Month / September 2022

by thesaffrongael

Aghagallon through in U20 preliminary

Under 20 A Football Championship –  preliminary round

ST Mary’s Aghagallon 1-13 Con Magees Glenravel 0-6

Last season’s Under 20 champions Glenravel bowed out of this year’s competition when they were well beaten by a very good Aghagallon side in Aghagallon on Monday evening.

Backboned by the team which won last season’s Minor title Aghagallon were on the front foot from the start and had three points on the board by the seventh minute through Michael McStravick, Callum Mulholland and man of the match Johnny Hannon.

Ryan McQuillan got Glenravel’s first score on 14 minutes, but Ruaire McShane and Hannon replied for the home side to stretch their lead to 0-5 to 0-1 by the end of the opening quarter. Shea McDonnell and Ryan McQuillan pulled a couple more back for Glenravel but three points from the excellent Ruairi McShane and one from Enda McCartan had Aghagallon 0-9 to 0-3 ahead by half time.

Two point blank saves by Glenravel goalkeeper Jude Scullion at the start of the second half kept his team in touch, though McShane added a point for the home side to stretch the lead out to seven. Two points from Joe Martin brought Glenravel back to within five, but that was as good as it got for the visitors as points from Aghagallon’s Callum Mulholland, Jack Nelson and Ruari McShane put the game well beyond them.

A goal from Michael McStravick on 43 minutes put the icing on the cake for St Mary’s and though it turned out to be their last score of the game, they had things well and truly wrapped up. Glenravel kept on battling and two points from Ryan McQuillan brought them back to within seven, but it was a case of too little, too late as Agahagallon secured their place in the first round proper.

AGHAGALLON

Gabhan Baine, Conor Magill, Stephen Devlin, Jack Hannon, Padraig Gowdy, Ciaran Maginis, Pauric Maginnis, Jonathan Hannon, Jack Nelson, Enda McCartan, Ruairi McShane, Michael McStravick, Liam Russell, Callum Mulholland.

CON MAGEES

Jude scullion, Conor Laverty, Sean Higgins, Ethan McNeill, Eamon Carey, Daniel McQuillan, Eamon Ward, Conor Duffin, Callum Higgins, Cormac McKeown, Shea O’Brion, Joe Martin, Shea McDonnelly, Ryan McQuillan, Adam Campbell

Referee – Barry Hotchkiss (Glenavy)

by thesaffrongael

Mulholland inspires Glenavy victory

LGFA IFC

Glenavy 3-11 Gort na Mona 0-9

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

Another fine exhibition of scoring from county player, Grainne McLaughlin and an outstanding midfield performance from Ana Mulholland inspired Glenavy to victory over a battling Gort na Mona in the LGFA IFC at Chapel Hill on Monday night.

The Enright Park girls played their part in an excellent game of attacking football and indeed led 0-2 to 0-0- after 13 minutes through Aobhin Enright and Jordan McCullough as Glenavy took a time to settle into their stride.

Grainne McLaughlin finally got the Chapel Hill side on their way when she pointed a long range free in the 15th minute but Gort na Mona were shading matters at this stage and Blaithin NicCathail edged them back two in front from the resulting kick-out.

Slowly though the home side started to get on top and two points from McLaughlin and another from Megan McGarry edged them one in front by the 19th minute but Gort na Mona were still holding their own and replied with a point from Ciaran Maguire to draw level once more.

From the resulting kick-out Glenavy worked the ball through the hands with Megan McGarry restoring their lead before Michelle Gregory finished a great flowing movement to the Gort na Mona net in the 29th minute to put her side in a commanding position at half time when they led 1-7 to 0-4

The second half was only seconds old when Megan McGarry extended the Glenavy lead with a point and then mid-field dynamo, Ana Mulholland fielded the ball before sending a long range pass into Grainne McLaughlin in the 4th minute and she turned and struck a great goal to put more daylight between the sides.

