Month / August 2024

by thesaffrongael

Cargin impress in Corrigan victory

SFC (Group 2)

St Johns 0-08 Erin’s Own Cargin 2-13

Reigning senior champions Erin’s Own, Cargin took another step in defence of their title with a second Group win as they produced another impressive performace against St John’s before a good attendance at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

Both the contestants had opened their group accounts with victories over Rossa and Tir na nOg respectively but it was the Toome men who were to dominate this one from the start before pushing on to record an eleven point win.

Both sides had recorded good wins in their opening games but this looked a tougher one for both contestants and the visitors were expected to face a severe test on the Whiterock Road.

In truth it never materialised as Cargin took control from early in the game and the Toome men were first to strike with a Tom Shivers point and Tomas Mc Cann was quick to add another as the visitors took an early two point lead.

Cargin continued to press and Michael McCann and Tom Shivers were thwarted by the Johnnies net minder Eoghan Lambert but the visitors had moved 0-05 to 0-01 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.

Jamie Gribbin, who had an excellent hour, was involved as James Laverty and Pat Shivers delivered between the posts before St. John’s replied with their second score of the evening as Paddy McBride pointed in the 17th minute.

Tomas McCann for Cargin and Conal McGlade for the home side exchanged further points before Eogan Rua Lambert pulled off a superb save as a well contrived Cargin attack put Michael McCann in on the target.

Cargin pressed again and Benen Kelly added an excellent point before a Luke Peden pointed free reduced the visitors lead in the 28th minute but it was Cargin who finished the half strongly.

Tomas Mc Cann and Conhuir Johnston added late points to see the reigning champions head to the dressing room with a 0-09 to 0-04 advantage and the visitors were good value for that lead.

St. John’s were first to strike as the second half got under way with Paddy McBride sending a 40 metre free between the posts but Conhuir Johnston quickly replied to restore the visitors five point advantage.

Eoghan Rua Lambert had been in excellent form in the St. John’s goal but he was finally beaten in the 7th minute. Jamie Gribbin started the move with an interception and found Pat Shivers who sent Sean Og O’ Neill away to fire to the net.

O’Neill’s goal moved Cargin nine in front going into the final quarter as the champions emptied their bench and David Johnston added a good point before Paddy McBride and Conor Adams replied for the Corrigan Park side.

Tomas McCann responded again at the other end to punish a foul on Paul McCann and then a superb fetch in the middle by Gerard McCann and a smart delivery by Conhuir Johnston opened the way for Tom Shivers to find the net and it was game over.

The home side fought to the end but were denied by the Cargin net minder Sheal Laverty on a couple of occasions in the latter stages and an injury time pointed ‘45’ by Conor Adams was all they could muster.

With two impressive wins under their belts Cargin have already qualified and look the team to beat while the meeting of St. John’s and Rossa in the final Group 2 game should decide who will join them in the play-offs

St John’s: Eoghan Ruadh Lambert, Enda Mc Gurk, Joe Garland, Conor Mc Avoy, Luke Peden (0-01), Conon Bohill (0-01,Ronan Quinn, Andy Mc Gowan, Patrick Mc Bride (0-04), Stephen Tierney, Conor Mc Glade (0-01) Conor Quinn, Conor Hand, Conor Adams (0-02)

Cargin:  Shea Laverty, Ronan Gribbin, Kevin Mc Shane, Benen Kelly (0-02), Jamie Gribbin, Conan Johnston,  Pat Shivers (0-02),Sean O’ Neill (1-00)James Laverty (0-01), Tom Shivers (1-02), David Johnston (0-01), Conhuir Johnston (0-02) Michael Mc Cann, Tomas Mc Cann (0-05)

Subs:

