Month / September 2022

by thesaffrongael

Glenravel girls shock champions Loughgiel

Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate championships quarter-final

Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-4 Brídíní Óga Glenravel 1-11

HOLDERS, and winners of four of the last five Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate championships, Loughgiel were knocked out of this year’s title race in the first of the quarter-finals played in Fr Healy Park at midday on Saturday.

Brídíní Óga took a while to get on top on the scoreboard in a game that had plenty of mistakes, but during the second half they pulled away to win comfortably.

Loughgiel have beaten the Glenravel side in three of the last five finals and it was looking like they would once again get the better of them when a huge free from Megan McGarry bounced in the Brídíní Óga area in the 14th minute and ended in the net possibly with a touch from Cara Connolly.

That put Loughgiel ahead for the only time in the game, 1-1 to 0-3, following three earlier points from Eimhear McAleenan (free), Torie Edgar and Aimee Traynor with a point from Emer McKinley in reply. There was just a single point during the second quarter, Eimhear McAleenan’s 23rd minute free pulling the sides level for the break.

Megan Coyle had pulled off a couple of great saves during the half, including one brilliant stop from Torie Edgar, while her defence, marshalled by Megan McGarry at centre-half back, coped well with a lot of pressure from the Glenravel side.

Brídíní Óga dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half and gradually pulled away on the score-board with McAleenan converting four more frees and Erin Coulter breaking from the right side of defence to fire over another.

Although Louise McKillop took advantage of a poor poc out to run through the middle and pull a point back in the 49th minute, Torie Edgar fired a bullet to the home side’s net four minutes later. While the Glenravel girls had probably done enough to win the game by that point, the goal confirmed their passage to a semi-final against Cargin or Ahoghill who play on Tuesday evening in Ahoghill (7.30pm).

Aimee Traynor and Sarah Fyfe added points that were cancelled out by two scores from Carlina Sullivan during the last few minutes.

There was a nervousness about the Glenravel performance until they got four or five points ahead midway through the second half. Their defence was solid throughout with the McKenna sisters back in the team for the first time since a league game in May. Their attack threatened to do more damage than they actually achieved in terms of scores from play, but the addition of Niamh McKay and Clodagh McPeake in the second half and the general ball-winning of Molly Wolouhan gave them more options.

Brídíní Óga: Orla Donnelly, Maria McKenna, Maeve Mulholland, Aisling Mulholland, Erin Coulter 0-1, Laoise McKenna, Brónagh Laverty, Erin McAleese, Sarah Fyfe 0-1, Kirsty Laverty capt, Molly Woulahan, Eimhear McAleenan 0-7 (fs), Aimee Traynor 0-2, Torie Edgar 1-1, Ashling Millar.

Subs: Niamh McKay for E McAleese (25), Clodagh McPeake for A Millar (34), Oonagh Ward, Leona Traynor, Eimear Butler, Ciara McCormick, Caitlin McKeown, Niamh Donnelly, Emily Sharpe, Aisling Donnelly, Jaime Woulahan, Megan Law, Caitlin Law,

Loughgiel: Megan Coyle, Katie Glackin, Finvola McVeigh, Anna McKillen, Maeve Henry, Megan McGarry, Ciara Boyle capt., Louise McKillop 0-1, Therese McKinley, Ciara Connolly, Anna McKillop, Carlina Sullivan 0-2, Emer McKinley 0-1, Cara Connolly 1-0, Caoimhe McMullan.

Sub: Chloe Higgins for E McKinley (43).

Referee: Martin McGann (Armagh)

by thesaffrongael

Slow starters Eire Og push on to secure a semi-final place against O’D’s

Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship

Laochra Loch Lao 0-8 Eire Og 2-14

It took them a while to get going but once they hit their stride there was no stopping Eire Og as the saw off the challenge of Laochra Loch Lao at Colaiste Feirste on Saturday. Seventeen minutes into this game they had just one point on the board to set level with their hosts, but from then on they added scores at regular intervals to end up with an impressive 2-14 and a semi-final spot against O’Donnell’s in two weeks’ time.

Laochra Loch Lao well in the game in the first half, and actually led by 0-6 to 0-5 at half time, but they lost their way badly in the second half as Eire Og, but they had a good season and qualified for the knock out stages for the first time.

Aaron Strain got the first score of the game for the hosts in the second minute, but it was to be 19 minutes before they scored again as Eire Og held the upper hand. Eire Og got going with a point from Kevin Clarke in the third minute, but they too were in no rush to trouble the scoreboard operator and it was a further fifteen minutes before PJ Toal put them ahead from a free on 17 minutes. A minute later Toal cut in along the endline and sent over another from play, and when Clarke swung one over with his left foot, from the right corner, they were 4-1 to the good.

