Con Magees manager Joe Cassidy speaks with Brendan McTaggart at the final whistle in Dunsilly
Watching the opposition celebrate at the end of a final is never easy. One look at Joe Cassidy and you knew he didn’t want to be there. Both he and Paul Downey stood side by side wondering just how it got away from them at Dunsilly against a Dunloy side who never dominant. “Very disappointing,” started Cassidy: “more so for the lads. They didn’t turn up or do themselves justice. That’s not taking anything away from Dunloy, they were the far superior team. If it hadn’t of been for Jamie (McEvoy) in goals, they could have had at least three goals. Jamie kept us in it.”
Dunloy’s domination of the middle third of the pitch and ability to win turn over ball in the Glenravel half allowed them to apply unrelenting pressure. The Con Magees manager was left scratching at their lack of competitiveness in midfield: “Where we’ve done the business in the last three games in terms of pressing opposition kick outs, I mean we dominated Ballymena on their kick outs and the same with Sarsfields. Today, we didn’t do that and that allowed Dunloy to get the advantage on us. When you’re playing chasing shadows with the athlete’s that Dunloy have you’re always going to be in bother.”
Trailing by six at half time, the Con Magees took a little longer than the allotted time. Cassidy said it was a time for cool minds as they looked to get a way back into the final: “We were trying to get our team sorted out. We were making a few changes, we knew where the problems were. There was no point in roaring or shouting, that wasn’t going to do anyone any good or turn the game around. It was about trying to sort out where the problems where.
“It was always going to be an uphill battle, you were going to need a goal at some point to get a bit of momentum. We could never get that. We got a couple of points but we needed a goal and at that you’re grasping at straws. The damage was done in the first half. Dunloy had six kick outs and got out with five of them. The last day against Sarsfields we completely blitzed their kick out and that’s the most disappointing thing from today.”
Despite defeat, reaching the Intermediate final should be seen as progress for the Glenravel side. Cassidy continued: “They are a very young side. Probably, this time last year would they have taken progress to an Intermediate Final, possibly. But when you get to a final you want to win it and I genuinely believe we wouldn’t be far away but I have to hold my hands up, the best team won.”
Despite the silver lining from defeat, Cassidy wasn’t pulling any punches when he said: “That’s for Glenravel people to decide that (progress). Every manager is going to say the same sort of garbage at the end of the season. They’ve got to their first Intermediate final in whatever number of years it is so from that point of view its progress. They won an U20 championship last year, they are building. They have a good group of minors coming below that again. Sometimes you have to lose one to win one, at it’s really how they kick on from here but it’s very hard to say there’s been progress when you get to a final and you’re well beat.”
Victorious Dunloy manager Anthony McQuillan speaks with Brendan McTaggart amidst the celebrations at Dunsilly
There aren’t many out side of maybe Glenravel who would begrudge this man a winners medal. Dunloy manager Anthony McQuillan has lived and breathed the big ball in a hurling dominated village and there were fewer wearing a bigger smile than he at the final whistle. We had a very different conversation two years ago when the Cuchullains were beaten by Moneyglass in the decider and ‘Anto’ said the memory of that defeat was never far from their minds in the build-up to Saturday’s final: “When we say finally over the line, no one understands that more than me. Two years ago against Moneyglass we left this pitch heartbroken. In years gone by, Glenavy, Aghagallon and St Brigid’s beat us but that was a different team and not the current squad. Two years ago hurt and today was about putting that right for the boys. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
In a first half that Dunloy dominated, the six point interval lead they had was the bare minimum they deserved. The Cuchullains midfield dominated and their pace from deep meant they had threats all over the pitch. McQuillan said he knew after the first few plays it was going to be their day: “That was the dream start. The first two or three balls, we turned them over and broke at pace. I knew then. That was the moment I knew we were onto a good thing. When we start winning the second ball and attacking at pace, we’re trailing defenders out of position and our pacey forwards were running in behind.
“I’ve no idea how we didn’t get a goal today. Their goal keeper was absolutely unreal. The first half we were absolutely superb. We had two goal chances that if we had of taken, it wouldn’t even have glossed the score line.”
