Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

McAlonan Masterclass Fires Dunloy Past Cushendall in Darragh Cup Semi-Final

Darragh Cup – North Antrim Under 17 Hurling

Cuchullains Dunloy 2-24 Ruairí Óg Cushendall 1-16

A breathtaking scoring display from Jay McAlonan, coupled with a dominant second-half surge, saw Cuchullains Dunloy overturn an early deficit to book their place in the Darragh Cup final with a 2-24 to 1-16 victory over Ruairí Óg Cushendall at Pearse Park.

If the final scoreline suggests a comfortable evening for the young Cuchullains, the opening exchanges told a very different story. Cushendall exploded out of the blocks, playing some great hurling in the first ten minutes to race into a 0-07 to no-score lead. Nicholas McLaughlin was absolutely flawless from placed balls, while Oliver Mooney, Cahir McCambridge, and Jake Laffan all raised early white flags from play to leave Dunloy shell-shocked.

It took twelve minutes for Dunloy to finally get off the mark, courtesy of a ’65 from their talisman, Jay McAlonan. That score settled the home side, and they began to claw their way back into the contest. They relied heavily on McAlonan’s dead-ball accuracy to keep them in touch, while Anthony Og Cochrane chipped in with two fine points from play. Cushendall kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely, largely through the unerring free-taking of McLaughlin, who hit eight points in the first period alone to send the Ruairí Óg lads into the dressing room with a deserved 0-12 to 0-09 half-time lead.

Whatever was said in the Dunloy huddle at the break certainly did the trick. They emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and methodically set about dismantling the Cushendall advantage.

McAlonan picked up right where he left off, striking a flurry of frees and a ’65, alongside a great point from play, to draw the sides level by the 42nd minute. The momentum had entirely swung. A pivotal moment came when substitute Eanna McGuckian was introduced for Ollie McClements. McGuckian made an immediate, massive impact, and after Dunloy had edged into a four-point lead, he struck for the game’s opening goal in the 48th minute to make it 1-18 to 0-15.

To their credit, Cushendall refused to throw in the towel. After another McAlonan free and a point from McGuckian stretched the Dunloy lead, Donncha Laverty found the back of the net for Ruairí Óg on 56 minutes, breathing brief life into a potential comeback at 1-21 to 1-16.

However, Dunloy finished incredibly strong to put the result beyond any doubt. Substitutes Odhran Boyle and the impressive James McGarry added their names to the scoresheet before McAlonan capped off an unbelievable personal tally of 1-16 by raising a green flag deep into injury time. Even Dunloy goalkeeper Damian McMahon got in on the act, stepping up to slot a final free right at the death to seal a commanding 2-24 to 1-16 win.

Dunloy now march on to the Darragh Cup final, with old rivals Loughgiel.

MATCH STATS

Cuchullains Dunloy:

  1. Damian McMahon (0-01, 1f)
  2. Seamus McMullan
  3. Joseph Doherty
  4. Ronan Black
  5. Ruairi Blaney
  6. Eunan Curry
  7. Jack McQuillan
  8. Aaron Doherty
  9. Ollie McClements
  10. John Ferguson
  11. James McGarry (0-01)
  12. PJ Molloy
  13. Jay McAlonan (1-16, 12f, 2 ’65s)
  14. Anthony Og Cochrane (0-02) Subs used/Scorers: Eanna McGuckian (1-01), Odhran Boyle (0-01), Padraic O’Neill/Padai O’Kane (0-01), Unidentified No. 10 (0-01).

Ruairí Óg Cushendall:

  1. Shane Coulter
  2. Sean McAuley
  3. Paddy Morgan
  4. Charlie McAlister
  5. Rian Laverty
  6. Conor McCann
  7. Callum Quinn
  8. Nicholas McLaughlin (0-11, 9f)
  9. Shane McQuillan
  10. Jayden Kinney McNaughton
  11. Donncha Laverty (1-00)
  12. Jake Laffan (0-01)
  13. Oliver Mooney (0-02)
  14. Connlaodh McNaughton (0-01)
  15. Cahir McCambridge (0-01)

TO SEE MORE OF MICKY MORGAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/7PLSqQq55tsAiA/?invite=3a5c1740-491e-4930-ab92-525cc8f51880

by thesaffrongael

Bunscoil Phobal Feirste and St Patrick’s Loughgiel win Cumann na mBunscol titles

Hurling winners Bunscoil Phobal Feirste celebrate their victory.
Camogie winners St Patrick’s Loughgiel celebrate after receiving their trophuies

Bunscoil Phobal Feirste won the hurling title at Friday’s Cumann na mBunscol county final at St Louis Grammar School in Ballymena. With wins over north Antrim champions St Patrick’s Loughgiel and South West winners St. Patrick’s Rasharkin, the Belfast boys registered wins in both games their excellent full back Cillian McDonald playing a vital role in both game and was deservedly awarded the Player of the Tournament award.

St. Patrick’s Primary School, Loughgiel, won the Camogie title after and epic battle with In a closely contested battle the Loughgiel girls drew their opening match with Holy Trinity Belfast, the game finishing 1-01 to 0-04. Holy Trinity  went on to beat Rasharkin their second game of the round-robin section which meant it all came down to the last game between the Loughgiel and Rasharkin schools.

