Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Antrim renew acquaintance with old foes in Tailteann Cup

Tailteann Cup quarter-final

Antrim v Wicklow

Corrigan Park – Saturday 2-00pm

Antrim face Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup Quarter-Finals this Saturday, 13 June at 2:00 pm at Corrigan Park. Mark Doran’s Saffrons claim home-ground advantage following a strong group-stage run, including a key victory over Tipperary.

Meanwhile, Oisín McConville’s Wicklow side march north with momentum after dismantling Tipperary 1-17 to 0-12 in their preliminary quarter-final clash last weekend.

A fascinating subplot dominates the side-lines. Wicklow manager OisinMcConville’s goes head-to-head with his former assistant, MarkDoran who now guides Antrim. Doran knows McConville’s tactical setups intimately, giving this tactical battle an extra layer of intrigue.

The sides met in Round 5 of the Allianz Football League Division 4 earlier this year at Roger Casements, Portglenone, where Antrim secured a 2-18 to 1-14 victory.

Antrim ran riot early on, opening a massive 2-08 to 0-04 half-time lead. Pat Shivers and Ryan McQuillan found the net, while Dominic McEnhill hit critical two-pointers as Wicklow failed to score for the opening 28 minutes.

The Garden County showed serious character in the second half, hitting 1-05 without reply during a 10-minute purple patch which had Antrim fans looking a bit anxious along the line. Padraig O’Toole found the net and goalkeeper Mark Jackson accurately drilled over long-range dead balls.

Though Antrim won by seven points, Wicklow’s second-half resurgence proved they can breach the Saffrons’ defence when playing with tempo.

Expect a high-scoring tactical battle from dead balls. Antrim’s John McNabb and Wicklow’s Mark Jackson are both excellent shot-stoppers who frequently step up to score long-range points and frees.

Antrim’s Eunan Walsh and Marc Jordan provide immense driving power from deep and Wicklow’s Pádraig O’Toole and Dean Healy will attempt to disrupt this running game early to prevent another first-half ambush.

Wicklow full-forward Kevin Quinn is in lethal form, bagging 1-06 against Tipperary and Antrim’s defensive unit will need to be tighter than they were during the league encounter in Portglenone if they want to contain him.

Antrim hold the psychological edge from their league victory and possess a formidable home record at Corrigan Park. However, Wicklow are battle-tested from last week’s knockout victory and have addressed their slow-starting habits. If Wicklow can weather the early Saffron storm, this could turn into a classic.

Dominic McEnhill and Ryan McQuillan lead the charge for Antrim’s attacking unit this season. Following their Allianz Football League Division 4 campaign, Mark Doran’s side has relied heavily on a mixture of lethal inside forwards and long-range accuracy from dead-ball situations.

Rossa forward, Dominic McEnhillhas been lethal from play and frees and has consistently kicked 2 pointers for the Saffrons. McEnhill is devastating when exploiting the GAA’s two-pointer scoring rules, as highlighted by his high-scoring 0-08 exhibition against Leitrim and his 0-05 performance against Tipperary.

Ryan McQuillan took a time to establish himself in the Antrim starting line-up earlier in the season but has been in a rich vein of scoring power recently. He famously engineered the early destruction of Wicklow in Portglenone earlier this year, popping up everywhere in the final third and driving home a crucial first-half goal to sink the Garden County.

The contrast between Pat Shivers’ county career under former manager Andy McEntee and his current focal role under Mark Doran represents one of the most significant tactical shifts for Antrim football this season.

Antrim’s Ryan McQuillan in action during the Saffron’s win over Wicklow in Division 1B of the National Football League at Portglenone. Pic by John McIlwaine

Under Andy McEntee, Shivers frequently found himself on the periphery of the panel or used in ways that did not suit his natural attributes.

This year the Cargin man has been an ever present and his height and power have added another dimension to the Antrim attack.

