Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Dunloy power past Cushendall in the second half

Northern Property Antrim senior Camogie semi-final:

Dunloy 2-17 Cushendall 1-10

Dunloy staged a great comeback, scoring 2-07 without reply in the last twenty minutes to beat Cushendall in the semi-final of Sunday’s Senior Camogie semi-final at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel to set up another final meeting with Loughgiel in two weeks’ time.

Amy McAllister kicks the ball to the Dunloy net during the first half

Cushendall made a great start to the game and were six points clear at the end of the opening quarter (1-04 to 0-01) and things looked really promising for the Ruairi Og team, the goal coming from Amy McAllister who kicked the ball to the net from close range. Kady McNeill, Cara O’Boyle and Eva McNeill added points and Cushendall were in a strong position, but losing goal scorer McAllister was a setback and Dunloy hit back to finish the first half strongly with Nicole McAtamney sending over a series of frees and adding one from play to leave the Cuchullains trailing by just a single point at the break. (0-08 to 1-06)

Just as they had done in the opening half Cushendall started the second half strongly and stretched their lead to three by the 40th minute. However   Dunloy never panicked and slowly but surely the got to grips with their opponents and three in a row from McAtamney had them level. Eobha McAllister, who had been fairly well contained by the Cushendall defence in the opening half then struck a telling blow when she raced clear of three defenders and batted the ball into the net to really set the Dunloy revival alight.

Nicole McAtamney who scored 10 points in Dunloy’s semi-final victory over Cushendall

Suddenly the Cuchullains were in complete control and their wide range of scorers added to their tally as Cassie McArthur, Caoimhe Molloy Eobha McAllister, Mary McArthur and McAtamney pulled them ten clear in the end.

Dunloy: É McAllister 1-1, Á Magill 1-0, N McAtamney 0-10, 8 frees, C McArthur 0-3,, C Molloy, E Johnston, É McAllister and M McArthur 0-1 each.

Cushendall: A McAllister, K McNeill 0-1, E McNeill (frees) and C O’Boyle 0-4 each, O McCurry 0-1.

Dunloy’s Aine Magill makes a great high catch during Sunday’s semi-final win over Cushendall

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

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by thesaffrongael

Glenariffe-Glenravel hold off Ballycastle challenge to set up final with Cushendall

Minor Hurling Championship – Semi-final

Glenariffe-Glenravel 2-12 Ballycastle 0-15

Glenariffe-Glenravel held off a second half challenge from Ballycastle to win by three at the end of Sunday’s Minor Hurling Championship semi-final at Waterfoot.

The reigning champions appeared to be in a strong position when they led by 1-08 to 0-06 at half time, but Ballycastle came storming back to close within a point entering the last quarter, but a goal by substitute Conal Boyd put the home team back in charge and they held out to win by three to set up a final meeting with next door neighbours Cushendall in two weeks’ time.

Cadhan Crawford gave Ballycastle the lead in the opening minute but man of the match Canice McIntosh and  Oisin Gillan hit back with two points apiece to open up a 0-04 to 0-01 lead for Glenariffe-Glenravel after ten minutes. Ballycastle came back with three on the trot from Darragh Donnelly, Conor Donnelly and Cadhan Crawford to draw level by the end of the opening quarter.

A point from Oisin Gillan and two by Canice McIntosh put the home side back on top and though Conor Donnelly pointed for Ballycastle a fantastic long range point from inside his own half by McIntosh on 26 minutes was followed by a goal from Joe McKay, after McIntosh had created the opening.

A great point by Cadhan Crawford cut the gap back to five at half time and when he added another thirty seconds into the second half to cut the gap back to four. Midfielder Niall McClean hit a beauty to leave just three between the sides and when Cadhan Crawford grabbed the next two points for the visitors the gap was back to the minimum by the 48th minute. Cadhan Graham pulled one back for the home team but that was quickly answered by Ballycastle corner forward Peter Laverty.

On forty-eight minutes Oisin Gillan, who had been well marshalled by Ballycastle full-back Darragh Kinney during the third quarter, broke clear of his opponent and sent a pass to second half substitute Conal Boyd who fired home Glenariffe-Glenravel’s second goal and put them back in charge. Two points by Conor Donnelly and one from centre back Darragh Donnelly got the gap back to two with seven minutes left to play, but the home team held out with two more Canice McIntosh points in reply to two by Darragh Donnelly and Cadhan Crawford to seal a three point win.

