Naomh Comhghall, Antrim will go into Saturday’s Junior Football Championship final as firm favourites, and rightly so but they should be weary of their opponents, St. Agnes.
The Antrim town side went through their 13 league games programme without dropping a point and under the guidance of former St. Paul’s player, Barry Burns they have been out ahead of the chasing pack all season.
On their way to the league title a free scoring St. Comgall’s scored 289 points for with 102 against to record a score difference of 187 points with 3-13 against Pearses and 3-10 against Eire Og in their opening two games.
They added 3-20 on day three and 2-19 on day four while their opponents on Saturday, St. Agnes were struggling in the early stages of the league, suffering some bad defeats including home and away defeats to the Antrim town side.
Naomh Comhghall Antrim who are unbeaten in league and championship this season and will start Saturday’s JFC final against St. Agnes as firm favourites
And so it was on to the championship with Naomh Comhghall continuing where they had left off in the league, winning all three group 2 games to top the group and qualify for a place in the semi-final where they defeated Pearses 2-7 to 0-5 at Dunsilly.
Naomh Una meanwhile, under the guidance of Tyrone man Martin Shortt began to gain a bit of momentum in the latter stages of the league and carried that good form into the championship.
They made a few sit up and take notice with a 1-15 to 0-12 win over Pearses in the opening game in Group 1 and followed with wins over Laochra Loch Lao and O’Donnell’s to top the group.
The ‘Aggies’ had eight points to spare over St. Malachy’s in the semi-final and have grown in confidence with their well organised brand of football making them an opponent that deserves the respect of the Antrim town side on Saturday.
Naomh Comhghall, as they have shown throughout the league and championship carry a serious scoring threat and it is a threat that the Woodlands side will have to contain if they are to cause an upset at St. Enda’s.
Ryan Clarke, Joseph Webb, James McCabe, Tom Patchett, Patrick O’Connor, Louis Higgins Miles Devine and Aaron McGraw are all capable finishers on their day for ‘the town’ while Eoin Lynett, Danaan O’Hara and Michael McCabe give little away in defence.
St. Agnes who will go into Saturday’s decider with confidence following a strong championshp campaign
St. Agnes are a different animal to the one that Naomh Comhghall comfortably dealt with in the league and Martin Shortt has turned them into a side that deserves respect and are in the final on merit.
Ronan Carroll, Colin Clarke, Conal Turley and Cormac McBride have all scored freely throughout the championship in a side that has tightened up considerably at the back and Naomh Una will go into Saturday’s decider with confidence.
Naomh Comhghall will start this final as firm favourites and have earned the favourites tag following a consistent and impressive season but they should be weary of the ‘Aggie’s.
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock bounced back their opening day reversal to St Louis with a hard fought 2-21-4-14 victory over St. Mary’s on home turf on Thursday afternoon.
St. Mary’s looked to have battled back to secure a share of the spoils when Sean Og McLaren landed his fourth successive free deep into added time, though Liam Blaney popped over the winner with the last action of fantastic contest in East Belfast.
Niall May and Liam Blaney exchanged early frees, but it was the hosts who were on the money in the early stages as Frank Kane and Blaney sent over scores from play.
Action from Knock’s win over St Mary’s Mageean Cup game at St Mary’s. Pic by Mark Marlow
The gap narrowed through a fine Caolan Wilson point, though Knock twice extended their advantage with Liam Blaney and Sean McCollum floated over scores to open up a three-point advantage and after Conor O’Neill back- Luke Doran dropped over an angled point.
The opening goal arrived on the 20th minute with Dara Pucci rifling low to the net from close range to give his side a 1-06-0-04 lead.
That lead stretched with a second Kane score, though St. Mary’s came back after Corey Walsh’s shot was parried by Cillian Ennis, Niall May powered home at the second time of asking.
Although Knock pulled clear again with points from Kane, Sean O’Connell and Blaney- St. Mary’s netted a minute before the break.
Ruairi McDonagh flighted the ball into the path of Sean Og McLaren and he rifled low to the net on his school debut.
Their fightback was short-lived however as Sean O’Connell was slipped in and applied the finish and a point from Ronan Donnelly in the aftermath Our Lady and St Pat’s a 2-11-2-05 lead at the interval.
A point from Liam Blaney extended the hosts lead within three minutes of the restart, but Sean Og McLaren slammed home a second goal in response, and he converted a free in-between a Kevin Grieve point.
By the 40th minute St. Mary’s snuck ahead. Michael Marlow dropped in a high ball and Shea Burns poked home from close-range to make it 4-07-2-12.
Joseph Braniff pointed to restore parity and despite Sean Og McLaren dropping over his first point from play, Liam Blaney tied things up.
