Lamh Dhearg and Antrim GAA were saddened today by the passing of Frankie Wilson. Former team-mate and close friend Paul Buchanan pays tribute to a great Gael and all round sportsman

Frankie was one of nature’s true gentleman.  A charismatic personality who enjoyed life to the full. He was always bubbling with enthusiasm and confidence and was very witty who loved a bit of banter. A very committed Gael, versatile, talented, and passionate sportsman who was widely respected among the sporting and school community.

Frankie was always courteous and always had time for you. He had a very benevolent nature and was always willing to help others.

Frankie joined the club as a 17-year-old along with his cousin Paul McCabe from Derriaghy. He enjoyed a very successful and distinguished career with club and county. He was a key member of our first ever winning county Minor Football championship in 1988, won a SFC medal in 1992 and 3 senior league titles. He demonstrated his commitment to the club by travelling up from Derry to train and play for many years.

He was a very skilful, fit, and athletic footballer. He had a trusted “left peg “and was an unbelievable passer of the ball and delivered the ball with precise accuracy. He was a very astute and creative player, and great reader of the game. Frankie was a prolific scorer from a dead ball and from open play. He won BBC’S Championship man of the match against Donegal, All Ireland champions in 1993. His fitness and athleticism were reinforced as he also enjoyed a successful Irish league soccer career in conjunction with his county and club careers. When Frankie retired from senior, he loved playing in over 35’s, over 40s and County Masters’ tournaments where he showed he didn’t lose much of his guile and craft.  He had the unique talent of talking and playing a good game.

Frankie was a very proud family man and derived great satisfaction and joy from watching his brother Greg and Luke playing for the club and his daughters  Ella and Lisa playing for St Galls. Two of his proudest moments was playing with cousins Colm and Paul McCabe on the county team as they were like brothers and supporting Luke in the Féile in Monaghan in 2017.

In his early years at the club Frankie revelled in coaching at our summer camps and participating in the recreational activities with the children. In recent years he has always willing accepted invitations to be a guest coach at many teams at all codes and levels in the club. At the sessions Frankie used his vast knowledge and expertise to enhance the quality of coaching and the sessions were so beneficial to the coaches and players. He was also an active participant in our Tour deFitz in horrendous weather conditions, but his fitness and resilience helped him overcome the conditions and complete the arduous route to Croke Park.

Frankie participated in our Red Hand Journeys during Lockdown telling his story of life in the club and his journey clearly personified his commitment and passion for the club and sport. In recent years he volunteered at Darkness into Light and along with friend Michael McCloskey were like concierges warmly welcoming many visitors in to the club prior to the early morning charity walk.

Recently Frankie was deservedly inducted into the Club Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifetime commitment and sterling service to the Lamh Dhearg club.

Frankie was always competitive and possessed great self-belief and he used these attributes admirably as he courageously battled against his illness. He will be sorely missed by his family and his many sporting friends and Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock Community where he was held with such high esteem, respect and popularity.

Frankie what a man! The best way for us all to remember and honour Frankie is that he enriched all our lives and remember the many good times and memories he brought us.

We would like to express our sympathy to Frankie’s wife Tara and children, Ella, Luke and Lisa, his parents Frank senior and Briege, sisters Colette, Delores, Brigene Regina and brother Gregory and family circle.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this sad time.

May Frankie rest in peace.

 Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Frankie playing in the Irish League against Linfield

The opening round of the under-20 football championship is down for decision for Saturday, 29^th and Sunday the 30^th of October.

This will be the last competition of the season with the U20 championship divided into two grades, A and B.

Sat 29^th Oct (all games at 3.00pm) 

Section A

O’ Donavon Rossa v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass

Moneyglass served notice of their ability in one of the few fixtures fulfilled in the Ill-fated league programme with a win over Cargin in the early stages of the competition.

They recorded draws against Aghagallon and All Saints before losing heavily to St. Brigid’s but with the experience of those four outings behind them they will start as favourites against Rossa, who saw no league action.

