Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Late fightback comes up short for brave St Brigid’s

fonaCAB Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament quarter-final
O’Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt 1-16 St Brigid’s 2-10

A late goal by centre back Eoin Sherry brought Antrim champions St Brigid’s to within one score of Derry’s Magherafelt O’Donovan Rossa in Saturday evening’s opening game in the fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football tournament at Colaiste Féirste’s. The Musgrave Park side had battled hard against a hotly fancied Magherafelt outfit who always held the upper hand.

The Derry boys led by five at the break and increased that lead to eight at a stage in the second half. It began to look like this would be a real runaway for the Derry side, but to their credit St Brigid’s kept on battling and closed to within three by the time Down referee Gavin Finnegan sounded the final whistle.

Rossa held the upper hand from the start and with their pace causing St Brigid’s problems at the back and Cathir Spiers opened their account with a point inside four minutes. Things got worse for St Brigid’s when the Derry champions grabbed the opening goal of the game through Kian Maynes, but St Brigid’s hit back right away top scorer JJ Higgins swung a ball across the Rossa goalmouth for Joseph Mellon to palm to the net.

Things were suddenly looking promising for the Antrim champions, but Magherafelt came back strongly with points from Spiers and Kerr to push the lead back out to three. McGarvey fisted over for St Brigid’s to close the gap to two but Caolan and Conall Higgins responded with points for Rossa and late scores from Jude Beattie, Conall Higgins and Lorcan Higgins stretched their advantage to five at the interval. Magherafelt 1-8 St Brigid’s 1-03

That five point lead was soon out to seven as Leacock and Higgins added points soon after the restart and the gap was out to eight after goalkeeper Karl Campbell sent over from a 45.

St Brigid’s full forward JJ Higgins, who ended with eight points to his name, helped his side close to within six. The gap stayed at six as both sides exchanged points in a hard fought contest.

With the gap at six St Brigid’s needed something special to get back into contention and when Sherry got in for his team’s second goal there was renewed hope among the South Belfast fans. It was not to be however as the Derry champions were able to keep the St Brigid’s challenge at arms-length as they secured their place in the semi-final in two weeks’ time.

O’DONOVAN ROSSA MAGHERAFELT: K Campbell (0-2, 2 45s); T Cartin, Z Gavigan, R Conway; E Spiers, R Small, C Kerr (0-1); J Beattie (0-1), C Spiers (0-2, 1f); C Leacock (0-1), Caolan Higgins (0-4), L Higgins (0-1); K Maynes (1-0), Conall Higgins (0-3, 1f), M Higgins (0-1).
Subs: T Beattie for K Maynes (58), B McCormack for R Conway (58).

ST BRIGID’S: L Cullinan; C McElhatton, S Doyle, C O’Connell; J Mulgrew, E Sherry (1-0), O Conlon; P Mulgrew, D McGurk; T McGarvey (0-1), D Quinn, J Mellon (1-0); J Logan, JJ Higgins (0-8, 6f, 1m), M Lloyd.
Subs: P Molloy for J Logan (43), P O’Connell (0-1) for T McGarvey (49), J Blaney for J Mellon (56), C McKavanagh for J Mulgrew (58).

REFEREE: Gavin Finnegan (Down)

https://myalbum.com/album/FKYzo46zDYfQNK/?invite=0f4db1cd-b80f-4db0-8fb1-2f56df3551f8

by thesaffrongael

Devenish Antrim Club All Star Awards

New Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald was the guest of honour at Thursday evenings Devenish Antrim Club All Stars awards dinner at the West Belfast venue. As well as handing over the hurling awards the former Clare legend did an interview on stage with BBC GAA correspondent Mark Sidebottom, chatting about events throughout is illustrious career as a player and in management. Sidebottom questioned Davy about his decision to take the Antrim job this year, but the former Waterford manager was keeping his cards close to his chest.

