The Ulster Club leagues started on Sunday with Group D of the Intermediate competition holding particular interest to Antrim clubs with All Saints getting the action underway with an early morning throw-in and a narrow victory over Sarsfields.
Their South West neighbours, St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass travelled to Cookstown where they took on St. Oliver Plunkett’s, Greenlough and with a number of regulars missing were no match for a fluent Greenlough side.
Greenlough collected the points as a youthful attacking unit hit 2.14 against Moneyglass as Cillian Moore and Seoirse Lagan both hit the net as Moneyglass struggled with the Greenlough forwards. Any chance of a Moneyglass comeback were over when Christopher Maguire saved an Aidan McErlain Moneyglass second half penalty. Jude Moore and Coalan Tohill added late points as both teams ran the bench.
On this performance the Oliver Plunkett’s looks the team to beat in Section D but there could be a few twists and turns before the section is decided and Desertmartin get their first run out in the group this week when they face Sarsfields while All Saints take on Moneyglass.
Greenlough: 1 Christopher Maguire 2 Cahir Kearney 3 Jack McCann 4 Paul Quinn 0.01 5 Conal McErlean 6 Brian McCallion 7 Patrick McPeake 8 Enda McNally 0.01 9 Lorcan Convery 10 Cillian Mooore 1.2 11 Shea Birt 0.01 12 Jude Moore 0.01 13 Caolan Tohill 0.04 14 Seoirse Lagan 1.4 15 James O’Neill
Antrim rivals, Patrick Sarsfields and All Saints met in the opening round of this year’s Ulster league at Mallusk on Sunday. Both clubs fielded experimental sides as they prepare for the season ahead but still managed to serve up an entertaining and competitive encounter.
Things were slow to get going as both sides shook off the early season rust as they exchanged early points before Darach Bradley put All Saints in control with the game’s opening goal for the Ballymena side.
Emmet Killough who partnered Peter McNicholl in the All saints mid-field
The Stewartstown Road side were giving as good as they got with their full-forward line providing plenty of problems for the visitors defence and their impressive number 14 kept them in touch with goals early and late in the opening half.
In between Benny McDonnell struck with a second goal for the Slemish Park side and Sean O’Callaghan and Joe Rafferty hit impressive points as All Saints began to get on top.
Despite playing into the breeze in the second half, All Saints began to gain the upper hand around mid-field through the experienced pair of Peter McNicholl and Emmet Killough.
Joe Rafferty and Ryan Thom were causing problems while running from deep in their own half with the towering Thom striking the Ballymena side’s third goal.
Ciaran Campbell was providing the ammunition for his attacking colleagues with some astute play and set up a number of scores for Darach Bradley and Benny McDonnell but Sarsfields were still giving it everything and keeping within striking distance.
In the end Ryan Thom’s goal would prove the difference and the towering half back was just one of a number of fringe players who will have put their names in the frame for a starting berth next week with Charlie Metrustry, Connell Killough and Michael Read all catching the eye.
Michael McCarry who led the All Saints attack
All Saints: Jason Givens, Eóin Walsh, James Gillan, Michael Read, Joe Rafferty, Shaun O’Callaghan, Ryan Thom, Peter McNicholl, Emmet killough, Darach Bradley, Connell Killough, Charlie Metrustry, Ciaran Campbell , Michael McCarry, Benny McDonnell.
Scorers: D. Bradley 1-1 Michael McCarry 0-2 Benny McDonnell 1-3 Emmet killough – 0-1 Ryan Thom – 1-0 Joe Rafferty 0-1 Shaun O’Callaghan 0-1
Glenravel were totally outclassed in this Ulster GAA Intermediate Championship quarter final but having said that, the scoreline flatters Glenullin who finished strongly adding 2-02 in the closing minutes. Ahead by three points at half time the Derry side goaled in the opening minute of the second period and when they followed up with a point two minutes later the seven point gap they opened was enough to throttle any comeback hopes their opponents may have had. Indeed Glenravel will look back on some wayward shooting in the first half having squandered five scoreable attempts in the opening period which enabled Glenullin to go in ahead at half time.
