Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Heartbreak in Ballymena as St Killian’s Fall Short of St Clare Cup Final

St Killian’s Garron Tower 2-3 | St Mary’s Magherafelt 4-8

It wasn’t to be for the Tower girls in Ballymena yesterday, as a clinical St Mary’s Magherafelt side ended their St Clare Cup journey at the semi-final stage. Despite a spirited performance and a refusal to back down under pressure, the Derry side’s second-half scoring blitz proved the difference in a tough encounter.

First Half: Tower Dig Deep

The game opened with St Mary’s finding their range early, slotting over three quick points. However, St Killian’s showed great character to weather the initial storm. Aoife Molloy got the Tower off the mark with a well-taken point, followed closely by a composed free from Georgie Twigg to bring us right into the contest.

The momentum seemed to be swinging toward the Coast when Ellie McGarrell found the back of the net, narrowing the deficit to just a single point as half-time approached. Unfortunately, a late sucker-punch goal from Magherafelt’s Aimee McErlean just before the whistle left the Tower trailing 1-6 to 1-2 at the interval.

Second Half: A Mountain to Climb

The restart proved difficult for the Garron Tower defense. A quick-fire trio of goals from Magherafelt effectively settled the tie early in the second period. Despite the scoreboard getting away from them, the pride of the Tower jersey was on full display.

Midfield general Georgie Twigg continued to lead from the front, driving the team forward and refusing to let heads drop. Emma Lynn added a point to the tally, while Ellie McGarrell and Heidi McKinley were rewarded for their persistence with late goals. While these scores provided some consolation, the gap established by the Derry girls proved too wide to bridge.

St Killian’s Scorers:

  • Ellie McGarrell: 1-0
  • Heidi McKinley: 1-0
  • Georgie Twigg: 0-1 (f)
  • Aoife Molloy: 0-1
  • Emma Lynn: 0-1

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Cardinal O’Donnells venture into the north and capture two points

Report and Photographs: Brian McKee

ACFL Division 3

Ardoyne 1-10 O’Donnell’s 2-13

On a glorious sunny evening, the men from the Whiterock travelled across to North Belfast and brought home two well-deserved points.

The opening 15 minutes of the game did not augur well for O’Donnells. Ardoyne’s Oisin Maskey caught a ball on the edge of the O’Donnells square, passed it to Cahal Keown, who rifled it into the back of the O’D’s net. Cormac Mullan followed up with a lovely score off a free for his first of 9 points on the evening. O’D’s lacked cohesion and were running up against a strong Ardoyne defence.

The tide turned in the middle of the opening half and O’D’s eventually found their rhythm and the home side struggled to keep a fast moving O’D’s attack at bay. Fionnbar McKernan opened the scoring for the visitors with a pointed free. This was followed by seven different players getting their names on the scoreboard for the Whiterock side, including a Rory Beggan impersonation for goalkeeper, Conor Murphy, as he sent over the first of two 60s for scores.

Ardoyne struggled to respond with their only further point in the first half coming from a beautiful two pointer from Cormac Mullan.

Half-Time: Ardoyne 1-03 Cardinal O’Donnells 1-08

As in the opening half, Ardoyne opened the second half scoring with a point from Oisin Maskey. While the scoring was more evenly matched in the second half, O’Ds were very much in control of the pace of the game. Cormac Mullan produced a great display of free taking but Ardoyne were increasingly frustrated at the inability to thwart the O’Donnell’s game plan and claw back their lead.

The visitors kept their composure and slowed the game down, but with 10 minutes remaining, they raced through the Ardoyne defence. Hughes produced a save taken from his top drawer, only to see Paul Moore put the ball in the back of the net from the rebound. At this stage of the game, Ardoyne were finding it difficult to break out of their own half and the O’Ds left with the spoils. O’Donnerll’s will be particularly happy with 9 different players getting scores, while Ardoyne will be frustrated at not being able to adapt to the visitor’s game plan.

