Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Division 4 looms for Antrim next season

Allianz Football League Division Three

Antrim 1-15 Sligo 1-18

Barring a miracle Antrim will be playing their football in division 4 next season following defeat to Sligo in this ‘4 pointer’ at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

The Yeats county went into this game trailing Antrim by a point but knowing that a win would almost certainly guarantee them survival, with one game remaining it seems they have achieved what they came to Belfast for.

After a poor start to the season Sligo have found their form at the right time to claw themselves away from the drop zone and just need a draw at home to Leitrim next week.

The visitors dominated the opening half with Antrim badly of the pace and for long periods the Saffrons couldn’t get their hands on the ball while Sligo were excellent on the press and moved the ball at pace.

They looked to be coasting to victory when they led by 1-11 to 0-6 at the break but a couple of half time changes and a much more positive approach saw the home side stage a strong second half comeback.

Sligo opened the scoring as Alan Reilly finished a patient build-up and the Yeatsmen continued to control the early stages as Alan McLoughlin and Niall Murphy (free) added scores.

It took Antrim 9 minutes to get off the mark when goalkeeper Michael Byrne kicked the first of his three 45s in the opening half before Ryan McQuillan thumped over from play.

However, Sligo were dictating terms with five of the next six points including one a Niall Murphy free that came as a result of Antrim having just two players in the other half of the field.

Antrim were just not at the races as pass after pass went astray and this allowed Sligo to get on the front foot and as the half continued to tick along, the lead continued to increase with Alan McLoughlin and Reilly leading the way.

A fine score from Antrim’s Eunann Walsh who began the move in his own half hinted at better to come for the hosts, but the goal that seemed to be coming duly arrived with two minutes of the half remaining as the Antrim defence seemed to switch off, allowing Sligo all the time to work open a tap-in for Luke Towey.

Patrick O’Connor then saw a shot tipped over in added time as Sligo held a commanding 1-11 to 0-6 lead at the break and Antrim were probably relieved to get to the shelter of the dressing rooms and regroup.

Antrim made two changes for start of the second half with Ruairi McCann and Dominic McEnhill replacing Conor Stewart and Conor Johnston and it brought about an immediate improvement as they posted 1-4 without reply in the third quarter.

Half-time sub, Dominic McEnhill grabbed 1-1, his goal coming with 50 minutes played as he finished a flowing move that began with Conor Hand’s run at goal, while the Saffrons felt they could have had an earlier goal but Eunan Walsh was penalised for over carrying after a surging run saw him finish from close range.

Dominic McEnhill celebrates after scoring Antrim’s goal in the second half.

Just when it looked that things were now very much in the hands of Andy McEntee’s side, Sligo rattled off the next three points through Spillane, McLoughlin and Muphy before Ryan McQuillan pulled one back and the teams then swapped two-point frees through Murphy and Byrne.

A Ronan Boyle score left two in it again as the Saffron support started to find their voice, but that two-pointer from McLoughlin gave Sligo a cushion, before Eoghan McCabe pointed for the hosts to leave a goal in it.

Antrim were chasing that second major, but it wouldn’t come as Sligo held firm to leapfrog Antrim in the table ahead of next week’s final round where they host Leitrim and Antrim head to Kildare.

A point against Leitrim would be enough for Sligo, even if Antrim were to win in Newbridge but the Yeats men are likely to win that one comfortably to leave Antrim playing their football in division 4 next season.

Antrim scorers: M Byrne 0-6 (1x2pf, 3x45s, 1f), D McEnhill 1-1, R McQuillan 0-3, C Johnston 0-1, E Walsh 0-1, P McBride 0-1 (1f), R Boyle 0-1, E McCabe 0-1.

Sligo scorers: A McLoughlin 0-6 (1x2pf, 1f), N Murphy 0-5 (1x2pf, 2f),  A Reilly 0-3, L Towey 1-0, P Spillane 0-2, C Lally 0-1, P O’Connor 0-1

Antrim: M Byrne; E McCabe, E Walsh, K Keenan; J Finnegan, J Lenehan, D McAleese; C Stewart, E Quinn; P McBride, N Bu

Nagle; C Hand, C Johnston, R McQuillan. 