Wicklow will travel to Belfast buoyed by that impressive win over Tipperary and Antrim will have to be at their best to beat them but the Saffrons have been on a steady trajectory of improvement since those early season league defeats and should have enough to advance to the semi-final.

by thesaffrongael

Goals prove crucial as St Enda’s edge Oisins in Division 1 survival clash

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

St Enda’s 3-18 (27) | Glenariffe Oisins 0-25 (25)

St Enda’s breathed life into their Division 1 survival hopes with a hard-fought, two-point victory over Glenariffe Oisins at Waterfoot. In this first fixture since the league split, the stakes could not have been higher. With only one win to their name prior to throw-in, defeat would have left St Enda’s with a mountain to climb.

Instead, their ability to find the back of the net proved the difference in a high-scoring shoot-out. The win moves St Enda’s level on four points with Ballygalget, throwing the relegation battle wide open. While a victory would have put the Oisins in a commanding position to secure safety, they remain nervously looking over their shoulders, sitting just two points above the bottom two.

The match opened at a frantic pace. Seanie McIntosh got the hosts on the board immediately with a point from play in the opening minute, but St Enda’s quickly settled. Cormac Jennings, who would prove lethal all afternoon, responded with a free and a point from play to give the visitors an early edge.

The first half settled into a rhythm of trading scores. Glenariffe relied heavily on the dead-ball accuracy of Alex O’Boyle, who flawlessly punished St Enda’s indiscipline, while Michael O’Boyle and Calum McIlwaine chipped in with fine scores from play. By the 25th minute, Alex O’Boyle’s fifth free of the half had the Oisins firmly in contention.

However, the turning point of the half arrived in the 26th minute. Following a sustained period of St Enda’s pressure, Luke O’Connor broke through the Oisins’ defensive line to rifle home the game’s first goal. Despite a late free from Alex O’Boyle to narrow the gap, St Enda’s took a narrow two-point advantage into the dressing room.

Half-time: St Enda’s 1-11 | Glenariffe Oisins 0-12

Glenariffe came out firing after the restart. Back-to-back points from Oliver Kearney and another Alex O’Boyle free briefly swung the momentum back to the home side. But St Enda’s response was ruthless.

In the 7th minute of the half, Luke O’Connor struck again, bagging his second goal from play to silence the Waterfoot crowd and restore the visitors’ cushion. St Enda’s capitalized on the shock, with Ruairi Donnaghy and Cian O’Connor quickly adding points from play to stretch the lead.

The Oisins refused to lie down. Alex O’Boyle orchestrated a mid-half revival, slotting over four frees in an eight-minute spell, complemented by scores from Michael O’Boyle and McIlwaine. As the game entered the final ten minutes, the tension was palpable.

The decisive blow landed in the 22nd minute. A foul in the square awarded St Enda’s a penalty, and Cormac Jennings stepped up to bury it past the keeper, bringing his personal tally to an immense 1-8 for the day.

Glenariffe pushed hard in the closing stages. Canice McIntosh and Colla Ward found the target from play, and Alex O’Boyle tapped over his 13th free of the match. However, late insurance points from St Enda’s Eoin Conlon, Christopher Roberts, and Jennings ensured the Glengormley men held on for a vital lifeline in their season.

St Enda’s: Cormac Jennings (1-8: 1-0 pen, 0-4f, 0-1 ’65’, 0-3 ), Luke O’Connor (2-5: 2-2, 0-3f).

Glenariffe Oisins: Alex O’Boyle (0-13: 0-13f), Michael O’Boyle (0-3), Canice McIntosh (0-3 ), Callum McIlwaine 0-02, Michael Kearney 0-02

by thesaffrongael

Rathmore beat Coláiste Feirste in Year 10 Shield final

Gaelfast Antrim Cup Year – 10 Hurling Shield Final

Rathmore 3-7, Coláiste Feirste 2-8

Rathmore emerged victorious in an entertaining and highly competitive Antrim Cup Year 10 Hurling Shield Final, overcoming Coláiste Feirste by 3-7 to 2-8 after a hard-fought contest.

