April 26, 2022April 26, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Football League Fixtures (Tuesday 26th and Wed 27th April)

The football leagues continue with a single fixture set for tonight (Tuesday) with the remainder of games in all of the divisions on Wednesday.

Following the Saffron exit from the championship ensures those previously on county duty are again available to their respective clubs.

Tuesday 26^th April

Division One (7.15pm)

Casement’s Portglenone v Erin’s Own Cargin

Casement’s are flying high in the league thus far with John Cheever’s men unbeaten in the competition.

The Bannsider’s travelled up to Milltown last time to complete six wins on the trot easing over the winning line with a ten point advantage over St Gall’s and they will be looking forward to the visit of Cargin.

Cargin have improved in the league of late and the Toome men dismissed the challenge of the visiting Tir na nOg last time and with their county players back in harness they are more than capable of asking stern questions of Bannsider’s.

Wed 27^th April

Division One (7.15 pm)

St Brigid’s v O’ Donovan Rossa

Rossa have been a bit hit and miss in the league to date but the Shaw’s Road impressed on their penultimate start when they travelled out to Creggan and held the reigning champions to a draw, and they went on to prove a point superior to their close rivals St John’s last time.

St Brigid’s gained a draw at Aghagallon last time and they will return to home base in search of their third win of the season.

St. Brigid’s at home will provide another stiff challenge but Rossa look capable of providing them with a stern test.

St John’s v Kickham’s Creggan

St John’s are have been disappointing recently and although they are more than capable a loss to their closest rivals Rossa last time will have hurt.

They return to home base again for this one as a visit of Creggan looms large on the horizon.

Creggan have been in good form in the league fare to date and they will take the road to Corrigan in a positive mood.

The home side are more than capable of causing upset but the Kickham’s will start as favourites and they may well gain the verdict.

St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Gall’s

Ahoghill have a couple of wins to date but need some more to gain a measure of safety in the top grade.

The Cloney men lost out by a couple of points last time at Hightown with several on the injury list and have home advantage for the visit of St Gall’s.

St Gall’s lost heavily to the visiting Casement’s last time and they will travel to Ahoghill seeking improvement.

St Gall’s will possibly start this one as favourites but the home side can gain a couple of valuable points with a win over their visitors.

Gort na Mona v St Mary’s Aghagallon

Gort na Mona are without a win to date and look destined for life in the second grade next season unless radical improvement is forthcoming.

The Enright Park side showed improvement last time when they ran Lamh Dhearg to half dozen points and will aim for further from the visit of Aghagallon.

Last year’s beaten county finalists Aghagallon shared the points with St Brigid’s last time and they will travel to Belfast with prospects of a full return of the points from this one.

Tir na nOg v Lamh Dhearg

Tir na nOg returned to the top grade this term as Intermediate and division two league champions and the Whitehill men have settled well in their new niche.

They found Cargin too hot to handle last time in Toome and they will return to Whitehill this time for the visit of Lamh Dhearg.

Lamh Dhearg have been inconsistent this season but they are more than capable of making a mark in the top grade.

The Whitehill side will aiming for another couple of points and indeed Michael O’ Kane’s charges are more than capable if a lengthy injury list eases they may well sneak a share of the points.

Division Two (7.15 pm)

St James Aldergrove v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass lead the division with an unbeaten run to date and they will travel to Aldergrove full of confidence.

The Marian Hill men were forced to dig deep to earn a draw with the visiting St Paul’s last time and they will hope to get back to winning ways this time.

Aldergrove have started their league campaign slowly but have gained in momentum lately and away wins at Ballymena and Dunloy suggests they will be in the shakeup come the end of the season and they will provide a stiff test as the league leaders visit Crumlin.

All Saint’s Ballymena v St Mary’s Rasharkin

All Saints have continued to blow hot and cold in their games to date and they endured a poor return last time when they visited Glenravel where they were well beaten.

Rasharkin gained promotion from division 3 last time and shared the points with Davitt’s up in Belfast before losing by a point to Ardoyne at Dreen last time but are capable of testing an inconsistent All Saints.

The home side will start as favourites but they are likely to be pushed to the wire.

Kickham’s Ardoyne v St Teresa’s

Ardoyne seem to have picked up the pace after a tepid start and they gained a full return of the points from a visit to Dreen last time and will look forward to the visit of St. Teresa’s.

St Teresa’s have recorded a couple of home wins but have not travelled well this season but will see this one as an opportunity to gain a first away win.

Michael Davitt’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy

Davitt’s have enjoyed a strong start to the 2022 season and remain in close proximity at the top of the division.

