Month / October 2023

by thesaffrongael

Late Morgan magic swings it Glenavy’s way

LGFA Ulster Intermediate Football Championship

Glenavy 4-7 Rostrevor 2-7

A late Ellen Morgan piece of magic swung this Ulster LGFA IFC clash the way of St Joseph’s Glenavy when they overcame the considerable challenge of a Niamh Rice inspired Rostrevor in the Ulster Intermediate Football Championship in wet conditions at Chapel Hill on Saturday.

The home side looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they led by 2-3 to 0-1 after 19 minutes, their goals coming from Aoibheann Monaghan and Grainne McLaughlin but it was visitors Rostrevor who finished the half strongly.

Ellen Morgan (14) struck a late goal to swing the game Glenavy’s way

Niamh Rice led the way for the Down champions and she would add 1-3 to Aislinn McGeough’s early point to close the gap to a goal by half time, the Glenavy cause not helped by a yellow card decision late in the half

Rostrevor started the second half as they had finished the first with Colleen Crios and Aoife Murphy pointing to close the gap to one after six minutes before Ellen Morgan edged the home side two in front with a point in the 11th minute, their first score in over 20 minutes.

It seemed in vain as the Down girls came roaring back and when the impressive Niamh Rice rattled the Glenavy net in the 16th minute, Rostrevor were ahead for the first time and looking the likelier winners.

Clara Mulvenna followed with a point to put the Down champions two ahead in the 18th minute but it would be their final score of the game as Glenavy picked themselves of the canvas to finish strongly.

Megan McGarry replied with a point in the 21st minute as the Down side lost a player to a yellow card before Grainne McLaughlin levelled matters from a 26th minute free.

The Chapel Hill side pushed hard for a winner and Kerrianne Par in the Rostrevor goals pulled off as fine save to deny them and he game looked to be heading into extra time when Ellen Morgan produced her moment of magic with a goal, deep in injury time.

Rostrevor looked destraught and to rub salt in their wounds Natasha O’Neill followed immediately with another to send the Antrim champions through to the semi-finals where they will again enjoly home advantage when they face Grangemore.

Glenavy Scorers: Ellen Morgan 1-2, Grainne McLaughlin 1-2, Aoibheann Monaghan 1-0, Megan McGarry 0-2, Cara McGarry 0-1

Rostrevor Scorers: Niamh Rice 2-3, Aisling McGeough 0-1, Colleen Crios 0-1, Aoife Murphy 0-1, Clara Mulvenna 0-1

by thesaffrongael

Granemore’s second half fightback edges them past the Shamrocks

Ulster Junior A Club Camogie Quarter-Final

Loughgiel (Antrim) 1-9 Granemore (Armagh) 0-14

IT was an excellent start to the second half that propelled last year’s beaten finalists Granemore into next Saturday’s  Ulster Junior A semi-final against Derry champions Newbridge, but this quarter-final went right to the wire in Loughgiel.

The home side fought hard to stay in the lead and were actually a point up with four minutes remaining. However on balance the Armagh champions deserved their victory because they stuck at it and had ever present danger in forwards Ciara Hill, Rachel Merry and Player of the Match Corinna Doyle.

Carlina Sullivan in action against Granemore centre back Grainne McWilliams

Loughgiel had use of the wind in the first half and deservedly led by 1-5 to 0-2 at the break, although they didn’t really take control until Megan McGarry’s goal in the 20th minute.

Up until that point, the Armagh champions were resolute at the back and trailed by just 0-3 to a point from Corinna Doyle. McGarry’s free bounced deceptively in goal area and ended up in the net. Emma McMullan, the star of the opening half, then added two points.

However four frees and a 45 from Merry, along with a point by Corinna Doyle, pulled the Armagh side level on 43 minutes, but Emma McMullan responded by sending Kirsty McKendry clear for a score to edge the home team back in front.

Loughgiel centre back Megan McGarry hand-passes the ball away

However Ciara Hill and Merry pointed from play to put Granemore ahead for the first time after 46 minutes. McMullan then hit back with two points, one of them a superb effort from out in the left corner, to edge Loughgiel ahead once more, but Doyle levelled again, though Anna McKillop won and pointed a free to bring the Shamrocks level in the 56th minute.

Loughgiel were ahead, but it was their last score with the excellent Doyle pointing twice and then involved in the move that resulted in Fiadhna Loughran posting the final score at the start of injury time.

Rachel Merry sends over a Granemore point from a free

Granemore: R Merry 0-7, 6 frees, C Doyle 0-5, C Hill 0-1, F Loughran 0-1.

Loughgiel: M McGarry 1-0 free, E McMullan 0-5, A McKillop 0-2, 1 free, K McKendry 0-1, C Sullivan 0-1

Loughgiel: S McKillop, A McKillen, F McVeigh, E Connolly, Ciara Dobbin, M McGarry, C Connolly, K McKendry, T McKinley, S Deery, E McMullan, A McKillop, C Sullivan, C McIntyre, R Higgins.

