November 28, 2025November 28, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Ardboe to progress but it could be close

Sunday 30th November 2025

Quarter Final 4

1pm @ St Pauls GAC

Dromintee (Armagh) v Ardboe (Tyrone)

The fourth quarter final of the St.Paul’s/fona/cab Ulster Minor Football, Club championship is down for decision this weekend when Tyrone champions, Ardboe face Dromintee from Armagh.

The Armagh champions make their bow in the competition where they will face an Ardboe side with one game already under their belts and you would feel that the extra game will give the Tyrone side a slight advantage.

That game was against Antrim champions, Casement’s, Portglenone and while the Bann siders put it up to their opponents in the opening half it was Ardboe who turned the screw with five second half goals to win fairly comfortably in the end.

Darragh Devlin top scored for the Tyrone side with 2-8 to his credit while Darragh Muldoon, Ruairi O’Neill and Darcy Mallon were the Ardboe goal scorers whose confidence will have been boosted by this opening day win.

**Armagh champions Dromintee who face Ardboe at St. Paul’s on Sunday**

Their opponents on Sunday Dromintee, won their first Armagh Minor title in the club’s 138 year history when they defeated Clann Eireann in this year’s final.

The manner in which they did so in such a controlled, calculated and superbly coached display meant they were rarely troubled in their win at the Athletic Grounds.
Dromintee had eight different scorers on the night. Oisin Byrne 0:06, Calvin Mooney 0:04, Michael O’Neill 0:04, Fionn Toale1:01, Ronan Martin 0:02 Fergus Toale 0:02, Conor Laverty 0:01 Odhran Martin 0:01 were the men on target in a team captained by Conor Laverty.

Dromintee entered the game without three of their spine players Gavin O’Rourke, Michael Walker & Diarmaid O’Rourke all of whom have long term injuries but the strength in depth of the squad was such that there was seamless integration with the three replacements.

Games in this competition have been very difficult to predict over the years and Dromintee will have to put the euphoria of winning that first Armagh title to the back of their minds if they are to advance to the semi-final with Ardboe given the nod but it should be close.

November 26, 2025November 26, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks will enjoy raising the ‘Barr’ to secure All Ireland progression

**Just out of reach for the Shamrocks in the semi final of ’23**

Loughgiel v St. Finbarr’s All Ireland Senior Club Championship semi final, Donaghmore, Ashbourne for 2pm – Preview and photos from Michael Corcoran

After last weekend’s camogie provincial action, we now know St. Finbarr’s will play Loughgiel in one of the semi finals to be played in Donaghmore, Ashbourne at 2pm. The other semi final will be between Dicksboro and Athenry in Kinnegad for 1pm.

St. Finbarr’s from Cork defeated De la Salle from Waterford in the Munster provincial championship by the narrow margin of two points, that lead coming from a late Kate Wall goal to seal the deal for St. Finbarr’s first provincial crown. The DLS featured All Star collector, Beth Carton. You might remember Carton from her attendance at Loughgiel during the summer of ’24, when Waterford played Antrim in the Glen Dimplex All Ireland Senior Championship preliminary round. You can read the archived report for that Antrim game here…

Spirited display by Antrim but Waterford wear them down

**Beth Carton from Waterford was De La Salle’s powerhouse but wasn’t able to stop St. Finbarr’s**

Carton and Co were unable to stop the Barr despite a gruelling top class display of camogie. So, what do we know about St. Finbarr’s? They have three Cork county faces on the current club panel, namely Méabh Cahalane, sister Orlaith and Sorcha McCartan. Orlaith Cahalane scored the Barr’s opening goal from a dropping free from team mate, McCartan. With a mixture of skill, intelligence and a dollup of luck, the right full forward backward flipped the sliotar over her head and into the roof of the DLS net. The Barr’s Kate Wall proved to be a ‘jinky’ player with sure footing that got through the DLS defence with only minutes to spare in the game and sealed the deal with a short range rocket to the back of the net. That was goal, game and championship.

