Month / September 2023

by thesaffrongael

First half goals pave the way for Rasharkin victory

Junior Camogie Championship quarter-final

Rasharkin 3-8 (17)  Loughgiel 3-3 (12)

Goals from Ciara O’Boyle in the 21st minute and another from Jade Henry from a well struck ‘45’ that sailed all the way to the Loughgiel net just before half time, put Rasharkin in a strong position when they led the visitors 2-2 to 0-2 at the half way stage in this Junior Camogie quarter-final.

In difficult conditions at Dreen on Sunday both sets of players deserve tremendous credit for the fare they served up to a packed crowd that attended and despite three second half goals from the Shamrocks, the home side pushed on for a deserved victory.

Both Loughgiel’s opening half points came from Johanna McKeown frees and the visitors looked in deep trouble when Eimear Henry fired home a third goal for the Dreen side in ther 4th minute of the second half.

Loughgiel replied with a goal from the impressive Johanna McKeown in the 7th minute and they would add a second midway through the half to give themselves a foothold in the game but St. Mary’s were in no mood to throw away their hard earned lead.

The home side began to find their range, with Cora Henderson, Kathleen Mooney 0-2, Ciara O’Boyle 0-2 and Sinead Hasson with an excellent effort after great work by Cora Henderson, adding points to put the contest out of reach.

Loughgiel, as they always do, fought right to the final whistle and got some consolation for their efforts with a goal in injury time but it came too late to affect the result and it is Rasharkin who move onto the semi-final.

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Rasharkin : 1 Saorise McMullan , 2 Naimh McFerran, 3 Noleen O’Kane , 4 Eimear Hardy, 5 Bronagh McFerran, 6 Shariffa O’Kane, 7 Cadhla McLernon

8 Kerry Darragh, 9 Naimh Mooney, 10 Ciara O’Neill, 11 Caira O’Boyle, 12 Jade Henry, 13 Kathleen Mooney, 14 Eimear Quigg, 15 Eimear O’Neill, 16 Sinead Hasson, 17 Cora Henderson, 18 Maria Higgins, 19 Chistina Smith, 20. Jenny McNeill, 21. Eimear O’Boyle, 22. Ellena Stockman, 23. Kyra Stockman, 24. Aine McTague, 25. Ail McMullan

Loughgiel 1.Caitie Connolly 2.Nicole Laverty 3 Katie Glackin 4 Clodagh McNulty 5 Zoe Cassley 6 Louise McKeown 7 Ella Sullivan 8 Neala Clark 9 Cara Connolly 10 Aoife McMullan 11 Johanna McKeown 12 Aoife O’Mullan 13 Kaitlin McAllister 14 Claire McKeown 15 Anya Connolly 16 Eimear McGivern 17 Ellie Glackin 18 Orlaith Breen. 19 Mollie O’Hagan.

by thesaffrongael

St Johns keep double hopes alive

U-17 B Football Championship semi-final 

St Johns 1-10-1-07 Na Gaeil Óga 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

League winners St Johns kept their hopes of a minor double alive with a 1-10-1-07 win over Belfast rivals Na Gaeil Óga in the semi-final at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The Johnnies completed a league double over their counterparts a month ago; on their way to winning the league title and began as favourites on home soil. 

They were out of the traps and in front within the first 60-seconds thanks to a confident point from Ronan Donnelly, though Finn Jemfrey picked out the run of Conall McMahon at the other end and McMahon kicked a superb equaliser.

A pull-back on Lorcan McCallin gave Odhran Quinn the chance to restore his sides lead from the resulting free, and Quinn obliged. 

Na Gaeil Óga hit back for the second time from a similar scenario with Declan Barr landing a fine angled free. 

Quinn swung over his second placed ball of the half to edge his side 0-03-0-02 ahead at the midway point and the hosts would steal a march as the half progressed. 

Fintan McKinney slipped a pass into the path of Alex Robb- who showed a burst of pace and composure to cap the move with a point. 

Talisman Quinn kicked his third free and a minute later the Johnnies had the game’s opening goal through a dipping Enda McGurk shot that floated over Oisin Devlin and into the corner of the net to give his side a 1-05-0-02 lead. 

The visitor’s wastefulness in attack was their downfall in the opening half, though they could have pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time. 

Declan Barr took up the reins in a promising position and headed for the target, he was forced to cut back before unleashing a shot that Fintan McIlroy pushed over the bar. 

The sides would trade scores in injury time through Ronan Donnelly and Barr (free) to leave St Johns 1-06-0-04 ahead at the midway point in proceedings. 

The second half began as the first ended with the duo cancelling each other out. Odhran Quinn has extended the Johnnies lead through his fourth converted free of the afternoon, but Gerard Doherty dropped over a fine reply for Na Gaeil Óga. 

