Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

St Pats progress to meeting with Cross and Passion

Ulster Senior Camogie Schools

Corn Uan Uladh – Semi Final

St Patrick’s Maghera 3-11 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 2-7

Monday 15 December

Brendan McTaggart reports from Lavey

A brilliant start and strong performance from Emma Quinn was enough for St Pat’s to reach the Corn Uan Uladh Final on Monday evening but they were made to fight for the full hour by a gallant St Killian’s side.

Seven points separated the sides with Quinn top scoring with eight white flags while majors came from lightning inside forward Aoibh Mulholland and Swatragh duo Aoife McWilliams and Marie Therese McCullagh.

After a start that was borderline catastrophic for the ‘Tower, they were left indebted to goal keeper Laoiseach McNaughton who pulled off a string of saves and was assured under the dropping ball in testing conditions.

Eva McNeill was once again immense at the heart of the St Killian’s defence and top scored with 1-5.  Anything coming from an attacking sense from St Killian’s came from their centre half while Cliodhna Thompson was always a handful up front.  She would finish with 1-2 for her hours work and her move further out the field in the second half gave them a stronger attacking position but St Pat’s always had an upper hand.  Midfield duo Orla McCartney and McCullagh worked tirelessly throughout while the direct running of Brannagh Brolly was causing the St Killian’s back six plenty of problems.

With the temperature showing not much above zero at the south Derry venue and a freezing fog hovering, it was the Maghera girls who started on fire.  Laoiseach McNaughton had denied Aoibh Mulholland with a super save in the first attack of the game but St Pat’s constant pressure finally yielded the opening goal of the game through MT McCullagh. 

The St Pat’s pressure continued with Emma Quinn’s accuracy from placed ball unerring.  Three points in as many minutes from placed ball had St Pat’s 1-3 to no score up after seven minutes and any St Killian’s attacks were in scarce supply. 

The second St Pat’s goal came in the 12th minute, Aoibh Mulholland getting on the end of a lovely pass from Bolly before finding the bottom corner.  Nine points up and it was all one way traffic, it looked like it was going to be a long evening for the St Killian’s girls.

Eva McNeill opened their account with an accurate ’45 only for a brace of scores to follow from Aoibh Mulholland and Emma Quinn.  Quinn’s effort a brilliant score, instinctive and accurate despite being under pressure.

McNeill split the uprights in the 17th minute before Cliodhna Thompson found the back of the St Pat’s net.  McNeill delivered the sliotar high to the edge of the square and when it broke loose, Thompson was first to react and managed to find the far corner of the net, throwing St Killian’s a lifeline.

Orla McCartney and McNeill (’45) swapped white flags in the time that remained to leave the half time score 2-6 to 1-3 in the Maghera schools favour.

St Killian’s were fastest out of the traps in the second half and had the opening two scores of the half inside five minutes.  Thompson and McNeill (free) as the ‘Tower played with more aggression and intensity.  St Pat’s responded with a brace of points from Orla McCartney and Emma Quinn (free) but a second St Killian’s goal brought them back to within three in the 44th minute.  Eva McNeill sending the sliotar into the danger area but it took a wicked bounce and deceived Orlaith Johnston between the sticks to leave just three between the sides.

That goal seemed to sting the Maghera school into life again.  They saw goal chances come and go from Emma Quinn and Brannagh Brolly with a mix if heroic defending and brave goal keeping from Laoiseach McNaughton keeping them in the game but a run of 1-2 inside three minutes all but ended the game.

Points from placed ball by Emma Quinn came either side of their third goal, Aoife McWilliams getting her shot away under pressure to put eight between the sides with six minutes remaining.

St Killian’s continued to try and carve a way through the St Pat’s defence but points from Thompson and McNeill was all they managed while almost fittingly, Emma Quinn had the final say of the fame with her eighth point of the game.

St Pat’s progress to a meeting with Cross and Passion in the New Year while St Killian’s are left to rue the opening quarter and what might have been.

