Paddy McAteer (who wrote the 1990 book) Ulster President Ciarán McLaughlin, editor Teresa Daly and club chairman Terry Robb at the launch of the Creggan Centenary book–Céad Blíaín ag Fás
All roads led to Creggan pavilion on the evening of Thursday 30th May where Kickhams GAC launched their centenary history book An Creagán. The first history club book which covered up to 1990 was incorporated into the latest edition edited by Teresa Daly and the result is a most comprehensive publication covering every aspect of the club’s history and life in the locality up to the present day. Being a club which has from its inception has always promoted Football, Hurling and Camogie and latterly Ladies Football, there was a vast quantity of material to consider especially from more recent times, and Teresa has performed a great service to the club in her portrayal of the last 30 years
The evening began with Club Chairman Terry Robb welcoming the guests and other attendees and thanking Teresa Daly and Patrick McAteer for their work. This was followed by a rendition of the song Slievenamon written by the club’s patron Charles Joseph Kickham, and performed by the local Scór na nÓg singers.
A presentation followed by Patrick McAteer which explained the historical context which existed locally in 1924 when Jimmy Kelly, the local blacksmith, Pádraig Mac Namee a Gaelic scholar from South Armagh who taught in Creggan School, and others decided that the time was ripe to establish a GAA club in the area. The Ulster Chairman, Ciarán McLaughlin also addressed the crowd, praising the publication and emphasizing the important role of the GAA in modern society.
Paddy Marrion, Paddy McAteer, Ciaran McLaughlin ( Chairman of the Ulster Council) with descendants of the club founder – Fergal McCann, Caitrin Graham, Lucy Coughlin who received special presentations at the Creggan Centrenary book launch.
As the evening progressed, it was an emotional moment when Terry Robb invited three young people who are active in the club to step forward and be awarded with special club badges. These were descendants, after a number of generations, of the original founders of the club. Another nice touch was the unveiling of a high quality cup, missing for many years, which was won by St Olcan’s Primary school Creggan in 1924 and 1925 in the Randalstown primary schools league organisied by Father Lynch.
The book is available to buy at £30 by approaching anyone in the club committee.
Descendants of one of the cub’s founder members Jimmy Kelly
Pupils from Creggan Primary School who recited poems they had written about the history of the club.
Club chairman Terry Robb presents a copy of the book to special guests from Randalstown Ruby ClubMusicians Aiveen Woulahan, Maria Gateley and Dervla Woulahan who performed at the book launchOne of the club’s great stalwarts Tony McCollum
Antrim travel to Kingspan Breffni Park this Sunday to face Sligo in a game that will give automatic qualification to the quarter-final of the Tailteann Cup to the winners. The sides have met frequently in the last decade with only a kick of the ball seperating them in most occasions but their most recent encounter in the NFL Division 3 back in February resulted in a 7 point win for the Yates County.
Both sides have played two games in the group stages of this year’s Tailteann Cup, both defeating Tipperary and Wexford and Sunday’s encounter will decide the winners of the group and direct passage to the quarter-final knockout stages.
Sligo would finish their National League campaign in 4th place with four wins and a draw from 7 starts and were just outside the promotion places while Antrim won only three of their seven starts in a season where quite a number of new faces were introduced to the Saffron camp.
Recent results would suggest that Antrim have made great strides as the season progressed and their win over Wicklow in the final game of the league at Corrigan was to prove a season changer and a season saver.
They went on to beat Tipperary at Corrigan in their opening game in this year’s Tailteann Cup before travelling to Wexford Park and making it two from two with Sunday’s encounter in Cavan one that they can win and avenge that earlier league defeat by Sligo.
Andy McEntee’s charges have been flying recently and his side might not show too many changes from the one that lost in Sligo but the return of Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann and the emergence of Glenravel’s Ryan McQuillan has made them a more potent scoring threat.
The return of Cathal Hynds to the Antrim mid-field following a lengthy injury has added energy and momentum and he and Paddy McAleer have the ability to influence the game in this department.
Antrim led that game at Marievicz Park at half time but were hit by a second half blitz from the home side and were out-scored 0-12 to 0-3 in the second half and appeared to take their eye of the ball.
Niall Murphy led the way with 0-8 (5f’s) and Darragh Cummins 0-3, Patrick O’Connor 0-3, Cian Lally , Sean Carabine and Luke Towey were the men who carried Sligo’s considerable scoring threat that day and Antrim will have to tighten up in defence while improving their own scoring ratio.
