December 15, 2021December 15, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Can lightning strike twice for Tir na nOg in Balinderry

By Paddy McIlwaine

As I looked through the Ulster club fixtures this morning I saw that Tir na nOg’s Ulster Intermediate final against St. Malachy’s Moortown has been switched to Ballinderry and immediately I reflected on the last time I had visited the Loch Shore venue.

It was back on the 10^th March 2019 and the game I was covering featured our very own Tir na nOg and the opposition was another Tyrone side, Gortin in an Ulster Intermediate League decider.

Tir na nOg turned in a solid performance in far from ideal conditions that day to beat the Tyrone side convincingly so the visit to Ballinderry this Saturday could be seen as a good omen for the Randalstown men as they face Moortown for a place in the Ulster final.

Can lightning strike twice for the Randalstown men? Quite a number of the side that played that day will feature on Saturday and today we start the build up to Saturday’s semi-final with a report and photographs from that Ulster League final in 2019

Ulster Intermediate Football League (final)

Tir na nÓg (Antrim) 2-10 St Patrick’s Gortin (Tyrone) 2-02

Tir na nOg kept their cool against an undisciplined St. Patrick’s, Gortin to collect their first Ulster Intermediate football league title at cold and windy Balinderry today. The Tyrone side were very much architects of their own downfall, losing two players to straight reds during an opening half where they played into the driving wind.

The Tyrone side had entered the game as strong favourites but the dismissal of midfielder Ruairi Kennan at the end of the first quarter and team captain and full forward, Brian Mc Garvey in the 29^th minute left them facing an uphill battle.

Tir na nOg had the strong breeze behind them in the opening period but the concession of a fifth minute goal and another in the latter stages of the half looked likely to cause them problems.

Early replacement Ciaran Dobbin made quick impact after being introduced for Ryan O’Neill who had suffered a facial injury, when he signaled arrival on the scene with a 25^th minute point before quickly making the addition of a goal.

The Whitehill lads did have numerical advantage and a four point lead,1-07 to 2-00 at the short whistle but conditions, and the strength of the breeze against ensured nothing could be taken for granted.

Despite being reduced in numbers the Red Hand side started the second half on the offensive but Damien Hagen had the Whitehill men ready for action and although a 41^st minute Ciaran Brolly point reduced the deficit that was to be as close as they were to get.

Tir na nOg were fully primed for rear guard action with team captain Christy Sheerin and the pace laden Sean Redmond leading the way.

The Antrim lads stood strong in defence and used their extra men to good effect. Their slick counter attacking produced points from Leigh Martin, Ciaran McKeown, and Ciaran Logan before minor star Ciaran O’ Neill, a second period replacement, blasted to the back of net to ensure the silverware was on the way to Randalstown.

In far from ideal conditions Tir na nOg and Gortin took to the field in Balinderry today to decide the destination of the Ulster intermediate football league title.

St. Patrick’s had impressed en route to the decider with eye catching wins over Castledawson and Tir na nOg, Portadown and entered today’s final as firm favourites

Tir na nOg, with the gale force westerly breeze in their favour the opening half got off to a good start with mid-field general Christy Sheerin firing between the posts seconds into proceedings.

The Antrim side added a second point via Leigh Martin in the 3^rd minute but despite the positivity offered from a good start Tir na nOg were in arrears by the 6^th minute as Gortin corner man Sean Og McAleer rose to punch a Sean McKenna cross to the back of the net.

Brian McGarvey who had been assigned a ‘go anywhere role’ linked up with Sean McAleer and Tony Mossey to open the way for the corner forward to fist into the net.

Tir na nOg regained the initiative as back to back points from a Daniel Martin long range effort and a sweetly struck Leigh Martin delivery ensured they sneaked ahead, 0-04 to 1-00 and their chances were further enhanced when the opposition were reduced to 14 when Ruairi Keenan was shown red for an off the ball incident.

Another well delivered Leigh Martin score increased the Tir na nOg lead but the advantage was soon to become deficit when the Tyrone men grabbed a second major.

A strong interception from corner back Cormac Bradley initiated the score but it was a sublime inch perfect pass from Ciaran Brolly which opened the way for Sean Og McAleer to grab his second goal and make it 2-00 to 0-05 after 25^th minutes.

