Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Exciting Minor Hurling final in prospect

Antrim Minor Hurling Championship final

12 noon at Glen Rovers Armoy

Sunday 29- September

Reigning Minor Hurling Champions Dunloy Cuchullains bid to make it back to back titles when they take on Glenariffe-Glenravel in Sunday’s final in Armoy.

Dunloy’s Caolan McFerran and Paudie Martin

Dunloy were very impressive when beating Cushendall in their semi-final two weeks ago, getting away from the Ruairis in the second half after a fantastic high scoring opening thirty minutes. The young Cuchullains had a team full of stars but corner forward Paudie Martin was the stand out man, scoring 3-08 over the hour, and only two points of that total from frees, a truly remarkable achievement. Not far behind him the in the honours list was goalkeeper Caolan McFerran, who pulled off a series of remarkable saves to keep the Ruairis at bay, especially during the first half.  There are a long list of others of course like Ben O’Kane and Reece Cunning in defence, and the two Oisins, McCallin and McCamphill up front.

Glenariffe-Glenravel had an easier semi-final where they beat Rossa with a bit to spare, but they beat Loughgiel in the semi-final and have had a good league campaign, finishing in second place, just two points behind the Cuchullains. There is a wealth of talent in the squad with four of the team Niall Magee, Calum McIlwaine, Orrin O’Connor and Phelim Ward regular starters in the club’s senior team who face Tir na Nóg in the Intermediate Championship semi-final next weekend.

This promises to be a great game of hurling between two very good teams. Dunloy will understandably start as favourites, and deservedly so, but if Glenariffe-Glenravel can make a steady start it could be closer than many people think.

Glenariffe-Glenravel’s Phelim Ward and Orrin O’Conor

The Dunloy and Glenariffe-Glenravel starting line-ups from the semi-final were

DUNLOY:

Caolan McFerran; Cahir McMullan, Sean Og Blaney, Charlie Cunning; Reece Cunning, Ben O’Kane, Jack McKeever; Ryan McClements, Jack Martin; Donnach Laverty, Luke McFerran, Aidan Richmond; Oisin McCallin, Oisin McCamphill, Padraig Martin

GLENARIFFE-GLENRAVEL

Ben Duncan, Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Michael Furey, James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort, Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion, Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christoper Leach, Oisin Gillen, Phelim Ward, Joe McKay

by thesaffrongael

“Putting pride back in the jersey” – Aggies revitalised ahead of Semi Final showdown with St Malachy’s

Junior Football Championship semi-final – Pairc Naomh Úna

Throw-in 3pm

It would be fair to say that St Agnes’ have endured a tough few years in recent times. A formidable match for anyone on their day, but perhaps lacked the consistency required to make a sustained push for honours. However, their performances to date in the 2024 Junior Championship has saw them finish proudly atthe top a very tricky group involving a budding Laochra outfit as well as county finalists of the previous two years, O’Donnells, and 2022 winners, Pearses.

The man at the helm of this Aggies renaissance is Clogher native Martin Shortt. A passionate football man who by all accounts has helped instil a greater sense of belief and pride back into the Aggies side. The Saffron Gael’s Niall Kelly caught up with Martin at the conclusion of their four point victory over O’Donnells.

When asked about how he had masterminded their Championship fortunes to date, the Tyrone native pointed to blooding players in the league and using it as a platform to learn from and push on for July.

“The league is obviously your bread and butter first of all. Preseason started around Christmas or just shortly after. Looking at the lads then, they were enthusiastic and mad to get going. We just wanted to get a bit of pride put back into the jersey and be competitive really that’s the way we looked at it.”

“When the Championship draw was made, we never looked much at it. We wanted to fulfil the fixtures in the league and see where we could finish first.”

Shortt remarked on how the early part of the league wasn’t ideal but that his troops started to find their way as Championship season approached.

“The early part of the league was obviously disappointing but I think the second half though was really good. We started to build up a bit of momentum. We knew we could bring that into Championship at some stage.”

The Aggies’  bainisteoir was under no illusions however at how tricky a prospect the other teams in the group would pose. Shortt then detailed how they got through it and how their victory over Pearses in the curtain raiser provided his players with the impetus they needed.

“You look at the Laochras, the Pearses, the Cardinal O’Donnells of the world, as you say this group was never going to be easy, but we had absolutely nothing to lose. We looked after ourselves and were ready for the first game away to Pearses. We knew that would be a tricky and difficult test which is exactly what it was. But to come out of there with the win gave us that bit of confidence and belief which went on into the Laochra game.”

With safe passage through to the knockouts confirmed even before a ball was kicked against O’Donnells, it wouldn’t have been a total disaster had the Aggies failed to gain the verdict. However, the man from the O’Neill county insisted how important guaranteeing pole position and a day off for his men would be and was fully aware of how testing a task the Whiterock men would pose.

“We had a to take on O’Donnells on our home patch and to keep that momentum going and look for the three wins which is massive and would give us that bit of time to get bodies recovered and a few days rest and then have a semi-final to look forward to..”

“We knew O’Donnells would be very tricky, and we weren’t taking them lightly as at the end of the day they’ve been in county final after county final and probably should’ve won it last year against Rasharkin. They’re well-schooled, they’re well drilled and they’re a big strong, physical outfit but that’s exactly the type of game you want to keep it going. It’ll stand us in good measure for the knockouts”

Naomh Úna welcome St Malachy’s to their home patch tomorrow in what is a massive occasion for the club. Having the day off a few weeks ago will surely help rejuvenate the squad further and if they can build upon their momentum, they will be quietly confident of reaching their first final since 2010.