The Fall’s Road men recorded another win last time on the Glen Road will return to Davitt’s Park as Dunloy pay a visit.

Dunloy have started the season well with three wins to date but they may well struggle to add another couple of points this time as they visit the in-form city men.

St Paul’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy

Having led the way in the division for a while St Paul’s have slipped down the table slightly.

They earned a good draw at Moneyglass last time, the first point St. Ergnat’s have dropped this season while visitors Glenavy recorded a home win against Sarsfields but this looks a stiffer test for the St Joseph’s men with ground advantage probably tipping the balance in favour of St Paul’s.

Division Three (7.15 pm)

Bhulf Ton v Eire Og

Eire Og have recorded three victories to date and may well pick up another couple of points in this one as they take on Bhulf Ton.

St Gall’s (b) v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

O’ Donnell’s have performed well to date and they may well add another brace of points in this one as they take on St Gall’s third string.

St Agnes v St Comgall’s Antrim

St. Comgall’s lost to St. Gall’s and dropped another point at MacRory Park but remain one of the favourites to top this division and should earn a full return in this one as they visit Woodlands to play St. Agnes.

St Malachy’s v Patrick Pearses

Pearses have been going well this year and they should retain winning ways here as they visit St Malachy’s.

Laochra Loch Lao v St Patrick’s Lisburn.

The Lisburn men sit at the top of the table and they should gain a full return of the points as they visit Laochra Loch Lao.

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Cargin on top as St. Gall’s visit

All County U-17 Football League Division One

Erin’s Own Cargin 4-11 St Gall’s 0-03

Cargin retained their winning form to keep in close contact with the top of the group when they gained another two points at the expense of the visiting St Gall’s in Toome sod on Sunday last.

The final score line suggests as an easy passage for the Toome side but it does not acknowledge the true tale of events as the Milltown side never gave up the ghost but home side net minder, Daniel McCann made several fine saves to deny them over the hour.

Cargin enjoyed the slight advantage of the cross field breeze in the first quarter and took an early lead when impressive Conhuir Johnston raised back to back points in the opening few minutes.

St Gall’s mid field pairing of John Mc Cullough and Manus MacCroise were in a stiff battle with Charlie Mc Cann and Cian Scullion for mid field supremacy and the pace laden Dualtach Crawford and Padraig O’ Muiri were asking questions of the home sides defence but Hugh O’ Donnell and Jack O’ Neill Cargin were holding firm in the opening phase.

St Gall’s proved wayward in their finishing and Cargin keeper McCann found advancing centre back Ciaran Mc Peake and he linked with Ryan O’ Neill before applying a superb finish with a fine goal.

The home side had 1-02 on the scoreboard without reply but a fine John Mc Cullough point saw the visitors on the board but that was the Milltown Blues only score of the half as the home side gained supremacy.

Ryan O’ Neill increased the home side advantage and with Jack O’ Neill advancing from defence at every opportunity further points from Patrick o’ Neill and Diarmuid Quinn saw the Toome side move 1-07 to 0-01 ahead as half time approached.

Cargin full back Hugh O’ Donnell intervened to halt another St. Gall’s offensive and his clearance found Patrick O’ Neill who sent Conhuir Johnston clear to finish with an excellent goal.

Ryan O’ Neill added a further point a minute later and then Cillian Scullion sent Conhuir Johnston in to bag another goal to leave the home side in control and 3-07 to 0-01 ahead at the end of the first period.

St Gall’s had the favour of the breeze in the second half and opened with an early point from the hard working Dualtach Crawford, and when mid fielder Marcus Mac Croise followed suit the visitors looked to be gaining momentum.

The home side had other ideas however and indeed the visitors were to be denied access to the target for the remainder of the hour.

Cargin net minder Daniel Mc Cann made several saves to deny them in the final quarter and when Jack O’ Neill sent the excellent Conhuir Johnston away to bag another major that was that.

The end was nigh as Cahir O’ Boyle raised white quickly followed by another from Conhuir Johnston with Cargin net minder Daniel McCann pulling off another excellent save to deny Marcus Mac Croise in the last seconds to ensure his side crossed the winning line with a 4-11 to 0-03 advantage.