The game opened with a series of exchanged scores. Se Wall got Rathmore up and running with a free before Paddy Óg Robinson responded for Coláiste Feirste. Wall added two further frees to keep Rathmore ticking over, while Robinson matched him with a free of his own.

Coláiste Feirste struck a major blow when Cuan Brady found the net from a free, helping his side edge in front. Eoin Rice followed up with a point to strengthen their position. Rathmore responded brilliantly, however, as midfielder Conor Carson fired home a goal before Ronan McIlroy added a second major from centre half-forward to swing momentum back in Rathmore’s favour to end the interval.

Half-Time: Rathmore 2-3, Coláiste Feirste 1-3

The second half continued at a high intensity. Odhran O’Carroll opened the scoring after the restart for Coláiste Feirste before Garrett Finnegan replied with an excellent point from a tight angle. Cuan Brady and Eoin Sheridan traded scores, while O’Carroll added another point to keep Coláiste Feirste within touching distance.

Se Wall extended Rathmore’s lead with a free before Odhran O’Prey produced one of the key moments of the game, expertly finishing to the net with his left boot to give Rathmore breathing space.

Coláiste Feirste refused to give in. Brady landed another point before O’Prey was brought down in the square, resulting in a Rathmore penalty. Wall struck the penalty high over the bar for a point. A superb 21-yard free from Paddy Óg Robinson found the Rathmore net and reignited Coláiste Feirste hopes, while Brady added another point late on.

Despite the late rally, Rathmore held firm to secure the Shield title.

There were outstanding performances throughout both teams. Leo Weng impressed in midfield for Rathmore, while the Rathmore defence played a crucial role throughout, with Harry McAllister particularly prominent with his tackling and defensive work. Up front, the link-up play between Odhran O’Prey and Garrett Finnegan consistently troubled the Coláiste Feirste defence.

For Coláiste Feirste, Connlaodh Boyd and Cillian Ritchie were excellent in defence, while Cuan Brady contributed significantly from midfield, both in general play and on the scoreboard. In attack, Paddy Óg Robinson and Odhran O’Carroll remained dangerous throughout and ensured Rathmore were never comfortable.

Overall, it was a tremendous advertisement of hurling, played with great skill, determination, and sportsmanship. While both sides can be proud of their efforts, Rathmore were deserving winners on the day.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/kqf7iYPbDNi7D6/?invite=b89204cf-6d25-4506-bf85-37b96ce20e7e

by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle hit five second half goals to beat Carey Faughs

Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Ballycastle 5-12 Carey 1-22

Ballycastle Reserves hit five second half goals to beat neighbours Carey Faughs in  Division 2 of the Antrim Hurling League on Pitch 2 at Pairc MacUíllin on Wednesday night, a win that boosts their chances of survival in the division.

Ballycastle led by a point at half time by 0-10 to 1-06 but Carey moved ahead with a goal from Conor McBride early in the second half. The Town closed the gap with a point from Criosti McAuley but two more for the visitors from Conor McBride and one from Paedar McVeigh saw the Faughs move six clear.

A Gavin McToal goal cut the gap and one from Ccormac Dallas brought the black and amber back into the game but Carey appeared to have it all wrapped up when they  moved six clear with just ten minutes left for play. However Ballycastle produced a strong finish down the home straight and goals from Vincent McDonaghue and Criosti ‘Bamba’ McAuley saw them turn the game on its head and get them over the line with a 5-12 to 1-22 victory.

