November 5, 2023November 6, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Rasharkin fall to superb Blackhill in Clones

Ulster Junior Football Club Championship quarter-final

Blackhill Monaghan 5-11 Rasharkin 1-7

The feel good factor that accompanied St. Mary’s loyal band of supporters from Ballela, outside Banbridge to Clones on Sunday looked like continuing when Eammon McNeill rattled the Blackhill net in the 5^th minute to give his side the lead in this Junior Championship quarter-final.

24 hours earlier the Rasharkin camogs had written their own little bit of history by travelling to Ballela and defeating the Down champions to qualify for their first Bridie McMenamin Shield final and when McNeill got in behind the Blackhill defence to fire past Michael Shevlin the travelling Dreen Gaels were in good voice.

**Substitute,Conor Higgins hand passes the ball**

Ryan Lynch pointed a free to move his side three ahead but that lead would last only a minute as everything that could go wrong went wrong for the Antrim champions.

They conceded a penalty for a foot block in the 12^th minute which Darren McElroy tucked away and within two minutes the superb Phillip Donnelly would add two more and Blackhill led by 10 with only 17 minutes gone.

By half time the Monaghan champions had increased that lead to 3-5 to 1-1 with Thomas Geehan, McElroy and Donnelly adding points as the wheels came off the Rasharkin challenge.

Thomas Geehan added a fourth goal, four minutes into the second half as the Antrim champions continued to make uncharacteristic mistakes and a fifth from substitute Hugh Byrne after 10 minutes put paid to any chance of a Rasharkin comeback.

A Red card to Ryan Lynch after 8 minutes of the second half added to Rasharkin’s problems but to their credit they performed much better in the second half while never looking like getting back into contention.

**Darren McElroy who was excellent in the Blackhill attack**

They hit their first point for over 30 minutes through their best forward, Eammon McNeill and McNeill would kick four more between the 16^th and 26^th minute and the Rasharkin number 14 brought his personal contribution for the evening to 1-6 with the game’s final score in injury time but it only served to put a better reflection on the final scoreline.

Blackhill certainly enjoyed their bit of fortune and on another day three of their goals could have been prevented but that takes nothing away from a polished performance by an excellent side.

They had pace to burn and moved the ball at a speed their opponents quite simply couldn’t live with and in Ryan Courtney, James Daly, Ciaran Courtney, Thomas Geehan, Darren McElroy and Phillip Donnelly they had superb performers.

For the Antrim champions it quite simply didn’t happen on the day but when the disappointment of defeat subsides they will reflect on a season where they won their own domestic league and championship and can look forward to life in division 2 of the Antrim league next season.

Daniel Doherty, Thomas McMullan, Donagh Quigg and Oran McMullan worked hard over the hour and a number of the younger members of the squad didn’t look out of place when introduced from the bench while Eammon McNeill carried their only real threat in attack.

Rasharkin:

1 – Andrew Hasson

2 – Pearse Kelly

3 – Emmet McFerran

4 – Daniel Doherty

5 – Fergus Quigg

6 – Conor Hasson

7 – Tiernan O’Boyle

8 – Thomas McMullan

9 – Ruairi OBoyle

10 – Donagh Quigg

11 – Cathal Mooney

12 – Oran McMullan

13 – Shane Hasson

14 – Eammon McNeill

15 – Ryan Lynch

Subs: Cormac McMullan, Fergus Quigg, Oisin Casey, Pearse McTeague, Killian O’Boyle, Jack Quinn, Colm Kennedy, Conor Higgins, Ethan McAfee, Liam Quigg, Fearghal Kennedy

**Top scorer, Eammon McNeill prepares to shoot. McNeill scored an impressive 1-06 in his side’s defeat to Blackhill**

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November 2, 2023November 2, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Rasharkin face tough opener in Clones

Sunday 5^th Nov 2023

Clones 2-00pm

Rasharkin v Blackhill (Monaghan)

Antrim champions, St. Mary’s Rasharkin face a tough opener when they face Blackhill of Monaghan in the Ulster Junior Football Championship in Clones this Sunday.

