Month / April 2023

by thesaffrongael

Poor first half costs Antrim dearly, but they showed great character to battle back

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship round robin – Game 2

Wexford 1-30 Antrim 1-26

PICS BY NOEL REDDY

James McNaughton who scored a brilliant goal for Antrim early in the game.

A poor first half, at the end of which they trailed by nine points, cost Antrim dearly in Saturday’s Leinster SHC round-robin duel at Chadwicks Wexford Park. The talk of an Antrim win in the lead up to the game appeared to sharpen the minds of the home side who were really up for it from the start and their forwards led the Antrim defence a merry dance in that opening period.

When they trailed by nine points at half time the Antrim fans who made the journey south must have feared the worst, but to their credit Antrim showed much more character and skill in the second half and at the end of the game they had cut that nine point deficit back to just four. It could have been even closer, and dare I say it they could have won the game, had it not been for two outstanding saves by Wexford goalkeeper James Lawlor from Antrim substitute Rian McMullan and Keelan Molloy.

Despite a strong start by Wexford which saw Rory O’Connor hit two and Liam Og McGovern one the lead was soon back to a single point as Seaan Elliott and Gerard Walsh (free) hit excellent points, Walsh’s free from well inside his own half

Things remained tight as the sides traded scores before an Oisín Foley double suggested a Wexford surge was in the offing as they pulled 0-6 to 0-3 ahead on ten minutes.

But Antrim shook things up seconds later when James McNaughton dashed in from the right wing to crash home an equalising goal (1-3 to 0-6).

Wexford responded thought and they 1-6 in a six minute spell of dominance, while conceding just a single point themselves.

Conal Cunning who was top scorer with 13 points

Jack O’Connor hit a quick brace before his brother, Rory, a constant thorn in Antrim’s side, released Cathal Dunbar, who danced past a couple of defenders before firing home in the fourteenth minute and suddenly the gap was a yawning eight points.

Antrim kept battling as Michael Bradley, Conal Cunning, Keelan Molloy and McNaughton all added points to cut the gap back to five by the 25th minute, but the Yellow Bellies pushed on before the break to open a 1-19 to 1-10 gap by half-time.

That gap could have been a lot closer as Antrim had gone agonisingly close to netting in the 35th minute, when substitute Rian McMullan’s goal bound shot was brilliantly saved by Lawlor in the Wexford goals.

Whether it was the promptings of Antrim manager Darren Gleeson or just the fact that they realised that the first half display was simply not good enough, but Antrim were transformed in the second half. The Saffrons closed to within 1-20 to 1-14 by the 42nd minute as Neil McManus, Coby Cunning (free), Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan and Conor Johnston all added points. However the gap was soon out to nine again as Lee Chin, Rory O’Connor and the O’Connors, Jack and Rory, hit back with points to stretch the lead to 1-25 to 1-16 after 51 minutes.

Neil McManus sends over an Antrim point

But Antrim kept battling and and fought back to trail by 1-28 to 1-23 after 65 minutes as Cunning (three frees) and subs McMullan, Paul Boyle and Séamie McAuley kept Wexford on their toes.

Indeed, the home-side were thankful for another intervention by ‘keeper James Lawlor as he blocked another close-range shot from Keelan Molloy. You felt if the Ulster men could get a goal they game was still there for the taking, but to their credit Wexford kept control and were four ahead at the final whistle.

Coby Cunning goes past the challenge of Wexford midfielder Conor Hearne

Wexford: James Lawlor; Matthew O’Hanlon, Liam Ryan, Conor Foley; Simon Donohoe (0-1), Shane Reck, Conor Devitt; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Conor Hearne; Jack O’Connor (0-5), Lee Chin (0-8, 4 frees, 1 ‘65), Oisín Foley (0-4); Liam Óg McGovern (0-2), Rory O’Connor (0-7), Cathal Dunbar (1-2).

Subs: Joe O’Connor for Ryan, inj. (HT), Conor McDonald for Hearne (46), Kevin Foley for O’Keeffe (54), Mikie Dwyer for J. O’Connor (59), Richie Lawlor (0-1) for Dunbar (69).

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Paddy Burke, Ryan McGarry, Niall O’Connor (0-1); Gerard Walsh (0-1 free), Eoghan Campbell, Scott Walsh; Michael Bradley (0-1), Seaan Elliott (0-1); Keelan Molloy (0-1), Joe Maskey, James McNaughton (1-1); Conal Cunning (0-13, 10 frees, 2 ‘65s), Neil McManus (0-2, 1 free), Conor Johnston (0-1).

Subs: Rian McMullan (0-2) for Maskey (32), Paul Boyle (0-1) for S. Walsh (33), Eoin O’Neill for S. Elliott (45), Séamie McAuley (0-1) for Johnston (55), Domhnall Nugent for Campbell (64).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).

by thesaffrongael

Late Dobbin points get Antrim over the line

Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie semi-final

Antrim 0-14 Derry 0-13

Two late points from Caitrin Dobbin saw Antrim book their place in the Ulster Senior Camogie final as they saw off a very stern challenge from Derry in Saturday’s semi-final at Kelly Park, Portglenone. When substitute Orlaith Hull fired over a point five minutes from the end of the game to put the Oak Leaf girls in front, the Saffrons appeared to be in a bit of bother, but Dobbin superb point brought them level and the Loughgiel ace clinched the win with another well taken score to set up a final meeting with Down in two weeks’ time.