Glenravel’s Eoin Hynds wins this race for possession
However the second half ended up one way traffic in a game unimpacted by the elements. The Antrim champions can only really reflect on what went wrong with their own game as an Eoin ‘Skinner’ Bradly inspired Glenullin piled on relentless pressure on the Con Magees side who just never got going on the day. Approaching his 40th birthday the Glenullin wizaard shows no sign of slowing up. Over the hour he scored a goal and seven points, 1-3 of that from play, the goal palmed to the net after a good flowing move by his team. Bradley and his Glenravel opponent Eamon Fyfe had both scored for Portadown FC the day before in the N.I. Championship league win over Dergview, and he carried on his rich vein of form on Sunday at Celtic Park.
Eoin ‘Skinner’ Bradley gives his team mate the thumbs up after scoring one of his team’s three goals in Sunday’s win over Con Magees.
The lively Cormac Hasson put Glenullin in front on three minutes and that was added to by Glenullin’s main threats of Eoin Bradley and Neil McNicholl so Glenullin found themselves three up after ten minutes. Glenravel had squandered some early chances but finally put some scores on the board from Eamon Fyfe and Ryan McQuillan, astride of a fourth point for Glenullin from Eoin Bradley, to retain their three point lead. Cormac McKeown and Eamon Fyfe added for the Antrim men but McNicholl and Bradley responded to leave three in it at half time. In reality there was little to separate the sides in that opening period and had Con Magees been a little more clinical in front of goal it could well have been them leading at the short whistle.
Ryan McQuillan lands an early Con Magees point
The game was turned upside down in the opening minutes of the second half when Glenullin goaled through captain Traglach Bradley and when Donal O’Kane followed with a point one minute later the dark clouds overhead in Celtic Park seems so much blacker for Glenravel. Cormac McKeown settled their nerves a little later but a brace of points from Neill McNicholl put Glenullin into a 1–10 to 0-05 lead with twenty minutes to play. Callum Higgins and Eamon Fyfe brought Glenravel back into the game and with ten minutes remaining they trailed 0-07 to 1-11 so needed a strong finish. Again the Antrim men squandered a few chances that could have closed that gap and the disappointment of that, combined with a goal from from Bradley from close range effectively sealed the game in Glenullin’s favour with just five minutes remaining. With their tails up, Glenullin went on to add gloss to the scoreline with a further 1-02 to close out convincing victors on a scoreline of 3-13 to 0-07.
Eamon Fyfe sends over a Glenravel point
Over time Glenravel will look back on 2023 as a very positive season with wins in both League and Championship but on Sunday the game ran away from them in the second half. But no doubt this young side will have learnt a lot that should help them on their journey in the year ahead.
Glenullin: Niall O’Kane; Daniel O’Kane, Eunan O’Kane, Diarmuid McNicholl; Cormac Hasson (0-1), John O’Kane, Conor Rafferty; Traglach Bradley (1-0), Neil McNicholl (0-2); Cathal Hasson. Ryan McNicholl, Donal O’Kane (0-3); Eunan Boylan, Eoin Bradley (1-7, 4f), Fearghal Close Subs: Dermot O’Kane for F Close (INJ 12), Rónán Close for Cathal Hasson (41), Eamonn Hasson for E Boylan (57), Christopher Dempsey for C Rafferty (59), Eoin McIlvar (1-0) for Donal O’Kane (61),
Glenravel: Jonathan Fyfe; Charlie Henry, Connor McNeill, Conor Carey; Rian Lennon, Niall Swann, Declan Traynor; Callum Higgins (0-1). Cathal Hynds; Conor McKeown (0-2), Eoin Hynds, Ryan McQuillan (0-1f); Aidan O’Donnell, David Higgins, Eamon Fyfe (0-3, 1f) Subs: Conleth O’Loan for A O’Donnell (38), Daniel McQuillan for C McNeill (40), Sean McKay for D for Traynor (50), Eoin McCusker for A O’Donnell (56),
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
Con Magees Cormac McKeown who scored two points from playPaddy’s Pics
OB Consturction Intermediate Football Championship Final
Glenravel Con Magees 2-11 All Saints Ballymena 0-14
Conleth O’Loan jumps for joy at the final whistle of his team’s win over All Saints
Glenravel beat close rivals Ballymena in this OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship final at Kelly Park, Portglenone to cap a fantastic season having already won the Division 2 league title earlier in the year. The saying goes you have to lose one to win one – whether you believe in that or not is irrelevant but defeat at the same stage last year to neighbours Dunloy certainly didn’t seem to feature much in the after match celebrations of the men in green and white. This was always going to be a close affair – there was virtually nothing between the two sides in the league campaign and the “all or nothing” aspect of Championship football allied with the rivalry that exists between these neighbouring Clubs guaranteed a tight game, lacking in flair but abundant in commitment. Ballymena will point to an injury list robbing them of some marquee players but in the end Glenravel despite some wayward shooting had just too much fire power and a stronger bench which really made a difference on the day.
