Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Time for Davy’s Saffrons to produce the goods

Leinster Hurling Championship – Round 5 – Sunday 25 May

Antrim v Offaly

Venue: Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore

Throw in: 2pm

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)

Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Antrim’s winner takes all contest with Offaly in the Leinster Championship…

Antrim’s 2025 season hinges on 70 minutes in the Faithful County on Sunday afternoon with the threat of dropping down to the McDonagh Cup looming large.

Given the nature of the Leinster Championship, there has been an air of inevitability about this with both sides struggling thus far.  It’s a winner takes all scenario and one that in the recent past, this Antrim team have generally come out on the positive side of the result.  If we cast our minds back to games against Offaly in a relegation play off in 2022 and more recently, defeating Carlow under similar circumstances at Corrigan Park last year in what was Darren Gleeson’s last game in charge of the Saffrons.  Those with any sort of Saffron coursing through their veins will be hoping that this side can rise to the challenge one more time.

Having already faced Offaly this year, Davy Fitzgerald and his backroom team will have a fair idea on what they are due to come up against on Sunday afternoon.  It was largely an afternoon to forget back in February with the Faithful men coming away with a 15 point win but it’s fair to say Antrim didn’t acquit themselves to the best of their ability or compared to anything they have shown in most outings under the Sixmilebridge man’s tenure.  It was 70 minutes littered with individual errors and mistakes but that was the beginning of the Fitzy era where we have been told on multiple occasions, there was a chance it could have got worse before it got better.

I said in a preview after that Offaly game that perhaps Antrim as a county don’t have the players to play the game Fitzgerald is looking to bring.  Fitzgerald’s response to that was something that has made plenty of airtime over the intervening weeks and months.    Just to clarify, this wasn’t a dig at the Antrim manager, merely an observation.  I knew how long he was in the job at the time, what he was trying to do, perhaps I was a little early with the observation but it’s still one that hangs over this season.  But, I am an Antrim man through and through.  I have travelled the length and breadth of the country following them through Kehoe Cup’s, Walsh Cup’s, Division 2 campaigns, Christy Ring Cup’s, McDonagh Cup’s, Promotions and disappointments and as I have said to Fitzgerald himself, there won’t be a happier man alive to be proved wrong if, if not when, he turns things around.  He has the perfect chance to stick two fingers up in this journos direction on Sunday afternoon.

Keelan Molloy has recovered from injury and will surely make a appearance at some stage

The team itself has been named and while James McNaughton and Keelan Molloy have made welcome return from suspension and injury, neither make the starting 15.  I’d be surprised if one, possibly both men are named in the 15 before throw in while there is also places on the subs for Jack McCloskey after his excellent performances for the U20s, the young Shamrock has that x-factor about him that could be the ace in the saffron pack.

Despite that defeat in February, Tullamore holds better memories in the recent past.  Antrim have defeated the Faithful County in league and McDonagh Cup on their travels while it at O’Connor Park where they achieved promotion back in 2020 – defeating Kerry in a rescheduled league final.

Sunday is a massive task, make no mistake about it.  Offaly as a county are on the crest of a wave with success both provincial and at the All Ireland stage at underage.  They have the cogs in motion and are reaping the rewards of hard work put during Michael Duignan’s time as county chairman. 

For Antrim to get anything from this game and maintain their Liam McCarthy status, they’ll have to play to a standard that they have shown briefly throughout this season so far.  They showed against Kilkenny for long periods and briefly against Wexford that when they get it right, they are a match for anyone.

It will take 70 minutes of that and more.  All roads point towards Tullamore, it’s time to get our Saff on one more time.

James McNaughton, who is eligable again after serving a one match suspension, has not been names on the starting fifteen, but it will be a surprise to most of us if he doesn’t start
by thesaffrongael

Armagh the next test for emerging Antrim Masters.

Antrim Masters will make their way to Pearse Ogs ground in Armagh city on Saturday when the men from the orchard county are expected to provide a stiff test for an Antrim team who are currently on a clear progress curve of their own.

The throw in is at 12 midday, and Antrim management of Frank Delargy and Timmy Connolly will be hoping a round of reserve league games the night before or senior matches on Saturday evening do not cause too much upheaval to the availability of their players.

