Moneynick Primary School added another honour to their growing list when they collected the Allianz Ireland Cumann na Mbunscoil SW Antrim quiz title at St Brigid’s Ballymena.
A record number of teams attended and competition was fierce. Moneynick were chased all the way by quiz specialists Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel and St Mary’s Portglenone.
2nd May 2024, Gaelic Park, The Bronx, NYC, USA An 8pm throw-in, the perfect 4G surface, superb floodlights, and the travelling Shane Ui Nèill panel of 25 players and management accompanied with a dozen officials and supporters await the whistle to begin what is a famous chapter in the clubs 121 year history. The opposition are a New York GAA Select, with players from all over Ireland and two from Co. Antrim From the start the Glenarm men set down a marker with points on 1, 3 and 4 minutes from Niall McGarel, Ciaran Magill and Daniel Black. This spurred the hosts into action when they replied with three of their own to level affairs on seven minutes. Two quick fire points – Darren Hamill for Glenarm and Darren Mannion for New York, one for Dylan McLaughlin and a reply from Ger McPartland maintained level pegging, but on the quarter mark A J Willis steered the sliotar past Abram in the Glenarm net to open up a three point lead. The second quarter saw the visitors up the pace, and coupled with stern defensive play and the outstanding Michael Abram between the posts, they gradually pulled away with points from McGarel, Magill, McLaughlin and Black left the sides level at the inverval. Shane O’Neill’s 0-12 v New York 1-9.
The second half began and continued at a very high tempo, with no sign of jet lag setting in, given that the Glensmen had touched down only thirty hours earlier. Points from Hamill and McGarel, two from Power and Deegan maintained the level game, until on six minutes, a fast and fluent sequence of passes out from the Glenarm defence set Dylan McLaughlin on course from thirty yards out. He dodged a few tackles before driving the ball to the New York goal, much to the pleasing of the travelling crowd. Still under relentless attack from the hosts, the blue defence repelled the best that was thrown at them, while at the other end the Ulster side were picking up some sublime scores from tallismen Black, McLaughlin, McGarel and Hamill. A goal from AJ Willis on twenty minutes, and points from Deegan & Power were keeping the US men in touch, but cool heads were keeping the visitors ahead. Three late points for McGarel, and a scrambled goal for the hosts before the ‘hooter’ signalled the end and euphoric scenes for the men in blue and the ref Chris Dalton called for the ball. It would be unfair to signal anyone out for special praise, but on this occasion the performance of Dunga between the sticks shouldn’t go past without mention. A day off on Saturday, a game with Kevin McKay’s team Rockland GAA on Sunday, and travelling home on Monday brings to an end a really historic tour – one that will be talked about for years to come Final Score: 3-15 v 1-23 Shane Ui Néill Panel: Michael Abram, Matthew Black, Barry Hamill, Paul Magill, Aidan Scullion, Darren Hamill, Declan McDermott, Kieran O’Boyle, Daniel Black, Dylan McLaughlin, Ciàran Magill, Sean O’Boyle, Blain McDermott, Niall McGarel, Brendan McDermott, Aidan O’Neill, Sean O’Hare, Ryan McLaughlin, Odhran Daly, Rory Mulvenna, Kieran O’Boyle, James Black, Kevin O’Boyle, Anthony McNeill and Connor McNeill Management: Ciàran Matthews , Darryl McMullan and Gerard Johnston
IN a game of twists and turns Glenariffe ended up beating Loughgiel 2nds by 3-22 to 2-10 at Waterfoot on Sunday in Division 2 of the Antrim Hurling League. When Glenariffe hit 2-1 to 0-1 in the first five minutes of the game it looked as if it was going to be one way traffic, but Loughgiel came back strongly and were just a point in arrears by the end of the opening quarter. There was little between the teams during the second quarter, and when the Oisins went in at the break with just three points to spare it was hard to predict just how the game would go. When the Shamrocks got the first point of the second half to leave just two between them it looked like we were in for a close contest, but incredibly the visitors only added one more point in the 29 minutes that remained, and it came in the final minute.
Man of the match Seanie McIntosh and centre forward, Oliver Kearney grabbed goals for the Oisins in the first five minutes, and with ‘Tosh’ adding two points they were 2-2 to 0-1 in front after seven minutes. Loughgiel hit back when Roan McGarry fired the ball to the Oisins net on eight minutes and when Ronan ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald got goal number two they were right back in contention. The remainder of the opening half was closely fought with Oliver Kearney, Seanie ‘Tosh’ and substitute Orrin O’Connor hitting two points apiece for the Oisins and Damian Quinn, Rosie Fitzgerald, Ryan Hill, Ronan Casey and Roan McGarry all getting on the scoreboard for the Shamrocks and at the break just three points separated the teams. Oisins 2-11 Loughgiel 2-8.
When Odhran McGrath cut the gap back to two three minutes into the second half it looked like it would again be close, but the scoring dried up for the visitors and Glenariffe took over. They hit nine points without reply during that second half, Tosh getting four of them, while Oran Gillan, Niall Magee, Oliver Kearney and Brogan O’Connor got the others. Substitute Niall McFadden ended the Shamrocks drought with a point from a free before Orrin O’Connor ended it all with the only goal of the second half in the final minute.
