Month / March 2022

by thesaffrongael

Antrim U20 hurlers make one change for clash with Laois

The Antrim team to play Laois in Saturday’s Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship in Parnell Park shows just one change from the team who beat Down in the Leinster Qualifying final at Dunsilly two weeks ago. Team captain Enda Og McGarry, who had to sit the last game out because of injury, is fully fit again and take his place at centre back, with Ronan Laverty, who pivoted the defence against Down, returning to his normal midfield post. Dairi Murphy, who filled in at midfield at Dunsilly returns to the half forward line with Conlith McKiernan stepping down to the bench.

Ahead of the game the Saffron Gael spoke to team manager Paudie Shivers and ask him about his thoughts on the win over Down and what lies ahead against Laois on Saturday

Antrim manager Paudie Shivers

Down Game

“It was a strange game, a poor affair overall really if I am totally honest.

We flew out of the blocks and dominated the first half, and although the scoreboard read 0-13 to 1-00 we were probably a little frustrated that we didn’t bury the three or four goal chances we had, which would have well and truly finished the game off.

Then in the second half we just took the foot completely off the gas, played to the scoreboard, and really allowed them to gain some momentum. However as I said directly after the match, the boys responded when the challenge was put up to them again to take us home safely enough in the end.”

Preparation

The Glenann Primary School principal and Dunloy clubman added

“Since the last day we have prepared really well both on the field and in the gym. We have all our players apart from Finn Henry & Caoimhin Heaney (long-term injuries) who were ruled out of the Down game back in training and the atmosphere among the boys is fantastic.”

Laois

“Look, it is no secret the work that has been going on at underage in Laois over the last few years and when you are bringing people like Derek McGrath in to develop your underage structures then you obviously mean business. Olly Hally himself (Laois manager) is a top coach and they have a good setup in place.”

“However, as I said to you previously, we have really just focused on ourselves all season – been consistent with our preparation and taken every game as it comes.

The coaching team have prepared us in the best possible way and the boys are ready and looking forward to the challenge on Saturday.”

Left-half back Daire McMullan
Team captain Enda Og McGarry

The young Saffrons played Laois last year in Navan and were totally outplayed. I remember that night travelling down and being very disappointed at the level of performance. However they appear to have been better prepared this season so I wait to see how things go on Saturday. Paudie Shivers and his backroom team of Arron Graffin, Gooch Gillan, Sean McManus, Aaron Smiley, Liam McLean, Siofra O’Mullan and Joe Clifford have worked really hard with this squad since last November. Everyone has bought into the whole programme so it will be interesting to see how they perform against a team of Laois’s quality.  It will definitely be a step up in class. Shivers and his team will be looking for a performance more along the lines of what they showed in the opening half against Down. What came at times in the second half would not be good enough, but they will have learned from that experience and should go into Saturday’s game in high spirits.

Full back Ruairi McCloskey
Centre forward Seamus McAuley
by thesaffrongael

Flying start to second half keeps Casement’s on course

ACFL Division 1

Casement’s 2-12 Tir na nOg 0-10

A strong second half from the home side proved the difference in this all South West game at Kelly Park Portglenone.

The first half was a tight encounter with the visitors taking the game to Casements. Tir na nOg were on top of the majority of the half with Casements men happy to go in at half time with the game level.

The visitors were first to register and Pearse Sheerin edged them ahead with a point in the second minute with Conall Delargy squaring the contest from an 8th minute free.

Thye Whitehill side were giving as good as they got as Aaron McNeilly restored their one point advantage with Delargy squaring the contest for a second time with a point in the 14th minute.

Tir na nOg continued to take the game to the opposition and Sean Duffin edged them ahead for the third time with a point in the 16th minute and when Aaron McNeilly followed with another to move them two in front they seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

Portglenone fought hard to get their own game going and Michael Hagan fired over their first point from play but Barry McCormick responded with a point for the visitors to edge them two in front again after 23 minutes play.

It was Portglenone who finished the half stronger however with points from Conall Delargy, Ronan Kelly and Stephen Kelly with Ryan O’Neill on target for the Randalstown men to leave it all square as the half time whistle sounded.

Whatever John McKeever said to his side at half time seemed to work as Casements came out of the blocks flying at the start of the second half, hitting 2-3 without reply in the opening 12 minutes.  

Michael Hagan began the second half scoring with a point in the first minute and when Niall Delargy got through for a goal in the third minute the balance of play had swung strongly in favour of the league leaders.

The home side were totally dominant during this period and missed several more goal chances including a penalty from Michael Hagan with six minutes on the clock.

Corey McLaughlin and Ronan Kelly added points before the excellent Conall Delargy got in for their second goal with only 9 minutes on the clock.

Tir na nOg were fighting hard to get back into contention but were finding the home defence hard to penetrate but Ciaran O’Neill finally openbed heir second half account with a point in the 12th minute.

Caolan Tierney and Niall Delargy for Casement’s and Aaron McNeilly and Ciaran Logan for Tir na Nog exchanged further points as the visitors fought hard to close the gap but although they hit three of the final four points of the game they were unable to get the goal that might have ignited a comeback.

Ciaran Logan 0-2 and Ciaran O’Neill were the men on target for the Whitehill side with Oisin Doherty the Casement’s marksman as the Kelly Park side ran out winners by eight points to keep their unbeaten start the season intact and they sit proudly on top of the table with six points from three starts.

Casements: 1. Ryan O’Neill 2 Ronan Delargy 3 Shane Delargy 4 Johnny Convery 5 Ryan Convery 6 Dermot McAleese 7 Caolan Tierney 0.1 8 Niall Delargy 1.1 9 Niall McKeever 10 Paddy Carey 11 Conall Delargy 1.3 12 Corey McLaughlin 0.1 13 Ronan Kelly 0.2 14 Stephen Kelly 0.1 15 Michael Hagan 0.2 Subs: Oisín Doherty 0.1, Sean Byrne, Kevin O’Kane Aidan Kearney.