GLENARIFFE-GLENRAVEL

Ben Duncan, Charlie Dunne, Harry Fyfe, Daniel Mitchell, Ronan Magee, Colla Ward, Dylan McMullan, Cadhan Graham, James Kearney, Canice McIntosh, Niall McKeown  Christy Leech, Oisin Gillan, Joe McKay, Ciaran McCann.

BALLYCASTLE

Ruairi McShane, Oisin Donnelly, Darrach Kinney, Tiernan Staunton, Oran Baudant, Darragh Donnelly, Conor Boylan, Niall McClean, Luke Connolly, Conor Mooney, Cadhan Crawford, Cormac Scanlan, Conor Anderson, Conor Donnelly, Peter Laverty.

Referee – Paul O’Neill

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

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by thesaffrongael

Lennon goal swings it the way of Sarsfields

IFC Semi-Final

Sarsfields 1-19 Glenavy 0-21

Sarsfields produced a strong final quarter to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat from a Glenavy side who looked on their way to victory when they led by eight with 9 minutes of the second half gone.

Leading by two as Brendan Toland sounded his half time whistle the Chapel Hill side were camped in the Sarsfields half early in the second period as they kicked six unanswered points and looked in complete control.

A Gary Lennon goal for the ‘Paddies’ in the 16th minute following a mix-up in the St. Joseph’s defence changed all that and when the same player followed with a 2 pointer, a minute later it was game on.

The Stewartstown Road side outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-3 going down the home stretch to set up a final meeting with St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass in three weeks-time, the fourth time these sides will have met this year.

James Gallagher pointed Glenavy ahead after 30 seconds but Sarsfields replied through an excellent Brian Healey 2 pointer free and the Sarsfields number 15 would play a big part in his side’s eventual success.

It was Glenavy’s Fergal Henry who got the South West side going however as he raised an orange flag and followed with another from play and when James Gallagher kicked his second of the afternoon, St. Josephs were three ahead.

Back came the men from the Bear Pit as Healey hit three on the bounce and followed with a 2 point free to move his side ahead after 16 minutes but James Gallagher and a Fergal Henry double restored the Glenavy lead by the 24th minute.

Healey replied again for the Belfast side but St. Joseph’s responded again through Fergal Henry 0-2, Pearse O’Neill and Eoin Gallagher to move four in front as half time approached.

It was Sarsfields who finished the half on top however as Thomas Skillen and another Brian Healey free closed the gap to two at the short whistle.

HT 0-10 TO 0-12

Ruairi Forrester replaced Darra Doherty for Glenavy at the start of the second half and it was the Chapel Hill side who started strongly to assume almost total control with Fergal Henry leading the way.

Three points from the supremely accurate Henry and points from James Gallagher 0-2 and Eoin Gallagher had the men in Orange in a winning position with only 8 minutes of the new half gone but they somehow managed to throw that lead away.

Gary Lennon began the comeback with a goal in the 16th minute, his side’s first score of the second half and he followed with a 2 pointer and the momentum was very much with Sarsfields.

Fergal Henry fired over St. Joseph’s first point for 13 minutes but it was Brian Healey who was now turning the screw as he replied from a 2 pointer free and another single from play in response to another Henry point.

The momentum was now with Sarsfields as Healey pointed again and a 2 pointer from Jay Maguire and a fisted Conor Glenholmes point moved them 2 ahead before Patrick Gallagher kicked a late consolation point for Glenavy.

Sarsfields now go forward to meet St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass after their win over St. Teresa’s in the other semi-final on Saturday in this one has the making of an excellent final.

The sides have already met three times this season with both side having recorded a win and the other one finishing in a draw so there shouldn’t be too much between them.

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by thesaffrongael

Goals the difference as Naomh Comhghall claim the title

U16C Football Championship final

Naomh Comhghall 4-12 Rasharkin 0-18

The old saying, goals win games! rang clear at St. Mary’s Ahoghill on Sunday afternoon as Naomh Comhghall, Antrim defeated St. Mary’s Rasharkin in a highly entertaining U16C championship final.

Matthew McLornan hit 1-4 and his colleague, Thomas Doherty contributed 1-2 with the ‘Town’s’ other first half 2 pointer coming from Michael Sloan as they led St. Mary’s 2-8 to 0-7 at half time at a sun kissed Cloney.

Shea McFerran was Rasharkin’s leading marksman during the opening period and he contributed 0-5 during a first half where those two goals were the difference with Conor McGaughey and Paddy Carey adding points apiece.

Whatever the Rasharkin half time talk contained, it seemed to work with the Blue & Amber hoops rattling off three quick points on the restart through Conor McGaughey, Sean Casey and a Paul McMullan free to close the gap to four by the 4th minute.