It all seemed to be going so well for the visiotrs at this stage, but Laochra Loch Lao suddenly came to life, and a great spell which brought points from Tarlach Barclaigh, Kevin Devine and Paidi O’Tiarnagh (2) actually had them ahead at half time.

Niall Ward drew Eire Og level early in the second half, but Eanna O’Ceallaigh pointed to put the home side back ahead. That was as good as it got for Laochra however as Eire Og took control of the game. Points from Ward, PJ TOal, Conor McKenna and substitute Shaun McNamee put them in charge of the game. McNamee, who was named at midfield, but did not enter the action to the final quarter, put on a display during his cameo appearance, score three great points with frees off the ground, before wrapping it all up with a volleyed goal that will rival anything seen in the this completion for a very long time.

Fellow substitute Oran McMenamin also got a goal and PJ Toal added a couple points to wrap up a comprehensive win as seal a semi-final spot.

Match referee Paddy Tumelty with is four Tumelty umpires, John, Christopher jnr, Aodh and Christopher snr
by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel pull clear in second half as Dunloy fire blanks

Antrim Senior Camogie Championship @ Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall

Loughgiel: 1-17 Dunloy 1-8

Like Mark Twain the rumours of Loughgiel’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated if Saturday’s second half is anything to go by. The Shamrocks and old rivals Dunloy had produced a great thirty minutes camogie in the opening half of their Senior Camogie Championship round robin game in Cushendall and went in at the break level on 1-08 apiece. The scene appeared to be set for a classic encounter in the second period, but that never materialised as the Shamrocks took completed control, adding 0-9 to their total while holding their opponents scoreless. Part of the cause was the Cuchullains inability to take their scores, but something went wrong with their radar and they failed to trouble the scoreboard operator through that thirty minutes play.

Dunloy’s Caoimhe Conlon in action against Loughgiel’s Mary McKillen during Saturday SCC round robin game in Cushendall.

Loughgiel started with two early points through Lucia McNaughton and Chloe Higgins but Dunloy responded right away and Caoimhe Molly sent over a 45 and Katie Molly added one from play to tie the scores after just four minutes. Lucia McNaughton put Loughgiel back in front, but points from Eimhear Johnston and Katie Molloy both hit the target from play to edge Dunloy ahead by the eighth minute.

Lucia McNaughton appeared to have struck a telling blow when she fired the ball to the Dunloy net on 16 minutes, but within twenty seconds the ball was in the net at the other end of the fields and full forward Erin Elliott put her team back in front. It continue that way for the remainder of the opening half, as two from Amy Boyle and Caitrin Dobbin for the Shamrocks was answered by Nicole McAtamney and Caoimhe Molloy for the Cuchullains. In the run-in to half-time points from Christine Laverty and Amy Boyle put Loughgiel one ahead, but with seconds left to the half time whistle Aine Magill tied it all up again, and the sides went in tied on 1-8 to 1-8.

Caitrin Dobbin who again top scored for Loughgiel in thier win over Dunloy

Dunloy will rue some of the chances they missed in the early part of the second half, but they found the going tough playing into the Ardmoyle Park end of the ground, and with the Loughgiel half-back line and midfield holding the upper hand the chances were restricted.

Lucia McNaughton opened the second half account for the Shamrocks with a pointed free on 37 minutes and Mary McKillen got another three minutes later. Caitrin Dobbin on 46 and Annie Lynn on 54. The scoring had been moderate up to this, but they finished with a flourish and added five in as many minutes, three from Caitrin Dobbin and one each from Annie Lynn and substitute Orlagh Laverty to win by nine

LOUGHGIEL

Eimear Boyle, Charlene Campbell, Katie Lynn, Claire McKillop, Maria Lynn, Una McNaughton, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle, Lucia McNaughton, Christine Laverty, Mary McKillen, Chloe Higgins, Catrin Dobbin, Katie McKillop, Annie Lynn.

DUNLOY

Mary Martin, Sorcha Conlon, eilish Kearns, Dairbhail Elliott, Caitlin Crawford, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon, Aine Magill, Nicole McAtamney, Caoimhe Molloy, Brid Magill, Katie Molloy, Eimear Johnston, Erin Elliott, Bronagh Magill

Dunloy’s Nicole McAtamney and Loughiel’s Christine Laverty battle it out under the dropping ball.
by thesaffrongael

Sarsfields sail through to semis

OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, quarter-final
Sarsfield’s 2-21 St Paul’s 1-11

Yet another impressive display by Sarsfields saw them take another step up the ladder in their standing in the Intermediate Football Championship. Once again the men from the Bear Pit showed just what they are capable of as they beat their neighbours St Paul’s by 13 points to book their place in the semi-final and now must be among the favourites to take the title.