Ciceam Ard Eoin: 1. Tiernan Hughes 2. Cormac Curran 3. Micheál McGreevy 4. Conor Magee 5. Joe Gibson, 6. Pearse Marley 7. James Og McAuley 8. Gary McKernan 9. Oisin Maskey (0-01) 10. Odhran McKee 11. Daniel Moore 12. Cormac Mullan(0-09, 3f) 13. Oisin Copeland 14. Cahal Keown (1-0) 15. Eoghan Craig, Padraig McGreevy, Odhran Mullan, Aidan McConnell, Eoin Fennell, Fiontain Lagan, Ciarán Lopes, Ruairi Teague, Caolan Hardy

CLG Uí Dhonaill: 1. Conor Murphy (0-02) 2. Sean Lavery(0-01) 3. Sean Smylie 4. Jonathan McKenna (0-02) 5. Kevin Kennedy 7. Scott Thompson 8. John Rafferty 9. Paddy Matthews (0-01)10. Joseph Wilson (0-01) 12. Paul Moore (2-01) 13. Ciaran McKissock(0-01) 15. Fionnbar McKernan0-03, 3f) 34. Cailean Walsh (0-01) 35. Fergal McNerney 36. Connor Walsh

Referee: Eamonn Hamill

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN MC KEE’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Rasharkin take the points in local derby

ACFL Division 3

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills 0-5 St. Marys Rasharkin 3-13

St Brigid’s Cloughmills welcomed St Mary’s Rasharkin to Fr Leonard Park on Wednesday evening for the first time for a Senior Football League game with the Dreen men taking the two points and following up on their win against league leaders Eire Og last time out.

The away side started fast with Fearghal Kennedy pointing after winning the break ball from the throw in and missed a couple of opportunities before two quick goals from Colm Kennedy and Andrew Hasson put them in control.

Points from Killian O’Boyle and Caolan McGarrell kept up the great start for Rasharkin before Aidan McNeill pointed a free and then a 2-point free for the home side.

The away team wasted several good opportunities against some fine defensive effort by Cloughmills before Andrew Hasson pointed from play to leave the score 2-05 to 0-03 at half time.

The second half started with a Killian O’Boyle point followed by an Oran McMullan goal to keep the pressure on for Rasharkin before Eoin Dobbin fired over the bar in reply.

Points from Conor Higgins, Andrew Hasson (Free) and Cormac McMullan put the Dreen men further in front and they really should have had more but some great shot stopping kept them at bay.

Points from substitute James Higgins, Cormac McMullan, Ruairi O’Boyle and an excellent 2-pointer from Killian O’Boyle rounded up the scoring for St Mary’s with Reece Watt replying for the Biddies to end the game 3-14 to 0-5 in favour of the visitors.

 A strong performance from Rasharkin but they will know there is plenty to improve on and St Brigid’s have a lot to build on for the rest of the league.

by thesaffrongael

St Patrick’s Rasharkin and Moneynick take the honous at the South West South West Cumann na mBunscol Camogie Tournament

The South West Cumann na mBunscol Camogie Tournament was proudly hosted today by St Marys PS at Roger Casements, Portglenone, providing an excellent day of camogie.

Ciara Maginess of St Mary’s PS, Portglenone, formally welcomed 12 teams representing 10 schools. Throughout the tournament, all participating teams demonstrated a high standard of skill, alongside a commendable commitment to fair play, respect, and teamwork.

The Shield Final saw Moneynick Primary School deliver a strong and assured performance to secure victory over Mount Saint Michael’s, Randalstown.

Shield Runners Up Mount St Michaels PS
Shield winners Moneynick PS

The tournament concluded with an exciting Cup Final between St Patricks PS Rasharkin and Creggan Primary School. In a closely contested and highly competitive match, St Patricks PS Rasharkin emerged victorious, displaying notable composure and determination under pressure.

Proceedings were brought to a close by Eugene Mullen, who expressed sincere thanks to Geraldine’s Camogie Club and Roger Casements for their excellent organisation and warm hospitality. He also acknowledged the valuable contributions of the teachers, coaches, referees from St Conors College, and supporters whose efforts ensured the success of the event.

St Patrick’s Primary School, Rasharkin, now progress to the All-County stage of the competition, and we extend our best wishes to them in the next phase.

