Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Impressive Johnnies through to last four

Antrim U21 Football Championship quarter-final

St John’s 3-11 St Paul’s 2-9

St. John’s advanced to the semi-final of the U21 A Football championship when they produced an impressive performance to overcome the challenge of visitors St. Paul’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

The Shaw’s Road side would have probably started this one as favourites having contested the last two minor finals but it was a big and powerful St. John’s who took control from early in the contest.

The hosts dominated the opening half to lead by six at half time but with the wind in their favour in the second half St. Paul’s certainly didn’t look out of it.

The visitors made a real fight of it in the second period but any time they threatened, the ‘Johnnies’ were able to find a response and in the end were worthy winners.

St. John’s were strong down the middle with full-back Enda McGurk, centre-back Ronan Quinn, midfielder Conor Hand, and centre-forward Conchuir Adams in dominant form.

The Shaw’s Road side battled hard and closed the gap to three with six minutes remaining when Caoimhin Duffy finished to the net but before the celebrations had died down, Ronan Quinn netted at the other end after being placed by James Wilson.

St Paul’s got off to a brighter start, with Tarlach Enright kicking a free within the opening minute. Their lead doubled when Conall Duffy made a good break, and the ball was worked to Patrick Crawford, who scored via Caoimhin Duffy.

The Johnnies’ first real attack resulted in their opening score with Ronan Quinn pointing and this seemed to bring belief to their challenge.

They looked in for an early goal when Conor Hand cut through, but Lorcan Murphy turned away his shot superbly.

Conhuir Adams levelled the contest shortly after and from the resulting kick-out the home side won possession and Adams sent an inch perfect pass into the path of Hand who palmed to the net from close range.

The hosts were now in full swing as Enda McGurk and Adams followed up with points and the visitors were now struggling to find a way through a solid Johnnies defence.

Enright did kick frees either side of an impressive score from Hand, but McGurk and Quinn would double their own tallies as the scores began to flow for the Whiterock Road side.

Jack Ireland did hit back with a good score for St Paul’s, but Adams replied with a free and then was unlucky to see his shot at goal; come back off the crossbar, but the hosts held a deserved 1-8 to 0-5 lead at the break.

The visitors needed a quick start to the second half to mount a challenge and when Caoimhin Duffy converted a Mark in the opening minute it looked like a comeback might be under way.

St. John’s had other ideas however as they replied with their second goal of the afternoon with just four minutes gone. An Adams free dropped short but Lorcan Duffy in the St Paul’s goal only palmed it out to Fearghal MacManus to palm home.

That put eight between them, but three minutes later it was back to five as a good move resulted in Garrett Cowan slotting low to the net and just one minute later, it really could have been game on when Caoimhin Duffy forced a smart stop from Padraig Graham.

St Paul’s looked to be getting on top as they pressed forward but they hit three wides in quick succession as they failed to capitalise on a period of possession as Conor Hand kicked a free at the other end.

St Paul’s substitute Ryan McCoy’s immediate duty was to kick a free but Hand replied, yet the Shaw’s Road side seemed right back in it five minutes from time as a bit of quick thinking ended with Caoimhin Duffy finishing from close range to leave just a goal between the sides.

St. John’s response was immediate and decisive and a good move from deep in their own half saw Ronan Quinn collect a pass from James Wilson to blast home.

Conall Duffy and Enright narrowed the gap to four in added time, but Conan McKinney ensured there would be no way back as he kicked the final point of the evening to secure the Johnnies place in the semi-final.

St. John’s: P Graham; M Darragh, E McGurk (0-2), M Mallon; J Robb, R Quinn (1-2), D King; C Hand (1-3, 0-1f), R Donnelly; J Wilson, C Adams (0-3, 1f), C McKinney (0-1); F McKinney, F MacManus (1-0), O McAuley.

Subs: D Robinson for M Mallon (28), C Darragh for D King (56), O Quinn for F MacManus (56).

