Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Dowie on fire as Tir na nOg claim the Shield

South West U14 Shield Football Final

Tir na nOg 6-9 St. James 4-10

Corey Dowie shot a hat-trick as Tir na nOg overcame the challenge of St. James Aldergrove in an exciting U14 Shield final at Ahoghill on Sunday. Dowie opened his account from a great half volley in the 10th minute, added another two minutes later and completed his treble, 6 minutes into the second half.

In a thrill a minute contest the Whitehill youngsters threatened to run away with it at one stage but a gritty St. James announced their intent with three goals of their own between the 16th amd 20th minutes with Jack Kelly, Oliver Robb and Ryan Donnelly all raising Green flags.

Thomas Neeson and Kyran Shannon shot Tir na nog into an early two point lead but St. James came back strongly through Ethan martin, Eoin McGrady and a great point from Cian Bell to edge ahead by the 9th minute,

Dowie well struck volley ended in the Aldergrove net to restore the Tir na nOg lead and he would add a second, two minutes later and another from Oisin Sisk at the end of the opening quarter put the Randalstown club in a strong position.

St. James’ responded with goals from Kelly, McGrady and Bell in a five minute spell of dominance to throw the contest wide open again but it was the Og’s who finished the half with a flourish as Ethan McLaverty and Thomas Neeson rattled the Aldergrove net.

Points from Jack Kelly, either side of the half-time break kept St. James in touch but another purple patch from the Whitehill youngsters saw Oistin Mooney, Thomas Neeson and Eoin Carey reply with points before Corey Dowie fired home his third goal of the evening.

There was a touch of fortune about his third as it took a deflection on its way past the unfortunate Brendan Maguire but it brought another response from the lads in Red as Ryan Donnelly pointed before Jack Corogan fired home his side’s fourth goal.

Ethan Martin added a point in response to Thomas Neeson’s long range effort and another from Corey Dowie and both sides battled to the end with Cian Bell, Ryan Donnelly and Ethan Martin on target for the Crumlin side and Neeson and Dowie concluding the scoring for Tir na nOg.

After the game Aidan Draine presented the Sean Draine memorial cup to Tir na nOg captain, Oistin Mooney. The cup was presented to the South West in 2000 after the tragic death of Sean Draine aged 17.

The cup was formerly played for in the Feile but will now be the prize for the South West U14 Shield in the coming years.

Tir na nOg: 1 Cadab Dixon, 2 Oisin Henry, 3 James Mullan, 4 Ethan Clarke, 5 Eoin Carey, 6 Cillian Gillespie, 7 Caodhan Letters, 8 Thomas Neeson, 9 Oistin Mooney, 10 Oisin Sisk, 11 Ciaran Corr, 12 Ciaran Redmond, 13 Kyran Shannon, 14 Corey Dowie, 15 Eoghan Kennedy 16 Ethan McLaverty

Aldergrove: 1 Brendan Maguire, 2 Oliver Dean, 3 David Stuart, 4 Jacob Pennie, 5 Rhys Condie, 6 Cian Bell, 7 Caolan Mallon, 8 Eoin McGrady, 9 Cillian Baker, 10 Shea McGrath, 11 Jack Corogan, 12 Ethan Martin,13 Oliver Robb, 14 Ryan Donnelly, 15 Jack Kelly

Referee: John Hasson (All Saints)

TO VIEW BERT’S PHOTO ALBUM CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/7pxwqA9E3faVix

by thesaffrongael

Kelly dozen paves St. Brigid’s path to final

Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final

St Brigid’s 2-23 Loch Mor Dal gCais 0-19

James Kelly won the battle of the number 10’s as St. Brigid’s out-scored Loch Mor dal gCais in an excellent Junior B Hurling semi-final at Mallusk on Saturday.

The St. Brigid’s number 10 was matched all the way by his opposite number, Darragh Turley, the Loch Mor man equalling his final tally  on the score board as both men finished with 0-12 to their name over the hour.

It was the greater spread of scores from the Musgrave Park side that would prove the difference in the end and a great goal from Fintan Cleary after 17 minutes and another scrambled effort from Jack Pardy with 23 minutes gone saw the Musgrave side 10 in front at the break.

With the wind in their favour, Loch Mor did much better after the break and matched St. Brigid’s score for score but by that stage the damage had already been done and they were never able to get the goal that they needed to launch a comeback.

James Kelly led the way for the Belfast side and had 0-5 on the score board before Cleary rattled the Loch Mor net with 17 minutes gone. Cleary had opened the scoring with the game’s first point and David Prtenter and Jack Pardy also registered for the Musgrave side.

The excellent Darragh Turley did all in his power to keep his side in touch with their opening four points and Declan Phillips and Matthew Jones added points to keep the South West side in touch prior to Cleary’s goal.