Ballymena opened the scoring with a point from the impressive Connell Lemon and that was cancelled out by a fine point from distance from Eoin Hynds with five minutes gone and one minute later a Glenravel’s shot on goal was parried by keeper Ryan Stewart into the oncoming path of Declan Traynor who side footed to the net for the game’s opening goal. Hynds and Ronan McKillop would exchange points and Aiden O’Donnell would stretch Con Magees lead to four points but that seemed to inject some drive into All Saints who would benefit from sloppy passing by their opponents and they would record the next four points without replay. Lemon, McKillop, Brendan McDonnell and Shaun O’Callaghan the providers and suddenly All Saints were back level. At this stage Glenravel’s manager decided to look to the bench for inspiration and the introduction of Ryan McQuillan paid dividends almost immediately when he posted the first half’s final score shortly after introduction. McQuillan would prove to be a thorn in the All Saints side until the end of the game.
Saffron Gael’s Dylan McIlwaine presents the Nobel Cafe Man of the Match awards to Con Magees centre back Niall Swann after this team’s win over All Saints in Saturday’s Intermediate Football final in Portglenone.
Glenravel got off to the best possible start in the second half with four consecutive points in the opening ten minutes from Eoin Hynds, David Higgins, Eamon Fyfe, Rian Lennon whilst Saints could only manage a single point from a free by Ronan McKillop. Con Magees introduced Conleth O’Loan as sub and he also had a significant impact on the match almost straight away with several turnovers and clever passes helping his side open up their opponent’s defence. With twenty minutes remaining Glenravel got their second goal from Ryan McQuillan and were now leading 2-08 to 0-07. But they then opened the door and Ballymena didn’t need much of an invitation as they clawed their way back into the game. All Saints would go onto to score five points through McKillop, veteran Sean McVeigh, Brendan McDonnell, Shea O’Brien and Shaun O’Callaghan the marksmen whilst Eamon Fyfe provided Glenravel’s only reply.
As we entered the final minutes there was only a goal between the teams and All Saints created their only real goal chance of the game but the ball ricocheted off crossbar and post into the waiting hands of Cathal Hynds much to the delight of the green and white supporters. Ryan McQuillan and Callum Higgins exchanged points with Joe Rafferty and Ronan McKillop to leave the a three point gap between the teams as referee Fiontann McCotter brought the contest to a conclusion and a sea of green and white invaded Kelly Park in Portglenone, the disappointment of last year a distant memory at this stage.
Con Magees captain David Higgins with the Intemrediate Championship Cup
Con Magee’s:
R McQuillan 1-2, D Traynor 1-0, E Hynds 0-3, E Fyfe 0-2, 1 free, R Lennon 0-1, C Higgins 0-1, A O’Donnell 0-1, D Higgins 0-1.
All-Saints:
R McKillop 0-5, 4 frees, J McDonnell 0-1, P Ferris 0-1, S O’Callaghan 0-1, C Lemon 0-1, S McVeigh 0-1, S O’Brien 0-1, B McDonnell 0-1, M McCarry 0-1, D Brennan 0-1
Con Magee’s: J Fyfe, C Henry, S Higgins, C Carey, R Lennon, N Swann, D Traynor, E Hynds, C Hynds, C McKeown, C Higgins, D McQuillan, A O’Donnell, D Higgins capt., E Fyfe
Subs: R McQuillan for D McQuillan (26), C O’Loan for A O’Donnell (37), C McNeill for C McKeown (46), E McCusker for D Traynor (56)
All-Saints: R Stewart, E Walsh, J McDonnell, C O’Brien, P Ferris, S O’Callaghan, C Lemon, S McVeigh, E Killough cpat., S O’Brien, R McKillop, J Rafferty, B McDonnell, C McGarry, C Campbell.
Subs: M McCarry for C Campbell (42), L O’Rawe for E Killough (48), R O’Mullan for P Ferris (60), D Brennan for S McVeigh (56).
OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship (semi final)
Con Magee’s Glenravel 0-14 Patrick Sarsfield’s 0-10
Con Magees Glenravel qualified for the intermediate football championship final for the second year in succession, where they will meet near neighbours All Saint’s in two weeks’ time. Although there is no disputing the fact that they fully deserved their semi-final success over Patrick Sarsfield’s at the Toome venue on Saturday, they depended on their defensive qualities to get them over the line on a sodden Toome sod.
Joe Cassidy’s men appeared to be home and hosed as the match clock ticked close to conclusion with a three point cushion, but a Garry Lennon inspired Paddies were not about to settle for second best.
Sarsfields Garry Lennon who gave a man of the match display, scoring eight of his team’s ten points
Lennon, who had impressed throughout, appeared to be in for a goal in the 54th minute only to be denied by the Glenravel net minder Jonathan Fyfe who came out to make a smashing intervention, and when the ‘Bear Pit’ residents were back on the goal trail a few minutes later it was the turn of centre back Sean Higgins to make a superb blocking tackle to deny replacement Daniel Smith.
Both sides had impressed in their respective trips to the last four of the competition and when they crossed swords in Toome on Saturday last a good crowd gathered in anticipation. Despite the gloomy forecast.
the Sarsfield’s men had the favours of the stiff southerly based breeze for the first period but despite the strong elements in their favour they were on par at 0-02 apiece at the end of the opening ten minutes.
Glenravel opened their account in the second minute via a point from corner forward Eamon Fyfe, who was to impress throughout, while back to back white flags raised by Kevin McKernan, who also impressed in the green and black and an Eoinn Hynds point for the Glensmen, ensure level parity 0-02 apiece after ten minutes.
Despite the strength of the elements little was to separate the sides in the early stages, but as the Glensmen were on top in the central zone where Cathal Higgins was dominant with Rian Lennon ever ready to nip forward, back to back points from Eamon Fyfe ensured a 0-04 to 0-02 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
The Sarsfields men came back as the short blast approached and it was to be the city lads who were to finish the stronger with their ‘go to’ receiver Kevin Mc Kernan busy in providing openings.
A few exellent points fom the Con Magees saw them open a gap, but Brian Healey and Niall McKenna hit points apiece to cut the gap to the minimum at the end of the first period, and after having faced the stiff breeze the Glenravel men went in at the break with a 0-07 to 0-06 lead.
With the breeze at their backs Glenravel nipped quickly out of the starting blocks in the second half as Daniel McQuillan, David Higgins and Cormac McKeown extended their advantage to four points. When that gap was stretched to five the Con Magees fans in the good sized attendance must have felt they were well on track for a final spot. However the Paddies came back with three unanswered points via the excellent Garry Lennon, and just two points separated the sides with less than ten minutes on the clock.
The free flowing moves of the early part of the half were now gone for the Glenravel men and the Paddies upped the ante as they went in search of the scores that would bring them right back into contention. When they cut the gap back to just two it looked like anyone’s game and when corner forward Brian Healy got in on goal the Glenravel fans held their breath. Any connection seemed certain to finish in the net, but Healy’s shot was blocked by the knee of the Con Magees custodian Johnny Fyfe who turned the ball around the post for a 45.
Still the pressure was on the Glenravel men as they struggled to end a long scoreless spell, but the impressive Eamon Fyfe settled the nerves with a well taken point from a 45 and they added the insurance point in added time to set up a final meeting with Ballymena in two weeks’ time.
CON MAGEES
Jonathan Fyfe, Charlie, Henry, Sean Higgins, Conor Carey, Rian Lennon (0-01), Niall Swann, Declan Traynor, Cathal Hynds, Callum Higgins (0-01), Cormac Mc Keown, Eoin Hynds (0-02), Daniel Mc Quillan, Aidan O’ Donnell (0-01), David Higgins (0-01), Eamon Fyfe (0-06)
Michael Brady, Caolan Mc Donnell, Joe Mc Nally, Martin Mc Polin, Philip McPeake, Daniel Mc Kernan, Liam Mitchell, Caolan Mc Kernan, Cormac Murray, Sam Walsh (0-01), Niall Mc Kenna (0-01), Conor Glenholmes, Kevin Mc Kernan, Garry Lennon (0-08), Brian Healey