Caoimhin Heaney who was chosen at right half back on the All Star team, with his family and friends from Davitt’s at the Devenish.

With football manager Andy McEntee unfortunately unable to attend the Football awards were handed out by his right hand man Terry McCrudden.

Footballer of the Year went to Michael McCann of Cargin while younger brother Tomas won the Top Scorer award,

The Eamon Trainor Memorial Shield for Referee of the Year was presented to Kevin Parke by Eamon’s sister and brother Elizabeth and Anthony.

A great variety of clubs were represented in both hurling and football and once again it was the players from the lower divisions who got the best reception for their achievements this season.

Overall another great night and special thanks must go to the man behind the event Paddy Cunningham, the Devenish for hosting the event and O’Neill’s Sport for their generous sponsorship.

Cargin’s clean sweep which saw Tom Shivers win the Young Footballer of the Year award, Tomas McCann win the Top Scorer of the Year and Mick McCann win overall Player of the Year

Joseph McLaughlin of Ruairi Og won the Young Hurler of the Year, Seaan Elliott of Cuchullains win the top scorer award while Ruairi Og’s Eoin Campbell won the overall Hurler of the Year award.

TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE DEVENISH ALL STAR NIGHT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/S42TtrxgEzYjSZ

by thesaffrongael

Faughs to advance in ‘familiar’ surroundings

Ulster Intermediate Hurling Club semi-final

Carey Faughs v Castleblaney Hurling

Pairc Colmcille Carrickmore

Sunday 1-30pm

At the second time of asking ‘Weather Permitting’ Pairc Colmcille will have a familiar feel to Carey Faughs as they make the journey to the Co Tyrone venue for the second time in three weeks to face Castleblaney in this Sunday’s Ulster Intermediate Club Championship semi-final.

Last week’s scheduled game at the same venue was postponed following the death of James Black, father of Faughs player James ‘Rocket’ Black and at the time of writing Sunday’s clash is still scheduled despite a Yellow weather wanrning for the weekend.

Three weeks ago the Ballyvoy men visited the same venue where they took on local side, Carrickmore and avenged a defeated by the same opposition, three years earlier in the opening round of Ulster.

It took penalties to separate Carey and the Tyrone champions after the sides finished level after extra time in an epic struggle.

Two brilliant saves from Carey goalkeeper Steven McGinn during the penalty shoot-out finally decided the issue after the sides had ended level at the end of normal time, and again at the end of extra time, Carey grabbing last gasp points to avoid defeat in both cases.

Conal McGlynn, Caolan McCaughan and Conlith McKinley and Conor McBride were the men who provided the scores to match the local side all the way to that dramatic penalty shootout and will carry their challenge into Sunday’s semi-final.

Steven McGinn has been excellent for the Faughs this season as the last line of defence and has been consistent throughout the Antrim division 2 league and championship campaigns.

In front of him Sean McBride has been a colossus at the heart of a hard working defence where Patrick Gillan and James ‘Rocket’ Black have performed heroically in a solid unit, Black coming up with some excellent scores.

Caolan McCaughan and James McCouaig add strength and experience around mid-field and the Ballyvoy side will travel to the now, familiar, Pairc Colmcille confident that they can advance to the final.

Middletown 1-13 Castleblayney 0-17

In the other semi-final Castleblaney of Monaghan caused an upset when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Middletown of Armagh in the Athletic Grounds, avenging a defeat to the same opponents back in 2021

Castleblaney led for the majority of the game, but when Middletown youngster Rory Grimes buried a 45th-minute goal, it looked like the Armagh champions were going to take control.

Castleblaney stood strong to land the final two scores of the night however, both through Niall Garland, to edge through by the minimum of margins.

The Armagh champions wasted a bagful of chances at the Athletic Ground hitting 16 wides over the course of the game while Castleblaney were much more economical in their finishing.

Niall Garland top scored for the Monaghan side with 0-6 (4f’s) while Thomas Hughes, Declan Hughes and Mark Treanor carried the majority of the Castleblaney scoring threat.