The Shamrocks will relish the challenge ahead of them with the advantage of semi final experiences under their belt, given that this is the Barr’s first All Ireland semi final, but they’ll need to iron out a few wrinkles they know about in order to reduce the risk of those being exploited by the Munster champions.

**Loughgiel’s Katie Lynn sat out the game against Dicksboro but will be needed in the Shamrocks’ wall at the weekend**

Other parameters to factor into the game are the weather and pitch. At the moment, forecasts vary between the possibility of light rain and a gentle breeze to sunshine and calm. In between either of those, neither team will complain considering the time of year.

Loughgiel are no strangers to Donaghmore, having lost to the 2023 All Ireland champions, Dicksboro, on a tight winter turf. Loughgiel were strong in the first half 1-08 to 0-06 but Dicksboro came back in the second half to make the most of the conditions and went on to become 2023 All Ireland winners. You can read more on that 2023 game here…

Shamrocks denied by late Dicksboro rally

**Dicksboro would get back to deny the goal that would have changed the Shamrocks’ fortunes**

In the end, it’ll come down to work rate, driven by training and hunger, but if Loughgiel can raise their bar of excellence one more time, the travelling supporters might have cause to spill into the Pound Bar on the way home. This will surely be a battle, Ulster v Munster. Where else would you want to be on Saturday?

Get your tickets for Saturday’s game here…

https://www.universe.com/events/aib-all-ireland-senior-club-championship-semi-final-loghgiel-v-st-finbarrs-tickets-6W2MX7

And if you can’t make the game…

AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi Final – Loughgiel Shamrocks v St. Finbarr’s

November 26, 2025November 26, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Antrim face Derry and Donegal in McKenna Cup

New Antrim manager, Mark Doran faces a baptism of fire when his side face Derry and Donegal in the Group stages of the McKenna Cup.

It was always going to be difficult whoever the Saffrons were drawn against but they don’t come more difficult than the Tir Connaill men.

.Jim McGuinness’ men will face Derry in what will be a repeat of the final from the last time the competition was played, when the Oak Leaf County won by a score of 0-12 to 0-6.

Luke Barrett was part of the Donegal backroom team that year, but he has since linked up with Derry, managed by Ciarán Meenagh.

Barrett was part of the set-up as they won back-to-back Ulster titles and reached the All-Ireland final, but stepped away from the backroom team back in September.

Mark Doran and his backroom team will relish the opportunity to run their eyes over Antrim’s new crop of players for 2026 against strong opposition but the Down native’s priority will be a quick return to division 3 after facing relegation last year.

Over the past number of years, Mark has been involved at the highest levels of the game, including coaching roles with Down, Clare, and Roscommon senior football teams, and team management with Ballybay and Slaughtneil.

Doran will have Cargin’s Michael McCann and Paul Bradley from Slaughtneil as his coaching staff while Barry Gillis is his goalkeeping coach and Brendan Murphy will be in charge of strength and conditioning.

The Down native has opted for experience as he attempts to make the return from division 4 at the first attempt with Cargin’s Tomas McCann and John Carron, Creggan’s Conor and kevin Small and All Saints Paddy McAleer amongst former players who have been recalled to the panel.

There was no McKenna Cup in 2025 but the Ulster GAA confirmed its return in September for what will be the 100th anniversary of the competition.

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Free scoring Clontibret advance to semi-final

St. Paul’s-fona/cab Ulster MFC quarter-final

Clontibret 2-20 Derrygonnelly 1-4

A Charlie Mone inspired Clontibret O’Neill’s of Monaghan swept aside the challenge of Derrygonnelly from Fermanagh in the first quarter-final of the St. Paul’s-fona/cab Ulster Minor Football club championship at Colaiste Feirste on Saturday.

The Monaghan side led 1-7 to 1-3 at the break with their goal coming from Evan Treanor after 11 minutes and Darragh Keenan, Malachy Treanor, Charlie Mone, Jack Brady, Daniel Boylan and Odhran Boylan all weighing in with points.

