Category / Football

by thesaffrongael

Carey beat Glenarm in hard fought game

Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Carey 3-19 Glenarm 1-23

Pics and report by Pete Hyndman

Carey secured a hard-fought victory on Sunday after a fiercely competitive battle against north Antrim rivals Shane Uí Neills, Glenarm at St. Patricks Park, Ballyvoy. Played under a bright early afternoon sun with a light breeze sweeping across the pitch, this Division 2 clash was an entertaining spectacle from start to finish. The visitors arrived with a shuffled lineup, missing several senior players due to overseas work commitments, but they still contributed to a thrilling contest. Ultimately, the hosts had their lethal finishing to thank, with Connor McBride demonstrating incredible accuracy to knock over nine frees in a personal tally of 1-09, while John McBride proved a constant threat by bagging two crucial goals over the hour. For Glenarm, star forward Niall McGarel was a joy to watch, showcasing superb stickwork to slot ten points, including three from dead balls.

Carey exploded out of the starting blocks in buoyant form, raising the white flag in the very first minute through Conall McGlynn. Their early dominance continued moments later when a well-placed cross-field ball was collected by John McBride, who ruthlessly drove the sliotar into the Glenarm net. John McBride and Connor McBride quickly followed up with a point apiece, demanding a swift response from the visitors. Glenarm found their rhythm right from the resulting puck-out, with Niall McGarel winning possession and slotting over the bar. The nippy forward began to show immense early promise, rolling a tackle to launch a speculative effort over Carey goalkeeper Conlaith McKinley, and subsequently lofting over another brilliant solo point. Aidan Scullion also made his presence felt around the middle third, gathering a broken ball to split the posts from 55 yards. McGarel continued to torment the defense, robbing his opponent for a distance score before Scullion drilled over another, remarkably turning an early deficit into a two-point lead for the visitors.

The match developed into a tight, tit-for-tat tussle. Carey leveled the game in the 18th minute with converted frees from Connor McBride and James Black. The boys in blue edged ahead once more through a Ben O Boyle point and a McGarel dead ball, though James Black was quick to reply for the hosts. Glenarm then struck for a major of their own; a high, dropping ball into the Carey box was allowed to bounce, and Sean O Hare reacted fastest to overhead-bat the sliotar past the keeper into the net. Unfazed, Connor McBride kept the scoreboard ticking for Carey by punishing two needless Glenarm fouls before adding a green flag of his own, winning a scrappy ball and forcing it beyond Liam Mulvenna. As the halftime whistle approached, the intensity peaked. Scullion and McGarel landed excellent scores for Glenarm, but Connor McBride’s accuracy from frees and a massive second goal from John McBride ensured Carey took a 3-10 to 1-12 advantage into the break.

The second half resumed with the same competitive edge. Carey punished early indiscipline from Glenarm with another Connor McBride free, but Ben O Boyle and Niall McGarel quickly answered with a point each from play. Conall McGlynn continued to show great promise for the hosts, driving the ball over the Glenarm bar twice to maintain the pressure. At the other end, Scullion won vital early possession and expertly worked the space to shoot a fantastic point from 70 yards out. The teams traded further scores, with a Carey free and a Brendan McQuaid effort answered by Darren Hamill on the 38th minute. However, the game’s dynamic threatened to shift entirely on the 40th minute when a Carey player was shown a red card.

Despite being reduced to fourteen men, Carey responded to the setback with remarkable composure. McGlynn and Connor McBride converted three crucial frees to keep their opponents at arm’s length. Playing catch-up, Glenarm desperately needed a lift and found one through Darren Hamill, who sparked a revival with a free and a brilliant point from distance, accompanied by a score from Sean O Hare. Hamill added two more frees to reel in the hosts as the game moved into added time. In a fitting end to an epic battle, Niall McGarel floated over one final effort for Glenarm, but the relentless Connor McBride had the last word, pointing for the hosts just as the referee called time to seal a memorable Carey victory.

Carey Faughs

Conlith Mc Kinley, Eoin Mc Carry, Michael Mc Veigh, Daniel Mc Kinley, Shea Hunter, Sean Mc Bride, Peadar Mc Veigh, Conall Mc Glynn (0-05 3f), Cathair Brogan, James Black(0-02 1f), John Mc Bride(2-01), 

Patrick, Butler, Connor Mc Bride( 1-09 09f), Fiachra Mc Veigh, Brendan Mc Quaid (0-02).

Subs.   Caolan Mc Caughan, Eoin Mc Kinley, Ryan Mc Quaid, Oisin Healey.

Shane Uí Neills.

