Category / Football

by thesaffrongael

Cuchullains Ulster dream ended by clinical Newbridge

Ulster Club Senior Football Championship – Round 1

Dunloy 0-11 Newbridge 1-14

Saturday 1 November

Brendan McTaggart reports from Owenbeg, Dungiven

With 10 minutes to go at Owenbeg, hope sprang eternal for Dunloy Cuchullains.  The sides were tied, Dunloy were controlling the second half and dictating a game many outside of the Village didn’t give them a prayer of getting anything from.

A golden chance for a major went a begging and Newbridge made the most of the reprieve.  A couple of two pointers and another free in the space of a little over three minutes proved to be the winning of the game in the last five minutes as the Derry champions ran out six point winners.

The final score line felt harsh on the Cuchullains.  Both sides had passed up on goal chances, Chrissy McMahon putting on a goal keeping clinic in the first half with his saves while Nathan Rocks was superb between the sticks for the Bridge. 

The Sean O’Leary’s were so incisive throughout the game with fast, intricate passing to cut through Dunloy – especially in the first half.  The speed of thought matching the Newbridge speed of play as they looked for runners off the shoulder in tight, enclosed spaces.  Oisin Doherty and Sean Young pivotal while Callum McGrogan got the game defining goal with a quarter of the game remaining.

McMahon’s shot stopping was brilliant and he could do little with Callum McGrogan’s goal while Aaron Crawford, Reece Cunning and Aodhan McGarry were all excellent throughout.  Eoin McFerran put in his best shift of the championship as he and Deaglan Smith went through a mountain of work in both attack and defence.  On a night when the Cuchullains needed the spark in attack that they had shown so often in their run to lifting the McNamee Cup, too often it wasn’t there.  Keelan Molloy top scored with six points, two frees and a brilliant two pointer that almost lifted the roof off the stand at Owenbeg.  On another night, Luke McFerran would have ended the first half with three goals while the work rate of Eoin O’Neill and Nigel Elliott could never be faulted.  Seaan Elliott showed glimpses of his brilliance but he was well shackled by a brilliant Newbridge defence, brothers Shane, Paudie and Conor McGrogan excelling as they wrestled control in the final 10 minutes.

The opening moments of the game belonged to the Derry champions but they held a slender one point lead after the opening 10 minutes.  Oisin Doherty (free) and Sean Young pointing either side of a Keelan Molloy free while McMahon’s save to deny Oisin Doherty in the same period of time was right out of the top drawer.

Dunloy’s first point from open play came in the 12th minute, Molloy getting on the end of a lightning break as Dunloy began to grow into the game.  Conor Doherty split the uprights for his first of two points while McMahon was the saviour for Dunloy once again, this time denying Sean Young.

Eoin O’Neill restored parity at the end of the first quarter and while Newbridge fired over two unanswered points from Conor and Oisin Doherty (free), the final 10 minutes of the first half belonged to Dunloy.

They created a massive goal chance through Seaan and Nigel Elliott before finding Luke McFerran.  He got his shot away despite having very little room only for Rocks to deny him with his legs.  Molloy (free) and Sean Young fired over before another Dunloy goal chance went a begging.  Seaan Elliott skewed his effort for a point and with the ball dropping around the edge of the six yard box, Luke McFerran managed to get a hand onto the ball to palm it goalwards only for Rocks to be equal to his shot.

A brace of two pointers from Molloy and Deaglan Smith took Dunloy into a two point lead in the last minute of the 30 but Dunloy managed to create another goal chance.  Nigel Elliott breaking from a ruck and found space to run into as Newbridge retreated.  He looked for Keelan Molloy inside who had the goal at his mercy but Shane McGrogan managed to get a hand onto the ball as the half time whistle blew.

It was a great ending to the half and the interval came at the wrong time for the Cuchullains.  They were getting up a head of steam and had Newbridge on the ropes.  Dunloy were playing into a stiff breeze in the second half and a two point lead was precarious but they began the second half superbly.  Keelan Molloy and Ryan McGarry pointed either side of a Mark McGrogan point to stretch their lead to three as they looked to play with patience and precision.