Paddy McBride kicked six points against Sunday’s opponents in Sligo and the inclusion of Ruairi McCann and Ryan McQuillan at Breffni will give the Saffron greater scoring options and they can avenge that league defeat and book themselves an automatic quarter-final place.
BELOW IS A REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THAT LEAGUE GAME AT MARKIEVICZ PARK
Antrim fall as Sligo come strong after the break
Allianz NFL Division 3
Sligo 1-20 Antrim 1-13
Following a winning start to the season, an inexperienced Antrim suffered their second successive defeat when they travelled to Markievicz Park on Sunday and lost to a good Sligo side, led by their captain, Niall Murphy.
The Sligo number 15 scored eight points as the men in black put in their best performance of 2024 to run out seven point’s winners against a Saffron side who had performed well in the opening half.
Sligo keeper, Aidan Devany comes smartly off his line to deny Marc Jorday what looked a certain goal.
Inspired by their own sharp shooter, Paddy McBride, the visitors led 1-9 to 1-8 at the short whistle and might well have been further ahead but were hit by a goal on the break from Cian Lally in the 26th minute.
An injury time point from Daragh Cummins for the Yates County left the home side trailing 1-9 to 1-8 to the break but Antrim must have felt fairly comfortable despite facing the breeze in the second half.
Antrim’s Joseph Finnegan is challenged by Sean Carabine of Sligo
Bright start from the Saffrons
Antrim rattled the home side with a scrambled goal in the seventh minute when Ronan Boyle got the final touch after a Ruairi McCann delivery – a point attempt from a mark – dropped short.
A couple of minutes earlier Sligo keeper Aidan Devaney came smartly off his line to deny Marc Jordan with his legs as the big wing half back looked certain to find the net.
Sligo, though, gradually improved and they moved a point ahead, 0-5 to 1-1, with 23 minutes played following scores from Niall Murphy, Darragh Cummins and Sean Carrabine.
Good points from Dermot McAleese and Patrick McBride put Antrim back in front, 1-3 to 0-5 before Sligo replied with a goal from Lally in the 26th minute and followed with a point from Niall Murphy that looked to have put the Connacht County in control.
Sligo substitute, Luke Lally fires over a spectacular point despite the best efforts of Colm McLarnon and Mick Byrne, Antrim.
Antrim responded positively as they scored six points without reply, including four from the impressive Patrick McBride, who was landing some beautiful scores, to lead 1-09 to 1-08 in first-half stoppage time.
Sligo produced a much improved second half performance to secure their third win of the campaign with Murphy leading by example as they struck through Paul Kilcoyne and Sean Carabine to take the lead in the opening minute before Paddy McBride briefly levelled the contest with his sixth of the evening.
The visitors would only add two further points however through Colm McLarnon and Niall Burns as Sligo took control and slowly began to turn the screw.
The home side grew in confidence and stature with Niall Murphy leading the way and the Sligo captain would finish the contest with 0-8 to his credit as they out-scored their opponents 0-12 to 0-3 in a dominant second half display
Paddy McBNride, who scored 0-6 against Sligo in Markikevicz Park
The hosts and the visitors had identical records coming into this fixture – two wins and one loss apiece, with Sligo victorious over Limerick in the previous round and Antrim losing to promotion favourites Down.
These sides contested successive Allianz Football League finals back in 2009 and 2010, with Sligo winning those Division Four and Division Three deciders.
Recent meetings have been close encounters – a one-point win for Sligo in 2020 and a minimum margin victory for Antrim three years ago.
Murphy, substitute Luke Towey, Eddie McGuinness and Brian Cox impressed in a strong Sligo side and this win looks to have secured their place in division 3 for another campaign.
