St Louis Ballymena opened their Dalton Cup campaign on their travels to Mid Ulster Sports Arena, coming up short against an experienced Omagh CBS on Friday afternoon.
Entering the Ulster Schools Grade 1 competition for the first time in over ten years the Ballymena side had fell behind 1-1 to 0-0 after 5 minutes but they slowly began to grow into the game registering 2-4 without reply.
Goals from Ronan Laverty and Alfie Gordon in between points from Conan McKeever, Kieran Jayaprakash and Nicholas McCrory helped the lads to a two point lead at half time, as CBS had tagged on the last few points of the half.
The Tyrone School fired three goals in quick succession on the restart to regain control of the contest but to their credit SLG responded with another fine goal through Oisin Anyalechi to keep in the contest but it was the Tyrone boys who finished the game stronger, running out deserving winners in the end despite a gallant effort from St Louis on their return to the top tier competition.
They now face St Michael’s Enniskillen, St Patrick’s Cavan and St Malachys Castlewellan in their remaining group A games.
ST LOUIS
1. PJ Marron 2. Luke Bradley 3. Joseph Killough 4. Charlie O’Brien 5. Mark Kirby 6. Nicholas McCrory 7. Liam O’Neill 8. Conan McKeever 9. Cayden McGuckian 10. Kiran Jayaprakash 11. Oisin Anyalechi 12. Cahan O’Kane 13. Alfie Gordon 14. Ronan Laverty 15. Oscar Bradley
St Patrick’s Armagh win the Danske Bank Leopold Cup
St Patrick’s Armagh 1-17 | St Malachy’s Belfast 2-8Mid Ulster Sports Arena
St Patrick’s Armagh finally ended years of heartbreak in the Danske Bank Leopold Cup, putting past final disappointments behind them with a decisive victory over St Malachy’s Belfast last night.
Despite a spirited second-half comeback from the Belfast side, St Patrick’s composure in the final quarter ensured they finally conquered what had become a “bogey” competition for the school.
First Half Dominance The Armagh side seized control early, producing a blistering first-half display. Cillian Rafferty was the standout performer in the opening period, prominent throughout and firing over four points from play.
He was ably supported by the accuracy of Charlie McGeown, who punished St Malachy’s indiscipline by converting five frees. This attacking dominance saw St Patrick’s head into the interval with a commanding lead of 0-14 to 1-5.
The St Malachy’s Rally St Malachy’s emerged from the break with renewed purpose, turning the game on its head within the first ten minutes of the restart. Spearheading the charge was Conor Stewart, who found the net for his second goal of the game and added a brace of
The Saffron Gael are delighted to announce that one of their dedicated volunteers had received a major award from the LGFA, one which is richly deserved. Elaine Kelly from Moneyglass will receive her Overall Volunteer of the Year honour (the Lulu Carroll Award) at a gala dinner in Croke Park next Friday night (Jan 23rd) where she joins a list of volunteers from all over the country. Announcing the award winners yesterday the LGFA, issued a press release listing the recipients from Tippeary, Kildare, Kerry, Dublin, Laois and even Boston USA, all of whom have been recognised for their dedication to the sport, but top of the list is our very own Elaine.
From our point of view we like to congratulate her and thank her not only for the work she has done for us through the LGFA but also the coverage she has given her own clubs’ footballers and lots of other clubs when the need arises. Well done Elaine, and well deserved.
Enjoy your big night in Croke Park!
Elaine Kelly and her husband Patrick with daughter Aoife, sons Eamon and Sean in Croke Park the day Moneyglass played in the All Ireland Senior Club final. Elaine, Patrick and Aoife will be back there again next weekend to receive her award
This is the LGFA, who organises this great event in association with Dooctor.i.e., press release to announce the winners.
THE Ladies Gaelic Football Association is pleased to announce the 2025 LGFA Volunteer of the Year award winners, in association with Dooctor.ie.
The award recipients will gather at Croke Park on Friday January 23rd for a very special evening to celebrate their outstanding achievements.