Dunloy had the lion’s share of possession but Newbridge were dangerous from turnover ball with their pace and power.  Oisin Doherty fired over his third free of the contest to leave two points between the sides before they scored the only goal of the game in the 43rd minute.  Oisin Doherty showing tremendous pace and skill to cut inside the Dunloy defence and had the presence of mind to pass across to Callum McGrogan who palmed to the back of the Dunloy net.

Dunloy continued to play with patience and restored parity with Seaan Elliott splitting the uprights, giving the Cuchullains a timely response to the Newbridge goal with a little over 10 minutes remaining.  That was to be Dunloy’s last score of the contest though as Newbridge took a stranglehold of the game.

Mark Doherty split the posts before the Cuchullains created another massive goal chance.  Nigel Elliott breaking from a ruck once again and as Newbridge tracked back, Elliott looked to find Smith to his left.  His pass was too long however and Newbridge took full advantage.

Two efforts from outside the large ‘D’ from Conleth McGrogan and Oisin Doherty put daylight between the sides while Doherty would take his tally to six points for the evening with his fourth free of the night.

It was a harsh lesson on the clinical nature of Ulster football for the Cuchullains and a case of what might have been.  Newbridge proved to be a bridge too far for Anthony McQuillan’s men who have lit up the Antrim championship this year.  The Ulster Odyssey was stopped before it got out of second gear but they will take plenty of learnings from this hour and look to 2026 with plenty of promise.

TEAMS

DUNLOY: Chrissy McMahon; Reece Cunning, Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella; Aodhan McGarry, Ryan McGarry, Tom McFerran; Eoin McFerran, Deaglan Smith; Eoin O’Neill, Seaan Elliott, Conal Cunning; Luke McFerran, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott

Subs: Kevin McQuillan for L McFerran (60); James Scally for N Elliott (60)

Scorers: K Molloy 0-6 (2F, 1TP); D Smith 0-2 (1TP); R McGarry 0-1; E O’Neill 0-1; S Elliott 0-1

NEWBRIDGE: Nathan Rocks; Shea McAteer, Shane McGrogan, Mark McGrogan; Callum McGrogan, Conor McGrogan, Conleth McGrogan; Conor Doherty, Conleth McGrogan; Eamon Young, Mark Doherty, Conor McAteer; Patrick McMullan, Sean Young, Oisin Doherty

Subs: Jude Diamond for E Young (60)

Scorers: O Doherty 0-6 (4F, 1TP); Callum McGrogan 1-00; C Doherty 0-2; Conleth McGrogan 0-2 (1TP); S Young 0-2; M McGrogan 0-1; M Doherty 0-1

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/sVDUbtVq85WEGR/?invite=ba19fb5f-c7d7-4a19-8536-d92b07ce9cb6

by thesaffrongael

St. Agnes’ Ulster debut ends in defeat

Feaured image: David McGaraghan who scored 1-1 in the opening 7 minutes to give St. Agnes a four point lead

Ulster Junior Football Championship quarter-final

St. Patrick’s Donagh 2-11 St. Agnes 1-7

Despite a blistering start where they raced into a 1-1 to 0-0 lead after 7 minutes, St. Agnes first venture into Ulster would end in defeat when they were beaten by Fermanagh Champions, St. Patrick’s Donagh at Brewster Park on Saturday.

The Antrim champions were dipping their toes in the Ulster waters for the first time after completing a league and first Junior Championship in Antrim when they defeated Na Piarsaigh at Davitt’s Park a fortnight ago and for a time their fairy story looked like continuing.

David McGaraghan kicked them into an early lead direct from a ‘45’ and when the same player raced along the bye-line and placed his shot inside Shaun Montgomery’s left hand post the Woodlands travelling support were in fine voice.

Dan Turley, St. Agnes takes on St. Patrick’s Patrick Grue

At this early juncture in proceedings the ‘Aggies’ were dominating possession with Dan Turley and Patrick Mulgrew controlling mid-field and Conall Turley proving a handful with his strong running and smart distribution.

Significantly the Belfast side didn’t take advantage of their possession and were guilty of some poor finishing when they should have been further ahead and when Nathan Beattie opened St. Patrick’s account from a 30 meter free in the 12th minute, the game began to change.

