Another step forward as new floodlights switched on at Centre of Excellence
The new floodlights at the Antrim Centre of Excellence at Dunsilly were switched on for the first time onThursday evening at an event attended by members the county board, and representatives of the Antrim Hurling and Football teams, Antrim Camogie and Antrim LGFA. Members of Club Aontroma and the Saffron Business Forum handed over cheques to county treasurer Donal Murphy, while Jerome Quinn was there to record it all on video.
Dick McKeague, Tony Shivers and Seamus McKillop of the Saffron Business Forum presented a cheqe of £75000 towards the cost of the new floodlights at DunsillyNiall Murphy, Eimear Grieve and Margaret Flynn of Club Antroma present a cheque for £25,000 to county treasurer Donal Murphy at Thursday evening’s lights switch on
Brother Ennis 1933-2021 The Committee of Ulster Schools GAA are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Brother Larry Ennis, our distinguished former Chairperson of 25 years, serving from 1983 until 2008. Bro Ennis left a lasting impression in every school and community across Ulster and beyond which were graced by his presence, underlined by his steadfast passion for all things Gaelic games. His vocation brought him to Omagh CBS, Glen Road CBS and St Mary’s CBS in Belfast, Armagh CBS later to become St Patrick’s Armagh, and back to Omagh after his ‘retirement’. While we are all much sadder for his passing, we are thankful for his support and guidance over many many years.
Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí aige.
Laurence Ennis, a native of Coralstown, Co Westmeath, was born in May 1933. He attended the local primary school until the age of fourteen and then moved to the Christian Brother’s Secondary School in Mullingar where he quickly distinguished himself as a formidable centre half back on both the hurling and football teams. Larry Ennis joined the Christian Brothers in 1948, and having completed his Inter and Leaving Cert examinations, moving to Queen’s University Belfast in 1953 to take a degree in Maths and History. Having completed his degree in 1956, he spent the next year at St Joseph’s Training College, Trench House completing his teaching qualifications. Brother Ennis started his teaching career in Omagh in 1957, and spent the next ten years there in the Christian Brothers Primary School teaching the 11+ class. Despite his 11+ class size frequently exceeding 50 students, he managed to produce phenomenal pass rates – 51 passes in a class of 52 students in 1963, followed by 53 out of 55 in 1964! This decade spent in Omagh is also distinguished by another feature of Brother Ennis’ contribution in every location where he was sent to teach, his total immersion in coaching Gaelic Games, not only in the schools but in the local communities. During that sojourn in Omagh CBS, he coached the primary school to an Ulster title (Rice Cup), and also assisted with coaching teams in the secondary school. In those years, he worked with the successful McMahon and D’Alton Cup teams, and would often recall his very first outing with a CBS team in 1957 – an away fixture in Letterkenny, when the team travelled by train to Strabane on the Great Northern Railway, and then caught a connection to Letterkenny on the Donegal Railway. Brother Ennis’ exploits on the football field in Omagh were not confined to coaching. Despite the Religious Orders being forbidden to play representative football, he regularly lined out for Omagh St Enda’s, albeit under the alias of ‘Sean Mulryan’, and helped St Enda’s to win the Tyrone Senior Football Championship in 1963. In 1967 he was transferred to Glen Road CBS (now All Saints College) in Belfast to teach mathematics. Once again he became involved locally, and won an Antrim Junior Football Championship medal in 1970 with St. Teresa’s. His energy and innovative inclinations were evident in his management of the Antrim Vocational Schools Hurling team, which he entered for the Leinster Championship in 1971. That team went on to beat Laois, Wexford and Kilkenny on its way to the Leinster Final, in which they beat Offaly, before going on to defeat Tipperary in the All-Ireland Final. As fate would have it, captain of that team was one Sean McGourty, current Treasurer of Ulster Schools GAA. Bro Ennis was transferred to Dublin in 1971, but was back in Belfast in 1978 with an immediate impact. He managed Naomh Treasa to the Antrim Senior Football Championship success in 1979 and went on to reach another four Finals under his reign. He served as Antrim GAA Senior Football Manager from 1979 until 1981, in which time Antrim won their most recent Dr McKenna Cup title, beating