April 27, 2022April 28, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Returning county men help Saints cause

ACFL Division 2

All Saints 3-9 Rasharkin 1-5

Pics: Mark Hasson

All Saints welcomed county players Paddy McAleer and Conor Stewart back into their starting lineout while Peter McNicholl made his first start of the season and it coincided with a much improved performance by the Ballymena side as they defeated St. Mary’s Rasharkin by 10 points at Slemish Park.

They certainly didn’t get it all their own way in the opening half but goals from Oisin Connolly and Eoin Campbell within a minute of each other at the start of the second quarter propelled them to a 2-3 to 1-3 half time lead.

The Rasharkin goal came from Ryan Lynch after 25 minutes and brought the visitors right back into contention with a just a goal separating the sides as the half time whistle sounded. It was the home side who found another gear on the restart however as they hit six second half points with the visitors only able to add two to their total and when Conor Stewart fired home a goal in the 30^th minute it was already sewn up.

Eoin Campbell opened the scoring for All Saints with a point in the 3d minute but Rasharkin responded with points from Ryan Lynch and Eamon McNeill to edge ahead at the end of a low scoring opening quarter.

Matters swung dramatically in favour of the home side however with Conor Stewart and Eoin Campbell adding goals in the 16^th minute and Stewart followed with a point before Ryan Lynch closed the gap with a goal for the visitors with 25 minutes gone.

Rasharkin keeper, Tiernan O’Boyle stepped up to convert a ‘45’ and close the gap to two with two minutes remaining to the break with Paddy McAleer concluding the first half scoring with a point for the Slemish Park side.

The game looked set for a tight second half as Brendan McDonnell from a free and Ryan Lynch from a similar award exchanged early scores but it was ‘Baker’ Bradley’s side who stepped up their game to another level.

Two more pointed frees from Brendan McDonnell and another from play by Rory McVeigh saw them move six clear by the 18^th minute as the visitors struggled to put their game together and it was 23 minutes before Ryan Lynch scored their second point from another free.

Indeed it was to prove to be Rasharkin last score of the game as the home side finished with a flourish with Brendan McDonnell pointing his fourth free of the half and Conor Stewart showing just how much he has been missed this year as he pointed in the 30^th minute and followed with a goal, 30 seconds later to conclude the scoring.

1 Niall Shannon, 2 Matthew Downey, 3 James McDonnell 4 James Gillan, 5 Joe Rafferty, 6 Peter McNicholl, 7 Paddy McAleer, 8 Emmet Killough, 9 Conor Stewart, 10 Shaun O’Callaghan, 11 Oisin Connolly, 12 Eoin Campbell, 13 Brendan McDonnell, 14 Shea O’Brien, 15 Diarmuid McNally,

Subs: Kavan Keenan on for Oisin Connolly Rory mcveigh on for diarmuid mcnally Cormac Lemon on for Eoin Campbell

Rasharkin: 1 – Tiernan O’Boyle, 2 – Daniel Doherty, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Pearse Kelly, 5 – Colm Kennedy, 6 – Seamus Ellis, 7 – Conor Doherty, 8 – Thomas McMullan, 9-

, 9 – Jack Quinn, 10 – Thomas Doherty, 11 – Eammon McNeill, 12 – Conor Hasson, 13 – Ruairi OBoyle, 14 – Ryan Lynch, 15 – Andrew Hasson.

SUBS:

off: Andrew Hasson on: Gerard O’Hagan

off: Thomas McMullan on: Conor Higgins

off: Thomas Doherty on: Odhran McGarrell

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Saffron Business Forum pre-match lunch

The Saffron Business Forum broke new ground on Saturday when they held a pre match lunch before the Antrim v Cavan Ulster Championship game at Corrigan Park on Saturday. The game itself may not have worked out in Antrim’s favour but the event beforehand was a success and one no doubt that we will see again in the not too distant future

Paul McErlane and his son Rory, who was one of the stars of Antrim MFC win over Monaghan in Inniskeen the previous evening

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022 by thesaffrongael

CREGGAN EXCEL AFTER ROPEY START

U15 Hurling Lerague Division 2

St. Paul’s 3-3 Creggan 8-17

Report and photographs: Joe Rice

St.Paul’s hit the ground running and couldn’t have wished for a better start – 2.02 up to no score with 12 minutes on the clock. The lads from the Shaw’s Road were in total control for the first quarter of the game as they went up through the gears. Creggan’s first white flag came in the 13th minute and, from then until the Ref, Paddy Tumelty, blew for half time, they held St.Paul’s at bay allowing the home side an additional goal while the visitors raked up 3.08.

Creggan started the second half with the same intensity as they had finished the first half accumulating some impressive scores and to be fare against a much younger home side who will gain from this experience. The home side battled extremely well and repelled Creggan on several occasions but the visitors with their tails up had the winning post in sight.

