Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

All Saints at the double

Junior B Camogie Championship final

All Saints 3-7 St. Gall’s 2-4

All Saints produced a strong second half performance to overcome the spirited challenge of St. Gall’s in a keenly contested Junior B Camogie final in Rasharkin on Sunday afternoon.

The Ballymena girls went into this one as firm favourites, having already claimed the league title which included a comprehensive win over today’s opponents at Milltown.

The Falls Road side had other ideas however and produced a spirited performance that at one stage threatened an upset but two quick-fire goals from Johanna McKeown put the Ballymena side back in control.

A smart switch by the All Saints management saw them withdraw Sianeese Maybin from attack to a sweeping role and the talented Maybin produced a masterful class to turn everything that came her way.

Niamh McAllister sets up a St. Gall’s attack

Johnny Sayers’ side made an impressive start at Dreen and raced into a 1-1 to 0-0 lead after 9 minutes with Ciara Devine pointing and Anna O’Kane’s low shot deceiving St. Gall’s keeper, Sorcha De Bhail.

It took St. Gall’s a while to get up to the pace of the game but Niamh McAllister got them off the mark with an excellent point in the 11th minute before Sianeese Maybin replied with a similar effort at the other end after being set up by Keely O’Mullan.

The Milltown Row side were beginning to enjoy a bit of success and responded with a points from Gemma Rose Mullan and Caitriona Ni Broichain and a goal from Mullan to take the lead with four minutes remaining to the break.

St. Gall’s were now dictating matters and Maebh McCurdy moved them 2 in front before Ciara Devine replied with the final score of the half to leave the Belfast side one ahead at the break.

Sianeese Maybin fired over the equaliser within three minutes of the restart and Sorcha De Bhail pulled off a smart save to deny the Ballymena number 11 as All Saints pressed.

They were rocked back on their heels however as Niamh McAllister struck St Galls second goal after the All Saints defence failed to clear the danger and an upset look on the cards.

Slowly though the Slemish Park side began to reassert control and two goals from Johanna McKeown in the 14th and 15th minutes gave them back a lead they would not relinquish.

All Saints, Sianeese Maybin sweeps up the danger

With Sianeese Maybin now operating very effectively as sweeper controlling matters going down the home straight, McKeown was afforded the luxury of pointing a penalty and adding another from play before Keely O’Mullan concluded the scoring with a late point for the Ballymena side.

All Saints were joined in their celebrations at the full-time whistle by the good crowd who had travelled to Dreen to cheer on their heroes with County Chair, Emma Kelly presenting the Cup to captain, Roisin Ward.

Johanna McKeown, who has been a constant scoring threat throughout the league and championship campaign, received the top scorer award from Emma Kelly while referee’s representative, Ryan O’Reilly presented the player of the match award to Cliodhna Metrustry, one of several players who were in contention for the award.

County Chair, Una Kelly presents the Junior B Championship cup to All saints captain, Roisin Ward

TO VIEW MORE OF PADDY’S PICS FROM THE FINALCLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Sarsfield’s make history with first Junior Camogie Championship win

Saturday’s Junior championship was a game of two halves. It might be a cliche but you could’ve been excused for thinking you were watching two different games. The first half seen Sarsfield’s take the chilly wind on their backs on the lower pitch in St. Enda’s and pinned Loughgiel into their own half for much of the game. The Paddies raised a green flag late in the second half from their All Ireland Minor champion, Aimee Ferris with eight points added, but it could’ve been more as the charge for the win got the better of some of the forwards and a number of wides will be a point to reflect on ahead of today’s Ulster quarter final game against Drum.

The Shamrocks were solid though in defence and much of what Sarsfield’s attempted at close quarters was turned around and limited the Paddies to taking their scores over the bar. Loughgiel found pressing into Sarsfield’s half a challenge into the wind, and at the short whistle only managed to amass one point from Eimear McKinley to Sarsfield’s 1-08.

The second half was where Loughgiel came alive and for the first fifteen minutes wrestled the game back with a goal and five points, the goal coming from an Eimear McKinley free from the Shamrock’s dugout and dropped in over the Sarsfield’s keeper’s head inside 12 minutes from the restart. Now with only four points separating the sides, the Shamrocks made that two goals from an Anna Killen strike, just a few minutes later. Sarsfield’s knew Loughgiel were making a big move up the scoreboard and it took Ferris to raise Sarsfield’s hopes again as she struck home for another goal and soon that was three as right full forward Honor Rafferty found a gift of a pass from Carla McKenna and struck the sliotar into the heart of Loughgiel’s net with twenty three minutes gone on the clock in the second half.