When the Rasharkin girls led by 1-00 to 0-01 at half time it appeared the Loughgiel chances were gone but they fought back in the second half and three goals from star midfielder Meabh McKinley swung their game in their favour and saw her team take the title by virtue of goals scored overall.

Holy Trinity’s midfielder Cadhla Stilges took to overall Camogie Player of the Tournament award.

The Boys Football finals will be played back at St Louis on Monday

Maebh McKinley who scored three second half goals to give St Patrick’s Loughgiel the title.
Mr Duffin presents the Camogie Player of the Tournament award to Cadhla Stilges of Holy Trinity
Mr Duffin presents the Hurler of the Tournamemt award to Cillain McDonald of Bunscoil Phobal Feirste
Mr Duffiin presents the Hurling Cup to Bunscoil Phobal Feirste joint captains Dualta Ó Duibhfhinn and Ciaran Brady after their team’s success.
Holy Trininty Camogs
St Patrick’s rasharkin, Camogs
St Patrick’s Loughgiel Hurlers
St Patrick’s Rasharkin Hurlers
Mr Duffin presents the Camogie Cup to St Patrick’s Loughgiel captain Rioghnach Laverty

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THESE GAMES CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/2PSaChyCCZjAYi/?invite=e014e2c4-91e4-4a34-b898-c521b4bd44a4

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks Find Their Rhythm to Overcome Cuchullains in Feis Cup Quarter-Final

Senior Feis Cup Quarter-Final Venue: Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel

Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-21 – 0-16 Dunloy Cuchullains

Despite heading into this Senior Feis Cup quarter-final missing a good few regulars, Dunloy Cuchullains still carried the favourites tag, having handed Loughgiel a heavy defeat in the League just weeks ago. With the Cuchullains turning around to face a stiff breeze in the second half trailing by just three points, the smart money would have backed them to take the honours. However, after Dunloy drew level shortly after the restart, Loughgiel found another gear, hitting a rich vein of form and playing some good hurling to drive on to a five-point victory.

Loughgiel came out of the blocks sharpest, taking the game to Dunloy from the throw-in. James McNaughton opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, setting the tone for an impressive individual performance. Shan McGrath doubled the advantage on the four-minute mark, and a long-range free shortly after pushed the Shamrocks into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead by the 7th minute.

Loughgiel extended that to four before Dunloy finally registered their first score, courtesy of a close-range free from Francis McMullan. The Shamrocks’ response was immediate; winning the resulting puc-out, McNaughton regained possession and fired over a swift point to re-establish the cushion.

The highlight of the half arrived in the 16th minute when Ryan “Bubbles” McMullan capped off a sweeping 60-yard move down the left flank to make it 0-6 to 0-2. Dunloy kept themselves in touch, with Francis McMullan landing a superb point from out near the sideline in the 19th minute, but as the half-time whistle blew, Loughgiel held a deserved three-point lead at 0-9 to 0-6.

The second half began with high drama. James McNaughton burst through on goal with an early chance to kill the game, but Dunloy defender Ryan McGarry executed a crucial, goal-saving block to clear the danger.

That intervention sparked life into the Cuchullains and when goalkeeper Ryan Elliott launched a massive free from inside his own 45-metre line straight over the bar it reduced the gap to two. Francis McMullan struck another free to draw the sides level

With the momentum—and the wind—seemingly in Dunloy’s favour, Loughgiel needed a response. They found it through Roan McGarry, who split the posts with a fine effort from the corner to restore the lead. A tit-for-tat exchange ensued: Francis McMullan levelled again from a placed ball for Dunloy before a short free converted by McNaughton nudged the Shamrocks ahead 0-11 to 0-10.

Dunloy’s Ben O’Kane squared things up once more, and moments later, goalkeeper Ryan Elliott stepped up to send over another monstrous long-range free, putting Dunloy into the lead for the first time in the contest.

It was here that Loughgiel found their rhythm. Ben McGarry collected a smart pass from his brother Roan to fire an equalizer (0-12 to 0-12), igniting a dominant spell for the hosts. Rian McMullan restored the Loughgiel advantage with a well-taken score, and James McNaughton followed it up with a well struck 60-metre free. Rian McMullan struck again to stretch the gap to three and on 47 minutes, a strong Loughgiel move was halted illegally, and Roan McGarry comfortably tapped over the resulting free. Though Ciaran Elliott pulled one back for Dunloy a minute later, Roan McGarry was accurate again from close range to make it 0-17 to 0-13 heading into the final ten minutes.

Refusing to lie down, Ryan Elliott launched yet another spectacular free from well inside his own half to cut the deficit to three, but James McNaughton immediately cancelled it out with a brilliant point from play. Substitute Caolan Blair got his name on the scoresheet to extend the gap at four.

As the clock ticked down, Rian McMullan effectively sealed the tie in the 58th minute with a spectacular solo point from out on the left wing. Dunloy’s Ben O’Kane replied with a crisp strike from play, but fittingly, it was James McNaughton who had the final say for the hosts, knocking over a point from play to establish a 0-21 to 0-16 lead.

