Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Cumann na mBunscol Cross Country

 Moneynick P.S. hosted the first South West Antrim Cumann na mBunscol Cross Country Competition at Saint Benedict’s College, Randalstown. 

We were honoured to collaborate with the PE department and their GCSE pupils. Their meticulous planning and attention to detail consolidated the success of the event. We are grateful for their continued friendship and post primary partnership.

Over 80 pupils braved the 1200m course with the top 3 individual runners and top two teams in the boys and girls races recognised with commemorative Cumann na mBunscol medals.

GIRLS XC 

1st Individual – Etain (Millquarter P.S)

2nd Individual – Laura (Moneynick P.S)

3rd Individual – Jenna (Moneynick P.S)

3rd Individual – Bella (Saint Mary’s Portglenone)

Girl’s Winning Team – Moneynick P.S

Girl’s Runner-up Team – Mount Saint Michaels P.S

BOYS XC

1st individual – Charlie (Moneynick P.S)

2nd individual – Charlie (Saint Brigid’s P.S)

3rd individual – Daniel (Mount Saint Michael’s)

Boy’s Winning Team – Saint Brigid’s P.S

Boy’s Runner-up Team – Mount Saint Michael’s P.S

Congratulations to all the schools who got involved in today’s race. Another successful day to add to our SW Antrim Cumann na mBunscol calendar!

Moneynick Primary School

Mount Saint Michael’s Randalstown

Millquarter Primary School

Creggan Primary School

Saint Mary’s Primary School, Portglenone 

Saint Brigid’s Primary School, Ballymena

Saint Joseph’s Primary, Crumlin

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE CROSS COUNTRY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

 Rathmore U20 Ulster LGFA Success

Rathmore Senior Girl Footballers won the Ulster U20 C Shield at the Garvaghey Centre of Excellence, Ballygawley on Friday 28th February. 

The girls defeated Virginia Community College Cavan 4-08 to 2-07 in a hard fought game that was nip and tuck throughout.  

Captain Clíodhna Logan lifted the trophy on behalf of the team and also was awarded the Player of the Match. 

The scorers were:

Goals: Aoife Kavanagh, Hanna Donaghy, Anna Adams (2)

Points: Catherine Thompson (1) Anna Adams (6), Hanna Donaghy (1) 

Big congratulations especially to the four Upper 6 girls who played their final game for their school today – Hannah McAteer, Hanna Donaghy, Clíodhna Logan and Lauren Prior. 

All the players in the squad have been a credit to themselves, their families, their clubs and the school! Well done to everyone concerned.

Imreorií: 

Clíodhna Conlon, Jessica Morgan, Emer Kilmartin, Hannah McAteer, Beth Cartland, Lila McCann, Jessica McCartan, Sophie Bell, Catherine Thompson, Aoife McKavanagh, Clíodhna Logan, Hanna Donaghy, Anna Adams, Róise Matthews, Lauren Prior, Ella McArdle, Maria McLorinan, Lauren Gourley, Mia Molly, Orlagh Scannell, Kieran McLorinan, Róisín Quinn, Ella Rose Watson, Azelia Robinson, Eirinn Wall, Anna Newnham, Aoife McArdle

Bainisteoirí: Peter McClenaghan, Holly Bone

Lámhs Senior Awards Night in Beechlawn Hotel

Lámh Dhearg held their Senior Awards Presentation in the Beechlawn Hotel . Special guests were David Cleland from Breedon , Seamus Mullan County GAA chairman , Ursula Lynch County LGFA Chair and Rachel Neeson County Camogie  Development Officer .

In his address interim Chairman Peter Kane extended get well wishes to our Chairman Brian Smyth and congratulated and wished club member Ursula Lynch all the best in her new role as Chair of LGFA. He welcomed the special guests and reflected on the highs and lows of a busy year. He sincerely thanked all members and teams for their work and effort on and off the pitch throughout the year. He paid tribute to Méabh McNeill on her fantastic achievement in winning the all Ireland Scor title. He warmly welcomed David Cleland and his wife Karen from our new senior sponsor Breedon and spoke how excited the club were in working with Breedon over the next few years and was very appreciative of their generous support. Peter concluded by congratulating all award winners and especially their successful Camogie Development Cup winners and All County Junior LGFA Champions.

Special recognition awards were presented to Conor Murray, Ryan Murray and former captains Paddy Cunningham and Declan Lynch on their distinguished commitment to senior county footballers and to Marc Jordan on representing Ulster.

The presentations concluded with compere Paul Buchanan paying a moving and poignant tribute to the late Daryl Fegan who was posthumously inducted into the Club Hall of Fame.

The club would like to thank the Beechlawn Hotel for their cuisine and efficient service and to Bert Trowlen for his time in taking an array of quality pics.