Derry will feel it was one that got away as PJ O’Mullan’s side gave as good as they got, but they paid dearly for some wayward shooting and in Dobbin Antrim had a player who were able to take advantage.

 Antrim started well enough and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes, three of the points coming from to scorer Dobbin and one from Roisin McCormick.

All seemed to be going to plan but the Saffrons lost their way as the half progressed and Derry held the upper hand for the rest of the first period.

Gráinne McAtamney pointed in the 11th minute and Áine McAllister hit three in a row to edge her team a point ahead.

The teams then traded points with Áine Magill’s late effort from out on the wing gave Antrim an 0-8 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

The excellent McAllister brought Derry level just after the restart before Aoife Shaw edged them in front with a good point. Both teams missed good chances but Derry got in front when Hull split the Antrim posts with five minutes of normal time left on the clock.

Derry missed a couple of good chances to strengthen their position and paid the price as Magill excellent point, and two from Dobbin got them over the line.

Antrim: C Dobbin (0-8, 2 frees), R McCormick (0-4), Á Magill (0-2).

Derry: Á McAllister for (0-8, 7 frees), A Shaw (0-2), G McAtamney (0-1), S O’Doherty (0-1), O Hull (0-1).

Antrim: C Graham, E Kearns, K Laverty, M Lynn, M McGarry, C Conlon, C Patterson, A Boyle, A Connolly, S McKillop, S Graham, K McKillop, Á Magill, R McCormick, C Dobbin

Subs: C McArthur for K McKillop (41), E McShane for K Laverty (48), L McKenna for E Kearns (59)

Derry: Niamh Gribbin, Niamh Quinn, Eimhear O’Kane, Sinead McGill, Rachel Downey, Aoife Ní Chaiside, Lauren McKenna, Áine McGill, Dervla O’Kane, Grainne McAtamney, Áine McAllister, Shannon O’Doherty, Mairead McNicholl, Aimee Lennon, Aoife Shaw

Subs: M Heggarty for A Ní Chaiside (ht), O Hull for A Lennon (48), R McAllister for Á McGill (59)

Referee: F Caldwell (Down)

by thesaffrongael

Old friends on opposite sides at Wexford Park

The Antrim fans left Corrigan Park last Saturday with mixed feelings after drawing with Dublin, who earned themselves a share of the points due to a point deep in injury time. There was great disappointment at conceding that late score, after leading for the majority of the game, but also a sense of relief when you thought back on the opportunities that the Dubs missed through the game.

Seaan Elliott moves out to midfield in Saturday’s team to face Wexford

The Saffrons looked set to take the win the game when they went six points clear early in the second half, despite facing a stiff breeze, but they lost their way a little as Dublin took control around the middle of the field. Antrim could not win a ball in middle third as Dublin clawed their way back. When they visitors hit the front with just ten minutes to go it looked like was going to be the same old story, but the men in Saffron showed great character to battle back. When substitute Paul Boyle put them ahead in injury time we all held our breath, hoping they could hold on, but it wasn’t to be and O’Sullivan’s late point meant it ended all square.

We all knew going into this Leinster campaign that the nature of these physically punishing games would most likely take its toll on the Antrim team and so it has proved when Nigel Elliott went off early with a foot injury, an injury that will probably keep the Dunloy ace out of action for the remainder of the campaign.

Gerard Walsh once again plays in the half back line

With Niall McKenna already out through injury Antrim are robbed of two ball winners in the half forward line. When excellent midfielder Michael Bradly went down injured in the final minute at Corrigan last week, it looked like he would join the casualty list as well, but the Johnnies midfield star has been named on the starting team for Wexford Park. In fact there is only one personnel change in Saturday’s line up with Joe Maskey coming in for the injured Elliott. The defence is the same as started last week, when all of them showed well, but there is a positional switch at midfield where Seaan Elliott comes out to join Bradley. James McNaughton, who started alongside Bradley against Dublin move out to the left half forward position, while Maskey is on the forty and Keelan Molloy on the right. Last week’s full forward line of Conal Cunning, Neill McManus and Conor Johnston remains the same as last week.

James Mcnaughton moves from midfield to wing forward

Playing away from home is a hard task for any team and Saturday’s game will be no different. Wexford are formidable opponents, who will start as firm favourites, despite last week’s defeat to Galway. However if Antrim show the fight, determination and skill they displayed last week they are more that capable of getting something out of this game and give manager Daren Gleeson the bragging rights over his good friend Darragh Egan.

by thesaffrongael

History made in Ahoghill

A wee bit of history was made at Clooney tonight when St. Mary’s fielded an U13 football team for the first time in over 40 years. The Ahoghill lads were to play a game against St. Joseph’s but the Glenavy side cancelled the game as they had a festival at Chapel Hill.

The Saffron Gael were there however to capture this historical occasion and capture the first of what we hope is many of Ahoghill U13 side who were then put through a rigorous training session by their mentors.