs: T McFerran 0-1 for O McCamphill (45)

St Patrick’s: P Smyth 0-2 frees, J Ruddy, R O’Neill, D Coulter, S Mageean, D Mallon, C Lenaghan, T Connolly 0-1, F Turpin 1-2, M Dorrian 0-1, A Connolly, T McGrattan 1-9 (5f), O Coulter 0-2, R McGrath, S McCarthy.

Subs: F MacManus for A Connolly (21), LMcCabe for S McCarthy (43), F Casey for R McGrath (58).

Referee : K Parke

by thesaffrongael

St. Gall’s will start favourites but that won’t worry Glenravel

Antrim U20A Football Championship Final

St. Gall’s v Con Magee’s

Davitt’s Park 2.00pm

Referee: Eamon McAuley

The Antrim U20 A championship final is scheduled for Davitt’s Park tomorrow with the two form teams in the competition locking horns in what promises to be an interesting final.

The competition has been dogged throughout with postponements and the general feeling is that it was fixed at the wrong time of the year and it is something that the relevant body is likely to take a look at for next season.

Despite those postponements the competition did go ahead and tomorrow’s finalist, St. Gall’s and Glenravel have embraced it whole heartedly and no matter how it goes tomorrow both clubs are sure to have benefited from the competition.

St. Gall’s are likely to start as favourites tomorrow by virtue of their wins over Cargin in Toome in the opening day and against St. Brigid’s at Milltown. Cargin and St. Brigid’s contested the Minor final two years ago with the Toome side winning that final and they were favourites going into this year’s U20 championship

  • Barra McCaffery

 In a game played with real championship fervour it was the home side who led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but that was to change shortly into the second half.

Niall Burns grabbed a superb 36th minute goal to see the Milltown Blues hit the front with Paudie McLaughlin replying almost immediately with a goal at the other end for Cargin.

At this stage it looked anybody’s game but the home side were reduced in number when mid fielder Benen Kelly was shown red at the end of the third quarter and shortly after the impressive Niall Burns got in for the visitors second goal.

St. Gall’s had certainly seized the initiative and they went on to add a further three goals as their busy corner forward Niall Fallon added a couple with Dara Delaney adding the third to put the game out of reach of the home side.

St. Gall’s took another step in the direction of the U20 FC title when they defeated Naomh Bríd at Milltown. The home side looked home and dry at the halfway stage when they led 1-8 to 0-2 at half time as they controlled the opening half but Naomh Bríd showed considerable improvement after the break without ever looking like getting anything from the game.

They matched St. Gall’s score for score in the third quarter with the difference between the sides still nine going into the final quarter and the visitors kept going to the end despite the inevitable outcome.

Naomh Brid outscored St. Gall’s 0-5 to 0-2 during the closing quarter but by that stage the damage had already been done and the Milltown Row side moved top of Group1 with three wins from three starts.

St. Gall’s completed their programme unbeaten with wins over All Saints and Aldergrove and will go into tomorrow’s final full of confidence. Aidan OMaolin in goals, Dultach Johnston, Conor Reagan, Niall Burns, Niall Fallon, Conal McCabe and Barry McCaffery are all top performers with Burns and McCaffery in particular a serious threat in attack.

It’s been a while since the Milltown side saw any action in the competition while Sunday’s opponents, Glenravel played their final game in Group 2 more recently and have been very impressive as they have moved through their group unbeaten.

Con Magees Glenravel qualified for the final of the U20 football Championship when they beat Creggan in their final round robin game in Creggan.

  • Sean McKay, Glenravel
  • Niall Burns, St. Gall’s

Their ability to score goals at vital times throughout the game gave the Glenravel side the edge and they led by 2-2 to 0-4 at half time, the major scores coming from Callum Higgins and Ryan McQuillan.

Eoin Hynds made his mark in the second quarter with two goals, the second coming just before the half time whistle to give his team a 4-4 to 0-6 lead at the break. A Sean McKay goal early in the second half stretched the Con Magees lead, but Creggan hit back with one from Dominic McAteer. However Glenravel maintained the upper hand and a second goal from Ryan McQuillan sealed their place in tomorrow’s final.

Wins over Tir na nOg earlier in the competition in Glenravel by 2-9 to 1-7 and a Sean McKay hat-trick at the same venue helped Con Magees Glenravel to a narrow victory over St Enda’s. and the Glenravel men have been able to come up with goals throughout this year’s competition.

Goals have played an important part in the Con Magee’s run to Saturday’s final with McKay leading the way and the Glenravel men will be hoping to add further majors as they attempt to overcome the challenge of St. Gall’s.

