Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Shamrocks impress in championship opener but McCloskey injury a real downer

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Group 1

Loughgiel Shamrocks 6-26 Carey Faughs 1-13

It took them a little while to fine-tune their radar, and for most of the first half last year’s Intermediate champions Carey Faughs did very well, but once they hit their stride the Shamrocks were impressive as they ran up a big score at Fr Healy Park on Friday evening.

Right half back Ben McGarry had raised the first flag inside ten seconds and they had a good few chances to stretch that lead, but a combination of good defending by the Faughs and some wayward shooting meant the visitors stayed in touch during the first quarter, James ‘Rocket’ Black getting a couple of points which Conal McGlynn got one in reply to two by James McNaughton and Paul Boyle.

The Carey men resisted well during the first quarter but the gap began to open when corner forward Roan McGarry got in for the first goal on 16 minutes and when Jack McCloskey added the second one three minutes later the pattern of the game was established. Patrick Butler and Conor McBride kept the Carey scoreboard ticking but in the lead in to half time a flurry of points and a second goal by Roan McGarry put a lot of daylight between the teams, and the Shamrocks went in with a healthy 3-14 to 0-08 advantage.

Goal number four came early in the new half when Ben McGarry found the net and the ever dangerous Paul Boyle got number five not long afterwards when he cut in from the left and batted the ball home.

The main talking point of the second half was an incident that saw the Carey goalkeeper receive a red card, which spoiled what had been a good natured game up to that. Jack McCloskey was on the receiving end of a very nasty face injury and had to be taken to hospital, where it was established that his jaw was broken in three places. So dissapointing for a great young player who has battled back from injury so many times in his short career.

The resultant penalty was brilliantly saved by Carey’s substitute goalkeeper Jimmy Joe Burns, who turned McNaughton’s well struck shot around the post and he made a spectacular save minutes later to deny Paul Boyle what seemed a certain goal, though in this case Dan McCloskey, whose strong run had set up the Boyle chance, was on hand to finish to the net.

To their credit the Faughs kept battling away and substitute Conlith McKinley got in for a goal, while Conor McBride slotted over a few more points, but the game was well gone from them at this stage. The last time they lined out at Fr Healy Park was their Ulster Intermediate final win over Derry champions Swatragh last October. They knew facing the Shamrocks would be a different prospect and so it proved.

Though far from perfect the Loughgiel management will have liked what they seen from their side. Their shooting needs tidied up a little, which seems a strange thing to say when they hit 6-26, but they have a wealth of young talent at their disposal and none of the teams will look forward to facing them this season. Their next outing is against Rossa at a neutral venue in two weeks’ time, while Carey face the county champions Cushendall on the same day.

LOUGHGIEL

Cormac McFadden, Tiernan Coyle, Enda Og McGarry, Liam Glackin, Ben McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Declan McCloskey, Ryan McKee, Darragh Patterson, Rian McMullan, James McNaughton, Dan McCloskey, Roan McGarry, Paul Boyle, Jack McCloskey.

CAREY

Christopher Butler, Zach McCaughan, Sean McBride, Oisin Healy, Michael McVeigh, John McBride, Patrick Gillan, Patrick Butler, Conal McGlynn, James Black, Darren McGowan, Callum Cane, Shea Hunter, Fiachra McVeigh

Referee – Ray Mathews (Rossa)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/6bqKsJ2rLibTuC/?invite=692a8985-f3b9-4635-b625-f88cb7dbd967

by thesaffrongael

Sean Fyfe RIP

Glenravel stalwart Sean Fyfe, who passed away earlier in the week was a great servant to the Con Magees club, playing from underage right through to senior level. Football was Sean’s game but he also dabbled a bit in the hurling and was a member of the panel who beat Rasharkin in the Junior Hurling Championship final in 1981. That year Sean made it a double when he played on the football team that won the South West Antrim Championship, the O’Cahan Cup and he was there again 1986 when they beat Tir na nOg Randalstown in the final.

