Ahead by eight points at half time Glenravel would have thought they had this game wrapped up but a third quarter onslaught from the visitors, where they rattled over six unanswered points to reduce the gap to two points, left the home supporters very nervous of a comeback. However a penalty from Eamon Fyfe with ten minutes remaining after he had been pulled to the ground as he was bearing down on goal restored a five point lead. This sparked a home side revival which saw them raise five more white flags in those closing minutes and close out the game. Aldergrove went in search of goals and were successful when Geffro Mallon found the net from a penalty but it wasn’t enough and Glenravel recorded their second victory in five days to secure the points.
The game was four minutes old when Eoin Hynds pointed from a free and less than one minute later Sean McKay popped up to goal from close range. Hynds scored again from a free – indeed Aldergrove indiscipline in the defensive third led to several scoring chances which Eoin Hynds gladly accepted. Cormac McGarry was Aldergrove’s liveliest player on the night and he got them off the mark with a free after nine minutes. Corey Fogarty also had a great hour’s football and he doubled the visitor’s score as the first quarter drew to an end. But from there to half time Glenravel totally dominated with points from Hynds, McKay and Eamon Fyfe stretched their lead. Aldergrove’s only response came from Oisin Graham so at the short whistle Glenravel led 1-08 to 0-03.
It would be interesting to know just what Adrian Dougan said to his charges at half time but Aldergrove came out second half like a different team. Guilty of several wides in the first half they found their shooting boots and would tap over those six unanswered points provided by Cormac McGarry, Geffro Mallon, Brian McQuillan and Conall Hanna. Suddenly we had a two point game with the visitors very much in the ascendancy. That was to change with the penalty which Eamon Fyfe slotted home and that was followed by a point from Eoin Hynds to leave six between the teams. Aldergrove went in search of goals but the Glenravel defence held out very well. Geffro Mallon did slot home a penalty to give them some hope but in the closing five minutes the home side put on the after burners with four unanswered points, the last of which came from Daniel McQuillan in one of his trademark surges upfield.
Next up for Aldergrove will be be a home fixture against near neighbours Aghagallon whilst Glenravel will travel to Moneyglass. Both matches scheduled for Wed Jun 19th with a 7:15pm throw in.
FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE CON MAGEES V ALDERGROVE GAME CLICK THE LINK BELOW
When Cushendall scored the first four points of Sunday’s Minor Hurling league game in Ballycastle the smart money would have been on the boys in maroon, especially with them putting up a massive score in the Darragh Cup just two nights earlier.
However when Ballycastle got their first score in the 9th minute things began to happen and they turned the game around, pushing on to lead by 2-08 to 0-6 at half time. They held the upper hand in the second half and were and were twelve points head with just three minutes to go, but despite a late rally from the Ruairis, which brought three goals in as many minutes, the Town held on to win by three in the end.
Points from Fiontan Bradley (2), Shane McQuillan and Thomas McLaughlin had Cushendall 0-4 to 0-0 ahead after eight minutes, but once Caydan Crawford got Balycastle’s first score on nine minutes they kicked into gear and a Conor Donnelly goal had them level two minutes later. Further score came from Donnelly, Crawford and McLean at they opened up a 1-7 to 0-4 lead after twenty minutes.
The visitors closed the gap with points from Bradley McLaughlin, but Ballycastle finished the first half strongly and an injury time goal from Niall McClean had them 2-8 to 0-6 in front at the interval.
A Conor Donnelly point stretched the Ballycastle lead to nine just after the restart but Cushendall then had a good spell, hitting three of the next four points and when the Town pushed on to open a 3-13 to 0-10 lead after 23 minutes, the third goal coming from Conor Mooney, it appeared to be all plain sailing
It didn’t turn out that way however as the home fans had a few anxious minutes to endure near the end as Cushendall hit three late goals, two of them from play by Daire Higgins and one from a free by Thomas McLaughlin to leave just three between them at the end.
The North Antrim Cumann na mBunscol skills competition was held at Oisins Glenariffe on Friday last
St Joseph’s Dunloy won the Girls team event with St Patrick’s Loughgiel claiming the Boys section, but there were a wide variety of winners among the individual competitions
St Joseph’s Dunoy who won the Girls team event. Included is North Antrim Cumann na mBunscoll chairman Henry Duffin St Patrick’s Loughgiel who won the Boys team event are seen here with Mr Duffin
Antrim travel to Brewster Park to face Fermanagh in this weekend’s Tailteann Cup quarter-final following their win over London in Sunday’s preliminary quarter-final at Corrigan Park.
The Saffrons did just enough to overcome the Exiles in a game that was in the balance until late in the contest when Ruairi McCann’s second goal of the game gave them some breathing space.
Fermanagh will start this quarter-final as firm favourites having topped a group that included Laois, Wicklow and Carlow, the Erne County taking maximum points from their three group outings.
Manager Andy McEntee was relieved at the final whistle at Corrigan on Sunday. “We were stretched to the limit to get a result there and I was glad to hear the final whistle,” he said.
“The way London play, you don’t want to be playing catch-up as they defend well and defend deep. Once they got the (early) four-point lead, our boys maybe got a bit tight and we had nine wides in the first half.
“But they stuck at it and big Ruairi [McCann] does his usual stuff. We got goals and some of the lads really pushed on. [It was] Jordy’s (Marc Jordan) best performance in a long time and he was responsible for a lot of good things.”