The Whitehill side had been forced into replacing Ryan O’ Neill with what looked a bad facial injury but his replacement, Ciaran Dobbin was about to signal arrival.

The fleet footed substitute took up position in the corner and had the ball over the bar in the 27^th minute after Darren McCormick interception in the central zone.

Dobbin was soon to add a second score as Christy Sheerin rose to collect the resultant kick-out before transferring to the former who quickly rounded his marker before firing firmly into the corner of the net.

The Randalstown men had regained advantage and an interception and adept delivery from Sean Redmond opened the way for a further score as Michael Dempsey split the posts.

The Antrim side had gone four points clear in the latter stages, but with the elements to face in the second half that lead looked precarious. Gortin’s tackling was reckless at times and the Tyrone men were further reduced in number when Brian McGarvey was shown red following a strike on an opponent.

Gortin started the second half on the offensive and it was only a last minute intervention by Aaron McNeilly on his own goal line that prevented Shane Clarke finding the net.

Fiachra McNulty sent Ciaran Brolly in to raise white in the 40^th minute for Gortin to reduce the gap to three but Damien ‘Scotchy’ Hagen’s men were soon back in formation and standing tall in defiance.

Christy Sheerin and Sean Redmond led by example and a fast counter and a foul on Aaron McNeilly led to the ever accurate Leigh Martin dispatching the resulting free over the bar in the 47^th minute.

Martin’s score was negated at the other end a few minutes later when Sean Mc Aleer strode forward to finish in style but the Whitehill Blues quickly responded with team captain Christy Sheerin to the fore.

Ciaran Dobbin was denied by the base of the post when he shot low and hard in the 54^th minute but Ciaran McKeown came strong on the right hand side to fist between the posts a minute later.

Tir na nOg had a four point advantage as the decider moved into the last five minutes and the Whitehill Blues were now in control all over the field.

Gortin kept battling but the Antrim side were immoveable and when Ciaran Logan added a 57^th minute point they looked in charge.

St Patrick’s continued to battle but the Tir na nOg defence stood firm and another well laid counter attack saw replacement Ciaran O’Neill place Ciaran Logan who fired to the net and the die was cast.

Despite the addition of six minutes of injury time there was no further employment for the scoreboard attendant as Tir na nOg kept possession as they ran down the clock.

The silverware was Randalstown bound and to Whitehill and the club rooms of Tir na Nog in their centenary year as they passed the post full value for a 2-10 to 2-02 winning advantage’

Tir na nOg: Sean P McAtamney, Daniel Martin (0-01), Niall Cassidy, Sean Redmond, Barry McCormick, Caoimhinn Duffin, Darren McCormick, Ryan O’ Neill, Christy Sheerin (0-01), Malachy Og Duffin, Aaron McNeilly, Peter Cullen, Darragh Fegan (0-02), Leigh Martin (0-02), Sean Duffin

Subs

Ciaran Dobbin (1-01) for Ryan O’Neill

Michael Dempsey for Ronan O’Neill

Ciaran Logan (1-01) for M Duffin

Ciaran O’Neill for D Martin

Ronan O’Neill for S Duffin

Gortin: Cathal McCullagh, Cormac Bradley, Patrick McCullagh, Peter Bradley, Peter Keenan, Fiachra McNulty, Sean McKenna, Ruairi Keenan, Paddy Northern, Tony Mossey, Ciaran Brolly, Laurence Hollywood, Sean Og McAleer, Brian McGarvey, Shane Clarke.

Sean Redmond has a chat with Damian ‘Scotchy’ Hagen on the way to the dressing room at half time

December 14, 2021December 14, 2021 by thesaffrongael

All Saints GAC Juvenile Presentation

All Saints GAC, Ballymena held their annual Juvenile Presentation evening in Tullyglass House Hotel on Monday night where the guests included All Saints and Antrim footballer, Conor Stewart, All Saints and Antrim All Stars top scorer, Ciaran Neeson, Former All Saints and Antrim All Ireland winning ladies footballer, Claire Timmoney and Antrim Minor Camogie manager, Rachel Neeson and her daughter Niamh who was a member of the Antrim All Ireland winning camogie team this year.

Eamon McKillop, chairman of the All Saints Youth Committee did an excellent job in organising the event and acted as M.C. for the evening for an event that was well attended and ran like clockwork.

