Month / October 2024

by thesaffrongael

Late first half double sees St Brigid’s hold out for Minor crown

Antrim Minor Football Championship Final

St Paul’s 1-08-2-08 St Brigid’s

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown

ST BRIGID’S dethroned St Paul’s and lifted the Antrim Minor Football Championship thanks to a late first half double from Joe Mulgrew and Joseph Mallon in their 2-08-1-08 win at a rainswept Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.

A heavy fog descended on Hannahstown pre-game and by throw-in the heavy rain made an already soft surface, tough to adapt to.

Understandably, both sides tried their best to adapt and scores were at a premium with Jack Ireland edging the holders ahead and JJ Higgins restoring parity from a free on the 10th minute.

They would be the only scores until the 26th minute but in-between the duo did create further opportunities and just lacked the killer instinct.

St Paul’s restored their advantage after Oisin Gamble had his shot blocked down, Niall Carmichael flicked the loose ball on, and Sean Og McLaren popped over.

The Biddies ended their 17-minute scoreless period with the opening goal of the final. Peter Molloy entered the fray midway through the half and he popped a fine pass into the path of Joe Mulgrew who slotted his shot past Adam Carroll to give his side a 1-01-0-02 lead.

Ciaran Rogers-Duffy immediately halved the deficit, but the Shaws Road outfit found themselves further in arrears at the break as St Brigid’s hit their second goal in the space of two minutes.

Matthew Lloyd forced a turnover and laid the ball off to Joseph Mallon and he flashed a shot high into the roof of the net to make it 2-01-0-03 at the break.

St Brigid’s extended their lead shortly after the restart with Lloyd clipping over, and Niall Carmichael burst forward and kicked an angled point almost ten minutes into half in response.

Rogers-Duffy doubled his account for the afternoon with a 42nd minute free after Shea Burns was felled- but four unanswered points in the space of two minutes gave the Champions an uphill task in their comeback pursuit.

Donncha McGurk played a one-two with Dara Quinn and swung over a point, JJ Higgins and Joseph Logan added points within less than 60-seconds and Peter Mulgrew shot sailed between the posts to open up a 2-06-0-05 lead.

St Pauls’ needed a goal to breathe new life into the game on the 51st minute they found it.

Niall Carmichael used his pace to burst forward across the by-line and he popped a ball into the square where Sean Og McLaren rose at the back post to palm home.

Carmichael curled over his second point of the half shortly afterwards and suddenly their daunting task looked slightly more retainable with a goal separating the sides on the 53rd minute.

They could have pulled level when Ciaran Rogers-Duffy was threaded through one-on-one, though St Brigid’s keeper Luke Cullinan repelled the initial shot and Niall Carmichael’s follow-up was scrambled to safety.

With five minutes remaining Joseph Logan coolly slotted over to make it a two-point game, but back-to-back converted frees from Ciaran Rogers-Duffy had the game on a knife-edge going into three additional minutes.

Try as they might, St Paul’s were unable to force a second goal that would have tipped the balance at the death and a minute and a half into added time JJ Higgins converted his second free of the day to close out the scoring at 2-08-1-08.

St Paul’s launched late charge to find a goal that would have forced extra time, but time was against them and referee Paddy Tumelty brought proceedings to close as St Brigid’s celebrated their second Antrim Minor Championship triumph in three-years and extended their season until the Christmas period when they will represent Antrim in the prestigious FonaCAB Ulster Minor Tournament at St Paul’s.

ST PAUL’S: A Carroll, C McDonnell, C McAlea, G Cowan, C McCann, C Burke, O McCann, C Trainor, E McGreevy, O Gamble, J Ireland (0-1), N Carmichael (0-2), S Burns, S Og McLaren (1-1), C Rogers-Duffy (0-4, 0-3f). Subs: O Casey for C Trainor (32), B McMorrow for E McGreevy (54).

ST BRIGID’S: L Cullinan, C McElhatton, S Doyle, C O’Carroll, J Mulgrew (1-0), E Sherry, O Conlon, P Mulgrew (0-1), D McGurk (0-1), T McGarvey, D Quinn, J Mallon (1-0), J Logan (0-2), JJ Higgins (0-3, 0-2f), M Lloyd (0-1). Subs: P Molloy for T McGarvey (15), J Blaney for P Molloy (53), P McConnell for P Mulgrew (58).

REFEREE: Paddy Tumelty (LÁMH DHEARG)

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by thesaffrongael

Brigid’s finish strong to claim All-County title

U-14 All County A Football Final

St Brigid’s 5-08-2-07 Dunloy

Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly

A strong last ten minutes saw St Brigid’s clinch the U-14 All-County A championship with a 5-08-2-07 win over Dunloy at Dunsilly on Friday evening.

Dunloy hit the front through a converted Paudi O’Kane free inside of three minutes, but James Morrisey dropped an angled point over to restore parity.

