April 12, 2024April 12, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Great day of fun…and Camogie, at the Lucia Quinney Mee tournament in Ballycastle

There was lots of excitement about Pairc McQuillan on Thursday morning as teams from all over Antrim and Derry gathered to battle it out for the annual Lucia Quinney Mee Cup and Live Loudly, Donate Proudly shield. This was the third Camogie blitz graciously hosted by Lucia’s home school, Cross, and Passion College, named to honour a young lady who will always hold a special place in the hearts of everyone at CPC.

The school organised an annual event for year 8 girls to remember Lucia’s passion for promoting organ donation discussions and was successfully ran by the CTEC Sport pupils in upper 6th at CPC, alongside teacher, Mrs Catherine Black.

Schools participating were CPC, St Killian’s, St Louis Ballymena, St Patricks Maghera, Loreto Coleraine, St Conor’s Kilrea, St Pius and St Marys Magherafelt. It was a celebration of friendship, friendly competition, memorable moments, and pure happiness watching the girls take to the pitches with their teammates, and gave each other, their teachers and coaches, and various spectators a great day’s excitement and entertainment.

Tournament hosts CPC were narrowly beat in an exciting semi-final against St Pats, Maghera, whilst the other semi-finalists St Marys Magherafelt had a close encounter with neighbouring school, St Pius but came out on top to go head-to-head with St Pats in the Cup final. In the shield competition, St Killian’s Garron Tower faced Loreto Coleraine & the other semi-final featured St Conors playing St Louis. After tough fought semi-finals, St Killian’s faced St Louis, with St Killian’s coming out victorious to win the shield competition. All eyes were then onto the cup final when St Marys & St Pats battled it out. St Marys walked away as the Lucia Quinney-Mee Cup champions for the 1st time.

After the presentation of awards to the finalists, and a deserving round of applause for all the teams, winners, and runners-up, it was fitting to end the day with the important message about organ donation, with thanks to Lucia’s Mother, Father and sister Alice speaking on behalf of Live Loudly, Donate Proudly, to encourage us all to have informed conversations about organ donation. Special thanks also to Caitlin McBride and …………. for speaking on behalf of ………. to encourage young girls to have the important conversations about organ donation. All in all, a wonderful day honouring a wonderful girl.

April 10, 2024April 10, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Gort na Móna kicks off 50th birthday celebration

West Belfast GAA club Gort na Móna has made a start to its fiftieth anniversary year with the unveiling of a new jersey that will be worn by all teams during the season.

Club chairperson Barry Fegan said, “This is a special year for Gort na Móna and we’ll be marking it with a number of events throughout 2024. One of the highlights will be a gala dinner in Belfast City Hall in June.

“As well as celebrating the past, looking to the future will be an important part of the year. We’re putting a development strategy in place and want to ensure that we continue to play the positive role in the community that we have since our founding in 1974.”

April 10, 2024April 10, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle fight back in second half but Loughgiel had the damage done

Antrim Camogie League Division 1

Loughgiel 3-11 Ballycastle 2-9

Pics by Michael Corcoran

The opening of the Division 1 Senior Camogie League in Fr Healy Park began with great efforts being made by both teams, but it would quickly turn to the advantage of the home side, with a puck over the bar by Caitrin Dobbin. Ballycastle had made great strides to prevent the Red and White onslaught with fast movements from Nuala Devlin, who was successful in delivering the first goal for Ballycastle after multiple attempts by her comrades each time that the ball dropped short. However, Loughgiel’s determination flourished with two goals by Shanna Deery. Both teams had shown tenacity in their defences, with Kathryn Donnelly presenting a fierce challenge to anyone who approached. Loughgiel’s Clare McKillop had presented a phenomenal challenge to the Ballycastle forwards with the help of Maria Lynn and Katie Lynn. A third goal by Annie Lynn cemented Loughgiel’s position. A final point by Christine Laverty with the help of Annie Lynn helped curtail Ballycastle’s impending counterstrike before the half time whistle.

Half Time – Loughgiel 3-8 Ballycastle 1-3

Ballycastle would return to the field with a newly inspired aggression to force a change in the tide with multiple points by Fionnuala Kelly and Janey McIntosh, who also secured a second goal for “The Town.” With the change of the wind, Amy Boyle and Clare McKillop highlighted that the fight would continue for Loughgiel, but Elen McIntosh stood out as she attempted to push forward despite her opposition. A succession of points scored from frees had narrowed the gap between the two teams, and Kathryn Donnelly made it increasingly difficult for Loughgiel to widen the gap that was closing. Ultimately, two final scores by Shanna Deery and Annie Lynn ensured that the Shamrocks would win with a five point lead.

April 9, 2024April 9, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Brídíní Óga get the better of Tír na nÓg at Whitehill

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Tuesday 9^th April

Tír na nÓg 1-8 Brídíní Óga Glenravel 4-14

ALTHOUGH Brídíní Óga Glenravel were deserving winners of this opening Division 1 camogie league fixture in Whitehill, two very late goals gave the score-board a rather flattering look.

The home side, playing with the aid of the breeze in the first half, was the better team and deserved to jump into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Defender Carla O’Neill showed the way with a fine individual point and that was followed by three points from Emily Falloon, one of them a free, while Eimhear McAleenan pointed a free from one of Brídíní Óga’s rare attacks. A shot from out the field then came off an upright and Rachel Bonnes reacted first to find the net.

However the visitors responded well with a point from Ashling Millar in the next attack and were right back in the game when the same player took a pass from Orlaith Gould and netted in the 22^nd minute.

Millar and Erin Coulter then cancelled out two points from Susan Shannon before the break to leave Tír na nÓg just two points ahead, 1-6 to 1-4.

Within five minutes of the re-start, points from Eimhear McAleenan (free) and Molly Woulahan levelled the game. Millar and McAleenan quickly added points and then Kirsty Laverty set Woulahan up for a fine goal. There was only going to be one winner after that.

Ahead now by 2-11 to 1-6, the scoring suddenly dried up with Emma Louise McAreavey and Catilin McGaughey taking over in defence and Susan Shannon and Emily Falloon putting pressure on coming through from midfield.

Over the next ten minutes Tír na nÓg exerted plenty of pressure, but only got two Falloon points from frees in return. Then in the last five minutes, the Glenravel girls hit an unanswered three points followed by injury time goals from Ashling Millar and Molly Woulahan.

It was a good work-out for both teams, but bigger challenges loom next week with Brídíní Óga making the short trip to Cushendall and Tír na nÓg hosting Loughgiel.

Tír na nÓg: C Godfrey, K Bonnes, C McGaughey, C Bonnes, A McCloskey, EL McAreavey, C O’Neill 0-1, CM McStravick, S Shannon 0-2, N McKinley, E Falloon 0-5, 3 frees, J Simpson, S Martin capt, R Bonnes 1-0, E Magee.

Subs used: B Devlin, M O’Dolan, C Fagan, C Townsend, C Lemon

Brídíní Óga: O Donnelly, A Mulholland, M McKenna, L Esler, Ú McAleenan, J Woulahan, E Coulter capt 0-3, M Mulholland, E McAleese, O Gould, K Laverty, N Donnelly, E McAleenan 0-6 frees, O Ward, A Millar 2-3.

Subs used: C Emerson, S McDonnell, M Woulahan 2-2, A McPeake, C McPeake

Referee: P O’Neill (Creggan)