Month / September 2023

by thesaffrongael

Dominant first half set the Dall up for the win

Intermediate Camogie Championship quarter final

Cushendall 2-11 Dunloy 0-9

Cushendall booked their place in the semi-final of the intermediate Camogie Championship when they beat Dunloy in Saturday’s semi-final at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall.

In what was to a be a ‘game of two halves’ Cushendall had first use of the elements and though Dunloy scored the first point of the game through Lisa McConville, in the second minute, it was to be their only score of the first half.

It took Cushendall all of 11 minutes to raise their first flag, a goal from centre forward Mary Kane, but they soon made up for lost time. Aoif Dleargy added a gaol and a point before Lara Haughey sent over two frees in the 19th and 22nds minutes. Sine Woodhouse, Clare Stewart, Monique O’Boyle, Lara Haughey and Aofie Delargy all got on the scoreboard and by half time they were 2-8 to 0-1 in front .

With the breeze behind then in the second half Dunloy started their come back and they hit the first four points, Orlagh O’Neill grbabing three of them and Kyra Doherty. Lara Haughey ended a fifteen minute scoreless spell of the home side and Mary Kane added a second soon afterwards. Dunloy emptied the bench to give their substitutes a run out and though they finished strongly with three unanswered points Cushendall had already booked a semi-final meeting with Cargin in three weeks time

by thesaffrongael

Glenavy claim the bragging rights with win over Aldergrove

WS DENNYSON IFC Final

Glenavy 4-12 Aldergrove 1-5

St. Joseph’s Glenavy claimed the bragging rights and gained revenge for their one point defeat in the final game of the Group stages to the same opposition when they recorded a big win over last year’s Junior Champions, St. James Aldergrove at Hannastown at the weekend.

It was the Crumlin girls who were first on the score card as Bronagh McGuinness pointed them ahead in the third minute but a goal in response from Grainne McLaughlin gave the Chaple Hill side a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.

Aldergrove replied with a point from Aoife Taggart but Megan McGarry struck with a second goal for Glenavy in the 7th minute to put them in a very strong position.

Grainne McLaughlin 0-2 and Aoife Taggart 0-2 exchanged further points to keep the gap at four with 14 minutes gone and Bronagh McGuinness briefly closed it to three before Glenavy hit three on the bounce to move six clear by the 19th minute.

Grainne McLaughlin, Ellen Morgan and Megan McGarry were the players on target and when McLaughlin followed with a goal in the 20th minute the Chapel Hill side looked in control.

McLaughlin’s goal would prove to be the final score of the opening half and it put Glenavy in a strong position when they led 3-6 to 0-4 and it was going to take something special from St. James if they were to overturn that lead.

Last year’s Junior champions needed a good start to the second half if they were to get back into contention and Caitlin Taggart got them off the mark with a point in the second minute.

It failed to get the required response from her colleagues however and Glenavy were not going to let this one slip as they came back with a point of their own and a goal from Ellen Morgan as they took almost total control.

Wing half, Natasha O’Neill got forward for a point and the splendid Grainne McLaughlin hit three on the bounce to put the contest out of reach with nine minutes remaining.

Aldergrove were still fighting hard and were rewarded with a goal from their best forward, Aoife Taggart in the 25th minute but it would prove to be their final score with player of the match, Grainne McLaughlin concluding the scoring with a late St. Joseph’s point.

A good win for the Chapel Hill side who put last week’s group defeat behind them to produce the goods when it mattered and in Grainne McLaughlin they had a real match winner.

When the disappointment of defeat starts to pass Aldergrove can take a lot of consolation from the fact that they reached this year’s decider after claiming the junior title last year and no doubt they will be back stronger next season.

by thesaffrongael

Magee sparkles as St. John’s claim the junior title

KENNEDY CENTRE JFC Final

St. John’s 5-12 Rossa 2-4

Goals from Cora Magee in the 11th and 29th minute of the first half paved the way for a St. John’s victory over Rossa in this Kennedy Centre Junior Football Championship final at Musgrave Park.

The Johnnies ladies held the upper hand for most of the game as Magee’s goal and points from Debbie Boyd 0-2 and Niamh Hamill in reply to one from Meadbh Gallagher had them 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after 11 minutes.

