October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Tony McGrath RIP

Above – Tony celebrates Dunloy’s win over Galway champions Sarsfields in last December’s All Ireland semi-final at Croke Park.

BRENDAN McTAGGART PAYS TRIBUTE TO DUNLOY AND ANTRIM LEGEND TONY McGRATH WHO PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT

I got the word on Monday morning sitting at my cereal. I know I’m not the only one who’s heart will have sunk.

Tony McGrath, a Dunloy Cuchullain legend passed away on Sunday and it’s no exaggeration to say it that the world is a worse off place without him in it.

We all know of the stories of 1990 when Tony’s point got Dunloy the replay against Rossa in the county final, the rest of that is not only history but began the golden era in the north Antrim village. He did the same when the Cuchullains reached their first All-Ireland final against Offaly side, Birr. Pointing with his charismatic style and panache to give Dunloy another bite of the cherry. That replay didn’t go quite as well.

But both those scores epitomized Tony. Coolness personified, a calmness that belittled any situation and a style that just can’t be coached. Tony was a hero to many a young pup in the Village, I was one of them.

He rarely took his hand to coaching, knowing the man as I do now, it’s not really surprising but I was fortunate enough to have Tony as a coach for a year at u16 level. He was part of a management team with Tony McClements and Billy Elliott, coaching a side of would-be misfits to north Antrim titles and a crack at an All-County title against Rossa. That day didn’t work out just so well but Tony had that aura about him that made you feel 10 foot tall after listening to his pearls of wisdom. A quiet, unassuming giant of the game, Tony McGrath steered away from the limelight but when he spoke it was always worth listening to.

In the run up to the 2019 county final, I visited St Joseph’s Primary School where the kids were signing the song I had written. I tried my hand at getting an interview with Tony – I knew it was a big ask but if you don’t ask you’ll never know. “Sure why are looking a chat with me, Yeboah. I won a couple but the team got better when I retired.” That line has stuck with me since. He was doing himself a massive disservice, there’s no question of that but he deflected the interview with a kindness and a stereotypical calmness that characterized the man as a human.

He’s left a lasting legacy within Dunloy club with his exploits on the pitch and with his sons, Anton and Eoghan plying their trade at senior level now also. But he will be missed. You could count on one hand the number of games he missed along with Sally and he was always there for a yarn, giving his take on what had happened or was about to transpire. Strangely, I’ll miss those chats. His loss will be felt not only in the McGrath and McMullan households but across the whole of the Parish.

Good bye, Tony. May your gentle soul rest in peace.

……and thank you.

October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Con Magee Gaels win one-sided U-19 decider

U-19 B Football Championship Final

Con Magee Gaels 4-18-0-04 Lámh Dhearg

Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly

Con Magee Gaels lifted the U-19 B Football Championship, running out emphatic winners over Lámh Dhearg in the decider at Dunsilly on Sunday morning.

Taking the lead through a converted Daire Higgins free after Peadar McDonald was fouled, they notched up a further three scores in succession.

McDonald hoisted over on the turn, Niall Hynds popped an effort between the posts and a fantastic score followed from Cormac McKeown.

Lámh Dhearg replied through an Adam Murray point, his initial effort appeared to have dropped short but bounced over Declan Carey and the bar.

Colla Ward opened his account for the afternoon with a stinging shot that clipped the bar on its way over and they spurned a glorious goal opportunity when Cormac McKeown drove forward and dragged his low shot wide.

Higgins doubled his account from the placed ball and midway through the half a converted mark from Eamon Ward moved his side 0-07-0-01 to the good.

The opening goal arrived on the 16^th minute and fell to the dominant Gaels, Niall Hynds positioned himself and claimed a dropping ball before blasting past Rhys Camlin.

A third free from Higgins followed and although Colla Ward slipped at the vital moment when he appeared to be played through by Daire Higgins, a further point from Fergus Donaghy extended their advantage.

Fiachra Clenaghan produced a fine angled point in response, but Ward (free) and Higgins landed the final two points of the half to ensure their side were 1-11-0-02 ahead at the break and in an unassailable position.

Although it took seven minutes for the first score of the second period, Con Magee Gaels picked up where they left off the at the interval.

A patient move through the hands saw Colla Ward burst through on goal and produce a neat finish.

Niall Hynds doubled his points tally and Higgins added to his personal account with his fourth free of the contest.

On 42 minutes Hynds hooked a fantastic pass into the path of Colla Ward and despite Rhys Camlin getting a glove to his low effort, it squirmed underneath the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 3-13-0-02.

Ward added to his further points in the aftermath of his second half goal double and was denied a hat-trick after his palmed effort was ruled out for square-ball.

Daire Higgins added his second point from play with a dipping effort that Rhys Camlin was forced to push over.

Con Magee’s fourth and final goal arrived on the 51^st minute when Cormac McKeown’s quickly taken free was flighted into the hands of Callagh Mooney- who took the ball in his stride and shot low into the far corner of the net.

