Category / Intermediate Hurling Championship

by thesaffrongael

Oisins face a tough task against Carrickmore

Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship – Semi Final

Oisins Glenariffe v Eire Og Carrickmore

Date: Saturday 15 November

4pm – @ Owenbeg, Dungiven

Glenariffe Oisins face a tough task when they take on Tyrone champions Carrickmore in Saturday’s Ulster Intermediate Hurling semi-final at Owenbeg.

The Carrickmore team who beat St Eunan’s in the Ulster quarter-final in Letterkenny

The Tyrone champions this season collected their sixth county title on the trot when they beat Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon in a closely contested final. The Dungannon side thought they had it won when they held a one point lead going into injury time, but Carrickmore snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when corner forward Seamus Sweeney flashed home and injury time goal to seal the six-in-a-row.

In the Ulster quarter final the Tyrone champions beat Donegal’s St Eunan’s Letterkenny in O’Donnell Park, winning in the end by 1-16 to 1-09 to set up Saturday’s semi-final against the Oisins. There was little between the teams in the opening half with Carrickmore holding a slender two point advantage at the interval at O’Donnell Park. The Donegal side felt they were still very much in the game but Carrickmore increased their lead with  a goal early in the second half and went on to win by seven in the end.

After the game team manager Adrian Slane told  Highland Radio that the winning Ulster was their aim this  seasons. “This is a demon we have to exorcise this time. We have come so close so many times in this competition and we have to get there this time.”

Going into the game Glenariffe have a slight injury worry over centre-forward Conor Patterson, a player whose season has been plagued by hamstring injuries. Brogan O’Connor, who came in for Patterson against Leitrim in the quarter final was unlucky to receive a red card and is out of this weekend’s game after his appeal was turned down by the Ulster council.

Apart from that the Oisins team should be very much along the same lines at the one who started against the Down me two weeks ago in Loughgiel. Alex O’Boyle led he line the last day, as he has done on most occasions all season and his contribution from frees and from open play is again vital. With his brother Michael again to the fore with Orrin O’Connor and Seanie McIntosh carrying the main scoring threat.

David Kearney was the star of the show in defence the last day with his strength and experience a vital factor and considering the physicality of Carrickmore that is likely to be needed again. David moved back into full back in the second half against Leitrim and that is a possible option on Saturday. The young duo of Niall Magee and Callum McIlwaine will again be vital in the half-back line with the midfield pairing of Gillan and Kearney keeping their places in the 8 and 9 shirts.

It has been a traumatic time for the team since their quarter final with the untimely death of Marie O’Hagan, wife of joint team manager Shay. That has no doubt effected the preparations in the week following the quarter final but the past week has seen them training return to full pace with three outings in neighbouring clubs who provided their facilities in Glenravel, Loughgiel and Cushendall.

Carrickmore will provide a tough test in this game and as other Antrim clubs have found they are a good team full of hurling. However if the Oisins produce their best then they are good enough to book that final spot and reach another Ulster final in two weeks’ time.

The Oisins starting line-up in the semi-final was

Oisín: P McMullan, P McIlwaine, M Haughey, C Devlin, David Kearney, N Magee, C McIlwaine, O Gillan, O Kearney, O O’Connor, C Patterson capt, M O’Boyle, A O’Boyle, S McIntosh, Daniel Kearney.

by thesaffrongael

St Patrick’s, Glenariffe club colours day

The pupils of St Patrick’s Glenariffe turned out in their colours yesterday to celebrate the Oisins who are playing today (Saturday) in the final of the Intermediate Hurling Championship against Tir na nÓg in Loughgiel at 2pm. Hope we see you all at the big game later.

Dan McKillop and his four children at St Patrick’s Glenariffe
Lucy and Eddie Kerr at the St Patrick’s Glenariffe Club Colours day
Miss Millar with her P5 pupils at the St Patrick’s Glenariffe Club Colours day
Mrs McAuley with her pupils at the St Patrick’s PS Glenariffe Club Colours day
by thesaffrongael

Mount St. Michael’s PS Show Their True Colours for Tír na nÓg!

Featured Image-Left to Right: Nicky Bonnes, Chairman of Tir na nOg and players Emmet Martin and Sean Duffin:

There was a sea of blue and white in Mount St. Michael’s Primary School, Randalstown on Friday as pupils and staff took part in a special ‘Club Colours Day’ to show their support for the Tír na nÓg Senior Hurlers ahead of Saturday’s Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship Final against Oisins Glenariffe in Loughgiel (2.30pm throw-in).

Children proudly donned their club colours, with a few brave Creggan fans sneaking in their green and yellow! The atmosphere was buzzing as the school came together to celebrate their local heroes and wish them well ahead of the big day. Principal Mr. Paudie Shivers spoke to the children about the pride that comes from being part of their local club, and how much joy and belonging the GAA brings to the community. He highlighted the inspiring journey of Mr. Sean Duffin, current Tír na nÓg and former Antrim hurler, who is teaching in the school and how he started his hurling journey in Mount St. Michael’s now finds himself preparing for a county final.

Winners of the poster couring competition with Tir na nOg player and sponsor, Emmet Martin

The school was delighted to welcome Nicky Bonnes, Chairman of Tír na nÓg, who thanked the children and staff for their tremendous support and encouragement for the team ahead of the final. As part of the celebrations, the school also held a colouring competition, with fantastic prizes kindly sponsored by Martin Hurls and Senior Hurler, Emmett Martin.

Mount St. Michael’s PS would like to wish Sean, Emmett, and the entire Tír na nÓg panel and management team the very best of luck in Saturday’s County Final – Tír na nÓg Abú!