Cargin: Daniel Mc Cann, Patrick Matchyk, Hugh O’ Donnell, Jack O’ Neill, Ciaran Mc Peake (1-00), Cahir O’ Boyle (0-01), Charlie Mc Cann, Cian Scullion, Ryan O’ Neill) (0-02), Conhuir Johnston (3-06), Jack Harney, Patrick O’ Neill (0-01), Diarmuid Quinn (0-01), Carl Mc Cann

Subs

Thomas Mc Cann for P O’ Neill

Sean Hazzard for C Johnston

Conleth Hamill for C Mc Cann

St Gall’s: Joshua Southern, Christopher Hale, Oisin Maskey, Liam Breathnach, Ethan Breathnach, Segdae Mac Adhaimh, Liam Burns, Manus Mac Croise (0-01), John Mc Cullough (0-01), Oisin Kelly, Liam Lynn, Dualtach Crawford (0-01), Padraig og O’ Muiri, Ciaran og Mullan, Caomhinn Piaris.

Referee: John Hasson (All Saint’s)

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Antrim beat Fermanagh in Ulster semi-final

ULSTER LGFA JFC FIRST SEMI FINAL

Fermanagh 1-10 Antrim 2-13

PICS BY VINCENT MORGAN

Antrim booked their place in the final of the Ulster Junior Football Championship when they beat Fermanagh in Saturday’s semi-final in Silverbrige, Co Armagh. Antrim had lost the Erne girls when they met in the league earlier this season, but this time around they came out on top with a top class display.

Antrim made a confident star, attacking with purpose from the start, and Grainne McLaughlin pointed them ahead after ninety seconds’ play. Fermanagh came back with two Eimear Smyth pointed frees to go ahead by the 4th minute but McLaughlin found the target again for the Saffrons to draw them level.

Orlaith Prenter edged Antrim in front again when she picked up a misplaced pass out of defence to point in the 7th minute.

After a Cathy Carey free conversion was speedily cancelled by a well-crafted Bogue point, Fermanagh struck for a 13th minute goal from Sarah Britton, who punished a wayward kick out by firing home after Laura Grew set her up with a precise pass.

Antrim drew level when a Cathy Carey free, which initially seemed to be harmlessly dropping short, somehow finding its way through the packed goal line for a goal, and though a Smyth point from a free put Fermanagh back in front, good work by Maria O’Neill on the right saw her put McLaughlin through to blast to roof of net from close range to give her team a 2-4 to 1-6 lead.

Blaithin Bogue and Graine McLaughlin, swapped points before half time to see the Saffrons go in at the break with a one point lead, despite having faced a strong breeze in the opening half.

With the breeze at their backs in the second half Antrim increased that lead and after McLaughlin pointed from a free, Maria O’Neill tagged on two more from play to put the gap out to four.

Smyth finally got Fermanagh off the mark in the second half with a pointed free but it was Antrim who scored next, five minutes later, the excellent Orlaith Prenter lofting over a fine score from distance.

Points from Smith and Bogue kept Fermanagh very much in touch but Prenter struck again with a piece of fine skill to grab another point and things got worse for their opponents when Cadhla Bogue picked up a yellow card. The girls in saffron were now in the driving seat and

Prenter then sealed the win with a another excellent point to bring her personal tally to 0-4.

Despite the defeat Fermanagh are not out of the competition however and have the chance to book a final spot when they take on Derry in next week’s play-off.

FERMANAGH – Roisin Gleeson; Eimer Keenan, Molly McGloin, Andrea Gordon; Niamh McManus, Shannan McQuade, Dee Curran; Cadhla Bogue, Sarah McCarville; Aisling O’Brien. Blaithin Bogue (0-3), Sarah Britton (1-0); A Laura Grew, Eimear Smyth (0-7, 6f), Brenda Bannon.

Subs; Nuala Curran for A. Gordon 19m; Elaine Maguire for L. Grew 52m.

ANTRIM – Anna McCann; Maria McKenna, Aislinn McFarland, Niamh McIntosh; Maeve Mulholland, Saoirse Tennyson, Sarah O’Neill; Duana Coleman, Aine Tubridy; Caitlin Taggart, Cathy Carey (1-2,1f), Maria O’Neill (0-2); Bronagh Devlin, Orlaith Prenter, (0-4), Grainne McLaughlin (1-5, 2f).

Subs; Theresa Mellon for M. McCann 19m; Molly Woulahan for B. Devlin 48m; Clare Emerson for C. Taggart 52m; Emma Louise McAreavey for S. O’Neill 54m; Orla Corr for S. Tennyson 58m.

Antrim captain Cathy Carey with her Fermanagh counterpart and the match referee before the game

April 23, 2022April 23, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Antrim exit Ulster after below par second half showing

Ulster Football Championship Quarter-final

Antrim 0-10-1-20 Cavan

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park

Antrim departed the Ulster football Championship at the quarter-final stage after they were outclassed and outscored 1-13-0-03 in the second half of their 1-20-0-10 defeat by Cavan at Corrigan Park this afternoon.

