This year’s Ruairi Og Cul Camp was a big success once again as all those involved enjoyed the sunshine and the fun. There was a special visitor on Tuesday when Dáithí Mac Gabhann of Donate4Daithi fame called in to join in the fun. The whole camp was a sea of pink as the Ruairi Og club once again showed their tremendous support for the Donate4Daithi cause. Daithi was accompanied by his mum and dad and his little baby brother.
Overall another great event at the Ruairi Og Club. Sean Paul McKillop called in for the Saffron Gael to capture the action.
Last weekend saw Rover Og Camp take place at Glen Rovers Armoy with 100 children taking part over the two days.
Rover Og Camp is the clubs annual weekend of fun, sports and activities for friends and families of the club to enjoy together under the guidance of a group of club coaches ensuring that things ran smoothly.
The highlight was the final event, Rover Og Olympics where children were cheered on by their family and friends creating a great atmosphere
A storming second half which saw Antrim come from five points down at the break to win by twelve against Derry in Magherafelt, saw the young Saffrons book an All Ireland semi-final place against Offaly. Derry were well on top during the first half, and were good value for their 1-9 to 1-5 half time lead, but the Oak Leaf girls were hit for six in the second half as Janey McIntosh hit a hat-trick, Orlaith McAlister got two (to complete her hat-trick) and Eobha McAlister one to turn the game on its head.
A McIntosh point and an Orlaith McAlister goal got Antirm off to a good start, but five points from the brilliant Carla Collins and one from Orla McCartney brought Derry level by the end of the opening quarter. Antrim ended a 12 minute scoreless spell with and Orlaith McAlister point from a free, but Derry were getting on top and two points apiece from Collins and McCartney put them ahead. The home side appeared to have taken a grip on the game when with a goal from Leagh Cassidy on 22 minutes to stretch the lead to six, but Orlaith McAlister pulled one back for Antrim just five minutes before half time to leave just five between them at the break.
A Janey McIntosh goal two minutes into the second half left cut the gap to two, but Carla Collins came back with a point for Derry to push them three clear. Orlaith McAlister brought Antrim back level six minutes later, and though Collins briefly restored Derry’s lead, the tide was turning in Antrim’s favour, and when McIntosh got her second goal it gave the Saffrons a lead they would not lose.
The dynamic duo of McAlister and McIntosh added points, but Collins was keeping her team very much in touch until two quick goals from Orlaith and Eobha McAllister six minutes from time, all but sealed the win. Further points came from Dervla McAulfield and Kirsty McAuley before McInosh competed her hat trick to seal a excellent win against a very good Derry side.
The girls now go forward to a semi-final meeting with Offaly
St. Mary’s Ahoghill and the wider GAA community in Antrim are saddened to learn of the death of one of their former players, Mary Martin (nee Keenan) who died on Saturday. Mary captained the Ahoghill club to win a County Senior Championship in 1948, and also captained Antrim to All Ireland success in 1947.
Mary’s remains were removed from St. Mary’s Parish Church, Ahoghill following Requiem Mass for Internment in St. MacNissis Cemetry, Randalstown today (Wednesday).
Mary was one five Ahoghill players who won All Ireland medals during strong spells in Antrim Camogie in the 1940s, late 60s and 1979. This is a photo of the five who were honoured five years ago by the club on the 75th anniversary of their formation
Mary Martin (top left) with the other four players from the Ahoghill club who won All Ireland medals with Antrim Mary Martin (left) with Kathleen McGaughey (centre) and Mark Butler at a special dinner held by the Ahoghill club in 2017 to mark the club’s 75th anniversary.
The staff at the Saffron Gael offer their sincere sympathy to her wide family circle and to her friends at St. Mary’s Ahoghill where she was held in such high esteem.
This is a link to an article that Saffron Gael publishe about the St Mary’s Ahoghill Camogie club in 2017
After losing out narrowly to Armagh last weekend in Dunloy, Antrim Junior Camogs bounced back on Saturday to score a convincing win over Limerick at Corrigan Park to secure a place in the All Ireland junior Semi-final against Clare in two weeks’ time.
Forced into changes because of some absentees, Antrim played their best Camogie of the season and with Megan McGarry starring in her new role at centre back and Tara O’Neill and Fionnuala Kelly excelling at midfield the Antrim forwards got plenty of supply of ball and Caoimhe McNaughton and her Ruair Og partner Dervla Cosgove made good use of it as they hit three apiece in the opening half.
Leading by 0-10 to 0-4 at half time Caoimhe McNaughton hit two and Fionnuala Kelly one early in the new half to stretch the Saffron’s lead eight. Limerick got their only point of the second half soon afterwards as a dominant Antrim pushed on with further scores from Bríd Magill, Abi McNeill, Dervla Cosgrove and the excellent Orlagh Laverty to wrap up a convincing win and set up a semi-final meeting with Clare.
Antrim: Á Graham, E McShane, E Kearns, Brónach Magill, C Crawford, M McGarry, M McLarnon capt., T O’Neill 0-1, F Kelly 0-2, C McNaughton 0-5, Bríd Magill 0-2, O Laverty 0-5, A McNeill 0-1, E Leech, D Cosgrove 0-4 (1f).
Subs: N Devlin for E Leech (35), C Hegarty for C Crawford (41), L McConville for M McLarnon (49), E Trainor for C McNaughton (52).
Limerick: D Mullins, E English, Á Keaveney, K O’Connor, S Shanahan, I Lyons, S Cahill, Á Ní Thiarnaigh, V Shanahan, C Hall 0-2, A Corbett 0-1, S Cosgrove, A Ryan 0-1 (f), L Butler 0-1, E Whelan.