Subs: R Boyle for J Finnegan (23, head injury), D McEnhill for C Stewart  (HT), R McCann for C Johnston (HT), P Finnegan for P McBride (61), R Murray for E Quinn (66)

Sligo: D Lyons; E Lyons, E McGuinness, P McNamara; B Cox, D Cummins, L Towey; C Mulligan, P O’Connor; C Lally, D Quinn, A Reilly; A McLoughlin, N Murphy, P Spillane. 

Subs: R Doherty for A Reilly (38), N Mullen for L Towey (51), S Deignan for P Spillane (52), PKilcioyne for C Lally (68), M Gordon for P O’Connor (70+2)

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan)

Eunan Walsh raises his arm in celebration after firing the ball to the Sligo net. However the celebrations were short lived as the match rereree ruled out the score for overcarrying.

TO VIEW MORE PIS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW

CURLY’S PICS

https://myalbum.com/album/Jb5gM3ZuKS3N3L/?invite=5f41dfe6-f816-41b8-a22b-d04f0b5c407d

PADDY’S PICS

https://myalbum.com/album/bnxfPtbh4Uht9E

by thesaffrongael

Lámhs edge to opening day victory 

O’Neills ACFL Division 1 

Lámh Dhearg 3-14-2-14 Tir na nÓg 

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown 

Lámh Dhearg got their league season off to a winning start with a 3-14-2-14 win over Tir na nÓg at Hannahstown on Saturday afternoon. 

The visitors got off to the perfect start and were ahead through a two-pointer from Alex O’Donnell, with Terry McCrudden replying from a forward mark. 

Tir na nÓog extended their advantage with Joshua Higgins and Darragh Fagan on hand to pop over scores. 

Midway through the half, Lámh Dhearg drew level when captain Terry McCrudden was played through after a neat exchange of passes and he slotted low to the net to level at 1-01-0-04. 

The Red hands led for the first time through a fine Donal Martin point and doubled it soon after through Conor Murray’s opening score of the afternoon. 

Parity was restored momentarily when Aaron McNeilly kicked his sides second two-pointer of the half, but Lámh Dhearg found the net for the second time in response. 

Eoin Matassa collected the resulting kick-out and opted for a long ball into the forward line and Ryan Diamond peeled into a dangerous position, took a short pass from Adam Murray and shot low into the corner of the net. 

McNeilly clipped over his second score of the half as Lámh Dhearg held a slender 2-03-0-07 lead at the midway point. 

Lámh Dhearg began the second half in the ascendancy with Adam Murray popping over and they found the net shortly after when Conor Murray forced a turnover and play was switched into the path of McCrudden to double his goal-tally for the afternoon and make it 3-04-0-07. 

Conor Murray shot over his second of the afternoon but Tir na nÓg were gifted a route back into the game after a foot-block was penalised by referee Collie Thompson and Darragh Fagan confidently slotted home from the spot. 

Points were traded in the aftermath by Adam Murray and McNeilly but Lámh Dhearg pulled clear when Murray and substitute Evan Stanley hit back-to-back scores, Murray then shot over from the edge of the arc to land his sides only two-pointer of proceedings and would shoot over his fifth of the game shortly afterwards to give his side a 3-11-1-08 lead.

Tir na nÓg weren’t deterred however and chipped away at the hosts. Aaron McNeilly landed his fourth score and midfielder Ciaran O’Neill guided a shot between the posts. 

Then on the 47th minute Darragh Fagan netted for the second time when he fisted a floated sideline ball to the net at the near post to make it 3-11–2-10. 

A third goal was almost forthcoming, though Ciaran O’Neill shot straight at John Finucane in the Lámhs goal and after defence turned to attack, Conor Murray eased some of the pressure with his third point of the afternoon. 

Darragh Fegan steered an angled shot between the posts but back-to-back converted Murray frees had the hosts 3-14-2-11 ahead going down the home straight. 