The LGFA National Volunteer of the Year awards scheme, now sponsored by Dooctor.ie, is in its ninth year and the 2025 winners, in nine categories, are as follows:
Young Volunteer – Ben Allen, Fethard, Co. Tipperary
Club Coach – Fiona Nelligan McGuire, Currow, Co. Kerry
PR Volunteer– Niamh Daly, St Pats Blennerville, Co. Kerry
Club Committee – Justine O’Flanagan, St Sylvesters, Co. Dublin
County/Provincial – Pat Heneghan, Vice Chairperson and Provincial Delegate, Roscommon LGFA
International – Eileen Kerin, Boston Shamrocks, USA
Hall of Fame – Mary Casey, Timahoe, Co. Laois
Overall Volunteer of the Year (Lulu Carroll award) – Elaine Kelly, St Ergnats Moneyglass, Co. Antrim
The Overall Volunteer of the Year, Elaine Kelly from the St Ergnats (Moneyglass) club in Antrim, will receive the prestigious Lulu Carroll award, named after the late Lulu Carroll, who was a 2001 All-Ireland senior medallist with Laois.
Lulu, who passed away in 2007, was a committed servant to Ladies Football at club and county levels, and one of the game’s most popular and well-known figures.
Lulu, a former All-Star recipient, also won eight Leinster titles with Laois, along with six county senior titles and a provincial crown at club level with Timahoe.
Elaine is a dedicated volunteer who gives her time to capture unforgettable moments across all levels of Gaelic games – from fundamentals to senior teams.
Her passion for photography and community shines through as she covers not only club matches but also county games, creating cherished memories for players, families, and supporters alike.
Loved by the girls and ladies in her club and respected across neighbouring clubs, Elaine’s contribution to the sport and community is invaluable.
The LGFA’s Volunteer Hall of Fame winner is Mary Casey, one of the founding members of the Timahoe club in Laois.
From the very beginning, Mary has been at the heart of the club – starting as a player while also serving on the committee.
Her commitment and humility have been unwavering, and her dedication to Timahoe Ladies comes as naturally as breathing.
Mary’s playing career spans both club and county levels – and she proudly represented Laois on their 2001 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship winning team.
Mary currently serves her club as assistant chairperson and she’s heavily involved in coaching at underage levels.
Hailing the winners of the 2025 LGFA National Volunteer of the Year awards, in association with Dooctor.ie, Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Trina Murray, commented: “I am immensely proud to honour the recipients of our 2025 National Volunteer of the Year Awards, in association with Dooctor.ie.
“These winners embody the very heart of our Association – selfless service, community spirit and an unwavering commitment to players of every age and ability.
“Week after week, they give their time, expertise and kindness to ensure our games are safe, inclusive and inspiring, often behind the scenes and without expectation of recognition. Their impact is felt in clubhouses, schoolyards and county grounds across the country.
“I am also delighted to once again welcome Dooctor.ie as our new sponsor of these awards. Their focus on wellbeing and accessible healthcare aligns perfectly with the values our volunteers live every day.
“Together, we celebrate not just achievements, but the people who make Ladies Gaelic Football thrive. To our winners and nominees alike, thank you for everything you do.”
Speaking on behalf of Dooctor.ie, company founder Dr Hafiz Mohd Ali, said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the National Volunteer Award winners, on behalf of Dooctor.ie.
“It is truly inspiring to witness the dedication and passion that these individuals bring to grassroots female sport in Ireland.
“We are eagerly looking forward to the celebratory night on the 23rd of January, where we will have the honour of presenting these prestigious awards.”
Rathmore Grammar produced a battling display full of grit and character but fell agonizingly short against Holy Trinity, Cookstown, in a high-scoring thriller.
Despite a challenging opening ten minutes where the Tyrone side raced into an early lead, the Belfast lads showed immense resilience to claw their way back into the contest, ultimately losing out by just four points after a storming finish.
After absorbing early pressure that saw Holy Trinity hit eight points without reply, Rathmore finally settled and began to dictate terms. Joe Logan was instrumental in shifting the momentum, opening the scoring for Rathmore before tagging on a second point moments later.
The comeback was truly on by the end of the first quarter when midfielder Conor Friel rattled the net, dragging the Belfast side right back into contention. Further points from Aodhan O’Hanlon and Jack Heatherington kept the scoreboard ticking over, showing that Rathmore were more than a match for their opponents in open play.
