Category / Football

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel dreams sink in titanic All Ireland semi final

AIB All Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship Loughgiel 3-14 St. Finbarr’s 3-15

Report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA Club, Co. Meath

As the ink dries in all of the camogie articles written about the games over the weekend, one stands out to go down in history. The Loughgiel v St. Finbarr’s game. It took over ninety minutes of play, six goals and twenty nine points to decide that the Barr would go through to the All Ireland final to play Athenry, Galway, beating Loughgiel in the end by an agonising point. Sixty minutes of regular play, an additional 2 x 10 minutes of extra time and a further 2 x 5 minutes of extra extra time would be needed to bring the matter of who would be the fortunate victor to a conclusion.

St. Finbarr’s started the better of the two sides, pointing first with the chilling breeze over their left shoulder and then a sideline ball well caught and delivered into the back of Loughgiel’s net by Orlaith Cahalane had the Barr sideline excited.

The ominous threat from County Down woman, now a Cork resident by way of a student work placement, Sorcha McCartan, raised the Barr’s second green flag as she gathered up the sliotar from an unmarked position. Despite St. Finbarr’s building momentum, the Shamrock’s stayed in touch with four points, only one of those from play by Marie Laverty with the other three dropping over St. Finbarr’s bar by Róisin McCormick from two frees and a forty five.

Lucia McNaughton brought them even closer with a fine point from an Anna Connolly pass. Connolly, who has been slowly building her recent game portfolio in a quiet fashion worked relentlessly during the entire game. McNaughton brought the game to the short whistle with only four the difference, Loughgiel 0-05 St. Finbarr’s 2-03.

Anna Connolly, a whirlwind of a presence takes physio time out ahead of extra time

Loughgiel came out in the second half the brighter side, owning much of the play, which was at times hugely physical. Dobbin, McCormick and Lynn tipped sliotars over the bar in the first eighteen minutes with just one pointed reply from the Barr’s Keeva McCarthy but it was McCormick’s goal on the twentieth minute that shook more than the net as the Shamrock supporters went wild, calculating that this was the first time Loughgiel went ahead and now the dream was real.

But dreams are fragile things and when the Barr clipped three points over McAllister’s bar at the top of the pitch, one of those a recycled Kate Wall effort by Keeva McCarthy, the pendulum swung over in favour of St. Finbarr’s. A well struck forty five from Loughgiel brought them one point closer and then Loughgiel’s captain, Amy Boyle, saved the game with her point in play just before referee, Liz Dempsey, blew for full time with scores Loughgiel 1-10 St. Finbarr’s 2-07.

Loughgiel’s captain, Amy Boyle, drew sides in normal play to take the game into extra time

The first portion of extra time witnessed the Barr strike first with a point from McCartan, then the Shamrocks eased ahead by two points on the fifth minute with an Annie Lynn goal but McCarthy and McCarton neutralised that difference with two points, McCarton taking hers with the classic turn and over the shoulder effort, with 2-10 apiece at the break.

In the second portion of extra time, Loughgiel wasted no time in making use of their previous momentum and McCormick soared a point over goalkeeper Ciara Hurley’s bar from a sideline pass before Caitrín Dobbin’s point attempt morphed into a deadly drop-in behind Ciara Hurley’s stick and under the bar for the Shamrock’s third goal. Yet again the Barr pulled the Shamrocks back with a point and then a goal from substitute Eimear Hurley, driving hard towards the goal on the left flank. McCarthy would now drift the Barr ahead by one point, leaving Loughgiel’s McCormick to make sure of her free to once again level the game at the end of the second portion of extra time. If the supporters wanted tension, they had it it heaps.

Loughgiel’s taliswoman, Róisin McCormick delivered in abundance during Saturday’s titanic battle

In the third portion of extra time, no side was able to move their campaign forward, despite the Shamrocks having three successive attempts to score from inside the small rectangle but it wasn’t until the fourth and final portion, where the nerves along the sideline were etched away and voices reduced to croaks. Going into this segment of play, both sides were 3-12 apiece and the Barr struck first with a point, followed by McCormick’s point from play. Then a Marie Laverty foul, taking her out of the game, left McCormick to take the Shamrocks into the lead one last time from that free before Orlaithe Cahalane pointed for the draw and a point from an advancing Ciara Golden in a ‘do or die’ effort by the Barr took them to the final whistle as winners, the score board announcing Loughgiel 3-14 St. Finbarr’s 3-15.