With former St Gall’s and Antrim start Terry O’Neill guiding them this team has grown in confidence, and their style of play has saw them rack up big scores. Saturday was another such display as they put 2-21 on the board, and all of the six starting forwards contributing to that total. Saturday performance bore no resemblance to the one who struggled against St Patrick’s in Lisburn just a few short weeks ago, one who went 29 minutes before raising their first flag.

Sarsfields corner forward Tomas Skillen who score 1-3 in his team’s win over St Paul’s.

It was Kevin McKernan who broke their duck that day, but on Saturday he had the white flag raised inside the first minute, and added another from a free soon afterwards. Padraig Doyle pulled one back from a free for St Paul’s but the Paddies were well on top and when corner forward Tomas Skillen got the first goal of the game midway through the half they men in green and black were firmly in charge. Padraig Lowe and Conal Duffy kept St Paul’s in touch with two well taken points, but the home side regained their composure and Niall McAlena and James Farrell found the target to help the Paddies to a 1-8 to 0-6 lead at the break.

That five point gap was soon out to seven as Kevo McKernan and Gary Lennon got the first two points of the second half, but St Paul’s were thrown a lifeline when corner forward Ruairi Hamill was fouled in the ‘square’ and Conal Duffy fired home the resultant penalty. However the St Paul’s fans had just time for a brief celebration as the boys from the Bear Pit responded right away and after Naill McAlea and Kevin Floyd came back with points, corner forward Brian Healy won possession and powered his way through to fire in his team’s second goal. By this stage the only thing in question was the size of Sarsfield’s winning margin and Caolan McKernan, Tomas Skillen, Kevo McKernan and Gary Lennon all added to the scoring to wrap up an impressive win.

Next weekend they turn their attention back to the small ball, and while the odds seemed stacked against them, it is not impossible. They travel to Fr Maginn Park to take on a Glenravel side who are already out of the running and will be hot favourites to win that one. However if Glenariffe win their game just down the road in Waterfoot against Creggan it will not matter as the Oisins would be through, but if the Kickhams were to overturn the Oisins then the Paddies could go through on a superior score difference.

SARSFIELD’S: M Brady; A McGarrigle, M McPolin, M Johnston; P McPeake, D McKernan, C McKernan (0-1); C Murray, N McKenna; N McAlea (0-2), K McKernan (0-7, 4f), K Floyd (0-1); T Skillen (1-3), G Lennon (0-5, 3f, 1m), B Healy (1-2).
Subs: D Smyth for C Murray (43), J McNally for N McAlea (44), D McGuinness for K Floyd (45), L Mitchell for A McGarrigle (47).

ST PAUL’S: J McAufield; N Ward, G McGroarty, M Duffy; T Auld, D Burms, A Kavanagh; S O’Brien, J Farrell (0-1); P Lowe (0-1), E Reid, M Munce; Conal Duffy (1-2, 1-0 pen), P Doyle (0-5, 4f), R Hamill (0-2).
Subs: J Rodgers for J McAufield (46), D Quinn for M Munce (48), P Magee for G McGroarty (53), M Gallagher for M Duffy (55), Caoimhin Duffy for E Reid (57).

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)

by thesaffrongael

Injury time salvo sees Rasharkin into the final four

Antrim JCC quarter final

Rasharkin 1-9

Gort na Móna 2-2

Rasharkin left it late to seal the deal, but a 1-1 rally in injury time saw them see off a stubborn Gort na Móna challenge to reach the semi-final of the Antrim junior camogie championship.

In warm conditions at Dreen, there was a ripple of relief when substitute Ciara O’Boyle split the posts in the 61st minute to nudge the hosts back into the lead.

Jade Henry added a goal on 64 minutes to polish the final score and see the home side reach the final four against a 14-player Gort na Móna side.

Aisling McCaffrey had 0-2 to her name when she was dismissed on 29 minutes after an off-the-ball incident with Rasharkin’s Sharrifa O’Kane.

O’Kane and sister Noeleen both saw yellow in the aftermath of the incident, much to the ire of the Gort na Móna line who were vocal in their disagreement.

St Mary’s pulled ahead after the flashpoint to lead by 0-6 to 1-2 at the break, and after stretching the lead to three midway through the second half, they were rocked by a levelling Sara Kennedy goal.

O’Boyle and Henry’s late intervention though ensured the hosts’ successful qualification for the championship semi-final.