Chrissy Brogan who was part of the last Dunloy team to win the Intermediate Football championship in 2007 with Declan McGeehan, a Ballinderry native who has trained the Cuchullains this yearafter spending the two years before that with Glenravel
In those recent, previous finals, the Cuchullains were never in a similar position. They were in the game and competitive but to have been so dominant and in control was new ground. McQuillan said they hadn’t really prepared for such a scenario when they formulated a half time team talk: “We went in at half time and I turned around to the management team and said ‘we haven’t had that before.’ I was caught on the hop a little, I normally have something positive and negative to say and I was searching for a negative. I just challenged then to do the same again for the next 30 minutes.”
With 11 dual players in the starting 15, the Dunloy men are on a role this championship season. McQuillan said the prospect of winning trophies at both hurling and football has driven the club on in recent times. The ‘dual problem’ isn’t seen as much as a problem any further but more a chance to further enhance Dunloy club as a whole, he continued: “It’s starting to work (dual). No doubt about that. When I came in four years ago, my main aim was to have everyone playing football for Dunloy. Not just senior, every age group. Boys have football training and hurling training, the whole club is now working together trying to progress it forward. We built an Academy together, we built the 4G together, we’re now working together to make it work.
“This weekend, we had this today, the camogs tomorrow and the hurlers next Sunday. That’s what dreams are made of, that’s what kids dream about.”
For now, the Intermediate Championship resides in Pearse Park for the first time in 15 years. Having been part of the panel that secured the trophy in 2007, McQuillan struggled to put it into words the emotion of it all: “This actually does mean the world. I can’t put it into words. All I wanted to do when I came in to this job was to make this team a Senior team, not an Intermediate team. This is the championship we had to win to make us a Senior team. We’ll be playing Division 2 next year, we’ll have boys away on county duty but that’s up to the rest of the lads to progress us forward into Division One senior team. But next year we’re a fully-fledged Senior dual club and that was the aim.
“I’ll have a few jars for sure but not for everyone. A few of the lads will have ice-baths, they have a championship to win next Sunday and we’ll need it over the line as well but there’ll be celebrations. There’s about 20 of us who aren’t dual so we’ll be celebrating this for sure.”
The bridesmaid finally became the bride. Dunloy have been knocking on the door for the Intermediate crown for the last eight years, on Saturday they finally got over the line. Four points the difference at the end of the hour, much of that down to the heroics of James McEvoy between the sticks for Con Magees. Five saves, three in the first half, McEvoy was outstanding for the Glenravel men and it was his efforts that kept the score line respectable, especially in the opening 30 minutes.
Dunloy’s Seaan Elliott is closed down by Glenravel’s Calum Higgins
In a first half that the Cuchullains dominated, much of that was down to their dominance in midfield. Despite missing the talents of Deaglan Smith from injury, Ryan McGarry and Eoin McFerran were superb. Winning clean ball, primary possession then recycling or giving to runners off the shoulder and Dunloy had plenty of them. Seaan and Nigel Elliott left the Con Magees chasing their shadows on countless occasions, Keelan Molloy and Conal Cunning with the scores.
Defensively, Dunloy had their homework done. Aaron Crawford was given the unenvious task of keeping tabs on Eamon Fyfe. The Con Magees man finished with eight points beside his name, three of those from play but he had little in the way of support as the Cuchullains controlled this game from the first whistle.
The opening minutes were cagey with Con Magees having the lions share of possession. Dunloy set up well to counter and opened the scoring through Keelan Molloy’s effort after just two minutes. Eamon Fyfe replied with a free in the fifth minute but Dunloy’s midfield dominance began to pay dividends and they turned the screw on the Con Magees defence. A brace of scores from Conal Cunning (one free) edged Dunloy ahead by two but scores weren’t easy come by. Despite not winning the aerial of ground battle from restarts, the Glenravel men had created a white and green wall that the Cuchullains took some time to adapt to.
Glenravel goalkeeper James McEvoy kept his team in the game with a series of outstanding saves
Another point from Cunning put three between the sides before Dunloy created their first chance for a major. Cunning judging the flight of the ball and rolling his marker but his effort went just wide. Referee Darren McKeown had called advantage for an infringement on Cunning and Molloy converted to put the Cuchullains ahead by five midway through the first half.