Antrim just simply refused to lose this game and trailed from the 2nd minute until taking the lead 2 minutes from the end.
Donegal gave absolutely everything for their county today and certainly bossed the early exchanges with a quick-fire goal after 4 minutes to stretch a lead all the way to half time. To their credit the young Saffs continued to hold firm and chip away at the Tír Conail lead. The accuracy of Erin Stewart’ 0-4 and the brave running of Aoibhean Monaghan, Ruby McErlain and Jojo Darragh kept the Antrim team in touch. Despite the fightback, Antrim shipped another goal just before the break in what should have been a killer blow for Donegal, who lead 2-5 to 0-7.
It would get worse in the early exchanges of the second half with another error allowing Donegal to stretch their lead to 3-8 to 0-9. Then suddenly Antrim started to build on the pressure that Anna Rice and Siobhan McGurk were able to exert at midfield and the tireless work of Chloe Boyd Munce and Seana Bradley. The come back began.
Goals from JoJo Darragh and then from the irrepressible Aoibhean Monaghan saw Antrim take the lead with little over 2 minutes to go.
Antrim continued to press the ball and with Erin Stewart’ scoring a long range free from a very tight angle sealed the victory for the never say die Antrim girls.
In a victory that was built by the unique and powerful team spirit that simply refused to lose it was fitting that every player takes credit for an incredible win.
This will stand to the young saffron team as they now seek back-to-back All Ireland titles at this grade.
O’Donovan Rossa v Loughgiel Shamrocks May 5th, 2024
Rossa 5-15 Loughgiel 2-17
On a day when marathon fever descended on a bustling Belfast city, an on form Rossa side would make Loughgiel run their own marathon in Pairc Rossa as the Shamrocks tried to shake off a depleted squad hit by injury and other engagements.
Although Loughgiel would strike into the heart of Rossa’s goal mouth within seconds of referee Mark O’Neill rolling in the sliotar, Declan McClosky’s high dropping ball would be securely caught by Rossa’s keeper, Conor Rocks but it would be quickly turned around after the puck out, and McCloskey’s second attempt would find the ball net over the bar.
On an overcast day with hardly any breeze, no side would enjoy an advantage from the elements but as Loughgiel inched their way up the scoreboard with a free from Declan McCloskey and two points from Jack McCloskey and Tiago McGarry, Rossa would pull them back with a matching free from Pearce Short and two points in play from Thomas Morgan and Eoin Trainor.
Loughgiel went through a patch of sending the sliotar wide of the mark as they aimed towards the clubhouse end, and had they have been on target, they would have neutralised Rossa’s goal from Trainor as he found the space to deliver a piercing shot from close range.
As the scores stood, Rossa 1-04 Loughgiel 0-04, both sides would settle and trade points in a spell that would see Loughgiel’s Conor O’Mullan take a hard fall to the shoulder area twenty minutes into the game, resulting in a substitution.
Rossa continued to press forward and when Thomas Morgan scooped up the sliotar out wide of the 13 metre line, he managed to cut back towards the goalmouth and sensing the closing shape of Loughgiel’s Caolan Blair, drop kicked the sliotar into the net for a half time scoreline Rossa 2.08 Loughgiel 0-08.
As the second half got underway, Rossa’s Morgan collected a high ball in the Shamrock’s half back line and wasted no time in finding McMenamin who fired past keeper McFadden into the back of the net for first of his back-to-back goals of the game.
Rossa’s Eoghan McMenamin found himself breaking through the Shamrock’s defence after collecting a low pass up onto the stick and had enough space to take a full swing on the sliotar that would find Loughgiel’s net for goal number four. Loughgiel started to mobilise in Rossa’s half and would amass 6 points from a series of careless frees, much to the vocal annoyance of Rossa’s management.
Rossa though would keep their score ticking along with points from Diarmaid Rogan until Eoin Trainor found the underside of Loughgiel’s cross bar and the awkward ricochet left McFadden with no chance, securing Rossa’s fifth and final goal of the game.
In the latter stages of the game, Loughgiel had by now worked out how to penetrate Rossa’s defence and goals from Odhran McFadden and Finn Henry closed the gap but with a three-goal difference as the clock ticked down into injury time, Rossa had the buffer to enjoy a home win in front of a delighted group of supporters in Pairc Rossa. At the final whistle, O’Donovan Rossa would enjoy a 5-15 score to Loughgiel’s 2-17.
O’Donovan Rossa – Starting panel
Conor Rocks, Oisin McVicker, Ciarán Orchin, (0-01) Niall Crossan, Declan McCartney (0-01), Christopher McGuinness, Ben McAuley, Cónall Shannon, Diarmaid Rogan (0-03), Pearce Short (0-01, 1f), Thomas Morgan (1-03), Dara Rocks, Eoghan McMenamin (2-0), Eoin Trainor (2-01), Michael Armstrong (0-04)
