Month / February 2025

by thesaffrongael

Blessed Trinity qualify for Year 8 final

Gaelfast Year 8 qualifiers

Goals win games would suggest as Blessed Trinity qualified for Antrim Year 8 Shield final by surpassing the challenges of Edmund Rice in the Quarter final and De La Salle in the Semi-final.

Quarter Final 1: Blessed Trinity 4-1 vs 2-1 Edmund Rice
Edmund Rice came out of the traps quick by scoring 1-1 in the first minute. Mason McAlea showcased great skill throughout the game for Edmund Rice. Blessed Trinity defence held out Edmund Rice for the rest of the half. Momentum would swing in the second half for Blessed Trinity as midfielders Archie Matthews and Ruairi Hennesy set up attacks which cut through the Edmund Rice defence which resulted in Blessed Trinity scoring 4-1 without reply. Edmund Rice would get a consolation goal late in the game but damage was already done.

Quarter Final 2: De La Salle 4-5 vs 3-4 All Saints
This was an end-to-end game but De La Salle showed a little more class to win the quarter final. All Saints centre half forward James Nolan starred throughout the game with his great running and score taking display. Leo Winchester played a key role for De La Salle as he turned over and intercepted key passes to build a platform for La Salle attacks. All Saint’s midfielder Leon Syla showcased excellent work rate where he stopped many La Salle attacks allowing for All Saints to stay withing touching distance. Luke and Declan Tumelty worked a smart free kick on the 20th minute mark for De La Salle which resulted in a goal. This changed momentum of the game resulting in De La Salle to hold onto a hard-fought victory.

Semi Final: Blessed Trinity 5-0 vs 3-2 De La Salle
Blessed Trinity held onto a 4-point win as they beat De La Salle in the semi-final. Blessed Trinity used the wind in the first half quite well were they played fast counter-attacking football to score 4 early goals with Se O’Hara playing a pivotal role in full forward. Luke and Declan Tumelty led De La Salle second half fight back, bringing them to touching distance. Time would run out for La Salle as great defending from Blessed Trinity would see out the game. Blessed Trinity will have to wait a few weeks to find out who will face them in the shield final.

Meanwhile St Louis Ballymena and St Mary’s qualified for the Antrim Cup Year 8 final by beating the challenges of St Louises, Coláiste Feirste, Rathmore, St Malachy’s and Our Lady of St Pats Knock

To see more photos click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/hpJjmMw4Ur5Aj5/?invite=7dcd483a-3469-40b2-b9f4-e8dbbb99a6ca

by thesaffrongael

Sam visited Ballymacward PS

Ballymacward PS held their annual and popular GAA day.The school lapsed their curriculum for the day and enjoyed thoroughly celebrating and learning about the GAA and participating in coaching. Highlight of the day was the visit and company of Sam Maguire for the morning which generated great excitement among pupils, parents and staff.
The day commenced with the pupils watching  a powerpoint presentation of the GAA and then participating in a fun pictorial quiz of spotting Principal Mr Kennedy and Mr Buchanan in pics from their gaa careers. 


In assembly Mr Buchanan delivered a presentation on the history and importance of the Sam Maguire and pupils watched highlights of Armagh’s All Ireland win in 2024.
Popular Saffron Gael photographer Bert Trowlen then conducted a busy photoshoot of an array of quality pics with the Sam involving pupils, staff and parents . Bert was so captivated by the excitement of the presence of Sam he ended up getting his own pic with the famous and iconic trophy.
Throughout the day all classes experienced quality coaching in Gaelic football, Hurling and Camogie conducted by Gaelfast’s Mark Munce and Kieran Megraw and Caroline Tracey from Lámh Dhearg the clubs feeder school.
While in class the pupils completed a series of GAA related tasks and activities such as listening to the story “My First Match”, completing comprehension of Croke Park, designing  their own GAA jersey and Colouring in GAA stars Competition etc.
The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the day with a difference and focused on the GAA  as so many pupils are involved in GAA sports and a wide range of teams are represented in our school.Many thanks to Bert, Coaches and Co Armagh Board for making the day possible.

To see more of Bert’s photos from the day click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/aqHxfCf6T7ruty/?invite=5810ca79-172a-4f02-a024-889236e36893

by thesaffrongael

Road narrows as Leitrim visit Corrigan

NFL Division 3

Antrim v Leitrim

Saturday-Corrigan Park 2-30pm

 After Sunday’s implosion at O’Connor Park Antrim are left with little room for error as Division 3 basement side, Leitrim visit Corrigan Park on Saturday.

In what was always going to be a difficult campaign, Antrim got off to a great start when they defeated a fancied Clare at Saturday’s venue.

 They were hoping to carry that good form into their second game when they travelled to play Fermanagh in Round 2 in Ederney but despite a descent performance they lost by the minimum to the Lake siders.

A win against Mickey Harte’s high flying Offaly last Sunday would have kept their promotion hopes alive and that win looked very much on the cards as they finished the opening half on the ascendancy to trail by two at the interval.

 The wheels came off the wagon however at the start of the second half when the Saffrons had two players Red carded in the opening seven minutes and despite a brave battling performance by the ‘13’ Offaly pulled away to win comfortably in the end.

Both Conor Stewart and Conor Hand look likely to miss Saturday’s must win encounter with Leitrim as the road narrows and Division 3 survival becomes the immediate concern.

 In such a competitive division the goal posts can move from week to week and a couple of wins coupled with results going Antrim’s way elsewhere could change all that but getting points on board will be Andy McEntee’s main concern for now.

With Antrim’s regular mid-field looking likely to miss the Leitrim visit Antrim will have to reshuffle the pack with Marc Jordan and Fionn Nagle possibly moving out the field to take up the slack.

Joe Finnegan limped out of the Offaly clash and is another concern while Kavan Keenan missed the Offaly game through injury and is unlikely to be ready for Saturday.

Ryan Murray got some game time at O’Connor Park and is likely to start if declared fit while James McDonnell and James McAuley were given first starts in Tullamore.

 Patrick Ferris replaced Finnegan with John Morgan and Callum Higgins seeing some game time at O’Connor Park and will all be looking to get the nod on Saturday but at the time of writing no team had been announced.

 Leitrim have made a poor start to their division 3 campaign, losing heavily to Clare, Laois and Kildare but may see their visit to Belfast as an opportunity to arrest their dreadful start to this year’s campaign.

Despite the enforced changes that Antrim will have to make I believe the Saffrons will have enough at their disposal to put their last two defeats behind them to move onto four points and push Leitrim into deeper trouble.