Tyrone, Down and Armagh in the process. At this stage he was also the Headteacher in St. Mary’s Belfast. He became Headteacher in Armagh CBS in 1982, later to merge with St Patrick’s Armagh, and was to spend the next 17 years there. He became involved with the local Pearse Óg’s club and led them to Senior Championship success in 1985 and 1988. He was a central figure in procuring the lands which now houses the Callenbridge complex. Meanwhile, he managed the Armagh Minor Football team from 1989 until 1997, winning Ulster titles in 1992 and 1994, and narrowly missing out on an All-Ireland title in 1992. He ‘officially’ retired from teaching in 1999, and returned to CBS Omagh where his teaching career had started 42 years earlier. However, he did not recognise the concept of retirement, either in the teaching or sporting context. He remained inextricably involved in football in the school, and none of the school’s 6 age-group teams ever went anywhere without Larry Ennis on board. He was actively involved in MacRory Cup success in 2005 and in the historic MacRory/Hogan Cup double in 2007, but was equally content in working with non-representative Development Squads within the school. In the midst of this exhausting schedule of academic responsibilities, school teams, and local clubs and counties, Brother Ennis also made time to serve for 25 years as Ulster Colleges Chairperson from 1983 until 2008. In this capacity he also represented Ulster on the All-Ireland Schools Committee. In truth, his contribution to the schools in which he has taught, to the thousands of students who have benefitted from his mathematical prowess, to the countless players and all the teams which he has coached at school, club, and county level over the years since 1957 has been incalculable. The writer of any article like this one usually has to resist the temptation to exaggerate; in the case of Brother Ennis, the problem has been to avoid understating his various roles in so many places, and to try to do justice to his truly exceptional career.
Tir na nOg (Antrim) v Moortown St. Malachy’s (Tyrone)
Ballinderry 1.00pm Saturday
Referee: Barry Cassidy
As I eluded to earlier in the week, a return to Ballinderry can bring further rewards for Tir na nOg when they take on Moortown St. Malachy’s this Saturday in the semi-final of the Ulster Intermediate club football championship semi-final.
On the 10th March 2019 Tir na nOg took on St. Patrick’s Gortin in the Ulster Intermediate league final at Saturday’s venue and recorded a fairly comfortable win over the Tyrone side.
That game finished 2-10 to 2-2 for the Randalstown side but the victory was made much more comfortable by the dismissal of two of the Gortin side in the first half.
Whether that result will have any bearing on Saturday’s meeting with Moortown is questionable but quite a number of the panel that featured in that victory will be involved in Saturday’s semi-final while Ballinderry should provide a firmer surface than the previously scheduled Maghera.
Moortown St. Malachy’s are likely to provide a stiffer test than St. Patrick’s Gortin did in that league final back in 2019 but it is a challenge that Micky O’Kane, Seamus Hastings and the Whitehill side will embrace and they will be ready for it.
After collecting the Antrim title when they defeated All Saints in the final, Tir na nOg were drawn against Armagh champions, Carrickcruppen in the Ulster quarter-final and will have drawn a lot of confidence from their victory over the Armagh side in Ahoghill.
Daniel Martin
Caoimhin Duffin
Christy Sheerin
Tir na nOg produced a mighty performance as they saw off the challenge of Carrickcruppen with six points to spare. The game was only decided in injury time however with the Armagh champions staging a late comeback but the men from Whitehill were full value for their win.
Leading by three points at half time after a superb start, all three majors in the game came after the last minute of normal time. Ciaran Dobbin and Eamon Og McAllister taking advantage of Carrickcruppen goalkeeper Blaine Hughes going walkabout as the Naomh Padraig men fought to get back into the game while James Burns looked to have got the last touch on the ball for the Armagh champions goal.
In a frenetic end to the game, referee Niall McKenna issued three red cards with Burns and Conal O’Callaghan seeing red and Barry McCormick for Tir na nOg but in reality, the dismissals had no effect on the result.
Thankfully McCormick’s dismissal for a second yellow card will not rule him out of Saturday’s semi-final. The centre-half-back and captain is vital to the Tir na nOg cause and on his day he is one of the best in the county in that position.