Blaney landed a super long-range point to nudge his side back in front and converted a free. Corey Walsh and Frank Kane exchanged points with a second converted McLaren free leaving the bare minimum separating the sides heading down the home straight (2-17-4-10).
Three unanswered points appeared to have swung the pendulum firmly in Knock’s favour, with Doran, Blaney and Kane on song.
However, their lead was wiped out by the fourth minute of added time, St. Mary’s talisman Sean Og McLaren landing four frees in a six-minute period to tie things up at 4-14-2-20.
Neither side were happy to share the spoils and in the end Liam Blaney swung over the winner deep, deep into added time with the final puck of the game as Knock got their Mageean campaign back on track.
Action from Knock’s win over St Mary’s Mageean Cup game at St Mary’s. Pic by Mark Marlow
OKSPCK: C Ennis, T McCusker, J Dynes, R Breen, M Gilmore, M Guest, C Boyle, J Braniff (0-1), L Doran (0-2), R Donnelly (0-1), L Blaney (0-11,0-1f) F Kane (0-4), D Pucci (1-0), S O’Connell (1-1), S McCollum (1-1).
St Mary’s CBGS: O Quinn, E Kearney, S Cunningham, F McKinney, C O’Neill (0-2), M Marlow, C Short, C Walsh (0-1), E Walsh, K Grieve (0-1), C Wilson (0-1), R McDonagh, N May (1-1), S Og McLaren (2-7, 0-6f), S Burns (1-0).
THREE YEARS AGO ST COMGALL’S BEAT RASHARKIN ON PENALITES IN THE JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL IN AHOGHILL. AS PART OF THE BUILD-UP TO SUNDAY’S FINAL WE REPRODUCE BRENDAN McTAGGART’S REPORT ON THAT GAME
GYMCO Junior Football ChampionshipFinal
StComgalls, Antrim0–18 Rasharkin0-18 (aet)
St Comgalls win 3-2 on penalties
Sunday October 31
Brendan McTaggart reports from Ahoghill
St Comgall’s and Rasharkin played out a classic final on Sunday afternoon with the junior crown on the line. In the end, it was the men from Antrim town who held their nerve form the penalty spot, substitute Peter McAuley with the decisive spot kick.
It was an epic final between two evenly matched sides with momentum swinging like the proverbial gate and both sides looking like they had it won at the end of the hour. The sides were tied incredibly on 10 occasions over the 80 minutes with two points the biggest lead either side held at any stage. The fate of the junior championship was decided by the lottery of penalties but that will matter little to the St Comgall’s.
Dylan Murdock fired over the first of his two points for the opening score of the match after barely 30 seconds. A delightful score with the outside of his boot to get the Antrim men up and running. Rasharkin started the final brightly as well with Eamon McNeill’s instinctive point in the second minute opening the scoring for the men from Dreen. Early ball into the Rasharkin marksman and a classy finish we’ve seen plenty of over the years.
A free from Shane Hasson and point from Conor McFerran opened a two point lead for Rasharkin by the seventh minute. St Comgall’s began to find their way into the final with Miles Devine the man with the answers as they turned a two point deficit into a two point lead in the space of 10 minutes. A brace of frees from Devine preceded Murdock’s second score of the game and the score of the first half from Tom Pratchett. The St Comgall’s centre half forward finishing off a fine move involving James McCabe and Joseph Webb.
St Comgalls had set up to stop Rasharkin from delivering quick ball into McNeill and Conor McFerran and a mix of patience and guile, they had the upperhand for most of the opening quarter.
Joseph Webb fires over a St. Comhghall’s point
A free from distance from Andrew Hasson and composed finish by Fearghal Kennedy restored parity to the score once more but Devine was punishing any discretions by the Rahsarkin defence with an exhibition of free taking to open a two point lead for his side once more.
Andrew Hasson’s second and third free’s of the game came either side of a score from Conor McAuley to give St Comgall’s a one point lead at the half time whistle.
Half time score, St Comgall’s 0-8 Rasharkin 0-7.
Like the start of the game, St Comgall’s opened the scoring after the restart with their first attack. Patrick O’Connor with the finish but Rahsarkin began the second half with more urgency and noticeably delivering the ball into their forward line more quickly.
A trio of points from Andrew Hasson (one free) gave the men from Dreen a one point lead by the seventh minute of the second half before a superb score from Conor McAuley from wide on the left brought St Comgall’s level. It was brief respite for the Antrim men however as Rasharkin were flying in the third quarter. A fisted point from Gerard O’Hagan fired them into the lead once more before McNeill’s second of the match in the 42nd minute brought the Rasharkin crowd to life at Ahoghill.
