THREE YEARS AGO ST COMGALL’S BEAT RASHARKIN ON PENALITES IN THE JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL IN AHOGHILL. AS PART OF THE BUILD-UP TO SUNDAY’S FINAL WE REPRODUCE BRENDAN McTAGGART’S REPORT ON THAT GAME

GYMCO Junior Football Championship Final

St Comgalls, Antrim 0–18 Rasharkin 0-18 (aet)

St Comgalls win 3-2 on penalties

Sunday October 31

Brendan McTaggart reports from Ahoghill

St Comgall’s and Rasharkin played out a classic final on Sunday afternoon with the junior crown on the line. In the end, it was the men from Antrim town who held their nerve form the penalty spot, substitute Peter McAuley with the decisive spot kick.

It was an epic final between two evenly matched sides with momentum swinging like the proverbial gate and both sides looking like they had it won at the end of the hour.  The sides were tied incredibly on 10 occasions over the 80 minutes with two points the biggest lead either side held at any stage.  The fate of the junior championship was decided by the lottery of penalties but that will matter little to the St Comgall’s.

Dylan Murdock fired over the first of his two points for the opening score of the match after barely 30 seconds.  A delightful score with the outside of his boot to get the Antrim men up and running.  Rasharkin started the final brightly as well with Eamon McNeill’s instinctive point in the second minute opening the scoring for the men from Dreen.  Early ball into the Rasharkin marksman and a classy finish we’ve seen plenty of over the years. 

A free from Shane Hasson and point from Conor McFerran opened a two point lead for Rasharkin by the seventh minute.  St Comgall’s began to find their way into the final with Miles Devine the man with the answers as they turned a two point deficit into a two point lead in the space of 10 minutes.  A brace of frees from Devine preceded Murdock’s second score of the game and the score of the first half from Tom Pratchett.  The St Comgall’s centre half forward finishing off a fine move involving James McCabe and Joseph Webb.

St Comgalls had set up to stop Rasharkin from delivering quick ball into McNeill and Conor McFerran and a mix of patience and guile, they had the upperhand for most of the opening quarter.

A free from distance from Andrew Hasson and composed finish by Fearghal Kennedy restored parity to the score once more but Devine was punishing any discretions by the Rahsarkin defence with an exhibition of free taking to open a two point lead for his side once more.

Andrew Hasson’s second and third free’s of the game came either side of a score from Conor McAuley to give St Comgall’s a one point lead at the half time whistle.

Half time score, St Comgall’s 0-8 Rasharkin 0-7.

Like the start of the game, St Comgall’s opened the scoring after the restart with their first attack.  Patrick O’Connor with the finish but Rahsarkin began the second half with more urgency and noticeably delivering the ball into their forward line more quickly.

A trio of points from Andrew Hasson (one free) gave the men from Dreen a one point lead by the seventh minute of the second half before a superb score from Conor McAuley from wide on the left brought St Comgall’s level.  It was brief respite for the Antrim men however as Rasharkin were flying in the third quarter.  A fisted point from Gerard O’Hagan fired them into the lead once more before McNeill’s second of the match in the 42^nd minute brought the Rasharkin crowd to life at Ahoghill.

St Comgall’s threatened at the other end of the pitch and but for the brilliance of Tiernan O’Boyle, they could have scored the opening goal of the final.  Conor McAuley seeing his effort bravely saved from point blank range by the Rasharkin shot stopper.  Murdock fired over with the outside of his boot to leave the sides tied on 12 points each at the second half water break.

An instinctive finish from Tom Patchett gave St Comgall’s the lead once more but Andrew Hasson was proving any free inside of 50 yards was being punished as a further brace of frees gave Rasharkin a two point lead with five minutes of the hour remaining.

St Comgall’s and Devine hit back however with three points from their star player (one free) giving them a one point lead in the third minute of injury time.

Rasharkin pushed for another equaliser and St Comgall’s were reduced to 14 men when Conor McAuley saw red for an overzealous tackle on Pearce Kelly.  The men from Dreen rolled the dice and brought ‘keeper O’Boyle up to take a free from close to 55 yards only to see his effort dropping short and a goal bound effort was deflected wide.  Tiernan O’Boyle stood over the resulting ’45 in the sixth minute of injury time and celebrated as soon as he made contact with the ball.  The rest of the crowd watched on as the ball sailed over the bar with effectively the last touch of the hour with the sides tied on 15 points apiece.

