Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Glenariffe Oisins Awards Night

Glenariffe Oisins held their annual awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge Restaurant on Saturday night with Gaelfast Director Dr Paul Donnelly the guest of honour. A series of internal awards were handed out to the hurlers and Ladies Footballers with Alex O’Boyle sweeping the boards in the hurling awards and Gemma Black cleaning up in the Ladies Football awards. Saffron Gael was there to capture the action.

  • Club president Niall Wheeler makes a presentation to Michael O’Boyle in recognition of his Colleges All Star Hurling Award
  • Pauline McIlhatton presents the Larragh Lodge Shield and Trophy to Most Improved Ladies Gaelic Footballer Cara Kilgore at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Eddie Haughey presents the Haughey Cup and Trophy to Ladies Football Player of the Year Gemma Black at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Gemma Black also received the Ladies Gaelic Football Players’ Player of the Year award and is seen receiving it from club president Niall Wheeler.
Shannon O’Boyle presents the Alex O’Boyle Memorial Cup to the Club’s Players’ Player of the Year Alex O’Boyle at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Shannon O’Boyle presents the Minor Hurler Players Player of the Year award to Oliver Kearney at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Shannon O’Boyle presents the Senior Hurlers Players’ Player of the Year Award to Alex O’Boyle at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Club vice-chairman Johnny McIntosh presents the Junior Hurler of the Year Award to Mark Nulty at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Maebh McIlwaine presents the Mariners Cup and Trophy for Most Dedicated Hurler of the Year Niall Murray at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
Club chairman David Burns presents the Minor Hurler of the Year award to Alexander McMullan at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Chris Ward presents the Willie Bob Graham Memorial Cup in memory of his grandfather to Most Improved Senior Hurler of the Year Caolan O’Connor at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Eddie Haughey presents the Danny McAllister Memorial Trophy for Oisins Senior Hurler of the Year to Alex O’Boyle at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Padraig McIlwaine presents the Fermoy Shield and Trophy for Dedication to the Clubs Juvenile Teams to Mark Nulty at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Vice chairman Johnny McIntosh presents the Supporter of the Year award to Chris Ward
Alex O’Byle with the three major individual awards he received at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Vice chairman Johnny McIntosh presents the Supporter of the Year award to Chris Ward
  • Maebh McIlwaine presents the Club Person of the Year award to joint winners, her grandparents, Margaret and Hugh McIlwaine at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Guest of Honour Paul Donnelly of Gaelfast presented an award to club legend Niall Wheeler for his dedication to the Oisins club, and a bouquet of flowers to his wife Kathryn at the Oisins GAC Awards dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Oisins chairman David Burns (right) and secretary Geard Cosgrove presents the sponsorship cheque for the Saffron Gael to John McIlwaine at teh club’s dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Club chairman David Burns presents awards to the Team Assistants of the Year Kevin Robbin and Brenan Murray at the Oisins dinner in the Larragh Lodge.
  • Gaelfast director Dr Paul Donnelly (front centre) who was guest of honour at the Glenariffe Oisins annual awards night in the Larragh Lodge is seen here with members of the club’s committee. Front left, club president Niall Wheeler, Front right – Club chairman David Burns. Back row, L-R, Geard Cosgrove, Club Secretary; Teresa Gettins – Assistant Treasurer; Eddie Haughey – PRO; Johnny McIntosh – Vice-Chairman.
by thesaffrongael

Antrim minor management meet parents at St Louis

The Antrim Minor Hurling Management team held a very successfuL Parents/Players Information evening in St Louis’, Ballymena on Monday night with several guest speakers in attendance.

Paul Mc Flynn, teacher and former Derry footballer addressed the audience.  Speaking about issues which affected him as a player of their age, many of which are still relevant today, he outlined the challenges affecting all the elite players and how important it was to find the right playing/studying balance. He spoke about his student days and how it was possible to study and attend all training sessions without fear of underachieving.

Dr Nicholas Mc Naughton from Loughgiel spoke about health and fitness, the many demands placed on players and the importance of a balanced diet and rest. He also talked about his hurling career at club, school and university level and about boxing for Scorpion boxing club, Ballymoney.

Paul McFlynn, Dr Nicholas McNaughton, Director of Hurling Neil Peden and Dr Noel Brick.

Neil Peden, Antrim’s first Director of Hurling informed the players of the pathway that Antrim hurling was trying to establish and compared our teams to southern opposition, comparing the physical condition of their players to ours and how he hoped that many of the players present would go on and play for the Antrim seniors. He finished off by informing the minor boys that they were being treated the same as the seniors in that they were training in the same facilities and had access to the same doctors, physios and dietitians.

Last on the stage was Dr Noel Brick, who spoke about sports psychology, how the elite players have mental toughness, how they deal with mistakes during games and the ability to refocus/re-establish themselves in the ‘zone’.

Members of the Antrim panel who attended the talk
by thesaffrongael

Winning start a necessity as Antrim begin their league campaign

Allianz Hurling League Division 2A

Antrim vs Wicklow in Arklow

Throw in: 2pm

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)

By Brendan McTaggart

Antrim begin their 2020 season in earnest on Sunday afternoon as they travel to the Garden County for their National League opener.  This will be their second successive season in 2a after failure to claim promotion in 2019, a campaign that saw an opening day defeat to Kerry by two points after playing the majority of the game with 14 men.  Darren Gleeson and his management team will be hoping for a smoother start to their campaign than that of 12 months ago.

