Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

Photographer and GAA writer who has been covering hurling, football and camogie for almost forty years
by thesaffrongael

Oisins cailíní win the LGFA Junior B title

Antrim LGFA Junior B final at Moneyglass

Glenariffe Oisins 4-13 Naomh Padraig, Lisbun 2-02

After a successful day on the Loughbeg Road in Moneyglass on Saturday for Glenravel ladies winning the intermediate championship, Glenariffe ladies followed suit on Sunday in the same venue in the Junior B Championship.

The game was already written into the history books with Lisburn reaching their first final in this code after defeating last year’s finalists St Comgall’s a fortnight ago. Glenariffe were no strangers to a final, their last appearance being in 2021. Both teams came into this final full of confidence and both sets of supporters came out in full force which were a credit to their parishes.

The game started intensely with Glenariffe starting the scoring with a fine point from Niamh O’Neill. Lisburn reacted quickly and with the winds at their backs, they moved the ball quickly up the field with Grace Ferris being the driving force, they broke through the Glenariffe defence and hit the back of the net. A quick response from Glenariffe was needed and that’s what they done. From the resulting kick out, Glenariffe got up the pitch themselves and with a chipped ball over the top of the Lisburn cover, Niamh O’Neill was on the receiving end and flicked it over the Lisburn netminder and slotted the ball home. This spurred Glenariffe on as they kept the scoreboard ticking with points from Dervla McMullan, Gemma Black and Tara O’Neill. Glenariffe got their second goal through Niamh O’Neill with a neatly tucked shot into the far-left corner. Lisburn kept battling and a notable mention for Lola Devlin who did not stop running all game and caused havoc for the Glenariffe defence. Half time score Glenariffe 2-7 to Lisburn 1-0.

The next 30 minutes started with Niamh O’Neill completing her hattrick as Glenariffe extended their lead. More scores followed from Dervla McMullan and Maeve McKendry. Lisburn to their credit still battled hard and never stopped running, chipping in with a couple of scores of their own, with some lovely play down the right-hand side. Lisburn with their tails up and confidence restored, they hit the net a second time with a well-placed finish. Glenariffe didn’t let this get to them as they came forward once again with Isabella Black scoring their fourth goal. Both teams making changes and all making impacts, Erinmae Mitchell for Glenariffe chipping in with scores of her own.

 The day belonged to Glenariffe with a scoreline of 4-13 to 2-2, Lisburn will be disappointed but can hold their heads high after a phenomenal season and achieving their first final, they can use this as fuel for next year. Glenariffe will be full of confidence going into next year and making the step up into the Junior championship.

by thesaffrongael

Dominant Oisins through to the final

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Semi-Final at Quinn Park, Ballymena

Oisin 4-19 Cloney Gaels 1-13

A dominant period in the opening 10 minutes from Oisins Glenariffe put them in a commanding position as they overcame the challenge of a slow starting Cloney Gaels in this second Intermediate hurling championship semi-final in Ballymena on Monday night.

After falling behind to a Ronan Graham point in the opening minute Glenariffe made a strong response as they hit 2-6 without reply to lead by 11 with ten minutes gone and even at this stage it was hard to envisage a Cloney comeback.

With the wind at their backs on an excellent Quinn Park surface the sea-siders were first to nearly every ball as their pace and intensity clearly knocked the Ahoghill men out of their stride.

Their first goal came from Michael O’Boyle after Diarmuid Graham had been blocked down as he attempted to clear and his brother, Alex added the second with 8 minutes gone as Cloney struggled to put meaningful attacks together.

Alex O’Boyle was in imperious form from the placed ball and he converted three frees during this period of dominance to add to one from Michael O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh and two from Orrin O’Connor.

Cloney danger man, James O’Connell finally got his name on the score sheet from a free in the 11th minute but the Gaels sharp shooter was given little time or space throughout the hour to stamp his influence on the game.

Fionnbar O’Neill raised the South West sides third white flag but his side couldn’t match the hunger or aggression of the opposition and Seanie McIntosh, Conor Patterson and Alex O’Boyle (0-2 f’s) moved the Waterfoot outfit 2-10 to 0-3 ahead by the 17th minute.

Their opponents did create a few half chance with Colla McDonnell denied by timely tackles as he briefly threaten and the pressure finally looked to have paid dividends when Patrick McIlwaine dragged down Patrick Graham as he bore down on goal.

McIlwaine was shown Yellow for his misdemeanour and Fionnbar O’Neill stepped up to take the penalty but his fierce shot was superbly saved by Oisin keeper, Paul McMullan who would go on to make a number of excellent stops over the hour.