It looked a long way back for Gort na Mona at this stage but they showed tremendous fighting spirit as they came back strongly with unanswered points from Aoibhin Enright, Ciara Maguire 0-2, and Blaithin Nic Cathail by the 12th minute to give themselves some hope.

Grainne McLaughlin replied with a point from play and followed from a pointed free to move the home side 8 in front and they looked home and dry but Gort na Mona came back again and Ciara Maguire looked to be in for a goal but had her shot pushed over by Orla Mullin in the Glenavy goal.

It proved to be the visitors last score and it was Glenavy who had the last say when the strong running Anna Mulholland raced through for a great individual goal in injury time to put the icing on a fine personal performance.

Glenavy: 16 Orla Mullin, Maire McStravick, 3 Cathy Scannell, 4 Aideen McCambridge, 5 Lilly Curran, 6 Orla McLeod, 7 Geraldine McCann, 8 Ana Mulholland, 9 Natasha O’Neill, 10 Bronagh Forester, 11 Grainne McLaughlin, 12 Megan McGarry, 13 Cara McGarry, 14 Michelle Gregory, 15 Edele Christie

Gort na Mona: 1 Aisling McCaffrey, 2 Katie Ervine, 3 Carla Scannell, 4 Emily Kearns, 5 Caoimhe Delaney, 6 Gabrielle Monaghan, 7 Tiernagh Elle, 8 Mia Gregory, 9 Caitlin Fryer, 10 Blaithin Nic Cathail, 11 Aoibhin Enright, 12 Jeyda Rooney, 13 Jordan McCullough, 14 Ciara Maguire, 15 Duailtin Nic Cathail

Referee: Brenan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

by thesaffrongael

Goal scoring exhibition by Ardoyne girls

Antrim LGFA Junior B Championship

Report and photos by Brian McKee

It was a goal scoring exhibition from Ardoyne Ladies in Antrim on Sunday afternoon. The incessant rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Ardoyne Ladies in the opening game of the Junior B Championship. They went on the attack from the throw-in with Fiona McKenna finishing with a lovely fisted point from play.

The ladies from St Comgalls put up stubborn resistance but were unable to keep Ardoyne at bay. Goalkeeper Brooke Shorter pulled off a number of fine saves but the Ardoyne forward line proved to be in fine form and kept the momentum going during the first half.

St Comgall’s pulled back a goal with Eimear O’Hara at the end of some fast moving play from midfield to put the ball in the Ardoyne net. A further solitary point for the Antrim girls  during the first half underlined the dominance of the Ardoyne defence.

The second half saw Ardoyne display some quality football and in the deteriorating conditions St Comgalls found Alisha Frame and Shannen O’Connor in particular in goal scoring form.

The Ardoyne Ladies will be encouraged by this display of great teamwork as they prepare for their next encounter against Tir na nOg next weekend.

Ardoyne: 1 Saorla NigUidhir 2 Rachel Gilvary (Tracey McBride) 3 Regan Hughes (Laura Vernon) 4 Grace McAllister 5 Aisling Anderson 6 Ciara McEvoy 7 Tierna McAuley (Aoife McDonnell) 8 Lauren Coleman 9 Rebekah Matthews 10 Zoe McAuley 11 Kacey McLaughlin (Ann McGarry) 12 Ailisa Frame 13 Shannen O’Connor 14 Erin Mailey 15 Fiona McKenna (Katie Markey)

Scorers: Ailisa Frame (4-2), Zoe McAuley (1-0), Shannen O’Connor (3-3), Erin Mailey (2-0), Kasey McLaughlin (1-0), Fiona McKenna (0-1), Rebekah Matthews (0-1)

Substitutes: Katie Markey, Tracey McBride, Natasha Rooney, Anna McGarry, Aoife McDonnell, Laura Vernon

St Comgalls: 1 Broke Shorter 2 Siobhan McQuillan (Kirstie Robinson) 3 Sorcha Watt 4 Georgia Gormley (Eimile Man) 5 Sophie McNeill 6 Ciara Shannon 7 Sophie Shields 8 Amanda Leahy 9 Anna Brady 10 Katie Martin 11 Shannon Sullivan 12 Molly Allen 13 Eimer O’Hara 14 Aimee Fitzsimmons 15 Ciara Connolly (Katey Robinson)

