Lord Mayor of Belfast Ryan Murphy posted – I was delighted to host the Gaelfast team this week.
They are doing fantastic work to promote gaelic games and to ensure the continued and steady growth of GAA.
The sport continues to flourish in all corners of Belfast and beyond thanks to organisations like these – maith sibh!
Thanks to Ryan and to Gaelfast or inviting Bert and I along
Division One (1.00pm)
St Mary’s Ahoghill v St James Aldergrove
Having earned a point from what looked a difficult assignment up at Hannahstown Chris Mc Glone’s charges are at home this time as they welcome Aldergrove to Clooney. That latest draw followed a share of the points previously with Tir na nOg and the Ahoghill men will be hoping for a full return from this one.
Aldergrove have just three points to date and require more if they are to climb out of the danger area and they suffered a heavy defeat to St Galls last Wednesday evening.
They may well feel that an away win in this one is within their range, but although they will arrive with hope of victory the Ahoghill men do look more than capable of earning a full return of the points.
St Gall’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
Moneyglass came close to causing a major shock last time when they gave the visiting St Brigid’s a run for their money, eventually losing by four points to the high flying Musgrave side.
That was a good performance from the Marian Hill men and they face another tough test as they visit Milltown to meet St Gall’s.
St Gall’s have gained in stride this term with six victories to date and they will hope to extend that good run as St Ergnat’s visit Milltown.
St Gall’s will certainly take the field in this one as firm favourites and although they may well gain the day Moneyglass will not make it easy for their hosts.
St Johns v Kickham’s Creggan
St John’s lost to Cargin in Toome on Wednesday night but it was only in the latter stages of the game that the home side pulled clear.
That was a descent performance from the Whiterock Road side and they will hope to improve on it as they welcome Creggan to Corrigan.
Kickham’s have steadily improved as the season has progressed and occupy fourth spot in the table at present.
This looks likely to be a close one and keenly contested and a share of the spoils looks possible.
O’ Donovan Rossa v Lamh Dhearg
Nothing separates this duo in the ratings with both berthed on six points apiece and form would suggest this could be close as Rossa play hosts to Lamh Dhearg at Shaws Road.
Rossa lost at Whitehill last time out when Tir na nOg collected the full share of the points with an impressive 3-10 to 0-09 victory and they will return to their own sod for this one seeking major improvement.
As suggested this may well be close but Hugh McGettigan’s men are never easily defeated on their home turf and they may well gain the day.
Con Magees Glenravel v Tir na nOg
Tir na nOg are enjoying life at the moment and the Randalstown side under the tutelage of Niall Jackman hold a place in the top six and they will hope to add to their 12 point haul in this one as they take the road down to Glenravel.
Con Magees are really finding it difficult in the top division but they will hope to add to their solitary point as Tir na nOg visit Fr. Maginn Park.
The home side are certainly capable of better but although they will give this one their all an away win and another couple of points for the Whitehill men looks likely.
St Brigid’s v All Saint’s Ballymena
St Brigid’s are undefeated to date and they will seek to extend their winning run in this one as All Saint’s visit Musgrave Park in what looks likely to be a tough assignment.
All Saint’s, like several sides must go into competition without their county contingent and this has made life difficult for a side seeking to remain in the top division.
St Brigid’s will start as firm favourites in this one and although they might not get it all their own way, the home side may well gain the spoils.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v Casement’s Portglenone
Reigning league champions Casement’s are still firmly on course to retain the Eddie Fitzsimmons Cup and are undefeated to date as they travel to Aghagallon to meet St Mary’s intent on continuing that good form.
Aghagallon are another side facing life without their county players and that has been reflected in their results to date.
The home side will give it everything as the league champion’s visit but a win for John Mc Keever’s charges does look likely
St Enda’s v Erin’s Own Cargin
St Enda’s sit mid-table at present and recorded a useful win over All Saints at Slemish Park on Wednesday evening. They face a tough test in this one however as unbeaten Cargin visit Hightown.
Cargin are the inform team in the division at present and anything other than a convincing win looks unlikely but they may well have to be at their best.
Division Two
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Patrick Sarsfield (11.30)
Last season’s Senior championship finalists Cuchullian’s have not been seen at their best this term but they do have a number of dual players involved with the county hurling team and that has meant their football side have gone into action short-handed.
They hold a place in the top five at present and they will hope for a win in this one as they play hosts to Sarsfield’s who are only a point behind them in the ratings.
A close game is possible but ground advantage may well play a part and aid the Cuchullian’s to a full return of the points.
St Paul’s v Michael Davitt’s (6.00 pm)
St Paul’s have enjoyed a good run of late and sit in second place in the table, just a point in arrears of St. Teresa’s who they defeated recently.
Michael Davitt’s have been in great form of late and sit only a point adrift of the Shaw’s Road men and this could make for a close one with St Paul’s suggested as the probable winners but it could go either way.
St Teresa’s v St Mary’s Rasharkin (6.00pm)
St Teresa’s seem to have hit a bump in the road of late with defeat to both Davitt’s and St Paul’s in their latest two games after an unbeaten 6 game run at the start of the present campaign.
Reigning junior champions and division three champions St Mary’s Rasharkin took a few outings to get it together this term but the home side will need to show improvement from their last two outings if they are to deny the Dreen men a win on the Glen Road.
Kickham’s Ardoyne v St Patrick’s Lisburn (6.00pm)
This duo have had contrasting fortunes in their league programme as Ardoyne have struggled in their fixtures to date whilst St Patrick’s, after a slow start have gained a commendable 9 points and hold a snug mid table berth.