Never ‘short’ of something to say. Aggies manager Martin Shortt bubbling with enthusiasm as he chats with Saffron Gael reporter Niall Kelly after the quarter-final win O’Donnell’s

by thesaffrongael

Dominant first half sets up St Comgall’s win

Antrim Junior Football Championship semi-final

St Comgall’s 2-07 Pearses 0-05

Pics by Bert Trowlen

A dominant first half which saw them build a 2-05 to 0-02 lead by half time, saw St Comgall secure their place in the final of Junior Football Championship at the expense of 2022 champions Pearses at Dunsilly on Friday evening. It took them ten minutes to settle but once they got going Barry Burn’s men put on a show for the remainder of the opening half, building up a nine point lead by the time referee Ray Matthews blew the half time whistle. When man of the match Tom Patchett increased the St Comgall’s lead to ten two minutes after the restart it looked like it would be all one way in the second period also, but things got scrappy as the game went on and they just added one more point in the 28 minutes which remained while Pearses clawed their way back with five of their own, though they never really got close enough to trouble the winners.

Both teams missed early chances but St Comgall’s were cleary the better side and when corner forward Patchett got their first score on ten minutes, things began to happen. A bad kick-out following that score saw Patchett win the ball again and he dispatched it to the back of the net and less than a minute later he added another point to put his team five clear. The Antrim men were moving the ball really well on fifteen minutes they increased their lead again when full forward Miles Devine split the posts again.

Pearses just couldn’t get the ball and St Comgall’s struck again midfielder Louis Higgins cut in along the endline and found Aaron McGraw who rattled a shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the net and run continued when Patchett added another point from play. It was begging to look like Pearses wouldn’t score at all but five minute before half time Fionn Grew got their first score of the game and a minute before the break Stephen Fitziomons added a second to go in at the break with a 2-05 to 0-2 lead.

Patchett would stretch that lead to ten before Pearses began to close the gap and two points from Stephen Fitzsimons. A red and a couple of yellow cards were shown during the next fifteen minutes as the game stuttered towards it end, but St Comgall’s were home and dry and now await the outcome of tomorrow’s second semi-final between St Malachy’s and Pearses.

to see more of Bert Trowlen’s pics from this game just click on the lin below

https://myalbum.com/album/cgbwBEhgwVdor5/?invite=1f015fce-a531-4b5c-a998-a9cf7f540e14

by thesaffrongael

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass Pitch opening

On the 15th September of this year St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass opened their new pitch where President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns was the guest of honour. Years of hard work and fund raising saw faze 1 of the Moneyglass club’s ambitious project reach fruition, a great tribute to all those involved in the development.

Here long serving club member and Saffron Gael contributor, Gary Duffin takes up the story:

In the early 2000’s Gerard Weir, Bridie Scullin and team were all in agreement that we had outgrown our current pitch at Taylorstown Road and we needed to expand.

They started seeking suitable grounds locally and they made the first approach about our new pitch. The plot consists of 16 acres allowing for a couple of pitches, an all-weather pitch, ball wall, changing facilities etc.

In 2014 we had a change of committee and they decided to proceed with the project.  Cairde was set up, a grand draw was organised which raised over £410K.  A 200 Club raffle raised another £120K and the new grounds were bought.

Some of the large crowd who attended the opening of the new pitch in Moneyglass

The hard work was only just beginning as Sean O’Boyle and his committee organised a development committee.  Plans were drawn, passed and the work soon got underway.

Terence Duffin, John Graham and J H Kerr were in charge of the works around the field and Pattersons were awarded the contract of making the pitch.

After countless meetings and hours of voluntary labour, we finally got Pitch 1 delivered.

An official opening was held on Sunday 15th September 2024.  It was attended by many dignitaries featuring the President of the GAA Jarlath Burns.

All of the community turned out for this special occasion.  People of all ages, members young and old.  The last pitch was opened in 1975 and many attended both.  A Fun Day was arranged to celebrate an achievement done by all of the community without help from any outside organisations.

We have to keep fundraising to build our second pitch, changing facilities etc, and we have to get the next generation on board.

All we ask of people is that we leave the club in a better place to which we found it.

FOR MORE OF ELAINE’S PHOTOS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/G9fhyHRC85U4WC

Club ladies football star, Cathy Carey and Senior Footballer, Colm Duffin
by thesaffrongael

CPC off to winning start in McNamee Cup

Ulster Schools McNamee Cup – U-13 ½ Hurling

CPC 6-8 vs St Pat’s Maghera 2-6

Monday 23rd Sept, seen a well anticipated fixture between the two schools, held at MacUilin ground at 2pm. This was the opening game in this competition and with both schools reaching the final of the Thompson Cup in June time (Ulster Year 8 Final) a tight game was always on the cards. Both teams fielded very strong panels and it turned into as expected, a physical and skilful encounter. The game was keenly contested and at half time there was only 3 points between the sides, with CPC guilty of a number of misses and at times overplaying the ball. However after half time, the Ballycastle school asserted their dominance, mainly due to the outstanding performances of Tom Richmond and Killian Cassidy in midfield. Late goals by Daire Kearney and Dara McAuley sealed the victory for CPC and got their campaign off to a winning start. Both schools will be happy to get their campaign started and there is a lot of hurling to do between now and the final of the competition scheduled for the second week of November.

Cross and Passion College have a bye next week and then they play the  newest addition to the Ulster Schools “A” Hurling – Gaelscoil Dhoire in two weeks time, who are backboned by strong GAA clubs such as Slaughneil, Dungiven and Ballinascreen.

FOR MORE PICS FROM CLAIRE FAWL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/Wo5enZzUbfWUbS/?invite=3c3cc03d-abfd-4f0f-8c29-0610af426bcb