Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

St. Mary’s Ahoghill open their account

ACFL Division 1

St. John’s 0-15 St. Mary’s 0-18

St. Mary’s Ahoghill finally got some points on board when they travelled to Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening and recorded a three point win over a St. John’s side who remain pointless after 5 rounds of fixtures.

Conchur Adams pointed the Johnnies ahead in the opening minute and Ronan Donnelly’s 2 pointer moved the Whiterock Road side further in front before a second from Adams had the home side four to the good as they came flying out of the traps.

A Ronan Graham pointed free and a couple of two pointers from James O’Connell in response to another point from the excellent Adams had it all square by the 11th minute as both sides battled to get their first points of the season on board.

Another long range point from Conor Hand and points from Adams and an Aaron Bradley double seemed to have given the Johnnies back control but Ronan Graham replied from three pointed frees and Patrick Graham added a late minor from play to leave just one it at half time.

Conchur Adams extended the Corrigan side’s lead with a point on the restart with Jimmy O’Connell replying from a free to close the gap to the minimum once more with 5 minutes of the new half gone.

St. John’s then took control of the contest for a period and Odhran McAuley, Ronan Quinn and Conchur Adams moved them four ahead by the 10th minute as they laid siege on the visitor’s goals.

It was looking good for the home side at this stage but amazingly they would add only one further point as St. Mary’s wrestled back control and slowly clawed back the St. John’s lead.

A couple of points from Ronan Graham and another from Noel Crossey had it back to one by the 24th minute before Conchur Johnston struck the home side’s final point of the evening to move his side two ahead.

Back came the Ahoghill men and a Dan O’Neill 2 pointer tied the game once more with four minutes remaining and the Ahoghill side finished strongly with Ronan Graham, James O’Connell and Dan O’Neill adding unanswered points to secure victory.

A good win for St. Mary’s who showed a lot of character to come back from four down after 10 minutes of the second half and this win could kick start their season.

St. John’s must be wondering just what they have to do to get a win. They have battled well in most of their games and enjoyed periods of dominance but haven’t been able to sustain it over the 60 minutes.

However, I’ve no doubt that a first win is just around the corner and when they get all hands back on board they will again be a serious force.

by thesaffrongael

Aldergrove remain in touch

ACFL Division 1

St. Paul’s 1-15 St. James 3-20

St. James Aldergrove kept in touch at the top of division 1 as they recorded their fourth win from five starts over St. Paul’s at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday evening.

A hat-trick from corner forward, Ryan McCarthy and an exhibition of long range points from Seamus McGarry proved the difference in the end against a St. Paul’s team who competed well throughout.

McCarthy got the ball rolling with a goal in the second minute and points from Conor Browning and Declan Gough had the visitor five ahead by the 6th minute.

The home side took a time to settle but began to get a foothold as Patrick Crawford opened their account with a 2 pointer and Caoimhin Duffy added a goal and further points from Crawford (1 2 pointer) had the home side ahead.

Seamus McGarry who was in fine form for Aldergrove and (Featured Image) hat trick scorer,Ryan McCarthy

The game appeared to be swinging in favour of St. Paul’s, who were searching for their first win of the season but St. James replied through Chris McSteen before McCarthy fired home his second goal.

Brian mcQuillan and Seamus mcGarry added points with Patrick Crawford replying from a free to leave the visitors leading 2-6 to 1-7 at the end of a very competitive opening half.

HT 1-7 TO 2-6

Two points certainly didn’t look like an insurmountable lead and when Patrick Crawford kicked a 2 pointer for the ‘Hoops’ at the start of the second half to tie the contest it was all square.

It would be as close as St. Paul’s got however with McSteen and Seamus mcGarry edging the visitors two in front before Niall mcStravick split the posts to keep the hosts in touch.

Another 2 pointer from the imperious McGarry and when Ryan McCarthy’s completed his hat-trick it looked as good as over though St. Paul’s were still battling hard.

Patrick Crawford and Micael Duffy replied with points but McGarry kicked another magnificent 2 pointer in reply and added another from a free.

St. Paul’s continued to give it everything and Oisin McGarry pulled off two excellent frees to deny Shea Burns and then Pearse Magee at the expense of two points.