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

Award winners 2025

G4M&O

Mairead Stanley

Camogie

Minor

Una McGowan

Senior

Orlaith Webb

LGFA

Minor

Lauren Smyth

Senior Reserve

Meidhbhin Megraw

Dymphna Cleneghan

Senior

Clodagh Hayes

Orlaith Webb

Hurling

U18

Corey Camlin

U21

Ciaran Boyd

Reserve

Conor Herron

Senior

Ciaran Boyd

Football

U18

Callum Fegan Lappin

Oisin Devlin

U121

Niall McGarry

Reserve

Brendan McCrudden

Mark McIlvenny

Senior

Ross Murray

Ben Rice

Handball

Gerard Lynch

Ladies Handball

Niamh Mac Lochlainn

Referee

Sean Elliot

Cultural Award

Méabh McNeill

Joe McNeill

Development Award

Handball

Hall of Fame

Daryl Fegan

Clubman of the Year

John Stanley

Recognition of playing for Ulster

Marc Jordan

Recognition of commitment for playing for county

Conor Murray

Ryan Murray

Declan Lynch

Paddy Cunningham

Loughgiel Shamrocks hold their Presentation Awards 

Loughgiel Awards held at the Tullyglass House Hotel, Friday 28th February 2025

Tullyglass House Hotel, Ballymena was the venue for Loughgiel’s presentation awards for field endeavours gained through 2025. 

This was a packed event, with Antrim Camogie’s Chairperson, Úna Kelly and Secretary, Sinead O’Kane in attendance to distribute the awards after the dinner finished. 

The individual awards presented by Úna Kelly: 

U16 Hurler of the year – Joint Eunan Johnston and Liam McGarry 

U16 Camogier of the year – Anna Smyth 

Minor Hurler of the year – Liam Glackin 

Minor Camogier of the year – Shanna Deery 

U20 Hurler of the year – Darragh Patterson 

Most Improved Camogier of the year – Rhea Dickson 

Most Improved Hurler of the year – Codai McGarry 

Junior Camogier of the year – Grace McLean 

Junior Hurler of the year – Odhran McMullan 

Intermediate Camogier of the year – Joint Ciara Dobbin and Kirsty McKendry 

Senior Camogier of the year – Amy Boyle 

Senior Hurler of the year – Tiernan Coyle 

Antrim Camogie Secretary, Sinead O’Kane and Chairperson, Úna Kelly attending the awards

Team Awards presented by Sinead O’Kane: 

Junior hurlers – North Antrim League and All County Reserve Shield – Captain Cormac Watt was presented with the cups 

Senior Hurlers – Feis Cup – Tiernan Coyle received the trophies 

Senior Camogiers – Mary Coulter sevens, 11th County title in a row and the third Ulster title in a row – Captain Christine McCloskey received the trophies. 

The senior camogiers were each presented with an Ulster panel memento, which is a graphical representation much like a team sheet layout, detailing names involved with the Ulster win against Swatragh in Beragh. 

Dancing with DJ Alan Dooey closed the night and with the awards over, that pretty much signals the start of the new season. 

Photos from the awards can be viewed in the album by following the link here…

All Saints reach semi-final of the Ulster Senior League

Following on from their Intermediate success in 2024 and a successful Division 1 league campaign, All Saints entered the 2025 Ulster Senior League as part of their preparations for the upcoming season.

With the new rule enhancements in place for the forthcoming club season, a large number of teams entered the pre-season competition, split into 8 groups of 4 from across Ulster. 

Placed in Group G along with St Malachy’s Castledawson, Sean Mac Cumhail, Ballybofey and Four Masters of Donegal Town, they have enjoyed a fruitful journey to date.

They commenced the campaign with a trip to St Malachy’s Castledawson resulting in a 2 point win in a high scoring game, 5.14 to 4.15.

They followed this up with a visit from Donegal’s, Sean Mac Cumhaill’s of Ballybofey and enjoyed another 2 point win at Quinn Park on a scoreline of 3.9 to 1.13.

Their last group game resulted in a trip to the Four Masters club in Donegal town with both teams vying for the top position and a Quarter final spot. 

In a hard fought game, All Saints came out 8 point winners on a scoreline of 2.13 to 0.11 to finish top of Group G.

They were then drawn to face O Donovan Rossa, Ardboe in a Quarter Final tie. Ardboe were undefeated in a group comprising Kilrea, Granemore and Ballinderry.

All Saints travelled to the Lough Shore men and won the game by a 3 point margin on a scoreline of 3.16 to 3.13 to qualify for a semi-final meeting with Gweedore.

The Ballymena men are on the road again this Sunday to face a side who won Ulster back in 2019 and will be strongly fancied to advance to the final but

Liam Bradley and his management team will be happy with their pre-season preparations before the real business begins over the next couple of weeks.