Month / December 2021

by thesaffrongael

Rivalries Renewed as Dunloy Prepare for Slaughtneil Test

Ulster Club Senior Hurling Championship

Semi-Final

Dunloy vs Slaughtneil

Venue: Athletic Grounds, Armagh

Throw In: 4pm

By Brendan McTaggart

63.  The number of days that will have lapsed since Dunloy were crowned Antrim champions for the third year in a row having accounted for Rossa at Corrigan Park.  Nine weeks.  The length of time between competitive fixtures that just defies logic and is bereft of sense.  Yet here it is.  The biggest game of the club hurling calendar so far this year as Dunloy look to their old nemeses, Slaughtneil with Ballycran waiting in the wings the week after.

The fans will be looking to Cormac O’Doherty of Slaughtneil and Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning of Dunloy to provede the scores from frees.

It’s an early Christmas Cracker.

Twice in recent times the Derry kingpins have brought the Cuchullains back down to earth, most recently in 2019 as the nine in a row Derry champions proved they are the team to beat in Ulster and have set the bar high for others to reach.  Gregory O’Kane will have been plotting a way to ensure it will be third times a charm for his Dunloy side in Armagh.

The Cuchullains blazed their way to the Antrim championship in October, saving their best performance of the year for the cameras in Corrigan Park.  Recently crowned ‘Player of the Year’ Paul Shiels putting in a man of the match performance and rolling back the years in a superb display against Rossa.  In truth, the Cuchullains had timed their run to Antrim glory to perfection.  Improving with every game, something they know they will need to do once again to overcome Slaughtneil.

It seems in recent times Slaughtneil, there have been three certainties.  Death, taxes and Slaughtneil winning the Derry hurling championship.  An incredible ninth title in succession and for a more indepth look at the Robbies, we spoke with Gaelic Life journalist, former Derry Post sports editor and Slaughtneil native, Michael McMullan.  A long time friend to us at the Saffron Gael, ‘Mal’ is well known for his superb match analysis and was part of Damian McErlain’s minor football backroom team such was his attention for detail.

Slaughtneil’s Brian Cassidy and Dunloy’s Eoin ‘Sammy’ O’Neill

“As hurling has evolved, Slaughtneil have definitely evolved with it.”  Began Mal, “The short passing game to get out of trouble, finding a way out of traffic and recycling the ball.  McShane (Michael, Slaughtneil manager) has definitely got them well tuned in that way.

“He likes to create space for the forwards, may that be a two man full forward line or half forward but there’s always a spare man in midfield.  That can allow the likes of Gerard Bradley to step back into a sweeper.

“They did that in the 2019 game but something that went unnoticed was the work of Brian Cassidy and Mark McGuigan from that game.  They did the work of three men inside.”

It’s not only in attack where Slaughtneil have made changes with Mal telling us, McShane has made more positional changes: “Sean ‘Tad’ had been full back but he got a tough run against Tiarnan McHugh (Kevin Lynch’s full forward) in a couple of county finals.  Shane McGuigan fell back and is definitely the number one full back now, that changed against Ballyhale last year when he was asked to do a job on TJ Reid  but it shows they are an intelligent side as well.  They can make changes and their ‘machine’ doesn’t miss a beat.”

One major change enforced this year is the absence of Sean Cassidy, Mal told us his loss has been keenly felt in the Slaughtneil camp and highlighted how pivotal he has been in recent times for McShane’s men: “Sean Cassidy is a big loss this year, he’s been out with a cruciate injury and for me he was key in the short, precise passing game in defence but Conor McKenna is in there now.  I think he’s the oldest player in the squad, he played a year above Chrissy (McKaigue) in underage but he was around the squad for a while and went to Australia.  He’s come back and he’s probably the story of this Slaughtneil side this year, he’s stuck at it and played well.”

Cormac O’Doherty celebrates after scoring in the 2017 semi-final in Owenbeg

Having injured his shoulder during the Derry final win against Kevin Lynch’s, team captain Cormac O’Doherty is in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s semi-final.  Having spoken with the Slaughtneil management, Mal continued by saying they are preparing for all eventualities: “Cormac O’Doherty would be a big loss, it hasn’t been confirmed but I was talking to Mickey (McShane) for the Gaelic Life and he told me they were ‘planning without Cormac.’  Swinging a hurl stresses the shoulder and he said he could be a couple of weeks short.  I know he’s in training, running and the likes but I wouldn’t be sure if he’s had a hurl in his hand.”

