April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Rasharkin remain on course for quick return to division 2

ACFL Division 3

O’Donnell’s 3-5 Rasharkin 1-15

Rasharkin travelled to MacRory Park last night for what looked like a difficult fixture and so it proved to be but in the end they came away with their unbeaten run intact and a quick return to division 2 football for next season very much on track.

Four points separated the protagonists at half time but there was just a goal in it when Charlie Hemsworth sounded his full-time whistle after a keenly contested game where Eammon McNeill made a major contribution with 0-7 for the Dreen side.

McNeill got the visitors off to a great start with a point in the 4^th minute but they were rocked back on their heels when the home side replied with a goal with nine minutes gone.

Rasharkin closed the gap to the minimum through another point from Eammon McNeill but the home side were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges and moved two clear once more.

The visitors fought hard to get back into the game and did just that when they produced a good move which saw youngster, Oisin Casey drill his shot to the O’D’s net in the 19^th minute to give his side the lead for the second time in the contest.

This score seemed to lift Rasharkin and they added points through Odhran Mooney and a monster of a point from veteran mid-fielder, Cathal Mooney and when Oran McMullan and Eammon McNeill added two more by the 23d minute they had put themselves in a commanding position.

The home side looked rattled but they gathered themselves up of the canvas and came storming back with a goal of their own through their corner-forward in the 24^th minute and when they followed with a point the MacRory Park side were right back in contention.

It was visitors Rasharkin who finished the half on the front foot however with Cathal Mooney, Eammon McNeill and 18 year old Oisin Casey striking unanswered points to see them lead 1-9 to 2-2 at the interval.

The South West side increased their lead to five through a Shane Hasson point on the restart and Eammon McNeill added another before the home side replied with O’Donnell’s first score of the half in the 4^th minute.

The visitors were still dictating the play and moving the ball around with confidence as Shane Hasson restored their six point advantage with a pointed free but the home side were still battling hard and replied with points to serve notice that they were still in contention with 16 minutes gone.

Once again the league leaders were able to respond with Eammon McNeill again on target and Killian O’Boyle added another after good work from Oisin Casey who was staking a claim for a regular starting spot on the Rasharkin team.

The visitors were looking very comfortable at this stage but O’Donnell’s were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty and their number 15 made no mistake as he fired past Andrew Hasson to close the gap to two with only minutes remaining.

It was Rasharkin who kept their heads however and a decisive counter with virtually the last play of the game saw Oisin Casey fire over the insurance point, the youngster finishing like a veteran to ensure there would be no way back for the home side.

This win moves Rasharkin to the top of the table on 14 points from seven starts with Pearses on the same number of points but having played two games more. Laochra Loch Lao are handily placed in third while O’Donnell’s sit in fourth, only three behind last night’s opponents.

Rasharkin: 1 – Andrew Hasson, 2 – Pearse Kelly, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Conor Hasson, 5 – Colm Kennedy, 6 – Donagh Quigg, 7 – Fergus Quigg, 8 – Thomas McMullan, 9 – Cathal Mooney

10 – Oran McMullan, 11 – Ruairi OBoyle, 12 – Shane Hasson, 13 – Oisin Casey, 14 – Eammon McNeill, 15 – Killian O’Boyle

Referee: Charlie Hensworth

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Ahoghill Camogs get their 2nd win under their belt.

With the Senior Football on one pitch and senior camogie on the other there was plenty to keep spectators entertained in Cloney on Wednesday night.

Gort Na Mona made the trip North for Ahoghill’s 2nd league game.

Despite the scoreline the Belfast girls didn’t let up and their defence managed to regurgitate countless balls that were going in to the forward line, Jane McGionagle and Rachel Mulholland in particular worked hard to hold off the onslaught in the 1st half. Gort keeper, Colleen McAvoy, saved at least another 3 goal attempts from Gemma ODonnell Aoibheann Mullen and Bronagh Graffin.

The mid field duo of Aisling ODonnell(Co minor) and Niamh Neeson ( Still on release until Friday from Dual County duty) caused a lot of damage.

Neeson (2.02) getting the 1st and 3rd goals – a rocket into the top corner and O’Donnell pointing 0.07 all from play.

Little got past No 6 Eadaoín McGarry (C) and anything that did was mopped up by Mairead McCloskey and Sephora OConnell.

Noreen Graham (1.03) proivded scores and support play in the half forward line before moving into nets for the last 20 minutes to let Aine Graham out (also getting a club game in before Ulster Championship with Antrim Intermediates.)

Aine fitted in sweetly to half forward and got herself 0.02 on the scoreboard.

7 players scored for the home side, Fiona Blaney and Annemarie ONeill, 0.01 apiece and both putting in excellent 2nd half performances and Tara McDonnell who came on for Gemma O’Donnell in corner forward in the last 10 got a point for her efforts.

The weighted score-line allowed both teams to make full use of their bench.

Gort had a lot of young and speedy players who will be enjoying the Club’s move back up to Division 2 despite only scoring 0.01(F) they put in a gutsy performance.

Ahoghill: Aine Graham (0.02) Sephora OConnell, Mairead McCloskey, Frances Creighton, Caitlin McLaughlin, Eadaoin McGarry, Dervla Graffin, Niamh Neeson (2.02)

Aisling ODonnell(0.07) Annemarie ONeill (0.01) , Noreen Graham (1.03), Fiona Blaney (0.01), Aoibheann Mullen, Bronagh Graffin, Gemma ODonnell.