With cramp hitting both teams in extra time and bodies falling everywhere, it was a survival of the fittest in the additional 20 minutes but again, neither side could pull away decisively.  James McCabe and Devine (free) fired over either side of Shane Hasson’s free for Rasharkin in the opening 10 minutes but the men from Dreen edged ahead with five minutes remaining once again.  Andrew Hasson and Fearghal Kennedy raising the white flag to give their side hope of taking the crown but St Comgall’s and Devine had other ideas.  His ninth point of the game, seventh free of the match from 45 yards out brought the sides level for the tenth time and neither side could find a winner in the time that remained.

Penalties to decide who would be junior champions and it was St Comgall’s who blinked first.  James McCabe’s penalty was saved superbly from Tiarnan O’Boyle after Andrew Hasson fired the opening penalty.  Ruairi O’Boyle’s penalty fired wide of the left post as Miles Devine’s penalty made sure it was ‘as you were’ on the score line after two penalties each.  Shane Hasson’s spot kick cannoned back off the cross bar before Caolan O’Loan’s converted his spot kick to make it advantage to St Comgall’s.  Tiarnan O’Boyle found the top corner with his spot kick before Tom Pratchett’s penalty sailed over the bar to leave the sides tied on two successful spot kicks each after four penalties.

Anto Watson saved Seamus Ellis’ diving to his right hand side paving the way for Peter McAuley to fire the winning spot kick and send the St Comgall’s faithful into delirium.  A cruel way to end a final but Rasharkin more than played their part in a hugely entertaining final.  Scant consolation for the men from Dreen who will ply their trade in Division 2 in 2022.  For St Comgall’s, the season rolls on with a journey in Ulster to look forward to.

TEAMS

St Comgalls: Anto Watson; Kian Walker, Ryan McAuley, Caolan O’Loan; Dylan Murdock, Michael McCabe, Ruairi Graffin; Danaan O’Hara, Miles Devine; James McCabe, Tom Patchett, Patrick O’Connor; Conor McAuley, Joseph Webb, Paddy Quinn

Subs: Louis Higgins for D O’Hara (41); Aaron McGaw for K Walker (48); Peter McAuley for J Webb (59); Rory McLarnon for R Graffin (ET 5)

Scorers: Miles Devine 0-9 (7 f’s); Dyland Murdock 0-2; Conor McAuley 0-2; Tom Patchett 0-2; James McCabe 0-1; Patrick O’Connor 0-1

Rasharkin: Tiernan O’Boyle; Pearce Kelly, Emmett McFerran, Conor Doherty; Gerard O’Hagan, Conor Hasson, Fearghal Kennedy; Jack Quinn, Ruairi O’Boyle; Andrew Hasson, Donagh Quigg, Seamus Ellis; Shane Hasson, Eamon McNeill, Conor McFerran

Subs: Odhran McGarrell for G O’Hagan (46); Oran McFerran for E McNeill (59); Callum Montgomery for C Doherty (ET 13)

Scorers: Andrew Hasson 0-9 (7 f’s); Eamon McNeill 0-2; Shane Hasson 0-2 (2 f’s); Gerard O’Hagan 0-1; Fearghal Kennedy 0-1; Conor McFerran 0-1; Tiernan O’Boyle 0-1 (’45); Odhran McGarrell 0-1

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

St Comgall’s captain Paddy O’Connor talks to the Saffron Gael about his team’s progress under new manager Barry Burns

Antrim Junior Football Championship Final

St Comagall’s v St Agnes at Hightown – Throw-in @ 1-30 pm

Enjoyment and buy-in. Along with Barry Burns coming in as manager, they are prominent ingredient in making the 2024 St Comgall’s story a different one.

That’s how captain Paddy O’Connor, a member of their 2021 winning team, sees things at the latter end of a season building up to Saturday’s Antrim Junior final against St Agnes’.

Burns, from St Paul’s in Belfast, lit a fire. It was a clean slate after years of losing games at intermediate level. After winning all of their league and championship games, there is another piece of silverware up for grabs this weekend.

“We can’t complain,” O’Connor said of the progress. “I think with Barry coming in, he just brought more boys along and it just made it enjoyable.”

Since 2021, managers came and went. It was a downward trajectory. Burns is the right man at the right time.

