Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Cargin on top at Musgrave Park

ACFL Division 1

St Brigid’s 0-10 Erin’s Own Cargin 1-16

Cargin move two clear at the top of Division one following their victory over St. Brigid’s at a damp Musgrave Park on Sunday evening before an attendance who had braved the incessant rain in South Belfast.

The Toome men had shared top spot in the division ratings earlier in the day but this victory over the South Belfast men and defeat for closet rivals, Casement’s Portglenone leaves Ronan Devlin’s men two points clear at the top.

Having enjoyed a good season to date St Brigid’s played hosts to reigning county champions Erin’s own Cargin on Sunday evening past and despite the rain which had descended from early morning, both sides served up an entertaining encounter.

It was close in the opening stages as the home side started well to take an early lead through Conor McAleer who opened their account with a 2nd minute point before Peter Lundy added another to move them two ahead.

Justin Crozier’s got the visitors off the mark with a 4th minute point and both sides exchanged further scores during the opening quarter with Niall Duffy on target for St. Brigid’s and Michael Mc Cann punishing a foul on Pat Shivers before placing Tom Shivers to add another.

Nothing separated the contestants in the early exchanges but as the game progressed the Toome men took a grip on proceedings and points apiece from Benen Kelly and Michael Mc Cann opened a gap on the scoreboard.

The home side replied through Jack Dowling from an acute right sided angle but the Toome men came back strongly with a fine finish from mid fielder Gerard McCann and further scores from Pat Shivers 0-2 and sibling Tom to give them a 0-10 0-04 lead.

St Brigids had been on the back foot for a time finished the half strongly with unanswered points from

Rory Mc Erlean, Jack Dowling, and Peter Lundy to close the gap to three at the break and back on the rails as the half time whistle sounded with the Cargin lead reduced to 0-10 to 0-07.

St. Brigid’s needed a good start to the second half if they were to overturn Cargin’s advantage but in the event it was the visitors who were to start the better and Pat Shivers pointed before Michael McCann added a goal to move them 1-11 to 0-07 ahead.

The hard grafting Jack Dowling replied with a point in the a 41st with David Johnston quick to make reply at the other end but a Rory McErlean converted free suggested the home side were still in the hunt.

Cargin had other ideas as the impressive Justin Crozier fired over his second of the evening and John McNabb made an excellent save at the other end as the home side briefly threatened.

McNabb’s save seemed to knock some of the fight out of St. Brigid’s and when Pat Shivers replied with a point at the other end the writing was on the wall as the game clock ticked onwards towards completion.

Conhuir Johnston added another for the Toome men  in the dying embers of the game and ther excellent Michael Mc Cann concluded the scoring for the evening with the Erin’s Own men finishing comfortable winners

St Brigid’s: Declan Heary, Fionn Mc Kernan, Conor King, Sonny Doyle, Joe Mc Carney, Reuben Carleton, Shay Campbell, Michael Cunningham, Jack Dowling (0-03), Niall Duffy (0-01), Conor Downey (0-01), Oran Downey, Peter Lundy (0-02), Conor Mc Aleer (0-01), Rory Mc Erlean (0-02)

Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Hugh O’ Donnell, Kevin Mc Shane, Ronan Gribbin, Justin Crozier (0-02), James Laverty, Gerard Mc Cann (0-01), John Carron, David Johnston (0-01), Pat Shivers (0-05), Conan Johnston, Mihael Mc Cann (1-03), Tom Shivers (0-02)

Subs

Conhuir Johnston

Odhran Molloy

Referee: Kevin Parkes (St Enda’s)

See more of Bert’s pics from the game by clicking on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/kWqTPGCumUiBaj/?invite=070e13ce-59ce-4780-bace-0208033f40e6

by thesaffrongael

Kickham’s put themselves back in the title race

ACFL Division 1

Creggan 0-10 Casement’s 0-6

Kickham’s Creggan put themselves right back into the race for the ACFL Division 1 title with a comprehensive victory over league champions Casements on Sunday while putting a serious dent in the Portglenone men’s title aspirations.

