Ulster IFC quarter-final

All Saints v Derrylaughan – Toome 2-00pm Saturday

It’s been 13 years since All Saints last represented Antrim in Ulster but on Saturday in Toome their long wait will be over.

There was a feeling after that heady campaign in 2011 that saw them defeat St. Monaise of Fermanagh and Drumgoon of Cavan on their way to a semi-final defeat to Culloville of Armagh that it would only be a matter of time before they would be back.

If there is one thing that is certain in Gaelic football it is ‘nothing is certain’ and in the years that followed that 4^th Intermediate title eluded the Ballymena men until now.

All Saints finally got over the line this year with a convincing win over St. Teresa’s following defeat to Tir na nOg and Con Magee’s in the 2008 and 2010 deciders.

The appointment of Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley as manager a couple of years ago and his appointment of Declan ‘Honda’ Mullan has been instrumental in developing a strong and enthusiastic panel with a good blend of youth and experience.

Word coming out of the camp is positive with more than 30 players attending training this year and that training has paid dividends.

All Saints were promoted to division 1 this year despite only finishing third in division 2 last year owing to the restructuring of the Antrim leagues and despite playing nearly all their games without their county players, finished third in the top division.

The emergence of young talent which has included Patrick Ferris, Sean O’Callaghan, Ronan McKillop, Michael Read, Cal O’Brien and Ryan Thom amongst others has been a strong factor in this year’s success.

The Ballymena side are complimented by a solid bunch of experienced players, a number who remain regulars since that memorable 2011 run.

Sean McVeigh, Peter McNicholl, Emmet Killough, Michael McCarry, Peter McReynolds, Paddy McAleer and Rory McVeigh were part of that 2011 campaign and are in the frame for selection on Saturday.

The emergence of county players, Conor Stewart, and James McDonnell adds to the selection headache facing Baker Bradley and his backroom team but it is a headache that the Glenullin native will surely relish.

Despite their recent success All Saints will go into Saturday’s meeting with Tyrone champions Derrylaughan as underdogs.

A number of the management team and players were in Omagh last Saturday to see them come from behind to beat Termon of Donegal in a preliminary round and can’t have been anything other than impressed by the Tyrone champions.

Three points separated the sides after 60 minutes in Omagh after Termon had raced into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead after 11 minutes.

Tomas Carney led the Derrylaugan comeback and finished the game with 1-6 to his name so will need careful watching but he is only one of a very potent and experienced side that has Tyrone’s Brian Kennedy leading their charge from mid-field.

A win for Termon would have meant a trip to Donegal for the Ballymena side so there is the consolation of the short journey to Toome and a return to the Erin’s Own ground where they recorded their recent county success.

Derrylaughan will start Saturday’s game as firm favourites but that is unlikely to faze Baker Bradley and his side who will have a big support cheering them on as they aim to launch another successful Ulster run.

What about Derrylaughan?

Ulster IFC Preliminary Round

Derrylaughan 1-11 Termon 1-8

It took Derrylaughan 11 minutes to register their first score in their preliminary round win over Termon at Healey Park on Saturday evening but when they did get going there was no stopping them.

Donegal Champions Termon led by 1-4 to 0-0 at this stage and must have fancied their chances of pushing on to meet All Saints in the quarter-final but they would register only four more points for the remainder of the game as the Tyrone champions came to life.

The Tyrone side had a real match winner in full-forward Tomas Carney, who accounted for 1-6 of his side’s total and in the end, was the difference between the sides.

Connor Hughes got Derrylaughan on the scoreboard on 11 minutes and directly from the kick out Tomas Carney hit a second and it was Carney who would turn this game on its head with a masterful display of score taking.

Carney was to prove his worth again a minute later to cut the lead to four. Termon then had a goal chance but the final pass was over hit while Emmett Maguire in the Termon goal made a great save to deny Danny Ball at the expense of a ’45’ which Carney converted for his third point.

The Derrylaughan number 14 converted a free on 20 minutes and by the 28th minute the Lough shore side were back on terms through Sean Robinson and James Donnelly and were the dominant side.