Mal continued by giving us an insight into who Slaughtneil may look to fill the gap O’Doherty may leave: “He’ll leave a big hole that will take some filling.  He could look to the likes of Conor McAllister to come in, he’d be seen as a regular but he got injured playing for Derry and has been out most of the season.  He’s back and fit but that could lead to a reshuffle, McAllister would be more of a defender by trade.

“Se Cassidy made his championship debut in the 2020 county final, told on the morning of the final he’d be starting and is another option.  He’d play in the full forward line and would probably see his brother Brian moving to Cormac’s position on the half forward line.  

It’s all dependant on Cormac’s injury though.  Maybe if someone else takes over the free taking duties, it might relief some of that pressure on his shoulder but starting him in a game of this nature would be a big call to make.”

Paul ‘Shorty’ Shiels will be a key figure in the Dunloy team on Sunday

Slaughtneil were beaten in the Derry football final by Glen, Sunday will mark four weeks since that match in Celtic Park.  Some may say the fixture scheduling has been favourable for the Derry men to give them time to recover from that contest, I’ll leave you to make up your own mind on that one.  Mal said Slaughtneil will definitely have benefitted from that extra time since that defeat to Glen: “Mentally, they looked shot at the end of the game.  If they played Dunloy two or three weeks after that, Dunloy would have won given their frame of mind.  The tank looked empty and it would have been a big ask to get up for this game mentally given how emphatically they were beaten by Glen.”

Like us all, the call to have the game at 4pm has left us all scratching our heads.  It’s a strange one for both sets of supporters who would be taking families to the game.  It’s a solid hour and a half’s drive from Dunloy to the Athletic Grounds while it’s not much less from Slaughtneil.  Mal asked for some transparency when he concluded: “Playing the game at 4 o’clock under floodlights is a disgrace.  It just doesn’t make sense to anyone.  And even now, no-one knows where the final will be played.  Surely someone could sit and say if it’s Dunloy and Ballycran, they play next Sunday in Owenbeg and if it’s Slaughtneil and Ballycran then they go to Corrigan Park.  Just send an e-mail to the three teams concerned and lay it down.  Then they know what’s what.  A bit of transparency would go a long way with the clubs as well.”

Slaughtneil’s Brian Cassidy in action against Dunloy in 2017

The Cuchullains have a clean bill of health, apart from Phelim Duffin who sustained a broken ankle in the semi final win over St John’s.  A nine week gap is far from ideal preparation for what will be their toughest game of the year and getting challenge games an impossibility at this time of year.  But motivation isn’t hard to come-by for the Cuchullains.  In 2017 they were a bit ‘green behind the ears’ while in 2019 they never really got out of second gear.  On Sunday, they know what is required and they know what they have to do.  

Slaughtneil are the kings of hurling in Ulster for the last five years, apart from 2018.  Dunloy are on an upward trajectory and have continued to improve, with so many players involved in Antrim’s Division One campaign and Liam McCarthy matches this year, it’s all contributed to the Cuchullains improvement.

Mickey McShane and Gregory O’Kane will meet again on Sunday on the sidelines in Armagh

They have used just 18 players in the championship this year, a sign of a settled team and perhaps a clearer mindset in the Cuchullain’s camp.  In attack, they can be devastating and have threats from every angle. Defensively they will need to be at their best.  Brendan Rogers hit 4-9 in five championship games this year, three of those majors coming in a devastating display against Lavery.  Brian Cassidy with 2-8 while Cormac O’Doherty totally 0-26 with six of those points coming from play.  The role of Chrissy McKaigue could be influential on the game and could depend on whether Gerard Bradley drops into a sweeper.  Like Rogers, he was instrumental against Lavey and the Lynch’s, totally 0-10 from midfield this year.

‘Winter is Here’ and ‘The Dark Knights’ are along with it.  The restructured hurling calendar has given us this Christmas cracker with the beautiful game to keep us warm in the depths of December.  Dunloy will be hoping to prolong their season for a little longer and an early Christmas present for the Cuchullain village.

by thesaffrongael

Cormac Scullion reflects on days gone by and looks ahead to Saturday’s game for the Con Magees.

Cormac Scullion hurled for Glenravel Con Magees for more years than he cares to remember. Now he is reduced to the ‘Half Pace’ hurling on a Tuesday evening, which he helps organise and writes about with great wit and humour. He penned this piece a couple of weeks ago for the club Facebook page before they played Naomh Colum Cille in the quarter final, so I shared it here before their semi-final at Craobh Rua.