After trading the opening two points, the duo did the same with goals, again it was Dunloy that forged ahead as Tom Richard cut inside and floated a high shot to the net, only for Rory Magee to thump a shot from close-range into the top corner within two minutes.

The South Belfast outfit led through a smart Rudy Doyle point, though Dunloy pulled through a converted Oisin O’Brien free and then opened up a three-point gap without resistance.

A second converted O’Kane free had them ahead for the third time and fine Oisin O’Brien point from played their advantage.

Paudi O’Kane clipped over his first from play to extend the lead after linking up with Tom Richmond in the build-up.

Eventually, St Brigid’s hit back and would tie things up for the third time at the interval.

Aidan Holmes hoisted a high ball on top of Garrett Finnegan- who gathered and steered a low effort to the net to make it 1-05-2-02 at the midway point in proceedings.

The opening four scores of the half were equally exchanged. Dunloy twice hit frontwhen Dylan McTague charged forward and popped the ball over and Paudi O’Kane then played a one-two with Richard and steered high over the bar.

In-between times Rory Magee swung a high effort between the posts, and he then kicked an angled free to level for the second time in the opening exchanges.

Paudi O’Kane almost found the net with a free that dropped tantalisingly close to the line but was scrambled away.

St Brigid’s edged ahead through a fine Aidan Holmes point from a difficult angle and doubled their advantage when Senan McMahon played a one-two with Patrick McAteer and guided his shot over.

Holmes doubled his personal tally after taking a return pass from James Morrisey and getting his angles right again to open up a 2-07-1-07 lead.

Momentum was briefly halted however as Dunloy restored parity with 10 minutes to go through a sensational bullet of strike from Oisin O’Brien.

Almost instantly St Brigid’s regained their goal advantage, midfielder Dan McAuley laid the ball off to James Morrisey to slam home and make it 3-07-2-07.

Garrett Finnegan stretched the advantage three minutes later, bundling the ball home at the third time of asking after Dunloy keeper Ciaran O’Brien made two outstanding saves in the build-up.

Finnegan would add a further point on the turn and his side secured victory two minutes from time with Morrisey grabbing his second goal following a neat exchange with Rory Magee.

Dunloy were unable to grab a consolation strike in the closing stages as St Brigid’s ran out 5-08-2-07 winners to add the All-County title to their Fr Mullan success five-days previous.

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by thesaffrongael

Saints take the honours in Junior B decider

Junior Hurling B Final

Belfast Saints 1-19 St. Brigid’s 1-11

Belfast Saints took the honours in this Junior B Hurling final at Davitt’s on Saturday. The West Belfast combination led by double scores at half time and with Phillip Maguire proving a handful throughout they never looked like losing.

Maguire would finish with 0-10 to his name for an evening of hurling in which the Saints defensive strength and all round ability proved too much for a St. Brigid’s side almost totally dependent on James Kelly for their scores.

Kelly’s free taking was instrumental in keeping his side hanging in there until late in a game they never really looked like winning and his deflected free late in the game led to the goal that put a better reflection on the final score-line.

It was Kelly who got the Musgrave Park side off the mark with a pointed free in the second minute but it would be the only time that Naomh Brid would be ahead as Belfast Saints responded with four on the bounce.

Mark Caldwell, Phillip Maguire with his first of the evening from a free, Pierce O’Rawe and Daniel McGuigan had the Saints three in front by the 10th minute as they began to take control.

Another pointed James Kelly free closed the gap to two but Maguire’s second and another from Robert Gallagher with an excellent over the shoulder effort moved the ‘Hoops’ four in front before Kelly replied with his third of the game for the Musgrave Park side in the 16th minute.

Belfast Saints were then handed the opportunity to put further daylight between the sides when they were awarded a penalty but Maguire’s well struck shot sailed over.

Chris Lundy became the second player to register for St. Brigid’s but they were still hanging in there and Daniel McGuigan replied with two on the bounce before Kelly replied with St. Brigid’s final point of the half in the 27th minute.

Kelly’s point closed the gap to two and the Musgrave management would probably have been happy at this stage but Belfast Saints finished the half strongly as Mark Caldwell Phillip Maguire 0-3 and Robert Gallagher added unanswered points.

Trailing by seven, the Musgrave Park side needed a good start to the second half but in the event it was that man Maguire who extended the Belfast Saints lead from a ‘65’ and followed with another from play in the 3d minute.

James Kelly was busting a gut to get his side back into contention and he replied from a pointed free but significantly his side were off target on a number of occasions as they enjoyed a period of supremacy.

Kelly from two more frees and a fine long range effort from play had the gap down to five at the end of the third quarter but once again the Saints were able to respond emphatically.

Stephen Carey, Phillip Maguire 0-2 f’s hit points and Carey’s goal with a minute of normal time remaining put the contest out of reach.

Kelly’s deflected shot from a free ended in the Saints net to put a better reflection on the result but the final score of the half would fall to Joseph McQuillan with a point in injury time before the celebrations began.

A well-deserved win for Belfast Saints who were dominant in most areas of the field and in Phillip Maguire had a man who looked like scoring every time he received the sliotar and his free taking has been instrumental throughout the championship.

Conor Grieve in goals, Matt Carlin, Ronan Carroll, Pierce O’Rawe, Joseph McQuillan, Mark Caldwell and Daniel McGuigan were others to catch the eye in an strong all round Belfast Saints performance

St. Brigid’s were much too reliant on James Kelly for scores but Brian McGurk, Chris Lundy Michael Burke, Peter Heaney, Cathal Conway and Oisin McDonnell did all in their power to get their side going but to no avail

Stephen Graham presents he Junior B Championship cup to Belfast Saints captain, Daniel McGuigan
Terry Reilly presents a cheque for £500-00 to Paddy McIlwaine who receives it on behalf of gthe Saffron Gael

Belfast Saints: 1 Conor Grieve, 2 Brian Keatings, 3 Matt Carlin, 4 Phillip Glennon, 5 Ronan Carroll, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Pierce O’Rawe, 8 Colm McGoldrick, 9 Joseph McQuillan, 10 Niall McGettigan, 11 Mark Caldwell, 12 Stephen Carey, 13 Robert Gallagher, 14 Phillip Maguire, 15 Daniel McGuigan

St. Brigid’s: 1 Brian McGurk, 27 Chris Lundy 3 Michael Burke, 4 Oliver Leggett, 5 Toirealach Brolly, 6 Peter Heaney, 7 Michael Kerr, 8 Niall Murtagh, 9 Cathal Conway, 10 David Prenter, 11 Jack Pardy, 12 Fintan Cleary, 13 John McGuckian, 14 James Kelly, 15 Oisin McDonnell,

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by thesaffrongael

Faughs make the final after mighty struggle with Cloney

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Semi-final

Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel

Carey Faughs 3-23 Cloney Gael 2-24

Carey Faughs fought back from seven points down at one stage in the opening half to beat Cloney Gaels by 3-23 to 2-24 after extra time in an absorbing battle in Saturday’s Intermediate Hurling Semi-final at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel.

With the strong wind at their backs Cloney Gael dominated the opening quarter and after an early exchange of points between James O’Connell and Shea Hunter, the Ahoghill men hit the next six points through Owen Neeson, Ronan Graham (2) Donal Graham, Eoin Graham and Fionnbar O’Neill to lead by 0-07 to 0-01 after seventeen minutes. Carey’s Conlith McKinley came back with a point for the Faughs but further points from Donal and Ronan Graham put the Gaels nine clear by the twentieth minute. At this stageit looked like the Ahoghill side were going to hold a commanding lead by half time, but Carey finished the half strongly with a Conor McBride goal and points from Conall McGlynn and Shea Hunter to trail by just two at the interval. (1-05 to 0-10)

Cloney Gaels hit back early in the second half when an Owen Neeson point was followed by a well taken goal from midfielder Eamonn Brady and suddenly there was six between the sides. Conall McGlynn and Callum Kane responded with two points for Carey but two points from James O’Connell and one from Ronan Graham pushed the gap out to seven again eleven minutes into the second half.

Carey appeared to be in a spot of bother but they took control of the game during the next ten minutes and six in a row from Shea Hunter, Conor McBride and two apiece from Caolan McCaughan and Conlith McKinley cut the deficit back to the minimum. It was nip and tuck down the home straight but an Eamon Brady point two minutes from time appeared to have earned Cloney Gaels victory, but a goal in the dying seconds by Caolan McCaughan, when he got his hurl to a high delivery into the Cloney ‘square’ brought the game to extra time.

The Faughs outscored the Ahoghill men by 0-06 to 0-03 in the first half of extra time to lead by 2-23 to 1-21 with three points from Conor McBride, two from Calum Cane and one from Michael McVeigh. A Tom McGlone point for Cloney Gaels cut the gap back early in the second period, but Conor McBride struck a telling blow for the Faughs when he fired in his second goal of the game. It looked like it was all over but the Cloney men finished strong with a goal from Gerard Graham and two points from Patrick Graham and for a spell it looked like they might save the game, but time ran out and the Faughs sealed their place in the final against the winners of tomorrow’s second semi-final between Tir na nÓg and Oisins.