Liam Mulvenna, Liam Mc Loughlin, Barry Hamill, John Scullion, Kieran O Boyle, Ciaran Magill, Michael Fury, Conal Ward, Aidan Scullion(0-04), Sean Mc Dermott, Niall Mc Garel(0-10 3f), Ben O Boyle ()-02), Paddy Mc Auley, Darren Hamill(0_05 2f), Sean O Hare(1-02 1f).

Subs.   Rory Mulvenna for Conal Ward 42 mins. Aidan O Neill, Gerard Burns, Ryan Mc Loughlin, Declan Mc Dermott.

by thesaffrongael

Storming Shamrocks: Six goal blitz warms supporters on chilly night

Antrim Camogie League Senior Div 1 Round 5

Ahoghill 0-05 Loughgiel 6-22

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. McGuigan Park, Ahoghill

It appears the summer isn’t knocking on our door anytime soon. This evening’s game between Ahoghill and Loughgiel had to endure an arctic blast running diagonally across the pitch from the scoreboard side towards Antrim, at times clouding over to threaten probably hail if it fell. Regardless, both sides knuckled down and made the best of a predominately dry evening. Loughgiel won the toss and opted to play with the wind, a strategy which benefited the Shamrocks as the elements eased in the second half, especially in the last fifteen minutes of the game.

Ahoghill knew what was ahead of them, having endured the force of a Shamrock blast in previous league encounters. Nonetheless, the red and black girls gave no quarter during the sixty minutes, despite the relentless offence from Loughgiel.

Referee, Shane McDonald, rolled in the sliotar just past the hour of 7pm and within a few minutes, both teams had scoring opportunities at close quarters diffused and forced back out. Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty would open the Shamrocks’ scoring for the evening with a simple point from just outside the box and looped back around to make that two before Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey performed a dream catch of the sliotar followed by a solo run ending in a fine point.

Ahoghill’s Caoimhe Scullion bolts to find clear space in tonight’s league game

Loughgiel, however, would respond with three points on the trot, two from play before Marie Laverty with the sliotar sourced deep from Aoibheann Gillan found Shanna Deery and up went the first green flag of the game.

Loughgiel perservered running with the wind pushing the sliotar hard to the right and found four points with no reply before Annie Lynn scored goal number two, fed from Louise McKillop in a mid field role. Loughgiel’s Rose McMullan, playing up to senior this year, was alert to a loose ball on the edge of the box and lifted the sliotar nicely over the bar for her point before Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham successfully floated a free over Loughgiel’s bar as Marie Laverty closed out the first half with a point from a free. At the break, scores stood Ahoghill 0-02 Loughgiel 2-11.

The second half witnessed no let up in pace or determination and four Shamrock points preceded Marie Laverty’s goal as Anna Connolly and Annie Lynn chalked up two more points to bring Loughgiel’s tally to 3-17. Laverty would figure in Loughgiel’s forth goal as the young centre half forward dropped in a 45 that needed blocking down. A sharp Eimear McKinley, playing full forward from the bench, wasted no time in striding in and delivered the sliotar into the back of Ahoghill’s net for the fourth goal in tonight’s game.

Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty was too hot to handle in tonight’s league encounter

There wouldn’t be any let up from the Shamrocks’ at this stage; Laverty floating in a well intended point that dipped viciously under the bar for goal number five. Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham managed to get two sliotar’s over the Loughgiel bar before Ceala Dobbin recycled the sliotar for Loughgiel’s half dozen. Ahoghill would close out their scoring from Graham as she fired in a sliotar from the top dugout along the sideline for a magnificent point. McDonald blew sharply at the sixty minute mark, Ahoghill 0-05 Loughgiel 6-22.

The senior division 1 league now takes a break for four weeks, recommencing on the 9th June. We look forward to warmer evenings for the second half of the league.

To see more photos from tonights game, click on the following link…

https://myalbum.com/album/kN7gWXQNuSt55F/?invite=1694b339-941f-4f6d-bbd4-aef16df5a522

Ahoghill starting panel

Aine Graham, Orla Neeson, Bronagh Graffin, Dearbhaile Graffin, Niamh Graham, Éadaoin McGarry, Maeve O’Donnell, Caoimhe Scullion, Molly Horan, Noreen Graham 0-04 (3f), Katie McCloskey 0-01, Gemma O’Donnell, Alex Burns, Róisín Loughlin, Anne-Marie O’Neill

Loughgiel starting panel

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Aoibheann Gillan, Finvola McVeigh 0-01, Katie Lynn, Ciara Laverty, Anna Connelly 0-02, Louise McKillop 0-01, Rose McMullan 0-01, Marie Laverty 2-06 (2f, 1×45), Shanna Deery 1-02, Ceala Dobbin 1-02, Annie Lynn 1-03, Anna McKillop 0-03

Eimear McKinley 1-01

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Host Tipperary in Tailteann Cup

Following Antrim’s spectacular first round win away to Carlow, Antrim have received a home draw in Round 2A where they will entertain Tipperary.