Rasharkin completed a league and championship double in Antrim this year while their opponents, Blackhill achieved a similar outcome in Monaghan and will go into Sunday’s Ulster opener against Rasharkin in confident mood.

**Tiernan O’Boyle whoes goal sparked a comeback against O’D’s**

The Dreen side have had an excellent season and after piping O’Donnell’s for the Division 3 league title they would come up against their Belfast rivals again in the Junior Championship final.

The O’D’s, who were the only side to record a league win over St. Mary’s when they defeated them at Dreen, looked set to overcome the South West side in the championship decider when they led by six with five minutes remaining until the break. Sean Pat Donnelly had taken flight for the O’Ds, rampaging from his own half to bare down on the opposition goal only to see his low drive drag agonisingly wide of the post. A mere two minutes and two Rasharkin goals later, and the O’s were scratching their heads. Tiernan O’Boyle’s scorcher and a Ryan Lynch penalty had flipped the momentum on its head. Rasharkin’s seasoned performers then put in a composed second half performance to get the job done and kept the O’Donnell’s resistance at bay in the process.

Stephen Hardy and his management team will know that a start like that in the Antrim final will simply not be good enough and I have heard on the grapevine that Stephen and his team have been along to run their eye over the Castleblaney side and that he feels they are beatable if Rasharkin can produce their best form for 60 minutes.

Monaghan champions, Blackhill defeated Scotstown in the quarter-final of the Monaghan Junior Championship while the team that many felt would be their biggest threat, Tyholland recorded a 0-14 to 1-9 win over Currin as they got their campaign up and running.

Eamonn McNeill in action against Lisnaskee Emmet’s in 2010

Tyholland carried that good form into the semi-final where they recorded a resounding 4-13 to 1-11 win over Eire Og while Blackhill hadn’t it all their own way when defeating Drumhowan 0-11to 0-7 in their semi-final, setting up a meeting with Tyholland in the Monaghan final.

As predicted, the final turned into a battle between two very well matched sides with Blackhill emerging victorious on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-7. A fisted goal from Hugh Byrne after 31 minutes and three converted frees from Philip Donnelly were the scores that got Blackhill over the line but they had to withstand a strong finish from Tyholland who kicked the last two points of the game to close the scores to a single point at the full-time whistle.

Rasharklin last played in Ulster in 2010 when they won the Antrim Intermediate championship with a win over Dunloy in Portglenone after a replay. They went on that year to defeat Castledawson in the Ulster quarter-final at Casement Park, setting up a semi-final meeting with Lisnaskee Emmets, who won the Fermanagh division 1 league that year and proved too strong for a spirited St. Mary’s in a foggy Omagh.

**Rasharkin celebrate their Antrim success over O’Donnell’s at Dunsilly. Will they be celebrating in Clones on Sunday evening?**

Cathal Mooney Eamon McNeill and Shane and Conor Hasson were part of the 2010 panel and are all likely to figure on Sunday in Clones. Rasharkin are a good blend of youth and experience with Andrew Hasson in goals an excellent custodian who has played for Antrim while Perarse Kelly, Eamon McFerran, Conor Hasson, captain Tomas McMullan, Eamonn McNeill, Cathal Mooney and Shane Hasson are all experienced and polished performers.

They are complemented by a number of emerging talents in Fergal Kennedy, Tiernan O’Boyle and Ruairi O’Boyle while in Ryan Lynch they have a prolific scorer on his day and if he and Eamonn McNeill reach their scoring potential in Clones then a place in the semi-final can be secured.