Half-time Termon 1-4, Derrylaughan 0-7.

Termon briefly threatened to regain control at the start of the second half with John James Sweeney pointing within 30 seconds of the restart and Jack Alcorn adding another on 33 minutes.

Derrylaughan’s came back with a Tomas Carney point from a mark and the same player hit a post with a ’45’ a minute later.

The Tyrone side hit the front on 44 minutes when danger man Carney was on the end of a centre to fist to the net and from the kick out Liam Gervin extended their lead to three points.

Termon were now struggling to get their own game going again and Carney extended their lead from a ‘45’ and Ciaran Gervin added another while Jamie Grant had a point in reply for Termon and in added time Dáire McDaid cut the lead to three but it was Derrylaughan who now move on to meet Baker Bradley’s All Saints in Cargin on Saturday at 2-00pm..

Derrylaughan scorers: Tomas Carney 1-6, 2 ’45s’,1 f, 1m; Liam Gervin, Sean Robinson, Connor Hughes, James Donnelly, Ciaran Gervin 0-1 each.

Derrylaughan v Termon: James Kennedy; Colm O’Hagan, Ciaran O’Hagan, Caoilean Hughes; Liam Gervin, Conor Kennedy, Sean Robinson; Brian Kennedy, Shane Scullion; Connor Hughes, Fergal McAliskey, Danny Ball; James Donnelly, Tomas Carney, Ciaran Quinn. Sub: Ciaran Gervin for S Scullion (41); Liam Cushnahan for C Hughes (44); Mark Robinson for F McAliskey (58)

As the hangovers from the weekend celebrations start to abate and sore limbs receive treatment we reflect on what is always a special occasion for Antrim Gaels.

Saturday saw All Saints claim their fourth Intermediate title. The last one came in 2011 and the Ballymena men suffered a number of painful defeats in the years since that last success including two final defeats in the previous three years

Longevity is a word often used when referring to those who have served their club well over a long period of years but much has been rightly made of the fresh bunch of youngsters who finally got the Slemish Park men over the line on Saturday.

The appointment of Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley as All Saints manager, three years ago was not universally heralded by the critics but the former Antrim county manager has silenced the critics.

New faces have been introduced and there has been a buzz about training at Quinn Park with previously unimaginable numbers turning out week after week at training as the feel good factor has taken a hold.

When I briefly spoke to the Glenullin native after the game as he shared in the excitement that only winning can bring, I pointed out to him that six of the starting side on Saturday and two of the subs had featured in that championship success over Portglenone back in 2011.

All Saints went on to defeat the Fermanagh and Cavan champions in Ulster that year before narrowly losing to Cullaville of Armagh in the semi-final after extra time in Omagh.

Sean McVeigh was a box to box mid-fielder back in 2011 and with Michael McCarry went on to serve Antrim well and the elder statesmen of the side back then are still driving their younger colleagues on by example.

Peter McNicholl has been another who refused to throw in the towel when he was afforded little game time last year and has been terrific at the heart of the Ballymena defence this year.

Emmet Killough, Paddy McAleer and Peter Pizza’ McReynolds were emerging youngsters in that championship run 13 years ago and with Rory McVeigh were member of an All Saints All County Minor B championship winning side a few years previous.

The aforementioned 8 stood proudly together for a photograph after the championship win in Toome on Saturday.

Big Sean is no longer a box to box mid-fielder but has weighed in regularly with important goals throughout the league and championship in 2024 and got another in the final against St. Teresa’s.

Michael McCarry has been restricted to appearances from the bench in recent games but kicked two frees when introduced late in the final proving once again that class is permanent.

Peter McReynolds has returned recently from a career threatening injury but like Rory McVeigh has had to be content with a place on the bench as All Saints emerging youngsters have staked their claim.

Emmet Killough continues to produce strong performances for the Ballymena side and is a vital cog in the side while Paddy McAleer has been part of the county setup for more than a decade and one again displayed his class in their Toome success with four points.