TEAMS

ST KILLIANS: Laoiseach McNaughton; Michaela McLaughlin, Maeve McAlister, Laoise McCollam; Keira McLaughlin, Erin McNaughton, Emer McCann; Leona Gillan, Tamara Black; Sorcha Carey, Eva McNeill, Aibrean Campbell; Anna O’Kane, Cliodhna Thompson, Niamh McCollam

Scorers: E McNeill 1-5 (3f, 2 ‘45’s); C Thompson 1-2

ST PATRICKS: Orlaith Johnston; Isabelle Martin, Ellie Griffin, Gracie Mae Bradley; Orla McKenna, Aoife McWilliams, Lucy McKaigue; Orla McCartney, Marie Therese McCullough; Brannagh Brolly, Emma Quinn, Ciara O’Loughlin; Rose Quinn, Aoibh Mulholland, Aoibheann O’Loughlin

Scorers: E Quinn 0-8 (6fs, 1 ’45); A Mulholland 1-1; MT McCullough 1-00; A McWilliams 1-00; O McCartney 0-2

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Glenravel)

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

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by thesaffrongael

Tipperary stars visit St Peter’s Primary School

It’s not everyday the Liam McCarthy cup is in Belfast I do hope that one day it’s a reality for my own County Antrim. On Friday afternoon with the sun shining St Peter’s primary school hosted this famous trophy with All Ireland Tipperary’s winning manager Liam Cahill, along with players; Darragh McCarthy, Willie Connor’s and Rhys Shelly. In attendance also was the board of governors from the school which included our very own club chairman Tommy Shaw. From Gaelfast Alfie Hannaway was also present in the hall.
The school and my supporting club Davitts prepared the outside and inside certainly fit for champions. All schools in the Lower Falls were in attendance St Paul’s, St Joesphs, St Claire’s, Gaelscoil na bhFal agus Gaelscoil an Lonnain making it a real community event.
They landed in Ross Road ironically across from the house I grew up in my formative years to a wall of noise with everyone keen to get a glimpse of the Tipperary contingent and the trophy. They then proceeded through the St Peter’s guard of honour outside with the Sunday game theme tune bellowing in the background. On entering the school they were routed around the school which was lined with children from P1 up waving flags and screaming with excitement. In the main hall where all the schools were seated the energy and excitement was amazing which Peter Carleton was controlling with his DJ skills.
When they eventually got into the packed hall they were met with a rapturous welcoming.
We had a Q & A which all schools joined in on, a few speeches from Roisin McLaughlin ( St Peter’s principal), Liam Cahill and myself. Liam’s kind words towards the school and our club Davitts was very much appreciated, he Ballingarry man has a built a good relationship with our club. We finished off with the children getting autographs and pictures trying to capture a moment which I hope will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
I hope this can be a springboard for the GAA in the local schools which are crucial part of our family and vision for the future.
I want to thank the schools as we only had a week to prepare. The teachers leading the charge were Mark Kelly (St Paul’s), Dominic Fryers (St Joseph’s), Brendan Birt (St Clare’s ) Sean Fenn (Gaelscoil na bhFal) agus Micheál Connolly (Gaelscoil an Lonnain). Special mention to Roisin McLaughlin (St Peter’s principal) and her teachers, assistants and Gerard. Finally to Micky McCullough and Gavin Shaw thanks for making it happen.

Micheál O’Brien
The school and my supporting club Davitts prepared the outside and inside certainly fit for champions. All schools in the Lower Falls were in attendance St Paul’s, St Joesphs, St Claire’s, Gaelscoil na bhFal agus Gaelscoil an Lonnain making it a real community event.
They landed in Ross Road ironically across from the house I grew up in my formative years to a wall of noise with everyone keen to get a glimpse of the Tipperary contingent and the trophy. They then proceeded through the St Peter’s guard of honour outside with the Sunday game theme tune bellowing in the background. On entering the school they were routed around the school which was lined with children from P1 up waving flags and screaming with excitement. In the main hall where all the schools were seated the energy and excitement was amazing which Peter Carleton was controlling with his DJ skills.


When they eventually got into the packed hall they were met with a rapturous welcoming.
We had a Q & A which all schools joined in on, a few speeches from Roisin McLaughlin ( St Peter’s principal), Liam Cahill and myself. Liam’s kind words towards the school and our club Davitts was very much appreciated, he Ballingarry man has a built a good relationship with our club. We finished off with the children getting autographs and pictures trying to capture a moment which I hope will remain with them for the rest of their lives.


