November 1, 2026November 3, 2026 by thesaffrongael

Crosserlough prove too strong for Loughgiel

Ulster Junior A Championship

Loughgiel 0-08 v Crosserlough 2-12

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Barrett Park pitch 2

A clash with the Ulster dancing championship, injuries and an unfortunate red card took a toll in Loughgiel’s challenge against a strong Crosserlough side that backed up their determination to make the three hour journey by cars into the Saffron county count. A low scoring first half where Loughgiel could only tally four points to Crosserlough’s nine, left everything on the table for a possible turnaround with a decent breeze on the Shamrocks’ backs. But we’ve seen it time and time again at this time of the year, where the wind drops as the afternoon burns it’s wick to the bottom, leaving Loughgiel with little to no advantage after the third quarter in Saturday’s game.

**Anna Smyth stepped up to the mark until an unfortunate card ended her game in the second half**

Loughgiel were the first to open up their scoring account with a free from Rose McMullan, a token score for her foul after Anna McKillop dropped in a dangerous ball, but Crosserlough were quick to reply with a point from play by the omnipresent, Cara Reilly, that would add a further 1-07 to her name across the afternoon.

McMullan added another point from play from a very industrious young Anna Smyth, who was showing everything she had learned in her spell training with the senior squad, but Crosserlough’s Reilly was on form and another four points on the trot would pass before Loughgiel’s Carla Sullivan would point. Eimear McCarthy topped that with a great pointed effort, set up by McMullan, though Crosserlough would take the game up to the break with three points in a row from Hannah Boylan, Ciara Finnegan and Reilly.

**Loughgiel’s Sarah Lavin gives it out in equal measures in Saturday’s physical semi final game**

Loughgiel’s Therese Hill could have caused an upset going into the break, when off she ran on an unchallenged blistering solo that eventually spilled wide for a forty five. McMullan drifted that wide of the right upright into the challenging breeze. Match referee, Kieran Rice, glanced at his watch and blew for half time, scores standing Loughgiel 0-04 Crosserlough 0-09.

Hopes ran high at the restart, maybe fortunes would turn with the wind for the Shamrocks, but Crosserlough continued to be a physical handful, working the ball forward off the shoulder into what seemed like open play at times. That would eventually end productfull for Crosserlough, as two goals ripped into the heart of Loughgiel’s net from substitute Niamh Reilly and Cara Reilly.

**Crosserlough’s Orla Flynn was instrumental in creating so many assists and rewarded with two white flag**s

Despite several opportunities to drop in a ball short of Crosserlough’s small box, Loughgiel couldn’t buy any luck as one drifted wide, went over the bar and another recycled out as the injury time ebbed away. Anna McKillop would finish Loughgiel’s season with a fine point fed in from Therese Hill, just before Rice blew for full time, scores at Loughgiel 0-08 Crosserlough 2-12.

Crosserlough now face Ballinderry in the final, after cruising past Mayobridge in the other semi final played in Mayobridge.

**You can see more photos from today’s semi final by following the link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/zeCr8NKa5U54eb/?invite=80e351f7-690c-4170-b31f-5d6f70a21bb2

Loughgiel starting panel and scorers

Shauna McKillop, Caoimhe McGarry, Úna McGovern, Brianna McCloskey, Sarah Flavin, Shauna Doran, Zoe Cassley, Louise McKillop 0-01, Anna Smyth, Rose McMullan 0-04 (3f), Ciara Connelly, Therese Hill, Anna McKillop 0-01, Eimear McKinley 0-01, Carlina Sullivan 0-01.