Subs: C McMullan for R Higgins (21), E McKinley for C Sullivan (42), Caela Dobbin for C McIntyre (42)

Granemore: C Doyle, Á Keenan, C O’Hare, C McClelland, E Hagney, G McWilliams, A McClelland, A Doyle, C Doyle, K Smith, E Lavery, L Carr, F Loughran, R Merry, C Hill.

Subs:A McVeigh for E Hagney (21), J Carr for K Smith (26)

by thesaffrongael

Red Hands Unite

Recently Lámh Dhearg held a reunion for its 1971 Senior Football Championship winning panel and the 1983 Minor and Senior Footballers Championship finalists . 
The reunion was a very enjoyable night of nostalgia and a relaxed atmosphere.
There was a good turnout with many friendships renewed along with many stories retold.
Nights like this clearly epitomise what the GAA and a club is about people, players , camaraderie, friendship and of course happy memories

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks host Granemore in Ulster opener

Ulster Junior A Club Camogie Quarter-Final

Loughgiel (Antrim) v Granemore (Armagh) at Fr Healy Park.

Antrim Intermediate Camogie Champions Loughgiel get a big weekend’s action for the Shamrocks club underway tomorrow (Saturday) at Fr Healy Park at 1pm when they host Armagh champions Granemore in the first round of the Ulster Junior A championship. The Antrim champions have had a busy few weeks on their way to winning the Intermediate title, accounting for four clubs on their way to another piece of silverware. None of the games have been easy and apart for the final win over Cargin, four points has been their biggest winning margin. They started off against a very good Tir na nOg team on September 9th in Loughgiel, getting the better of the Randalstown girls by 2-12 to 1-12 in a very competitive game. Two weeks later they took on Portglenone and though they won by four points in the end, it was far from easy.

Their toughest game of the campaign came in the Antrim semi-final where they travelled to Cloney on Tuesday 17th October to take on the Ahoghill girls in the first floodlit match of the campaign. They were five points up at half time in that game and appeared to be cruising when they stretched the lead to seven, but the Cloney girls came with a late run and just a point separated the sides at the final whistle.

The final against Cargin at Dunsilly was the most convincing win of the four. The Shamrocks were in excellent form with Carlina Sullivan, Kirsty McKendry, Anna McKillop and Megan McGarry all turning in top class displays, Sullivan getting the only goal of the game to help her side to a 1-7 to 0-5 lead at the break.

In the second half they pushed on when their accuracy from play and from frees made the difference, adding another nine points to Cargin’s four to win by ten in the end. (1-16 to 0-9)

Granemore qualified for the Ulster campaign by virtue of a 0-11 to 0-9 win over Ballymacnab in the final. They lost last years’ final to Loughgiel’s neighbours Glenravel and in truth the draw has not been kind them, having to face a club of the stature of Loughgiel away in the opening round. Still they have performed well over the past four years and will relish the chance of taking an Antrim scalp this time around.

Overall Loughiel would appear to have that little bit too much for the Armagh champions in the this one, but in a massive weekend for the club they will be taking nothing for granted.

by thesaffrongael

Portglenone CCE celebrate their 50th anniversary

Portglenone CCE was established back in 1973 by a group of devoted music lovers. Under the guidance of Ann and Colm O’Brien, Matt Mc Ateer, Edith Spiers, Joe Clarke, Willis Patton and Brian Quinn, the first ever AGM meeting was held in the Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone, and to this day, this remains the venue for our AGM and Branch meetings.

Over the last 50 years, the Portglenone branch has matured and blossomed with almost 100 children and adults receiving weekly tuition in instrumental music and song or participating in our Wednesday night sessions.

To celebrate this massive achievement, The Portglenone Branch are hosting a range of special events over the weekend of 27th – 29th October 2023.

First up is a Traditional Singing Workshop, with Mairead Walls, on Friday 27th October in The Bank Building from 7.00pm – 8.30pm followed by a singing session to late.

Then on Saturday 28th October, the Irish Traditional Music Workshops in Fiddle, Tin Whistle, Flute, Accordion and Concertina take place in The Bank Building from 11.00am – 2.30pm, led by members of the Blackwater Céilí Band.

The highlight of the Weekend will be the Blackwater Céilí Band in Concert at The Riverside Suite in The Wild Duck Inn from 7.30pm. They will be joined on stage with Mairead Walls, Portglenone CCE Group, a few local guests and some of our very own founding members of the Branch all those years ago.

Celebrations will continue on Sunday 29th October with an All County Session in The Wild Duck Inn from 2.00pm onwards to complete the fabulous weekend of festivities.