Another point from Kelly and one from John McGuckian preceded Pardy’s kicked goal from close range and put a distance between the sides that Loch Mor were unable to close.

Kelly and Niall Murtagh added late St. Brigid’s points with Turley adding three for Loch Mor Dal gCais to leave the half time score 2-13 to 0-9 in favour of Naomh Brid and even at this stage they looked to have one foot in the final.

Battle of the (10’s). Darragh Turley of Loch Mor Dal gCais and above (Featured image) James Kelly of Naomh Brid. The number 10’s of both sides scored 0-12 in the JHC B semi-final

Half Time St. Brigid’s 2-13 Loch Mor Dal gCais  0-9

If Loch Mor were to get back into contention they needed a good start to the second half but it was Naom Brid who were first off the mark as James Kelly and  John McGuckian extended their lead with early points.

Darragh Turley finally got the Lough shore side going from a pointed free in the 5th minute but James Kelly from a long range free replied for St. Brigid’s before he Musgrave Park side lost a man to a straight Red.

The shoot-out between Kelly and Turley continued with Kelly adding another three for Naomh Brid and David Prenter 0-2 and Fintan Cleary concluding the scoring for the Musgrave men.

Turley continued his scoring duel with Kelly for Loch Mor as he added a further 0-4 while Cormac Dwyer, Cathal McGreevey, Matthew Jones and Conor Jones brought their total to 0-19 for the evening.

A strong performance from St. Brigid’s who were tighter in defence and more productive in attack than their opponents and in James Kelly they had an excellent free taker with the right half forward also contributing from play.

His opposite number Darragh Turley gave it everything for a Loch Mor side who battled hard but never really recovered from those two first half goals.

St. Brigid’s now face Belfast Saints in the final after the West Belfast side travelled to Brustin Braes and recorded a good win over Latharna Og in the other semi-final.

St. Brigid’s: 1 Brian McGurk, 2 Michael Burke, 27 Chris Lundy, 4 Oliver Leggett, 5 Dara Sidebottom, 6 Peter Heaney, 7 Michael Kerr, 8 Cathal Conway, 9 Niall Murtagh, 10 James Kelly, 11 Jack Pardy, 12 Fintan Cleary, 13 David Prenter, 14 John McGuckian, 15 Oisin McDonnell.

Subs: 21 Cathal McGreevey

Loch Mor Dal cGais: 1 Cathan O’hEireamhoin, 2 Aaron Monaghan, 3 Bailey Graham, 4 Sean Burke, 5 Ruairi Bannon, 6 Conor Jones, 7 Jack Conway, 8 Martin Braniff, 9 Ruairi Moran, 10 Darragh Turley, 11 Cormac Dwyer, 12 Matthew Jones, 13 Declan Phillips, 14 Martin Robb, 15 Ferdia Carson

Referee: Colin Thompson (St John’s)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/RqLbhRDarytUYJ

by thesaffrongael

St Paul’s claim final berth at the expense of gallant Creggan

Antrim Under 18A Minor Football Championship Semi Final

Kickham’s Creggan 1-06 St Paul’s 3-10

St Paul’s claimed a place in the final Of The Minor Football Championship

gaining passage at the expense of a gallant Creggan side in Creggan on Sunday afternoon

Their second half  dominance was the main factor for their Belfast boys victory, especially the midfield dominance of their midfeielder McGreevey

Nothing had separated the combatants in the opening period on a windswept

Staffordsown Road arena and although the home side did enjoy an early lead

with a Tristan Mc Cann goal giving them a 1-02 to 0-02 advantage at the end of

the opening quarter, it was all change after the half time break

Shay Mc Cann’s early point had ensured the home side were away in front

supplemented by another from Ronan Mc Guckian shortly thereafter and

when Tristan Mc Cann found the net following a positive approach by Liam McLernon, and a precision based delivery by Rian Mc Grath, the South West lads looked in charge.

With the fresh breeze at their backs the Creggan boys were composed on ball and after St Pauls missed a couple of chances the Creggan were given a great boost when a Liam Mc Lernon pass opened the way for Tristan Mc Cann to finish to the visitors net and give his side a 1-02 to 0-01 advantage.

St Paul’s corner forward Rogers Duff added back to back points from free kicks, navigating the breeze well to reduce the deficit. Creggan net minder Conor Loughran also stood tall in defiance to deny the

busy Rogers Duff access to the net in the 22 nd minute and whenShay Mc Cann despatched a a 55 metre free between the posts soon afterwards the signs remained good for the home side.

However, St Pauls were finding their form against the breeze and

corner forward Rogers Duff, who was now causing problems for the home side defence, nipped in to add a 26 th minute goal the sides were level.

A Niall Carmichael point nearing half time put the visitors in front

for the first time  and when Carmichael was first to Cormac Trainor delivery to finish to the net in the 31 st minute St Paul’s led by 2-04 to 1-03 at half time.

