West Belfast GAA club Gort na Móna has made a start to its fiftieth anniversary year with the unveiling of a new jersey that will be worn by all teams during the season.
Club chairperson Barry Fegan said, “This is a special year for Gort na Móna and we’ll be marking it with a number of events throughout 2024. One of the highlights will be a gala dinner in Belfast City Hall in June.
“As well as celebrating the past, looking to the future will be an important part of the year. We’re putting a development strategy in place and want to ensure that we continue to play the positive role in the community that we have since our founding in 1974.”
Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm and Clooney Gaels, Ahoghill served up a game for the ages at a wet and windy Feystown on Wednesday night. With the underfoot conditions wet and slippery and a gale blowing towards the Feystown Road end, both sides defied the conditions to provide a great hour’s entertainment for the hardy soles who braved the near artic conditions.
Before the game both teams observed a minutes silence for former Shane O’Neill’s hurler, Patrick Dobbin who passed away recently before the action got underway.
The home side survived the concession of two early goals to lead by 2-11 to 2-3 at the halfway stage but on reflection it was those goals that would prove decisive in the end.
Ronan Graham raced through unchallenged for the first 30 seconds after the throw in and Colla McDonnell struck the second from a kneeling position with 14 minutes on the clock.
In between Glenarm began to get a foothold as Dylan McLaughlin, Aidan Scullion, Darren Hamill, Ciaran Magill, from a 45 meter free, Blain McDermott and Conal Ward replied with points to close the gap to three by the end of the opening quarter.
In between McDonnell, James O’Connell and Neil O’Connell contributed points at the other ends but it was Shane O’Neill’s who took advantage of the strong wind to finish the half strongly.
Ciaran Magill from near the touchline, Conal Ward, Darren Hamill from a 75 meter free and Magill again split the posts before Benny McDermott finished from close range after the Ahoghill defence got itself in a tangle.
Colla McDonnell fires home the first of his two goals as Clooney Gaels defeat Shane O’Neill’s in the ACHL at Feystown on Wednesday night
Blain McDermott added a point and a goal from the excellent Dylan McLaughlin sent his side to the shelter of the dressing rooms, leading 2-11 to 2-3 and looking in a strong position for the second half.
It was only when the second half got under way that it became apparent just how strong that wind was as Clooney Gaels set about reeling in the Glenarm lead.
James O’Connell, from a couple of well struck frees, Patrick Graham and Colla McDonnell tagged on points and a superb long range effort from James ‘Bobby’ Magee closed the gap to three by the 11th minute before Ciaran Magill got the Feystown men’s opening point of the half with 12 minutes gone.
James O’Connell replied from another free and Colla McDonnell intercepted a bad puck out to return the sliotar between the posts to level matters.
McDonnell was causing problems for the Glenarm defence and he fired home his second and his side’s third goals to put the visitors in a commanding position going down the home straight before Ciaran Magill replied with a pointed free.
Ronan Graham and Colla McDonnell kept the scoreboard ticking with further points for the visitors and despite a late goal from Aidan Scullion for the home side it was Clooney Gaels who headed back to Ahoghill with another brace of points on board.
A superb game of hurling in conditions that were far from conducive and great credit must be given to both sides for the fare they served up. Six goals and 28 points on the night was testimony to their efforts and much appreciated by those who had the privilege to witness it.
A minutes silence for former Glenarm player Patrick Dobbin who passed away recently
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Joshua Quinn, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Sean Scullion, 5 Daniel Black, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Paul Hamill, 8 Kieran O’Boyle, 9 Sean O’Boyle, 10 Dylan McLaughlin, 11 Ciaran Magill, 12 Conal Ward, 13 Blain McDermott, 14 Brendan McDermott, 15 Aidan Scullion
Subs Used: Matthew Black, Sean O’Hare
Clooney Gaels: 1 Martin Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Diarmaid Graham, 4 Conall Walls, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Daniel O’Neill, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Conor Cassley, 10 Ronan Graham, 11 Patrick Graham, 12 James O’Connell, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Neil Graham, 15 Noah Friel
Cushendun bounced back from their defeat by Glenarm in their opening game two weeks ago to score an emphatic win over Oisins Glenariffe in Wednesday evening’s Division 2 Hurling League game in Waterfoot.
On top from the early stages against a disappointing Oisins side the Emmet’s were six points clear at the break and when Conlaoith McNeill increased that lead to seven just after the restart there was no way back for the home team.
In terrible conditions for hurling, high winds and driving rain, Glenariffe recovered from a poor start to level matters at 0-4 apiece at the end of the opening quarter, three of the four coming from free taker Seanie McIntosh. However a goal from Colm McKeegan swung the game in the Emmet’s favour and when Colum McKeegan got their second they were in charge.
McIntosh battled hard to keep his team in the game, striking some very good points but when Cushendun increased their lead early in the second half it was clear it was a long way back. When Eoin McQuillan got their third goal the only thing in question was the size of the winning margin.