Aaron McNeilly kicked his sides third two-pointer and Fegan added another point to reduce arrears to three on the stroke of regulation time. 

The Lámhs saw the game out thereafter to make a winning start to the campaign ahead of a difficult trip to Toome next weekend, whilst Tir na nÓg will hope to get their first points on the board when they host Aldergrove. 

Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, R Murray, P Mervyn, M McGarry, D Smyth, D Lynch, E Matassa, C Boyd, P Fitsimons, D Murray, C Murray (0-5, 0-2f), R Diamond (1-0), D Martin (0-1), T McCrudden (2-1,0-1f), A Murray (0-6). Subs: N McGarry for R Diamond (40), E Stanley (0-1) for D Murray (40), S McCarthy for P Mervyn (52). 

Tir na nÓg: SP McAtamney, S McKeown, C McGrellis, D Mallon, P McCloskey, B McLarnon, C Logan, C O’Neill (0-1), R O’Neill, C McCamphill, J Higgins (0-1), A McNeilly (0-7), C Smith, D Fagan (2-3, 1-0p), A O’Donnell (0-2). Subs:  M Smith for C McCamphill (HT), D McLarnon for A O’Donnell (39), B Devlin for D Mallon (52). 

Referee: Collie Thompson (Naomh Eoin)

by thesaffrongael

Antrim book their place in the league final

Antrim’s Amy Boyle muscles in ahead of Down’s Aimee McAleenan

Antrim 1-16 Down 0-12 

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran in Ahoghill 

Six minutes into the first half of today’s Very National League encounter between Antrim and Down would leave a watermark, whenever Antrim’s Annie Lynn would raise the green flag from a skillful pull into the right side of Down’s goals, beyond the reach of temporary goalkeeper, Neisha McCullough. Down would shadow Antrim all the way to the short whistle with only that goal and a point the difference but the Saffrons would return to the field for the last thirty-three minutes in a dominant role, much of it physical, with periods of skillfull hooking and blocking that kept their opponents from working their way back into a winning position. 

Antrim would be the first to visit their opponents scoring zone within the first two minutes of the throw-in but early attempts from Annie Lynn and Katie Molloy would drift wide. It would take a foul on Katie Molloy for Dervla Cosgrove to convert that to a point after five minutes on the clock and then a Caitrin Dobbin/Katie Molloy advance at close quarters would force the sliotar out wide for Annie Lynn to pull on the ground ball for the only goal in the game. 

Down were able to close the score gap after Paula O’Hagan made good of a foul on Sophie McGrath and then returned for her own point in play after winning the sliotar the hard way from a ruck. Antrim would reply with three points on the trot with the third of those coming from a Nicole McAtamney textbook block that setup Caitrin Dobbin for the point. 

Down’s Tara Monan braces for an encounter with Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin

Down, though, weren’t figuring on letting Antrim drift too far in front and replied with three points from fouls stemming from three in the hand and a slap of the stick but such was the ebb and flow of the early stages in the game, Antrim came right back with three points, Katie Molloy getting the best of those with a skillful pickup and delivery. 

With twenty-six minutes elapsed, a throw ball from Antrim would find the ball net from an accurate Paula O’Hagan free and it could have been two converted frees only O’Hagan’s angle for the second proved to be impracticable. Referee Bernard Heaney brought the first half to a close, Antrim 1-07 Down 0-06. 

Down’s sideline felt that they were initially slow to get into the game, and the second half would mirror those sentiments, as Antrim made frequent visits over Down’s bar for five in a row, Katie Molloy enjoying three of those with her first needing a cool redirect by goalkeeper McCullough over the bar. 

Down would now come back into the game at thirteen minutes as O’Hagan dropped another free over the bar and an opportunity to bump up the scoreboard from a penalty as Antrim’s goalkeeper, Becky Ellis, stood up an advancing Grace Cunningham more robustly than referee Heaney allowed. O’Hagan would fire the sliotar to Ellis’ right just inside the post, but her reach was sufficient to prevent Down from raising the green flag. O’Hagan though would make amends with a fine point from play after Down mounted a period of pressure in front of Antrim’s nets. Saoirse Sands would add to that with her own point before O’Hagan’s accuracy found the ball net from two more frees.  

