Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Early second half goals seal the title for Con Magees

WS Dennison Antrim LGFA Intermediate final: 

Glenravel 3-12 Gort na Móna 2-8

DESPITE failing to score at all over the last 23 minutes plus added time, Con Magee’s Glenravel are WS Dennison Antrim LGFA Intermediate champions for the third time in six seasons after an enthralling final win over Gort na Móna on the Loughbeg Road in Moneyglass on Saturday afternoon.

Glenravel chose to play with the strong breeze in the first half and, although ahead by 1-11 to 0-3 at the interval, many at the half-time break including this reporter felt that they hadn’t really taken full advantage.

That was to change within 75 seconds of the re-start however when they hit two goals that put them into a really commanding lead that the west Belfast club couldn’t reel in.

Con Magee’s worked very hard for each other throughout. Although Caitlin McKeown was well covered in goals, she saved a 49th minute penalty and her kick-outs generally hit a target.

Antrim county defender and team captain Maeve Mulhollad really marshalled defence with vital interceptions and controlled clearances. The rest of the defence also did well while Jamie Woulahan and Aisling Mulholland moved ball through the middle for Niamh McKay and Sara Fyfe to carry into the scoring area where Molly Woulahan and Aimee Traynor were always a threat on the Gort goals.

For most of the first half, Gort looked composed at the back until the wind really picked up in the final seven minutes and Glenravel hit five points in quick succession. Nevertheless a fine move finished with a point on the half-time whistle from Casey Meighan suggested that they would still be a big threat over the second half.

The reason they weren’t has to come down to the two extra goals and the ability of the Glenravel defence to direct Gort attacks wide instead of down the centre in front of the goals.

Molly Woulahan and Aimee Traynor each registered two points in the opening ten minutes. However Mia Dembeley-Mills and Bláithín Nic Cathail (free) scored points in reply. 

At the back the Gort defence was soaking up the pressure until Molly Woulahan stabbed home a 17th minute goal. Still Gort held firm and after 22 minutes, they looked in a good place at 1-5 to 0-2. 

However over the next six minutes Glenravel hit six points – three each from Woulahan and Niamh McKay – and suddenly a gap was opening.

At 1-11 to 0-3 at the change of ends, a win for Gort na Móna still looked possible. But things became very hard when a quick move from the throw in saw a shot for a point from Molly Woulahan drop over the retreating Hollie McGahey for a goal.

That was after 35 seconds and less than a minute later, Aimee Traynor cut in along the right end-line to hit the roof of the net for a lead of 17 points. Add in a noticeable slackening in the wind and Gort looked in trouble.

Scores came slowly for them – points from Nic Cathail in the 35th and 36th minutes. A point in response from Leona Gillan, then points from Nic Cathail and Alyssa Davidson were followed by a goal from Brogan Crossin to make it 3-12 to 1-6 with 43 minutes gone.

They needed Ciara Maguire’s spot-kick to go in on 49 minutes, but Caitlin McKeown saved and cleared. It was still 3-12 to 1-6 with 54 minutes gone. Nic Cathail added two frees as the winners’ defence held firm – only to be breached by a superb strike to the top corner from Brooke Delargy as the game went to added time.

There wasn’t any more trouble for the score-keeper and the north Antrim side raised their arms in relief on the final whistle.

Glenravel: C McKeown, A McPeake, A Donnelly, M Mulholland, C McCann, E McCann, O Gould, J Woulahan, M Law, N McKay 0-3, 1f, S Fyfe, L Gillan 0-1, A Traynor 1-3, A Mulholland, M Woulahan 2-5

Subs: E Sharpe (11), C McPeake (47), C Law (52), R McCrudden (60)

Gort na Móna: H McGahey, E Kearns, C Scannell, M Dembely-Mills 0-1, g Monaghan, C Meighan 0-1, D Nic Cathal, C Boyd-Munce, C Fryers, N Enright, A Davidson 0-1, S Bradley, C Maguire, B Crossin 1-0, B Nic Cathail 0-5 fs

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by thesaffrongael

Ruairi’s bow out as Johnnies break semi final curse

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Semi Final

St John’s 1-26 Cushendall 1-22 (aet)

Saturday 4 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

Six semi-final defeats, twice on a replay and two in extra time but on Saturday afternoon, some associated with the Corrigan Park club could have been forgiven if it ever was going to happen.  But on an autumnal afternoon at Dunsilly, St John’s finally broke their semi-final curse.  It took extra time again against Cushendall, another comeback of sorts in normal time and an inner metal to get over the line as they booked their place in the county final.

It was a remarkable contest between two sides who we thought we had seen it all before.  We didn’t.  St John’s showed a determination to get over the line that might have been missing in recent years and while they finally, got to celebrate a semi-final victory.

Cushendall looked like they were doing exactly when Cushendall do.  Maybe not firing on all cylinders but find a way to get the job done.  Six points up with a little over 11 minutes remaining, they’ll be wondering how they let this one slip from their grasp.