Benen Kelly’s sensational last minute goal with the sides tied in extra time and a penalty shootout beckoning was the stuff that dreams are made of and sent the Saffrons up the road from Netwatch Cullen Park with a smile on their face.

Carlow had already defeated Antrim in the opening game of the division 4 league in Portglenone at the end of January and when the Saffrons went on to lose to Tipperary (away) and Longford at home, two weeks later their season looked to be over before it had started.

Antrim regrouped however to win four league games on the bounce, narrowly missing out on promotion to Carlow and Longford.

It was the Tipperary defeat that really rankled with Antrim manager, Mark Doran and his backroom staff adamant that it is a game they feel they should have won.

Antrim had two men sent off in that game in Moneygall on a pitch that was bordering unplayable but they will feel this is an opportunity to go some way to putting matters right.

The Full Draw

The draw for rounds 2A and 2B of the Tailteann Cup has taken place.

Round 2A sees the eight Round 1 winners meet, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

In Round 2B, the eight first round losers face each other with season ending elimination on the cards for the teams that lose those ties.

First named teams have home advantage with the games to be places on 23 or 24 May.

Tailteann Cup Round 2A

Antrim v Tipperary

Fermanagh v Wexford

Offaly v Winner (Down v Leitrim)

London v Laois

Tailteann Cup Round 2B

Wicklow v Limerick

Clare v Longford

Waterford v Sligo

Loser (Down v Leitrim) v Carlow

by thesaffrongael

A landmark day for Kichams Creggan

Kickhams GAC Creggan marked a landmark moment in its proud history on Sunday 10th May with the official opening of its newly developed facilities, the culmination of an extraordinary six-year effort driven by the vision, dedication and community spirit of the people of Creggan.

The £1.2 million development represents a significant investment in the future of the club and the wider community. The project includes a brand-new playing pitch, state-of-the-art floodlighting, an extended walking track, and a modern, purpose-built gym and club shop. Together, these facilities will support players, members, and the wider community for generations to come.

GAA President Jarlath Burns and club chairman Terry Robb cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the new pitch.
President of the Camogie Asssociation Brian Molloy addresses the crowd
Eileen Jones, Ulster President LGFA addresses the crowd

The occasion was fittingly marked by the presence of distinguished guests from across the Gaelic games family. Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA, Brian Molloy, President of the Camogie Association, and Eileen Jones, Ulster President of the LGFA, all attended and were glowing in their praise of the club’s vision, ambition and the quality of the new facilities. Each acknowledged the importance of such developments in strengthening communities and promoting participation across all codes.

Club Chairperson Terry Robb in his speech reflected on the journey taken to reach this milestone, paying tribute to the countless volunteers, supporters and contributors who made it possible and also recognising the efforts of the past generations who built the foundations of the fantastic club we have today

GAA President Jarlath Burns and Camogie Association president Brian Molloy chat with Creggan legend Harry Bateson.
GAA President Jarlath Burns and Camogie Association president Brian Molloy during a walk around the new facilities at Creggan

Proceedings began with a vibrant and colourful parade, led by the Whitehill Accordion Band. The parade featured the club’s underage players alongside senior members, symbolising both the rich heritage and the bright future of Kickhams GAC. The sense of pride was evident as members of all ages circled the new facilities together, showcasing the unity and spirit that has underpinned the entire project.

A special moment followed as Fr John Forsythe conducted a blessing of the new pitch, marking the official transition from vision to reality.

In keeping with the club’s focus on youth and development, it was fitting that four underage players had the honour of becoming the first to score on the new pitch. Their achievement was met with a rousing cheer from all in attendance, a moment that perfectly captured the excitement and promise surrounding the new facilities.

A member of the Whitehill Accordian Band, who led the parade
Members of the Antrim and Derry All Stars team who played on the new pitch.
Fr John Forsythe blesses the new pitch

Following the official opening, the day became a true celebration of community and sport. Juvenile players were given the opportunity to take to the new field, enjoying the facilities first-hand. The festivities culminated with the Antrim and Derry All Stars teams showcasing their talents, providing an entertaining and fitting conclusion on the pitch.

The entire day was blessed with glorious sunshine, adding to the celebratory atmosphere on the lough shore. Attendees were treated to refreshments, including burgers, hot dogs and ice cream, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone present.