Three further scores from Quinn would complete his own and St Johns afternoon scoring. Swinging over his first from play and adding two more from the placed ball to finish with a personal tally of 0-07 and more importantly moving his side 1-10-0-05 ahead by the 43rd minute. 

Na Gaeil Óga would throw themselves a lifeline, a long ball into the box found Finn Jemfrey and he forced his way into a shooting position and thumped the ball past Finn McIlroy to give the visitors a source of inspiration. 

Although any hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow with 10 minutes remaining as Gerard Doherty was given his marching orders. 

The 14-men continued to carry the fight to St Johns and closed to within three points by the 60th minute. 

Calum Fegan saw his free from range helped over the bar and Declan Barr then converted his third free of the afternoon from close range. 

Four minutes were added and Na Gaeil Óga almost forced extra-time when Finn Jemfrey cut the ball back and it was further slipped to Declan Barr- whose effort whistled past the post. 

St Johns would see out injury time though to book their place in the decider with nearest league challengers All Saint’s in a fortnights time. 

St Johns: F McIlroy, C Wilson, E McGurk (1-00), B Braniff, D King, L McCallin, F McKinney, R Donnelly (0-02), A Robb (0-01), O Hitchen, P Graham, C Darragh, C McCallin, O Quinn (0-07, 0-06f), F Thompson. Subs: D Ward for T Adams (36), O McAuley for C Darragh (39), T Adams for F Thompson (39), J McNally for O HItchen (46). 

Na Gaeil Óga: O Devlin, C Mervyn, J Ward, O Lee, D McGibbon, C Camlin, D McLaughlin, C Fegan (0-01f), S McCarthy, C McMahon (0-01), D Barr (0-04, 0-03f), C McConville, G Doherty (0-01), F Jemfrey (1-00), A McStay. Subs: KB McArdle for O Lee (HT), R McCloskey for C McConville (45). 

Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgalls)

by thesaffrongael

Summit on growth capital provided new insights

A new Summit focusing on capital raising and business exits took place this week at Queen’s University Business School. Organised by the Saffron Business Forum and sponsored by KPMG, Whiterock Finance, Tughans and Ulster Bank, the Summit brought together a range of business owners who have raised debt and/or equity and some who have successfully exited from their businesses.  

Tony Shivers, Managing Director of Premier Electrics and Chairman of the Saffron Business Forum said: “We are committed to bringing real business value to our membership and we believe capital raising and business exits are topics of great interest for our first business summit. We had some superb panellists to tell their stories and reveal the lessons they have learned on their journeys, and over two hundred people attended what was an excellent morning of learning and networking.”

Below are the guest speakers at the event:

L-R Philip Rainey, Weev, Eugene McKeever, McKeever Hotels, Damien Long, Ulster Bank, Colin Trainor, CDE Group & Paul McErlean, MCE Comms
L-R Gareth Graham, Oakland Holdings, Paula Kane, Ashdale Care, Chris Donnelly, KPMG, Eamon Donnelly, Ufrom
L-R Sean McAllister, PlotBox, Rhona Barbour, Whiterock Finance, Brian Loughran, Carsena, Susan Nightingale, British Business Bank, Jason McKeown, Neurovalens
 
L-R Mark O’Connell, OCO Global, Emer Hinphey, Think People, John McGuckian, Tughans, David Maxwell, Boojum
 
Paul McErlean who was MC at the event
Tony Shivers of Saffron Business Forum, Antrim county board treasure Donal Murlhy and Antrim Senior Footblall manager Andy McEntee at last week’s event at QUB
by thesaffrongael

Antrim mourn the passing of Jeremiah Holyoake.

By Frank Delargy

Gaels from Antrim Town are mourning the passing on Sunday morning of their hugely popular and well known club stalwart Jerry Holyoake. Known affectionately as “Jerry from Kerry” the native of Listowel was easily identifiable at games across the county and further afield with his unmissable rich Kerry brogue and larger than life personality.

A gentleman possessed of quick mind and equally sharp quip, Jerry will be remembered for his invaluable contribution to the revival of St Comgall’s following a regrettable period of decline. He will be remembered fondly for his significant participation during early phase engagement with landowner Mrs Pauline Sloan with the purpose of exploring the possibility of selling land for the development and promotion of Gaelic games in the area.

Jerry was part of a delegation of club officials invited to meet with Mrs Sloan on December 27th 2005 that set in motion the consent in principle required to explore the possibility of obtaining ideally placed land in the middle of the county that would in turn be developed into the excellent facilities we see today at Dunsilly.