All Saints U14 Camogs who were U14 League and U14 B Championship winners

Anna O’Kane receives the U14 League and B Championship cups from her manager and fater, Micky O’Kane

Members of the All Saints U16 Camogie team with special guests, Rachel and Niamh Neeson at the clubs Juvenile Presentation Evening in Tullyglass House Hotel.

All Saints U15 Footballers, Breslin Shield winners

U15 football manager, Garry Murphy presents the Breslin Shield to team captain, Harry Connon

Special Guest, Ciaran Neeson presents the Most Improved U11 Hurler award to Aaron McCormick

Jim Brady with Antrim U14 Caogie Development players, Anna O’Kane and Ava O’Rawe

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021 by thesaffrongael

St John’s march on in Ulster

Ulster Junior Camogie – Bridie McMenamin Shield

St Brigid’s Brocagh (Tyrone) 0-02 v Naomh Eoin 2-12 (Antrim)

Photos and reprort by Michael Costello

Following a comfortable victory in the preliminary round at home to Markievicz from Donegal last weekend, St.Johns travelled to Tyrone fully expecting a much tougher game and Brocagh certainly tried hard to give them one.

Played on a heavy surface St.Johns greater experience paid off in all areas of the pitch and Eimhear Costello opened the scoring with a long range point after 5 minutes. This was followed by two accurately converted frees and a point from play from the hurl of Aishling Hawkins before Brocagh opened their account with Úna McCann converting a free. A Maédhbh Laverty point and a Hawkins goal sent St.Johns further ahead and before half time two points from Debbie Boyd for the visitors and another McCann free for the home side left an interval score of Brocagh 0-02 . St.Johns 1-08.

The second half saw a hard fought battle with both sides bringing on substitutes but Brocagh failed to take any scores in the second half while St.Johns added to their tally as Hawkins struck two more frees. Maédhbh Laverty conjured up a superb solo goal after a forty yard run and Máire Mulholland and Nicole Kane with points from play took the final score to 2-12 for St.Johns against Brocagh’s 0-02.

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Rossa Positive Youth Champions Christmas market proves a big success

Rossa Positive Youth Champions ran an outdoor Christmas market on Sunday 12th December from 12-3pm at the rossa club on Sunday

PICS BY BERT TROWLEN

The Positive Youth Champions are a group of 14-17 year olds who are completing the Positive Youth Champions Programme with Bremar Training, Glen Road, Belfast. This is a leadership and mental health training course where they gain an ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) Level 3 qualification in Leadership. As part of the ILM course they need to work as a team to demonstrate how they can use their new found leadership skills from the course and they thought a Christmas Market would be a great way to do this. All proceeds of the market will go towards further leadership and mental health provision for young people in the club and our local community

Not only was the aim to raise funds for mental health and leadership provision, but to bring the club together at Christmas and create a social event for the calendar, where every member can get involved. The young people also encouraged other young people to put their business heads on and run a stall, offering under 18s a discounted rate to help.

Members across the club got involved in this self-funded event. Some took on stalls to sell their goods, Shorty from Blood Brothers provided entertainment by singing and playing guitar at the market, the Rossa Children’s Choir sang carols, Larry Claxton dressed up as Santa and got selfies with the kids and club members volunteered to help keep things running smoothly

The Positive Youth Champions ran a stall of their own, selling Rossa merchandise that they had specially commissioned, including a one of its kind Rossa Christmas T-shirt and hand-made Christmas products. They also sold tickets for a raffle to be drawn on Sunday 19th December and were selling bingo books for the Christmas bingo night on the 27th Dec. They toasted marshmallows and sold s’mores.

There was a Wish Tree, where people were invited to write their names on a star and hang it on the tree. There was a tree lighting ceremony and the Chairperson turned the lights on, while Caragh Shannon said a few words in memory of her Grandfather. The Children’s Choir accompanied the memorial with a few carols.

The whole experience gave them key employability skills, dealing with the public, cash handling, problem solving and team working. They excelled at every point. We are all very proud of their hard work and commitment throughout the programme and have to applaud Mark & Barney at Bremar training for running the training and really inspiring the young people to get involved

20 stalls were present on the day and 2 food trucks and a crepe stand.

We had a great variety of stalls, from homemade cakes to hampers, bespoke flower arrangements, hurling and Gaelic games equipment, gifts, paintings and photography

We had over 350 visitors, both from the club and the local community. Visitors seemed to enjoy mulling around the market and catching up with friends they hadn’t seen in a while. There was a real relaxed, festive atmosphere.