Both sides went into this game missing players but it was Creggan who responded much more positively and had ther Lion’s share of the work done by half time.

The Staffordstown Road side took early control of the contest and scored the first three points through Dominic McAteer in the 5th minute, Conor Small in the 7th and Sean Duffin with 11 minutes gone

With the Kickham’s defence well organized by Ethan Carey-Small and Jake McAteer and Patrick McAuley in charge at midfield the visitors could find no way through.

Tiarnan McLarnon

It was left to Kealan McCann to finish off a great team movement to score his point on 26 minutes and Conor Small finished the scoring for the first half with his second point on 28 minutes to leave the score at halftime Kickhams 0-05 to Casements 0-00. 

Conor Small started the second half as he had finished the first with two more points in the 7th and 10th minutes and the visitors hadn’t raised a flag up to this point.

Michael Hagan finally got them off the mark with a point in the 14th minute but the hard working Tiernan McAteer replied with a point on 17 minutes to restore Kickham’s 7 point advantage.

The visitors were starting to have a little bit of success and they hit the next three points with their scores coming from Ciarán McKenna, Ronan Kelly and Rory Hagan.

Sean Duffin replied with his second point of the game on the 27th minute with Enda Lynn and Paddy Kelly finishing with consolation scores for the Casements.

The last score went to probably the best player on the field as Conor Small scored his 4th point on 31 minutes to leave his side victors by four points and move Creggan up to third place in the table with 18 points, one place behind their visitors Portglenone who now trail Cargin by two points. 

Portglenone travel to Toome on Wednesday 19th June and anything less than a victory would surely hand the title back to the Erin’s Own who recorded a fine win today over St. Brigid’s in Belfast.

by thesaffrongael

Polished performance sees Saints win again

ACFL Division 1

St. Mary’s Ahoghill 0-10 All Saints Ballymena 2-12

All Saints turned in another polished performance when they travelled to Clooney on Sunday night and came away with an eight point victory over St. Mary’s Ahoghill.

The Ballymena side sat deep and broke with a blistering pace that their opponents couldn’t deal with and two goals from Sean McVeigh sent them on their way to a 2-7 to 0-3 half time lead.

Martin Graham came into the Ahoghill defence at Half time in an effort to contain the aerial threat of the towering McVeigh with some success and the home side hit the opening four points of the second half to close the gap to six but that would be as close as they got.

Sean McVeigh who’s 2 first half goals sent All Saints on their way to victory on Sunday night in Ahoghill

The visitors defence re-asserted their dominance after that and Ahoghill would add only three further points as the Slemish Park side kicked 0-5 of their own to win comfortably in the end

Ronan Graham pointed St. Mary’s ahead in the second minute but All Saints replied with 1-1 from Sean McVeigh to take a lead that they would not lose with McVeigh climbing above the pack to fist home in the 9th minute

Matthew Downey and James O’Connell from a mark exchanged points before full-forward McVeigh got All Saints second goal which was a mirror image of the first in the 19th minute.

The visitors were sitting deep and breaking at speed and after Ronan Graham converted a 23d minute free to bring the home side’s total to 0-3, the visitors finished strongly as Connell Lemon, Sean McVeigh and the strong running Patrick Ferris added unanswered points to leave them 2-7 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

Thomas McGlone weighs up his options

It looked a long way back for the Ahoghill side as they changed ends for the second half but to their credit they started the new half well with Eamonn Brady, Thomas McGlone, Brady again and James O’Connell hitting the opening four points of the half to close the gap to six.

It was All Saints who would respond however, led by team captain, Shaun O’Callaghan who drove forward for their opening point in the 12th minute with Ciaran Campbell and Patrick Ferris adding two more before James O’Connell replied from a free in the 23d minute.

The scores dried up after that with Michael McCarry from a free and James O’Connell from a similar effort at the other end concluding the scoring with the visitors quite content to run down the clock.

Another good victory for the Ballymena side that sees them climb to 7th place in the table with 15 points and their pace and organisation continues to pose problems for their opponents.