I’m 36 years old and I still glance over at my da for his verdict as I walk off the pitch at the final whistle. A wink. A thumb in the air. A shake of the head. All instantly summing up our most recent performance on the hurling field. That’ll do for now, I’ll head on in and get changed, as I know we’ll chat about it on and off for the next few days, regardless of the result. He’s seen it all before. So have I at this stage I suppose, so we have plenty to chew over at the kitchen table or wherever we happen to be.

Growing up listening to stories of matches won and lost, Championship wins and the heroes involved, you can’t help but absorb that love for the club, that sense of belonging. It’s hard to put a finger on it, and I suppose everyone’s different, but the older you get the more you come to realise what it all means, why we all do it through good times and bad. You’re just one of the current playing generation and you’ll eventually pass the baton on to the next one, having tried your best to leave the team in a better place, happily sacrificing blood, bones and the odd tooth along the way.

At 38 the boots are hung up and the furthest the hurl gets now is the back garden. No Feystown on a wet Wednesday night or hot sun and even hotter tempers over at Dreen. Plenty to smile about and a few regrets too, that’s how it goes really. You won’t remember what you had for lunch this time last week but that ball you caught under the bar to hold out for the win 17 years ago is as clear in your mind today as it was when the final whistle was blown that night.

I see my neice, nephew and daughter starting out on what may or may not be a long career inside the white lines. Who knows? They could decide it’s not for them sooner or later. Hopefully not though, them getting involved just seems like a natural progression, like me from my Da, him from his. Families play such an important role in the conveyor belt. They’re the foundations every club is built on and each new generation is another row of bricks.

The parents bring the wee ones when they’re just about big enough to hold a hurl or push a football about. They don’t really know why they’re there or what it’s all about but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves so they’ll come back again next week, sure somebody said there might be sweets!

For so many parishes, the GAA club is at the centre of the community. On the surface it’s matches on a Sunday or a midweek summers evening and for those not directly involved that’s maybe all they see. But a local club is so much more than that. Handfuls of coaches for every age group, plotting, planning, preparing, dreaming. The pitches are full every night of the week from February to October as training and matches carry on whatever the weather.

Cormac receives expert medical treatment from team manager Sean Kerr back in 2014

Social media has everyone connected more than ever before and conversations never stop. If you went back and told your Grandparents you could talk to 10, 20, 50 people at once, without saying a word, they’d think your head was cut. Fundraising efforts, fitness programs, concerts, quizzes, reunions and countless old stories of battles won and lost, growing in heroic detail each time they’re told. But success and titles on the pitch come and go and today’s hero is replaced with the next one tomorrow. It becomes part of who you are and that bond you form with your team mates growing up is rarely broken as the years pass.

I just turned 40 and the playing days are well behind me now. I’m still inside the white lines, but this time coaching and trying to convince a bunch of minors that it’ll all be over in the blink of an eye, so take every opportunity that comes their way. I vividly remember being that age and thinking I had a lifetime to gather up county medals. You don’t. Its over in a flash and you’re suddenly on the wrong side of the fence looking in, not walking off the pitch and glancing over for a wink from your Da.

Still, that’s how it goes. Do your bit then tap out and hope it’s in safe hands.

The boys head into an Ulster Championship this weekend. I couldn’t be more delighted and proud to see the flag flying high but it kills to not be playing one last time. To feel that unmistakable buzz in the air at training and see that look in the eyes staring back at you ready for war. Local heroes through the winter chill, making history once again.

Life throws challenges at you every chance it gets, but the white lines keep them out. Inside the white lines nothing matters except what’s about to go down over the next 60 minutes as 15 men come together as 1 to represent not only their club and their parish, but every man that’s gone before them wearing that very same crest with pride.

Leave nothing behind lads. Everyone’s behind you every step of the way.

“In the end, the things we regret most are the chances we never took”.

Good luck to our Senior Hurlers and Management. Con Mag Aoidh abú

by thesaffrongael

Con Magees face tough task against Craobh Rua in Saturday’s semi-final

Ulster Junior Hurling Championship sem–final

Glenravel Con Magees take on Armagh champions Craobh Rua in Saturday’s Ulster Junior Hurling Championship quarter final at Davitt Park, Belfast. Fresh from their win over Tyrone champions Naomh Colum Cille the Glenravel side bid to make it to the Ulster final for the first time. When they last won the Antrim title back in 2014 the men from the Tenth glen made it through to the semi-final with a win over Carryduff in Loughgiel, but they came up just short against Castleblaney in the semi-final in O’Neill Park, Dungannon, a Blaney side who went on to take the provincial title that season.

