Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Ahoghill deliver no surprises under Shamrock dominance

Antrim Camogie IN2 Senior Championship

Ahoghill 0-04 Loughgiel 4-27

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran in McGuigan Park

Round three of five in the IN2 senior championship concluded tonight and there’s still time for a surprise or two before the semi final places form from the round robin table (1 will play 4 and 2 will play 3), but there wouldn’t be any surprises tonight in McGuigan Park. A spirited St. Mary’s squad engaged for the full sixty minutes and some in front of a small home crowd that cheered and praised the girls’ efforts in the face of strength, endurance and ability from tonight’s opposition, Loughgiel.

The game would never be about the final outcome, rather what each side would take from the game. Ahoghill showed up and made every effort to limit the Shamrock scoring machine, and Loughgiel will have used the game to instil the necessary good habits that will standby them in the next two rounds.

Ahoghill’s Caitriona Graham gave the Shamrocks a goal scare before missing wide by a margin

As soon as match referee, Sean McLaren from St. Pauls, rolled in under the rapidly dimming light augmented by Ahoghill’s floods, Marie Laverty broke for the early attack. It yielded no result but was an ominous sign of things to come. Amidst a flurry of points within the first four minutes, Laverty would return to raise the first green flag of the evening and remain a threat a minute later after receiving a ball from Anna Connelly stemming from Orlagh Laverty’s possession. With six minutes on the clock, Laverty made it two goals in two minutes and stepped aside to make room for Annie Lynn five minutes later for Loughgiel’s third goal in eleven minutes.

Amidst the goal scoring drama, Ahoghill replied with two fine points cut out of the darkening night air, the first one from Katie McCloskey and the second from Roisin Loughlin, but Loughgiel would press to deliver ball after ball into Ahoghill’s catch net, quickly dialling in a total of three goals and sixteen points at the break to Ahoghill’s three points, the latter coming from a set ball floated over the bar by Noreen Graham.

Loughgiel’s Róisín McCormick fends off Niamh Neeson during a high ball encounter

As McLaren set the wheels in motion for the second half, spectators would find it would be more of the same, but with opportunities to run out a few fresh legs off the bench. Just as Marie Laverty and Annie Lynn tormented Ahoghill’s full back line in the first half, so too would Orlagh Laverty and Shanna Deery in the second half, with a steady flow of set ball points from Róisin McCormick. Laverty would enjoy the fourth and final goal of the evening fed in from Lucia McNaughton who was responsible for germinating the lion’s share of assists.

Loughgiel now get ready for their fourth round match against Cushendall on Saturday and Ahoghill travel to Pearse Park to weather a probable storm from Dunloy on Sunday.

You can see more photos from tonights game under lights here…

https://myalbum.com/album/WsrZNfAkZgRmpo/?invite=f149eab6-ca64-4bf5-a028-fd2aa9a1e7f4

Ahoghill starting panel and scorers

Aine Graham, Niamh Dougan, Bronagh Graffin, Fiona Blaney, Niamh Neeson, Éadaoin McGarry, Orla Neeson, Caoimhe Scullion, Enya Neeson, Caitriona Graham, Katie McCloskey 0-01, Maeve O’Donnell, Noreen Graham 0-02 (1f), Roisin Loughlan 0-01, Molly Horan

Loughgiel starting panel and scorers

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn 0-01, Amy Boyle, Ciara Laverty, Anna Connolly, Lucia McNaughton 0-02, Christine McCloskey, Róisin McCormick 0-08 (1×45, 6f), Annie Lynn 1-05, Orlagh Laverty 1-02, Marie Laverty 2-04, Katie McKillop 0-03

Shanna Deery 0-02

by thesaffrongael

St Gall’s hit back to win it in the second-half

Antrim Senior Reserve Football Cup semi-final

St Gall’s 5-06 Cargin 3-09

St Gall’s secured a hard-fought three-point victory over Cargin in a thrilling Antrim Senior Reserve Cup Football semi-final at De la Salle Park, overturning a five-point halftime deficit to win by three in the end. Despite a blistering start from the visitors, the Belfast side’s ability to break through a previously resolute Cargin defence in the second half ultimately sealed the 5-6 to 3-9 win.

Cargin started like a house on fire, opening the scoring in the first minute through Eunan Quinn. They doubled their momentum just two minutes later when a sweeping, field-length move was expertly finished to the net by Brandan Laverty. Jack Harney extended the lead before Ronan Devlin capped off a well-worked team play with a point on 16 minutes. Cargin’s second goal arrived moments later when Carl McCann palmed the ball into the net to punctuate another flowing attack.

St Gall’s struggled initially against a rock-solid Cargin defence that produced multiple outstanding blocks. The hosts finally found life in the 19th minute. After Cargin goalkeeper Daniel McCann produced a brilliant fingertip save, Padraig Jnr O Muirigh reacted quickest to palm the rebound home. Cargin responded immediately with a superb individual goal from Fintan Hardy. A defensive scramble then allowed Michael Hopkins to poke home a second goal for St Gall’s, and a Conn Doherty free closed the gap, leaving Cargin ahead 3-3 to 2-1 at the break.