Aisling McCaffrey had shot Gort na Móna into the lead after just two minutes from a free, only for Cora Henderson to race through the middle and slot a score to level matters on 3 minutes.

McCaffrey then swapped points with Jade Henry to leave the scores level at 0-2 apiece on 11 minutes, before Henderson tidied up a scramble to shoot Rasharkin ahead in the 17th minute.

Rasharkin’s Sharrifa O’Kane clears a free in the second half.

The hosts went close to finding the net on 20 minutes, Gort goalkeeper Colleen McAvoy recovering to clear after fumbling the first attempt.

Cádhla McLernon doubled the home lead in the 22nd minute, before Henry opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 gap with a free wide on the right hand side two minutes later.

Gort na Móna countered though, and McCaffrey’s neat hand pass sent Danielle Hughes cantering into space. The half forward made no mistake and rattled the top corner from the edge of the box.

Then came the flashpoint, with Sharrifa O’Kane tangling with McCaffrey after the Rasharkin full back had cleared the ball.

After a lengthy delay, referee Shane O’Donnell showed a red card to the Gort na Móna corner forward, before flashing yellow at Sharrifa and Noeleen O’Kane on 29 minutes.

Cora Henderson then fired the hosts into a 0-6 to 1-2 half time lead as the game entered first half injury time, and Rasharkin opened the second half in determined mood.

Jade Henry drew first blood, rounding her marker to shoot low over the bar in the 34th minute, before Danielle Hughes again came close for Gort, flashing a low shot past McMullan’s right hand post.

Kerrie Darragh collected a neat ball from Henry and thought she had found the net, only for the umpire and referee to rule the ball had entered the net through the side netting.

Henry then won a foot race with the Gort na Móna keeper, keeping her composure to split the posts as the defensive cover arrived and open a 0-8 to 1-2 lead.

Senior camógs Noeleen and Sharrifa O’Kane present a jersey to senior camogie sponsor Tony O’Kane Carpet Fitting Services.
Senior camógs Noeleen and Sharrifa O’Kane present a jersey to senior camogie sponsor Tony O’Kane Carpet Fitting Services.

The home side were rattled though on 53 minutes, as Sara Kennedy took control of a breaking ball and batted the ball into the bottom corner of the net to level matters and spark some panic.

Rasharkin hit a number of rushed wides in the following minutes as they chased the lead, but substitute Ciara O’Boyle ended the waste on 61 minutes.

The forward shrugged off her marker and fired between the posts to the relief of all around her, and when Jade Henry found the net from a 64th minute free, the victory was sealed.

Rasharkin: Saoirse McMullan, Bronagh McFerran, Sharrifa O’Kane, Noeleen O’Kane, Niamh Mooney, Kate McFerran, Ciara O’Neill, Aoife McFerran, Eimhéar Hardy, Cora Henderson (0-3, 0-1f), Eimear O’Neill, Jade Henry (1-4, 0-2f), Cádhla McLernon (0-1), Kerrie Darragh, Roisín Hardy

Subs: Ciara O’Boyle (0-1) for Roisín Hardy (37), Christina Smith for Kate McFerran (40), Danielle McAllister for Cora Henderson (61)

Yellow: S O’Kane (29), N O’Kane (29)

Gort na Móna: Colleen McAvoy, Grainne Hughes, Fiona McCotter, Rose Maguire, Casey Meighan, Kathleen Cornane, Ennae O’Neill, Sara Kennedy (1-0), Carla Scannell, Grainne O’Hare, Anna McCann, Danielle Hughes (1-0), Aisling McCaffrey (0-2f), Ursula McCotter, Méabh Mulholland

Yellow: A McCann (42)

Red: A McCaffrey (29)

Ref: Shane O’Donnell (Glenariffe)

Player of the Match – Jade Henry

Jade Henry finished the match with 1-4, 1-2 coming from play as she provided an outlet for the home side on numerous occasions. The half forward contributed to a solid defensive effort too, back helping out with a vital block on 48 minutes.

Turning Point – O’Boyle point

Rocked by a Sara Kennedy goal seven minutes from time, Rasharkin looked unsettled and in their panic to re-assert their authority fired over three successive wides before O’Boyle collected the ball in injury time, shrugged off her marker and split the posts to nudge St Mary’s back in front.

Score of the match – Hughes goal

Cora Henderson’s opening score was a contender, but the opening Gort na Móna goal was well-worked, Aisling McCaffrey’s neat hand pass finding a marauding Danielle Hughes. The half forward cantered into the space and picked her spot in the top left hand corner of Saoirse McMullan’s goal.