Tough as teak, Sean never took a backward step, a trait that came in useful in his other sport when lining out for Armoy Rugby Club. Like a good few of his Glenravel team-mates Sean joined players from Loughgiel and Dunloy who took the opportunity to play with the oval ball, for Brooke Craig’s men during the 1980s and 90s when his natural body strength proved a big asset. After taking a step back from the GAA Sean played on for a few years at Lime Park.

Sean Fyfe (2nd left, back row) on a Glenravel Junior Feis Cup winning team in the 1980. His brother Frank is kneeling directly in front.

With his sister Patricia married to Loughgiel man Denis Campbell Sean became a strong follower of the Shamrocks and he was a great supporters of the Hurling and Camogie teams, especially when members of the Campbell family lined out. One of his proudest sporting moments was when his nephews Johnny  and James Campbell lined out on the Shamrocks team that beat Offaly and Leinster champions Coolderry in the 2012 All Ireland final in Croke Park, Johnny picking up the Tommy Moore Cup with goalkeeper DD Quinn.

Sean Fyfe got a great send-off on Tuesday past when Glenravel PP Fr Paul Strain celebrated his Requiem Mass in his native parish church, Mary Queen of Peace. The large family gathering, many of whom took part in the ceremony made it special. We think of all them who were there on the day, with a special nod to his brother Frank,(another long time servant of the Con Magees), now resident in Australia, who was unable to attend.  

Sean Fyfe was a good and decent man who touched the lives of all those who knew him. May the soil of his native Glenravel rest easy on him

by thesaffrongael

Hugh Connolly R.I.P.

We at the Saffron Gael are deeply saddened at the death of Hugh Connolly. Hugh was a lifelong member of Glen Rovers GAC, Armoy where he served as player, committee member and chairman. Hugh has lived in Ballymena for a long period in his life and his son Francis played football and hurling for All Saints

A notice on the Glen Rovers Club this week read.

The Committee and Members of Glen Rovers GAC Armoy deeply regret the death of Hugh Connolly.

Hugh was a former player, Secretary, Chairman and committee member of Glen Rovers GAC .We offer his family our sincere condolences at this sad time.

Hugh’s remains will leave his late residence on Friday 8th August at 9.30am for 10am Requiem Mass in All Saint’s Church Ballymena, burial immediately afterwards in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Crebilly.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Hugh was laid to rest at St. Patrick’s Cemetery Crebilly on Friday following Requiem Mass in All Saints Parish Church on Friday

We offer our sincere sympathies to Hugh’s wife, Bernie, his sons Francis, Paul and Tony and his entire family circle.

Our Lady of the Gael pray for him

by thesaffrongael

Big hitters to the fore in Reserve Cup openers

Reserve Football Cup Roundup

Pic: Peadar McConville

All the big hitters in the Reserve Football Cup were in fine scoring form as they swept aside their opponents in a night of high scoring.

One of the sides who have been there, or there about over recent years, Erin’s Own Cargin travelled to Hannastown and recorded a 4-17 to 0-4 win over a Lamh Dhearg side who had simply no answer to the Toome side.

Their neighbours Creggan were in similar dominant form when they travelled to Aghagallon and out-scored Cargin by three points, this time it was 4-20 but they did face a stiffer opponent as St. Mary’s recorded 3-7 on the evening.

St. Gall’s are another side who have performed well in the division 1 reserve league this term and they served notice that they will be serious challengers in the Reserve Cup when they travelled to Crumlin and registered an impressive 7-14 0n the night against a St. James side who posted 1-13 in reply.

In the other games played last night, All Saints travelled to Corrigan Park where they recorded a fine 3-22 to 1-12 win over St. Johns while Con Magee’s, Glenravel hit 7-9 at Whitehill against a Tir na nOg side who could only manage 1-5 in reply.