St. John’s hit a further three on the bounce through Lusine Adams, Debbie Boyd and Marie Mulholland before Aoife McKenna raised the Rossa‘s second white flag with 24 minutes gone.

Magee’s second goal in the 29th minute and a late Orla Corr point had the Whiterock girls in a strong position at half time when they led 2-7 to 0-2 at the half way stage.

Cora Magee, who had been to the fore throughout the opening half, got the ball rolling in the second half with a point in the third minute and further points from Marie Mulholland and Magee again had St. John’s 14 ahead by the 9th minute.

Aoife McKenna kicked Rossa’s opening point at the end of the third quarter and when Meabh Gallagher followed immediately with a goal there was just a glimmer of light for the Shaw’s Road side.

That light was quickly extinguished however as St. John’s came roaring back with a Debbie Boyd point and Magee followed with her fourth goal of the game and Orla Corr added another point before Meadbh Laverty struck with their fifth goal with three minutes remaining.

Rossa kept going to the better end and a late goal from Roise Matthews put a better look on the final scoreline with the superb Magee bringing her personal tally to 4-2 with the game’s final score.

by thesaffrongael

Cushendall win Reserve Shield final

Reserve Hurling Shield Final

Cushendall 5-13 Cushendun 3-4

Cushendall had a bit too much for neighbours Cushendun when the two side met in Saturday’s final in Glenariffe, winning in the end by fifteen points.

The Ruairis dominated the first half and with corner forward Eunan McKillop scoring a couple of goals they were 3-9 to 2-0 ahead at half time.

McKillop completed his hat-trick in the opening minute of the second half and Joseph McNaughton added two points from 65s to stretch their advantage. Pierce Bannon pulled one back for the Emmet’s from a free but McNaughton came back with two more for the Dall by the 40th minute.

Bannon sent another over for Cushendun on 41 minutes but two minutes later midfielder Cushendall midfielder Stephen McAuley got in for his team’s fifth goal.

Cushendun kept plugging away and were rewarded for their efforts with points from Cavin McCormick and Aidan McSparran and a last minute goal from Declan McKernan.

by thesaffrongael

Moneyglass are LGFA U16A Champions after local derby success

NORTHERN PROPERTY U16A Championship final

St. Ergtnat’s 6-12 Erin’s Own 2-6

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass are the LGFA U16A Football champions after overcoming the challenge of neighbours, Erin’s Own Cargin in an entertaining final in Ahoghill.

Goals from Leah Stewart and Leah Cassidy in the first half saw the Marian Hill girls lead by 2-9 to 0-4 at the half way stage and even at this early juncture it was difficult to see their neighbours making a come-back in the second half.

The girls in Blue & Amber pushed on in the second period to hit four further majors with Katie McCloskey, Leah Stewart, Jo Jo Darragh with two from the penalty spot rattling the Cargin net.

The Toome side never gave up, despite fighting against impossible odds and were rewarded for their never say die attitude with two late goals from Roisin Quinn.

St. Ergnat’s raced into an early four point lead with Leah Stewart, Jo Jo Darragh, Annie Griffin and Katie McCloskey on target before Orlath Johnston opened the Cargin account with a point in the 6th minute.

The same player had the opportunity to level the contest when her side was awarded a penalty, two minutes later but fired over from the spot to close the gap to two points.

Moneyglass would push on to lead by 11 at the break with Katie McCloskey 0-2, Josephine Darragh and Ruby McErlaine adding points and Stewart and Cassidy finding the net and Laura Scullion and Orlath Johnston replying with points for the Toome girls.

St. Ergnats put matters well out of reach of their opponents with those four second half goals that all came between the 10th and the 22nd minutes with Katie McCloskey and Leah Stewart completing their doubles and Jo Jo Darragh converting two penalties.

Cargin battled to the final whistle and got some consolation with Roisin Quinn raising a couple of Green flags and their points coming from Laura Scullion and Cliodhna McKeever and while they will be disappointed with the final result they can be well satisfied with their first season at this level.

Moneyglass scorers: Leah Stewart 2-1, Leah Cassidy 1-0, Jo Jo Darrtagh 2-2, Katie McCloskey 1-3, Annie Griffin 0-2, Ruby McErlain 0-1

Cargin Scorers: Roisin Quinn 2-0, Orlath Johnston 0-4, Laura Scullion 0-1, Cliodhna McKeever 0-1