December 12, 2021December 12, 2021 by thesaffrongael

Slaughtneil Too Strong for Cuchullains

Ulster Club Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Sunday 12^th December

Dunloy 0-14 Slaughtneil 1-18

Brendan McTaggart reports from the Athletic Grounds, Armagh

It was more Ulster heartbreak for Dunloy supprters on Sunday evening as they came up short in their attempt to wrestle the Four Seasons Cup from Slaughtneil. Seven points separated the sides at the end of a pulsating hour of hurling at the Athletic Grounds where the Cuchullains found the Derry kings too tough a nut to crack.

Conal Cunning top scored for the Cuchullains with 0-6 to his name while Eoin O’Neill and Eamon Smyth all showing well in the green shirt.

Brendan Rodgers display proved to be the difference in the sides, the Slaughtneil man finished with 1-4 to his name in a top class display, amplified in the second half with a monumental performance that put the game out of Dunloy’s reach.

**Brendan Rodgers fires in a second half goal to give Slaughtneil total control of the game.**

Moving Gerald Bradley to a deep sweeper in the second half meant Slaughtneil starved Dunloy of any space in attack while Meehaul McGrath and Cormac O’Doherty also shone for the Derry men who played with vigour, intensity and tactically got it spot on to out-fox the Cuchullains forward line.

It’s a case of déjà vu for Dunloy who came up short two and four years ago against the same side but this game had more similarities to the contest in Owenbeg back in 2017. The Cuchullains started well that day also before Slaughtneil found their way. The Cuchullains were two clear after a bright start at the Athletic Grounds and working the sliotar and keeping possession. It was a high-risk tactic but they were confident in their own ability and in those opening exchanges they made all the early running.

Slaughtneil began to find their way and with a strong wind at their back, Cormac O’Doherty opened their account with his first of five first half frees. Chrissy McKaigue and Deaglan Smith swapped points as Dunloy held the narrowest of leads by the eighth minute but it was the last time they would be ahead of Slaughtneil in the game.

The Derry men, like four years ago, hit a purple patch that saw them score seven points unanswered either side of the first half water-break to take a six point lead and complete control of the game.

***Eoin O’Neill sends over a Dunloy point just before half time***

Dunloy hit back with Eoin O’Neill splitting the posts either side of a Kevin Molloy point to cut the Slaughtneil lead to three points at the interval. O’Neill’s first of that brace of scores ending a run of 18 minutes without a score for the Cuchullains and remarkably coming from the first poc out the Cuchullains went long with in the first half.

If anything, half time came at the wrong time for Dunloy who had began to find some form. Three points was far from an unassailable lead and they would have been confident of reeling in Slaughtneil’s lead at the start of the second half.

That confidence would have been brimming by the 36^th minute as the gap was reduced to the minimum. Two frees from Conal Cunning at the start of the second half, incredibly the first of the game for the Cuchullains and a point from Shorty Shiels was answered to by Brian Cassidy’s first of the game. Dunloy had the momentum and it would take something special from Slaughtneil to get the momentum their way again. They found it in the form of Brendan Rodgers.

Moving Rodgers to midfield in the second half began to look like a masterstroke from Mickey McShane and his team as Rodgers went through the gears and effectively taking the contest away from the Cuchullains. Slaughtneil robbed Ryan McGarry of possession in the 42^nd minute with Jerome McGuigan finding Brian Cassidy with the freedom of the Athletic Grounds. The Dunloy defence scrambled but Rodgers was on hand to collect a recycled pass and put six points between the sides.

***Slaughtneil’s Gerard Bradley picks a high ball out of the air during the first half***

Slaughtneil’s work-rate and intensity was paying dividends as Dunloy looked shaky in possession and devoid of any fluency. Slaughtneil hit 1-4 in the space of eight minutes, Rodgers with 1-3 in that space of time and Dunloy’s solitary answer was a Coby free to leave seven between the sides at the second half water-break.

Dunloy went for broke in the championship quarter and had reduced the Slaughtneil lead to four points by the 60^th minute. Coby’s frees keeping the scoreboard ticking over for the Cuchullains with Seaan Elliott adding to the list of scorers but it was clear they needed majors to get into the game again and Slaughtneil never looked like coughing up goal chances. The one ball the dropped from the heavens and bounced in front of Oisin O’Doherty was superbly saved from the Slaughtneil net-minder who had next to no time to react.