Any attacks from the Con Magees were fleeting with Fyfe living off scraps. They were forced into shooting from difficult angles and from distance. McEvoy was in action again when he denied Cunning from close range but another lightning Dunloy counter resulted in Molloy splitting the posts.
Eamon Fyfe converted a free to register Glenravel’s second point of the final in the 22nd minute but Dunloy were starting to cut loose. Seaan Elliott thundering through the heart of the Glenravel defence but his rasping drive was turned over the bar. McEvoy with a save right out of the top drawer. Seaan Elliott (free) and Fyfe (mark) swapped scores before Keelan Molloy fired over his fourth point of the half to leave the half time score 0-9 to 0-3 in favour of the Cuchullains.
Conal Cunning sends over a Dunloy point from a free
It was pretty much a one sided affair in the opening half and a six point lead was the minimum the Cuchullains deserved. The Glenravel men were second best all over the pitch and needed something special to get back in to the final and Fyfe was doing his best to accommodate. He scored the opening point of the second half from wide on the right and off balance. The Con Magees faithful were celebrating before Fyfe managed to get back to his feet. A wonderful point that should have breathed life into the Glenravel challenge. It didn’t. What followed was more of the same precision from the Dunloy forwards with James Scally and Cunning (free) getting the scoreboard going again in the second half for Dunloy.
Seaan Elliott and Fyfe swapped frees before Fyfe added his second from play, scoring his and Glenravel’s sixth point of the game midway through the second half.
The Con Magees challenge was seriously dented when Conor McNeill was sent off for an overzealous challenge on Seaan Elliott. Cunning executed the resulting free but the Dunloy numerical advantage was short lived with Eoin Gillan seeing black just three minutes later.
Eamon Fyfe sends over a Glenravel point
McEvoy was once again on his game to deny substitute Caolan Gillan before Fyfe (free) and Daniel McQuillan reduced the Dunloy lead to five points. The first time in the game the Con Magees registered back to back scores, coming eight minutes from time.
Another McAvoy save denied Seaan Elliott before Cunning took his tally to six points for the final with five minutes remaining. That would be the Cuchullains last score but they had enough on the score board to see out the time that remained.
Eoin Hynds (free) and Fyfe split the uprights for Glenravel, Fyfe’s effort just clipping the crossbar before going over but they never got the major they needed to worry the Dunloy defence.
At the final whistle the cheers went up. Among the shouts of congratulations and hugs, a sigh of relief could be heard. A mix of ecstasy and relief on faces young and old. In recent times Dunloy have flattered to deceive in the Intermediate decider but today was their time. The side have matured together and if the old saying goes, you have to lose on to win one, you got the feeling that Dunloy were never going to let this one slip. The Cuchullains bridge a 15 year gap from their last Intermediate title and take the cup to Pearse Park.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Christopher Brogan; James Scally, Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella; Oran Quinn, Kevin McQuillan, Anton McGrath; Ryan McGarry, Eoin McFerran; Nigel Elliott, Eoin Gillan, Christopher McMahon; Conal Cunning, Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliott
Subs: Caolan Gillan for C McMahon (34); Michael Smith for A McGrath (56); Ciaran McQuillan for R McGarry (59); Anthony Smith for N Elliott (60); Ryan McFarline for K Molloy (60)
Scorers: C Cunning 0-6 (3fs); K Molloy 0-4 (1f); S Elliott 0-3 (2fs); J Scally 0-1;
Glenravel: James McEvoy; Charlie Henry, Sean Higgins, Conor Carey; Rian Lennon, Niall Swann, Daniel McQuillan; Calum Higgins, David Higgins; Aidan O’Donnell, Eoin Hynds, Connor McNeill; Declan Traynor, Eamon Fyfe, Ryan McQuillan
Subs: Eoin McCusker for A O’Donnell (22); Kieran McKeown for C Henry (HT); Sean McKay for R Lennon (HT); Conleth O’Loan for S Higgins (36); Martin McCarry for D McQuillan (60)
Scorers: E Fyfe 0-8 (4fs, 1m); D McQuillan 0-1; E Hynds 0-1 (1f)
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)
Dunloy players and subs jump for joy at the final whistle. Pic by Bert Trowlen Nigel Elliott receives the Saffron Gael Man of the Match award after the game
St. Mary’s CBGS 7-05-6-06 Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock
Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly
Photos by Bert Trowlen
St. Mary’s fought back from 5-02-3-02 behind at the break to claim the Year 8 Gaelfast Antrim Cup after a breath-taking final against Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock at Dunsilly on Thursday evening.