Crosserlough starting panel and scorers

Joanne Dowling, Ciara Shalvey, Katelyn McGonnell, Aibhe McEnerney, Molly Smith, Ciara Finnegan 0-01, Aine Finnegan, Aine Smith, Teresa Ryan, Orla Flynn 0-02, Shauna Lynch, Ciara Boylan, Hannah Boylan 0-01, Cara Reilly 1-08 (3f), Fionna Finnegan

Niamh Reilly 1-00

October 29, 2026October 29, 2026 by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel host Crosserlough in the Ulster Camogie Junior A Championship

Ulster Camogie Junior A championship semi final Loughgiel v Crosserlough

Preview and photos from Michael Corcoran

After last Saturday’s game against Edendork, the Shamrock’s will feel this Saturday’s game is a deserved encounter. Although Edendork displayed they were capable of launching threats on the turn of a sixpence from the likes of Lara Devlin, Loughgiel remained largely in control to hold out for the winning whistle and proved their ability to play camogie under difficult conditions.

Crosserlough have three Junior titles in their name, coming in 2012, 2017 and 2018 ^[1]. Here’s a clip from the Ulster Camogie archive from the 2018 final. https://www.facebook.com/reel/568139106950931 and an archive article from the Saffron Gael on the game. Crosserlough beat Lacken this year in the Mannok Cavan Camogie Senior Championship. Principle players such as Cara Reilly (POTM in the Cavan final) and Orla Flynn are likely to be involved in any Crosserlough scoring action, whilst Joanne Dowling will be looking to keep the green flags to a minimum.

Loughgiel lose it in the final minutes

Interestingly, it was Loughgiel that ended Crosserlough’s run for three in a row in 2019, that quarter final game ending Crosserlough 2-07 Loughgiel 3-06. Ballymacnab from Armagh, lifted the silver that year.

Shamrocks beat the Cavan champions to seal a spot in semi-final

The intermediate (Ulster Junior) ranks are arguably more dynamic in terms of player churn; some moving up and some moving on. It makes Junior all the more unpredictable and all the more an achievement to grade up to Ulster Intermediate, like Brídíní Óga and Granemore (pronounced ‘Grain’-more).

**Loughgiel’s captain, Sarah Flavin, will look to run out a winner on Saturday**

Saturday’s match will test the Shamrock’s defence unit, with a mix of younger camogs in the full back line like Caoimhe McGarry (see the feature photo) and Brianna McCloskey, augmented with experience from Úna McGovern and Shauna Doran likely sitting in the half back line. Louise McKillop will no doubt figure around mid field with a reliable camán to feed the likes of Rose McMullan and Ceala Dobbin. Dobbin will prefer firmer footings than last week in order to use her natural speed around the pitch. Anna McKillop, Carla Sullivan, Therese Hill and Eimear McKinley will look to get in on the scoring action, with the keen eye of Shauna McKillop patrolling the goal line at the opposite end. Who will be your player of the match? Saturday’s 1pm game in Loughgiel is shaping up to be one you won’t want to miss.

The other Junior A semi final between Mayobridge (Down) and Ballyinderry (Derry) is also at 1pm in Mayobridge. Saturday’s weather will be an improvement from last week, but a spell of rain will never be too far away.

^[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Senior_Club_Camogie_Championship

October 26, 2026October 26, 2026 by thesaffrongael

St. Joseph’s GAC Celebrates Young Talent at Juvenile Awards Night

St. Joseph’s GAC brought together its Under-8, Under-10 and Under-12 boys and girls, along with their parents, families and coaches, at the Ballymac Hotel for a special evening celebrating the progress made in football and camogie throughout 2026.

The event provided a wonderful opportunity to recognise the enthusiasm, commitment and development of the club’s young players over the past year. Their dedication to the games is a source of great pride for St. Joseph’s GAC, their families and the wider parish, and each young player is a credit to the club and the community.

The club also took the opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to all coaches and club officers who generously give their time and energy to support the development of Gaelic games and ensure that young people in the community have the opportunity to participate and thrive.

A special word of thanks was extended to the Ballymac Hotel and its staff for their warm hospitality and for helping to make the evening such a success.

The club also would like to acknowledge Davy McBride for generously giving his time to entertain those in attendance, and Bert Trowlan for documenting events such as this and preserving the history of St. Joseph’s GAC for future generations.