Antrim, for whom Patrick McBride was outstanding, finished with 14 players because of a late black card for Marc Jordan and will hope to get something from next week’s visit of Westmeath as they look anxiously over their shoulders at the chasing pack. Antrim’s Ruairi McCann and Sligo’s Nathan Mullen in a race for possession
Antrim goal scorer, Ronan Boyle comes forward to support his attack
Sligo: Aidan Devaney, Paul McNamara, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons, Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins (0-3), Nathan Mullen, Patrick O’Connor (0-3), Paul Kilcoyne, Alan McLoughlin, Donal Conlon, Cian Lally (1-0), Pat Spillane (0-1), Sean Carrabine (0-2, 1f), Niall Murphy (c) (0-8, 4f, 2 ‘mark’)
Subs used: Lee Deignan (0-1) for Pat Spillane, h-t; Luke Towey (0-2) for Donal Conlon, 46; Eoghan Smith for Alan McLoughlin, 62; Mikey Gordon for Sean Carrabine, 68; David Quinn for Cian Lally, 68
Antrim: Michael Byrne (0-1, 1f), Ronan Boyle, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, Marc Jordan, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese (c) (0-1), Colm McLarnon (0-1), Patrick McAleer, Cormac McGettigan, Patrick McBride (0-6), Ruairi McCann (0-2, 1 ‘mark’, 1f), Declan Lynch (0-1), Niall Burns (0-1, 1f), Dominic McEnhill
Subs used: Eoghan McCabe for Kavan Keenan, 39; Eoin Hynes for Cormac McGettigan, 45; Conor Hand for Dominic McEnhill, 53; Ryan McQuillan for Patrick McAleer, 63; Jack Dowling for Colm McLarnon, 63
This was a typical Derby, contested decisions, frayed tempers, plenty of scores and spells of good hurling from two committed teams.
Unfortunately though the game will be remembered for the raft of free accumulated by both sides.
In the first half Conlaoth McNeill converted 5 frees for the Eemmets with Conal McGlynn doing likewise for the Faughs, with James Black and Conleth McKinley on 2pts each and Calum Cane and Fiachra McVeigh picking up their other points, while Eoin Magee tagged on a couple of points for the visitors. Half time score Faughs 0.11 Emmets 0.7.
The second half saw the Emmets making a determined effort and on the 43rd minute they drew level, however a switch by the Carey management saw Conlith McKinley moving to full forward and on the 45th minute he despatched an unstoppable shot past McGee in the Cushendun goal to restore his sides 3point lead.
Loaf McNeill kept his side in the frame with some impeccable free taking which included a 55th minute “stellar” to the Carey net which gave his side a one point advantage. This set up a frantic last 9 minutes including added time, in which the home side raised the intensity of their game and were awarded a 65, which McGlynn converted , he repeated the act a couple of minutes later after James Black was fouled on his way through to leave the full-time score 1.18 to 1.16 in favour of the Faughs. Second half scorers were Conal McGlynn on 6 pts with McKinley getting the goal and young Calum Cane the other point. For the Emmets Loaf McNeill had 1.7 with McHugh and Kilgore on points apiece.
In a game of two halves, only 3 points separated the sides at the break. Creggan had the upper hand with a 3-point lead, with a fortunate second goal from Conor McCann. With the second half underway, there was only one team in it. Creggan controlled the play adding 1.11 to their tally as All Saints failed to score.
A confident Creggan won the toss and played with a strong breeze while All Saints went in search of their first win of the season. The home side registered the first score 3 minutes in from Conor McCann from play. Eoin McGuigan levelled 2 minutes later with a 20 metre free.
From here until the short whistle both teams matched each other, score for score’ at 10 minutes gone it was 3 apiece, two additional frees, tapped over by Creggan’s Morgan Nelson and one each from Eoin McGuigan and Damien Gillen.
McCann added a goal followed by 2 quick points to increase the home side’s lead by 5 points. McGuigan responded from the next puck out finding the net from the edge of the square leaving little between the sides.
As the contest progressed into the second quarter, Creggan increased their lead by 3 points with 2 frees from Morgan Nelson, a fine point from Lee Johnston and another from Conor McCann.
The visitor’s response kept them within touching distance with a point from Sean McDermott and 2 converted frees from Eoin McGuigan, to leave it finally balanced with 24 minute gone.
As half time neared, Conor McCann got a second goal to the delight of the home supporters but the 6-point lead was short lived when Liam Cassley rattled the Creggan net from close range.
HALF TIME SCORE: CREGGAN 2.10 – ALL SAINTS 2.07.
Referee, Danny O’Neill, got proceedings underway for the second half. The home side’s Sean Duffin scored a point from the throw in and this was quickly followed by a second goal from Conor McCann, to put 7 points between the sides.
At this stage in the contest, Ballymena seemed to have run out of steam while Creggan’s ability to control most of the possession afforded them the opportunity to attempt scores from distance and difficult angles which increased their wides-tally.
As the contest approached the final quarter, the game was well and truly over. The home-side’s Morgan Nelson added 4 further points from frees while Sean Duffin equalled his tally with 4 points from play while Conleith McGrenagan scored his first which was the last score of the game. All Saints battled on with several attempts on goal which were confidently cleared by Creggan’s Oran McCann.