Armagh masters collected intermediate championship silverware last season, winning the Challenge cup final by defeating Sligo in the final. Prior to that though they fell short against a Kieran Close inspired Antrim side at Dunsilly  in an earlier league game, so they will not be short of motivation for Saturdays encounter. The Cargin man scored 1 – 06 that day and was instrumental in securing Antrim’s first ever win against Armagh in Masters Football.

In this year’s opening round of matches Antrim proved too strong for a Down team in Ballymena, whilst over at Owenbeg Derry did enough to collect the points against visitors Armagh, whose manager Adrian Clarke will be be keen to get back to winning ways on Saturday.

Ironically the Saffrons will be led out by captain for the occasion by an Armagh native – Colly Connolly who played in his younger days for Crossmaglen, before transferring allegiance to markets men St Malachys for whom he still lines out regularly in his advancing years. Colly has been a stalwart of Antrim masters for many seasons.

Antrim welcomed several new panellists to their squad this year, amongst them Mick McCarry (Ballymena) David McAlernon (Aghagallon) Hannahstown man Brendan Herron  and Anto Healy from St Galls, whilst the emergence county legends Paddy Cunningham and Michael McCann to this sector – these half dozen adding considerable weight to Antrims aspirations to go far in the competition in 2025.

Nevertheless Armagh will be expected to test the Saffrons credentials on Saturday, where Derry referee Paul Quigley takes charge between the lines.

by thesaffrongael

Football (Fixtures and Previews) Sat 24th March

Division One

Tir na nOg v Con Magees Glenravel (4.30pm)

Tir na nOg got their first win of the season at Rossa on Wednesday night to move onto 4 points, having endured a period in which Lady Luck seemed to have turned her back on them.

Glenravel have seven points to date and sit in a mid-table position but they have not been far away in any of their defeats endured to date.

They lost by the minimum to visitors Casement’s last time out and they will travel to Randalstown seeking a positive return.

This looks a close one but although the Glensmen will give their hosts a run for their money, ground advantage may well aid the Whitehill men to victory.

Erin’s Own Cargin v Cuchullian’s Dunloy (4.30pm)

Ronan Devlin’s men are undefeated in the league and passed a tough assignment at Corrigan last time with a win over the Johnnies.

They return to home soil for this latest fixture when Cuchullian’s visit and will start as firm favourites.  

Dunloy have mixed the good with the bad this term and a win over Creggan earlier in the season underlines their potential but they are likely once again to be without their hurlers.

Dunloy are more than capable of giving their hosts a run for their money but defeats on their home patch are few and far between and Cargin are given the nod.

St James Aldergrove v St Mary’s Ahoghill (6.00pm)

Aldergrove have started the present season well with several excellent performances including wins over Lamh Dhearg and Casements but have lost a number of recent fixtures including last week’s defeat to St. Gall’s.

Ahoghill Lost on the same night to visitors Lamh Dhearg and are badly in need of points but they did beat Tir na nOg in their previous game and Eamon Brady’s men will travel up to Crumlin looking for another victory.

Aldergrove will start this one as favourites and although the Ahoghill men are more than capable of causing an upset a home win looks the likely return here.

Casement’s Portglenone v St Mary’s Aghagallon (6.00pm)

Portglenone have recorded six victories to date and the Casement’s presently occupy a top six spot in the ratings as they play hosts to the men from Aghagallon.

St Mary’s have recorded three wins to date and sit in 10th place at the moment but are capable of better and with their county men back they will travel with confidence.

This may well be a close encounter and although present form would point to a Casements win, if the St Mary’s men field at full strength they are more than capable of making it difficult for their hosts.

St Paul’s v St Gall’s (6.00pm)

Having taken a time to get it together this term St Paul’s have hinted at improvement in recent times and recorded their first win of the season from the visit of Dunloy, two weeks ago.

St Gall’s have been excellent this season and the Milltown men have seven wins in the bag this season and will be expected to add to that total from the visit of the Shaws Road side.

St Paul’s have obviously gained in stride and they may well give their hosts a run for their money but St. Gall’s are tipped to gain another win.

Lamh Dhearg v O’ Donovan Rossa (6.00pm)

Rossa are struggling to get it together this term and with only one win over the visiting Ahoghill way back in the early days of the present season they are badly in need of a change in fortune.

They will travel to Lamh Dhearg hoping for improvement but the recent good form of the Hannastown side would suggest a home win.

Kickham’s Creggan v St John’s (6.00pm)

St John’s took a time to get it together this term and didn’t record their first win until late April when they proved too strong for their closest rivals Rossa when they visited Corrigan.