Ben Mc Larnon

Kevin O’ Boyle

Paul Mc Cann

Gerard Mc Corley

Jack Harney

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)

https://myalbum.com/album/HyMN82daH9bTpS/?invite=6da13708-892e-41a4-89ea-9b6d72d27ec8

by thesaffrongael

Ahoghill beat Glenravel to set up meeting with Moneyglass

Antrim Senior Football Championship – Group 3 – RR2

St Mary’s Ahoghill 1-13 Con Magees Glenravel 0-10

St Mary’s Ahoghill bounced back from a seventeen point drubbing in the opening round of the Antrim Senior Football Championship, to beat Glenravel by six on Sunday and get their championship campaign back on track. After that heavy defeat to neighbours Portglenone most people would have written the Cloney men off, but they are made of tougher stuff and Sunday’s win sets up a mouth-watering meeting with neighbours Moneyglass with a quarter final place there for the taking for the winners.

Glenravel started Sunday’s game in promising fashion and were 0-3 to 0-1 up nearing the end of the opening quarter, but Ahoghill eventually settled into a rhythm and by half time they were 0-6 to 0-3 to the good. A goal early in the second half put them firmly in control and they controlled the game to win by six in the end.

Three early points, two of them from Eoin Hynds, in reply to one by Ahoghill’s James O’Connell had the visitors 0-3 to 0-1 ahead nearing the end of the first quarter, but two by Colla McDonnell and one from James O’Connell during the second quarter had the home team 0-06 to 0-03 in front at end of the first half.

James O’Connell stretched the Ahoghill lead to four within a minute of the restart, but when Eoin Hynds fisted over a point and Calum Higgins added one with the boot there was just two between the sides. However straight from the kick-out following the Higgins point, Ahoghill broke through at the other end and James O’Connell put Gerard Graham clear to grab the first goal of the game and stretch their advantage to five. The visitors pulled a couple of points back through Hynds and McKay and though the home team responded with one from Eamon Brady, Daniel McQuillan replied for the Con Magees to bring the deficit back to just three.

Daniel McQuillan cut the gap to just two on forty minutes before Glenravel had chances to take the lead, but Niall Hynds fired over from close range and Aidan O’Donnell had a goal bound shot brilliantly cleared off the line by a defender. Niall Hynds did add another point on 42 minutes but the visitors would only manage one more point in the remaining 18 minutes, plus injury time and Ahoghill once again showed their resilience to slowly stretch the lead.

Gerard Graham started the run for home with a point from play on 44 minutes and midfielder Patrick Graham jnr added another a minute later. A pointed free by James O’Connell and one from play by Danny O’Neill stretched the gap out to six and though Glenravel pulled one back from a free with five minutes still to play, James O’Connell ended the scoring with a point in the final minute.

FOR MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/TDb8Pm4jmcGCLd/?invite=81418170-a8e2-4e8b-9a42-f0a12e06ecaa

by thesaffrongael

St Teresa’s hold on as Rasharkin battle back

Intermediate Football Championship – Round robin 2

Rasharkin 2-12 St Teresa’s 2-15

When St Teresa’s led by double scores at half time (2-10 to 1-05) in Friday evening’s Intermediate Football Championship round 2 game at Dreen it appeared the West Belfast men were cruising to a big win, but Rasharkin staged a fightback during the second half and it took two late points from Eoghan Hamill and Niall McCann to get the visitors home by three in the end.

Six minutes in to the game St Teresa’s led by 1-02 to 0-01, the goal coming from Sean Maguire, but three in a row from midfielder Shane Hasson closed the gap to a single point by the seventh minute. It remained close as points from Niall McCann, Pearse O’Rawe and a goal from Luke Cassin were answered by a Brian Og O’Neill point on seventeen minutes and a goal from centre forward Eamon McNeill three minutes later, but the Belast men came back with five points in a row from O’Rawe, McCann, Mallon (2) and Hasson as they pushed on to lead by double scores (2-10 to 1-05) at half time.