Castleblaney are managed by former Rossa player Tony Austin and —-McManus whose two sons play for St. John’s so they are sure to have some prior knowledge of the Antrim Intermediate champions.

 A big crowd followed Carey Faughs to Carrickmore last day out and it should be even bigger on Sunday and in a season where the loss of their talisman ‘We Joe’ Heggarty appears to have galvanised the club, I expect them to advance to the decider.

Belfast duo of Tony Austin and Niall McManus are guiding the Castleblaney fortunes this season

Castleblayney Scorers v Middletown:N Garland 0-6 (4f); T Hughes 0-4; M Treanor & D Hughes 0-2 each; F Rafter, C McNally & B McGuigan 0-1 each

Carey Faughs v Carrickmore: Steven McGinn, Zach McCaughan, Sean McBride, Patrick Gillan, Michael McVeigh, James Black, Conall McGlynn, Caolan McCaughan, James McCouaig, Conlith McKinley, Conor McBride, John McBride, Shea Hunter, Patrick Butler, Callum Cane. Subs Eoin Hill

by thesaffrongael

Abbey too strong for battling St. Mary’s

Rafferty Cup

St. Mary’s CBGS 2-7 Abbey Vocational School 3-14

Abbey Vocational School proved too strong for a battling St. Mary’s in this Rafferty Cup meeting at Glenavy. The Donegal side, backboned by players from Four Masters, took control of proceedings early on and never really looked in trouble.

It was St. Mary’s CBGS who opened the scoring through the impressive Keelan McCann who pointed in the 4th minute but Abbey replied through a Gethin Mosby double to take the lead after 9 minutes.

D’Angelo Ward briefly tied the contest from a well struck long range free but Abbey came roaring back through Dylan Doherty and three from the excellent Thomas Lenehan to move four ahead after 20 minutes.

St. Mary’s tried to respond and looked in for a goal but Lewis McCalmont in the Abbey goals pulled off a smart save to deny Ward and the Donegal side rubbed salt in the wound when a long delivery from Lenehan finished in the St. Mary’s net.

Abbey Vocational School were in control and it took a great save from Aaron Crean-Crilly in the 27th minute to deny Finn Gillespie as the Donegal side started to turn the screw.

It wasn’t looking good for the Glen Road side but they found a response and just a glimmer of hope as Cormac McCann fired to the Abbey net in the 29th minute with Gillespie concluding the first half scoring with a point for the Donegal side.

Half Time 1-2 TO 1-8

Trailing by six at the break, St. Mary’s needed a good start to the second half and D’Angelo Ward provided it when he pointed a long range free in the 5th minute with Cormac McCann adding a fine point from play to cut the gap to four.

Thomas Lenehan got the Abbey going again as he pointed an 8th minute free but Ward replied immediately from a free at the other end as the Donegal side continued to look threatening and Aaron Crean-Crilly pulled off an excellent save to deny Gethin Mosby.

Another Abbey goal wasn’t long in arriving however and after Thomas Carr had added a point Mosby took advantage of a defensive error to fire home from close range in the 13th minute.

Thomas Lenehan and Jamie McMonigle tagged on points with Conan Madden replying with a second goal for the Glen Road side and then unfortunate to see an effort come back of a post when a third goal looked eminent.

That was as good as it would get with Thomas Carr, Thomas Lenehan and Finn Gillespie adding point for the the Doneal college and Conasn Madden replying with a consolation point for the Antrim representatives.

A fine performance from an Abbey side back-boned by players from Four Masters, 10 of whom played in their sides win over Casement’s Portglenone in the McGirr Cup at the weekend.

St. Mary’s gave it everything and in Aaron Crean-Crilly, D’Angelo Ward, Keelan McCann, Cormac McCann and Conan Madden they had strong performers on the day.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/yJ87ffYKdnajx6