St Comgall’s threatened at the other end of the pitch and but for the brilliance of Tiernan O’Boyle, they could have scored the opening goal of the final. Conor McAuley seeing his effort bravely saved from point blank range by the Rasharkin shot stopper. Murdock fired over with the outside of his boot to leave the sides tied on 12 points each at the second half water break.
An instinctive finish from Tom Patchett gave St Comgall’s the lead once more but Andrew Hasson was proving any free inside of 50 yards was being punished as a further brace of frees gave Rasharkin a two point lead with five minutes of the hour remaining.
Rasharkin’s Fergal Kennedy breaks from defence
St Comgall’s and Devine hit back however with three points from their star player (one free) giving them a one point lead in the third minute of injury time.
Rasharkin pushed for another equaliser and St Comgall’s were reduced to 14 men when Conor McAuley saw red for an overzealous tackle on Pearce Kelly. The men from Dreen rolled the dice and brought ‘keeper O’Boyle up to take a free from close to 55 yards only to see his effort dropping short and a goal bound effort was deflected wide. Tiernan O’Boyle stood over the resulting ’45 in the sixth minute of injury time and celebrated as soon as he made contact with the ball. The rest of the crowd watched on as the ball sailed over the bar with effectively the last touch of the hour with the sides tied on 15 points apiece.
With cramp hitting both teams in extra time and bodies falling everywhere, it was a survival of the fittest in the additional 20 minutes but again, neither side could pull away decisively. James McCabe and Devine (free) fired over either side of Shane Hasson’s free for Rasharkin in the opening 10 minutes but the men from Dreen edged ahead with five minutes remaining once again. Andrew Hasson and Fearghal Kennedy raising the white flag to give their side hope of taking the crown but St Comgall’s and Devine had other ideas. His ninth point of the game, seventh free of the match from 45 yards out brought the sides level for the tenth time and neither side could find a winner in the time that remained.
Penalties to decide who would be junior champions and it was St Comgall’s who blinked first. James McCabe’s penalty was saved superbly from Tiarnan O’Boyle after Andrew Hasson fired the opening penalty. Ruairi O’Boyle’s penalty fired wide of the left post as Miles Devine’s penalty made sure it was ‘as you were’ on the score line after two penalties each. Shane Hasson’s spot kick cannoned back off the cross bar before Caolan O’Loan’s converted his spot kick to make it advantage to St Comgall’s. Tiarnan O’Boyle found the top corner with his spot kick before Tom Pratchett’s penalty sailed over the bar to leave the sides tied on two successful spot kicks each after four penalties.
Anto Watson saved Seamus Ellis’ diving to his right hand side paving the way for Peter McAuley to fire the winning spot kick and send the St Comgall’s faithful into delirium. A cruel way to end a final but Rasharkin more than played their part in a hugely entertaining final. Scant consolation for the men from Dreen who will ply their trade in Division 2 in 2022. For St Comgall’s, the season rolls on with a journey in Ulster to look forward to.
TEAMS
St Comgalls: Anto Watson; Kian Walker, Ryan McAuley, Caolan O’Loan; Dylan Murdock, Michael McCabe, Ruairi Graffin; Danaan O’Hara, Miles Devine; James McCabe, Tom Patchett, Patrick O’Connor; Conor McAuley, Joseph Webb, Paddy Quinn
Subs: Louis Higgins for D O’Hara (41); Aaron McGaw for K Walker (48); Peter McAuley for J Webb (59); Rory McLarnon for R Graffin (ET 5)
Scorers: Miles Devine 0-9 (7 f’s); Dyland Murdock 0-2; Conor McAuley 0-2; Tom Patchett 0-2; James McCabe 0-1; Patrick O’Connor 0-1
St Comgall’s captain Paddy O’Connor talks to the Saffron Gael about his team’s progress under new manager Barry Burns
Antrim Junior Football Championship Final
St Comagall’s v St Agnes at Hightown – Throw-in @ 1-30 pm
St Comgall’s players and manageemnt stand for the anthem before their semi-final win over Pearses
Enjoyment and buy-in. Along with Barry Burns coming in as manager, they are prominent ingredient in making the 2024 St Comgall’s story a different one.
That’s how captain Paddy O’Connor, a member of their 2021 winning team, sees things at the latter end of a season building up to Saturday’s Antrim Junior final against St Agnes’.
Burns, from St Paul’s in Belfast, lit a fire. It was a clean slate after years of losing games at intermediate level. After winning all of their league and championship games, there is another piece of silverware up for grabs this weekend.
“We can’t complain,” O’Connor said of the progress. “I think with Barry coming in, he just brought more boys along and it just made it enjoyable.”
Since 2021, managers came and went. It was a downward trajectory. Burns is the right man at the right time.
“There was just a bit of fresh air coming in and he’s brought everyone back. I think some people maybe just left because we won one,” O’Connor feels.