Aine McCaffrey

Scorers: Eimear O’Hara (1-0) Katie Martin (0-1)

Substitutes: Katey Robinson, Eimile Man, Cara Brennan, Kirstie Robinson

by thesaffrongael

Cosgrove stars as Cushendall beat Ballycastle

Antrim Senior Camogie Championship – round-robin

Cushendall: 1-13 Ballycastle: 1-4

Cushendall created a bit of a shock when they beat Ballycastle in Sunday’s Antrim Senior Camogie Championship round robin game in Carey. The Ruairis hadn’t beaten their opponents for a few years now and went in as outsiders in most people’s eyes, but they turned in a great display to win this one with a bit to spare and put a serious dent in Ballycastle’s chances of making the final.

Dervla Cosgrove was a leading light for Cushendall in the first half, scoring in the opening minute to put her team ahead. Siobhan McKillop added a second four minutes later and Cosgrove’s second on 11 minutes was added to by Ellen Leech in the two minutes later to put them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead.

It was eighteen minutes before Fionuala Kelly opened Ballycastle’s account with a point from play, but thirty seconds later Siobhan McKillop sent one over at the other end to keep the gap at four.

When Ballycastle full forward Kathryn Mullan got the first goal of the game there was just a point between the sides, but an Ellen Leech point and a goal from Dervla Cosgrove, but the gap out to five, though a pointed free by Riana McBride just before the break left just four between the sides at the half time whistle. (Cushendall 1-7 Ballycastle 1-2)

Two points from Cosgrove early in the second half, one from a free and other from a 45, pushed the Cushendall lead out to six. Riana McBride pulled one back for the Town from a free but Cushendall were well in charge and five points in a row, four from Cosgrove frees and one from play by midfielder Cara O’Boyle, sealed the win. Catherine McShane pulled one back for Ballycastle late in the game but by that time the destination of the points had been decided.

CUSHENDALL

Louise Mulholland, Aoife McClafferty, Sinead Cosgrove, Catriona O’Boyle, Caoimhe McNaughton, Coleen Patterson, Clodagh McKillop, Anna McNeill, Cara O’Boyle, Dervla Cosgrove, Siobhan McKillop, Ellen Leech, Mary Kane, Orlagh O’Hara, Laura McMullan

BALLYCASTLE

Becky Ellis, Maria Donnelly, Niamh Donnelly, Catherine McShane, Aoife Toner, Enya McShane, Orla Donnelly, Niamh Anne Donnelly, Caitlin Heggarty, Nuala Devlin, Emma Laverty, Fionula Kelly, Riana McBride, Kathryn Mullan, Aine Donnelly.

by thesaffrongael

Cushendall hit six in final win over Ballycastle.

Antrim Under 16 Camogie final

Cushendall: 6-11 Ballycastle: 1-4

Cushendall won the Under 16 Camogie title when they beat Ballycastle in Sunday’s final at Carey. The Ruairiettes were on top throughout the game, and their ability to grab goals at vital times was something Ballycastle could not match.

Aoife McCaughan hit the first point of the game for Ballycastle but Cushendall came back strongly with two points from centre forward Orlaith McAlister and one from corner forward Amy McAlister. Orlaith McAlister then grabbed her team’s opening goal and added a point from play before Amy grabbed goal number two in the 13th minute.

Ballycastle came back with points from Shannnagh Hegarty and Louise McBride but two more goals from Niamh McNeill and Orlaith McAlsiter gave Cushendall a 4-5 to 0-3 point lead at half time.

Ballycastle got the first score of the second half through Shannagh Heggarty but points from Kady McNeill and Orlaith McAlister were followed by an Amy McAlister goal. Jamey McIntosh pulled a goal back for Ballycastle but Amy McAlister completed her hat-trick with Cushendall’s sixth goal