Rasharkin v O’Donnell’s Antrim Final:

A Hasson; P Kelly, E McFerrnan, F Quigg; F Kennedy, C Hasson, T O’Boyle (1-01;) T McMullan, R O’Boyle; D Quigg (0-01,) C Mooney, O McMullan; S Hasson (0-02,) E McNeill (0-01) R Lynch (2-02)

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October 6, 2023October 7, 2023 by thesaffrongael

‘Goals win games’ as Rasharkin clinch Junior title in absorbing Final

Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship Final

Friday 6^th October

Report by Niall Kelly

Cardinal O’Donnells 0-14 St Mary’s Rasharkin 3-07

Rasharkin vanquished the demons of their Junior Final heartbreak two seasons previous with a narrow two-point victory over a valiant O’Donnells outfit at Dunsilly on Friday evening. This one was an absolute barnstormer played at a frantic and frenetic pace from Patrick Tumelty’s first whistle with both going hammer and tongs to bring the gold home. In a game which was littered with superb scores and huge hits, it was perhaps the two men between the sticks who shone the brightest with both Connor Murphy and Andrew Hasson putting in colossal performances in the number one shirt with an array of miraculous saves throughout the sixty.

ODs will reflect with frustration on a commanding first half performance which somehow still wasn’t enough to take a lead into the interval. Ahead by six and with five minutes remaining until the break, Sean Pat Donnelly had taken flight for the O’s, rampaging from his own half to bare down on the opposition goal only to see his low drive drag agonisingly wide of the post. A mere two minutes and two Rasharkin goals later, and the O’s were scratching their heads. Tiernan O’Boyle’s scorcher and a Ryan Lynch penalty had flipped the momentum on its head. Rasharkin’s seasoned performers then put in a composed second half performance to get the job done and kept the O’Donnell’s resistance at bay in the process.

The men from the Whiterock seized the early initiative. There was great intensity and vibrancy to their play and when Fergal McNerney split the posts on the fifth minute to open the scoring, it was well deserved. Slick interplay between Sean Pat Donnelly and Richard McAvoy doubled their lead before the former slotted over from range moments later as the gauntlet was laid down.

Rasharkin responded through the all too familiar right boot of full-forward Eamonn McNeill, a score which was badly needed to give the men from Dreen some sort of foothold in proceedings. However, O’Ds were not to be perturbed as they would not relent in their offensive pursuit, hitting the next three scores again. An audacious, curling effort from PJ Meenan had the umpire waving the white flag before Donnelly again applied his imprint on the game with two placed balls from the deck.

Shellshocked, Rasharkin needed a response and the industrious efforts of Conor ‘Wiggy’ Hasson paved the way for talisman Ryan Lynch to curl over from range to narrow the margin. But still the men in blue and yellow were struggling to cope with the pace of their opponent’s heavy artillery at the other end as Meenan was causing havoc in their rearguard. The fleet-footed number 13 doubled his tally, evading three consecutive challenges in the process, before popping up with another beauty from a tight angle.

The Belfast outfit continued to turn the screw and were probing Hasson’s goal mouth constantly with slick offensive play but lacked that little bit of composure in the final pass to create the perfect goal chance. With five remaining until the short whistle, SP Donnelly was inches away from changing that. A bustling, marauding run from his own half had the Rasharkin defence on their heels but his drilled effort just went the wrong side of the post.

Perhaps it was this close shave that brought the Dreen men to life as the game was about to turn on its head as momentum shifted in favour of the men from the country. Step forward, Tiernan O’Boyle, whose piledriver from range arrowed to the top right of the O’Donnell’s net and suddenly it was game on.

O’Ds nearly retaliated with a major of their own as Ciaran McKissock’s effort kissed the wrong side of the post but it was to be Rasharkin who would deal yet another hammer blow to their opponents. Donagh Quigg’s storming run was brought to an abrupt halt in the box with a penalty the outcome. Up stepped Ryan Lynch who despatched with aplomb sending Murphy the wrong way.

The O’Donnells shot stopper was called into action immediately after as he produced an outstanding save to deny Shane Hasson from close range. The whistle then sounded to give the sizable crowd in attendance a chance to catch their breath with the teams deadlocked.

The second period began with a bang as Rasharkin carried their momentum through. A goal straight from the throw in would prove to be pivotal in the outcome. A fluid move was finished off with ruthless aplomb as Lynch doubled his tally of majors to put his side into the lead for the first time. A lead they wouldn’t surrender. It was the Dreen side who now had a swagger and purpose about them as Shane Hasson bolstered the lead with a wicked, curling effort from range.