Down’s Dearbhla Magee secures the catch as Antrim’s Maeve Kelly closes in

With only six points the difference, Down still had a window of opportunity despite the clock ticking down from twenty-six minutes of normal time and three added for injury but Antrim would tack on another two points in that time compared to Down’s one point from play by Grace Cunningham, and it would fall to Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin to enjoy the last point in the game from a Sarah Fyfe pass before the long whistle brought proceedings to an end, score on the board Antrim 1-16 Down 0-12. 

Saturday’s result seals Antrim’s entry into the league final on the 29th March against Clare. Antrim will have a head-to-head with Clare on the 22nd for the last league game and neither side are likely to go all out, sensibly keeping something in reserve for the final. 

Antrim starters and scorers 

Becky Ellis, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Eavanne Martin, Shannah Heggarty 0-01, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney, Maeve Kelly 0-01, Lucia McNaughton, Dervla Cosgrove 0-04 (4f), Annie Lynn 1-01, Katie Molloy 0-05, Caitrin Dobbin 0-04 

Down starters and scorers 

Neisha McCullough, Clare McGilligan, Tara Monan, Aoife McDowell, Dearbhla Magee, Beth Fitzpatrick, Blanaid Savage, Dearbhla Coleman, Niamh Savage, Aimee McAleenan, Deirbhile Savage, Gerra McGrattan, Sophie McGrath, Erin Elliott, Paula O’Hagan 0-10 (8f), Grace Cunningham 0-01, Saoirse Sands 0-01 

More photos from today’s game, including the half time matches can be found in the album here… 

https://myalbum.com/album/n76BtNqzZF46h4/?invite=49151dce-9264-4c5b-b714-55b2536d5d51

by thesaffrongael

Strong second half display sees St. Gall’s romp home

O’Neills ACFL Division 1

St Gall’s 1-18 O’Donovan Rossa 0-8

St. Gall’s proved too good for Rossa in this opening round ACFL Division 1 fixture thanks to a dominant second half display at Milltown Row on Saturday.

There wasn’t a lot between the sides in an evenly balanced opening half but St. Gall’s pulled away after the break with Barra McCaffrey and Daniel Quinn in top scoring form for the home side.

McCaffrey and Quinn kicked seven points apiece for Terry O’Neill’s side which led by two at the break but completely took over for the remainder as they got their year off to an excellent start.

Of course, a lot of the pre-match debate surrounded the new rules which most were getting to view in a club environment for the first time.

Played under the new rules, decisions came in for some debate but for the best part of the game referee got it right and the rules were adhered to in the right spirit and we were entertained to some fine passages of football.

It was St. Gall’s who were first on the score board and long ball contributed to the opening score as Niall O’Neill got up to fetch and thumped over. 

Corey Walsh hit back for Rossa as the game was played at a good pace with plenty of attacking intent, but without chances going a begging early on.

Conor Stinton restored the home side’s lead as Daniel Quinn kicked a free after nine minutes with Rossa’s Darren Grego sin-binned for a black card, while Barra McCaffrey added another free from the opposite side.

The visitors were coing well with the 14 men as Conall McDonald kicked the first two pointer of the evening and he followed from another two frees to help his side into the lead as Grego returned to the action.

St Gall’s replied through Quinn who t kicked a two-point free of his own, but McDonald responded from a free and play – the first a punishment for St Gall’s having just two players in the opposite half – but the hosts took a 0-9 to 0-7 lead into the half from a McCaffrey (free) and a late Michael Hopkins point

It was St. Gall’s who took control as the second half got under way. And they opened their account in a matter of seconds with McCaffrey on target and he added another two – one a free – before he was denied a goal by Noall Crossan and from Daniel Quinn’s rebound, Gavin McGrath did well to get back and clear his line.