Their opponent Ahoghill presently sit in 11th place in the table with 9 points but with three rounds of games remaining should have enough in store to avoid the play-offs come the end of the season.

All Saints Patrick Ferris drives forward in support of his attack

Ahoghill: 1 Cahir O’Kane 2 Seamus McKeever, 3 James Magee, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Patrick Dougan, 6 Fionnbar O’Neill, 7 Bernard Graham, 8 Thomas McGlone, 9 Ronan Graham, 10 Eamonn Brady, 11 Neil O’Connell, 12 Dan O’Neill, 13 James O’Connell, 14 Conor Paul Crossey, 15 Donal Graham

Subs: Aiden Graham for Cahir O’Kane, Martin Graham, Colla McDonnell for Donal Graham, Harry O’Donnell for Bernard Graham

All Saints: 1 Connor Brennan, 2 Rian Tom, 3 Cal O’Brien, 4 James Gillan, 5 Patrick Ferris, 6 Shaun O’Callaghan, 7 Charlie Metrustry, 8 Michael Read, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Connell Lemon, 11 Michael McCarry, 12 Joe Rafferty, 13 Ciaran Campbell, 14 Sean McVeigh, 15 Mattie Downey.

Subs: Eoin Walsh for Mattie Downey, Darrach Walsh for Eoin Campbell, Rory McVeigh for Sean McVeigh

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

by thesaffrongael

McCann double helps Antrim to hard-fought win over the exiles

Tailteann Cup, Preliminary Quarter-Final

Antrim 3-11–2-10 London

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park

A Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) goal in each half proved the difference in the end as Antrim squeezed past London 3-11-2-10 in a hard fought Tailteann Cup Preliminary round quarter-final clash at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors twice netted in the opening half through Ruairi Rafferty and Michael Carroll in between a fisted McCann goal that got Antrim off the mark as the sides cancelled each other out at the end of the opening 35 minutes.

Ruairi McCann turns away in celebration after scoring Antrim’s opening goal. Pic by Bert Trowlen

Dermot McAleese’s dipping shot dropped to the net on the 47th minute and looked to give Antrim some breathing space, but London rallied, and it wasn’t until McCann netted his second three minutes into added time that the tie was safe and Antrim would confirm their place in the last eight.

The hosts began brightly but both Cahal Hynds and Marc Jordan were off target and the exiles first spell of possession was prolonged and only ended momentarily by Creggan’s Ruairi McCann.

They were successful with their second attack however and netted the opening goal on the fifth minute.

Ruairi Raffety was a late replacement for Liam Gallagher in midfield and he justified his inclusion, following up after his initial shot was kept out by Michael Byrne.

London extended their lead through a Joshua Obahor point and had negotiated the opening ten minutes well at Corrigan Park.

Andy McEntee’s charges finally came to life on the 13th minute when Marc Jordan forced a turnover and played a one-two with club-mate Declan Lynch. Jordan found Ryan McQuillan and he popped the ball towards Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon)- who fisted over Andrew Walsh.

A foul on Marc Jordan afforded Ryan McQuillan to draw the sides level, but it was only briefly as Michael Carroll restored his sides lead- dropping over the bar and towards the empty net that was vacated by Byrne.

Ruairi McCann challenges London goalkeeper Walsh as Dermot McAleese’s shot drops into the net for Antrim’s second goal. Pic by Bert Trowlen

The visitors were reduced to 14-men on the 16th minute when Cahir Healy was adjudged to have deliberately tripped Colm McLarnon.

Antrim levelled for the second time when Byrne slipped a pass to Niall Burns and he floated over and they hit the front for the first time on the 20th minute with Paddy McAleer kicking a forward mark.

They were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage though with Byrne dropping a free short and Ryan McQuillan skewing wide soon after.

Further efforts from play tailed off target before Cahir Healy returned to proceedings and it would boost his side- who hit the front before the half hour.

Ciaran Diver switched the play to Ciaran McKeon on the by-line and he advanced before fisting across to Michael Carroll to palm home and make it 2-02-1-03.

