Month / January 2024

by thesaffrongael

All Saints GAC Go Into A Spin!

The Annual All Saints GAC Charity Spinathon will take place this Saturday (3rd Feb) at the Harmony Hub Bandstand. A key part of the club’s six week Saints & Slimmers Health & Well Being programme the Spinathon sets out to support local charities through its street collection.

This year the club has selected two charity beneficiaries – NI Chest Heart & Stroke and Bravehearts (see info below). To support the event just drop down to the Harmony Hub between 9.30am and 4.00pm or donate with one of the collectors dotted throughout the town. 

NI Chest Heart & Stroke:
In February 2023 our club and the wider Ballymena community were shocked to learn of the sudden passing of our former player and much loved St. Patrick’s College teacher, Aidan Walsh. As we approach Aidan’s first anniversary we have decided to fundraise for a charity chosen in his memory by his family. The Walsh family have selected NI Chest, Heart & Stroke this year as their chosen charity. This is due to the dangers associated with undiagnosed heart disease and the huge role the charity plays in raising awareness and promoting prevention.


Bravehearts

BraveheartsNI are a local 100% volunteer charity, supporting those living with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) from teenage years onwards.

Braveheartsni was founded by local girl Shealyn Caulfield when she was 15 years old. Shealyn had been in hospital for many months and had just underwent her 3rd open heart surgery and her mental health was rock bottom. There was no support for teenagers in the adult hospital RVH and Shealyn devised BraveheartsNI to support others like her.

We are 10 years old this year and our work spans across N. Ireland. We’ve helped hundreds of Bravehearts and their families as they face the hardest of times often having to travel to England for open heart surgery and away from their families for long periods of times. We also work hard to breakdown isolation by encouraging ‘get togethers’ and promote healthier lifestyles by providing outdoor activities and personal trainers for those that are able.
2023 was a really tough year as we lost 4 of our Bravehearts who were all in

by thesaffrongael

Strong second half gives Offaly victory over Antrim

LGFA Division 3

Offaly 5-4 Antrim 2-8 at Edenderry

Pics by Johnny Gorry Photograpy

Antrim are still searching for their first points of the 2024 league campaign as Offaly overturned a three-point half time deficit to get their first win of the year.

Antrim led through Aoife Taggart’s opening score, quickly followed by Ellie Murphy raising the green flag for the visitors. But the Faithful county were quick to respond as captain Ellee McEvoy found the back of the net herself only a minute later.

Four points for Caitlin Taggart stretched the Antrim lead but Offaly’s Roisin Cockram bagged herself a goal to keep the Leinster side in touching distance.

The second half was a different story, as goal hungry Offaly hit 2-2 without reply, both goals from Cockram – including a penalty as she rounded off a hat-trick. Eimear Hand struck the back of the net again for Offaly and sealed the win for the home side despite a late goal from Antrim’s Lara Dahunsi.

Elsewhere in Division 3, Down lost as well for a second time to Antrim’s next opponents Wexford, whilst Louth fell to Roscommon and Clare maintained their 100% record against Sligo.

It’s another trip to the south-east in a fortnight’s time as Antrim face Wexford. Remember to check our socials for ticket info.

by thesaffrongael

Rathmore shock St Louis in Forresters Cup

Danske Bank Forresters Cup Hurling

Rathmore 4-11 St Louis 0-19

An incredible scoring display by Rathmore midfielder Ronan Taylor saw the Belfast school pull off a shock when they beat St Louis Ballymena in the Forresters Cup at Rathmore on Monday afternoon.

With St Louis centre forward Fiontan Bradley ruling the roost in the opening half things appeared to be going to plan as the Ballymena school went in leading by 0-10 to 0-8 at the break. However Taylor turned in magnificent display in the second half, grabbing four goals and two points to get his team home with four points to spare.