Despite making a slow start to proceedings the hosts found their scoring boots and trailed 0-07-0-06 at the break, but the second half was far from a closely fought contest.

Cavan were simply relentless with debutant Paddy Lynch adding to three first-half points and Gearoid McKiernan’s goal putting the icing on the cake before the hour-mark.

Mick McCann was given his matching orders to add to the Saffrons woes as they tamely exited the Ulster equation and must now wait for the newly formed Tailteann Cup to commence.

Conditions were perfect at a sun-soaked Corrigan Park for the Saffrons first Ulster Championship encounter on home soil since 2013.

Cavan edged ahead in the early stages after Gerard Smith picked out the run of Cormac O’Reilly to open the afternoons scoring.

O’Reilly almost had the first goal on eight minutes after a good run and spin from danger by Killian Clarke in the build-up, but Mick Byrne made an impressive near-post block.

The visitors increased their advantage after Cian Madden picked out James Smith to swing over and a straight-forward free from Gearoid McKiernan gave the Division Four league champions a 0-03-0-00 advantage with almost twenty minutes on the clock.

Ryan Murray was having a frustrating afternoon up until he finally found range on the 24th minute.

Although Paddy Lynch would respond with a free, Antrim were finding a foothold. Dermot McAleese played a one-two with Marc Jordan and coolly shot over, Lynch kicked a second free- though Conor Stewart combined with Ryan Murray and popped over.

Things could have got much better 60-seconds later when Murray combined with Tomas McCann to slip in Mick McCann in front of the posts, Raymond Galligan applied enough pressure and McCann opted for a point on the turn to narrow the margin to a single point (0-05-0-04).

Cavan twice restored their two-point lead through scores from O’Reilly and Lynch (advanced mark), but Antrim came up with a response on both occasions through Paddy McAleer and Ryan Murray to ensure that Cavan would take a narrow 0-07-0-06 lead in at the midway point.

Antrim drew level within two minutes of the restart, Ryan Murray earned the free and brother Conor converted.

But the Saffrons failed to kick on and Cavan regained the lead through a converted Gerard Smith free.

Paddy Lynch followed up with another quickly after before Smith swung a terrific near post shot high over the bar to give the Breffni Blues a 0-10-0-07 lead.

Lynch brought his afternoons tally to 0-05 with his fourth free of the contest to make it four-points on the spin, but Kevin Small shot over in reply to keep Antrim within touch.

Any hopes of a further Antrim fightback suffered a huge blow when midfielder Mick McCann was shown a second yellow-card for catching Paddy Lynch with a high challenge.

A further three unanswered scores for Cavan saw them open up a six-point advantage with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Goalkeeper Raymond Galligan got his name on the scoresheet from a placed ball, Lynch added another to his personal tally and Geariod McKiernan added to his first half point from play.

First-half substitute Jamie Gribbon shot over the hosts- who were desperately trying to cling on.

Lynch converted his sixth free in the immediate aftermath and it was game, set and match with little over ten minutes remaining.

Talisman Lynch played the providers role and shifted the ball to Gearoid McKiernan to rifle into the corner of the net and give the 2020 Ulster Champions a comfortable 1-15-0-09 cushion.

Ryan Murray dropped over his sides final score of the afternoon, but Cavan were far from finished and tagged on a further five scores.

Paddy Lynch conjured up his eighth point of the afternoon before departing to rapturous applause from the visiting faithful.

Substitute Martin Reilly came off the bench to contribute two-points to the cause and in-between those two, there were points from Padraig Faulkner and Jason McLoughlin to see their side run out comfortable 1-20-0-10 winners at the conclusion and make it into the last four of the Ulster Championship.

Antrim: M Byrne, E McCabe, P Healy, C Stewart (0-01), P McAleer (0-01), J Laverty, D McAleese (0-01), K Small (0-01), M McCann (0-01), R Murray (0-03), M Jordan, R McCann, O Eastwood, C Murray (0-01f), T McCann. Subs: J Gribbon (0-01) for R McCann (13), P McBride for O Eastwood (HT), D Lynch for T McCann (HT), P McCormick for E McCabe (64), B McCormick for J Laverty (64).

Cavan: R Galligan (0-01f), J McLoughlin (0-01), P Faulkner (0-01), K Brady, L Fortune, K Clarke, C Brady, T Galligan, J Smith (0-01), G Smith (0-03), G McKiernan (1-02, 0-01f), C Moynagh, C O’Reilly (0-01), P Lynch (0-08 ,0-06f, 0-01m), C Madden. Subs: C Conroy for K Brady (55), M Reilly (0-02) for Cormac O’Reilly (57), Caoimhin O’Reilly for C Madden (65), Ciaran Brady for Conor Brady (67).