Ryan McQuillan replied instantly with a splendid point and just before the break Euan Walsh pointed from a Patrick McBride switch off play to ensure it was level pegging at 1-05-2-02 at the interval.

Ruairi McCann’s fires in Antrim’s third goal after being set up by Marc Jordan. Pic by Bert Trowlen

Antrim raced into a three-point lead in the early stages of the second period. Paddy McBride dropped over the first, Joseph Finnegan fisted over, and Marc Jordan steered over under pressure.

Michael Carroll added to his first half strike, dropping over to get his side off the mark for the half on the 45th minute.

The Saffrons looked to have gained some breathing space two minutes later when Dermot McAleese’s shot dipped and Ruairi McCann’s presence caused London keeper Andrew Walsh to become unsighted as the shot found the net to make it 2-08-2-03.

London’s response was excellent however and four unanswered points brought the deficit back to the bare minimum.

Ciaran Diver converted a free and then shot over from play within less than 60-seconds. Oran Kerr then took a pass off the shoulder from substitute DJ O’Flaherty and popped over with Daniel Clarke making it four without reply on the 53rd minute.

A foul on substitute Conor Hand allowed fellow substitute Dominic McEnhill to open his account and the Rossa forward then steered a shot inside the posts after Ruairi McCann won a hop-ball and possession was recycled out.

The Exiles came fighting back though as Joseph McGill fisted over and Ciaran Diver converted his second free of the half to bring things back to a one-point game (2-10-2-09).

Conor Hand sent an angled shot over to extend his sides slender advantage and it wasn’t until the 73rd minute that the game was safe.

Marc Jordan burst forward to attack and spotted Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) unmarked, he popped the ball into the full-forward who blasted home in his last action before departing to be replaced by Peter Healy.

Tighe Barry replied with a point for the visitors, but it was scant consolation as Antrim prevailed to take their place in the last eight for the second year in succession and will face a visit to Down, Fermanagh or Kildare in the quarter final.

Paddy McAleer goes high to flick the ball away from London’s D Clarke, while Antrim’s Declan Lynch looks on. Pic by John McIlwaine

Antrim: M Byrne, D Lynch, E Walsh (0-01), K Keenan, N Burns (0-01), J Finnegan (0-01), D McAleese (1-00), P McAleer (0-01m), C Hynds, C McLarnon, P McBride (0-01), R McCann (Creggan), R McQuillan (0-02, 0-01f), R McCann (2-00) (Aghagallon), M Jordan (0-01). Subs: C Hand (0-01) for R McQuillan (52), D McEnhill (0-02, 0-01f) for P McBride (52), J McDonnell for K Keenan (62), C Johnston for P McAleer (68), P Healy for R McCann (Aghagallon) (70+3).

London: A Walsh, D Rooney, E Walsh, N McElwaine, O Kerr (0-01), C Healy, A McLoughlin, S Dornan, R Rafferty (1-00), C McKeon, M Carroll (1-02), C Diver (0-03, 0-02f), J Obahor (0-01), D Clarke (0-01), S Rafter. Subs: DJ O’Flaherty for J Obahor (48), T Barry (0-01) for N McElwaine (58), J McGill (0-01) for R Rafferty (61), M Miller for O Kerr (70), S Tucker for M Carroll (70+1).

Referee: Conor Dournan (Cavan)

For more pics from the Antrim v London game click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/ikMbQ4ap2Gqkpm/?invite=15487bd2-666f-4f67-beea-6bda130d8055

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks secure Feis final spot

Antrim Senior Feis Semi – Final – June 8th, 2024

Loughgiel 1-21  Ballycastle 0-13

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran

Saturday afternoon’s Feis semi-final game between Loughgiel and Ballycastle was being billed by some supporters as a possible game of two halves as the wind was gusting to spoil a good game of hurling. Blowing from the north all the way from the road, Ballycastle would prefer the road goals in the first half after they won the toss, officiated today by the games referee, Mark O’Neill.