St Comgall’s manager Barry Burns – Pic by Bert Trowlen
There was an exodus heading to the four corners of the world. The commitment wasn’t the same. Defeats at intermediate level were disheartening.
Now, back in junior, it’s a fresh start.
“We started really well and it’s just built from there,” said O’Connor as his mind casts towards Saturday.
It’s all about winning now. They’ve tasted it before when a penalty shoot-out against Rashaskin saw them lift the cup.
Now, with the league done and dusted, it’s all about Saturday. And they know what’s at stake.
“The nerves have probably come closer to the time,” O’Donnell offers. “I think the main thing you just have to be is confident. You’ve trained all year for it…this is it, it’s do or die.”
Winning their early games didn’t fully tell the story of where St Comgall’s were headed. It was wins over the bigger guns, Pearses and O’Donnell’s that took them from their comfort zone.
“You’re just thinking, we do have a good enough squad here, and we’re just getting better, it seems,” O’Connor continues.
“Gradually, throughout the year, we started doing more things that we were being taught at training. It was working, so we were buying into it and doing more. And then it just kind of snowballed from there.”
Away from the football is a bond that helps pull all the pieces together. Located in Antrim town, St Comgall’s face the challenges many country clubs don’t.
The fact their players have played, ate and drank together helps. A friendship forged outside of the football bubble.
“Turning up to training whenever I was younger…you would have turned up, got on with it, done your training and went home,” O’Connor recalls.
“Whereas now, boys are meeting up outside of trainings. We’re going for coffees after trainings or going out for pints at the weekends.
“We’re involved in things together, celebrating together the wins or losses. That wee bit of more of like a community…I think brings everyone on as well.
“Then, when someone new joins the panel, it’s easy to bring them in because we’re all going together to do something and everyone’s involved.”
Paddy O#Connor
It helps any newcomers moving into the area for work. There is a club with a welcoming hand. It’s the same for the players moving up from the youth ranks.
“It’s the taboo of the young ones coming up,” he explains. “They don’t really want to train with the seniors because they’re scared of getting hurt.
“But, once you find them, everyone just has a bit of crack anyway so it’s easier just to fit them in.”
When next season rolls around, there will be new faces and new targets. There will be Division Two football to embrace.
Now, it’s all about Saturday and getting Paddy O’Connor’s hands on the cup. It’s do or die. It’s the same for the Aggies.
Cross & Passion, Ballycastle 3-16 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 3-10
Tournament favourites Cross & Passion College secured their place in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Mageean Cup when they beat holders St Killian’s in Tuesday’s round robin game in Cushendun. In a well contested game a strong finish to each half proved the difference for the Ballycastle college, two goals in the last seven minutes of the first half and a string of well taken points in the second.
With both teams short a few players you got the impression that neither side wanted to show their full hand at times, but having said that there times when it was very close to championship pace, and both teams deserve credit for the hurling they produced in far from favourable weather conditions
Playing inland in the first half St Killian’s had first use of the driving rain, but they were slow to start and the Ballycastle school held the upper hand in the early stages and a brace apiece from top scorer Conor Donnelly and Roan McGarry saw them open up a 0-4 to 0-01 lead. However the Tower boys started to claw their way back into the game and with John Scullion and Callagh Mooney showing well the edged their way back to level with twenty minutes gone.
Things looked a lot brighter for them when Thomas McLaughlin and Odhran Gillan grabbed goals apiece, but CPC impressed in the way they were able to react and they hit back with goals from Oisin McCallin and Conor Donnelly to cut their deficit to a single point at the break.
With the wind now in their favour most observers expected CPC to take control but St Killian’s dug in both sides share six points evenly during the next fifteen minutes. A Dylan McNaughton goal saw the Tower open up a four point gap and for a while looked like it could go either way, but just as they had done in last weeks’ opening game against St Pat’s Maghara, they were able to find and an extra gear when it was needed and scored freely in the last ten minutes, Conor Donnelly grabbing his second goal of the game, while McCallin, Roan McGarry and Ronan Fitzgerald all chipping in to give their team a six point win…. and a place in the semis.
The hurl of (CPC’s) Liam Glackin (6) breaks as he tries to block a shot by St Killian’s St Killian’s John Scullion during Tuesday’s Mageean Cup round robin game in Cushendun. Pic by John McIlwaine
Scorers
CPC C Donnelly 2-5; O McCallin 1-2; R McGarry 0-5 (0-4f); C Crawford, C Johnson & R Fitzgerald 0-1 each
St Killian’s T McLaughlin 1-5 (0-5f); O Gillan 1-1; D McNaughton 1-0; N McLaughlin, A Campbell, C Leech and C McIntosh 0-1 each
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