There was much anticipation for the all Belfast final after both sides came through their respective semi-final clashes the previous Wednesday against St Malachy’s and Coaliste Feirste.
The Glen Road youngster’s laid siege to the St’ Pat’s goals early on, but goalkeeper Jake Doran dealt with the early pressure well.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the form of a Padraig Kelly goal after three minutes. Jude Gamble followed up with a point and a converted Kelly free had the simmerian’s 1-02 ahead approaching the 10thminute.
Knock began to apply pressure at the other end and like St. Mary’s, were off target with their opening attempts before Finn Green finally dropped a shot into the net.
Odhran Lynch added his sides first point of the evening and the game was level midway through the half with Oran Mills seeing his shot rise over the bar- following a terrific save from Ollie Brownlee that denied Mills a certain goal.
Mills wouldn’t have long to wait and 60-seconds later got the better of Brownlee with a fine finish to the net.
It was end to end stuff and St. Mary’s hit back and levelled on 16 minutes through a thumping Daire Gault shot that dropped to the net to make it 2-02 apiece.
Less than 60-seconds later and Knock hit the front again through a fine individual goal from Aidan Dobbs, Darragh Conway would follow-up with his sides fourth shortly after and the East-Belfast side were in the ascendancy with the interval looming.
Ollie Brownlee made a further terrific save; however he was helpless to prevent Aidan Dobbs from doubling his goal tally for the half.
St. Mary’s were in desperate need of a score before break and found one in injury-time through Caolan Cosgrove’s flick-on that found the net to ensure his remained in touch and trailed 5-02-3-02.
Like the opening half, it was St. Mary’s who applied the early pressure upon the resumption and Padraig Kelly added to his tally with a further point. But Knock soon increased their lead and Finn Green doubled his goal account after a tremendous team move that culminated in a close-range finish to push his side 6-02-3-03 to the good.
The eight-point advantage was short-lived though as St. Mary’s hit back immediately at the other end, Ollie Brownlee found Jude Gamble to burst forward, he switched the play, and it found its way to Padraig Kelly to drop in his second goal of the evening and give his side renewed hope.
Successive points from Oran Mills and Odhran Lynch in response had Our Lady’s and St Pat’s further clear, but Kelly netted his hat-trick and then converted his second free of the evening after Cruz-Devlin had somehow emerged from the corner in possession of the ball- despite the odds being against him and was fouled.
A converted free from Mills extended his sides lead to four, though with the game entering the final ten minutes- things were on a knife-edge and a grandstand finish was on the cards. St. Mary’s belief was growing, and the energetic Conan Mulligan drove his team forward on numerous occasions.
The bare minimum separated the sides on 42 minutes as Criostoir McCabe surged into a shooting position and sent his effort just beyond the reach of Jake Doran and into the corner of the net to make it 6-05-6-04.
Knock almost restored their four-point advantage after an excellent sweeping move forward, but Caolan McGarry’s knock on was turned behind by Dara O’Sullivan- who celebrated his block like a goal at the other end and showed how much it meant to the young O’Donnell’s number nine.
The interception would prove vital as St. Mary’s hit the front for the first time since the 13th minute. Ollie Brownlee picked out Caolan Cosgrove with his kick-out and he switched to Criostoir McCabe- who had his run halted. McCabe picked out Padraig Kelly from the resulting free and he in turn found Conan Mulligan, a slip to Jude Gamble then saw him dip the ball over Jake Doran and into the Knock goal to edge his side 7-04-6-05 up.
Our Lady and St Pat’s went on the attack and tried to switch roles again, they didn’t manage to do that but did close the gap as Caolan McGarry bore down on goal- though his shot was too high and went over the black-spot for a point.
St. Mary’s had the chance to wrap things up when Padraig Kelly popped the ball off to Marc Killyleagh who jinked and dropped in a shot that crashed off the crossbar, the loose ball was intercepted by Alfie Manning to turn and hit the post for the second time with his follow-up and a terrific opportunity went a begging.
