July 24, 2023July 24, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Antrim LGFA’s geat run comes to an end

All Ireland LGFA Intermediate Championship semi-final

Clare 2-14 – 1-13 Antrim

Antrim Ladies brilliant run came to an end at in Longford on Sunday when they lost out by four points to Clare in the semi-final of the All Ireland Intermediate LGFA championship. In a season when the Saffrons won promotion out of Division 4 unbeaten and won the Ulster Intermediate Championship, plus topped their All Ireland group, this team can hold their heads high despite losing to a highly experienced Clare team, who play their league football in Division.

Early scores for Clare by All Star Chloe Maloney who fired over a point, and Aisling Reidy put Antrim on the back foot from the start the Banner girls pushed on to lead by eight after eight minutes. Antrim side showed great resilience to battle back and boosted by a goal from Maria O’Neill and a series of excellent points they drew level nearing half time. However Clare responded with two late points to gain the upper hand again and they went in at the break with a 1-9 to 1-7 lead.

The Munster girls increased their lead at the start of the second half and when Maloney added a second goal Antrim had a mountain to climb. Two points from Orlaith Prenter kept the Saffrons in touch and Lar Dahunsi produced a great run through the middle before firing over and cutting the deficit even further. Dahunsi worked another great opening but her shot for goal just rose over the Clare crossbar and the last chance to salvage the game was gone Grainne McLaughlin pulled another point back but Clare finished strongly to book their place in the All Ireland final in two weeks’ time.

Antrim: A McCann, D Coleman (57’), E Ferran, M Mulholland, O Corr, C Brown, S O’Neill, L Dahunsi 0-2, A Tubridy, G McLaughlin 0-2, C Carey 0-2, T Mellon 0-2, B Devlin, O Prenter 0-4 (2 frees), M O’Neill 1-1

Subs: A Devlin, T Mellon, A Keenan (57’), A Mulholland, C McKenna, C Taggart, A Taggart, L Agnew, C Emerson, R Mulholland, M McGarry, N McIntosh, B Nic Cahill, A Kelly, S Tennyson.

Clare: A Linehan, Á Keane, S Ní Chonaill, G Harvey, L Griffin (55’), C Harvey, S Considine, A Reidy 1-3, C Moloney 1-3 (1 free), L Ryan, F Marrinan 0-4 (2 frees), A Sexton (48’), L Grifey 0-1, C Blake 0-1, C Cahill

Subs: M Downes 0-1 (48’), J Doohan (55’), E Hynes, J Murphy, C McCormack, C Ryan, L Clarke, E Healy, O Devitt, R Doohan, S O’Gorman, C Ryan, C McCarthy

July 23, 2023July 23, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Tir na nOg secure their Division 1 status with excellent Corrigan victory

ACFL Division 1B

St. John’s 0-11 Tir na nOg 3-13

Goals from Darragh Fagan, Ciaran O’Neill and Eamon Og McAllister saw Tir na nOg, Randalstown secure their division 1 status for another season when they produced a polished display to complete the league double over St. John’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

The Whitehill side went into Sunday’s game knowing that even a narrow defeat would be enough to keep them in the top grade but from the throw in it was obvious that they were not going to settle for that as they went about their business with deadly efficiency.

Aaron McNeilly and Ciaran Dobbin settled the visitors with early points before Darragh Fagan put them in control when he got through for a goal in the 6^th minute.

**Darragh Fagan (14) fires past Padraig Nugent for Tir na nOg’s opening goal**

Conor Adams opened the Johnnies account from a free in the 10^th minute but the Randalstown side were playing some excellent football and with the wind behind them they continued to stretch the home defence.

Ciaran Dobbin was finding acres of space out on the left and he placed Aaron McNeilly who fired over when well-placed and might have had a goal in the 12^th minute.

The momentum was very much with the visitors as Christy Sheerin’s astute pass from mid-field was just inches out of reach of Darragh Fagan who was right through but the big full-forward made amends with a great point immediately after.

St. John’s were battling hard to get their own game together as Conchur Hand scored their second point in the 17^th minute but Fagan replied from a pointed free before Ciaran O’Neill fired home their second goal following another defence splitting move.