Loughgiel’s Clodagh McNulty leads the charge for Loughgiel in their purple patch in the second half.

The Shamrock’s weren’t finished though, a clever strike by Alana McKendry into the back of Sarsfield’s net had the Shamrock’s buoyant but a six point gap with six minutes of ordinary time was a tall ask and when the Paddies struck back with a Ferris hat trick, with three minutes added on, it was a relief for the Sarsfield’s supporters and players to hear referee, Ryan O’Reilly’s whistle go, earning the Paddies a place in history, taking their first major trophy in just six years after forming. Those six years have been measured out by hard work, determination and a dream to play camogie with the best. Winning the Development Championship, Development Cup, then the Antrim league in their division and now with a Junior title moves Sarsfield’s up into the Antrim Intermediate ranks but for now though, they have an Ulster QF to play and then maybe some celebrations later tonight.

Sarsfield’s Aimee Ferris had a magnificent run in the Junior championship, hat tricking in the final and picking up the top scorer award.

Sarsfield’s Laura McKernan was awarded Player of the Match and Aimee Ferris topped the ‘Top Scorers’ in the Junior championship.

You can see photos from Saturday’s Junior final here by following the link…

https://myalbum.com/album/fWu6maHdZ3mEzz/?invite=2727d1e4-81a9-4f5b-86b0-0fcca21312f4

Loughgiel Scorers

Alana McKendry 1-00, Anna McKillen 1-00, Eimear McKinley 1-06 (4f and a goal from a free)

Sarsfield’s Scorers

Carla McKenna 0-01, Laura McKernan 0-06 (2f, 1×45), Aimee Ferris 3-02, Michaela Mullen 0-02 (f), Honour Rafferty 1-00

by thesaffrongael

Brídíní Óga book their place in the Ulster final

Armagh City Hotel Ulster Junior semi-finals: Saturday 25th October at 1pm

Brídíní Óga (Antrim) 1-19 Ballyholland (Down) 1-5

Brídíní Óga opened this Armagh City Hotel Ulster Junior semi-final in Glenravel against Ballyholland with points each from Kirsty Laverty, Sarah Fyfe and Torie Edgar inside four minutes and it was clear even at this early stage that the Down champions would struggle to stay in touch with the home side.

A point from Niamh Burns however seemed to slow them up and it was a further ten minutes before Molly Woulahan eventually found the net after Torie Edgar’s effort came off the post and Aimee Traynor’s follow up went across the goals.

Although Sarah Fyfe’s second score of the afternoon opened a gap of six points, the Newry side hit the next three points, two for Emma McIvor-Murtagh and one from veteran Karen Maginn.

However the winners then stepped up a gear with five of the next six points to leave it 1-9 to 0-5 at the short whistle. Edgar started the run and Sarah Fyfe and Kirsty Laverty added a point each with two Edgar frees finishing the first half scoring.

As in the first half, Brídíní Óga were quick out of the blocks with three points inside three minutes, one from each of the three full-forwards. Then there was a break before Shauna McDonnell fired over when a goal was a possibility.

When Edgar landed a 45 midway through the half, Glenravel led by 1-14 to 0-5. Karen Maginn then turned and fired low to the net, but it proved to be her side’s only score of the final 30 minutes.

The home team hit five points over the final 12 minutes, three of them from Edgar frees and one each from Erin Coulter and Kirsty Laverty while Danielle McCourt pulled off a couple of excellent stops from Edgar and substitute Niamh McKay.

In the other semi-final Cavan champions Lacken stifled favourites Dungiven to take the game to extra time, but, as they had done a week earlier in the Derry final, Dungiven hit the net to pull away and win comfortably with 12 points to spare.

The final will be in a fortnight at a neutral venue

Brídíní Óga: Orla Donnelly, Maeve Mulholland, Jaime Woulahan, Danielle Scally, Emer McCann, Brónagh Laverty, Erin Coulter 0-1, Leona Gillan, Orlaith Gould, Sarah Fyfe 0-3, Kirsty Laverty 0-3, Shauna McDonnell 0-1, Aimee Traynor 0-1, Torie Edgar 0-9, 6 frees, Molly Woulahan 1-1.