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)

April 22, 2022April 28, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Great win for Antrim minor footballers

Monaghan 0-11 Antrim 2-11

What a win for Antrim Minor Footballers who defeated Monaghan in the Ulster Championship in Inniskeen tonight. Rank outsiders going into the game Antrim made a great start and a goal from a Tarlach Enright penalty had them 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after eleven minutes. In a game of high quality Monaghan fought back and were level at half time.

Coming out to play against the breeze in the second half the young Saffron’s played brilliantly, scoring 1-6, while holding Monaghan to just three points to book a place in the next round. The second goal was a thing of beauty as a lovely flick off the ground sent right half back Kevin McCann clear and the Moneyglass man made no mistake as he fired past Oran Finnegan in the Monaghan net.

It was underdogs Antrim who defied the punters predictions and the odds to produce one of the best displays by an Antrim team for many years. Two weeks ago Monaghan had turned over the Saffrons in Belfast in the Ulster league by a a massive 17 points but it was obvious from the start tonight in Inniskeen that the Antrim management had done their homework.

Antrim’s Conhuir Johnston wins possession as Monaghan’s Jake McDonnell challenges

They raced into an early lead with points from Ciaran McAleese and Conhuir Johnston before Tarlach Enright fired to the Monaghan net from the penalty spot in the 11th minute to put the young Saffrons 1-2 to 0-1 ahead, the Monaghan point coming from Bobby McCaul in the 8th minute.

Monaghan rallied during the second quarter and replied with points from Charlie McQuillan, Bobby McCaul and Max McGinnity 0-3, Tommy Mallon and Sahil Arya but Antrim kept in touch with Ciaran McAleese, Conhuir Johnston and Rory McErlane all on target to leave the half time score 1-5 to 0-8

**Antrim’s Tiernan McCormick gets out in front of his marker**. **Pic by Finatn McTiernan**

Favourites Monaghan were expected to push on in the second half but they simply couldn’t live with a rampant Antrim side who’s direct running was causing the Farney defence plenty of problems.

It was the home side who were first off the mark however when Sahil Arya pointed them ahead in the 31st minute but the Saffrons came roaring back with points from James Blaney, Kevin McCann and Conhuir Johnston to move two in front with 8 minutes of the new half gone.

Monaghan rang the changes at this stage with Finlay Foy replacing Canice Murphy and David Traynor coming on for Shea Casey but the visitors had the bit firmly between their teeth as Diarmuid O’Sullivan pointed before the superb Kevin McCann soloed through for his side’s second goal in the 16th minute.

There would be no way back for the home side after this as the Antrim defence shut up shop, holding Monaghan to three second half points with Max McGinnity and Johnny Lavelle their other scorers and Antrim replying through Conhuir Johnston and Tiernan McCormick to run out convincing winners by six points.

Antrim’s Conor Logue goes high to win the ball during his team’s Ulster Minor Football Championship win over Monaghan at Inniskeen. Pic by Fintan McKiernan

A great win for the Saffrons and one that will surely provide a boost to their seniors going into tomorrow’s SFC game against Cavan at Corrigan Park.

There management deserve great credit in the manner in which they prepared their side for a game in which many pundits had written them off.

They were superb all over the field with Kevin McCann deserving of special mention for his 1-1 contribution from half-back and Conhuir Johnston turning in a strong performance on the ’40’. The young Saffrons now play the losers of the Armagh v Derry first round game in this new ‘Back Door’ system which gauruntees every team at least two games.

**Antrim’s Rory McErlane is challenged by three Monaghan oponents. Pic by Fintan McTiernan**

Antrim: James McLaughlin (St. Ergnat’s), Thomas Lloyd (St. Brigid’s), Conor Logue (Str. Brigid’s), Hugh O’Donnell (Cargin), Paul Duffin (St. Ergnat’s), Bairre Burns (St. Paul’s), Kevin McCann (St. Ergnat’s), Manus McCrossan (St. Gall’s), Tiernan McCormick (St. Ergnat’s), Tarlach Enright (Gort na Mona), Conhuir Johnston (Cargin), Rory McErlane (St. Brigid’s), Ciaran McAleese (Portglenone), Niall Hynds (Glenravel), James Blaney (St. Brigid’s) 16 Noah Jeffries (Aldergrove), 17 Diarmuid O’Sullivan (St. Paul’s), 18 Sean Boyd (St. Ergnat’s), 19 Finn Shannon (Aldergrove), 20 Niall McKenna (St. Paul’s), 21 Ronan Quinn (St. John’s), 22 Ben McLarnon (Cargin)