Conchur Adams replied with his second converted free to bring the home side’s total to 0-3 but once again the visitors replied and Aaron McNeilly pointed a free at the other end to move Tir na nOg 10 ahead by the 24^th minute.

**St. John’s Conor Hand gets out in front of Caoimhe Duffin, Tir na nOg to claim possession**

St. John’s introduced Joe Garland for Conal Bohill who seemed to be carrying an injury and they kicked the final point of the half through Conall Quinn to trail 0-4 to 2-7 at half time but with the wind at their back in the second half.

St. John’s introduced Ronan McCafferty for Ross Hannigan and Matthew Layden for Adrian Oliver at the start of the second half with Layden taking over in goals and Padraig Nugent moving into defence.

The home side were swiftly off the mark as Locky McCurdy pointed but the South West side were quick to reply as Darragh Fagan split the uprights at the other end.

Back came St. John’s with a point from Conall Quinn and with the fresh breeze behind them they began to enjoy a bit of success as Locky McCurdy and Conchur Adams brought their total to 0-8 and another from Adams closed the gap to five by the 10^th minute.

The visitors looked in a bit of trouble for the first time in the game but Darragh Fagan settled them with their second point of the half from a 17^th minute free and then fired over with a goal at his mercy.

Joe Garland pointed for the Johnnies to close the gap to six at the end of the third quarter but the momentum was very much back with the Whitehill side and Matthew Layden had to be sharp of his line to deny Eamon Og McAllister.

**Tir na nOg’s Barry McCormick comes under pressure from Conor Hand and Simon McDonagh, St. John’s**

The visitors continued to press forward and Aaron McNeilly kicked a good point and then fisted another before Ryan Crilly somehow screwed his shot wide of the post from the edge of the square as the visitors began to turn the screw.

Tir na nOg continued to probe and move the ball around confidently and Christy Sheerin sent over a good point in the 22^nd minute as they began to run down the clock before Eamon Og McAllister made the points secure with a late goal.

A good win for Tir na nOg that will see them play their football again in division 1 next season but before that happens there is more immediate business to attend to.

They begin their Senior Championship campaign at the same venue on Friday night in Group 1 against the same opponents and will hope to build on today’s result but are likely to face a stronger St. John’s side.

July 23, 2023July 23, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Nagle runs riot against depleted St. Gall’s

ACFL Division 1B

St. Gall’s 0-8 St. Enda’s 6-17

Fionn Nagle ran riot as St. Enda’s swept aside a depleted St. Gall’s at Milltown on Saturday afternoon. Number 14 Nagle scored 4 first half goal and added another in the second half but the Glengormley men’s biggest win of the season came too late to save their division 1 status.

Sean Murray 0-2 and Donal Walsh 0-2 kicked early points with Callum Walsh replying with two for the home side before Nagle got his personal scoring spree going from a free.

Suddenly the visitors were flying as Fionn Nagle finished a well-executed attack to the net and the same player followed quickly with another as St. Enda’s took control.

**Four goal hero, Fionn Nagle fires past Niall McCurdy for another St. Enda’s goal**

Nagle was causing havoc as he pointed from a Mark and then completed his hat-trick with another polished finish and he would finish the half with a personal tally of 4-3.

Donal Walsh, who had a good game on the ‘40’ added a 5^th goal for the Hightown side to put the contest out of site as St. Enda’s led 5-11 to 0-5 at the halfway stage.

HT 0-4 TO 5-11

Things didn’t get any better for the Milltown side on the restart as Donal Walsh and Odhran Eastwood struck early points for the visitors before the superb Nagle fired home his fifth goal of the evening and that was that.

The goals dried up after that but returning county player, James McAuley fired over a fine point and Donal Walsh, Ronan O’Neill and Sean Murray all got their names on the scorecard for the Glengormley side.

St. Gall’s were well beaten at this stage but they did manage to add to their total with the best of these coming from Michael Hopkins with a great point from near the sideline.