Tir na nOg have been excellent this season, going through the league unbeaten before making it a league and championship double in their own county and they have carried that form into their Ulster campaign.
They are a big mobile side who retain the ball well and are capable of posting high scores as demonstrated against Carrickcruppen. Darragh Fagan is a reliable free taker and that will be important on Saturday while Eamon Og McAllister, Aaron McNeilly, Sean Duffin and Daniel Martin are all capable of taking scores.
At mid-field Chrity Sheerin and Darren McCormick are strong and combative and both have the ability to come up with scores while Sean Paul McAtamney in goals and Ciaran McGrellis, Ciaran O’Neill and Caoimhin Duffin combine with the excellent Barry McCormick to form a strong defence.
Saturday’s semi-final opponents, Moortown St. Malachys will provide a formidable opponents for the Antrim champions.
Moortown St. Malachy’s
What of Moortown St. Malachy’s?
Moortown were convincing winners over Fermanagh champions Erne Gaels in Carrickmore in their Ulster quarter-final.
The Fermanagh side started the game on the front foot and they opened up an early 0-02 to 0-00 lead through converted frees by Barry McCann and Shane Rooney.
Moortown slowly started to work their way into the game and a 1-02 blast in a two minute spell swung the game in their favour.
Peter Devlin got them off the mark from a free in the ninth minute before they then bagged their first goal of the day moments later.
A great run by half back Brian McLernon resulted in the ball being fed across the goal and midfielder Blaine Ryan was on hand to tuck to the net from close range.
Another Devlin mark followed and by the 11th minute they led 1-02 to 0-02.
Barry McCann replied with a point for Erne Gaels after he exchanged passes with Rooney but Moortown were starting to dominate matters and Ryan Kelly fired over from play while Devlin converted two frees before the Red Hand’s side swooped for goal number two. Lee Kelly got on the end of a high ball close to goal and he spun and shot low to the back of the net to put them into a 2-05 to 0-03 lead.
Rooney did knock over a free for Erne Gaels but a Kelly mark left eight between the sides at half time.
A point from Christopher McGuigan extended the advantage further on the restart although Erne Gaels answered with a goal in the 34th minute, substitute Deery bundling home after Michael Og McGarrigle’s initial effort was blocked.
It was not the start of a comeback though from Erne Gaels as Moortown quickly reasserted themselves on the contest as McLernon lobbed over two scores while Devlin tapped over a free to make it 2-10 to 1-04.
Erne Gaels also lost Jack McCann to a black card and although Deery landed a lovely point, Moortown answered with a Karl Hagan point to leave it 2-11 to 1-05 at the water-break.
Corner forward Kelly plundered his second and Moortown’s third while Erne Gaels picked up a second black card, this time Ryan Lyons the guilty party.
The Fermanagh side continued to battle and Deery thundered a 25 yard quickly taken free kick to the top corner but this was merely a consolation strike as the game finished 3-12 to 2-05 in Moortown’s favour.
Tir na nOg should provide a much stiffer challenge for the Tyrone champions and if it is tight going down the finishing straight the Whitehill side have an ace in their pack and are likely to introduce ‘Super Sub’ Ciaran Dobbin who has come up with vital scores throughout the season and could prove the vital ingredient to see Tir na nOg through to the final.
Tir na nOg could look to ‘Super Sub’ Ciaran Dobbin if things are tight in the final stages
Danske Bank Casement Cup final – Ulster Colleges Senior Hurling B
St Malachy’s Belfast 1-13 St Mary’s Magherafelt 2-7
St Malachy’s won the Danske Bank Casement Cup at Quinn Park Ballymena on Wednesday evening when they saw off the stern challenge of St Mary’s Magherafelt in a hard fought and entertaining final to bring a senior hurling trophy back to the school for the first time since 1958. Driven on by star of the show and team captain Luke O’Connor, the Belfast side held off a late rally by St Mary’s to deservedly seal the title and spark scenes of great celebration.
St Marlachy’s centre forward Anthony McGarrigle fires in his team’s goal to seal the Casement Cup victory over St Mary’s Magherafelt.