“There was just a bit of fresh air coming in and he’s brought everyone back. I think some people maybe just left because we won one,” O’Connor feels.

There was an exodus heading to the four corners of the world. The commitment wasn’t the same. Defeats at intermediate level were disheartening.

Now, back in junior, it’s a fresh start.

“We started really well and it’s just built from there,” said O’Connor as his mind casts towards Saturday.

It’s all about winning now. They’ve tasted it before when a penalty shoot-out against Rashaskin saw them lift the cup.

Now, with the league done and dusted, it’s all about Saturday. And they know what’s at stake.

“The nerves have probably come closer to the time,” O’Donnell offers. “I think the main thing you just have to be is confident. You’ve trained all year for it…this is it, it’s do or die.”

Winning their early games didn’t fully tell the story of where St Comgall’s were headed. It was wins over the bigger guns, Pearses and O’Donnell’s that took them from their comfort zone.

“You’re just thinking, we do have a good enough squad here, and we’re just getting better, it seems,” O’Connor continues.

“Gradually, throughout the year, we started doing more things that we were being taught at training. It was working, so we were buying into it and doing more. And then it just kind of snowballed from there.”

Away from the football is a bond that helps pull all the pieces together. Located in Antrim town, St Comgall’s face the challenges many country clubs don’t.

The fact their players have played, ate and drank together helps. A friendship forged outside of the football bubble.

“Turning up to training whenever I was younger…you would have turned up, got on with it, done your training and went home,” O’Connor recalls.

“Whereas now, boys are meeting up outside of trainings. We’re going for coffees after trainings or going out for pints at the weekends.

“We’re involved in things together, celebrating together the wins or losses. That wee bit of more of like a community…I think brings everyone on as well.

“Then, when someone new joins the panel, it’s easy to bring them in because we’re all going together to do something and everyone’s involved.”

It helps any newcomers moving into the area for work. There is a club with a welcoming hand. It’s the same for the players moving up from the youth ranks.

“It’s the taboo of the young ones coming up,” he explains. “They don’t really want to train with the seniors because they’re scared of getting hurt.

“But, once you find them, everyone just has a bit of crack anyway so it’s easier just to fit them in.”

When next season rolls around, there will be new faces and new targets. There will be Division Two football to embrace.

Now, it’s all about Saturday and getting Paddy O’Connor’s hands on the cup. It’s do or die. It’s the same for the Aggies.

Rise and shine, it’s championship time.

Junior Football Championship Semi-Final

Saturday 28^th September

Report by Niall Kelly 

Naomh Úna 1-13                 St Malachy’s 0-08   

St Agnes’ produced an accomplished and polished performance to canter into this year’s Junior Football showpiece with a comfortable eight points to spare at the expense of St Malachy’s. The hosts exerted a measure of control throughout proceedings and were good value for the win.  Their opponents, to their credit, manufactured chances of their own but lacked the same composure and guile in front of the uprights that the Casement Park side had in abundance. An exhibition of point-taking from Cormac McBride in the early stages of the first half and a James Campbell major in the opening minute of the second helped to successfully pave the path to victory. In doing so, the men in black and white have bridged a fourteen-year gap to cement their name in this year’s final.

It was the men from the Markets though who got the scoring underway as talisman Ciaran Vernon’s chipped pass opened the door for Stephen Carson to convert in the opening minute.  The Aggies bounced back immediately though with Cormac McBride in fine fettle. The Naomh Úna number 13 struck three beautiful scores in as many minutes to settle any nerves and establish his side a lead which they would refuse to relinquish for the remainder.

St Agnes’ high press on the opposing kickout was causing all sorts of headaches for St Malachy’s. This tactic paid dividends when Dan Turley intercepted and found his brother Conall who fired over from range to open his account for the afternoon on the 8^th minute.

The Cherryvale side were in danger of being overrun and in need of a score to keep the pace with their opponents. Carson was to be the man they looked to once more, as he finished off a patient and calculated move to narrow the gap back to two. 

Points were then exchanged between the sides as Ronan Carroll’s superb long-range effort was cancelled out by a perfectly executed free from Jack McGivern as the half approached its final ten.

Naomh Una sought to further extend the gap before the short whistle and appeared successful in doing so. That man McBride found his bearings once more before turning provider for corner back Patrick Carroll who had bombed forward to finish off another flowing Aggie’s attack. There was a verve and purpose to the hosts as they controlled possession of the size five. However, St Malachy’s were resilient and bided their time as they replied with two of their own in time added on. Cathal Jordan threaded David Casey through to split the posts before Jack McGivern, who was a constant headache for the hosts, converted another close range free to leave the score 0-07 to 0-05.

Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession and looking the brighter of the two in the opening period, a two-point lead was still a slender one and perhaps not the reward St Agnes’ had hoped for. Martin Shortt’s charges immediately set about rectifying this as they started the second period with a bang.

The half was barely forty seconds old when James Campbell fired in the game’s only goal as the Aggies emerged from the changing room in scintillating style. A slick move involving Dan Turley and substitute Shay Madden had negotiated some space for Campbell who made no mistake with his finish as he blasted low to the net to trigger an almighty roar from the home faithful.

Campbell’s major had a galvanising effect on his side as they continued to attack with purpose. Ronan Carroll doubled his tally with a well-taken mark before the imperious Conall Turley angled his effort to perfection as the gap grew wider and wider.

Shellshocked, St Malachy’s were camped in their own half and desperately needed to find an avenue back into the game. Ciaran Vernon’s effort off the deck gave them hope as he cut the gap to six, but they were immediately greeted with a swarm of black jerseys baring down on them once more as Carroll converted from range.

Everyone in a black jersey looked to contribute to the attack. This was perfectly illustrated when the host’s netminder, Bob Carroll, demonstrated his wide range of distribution to find Briondan McLarnon who assisted Conall Turley to fire over another fine effort with Naomh Úna in cruise control.

Credit must be given to St Malachy’s though.  Despite the gap, they refused to surrender and put up a resistance as the game entered its climax. Anthony Dobbin fired over a monster effort from range before the domineering Stephen Carson added his third of proceedings after playing a lovely one, two with Vernon. However, this would be their final battle cry as scores from Shay Madden and another long-range beauty from Turley put the seal on a memorable win for the Pairc Naomh Una natives.

Early in the league campaign, few would’ve given either of these sides much of a hope of reaching the final four of the Championship. St Malachy’s can certainly look back with pride on their campaign as they claimed a few scalps on their way. Despite the loss, they can certainly keep their heads held high.

For St Agnes’ this has been fourteen years in the making as they book their place in the decider against St Comgalls. Spearheaded by both Turleys, Ronan Carroll and Cormac McBride, they will have every faith that they can go one better than they did back in 2010 against O’Donnells. There can be little doubt that Antrim will be a formidable force to topple and will enter as firm favourites. Winning every game earns you that right. However, Naomh Úna have frequently adorned the underdogs tag throughout the year and have always uncovered a way to spring a surprise. Perhaps in two weeks, it’ll be no different. One thing is for sure though. A cracking game is in store.

Teams:

St Agnes’:

C Carroll; K McCormick, R Reilly, P Carroll (0-01;) D Quigley, C Flannery, B McLarnon; D Turley, C Turley (0-04;) J Campbell (1-00,), R Caroll (0-03,) C Clarke; C McBride (0-04,)  D McGarahan, R Gilligan

Substitute scorer:

S Madden (0-01)

St Malachy’s:

T Rice; D Dobbin, E McIntosh, C Connolly; C Jordan, P Carlisle, P Hanna; A Dobbin (0-01,) C Vernon (0-01;) S Lynch, C Sanha, J McGivern (0-02;) P Millar, S Carson (0-03,) G McManus

Substitute scorer:

D Casey (0-01)

CLICK TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PICS FROM THIS GAME

https://myalbum.com/album/Q25n98KGp42ZDW/?invite=a0b53f80-c1c0-4a32-b130-eb0df7d127c0

Junior Football Championship semi-final – Pairc Naomh Úna

Throw-in 3pm

It would be fair to say that St Agnes’ have endured a tough few years in recent times. A formidable match for anyone on their day, but perhaps lacked the consistency required to make a sustained push for honours. However, their performances to date in the 2024 Junior Championship has saw them finish proudly atthe top a very tricky group involving a budding Laochra outfit as well as county finalists of the previous two years, O’Donnells, and 2022 winners, Pearses.

The man at the helm of this Aggies renaissance is Clogher native Martin Shortt. A passionate football man who by all accounts has helped instil a greater sense of belief and pride back into the Aggies side. The Saffron Gael’s Niall Kelly caught up with Martin at the conclusion of their four point victory over O’Donnells.