O’Donnells seemed somewhat rattled and gaffer Joe Herald sought about changing things from the bench. The introduction of John Rafferty proved to be an inspired choice as the towering midfielder brought a composure and ingenuity to the engine room. The Whiterock side sought about reducing arrears and did so through another McNerney monster from range before Donnelly increased his tally. With their tails up, O’Donnells continued to forage for openings and Andrew Hasson was called to action for St Mary’s as his point-blank save denied McAvoy a certain goal.

With the game now truly in the melting pot, it was Rasharkin who nosed further ahead as Donagh Quigg’s goal effort hit the wrong side of the bar as he had to settle for a point. Somehow, Rasharkin were denied a fourth goal as again Murphy proved to be their downfall producing a stunning save with his feet from Lynch. O’Boyle then caressed the resulting forty-five perfectly over the black spot to reinstate the four-point margin.

With the game now approaching its conclusion, O’Donnells needed to act fast and a fabulous score from tenacious wing back Kevin Kennedy was the perfect first step. Buoyed by this, the men in maroon and yellow had their opponents pinned back as they looked to capitalise. John Rafferty’s cleverly executed through pass opened the door for SP Donnelly to point to narrow the gap further.

Shane Hasson responded from a free to gain some respite, but it was all one-way traffic again as O’Donnells came forward in their droves in search of that all-elusive goal. It looked as though McNerney was on his way to achieving just that before an emphatic goal-saving block from Conor Hasson halted his path. The twin threat of Meenan and McAvoy was in full swing again as both landed points to cut the gap to a single point coming into added time as hearts were now in mouths in the camps of both sets of supporters.

***Rasharkin fans join in the celbrations with the team after they received the Junior Football Championship Cup***

Frantically, they searched but that levelling score would just not come for the O’s as their opponents stood resolute. Rasharkin’s know-how helped them to the finish line and how fitting it was that two-goal hero Ryan Lynch would have the last say with the clinching and final point of a superb game.

A huge congratulations to Rasharkin who capped off a wonderful year with promotion back to Division Two with a Championship medal in the back pocket. Only losing one game all year is a huge feat and one which will fill them with confidence for the rigours of Intermediate Football next year.

Although O’Donnells will be crestfallen, they can take great heart in their performance. Last year, they were beaten well by Pearses at the final hurdle. This year, it was anything but. There can be little doubt that they are on the right path and perhaps their day will soon come.

***Rasharkin’s corner forward Ryan Lynch receives the Nobel Cafe Man of the Match award (a £50 voucher) from Paddy McIlwaine of Saffron Gael.***

Teams:

O’Donnells:

C Murphy; K Loughran, S Seawright, J McKenna; G McKernan, C Walsh, K Kennedy (0-01;) F McNerney (0-02,) J Wilson; R McAvoy (0-02,) SP Donnelly (0-05,) S Thompson; PJ Meenan (0-04,) C McKissock, M McKenna

Rasharkin:

A Hasson; P Kelly, E McFerrnan, F Quigg; F Kennedy, C Hasson, T O’Boyle (1-01;) T McMullan, R O’Boyle; D Quigg (0-01,) C Mooney, O McMullan; S Hasson (0-02,) E McNeill (0-01) R Lynch (2-02)

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October 3, 2023October 3, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Creggan Kickhams lift Junior B title in thrilling local derby win over Tír na nOg

Antrim LGFA Junior B Final

Creggan Kickhams 3-11 Tir na nÓg 3-5

Report & Pics by Brian McKee

The Ladies Junior B Final had all the ingredients needed for a close encounter at Dunsilly. A local derby between Tír na nOg, a club only 4 years growing and entering their first final, and Creggan Kickhams, a team with a longer history but in the stages of redevelopment. Previous to this final encounter this season had already seen a win for each team in the league.

It was no surprise then to witness a large crowd gather for the showdown, and they were not to be disappointed.

The first half saw these close neighbours engage in end to end football. The opening goal of the contest came for Creggan, following a precision pass from Clodagh Maguire racing in from midfield to Ella McAteer in the full forward line who fired into the Tir na nOg net. As the first half unfolded the pattern of the game was being established as Creggan were exerting most of the pressure with Tir na nOg being most effective in the counter attack.