CREGGAN: No.1 Oran McCann, No.2 Paedar McGuckian, No,3 Aidan Maguire, No.4 Dylan Hinfey, No.5 Senan O’Boyle, No.6 Keelan McCan, No.7 Jake McAteer, No8 Niall McAuley, No.9 Sean Duffin (0.05), No.10 Morgan Nelson (0.09), No.11 Lee Johnston (0.01), No.12 Thomas McCann, No.13 Sean McAuley (0.01), No.14 Conor McCann (3.04), No.15 Conleith McGrenagan (0.01), No.16 Brendan Maguire, No.17 Michael Maguire, No.18 Joseph Smyth, No.19 Cormac Rice.
ALL SAINTS: No.1 Ciaran Cassley, No.2 Kevin Brady, No3 Eoin McAllister, No.4 Archy McGreevy, No.5 Padhraig Magill, No.6 Cormac Magill, No.7 Daniel Gray, No.8 Cathaoir Cunning, No.9 Vincent Esler, No.10 Sean McDermott (0.01), No.11 Eoin McGuigan (1.05), No.12 Daniel Kelly, No.13 Damian Gillen (0.01), No.14 Liam Cassley (1.00), No.15 Niall Savage, No.17 Dermott Casey, No.18 Frank Casey, No.19 Luke Walsh.
Clooney Gaels maintained their place at the top of what is turning out to be the closest ACHL Division 2 race for years when they travelled to Carryduff on Wednesday night and recorded a two point win over the Down men.
They certainly didn’t get it all their own way and trailed by five at the break in a sometimes bad tempered contest but a goal from Fionnbar O’Neill, direct from a free, at the end of the third quarter turned it in the way of the Ahoghill men.
Carryduff scored their last point with ten minutes remaining as a James O’Connell added three to his total and another from Dan O’Neill saw them over the line and maintain their top of the table birth.
It was Carryduff who edged the exchanges during the opening half with James Lavery, Oran Teague, Eoin Rooney, Donal Rooney and Conor Cassidy on target as both sides went toe to toe with Ronan Graham leading the charge for the visitors with three points in the opening 10 minutes.
At this stage Carryduff led 0-4 to 0-3 and would extend that lead to two by the halfway stage with Dominic Sharkey, Donal Rooney 0-2 and Eoin Rooney 1-1 their marksmen and James O’Connell from two converted ‘65’s and a free, Dan O’Neill and Conor Crossey getting the Ahoghill scores.
Things got heated after the break with Clooney Gaels losing a player to a straight Red after four minutes and the hosts suffering a similar fate after 15 minutes.
Dan O’Neill
Conor Cassidy pointed on the restart for the Down men and then got in for their second goal with only four minutes of the new half gone but Ronan Graham and James O’Connell 0-3 kept the score board ticking for the visitors but it wasn’t looking good as they trailed by 2-11 to 0-13.
The home side would add only one further point however as Fionnbar O’Neill free in the 13th minute sailed all the way to the Carryduff net and this bit of good fortune certainly lifted the ‘Gaels’.
James O’Connell brought his contribution for the evening to 0-10 as the visitors finished with a flourish and Dan O’Neill fired over the final score of the night in the 29th minute to see the visitors home with two points to spare and maintain their place at the top of the division.
Carryduff: 1 Conor McLornan, 2 Conor McCormick, 3 Conor Cassidy, 4 Ciaran Goodwin, 5 Ciaran Rodgers, 6 James Lavery, 8 Ciaran O’Callaghan, 9 Dominic Sharkey, 10 Owen Wyer, 11 James Woods, 13 Conor O’Reilly, 14 Lorcan McCaughey, 15 Oran Teague, 16 Matthew Mooney, , 17 Christopher McConville, 18 Niall McArdle, 19 Michael Conway, 20 Donal Rooney, 24 Eoin Rooney
Clooney Gaels: Aiden Graham, Charlie McCloskey, Harry O’Donnell, Joe Logan, Fionnbar O ‘Neill, Bobby Magee, Dan O’Neill, Eamonn Brady, Conor Crossey, Donal Graham, Ronan Graham, James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell, Niall O’Connell, Owen Neeson
Subs: Eoin Graham for Joe Logan Patrick Graham for Boris Conor McGarry for Charlie McCloskey