With the breeze behind them in the second half St Paul’s were now in the driving seat and the began to force home their advantage, but the home side were not about to give the Shaw’s Road lads free passage to the final.

With an excellent Fintan Close point and one from Anton Martin only one score separated the sides, but back came St Paul’s with back

to back white flags from Niall Carmichael and Rogers Duffy to move 2-07 to 1-05 ahead.

Creggan did provide response as to their intentions to make the under-18

decider with a fine Shay McCann long distance point defying the elements, but the city lads were quick to respond, and points from Rogers Duffy (2), Oisin Gamble saw St Pauls pull away to a healthy seven point lead 2-10 to 1-06 as the clock neared the 30 minute mark.

It was a case of backs to the wall for the home side in the last added minutes, but although the stood strong in defiance the St Paul’s lads were not to relax their grip on proceedings and just as the long blast was imminent a lofted delivery into the danger area by the impressive Ciaran Mc Alea, a big candidate for man of the match, was sent clear by Rogers Duff to seal the win

Creggan

Conor Loughran, Darrach Mc Cann, Eoin Mc Larnon, Shay Mc Lernon, Aontan

Martin (0-01), Liam Mc Lernon, Fintan Kelly (0-01) Adrian Mc Elwee, Tristan Mc

Cann (1-01, Conor Johnston, Sean Daly, Ronan Mc Guckian (0-02), Shay Mc

Cann (0-03)

St Paul’s

Adam Carroll, Ciaran Mc Donnell, Cormac Burke, Gareth Cowan, Ciaran Mc

Cann, Ciaran Mc Alea, Brendan Mc Morrow, Ciaran Mc Greevey, Cormac

Trainor (0-01), James Ireland (0-01), Niall Carmichael (0-03), Conor Ward,

Rogers Duff (2-05)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/QsMPTUfmJRwShs

by thesaffrongael

Cloney and Sarsfields share 51 points as the Gaels seal a semi-final place

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Round 5

Cloney Gaels 0-32 Sarsfields 0-19

Cloney Gaels produced a master class of score taking in beating Sarsfields in Saturday’s final round-robin game in the Intermediate Hurling Championship at Ahoghill. 32 points is impressive any day, but against a team like Sarsfields is even more so, the Paddies normally tight in defence were hampered when they lost a man to a red card nearing the end of the first half, but they still managed 19 points themselves, which would win a lot of games.

The Cloney men had five points on the board in the first five minutes, two of them from James O’Connell and one each from Danny O’Neill, Owen Neeson and Conor Crossey.

Sarsfields got on the board with a Fionn Jemfrey point on six minutes and they added two more through Jemfrey and Donal McKernan to get back in the game. With just five minutes left in the first half the visitors had closed to within two points (0-11 to 0-09), four of them from Kevin ‘Kevo’ McKernan and two from Niall McKenna, but Cloney finished the game strongly and two from Fionnbar O’Neill and one each from Diarmuid Grahan and James O’Connell put them 0-15 to 0-09 ahead at the break.

The six point gap was out to eight when Cloney got the first two points of the second half , but the Paddies got four of the next five scores, Kevo nailing three of them and Fionn Jemfrey the other one to close to within five. However the Ahoghill men were relentless as they hit nine of the next ten points to put the game beyond their opponents. To their credit Sarfields never gave up the fight and they kept going to the end, hitting the last three points of the game Jemfrey getting two and Niall McKenna one.

A great way for Cloney Gaels to bounce back after their defeat to neighbours Tir na Nóg last time out. They now face Carey Faughs in the semi-final while Tir na nÓg take on the Oisins. With the two Senior semi-finals as well, plus the Junior and Junior B deciders, it should be a great weekend’s hurling  

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/72iDzsC5b9aMzN

by thesaffrongael

Cuchullains through to semi’s after Town scare

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter Final

Dunloy 1-24 Ballycastle 1-18

Sunday 22 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel

With eight minutes of this tie remaining, substitute Lorcan Donnelly brought Ballycastle to the brink of causing a major upset.  They had reduced Dunloy’s lead to two points and were playing like a side rejuvenated.  Despite missing the services of Tiarnan Smyth, the Town were playing with championship intensity and at levels many can’t have envisaged.  They were in the mood to prove to the naysayers that there is life in the black and amber.

Neal McAuley rolling back the years and playing a pivotal role for his side at full forward.  Someone may need to carbon date the man.  He was phenomenal for his side and had plenty of support.  Seamus McAuley and Ciaran Butler causing mayhem while the work rate of Ryan McCook and Ronan McCarry in the middle third ensured Ballycastle were competitive.

Dunloy found another gear in the closing stages, however.  Keelan Molloy instrumental, Seaan Elliott at his impish best in the middle of the field while Conal Cunning was relishing being back in a Dunloy shirt for the first time in this year’s hurling championship. 