Slaughtneil finished the game on top with a trio of points from O’Doherty (free), substute Jack Cassidy and Meehaul McGrath to ensure they booked their place in the Ulster decider in a weeks time against Ballycran.

It’s not the ending of the 2021 season the Cuchullains hoped for and defeat is never an easy pill to swallow. They will look back to the ‘drawing board’ as they try to come up with the masterplan to topple Slaughtneil but the Derry men have proved yet again they are the kings of the ash in Ulster.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Aaron Crawford, Conor McKinley, Conor Kinsella; Ronan Molloy, Eamon Smyth, Ryan McGarry; Paul Shiels, Keelan Molloy; Eoin O’Neill, Kevin Molloy, Nicky McKeague; Deaglan Smith, Conal Cunning, Seaan Elliott

Subs: Chrissy McMahon for N McKeague (24); Shane Dooey for D Smith (50)

Scorers: C Cunning 0-6 (5f’s, 1 ’65); E O’Neill 0-2; P Shiels 0-2; Keelan Molloy 0-1; Kevin Molloy 0-1; D Smith 0-1; S Elliott 0-1

Slaughtneil: Oisin O’Doherty; Karl McKaigue, Sean Cassidy, Paul McNeill; Shane McGuigan, Conor McAllister, Meehaul McGrath; Gerald Bradley, Chrissy McKaigue; Mark McGuigan, Cormac O’Doherty, Brendan Rodgers; Se McGuigan, Jerome McGuigan, Brian Cassidy

Subs: Jack Cassidy for B Cassidy (60)

Scorers: C O’Doherty 0-7 (7f’s); B Rodgers 1-4; M McGrath 0-3; Shane McGuigan 0-1; C McKaigue 0-1; B Cassidy 0-1; J Cassidy 0-1

Referee: James Connors (Donegal)

The Saffron Gael

A look at all things GAA in the Saffron county

Month / December 2021

Can lightning strike twice for Tir na nOg in Balinderry

By Paddy McIlwaine

As I looked through the Ulster club fixtures this morning I saw that Tir na nOg’s Ulster Intermediate final against St. Malachy’s Moortown has been switched to Ballinderry and immediately I reflected on the last time I had visited the Loch Shore venue.

It was back on the 10^th March 2019 and the game I was covering featured our very own Tir na nOg and the opposition was another Tyrone side, Gortin in an Ulster Intermediate League decider.

Tir na nOg turned in a solid performance in far from ideal conditions that day to beat the Tyrone side convincingly so the visit to Ballinderry this Saturday could be seen as a good omen for the Randalstown men as they face Moortown for a place in the Ulster final.

Can lightning strike twice for the Randalstown men? Quite a number of the side that played that day will feature on Saturday and today we start the build up to Saturday’s semi-final with a report and photographs from that Ulster League final in 2019

Ulster Intermediate Football League (final)

All Saints GAC Juvenile Presentation

St John’s march on in Ulster

Rossa Positive Youth Champions Christmas market proves a big success

Slaughtneil Too Strong for Cuchullains

By Paddy McIlwaine

As I looked through the Ulster club fixtures this morning I saw that Tir na nOg’s Ulster Intermediate final against St. Malachy’s Moortown has been switched to Ballinderry and immediately I reflected on the last time I had visited the Loch Shore venue.

It was back on the 10th March 2019 and the game I was covering featured our very own Tir na nOg and the opposition was another Tyrone side, Gortin in an Ulster Intermediate League decider.

Tir na nOg turned in a solid performance in far from ideal conditions that day to beat the Tyrone side convincingly so the visit to Ballinderry this Saturday could be seen as a good omen for the Randalstown men as they face Moortown for a place in the Ulster final.

Can lightning strike twice for the Randalstown men? Quite a number of the side that played that day will feature on Saturday and today we start the build up to Saturday’s semi-final with a report and photographs from that Ulster League final in 2019

Ulster Intermediate Football League (final)

It was back on the 10^th March 2019 and the game I was covering featured our very own Tir na nOg and the opposition was another Tyrone side, Gortin in an Ulster Intermediate League decider.