Subs: Eimhear McAleenan for S Fyfe (36), Niamh McKay for M Woulahan (44), Emily Sharpe for E McCann (49), Úna McAleenan for M Mulholland (53), Caoimhe Duffin for A Traynor (56).

Ballyholland: Ballyholland: Danielle McCourt, Brenna McAloon, Aimee O’Hanlon, Áine McParlan, Eve Mullen, Sarah Gorman, Sinéad Quinn, Méabh O’Hare, Aoibheann Quinn, Aoife Murtagh, Katie O’Brien, Niamh Burns 0-1, Darcy Rushe, Karen Maginn 1-2, 0-2 frees, Emma McIvor-Murtagh 0-2.

Subs: E Casey for McIvor-Murtagh (39), S Murphy-Rea for A Quinn (45)

Referee: Chris Hickson (Ballinascreen)

Pics by Sean Paul McKillop

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

https://myalbum.com/album/TJxYmmTb7c39qL/?invite=a40aa91c-1e17-4ade-821c-d0dedfbb5d81

by thesaffrongael

Hurling/camogie Participation Day

On Tuesday we welcomed 8 local schools to participate in a Cumann Na mBunscol mixed hurling and camogie event in Dunloy Academy.

Over 140 boys and girls enjoyed plenty of games over the course of the day, with plenty of skill on show. 

One of the pupils was keen to have a go at refereeing and did a super job! 

A great day for all involved. 

Many thanks to:

Mary Queen of Peace, Glenravel

St Oliver Plunketts, Toome

Creggan Primary 

Moneynick Primary 

St Mary’s Primary, Portglenone 

St Brigid’s Primary, Ballymena

St Joseph’s Primary, Dunloy

St Patrick’s Primary, Rasharkin

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE DAY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/4Q4Q5weETCsqo6

by thesaffrongael

From Croke Park to Glencairn

Above – Antrim’s All Ireland winning team from 1967, Lily Scullion is in the middle of the back row

BACK during Covid the Irish News told the story of a lady who grew up on a farm in Ahoghill and now is effectively the CEO of a large miscanthus, green energy farming initiative in County Waterford.

No huge story there, you might say, except that she is now a nun in her 80s and very much active on the farm!

Along the way Sr Lily Scullion played in four All-Ireland senior camogie finals 1964-73 with her goal-scoring exploits the stand-out headline from 1967 when Antrim collected their fifth O’Duffy Cup and Ulster won the Gael Linn inter-provincial title for the first time. It would take another four decades before they would add a second title.

Lily is also the only player to have won Ulster club camogie titles with two different clubs – her native Ahoghill in 1969 and then with St Bridget’s Newry six years later.

Career-wise Lily was a farmer after she left school, before entering Gallaher’s factory in Ballymena and then moving on to youth work in both Newry and Ballymurphy in the late 1970s.

Her mother had died after a brief illness when Lily was still in her teens and this had led to “rebellion and anger against God”. While working in Newry “I was led by an inner spirit to the Cathedral… It was here, like St Paul, that my conversion took place.”

When she told her friends in 1980 that she was going to become a nun, they were astonished. Then she announced that she was joining an enclosed order. As a notorious prankster on camogie trips and someone with a huge zest for life and company, they thought that it was another of her elaborate hoaxes.

However 45 years ago this month she entered St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn in Waterford and has been there since.

For the last couple of decades she has been managing the order’s 250 acre farm and has moved the focus from dairy to dry stock and now miscanthus, an energy crop that she began growing 2010.

A few years ago Sr Lily was persuaded to put her remarkable life story to print. The result “From Croke Park to Glencairn” was launched in Waterford a couple of weeks ago and the Antrim launch will take place on Wednesday 29th October in the Acorn centre on the Crosskeys Road in Ahoghill.

It’s a remarkable read following a remarkable lady through her remarkable life.

Her childhood memories are told in the voice of an innocent child finding out about the world around her, growing up as a Catholic in a predominantly unionist area and wondering why her neighbours change their behaviour around July, why all children don’t go to the same school or church.

Her camogie memories are all covered in the form of anecdotes, the friendships she made through sport, the “devilment” she got up to.

The reader is also taken on her inner journey with its twists and turns, from her rejection of God to his total embrace.

In her forward to the book, Sr Ekaete Ekop of the Medical Missionaries of Mary sums up the work:

“Her narrative is brutally honest …. This woman, whose vocation in life is nurtured by her love for nature and farming has lived a life that is at once inspirational and grounded in the mystery of dailiness. In her chronicles, you will find a piece of yourself.”