Allianz Ireland Cumann na mBunscoil Indoor Hurling Blitz
Mount St Michael’s Randalstown were the victors as the Allianz Ireland Cumann na mbunscoil indoor hurling competition returned to the Antrim Forum.
Seven schools competed throughout the day namely, St Brigid’s Ballymena, St Joseph’s Crumlin, Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach, Mount St Michael’s, St Patrick’s Rasharkin, Mary Queen of Peace and Moneynick. The skill, competitiveness and sportsmanship on display was a credit to each and every one of the schools.
The group stages saw six games for each with plenty of quality hurling on view. Emerging from the group to compete in the semi-finals were Mount St Michael’s, Mary Queen of Peace, St Joseph’s Crumlin and Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach.
Mount St. Michael’s winners of Thursday’s indoor hurling Blitz at Antrim Forum on Thursday
The first semi-final began as a tight, cagy affair with Mount St Michael’s eventually overcoming a talented and spirited Gaelscoil team.
The second semi was an end to end, tough but fair encounter that saw St Joseph’s Crumlin emerge victorious over Mary Queen of Peace with the winning goal coming seconds before the final whistle.
The day culminated in victory for a strong, skilful and determined Mount St Michael’s team, congratulations to them and well done to all involved in a great days hurling.
Runners up, St. Joseph’s CrumlinSt. Patrick’s P.S. RasharkinMoneynick P.S.Gael Scoil Gleann Darach P.S.Mary Queen of Peace, GlenravelSt. Brigid’s P.S. Ballymena
The build up to the All Ireland Senior Club hurling final started early for the pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School Dunloy when RTE cameras visited the school on Monday . The pupils sang the Dunloy song that was written by The Saffron Gael’s resident Dunloy fan Brendan McTaggart, who was there in a couple of different capacities, teaching the pupils the words, and to caputre the actions
St Joseph’s PS principal McGuckian addresses the pupils
Members of the Armagh team stand for a minutes silence in memory of Margaret McKeegan, mother of team manager Karl McKeegan, before Monday evening’s McGurk Cup game at Dunsilly
Antrim recovered from a slow start in this rearranged fixture on Monday evening to see off the challenge of Armagh with eight to spare.
On a bitingly cold evening at Dunsilly, it took Antrim until after the first quarter to find any sort of rhythm against the Orchard County who were depleted themselves in this McGurk Cup quarter-final.
In the end, the Saffrons had enough about them to run out comfortable winners in a game that by it’s very nature had very little flow. Of Armagh’s 21 points, 14 of them came from the hurl of their free taker Fiontann Donnelly while Antrim had nine different names on the score sheet and just seven of their 1-26 coming from placed ball.
For the 48 minutes he was on the field, Seamie McAuley lit up this game. He like the rest of the Antrim team had a slow start but McAuley would record 1-4 and showcased his talent. Eoin O’Neill impressed in the second half while Aaron Bradley looked lively throughout.
In defence, Niall O’Connor was solid at full-back while Enda Og McGarry and captain Gerard Walsh were notable.
The Saffrons had a few Dunloy players in the squad with Conor McKinley playing the second half as he steps up his recovery from a shoulder injury while Kevin and Nicky McKeague made the starting 15. Anton McGrath and Gabriel McTaggart were introduced at the half time interval with the Cuchullains having one eye on the club final on the 22 January.
Fiontann Donnelly who gave an exhibition of free taking as he scored 14 points for Armagh
After 15 minutes of this game, Karl McKeegan’s Armagh side were four points ahead. With the match played on Pitch 2 at Dunsilly, Antrim clicked into gear. By the 22nd minute they took the lead through an Eoin McAlonan point.
In a high scoring half, the Saffrons led by two points at the short whistle, 0-15 to 0-13. Darren Gleeson’s side certainly improving as the half progressed. The Antrim manager made four changes at the interval and while Donnelly got the first score of the half for Armagh, Antrim were playing with a bit more freedom. Paul Boyle’s introduction giving them something different as he made numerous runs from the middle third into the danger area.