The Towns’ Tiernán Smyth got Ballycastle underway with a free that was quickly equalled by Loughgiel’s Shan McGrath as he picked up the sliotar from a Maol Connelly pass.

Loughgiel would press forward to enjoy a point from Paul Boyle and when Shan McGrath was tripped and awarded a free, McGrath lined up and his sliotar shook the ball net over Keeper Ryan McGarry’s bar.

Ballycastle pulled back another two points from Conor Boyd and Tiernán Smyth, both from frees but the latter was due to a misunderstanding by a Shamrock player and incurred a foul due to holding the ball too long. Both sides were on three points apiece when Paul Boyle was brought down and awarded a free. Damon McMullan wasted no time in getting that over the bar and retreated back to his marker.

Ballycastle would test Loughgiel’s defence on a couple of occasions, one about seven minutes into the game when a scramble was cleared away to Cormac McFadden’s satisfaction.

In a position to take his own point, Shan McGrath spotted Christy McGarry posing a threat and a quick offload saw McGarry punish the space he was given. The ‘o’ in Loughgiel’s club signage may be missing, but there was no missing the shamrock supporters’ ‘ohhhh’ at the game’s only goal.

Ballycastle’s Eoin McAlonan would come right back with a point. The pressure continued from the town as keeper Ryan McGarry ran up past the 13m line to drop in a long free, but again the shamrocks were able to clear away the threat.

For the remainder of the first half, Ballycastle pointed only once from Lorcán Donnelly, whilst Loughgiel pushed hard into the wind for another five points, two notable points as a tenacious Conall McCloskey received and spilled the sliotar to the ground before pointing off his jab lift and a clean and efficient Jack McCloskey point as he received McFadden’s puck out, spun around and scored in a blink of an eye.

Referee McNeill called for half time with the scores Loughgiel 1-10 Ballycastle 0-05, and the town supporters feeling the afternoon chill were left wondering what Loughgiel would do with the wind advantage in the second half.

Only twenty seconds had passed in the second half whenever Damon McMullan would snatch his second point of the game. Loughgiel would move to rack up another eight points, six from play and two frees to Ballycastle’s two points, both frees, ruled as pushes in the back by referee O’Neill.

Although Loughgiel would take the next two points, a clean point from Cahal Hargan and free taken by McGrath, the shamrocks would take their foot off the throttle and Ballycastle enjoyed a scoring run of six consecutive points, four of those coming from Tiernán Smyth as he swept across the full forward line looking for opportunities. The ‘Fridge Raiders’ scoreboard tempted the town supporters with hope as it declared Loughgiel 1-19 Ballycastle 0-13.

With thirty minutes on the clock, Shan McGrath directly found McFadden’s puck out, giving him a slick point over McGarry’s bar. Paul Boyle would have the honour of the last point in the game as Eoin McGarry made sure his pass to Boyle was under no threat of an interception.

Mark O’Neill called time shortly after the thirty minutes with Loughgiel 1-21 Ballycastle 0-13.

Despite operating into the wind in the first half, Loughgiel had established an eight-point lead going into the break that could have been seen as a secure lodgement, but Ballycastle closed the scoring differential in the second half to just three points. Despite the stats, the overall eleven-point difference in Loughgiel’s favour was too much to catch and Loughgiel should be pleased with tonight’s result, taking them into the final of the Feis.

Loughgiel scorers

Conal McCloskey 0-01, Damon McMullan 0-02, Cahal Hargan 0-01, Paul Boyle 0-03, Daniel McCloskey 0-01, Darragh Patterson 0-01, Christy McGarry 1-01, Shan McGrath 0-10 (4f), Jack McCloskey 0-01

Ballycastle scorers

Conor Boyd 0-02 (1f), Eoin McAlonan, 0-01, Lorcán Donnelly 0-01, Tiernán Smyth 0-07 (5f), Darragh Kelly 0-01, 19 0-01

Photos from tonight’s game can be found by clicking on the photo album link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/TEyjJ3BNFtoLaw/?invite=0169659f-d5b7-47e3-8d3d-c05b1db32e90