Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

by thesaffrongael

Sean Magee performing in Carey Hall tonight

Get ready for an unforgettable night with the legendary Sean Magee performing live and our support artist the Brilliant Oonagh Clarke – it’s sure to be one for the books. You won’t want to miss Sean’s hits like “Tippin’ It Up to Nancy” and more!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CASH ONLY EVENT.

📅 Date: Friday, 25th October

⏰ Time: Doors open at 8:00pm

🎤 Support: Oonagh Clarke Music.

🍻 Bar: Fully stocked!

BBQ by SMG Catering.

https://www.eventbrite.com/…/the-lengendary-sean-magee…

Everyone is welcome, so come along and enjoy a fantastic night of music, dancing, and drinks and to prolong the Inetermediate Hurling Championship winning celebration.

See you there!

by thesaffrongael

St Pat’s Maghera book McNamee final place

Danske Bank MacNamee Cup semi-final

St Patrick’s Maghera 3-9 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 3-7

St Pat’s Maghera qualified for the final of the McNamee Cup when they withstood a late rally by St Killian’s College in Wednesday’s semi-final at Slemish Park, Ballymena.

With the wind behind them in the first half St Pat’s dominated play, and despite conceding and early goal by St Killian’s Niall McAuley they gradually took control.

A Patrick O’Loughlin goal saw them take control of the game and by half time they were ten clear of the Garron Tower boys, a second O’Loughlin goal and one by Quintin Darren sending them in at the break with a 3-7 to 1-3 lead.

Despite the deficit St Killian’s appeared to be still in contention, given the strength the breeze blowing towards the pavilion end, but there was little happened on the field to back up that argument as the Maghera boys had the better of things during the third quarter, and in fact St Killian’s had to defend well to keep the gap at ten.

The game seemed to be over as a contest until two quick goals by the Tower duo of Niall McAuley from play and one direct from a free by Oliver Mooney suddenly turned the game on its head.

The momentum was now with the north Antrim boys, but despite having plenty of possession they could make no more inroads into their deficit, and solid defending by the Maghera full back line, and a series of good saves by their goalkeeper kept their opposition at bay and secured a final place against Cross & Passion just after the Halloween break.

Scorers

St Patrick’s P O’Loughlin 2-3 (0-1f); Q Darren 1-2; H McCloskey 0-2f; S Herron & D McCloskey 0-1 each

St Killian’s N McAuley 2-0; O Mooney 1-2f; T McKeegan 0-3f; R Delargy & S McAuley 0-1 each

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/wxg9cjfsWttZDJ/?invite=c9f32307-7aa2-4f64-9030-6c0b284c24b8

by thesaffrongael

Aghagallon GAA for All-All Star evening

Armagh’s Stephen Campbell was special guest at St. Mary’s Aghagallon GAA for All end of season All Star event where a great evening’s coaching and fun was enjoyed by all.

Stephen was joined by St. Mary’s very own Antrim star, Eunan Walsh as the large group who attended were put through their paces in what proved to be a wonderful session for all present.

A nice touch from the St. Mary’s club was the presentation of a special certificate to Saffron Gael’s Bert Trowlen who has been a staunch supporter of the GAA for All over many years and is always there to bring coverage of these excellent events to a wide audience.

Aghagallon and Antrim’s Eunan Walsh with Armagh’s Stephen Campbell with children who received certificates at the end of season GAA foe All-All Stars evening

TO VIEW BERT’S PHOTOS CLICK ON LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/bsqCpbN8isWVCu

by thesaffrongael

Five-Star Moneyglass advance to another final

LGFA Minor A semi-final

St. Ergnat’s 5-13 Gort na Mona 0-7

Holders, St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass advanced to another LGFA Minor final when they produced a five-star performance to overcome the challenge of Gort na Mona in the semi-final in Portglenone on Tuesday night.

Goals from Leah Stewart, Jo Jo Darragh and Annie Griffin between the 10th and 14th minute of the second half put matters to bed at a time when the Belfast girls had briefly threatened a comeback.

St. Ergnat’s led 1-9 to 0-2 at half time and added a point at the start of the second but three on the bounce from the Enright Park side suggested that perhaps this game wasn’t over.

That quick fire treble of majors from the Marian Hill side put paid to that notion and they added a fifth goal from a Ruby McErlain penalty in the 29th minute to run out convincing winners.

It was St. Ergnat’s who made all the early running with Jo Jo Darragh 0-2 and Katie McCloskey 0-2 shooting them into a four point lead by the 7th minute as they dominated the early exchanges.

There would be no relief for the Mona Bye-pass side as Annie Griffin added another before the impressive Darragh moved St. Ergnat’s six in front from a free and Ruby McErlain got herself on the score card with a goal in the 13th minute.

Darragh and McErlain added points before Orla McNulty finally opened the Gort na Mona account with a point in the 20th minute and Mia Dembele Mills followed with another before Katie McCloskey kicked the final point of the half to leave Moneyglass 1-9 to 0-2 ahead at the interval.

Gort na Mona started the second half well and after McCloskey had extended the reigning champions lead, Dembele Mills, Casey Meighan and Chloe Boyd Munce replied with three in a row.

The celebrations had scarcely finished before St. Ergnat’s responded with a sustained onslaught with points from Ruby McErlain and Leah Cassidy bookending a hat-trick of goals from Stewart, Darragh and Griffin to put matters to bed with 15 minutes remaining.

Ruby McErlain’s goal from the penalty spot in the 20th minute only served to put a brighter look on the score-board with the same player adding a late point and Gort na Mona finally rewarded for a battling effort with two late points from Casey Meighan and Brooke Largey.

St. Ergnat’s now meet St. Brigid’s in a repeat of last year’s final which the Marian Hill girls won and they will start this one as favourites but will face a tougher challenge from a Musgrave Park side who defeated St. Paul’s in the other semi-final on Sunday.

TO VIEW ELAINE KELLY’S ALBUM CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/bnjGxrEhZJoKPm