The game remained fiercely contested after the restart. Harney and Hardy traded early points with St Gall’s Simon Dowds. Padraig McLaughlin added another for Cargin, but the momentum shifted dramatically on 12 minutes when Niall Fallon capitalised on a defensive mix-up to net St Gall’s third goal. Despite a spectacular goal-line clearance from the Cargin defence shortly after, Fallon followed up with a quick point.

The Belfast side’s resurgence peaked in the final quarter. Doherty finished a magnificent end-to-end team move with a goal on 17 minutes, and Franco McCullagh added a point. O Muirigh then delivered the decisive blow, sending a speculative shot flying into the top corner for his second goal of the match, before quickly adding another point. Cargin had a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead on 27 minutes, but Laverty’s penalty was brilliantly saved by St Gall’s keeper Niall McCurdy. Late frees from Laverty and Cian Scullion weren’t enough, as St Gall’s completed a five-star comeback to advance to final meeting with Belfast rivals Rossa

ST GALL’S – 1 Niall McCurdy, 2 Oisin O Callaghan, 3 Aidan McDonagh, 4 Christopher Hale, 5 Damien Ball, 6 Conaill Murray, 7 Jarlath Mervyn, 8 Michael Hopkins, 9 Manus McCrossan, 10 Marty Murray, 11 Conor Stinton, 12 Simon Dowds, 13 Conn Doherty, 14 Niall Fallon, 15 Padraig Jnr O Muirigh,

17 Aodh Mullan, 18 Franco McCullagh, 19 Mark Kelly, 20 Ruairi Wilson, and 21 Conall McCabe.

CARGIN – 1 Daniel McCann, 2 Patryk Machnik, 3 Gerard McCorley, 4 Sean Og Quinn, 5 Hugh O’Donnell, 6 Martin Kane, 7 Ronan Devlin, 8 Jack Harney, 9 Eunan Quinn, 10 Darragh McAuley, Brandan Laverty, 11 Fintan Hardy, 13 Carl McCann, 14 Cian Scullion, 15 Padraig McLaughlin.

17 Diarmaid Quinn, 18 PJ Quinn, 19 Thomas McCann, 21 Daragh O’Boyle, 23 Michel Laverty, 24 Thomas Gormley, and 25 Sean Og Bovill.

Referee – Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/Ht3pA24HxWMWTw/?invite=67202e3c-705c-466f-a08a-59edf2962d3b

by thesaffrongael

Ruairi’s Impress to Defeat The Town

IN2 Engineering Senior Championship

Cushendall 2-20 Ballycastle 1-5

Wednesday 9 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Cushendall

Cushendall maintained their 100% record in this years senior championship on Wednesday evening as they defeated Ballycastle.  18 points was the difference between the sides at the end of the hour, in truth the game changed dramatically when the Town were reduced to 14 in the 28th minute.

When Fay McIntosh saw red for what referee Paul McNeill saw as a dangerous tackle on Kady McNeill, the home side were ahead by five points.  It was an even contest that the Ruairi’s were just about edging up to this point and with a slight wind favouring Ballycastle for the second half, the visitors were well placed.

Cushendall were immense in the second half however and to say they dominated would be an understatement.  2-20 scored overall, 2-18 from open play and eight different scorers.  The Ruairi girls put in a mighty impressive performance.

Ballycastle played with intensity and their defensive efforts in that second half have to be applauded.  They did concede 1-13 but they were under so much pressure, Cushendall were relentless and the performances of Enya McShane, Aoife Toner and Shannagh Heggarty was superb.

Eva McNeill top scored for the Ruairi’s with just one free coming in her tally of eight white flags while their majors came from Orlaith and Amy McAlister in either half.  Amy McAlister’s cameo performance a highlight of a second half that was all one way traffic.

The home side made a good start with three unanswered points coming in the opening six minutes.  Siobhan McKillop, Eva McNeill and Orlaith McCurry with the scores.  Ballycastle’s opening score came through an Elen McIntosh major in the ninth minute.  The goal owed much to the persistence, work rate, hunger and aggression of the Ballycastle forward who put the Cushendall defence under pressure to force a turnover and beat Orlagh Burke to the loose sliotar before finding the back of the net.

Maeve Kelly followed up with a fine score from wide on the right to give the Town a one point lead in the 11th minute but they would only register one more score in the remainder of the half.

The home side retook the lead when Orlaith McAlister pounced on an error in the Town defence before finding the back of the net before a brace of white flags from Eva McNeill gave Cushendall a four point lead just over half way through the half.

Elen McIntosh fired over a ’45 in the 20th minute to get the Town firing again but a pair of points from Eva and Kady McNeill gave Cushendall a 1-7 to 1-2 lead late in the half. 

Fay McIntosh’s red card was obviously frustrating for the Ballycastle management who had their own views on the tackle.

Ballycastle started the second half strongly and showed they could deal with playing with a player less.  Kady McNeill and Elen McIntosh swapped points by the third minute of the second half but Ballycastle would record just two further points as Cushendall went through the gears.