Subs used Emma McGlone, Tara McDonnell (0.01), Maria Blaney, Bronagh McGuigan

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Glory for Glenravel

South West P.S. Allianz Ireland 7 a sides

Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel are the South West Antrim Allianz Ireland 7 aside winners for 2023 after plotting their way through an excellent days football in St Comgall’s.

10 schools arrived at the Antrim venue hoping to emerge victorious and initially it seemed that the weather was going to be unkind, thankfully it brightened and the standard of football on show warmed everyone up.

Participating teams were St Brigid’s Ballymena, Millquarter, Creggan, St Patrick’s Rasharkin, Mount St Michael’s Randalstown, St Colmcille’s Ballymena, St Comgall’s Antrim, St Joseph’s Crumlin, Mary Queen of Peace and Moneynick.

The day began with two groups of 5 played in a round robin basis, qualifying for the cup semi-finals were Mount St Michael’s Creggan, Mary Queen of Peace and Moneynick, with the remaining schools battling it out for the shield.

All semi-final’s were nip and tuck in both competitions

with St Comgall’s and St Patrick’s Rasharkin qualifying for the final in the shield. The final itself was tight and tense with some great scores taken and play flowing from end to end, eventually the Rasharkin girls came out on top and were awarded the shield, well done to them.

The final of the cup saw familiar rivals, Mary Queen of Peace and Mount St Michael’s go head to head and what a battle it was. Despite the opposition having most of the play the Glenravel girls held out to be crowned champions by a single point with Mount St Michael’s rattling the crossbar in the final play of the game. Congratulations to Mary Queen of Peace and best wishes as they go ahead to represent South West Antrim in the county finals.

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Con Magees hold off Lisburn to take the win

Antrim Football League Division 2

Con Magees 0-13 St Patrick’s Lisburn 1-7

They got there in the end but Con Magees Glenravel had to work very hard to get the better of St Patrick’s Lisburn in Wednesday evening’s Division 2 game at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel. Not a game for the purist the video of this one won’t rate highly on the best sellers list. St Patrick’s will count themselves unlucky not to get something out of this game and in truth with a bit of luck the Lisburn men could have at least a share of the spoils.

Martin McCarry put Con Magees in front in the third minute, but Mark Chernek had the visitors back on terms two minutes later. Glenravel’s Eoin Hynd and Lisburn’s Colm Burns exchanged points to in the 8^th and 11^th minutes, before the home team made a bit of a break with three unanswered points from Ryan McQuillan, Conor McNeill and Aidan O’Donnell and it appeared them might be getting on top, but Lisburn hit back to level with a Mark Chernek goal, after Glenravel goalkeeper Johnny Fyfe had palmed away an attempted lob by Lisburns Oisin Gorman. Points from Cathal Hynds and Sean McKay got the Con Magees back in front with points in the 25^th and 28^th minutes, and though Chernek came back with a point McKay and Hynds struck again to give their team a 0-9 to 1-3 lead at the break.

The second half was more of the same with both teams apparently content to keep possession, without any apparent desire to add to their scorelines. Eoin Hynds put the gap out to four for the home side, but Josh McMullan closed the gap back to three within five minutes. A fine solo run and finish from Hynds restored the four point cushion, but Cherneck kept his team very much in touch with one at the other end. Cherneck was unlucky when his shot for goal came back off the post and Glenravel held on to earn the win

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Glenavy climb to third place

ACFL Division 2

Glenavy 2-12 Dunloy 0-10

Glenavy climbed to third place in the league following an impressive win over visitors Dunloy who find themselves stuck at the bottom of division 2 following their fifth defeat in six games.

The Chapel Hill side dominated for the greater part of the game with Fergal Henry, and Fergus Cunningham pointing them into an early two point lead before Dunloy got themselves on the score-sheet with a pointed free in the 7^th minute.

Fergal Henry restored the home side’s three point lead and Malachi Doherty followed with another as the Chapel Hill side continued to carry the game to their opponents but Dunloy replied with two of their own to keep in touch.

Henry continued to carry the greatest threat for a slick moving St. Joseph’s and further points from Malachi Doherty and Finn Shannon had the home side three clear by the 22^nd minute as Dunloy struggled to stay in touch.

The Cuchullain’s finished the half strongly however with two of their own and at half time it looked all still to play for with the Chapel Hill side leading by a single point.

Two minutes into the second half the visitors drew level and we looked to have a real game on our hands but suddenly the home side came to life and seemed to find another gear.

A Michael McCourt goal in the 9^th minute sent them on their way and points from Ciaran Loney and Fergal Henry put a bit of daylight between the sides by the 12^th minute.

Fergus Cunningham added a point before the impressive Henry followed with another and then scored his side’s second goal to put the game out of reach of Dunloy with nine minutes still to play.

It was all Glenavy at this stage as Michael McCourt extended their lead to 10 with a point in the 23d minute but Dunloy were still fighting hard to get themselves into contention and were rewarded with three points on the bounce.

The final score of the game would fall to Glenavy’s Ciaran Loney and his point in injury time moved his side eight in front and on their way to another fine win and on the night they had just too much for a Dunloy side who are still short quite a number of their championship winning side.

Dunloy started the second half better but a poor pass at the back led to Michael McCourt kicking the ball into an open net. This changed the game and Glenavy took advantage and built up a lead though Dunloy finished well with a number of good scores.

Michael Johnston had a very good game in at midfield while Fergal Henry was in sparkling form in attack and Michael McCourt, Ciaran Loney and Malachi Doherty were others to impress for St. Joseph’s.