Ardoyne are more than capable of better but at the present anything other than an away win is difficult to envisage.
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Gort na Mona (6.00pm)
St Joseph’s have enjoyed a good 2023 campaign to date with four victories and a couple of draws and currently sit in third place in the table as they play hosts to Gort na Mona in this one.
The Gorts have struggled to gain impetus this term and although they are capable of better a home win does look the most likely result this time.
Division Three
St Comgall’s Antrim v Wolfe Tones (1.00pm)
St Comgall’s are flying and remain unbeaten to date as they sit proudly at the top of the table under new manager, Barry Burns.
They are on home turf here as North Belfast Wolfe Tones visit Dunsilly with a home victory likely.
Eire Og v Patrick Pearses (6.00pm)
With four victories to date Patrick Pearses enjoy a second place spot in the table as they visit Eire Og.
The home side will hope to cause an upset but an away win and a couple more points for the Pearses looks probable.
St Malachy’s v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s (6.00pm)
O’ Donnell’s have suffered just one defeat thus far and they will seek to add a couple of point in this one as they visit St Malachy’s.
St. Malachy’s, with just a couple of wins to date will hope to cause upset here but an away win for O’ Donnells looks probable.
St Agnes v Laochra Loch Lao (6.00pm)
Laochra Loch Lao have been performing well thus far in 2024 and they may well add another couple of points in this one as they visit the Aggies…..
Pics by Bert Trowlen
Cross & Passion College won all their games in Thurday’s Ulster Schools Year 8 hurling tournament, which was played in stormy conditions in Swatragh, to win the Thompson Cup ‘A’ title for first time in 6 years
The Ballycastle school won all their 4 group games with their full panel of 25 boys all playing at least one full game, highlighting the talent within the group..
The semi final pitted CPC against St Killians College, Garron Tower and after a slow start CPC really upped the ante with forwards Pearce McMullan, Dara McShane and Liam Lynn in great form, hitting 4-6 in an impressive win.
The final against holders St Patrick’s Maghera was a close game and Maghera stuck with CPC boys throughout. Points from Pearce McMullan, Liam Lynn and John Og Darragh had CPC 0-3 to 0-1 ahead at half time
Second half was another tight affair but a brilliant goal by John og Darragh settled the final.
Over the course of the day Iarlaith O’Kane and Cillian Bellew were very solid in defence, midfielders Tom Richmond and Killian Cassidy gave CPC a great platform that allowed the big hitters up front in Liam Lynn, John og Darragh, Dara McShane and Pearse McMullan to do the damage.
Maghera’s top performers on day were Dominic O’Kane in goals, defenders Mark McGrath and Harry McCloskey, midfielders Fergal Convery and Patrick O’ Loughlin and Quentin Farren in the forwards
The CPC squad were
ACFL Division 1
Moneyglass 1-12 St. Brigid’s 2-13
This was a clash between 2 sides from opposite ends of table with Moneyglass hoping to bounce back from defeat last time out. It was Brigid’s, playing against the strong breeze who would make the early running, scoring 1 -01 through James Smith with only 3 minutes gone.
Moneyglass replied with a point from Fearghal Duffin but St Brigid’s cancelled this out with a point from King but the home-side, aided by a strong breeze weren’t about to go away and following a swift break up field Conor O’Kane fired to the St. Brigid’s net.
Inspired by this score St. Ergnat’s pushed forward again and Sean Boyd fired over the equaliser with10 minutes gone and it looked like we were in for a battle at Marian Hill.
St Brigid’s showed just why they are joint top of the league as they rattled off the next 3 scores to put them 3 ahead again but the next passage of play would have a significant bearing on the game when a Moneyglass goal chance was cleared off the line.
The visitors broke up field, leading to a 2nd goal to put six between the sides at 2 -6 to 1-3 but to their credit Moneyglass weren’t about to throw in the towel. They replied with 3 points on the bounce from a Conor Boyd free followed by 2 from the impressive Aidan McErlain to leave the halftime score 2-6 to 1-6
St. Ergnat’s made a blistering start to the second half with a Conor Boyd free and 1 from Seanchan Duffin leaving the minimum between the sides and barely 5 minutes on the clock.
Try as they might Moneyglass couldn’t get on level terms however with St Brigids registering the next 2 points to stretch the lead to 3 again, but Moneyglass refused to go away as they came back with two of their own through Colum Duffin leaving 1 in it at 1-10 to 2-08.
St Brigid’s didn’t panic with things opening up and as both sides went in search of scores it was the visitors who would hit the last 3 scores of game to win on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-22 but great credit must go to both sides for an entertaining game in difficult conditions.
ACFL Division 2
St Pauls 1.08 Dunloy 1.05
St Paul’s continued their recent good run with a victory over Dunloy at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday night. In a low scoring game both teams struggled to get to grips with the strong wind but it would be the home side who eventually took control in the first half.
A well worked team goal finished by Liam McLarnon got St Paul’s on top with the teams exchanging points before the break.
HT score St Pauls 1-5 Dunloy 0-4
The wind continued to trouble the sides in the second half with both teams struggling in front of goal. There looked to be life in the Dunloy fight back when a Mickey Smith goal midway through the second period reduced the defecit to two points. St Paul’s though answered back with a couple of points of their own.
In a frantic last 10 minutes Dunloy looked to close the gap but the home side held on for a 3 point win which see them top Division 2.
