St. Mary’s CBGS qualified for the Play-Off round of the Danske Bank Rafferty Cup after victory over St Paul’s Bessbrook at the Glen Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Having won their opening two group encounters against Sacred Heart Omagh and St Malachy’s Castlewellan, the West Belfast natives were beaten by Holy Cross Strabane on Friday and needed victory to secure a place in the Play-Offs following the Halloween break.
The hosts were impressive throughout and goals from Padraig Kelly, Darragh O’Sullivan and Marc Killyleagh set the tone.
Kelly and Cristoir McCabe added points with a quickfire double from Eoghan Fegan and Pauriac McGinity giving the visitors a platform to build upon.
Odhran Marley swung over a fine point and Kelly dropped over a two-pointed score from play ahead of Oisin Cribben converting a free as the hosts led at the interval.
The sides traded early scores after the break through Matthew O’Neill and Sean Og Quinn. St. Mary’s added to their tally through an Oliver Fay goal and a converted Oliver Robb penalty late on.
It sealed victory for the Glen Road natives who will face a knock-out tie following their Halloween break in a bid to reach the last-eight of the competition.
More photos from the game can be accessed from the link below
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.
Kevin McKeague (Creagh), and school principal Jacqui O’Neill with students Patrick O’Boyle, Cliodhna McKeever, Niall Quinn and Annie Convery at the launch of the Night with St Louis event which will be held in Tullyglass Hotel on Friday October 30th.MC for the evening Shane Elliott
Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship Final
St Brigid’s 0-21 Rossa 1-16
Sunday 18 October
Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast
St Brigid’s secured their first senior football title on Sunday with a two point win over Rossa at Corrigan Park. It was a game that was every bit as close as the scoreline would suggest with the Jeremiah’s pushing the Musgrave Park all the way.
It was the greater attacking threat of St Brigid’s that ultimately was the difference between the sides. 18 of St Brigid’s 21 points came from open play while the full forward trio of Ronan McGrady, James Smith and JJ Higgins contributed 15 points between them. Higgins took the man of the match honours, finishing top of the scoring charts with seven white flags from open play and five of those coming in a second half that St Brigid’s couldn’t shake the Rossa challenge.
The Jeremiah’s started the final superbly and held an early four point advantage. Their ability to score two pointers always kept them in touch with Gerard Walsh, Liam McEnhill, Colm Fleming and Stephen Beatty all raising the orange flag while Diarmuid Rogan’s goal breathed life into their challenge in the second half.
St Brigid’s weren’t to be denied however with Higgins outstanding in their race for the line. Despite the loss of the influential Patrick Finnegan in the closing stages, the Musgrave Park men withstood the pressure of Rossa and held off the Jeremiah’s.
The Shaw’s Road men got off to a brilliant start with Stephen Beatty firing over a two pointer with barely 50 seconds on the clock. St Brigid’s responded with Joseph Finnegan dissecting the uprights with a left footed effort as both sides wrestled for supremacy.
Thomas Morgan pointed after a patient period of play, Rossa showing they were settling into their game more quickly than St Brigid’s and when Gerard Walsh fired over from outside the 40 meter arc, Rossa had a four point lead by the 10th minute.
St Brigid’s raised an orange flag of their own in response with McGrady splitting the posts for his first of five points of the half. The Jeremiah’s restored their four point advantage with a Colm Fleming two point free in the 15th minute but that seemed to signal an awakening in St Brigid’s.
The Musgrave Park men found another gear in the middle third and turned the screw. It was fully 13 minutes before Rossa had another shot at goal while St Brigid’s reeled off five unanswered points in the same period of time.
A brace of points from Higgins and three from McGrady (one free) gave the Biddies the lead for the first time in the final.
Thomas Morgan’s second white flag of the half restored parity but points from Patrick Finnegan and Paul Bradley gave St Brigid’s a two point lead at the interval.
Rossa needed half time with St Brigid’s dominance in that second quarter putting them in prime position at the interval. They continued with that same vein of form when McGrady and Higgins doubled their lead inside the opening three minutes of the second half.
Dominic McEnhill got the Jeremiah’s scoreboard ticking once more before Higgins replied for St Brigid’s, his second of the half in just the fourth minute since the restart.
Rossa hit back through a Diarmuid Rogan major, the Jeremiah’s half forward showing great composure to put away a tidy finish and give his side the ultimate lifeline at a time when St Brigid’s threatened to pull away.
Dominic McEnhill’s free in the 35th minute restored parity to the scores and while Paul Bradley and James Smith restored the St Brigid’s two point advantage, the Jeremiah’s hit back with their four two pointer of the final. Liam McEnhill this time splitting the uprights from distance thanks to good work from Gerard Walsh in the build up, tying the scores and putting the game firmly in the melting pot in the 40th minute.
St Brigid’s responded once again however with three unanswered scores. Dara Quinn, Smith and Higgins with the scores to give the Musgrave Park men a three point lead going into the final 10 minutes.
Rossa continued to find a way to stay in the final though with a Mick Byrne ’45 and Dominic McEnhill’s second free of the half coming either side of a point from the industrious Niall Duffy leaving two between the sides yet again.
The Jeremiah’s showed their incredible self belief yet again with Beatty splitting the posts to leave the minimum between the sides by the 58th minute but St Brigid’s weren’t to be denied in the closing stages.
Despite Patrick Finnegan having to be carried off with what looked like a nasty ankle injury and a prolonged period of injury time, St Brigid’s controlled the closing stages, Higgins taking his personal tally to seven points with a brace of scores at the death while Dominic McEnhill’s third free and fourth point of the final was the sole response for Rossa.
At the final whistle, St Brigid’s could finally celebrate a landmark triumph, their composure and scoring power having carried them through a breathless finish. Rossa had pushed them to the limit but their wait for another senior football title will enter a 36th year. This was St Brigid’s day as they completed a historic first senior championship success.
TEAMS
St Brigid’s Starting XV: Declan Heery; Oran Downey, John Morgan, Shay Campbell; Shea Downey, Joseph Finnegan, Ronan Boyle; Jack Dowling, Patrick Finnegan; Niall Duffy, Dara Quinn, Paul Bradley; Ronan McGrady, James Smith, JJ Higgins
Subs: Peter King for P Finnegan (51); Joe Logan for R McGrady (53)
Scorers: JJ Higgins 0-7; R McGrady 0-6 (1TPF, 1F); J Smith 0-2; P Bradley 0-2; J Finnegan 0-1, P Finnegan 0-1, D Quinn 0-1, P Bradley 0-1
Rossa Starting XV: Micky Byrne; Gavin McGrath, Gerard Walsh, Niall Crossan; Cormac McGettigan, Patrick Moyes, Michael McEnhill; Liam McEnhill, Eoghan McMenamin; Corey Walsh, Dominic McEnhill, Diarmuid Rogan; Stephen Beatty, Colm Fleming, Thomas Morgan
Subs: Rory Grant for C Walsh (47); Fiachra McDonald for M McEnhill (53); Eoin Fleming for N Crossan (58); Daire Morgan for D Rogan (60+6)
Scorers: D McEnhill 0-4 (3F); S Beatty 0-3 (1TP); D Rogan 1-00; T Morgan 0-2; G Walsh 0-2 (1TP); L McEnhill 0-2 (1TP); C Fleming 0-2 (1TPF); M Byrne 0-1 (1’45)
Referee: Colly Thompson (St Johns)
TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME BY PHILIP OF PMC.JPEG CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