Kirsty McKendry clears the threat on her first touch as Loughgiel’s Clare McKillop patrols her zone with full authority in Saturday’s semi final

This was undoubtedly one of the finest games of camogie to have been played for an All Ireland place in the final. St. Finbarr’s were able to tolerate the nerves and game intensity, despite this being their first experience at this level. Loughgiel were heroic to the end and flew the Club, County and Provincial flags at their very highest. This is the game we all love. Sometimes though, as the song sung by the late Amy Winehouse goes, ‘Love can be a losing game’.

You can enjoy photos from Saturday’s epic game here…

https://myalbum.com/album/D9sVKQxJF5Jo9M/?invite=3ffe2cde-d883-4939-828a-2f2334df8191

Loughgiel Panel

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Katie Lynn, Lucia McNaughton 0-01, Emma McFadden, Clare McKillop, Amy Boyle (c) (0-01), Anna Connolly, Katie McKillop, Róisin McCormick 1-09 (4f, 3×45), Ciara Laverty, Catrín Dobbin 1-01, Annie Lynn 1-01, Marie Laverty 0-01

Shauna McKillop, Maria O’Hara, Aoibheann Gillan, Maeve Shannon, Louise McKillop, Kirtsy McKendry, Mary McKillen, Orlagh Laverty, Shanna Deery, Ceala Dobbin, Anna McKillop, Therese McKinley, Finvola McVeigh, Sarah Flavin, Carlina Scullion

Management Johnny Campbell, Neil McGarry, Ronan McCloskey, Ciaran McCloskey, Conor Gillan

St. Finbarr’s Panel

Ciara Hurley, Stephanie Punch (c), Sofia Daly, Gráinne Cahalane, Aoife O’Neill, Méabh Cahalane, Ciara Golden 0-01, Emma Olden, Aisling Shannon, Sorcha McCartan 1-03, Kate Wall, Keeva McCarthy 0-06 (5f), Orlaith Cahalane 1-04, Nicole Olden, Hannah O’Leary

Gillian Fitzgerald, Aisling Egan, Kate Cahalane, Liz O’Donovan, Ella Wigginton Barrett, Eimear Hurley 1-01, Aoife Byrne O’Riordan, Meg Twomey, Farrah Geasley, Natasha Varian, Aoife O’Connor, Elizabeth Dillon, Holly Fitzpatrick, Alex Moynihan, Cara O’Neill

Management Brian O’Sullivan, Marian McCarthy, Dylan Byrne, Paul Harte, Anthony O’Neill

by thesaffrongael

St. Mary’s edge out St Malachy’s secure top-spot 

Danske Bank McLarnon Cup, Group C 

St. Mary’s CBGS 0-10-0-09 St Malachy’s 

From Kevin Herron 

Pics by Bert Trowlen

St. Mary’s CBGS topped Group C of the Danske Bank McLarnon Cup with a hard fought 0-10-0-09 win over St Malachy’s in the final group game at the Dub on Friday afternoon, 

Going into the last round of fixtures, all teams were deadlocked on two-points after St. Mary’s defeated Leacle Trinity and St. Malachy;s accounted for Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock on MatchDay 2. 

Leacle and Knock met on Thursday evening with the Downpatrick side running out 1-15-1-07 winners to take top spot and pole position for a passage straight into the quarter-final unless St. Mary’s could defeat their Belfast neighbours and top the group on head-to-head. 

The Glen Road side played with a strong breeze in the opening half and were ahead within five minutes as Sean Og McLaren shot over a two-pointed score to get his side up and running. 

Odhran McAuley then kicked a free in the aftermath before Aaron Rafferty carried the ball forward and superbly guided an angled shot inside the near post to reduce arrears after 10-minutes (0-3-0-1). 

Further scores were traded as Sean Og McLaren laid the ball off for Fintan McKinney to pop over and in response Cathair McKenna offloaded to Cormac Trainor to kick a fine point midway through the half. 

