Month / September 2025

by thesaffrongael

Magic McErlain fires Moneyglass one step closer to Intermediate glory

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final

Saturday 27th September

Report by Niall Kelly from the Bear Pit

Naomh Treasa 0-16    Naomh Eargnait 4-17

Moneyglass booked their place in this year’s Intermediate showpiece thanks to an absolutely scintillating second half showing where their main men really came to the fore. Hat-trick hero, Aidan McErlain, was in sublime form amassing a tally of 3-05 over the hour. The breakneck pace at which he and his teammates exploited any gaps within the St Teresa’s rearguard, ultimately led to the demise of the Glen Road side.  When the Super T’s weren’t busy trying to thwart the Moneyglass centre-forward, they had to contend with the dynamic Tiernan McCormick, whose pace on the front-foot was just as devastating.

However, despite eventually cruising to a handsome thirteen point win, the South West side did not have it all their own way. For forty minutes, the pendulum of momentum swung this way and that as the game was firmly in the melting point. With the scores deadlocked at the interval, Naomh Treasa had actually nudged into a two point lead thanks to scores from Jay Mallon and Eoghan Hamill with thirty seven minutes on the clock. Just as it was appearing that the favourites tag was wearing heavy on the men from Lough Beg, McErlain unleashed the second of his three goals with an emphatic finish, and they never looked back. The dismissal of St Teresa’s rock at the back, Paul Johnston, moments later, compounded their woes as their opponents capitalised ruthlessly on the gaps that opened up.

Proceedings started brightly as each side looked menacing going forward. With ten minutes gone, the sides were locked at two a piece with Niall McCann and Phil Maguire on target for the Belfast side which were cancelled out by efforts from Sean Boyd and Colm Duffin. Both were battling to gain the ascendancy; Moneyglass were looking most dangerous when they moved the ball with pace and fluidity through the hands as St Teresa’s were utilising runners from deep and employing a more patient and probing approach. St Ergnat’s nudged ahead thanks to Duffin again but were pegged back minutes later thanks to John Mallon who found his bearings with a two-pointed free.

The game’s first major arrived on the eighteenth minute. An outrageous diagonal ball from Tiernan McCormick split the St Teresa’s defence wide open paving McErlain through on goal. Netminder, Mark Small, had raced from his box to narrow the angle but the talismanic number eleven squeezed it under him and despite Paul Johnston’s best efforts on the line, the umpires brandished their green flag.

 McErlain was then inches from repeating his feat from the resulting kickout, as he discharged another goal-bound rocket only to see it kiss the wrong side of the crossbar and over for a point.

Naomh Treasa responded well though. A prominent figure in their Championship campaign to date, Niall McCann, hit back with a perfectly flighted two pointed free off the deck and another white flag minutes after for good measure to tie things up once more. It really was tit for tat now as the game approached the short whistle, brothers Seanchan and Colm Duffin combined well on the twenty sixth minute with the former arrowing over a superb effort from the left flank. Again though, this would only incite another response from the Belfast natives with Mallon and McCann extending their respective tallies. A monster effort from Colm ‘Smiley’ Duffin from just inside the arc would see the teams retreat at the break in stalemate as the scoreboard read 0-09 to 1-06.

Whatever words of wisdom were imparted in the Moneyglass changing room at the break certainly had the desired effect as the men in blue and navy would go on to run riot. Despite Jay Mallon and Eoghan Hamill opening the second half scoring, St Ergnat’s were men on a mission. Their first score of the second period would come from an all too familiar source as that man McErlain demonstrated his prowess from distance arcing his effort over from the placed ball for an orange flag. Sean Boyd then pounced from the resulting kick-out as they started transitioning through the gears.

The next three-minute period ultimately decided the fate of the game. With the half seven minutes old, McErlain would strike again and in style. A typically direct and surging dart forward opened up adequate space to pull the trigger as he thumped the size five high into the roof of the white curtain. St Teresa’s sought to launch a reply but were shortly after reduced to fourteen as two yellows spelt the end of Paul Johnston’s day.

With Moneyglass constantly looking to stretch their legs, they licked their lips at the proposition of more open grass to target. They dealt the Glen Road side another hammer blow on the forty fifth minute as McErlain blasted home yet again in a near carbon copy to his second. The death knell was then well and truly sounded five minutes later as Tiernan McCormick grabbed a fourth goal. A trademark slaloming run forward at pace opened up the required space to fire at goal. Small in goal saved well though with an outstretched hand but was powerless to stop the Moneyglass number five jumping among the melee to fist to the net.