22/11/2026 Clontibrets Charlie Mone in action with Derrygonnellys Michael Duffy in the St Pauls Minor Competion at Colaiste Feriste

Derrygonnelly did well to contain the O’Neill’s to four in the opening half but with the elements in the favour of the Monaghan men after the break it was going to take something better from the Fermanagh champions if they were to turn this one around.

The second half was less than a minute old when Odhran Boylan fired home Clontibret’s second goal and even then it looked as good as over and the Monaghan champions would push on to rake up an impressive second half tally.

Darragh Keenan, Charlie Mone, Jack Sullivan, Daniel Boylan, Jack Brady and Shane Connolly gave an exhibition of point taking as Clontibret romped home winners by 19 point to set up a semi-final meeting with Bredagh of Down.

Charlie Mone led his line superbly and caused endless problems for Derrygonnelly up front while Darragh Keenan, Odhran Boylan, Evan Treanor and Shane Connolly were others to impress for a Clontibret team who could go all the way.

22/11/2026 Derrygonnellys Evan Mc Kenna in action with Clontibrets Charlie Mone and Alex Windrum in the St Pauls Minor Competion at Colaiste Feriste

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025 by thesaffrongael

St Patrick’s Lisbun celebrate their 60th anniversary

St. Patricks celebrated their 60th Anniversary on Friday 21st Nov with a Gala Ball in the Balmoral Hotel. We were delighted to welcome Michael Geoghegan, Ulster GAA President , Seamus McMullan , Antrim GAA Chair , Ursula Lynch. Antrim LGFA Chair, Patrick McGroarty, Antrim LGFA Development Officer & David Honeyford MLA, from our good neighbours at Glenavy.
Michael Fitzpatrick ran a very smooth operation as our MC for the evening. The occasion was captured by our friend , Bert Trowlen , Saffrongael.

Our evening commenced with our Chair. Tony Ewing, giving a short recount of the trials and tribulations that the club experienced in its nomadic existence from 1965 through to 1995, due to the troubles and the mis representation at local government level. The club were always thankful for the support we received from St.Josephs & St.James.
clubs.
Through the work of Kieran Drayne, the club secured a lease in 1995 for our current ground on Kirkwoods Road through Lisburn Council, although at the time , we were unable to play home on a Sunday! The club developed good working relationships with Council officials and the pitch and changing room facilities improved over time.
Thirty years later we are on the cusp of purchasing Kirkwoods from the MOD, how times have changed for the better.

The Lynchpin –
We reflected and celebrated on the central role Mickey Lynch (Club President) played throughout the decades and enthused at his experiences and story telling. 2025 was a memorable year for Mickey as we had a surprise event as part of our Club history night to celebrate his 80th birthday, alongside his lovely family.

Senior Awards
LGFA
Most Improved Player – Eva Devlin
Players’ Player – Ciara Marshall
Manager’s Player – Clare Kearney

Minor
Most Improved Player – Katie Longley
Players’ Player – Niamh George
Manager’s Player – Beth Gartland

GAA
Reserves
Players’ Player & Manager’s Player –
Owen Drayne

Seniors
Young Player – Jude Rafferty
Players’ Player & Manager’s Player – Adam Patterson

President’s Award recipient- Peter Burns.

The ballot prize were then drawn out with the top prize being a trip to New York.

Ballot Prize Winners 21st Nov

NY Trip- Kashif Akrim
AIF tickets (Club) – Aoife Mc Kibbin
£100 ( Ronnie Thompson)- Peter Ferris
£50 ( CD Plumbing)- Kathlyn Mc Laughlin
Glenfenndich – Helena Maginness-Fitzpatrick
Jameson ( Hagues Bar) – Fiona Healy
Prosecco ( Hagues Bar)- Patricia O’Neill

Thank you to all our sponsors in supporting the ballot.

The evening concluded with a great set of tunes from Finn Mc Ginn.

On behalf of the organising team, we would like to thank Elaine and her team for the excellent service & support in planning this memorable evening for St.Patricks GAC.