Tir na nOg: 1. Sean Paul McAtamney 2 Ethan Higgins 3 Brendan McLarnon 4 Barry Magee 5 Ciaran O’Neill 6 Barry McCormick 7 Oliver McAtamney 8 Ryan O’Neill 10 Darragh Fagan 11 Sean Duffin 12 Aaron Mcneilly 13 Conor Hastings 14 Pearse Sheerin 15 Daniel Martin

Referee: Eamon McAuley (Cargin)

by thesaffrongael

St MacNissis win 2022 Larne Schools Hurling Cup

The competition was back to its familiar format in its regular venue in Larne Leisure Centre with each team playing each other twice in a league format preceding a final between the two top teams.

St Anthony’s started strong with a 3-1 victory over Corran Integrated.  St MacNissis cruised through the groups winning their first three games scoring 11 goals and conceding none.  A return of the opening fixture saw Corran grind out a one nil win over St Anthony’s meaning the Antiville school were effectively out unless there was a big swing in goal difference in the last game between Corran Integrated and St MacNissis. Unfortunately for St Anthony’s the last game ended in a nil-nil draw.

After the group stages the traditional rolling penalty competition took place. Every child entered but the last boy standing was Darryl from Corran Integrated who won a hurling stick.

The main event was the 2022 final.  St MacNissis steamrolled into a 3-0 lead at half time.  Corran regrouped and refocused for a second half assault but despite sustained periods of pressure the Blackcave team were unable to break through the St MacNissis defence who saw out the second half out to secure the victory.

There were impressive performers on all three sides but the team work of St MacNissis made the difference overall.  

The Larne Schools Hurling Cup now in its 9th year is a great opportunity for children to play important games of hurling at a competitive level.  

St MacNissis won the competition without conceding a single goal taking the trophy back to Agnew Street for the first time since 2016

by thesaffrongael

Johnnies recent good form continues

Naomh Gall 1-9 St. John’s 2-10

St. John’s good start to the season continues and after losing their opening game to Portglenone at Corrigan they now find themselves level with the Casement’s on points though they have played.

A good win down at Ahoghill on day two and an even better one over Erin’s Own Cargin at Corrigan last Sunday saw them climb the table and last night they travelled the short journey to Milltown to face old adversaries, St. Gall’s.

Points are never easy come bye at the home of their neighbours but the ‘Johnnies’ good form continued with goals from Conor Hand and Conal Quinn enough to see them claim the points.

Conal McGlade, Ryan McNulty and Andy McGowan were all on target with points for the Whiterock Road side who have no game this Sunday but travel up to Hannastown to face Lamh Dhearg next Wednesday night where they will be hoping to continue their recent good run of results

St. John’s: 1. Eoghan Rua Lambert 2. Conor McEvoy 3. Jack Bohill 4. Ciaran Garland 5. Oisin Donnelly 6. Padraig Nugent 7.Joe Garland 8. Simon McDonagh 9. Ryan McNulty 10. Andy McGowan 11. Pearce Donnelly 12. Conal McGlade 13. Conal Quinn 14. Conor Hand 15.Conor Adams

by thesaffrongael

Antrim U20’s face tough opener

Ulster U20 Football |C|hampionship

Derry v Antrim

Owenbeg-8-00pm

Niall Jackman’s Antrim face a tough opener when they take on Derry at Owenbeg in the opening round of the Ulster U20 Football Championship on Friday night. The Saffrons have failed to win any of their cup games going into Friday night’s meeting with Derry but have improved as the early season competition has progressed.

They lost heavily in their opening game against Tyrone in Portglenone but showed marked improvement away to Louth and Down and Jackman feels these games will stand to them going into the Derry game while conceding they will start as outsiders.

They face an Oak Leaf side who will be backboned by players from the All Ireland winning Minor team of two years ago and who will start this championship as favourites to go all the way in many people’s eyes.

In 2020 Antrim caused an upset when they defeated Derry in the quarter-final of the U20 championship at the Dub before losing narrowly to eventual winners Tyrone in the semi-final in Lavey.

Last year they lost to Fermanagh in the opening round in Brewster Park and will go into Friday night’s game as rank outsiders but Niall Jackman is hopeful they can cause an upset. “It’s going to be a huge challenge against Derry but there is no expectation on us and I suppose that takes the pressure off us to an extent”

Portglenone’s Ruairi Hagan
Cathal Hynds of Glenrave

“We’ve been building the squad over the last six weeks in the preseason Cup competitions and the hope is that it will all come together on Friday evening. It’s going to be a huge challenge but there is no expectation on us” said the Fermanagh native.

Antrim have seven or eight players from last year with St. Brigid’s, Cargin, Portglenone and Glenravel supplying the bulk of the team. Ronan Boyle of St. Brigid’s played for Antrim seniors in a McKenna Cup win over Down at Pairc Esler this year and performed well for Enda McGinley’s side.

Boyle can play anywhere in the side while Declan  Heery, Ruairi Hagan, Aidan McAleese, Sean Duffin, Cathal Hynds, Paudie McLaughlin, Rian Lennon, Michael Ferris and Sean O’Neill are all likely to start while Portglenone defender Dan McNicholl could get the nod for a starting place after recovering from an injury that has seen him miss the pre-season cup games.

Fionn Nagle of St. Enda’s and Ronan McKillop of All Saints are likely to miss out through injury but whoever plays, the news coming out of the Antrim camp indicates that the team are in good spirits and looking forward to facing Derry.

We at the Saffron Gael wish them the best of luck at Owenbeg and hope to be there to bring you coverage of the game.