Their good work was soon undone however when Naomh Comhghall were awarded a penalty in their first attack of the half and team captain Michael Sloan confidently stroked it home.

Shea McFerran from play and then with a converted free and another well struck point from Paul McMullan had it back to four again at the end of the third quarter and at this stage the momentum was very much with the boys from Dreen.

Naomh Comhghall then lost a player to a Black card as Shea McFerran added another St. Mary’s point and it was down to three and Naomh Comhghall were in need of a score to stem the tide.

Pearse Harrison provided one and then another from two converted frees before Shea McFerran replied again for the St. Mary’s side and another from Paul McMullan had it back to three again.

It still looked anybody’s game at this stage with Michael Sloan hitting a great point from distance for the Antrim town side and McMullan and Harrison exchanged further points as the clock counted down.

With three still the difference between the sides Naomh Comhghall won a ‘45’ and Michael Sloan’s well struck effort looked to have the legs for a point but it dipped at the last minute and deceived Patrick McFadden, who was facing the blinding sun, and ended in the net. A great game of football littered with some excellent scores but in the end it was goals that proved the difference and it was a proud Michael Sloan who received the U16C Cup from Rasharkin stalwart, Danny McLarnon

Danny McLarnon presents the U16C Football Championship trophy to Naomh Comhghall captain, Michael Sloan

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by thesaffrongael

Much improved Na Piarsaigh too good for Laochra Loch Lao

JFC Semi-Final

Laochra Loch Lao 0-7 Na Piarsaigh 2-11

Na Piarsaigh overcame the challenge of a Laochra Loch Lao side, strongly fancied in some quarters, in this Junior Football Championship semi-final at Colaiste Feirste on Saturday to set up a place in the final against St. Agnes in two weeks-time.

Saturday’s opponents had met in the group stages a few weeks back at Pairc Naomh Una and on that occasion it was the Irish Language side who came out tops and by virtue of that win they would have went into Saturday’s semi-final strongly fancied.

Na Piarsaigh have shown marked improvement from that defeat however and their quarter-final win over Ardoyne suggested that they were running into form just at the right time and so it proved to be.

The Antrim Road side edged an easily forgettable opening half to lead by three at the interval with their defence sweeping up everything that Laochra could muster and pushed on to dominate the second half with goals from Fion Grew and Sean Moreland seeing them coast home.

Liam Deegan for Na Piarsaigh and Kevin Devine for the home side exchanged early points but further white flags raised by Philip Murray and a Sean Moreland free had the visitors two in front by the 13th minute of a low scoring opening half.

Cathal O’Ceallaigh raised Laochra Loch Lao’s second point of the half in the 20th minute but it would conclude their first half scoring as the Na Piarsaigh defence dealt with everything that came their way and it would be Murray and Moreland who would conclude the first half scoring with Pearse’s points.

Half Time  0-2 TO 0-5

Laochra Loch Lao got little change from a well organised Na Piarsaigh defence in the first half and it was imperative that they got off to a good start in the second if they were to swing this game in their favour but in truth it never looked like happening.

Instead it was Na Piarsaigh who stepped it up a notch on the resumption and Fion Grew followed up on a great save by the Laochra keeper to fire over after 20 seconds to extend their lead to four.

Daire McMenamin had it briefly back to three with a point in the 4th minute but Na Piarsaigh struck decisively with a goal from Fion Grew, two minutes later and even at that early stage, it looked like being an uphill struggle for the hosts.

It never looked like materialising as Daire McPilib’s point for the home side was quickly cancelled by a Liam Deegan pointed free at the other end and when Sean Moreland punished a poor kick-out, with his side’s second goal in the 11th minute it was as good as over.

The North Belfast side continued to turn the screw with James Smyth striking a fine point and at the other end Eamon McKenna brought off a good save as Laochra tried to respond.

The excellent Liam Deegan from a free and another great effort from play put the game well beyond the reach of the opposition with seven minutes of normal time remaining before Laochra’s best player, Cathal O’Cealliagh replied with a 2 pointer at the other end.

At this stage it was merely consolation as Liam Deegan for the men in Green and PJ O’Prey exchanged late points to conclude the scoring and confirm Na Piarsaigh’s place in the final in two-week’s time.

They will face league winners, Naomh Una in that decider and the Woodlands side will probably start that one as favourites but they will have to be at their best to beat this Na Piarsaigh side who have shown great improvement at the business end of the season and will fancy their chances.

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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