This memorable occasion stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collective effort and shared ambition. The official opening of the new facilities is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Kickhams GAC Creggan and the entire community it serves.

GAA President Jarath Burns, Camogie President Brian Molloy, LGFA President Eileen Jones and club chairman Terry Robb with young members of the club.
MT McCann, Brian McAvoy, Karen McElroy, Eileen Jones, Fiona McConway, Brian Molloy, Owen Elliott, Jarlath Burns, Sinead Sargent , Collette Stevenson and Terry Robb

Brian Molloy, Jarlath Burns, Brian McAvoy, Barry Donaghy, MT McCann, Eileen Jones, Damien McAuley, Eamon Doherty, Fr John Forsyth, Terry Robb, and Benny Devlin outside the new club Gym.
GAA President Jarlth Burns with members of the Maguire family at offical opening of Maguire gates. L-R, Paul Maguire, Francie Maguire, Jarlath Burns, Anne Maguire, Patsy Maguire and Anthony Maguire
The King of Creggan Tony McCollum, who has been in poor health in recent months, still made his way to the opening of the new facilities on Sunday. Tony is seen here with five of his grandchildren Cillian and Éabha McCollum on the left. Joe and Mya Henry on the right and the newest edition to the clan, 7 week old Eilís McCollum on his knee






TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PICS FROM THIS GREAT EVENT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/SvGBHdzEhNGWAR

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Power Past Wexford to Secure Quarter-Final Spot

Antrim 3-15 (24) — 1-05 (8) Wexford

Antrim’s minor footballers made a massive statement on Saturday afternoon, as they brushed aside Wexford with a dominant 16-point victory at the TU Dublin Blanchardstown campus. The Saffron youngsters showed exactly why they are a force to be reckoned with in the Electric Ireland Tier 3 All-Ireland Championship (Seamus Heaney Cup), securing a safe passage into the quarter-finals with a clinical and professional performance.

Clinical Saffrons Take Control

From the throw-in, it was clear that Antrim had arrived with a point to prove. Despite the long journey to the neutral Dublin venue, they settled almost immediately, racing into a 1-02 to 0-00 lead within the first 15 minutes with Shea McFerran causing all sorts of problems at the edge of the square. The Saffron forward line punished every Wexford mistake and kept the scoreboard ticking over with ruthless efficiency.

By the interval, the game was already tilting heavily in Antrim’s favour. The Glensmen had carved open the Wexford defence twice for two vital goals, heading into the dressing rooms with a commanding 2-05 to 0-03 lead.

No Let-Up in the Second Half

Any hopes of a Wexford fight-back were quickly extinguished after the restart. While the Model County managed to find the net once, they were completely overwhelmed by Antrim’s superior fitness and tactical discipline.

Moneyglass lad, Joey Griffin added to Shea McFerran’s double for a third goal with a flurry of points from McFerran, Colm Kane, Dara Campbell showcasing the depth of talent currently emerging from the county.

By the time Referee Ian Howley blew the final whistle, the gap had widened to 16 points, with Antrim finishing on a comprehensive scoreline of 3-15 to 1-05.

Quarter-Final Bound

This victory ensures Antrim’s name is firmly in the hat for the next round, as they continue their pursuit of the Seamus Heaney Cup. On this evidence, few teams will fancy the task of slowing down this high-scoring Saffron side.

The Saffron management team deserve a lot of credit in the manner in which they have stuck to their guns during a difficult Ulster League and Championship campaign where they showed in glimpses just what they are capable of.

None more so than when they travelled to Monaghan and led the Ulster League winners by six early in their Ulster Championship meeting and at the weekend it all came together with this encouraging win.

Antrim are scheduled to face Carlow, who had a big win over Kilkenny, in their quarter-final on Saturday, 16 May.

Antrim: 1. Niall Quinn 2. ⁠Cillian McKenna 3. ⁠Shea McLernon 4. ⁠Bradan O’Donnell 5. ⁠Sean McPeake 6. ⁠Conor McArt 7. ⁠Thomas Douthart 0:01 8. ⁠Dara Campbell 0:02 9. ⁠Tom Convery 10. ⁠Conall Wilson 0:01 11. ⁠Dàire Thornbury 0:01 12. ⁠Joey Griffin 1:00 13. ⁠Colm Kane 0:05 14. ⁠Shea McFerran 2:04 15. ⁠Tiernan Lee 17. Sionan McCormack 18. ⁠Sean McMullan 19. Nathan Burns 0:01 20. ⁠Ruairi O’Connell 21. ⁠Cillian McDonnell

Management: Donal Laverty, Owen Doherty, Ciaran Browne, Mark Carey, Che Connor.