St Gall’s were now controlling matters around the middle and just appeared to be quicker and sharper to the breaks as they remained on the front foot as Quinn kicked three of his own – two frees – with Rossa again down to 14 from the 40th minute as Adam Devlin saw black for a pull down.

Callum Walsh added a point before St Gall’s got the goal they had been threatening as Ruairi Wilson got up field and blasted past Niall Crossan with seven minutes remaining.
Rossa finally opened their second half account when Corey Walsh sending over, but it was their first and last as the impressive McCaffrey had the final say at the other end to cap an impressive win for St Gall’s.

St. Gall’s: N McCurdy; J McCaffrey, G Mac Adaimh, T Keenan; R Wilson (1-0), C McGirr, C McCabe; C Stinton (0-1), C Burke; M Hopkins, D Quinn (0-7, 3f, 1x2pf), D Mac Liam; B McCaffrey (0-7, 3f), N O’Neill (0-1), C Walsh (0-1).
Subs: A McDonagh for C Stinton (47), P Murray for N O’Neill (49), C Doherty for D Mac Liam (51), C Murray for M Hopkins (55), E McCurdy for C Burke (57).

Rossa: N Crossan; F McDonald, G McGrath, C Orchin; D Grego, P Moyes, A Devlin; M McEnhill, E McMenamin; J Morris, C McDonald (0-6, 3f, 1x2pf), S Beatty; R McDonagh, D Rogan, C Walsh (0-2).
Subs: C O’Neill for D Grego (26), L McEnhill for J Morris (46), J Aughey for R McDonagh (46), M McKiernan for F McDonald (53), L Carr for N Crossan (58).

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg) 

TO VIEW BERT’S PIS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/mR6hcRFZxtxiKc

by thesaffrongael

CPC Claim All-Ireland Glory

Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools

Paddy Buggy Cup Final

Cross & Passion College, Ballycastle 1-15 Calasanctius College, Oranmore 1-14

Saturday 15 March 2025

Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballyshannon

Cross & Passion held off the challenge of Calasanctius College to claim the Paddy Buggy Cup for the fourth time in their history on Saturday afternoon.

One point separated the sides at the end of the hour, in truth the score line flattered the Oranmore school, their goal came with the last puck of the game.

It was an excellent second half from the Mageean Cup winners who held a slender on point lead at the interval but held the Galway school scoreless for the opening 16 minutes of the second half.  In that same period of time, they rattled over four points to open a five point gap that was effectively the winning of the game.

It was a tough, physical game of hurling with neither side taking a backward step.  Defensively, CPC were excellent with Liam Glackin putting in a captains performance at centre half back.  He had plenty of support with Cian Baudant, Reece Cunning and Eunan Johnson all excelling while Darragh Kinney and Ronan ‘Rosey’ Fitzgerald combined superbly in midfield.  Up top, Oisin McCallin and Cadhan Crawford were always a threat and the Oranmore school did well to curtail their influence on the game, especially in the second half while Roan McGarry’s accuracy from placed ball was a major factor in deciding the outcome of this game.

Calasanctius scoring was heavily reliant on the prodigious talents of Colm Burke.  The midfielder would finish with 12 points – four of those coming from open play and he was a constant threat that CPC had to deal with.  He had little in the way of support however as the Oranmore school struggled against a strong CPC defence.

Roan McGarry and Crawford top scored for CPC, McGarry with four white flags while Crawford showed his predatory instincts with his sides goal in the eighth minute of the contest.

Man of the match came from further out the field however.  Conor Donnelly had an excellent game, more so in the second half while Rosey Fitzgerald signed off his school hurling career with an outstanding display but Glackin got my nod with a commanding performance that lead his side to All Ireland glory.

Both side showed signs of nerves in the opening exchanges before Colm Burke opened the scoring in the fourth minute.  It would be the Galway schools last score for 12 minutes though as CPC settled into the final.

Points came from Niall McClean and McCallin, the latter with a superb score from wide on the left before Crawford struck his major.  Roan McGarry’s effort for a point came back off the upright and with the Calasanctius defence on their heels, Crawford stole in behind to make the most of the dropping sliotar and the goal at his mercy.