When the celebrations from Saturdays success have died down it will be back to the coal face and more training sessions under the regime of ‘Honda’ Mullan as the Ballymena side set their sights on another crack at Ulster.

For one or more of these men it could be a last hooray in the Black & White of All Saints but I wouldn’t rule out any of them being back next year as All Saints contest their first Senior Championship since 2012.

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship Final

All Saints 3-15 St Teresa’s 0-7

Saturday 12 October

Brendan McTaggart reports from Toome

All Saints bridged a 13 year gap to win the Intermediate championship on Saturday afternoon after a super display against St Teresa’s.  The Ballymena side came into the final as favourites but the manner of their win may have been somewhat surprising. 

They played with the wind in the first half and built a seven point lead but with three goals in the second half into a strong breeze, All Saints put in a distinguished performance.

The victory was built on the foundations laid in a first half where Conor Stewart was simply irresistible.  Five of his six points came in the opening 30 minutes and all came from a similar position in the pitch.  In front of goal but fully 40 yards from goal, Stewart put on an exhibition.  He had plenty of support in that opening half with Paddy McAleer filling his boots.  Three of his four points came before the half time whistle and with just one of those coming from placed ball, McAleer too was showing the way for his side.

The second half belonged to their speedsters.  Patrick Ferris in particular catching the eye as he carried the ball deep into the St Teresa’s defence and caused mayhem on a regular basis.  Ronan McKillop, Ciaran Campbell and Connell Lemon also heavily prominent as the Ballymena men dealt with the elements much better that their opponents.

St Teresa’s will look at the first half and know they gave All Saints too much room.  They looked to pack their defence and they did hold onto possession well but they couldn’t curtail an All Saint’s attack that was proving to be uncontainable.

Their midfielders, Darren McCann and Pierce O’Rawe went through a mountain of work and played the shirt off their back while Ryan and Conor Mallon caught the eye.  They just couldn’t match All Saint’s in attack, however.  The Ballymena men were defensively astute with Peter McNicholl staying deep in the second half and his side played with a purpose that ensured they weren’t going to be denied.

St Teresa’s opened the scoring on a cold afternoon in Toome with a free from John Mallon.  He would finish with three points beside his name before coming off midway through the second half and while the Glen Road side had the lion’s share of possession, they couldn’t make inroads in the All Saints defence.  The south west men looked for turnovers and to hit St Teresa’s with precise attacks.  Three points in as many minutes from Conor Stewart had the All Saints men two ahead inside the opening 10 minutes and while John Mallon would half that deficit in the 12^th minute, it would be their last score for 15 minutes as All Saints began to find their range and gain more possession.

A Connell Lemon point preceded a brace from McAleer (one free) as All Saints mixed their point of attack but it was the simply sublime shooting from Stewart that really was a confidence booster for his side.  He would add another two simply brilliant scores to take the Ballymena lead to seven with six minutes of the half remaining.

The St Teresa’s challenge wasn’t helped with the black card dismissal of Niall McCann with three minutes of the first half remaining.  They did have a goal scoring chance just before half time when Anton Taylor went close.  He was first to a dropping ball played in from a Francis Dugan ’45 and as the ball came Taylor’s way, he went for power off the deck but his effort went to the wrong side of the post.

That was a pivotal moment in the game and could have given the west Belfast men a huge boost going into the second half and while seven points certainly was insurmountable given the weather conditions that would be in their favour, they needed a bright start to the second half.

It didn’t come.  If anything, All Saints won the game in the opening exchanges of the second half with McAleer, Conor Stewart and Lemon all firing over to extend their lead to 10 points.  It could have been more but for the crossbar coming to Ciaran Murtagh’s rescue after Shaun O’Callaghan’s effort came back off the woodwork.

A Darren McCann score from distance gave the St Teresa’s support something to hang onto, a sublime score from distance and wide on the right but moments like those were fleeting for his side. 

With Ferris exerting his influence on the game, it was his direct running that brought a massive goal chance for All Saints.  His speed and agility left the St Teresa’s defence in his wake but his drilled effort was superbly saved by Murtagh between the sticks.