A run of seven points unanswered with Orlaith McAlister, Kady McNeil, Siobhan McKillop and Eva McNeill all splitting the posts.

Janey McIntosh split the posts in a rare Ballycastle attack but Cushendall continued to turn the screw.  Amy McAlister finding the back of the net and following up with a  point before Dervla Cosgrove (free), Eva McNeill, Orlaith McAlister and substitute Rhianna Black added further points.  Louise McBride added another score for Ballycastle in the same period of time.

A resounding win for Cushendall as they look to build momentum at the right time of the season.  They will travel to Loughgiel on Saturday looking to continue their winning ways while Ballycastle will host Bridini Oga on Sunday looking to get back to winning ways.

TEAMS

Cushendall Starting XV: Orlagh Burke; Tamara Black, Anna McNeill, Caoimhe McNaughton; Colleen Patterson, Abi McNeill, Laura Black; Dervla Cosgrove, Siobhan McKillop; Brogan Abram, Orlaith McCurry, Cara O’Boyle; Orlaith McAlister, Eva McNeill, Kady McNeill

  • Subs: Aoife McClafferty for L Black (36); Rhianna Black for O McCurry, Amy McAlister for C O’Boyle (44); Ellen Leech for T Black, Cliodhna Thompson for B Abram (52)
  • Scorers: E McNeill 0-7 (1f); O McAlister 1-3; K McNeill 0-4; A McAlister 1-1; S McKillop 0-2; O McCurry 0-1; R Black 0-1; D Cosgrove 0-1 (1f)

Ballycastle Starting XV: Becky Ellis; Aoife Toner, Enya McShane, Cara Delaney; Niamh Donnelly, Fay McIntosh, Fiadh Sands; Shannagh Heggarty, Janey McIntosh; Maeve Kelly, Louise McBrife, Aoife McCaughan; Faye Roddy, Elen McIntosh, Eimear McCaughan

  • Subs: Catherine McShane for F Roddy (HT); Christina Hamilton for E McCaughan (45); Maria Bakewell for A McCaughan (49)
  • Scorers: E McIntosh 1-2 (1’45); J McIntosh 0-1; M Kelly 0-1; L McBride 0-1

Referee: Paul McNeill (Creggan)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, CLICK ON THE LINK….

https://myalbum.com/album/5c8vfmDU78omsw/?invite=faacb333-a81c-42db-becb-041900c26ee7

by thesaffrongael

Eamon Downey RIP

Eamon’s “Claim to Fame” as he leads the funeral procession of Nobel Prize winning poet Seamus Heaney through their native Bellaghy on September 2nd 2013. Ironically 13 years to the day Eamon passed away

We were saddened to hear about the sudden death of Eamon Downey on 30 August.  Eamon resided in Dunloy and a native of Ballynease, Bellaghy but was well known throughout the county and beyond for both his passion for gaelic football and for mastering the art of playing the bagpipes.

Eamon won a Derry championship medal with his hometown club before marring Kate (née Brogan) and moving to Dunloy.  Eamon continued to ply his trade for the Cuchullains for a number of years – prominently as a left half back.

Eamon’s passion for gaelic football continued as he coached at various levels in Dunloy, including senior.  A mild-mannered gentleman, Eamon had a way of developing relationships with the players that earned their respect, allowing the players to develop by nurturing their talent in a knowledgeable and calming manner. 

He would often be found sharing a joke with many of the players he coached throughout the years and the outpouring of condolences since his passing on various social media outlets is a testament to how highly Eamon was thought on by everyone who’s lives he touched.

Eamon was also a well-known soccer player having played for Portglenone FC, Corkey FC, Ballycastle United and Banview Rovers, all with distinction and winning many awards and trophies.  He was a highly respected member of each club as could be recognised by the attendance at his wake and funeral.

Eamon leads the Dunloy and Loughgiel teams in the pre-match parade before the 2017 Under 21 Hurling final in Armoy, the first game covered by the Saffron Gael

In recent years, Eamon would have been better known for playing his bagpipes.  Leading teams around the pitch on finals as a lone piper, Eamon was there when called upon and did so with pride.  An All-Ireland and World Champion in 2004 with Seven Towers, Eamon started piping with his brother Paddy and later his younger brother Sean (RIP) at Bann Valley Pipe Band, Quinn Memorial as well as Seven Towers.

As fate would have it, Eamon’s passing came on the anniversary of his self-proclaimed ‘claim to fame’.  Eamon was the lone piper that led Nobel Prize winner and poet Seamus Heaney through Bellaghy on the day he was buried, 13 years previous.

Eamon was a deeply devoted to his wife Kate and his three daughters Colette (McCamphill), Aileen (Duddy) and Bronagh (Keenan) along with their children, Oisín, Lucy, Cillian, Ollie, Reece and Aimee.

We at the Saffron Gael wish to pass our deepest condolences to Kate and all the Downey family as well as his brothers and sisters Paddy (Downey), Anne (Heaney), Francis (Downey), Mary (Dinsmore) and Kathleen (McTaggart).

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam