Month / December 2024

by thesaffrongael

Clann Éireann set up semi-final meeting with Magherafelt

fonaCAB St Paul’s Ulster Minor Tournament

Clann Éireann 5-12 St Molaise Irvinstown 3-11

A strong second half showing by Armagh champions Clann Éireann saw the Lurgan side book their place in the semi-final of the fonaCAB at the expense of St Molaise of Irvinstown in Sunday’s quarter final at Sportlann, Colaiste Feirste.

There was little between the two teams in the opening half, Clann Éireann turning around with a two point lead, but the really got going early in the second and added three more goals to their half time total of 2-2 to open a massive gap. However the Irvinstown boys kept battling away and three goals in the last ten minutes brought them back to within seven at the end.

The opening quarter was a low scoring affair as both team adjusted to the 4G surface and though Clann Éireann made the early running it was the Fermanagh champions who got the first two scores through the excellent Mattie McDerrmott and Barry Goodwin. The Armagh Champions ability to get goals was to prove a major factor and two from left half forward Adam Furphy on fifteen minutes and full forward Euan McAreavey on twenty two saw them go in at the break with a one point lead (2-02 to 0-07)

With the stiff breeze at the backs in the second half Clann Éireann were soon ahead with early scores from Cohen Henderson and Euan McAreavey. Barry Goodwin levelled matters again with a point for Irvinstown but the next ten minutes was all one way traffic as the Armagh boys began to hit their stride. Five in a row from goalkeeper Liam Carroll, Cohen Henderson, Euan McAreavey (2) and James McCooe saw them pull well clear and it was clear at this stage they would advance.

The added to the pressure with two superb goals from full forward McAreavey and centre forward McCooe, and indeed McAreavey could have had another had it not been for a great point blank save from Jamie McConnell in the Irvinstown goals.

The gap was into double figures entering the last ten minutes but to their credit Irivinstown kept battling away and managed to score three further goal through Mattie McDermott, Barry Goodwin and James Hanna to close within seven at the end.

Clann Éireann’s win sees them through to a semi-final meeting with O’Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt on December 22nd at St Paul’s.

Irvinstown goalkeeper Jamie McDonnell makes a fantastic point-bacl save to deny Clann Éireann’s Euan McAreavey

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by thesaffrongael

Heartbreak for Shamrocks as Sarsfields edge through to another final

AIB Senior All-Ireland Club semi-final


Loughgiel (Ulster Champions) 3-9 Sarsfield’s (Connacht champions) 1-16

For most of the first half of Sunday’s all Ireland Camogie semi-final at Breffni Park, there must have been a big section of the Shamrocks fans making plans for a trip to Croke Park on Sunday week. The Antrim and Ulster champions were flying it after an unbelievable start and were nine points clear of All Ireland champions Sarsfields at one stage.

There were still four to the good at half time and though Sarsfields clawed their way back in the second half they were still level going into injury time at the end of the game. However the momentum had swung in favour of the Galway    side at this stage and two late points in injury time got them over the line.

There was still hope however when Loughgiel were awarded a free and Roisin McCormick took the point that was on offer, but the other chance they needed never came and the All Ireland champions continued their brilliant run of success with yet another All Ireland final appearance.

The Shamrocks made a dream start and after Lucia McNaughton grabbed a point in the opening minute, and following good approach work by Anna Connolly Caitrin Dobbin broke through, and despite being pulled back by a Sarsfields defender, she fired low to the net.

What a star! Things couldn’t get any better, but they did when Amy Boyle won possession and sent Roisin McCormick clear and the corner forward made not mistake as she grabbed her team’s second goal.

Seven in arrears Sarsfields were rocked back on their heels but the All Ireland champions got their first score on the board when Niamh McGrath sent over. However Loughgiel were still very much on the front foot and they hit back with well taken points from Annie Lynn and Roisin McCormick to stretch the lead to eight.

Sarsfields finally found a bit of rhythm in their play when the McGrath sisters Siobhan and Niamh found the target, but Loughgiel gained the upper hand again when Lucia McNaughton was put clear by Caitrin Dobbin and McNaughton sent the travelling Loughgiel fans into ecstasy when she grabbed her team’s third goal.

The first set-back or the Shamrocks came soon afterwards when Sarsfields got their first goal of the game, and they took advantage as the clock ticked towards half time, adding two more points to close the gap to four by the time referee Donegan sounded the half-time whistle.  (Loughgiel 3-04 Sarsfields 1-06)

The Sarsfields revival continued after the restart when Cora Kenny and Orlaith McGrath knocked over points to leave just two between the sides, but Roisin McCormick stretched the lead to three when she sent a free between the Sarsfields posts. However the champions were getting the upper hand and three points without reply from the brilliant Siobhan McGrath brought them level for the first time in the game.

Scores were getting harder to come by as underfoot conditions deteriorated, but Loughgiel ended the deadlock when McCormick and Dobbin added points to put them two clear yet again. Sarsfields Caoimhe Kelly and Loughgiel’s Roisin McCormick exchanged points to keep the gap at two, but the All Ireland champions hit back to level the match again, Kelly and McGrath providing the scores.

The Galway girls hit the front for the first time as the clocked ticked towards full time, Niamh McGrath’s free giving them the lead. That lead was doubled soon afterwards the All Ireland champions experience started to show in such a pressure situation, and though McCormick reduced the gap to the minimum with a pointed free, time was against the Shamrocks and Sarsfields scrambled over the line.

A heroic effort by the Antrim and Ulster champions, and a hard blow to take, but they once again showed they are right up there with the best teams in the country.

Loughgiel: E Boyle, C McKillop, K Lynn, F McVeigh, M McGarry, E McFadden, C Laverty, A Boyle, A Connolly, C McCloskey capt, L McNaughton (1-1), A Lynn (0-2), Caitrín Dobbin (1-1), K McKillop, R McCormick (1-5, 0-3 frees).

Subs: M O’Hara for F McVeigh (44), A McKillop for K McKillop (59)

Sarsfield’s: L Glynn, R Kelly, L Ward, K Gallagher, T Kenny, M Cooney, J Daly, C McGrath, N McGrath (1-2, 1-1 frees), K Donohue, O McGrath (0-1), S Spellman, C Kelly (0-3), S McGrath (0-8, 4 frees), R Murray.

Subs: C Kenny (0-2) for R Murray (ht), L McGrath for C McGrath (50), C McGrath for S Spellman (57),

Referee: G Donegan (Dublin)

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by thesaffrongael

Con Magees Awards dinner

Con Magees Glenravel held their annual awards evening in the local clubrooms on Friday evening. No expense was spared as county chairman Seamus McMullan was transported all the way rom Martinstown where he made a series of awards during a very enjoyable evening.

A few of the highlights of the evening were the presentation of South West Antrim and county titles with the minor footballers winning the Laverty Cup (South West Antrim Minor Football Championship), the Senior Reserve Football Shield and the Antrim Minor Hurling A title which was won by Glenariffe-Glenravel for the first time, six of the panel coming from Con Magee.

Members of the Glenariffe-Glenravel Minor A Hurling Championship winning team received the trophy from county chairman Seamus McMullan at the clubs awards dinner.

Topping the internal awards was club legend Kieran Hughes being inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame Aidan McCafferty receiving the SPOH award, David Higgins winning the Danny McQuillan Memorial Cup for Playing Personality, and Jarlatth O’Donnell receiving the Clubman of the Year award for the third time.

Sean Paul McKenna received the Reserve Football Cup from club chairman Ian McKeown plus the 2023 Reserve Player of the Year award which he left behind him after last years dinner in the Tullyglass Hotlel

Our two county camogs Erin Coulter and Sarah Fyfe shared the Camogie Player of the Year award, Claire Emerson won the Division 3 POY, Clodagh McCann won the LGFA Player of the Year, Aidan O’Donnell the Senior Footballer of the Year, Calum Higgins the Under 21 POY, Rian Lennon and Declan McAuley shared the Hurling honours with Senior Hurler of the Year, Harry Fyfe and Ronan McCormick the Minor Footballer of the Year, while Orlagh Gould and Emer McCann shared the LGFA Minor award.

The Fyfe family at the Con Magees Awards dinner. L-R, Katie, Sarah, Harry and Anna

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