I hope this can be a springboard for the GAA in the local schools which are crucial part of our family and vision for the future.
I want to thank the schools as we only had a week to prepare. The teachers leading the charge were Mark Kelly (St Paul’s), Dominic Fryers (St Joseph’s), Brendan Birt (St Clare’s ) Sean Fenn (Gaelscoil na bhFal) agus Micheál Connolly (Gaelscoil an Lonnain). Special mention to Roisin McLaughlin (St Peter’s principal) and her teachers, assistants and Gerard. Finally to Micky McCullough and Gavin Shaw thanks for making it happen.

Micheál O’Brien

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by thesaffrongael

Dungiven end Four Masters reign

Four Masters goalkeeper Lewis McCaughan is sent the wrong was as Kevin Barry Mullan’s penalty flies high into the net for his team’s fourth goal.

FonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Tournament, Quarter-Final 

Dungiven 4-09 Four Roads 2-11

Pics by Bert Trowlen

Four Masters reign as Ulster minor football champions has come to an end after they were edged out in a thrilling contest by Dungiven at St Paul’s on Sunday.

The Derry champions turned round at the break leading by 10-points and at one stage Four Masters did cut the gap to the bare minimum. But they couldn’t find the score to edge them in front and it’s the St Canice’s who can look forward to a semi-final meeting with Armagh’s Dromintee on St Stephen’s Day.

Key to Dungiven’s victory was the performance of their midfield diamond. Ryan McGilligan, Daithi McCloskey, Kevin Barry Mullan and Padraig Haran all won more than their fair share of ball in the middle third while Mullan also contributed to 2-04 of his sides total.

Tomás and Turlough Carr carried the main threat for Four Masters, but after controlling much of the first half, their influence weaned in the second. Forward Conor Gallagher McCahill influence was nullified by a superb man-marking job by Emmett Óg McKeever. Star forward Gallagher McCahill was restricted to just a solitary point over the hour.

Dungiven led 2-8 to 0-4 at the break thanks to goals from Mikey Harkin and Donnach Colgan but Tomás Carr’s speculative effort at the three-quarter mark gave the Donegal side some hope.

But two late Mullan goals, one from a penalty and one opportunist stroke from distance in additional time sealed Four Masters fate.

Dungiven wasted no time in settling in when after winning the throw-in and working a one-two with the industrious Michael McVeigh, Haran split the posts after just 9 seconds.

Mullan then scored the first two-pointer of the day minutes later and it got better for the Derry side when Harkin gave Lewis McCaughan no chance by finishing high into the corner of the Four Masters net after a defence splitting ball from Mullan.

Playing into the wind, Four Masters were happy to play keep ball and points from McHugh, Lenihan and Griffin kept the Donegal side in touch.

But with the last play of the first half Dungiven added a second goal when Colgan drove low and hard to the Four Masters net.

Four Masters were finding scoring opportunities hard to come by in the second period and became over reliant on two-point frees from Lewis McCaughan, but fortune swung in their favour in the 45th minute when Tomás Carr’s effort deceived Thomas McCloskey in the  Dungiven goal to finish in the net to bring his side back into the contest.

Dungiven rallied and after McCaughan fouled Harkin in the square, Mullan finished high to the net to hand Dungiven a seven-point lead with 9 minutes to go.

The lead was cut to just one in the final minute when Gethin Mosby found the back of the Dungiven net, but the Derry side had the final say when Mullan spotted McCaughan off his line to find the net from 40 metres out and clinch a deserving four-point victory.

Teams and Scorers:

Dungiven: T McCloskey, C McKenna, P O’Kane, E Òg McKeever, D O’Neill (0-1), R McGilligan, D Colgan (1-2), D McCloskey, K B Mullan (2-4, 1-0 pen, 1tpf), M McVeigh, P Haran (0-1), P P Peoples, M Harkin (1-0), P Higgins (0-1f), S O’Kane.

Replacements: R McCorriston for Peoples (49), A O’Kane for Higgins (49).

