Match referee Peadar Lagan presents the Leonard Shield to CPC captain Damian McMahon
LATE points by Logan Mc Conville and Eunan Johnston at wet and windy Owenbeg yesterday afternoon denied Gaelcholáiste Dhoire a famous first title in A grade hurling.
The Dungiven-based school won everything before them at the lower grade last year and had beaten Knock in the semi-final of this competition before the Halloween break.
Things looked promising for them when Cross & Passion held a 0-4 to 0-1 lead at half-time yesterday after having played with the elements in their favour for the first half hour. Darragh Kinney and Matthew Donnelly with two points each accounted for their scores, while Aidan Ó Ceallaigh replied for Gaelcholáiste.
The teams swopped points at the start of the second half before Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne burst through and sent a bullet to the Ballycastle net. Cónan Ó Giolláin then put them ahead for the first time.
However Darragh Kinney hit back with a goal for CPC, but Gaelcholáiste re-took the lead when a 65 from Emmet Óg Mac Íomhair went all the way to the net.
CPC refused to roll over and they fought hard to pick off the last two scores and secure the Shield.
CPC scorers: D Kinney 1-2, M Donnelly 0-3, Eunan Johnston 0-1, Damian McMahon 0-1, L McConville 0-1.
Gaelcholáiste: PP Ó Duibhne 1-1, E Óg Mac Íomhair 1-0, Aidan Ó Ceallaigh 0-2, Cónan Ó Giolláin 0-1.
Cross & Passion: Patrick Campbell, Aaron Gillan, Liam Smyth, Connlaoth Woodhouse, Oran Baudant, Eunan Johnston, Oisin Donnelly, Darragh Kinney, Logan McConville, Matthew Donnelly, Caolan Christie, Oran Devlin, Charlie McAuley, Damian Mc Mahon, Cathair McCaughan.
Subs used: JJ McGarry, Odhrán Boyle, Joe Derry, Dan Lynn.
Gaelcholáiste : Kévan Mac an tSaoir, Cillian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide, Dylan Ó Ceallaigh, Ailbhe Mac Conmidhe, Conán Ó Giolláin, Emmet Óg Mac Íomhair, Seán Mac Conmidhe, Cormac Ó Catháin, Peadar Ó Ceallaigh, Oisín Mag Uiginn, Dylan Ó hÉireamhóin, Aaron Mag Uiginn, Aidan Ó Ceallaigh, Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne, Jayden Mac Cionnaith
Subs used: Seán Paul Ó Ceallaigh, Fionn Ó Connaire, Paidí Mac Ainmhire Referee: Peadar Lagan (Glen, Maghera).
Loughgiel Shamrocks celebrated their great 1983 All Ireland victory at a tribute Legends dinner in the Tullyglass Hotel on Friday night. In a really well organised event the men of 83 were honoured for their record breaking campaign four decades ago with a series of videos spread throughout the evening highlighting different part of their great success.
Sadly not all of the team were able to attend the event, Eamon Connolly having sadly passed away just a few weeks ago, while three of the others were unavailable on the night. Just McCormick was the man on the mic for the evening, and what a great job done introducing the players as they were called on stage to receive their awards.
A night to remember for this record breaking group of men who wrote their names in the history books on April 24th 1983.
Pics by Michael Corcoran
Team captain Niall Patterson leads his team into the Clock Tower Suite at the start of the evening.Martin ‘Tart’ CareyPJ O’MullanSean Tinkle CareyPaddy ‘Butter’ McIlhatton Aidan McNaughton Mick O’ConnellAidan ‘Beaver’ McCarry Brendan Laverty Dominic ‘Woody’ McKinley Martin Coyle, Brendan McGarrySeamus ‘Crow’ McNaughton Paddy Carey Dominic ‘Jew’ McMullanLiam Lavery Sean Laverty Seamus RichmondPaddy O’ConnellHarry CareyEugene Patterson Paddy McIntyre Tony McCloskey presents a bouquet of flowers to Ita McGarry who represented her late husband LiamTurli McCarry presented a bouquet of flowers to Kathleen Patterson who represented her late husband NeillMonica McMullan, who was accompanied by her son John, represented her late husband Danny, was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Tommy McIntre Doiminc Casey, who was part of the team management, receives and award from Gerard McCloskeyMargaret Kane, who wrote a speical poem for the occasion, received a bouquet of flowers from club chairman Paul Glackin
St Mary’s CBGS Belfast 2-15 St Louis Ballymena 1-10
FOR the second year running the Danske Bank Mageean Cup holders are out of the competition without winning a game.
Last year St Patrick’s Downpatrick limped out before the knock-out stages. Yesterday the same fate befell St Louis Ballymena when St Mary’s CBGS pulled away in the second half at the Dub to set up a semi-final with Cross & Passion Ballycastle.
There was just a point between the teams at the break, St Mary’s 1-7 to 1-6 ahead with Finn Jemfrey the star of the opening half, scoring a goal and three points.
Although Jack McCloskey hit three points for Ballymena he was well-shackled in general play by Michael Marlowe. However Eddie Smith struck the Ballymena goal to give them some hope for the second half-hour.
Jemfrey and Cory Walsh chipped away at that hope before Niall Maye scored the second goal for St Mary’s in the 44th minute and you couldn’t see a way back for St Louis despite the best efforts of defenders Sean óg Blaney and Ryan McClements.
Overall St Mary’s deserved their win with Enda McGurk and Baire Burns excellent assistance for Marlowe in defence and Jemfrey a handful up front.
The second semi-final will take place next week between Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock and St Patrick’s Maghera with the winner to face St Killian’s Garron Tower
St Mary’s{ F Jemfrey 1-9, N Maye 1-1, C Walsh 0-3, L McCallin 0-1, C Corr 0-1.