An impression Sean Early showed his character with a fine goal and a super point 5 minutes into the game. His team mate, Oran Brennan, matched Early’s tally with a point and goal for himself after 12 minutes putting the home side in a great position, 2.02 to no score. Creggan had been very unlucky for the first 15 minutes and badly needed a score to settle themselves.

Their big full forward, Conor Loughran, finally broke through St.Paul’s defence after several efforts to get the visitors on the score board. Three minutes later, Shea Devlin, pointed while Loughran added 1.01 to his tally to put 2 points between the sides. The visitors reduced the gap to 1 point – Rowan McGuckian, pointing from play. In a matter of seconds, Shea Devlin put the visitors 2 in front with their second goal of the contest. Three further white flags for Shea Devlin, 2 for Loughran and 1 for Cillian McEldowney moved Creggan into a comfortable league.

St.Paul’s reduced this deficit – Oisin McLarnon adding a goal and Ciaran Brown a point respectively to put the home side one in arrears. As we neared the end of the first period of play Creggan launched a barrage of attacks, many repelled by the home side keeper, Ronan Smith but it was an impossible task as Loughran increased his tally by 2 points as Devlin got the final goal before half time.

HALF TIME SCORE: St.Pauls 3.03 v Creggan 3.09

Creggan’s 6 point lead gave them the confidence they needed to empty the tank as St.Paul’s struggled to hold them at bay. The visitors started the second half with an early goal with Shay Devlin advancing at speed towards Ronan Smith, giving the Shaw’s Road keeper no chance. The same man made several impressive saves as for the next 10 minutes or so St. Pauls were defending well but this wasn’t to last.

Creggan knew what it would take to see out this contest scoring pretty much at will. Fintan Kelly got his first point and Loughran added 2 more with 15 minutes still on the clock. Creggan’s management then moved Tadgh McAteer into attack and this provided dividends – 2 low balls directed at the home side keeper on the 46th and 48th minutes raised 2 green flags for McAteer. St. Pauls didn’t give up and played for the jersey turning over several Creggan advances but they could barely get out of their half or penetrate the visitors’ back line.

Shea Devlin increased his tally by another point and goal with 50 minutes on the clock and this sealed the game for Kickham’s Creggan. McAteer got another point from his new position, Loughran added 3 further scores – 2 points and an injury time goal while Creggan’s keeper, Ronan Colgan, pushed forward to drop the ball over the bar getting himself on the scoring sheet. Referee, Paddy Tumelty, had a quiet and enjoyable game managing proceedings without any major incidents.

FINAL SCORE: St. Pauls 3.03 v Creggan 8.17.

St. Pauls: No.1 Ronan Smith, No.2 Odhran Phillips, No.3 Aaron McGarry, No.5 Nathan Barr, No.6 Eamon Kearney, No7 Cillian O’Neill, No.8 Michael Valliday, No,9 Joey Gault, No.10 Oran Brennan (0.01), No.11 Kiden Farrell, No.12 Matthew Armstrong, No.13 Sean Early (1.01), No.14 Oisin McLarnon (1.00), No.15 Ciaran Brown (0.01), No.16 Brogan McAvoy, No.17 Ronan Leonard, No. Luke Hamill.

Creggan: No.1 Ronan Colgan (0.01), No.2 Donal McKay, No.3 Fintan Keane, No.4 Sean Og Bovill, No.5 Fintan Kelly (0.01), No.6 Conor McLarnon, No.7 Ryan McGrath, No.9 Killian McEldowney (0.01), No.10 Ronan McGuckian (0.01), No.11 Shea Devlin (2.04), No.12 Thadgh McAteer (2.01), No.13 Shea Daly, No.14 Conor Loughran (4.07), No.15 Sean O’Hara, No.16 Conor Downey, No. Oisin Devlin.

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Antrim well represented at the QUB Future Stars Awards

PHOTOS BY BRENDAN DIGNEY

Queen’s University began the Furure Stars Scheme scheme in 2015-16 school year by naming a Gealic football team. The scheme was exanded in 2019-2020 to included Hurling and this year the first Camogie team was included. The teams are selected from players eligible to play in Year 12 competitions (i.e. under 16.5 years old) and Antrim players have fared well with St Killian’s Garron Tower having eight winners, between Hurling and Camogie and Cross & Passion College Ballycastle having six. St Louis Ballymena have two, Erin Coulter in Camogie and Jack McCloskey in Hurling. thre are two Antrim players selected who attend Derry schools, Sarah O’Neill of Cargin who attends St Mary’s Magherafelt and Tiernan McCormick of St Ergnat’s Moneyglass, who attends St Pat’s Maghera. Tiernan is the only footballer from Antrim who has been selected.