Ronan Graham and Seanie McIntosh exchanged points and Fionnbar O’Neill added a long range point for the Cloney men but Glenariffe finished the half as they had started and the excellent Michael O’Boyle pointed before scoring his side’s third goal to leave them 3-12 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

It looked a long way back for Cloney Gaels as they resumed with the breeze at their backs and it was the sweet striking Alex O’Boyle who moved his side further ahead from a free in the third minute.

James O’Connell replied with his second point of the evening and then escaped the shackles of his marker to rifle past Paul McMullan in the 7th minute after being set up by Patrick Graham.

Again the Glenariffe response came from Alex O’Boyle from two more converted frees but Cloney were starting to enjoy a wee bit of success and Colla McDonnell had his fierce shot pushed over by Paul McMullan.

Things threatened to boil over as players from both sides got involved in an unseemly brawl and when the dust settled referee Fionntan McCotter got matters under way again without taking further action.

Dan O’Neill added a point from long range and James O’Connell converted a free as the Gaels effort gathered a wee bit of momentum but their efforts were soon undone when Conor Patterson got in for Glenariffe’s fourth goal following a mix-up in the visitors defence.

The Ahoghill men went looking for goals at this stage but the Oisin defence stood firm and points from Ronan Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill and another from James O’Connell that skimmed over was all they could manage.

Brogan O’Connor got his name on the Glenariffe score sheet and fittingly, the final point of the evening would come from an Alex O’Boyle free as Oisin’s advance to a meeting with Tir na nOg Randalstown in their second successive final in two weeks-time.

Glenariffe: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Patrikck McIlwaine, 4 Cailin Devlin, 5 David Kearney, 6 Niall Magee, 7 Calum McIlwaine, 8 Odhran Gillan, 9 Oliver Kearney, 10 Orrin O’Connor, 11 Conor Patterson, 12 Michael O’Boyle, 13 Alex O’Boyle, 14 Seanie McIntosh, 17 Michael Haughey, 18 Daniel Kearney.

Subs: Colla Ward for Patrick McIlwaine, Brogan O’Connor for Orrin O’Connor, Phelim Ward for Oliver Kearney, Niall Murray for Michael O’Boyle

Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham 5 Finbar O’Neill 6 Diarmaid Graham 7 Dan O’Neill 8 Eamon Brady 9 Connor Crossey 10 Owen Neeson 11 Ronan Graham 12 Patrick Graham 13 Colla McDonnell 14 Donal Graham 15 James O’Connell

Subs: Tom McGlone for Donal Graham Neil O’Connell for Diarmaid Graham Shea Neeson for Bernard Graham, Patrick Dougan for Harry O’Donnell

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Mc Peake’s late strike secures the Breslin Shield for Cargin

Breslin Shield Final

Erinn’s Own Cargin 4-10 St Comgall’s Antrim 4-09

A late, injury time strike by Cargin mid-fielder Sean Mc Peake secured the ‘Breslin Shield’ for Cargin after his injury time goal secured victory over Naomh Comhghall in Ballymena from the jaws of defeat.

The Toome lads aided by the breeze in the first period had nipped quicky out of the start gate with corner man Oisin Mc Guckin opening account with a couple of early points to settle the butterflies.

St Comgall’s went through their league programme undefeated but didn’t start well in Ballymena and with the Cargin duo, Sean Mc Peake and Kevin Johnston dominant in the central zone and Conleth O’ Boyle, Ryan McCann and Dylan McNabb solid in the half back line, Erin’s Own took early control.

St Comgall’s struggled against the stiff breeze for a term but despite that they had remained in touch but points from Darren Og Craig and Sean McPeake had increased Cargin’s lead to five points at 0-08 to O-03 at the end of the opening quarter.

 Naomh Comhghall, with Michael Sloan and Shay Wilkinson starting to get to grips at mid-field with Sloan’s long range deliveries causing the Cargin rearguard anguish and opened the way for a Pearce Hazelton point.

The first time tactic of the long ball into attack finally found reward for the Antrim town side in the closing minutes as Jake Hughes found the net and corner man Cayden Holmes followed suit to allow St Comgall’s parity on the scoreboard 2-08 apiece at the end of the opening period.

With the wind now in their favour, St. Comgall’s looked in a strong position going into the second half but it was Cargin who made the early running as they raced into a three point lead.