St. Paul’s: L Murphy; G Cowan (1-0), C McAlea, N McKenna; C O’Neill, D O’Sullivan, J Ireland (0-1); C Killyleagh, D Quinn; P Crawford (0-1),  Conall Duffy (0-1), T Enright (0-4f); Caoinhin Duffy (1-1, 0-1m), P McDonnell, S Burns.

Subs: C Rogers-Duffy for C O’Neill (24), R McCoy (0-1f) for P Crawford (49).

Referee: Martin Quinn (Naomh Éanna)

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by thesaffrongael

Aghagallon hold off St Brigid’s late challenge

Under 21 Football Championship 

Aghagallon 1-13 St Brigid’s 1-09

Aghagallon secured their place in the semi-final of the Antrim Under 21 Football Championship when they beat St Brigid’s in Sunday’s quarter final in Aghagallon. There was little between the two sides during a cautious opening half as both sides struggled to adapt to the wet conditions which made underfoot conditions difficult. JJ Higgins put St Brigid’s ahead in the opening minute,, but Ciaran Maginnis and Enda McCartin came back with points for the home side to put them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead by the ninth minute.

St Brigid’s ended a fourteen minute scoreless spell when Higgins got his second point of the game on 14 minutes and they went back ahead three minutes later when Rory McErlean hit the target. Hugh Hannon and Jack Toner exchanged points to keep the visitor noses in front, but Aghagallon finished the half strongly with an Eoin Maginnis point and a goal from Michael McStravick two minutes from the break to give their side a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the short whistle.

A strong start to the second half put the home side in a strong position as Johnny Hannon, Sean Gowdy and Thompson Mallon hit unanswered points to stretch their team’s lead to seven. St Brigid’s Rory McErlean got the Belfast side’s first point of the second half on 41 minutes, and though Sean Gowdy came back with one for the home team Jack Toney closed the gap to six once again midway through the second half. Corner forward Gowdy again hit the target to keep the home side well on top, but the Musgrave Park men got back into the contest when Toner found the Aghagallon net after a goalmouth scramble. When Rory McErlean pointed again for the visitors on 51 minutes the gap was down to just three but the home team steadied the ship on the run-in and outscored the visitors 3 to 1 in those hectic final minutes to end up four clear at the end, their points coming from Michael McStravick, Enda McCartan and Hugh Hannon to secure their place in the semi-final next weekend.

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by thesaffrongael

Creggan finish strongly to book semi-final place

U21 B Football Championship

Rossa 1-6 Kickham’s 2-8

On a terrible day for football with treacherous conditions under foot it was Rossa who got off to the better start with Diarmuid Logan scoring a goal and a point and Ruairi Grant hitting his first point all inside the first 9 minutes.

Kickhams first point arrived through the boot of Shea McCann in the 11th minute followed by a Connor Johnston point.  Pearce Short hit the last two points for Rossa with Sean Duffin replying with a point for Kickhams, leaving the |Shaw’s Road side 4 ahead at halftime. 

Kickhams were first out of the blocks in the second half with Cain Graffin grabbing a quick goal only for Rossa to reply with points from Ruairi Grant and Diarmuid Logan but that was to be their last score.

Rossa v Creggan

The visitors responded and Connor Johnston and Shea McCann hit points apiece before Fintan Close hit the equaliser with a brilliant long range point.  

Shea McCann put Kickham’s in front for the first time on the 27th minute and Sean McAuley made his way up-field in the 30th minute to put Kickham’s two ahead

Creggan finished strongly and the hard working Sean Duffin put the finishing touch to an entertaining match with a well taken goal to move his side into the semi-finals 

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by thesaffrongael

McDonald stars as St Paul’s win thrilling Nipper Quinn Shield final

Nipper Quinn Shield – A Final

St Paul’s 3-11 St John’s 4-6

Paddy Quinn presents the Nipper Quinn Shield to the St Pau’s captain after his team’s win

St Paul’s won the Nipper Quinn Shield when they held off a late rally by St John’s in Saturday’s final at Rossa Park. Played in difficult conditions on a sanded pitch, and in heavy rain, the St Paul’s boys were pushed to the pin of their collar to hold off a late rally by the boys from Corrigan, but both teams deserve the highest of credit for the display they produced.