2021-22 McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars:

(HURLING)

1 Phelim Ward (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

2 John McGurk (St Mary’s Magherafelt)

3 Ben McGarry (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)

4 Mikey Kennedy (Gaelcholáiste Dhoire)

5 Cailin Devlin (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

6 Cathair Donnelly (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)

7 Niall Magee (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

8 Ben O’Kane (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)

9 Darragh Kelly (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)

10 Cormac McKeown (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

11 Aidan Woods (Dean Mag Uirc Carrickmore)

12 Joseph McLaughlin (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

13 Jack McCloskey (St Louis’ Ballymena)

14 Shea Pucci (Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock)

15 Orrin O’Connor (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

(CAMOGIE)

1 Alannah Clarke (Coláiste Dhún a Rí, Kingscourt)

2 Eimear Doherty (St Patrick’s Maghera)

3 Abi McNeill (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

4 Caoimhe Ferris (St Mary’s Magherafelt)

5 Aoife MacOscar (St Pius X Magherafelt)

6 Sarah O’Neill (St Mary’s Magherafelt)

7 Erin Coulter (St Louis’ Ballymena)

8 Shannagh Heggarty (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)

9 Orlaith Hull (St Patrick’s Maghera)

10 Janey McIntosh (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)

11 Orlaith McAlister (St Killian’s Garron Tower)

12 Aoife Quinn (St Joseph’s Donaghmore)

13 Eva Cullen (St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon)

14 Carla Collins (St Patrick’s Maghera)

15 Kellie Shields (St Joseph’s Crossmaglen)

The St Killian’s Garron Tower players who won Future Stars awards.
Back Row L-R – Orrin O’Connor, Joseph McLaughlin Caolan Devlin, Phelim Ward, Niall Magee
Front row, L-R- Abi McNeill, Cormac McKeown, Orlaith McAlister

Cross & Passion players who were selected on the Future Stars Hurling and Camogie teams.
Back row, L-R, Cathair Donnelly, Ben McGarry, Ben O’Kane.
Front row, L-R – Hannagh Heggart, Darragh Kelly, Janey McIntosh

***Cormac McKeown and Erin Coulter of Con Magees Glenravel***

Sixteen of the seventeen Antrim players who were selected on the Future Stars teams
Back row L-R, Erin Coulter, Sarah O’Neill, Darragh Kelly, Cathair Donnelly, Ben McGarry, Joseph McLaughlin, Orlaith McAliser Shannagh Heggarty, Caolan Devlin, Phelim Ward, Niall Magee, Tiernan McCormick, Orlaith McAlister, Hannagh Heggarty.

Front row – L-R – Ben O’Kane, Abi McNeill, Orrin O’Connor, Janey McIntosh, Cormac McKeown. Missing from the photo is Jack McCloskey

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Ruairis roar on against gallant St Enda’s

Under 15 Hurling League

St Enda’s 2-6 Cushendall 5-36

Cushendall Ruairi Og continued their unbeaten run in the Under 15 Hurling League when they travelled to Glengormley and beat St Enda’s with another impressive display. In a week when they also won the county Feile na nGael title the Ruairis were in unstoppable form, running up another impressive score against a Naomh Eanna side who, although well beaten, battle to the end, and in Euan O’Neill had a player who could hurl in any company.

Cushendall’s Aaron McCambridge in action against St Enda’s Tomas Mooney

The home team actually got the first two points of the game, O’Neill getting the second of those but once the Ruairis got into gear there was not stopping them as an Oran McCambridge and Fiontan Bradley led show hit the next eight point, before Tomas McLaughlin struck the first of their five goals

Fiontan Bradley and Fintan McKillop shared the next four points before Eunan O’Neill got the home’s team’s third point, but Cushendall came back with three in a row from Oran McCambridge and one each from Thomas McLaughlin, Fintan McKillop and Shane McQuillan. Full forward Aaron Quinn got St Enda’s fourth point of the opening half, but further goals from McLauughlin and Shane McQuillan helped stretch the visitors’ lead to 3-22 to 0-4 by half time.

To their credit St Enda’s made more of a fight of it in the second half with Eunan O’Neill grabbing two goals and Darragh Quinn one, the scores kept coming at the other end as the young Ruairis displayed their wide range of skills with Callagh Mooney, Sean Pol McNaughton, Dylan McNaughton and Cahir McCambridge joining the scoring list to see them home in style

ST ENDA’S

Caolan McCoille, Lorcan McCann, Barra McGrath, Niall Boothman, Tomas Mooney, Odhran Mattews, Darragh Quinn, Cathair McKenna, Euan O’Neill, Shea Bell, Cormac McCann, Manus Murphy, Aaron Quinn, James Joseph McAllister.

CUSHENDALL

Liam Mcghee, Charlie McAlister, Conor McCann, Dairmaid McManus, Aodhan Campbell, Callagh Mooney, Alex McCambridge, Fiontan Bradley, Fintan McKillop, Dylan McNaughton, Aaron McCambridge, Shane McQuillan, Sean-Pól McNaughton, Thomas McLaughlin, Cahir McCambridge.

Subs – Patrick Morgan, Callum Quinn, Caodhan Coulter, Shane Coulter, Ryan McAuley

Referee – Paul O’Neill (Creggan)