They recorded a second win over Aghagallon, two weeks ago and drew with Glenravel to move onto 5 points as they travel to meet an in form Creggan.

The Kickham’s have enjoyed a positive league campaign to date with seven victories have been achieved thus far as they welcome the Johnnies to the Staffordstown Road.

St John’s are not at their best at the moment but the Corrigan men are not to be dismissed but Creggan will start as firm favourites and are likely to add another couple of points to their total.

All Saint’s Ballymena v St Brigid’s (6.00pm)

Both the contestants in this fixture, All Saint’s and St Brigid’s have enjoyed good seasons to date and both are part of a group of four clubs currently on 14 points.

All Saint’s lost to Cargin in Toome recently but travelled to Dunloy on Wednesday night and recorded a good win while St. Brigid’s proved too strong for St. Paul’s at Musgrave Park on the same night.

This one could be close with the present league champions starting as favourites but ground advantage is a factor that may well swing it in favour of All Saints.

Division Two

 Patrick Sarsfields v St Enda’s (4.00pm)

The Paddies lead the way in the division, joint top with Moneyglass and are undefeated to date as they play hosts to St Enda’s and are favourites to gain another victory.

St. Enda’s recorded a big win away to Davitt’s last Wednesday night and this will have boosted their confidence but Sarsfield’s are never easily beaten at home and will start this one as firm favourites.

St Comgall’s Antrim v St Teresa’s (7.15pm)

St Comgall’s are finding life difficult in division 2 but their performances have been better than their results. They travelled to Dreen on Wednesday night and recorded their second win of the season over Rasharkin and will start Wednesday night’s fixture with some confidence.

St Teresa’s remain in touch with the top of the table but were well beaten by Glenavy last time out but they may well gain another couple of points at Dunsilly but Naomh Comhghall may have something to say about that.

Gort na Mona v St Mary’s Rasharkin (7.15pm)

Gort na Mona have struggled to get it together in the second grade this term with just two wins to keep themselves just above the relegation zone as they travel to the South West to meet Rasharkin.

St Mary’s gained promotion last term but have struggled to establish themselves in the higher grade with just one win to date. They have been hampered by injury this year but will see this as an opportunity to get some needed points on board

Gort na Mona will start as favourites and although they haven’t been seen at their best to date, the city men may take the points.

St Joseph’s Glenavy v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass (7.15pm)

Moneyglass lost their place in the top division last term but the St Ergnat’s men look strong contenders to gain promotion back to division one next term as they lead the way together with Sarsfields on the promotion route.

Glenavy have four wins and a draw from 8 starts this season but recorded a good win away to St. Teresa’s last time out and will look forward to testing themselves against Unbeaten St. Ergnat’s.

Moneyglass are favourites and although St Joseph’s may well ask a few questions to their visitors, an away victory looks probable.

St Patrick’s Lisburn v Michael Davitt’s (7.15pm)

St Patrick’s Lisburn have performed well in the second grade and they are up there in touch with promotion this term as they play hosts to Michael Davitts. They came close to causing an upset at Moneyglass last time out and were only beat by an injury time score by their hosts.

Davitt’s have struggled to get it together thus far with only one point from a draw with Glenavy and sit bottom of the division.

They are badly in need of points if they are to retain their place in the second division but a win over the high flying Lisburn side this time looks unlikely.

Division Three (all games at 4.00pm)

St Agnes v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

The Aggies are flying high at the moment and on maximum points and on course for promotion to the second grade and they can maintain that good run with another victory over the men from MacRory Park likely.

Eire Og v Kickham’s Ardoyne

Eire Og are finding the going tough this term with just one win and a draw from 7 starts while Ardoyne have shown recent improvement and can gain another win in this one.  

Patrick Pearses v Laochra Loch Lao

Laochra Loch La remain in tough with the top of the table, only three points adrift from the pace setting St Agnes and need a win to keep in touch. Pearses are better than early season form would suggest but Laochra Loch Lao look favourites on this occasion.

by thesaffrongael

Lámhs pull away in second half to make it back-to-back victories 

O’Neills ACFL Division One 

Ahoghill 2-10-3-19 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Ahoghill 

Lámh Dhearg made it back-to-back league wins for the first time this campaign with a 3-19-2-10 win over Ahoghill on Wednesday evening. 