McGarry was on fire however and he would land two more long range missiles going down the home straight before Ronan Hanna escaped the attention of excellent teenage full-back, Ewan McGreevey to add another.

Caoimhin Killyleah, St. Paul’s evades the attentions of Declan Gough

Another good win for St. James’ who showed a lot of character to recover from last week’s heavy defeat to Cargin and they now sit joint third with All Saints Ballymena who they welcome to Crumlin on the 7th May.

St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Aodhan Kavanagh, 3 Ewan McGreevey, 4 Ciaran McAlea, 5 Conall Duffy, 6 Diarmuid O’Sullivan, 7 Caoimhin Killyleah, 8 James Farrell, 9 Mark Munce, 10 Pearse Magee, 11 Miceal Duffy, 12 Niall McStravick, 13 Shea Burns, 14 Patrick Crawford, 15 Caoimhin Duffy.

Aldergrove: 1 Oisin McGarry, 2 Aiden Ervine, 3 Chris Browning, 4 Logan Fleming, 5 Declan Gough, 6 Chris McVeigh, 7 Eoin Gough, 8 Brian McQuillan, 9 Conor Browning, 10 Patrick Fay, 11 Oisin Graham, 12 Chris McSteen, 13 Ryan McCarthy, 14 Ronan Hanna, 15 Seamus McGarry

Subs: 18 for Chris Browning

Referee: Ray Matthews

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by thesaffrongael

Honours even at Musgrave Park.

ACFL Division 1

St Brigid’s 1 – 15  Roger Casements   0 – 18

On a warm evening and in perfect conditions championship aspirants St Brigid’s and Portglenone went toe to toe in a contest that ebbed and flowed, but ultimately ended up in the same place where it started, level.

St Brigid’s Oran Downey

Little separated the teams on the scoreboard in the opening quarter, a bright start from the visitors saw them ease in front with lofted efforts from Fergal O`Kane and Ronan Kelly, and while it took St Brigid’s nine minutes to open their account, they went on a ten minute spree which saw them score five in a row, courtesy of Sweeney (2) King and Carleton (two 45s) to take the lead.

County captain Dermot McAleese seized the initiative with a massive two pointer from well outside the zone, and when cousin Aidan chipped in with a couple more, it was game on.

A well contested end to the opening half saw Ronan Kelly bring his tally to three, but four quickfire points from the well drilled St Brigid’s, courtesy of Carelton, Campbell, Downey and Bradley saw St Brigid’s jog off with a three point advantage when Brendan Toland blew his short whistle to signal for the interval.

The second half saw two well matched teams going head to head in pursuit of a couple of league points and of course, sizing each other up for more significant events later in the season. With little quarter asked or received, Brendan Toland was kept busy, and his job was made easier at times when numerous frees were fast forwarded, deemed to be on the wrong side of the new rules.

Paul Bradley opened the scoring for the hosts to go four ahead, and that signalled a response when the visitors chipped in with a trio of their own to close the gap to the minimum. Ronan Boyle and Paul Bradley stretched it to three once more, before Dermot McAleese fired over yet another two point sky-launcher to reduce the margin once more.

With a quarter remaining both sides went chasing the two points on offer and when Oran Downey, Ronan Kelly and Oisin Doherty exchanged white flags at opposite ends it was fifteen apiece, with around seven minutes remaining.

The Musgrave Park men then found a way to breach the Portglenone defence when Oran Downey found a way to stab the ball home from a goalmouth scramble, a green flag was raised and once more it was advantage St Brigid’s, three clear with three minutes remaining.

Casements showed a bit of character to fashion two final scores, both expertly dispatched from distance from the accurate foot of Aidan McAleese, one orange flag and one white, to draw an absorbing contest after an hours honest and at time excellent football.

Casements Connor McGhee

Dermot McAleese, cousin Aidan and neighbours Ronan Kelly and Oisin Doherty stood tall for the visitors on a night the Huncheon neighbours claimed all but one of the visitors scores. Oisin Doherty looks like he is enjoying a three quarter berth at present, with Daniel McNicholl and Conor McGhee showing well too.