Carey’s Paddy Butler gets a big hug from his niece Méadhbha Duncan at the final whistle

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by thesaffrongael

Ruairi’s edge St John’s in semi-final thriller

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship

Semi-Final

Cushendall 1-27 St John’s 0-26 (aet)

Saturday 5 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

The big crowd in Pearse Park, Dunloy were treated to a quite brilliant game of hurling on Saturday afternoon as Cushendall and St John’s played out a thriller.  It took another 20 minutes of extra time to separate the sides but in the end, it was Cushendall who lived to fight another day and the Johnnies who headed back up the M2 wondering what they have to do to reach another county final.

This contest had everything you’d want from a game of hurling.  Thrills, spills, outrageous scores, mind boggling saves and the odd glaring miss.  It all added to the occasion.  Neil McManus with 14 points, 10 from placed ball and a few he’d like back again.  Of the four he hit from play, each one oozed class.  One under pressure but a swing of the hurl over the shoulder and it split the posts, two when you could noticeably see the man taking that split second to compose himself before striking.  Moments like that were few and far between, but McManus is and always has been the type of player that can find time in the mayhem of it all.

His old(ish) sparring partner had a massive say in the outcome of this game also.  Paddy McGill came on with nine minutes of the hour remaining and finished with three points beside his name and gave the Ruairi’s that wee shot of impetus when it was needed. 

The Johnnies, admirably, died with their boots on.  As a manager, it’s all you can ask of your team.  They left it all out on the pitch and in Conal Bohill they have a player capable of the impossible.  A brilliant game in half forward and half back.  He was everywhere when needed for St John’s while Peter McCallin was outstanding at centre half back while Oisin Donnelly’s work rate and output was phenomenal and Conor Johnston was at his impish best, with Oisin MacManus showing his skills from placed ball and the rest.

From a neutral point of view, the intensity the Johnnies brought, especially in the first half, was mesmerising.  The Ruairi’s played with a healthy wind advantage but they had neither time nor space to make hay.  Both sides packed the middle third and it wasn’t a place for the feint of heart.  Bodies were on the line, advantage was being played and the whistle wasn’t there at times.  Far from a criticism of Colm McDonald and his team, it added to the game.  It was a brilliant spectacle and the crowd were on the edge of their proverbial seats with every puc-out.

A two point lead was a slender advantage for the Ruairi’s and when Oisin MacManus fired over a ’65 in the 49th minute for his 10th point of the game, St John’s went into a deserving two point lead.

It would be a bit much to say Cushendall were teetering, but if they were ever grateful for the brilliant determination of Paddy Burke, they found it when it was needed.  The clock had just ticked into the 52nd minute when he went on a trademark rampage down the left, drawing in defenders and finding Ronan McAteer in space.  Defenders closed in, McAteer pulled, the net bulged.

The Johnnies showed their powers of recovery in the time that remained.  Cushendall went ahead by two after a brilliant side line point from Shea Shannon but MacManus and substitute Darragh McGuinness forced extra time. 

Extra time and not many had moved from whatever vantage point they had taken around the pitch.  St John’s had the wind at their back and went into a four point lead, Conor Johnston, MacManus and Shannon at it again from a side line finding their range.  Ciaran Johnston instrumental, a defensive rock and hitting points from a different postcode and his brother Con Jon causing mayhem.  Cushendall dug deep, there aren’t many who have the powers of recovery like the Ruairi’s and through Neil McManus they have the man for the big occasion.  Two frees before referee Colm McDonald called for half time in extra time, McManus was doing his bit for his side.

The second half belonged to the champions.  Points from McGill, Campbell and Ryan McCambridge edged them clear and finally put an end to the St John’s challenge.

It was a game that no one wanted to end.  It was a game that showcased the brilliance of our game.  It was a game that neither team deserved to lose and a game that St John’s will wonder how they came out second best.  Cushendall did what Cushendall do, they find a way like all great champions do.  They move on to the county final in two weeks time as the defence of their crown continues.

TEAMS

Cushendall: Conor McAllister; Liam Gillan, Paddy Burke, Charlie McAuley; Stephen Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ruairi McCollam; Fred McCurry, Alex Delargy; Ronan McAteer, Neil McManus, Fergus McCambridge; Ciaran Neeson, Ryan McCambridge, Joseph McLaughlin

Scorers: N McManus 0-14 (10f’s); E Campbell 0-3; R McCambridge 0-3; Paddy McGill 0-3; R McAteer 1-00; J McLaughlin 0-2 (1f); C McAuley 0-1; F McCurry 0-1

St John’s:  Simon Doherty; Jack Bohill, Ciaran Johnston, Ryan McNulty; Conal Morgan, Peter McCallin, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Michail Dudley; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Conal Bohill; Shea Shannon, Oisin MacManus, Aaron Bradley

Scorers: O MacManus 0-12 (8fs, 2 ‘65s); S Shannon 0-3; Conor Johnston 0-3; Ciaran Johnston 0-2; R McNulty 0-2; Darragh McGuinness 0-2; M Dudley 0-1; C Bohill 0-1

Referee: Colm McDonald

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