Fiontan Bradley (11) who had a great game for St Louis

The early stages of the game were a shoot-out between Bradley and Taylor, Bradley playing some superb hurling as he hit 0-8 of this team’s ten point total, while Taylor got seven of Rathmore’s eight points. Bradley and Eunan Curry got the first two points of the second half to stretch the St Louis lead to four, but Rathmore pulled two points back, and when Taylor grabbed his first goal on 38 minutes the game swung in Rathmore’s favour.

Rathmore’s Noah Dunlop in action during his team’s Forresters Cup win over St Louis, Ballymena.

St Louis seemed to have weathered the storm when they hit back with five points in a row, one each from Neil Rodgers and Dara Higgins and three more from Bradley, but the final quarter belonged to Taylor, the St Brigid’s clubman hitting three more goals and a point to swing the advantage back to Rathmore and secure a famous win.  

by thesaffrongael

Dunloy Cuchullains Juvenile Awards Presentations

Dunloy Cuchullains held their Juvenile Awards Presntations in the Tullyglass Hotel on Sunday evening where the club’s young teams who were so successful in Hurling, Camogie and Football in 2023, received their team and individaul awards.

Saffron Gael went along to capture the memories.

The Dunloy minor team who won last season’s Minor Hurling Championship, Darragh Cup and the Ulster Club Hurling Championship were honoured at the club’s Juvenile Awards presentations in Tullyglass Hotel.
Dunloy Under 15s who won the Under 15 A Hurling Championship, the Under 15B Football Championship, plus the Feile B Football title are seen here at the club’s Juvenile Awards presentation in Tullyglass Hotel.
Dunloy Under 16A Camogie Championship winners received their medals at the club’s Juvenile Awards Presentations in Tullyglass Hotel.
Dunloy Under 13 team who won the North Antrim Hurling Championship, the Joe McKelvey Tournament at Rossa, the South West Antrim Football Championship, are seen here at the club’s Juvenile Awards Presentation in Tullyglass Hotel.
Dunloy Under 12 Camogie team whor received the Ciara McLaughlin Cup and the Ciara McLaughlin Shield at the club’s Juvenile Awards Presentation in Tullyglass Hotel.
Dunloy Under 11 team who received a host of trophies at the club’s Juvenile Awards Presentations in Tullyglass Hotel. Included are the Na Magha Tournament, the Lavey Tournament, The Naimh Padraig A and B tournaments, The Slaughtneil tournament, The Sean Mellon Trophy and the McGarry Cup
The Dunloy Traditional Group who won the Antrim County Scor were honoured at the club’s Juvenile Awards Presentation night. Included are L-R, Lisa McGuckian, Martin Crawley, Christine Black, Sean Dougan and Shaciara O’Kane.
Club secretary Lisa Johnston, committee member Collette Murphy and treasurer Jane McFerran at the Dunloy Cuchullains Juvenile Awards Presentation
The Dunloy Scor winning group provided the music at the club’s Juvenile Presentation Awards in Tullyglass Hotel.
by thesaffrongael

Mary Queen of Peace take Camogie Crown

Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel are Allianz Ireland cumann na mBunscoil indoor champions following a great day of camogie at Antrim Forum.

They overcame St Mary’s Portglenone in a thrilling final to take the title back to the glens. The final highlighted all the skills of the game and those in attendance can be sure that the standard of Camogie is very high in South West Antrim.

Ten teams started the day in search of silverware namely; Mary Queen of Peace, St Mary’s Portglenone x 2, St Brigid’s Ballymena, Millquarter, Moneynick, Creggan, St Patrick’s, Rasharkin, St Joseph’s Crumlin and Mount St Michael’s Randalstown.

After fiercely competitive and enjoyable group games, the stage was set for cup and shield competitions.

Mary Queen of Peace and St Mary’s navigated their way to the cup final, whilst Mount St Michael’s and Rasharkin made the final of the shield.

Enthralling finals and congrtatulations to all who to part in a memorable day of camogie.