Four Masters: L McCaughan, E McCrea, A Quinn, J McGroarty, C Gavigan, E O’Neill, P McGonigle, T Carr, C Griffin, C Maskery, T Carr, A McHugh, C Gallagher McCahill, G Mosby, T Lenihan.

Replacements: F Gillespie for Maskery (HT), C Flannery for McHugh (33), O McMullin for McCrea (45).

Referee: Mr Paul Faloon (Down).

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

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by thesaffrongael

Disappointment for St. Ergnat’s but they can hold their heads high

All-Ireland LGFA SFC final:

Kilkerrin-Clonberne (Galway) 2-8 St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass (Antrim) 1-5

It was heartbreak in the end for St. Ergnat’s but the Moneyglass girls can hold their heads high after putting in a big effort at headquarters against reigning champions, Kikerrin-Clonberne but in the end they came up just short.

The Antrim champions looked well in the contest when they trailed by two points at the break in an opening half where they gave as good as they got, the two points separating them coming from a couple of questionable frees.

Chloe Miskell and Lynsey Noone grabbed goals in either half for the winners who stepped up their game in the third quarter to put considerable distance between the sides.

Leading by just two points at the midway stage in the contest, Willie Ward’s outfit turned on the style with an unanswered tally of 1-4 during the third quarter to ultimately see off their spirited Antrim counterparts.

Returning with 14 of the starting line-up from last year’s final win over Kilmacud Crokes, Kilkerrin-Clonberne initially found it difficult to break down a stern Moneyglass defence.

Olivia Divilly and Eva Noone eventually kicked a point apiece from frees in the ninth and 10th minutes, before ex-Antrim stalwart Cathy Carey split the posts in fine style at the opposite end of the pitch.

Team captain Louise Ward fired over an excellent point from play for the title holders, but it wasn’t until the closing 10 minutes of the opening period that the game truly sparked into life.

While Moneyglass reduced the gap to a single point through the boot of Leah Stewart, Kilkerrin-Clonberne immediately responded with a clinically-taken goal from Miskell following excellent approach work from Hannah Noone and Nicola Ward.

Screenshot

This looked like being a significant blow for St Ergnat’s, but they came roaring back into contention when Stewart – named in defence, but taking on a more advanced role in general – palmed to the net in the 24th minute after a Carey shot for a point came back of an upright.

The Antrim champions were matching their more illustrious opponents blow for blow with their defence giving little away while their approach play didn’t quite receive the rewards that it deserved.

Things were very much in the balance as half time approached but a second free from Olivia Divilly ensured Kilkerrin-Clonberne led 1-4 to 1-2 at the break.

Following a couple of early opportunities for the underdogs which broke down, the reigning champions refused to panic and they increased their advantage on the restart with back-to-back scores from midfielder Aisling Madden and Eva Noone.

Miskell also added to her earlier goal with a point from close-range as Kilkerrin-Clonberne produced a scintillating period of fast and highly efficient attacking football that had Moneyglass chasing shadows for a period.

St Ergnat’s came into this game on the back of an outstanding semi-final victory against Kilmacud Crokes, but they found themselves eight points in arrears when Niamh Divilly fed Lynsey Noone inside for a 44th-minute goal.

Another score courtesy of Eva Noone had Kilkerrin-Clonberne nine in front moving into the final quarter, but St. Ergnat’s battled to the end and a great point from Maria O’Neill gave them just a glimmer of hope.

Leah Stewart who had a great game for Moneyglass

The superb Leah Stewart and substitute Bronagh Devlin added two more to close the gap to six but that was as close as they would get as Kikerrin-Clonberne ran down the clock to deservedly collect their fifth title on the bounce.

Disappointment in the end for the Antrim champions but it has been an excellent season for the girls in blue where they finally conquered Ulster and overcame a fancied Kilmacud Crokes in the All Ireland semi-final.

A young side containing many outstanding performers they are sure to go again next season and they have shown this year that another trip to Croke is certainly not beyond them.

KILKERRIN-CLONBERNE: L Murphy; L Finnegan, S Gormally, K Mee; H Noone, N Ward, N Divilly; S Divilly, A Madden (0-1); O Divilly (0-2, 2f), L Ward (0-1), L Noone (1-0); E Noone (0-3, 1f), C Miskell (1-1), C Costello.