With ten remaining, the result was a foregone conclusion and both teams had emptied their benches. Conor Boyd, Ronan Campbell and Ryan Boyd all announced their arrivals with well-taken scores. Tiernan McCormick, not satisfied with just a goal to his name, added a further two points to his tally curling in off the right flank.

Credit to St Teresa’s though, despite their numbers being further reduced due to a black card, they kept plugging away and Niall McCann, Eoghan Hamill and Eoin Connolly epitomised their resilience as they converted scores of their own before Cathal McDermott’s final whistle.

So, just as many would’ve predicted, Moneyglass will compete in yet another Intermediate final. With a potent arsenal of attacking weaponry at their disposal, they will surely go enter as favourites yet again. They will have a keen eye on tomorrow’s meeting between Sarsfields and Glenavy. Many are anticipating yet another fascinating duel with Sarsfields, however, the Chapel Hill side have caught the eye in recent weeks and an intriguing game is in prospect.

Teams:

St Teresa’s:

M Small; R Mallon, P Johnston, C O’Rawe;  C McGoldrick,  E Connolly (0-01,) C Mallon; D McCann, S Maguire; E Hamill (0-02,) P McGoldrick, N McCann (0-08 – 0-04 & 2tp;) J Mallon (0-03 – 0-01 &1tp,) P Maguire (0-01,) A Taylor

Moneyglass:

J McLaughlin; M Mullan, Z McCaughan, J McCormick; T McCormick (1-02,) P Duffin, C McCann; K McCann, S Duffin (0-01;) S Boyd (0-02,) A McErlain (3-05,) F Duffin; C O’Kane, C Duffin (0-03,) T Cassidy

Substitute Scorer:

C Boyd (0-01)

R Campbell (0-01)

R Boyd (0-02 – 1tp)

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by thesaffrongael

League and Championship double still on for St. Agnes

JFC – Semi-Final

St Agnes’ 1-18 Éire Óg 1-11

Division 3 league winners, St. Agnes are just one game away from a famous double after defeating Eire Og in a competitive Junior Football Championship semi-final at Pairc Una on Saturday evening.

They didn’t get it all their own way against an Eire Og side who were still in contention late in the game when Mark Graham finished to the net from close range to close the gap to four.

As they had done throughout the game, the Aggies were always able to respond and the league winners finished strongly to win by seven in the end and book a place in the final against Na Piarsaigh.

The home side were competing for the first time in the knockout phase after an unbeaten run in the group stages which saw them clinch victory in all three games to earn top spot and automatically enter the semi-final stage.

Éire Óg overcame the challenge of O’Donnell’s just a fortnight ago at the quarter-final stage and squeezed through to take a place in Saturday’s semi-final and while they were competitive throughout, they were much too laboured in their build up play, especially in the opening half.

Eire Og goal scorer, Mark Graham gets his shot away as Defender Reilly attemprts to clock

It was the Derriaghy men who had a great early opportunity when a goal looked on when Lorcan McIlroy found space and drove past his marker but his weakly struck shot was easily dealt with by Colum Carrol in the St Agnes’ nets.

James Campbell got the first score of the game after he pointed for St. Agnes but  Conall Smyth replied with two points for the Óg’s to swing the early momentum in their favour with the second a great effort that clipped the inside of the post.

St. Agnes made a positive response however as they replied with a goal from James Campbell in the 15th minute to take a lead they would never subsequently lose.

Aggies wing-back, Caomhin Floyd’s shot looked to be going over but came back of the upright and Campbell gathered the rebound before dispatching his effort low and into the bottom corner.

The same player followed up his major with a point to pile on the pressure as the Aggies began to take control and David McGaharan added another from out on the wing, much to the delight of the Aggies support.  

James Connell pulled one back for Eire Of just before half time but it was St. Agnes who led by six at the break as both teams made the long trek to the dressing rooms..

The second half began with a number of personnel changes in the Eire Og lineout and the Derriaghy men made a positive start with their attacking play looking far more potent when Lorcan McIlroy struck just after the break to reduce the deficit to five.

McIlroy then converted two frees and a superb effort from the impressive Conor McKenna had the Eire Og bench on their toes in approval and at this stage a shock looked a distinct possibility.  

They were awarded a free just moments after McKenna’s score and the same player had the opportunity to reduce the gap to two points but this time the Eire Og sharp shooter pulled his effort wide.

It proved a pivotal moment in the game as the ‘Aggies’ responded in style to take control with Conall Turley leading the way and the big full-forward would finish the game with 7 points to wrestle control from their opponents.

Turley extended his side’s lead to seven with just nine minutes remaining and it looked as good as over for the opposition but they kept fighting to the end.