A win in match day two against Meath kept Antrim in contention for promotion but those hopes were dashed with another narrow defeat to Westmeath in Mullingar.  This campaign sees them start with a trip to Wicklow before hosting Mayo in Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel.  Two matches that should see them siting with maximum points ahead of their mouth-watering tie against Offaly at Tullamore in three weeks’ time.

Neil McManus in December’s Kehoe Cup game against Wicklow

Having won the McGurk Cup after defeating Down in the final at The Dub, Antrim were beaten in the Kehoe Cup final by the Faithful County.  Some called it their first proper test of the season and on paper the result was a defeat, but there has been plenty of plus points and positives to take from their preseason form.

12 months ago, Antrim didn’t have the services of the Ruairi Og contingent for the majority of the league campaign.  In both cup competitions they have competed in this season, Paddy Burke, Neil McManus, Eoghan Campbell and Alex ‘The Goal’ Delargy have all featured prominently while the Johnston brothers (Ciaran and Conor) with club teammates Domhnall Nugent and Michael Bradley have certainly added to the squad.  If anything, the current Antrim squad is the strongest it’s been in quite some time.

Nigel Elliott’s absence from the squad will be a tough one to fill for the Saffrons.  He had been one of their strongest performers in recent seasons while Captain Conor McCann remains an injury doubt along with Conal Cunning and Eoin O’Neill.  The Dunloy duo have yet to feature in a Saffron shirt this season while McCann picked up a knock in the Kehoe Cup.

Michael Bradley in action against Wicklow in the Kehoe Cup in December

Sunday’s opponents will be no strangers to the Saffrons.  Antrim defeated Wicklow in the Kehoe Cup with a blistering display in the opening 20 minutes that saw them blow a tornado through the Garden County with James McNaughton the tormentor in chief.  17 of their 21 first half points coming from play in 35 minutes which saw them build a 21 point lead at the interval.  The second half was more procession like at Abbotstown on that Sunday in December and while Antrim will go into Sunday’s match as heavy favourites, they should expect a much different Wicklow.  They were promoted from 2B last year having been beaten once to Down in a campaign that saw them defeat Derry in their own backyard and again in a low scoring league final and while the twice Antrim have played them in recent times, both have been in the Kehoe Cup and lacking the intensity that should be there during the league.

A winning start is imperative for Gleeson and his team and a good performance will be required following the disappointment of their defeat to Offaly in the Kehoe Cup.  The two key matches that will determine Antrim’s promotion fate lay in Tullamore and Tralee, to ensure that however, they need two points on Sunday.

Domnhal Nugent in action against Wicklow

League Fixtures

Sun 2nd February

vs Mayo (Loughgiel)

Sun 16th February

vs Ofaly (Tullamore)

Sun 23rd February

vs Meath (Loughgiel)

Sun 1st March

vs Kerry (Tralee)

by thesaffrongael

Qualify as a referee in Croke Park

The UPCOMING Foundation course for new referees will be held on Friday March 27th at 7pm – Dunsilly Hotel
Saturday March 28th at 10.30am – Dunsilly Hotel
Saturday April 4th at 10am – CROKE PARK!
ALL 3 SESSIONS MUST BE ATTENDED IN ORDER TO QUALIFY AS A REFEREE.

The final session will be in Croke Park on Saturday April 4th where certificates will be presented and referees gear given out to all successful participants.

NO BETTER REASON TO START AS A REFEREE NOW!

EMAIL BRENDAN TOLAND : tolandb15@gmail.com to apply

SO……………….

Why Become a GAA Referee?

•Stay involved with the game as an alternative to playing

•Fitness – It’s a great way to keep fit

•Ambition – could you referee a County Final or even an All-Ireland?

•Learn more about the game

•Give Something Back – offers players, at the end of their playing days, the opportunity to continue in the sport

•Personal Development – helps to develop personal skills that are of value in all walks of life

What qualities are required to become a GAA Referee?

•Good knowledge of the playing rules

•Be physically and mentally fit

•Have the ability to remain calm

•Have the moral courage to take decisions which are correct

RECAP: How do I become a Referee?

Note: If your club has no referee this year you will lose your home fixtures in the 2020 season.

by thesaffrongael

Teams sought for Cúchulainn Competition

From Ulster GAA

The GAA’s Hurling Development Committee is seeking entries for the new Cúchulainn Competiton, a new senior cross-county club hurling competition.

This competition will run for seven weeks from the beginning of July through to the middle of August across Ulster, Leinster and Connacht.

Depending on entries, the competition will see teams will be divided into groups of four, allowing for three group games.

Following the three group games, all teams progress to the knock-out stages. The top two teams in each group will take part in the cup competition and the third and fourth placed teams will take part in the shield competition. This guarantees each team a minimum of four games.

Entry Forms for the competition must be completed online HERE by the Club Secretary or returned by post on the on the Cúchulainn Competition Entry Form by Friday 14 February. It is intended to publish details of all fixtures by the end of March.