Neil Fox acted as compere for the evening, keeping proceedings moving smoothly throughout the celebrations. While his organisational skills were appreciated, the club suggested that a career in stand-up comedy might not be his next calling!

Juvenile Awards

The evening celebrated the achievements of the club’s young footballers and camogs, with awards recognising individual performances, progress and the esteem in which players are held by their teammates.

Under-12 Boys

Player of the Year – Alfie Laing
Players’ Player of the Year – Joseph Walls
Most Improved Player – Liam McCumiskey

Under-12 Girls

Players of the Year – Cora Kavanagh
Players’ Player of the Year – Alice Clenaghan
Most Improved Player – Lily Conor

to see more of Bert’s pics from this event click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/9QsJbTN6bZ9dPa/?invite=2bba86c8-2e34-40af-89f2-5030672fcb56

October 24, 2026October 27, 2026 by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel buoyant after their Ulster Junior A win over Edendork

Ulster Junior A championship preliminary round

Edendork 0-07 Loughgiel 1-08

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Edendork GAA Grounds

Sandwiched between two storms, Austen and Boelo, Edendork grounds were on the verge of turning into a lake for a game of aqua camogie, but thankfully despite the inclement deluge, we had enough ground to muster a game. An important game too, as the next round is the semi final against Crosserlough on Saturday, leaving little room at this time of the year for refixtures.

Match referee, Sean Curran from Derry, rolled in sharply at the hour and it was Edendork who showed a clean pair of heels as they took the game to Loughgiel for the first score from a 45 from Edendork’s Catherine Moohan. Conditions proved difficult for both sides as the sliotar defied a clean lift and refused to travel far into the veil of rain and wind. Both sides took to the ground for a physical game and after 24 minutes, Loughgiel drew alongside Edendork at three points apiece. The Shamrocks would edge ahead for a spell with a crucial point from Eimear McKinley before Edendork’s Bronagh Moohan made it four each and would prove a vital cog in Edendork’s machinery.

**Inclement conditions applied in equal measures kept scoring low in today’s Ulster Junior A prelim round**

With five minutes left on the clock, Loughgiel’s Anna Mckillop would float a point well over the bar into the catch net to edge again ahead of a lively Edendork side, but at the other end, Shauna Doran showed all of her experience by slipping back behind keeper Shauna McKillop to save a direct shot on goal that could have set Edendork on a scoring run. Loughgiel were now showing signs of some game control in the latter ten minutes of the first half and a timely stage of the game for Edendork to hear the short whistle, with Edendork 0-04 Loughgiel 0-05 leaving both sides with everything to play for after the break and Edendork arguably facing a small disadvantage into a corner wind.

It took a full fifteen minutes after the restart for a score to be registered on the clubhouse scoreboard. Loughgiel’s Rose McMullan would capitalise on a foul of Carlina Sullivan as she went on a run at goal outside the large box. McMullan’s point found the catch net but that wouldn’t be enough as the cumulation of fouls, twelve in total in as many minutes, meant Edendork’s Bronagh Moohan would convert two of those and a fine solo run and a flick over the bar from team mate, Lara Devlin, had Edendork one point in the lead and hopes raised around the park of a possible swing in fortunes.

**Edendork’s Lara Devlin takes the high road as Loughgiel’s Sarah Flavin takes the low road in today’s Junior game**

That feeling would prove short lived, as Loughgiel’s Rose McMullan ventured full forward and found the sliotar coming in at her for the catch, turning and a short solo brought the young camog into the green firing zone. With one swipe the Shamrocks had a goal up on the scoreboard. Despite a late rally from Edendork, Loughgiel’s Louise McKillop made it 1-07 and a forty five from McMullan closed out the game at Edendork 0-07 Loughgiel 1-08.

A difficult set of circumstances for both sides but on show was desire, determination and grit to grind out the game and a win for Loughgiel.