Conor Turley who scored 0-7 for St. Agnes drops back to help out in defence

They were rewarded for their efforts when a long delivery fell favourably for Mark Graham and the former Casement’s man flicked the ball beyond Carroll in the Aggies goals to reduce the deficit to four.

Time was not on the side of the underdogs however and St. Agnes responded again when David McGaharan struck two points in quick succession to put the game firmly out of their opponents reach.

Turley sealed victory when he popped over another free for his seventh of the evening to put further daylight between the sides as the referee blew his whistle for the final time.

St. Agnes will now start favourites when they take on Pearses in the final in two weeks-time with the possibility of a league and championship double very much alive but they could face a stiff test from a Pearses side who have run into a bit of form just at the right time.

St Agnes’: C Carroll; C Flannery, K McCormick, P Carroll; R Gilligan 0-1, R Reilly, K Floyd 0-1; D Turley 0-1, P Mulgrew; C McBride 0-1, S Madden, J Campbell 1-2; D McGarahan 0-5, C Turley 0-7 (0-5f), C Clarke.

Subs: C Gregory, C McKee, P McClenagahn, O McKenna, D Quigley, C Kennedy, C Gilligan

Éire Óg: J King; B McDaid, B O’Malley, J Devlin 0-1; C Rice, C McKenna 0-1, K Clark; P McNeils B O’Malley; S Erskine, R Donnelly 0-1, G Donnelly; C Smyth 0-3, L McIlroy 0-4 (0-2f), M Graham 1-0

Subs: R Clarke, J Connell 0-1, K Vesall, E Sheehy, J George

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

Roy McLarnon of St. Agnes presents a cheque for £500-00 to Paddy McIlwaine before the St. Agnes v Eire Og semi-final in Belfast on Saturday. Paddy was receiving it on behalf of the Saffron Gael

TO VIEW MORE OF PADDY’S PICS FROM THE SEMI-FINAL AND THE HALF TIME CHILDRENS GAME BETWEEN THE TWO CLUBS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Edgar’s late goal sends Bridini Oga through to final

Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate semi-final

Brídíní Óga Glenravel 1-9 Cushendall II 2-4

Brídíní Óga Glenravel really got out of jail in this keenly-contested Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate semi-final in Ballycastle on Saturday afternoon.

With the game slipping into added time, they trailed by 0-8 to 2-4 and looked on the way out of the competition.

Then Molly Woulahan was fouled 25 metres out and free-taker Torie Edgar drove her shot off a defender’s stick into the roof of the net. A minute later the same combination created a second free that the Glenravel captain pointed. There wasn’t time for Cushendall to get a goal.

The Bridini Oga and Ruairi Og teams stand for a minutes silence in memory of John Dornan, whose son Chris, a Ruairi Og clubman, is the Bridini Oga team manager

While both defences were in control, the failure of Brídíní Óga initially to deliver scores at regular intervals and then Cushendall’s failure to add more than two points during the second half, kept a scrappy encounter in the boiling pot right until the very end.

Brídíní Óga started well enough and went 0-5 to 0-1 ahead after 11 minutes, the opening two points from Orlaith Gould and Shauna McDonnell and followed by three frees from Edgar.

Orlaith McCurry had opened Cushendall’s account and added a second point in the 12th minute.

However from then until the finish, the Dall defence was superb, well-organised with McCurry and the midfielders filtering back to assist. Torie Edgar point from play after 25 minutes was the only score for the eventual winners until she pointed a free in the 40th minute.

By then Cushendall were in the lead and looking comfortable despite the Glenravel team having the balance of the play.

Clíodhna Thompson goaled in the 24th minute and Niamh McNeill added a second three-pointer after good work from Orlaith McCurry to take a 2-2 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Kirsty Laverty’s long-range shot on the re-start went all the way to Cushendall net, but was ruled out for a player in the goal area obstructing Louise Mulholland. That let-off lifted the Cushendall team and Clíodhna Thompson made the gap three with a point from a free.

There were just two more scores over the next 20 minutes, both Edgar frees, until Thompson picked up the sliotar breaking from a long free from Ellen Leech and made it a two point game with two minutes plus added time left.

The Glenravel girls pulled a shot or two wide of the target but a great run out of defence by Erin Coulter started the move which led to the Molly Woulahan free which saw Edgar fire through a packed goalmouth to save the day and put them through to a first final at this level since they beat Portglenone in 2022.

Portglenone bowed out of this season’s competition in the other semi-final. They were beaten by Loughgiel IIs by 1-21 to 0-6.