At the start of the 2021 season the hopes were not particularly high amongst the Con Magees hurlers. However they brought in a new management team, headed by former Sarsfields hurler Ciaran ‘Tub’ McKernan and along with club secretary Henry Duffin, assisted by Martin Scullion they slowly but surely began to turn their season around. An impressive win over Lamh Dhearg in the semi-final lifter spirits considerably, and though they still went into the county final against Glenarm as rank outsiders, they produced their best performance in years to record a famous win and clinch their 7th Junior title.  

It was all of eight weeks before they were back in action again, a long break by any standards, but McKernan and his team handled the lay-off very well and played a series of challenge games to get the sharpness back. Conditions were far from ideal when they face the Tyrone champions Naomh Collum Cille at Ballycaste two weeks ago, but though they struggled against the wind in the first half, they came good in the second and ended up winning by double scores  2-16 to 1-8.

Craobh Rua 3-10 St Eunan’s 2-8

Craobh Rua had won their second Armagh Junior title in 2020, (their first coming in 2013) but because of Covid last year they never got the chance to compete in Ulster. However they retained the League and Championship titles this season and a win over Armagh city club Cuchullains saw them secure their spot in the Ulster Junior semi-final, where they faced Donegal champions St Eunan’s of Letterkenny.

Two first half goals from Armagh footballing star Jarly Og Burns helped the Camlough men over the line.

Tiarnan O’Hare, Man of the Match from the county final, fired over five frees while Ryan Lewis rattled off 1-2.

Conor McKevitt and O’Hare claimed early scores to give Craobh Rua a lead that they would keep for the remainder of the contest.

Burns’ first major along with a Lewis point split two efforts from the visitors. O’Hare slotted over two 65’s while younger brother Oisin also got on the score sheet.

Jarly Og rattled the net for a second time, followed by scores from the accurate O’Hare and Fiachra Bradley.

St Eunan’s replied as Craobh Rua carried a comfortable 2-8 to 0-4 lead into the break.

O’Hare and Lewis traded scores with the opposition before Conor O’Grady netted for the away team to close the gap to five.

The Armagh winners replied emphatically as Ryan Lewis raised a green flag. St Eunan’s claimed their second goal, but the Camlough men were too far ahead by that stage.

Craobh Rua Scorers: Jarly Og Burns 2-0, Tiarnan O’Hare 0-5 (5f), Ryan Lewis 1-2, Conor McKevitt 0-1, Oisin O’Hare 0-1, Fiachra Bradley 0-1.

  • Armagh champions Craobh Rua

The Armagh champions will provide strong opposition to the Glenravel men this weekend. They will need to be at their very best on Saturday to get the better of the Camlough men, but if Cathal Hynds, Conleth O’Loan, Padge O’Neill, James Duffifn and Niall Donnelly can reproduce the form they showed in the quarter final, they are in with a chance of making the club’s first ever provincial final.

The Con Magee’s team who beat Naomh Colum Cille in the quarter final was –

R Donnelly, B O’Neill, SL Kerr, M McQuillan, P O’Neill, E McCusker, M McDonnell, J Duffin 0-2, C Henry, J Fyfe, N Donnelly 0-7 (6f), C Hynds 1-1, C O’Loan 1-5, (4f & 1 pen), R Lennon, D Traynor.

Subs: S McKay 0-1 for D Traynor (38), S McCusker for C Henry (46), S Burns for P O’Neill (57).

by thesaffrongael

Rasharkin and Naomh Padraig – a hard one to call

U20 B Football Final

St. Mary’s Rasharkin v Naomh Padraig Lisburn

Crumlin Leisure Centre Saturday 1-30

Referee: Fionntan McCotter

Saturday’s U20B Football final at Crumlin Leisure Centre between St. Mary’s Rasharkin and Naomh Padraig Lisburn looks a hard one to call. The U20 football championships at both A & B level have been dogged by postponements and teams conceding and there seemed to be a bit of apathy within the county about both competitions.

The general feeling seems to be that the competition was played at the wrong time of the season with fixtures often clashing with club’s senior championship games on the same weekend and sometimes on the same day and it is something the relevant body will have to address for next year.