Mid-fielder, Johnny O’Reilly followed with a couple of excellent points and then a great movement, involving several players saw Thomas Cadden fire past Colum Carroll in the 22nd minute to give the Fermanagh side a lead they would not lose.

Points from a Conall Turley 40 meter free and another fine effort from the same player had it all square by the 26th minute but it was St. Patrick’s Donagh who would finish the half on top.

Colum Carroll had pulled of an excellent save to deny Cadden  minutes earlier but he was beaten all ends up three minutes later when Jimmy Tormey finished confidently and a point from Nathan Beattie had the Fermanagh side four in front at the break.

Both sides wasted opportunities as the second half got under way  but a point from Cormac McBride for the ‘Aggies’ closed the gap to a goal and when Donagh lost Sean Daly to a straight Red card after a high tackle on McGaraghan the tide looked to be turning in favour of the Antrim champions.

Instead it was St. Patrick’s who upped their game with Nathan Beattie moving them four ahead again from a free in the 12th minute but St. Agnes were still fighting hard and Eoghan Curran saw his attempt come back of an upright before the excellent Turley cut the gap to three once more in the 16th minute.

That would be as close as they got however as Donagh responded and the impressive Nathan Beattie raced clear at the other end with a good point.

Daire Tracey and Thomas Cadden added two more before Conall Turley responded at the other end but that was as good as it got and it was the excellent Tormey who would conclude the scoring with the game’s final point for the Fermanagh champions.

Jimmy Tormey (21) raises his fist in celebration after scoring St. Patrick’s second goal

A disappointing end to the season for the Woodlands side but Martin Shortt’s side can hold their head high after a superb season where they recorded a first Antrim championship success and a division 3 league double.

They will reflect on some wayward shooting during an opening quarter where they dominated possession but will undoubtedly regroup and press forward next season where they will be playing their football in division 2 and competing in the Intermediate championship.

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/dZU2wjcUDngMR7

by thesaffrongael

O’Boyle steer the Oisins into Ulster semi-final

Above – Orrin O’Connor fires in Glenariffe’s first goal

AIB Ulster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship quarter-final:

Glenariffe Oisin’s (Antrim) 2-17 Liatroim Fontenoys (Down) 1-16

Alex O’Boyle’s accuracy from frees went a long way towards booking Glenariffe a semi-final place in the Ulster Club Hurling Championship at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel on Saturday, but it was his pass to pick out his brother Michael for the game clinching goal that really sealed the deal.

The Antrim champions certainly did not get things their own way but a brilliantly taken goal by Orrin O’Connor at the end of the opening quarter appeared to have really settled them. However their chances received a bad blow when they had a man red carded just two minutes later and that upset their rhythm. Their play became scrappy again and it was during this period that Alex O’Boyles points from frees were so vital.  

Michael O’Boyle celebrates after scoring Glenariffe’s second goal

Leading by three at half time the Oisins twice opened sizeable gaps, only to be hauled back by the Down champions, but when the Boyle brothers combined for their team’s second goal it all appeared to be over bar the shouting. However the nervousness in their play popped its head up again and the seven point lead was pulled back to just three until the excellent Orrin O’Connor settled things with a late point.

Liatroim started well and despite facing the breeze went ahead with a Cormac Lynch point.  Alex O’Boyle replied but Conor Leneghan gave them the lead again to edge them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead. Alex O’Boyle’s second and third points briefly got the Oisins ahead for the first time before a slick Liatroim move ended with a goal from Chris Kelly-McEvoy.

Glenariffe reacted well as they hit 1-3 without reply over the next five minutes, the points coming from O’Boyle, Conor Patterson and Seanie McIntosh before Orrin O’Connor raced up the right wing, played a one-two with Daniel Kearney and hit the roof of the Liatroim net. When Michael O’Boyle fired over a point in the 17th minute, the lead was out to 1-06 to 1-02,

Next came the red card which clearly upset the Oisins rhythm and Lietrim hit back with five of the next six points from the McCrickard brothers – three from Pearse and two from Conor.

However two late frees from O’Boyle and a final point from play for Orrin O’Connor were the difference between the teams at the half way stage, Oisins 1-10 – Fontenoys 1-7.