Loughgiel therefore face Brídíní Óga Glenravel in the final on October 11th.

Brídíní Óga: Orla Donnelly, Maeve Mulholland, Jaime Woulahan, Danielle Scally, Emer McCann, Brónagh Laverty, Erin Coulter, Leona Gillan, Orlaith Gould 0-1, Eimhear McAleenan, Kirsty Laverty, Shauna McDonnell 0-1, Aimee Traynor, Torie Edgar 1-7, 1-6 frees, Molly Woulahan.

Subs: Sarah Fyfe for A Traynor (HT), Sorcha Carey for E McAleenan (54).

Ruairí Óg: Louise Mulholland, Laoise McCollam, Amy McDonnell, Vatherine O’Boyle, Ellen Leech, Maeve McAllister, Erinmae Mitchel, Rhianna Black, Lára Haughey, Caoimhe O’Hara, Orlatih McCurry 0-2, Síne Woodhouse, Aoife Delargy, Niamh McNeill 1-0, Clíodhna Thompson 1-2, 0-1 free.

Referee: Anthony McAuley (Ballycastle)

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by thesaffrongael

Stunning final quarter sees Dunloy through to second final in three years

Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship – Semi Final

Dunloy 0-18 Portglenone 1-10

Friday 26 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

Dunloy produced a stunning final quarter against Portglenone at Dunsilly to book their place in the senior decider for the second time in three years.  Five points was the difference at the end of the hour as the Casement’s semi-final voodoo struck again, Friday nights defeat their sixth loss in seven years at this stage.

Keelan Molloy and Seaan Elliott led the way for the Cuchullains, scoring 14 points between them and shared four two pointers as well as putting daylight between the sides with the game in the melting pot.

This was a contest where the Cuchullains showed both sides of their play.  Playing with patience and dictating the first half, facing whatever wind was blowing at Dunsilly while the second half showcased their ability to break at speed and when given a yard of space, they weren’t found wanting when it came to taking scores from outside the arch.

Deaglan Smith was at his instrumental best in the middle of the park and had plenty of support with Eoin McFerran while Reece Cunning, Aaron Crawford and Ryan McGarry all formed part of an excellent defence.

Portglenone were reliant on the trickery and brilliance of Michael Hagan, he would score four points in the first half but he had little in the way of support.

When Daniel McNicholl scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute, it reeled the Cuchullains lead in to the minimum and gave Portglenone a shot of adrenaline with the game going into the closing stages.  It was Dunloy who finished strongly however as the Casement’s got little joy from a well organised Cuchullains defence.

Dunloy dominated the opening quarter with Portglenone struggling to get a footing in the game.  Seaan Elliott opened the scoring before a rare attack from the Casement’s yielded a point from Hagan to tie the scores.  Portglenone wouldn’t register another score for close to 15 minutes however as Dunloy kept control.

Point from Nigel Elliott and a brace from Molloy (one free) put three between the sides before Seaan Elliott had a sight of the Portglenone goals.  Cutting through the heart of the defence with a strong run, Elliott went low with the outside of his boot but Kevin Mullan dived at full length to push the ball away.  Elliott did convert the resulting ’45 to put four between the sides by the 16th minute.

Portglenone began to press Dunloy further up the field and as a result, began to find their way into the semi final.  Caolan Tierney split the posts moments after Aidan McAleese saw his effort crash against the crossbar.

Luke McFerran restored the four point Dunloy lead before a brace from Hagan breathed life into the Casement’s challenge as Portglenone played with momentum and drive in the closing stages of the first half.

A Smith free from an acute angle was Dunloy’s last score of the opening 30 in the 25th minute but a controversial two point free for a ‘three man’ infringement in the Dunloy half from Paddy Kelly left the minimum between the sides with Hagan rounding off the scoring with his fourth of the half to leave the sides tied on seven points each at the interval.

Those closing stages were a blow for the Cuchullains who had played the majority of the football in the first half.  Portglenone showed how dangerous they could be when given the opportunity and half time came at the perfect time for Dunloy.

They opened the scoring with a brace of points from Molloy and Seaan Elliott while another three man infringement handed Paddy Kelly the chance to reduce the Dunloy lead to the minimum.

The third quarter was similar to the first but this time it was Portglenone who had the lion’s share of possession, looking to find gaps in the Dunloy defence.  The Cuchullains looked to counter but neither side were finding scoring chances easy.

Portglenone did go close with Dermot McAleese’s goal bound effort superbly blocked by a recovering Reece Cunning but Dunloy, with Molloy and Seaan Elliott taking centre stage.