There was time for one last roll of the dice from Dunloy, who won a 20-metre free in the dying moments and opted to go for goal. However, Loughgiel shot-stopper Cormac McFadden was equal to the task, producing a good save to clear the lines just as the final whistle sounded, securing a hard-fought and deserved victory for the Shamrocks.

Loughgiel Shamrocks – 1 Cormac McFadden, 2 Rory McCloskey, 3 Enda Og McGarry, 4 Liam Glackin, 5 Badger McCormick, 6 Decky McCloskey, 7 Ben McGarry, 8 Betty McKee, 9 Rosie Fitzgerald, 10 Rian McMullan, 11 James McNaughton, 12 Pearce Patterson, 13 Roan McGarry, and 15 Shan McGrath.

Dunloy Cuchullains 1 Ryan Elliott, 2 Sean Óg Blaney, 3 Rian McGarry, 4 Reece Cunning, 5 Eamon Smyth, 6 Eoin McFerran, 7 Aodhan McGarry, 8 Padraig McGilligan, 9 Ben O’Kane, 10 Francis McMullan, 11 Paul Shiels, 12 Barry Scott, 13 Ciaran Elliott, 14 Oisin McCamphill, and 15 Nicky McKeague.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/5WBgmmdaChhXpX/?invite=31257e06-9e35-41e5-96c0-7d80bc7eab02

by thesaffrongael

Glenavy make top five despite Gort na Mona defeat

Gort na Mona v Glenavy

ACFL Division 2

Gort na Mona 3-10 St. Joseph’s 0-12

Despite this defeat to Gort na Mona in the final game before the split, St. Joseph’s Glenavy have secured a place in the top section of the table where they will be joined by St. Enda’s, Ahoghill, Aldergrove and St. Teresa’s.

The Gorts will rue earlier season defeats as they showed on Wednesday night just what they are capable of as goals from Jack Thompson after 25 minutes of the first half and further goals from Sean Ireland and Manus McMullan in the second powered them to a 7 point win in the end.

It was even enough during the opening half and indeed a 2 pointer from Leon Lavery gave Glenavy a 2 point lead by the 10th minute and the Chapel  Hill side must have fancied their chances at that stage but things were soon to change.

Points from Tarlach Enright (free) and Daire Keenan had it all square by the 19th minute though Glenavy briefly restored their lead through a point from Jack Shannon but two more points from Daire Keenan and Conor Scannell for the Mona Bye-pass  side  by the 22nd minute gave them a lead  they would hold to the end.

A scrambled goal from Jack Thompson after the visitors defence got itself  in a tangle with five minutes remaining to the break put the home side in a strong position and they would go on to lead 1-7 to 0-7 at the break  with late points from Jack Shannon and Leon Lavery for the visitors keeping their hopes alive.

Glenavy looked like making it a real contest when James Monaghan and   Leon Lavery fired over points in the opening stages of the second half but the visitors only flattered to deceive as Gort na Mona took complete control at midfield.

A converted ‘45’ by Tarlach Enright and a goal by Sean Ireland reasserted their control by the 11th minute and points from Matthew McConnell and Manus McMullan extended their lead as the visitors struggled to contain a now well moving opposition.

McMullan added to his earlier point as he rose to palm home his side’s third goal and while Glenavy never gave up the damage had been done.

Gort na Mona were thankful to keeper Anton Farrelly as Glenavy went looking for goals with the home keeper pulling off a couple of fine saves and St. Joseph’s had to settle for points from James Monaghan, Leon Lavery and Jack Shannon  but it proved too little-too late. 

St. Josephs will now have to regroup in an effort to gain a promotion place and while St. Enda’s look well on their way to the title, on 18 points, Ahoghill 12, Aldergrove 12 and St. Teresa’s 10 and Glenavy on 10 will all have their sights set on a  promotion place.      

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S ALBUM CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

 https://myalbum.com/album/YM8EuKpiUBEUDJ      

by thesaffrongael

Kickhams welcomed our  All Ireland winners to meet our u6, u8’s and u10’s at their training sessions this evening. 

Creggan representatives of Antrim’s All Ireland winning teams from last weekend brought the sikverware alon to the club’s juvenile training on Thursday evening Representing the u14 LGFA team was the energetic and bubbly Iona Maguire. Iona wrote her name in the Antrim history books by firstly scoring the equalising point before finishing the game off by hitting the winner a fantastic achievement that she has worked very hard to get. 

Next up we had Antrim minor captain our own Shea Mc Lernon.  Shea showed his worth through the whole game but even more so in the second half as he drove his team forward as a player and a leader. 

Our other minor player Conall Wilson who was unavailable tonight as he was playing for the Clubs u16’s in a league match.  This shows Conall’s worth to the Club that while still u16 he has won an All Ireland minor medal. 

A massive congratulations from Kickhams GAC to both teams on winning their All Ireland titles 

TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PICS FROM THIS EVENT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/VBRrGjVpSY22cf/?invite=41f31f1c-8a41-4ac4-8d12-b00b4c1a1603