O’Boyle scored two frees on the re-start for Glenariffe and every time Liatroim got a score, there seemed to be an immediate opportunity for the Glenariffe corner-forward to return serve with a free at the other end.

Leitrim full-back Ruiri McCrickard in action against Oisins’ Orrin O’Connor

Liatroim couldn’t build momentum and, with time running out, adopted a more direct route. Ruairí McCrickard’s long free in the 59th minute landed in the Glenariffe goal-area and was bravely grabbed by goalie Paul McMullan.

His clearance was worked the length of the field before it broke to man of the match O’Boyle who set up his brother Michael for his team’s second goal At 2-16 to 1-12, it looked to be game over. But with five added minutes signalled it wasn’t quite!

Pearse óg McCrickard pointed three frees and Ruairí McCrickard another to leave three points between the sides with the five minutes allotted injury time up. The pressure was back on at this stage but Orrin O’Connor found room on the right for the Oisins and sent over the insurance point to seal a semi-final place against either Tryone chanpions Carrickmore or Donegal champions champions St Eunan’s who play tomorrow.

Oisin’s substitute Colla Ward who played really well when introduced in the second half

Oisín: P McMullan, P McIlwaine, M Haughey, C Devlin, David Kearney, N Magee, C McIlwaine, O Gillan, O Kearney, O O’Connor 1-2, C Patterson capt 0-1, M O’Boyle 1-1, A O’Boyle 0-11 (fs), S McIntosh 0-1, Daniel Kearney.

Subs: B O’Connor for C Patterson (16), C Ward for Daniel Kearney (37), Dónal Kearney for P McIlwaine (50),

Liatroim: S Duggan, R O’Hare, Ruairí McCrickard 0-1 (f), D Cunningham, Rónán McCrickard, O Duggan, W McCartan, J McCrickard, P óg McCrickard capt 0-7 (6 fs), C Kelly-McEvoy 1-1, C McCrickard 0-3, C Leneghan 0-1, C Lynch 0-1, DJ Farrell 0-1, D Magee 0-1.

Subs: M Carville for D Cunningham (ht), A Laverty for C Leneghan (44).

Referee: T Conway (Derry)

David Kearney (5) who was a tower of strenght in the Oisins defence during the second half

https://myalbum.com/album/DnbzVaskU2XNEL/?invite=fc06afb3-d416-4051-97b4-3a58643b8aff

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks go forth in bid for a fourth Ulster title run

Loughgiel celebrate their third Ulster win in a row in 2024, playing in red against Swatragh.

Ulster Camogie Senior Club Championship semi final Slaughtneil v Loughgiel 2nd November 2025

Match preview and photos from Michael Corcoran

Sunday’s Ulster Camogie Senior Club semi final Championship has all the trimmings of a final feast. That’s not because a final encounter with Clonduff is a given win for either of these two teams, far from it, it just feels like the last few years have given way to an attritional encounter between the Derry and Antrim sides once Loughgiel announced their presence in the 2022 final with a solid win of 2-13 to Slaughtneil’s 1-11. Then we witnessed a tense low scoring semi final victory for the Shamrocks in Dunsilly in ’23, ending Loughgiel 0-09 Slaughtneil 0-05, played in perfect conditions with glorious autumn sunshine.

Maria O’Hara (nee Lynn) runs out to collect the sliotar in the ’23 semi final against Slaughtneil in Dunsilly.

Loughgiel then went on to win the Ulster final against Liatroim Fontenoy’s in the Box-IT Athletic stadium, Armagh in 2023, a game that was played in atrocious conditions.

An early deluge during the 2023 final made conditions slippy underfoot.

2024 was an unconventional run for Loughgiel, with no game against Slaughtneil, as they met Clonduff in a wet semi final in the Mourne county. The Shamrocks brought their might to Clonduff and ran out convincing winners at 6-13 to 1-14 and you would have been thinking a third Ulster was on the cards, but anyone that watched Swatragh disarm Slaughtneil in the ’24 Derry final would have been thinking Loughgiel will meet their match – would have been wrong. Swatragh never got going down in Beragh Red Knights that day and largely due to Loughgiel’s dominance of the game. Christine McCloskey (nee Laverty) was the captain for the Shamrocks, and led from the front, literally giving blood for her club.