Back-to-back converted frees extended St. Mary’s lead, the first a straight forward effort from in front of the posts from Matthew Murray, but two minutes later he himself was fouled on the edge of the arc and he notched his sides second two-pointed score of the half. 

Their scoring for the half was complete by the 27th minute with another two scores arriving before the interval. 

Odhran McAuley swivelled and kicked a magnificent angled point and then Cormac McCann added another a few minutes later as their side had hit four unanswered. 

Just prior to the break Aaron Rafferty swung over a free to narrowly reduce the deficit at the break, as St. Mary’s held a 0-9-0-3 advantage at halfway. 

St. Malachy;s made the perfect start to the second period with a two-pointed score. Thomas Mooney popped the ball out to Cormac Trainor to swing over a fine point from outside of the arc and reduce arrears by a third. 

Aaron Rafferty was then in a great position to capitalise and take possession after a slip from a St. Mary’s player coming out of defence and Rafferty shot over to half the interval deficit. 

St. Mary’s only second half score came after Fintan McKinney was fouled as he went to shoot and Matthew Murray clipped over the resulting free in the 37th minute. 

Midway through the second period St. Malachy;s fightback gathered further pace when Michael Jennings dropped an angled shot over to make it 0-10-0-7. 

In the final ten minutes Cathair McKenna kicked two close range frees that reduced the deficit to the bare minimum but St. Mary’s closed the game out, playing the possession game effectively to secure the win that saw them top the group and head straight for the Quarter-finals in the New Year.

St. Malachy’s will meanwhile occupy third spot in the Group and face a play-off tie with the team that finishes third in Group A for a place in the last eight.

by thesaffrongael

Moneyglass take on Kilmacud Crokes in their own backyard

All Ireland LGFA Senior Club semi-final

Kilmacud Crokes v Moneyglass at Kilmacud, Dublin

Newly crowned Ulster Champions Moneyglass are under no illusions about the task the face when they travel to Dublin on Sunday to take on Leinster champions Kilmacud Crokes of Dubliin…..in their own back yard.

Someone, somewhere will have a logical explanation as to why the Antrim and Ulster champions have to play the Dublin champions in their home ground but it escapes me why Antrim’s first ever Senior Champions are forced the journey to Dublin in their first venture outside the province of Ulster.

However if they are aggrieved about that decision they haven’t let it occupy their thoughts and the look forward to their new challenge in good spirits, and with high hopes.

Niamh McIntosh from Glenariffe who captained the Moneyglass team who became the first Antrim team to win the Ulster Ladies Gaelic Football Championship when they beat Errigal Ciaran of Tyrone in Sunday’s final in Brewster Park, Ennikillen. Pic by Elaine Kelly d

Kilmacud Crokes Leinster final win over Tinahely of Wicklow earned them their fourth provincial title on the trot, all four of them convincing wins which brought high scores….5-13 this year, 4-14 last year against Eadastown of Kildare, 4-14 against Naomh  Ciaran of Offaly in 2022 and 4-15 against Tinahely in 2021. They reached their first All Ireland final last year but were beaten in the decider by Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway who that day won their fourth All Ireland title in a row.

As well as having a good few Dublin players in their ranks Kilmacud also have Galway star Ailbhe Davoren, who works in the capital, so they are a formidable outfit.

After adding yet another Antrim title to their roll of honour this year Moneyglass went into the Ulster campaign with mixed feelings after having lost to Armagh champions Clann Eireann in the past two years. The started off well in Ulster with a big win over Down champions Bredagh, but were still probably regarded as outsiders when they met the Armagh champions for the third year in a row. However they turned the table on their rivals that day and booked their place in the Ulster final for the second time in their history, where they faced newcomers Errigal Ciaran of Tyrone. The Tyrone champions made a promising start but Moneyglass slowly got to grips with the Ballygawley outfit and went on to win with a bit to spare.

On Sunday they take another step on their journey, a new challenge and a new adventure. Kilmacud will provide stern opposition, of that there is no doubt, but Moneyglass have players who can match it with anyone on their day.

It is a big ask for the Antrim champions, but so too was Clann Eireaan and Erigal Ciaran so give it your best girls and who knows what will happen.

by thesaffrongael

Magnificent Millquarter win SW Antrim Indoor 5-a-Sides

Millquarter Primary School were the winners of the SW Antrim Cumann na mbunscol indoor 5 a side LGFA competition held at the Antrim Forum on Thursday.