Crawford would hit the next point of the game, capitalising on a poor puck out to fire over as CPC looked to make the most of their purple patch.

The Galway school added to their score by points from Gus Lohan and Colm Burke (free) before they were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute.  Lohan causing problems in the CPC defence before evading the challenge of ‘keeper Anthony Mullan.  Reece Cunning looked to retrieve the situation with some excellent last gasp defending but he was adjudged to have fouled Lohan.  It looked a harsh decision but it was given after consultation with his umpires and Cunning given a yellow card for his troubles.

Colm Burke stood over the penalty but fired over the bar with a rasping drive.  He would score another brace (one free) to tie the sides before Roan McGarry edged CPC ahead once again but a trio of scores from Costello and Colm Burke (one free, one ’65) gave Calasanctius a two point lead with three minutes of the half remaining.

CPC finished the half on top however.  Padraig Martin split the uprights before McCallin and Fitzgerald followed suit in the time that remained.  It could have been even better for CPC but Conor Donnelly’s effort was cleared off the line by Thomas Blake but it was a deserving half time lead for the Ballycastle school.

The opening exchanges of the second half was the winning of the game for CPC.  Scores came from Kinney, McCallin with his third of the final before a brilliant steal and score from Conor Donnelly.  Roan McGarry fired over CPC’s first from a free in the 39th minute as the CPC lead grew to five.

As the second half progressed, indiscipline was creeping into Calasanctius and Tiernan Grealish saw red for an off the ball incident with Martin and gave his school an uphill task with 18 minutes of the game remaining. 

They would score the next two points of the game with Colm Burke adding to his tally with a brace of frees but CPC dug deep in the final quarter.

Rosey Fitzgerald (two) and Roan McGarry (free) in the space of six minutes came with a solitary free from Colm Burke the only response from Calasanctius. 

With two minutes of the final remaining, Roan McGarry split the uprights to put five between the sides once again and while it was CPC’s last score of the final, it was enough.  The Oranmore school laid siege on the CPC goal with Jake Keady’s rasping drive superbly saved by Anthony Mullan and while Colm Burke fired over his 12th point of the final at the end of the hour, time looked to be running out. 

They did manage to score a goal with what was the last action of the final.  ‘Keeper Harry Keady sending a ’65 to the edge of the square and while CPC dealt with the initial danger, substitute Niall de Paor squeezed the sliotar over the line. 

It was too little, too late for the Galway school however as CPC had done enough and earned the right to be called All-Ireland Champions for 2025!

TEAMS

CPC: Anthony Mullan; Darragh Kinney, Cian Baudant, Eunan Johnson; Reece Cunning, Liam Glackin, Ardan Kelly; Darragh Donnelly, Ronan Fitzgerald; Niall McClean, Conor Donnelly, Padraig Martin; Oisin McCallin, Roan McGarry, Cadhan Crawford

Subs: Conan Johnson for N McClean (52); Logan McConville for P Martin (60); Aidan Richmond for O McCallin (Inj)

Scorers: R McGarry 0-4 (3fs); C Crawford 1-1; O McCallin 0-3; R Fitzgerald 0-3; D Kinney 0-1; N McClean 0-1; C Donnelly 0-1; P Martin 0-1

CCO: Harry Keady; Sean Martyn, Thomas Blake, Alan Connaughton; Shay Rabbit, Fionn Fahy, Tiernan Grealish; Colm Burke, Eanna Costello; Matthew Furey, Jake Keady, Charlie Healy; Gus Lohan, Michael Leahy, Liam Burke

Subs: Stephen Ruane for M Furey (47); Darragh King for L Burke (52); Niall de Paor for S Rabbit (53)

Scorers: C Burke 0-12 (7fs 1’65); N de Paor 1-00; E Costello 0-1; G Lohan 0-1

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINL BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/zYskH7ovKQZTBm/?invite=90535f6b-4bb6-4b23-a876-28791c513873