Despite all that the final of the U20A competition was played last weekend with Con Magee’s, Glenravel defeating St. Gall’s. Both sides had played most of their qualifying games and met in an excellent final at Davitt’s where the Con Magee’s emerged as winners by the minimum.

Saturday’s B final brings together two clubs who are no strangers to each other with the sides meeting regularly in division 3 of the All County League and Junior Championship in recent years with the men from Dreen holding the bragging rights in the majority of those games.

Those results are unlikely to have any effect on Saturday’s final however and for both it will be something of a step into the unknown since their respective journeys into Saturday’s final have been less than ideal given the number-or lack of number, of games both sides have played.

Indeed St. Mary’s Rasharkin only played one game out of five fixtures during the qualifying group stages and that game was played at Dreen back on the 12th September when they defeated Lamh Dhearg in an excellent contest by 3-12 to 2-12.

It was a similar story with Naomh Padraig Lisburn who travelled to Glenavy and drew with St. Joseph’s in another entertaining contest which finished 0-9 to 0-9 back on the 10th September.

So it is to their senior sides that we take a look in order to assess the potential strengths of both teams and we first of all look at St. Mary’s Rasharkin, this year’s division 3 winners and beaten Junior Championship finalists.

Liam Hardy, Brian Cowan and Ryan Lynch are the men in charge of Rasharkin and they can call upon a fair sprinkling of their senior team for Saturday’s decider.

Colm Kennedy was a consistent performer for Rasharkin throughout their league and championship campaign and his runs from half-back and ability to take scores marks him down as a real prospect for the future.

Tiernan and Ruairi O’Boyle are others who have made the step up to senior recently and performed to the highest level with former county minor keeper, Tiernan likely to occupy an outfield berth though he stepped in to the goalkeeping role for the seniors when their regular keeper was injured prior to the championship semi-final.

Liam Quigg and Odhran McGarrell are others with senior experience who will backbone St. Mary’s challenge at Crumlin Leisure centre as they attempt to capture their first title at this level and the Dreen side will give it everything.

This is the first time in a number of years St.Patricks has fielded at this age bracket (U20/21)

The club decided back in December 2020 to set up an U20 team to help with the development of their young players and also to help with their pathway to becoming senior players in the years to come. That was the main goal this season and making the B championship final has been the icing on the cake for the side.

Stephen Brannigan is the man in charge of Naomh Padraig and he is assisted by Cormac McKenna, Conor Dixon, Ben McMullan, Josh McMullan and Aaron Thompson.

Stephen spoke to us this week and gave us his thoughts on this year’s U20 campaign. “It’s been a frustrating championship and league campaign for most U20s teams due to teams not being able to field with fixtures clashes etc but it’s great to see the finals being played at long last. As frustrating as the season has been for our U20s, they continued to train and work hard and didn’t let it bother them as we were able to field for every game that was scheduled which is a credit to them all and now the lads are looking forward to playing in the final against a strong Rasharkin team in what should be an excellent final”.

Eoin Dixon, Colm Burns, Che Smyth, James Morgan and Rory Kennedy have been in great form for Naomh Padraig during their league campaign and these are some of the players that the Lisburn men will look to on Saturday as the club attempts to write its own little bit of history.


“Our opening and only game in the championship was a tight affair against Glenavy which finished in a 0-9 to 0-9 draw. We had a good league campaign with wins over Glenavy and Lamh Dhearg and we were disappointed to come away from Portglenone with a defeat by 2 points. We have quite a few U17s in the squad who don’t look out of place and are all enjoying it and more importantly stepping up to the challenge of playing U20. It’s been a great journey so far for the U20s lads which can only bear fruit for the senior team in years to come and help continue the upward trend of St Patricks Lisburn”

It’s been a while since either side have kicked a ball in this competition and much could depend on how well training has gone for the relevant sides in the interim period. The all-weather surface at Crumlin Leisure centre could set its own challenges but Saturday’s final has the potential to be an entertaining and close game.

by thesaffrongael

Colin Murray RIP

Everyone at Saffron Gael are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Referee Colin Murray. Colin not only refereed in his native county Down and also in Antrim and throughout Ulster in both, hurling, camogie and football.

Always available and friendly Colin will be sadly missed by us all.

We send our sincere condolences to his wife Donna, children Nikita, Niamh and Finn and the wider Murray family at this difficult time.