On a day where they lost Neil McManus to a straight red card at the beginning of the second half in normal time, they found another serious match winner in Fiontan Bradley.  It felt like he was singlehandedly keeping Cushendall’s championship hopes alive and the Ruairi’s couldn’t get enough ball his direction.  He was giving the Johnnies defence a torrid time and playing the match of his life while Paddy Burke was holding their defence together with a show of leadership, skill and a tenaciousness that made him a nightmare to come up against.

Playing with a man less for nearly an hour proved to be decisive however as St John’s powered on in extra time.

Conor Johnston took the Bathshack man of the match award and rightly so.  Top of the Johnnies scoring charts with seven white flags but this was a day where plenty in blue and white put their hand up and showed their leadership qualities. Ciaran Johnston was immense while Peter McCallin was outstanding at the heart of the defence.  Playing as their spare man later in the game, McCallin’s reading of the game to get to the break of the ball was uncanny.

With the wind blowing from the scoreboard end at Dunsilly, this was always going to be a game of two halves.  Cushendall had the elements in their favour and built a four point lead by half time.  It wasn’t exactly the most fluent game of hurling we’ve witnessed this year but the intensity was incredible.  There was no such thing as a yard given, space was earned while time on the ball was a rarity.  McManus accurate from frees, Bradley at his impish best while goal keeper Conor McAlister landed two massive frees from deep in his own half.

The Johnnies were slowing the game down at every opportunity.  It felt like it took an age for every restart from the Corrigan Park side but there was little who could blame them.  They set out with a game plan and they played it to perfection.  Shea Shannon, Conor Johnston, Aaron Bradley and Oisin MacManus all with the scores.

Four points wasn’t a big lead and the Johnnies would have been the happier of the two sides at the interval.  Cushendall made changes with Fergus McCambridge and Ciaran Neeson introduced, looking to a running game to combat against the elements.  The Ruairi’s management were forced into a rethink with barely a minute on the clock in the second half.  When Fergus McCambridge was felled, both sides got involved in pushing and shoving.  Players were felled and referee Mark O’Neill had a call to make.  After consulting with his linesmen, Neil McManus saw red and the Johnnies had got a serious boost of momentum.

The opening goal of the game came moments later with a quick puck out from Domhnall Nugent finding McCallin.  He sent the sliotar towards Conall Bohill, the sliotar wasn’t taken cleanly but Aaron Bradley ran onto the loose ball, jinking one way and the other before speeding towards goal.  He left the Ruairi’s defence in his wake and fired to the bottom of Conor McAlister’s net.

Cushendall still managed to keep the score board ticking with Bradley taking over the free taking responsibility from McManus while Conall Bohill was growing into the game.

The sides were tied on 0-14 to 1-11 half way through the second half when Cushendall hit another purple patch.  They would score 1-3 in a little over four minutes to put six between the sides and Cushendall in pole position to book their place in the final.  Ryan McCambridge, Joseph McLaughlin and Bradley (free) with the points while Ciaran Neeson’s goal looked to knock the stuffing out of the St John’s challenge.

Incredibly, Cushendall would only score one more time before the final whistle as St John’s dug deep.  Conall Bohill was immense as every high ball seemed to come his way while MacManus’ frees were reeling the Cushendall lead in.

One point separated the sides as the clock ticked into injury time when Bradley’s eighth white flag put two between the sides once again.  St John’s rallied and points from Domhnall Nugent and a brilliant effort from Conor Johnston sent the semi final to extra time.

As the teams regrouped, extra time began with St John’s playing with the wind.  A couple of wides looked to derail their challenge  and when Bradley split the uprights to give Cushendall the lead it looked like the Ruairi’s were going to use all their knowhow of eeking out games to get over the line.

Scores from Shannon (free), Michail Dudley, Mick Bradley and a brace from Conor Johnston gave them a four point lead.  The second of Johnston’s brace coming as he was completely off balance and hit in mid-air.

Four points was a slender lead but St John’s controlled the second half of extra time.  Any time Cushendall got a score, they replied to keep the three point deficit with a brace of frees from captain Shea Shannon getting them over the line in injury time.

It’s been a generation since St John’s last graced the Antrim County Final, you’ll have to go longer than that since they last took the Volunteer Cup back to Corrigan Park to stay.  This team are 60 minutes away from writing their names in St John’s folklore.