The third quarter saw both teams exchange points and after ten minutes the gap was still eight, but Rasharkin started to close the gap with a goal from Conor McFerran and points from Eamon McNeill (3), Oran McMullan and Killian O’Boyle. Another Eamon McNeill point had the gap down to the minimum but to their credit St Teresa’s held their nerve and late points from Eoghan Hamill and Niall McCann saw them home by three in the end.

The win keeps St Teresa’s joint top with St Paul’s on four points apiece, a team they play next time out in two weeks’ time. The defeat is a setback to Rasharkin’s hopes but if they win their next game, away to St Patrick’s Lisburn they will be back in the hunt again.

FOR MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/HshBuzz7EjyL6q/?invite=1cc8c361-6661-486d-b9c3-448514789976  

by thesaffrongael

McCormick’s late point earns the champions a share of the spoils

Antrim Camogie TeamKit Senior Championship

Cushendall v Loughgiel 18th August 2024

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Páirc Mhuire, Bun Abhann Dalla

Cushendall 3-12 (21) Loughgiel 2-15 (21)

Under the peering presence of Lurig Mountain, supporters were welcomed into Páirc Mhuire to see an opening game from the Antrim Camogie TeamKit senior championship. Occasional glimpses of sunshine and a warm breeze sweeping across the breadth of the pitch, was also welcomed with no rain forecast for at least the duration of the match.

Spectators would witness an on form Cushendall squad, perceptive in cutting off passes and finding space behind Loughgiel’s defence, testing the nerve and resolve of the Shamrocks in a game that delivered excitement, intensity and a fitting draw in the end.

Referee Paul O’Neill promptly got the match underway, with Loughgiel opting to play towards the village goals in the first half. With less than thirty seconds on the ‘Moyle’ scoreboard, Loughgiel’s keeper, Eimear Boyle, was in action as she diffused an incoming sliotar from Cara O’Boyle out wide for a 45m. Cushendall’s Eva McNeill stepped up and sent the sliotar over and the Dall were on the scoreboard with their first point in their championship campaign.

Loughgiel’s centre half forward, Lucia McNaughton cut in a sideline ball, finding Roisin McCormick but a hook would bring that attack to a halt, before McNaughton was fed a ball from Katie McKillop and as it hit the ball net over the bar, Loughgiel had their campaign underway too.

Cushendall’s Eva McNeill would make that three on the board with two points, one coming from a free and a point from play as she picked up a pass on the dugout side of the pitch. Loughgiel were happy to reply as Amy Boyle took possession of a loose ball around the forty-five metre line and Katie McKillop slotted her point over the bar from a long and unchallenged solo run by Annie Lynn.

With three points apiece, Loughgiel were taking the game back into Cushendall’s defence. McCormick’s pass to Amy Boyle set the mid fielder up for a point but the sliotar dropped short into Keeper, Louise Mulholland’s care. McCormick though was able to turn the puck out around but it bounded off the upright and it would be twelve minutes into the game before both centre forwards, Kady McNeill for the Dall and Roisin McCormick for the Shamrocks would score a point apiece in quick succession.

Cushendall’s Brogan Abram stayed off the scoring sheet but assists were going to prove pivotal as Kady McNeill took the first one for a point and on the fifteenth minute, finding Orlaith McAlister, Cushendall had their first goal.

Loughgiel replied, playing the advantage, as Katie McKillop pointed to close the gap, Cushendall 1-05 Loughgiel 0-05 but on the stroke of eighteen minutes, a running Cara O’Boyle intercepted a Loughgiel pass and offloaded to Kady McNeill for the Dall’s second goal.

Such was the ebb and flow of the game, that barely a minute had passed when Annie Lynn found a running Katie McKillop around the thirteen metre line who had slipped past the full back line. McKillop would lift Shamrocks’ spirits with a goal to close the gap back to three points.