Showing their true colours! Children from Mount St. Michael’s P.S. Randalstown dressed in the colours of their local club, Tir na nOg who play Oisins Glenariffe in to morrow’s IHC Fainal in Loughgiel

For more photographs from ther day click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/Q5GTeev8C5R3fE

by thesaffrongael

Little to separate Oisin’s and Tir na nOg in Intermediate decider

IHC Final

Oisin v Tir na nOg

Loughgiel – 2-00pm Saturday

Saturday’s Intermediate Hurling Championship final in Loughgiel brings together the top two teams in the competition this year with both competing in Group 2 of the league part of the competition and both finishing on 8 points.

The sides crossed swords back on the 24th of August in round 3 in Ahoghill with the Glenariffe side edging a keenly contested affair where they ran out 2-19 to 1-18 winners.

It was Tir na nOg’s only defeat in a group which included Robert Emmet’s, Shane O’Neills, St. Gall’s and St. Brigid’s Cloughmills.

The ‘Biddies’ finished bottom of the group but inflicted defeat on Oisin’s in their final group game but by that stage the Waterfoot men had already qualified as group winners and fielded an understrength side.

Seanie McIntosh in action against Tir na nOg in their group game in Ahoghill

The top two sides in Group 1 and Group 2 progressed to the semi-finals with Glenariffe facing Cloney Gaels under the lights in Ballymena and Tir na nOg crossing swords with neighbours, Kickham’s Creggan in Ahoghill.

Both sides followed similar patterns as Oisin’s hit an unanswered 2-6 at Quinn Park after falling behind to a Ronan Graham point in the opening minute to lead by 11 with ten minutes gone and even at this stage it was hard to envisage a Cloney comeback.

Their first goal came from Michael O’Boyle after Diarmuid Graham had been blocked down as he attempted to clear and his brother, Alex added the second with 8 minutes gone as Cloney struggled to put meaningful attacks together.

Alex O’Boyle gave an exhibition of free taking for the sea siders while his brother Michael, Seanie McIntosh and Orrin O’Connor led the early onslaught on the Ahoghill goals.

Cloney Gaels did fare better after the break but never really looked like closing the gap on an excellent Oisin side for whom Paul McMullan in goals was excellent and pulled off a couple of superb stops.

It was a similar story at Ahoghill as a dazzling first half display from Tir na nOg, Randalstown saw them overcome the challenge of neighbours Kickham’s Creggan in the other championship semi-final in front of a bumper crowd at an overcast Cloney.

The Whitehill side dominated the opening half with Sean Duffin giving an imperious exhibition of point taking, from the placed ball and from play as the big number 8 controlled the tempo of the game from mid-field.

Tir na nOg’s Sean Duffin comes in for some close attention

It was as good as over at half time when the Whitehill side led 2-10 to 0-3 and while Creggan were much better after the break the goal that might have brought them back into contention never looked like materialising.

Josh Higgins from play and Sean Duffin from two converted frees edged Tir na nOg 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after 7 minutes play.

Morgan Nelson replied for Creggan with a point in the 10th minute but it was the greater intensity and pace of their opponents that continued to see them add scores in quick succession.

Ciaran Logan, Sean Duffin (0-2 f’s) and Eamon Og McAllister with an excellent point increased their lead to seven by the 16th minute before Conor McCann briefly halted the onslaught from a well struck long range free.

By half time it looked as good as over but, to their credit Creggan fought to the end and out-scored their neighbours in a much improved second half performance while never looking like overturning that substantial interval lead.

Oisin’s have been installed as favourites since early in the championship and under the guidance of former Cloney Gaels management team, Hugh Dobbin and Shea O’Hagan they have shown considerable improvement.

Dobbin and O’Hagan guided them to last year’s final in their first season in charge but they lost to a strong Carey Faughs in the decider.

This year they have looked the team to beat and romped away with the division 2 league title and are favourites to complete a famous double.

Oisin’s free taker, Alex O’Boyle could be involved in a shootout with Sean Duffin on Saturday in Loughgiel

It’s 23 years though since they last lifted the title while Tir na nOg were crowned champions as recently as 2022 and quite a few of that championship winning panel are still around.

Kevin Sherrin in goals, Ciaran O’Neill, Brandon McLarnon, Manus Smith, Conor McCamphill, Emmet Murray, Darragh Fagan, Ryan O’Neill, Eamon Og McAllister and Caoimhin Duffin will lead the Tir na nOg challenge with an in form Sean Duffin vital to their challenge.

Paul McMullan, Niall Murray, Callum McIlwaine, David Kearney Niall Magee, Odhran Gillan, Oliver Kearney, Alex and Michael O’Boyle are the men who can swing it Glenariffe’s way but they will face a firm challenge from the Whitehill men.

by thesaffrongael

Oisins and Tír na nÓg tasted success twenty years apart

As we build up to this weekend’s Intermediate Hurling Championship we take a look back at when both teams won the title in the past. Tir na nÓg won their only Intermediate title back in 2020 but we have to go back a further 20 years since the Oisins tasted success at this level.

Their opponents that day were Carey Faughs and the venue was Armoy

This is a link to the report of the game we reproduced in the Saffron Gael during the first year of Covid

Oisins won first Intermediate title of the new Millennium

Tir na nÓg’s sole Intermediate success came in 2020 when they beat South West rivals Cloney Gaels, Ahoghill at Dunsilly.

A century’s heartache forgotten as Tir na nOg lift Intermediate title