All Saints didn’t have long to wait before celebrating their first goal of the match, however.  Sean McVeigh it was who got on the end of a sweeping move that saw him left with the goal at his mercy.  He palmed into the net to leave 12 between the sides after 12 second half minutes.

Points from Taylor and John Mallon followed as St Teresa’s continued to look for ways to penetrate a tight All Saints defence.  Lemon’s second of the match preceded points from Niall McCann and Taylor.  They came either side of a massive goal chance for McVeigh.  With the goal at his mercy, McVeigh went for glory off the deck but he found the side netting at the near post.

The second and third All Saint’s goals came in the 55^th minute and added further gloss to the score line for the Ballymena men.  Ferris was at the heart of the build up with a mazey run that saw the ball falling to substitute Rian Tom and he made no mistake.  From the resulting kick out, All Saint’s found themselves through on goal and it was Lemon who finished to cap off a super individual performance and extend his sides lead.

Scores came at the end of the game from Michael McCarry, a brace of frees for the All Saints substitute to put 17 points between the sides and his side saw out the time that remained with minimal fuss.

It was an accomplished performance from the All Saints who were excellent throughout.  Having reached this stage for the third time in four years, they have been knocking on the door.  That door was burst off the hinges in Toome.  All Saints will now have an eye on a run in Ulster.

TEAMS

All Saints: Ryan Stewart; Michael Read, Cal O’Brien, Kavan Keenan; James McDonnell, Shaun O’Callaghan, Patrick Ferris; Sean McVeigh, Peter McNicholl; Connell Lemon, Ciaran Campbell, Ronan McKillop; Emmett Killough, Conor Stewart, Paddy McAleer

Subs: Rian Tom for K Keenan (42); Michael McCarry for C Campbell (50); Matthew Downey for P McAleer (50); Joe Rafferty for M Read (55); Brendan McDonnell for R McKillop (55)

Scorers: C Stewart 0-6; C Lemon 1-2; P McAleer 0-4 (1f); S McVeigh 1-00; R Thom 1-00; M McCarry 0-2 (2fs); P Ferris 0-1

St Teresa’s: Ciaran Murtagh; Aodhan Dugan, Paul Johnston, Ryan Mallon; Eoin Connolly, Colm McGoldrick, Conor Mallon; Darren McCann, Pierce O’Rawe; John Mallon, Niall McCann, Sean Maguire; Francis Dugan, Anton Taylor, Paul McGoldrick

Subs: Philip Maguire for S Maguire (42); Eoghan Hamill for F Dugan (49); Mark Small for J Mallon (54); Anthony Varndell for E Connolly (55); Philip Glennon for A Dugan (57)

Scorers: J Mallon 0-3 (2fs); A Taylor 0-2; D McCann 0-1; N McCann 0-1

Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tír Na nÓg)

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The staff and pupils of St. Brigid’s PS, Ballymena donned their black and white colours today for a very special morning assembly. They wanted to wish the players of the All Saints Senior Gaelic football team good luck as they try to land the title in Saturday’s Co. Antrim Intermediate Football Final. Many of the boys and girls (and staff) are players or have family connections with the club. So much so that several former St. Brigid’s pupils returned to their alma mater to receive the good luck wishes from the pupils of today. Cal O’Brien, Ciaran Campbell, Conal Killough, Charlie Metrustry, Ronan McKillop, Kavan Keenan and Jason Givens found themselves transported back in time as they received the cheers of the waiting children in the school assembly hall.

The school had searched the archives and managed to find an array of photos of the former pupils taken during their time at the school and a power-point of memories ensured.  Special mention was made of Saints player Kavan Keenan to celebrate his recent announcement by the GAA as a Tailteann Cup All Star. Kavan will share this accolade with 14 others as one of the best 15 players across Ireland in this year’s competition. It was fitting that Kavan was able to receive the warmest of congratulations in the company of his younger sister Cliodhna who is a P7 pupil at the school and with his son Tomas who is in P1. 

Today’s event was a fitting way to link the old with the new and to celebrate the special relationship between both the All Saints Club and the school community in the parish.   

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