Milquarter PS, Toome
St Oliver Plunketts, PS, Toome
St Joseph’s PS, Crumlin
Moneynick PS, Randalstown
St Patricks PS Rasharkin
St Brigids PS Ballymena
Mount St Michael PS, Randalstown
Creggan PS
St Marys PS, Portglenone
St Marys PS, Portglenone B
Lady Queen of Peace, Glenravel
Cup Runners Up Creggan PS
Cup winners ST Patricks PS Rasharkin who came out on top at last week’s finals in Portglenone.
St Conor’s College Sixth Form Referees who also helped organise the event
The Moneynick PS winning captains with the Shield
St Patricks PS Rasharkin Captain with the winning trophy
by thesaffrongael

St Killian’s set up semi-final meeting with St Pat’s

Danske Bank Gallagher Cup Hurling

St Killian’s Garron Tower v St Colman’s Newry

St Killian’s Garron Tower controled the first-half of Friday’s Gallagher Cup quarter final against St Colman’s Newry at Mallusk Playing Fields. The Tower team took control from the throw-in and held the upper hand throughout the opening thirty minutes against a St Colmans who were playing in the A grade for the first time. In their round robin game against St Mary’s Belfast the Newry boys had played well but the this time out the Tower built a commanding 6-7 to 0-5 lead by half-time through clinical finishing, relentless pressure, and a flurry of late goals that left Newry with a mountain to climb.

St Colman’s kept battling away and in centre back Conor Daly, half forward Patrick McGuinness and and full-forward Austin Matthews they had players who coud mix it with the best of them, Matthews in particular showing well with four of his team’s first half points.

St Killian’s wasted no time asserting their authority in the early stages. Conor Haughey opened their account by splitting the posts for their first point, which was quickly followed by a major blow when Oliver Mooney rattled the net for the Tower’s opening goal. St Colman’s fought hard to stay in the contest and managed to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over during the first quarter. Austin opened their account with a well-struck free, though St Killian’s Lorcan McNaughton replied immediately to cancel it out with a fine point from play.

Newry then enjoyed their best spell of the half. when Austin hit scores from frees and play, followed by a good long range point from Conor Daly.

Despite St Colman’s resistance, the second quarter belonged entirely to St Killian’s as they shifted through the gears. McNaughton slotted over a point from play, settling the team before Terry McGuigan stepped up to strike a beautiful free from the 45-meter line out on the left wing. As the half neared the 30-minute mark, the floodgates truly opened, and the St Colman’s defense was overwhelmed by a quick succession of goals. Harry Blaney orchestrated a brilliant attacking move, doing all the hard work before offloading to number 13, who applied the finishing touch for a goal. Moments later, number 12 found space and fired home another goal for the Tower. Blaney, having been the provider moments earlier, then found the back of the net himself to cap off a blistering period of dominance.

With the half-time whistle approaching, St Killian’s showed no signs of letting up, adding further gloss to the scoreline. ‘Chopper’ Mooney added another point to his personal tally, and Tiernan McKeegan, Harry Blaney and Conor Haughey all getting on the scoreboard. As the referee blew the whistle for half-time, St Killian’s walked off the pitch with a highly commanding lead.

With the breeze behind them in the second half there was no stopping the Garraon Tower boys who went on to book their place in next week’s semi-final against St Pat’s Maghera.

St Colmans – Oisin Sheehan, Senan Quinn, Oisin McConville,Tiarnan Trainer, Ruairi Burns, Conor Day, Caelan Mc Court. Ryan Aulds, Ciaran Woods, James McCarthy, Luke Coulter, Patrick McGuinness, Joseph Matthews, Austin Matthews, and Dominic McGonigle.

St Killian’s – Sevie Trowlen, Michael McKillop, Aidan McDonnell, Allister McKay, James Nulty, Sean McAuley, Gerard Kelly, Oliver Mooney, Riley Steer, Lorcan McNaughton, Ruairi Delargy, Ryan Robbin, Tiernan McKeegan, Harry Blaney, Conor Haughey

Referee – Paul McDonnell

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

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