However, luck was not on their side just before the interval. Despite their hard work, Rathmore were hit by a cruel double-blow, conceding two goals in the final four minutes of the half to leave them trailing 1-4 to 2-9 at the break—a deficit that arguably flattered the opposition.
The second half saw a renewed effort from Rathmore. Showing great tactical awareness, Joe Logan and Donnacha McGurk both landed excellent two-point scores to cancel out Cookstown’s early efforts. Even after conceding a third goal in the 44th minute, the Rathmore heads never dropped.
In fact, the final quarter belonged largely to the Belfast school. Christopher Robb was in inspired form, hitting 0-4, including a two-pointer, while Ronan Taylor also found the range during a dominant purple patch that saw Rathmore significantly close the gap.
The “never-say-die” attitude was epitomized in injury time when full-forward Liam Carson blasted home a goal. While the clock ultimately beat them, the 2-15 total was a testament to a fighting performance that pushed the Cookstown side all the way to the final whistle.
Aquinas Grammar secured their place in the McLarnon Cup semi-finals following a strong second-half performance against St Louis’, Ballymena at Cherryvale. Despite trailing at the interval, the Belfast school overturned a deficit to run out winners by an eight-point margin.
St Louis’ Control Early Exchanges
St Louis’, coming off a preliminary round victory over Lecale Grammar, controlled the opening 20 minutes of the contest. They established an early 1-4 to 0-1 lead, aided significantly by the game’s opening goal from Domhnall McKay, who finished to the net following a defensive mix-up by Aquinas.
Aquinas responded in the final ten minutes of the half. A goal from Patrick O’Hare helped them draw level, nullifying St Louis’ early advantage. However, the mid-Antrim side had the final say of the half, with Jay McAlonan converting a two-point score to give St Louis’ a 1-6 to 1-4 lead at the break.
Momentum Shifts to Aquinas
The dynamic of the game changed immediately upon the restart. JJ Higgins scored from the throw-in to set the tempo for Aquinas. The Belfast side quickly established a five-point lead through points from O’Hare and Fintan McArdle, combined with a second goal for the team from Jacko Watson, who intercepted a short kick-out to finish.
St Louis’ brought themselves back into contention in the 50th minute. Following a passing move involving McAlonan and Cillian Scullion, Odhrán Duffin scored a goal to narrow the gap to two points (2-10 to 2-8).
As St Louis’ committed players forward in the final ten minutes to find an equalizer, Aquinas capitalized on the counter-attack. They added several points before Conn Huston secured the victory with his side’s third goal.
Aquinas will face the winner of the quarter-final between St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast and Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore in the semi-final.
Match Stats & Scorers
Aquinas Grammar Scorers
· J Watson: 1-3
· P O’Hare: 1-3
· C Huston: 1-0
· JJ Higgins: 0-2
· F McArdle: 0-2
· V Martilla: 0-2
· J McEvoy: 0-1
St Louis’, Ballymena Scorers
· O Duffin: 1-1
· D McKay: 1-1
· J McAlonan: 0-3
· F Bradley: 0-1
· C Scullion: 0-1
· T Convery: 0-1
ST LOUIS
Eddie Smyth (All Saints) 2. James McGarry (Dunloy Cuchullains) 3. Aaron Doherty (Dunloy Cuchullains) 4. Matthew Watt (All Saints) 5. Cillian Scullion (Clann na hÉireann, Carraigin) 6. Sean O’Brien (All Saints) 7. Caleb Smith (Tir Na Nog) 8. Odhran Duffin (Moneyglass) 9. Jay McAlonan (Dunloy Cuchullains) 10. Dylan McMullan (Glenraval) 11. Fiontann Bradley (All Saints) 12. Eanna McGuckian (Dunloy Cuchullains) 13. Tom Convery (Roger Casements) 14. Domhnall McKay (Creggan) 15. Luke McAllister (Kilrea)
AQUINAS GRAMMAR
1. Cormac McGarry (GK) 2. Oliver Quinn 3. Frank Heaney 4. Oscar O’Connor 5. Conall Vaugh 6. Conor Frazer 7. Darragh McQuaid 8. Padhraig O’Hare 9. James McEvoy 10. Valo Martilla 11. JJ Higgins 12. Rhys Bray 13. Fintan McArdle 14. Conn Huston 15. Jacko Watson
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