Ella McAteer was the main danger for the Creggan ladies and she finished the first half with two goals and two points against her name with Caoimhe Hempsey backing her up with a third goal.

Katy Bonnes and Níamh McKinley were the main threats for Randalstown and kept the Creggan ladies well in touch as the first half came to an end.

Half-Time: Creggan Kickhams 3-4 Tír na nOg Randalstown 1-4

The second half saw Tír na nOg first out of the blocks with a goal from Ellen Magee who followed through on a great save from McEldowney in the Creggan nets. Creggan though were determined to keep their grip on this game and responded immediately with a point from Córa Duffin.

Shannon McNeeley was in perpetual motion for the Randalstown ladies but they were unable to capitalise upon her runs and were finding it difficult to reel in the Creggan ladies who had their bit between their teeth in the second half. As the half progressed it was clear that Randalstown would have to find something very special to stop Creggan.

Although Creggan were pushing ahead on the scoreboard, Niamh McKinley stepped up to the plate and produced a wonderful point from distance to keep Randalstown in contention.

Caoimhe Dempsey though was now testing the Randalstown defence on an increasing basis with her incisive runs.

As the game moved into the final quarter it was clear that Creggan had one hand firmly on the cup. They kept their foot on the pedal until the end and it was this determination that saw the green and yellow faces and flags rush on the pitch at the end to celebrate a great victory for the Creggan ladies.

Despite the heartbreak at the end of this thrilling match, the ladies from Tir na nOg will take a lot of encouragement from this display and the fact that they matched the Creggan ladies in the second half augurs well for future encounters between these two close neighbours and rivals.

Full-Time: Creggan 3-11 Tír na nOg Randalstown 3-5

Kickhams: Aoibh McEldowney, Cara Bradley, Hannah Gately, Bríd Magee, Cara McCann, Caoimhe Hempsey (1-2), Megan Darragh, Alannah Hempsey, Letitia Quinn, Cora Duffin (0-1), Clodagh Maguire (0-5), Tara Hamill, Trea Donnelly, Ella McAteer (2-3), Cerys O’Neill, Maria Gately, Aoibheann O’Connell, Aivenn Woulahan, Aishleigh Larkin, Caitlin Rose Hawthorne

Tír na nOg: Caitriona McCana, Mollie MacAdhaimh, Emma None, Ciara McParland, Aoife McCana, Shauna Robinson, Michaela Fagan, Jessica Simpson, Susan OSeanaín (0-1), Shannon Mac an Fhilidh, Cliodhan Maire McStravick, Ellen Magee (1-0), Katy Bonnes (1-1), Niamh McKinely (1-3), Niamh Burbridge, Ciara McCann, Aimee Gartside, Sorcha OMáirtín, Laura McKillen, Aoife McCloskey, Uisneach McCann.

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October 1, 2023October 1, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Ardoyne hurlers bring years of famine to an end

Junior B Hurling Final

Ardoyne 0-18 Loch Mor Dal gC ais 1-11

Success may have been a long time coming for the hurlers of Ardoyne Kickhams, but they completed a historic double with a win in the Junior B hurling championship over Loch Mór Dal gCais at Musgrave on Saturday afternoon to build upon their earlier league success.

Last year, the North Belfast side fell to St Brigid’s in the decider and they were in no mood for a repeat, finding a way over the line in a game that was extremely hard going for both teams as the rain poured throughout, cutting up the well prepared pitch as the game progressed.

The previous game between these two sides in the round robin stage and played in similar dismal conditions finished in a draw, so anticipation was high to see if Loch Mór could bring the Ardoyne men’s unbeaten run to an end in the final game of the season. It was apparent from early on in this highly competitive match though that the men from the north of the city were determined to bring the championship home after several years of near misses.

Conditions were not favourable to the forwards and while the majority of the scores came from placed balls that was a credit to both free-takers who missed very little with Ardoyne’s Aran Stewart finishing with 14 points to his name – 13 from frees – while Loch Mór’s Darragh Turley converted nine of his chances.