The Shaw’s road side are very much an unknown quality but they are always more than capable and most of Saturday’s lineout will have seen action with their U20 hurlers recently. Moneyglass will start as favourites however and the St Ergnat’s lads may well claim a spot in the semi-final.

All Saint’s Ballymena v Erin’s Own Cargin

Ballymena based All Saint’s shook off the cobwebs following a long term absence from competition when they played hosts to St Brigid’s last week in the league programme.

All Saints were beaten by competition favourites St. Brigid’s but will have benefited from the run out as they welcome Cargin to Quinn Park.

The Erin’s Own men should be strong in this grade and Brian McCann will have some of the senior championship squad to call upon if required.

The home side are certain to give their visitors a run for their money but the Toome men may well gain a semi-final place.

St. Gall’s v St Brigid’s

This looks a close one as St. Gall’s welcome St. Brigid’s to Milltown and despite no outings in the league the home side should be descent. St. Gall’s had a good minor side a couple of years ago and some of them have graduated to the senior panel and with home advantage they are likely to pose a strong challenge

St Brigid’s have played a couple of league games and have looked strong in those two wins over St. Ergnat’s and All Saints and although they will be asked questions by St. Gall’s they may just gain the verdict and a place in the semi-final.

St James Aldergrove v St Mary’s Aghagallon

Aldergrove play hosts to St Mary’s Aghagallon in this one and the visitors will arrive in Crumlin with a very creditable draw away to Moneyglass in the league under their belts.

They opened their account with a nine point winning margin victory over Con Magee’s in a preliminary round victory in Aghagallon and will hope to carry thast good form into Saturday’s game against St James’.

Aldergrove with ground advantage will not go down without a fight but St Mary’s will start as firm favourites and they may well gain the verdict.

Section B

Creggan Kickham’s

Tir na nOg Randalstown v Lamh Dhearg

Tir na nOg recorded a big win over Dunloy in one of the few games played in division 2 of the U20 football league while Lamh Dhearg will travel to Whitehill as something of an unknown quantity. Home advantage may well be a deciding factor with the Whitehill men given a tentative vote.

Sunday 30^th October 2.30pm

St Patrick’s Lisburn v Casement’s Portglenone

The home side have opened account in this competition with a victory over the visiting Rasharkin but this looks a more difficult one as Casements visit Kirkwood Park.

Portglenone will start as favourites and they may well gain the verdict.

3-15 Colaiste Feirste

Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy

Sarsfields had a more than useful minor side a couple of years ago, giving the eventual winners Cargin a run for their money in the 2019 semi-final before going down by a couple of points.

The Paddies will be contenders in this competition if they have retained the nucleus of that 2019 squad, and in such event they may well gain the verdict at Colaiste Feirste.

Ulster LGFA Senior Club Championship quarter final

Bredagh (Down) 2-10 Moneyglass (Antrim) 4-11

Moneyglass produced a magnificent performance to beat Down champions Bredagh in Sunday’s Ulster Senior Club quarter final at Cherryvale to secure a spot against Tyrone champions St McCartan’s at a home venue next weekend.

The Antrim champions dominated the opening half and were 1-6 to 0-3 ahead at half time, the goal coming from corner forward Bronagh Devlin. A second goal from Cliona Griffin early in the second half and another one from Devlin midway through the half had them in complete control, but Bredagh fought back with two goals of their own to leave things a little nervy for a while. However the Moneyglass fans need not have worried as centre back Rebecca Bradley settled any nerves with goal number four five minutes from time to seal a convincing win.

Bronagh Devlin takes one for the team as she beats Bredagh goalkeeper Emer Murtagh to the ball to palm the ball home for the first Moneyglass goal

Moneyglass started well with two Orlaith Prenter points in the fifth and seventh minutes, and it could have been much more had Bronagh Devlin’s goal bound shot not been turned away by Bredagh keeper Emer Murtagh, and Prenter’s angled shot not come back off the inside of the post and rolled along the line to safety.

When Bredagh captain Eilish Ward got her team on the scoreboard with a point on 10 minutes it appeared the Antrim champions may rue missing those early chances, but two minutes later a great move through the middle of the Bredagh defence ended with Bronagh Devlin beating the goalkeeper to a bouncing ball and bravely palming it to the back of the net.