St Mary’s can holds their heads high for they battled to the end. No doubt had St Malachy’s taken a fraction of their chances they would have won much easier, but St Mary’s had them worried entering the final quarter, when they reduced the gap to a single point, but O’Connor eased the nerves with some excellent scores, before centre forward Anthony McGarrigle put the icing on the cake with a superbly taken goal.
St Malachy’s held the upper hand during the opening quarter and came close to goaling in the opening seconds. The Magherafelt boys repelled that early effort but St Malachy’s hit back with points from Ronan Eager and Anthony McGarrigle inside the opening minutes.
St Mary’s settled and points from Conhuir Johnstone and Diarmuid Mulholland had them back on terms by the tenth minute, and though St Malachy’s were starting to dominate the play they were only two ahead by the first water break. (0-5 to 0-3)
St Mary’s Conhuir Johnstone in action during the Casement Cup final
Although dominating the play it looked like wasteful finishing could cost St Malachy’s dearly, and when Cargin minor football star Conhuir Johnstone broke through to fire home a great goal the fat was back in the fire.
When St Malachy’s were reduced to fourteen men just before the second half water break they began to look a little edgy, despite their territorial advantage, but Luke O’Connor settled them down with some excellently taken points, and when McGarrigle grabbed his team’s goal the victory was secured.
St Mary’s: P Kelly, J McGurk, D Young, R McCallion, T McOscar, B Kelly 1-1, N O’Donnell, S McAuley 0-1, L Burns, C Curley, D Mulholland 0-3 frees, C Johnston 1-2, 0-1 free, AJ McCann, C McKenna, J Convery
Subs: R Drain for J Convery (37),
St Malachy’s: P Rogers, E O’Hare, D Maguire, C McAlister, D Quinn, E McCartan, O Kelly, G Mac Adhaimh 0-1, L O’Connor 0-9, 7 frees, R Eager 0-1, A McGarrigle 1-2, C Killyleagh, C Walsh, C O’Connor, E Logue.
St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-5 St Patrick’s Maghera 2-7
St Killian’s booked their place in the final of the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup with a last minute point from a penalty by right-half forward Canice McIntosh in A hard fought and thoroughly enjoyable game at Allen Park Antrim on Wednesday evening. The Oisin’s youngster went for the goal with his injury time strike, wanting to be doubly sure of the win, but Oisin Mulholland in the St Pat’s goal was equal to it and turned it over for a point. However it turned out to be enough for victory as the St Killian’s side held on for victory.
Five minutes into the game a Garron Tower win looked highly unlikely as the Maghera boys flew from the traps and were 1-3 to 0-0 in front, the goal coming from full-forward Fionn Carton and the points from Ruairi Biggs and Rory Boyle
However the north Antrim school began to edge their way back into the game and with McIntosh firing over three points from frees, and grabbing a great solo goal just before the interval, they cut the lead back to a single point.
Canice McIntosh was their only scorer in the half, pointing three frees before adding a brilliant solo goal right on the half time whistle.
It was St Killian’s who were quickest from the traps in the second half and a great goal from Cadhan Scullion saw them hit the front for the first time. When Scullion grabbed his second soon afterward the Tower boys were in charge, but a brilliant goal by St Pat’s Ruairi Biggs brought his team back into contention.
The tension was palpable when Pádraig OKane brought St Pat’s level with a pointed 65, and it looked like it could go either way. However Canice McIntosh sealed the win for St Killian’s, despite the gallant efforts of Oisin Mulholland in the Maghera goal
Maghera : O Mulholland, O Doherty, O Burke, D O’Neill, S O’Kane, M McMaster, P O’Kane 0-2 (f), C Canning, D McCloskey, C McFlynn, D Hassan, R Biggs 1-1, R Collins 0-1, F Carton 1-1 R Boyle 0-1
Subs: PJ Glover 0-1 for D Hasson, C Bradley for D ONeill, U McCloskey for C McFlynn
St Killian’s: S Coulter, N Rodgers, P Morgan, A McAllister, C McLoughlin, Conor McCann, C O’Neill, L McQuillan, D McNaughton, C Scullion 2-0, N McLaughlin, C McIntosh 1-5 (0-3f, 0-1 pen), O Gillan, C McCambridge, Ciaran McCann