Callum Higgins, Ryan McQuillan, Rian Lenon with Cathal and Eoin Hynds and Sean McKay are the men who can swing this one Glenravel’s way against a St. Gall’s side who will start as favourites but will need to be at their best to overcome the Glen’s men.

by thesaffrongael

Can Creggan make successful Ulster debut?

Ulster SFC Club championship

Corrigan Park Sunday 1-30pm

Kickham’s Creggan (Antrim) v Clann Eireann (Armagh)

Antrim champions Kickham’s Creggan make a first step into the unknown when they take on Clann Eireann of Armagh in the Ulster club SFC quarter-final at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

Creggan bridged a 67-year gap, lifting the Padraig McNamee Cup for the first time since 1954 with a 1-12 to 0-07 win over Aghagallon in the Antrim final at the same venue back on the 14th November and put the disappointment of recent final defeats behind them to climb the winner’s rostrum.

 The Staffordstown Road side were in control at the break with Matthews Rodgers, Kevin Small, Ruairi and Jamie McCann all chipping in to see them 0-07-0-02 ahead. 

Aghagallon were always chasing, however, they did keep the game alive until second half injury-time when substitute, Sam Maguire, capped his introduction with a goal to end Creggan’s long wait for Championship glory.

Creggan’s two previous final defeats came at the hands of neighbours, Erin’s Own Cargin but Gerard McNulty’s side got that monkey off their back when they came from behind to defeat the reigning champions in the semi-final at St. Enda’s.

McNulty, who was assistant to Kevin Madden at Creggan for two years before taking over the managers role, has brought his own style of management to the side and they have developed into a more expansive outfit.

He has introduced a number of new faces to the side with Ethan Carey-Small and Jamie McCann cementing starting places in defence and McCann in particular has been phenomenal, weighing in with vital scores from half-back.

Indeed their half back line of Aidan Maguire, Marty Johnston and McCann have rightly received rave notices and have been instrumental in the side’s success this year.

Oisin Kerr, in goals and Ricki Johnston at full back bring vast experience to what has been a solid defence with Odhran McLarnon dropping deep at times in a sweeper role and they held Aghagallon scoreless from play until 10 minutes from time.

Kevin Small and Conor McCann have formed a strong and mobile mid-field partnership while Tiernan McAteer, Matthew Rodgers and Ruairi McCann are always a threat in attack.

What of Clann Éireann ?

In one of the most remarkable Armagh senior football championship finals for many years, Lurgan side Clann Éireann staged a stunning comeback from a seemingly hopeless position to squeeze out their more illustrious opponents Crossmaglen at the Athletic Grounds.

With the sides having been deadlocked at 0-5 each at half-time, it was Crossmaglen, inspired by the O’Neill brothers and Cian McConville, who seized the initiative after the break to glide into a seemingly unassailable 0-11 to 0-5 lead.

But with ace marksman Conor Turbitt leading a spectacular Clann Éireann revival – he landed eight points in all – Rangers were rocked back on their heels when substitute Ruairí McDonald thundered a great drive to their net in the 49th minute.

At 0-12 to 1-9 the match was back in the melting pot but the sporting gods were to smile on Clann Éireann when another substitute Jack Conlon saw his harmless-looking speculative effort in the 59th minute graze the post and trickle over the line for the most unlikely of goals.

  • Conor Turbitt who scored 0-8 for Clann Eireann in their win over Crossmaglen

At 2-10 to 0-15 Clann Éireann were back in business and a further brace of Turbitt points saw them snatch the title to set up Saturday’s clash with the Kickham’s. There are a couple of Antrim connections with the Armagh side. Barry McCambridge, who wore no 3 in the final win over Crossmaglen is a son of John McCambridge from Cushendall and a nephew of Monty, Gaza and Michael McCambrdge, all of whom played county hurling for Antrim, and a first cousin of Cushendall and Antrim senior hurler Ryan McCambridge. Another local connection is that Gerry Fagan, who captained Clann Eireann to their 1963 county title before going on to become a legendry Ulster GAA official, started his teaching career in Cargan Primary School in Glenravel in 1948.

Gerard McNulty will not be shouting it from the rooftops but I’m sure he would have been surprised but happy with the result at the Athletic Grounds but at the same time well aware of the serious challenge Clann Eireann will pose on Sunday.

The astute McNulty will have done his homework on the Lurgan side with Turbitt marked down for special attention but most of his focus will have been on preparing his own side. The Kickham’s will have a big and noisy support behind them at Corrigan and if they can settle quickly into the game and produce anything near their best then there is no reason why they cannot win this one.