The Cuchullains would run out six point winners by the time referee Tarlach Conway called for time after seven minutes of injury time.  Nine different scorers and 1-22 of their final tally coming from open play is impressive reading but missed goal chances and well into double figures in wides will give Gregory O’Kane and his backroom team food for thought as they prepare for a semi-final date with Loughgiel in two weeks’ time.

The Cuchullains started this one like a steam train with Cunning firing over with barely 30 seconds on the clock.  Points from Paul Shiels and Aodhán McGarry came either side of a free from Conor Boyd to open Ballycastle account.

The Town thought they had the opening goal of the game in the fifth minute when Neal McAuley deflected the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott.  The green flag was raised but the Ballycastle celebrations were cut short with referee Tarlach Conway calling a square ball infringement.  McAuley would fire over his first free of the match to leave the minimum between the sides. It would be their last score for 12 minutes however as Dunloy clicked into gear.  A brace of points from the hugely influential Seaan Elliott (one free) came before the Cuchullains carved open two goal chances.  Ballycastle ‘keeper Ryan McGarry denying first Nigel Elliott and then a quite brilliant double save to deny Cunning and Eoin O’Neill.

Scores would follow from O’Neill and Seaan Elliott to open the Dunloy lead to five before Conor Boyd split the uprights for his second of the match and briefly halt the Dunloy charge.

Butler and Keelan Molloy split the posts before Ballycastle had another sight of the Dunloy goal.  Neal McAuley breaking the sliotar into the path of Seamie McAuley who pulled first day but his shot fizzed over the bar to leave three between the sides with ten minutes of the half remaining.

That deficit would remain until first half injury time with Dunloy raising the white flag through Aodhán McGarry (two) and Keelan Molloy (two) while Ballycastle had scores from Seamie McAuley, James McShane and a brace from Neal McAuley (one free).  Aodhán McGarry should have scored a major in that period of time but his Ryan McGarry denied him with the goal at his mercy.  The Dunloy forward would make no mistake deep in first half injury time, however.  Nigel Elliott stealing possession in the middle third and finding his brother Seaan in space.  The Dunloy flier sped towards the goal with the Ballycastle defence closing in, he passed to Aodhán McGarry and he fired to the back of the Ballycastle net to leave the half time score 1-12 to 0-9 in the Cuchullains favour.

Both sides were guilty of missed chances in the opening 30 plus minutes recording five wides apiece.  Ballycastle missing a couple of very scoreable frees did little to help their challenge while the Cuchullains will rarely miss such goal chances again.

The second half started just like the first with Cunning splitting the uprights for his second of the match.  The accuracy didn’t improve from either side though with six wides shared between them in the opening 10 minutes.

Points from James McShane and Neal McAuley (free) got the Town firing again before Cunning split the posts again.  Seamie McAuley pointed for his third of the match before Ballycastle were awarded a penalty in the 45th minute.  Phelim Duffin adjudged to have fouled Seamie McAuley and Ballycastle were given a lifeline.  Conor Boyd stepped up to take the penalty but his shot was driven straight at Ryan Elliott in the Dunloy goals.

Another McAuley free and Ciaran Butler’s first of the second half came either side of Nigel Elliott firing over for Dunloy in the 47th minute.  Butler would reduce the Dunloy lead to four points with an quite brilliant score wide on the left and under pressure.  The Cuchullains responded with Seaan Elliott’s fourth of the match before Ballycastle scored their major in the 52nd minute.  Mark McClean working the ball into the path of Lorcan Donnelly and he showed super composure to beat Elliott in the Dunloy goals.

With the game in the melting pot, Dunloy’s response was match winning.  A brace of points from Keelan Molloy followed with the Ballycastle cheers still ringing in the ears of the players.  Counting Molloy’s brace, the Cuchullains would outscore Ballycastle seven points to three after Donnelly’s goal to safely ensure their passage to the last four and a date with the Shamrocks in two weeks time.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Ryan McGarry, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Kevin Molloy, Conor McKinley; Paul Shiels, Seaan Elliott; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Aodhan McGarry; Eoin O’Neill, Conal Cunning, Nicky McKeague

Subs: Tom McFerran for P Shiels (44); Gabriel McTaggart for Nicky McKeague (44); Chrissy McMahon for E O’Neill (48); Eoin McFerran for E Smyth (48); Anton McGrath for Keelan Molloy (60)

Scorers: A McGarry 1-3; Keelan Molloy 0-5; S Elliott 0-5 (2fs); E O’Neill 0-3; C Cunning 0-3; N Elliott 0-2; P Shiels 0-1; C McMahon 0-1; G McTaggart 0-1

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

https://myalbum.com/album/bgKW5fwzrQ774j