Padraig Kelly would claim the game’s final score, converting his third free of the evening off the deck – but his side would face a nervy finish as Knock earned themselves one last chance of a goal that would have flipped things on its head. Oran Mills floated the ball into a congested square- though Criostoir McCabe emerged with the ball, cleared his lines and final whistle sounded from referee Paul Burns to bring to an end a truly magnificent game of football.
Antrim, Lámh Dhearg and Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock legend Frankie Wilson was on hand to present St. Mary’s captain Cillian Murphy with the trophy and he thanked Gaelfast, both sets of coaches and match officials and also parents for contributing to what has been a successful initiative to integrate the new Year 8s to Gaelic football in the respective schools.
OL&SPK: Jake Doran, Rory Stephens, Charlie Murray, Conor Harkin, Matt McConville, Jamie Craig, Eoin Campbell, Fionn McKay, Caolan McGarry, Darragh Conway, Aidan Dobbs, Sean Cunningham, Finn Green, Reuben Collins, Oran Mills, Thomas Gilsenan, Jarlath Price, Odhran Lynch, Leo Kennedy, Conor O’Doherty.
St Mary’s CBGS: Ollie Brownlee, Cillian Murphy, Cormac Hamilton, Daniel Robb, Daire Gault, Cormac Dempster, Conan Mulligan, Criostoir McCabe, Dara O’Sullivan, Caolan Cosgrove, Padraig Kelly, Cruz Devlin-Amoh, Alife Manning, Jude Gamble, Marc Killyleagh, Ronan Higham, Daniel O’Connor, Cormac McDowell, Darragh McKernan, Jack Rafferty, Orin Agnew, Nathan Brown, Jude Burns, Caolan Mullan, Evan Matthews, Michael O’Dubhfinn, Sean McMullan, Ryan Holmes, Shea Higham, Finn Lawlor.
The sun was shining at Rossa Park yesterday as the home club laid out the red carpet for the ladies from Ardoyne Kickhams and Laochra Loch Lao. A crowd of over 400 people gathered for the final of the Antrim Ladies Junior B Final.
The warm welcome was repaid with a magnificent game of football by the ladies. They put on a display of passion, skill, determination and sportsmanship that are surely a sign that the days are long gone when the success of a club on the field is gauged by the performance of their senior men!
This was an historic occasion for Laochra Loch Lao as they were not only appearing in their first competitive final, but also went on to win a pulsating game with a scoreline of 3-09 to 2-08. Thrills, excitement, joy and heartbreak made it a day to remember for two teams who are so obviously at the heart of their respective communities.
Ardoyne played the first half with the wind at their back as they shot towards the Shaws Road side of the ground. It was clear from the throw-in that the Laochra Loch Lao backroom had done their homework and their game plan kept some of Ardoyne’s more noted players under control.
Shannon O’Connor however was a constant threat for the Ardoyne ladies with surging runs through the heart of the Laochra Loch Lao defence that paid dividends with a first-half tally of a goal and two points. Laochra Loch Lao were not to outdone though and replied with goals from Aine NicAoidh and Rachel Ní Daimhin.
Half-time arrived with a scoreline of 2-04 to 1-06 with every score being taken from play.
Laochra Loch Lao got off to a flyer in the second half with three points in succession that rocked that Ardoyne ladies before a goal from Katie Markey steadied the ship. The excitement grew as Adoyne chased the lead taken by Laochra Loch Lao and the crowd responded to the effort and skill being displayed by both teams.
Despite their best efforts, Ardoyne could not get back on terms and a goal by Roisin NíCeallaign for Laochra Loch Lao finally put the game beyond the reach of the Ardoyne ladies.
Laochra Loch Lao: Sorcha Ni Coinne Rachel Nic Eoghain Caitriona Ni Bhailis Claire Nic Giolla Rabhaigh Maebh Damary Séanna Lee Kavanagh Gearóidin Nic Cathmhaoil Caoimhe Ni Bhradaigh Shauny Shiels Jennifer Adams 0-05 (1f) Aine Nic Aoidh 1-0 Fiona McAteer Rachel Ní Daimhin 1-04 Roisin Ní Cheallaigh 1-0 Rosie McNally