A brace of two pointers either side of a point from Aidan McAleese opened a four point lead for the Cuchullians once more with 11 minutes of the hour remaining.  Portglenone got a lifeline through half back Daniel McNicholl scoring the only goal of the game.  Coming at the end of a brilliant run from Aidan McAleese with Dermot McAleese prominent in the build up also to leave the minimum between the sides.

It looked like that goal would give Portglenone any momentum there was going but Dunloy hit back through a quite brilliant two pointer from the outside of Seaan Elliott’s right boot.

It was all Portglenone in the closing stages as they looked for another goal.  Enda Lynn brought the best out of Chrissy McMahon from an acute angle before a monstrous two pointer from Molloy stretched the Dunloy lead to five with two minutes remaining.  That score making it four of Dunloy’s last scores to that point were two pointers.

Dermot McAleese and Deaglan Smith swapped points at the death as Dunloy saw out the remaining time to qualify for a meeting with the winners of Sunday’s Loughshore derby between Creggan and reigning champions Cargin.

TEAMS

DUNLOY: Chrissy McMahon; Reece Cunning, Aaron Crawford, James Scally; Aodhan McGarry, Ryan McGarry, Conor Kinsella; Eoin McFerran, Deaglan Smith; Eoin O’Neill, Seaan Elliott, Tom McFerran; Luke McFerran, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott

Subs: Jack Martin for J Scally (37); Barry McCloskey for L McFerran (56)

Scorers: K Molloy 0-7 (1f, 1xTPF, 1xTP); S Elliott 0-7 (2xTP, 1’45); D Smith 0-2 (1f); L McFerran 0-1; N Elliott 0-1

PORTGLENONE: Kevin Mullan; Ryan Convery, Kevin O’Kane, Ronan Delargy; Conor Magee, Niall Delargy, Daniel McNicholl; Niall McKeever, Dermot McAleese; Oisin Doherty, Enda Lynn, Caolan Tierney; Paddy Kelly, Michael Hagan, Aidan McAleese

Subs: Johnny Convery for K O’Kane (45); Ronan Kelly for N McKeever (45); Stephen Kelly for C Tierney (59); Sean Byrne for M Hagan (60)

Scorers: M Hagan 0-4; P Kelly 0-3 (1f, 1xTPF); D McNicholl 1-00; D McAleese 0-1; C Tierney 0-1; A McAleese 0-1

Referee: Paddy Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

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by thesaffrongael

Griffin inspires Moneyglass to victory

U16B Football Championship final

St. Ergnat’s 3-8  Gort na Mona 2-7

On a perfect night for football under the Dunsilly lights the U16 B Championship final saw St Ergnat’s Moneyglass face Gort Na Mona. With both sides showing early final nerves it was the Skilful Joey Griffin who got the South West side on their way with an early point followed by a goal and a further point from the same player.

Gort na Mona were creating opportunities themselves with a combination of resolute defending by the Moneyglass defence, where Niall Quinn in goals was excellent and wayward shooting kept them scoreless.  

The Turf Lodge side would finally get off the mark through a point from Aodhan O’Hanlonand when Lorcan Cordner followed with a goal it was game on with only a point separating the sides.

Moneyglass looked shocked but reacted positively with a goal from Sionan McCormack and another from that man Griffin and when Lurghan Hardy and his midfield partner Daniel McErlain added two points, St. Ergnats were back in control.

Gort na Mona’s only first half response came from mid-fielder, Nathan McKenna who split the posts at the other end but at half time Moneyglass were in a strong position when they led 3-05 to 1-03.

Second half proceedings got underway with a rejuvenated Gort na Mona showing their intent from the throw in driving forward at every opportunity and Aodhan O’Hanlon pointed and when Michael Donnelly finished to the net for their second goal the St. Ergnat’s lead had been reduced to three points with 15 minutes gone.

The South West side had been held scoreless during this period and this was followed by a big moment in the game, with advantage being played to Gort na Mona and they looked certain to score a third goal.

Moneyglass keeper, Niall Quinn came to his side’s rescue with an excellent save however the ball brought back for the earlier infringement, which was converted and it was now a two point game 3-05 to 2-06 and all still to play for.

This seemed to push St. Ergnat’s on as they began to wrestle the advantage away from the opposition with Joey Griffin and Sionán McCormack scoring to extend their lead to four again and that was how it would finish with both sides exchanging late point through Jack Wisdom and Joey Griffin.

A great advert for Juvenile football and a credit to both sides for an entertaining game with plenty of talent on show from both sides but in the end it was the  Joey Griffin inspired St.Ergnat’s who did enough to claim the trophy.

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