Ballycastle 2nds

  1. Anthony Mullan, 2. Conor Mooney, 3. Dermot Donnelly, 4. Oisin Donnelly, 5. Conall Magee, 6. Cormac Donnelly, 7. Jack McGowan, 8. Orann Donnelly, 9. Callum Campbell, 10. Criostai McAuley, 11. James McShane, 12. James McLister, 13. Feargal McKiernan, 14. Gavin McToal, 15. Cormac Dallas.
  2. Subs – Vincent McDonaghue

Carey Faughs

  1. Steven McGinn, 2. Eoin McCarry, 3. Michael McVeigh, 4. Daniel McKinley, 5. Shea Hunter, 6. Sean Mc Bride, 7. Peadar McVeigh, 8. Eoin Hill, 9. Conall McGlynn, 10. Conlith McKinley, 11. John McBride, 12. James Black, 13. Ryan McQuaid, 14. Patrick Butler, 15. Fiachra McVeigh.
by thesaffrongael

Cloney prevail in high scoring encounter

ACHL Division 2

Loughgiel 2nd’s 1-21 Cloney Gaels 3-17

Cloney Gaels edged out Loughgiel Seconds by two points in an absolute classic of an ACHL Division 2 encounter at Fr. Healey Park on Wednesday night. A relentless display of attacking hurling saw the Ahoghill men withstand a fierce Loughgiel fightback to claim the spoils in a high-scoring thriller.

Ahoghill flew out of the traps and early scores from Donal Graham, Owen Neeson, Colla McDonnell, James O’Connell, and Owen Graham pushed Cloney Gaels into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after just eight minutes. Loughgiel responded through Ryan Hill and Shay McGrath, but further points from Ronan Graham and Fionnbar O’Neill kept the visitors in control.

Loughgiel found their spark in the 14th minute. Conall McCloskey pointed before the clinical Shay McGrath rattled the net to level the game at 1-5 to 0-8. The teams traded blows intensely from there. Aiden McFadden, Shane O’Boyle, and Patrick Laverty accurate for the Shamrocks, while Colla McDonnell fired home a crucial goal for Ahoghill. Late first-half points from Eamonn Brady and Roan McGarry left Cloney Gaels with a narrow 1-13 to 1-12 lead at the break.

Loughgiel levelled immediately after the restart through a Donal McKinley point, but Cloney Gaels responded instantly. The lethal Colla McDonnell broke through the Shamrocks’ defence to blast home his second goal of the match. McKinley and Conall McCloskey hit back with points for Loughgiel, beginning a frantic sequence where the sides traded scores. Roan McGarry, Patrick Laverty, and Shay McGrath were all on target for the hosts, while McDonnell and James O’Connell kept the scoreboard ticking for Ahoghill.

With the game on a knife-edge, Cloney Gaels struck a definitive blow when Owen Neeson found the net for his side’s third goal. Neeson quickly followed up with a point to stretch the Ahoghill lead. Loughgiel refused to yield, scoring late points from Shane O’Boyle, McGarry, and McGrath to cut the gap back to two but that would be as close as they got.

The Ahoghill side soaked up a lot of pressure during the closing minutes with Aiden Graham and Fionnbarr O’Neill putting their bodies on the line to ensure the points went the way of the visitors

  • Cloney Gaels: Aidan Graham, Patrick Dougan (Harry O’Donnell 50’), James Magee, Bernard Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Eoin Graham, Eamonn Brady, Conor Crossey, Donal Graham, James O’Connell, Patrick Graham, Colla McDonnell, Owen Neeson, Noah Friel (PJ O’Connell 40’). Subs Used: Ben Friel, Michael Martin, Ryan Martin, Ryan McPeake.
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  • Loughgiel: Shea McDonnell, Cahir Connolly, Aidan McFadden, Ashdon McGarry, Conall McCloskey, Tiago McGarry, Tomas McNulty, Patrick Laverty, Roan Fitzhenry, Donal McKinley, Shane O’Boyle, Pearce Patterson, Roan McGarry, Ryan Hill, Shay McGrath. Subs Available: Danny McAuley, Daniel O’Mullan, Ronan Casey.