With Niamh McIntosh brilliant at the back, Aoife Kelly in great form at midfield, Cathy Carey dominant on the 40 and O’Neill, Prenter and the twin Devlins creating havoc up front, the lead was soon out to six as Prenter hit a beauty of a point from the edge of the ‘D’ and soon it was seven as Aine Devlin got in on the scoring act.

Bredagh steadied the ship and pulled back point through Eva Hicks and Susanne White, and could have been closer, but for some great defending by the Moneyglass rearguard, and goalkeeper Anna McCann. The gap was down to four with just four minutes of the first half remaining, but two late points from the brilliant Prenter at full forward gave the St Ergnat’s girls a 1-6 to 0-3 cushion at the break.

With the breeze favouring Bredagh in the second half it was clear nobody in the Moneyglass camp was taking anything for granted as the second half got underway, but when right half forward Cliona Griffin broke through for a goal inside the opening minute the confidence flowed through the Moneyglass team.

Bronagh Devlin and Orlagh Prenter added two more to put eleven between the sides, but Bredagh were starting to find their feet and a series of excellent points from Eilish Ward, Eva Hicks, Anna O’Keefe and Laoise Duffy re-ignited their challenge. For the first time in the game Moneyglass were starting to waver a little, but they found the perfect response when Bronagh Devlin fired in her second goal of the game.

Bredagh found an instant replay when McCreanor squeezed the ball through a packed goalmouth at the other end, but Prenter found her scoring touch again with another well taken point from a free on the left. The Down champions came back with two more points from McCreanor and Hicks and the gap was back to seven, but five minutes from the end centre back Rebecca Bradley got in on the scoring act when she fired in her team’s fourth goal to seal an emphatic win.

After the game team manager Charlie O’Kane, humble as ever, said that he thought it was a great match between two very good teams. “when Bredagh beat them last year in Bellaghy the girls have striven to get to that level and they done it there today. I’m delighted for the girls, for they have done everything we ask of them, but we have nothing won yet” Next week we play the Tyrone champions and that will be another tough battle, there are no bad teams in Ulster.” We have had a great year and the club have won all the competitions in Antrim, so there a lot of young players coming through. Next week will be tough but we prepare that as the week goes on.”

MONEYGLASS

Anna McCann, Niamh Neeson, Emma Louise McAreavey, Niamh McIntosh, Eleanor Mallon, Rebecca Bradley, Sarah O’Neill, Aoife Kelly, Laura McCann, Cliona Griffin, Cathy Carey (capt), Maria O’Neill, Aine Devlin, Orlaith Prenter, Bronagh Devlin.

Subs – Alica Boyd and Danielle Duffin.

BREDAGH

Emer Murtagh, Siobhan Murray, Orna Kelly, Nuala Carvill, Olivia Boyle, Aishling McDarland, Orla Duffy, Aoife Laverty, Eilish Ward, Aoise Duffy, Claire Timoney, Anna O’Keefe, Ciara McCreanor, Vivienne McCormack, Eva Hicks.

Subs – Susanne White

Referee – Maggie Farreley

On a day when the real winner was football four excellent teams took part in the two Ulster championship finals at Kickhams GAC. 

First up was the u15 teams from Derry and from Warrenpoint with some brilliant scores from both teams it was really end to end stuff with each team kicking points and a few goals for fun and official referee Paul McNally from Kickhams letting the game flow it was a pleasure to be there to witness a fantastic game. 

Next up was the senior final between Antrim and Derry and it didn’t disappoint anyone as it was played at a fantastic pace with scores aplenty from both teams. Once again a big thanks to official referee Gerard Dougan from Kickhams GAC for keeping a tight grip on proceedings as some big hits were coming from both sides. 

In the end a fantastic day playing through the rain (but as Finn said to me we’re not made of sugar) it all finished in the pavilion where Michelle Bradley and her gang of workers laid on a feast of food for everyone as friends were made for life. All the players then received their medals and a very important Goodie bag sponsored by Boyd’s Main Street Toome