Jerry threw his unbridled passion into the white and green of St Comgall’s, no task too much, combining the sourcing of willing participants, coaching at underage,  fundraising and lotto ticket selling activities and doing whatever was necessary to see Gaelic games restored and flourish in his adopted county town.

Some of Jerrys best years were spend travelling the country roads following Antrim County footballers to far flung grounds across the county with lifelong friends and fellow committee members James McCorley and Maurice Ashe, including years in or around the basement divisions when Antrim support was limited.  His greatest days out were delivered by the outstanding Antrim hurling team of 88/93 and of course the unforgettable performances of Liam Bradleys Antrim team in 2009, when they took Jerrys Kerry to the pin of their collar in that memorable afternoon in O Connor Park, Tullamore. That was a day Jerry from Kerry simply couldn’t lose… but that day he was very proud to be Jerry from Antrim.

Jerimiah Holyoake was a one off, a Kerry wit and raconteur, with a base line passion for fair play and integrity, demanding it from those around him.

There will be a noticeable void in Gaelic circles in Antrim town without Jerry, but a small consolation to his grieving wife Ann (nee Crilly) daughter Clodagh, and sons Ruairi and Sean will be that Jerrys contribution to the GAA community in both Antrim town and county will be genuinely remembered with sincere appreciation.

Requiem Mass will be held on Wednesday 27th September in St Comgall’s Church, Antrim, at 10am. Committal will take place on Thursday 28th September at John Paul Cemetery, Ballybunion Road, Listowel, Co. Kerry at 11.30am.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam

Jerry Holyoake standing directly under the tunnel in Dunsilly at the first on site meeting with landowner Mrs Pauline Sloan. Also in photo from left James McCorley, Ruairi Holyoake and Gerry Magee.

The Vision beyond the tunnel.

Left to right – James McCorley, Jerry Holyoake, Mrs Pauline Sloan, Gerry Magee and Sean Holyoake.

Job Done.

Jerry proudly representing St Comghalls GAC Antrim at the official launch of the Dunsilly GAA centre Of Excellence. Picture includes Colin Donnelly Antrim GAA Chairman and Pauric Duffy, Director General of GAA

by thesaffrongael

Saints advance to a second final in two days

U17B Football semi-final

All Saints 2-11 Rossa 0-1

All Saints U17 footballers followed in the footsteps of their senior counterparts from the day before when they proved too strong for a dogged Rossa side who battled to the end but were unable to produce scores when they needed them.

Ballymena dominated the early stages at Quinn Park and were 1-03 up after 12 minutes, the goal coming from a classy dinked finish by Fiontan Bradley as the Rossa keeper advanced to close him down.

Rossa started to get into the game, but weren’t getting much change out of the Saints defence who were well marshalled by Murphy at full back and the returning Harry Connon. 

The men in blue finally got off the mark with a fine point from their centre forward. 

Lewis Devlin and Liam McEnhill were having a great tussle at midfield but the Ballymena men were picking up all the breaks and added 3 more points before the break from McKeown and 2 by McDermott from placed balls. Rossa hit the upright with a point attempt late on and the Saints defence scrambled the ball clear to leave 8 between the sides at the short whistle.

1-6 to 0-01

Ballymena started the 2nd period brightly and dominated possession for the first 10 minutes. The next 2 scores came from a Bradley point from play and a super McKeown point from a tight angle to stretch the lead further. Rossa had a period of possession, but couldn’t make any inroads and had a few missed chances under intense pressure from the Saints defence. 

On the 50th minute, the Ballymena side broke up the field and Kaczmarek scored a cracking point after a lung busting solo run. Both sides were ringing the changes but it didn’t stop the home side’s progress. A fine cross field kick pass by Bradley found the clever run behind the Rossa defence by Ciaran Logan and he managed to beat the onrushing keeper with a deft flick to send the ball to the back of the net. 

To be fair to Rossa they never gave up and were trying everything to get some scores on the board but just couldn’t get their shooting into gear. McEnhill found himself with a chance on goal but a fine full length diving block by Murphy scuppered his chance and that summed up their day. Not to be for Rossa but the Ballymena men advance to the final to face St. John’s. 

All Saints: Finn Connon, Matthew Watt, Paddy Murphy, Robert Crooks. Ryan Laverty, Corey McKillop Harry Connon, Jakub Kaczmarek, Lewis Devlin, Connor O’Hara, Paidin Mitchell, Conan McKeown, Sean McDermott, Fiontan Bradley,  Callum Hendren. 

Subs. Ciaran Logan, Sean O’brien, James Anderson, Jack Dowds, Orran Mayo, Nicholas Agnew, Callum King, Michael Connolly, Pearse Martin, Daniel Henry, Jack Patterson. Pearse McAuley. 

Referee: Gerard Dougan (Creggan)