Reuben Carleton continues to impress and his St Brigid’s colleagues Shay Campbell, Oran Downey, Ronan Boyle and Paul Campbell can be pleased with their displays, as can evergreen Big Jack Dowling who continues to claim plenty of vital possession from Declan Heery’s well-placed kick-outs.

St Brigids manager Ruairi O`Neill will sleep easily knowing his side are ticking over nicely as he awaits the return of a handful of leading contributors to the St Brigid’s cause, amongst them several of the Downey clan and and county regulars Patrick and Joseph Finnegan.

The Portglenone management team will have seen enough to know they are on the right track, as they ease some of their own players back to fitness after lengthy periods on the sideline and picked up a tough point at a venue that they have returned empty handed from on many occasions.

St Brigid’s; O Downey 1 – 03, R, Carleton 0 – 04, P Bradley 0 – 03, N Sweeney 0 – 02, S Campbell 0 – 01, R Boyle 0 – 01, P King 0 – 01.

Casements; A McAleese 0 – 07, D McAleese 0 – 04, R Kelly 0 – 04, O Doherty 0 – 02, F O`Kane 0 – 01.

by thesaffrongael

St. Ergnat’s continue to set the pace

 ACFL Division 2

St. Teresa’s 1-13 St. Ergnat’s 3-13

St. Ergnat’s continue to set the pace in division 2 and on Wednesday night as they recorded another good win when they travelled to the Glen Road and defeated St. Teresa’s.

The visitors opened the scoring with points from Seanchan and Colm Duffin before Eoghan Hamill got the hosts on their way with a point in the 11th minute.

Conor Mallon drives forward from defence for St. Teresa’s

Aidan McErlain edged the visitors two ahead again but they were rocked back on their heels when Eoghan Hamill fired home the game’s opening goal for St. Teresa’s with 13 minutes gone.

John Mallon added a point to move the Glen Road side two ahead but the visitors replied through Aidan McErlain and Colm Duffin to draw level with 18 minutes gone and appeared to be taking control.

It was St. Teresa’s however who finished the half on top as Niall McCann kicked three points between the 20th and 27th minute with Colm Duffin replying for the visitors and John Mallon concluding the first half scoring with a late St. Teresa’s point.

Conor Boyd for Moneyglass and Conor Mallon for the home side exchanged points to keep the gap at three with three minutes of the new half gone before Aidan McErlain struck with a goal for the visitors to level matters in the 5th minute.

This score seemed to fire St. Ergnat’s into life and Tyler Cassidy followed immediately with a point before the excellent McErlain finished to the net again for his side’s second goal.

The momentum was very much with Moneyglass as Colm Duffin fired over his third point of the evening in the 9th minute with Niall McCann replying with St. Teresa’s second point of the half to briefly relieve the pressure.

Back came St. Ergnat’s with full-back, Paul Duffin getting forward to split the posts and Aidan McErlain adding another to move his side six ahead as they continued to dictate matters.

John Mallon struck a fine 2 pointer in an effort to get his side back into contention but it was immediately cancelled out as Conor Boyd raised the visitor’s third green flag of the evening.

Paul Duffin who was excellent at full-back for St. Ergnat’s and weighed in with two points

Mallon was doing everything in his power to get the home side going and he added another 2 pointer with 8 minutes remaining but it was to no avail with Ronan Campbell and Paul Duffin, with his second of the evening responding for the visitors.

The final point of the evening would fall to St. Teresa’s but at this stage St. Ergnat’s had matters well and truly sewn up as they join Sarsfields on 8 points from 4 starts, the Stewartstown Road side recording a resounding 3-18 to 0-9 win away to Glenavy on the same evening.