Adam Murray doubled his tally from a converted free to get his sides first score of a one-sided half that had saw them concede 3-05 without resistance.

Murray would add another in-between an excellent Colla Ward point and a magnificent McKeown effort from range that ended the afternoons scoring as Con Magee Gaels lifted the honours at the conclusion.

**County exectuvie member Seamus McMullan presents the Under 19 B Football Cup to Con Magee Gaels captain Eamon Carey**

Con Magee Gaels: D Carey, N Dixon, C McQuillan, C Laverty, E McNeill, E Carey, C Ward (2-04), N Hynds (1-02), C Mooney (1-00), F Donaghy (0-01), D Higgins (0-06, 0-04f), E Ward (0-02, 0-01f, 0-01 m), C McKeown (0-02), P McDonald (0-01), P Ward. Subs: F Hodgson for E McNeill (43), A Davies for F Donaghy (49), S O’Brien for P McDonald (50), J McKay for D Higgins (55), O McClintock for E Ward (55).

Lámh Dhearg: R Camlin, C McGarry, O Lee, C Camlin, S McCarthy, D Young, F Clenaghan (0-01), E Breen, E Stanley, C O’Neill, E Campbell, C McConville, A Murray (0-03, 0-01f), O Devlin, D Martin. Subs: D O’Connor for O Devlin (HT).

Referee: Eamonn Hamill (St Teresa’s)

October 29, 2023October 29, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Morgan inspires Carryduff to victory at Corrigan

LGFA Ladies JFC

St. John’s 1-5 Carryduff 1-9

St. John’s made their exit from the Ulster LGFA Junior Championship when they fell to a well organised, Maura Morgan inspired Carryduffy at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

The Johnnies enjoyed plenty of possession over the hour but found it difficult to break down a strong Carryduff defence that dealt well with most of what the Corrigan Park side could throw at them.

Lusine Adams pointed the Whiterock Road side into an early lead before Maura Morgan replied from a 45^th minute free to level the contest.

The visitors soon settled into an early rhythm Katie Foy kicked them into the lead with a point in the 9^th minute and further points from the impressive Morgan and Cara Donnelly had them 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 14^th minute.

St. John’s pushed hard to get back into contention but Katie Foy, Sian O’Neill and Ashling Wojcieszak in the Carryduff defence were equal to everything that came their way.

Orla Corr raised St. John’s second white flag of the afternoon from a free in the 17^th minute but the home side were grateful to their keeper, Sinead McAleavey who pulled off a good save to deny Cara Donnelly who looked in for the game’s opening goal.

Undeterred, the visitors continued to push forward and Maura Morgan added a point from a free before Cara Donnelly split the uprights from play to move her side four ahead after 21 minutes.

Donnelly’s point would prove to be the final score of the half but St. John’s were dealt a blow just before the break when Niamh Hamill limped out of the contest injured to be replaced by Hannah McAllister.

The Corrigan Park side needed a good start to the second half if they were to get themselves into the game but in the event it was Maura Morgan who extended the Carrduff lead from a free in the third minute.

Back came St. John’s with Lusine Adams splitting the posts in the 6^th and 8^th minutes to close the gap to three and suddenly there was a glimmer of hope for the girls in blue but that hope was quickly extinguished.

A good move from the resulting kick-out saw the Down champions move the ball smartly to the other end of the field and Ciara McLornan finished to the net to move her side six ahead.

St. John’s were still giving it everything and were enjoying a bit of success themselves as Orla Corr pointed in the 14^th minute before Cora Magee brought the biggest cheer of the day from the home support when she fired past Caoimhe Lavery in the ‘Duff’ goals.

Suddenly there was only two points between the sides with 12 minutes still remaining but once again the visitors defence shut up shop as they turned everything that St. John’s could throw at them.

They replied with a couple of points themselves through Cara Donnelly in the 21st minute and another from goal scorer McLornan in injury time to ease home winners by four points and book a place in the semi-final.

October 29, 2023October 29, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Mageean Cup history…Forty years ago today

FORTY years ago today (29th October 1983), this team brought the Mageean Cup to St Patrick’s Maghera for the first time.

Back then the competition was run off as a round robin league without a final being played. However the two unbeaten schools, Maghera and St Louis Ballymena, happened to meet in the last game. Neither of the two schools had ever won the Cup previously and there was a big crowd turned up for the “final” in Bellaghy. As a consequence, it was decided that from then onwards the Mageean Cup would be decided as a knock-out competitions with semi-finals and a final.

There are a number of significant points about this team:

1. We think this is the only time that the team coach/manager was a brother of two of the players (including the captain).

2. Ten years later five of the starting team in Bellaghy would line out for Derry in their All-Ireland senior football success of 1993 – and two more would be on the Derry subs’ bench in Croke Park.

3. One player (not in the picture) had played in the 3-9 to 2-5 win over St Mary’s CBS earlier in the competition – but couldn’t play in the final game as he was already featuring for Derry senior footballers in the National League that weekend.