St Louis: E Smyth 1-0, J McCloskey 0-4, O McCamphill 0-3, F Bradley 0-2, D Bradley 0-1
St Mary’s Dermot O’Sullivan in action during his team’s Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter final win over St Louis, Ballymena at the Dub. Pic by Bert Trowlen.St Mary’s Enda McGurk in action during his team’s Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter final win over St Louis, Ballymena at the Dub. Pic by Bert Trowlen.St Mary’s Michael Darragh in action during his team’s Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter final win over St Louis, Ballymena at the Dub. Pic by Bert Trowlen.St Mary’s Michael Marlow wins the ball in a challenge with St Louis Jack McCloskey during Wednesday’s Danske Bank Mageean Cup quarter final at the Dub. Pic by Bert Trowlen
Antrim hurlers and Camogs who took part in last weekend’s Gaels for Gaza fundraiser. Members of the WolfeTones, Laochra Loch Lao, Ard Eoin, and other teams from around Belfast and County Antrim raised a total raised £3727.50
With extra time appearing to be on the cards Creggan’s Liam McCann proved his team’s hero when he broke clear of his marker around the middle of the field deep in second half injury time and sent over the winning point to seal the Antrim champions place in the semi-final of the Ulster Junior Club Hurling championship in two weeks’ time. There were chances for the Down men to draw level in the added time but the Creggan defence held firm and deny a luckless Bredagh side who contributed greatly to a top class game.
Both these team play their hurling in the Antrim leagues and both were relegated into the 3rd division at the end of this season, but anyone watching Sunday’s game would have been baffled by those lowly league positions as both performed at a good level. Creggan had the upper hand for much of the first half and were good value for their six point lead at the break. However after the change of ends Bredagh came out of the traps more impressively than the Loughshore men and they held the upper hand for a good part of that second period. Creggan were managing to hold a three point lead for most of that time and when Kevin Rice got their second goal to increase the lead to six it seemed like plain sailing.
However Bredagh fought their way back, and boosted by a goal from a close range free by Tiernan Sheehan they closed the gap, and when they drew level going into injury time the smart money would have been on them advancing. It was not to be however and Liam McCann’s great point from distance handed the imitative back to the Antrim champions and they held on to seal a narrow win and a place in the semi-final against Tyrone champions Carrickmore.
Conor McCann and Kevin Rice (left) celebrate after Rice scored Creggan’s third goal
The Down champions settled quickest in Pairc Esler with Niall Smyth and Ciaran McMullan sending over early scores, but Morgan Nelson responded for Creggan and back-to-back placed balls from Conor McCann (free and 65’) nudged the Antrim men ahead for the first time.
Bredagh levelled through a close-range point from Conor Costello but Creggan were begging to get on top and they soon went three clear.
A fantastic Thomas McCann point from range restored their lead, his brother Conor then dropped over his second 65’ and namesake Oran McCann sent one over.
Tiarnan Sheehan landed a free at the other end, but Creggan pushed further ahead with the game’s opening goal on the 19th minute.
A scramble ensued and the Bredagh defensive third and Conor McCann was in like a shot to fire home and give his side a 1-06-0-04 lead.
The gap was out to eight as points from Kevin Rice, Morgan Nelson and Sean Duffin pushed home Creggan’s advantage but Bredagh were thrown a lifeline before the interval when Ciaran McMullan’s high shot dropped over the head of Cormac Rice and into the net to make it 1-10-1-05.
Despite Sean Hughes finding a further point before the half was out, back-to-back McCann frees gave the south Belfast gave Creggan a 1-12-1-06 advantage at the interval.
Bredagh were revitalised when they emerged after the break and a point from a Sean Hughes free was followed by a well taken goal by Mark Patterson which cut the game to just two points. (1-12-2-07)
It was score for score for a period time as Creggan got the gap out to three, only to see Bredagh cut it back to two
When Kevin Rice pulled a ground shot to the Bredagh net on 50 minutes Creggan had appeared to have done enough, but as things turned out there was to be no victory lap for Antrim men. As things turned out they were made to work very hard to win the race down the home straight as Bredagh battled back brilliantly.
Two points from Mark Patterson and Tiernan Sheehan’s goal from a free cut the gap back to the minimum, and when Sean McGouty found space on the left to fire over the equaliser the tension was palpable.
In a hectic final three minutes, it looked as if it could go either way, but Creggan got the break when Liam McCann broke clear of his marker on the 65 metre line and sent the winner high between the Bredagh posts.
Team captain Ruairi McCann makes a break
Creggan Kickhams: C Rice, A Maguire, A McKeown, J McAteer, S Maguire, K McCann, L McCann (0-02), S Duffin (0-03), R McCann (0-03), M Nelson (0-02), K Rice (1-01), O McCann (0-02), T McCann (0-01), C McCann (1-06, 0-04f, 0-02 65’), D Mulholland.
Subs: E Carey-Small (0-01) for D Mulholland (38), L Johnston for C McCann (56), T McLarnon for M Nelson (59).
Bredagh: I Galway, O McFlynn, L Smyth, L Hogan (0-01), M Woods, N McFarland (0-01), T Sheehan (1-02f), M Patterson (1-03), J Hanrahan, C McMullan (1-01), S McGourty (0-02), S Hughes (0-05, 0-02f), N Smyth (0-01), A Carey, C Costello (0-01).
Subs: J McCollum for N Smyth (HT), M Lavery for L Hogan (55), E Maguire for O McFlynn (57), R McCamphill for C Costello (57), R Curran for C McMullan (58).
