Members of the St Killian’s Mageean Cup and Paddy Buggy Cup winning team, their parents and special guests attended a celebration dinner at the college on Wednesday evening where the players received their medals for a great campaign.
Former students were to the fore among the guest with Neil McManus presenting the individual awards to the players while BBC sports presenter Mark Sidebottom offered his congratulations to all those involved in a great year. Former school president Fr Paddy Delargy, who was a member of the only other Mageean Cup winning team from the school back in 1963, received a warm reception.
Team captain Joseph McLaughlin with Neil McManus and Sean McGourty of Ulster Schools GAA
Sean McGourty from Ulster Schools GAA joined School principal Mr Johnny Brady and members of his staff at the ‘top table.
During the evening video highlights were shown of the Mageean and Buggy Cup finals as memories of a special year were recalled.
Joseph McLaughlin with school Principal Mr Johnny Brady and former Prinicpal Fr Delargy
In a rematch of last year’s junior championship final, St. Brigid’s Cloughmills held on to win by the finest of margins against old rivals Glen Rovers in Armoy on Sunday to record their second win of the season.
Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, Odhran McCurdy opened the scoring for the Cloughmills men with a fine long range effort but Armoy replied with a well taken score from Emmet O’Hara to tie the game.
Cloughmills started to find their rhythm and with the strong wind in their favour they hit a purple patch, scoring 1.08 without reply, the major coming from James Doherty.
However Armoy recovered well, scoring 1.02 in quick succession, their goal coming from Emmet O’Hara to bring themselves back into contention. Cloughmills responded with two points from Callum McKendry to leave the score 1.11 to 1.03 in favour of Cloughmills at the interval.
After the restart and with the wind now in their favour Armoy immediately began to eat into the Cloughmills lead with scores from Turlough McBride and Trevor Linton to leave six between the sides.
The home side were then awarded a penalty after Colin Liordan was fouled inside the small rectangle but Emmet O’Hara’s well struck shot sailed over.
The visitors to the Glen were coming under more and more pressure but Eoin Dobbin relieved the pressure with a point at the other end.
Both teams were finding it difficult to get to grips with the worsening conditions as the rain poured down but Armoy continued to chip into the Biddies lead and only 4 points separated the sides with 5 minutes remaining. Glen Rovers continued to press and Kieran McToal got on the end of a ball across the square to send it to the Cloughmills net to leave it a 1 point game. Armoy pushed hard for an equaliser in the dying minutes but the Cloughmills defence held out to secure the win.
Two goal in each half were the key scores as Glenaiffe-Glenravel beat neighbours Cushendall in the opening game if the Minor Hurling season at Waterfoot on Sunday.
The key scores came in the second quarter, the first from Cathair McNaughton on 18 minutes while the second one came just on the stroke of half time through top scorer Orrin O’Connor. Goal number three came midway through the second half, O’Connor striking again while Peadar McDonnell got the fourth in the final ten minutes. Thomas McLaughlin pulled on back near the end for Cushendall, but it was a case of too little-too late as the home side was home and dry by that stage.
Orrin O’Connor, Colla Ward and Calum McIlwaine got the first three points of the game for Glenariffe-Glenravel but Cushendall came back strong with five in a row through Callagh Mooney and two apiece from Thomas McLaughlin and Fionntan Bradly to move two ahead. Two from Peadar McDonnell brought the home side level before Orrin O’Connor grabbed the first goal of the game.
Thomas McLaughlin closed the gap to two but three from O’Connor and one from Peadar McDonnell saw some daylight appear between the sides. Two pointed frees by Fionntan Bradley cut the deficit down to four, but Orrin O’Connor’s goal left seven between them at the break.
Three from Orrin O’Connor frees at the star off the second half stretched the gap to nine but one from play by Callagh Mooney and three from frees by Bradley cut the gap back to five.
Cushendall were still in the hunt but Orrin O’Connor’s second goal closed the door for the Ruairi Ogs and when Peadar McDonnell got the home side’s fourth goal the destiny of the points was well and truly decided.
The next round of games are in two weeks’ time when Glenariffe-Glenravel travel to Ballycastle while Cushendall host Dunloy.
Rossa host Ard na Rí that same day while Loughgiel have a bye.
Ballycastle withstood a late rally by Loughgiel to edge out their opponents by a single point in the opening game of the Antrim Minor Hurling League Division 1 at Fr Healy Park on Sunday.
In a game where both teams were guilty of a series of missed chances the Ballycastle boys apeeared to have it wrapped up when they five clear going into the final quarter, but they failed to score again despite a number of excellent chances and had to hold on grimly at the end to get the win.
A Cadhan Crawford goal early in the game gave the visitors the upper hand, but Dan O’Mullan hit back with one for the Shamrocks and just a point separated the sides at half time.
A smart save by Ballycastle goalkeeper Anthony Mullan denied Loughgiel’s Conan Johnston early early in the second half and Ballycastle took advantage as they hit four of the next five points two of them from Crawford and one each from Cathair Donnelly and Conor Connelly .
Liam Glackin and Ballycastle’s Conor Donnelly exchanged points entering the final quarter when Ballycastle struck a telling blow with a goal from Oisin Coyles, who was sent clear by Conor Donnelly. That score put the visitors five ahead, but they failed to score again, despite having a series of good chances and Loughgiel closed to within a point as Liam Smyth, Roan Mcgarry, Ronan Fitzgerald and Conan Johnston left just a point between the sides going into injury time.
The home side did have other chances but some great hooking and blocking by the Ballycastle defence held them at bay.
All Saints travelled to the Maiden City on Sunday to meet a Na Magha side making their first appearance in this year’s ACHL Division 3. The Ballymena side started well and with the elements in their favour led 2-4 to 1-2 at the break.
A good Na Magha came back strongly in the second half however, hitting four second half goals to take the points and look like a side who can hold their own in division 3 this season.
Aidan Rankin got Na Magha off to a good start with an early goal but the visitors came back strongly with goals from Liam Cassley and Damian Gillan and Gillan then pointed a free to move his side four ahead.
Na Magha were looking a little rusty in their first outing this year but a couple of points from Crossan gave them a foothold but it would be the Ballymena side who continued to edge the opening exchanges.
Jack Magill replied with an All Saints point and Damian Gillan added two before the break to leave ‘Dorney’s’ men 2-4 to 1-2 ahead at the break but with the elements to face in the second half.
The impressive Damian Gillan extended the visitors lead with a point on the restart but Na Magha came back strongly with a goal from McAdams and points from Foley and Doherty to close the gap to one.
A Jack Magill goal edged the Slemish Park side four in front once more but the Derry City men were growing into the game and would finish strongly.
The excellent Foley began the comeback with a point and the same player struck his side’s fourth goal with Gallagher adding two points to put Na Magha in control.
Damien Gillan replied with All Saints final point but it was Na Magha who finished strongly as Doherty grabbed their fifth goal.
A good win for a strong Na Magha side who played some excellent hurling and look capable of giving any side in division 3 a run for their money this year.
For All Saints the rebuilding job continues and their side on Sunday contained a handful of youngsters who will improve as the season goes on and that first win might not be too far away given their performances to date.
Na Magha: A Grant C O Donnell D Shiels A Campbell C Durey C McGoran M McCloskey T Rankin R Mclaughlin T Gallagher D Foley capt K Doherty A Rankin R McAdams R Crossan B Quigley C Murphy A McSteen C O Donovan A Breslin K Ponsonby O ÓDonghaile