TEAMS

ST JOHN’S: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Ciaran Johnston, Jack Bohill; Conal Morgan, Peter McCallin, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Aaron Bradley; Oisin Donnelly, Conor Johnston, Conall Bohill; Donal Carson, Shea Shannon, Oisin MacManus

Scorers: Conor Johnston 0-7, O MacManus 0-6 (5f), S Shannon 0-5 (4f), A Bradley 1-2, C Bohill 0-3, D Nugent 0-1 (1f), Michael Bradley 0-1, Michail Dudley 0-1

CUSHENDALL: Conor McAlister; Charlie McAuley, Paddy Burke, Martin Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ryan McCambridge; Fred McCurry, Ed McQuillan; Ronan McAteer, Neil McManus, Thomas McLaughlin; Fiontan Bradley, Sean McAfee, Joseph McLaughlin

Scorers: F Bradley 0-11 (6f), Ciaran Neeson 1-1, N McManus 0-3 (3f), J McLaughlin 0-2, R McCambridge 0-2, C McAlister 0-2 (2f), E Campbell 0-1

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel advance at the second time of asking

Antrim U16A Camogie quarter-final

Loughgiel 1-8 St. Paul’s 2-4

Loughgiel Shamrocks advanced to the semi-final of the Antrim u16A Camogie championship following this one point win over a determined and talented St. Paul’s at Fr. Healey Park on Saturday.

The remnants of Storm Amy were still blowing around Fr. Healey Park as referee, Eoin Elliott got the action underway as both sides went at it with great intensity and neither conceding an inch over a very even hour’s camogie.

Despite playing into the breeze it was Loughgiel who raced into an early lead through a Cara Dobbin point in the opening minute and the same player added a second to put the Shamrocks 0-2 to 0-0 ahead with five minutes gone.

After that the scores dried up for a while with both defences in command but Ellie Lynn opened the visitors account with a point and the St. Paul’s number 14 might well have had a goal but fired over from close range.

A Caela Casey pointed free restored the home side’s two point lead after 15 minutes but it was a St. Paul’s team who were growing in confidence that finished the half on top with Aoife O’Hare and a superb effort from Amy Gault tying the contest at half time.

With wind advantage Loughgiel would have been expected to push on after the break but Aoife O’Hare got through for a goal for the visitors after 30 seconds to put the Shaw’s Road side in a strong position.

The Shamrocks replied and Ruby McAuley landed a free from around mid-field and then disaster struck for St. Paul’s when a shot from Anna Smyth was deflected by a defender past the unsighted Eabha Vallely in the visitor’s goal.

That looked like being the turning point for the hosts but instead it was a battling St. Paul’s who responded and Roisin Brady replied with a goal at the other end to restore their 2 point advantage.

The visitors were edging the exchanges but couldn’t turn good possession into scores and gradually the home side got on top with St. Paul’s conceding a number of frees that would prove their downfall in the end.

Rose McMullan took over the free taking duties for the young Shamrocks in the closing stages and pointed three on the bounce between the 19th and 25th minute to edge her side two in front.

St. Paul’s battled hard to the end and an excellent pointed free from 50 meters by the impressive Orla Munce closed the gap to one with time almost up but that would be as close as they got.

Loughgiel will now meet neighbours Dunloy in next week’s semi-final with Portglenone awaiting the winners of that one in the decider.

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by thesaffrongael

Cathair Bhéal Feirste fightback comes up short

Danske Bank Ulster Colleges Rannafast Cup (U16.5 A Football) – Round 1

Cathair Bhéal Feirste 1-11 St Ronan’s Lurgan 2-10

PIC BY BERT TROWLEN

Cathair Bhéal Feirste, the new combination team comprising St Malachys College, Rathmore Grammar, Edmund Rice College, Colaiste Feirste and Aquinas Diocesan Grammar, came up just short in their first ever game in the Rannafast Cup at Woodlands on Thursday when they lost out to St Ronan’s Lurgan. Trailing by eight points at half time after facing the elements in the first half Cathair Bhéal Feirste came storming back in the second and led by their team captain Aodhan O’Hanlon they has the gap down to two by  the end of the third quarter. For a time it looked like they were set to claw back the deficit, but a goal by St Ronan’s star performer Brogan O’Kane five minutes from time closed the door on the comeback.

Cathair Bhéal Feirste‘s Aodhran O’Hanlon

With the wind and rain at their backs the Lurgan boys wre dominant in the opening half as the new boys struggled to find their rhythm and after lead by just a point after ten minutes the visitors hit a series of top class scores with single points from Ryan Moore (2) and Eoin Lavery, a 2pointer from John O’Hagan and a goal from corner forward Jayden Quinn, that goal a real killer  blow for Cathair Bhéal Feirste as they had the ball in the back of the net a minute earlier, only to be ruled out for a ‘square’ infringement.

Trailing by 0-03 to 1-08 at the break the home side set about getting back into the game and Aodhan O’Hanlon lifted spirits with a well taken 2pointer less than a minute after the restart. Ryan Moore came back with two pointed frees for St Ronan’s but a goal on 37 minutes by Cathair Bhéal Feirste’s half back Senan McMahon really got them going. Aodhan McMahon added a point and then a 2pointer to close within four going into the final quarter, but St Ronan’s shut up shop and the next nine minutes were scoreless.

The Lurgan college sealed the win when Brogan O’Kane grabbed his team’s second goal five minutes from time and though Aidan Holmes came back with a point and O’Hanlon grabbed a two pointer they visitors held on for the win.

St Ronan’s Brogan O’Kane in action against Cathair Bhéal Feirste full back Ollie Gregory

Cathair Bheal Feirste Panel

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