Subs: E Hynes for Finnegan (52 mins); A Shaughnessy for Miskell (57);C Boyle for L Noone (60).

ST ERGNAT’S, MONEYGLASS: A Devlin; C Graffin, N McIntosh, L Stewart (1-2); A Leahy, S O’Neill, R Bradley; A Kelly, EL McAreavey; C Griffin, M O’Neill (0-1), L McCann; N Neeson, C Carey (0-1), E Mallon.

Subs: A Griffin for Bradley (44 mins); B Devlin (0-1) for Kelly (45);A Boyd for Leahy, J Darragh for Mallon (both 57); R McErlain for McCann (60).

Referee: Ray McBride (Dublin).

by thesaffrongael

Brídíní Óga hold off St Dominic’s comeback to seal the second All Ireland title

AIB All Ireland Junior A Camogie final

Brídíní Óga  Glenravel 1-08 St Dominic’s Roscommon 1-05

Brídíní Óga Glenravel held off a determined fightback by Roscommon champions St Dominic’s to claim their second All Ireland Junior A title in three years at Ashbourne on Saturday afternoon. Playing with a strong wind at their backs in the first half the Antrim champions opened up a seven point gap by half time, but considering how strong the wind was that was by no means a safe lead. When the Connacht champions grabbed a goal six minutes into the second half to cut the gap to four there were a lot of anxious Glenravel fans wondering  if they could hold on, but their team did them proud as they hassled and harried their opponents to the very end to seal a memorable win.

To be honest it wasn’t pretty to watch for the neutral, but in these conditions it was never going to be. St Dominic’s looked a real threat in the early stages when they went 0-02 to 0-01 ahead, despite playing against the strong wind. However Brídíní Óga team captain Tori Edgar settled the nerves as she began to picks off points from frees. At 0-04 to 0-02 with just five minutes from half time it didn’t look like it would be enough but an attempt at another point from Edgar came back off the inside of the upright and bounced down on the edge of the ‘square’ where  Molly Woulahan reacted quickest to kick the sliothar to the net.

That score gave the Antrim girls a big boost and things got even better when Edgar added two more pointed frees to stretch her side’s lead to seven at the interval.

When St Dominic’s free taker Niamh Fitzgerald’s mishit shot free ended up in the back of the Glenravel net on 36 minutes it looked to be a pivotal moment in the game and with the gap down to four the smart money would have been on the Connacht champions, but two minutes later Edgar slotted over another free after Molly Woulahan was fouled and that eased the pressure a little.

The scores were hard to come by for the reaming 20 minutes of play but the intensity of the game never wavered as time after time the Glenravel girls got a hurl in to deny their opponents. Fitzgerald got the gap back to four midway through the second half and there was a heart stopping moment soon afterwards when Glenravel goalkeeper Orla Donnelly fumbled a high ball, but she recovered the situation brilliantly to clear the danger.

With time almost up Player of the match Edgar got her sixth pointed free of the game after a foul on Aimee Traynor and there was a degree of comfort for the Ulster champions as the game ticked into three minutes of injury time. Fitzgerald did close the gap to three again near the end of that extra time period but the whistle sounded on the poc-out to spark scenes of great celebration among the travelling Glenravel fans and players.

SCORERS FOR BRÍDÍNÍ ÓGA: T Edgar 0-6(6fs), M Woulahan 1-1, S Fyfe 0-1

SCORERS FOR ST DOMINIC’S: N Fitzgerald 1-3(fs); L Murray (f), K Egan 0-1 each

BRÍDÍNÍ ÓGA: O Donnelly, M Mulholland, J Woulahan, D Scally, E Coulter, B Laverty, E McCann, L Gillan, O Gould, S McDonnell, K Laverty, S Fyfe, A Traynor, T Edgar, M Woulahan

ST DOMINIC’S: E Cafferkey, SJ O’Connor, E McNally, M Rogers, H Murray, L Murray, A O’Connor, K Egan, C Dowling, N Watson, N Fitzgerald, L Mahon; A Campbell, Á O’Meara, C Kilcommons. Sub: M Lohan for O’Connor (39)

REFEREE: Simon Redmond (Dublin).

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