It was closer on Shaw’s Road where Rossa posted a narrow 2-9 to 1-9 score line against neighbours St. Paul’s to join the other winners in the next round and it has been a good week for Rossa following their emphatic SFC win in Aldergrove last Saturday night.

Two more of the pre-tournament favourites, Portglenone and St Brigid’s will join the above winners in the next round where hopefully the high scoring will continue as the tournament progresses

by thesaffrongael

St. Enda’s prove too strong for Erin’s Own

Reserve Football Shield (round 1)

Cargin 3-06 St Enda’s 5-20

St Enda’s gained passage into the next round of the Reserve Football Shield when they proved too strong for the Cargin third string in what proved to be the proverbial game of two halves.

With the home side’s Sean Neeson and Conan Kennedy holding their own in the central zone, it was the visitors who find the Cargin net early through D J Murray’s strike before the home side’s net minder John Craig denied him again in the opening period.

Sean Gribbin did find the net at the other end at the end of the opening quarter with the busy Sean Neeson opening the door before splitting the posts himself.

Nothing divided the sides as the opening period made progress with a Paidi Graham point ensuring parity on the score board at 1-04 apiece after 20minutes.

The Glengormley men, with mid fielder Philly Curran leading the way, got on top in the latter stages of the opening half and points from Oran McKenna Sean Neilan in response to a Sean Neeson point at the other end and the visitors saw them in control.

Late flags raised by Paddy Doran in the last minutes ensured a 1-08 to 1-04 advantage for the visitors as the man in charge signalled a break for half time.

A Garret McAuley point in the early minutes of the second period saw the Toome men away on the positive but that was not to last as St Enda’s were to prove dominant thereafter.

The visitors responded shortly tthrough Michael Kennedy and only a reflex save from net minder John Craig prevented James Stewart finding his net in the 36th minute.

The St. Enda’s full forward made no mistake a minute later finding the net before Paddy Dornan followed suit and the Glengormley men were 3-09 to 1-05 ahead.

The visitors were now in control progressed despite the efforts of Eoin Laverty, Sean Neeson and Conan Kennedy for the home side and net minder Nathan Kerr added a two pointer with Christopher McNally replying at the other end before Oran McKenna fired to the net to increase3 his side’s lead.

The home side tried to respond but the visitors were in charge and replacement Phil Mc Guinness added another goal with Paddy Doran hitting a two pointer and further points from Ryan Kennedy, Sean Neilean, Ryan Kelly and D J Murray, saw the visitors 5-20 to 2-06 ahead as the game clock moved onward to conclusion.

In the even it was the home side who were to finish on the positive and a 61st minute goal from JP McCorley added consolation with the visitors crossing the line conclusive winners

Teams

Cargin: John Craig, Shea Mc Nally, Eoin Laverty, Shea Mc Cusker, Paidi Graham (0-01, Michael Murray, Conan Kennedy, Sean Gribbin (0-01),Aaron Coleman, Garret Mc Auley (1-01’ Christopher Mc Nally (0-01), C Neeson, C Bateson (0-01), Sean Neeson (0-02)

Subs

JP Mc Corley (1-00)

Marty O’ Neill

Dermot Mc Peake

St Enda’s:

Nathan Kerr (0-02) Joe Lewis, Brian Flannagan, Lorcan Mc Cann, D J Murray (2-03), Ryan Kelly (0-02), Ryan Kennedy (0-04), Phil Curran (0-02), Oisin O’ Hare, Oran Mc Kenna (0-01), Michael Devenny (0-02), Michael Kennedy (0-02)Jamie Stewart (1-00), Paddy Doran (1-03*) Phil Mc Ginnin (1-00)

Referee: Richard Leahy

Dunloy Win

In the other first round Shield gameplayed last night, Cuchullian’s Dunloy defeated St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass, 5-14 to 1-7 and like St. Enda’s could be strong contenders in this competition.