Loughgiel’s Shauna Devlin was pushing forward to bring the sliotar out for a clearance, but found herself unable to deliver the sliotar as the mauve jerseys moved in, O’Neill blew for holding the sliotar too long. Eva McNeill dispatched that over the bar followed by a clean point from Siobhan McKillop, before Loughgiel’s Annie Lynn brought the Shamrock’s back into the game with a fine point, delivered from a pass from Roisin McCormick.

With approximately five added minutes of injury time, Loughgiel would improve their score by two points as McCormick pointed from an Annie Lynn pass and Anna McKillop would slide the sliotar from under the scoreboard over Mulholland’s bar.

As Cushendall’s Siobhan McKillop was delivering the sliotar out wide, she was clipped on the faceguard and O’Neill blew for a foul. Eva McNeill slotted the sliotar over and into the ball net to bring the difference back to three points as O’Neill blew for half time with the scoreboard registering Cushendall 2-08 Loughgiel 1-08.

Roisin McCormick would jump start Loughgiel back into the match with a point from a free awarded to McNaughton and McNaughton would be right back into the thick of it as she found McCormick running into a space big enough to deliver a rasping strike, some 25 metres out, low and to the right of Mulholland for Loughgiel’s second goal and for the first time in the game, Loughgiel had their noses out in front.

The Shamrocks had another run on goal about five minutes into the second half, only this time it was McCormick to McNaughton, seeing the sliotar run wide for a 45. McCormick dispatched the sliotar cleanly for her point and it felt like the tide was on the turn for Loughgiel but Cushendall threatened to enter the danger zone when Orlaith McAlister was unmarked and receiving the sliotar moved closer to Boyle’s goal. Sensing the closure of Loughgiel players, McAlister opted to point but patience would be her virtue as McAlister returned minutes later to find the back of Boyles net.

Buoyed on by her goal, McAlister returned back into Loughgiel’s half back territory only to go to ground. McAlister improvised a pass to Kady McNeill and McNeill didn’t waste the hard fought sliotar for the point.

With twenty minutes on the clock in the second half, Loughgiel would rally three points in a row, McCormick from two frees, one on Lucia McNaughton twenty metres out and a stick around Christine McCloskey’s neck. McCloskey would take some comfort from pointing after Anna McKillop delivered her pass on the low side of Páirc Mhuire.

Conscious of little less than six minutes on the clock including three minutes of added injury time, both sides were on level pegging, Cushendall 3-10 Loughgiel 2-13 and a point looked like it might take the game. Referee O’Neill blew for a throw ball foul from Loughgiel as they were advancing the sliotar out. Eva McNeill delivered the sliotar accurately but at twenty-eight minutes in, McCormick brought the game back to level with a point from a free.

As the pressure built, both on and off the pitch, Ellen Leech opted to take a free, given by O’Neill, as Cushendall pushed up. As the sliotar dropped from the ball net onto the ground behind Boyles goals, the Dall were back to a one point lead and with less than a minute left on the clock. But it would be Loughgiel’s Roisin McCormick that would rescue the game for the Shamrocks as a last minute point was enough to secure the draw when O’Neill blew for full time shortly after.

A gritty performance from Cushendall will boost their self-confidence in the championship but it will also put Loughgiel on alert, who were probably marked as strong favourites ahead of today’s enthralling game of camogie, that other clubs have raised their game and anticipate having a real chance of getting to the final.

Cushendall starting panel and scorers:

Louise Mulholland, Annie Leech, Sinead Cosgrove, Caoimhe McNaughton, Anna McNeill, Ellen Leech 0-01 (1f), Laura Black, Cara O’Boyle, Siobhan McKillop 0-01, Brogan Abram, Eva McNeill, 0-06 (1×45), Laura McMullan, Kady McNeill 1-03, Orlaith McAlister 2-01

Loughgiel starting panel and scorers:

Eimear Boyle, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Maria Lynn, Emma McFadden, Ciara Laverty, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle 0-01, Anna Connolly, Christine McCloskey 0-01, Lucia McNaughton 0-01, Annie Lynn 0-01, Katie McKillop 1-03, Roisin McCormick, 1-07 (4f 1×45), Anna McKillop 0-01

Photos from Sunday’s game can be found in the photo album by clicking on the link here:

https://myalbum.com/album/HmWet3nyy9imdJ/?invite=55e26f7e-ab69-4b06-a967-f44104aa2fa1

Follow Michael G Corcoran @keep_clickin on X (formerly Twitter) for match Gifs when available.