You can see more photos from today’s game by clicking on the following link…

https://myalbum.com/album/CqTBsCpq8Cvuye/?invite=45f79e02-dc06-403a-a1a4-3a4009b19058

Edendork starting panel and scorers

Eloise Doherty, Meghan Doherty, Clara Doherty, Carragh Cullen, Sinead McGeary, Bronagh Moohan 0-02 (2f), Emily Boyle, Rona Mallon, Nicole Donaghy, Ellen Gillen, Eva Corr, Lara Devlin 0-04, Eva Cullen, Sophia Hagan, Catherine Moohan 0-01 (45)

Loughgiel starting panel and scorers

Shauna McKillop, Caoimhe McGarry, Úna McGovern, Brianna McCloskey, Sarah Flavin, Shauna Doran, Zoe Cassley, Louise McKillop 0-01, Anna Smyth, Rose McMullan 1-03 (45, 1f), Ceala Dobbin, Therese McKinley, Anna McKillop 0-02, Eimear McKinley 0-02, Carlina Sullivan

October 20, 2026October 30, 2026 by thesaffrongael

Creagh announced as Main Partner for a Night with St Louis – Overcoming Adversity

St Louis Grammar School is delighted to announce Creagh as the main partner and sponsor of its forthcoming fundraising event, ‘A Night with St Louis- Overcoming Adversity’.

Taking place at Tullyglass House Hotel on Friday 30 October, the event will bring together parents, past pupils, business leaders, members of the local community and sporting networks for an evening focused on resilience, determination and overcoming challenges in sport, business and life.

St Louis is particularly grateful to Creagh for its support as our main partner, which will help the school deliver an event designed not only to raise vital funds for pupils but also to celebrate the values of perseverance, ambition and community that are central to the St Louis ethos.

The evening will feature a series of conversations with individuals who have faced significant challenges and adversity in their own lives and careers, including Caoimhe Conlon, Niall Grimley, Richie Power, Aimee Mackin and Paddy McBride, with sports psychologist Dr Noel Brick providing insight into the psychology of overcoming setbacks. The evening will be hosted by Shane Elliott.

The event will raise funds to support new resources and opportunities for St Louis pupils, including the continued development of the school’s sporting facilities. A particular focus is the development of the school’s GAA facilities, including the ambition to transform the existing GAA ball wall into a year-round, 3G facility.

Principal Jacqui O’Neill said:

“We are incredibly grateful to Creagh for becoming the main partner of ‘A Night With St Louis – Overcoming Adversity’. Their support is a wonderful example of a local business working in partnership with our school and developing the opportunities available to our students.

“The theme of overcoming adversity is particularly appropriate because resilience is something we want every St Louis pupil to develop. The evening will provide an opportunity to hear from people who have experienced setbacks in very different circumstances and have found the determination to move forward.

“Creagh’s support will also make a tangible difference to our pupils by helping us provide new resources and develop our facilities. We are hugely appreciative of their commitment to St Louis and to the wider Ballymena community.”

James McKeague, Managing Director of Creagh, said:

“We are delighted to support St Louis Grammar School as the main partner of ‘A Night With St Louis – Overcoming Adversity’. The theme of the evening really resonates with us as a business. Throughout our own journey, we have seen first-hand the importance of resilience, determination and having the confidence to overcome challenges and keep moving forward.

“As a local business, we recognise the importance of supporting the communities in which we operate and, particularly, of investing in the next generation. Schools play such an important role in giving young people the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

“We are pleased that our support will contribute to the fundraising efforts at St Louis and help provide pupils with additional resources and opportunities. We look forward to being part of what promises to be a very enjoyable and meaningful evening.”

The partnership also reflects the wider opportunities created when schools and local businesses work together. Sponsorship of the event provides Creagh with a high-profile connection to the St Louis community while supporting a fundraising initiative directly focused on pupils and their future.

The school is also grateful to all of the businesses, parents, past pupils and supporters who have already backed the event and helped build on the success of previous St Louis fundraising initiatives.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for ‘A Night with St Louis – Overcoming Adversity’ are available through St Louis Grammar School. A range of sponsorship opportunities remain available for businesses wishing to support the event and contribute to providing new resources and opportunities for pupils.