Christine McCloskey, taking a year out, literally gave blood for her club against Swatragh in the 2024 final.

Loughgiel’s new captain, Amy Boyle, has picked up where Christine left off, with a side that’s hungry and a desire to complete a bigger journey they might feel is due. Boyle has enjoyed a meteoric rise in her profile from captaining the County’s side to National league and Provincial titles and recently a twelfth county club title, not even to mention personal accolades from 2024. The ruck buster has made substantive changes to her game and has demonstrated a desire to take her score more often than not, particularly in the county final against Dunloy where Christine Campbell cleverly kicked forward a sliotar to a waiting Boyle. Boyle carried the ball forward and after a collision with a Dunloy defender, lobbed the sliotar from a kneeling position with immeasurable accuracy into the clutches of Annie Lynn for her hat trick. That was a showcase final for Antrim camogie and has served the Shamrocks well for preparation against the Derry champions, as Dunloy chased and applied pressure to the final whistle.

Amy Boyle lasers in on the loose ball against Clonduff in last year’s semi final.

So, what’s the forecast for the game…near perfect conditions, sunshine with a moderate breeze from the south west.

Revisit Loughgiel’s 2023 semi final game in photos against Slaughtneil in Dunsilly here…

https://myalbum.com/album/RzX2J6zp2CCh2F/?invite=ffaf4607-c9d1-46d4-8664-aa9937003cd1

Revisit Loughgiel’s 2023 final win in photos against Liatroim Fontenoy’s here…

https://myalbum.com/album/EDrZy4m67VhLbW/?invite=7254a809-02cc-4ab0-b634-615264dbcb66

Revisit Loughgiel’s 2024 semi final win in photos against Clonduff here…

https://myalbum.com/album/u4L8NvvHDB2FZ9/?invite=014e3415-b694-4bf7-bfb0-1fc9d3c83efe

Revisit Loughgiel’s 2024 final win in photos against Swatragh here…

https://myalbum.com/album/8tUqQQheMrAxAv/?invite=de382110-061f-4f8e-8d48-f3a570b31c4a

by thesaffrongael

Con Magees face Truagh Gaels in Cushendall

Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship

Con Magees Glenravel v Truagh Gaels (Monaghan)

Pairc Mhuir, Cushendall – Sunday 2nd Nov – Throw-in – 1-30 pm

Truagh Gaels were beaten in the Monagahan Senior Hurling final six weeks ago when they lost out to Castleblaney, a team well known to the Con Magees who played them in the quarter final of the Ulster when they won the Antrim Junior Hurling title back in 2014. It is fair to say that most Glenravel fans back then would have fancied the Con Magees to come out on top that day, but they got a rude awakening when the Blaney men showed just how accomplished they were. Two years later another Antrim team fell to the Monaghan champions when Cushendun lost out by a point to the Blaney men in the Ulster Junior final at Armagh Athletics ground.

While Truagh came up short against Blaney in the Monagahn  final, the point I am trying to make is that Glenravel will do well not to take anything for granted on Sunday when they face Truagh in Cushendall. Something that will stick to Truagh is that they had a game last weekend when they beat Tyrone champions Omagh St Enda’s in the preliminary round in Truagh by 2-11 to 0-11. One good thing about that tie is that Glenravel get ‘home’ advantage for Sunday’s game, while the Monaghan men face a 90 mile journey down into the glens.

Neill ‘Vic’ McCann, who manages the Con Magees team along with Cormac Scullion and Hugh McCann, travelled down to Truagh for their game against Omagh and are well aware of the challenge posed. The also watched the Monaghan final on Clubber so they have seen Sunday’s opponents in two different games which will help highlights their strengths and weaknesses.

It has been four weeks since the Glenravel men beat Armoy in the Antrim final in a game played in terrible conditions in Ballycastle. The Con Magees were emphatic winners that night but they have gone a long time without another knock-out game. Ironically they have played Castleblaney in a challenge game two weeks’ ago which should raise their sharpness ahead of Sunday and according to the management they have a clean bill of health ahead of the game.

Playing just down the road in Cushendall should be an advantage for the Con Magees, but it will not win them the game, but if they can turn in a display anything like they did when beat Armoy in Antrim final they should get over the line.