The visitors opened up with points from Marc Jordan and Mark Finnegan in the early stages, but were caught cold when Conor Crossey’s short shot was gathered by Gerard Smyth and he was dispossessed as he tried to break out, with Donal Graham firing the lay off into the empty net. 

A converted Ryan Murray free restored parity and Lámh Dhearg edged back in front through a second Finnegan point, though a two-pointed Colla McDonnell score was followed by an angled James O’Connell point that had Ahoghill 1-3-0-4 ahead.  

Points were traded between Pearse Fitzsimons and O’Connell and Marc Jordan would double his personal tally before the Lámhs hit their first goal of the half in the 22nd minute. 

Calum Fegan-Lappin won an Ahoghill kick-out and quickly went on the attack, offloading to Adam Murray and he popped the ball to Ciaran Boyd, Boyd played a one-two with Evan Stanley and headed goalwards and steered his shot beyond Aiden Graham’s reach to make it 1-6-1-4. 

Their second arrived five minutes later, Boyd switched the play to Pearse Fitsimons and he picked out Ben Rice to apply a close range finish. 

A third goal arrived on the stroke of half time, Pearse Fitzsimons played a one-two with Calum Fegan-Lappin and continued his run towards goal before firing to the corner. 

This prompted a swift response in the four added minutes before the break as Ahoghill halved the deficit. 

Their second goal came after James O’Connell chipped a pass into the area and Patrick Graham got the ball and sold a dummy before finding the top corner from close range to make it 3-6-2-4. 

Conor Crossey added a point before the short whistle as Lámh Dhearg’s eight-point advantage was whittled down in the space of two minutes. 

Lámh Dhearg built up their lead again in the early stages of the second half, Marc Jordan fisted over less than 60-seconds after the restart and Ryan Murray’s wicked shot rose over the bar from an angle. 

Declan Smyth confidently landed a two-pointer as the visitors re-established their eight-point lead. 

Ahoghill hit back through a third Crossey point of proceedings, but Mark Finnegan kicked successive two-pointed frees and points from Calum Fegan-Lappin and substitute Niall McGarry had the Hannahstown side 3-16-2-05 to the good. 

Donal Graham would drop over the first of three unanswered points for the hosts, with James O’Connell kicking the other two from the placed ball. 

Paddy Cunningham made his return to action from the bench and chipped in with a super two-pointed score and kicked a late free, in between times Conor Crossey brought his sides scoring to a conclusion as Lámh Dhearg ran out comfortable winners at the conclusion. 

Ahoghill: A Graham, H O’Donnell, J Magee, S McKeever, P Dougan, Diarmaid Graham, D O’Neill, P Graham, T McGlone, C McDonnell (1×0-2), N O’Connell, C Crossey (0-4), J O’Connell (0-3, 0-2f), M Graham, Donal Graham (1-1). Subs: R Graham for M Graham (12). 

Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, Ross Murray, E Matassa, M McGarry, D Smyth (1×0-2), B Rice (1-0), D Murray, C Boyd (1-0), P Fitzsimons (1-0), E Stanley, Ryan Murray (0-2, 0-1f), C Fegan-Lappin (0-1), M Finnegan (0-6, 2×0-2f), M Jordan (0-3), A Murray. Subs: N McGarry (0-1) for Ross Murray (HT), O McKeown for E Stanley (45), S McCarthy for C Boyd (49), P Cunningham (0-3, 1×02, 0-1f) for A Murray (50), A Ferris for M Finnegan (59). 
Referee: Collie Thompson (St Johns)

by thesaffrongael

Cross & Passion College win the Thompson Cup

Ulster Schools Hurling

Cross & Passion’s victory in Tuesday’s Thompson Cup at Owenbeg completes a clean sweep in hurling for the Ballycastle college. Having won the McNamee, the Gallagher Cup, the Forresters Cup and the Mageean they collected the Thompson Cup at Tuesday’s blitz tournament. The north Antrim school beat St Pat’s Maghera in the first round by 1-08 to 0-03, St Louis Ballymena by 4-03 to 1-01 in the second round and St Killian’s Garron Tower in the semi-final by 3-05 to 0-02.  

In the final they took on St Mary’s Belfast and won by 5-03 to 1-03 in a game where Oisin O’Connell played well at centre back, Iarla Gillan at midfield, Sean Johnston at wing half and Conrad Bailey at full forward.

TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PICS FROM THE THOMPSON CUP CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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