St. Teresa’s: 1 Brendan Bennett, Aodhan Dugan, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Ryan Mallon, 5 Conor Mallon, 6 Eoin Connolly, 7 Conor O’Rawe, 8 Colm mcGoldrick, 9 Pierce O’Rawe, 10 John Mallon, 11 Anton Taylor, 12 Sean Maguire, 13 Eoghan Hamill, 14 Niall McCann, 15 Paul McGoldrick

St. Ergnat’s: 1 Jamie McLaughlin, 2 Matthew Mullan, 3 Paul Duffin, 4 Oisin Hamill, 5 Conor Boyd, 6 Seanchan Duffin, 7 Conor O’Kane, 8 Kevin McCann, 9 Frank Duffin, 10 Callum Murray, 11 Sean Boyd, 12 Dermot McErlain, 13 Aidan McErlain, 14 Colum Duffin, 15 Tyler Cassidy

Subs: Feargal Duffin for Sean Boyd, Ronan Senan O’Boyle for Oisin Hamill, Connladh McCann for Callum Murray, Ronan Campbell for Tyler Cassidy, Charlie McCloskey for Colm Duffin.

Referee; Martin Quinn

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by thesaffrongael

McMullan inspires St Patrick’s comeback

ACFL Division 2

St Comgall’s Antrim 1-08  St Patrick’s Lisburn 1-09

A heavily bandaged Josh McMullan, injured in the opening quarter of this division 2 meeting of St Comgall’s and Naomh Padraig at Dunsilly on Wednesday night, returned to action for the second period to inspire his side to victory.

The home side dominated in the opening period with Lewis Higgins and Josh Henry in control in the central zone and Myles Devine and Tom Patchett causing problems to the visitor’s rear guard and they looked very much on the way to victory leading 1-07 to 0-02 at the end of the first period.

The visitors only managed one score in the opening half when Adam Patterson despatched a ‘two pointer’ and they trailed heavily at the break with Barry Burns men seemingly in complete charge.

Myles Devine opened the home side’s account with an early point with Tom Pachett making addition in kind shortly after.

The visitors opened their account in the 12th minute as mid fielder Lewis Higgins despatched a ‘two pointer but this score failed to inspire a call to action for the visitors.

Naomh Comhghall gained in stride following the visitors opening score with the front men Devine and Patchett causing problems and when the former found the back of the net after good work by Sean Og Gribbin and Tom Patchett they looked in charge.

The visitors, despite the efforts of Lewis Patterson and Ben McMullan were unable to respond as the home side continued to call the shots with Devine, Patchett, and the hard grafting Josh Henry leading the charge.

The second quarter progressed in similar fashion to the first and when Devine was sent away by a Sean Og Gribbin delivery to find the back of the net in the 20th minute Naomh Comhghall were in command.

They added further points from Gribbin and Ryan Clarke to ensure a 1-07 to 0-02 lead for the home side at the break.

Naomh Padraig, positively out gunned in the first period returned to action shortly with McMullan back in action and he would provide much needed inspiration to the Lisburn side.

The Lisburn side had been toothless in attack in the opening half but they were quickly into action as the second got under way as they added points through Oisin Gorman 0-3 and the back in action McMullan added another.

The visitors were on the march as their confidence grew as the previously dominant home side lost their way but their hopes were raised when the hard grafting Myles Devine grabbed back to back points.

The visitors were quick to return fire with a 52nd minute Oisin Gorman point and only a single score separated the sides at 1-08 to 0-08.

The Antrim town side had lost their way and were now making unforced errors and when a lofted delivery opened the way for Eoin Dixon to fist to the net the visitors were on terms 1-08 to 1-08.

The last minutes saw the home side strive to retain parity but the momentum was now very much with the visitors and mid-fielder Patterson pointed in added time to ensure an away victory.

St Comgall’s: Peter Mc Auley, Tiernan Floyd, Eoin Lynch, Sean Hinfey, Shane og Gribbin, Michael Mc Cabe, Ruairi Gribbin, Louis Higgins, Conor Mc Donnell, Aaron Mc Gaw, Joshua Henry, Ryan Clarke, Tom Patchett (0-04), Myles Devine (1-04),Kian Smith

St Patrick’s: Peadar O’ Neill, Jack Mc Mullan, Sean Burns, Jack Broderick, Josh Mc Mullan (0-01), Brian Mc Mullan (0-01, Con Rush, Che Smith, Adam Patterson (0-03), Rory Kennedy (0-01), Oisin Gorman (0-02), Colm Burns, James Morgan, Eoin Dixon (1-02), Ruairi Smith

Referee: Chris Brown (St Paul’s)