When asked about how he had masterminded their Championship fortunes to date, the Tyrone native pointed to blooding players in the league and using it as a platform to learn from and push on for July.

“The league is obviously your bread and butter first of all. Preseason started around Christmas or just shortly after. Looking at the lads then, they were enthusiastic and mad to get going. We just wanted to get a bit of pride put back into the jersey and be competitive really that’s the way we looked at it.”

“When the Championship draw was made, we never looked much at it. We wanted to fulfil the fixtures in the league and see where we could finish first.”

Shortt remarked on how the early part of the league wasn’t ideal but that his troops started to find their way as Championship season approached.

“The early part of the league was obviously disappointing but I think the second half though was really good. We started to build up a bit of momentum. We knew we could bring that into Championship at some stage.”

The Aggies’  bainisteoir was under no illusions however at how tricky a prospect the other teams in the group would pose. Shortt then detailed how they got through it and how their victory over Pearses in the curtain raiser provided his players with the impetus they needed.

“You look at the Laochras, the Pearses, the Cardinal O’Donnells of the world, as you say this group was never going to be easy, but we had absolutely nothing to lose. We looked after ourselves and were ready for the first game away to Pearses. We knew that would be a tricky and difficult test which is exactly what it was. But to come out of there with the win gave us that bit of confidence and belief which went on into the Laochra game.”

With safe passage through to the knockouts confirmed even before a ball was kicked against O’Donnells, it wouldn’t have been a total disaster had the Aggies failed to gain the verdict. However, the man from the O’Neill county insisted how important guaranteeing pole position and a day off for his men would be and was fully aware of how testing a task the Whiterock men would pose.

“We had a to take on O’Donnells on our home patch and to keep that momentum going and look for the three wins which is massive and would give us that bit of time to get bodies recovered and a few days rest and then have a semi-final to look forward to..”

“We knew O’Donnells would be very tricky, and we weren’t taking them lightly as at the end of the day they’ve been in county final after county final and probably should’ve won it last year against Rasharkin. They’re well-schooled, they’re well drilled and they’re a big strong, physical outfit but that’s exactly the type of game you want to keep it going. It’ll stand us in good measure for the knockouts”

Naomh Úna welcome St Malachy’s to their home patch tomorrow in what is a massive occasion for the club. Having the day off a few weeks ago will surely help rejuvenate the squad further and if they can build upon their momentum, they will be quietly confident of reaching their first final since 2010.

Never ‘short’ of something to say. Aggies manager Martin Shortt bubbling with enthusiasm as he chats with Saffron Gael reporter Niall Kelly after the quarter-final win O’Donnell’s

Junior Football Championship – Knock-Out

St Malachy’s held off a determined second half fightback by Laochra Loch Lao at Cherryvale on Saturday evening to seal their place in the semi-final of the Junior Football Championship. In a no quarter ask or given game both teams gave it their all in perfect weather conditions. St Malachy’s appeared to be cruising when they opened a five point gap midway through the second half, but Laochra Loch Lao fought their way back in the final quarter to close to within three points, but despite creating several good scoring chances that was as close as they would get and the Mal’s excellent free taker Criostoir Devlin sealed the win with an injury time point.

Devlin had struck three of the first four points of the game, two of them from 45s, to put his team 0-03 to 0-01 ahead midway through the opening half, but Oisin Crawford and Kevin Devine brought Laochra Loch Lao back into contention, but Ciaran Vernon struck a telling blow for the Mal’s when he drove a low shot to the Laochra net following a goalmouth scramble.

1-05 to 0-4 ahead at the break Laochra Loch Lao closed the gap to three with an Oisin Crawford point two minutes after the restart, but points from Shea Lynch and Stephen Carson strengthened St Malachy’s position midway through the half. Laochra’s Kevin Devine and St Malachy’s Ciaran Vernon exchanged points to keep the gap at five, but St Malachy’s scoring dried up and despite losing a player to a black card Laochra Loch Lao started to close the gap.

Left half back Dubaltach Mac Crabhagain sent over a very good point for Laochra and on 52 minutes they grabbed another to leave just three between the sides. The kept up the pressure but missed a few good chances to close further, including two twenty metre frees, and St Malachy’s Ciara Devlin finished the contest when he sent over another free in injury time to secure a semi-final spot.

FOR MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/TJtCyijDzAc96p