Despite the atrocious underfoot conditions, both sides served up a highly entertaining game.

Loch Mór opened well and Bailey Graham put them on the board when pulling on a loose ball that just about cleared the bar.

Stewart replied with his first point from frees and then Oisin MacAnBhiocaire split the posts from a tight angle to put Ardoyne into the lead and went on to have one of his best displays in an Ardoyne jersey that galvanised the Ardoyne team.

Ardoyne led by two points after 12 minutes, but Turley stroked over four frees in succession to put Loch Mór ahead by the same margin. Aran Stewart then stepped up to the mark for Ardoyne and responded with a display of free taking that was inspiring in the atrocious conditions.

At the half time whistle Ardoyne were ahead by 3 points as both teams headed for the shelter of the dressing rooms.

Half Time: Ardoyne 0-11 Loch Mór 0-8

The second half could not have started better for Loch Mór as Turley lined up a free from inside his own half just a minute in but this time it dipped and Ferdia Carson rose to get a deft flick and divert it into the net. However, a subsequent point from play from MacAnBhiocaire left the minimum margin between the two sides.

Stewart and McAuley engaged in their own private sharp shooting duel with Stewart pushing the Ardoyne men ahead anytime Loch Mór looked like pulling back their lead. While Ardoyne exerted increasing pressure on Loch Mór, the conditions were such that their lead was always vulnerable. However, two moments of inspiration put the game beyond any remaining doubt. Substitute Enda Slattery scored an exquisite point from a narrow angle for Ardoyne that was followed by a wonder catch from the inspirational Paul Baker in the Ardoyne full back line.

As the final whistle blew, the years of frustration for the Northenders had come to an end and the celebrations were about to start. “Going into that last quarter, there was no way we were going to lose,” said manager Conor Barnes, “We went down into the trenches there, quite literally because of the state of the pitch, and the players were super right to the end. We’ll enjoy our day today – it’s amazing.”

Man of the Match was a close contest between Stewart and MacAnBhiocaire for Ardoyne. Given the former’s display of free taking along with his inspirational display of skill and commitment the honour narrowly goes to Aran Stewart.

Given the extreme conditions, credit must be given to both teams who gave full commitment and the game was played in a great spirit. The match officials allowed the game to flow and contributed to a great game of hurling. Special thanks to St Brigid’s for having the pitch well prepared to withstand the atrocious conditions for this County Final.

Ardoyne: 1 JP Agnew, 2 Pascal Clarke, 3 Paul Baker, 4 Cathal Clarke, 5 Sean Searle, 6 Caolan Wallace, 7 Micheál McGreevey, 8 Dean Goodall, 9 Paul McGuigan, 10 Oisin Mac An Bhiocaire 0-3, 11 Cahal Keown, 12 Pearse Hull, 13 Matt McKillen, 14 Aran Stewart 0-14 (0-12f), 15 Jim Og McAuley, Cormac Barnes, Paul O’Halloran, Joe McDowell, Conor Flannery, Stephen Hill, Eoghain Mac An tSearraig, Eamon MacLochlainn, Matthew Crommie, Patrick McGreevy, Padraig O Deorain, Cormac Curran, Enda Slattery 0-1

Subs: P McGreevy for C Keown (42), C Barnes for M McKillen (55), E Slattery (0-1) for P Hull (57).

Loch Mór: 1 Cathan O hEireamhoin, 2 Brogan Graham, 3 Sean Burke, 4 Aaron Monaghan, 5 Declan Phillips, 6 Conor Jones, 7 David McAreavey, 8 Martin Branniff, 9 Cormac Dwyer, 10 Cal Burke, 11 Matthew Jones, 12 Darragh Turley 0-10 (0-10f) 13 Bailey Graham 0-1, 14 Ferdia Carson (1-0), 15 Michael McCullough

Subs: M Robb for C Burke (38), R Bannon for A Monaghan (38), P Molloy for D McAreavey (55).

Referee: Chris Brown