Follow The Saffron Gael @TheSaffronGael on X for links to match reports

by thesaffrongael

Ports win after testing challenge at Marian Hill

Senior Football Championship Group 3.

Moneyglass 2 – 09 – 1 – 17 Portglenone

This senior championship Group three game between local clubs Moneyglass and Portglenone drew a reasonable crowd, and they were treated to an entertaining game with the resulting prize for the winners being a guaranteed place in the Quarter finals. In the end Casements did enough on the day, but not before being tested by the hosts who despite missing quite a few regular starters played a full part in this lively contest.

A blistering start from the hosts saw them open up a four point lead in the first quarter, two points from the feet of Colum Duffin and a goal from the fist of impressive Conleth McCann gave their vocal home support cause for optimism as John McKeever’s men took a while to settle down and get a foothold in the game. Points from Aidan McAleese Ronan Kelly and Oisin Doherty got the visitors off the mark and kept them in touch, but Moneyglass weren’t going away, and when full forward Aidan McErlain got his hands on a long delivery from Paul Duffin, and transferred quickly to James McCormick, the corner back cooly picked his spot and rolled the ball past Portglenone custodian Kevin Mullan to once again restore a four point cushion.

Portglenone players observe a minutes silence for cdlub stalwart, Jamesy McAtamney who was laid to rest on Friday

Conleth McCann and the lively Sean Boyd added further scores and it took three excellent frees from Casements Ronan Kelly and Aidan McAleese, and another from play from Oisin Doherty to keep the deficit to just two in favour of Moneyglass at the break.

It took a few harsh words from Portglenone management to shake up their charges during the interval and this had the desired effect. A well worked move was cooly despatched over the bar by Michael Hagan as Casements gradually started to get on top of proceedings. Paddy Kelly announced his arrival by stroking over a trademark free kick from around the forty metre mark, and suddenly the game was all square.

Both teams traded points in the 8th and 9th minute, courtesy of Aidan McAleese and the hard working Dermot Busgy McErlain who was possibly the most impressive player on view. Paddy Kelly smashed an opportunist goal chance off the crossbar and over for a point after cheekily intercepting a misplaced pass from Moneyglass keeper, but Smiley Duffin tied the event once more with a free kick.

With a quarter remaining and the sides level no one wanted to blink. Niall Delargy finished off a well worked team movement to go in front by one. And then, in one passage of play, the game changed.

Winning a highly contested ball in defence, Casements were driving forward with intent when an off the ball incident occurred. Ray Matthews allowed play to continue, the result was a well worked weave of possession which Aidan McAleese palmed into the Moneyglass net and suddenly Casements were four up.

In the follow up celebrations Moneyglass had two players dismissed after the referee had consulted with his umpires and with them went any fading chances of a St. Ergnat’s comeback

Now four points down and with just 13 men, ironically Moneyglass played some of their best football, prising the Portglenone defence wide open several times. Sean Boyd was causing all sorts of bother with his pace and twisting turns and was unlucky to see a goal bound effort bounce off a post and drift wide.

Another Ronan Kelly point brought his personal tally to six on the day, and when Michael Hagan and Dermot McAleese tagged on another brace, it was all over, bar the shout.

On the day Casements did enough, but in truth a five point winning margin flattered them, and John McKeever will know that his men will need to be better if they are to challenge for the McNamee cup. Moneyglass now face a do or die play off against neighbours Ahoghill for a place in the quarter finals in two weeks.

Referee: Ray Matthews.

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