Naomh Comhghall responded and a Francis Mc Allister goal squared the contest once more as he cut in from the left to fire past Eoin Emery

The Antrim town side continued to press with the lofted delivery tactic earning reward and Charlie Ewart and Jake Hughes added further goals to move them 4-08 to 2-08 ahead and looking very much in charge.

Charlie Ewart added a point and the Shield looked on its way to Antrim but Erin’s Own were far from finished and they produced a strong finish to turn the game on its head.

A Ryan McCann point in the closing minutes looked merely compensation but there would be more to come as Cargin threw everything at the opposition.

Team captains Michael Sloan, Naomh Comhghall and Sean mcpeake, Cargin with referee, Deaglan Carey (Con Magee’s)

Sean Mc Peake added a point and when the pace laden Darren Og Craig was sent away by Oisin Mc Guckin to finish to the net it was game on again.

Naomh Comhghall looked to have done enough as the game ebbed into time added on but Erin’s Own staged one last attack and a clearance from the excellent Dylan Mc Nabb found Darren Og Craig who placed Sean Mc Peake to apply the finish and grab victory from the jaws of defeat.

A great game of football between two well matched sides as the Cargin support celebrated victory with their heroes at the final whistle but heart breaking for a Naomh Comhghall side who won the U16C championship just a week ago and looked at one stage like adding the Shield to their trophy cabinet.

Cargin: Oisin Laverty, Caolin O’ Neill, Dylan Loughran, Conlaith O’ Boyle, Ryan Mc Cann (0-01), Dylan Mc Nabb, Kevin Johnston, Sean Mc Peake (1-01), Darren Og Craig (1-03) Conor Mc Cann (0-02), Francis Mc Allister 1-00), Oisin Mc Guckin (0-02), Pearce Scullion (1-01)

St Comgall’s: Owen Emery, Eunan  Proctor, Eoin Gillen, Jack Hughes, Josh Mc Queen, Rory Mc Connell, Cormac Harrison, Rory Mc Connell, Michael Sloane (0-02), Shay Wilkinson (I-02), Charlie Ewart, Pearse Hamilton (0-01), Ben Mc Aleese (0- 02),  Caolan Holmes (1-02), Jake Hughes(1-00), Thomas Doherty (1-00)

Referee: Deaglan Carey (Con Magees)

South West’s Colm Walsh presents the Breslin Shield to Cargin captain, Sean McPeake
by thesaffrongael

CPC were tops in the Year 9 Camogie blitz at St Louis

CPC topped their group in last week’s Gaelfast Year 9 Camogie blitz at St Louis Grammar School in Ballymena, the Ballycastle school beating their hosts in the first game and St Dominic’s Belfast in the second,

The two victories qualifies CPC for the Cup finals while St Louis, who got the better of St Dominic’s in the second game, go through to the Shield finals.

The Saffron Gael went along to capture some of the action

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks edge through in classic contest

ABOVE – Loughgiel’s Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan celebrates after scoring Loughgiel’s third goal in Sunday’s win over Dunloy at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall

Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship – Semi-final 

Loughgiel 3-21 Dunloy 2-23

For the second day in a row we saw a shock result in the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals. On Saturday St John’s caused an upset when they dethroned the holders Cushendall and on Sunday Loughgiel Shamrocks produced what many people would rate as an even bigger upset when they beat hotly fancied Dunloy in an epic contest at Pairc Mhuire.

Loughgiel’s James McNaughton in action against Tom McFerran during Sunday’s Antrim Senior Hurling semi-final in Cushendall. Pic by John McIwaine

For twenty minutes of the game it all appeared to be going as predicted, and when the Cuchullains opened up an eight point lead after twenty one minutes the smart money would have been on them securing a final spot against St John’s in two weeks’ time. However Loughgiel dug deep when they were really up against it and rattled off five points in a row to close the gap to three, before Seaan Elliott fired over in injury time to give his team a four point cushion.

The restart was delayed because a member of the crowd needed medical treatment but once things got going the Shamrocks burst from the traps and hit 1-04 without reply in the first seven minutes to move a goal ahead. Dunloy finally got going and closed the gap to a single point, but a brilliant individual goal by James McNaughton started a run which saw them lead by eight points, a third goal brilliantly taken by Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan apparently in full control.

However Dunloy found another gear in the last ten minutes of normal time, and boosted by the return of Coby Cunning, one year after a cruciate knee injury, and a brilliant Keelan Molloy goal they drew level as the game went into injury time. With the allotted five minutes added time almost up  James McNaughton edged them back ahead with a pointed free, but there was still time for Dunloy to hit the  equaliser.