On a day when 13 schools were participating, the girls from Millquarter and Ballymacricket manoeuvred their way through the group stages and play offs to reach the cup final.

The shield final saw St Colmcille’s Ballymena emerge victorious against St Joseph’s Crumlin in what was an outstanding day of football, showcasing the talent that is running through South West Antrim.

Proceedings began with every school getting lots of game time and the competition was heating up as the day progressed. After the morning’s activities the teams were split into cup and shield sections.

The play-off matches were fiercely contested with rarely more than one goal separating the competitors.

This resulted in two outstanding finals with the Millquarter and St Colmcille girls taking the spoils. A big well done to them and all the girls involved in a fantastic celebration of football.

An extra thank you must go to our two referees Ryan and Fintan who were on duty the entire day and acquitted themselves excellently throughout, their efforts allowed the day to run smoothly.

Competing schools.

St Brigid’s Ballymena 

St Colmcille’s Ballymena

St Paul’s Ahoghill

Moneynick

Millquarter 

Mount Saint Michael’s Randalstown 

Creggan

St Joseph’s Crumlin 

St Oliver Plunkett’s Toome 

St Mary’s Portglenone 

Ballymacrickett 

Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel

St Comgall’s Antrim

TO VIEW MORE PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/goMydLSYpxXuSY

by thesaffrongael

St John’s and Slaughtneil met in the Ulster Minor Hurling finals of 2011 and 2012

St John’s and Slaughtneil, who meet in Sunday’s Ulster Senior Hurling Final at Armagh on Sunday have met in the finals of the Ulster Minor Hurling Club Championship in 2011 and 2012.  The competition, which is hosted by Derry club Ballinascreen, has produced many great finals over the years, and these two were no exception, with St John’s winning tight games on both occasions.

To be honest I had forgotten who the Johnnies had played in the two finals they won until Michael McMullan of Gaelic Life pointed it out, so I went searching through the archives and found the pics from both games.

The 2012 winning team which has current players Shea Shannon (left) and Aaron Bradley (3rd from left front) , joining in the celebrations Standing (L-R): Shea Shannon, Feargal Morgan, Domhnall Quinn, Aaron Bradley, Ross Hannigan, Matthew Magennis, Mark McKenna, Caoimhin Hanna, Ryan McNulty, Anto Allsopp, Domhnall Nugent, Padraig Nugent, Ronan McCafferty, Jude McCurdy, Dermot Heading, Conor McEvoy. Kneeling (L-R): Jack Hannigan, Michial Dudley, Matthew McKiernan, Ciaran Johnston, Donal Carson, Michael Bradley, Conor Johnston, Aaron McQuillan, Simon Doherty.

In the 2011 final the man of the match awards, which goes to a player on each team, were won by Brendan Rodgers for Slaughtneil, and Conor Johnston for St John’s, two men who went on to have great careers at senior level. In the 2012 final Conor again won the MOM award, but I don’t appear to have taken a photo of whoever won the Slaughtneil award.

According to Michael McMullan there are twelve of the Slaughtneil team still playing and seven for St John’s, which is an incredible statistic. The Derry champions have Brendan Rogers, Shane McGuigan, Gerald Bradley, Ruairi McCartney, Meehaul McGrath, Conor McAllister, Prionsias Burke, Paul Neill, Cormac O’Doherty, Mark McGuigan, Conan Hunter, Sean O’Doherty, and though I’m not 100% sure of the Johnnies but Im taking a guess at nine Conor Johnston, Ciaran Johnston, Domnhal Nugent, Simon Doherty, Michael Bradley, Ryan McNulty, Michial Dudley, Caoimhin Hanna and Donal Carson

TO SEE PICS FROM THE TWO FINALS IN 2011 AND 2012 CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW

2011 FINAL

https://myalbum.com/album/9Q7MZZy6owUgmi/?invite=338d415c-b91a-4e85-8860-29cbb6247ab5

2012 FINAL

https://myalbum.com/album/ZtPGXK2vJhDaMZ/?invite=486624bb-b136-40e0-9518-ae180512642d