To be fair to Glenariffe they were a bit unlucky on a couple of occasions as two attempts for goals came back off the woodwork, but Cushendun were the better team overall and well deserved their win.
La Salle Belfast 2-11 St Patrick’s Downpatrick 0-13
THREE outstanding saves from La Salle’s Oisín McLaren earned him the Player of the Match award yesterday at the Dub, but more importantly it held off a gallant St Patrick’s Downpatrick side for the West Belfast school to go one better than last season and lift the Danske Bank Kirk Cup.
It was an evenly contested final from start to finish with Aaron Anderson’s goal in the 9th minute giving La Salle the edge at the break, 1-4 to 0-6. Cathal Moreland landed three of the Red High points but his team also missed a few openings that might have had them ahead.
Daire Melady pointed on the re-start and Kevin Mullan and half-time sub Sean Smith stretched La Salle’s lead to four points ten minutes into the second half.
However Red High captain Niall McAufield got his side going again with a point and they drew level with two further scores from Moreland and Aodan Young.
The turning point in the game came when Seán óg McLaren won and converted a 50th minute penalty. Moreland immediately replied with his sixth point, but La Salle sensed victory and late points from James McDonnell (free) and twice from Mc Laren saw them over the line.
La Salle: S óg McLaren 1-3, 1-0 pen, A Anderson 1-0, J McDonnell 0-4, 2 frees, S Smith 0-2, D Melady and K Mullan 0-1 each
St Patrick’s: C Moreland 0-6, 5 frees, A Young and D McAleenan 0-2 each, M Mageean, A Birt and N McAufield 0-1 each.
St Patrick’s: Shea Dorrian, Ryan Tolan, Jerome Bell, Nathan Clarke, Cian Maginn, Marc Mageean, Brendan Barry, Niall McAufield capt, Patrick Sharvin, Cathal Moreland, Artie Birt, Aodan Young, Killian Swail, Josh Fitzsimons, Finn McCann.
Subs used: Ryan McElroy, Dylan McAleenan, Cormac McEvoy (blood sub)
La Salle: Oisin McLaren, Tiernan Lee, Connlai Mervyn, Dillon Donnelly, Daire Melady, Luke Braniff, Kevin McArdle, Odhrán Donnelly, James McDonnell, Kevin Mullan, Seán óg McLaren, Pádraig Keenan, Dylan Fagan, Aaron Anderson, Paul Austin.
Yesterday we posted an article about Antrim having nine colleges hurling Danske Bank All Star awards but what we did not mention was that Tiernan McComrack of Moneyglass won a Football All Star award, something that has happened less often over the years. Tiernan has been a top performer during his years at St Pat’s Maghera where he has won many medals, including Corn na nÓg and Ranafast Cup and is a bright star in Antrim football.
One other Danske Bank Football All Star who is worthy of a mention in the Saffron Gael is Eamon Young of St Mary’s Magherafelt and Newbridge GAC. Eamon’s grandfather is Paddy Magee who is originally from Glenravel, a man who was part of the management team when the Con Magees won the 1964 Antrim Minor Football Championship for the first time. I’m stretching the connection a bit here but Paddy Magee’s mother was Annie McIlwaine, a first cousin of my father, but I think it is fair to assume that Eamon’s footballing talent came from the Young side, rather than the McIlwaines. As well as his school success Eamon was a member of the Derry team who won last season’s Ulster and All Ireland Minor Football titles, and this season’s Ulster Minor League.
Danske Bank All Star Eamon Young of St Mary’s Magherafelt Eamon Young’s grandfather Paddy Magee (2nd from left on the back row) with the Glenravel team who were beaten by Sarsfields in the 1963 Antrim Minor final at Casement Park. The same management team was in place the following year when they beat St John’s in the final in Dunloy.
Which brings me to another connection with Annie ‘McIlwaine’ Magee. Another of Annie’s great grandsons, Eoin Waide, formerly of Loughgiel, was the captain of the Donegal Minor Football team who beat Antrim in the Ulster final in Croke Park, back in 2006. Eoin Waide played his club football with Naomh Conaill and won a few Donegal senior championship medals, and was a member of the team who were beaten by Antrim champions Cargin on penalties in the opening round of the 2022 Ulster Senior Club Championship at Corrigan Park.
Donegal 2006 captain Eoin Waide
I had better complete the story about Annie ‘Magee’ McIlwaine GAA connetions, as Callum McIlwaine, who played at midfield on the St Killian’s team who won the Mageean and Paddy Buggy Cups this season is also a member of the clan, as indeed is his father Padraig McIlwaine, who was a member of the st Killian’s management team. Callum’s great grandfather Patrick McIlwaine was my dad’s brother and a first cousin of Annie.
Callum McIlwaine in action during St Killian’s All Ireland win over Blackwater CS of Waterord
All that success with McIlwaine connections and Paddy and I won sweet nothing