4. That player would become the youngest ever football All-star less than a year later. Three more of the team would become football All-stars and one of those Footballer of the Year and an All-Ireland winning captain.

5. Maghera would also win the MacRory Cup that year with a significant overlap of players

6. Three goals and three points from the 4-10 to 2-6 win over St Louis would be scored by a player whose brother would subsequently help Cross & Passion Ballycastle win six Mageean Cups and three All-Ireland hurling crowns

If you want to find out more about these players and the 70 years of senior hurling in Ulster’s schools, you can go along to a talk and slide-show by Séamas McAleenan on the history of the competition in St Louis Ballymena on Wednesday 6th December, two days before the final of the 71st Danske Bank Mageean Cup.

October 29, 2023October 29, 2023 by thesaffrongael

McCormick-Dobbin double seals Shamrocks ten in a row

Travel Ireland Coaches Antrim senior championship

Loughgiel 3-6 Ballycastle 0-7

Two superb goals in the last ten minutes from star forwards Roisin McCormick and Caitrin Dobbin steered Loughgiel to their tenth title in a row at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall on Sunday and dashed the hopes of challengers Ballycastle.

Entering the last ten minutes it appeared that Ballycastle’s long search for a senior title might be coming to an end when Aine Donnelly’s point from play brought them within a single point of the champions, after having trailed by six at one stage in the opening half. Hopes were high among the black and amber fans that a shock could be on the cards, but the introduction of the Shamrocks brightest star Roisin McCormick (who hadn’t started because of hamstring strain) and Caitrin Dobbin (who was by that stage back in the action after picking up an injury in the first half) swung the game back in Loughgiel’s favour, and five minutes later it was all over bar the shouting.

Ballycastle gave it their all and will be desperately disappointed at how things ended, but despite an abundance of possession in the first half they failed to raise a flag until the 26^th minute of the game and that statistic cost them dearly.

Loughgiel had started with a bang and two early points, the first from Orlagh Laverty and the second from Caitrin Dobbin were quickly followed by brilliant struck goal from the right corner by Dobbin to put her team in control. Ballycastle recovered from their bad start and steadied the ship but though they began to create chances they simply could not hit the target until Maeve Kelly got their first score on 26 minutes. In the run in to half time Kelly hit another and younger sister Fiona got one, in reply to two from Lucia McNaughton frees which gave Loughigel a 1-4 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Despite facing a diagonal breeze in the second half Ballycastle began to claw back the deficit. They actually fell a further point behind when Orlagh Laverty got Loughgiel’s last point for twenty five minutes, but slowly but surely they began to close the gap. Former All Ireland winner Sionan Graham was beginning to make her presence felt and they started their fightback with two pointed frees from Maeve Kelly. Samantha McKillen added another to close within two by the 40^th minute, but is could have been even closer but for some poor finishing.

When Aine Donnelly closed the gap to a single point with still 11 minutes of normal time remaining hope were high for the black and amber following, but McCormick’s dramatic entrance, and Dobbin’s brilliant strike snatched the game from Ballycastle’s grasp. McCormick cut in from the left and soloed along the endline before throwing the ball up and batting it past the advancing Ballycastle goalkeeper Danielle McMichael. Two minutes later Caitrin Dobbin was sent clear by a ball played over the defence by Christine Laverty and the corner forward picked it up on the run before sending it across the goal from the right corner to seal the club’s tenth title on the trot.

When the disappointment of this defeat fades Ballycastle will take great encouragement from their performance and come again next year. The strong start by the Shamrocks and even stronger finish was their undoing but for long periods of the game they gave as good as they got.

As for Loughgiel they won’t have much time to celebrate their historic victory as they are down to face their great Ulster rivals Slaughtneil next weekend. A tough encounter at any time, but without two of their top players it would be well night impossible so let’s hope that McCormick and Dobbin make a speedy recovery.

Loughgiel: E Boyle, C Campbell, K Lynn, M Lynn, E McFadden, C Boyle, C McKillop, A Boyle, L McNaughton 0-2, Christine Laverty, A Connolly, A Lynn, C Dobbin 2-2, 0-1 free, K McKillop, O Laverty 0-2.

Subs: C Higgins for C Dobbin (13), C Dobbin for A Lynn (33), Ciara Laverty for K McKillop (44), R McCormick 1-0 for C Higgins (51), M McGarry for M Lynn (53)

Ballycastle: D McMichael, C Heggarty, C McShane, A Toner, M O’Neill, K Mullan, E McShane, N Cosgrove, S Heggarty, M Kelly 0-4 frees, F McIntosh, F Kelly 0-1, S Graham, S McKillen 0-1, J McIntosh.

Subs: NA Donnelly for C Heggarty (HT), Á Donnelly 0-1 for F Kelly (43), R McBride for J McIntosh (47), E McIntosh for S McKillen (52)

Referee: J McAllister (Dunloy)