Brendan Bradley added two and Niall Fallon was also on target for a St. Gall’s side who were already safe following their draw with St. Brigid’s last Wednesday night while St. Enda’s best performance of the season came too late to stave off relegation to division 2.

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Duffin double sends St. Ergnat’s on their way

U17 Football League Division 2

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass 4-12 Aldergrove 2-11

Penalty conversions from Mark Duffin in the 27^th Minute of the first half and the 7^th minute of the second sent St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass on their way to victory over St. James Aldergrove at Marian Hill on Tuesday evening in division 2 of the U17 Football League

Tuesday night’s contestants served up an excellent game of football with only a point separated the sides at half time with the Marian Hill youngsters leading 3-5 to 2-7 and all still to play for in the second half.

It was the visitors who got off to a great start with Liam Og Cullen and Lewis Smith hitting early points before Logan Magee put them in a strong position with a goal in the 6^th minute.

St. Ergnat’s were slow to start but were back on level terms by the 12^th minute with Calum Murray and Ewan McGrath splitting the posts before full-forward McGrath got in for his side’s opening goal.

Christopher Robb restored the visitors lead with a goal in the 15^th minute but Moneyglass replied with goals from Mark Duffin and another from Gareth Boyd, just before half time to take a one point lead into the second half.

Oisin O’Donnell and Finn McCloskey extended the St. Ergnat’s lead with early second half points and Mark Duffin put his side in a strong position when he fired to the net from the penalty spot with 7 minutes of the new half gone.

St. James replied through a good point from Liam Og Cullen and Caolan Boyd for the home side and Chris Boyd for the Crumlin lads exchanged further points to leave it evenly balanced at the end of the third quarter.

Slowly St. Ergnat’s began to gain the upper hand with Oisin O’Donnell, Odhran Duffin 0-2 and Ewan McGrath hitting unanswered points to move them six ahead by the 22^nd minute.

The Moneyglass scoring finished at this point with St. James battling hard in the closing stages to get back into contention with the excellent Liam Og Cullen leading the way with two points but that was as close as they got.

Na Gaeil Oga lead the division with 14 points from 8 starts with All Saints in second place with 12 points from 7 starts and Roger Casement’s, St. John’s and Rossa close behind, all on 10 points.

PLEASE NOTE; We do not have the personnel to cover these games but if you would like your team’s game featured on the Saffron Gael then send your report and (Pics) if you have them to ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk or john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk

July 20, 2023July 20, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Naomh Gall and Naomh Bríd share the spoils to maintain their Division 1 status

O’Neill Sportswear Division 1 Football

Naomh Gall 1-07 Naomh Bríd 0-10

On Wednesday evening, Naomh Gall welcomed Naomh Bríd to Milltown with Division 1 Football being make or break. Niall Burns kicked the home side into an early 2-0 lead through placed balls after 10 mins. However, the Musgrave Park side quickly responded through James Smith whose outside of the boot effort sailed through the uprights. A free kick from Smith and further scores from Burns made it 4-2 in favour of the Milltown men on the 20 minute mark. Enda Downey and Niall Burns traded scores as the first period came to a close.

Half Time – Naomh Gall 0-05 Naomh Bríd 0-03

As the second half got underway, it was the visitors who got off the mark early as brothers Enda and Oran Downey combined for a score to put 1 point between the sides. However, St Galls talisman Burns kept them ahead as St Brigids kept knocking on the door through points from James Smith and Paul Bradley. On the 40 minute mark, Enda Downey curled a shot over the black spot to level up proceedings. With 10 minutes of normal time to play, Naomh Gall goalkeeper Louis McCormick’s kickout went over the top of the St Brigids midfield and found Cece Walsh who bagged a goal. Giving St Galls a comfortable 3 point lead. However, the Musgrave Park side didn’t lie down. Oran Downey played a tidy ball into Paul Bradley who caught a mark and converted. A minute later, Oran Downey again, only this time he kicked over a point from the left flank making it a 1 point game. With less than 2 minutes of time to play Joe Finnegan beat two men and kicked over the equaliser. Referee Karol Doherty blew the full time whistle and ensured Division 1 Football for both sides next year.