Extra time seemed almost certain at this stage but from the puc-out Rian McMullan won possession and split the posts to the load cheers of the Shamrocks fans. Those cheers were were silenced when Dunloy won a free seconds later to give Seaan Elliott the chance to tie things up again, but his shot from just outside the 65 tailed right off the target and the final whistle sounded seconds later to signal Shamrocks celebrations.

The opening quarter of the game was fantastic viewing as the scores came thick and fast as scores from Betty McKee and James McNaughton were answered by the brilliant Keelan Molloy. A pointed free by McNaughton had the Shamrocks 0-03 to 0-02 ahead on four minutes, but a brilliant goal Nigel Elliott gave Dunloy the lead for the first time a minute later. Rian McMullan and Roan McGarry came back with points for Loughgiel but they were answered by Molloy and Seaan Elliott to keep the game on a knife edge.

Coby Cunning who made a welcome to hurling one year and a day after injuring his cruciate on he same pitch and against the same team. Cunning hit three points in a five minute spell but Dunloy still came up a point short.

Dunloy got on top during the next ten minutes and with the wind behind them Kevin Molloy, Sean Elliott, Aodhan McGarry and Tom McFerran picked off scores and apparently put them in control, two pointed frees by James McNaughton were followed by two brilliant long range efforts inside a minute by half back Declan McCloskey gave their challenge a real shot in the arm. When Betty McKee sent over a magnificent point from a sideline ‘cut’ the gap was back to three, but another pointed free by Seaan Elliott with the last poc of the first half sent the Cuchullains in at the break with a four point cushion.

There were discussion among the pundits at half time about just how strong the win was but that was soon answered on the resumption when James McNaughton and Roan McGarry cut the deficit in half with two well taken points and when Dan McCloskey got in behind the Dunloy defence to fire home his team’s opening goal they were in front with just three minutes played.  There was more to come from the men in red as Dan McCloskey added a point from a narrow angle and Bubbles McMullan followed with an excellent point.

Dunloy and Loughgiel battle it out under the dropping ball before a large crowed at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall. Pic by John McIlwaine

The Elliott brothers Seaan and Nigel hit three of the next four scores to close the gap but the score of the game came a minute later when James McNaughton broke through the middle of the Dunloy defence and rifled a shot past Ryan Elliott to the back of the net. Seaan Elliott came back with a point but substitute Shan McGrath replied and when Bubbles McMullan showed extrodinary dexterity to somehow pull the ball to the Dunloy net the game appeared to be over as a contest.

However Dunloy certainly didn’t think that way and the introduction of substitute Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning, a year and a day after his terrible cruciate injury on the same ground, started to swing things back Dunloy’s way. It was as if he had  never been away and three points in a five minute spell, one from Seaan Elliott and one from Keelan Molloy left just a goal between the sides. When Molloy got through for a goal to level matters in the last minute of normal time to tie up the scores few pundits could see them losing out, but Loughgiel never flinched and late points by the two men who were in line for man of the match, James McNaughton and Rian McMullan sent the Shamrocks through to their second final in three years, and their first against St John’s since 1989.

Loughgiel’s Liam Glackin punches the air in celebration as the final whistle sounds on the Shamrocks semi-final win over Dunloy in Cushendall. Pic by John McIlwaine

Loughgiel C McFadden; R McCormick, E Og McGarry, L Glackin; B McGarry 0-02, R McCloskey, Declan McCloskey 0-02; R McKee 0-02, D Patterson; R Fitzgerald, J McNaughton 1-07 (0-5f), R McMullan 1-04; R McGarry 0-02, P Boyle, Daniel McCloskey 1-01

Subs S McGrath 0-01 for Patterson (41), D McKinley for Boyle (58), C McCloskey for E Og McGarry (61)

Dunloy R Elliott; P Duffin, E McFerran, O Quinn; A Crawford, R McGarry, Kevin Molloy 0-1; N McKeague, A McGarry; N Elliott 1-1, Keelan Molloy 1-5, T McFerran 0-3; E O’Neill 0-1 (f), S Elliott 0-8 (0-6f), P Shiels 0-1

Subs C Cunning 0-3 for Shiels (46), D Smith for McKeague (37), C McMahon for Smith (52), O McCallin for O’Neill (55), L McFerran for T McFerran (58)

Referee K Parke (St Enda’s)

Loughgiel full back Enda Og McGarry gets a hug from his mum Aileen and his granny Ita, plus tap on the arm from his aunt Carmel at the end of Sunday’s epic semi-final win over Dunloy in Cushendall. Pic by John McIlwaine

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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