St Paul’s right half forward Bradley McDonnell proved the difference between two well matched sides, giving a man of the match performance as he scored an incredible 2-07 for the Shaws Road side, but it was far from a one man show as centre back Ben Gamble corner forward Fiontann Burns and goalkeeper Lorcan Douglas also contributed to the victory. Dylan Hand was the stand out player for St John’s while Odhran O’Prey and Connor McGibbon also starred.

St John’s took an early lead with a Dylan Hand point, but despite playing against the strong breeze St Paul’s came back strongly and a goal and two points from Bradley McDonnell had them four ahead after ten minutes. Dylan Hand and Conor McGibbon came back with points for the Johnnies to level matters, and they could have been ahead but for a couple of great saves by Burns in the St Paul’s goal. St Pauls had moved ahead just before half time but the Johnnies got the break they needed when Hand drove a ground ball through a packed goalmouth to send them in at half time with a 1-04 to 1-03 lead.

The Corrigan Park side made a great start to the second half when Hand pointed to put them two ahead and then followed it up a minute later with a great goal to put five between the sides. McDonnell responded for St Paul’s with a great point on the run to cut the gap back to four, but St John’s appeared to be in the driving seat when midfielder Odhran O’Prey broke through and batted the ball down into the St Paul’s net to put his side seven ahead.

The frantic pace of the game continued as St Paul’s hit back with a goal and a point from McDonnell, plus points from Ben Gamble and Darragh Loughran to leave just a point between the sides, and when corner forward Fiontan Burns drilled a low shot through a packed goalmouth St Paul’s were two ahead.

Eoin Rice pointed to increase their lead to two, but Dylan Hand got the Johnnies back in front when he fired a close range free to the St Paul’s net and corner forward Fraser McGivern added a point from play. St Paul’s again responded to the challenge the Bradley McDonnell swung the game back in their favour with three points in a row, one from a 65 and two from play to put his side back ahead.

Those scores sealed the win for St Paul’s but they had to withstand a late charge by St John’s who threw everything they had at it in the dying minutes. The Corrigan Park boys came within a whisker of saving the game but were denied again by goalkeeper Douglas and a great high catch by substitute Ethan Ervine who was back helping out his defence

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by thesaffrongael

Antrim Ladies Gaelic Football Association Announces New Senior Management Team for 2025

Antrim Ladies Gaelic Football Association is pleased to announce that Michael Devlin and Chris Scullion have been appointed as the Senior Management team for the 2025 season. They will take over from Emma Kelly, who led the team through an impressive era of success, including back-to-back Ulster Junior titles in 2021 and 2022, the All-Ireland Junior title in 2022, and the LIDL Division Four and TG4 Ulster Intermediate titles in 2023.

Both from Glenavy, Devlin and Scullion guided their home club, St. Joseph’s Glenavy, to the 2023 Ulster Intermediate Final. In a joint statement, they said, “We are excited to take on this new challenge as joint managers of the Antrim senior ladies, focused on building a team culture rooted in hard work, resilience, and a passion for the game. Our goal is to bring together the best players in Antrim who are committed to a shared vision for success. Together, we’re aiming high and ready to face every challenge—it’s a new Antrim, a new approach.”

They look forward to working closely with the county board and providing opportunities for every player with ambitions to represent Antrim. With a strong backroom team supporting them, Devlin and Scullion aim to help each player develop and perform to the best of their ability through a professional setup.

Michael Devlin brings a wealth of coaching experience from St. Joseph’s Glenavy and other clubs in Armagh, with successes in league and championship competitions. Scullion, likewise, has contributed significantly at Glenavy, coaching teams from youth levels to senior men and women’s teams, including the Senior Ladies’ Intermediate Championship win and a historic appearance in the 2023 Ulster final.