A tough draw for Antrim but one they can win and given that the other options were Down or Kildare away it’s as good as it gets and I for one, am looking forward to it and I believe we are in with a real chance of advancing to another Tailteann semi-final.
Antrim lost their unbeaten start to the Gaelic Football Masters season when two goals in the last five minutes was enough to see Donegal over the line in this absorbing contest played at Garvaghy centre of excellence on Saturday.
With no quarter asked nor received it was obvious from the moment Tyrone referee Brian McCallion threw in the ball that both counties were well up for contesting the two points on offer.
Antriims Sean Kelly in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscar
Antrim captain for the day Liam Geezer Magee opened the scoring for the Saffrons with an excellent thirty five yard free after three minutes but Donegal responded with points from Damien Browne and Nigel McGonagle to edge in front. Kieran Close managed to send the ball through a proverbial needle to draw equal, and not to be outdone in terms of how to make a seasonal entrance Mark Dougan landed a monster free from an equally acute angle to restore Antrim’s brief advantage.
With impressive contributions from an excellent Antrim half back line of Tony Scullion Michael Herron and Rasharkin ever present Thomas Doherty all making huge contributions, scores were being kept to the minimum by both sides, every ball being contested, and the line breaking of Tony Scullion and Sean Kelly in particular catching the eye.
Antriims Kieran Close in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscar
Close again and Declan McLarnon kept the scoreboard ticking over for Antrim but the last few minutes of the first half saw Donegal began to get on top as points from Gerard Mc Brierty (2) and Brendan Boyle enabled the experienced North West team to go in with two points to spare at the break.
Antrim management introduced Brendan Etherson and Kevin Gallagher to midfield, allowing Tony Convery and Sean Kelly to adopt their more familiar defensive positions, with these two plus Tony Scullion Michael Herron and Thomas Doherty all maintaining a strong physical presence in Antrim’s defence.
With Etherson and Gallagher getting a prominent foothold at midfield Antrim began to take control, in a quarter where they got on top. During this spell Antrim went from two down to open up a four point lead. A vital interception in the Antrim defence by stalwart Adrian Scullion and involving Sean Kelly Tony Scullion and Michael Herron eventually found the cool headed Kieran Close who side footed the ball past Donegal custodian Karl O’Brien for the game’s opening goal. Another two points from Mark Dougan steadied the ship from an Antrim perspective, and a Sean McGreevy forty five establishing the Saffrons’ superiority during this impressive opening spell of the second half.
Injuries to the hard running Tony Scullion, as well as tight marking corner back Collie Connelly, didn’t help Antrim’s cause just as they were beginning to look comfortable, Ryan Daly and Sean Carter stepping in as ample replacements.
Donegal weren’t quite finished though and had other ideas. a couple of points from Stephen Coyle and Gerard Mc Brierty kept Donegal in touch, with Kevins Gallagher and McAllister replying for Antrim to keep them a couple of points ahead and heading down the stretch.
Then out of the blue the contest changed. One tired pass in the Antrim defence saw Donegal’s Paddy Hannigan intercept and was clear through, managed to beat the peerless Sean McGreevy in Antrim’s goals to draw the contest with just four minutes left on the clock. When a similar opportunity presented itself to Donegal’s marquee marksman Gerard McBrierty two minutes later the result was inevitable, and all of a sudden Donegal were a goal up.
Antriims Kevin Gallagher in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscar
Antrim managed to summon up the resolve to go full pitch once more, but only a goal would be good enough to draw something from this end to end contest. That opportunity fell to the classy Tony Convery, who took aim and let loose, with the ball skimming past the outside of the post and go narrowly wide, just as referee McCallion blew his whistle for the final time.
Donegal somehow managed to turn defeat into a victory and for Antrim unfortunately it was the other way around. They will see it as one that got away, a view shared by Antrim Masters management and panel alike who were disappointed to see their unbeaten start to the season snatched away in a matter of a few late minutes.
For all involved though the signs are obvious that progress is being made, and the return of Kieran Close and Sean Kelly to Masters duty along with the recent introduction of Kevin Gallagher, Mark Dougan and Dominic McIlvar will all add additional value to Antrim’s prospects going forward, as manager Frankie Delargy and Timmy Connolly start preparing for another tough test at home against Armagh in two weeks.
Antrim Masters Matchday Panel. Laurence Higgins, Collie Connolly, Ryan Daly, Tony Convery, Tony Scullion, Sean McGreevy, Carl O Neill, Mark Dougan, Kieran Close, Sean Kelly, Michael Herron, Michael Donnelly, Deaghlan White, Dominic McIlvar, Brendan Etherson, James McGreevy, Thomas Doherty, Niall Sweeney, Sean Carter, Damien Casey, Declan McLarnon
Antrim Scorers;
Kieran Close 1 – 02, Mark Dougan 0 -03, Declan McLarnon 0 – 02, Kevin McAllister 0 -01, Liam Magee 0 -01, Kevin Gallagher 0 – 01, Sean McGreevy 0 – 01.
The Donegal Team ahead of The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscarAntriims Niall Sweeny in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscarAntriims Sean Kelly in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscarAntriims Kieran Close in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscarAntriims Michael Herron in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscarAntriims Tony Scullion in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscarAntriims Sean Kelly in action at The All Ireland Gaelic Masters Championship between Antrim and Donegal – played at Garvaghy Centre of Excellence, County Tyrone – saturday 8th June 2024 – Pic by Cathal McOscar