Antrim goalkeeper Tiernan Smyth in action against Armagh
The only goal of the game came in the 46th minute thanks to a piece of brilliance from McAuley. Eoin O’Neill playing the ball diagonally to the right hand corner towards McAuley. Collecting the sliotar, he rounded his man and made his way towards the goal where he made no mistake. A super piece of play to beat his marker and to show the presence of mind to strike unorthodoxly to beat Caolan Rowntree in the Armagh goals.
The major gave Antrim a five point lead and quashed any thoughts of an Orchard victory at Dunsilly with Gleeson ringing more changes throughout the second half.
The Saffrons now play Donegal in the semi-final, scheduled for this Saturday.
Paul Boyle sends over a late point for Antrim
TEAMS
Antrim: Tiernan Smyth; Eoin Trainor, Niall O’Connor, Enda Og McGarry; Gerard Walsh, Kevin McKeague, Damon McMullan; Caolan McKernan, Eoin McAlonan; James McNaughton, Eoin O’Neill, Nicky McKeague; Seamie McAuley, Arron Bradley, Niall McKenna
Subs: Conor McKinley for K McKeague (HT); Gabriel McTaggart for N McKenna (HT); Paul Boyle for C McKernan (HT); Anton McGrath for N McKeague (HT); Ruairi McCormick for E Trainor (48); Niall McGarrell for S McAuley (48); Luke O’Connor for E McAlonan (53); Enda McCartan for J McNaughton (60)
Scorers: S McAuley 1-4; J McNaughton 0-7 (4f 1’65); E O’Neill 0-5 (1f); G Walsh 0-2 (1f); P Boyle 0-2; A Bradley 0-2; N McKeague 0-2; E McAlonan 0-1; A McGrath 0-1
Armagh: Caolan Rowntree; Barry Shortt, Tam McKavanagh, Stephen O’Keefe; Kane Laverty, Tiernan Nevin, Niall Lemon; Conor Renaghan, Peadar McBride; Fiontann Donnelly, Cormac Jennings, Eoin McGuinness; Shea Harvey, Ciaran Duffy, Sean Og McGuinness
Subs: Sean Watters for C Duffy (41); Fintan Woods for P McBride (51)
Scorers: F Donnelly 0-14 (13f); C Duffy 0-2; B Shortt 0-1 (1f); T McKavanagh 0-1; P McBride 0-1; E McGuinness 0-1; S Og McGuinness 0-1
Referee: Aidan McAleer (Donegal)
Sammy was in the wars again on Monday night, but lives to fight another day Woody saw some action as he works he way back to full fitness for Dunloy’s All Ireland final in two weeks’ timeThe Derry train rolls past in the distance as spectators watch the action on the middle pitch at Dunsilly
St Mary’s Magherafelt 2-17 St Malachy’s Belfast 2-4
A great individual display by Cargin’s Conhuir Johnstone guided St Mary’s Magherafelt to the final of the Ulster Schools Casement Cup final on Monday afternoon at Dunsilly. In a re-match of last season’s decider the Magherafelt boys turned the table to book their place in the final. With Johnstone leading the line from centre forward St Mary’s dominated throughout and the game was all but decided at half time when last year’s beaten finalists led by 1-12 to 0-2 at the change of ends.
St Mary’s Conhuir Johnstone (11) who scored 2-9 in St Mary’s win over St Malachy’s, Belfast in the semi-final final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly.
Pic by Bert Trowlen
Football ace Johnstone, showed he adapt to the small ball with no trouble, as he proved far too difficult for the St Malachy’s defence to contain and he shot a goal and seven points in the wind-assisted first half to put the game to bed at half-time.
No less impressive were his MacRory Cup colleagues James Sargeant and Niall O’Donnell in the half-back line, while John McGurk hoovered up any ball that came past them.
Segdae Mac Adaimh got the opening point for St Malachy’s and Rónán Edgar from a free put them 0-2 to 0-1 up after Johnstone had opened his account at the other end. However the Antrim Road side failed to score for the rest of the half as St Mary’s took control out the field and Johnstone orchestrated the forward line.
Johnstone fired over from an acute angle on the right to tie the teams and Sargeant landed a long range free to put them ahead in the 5th minute. With Jack Convery placing O’Donnell for a fine point a minute later, St Mary’s were building up a head of steam.
Patrick Birt got in on the scoring just before Johnstone crashed home the opening goal in the 12th minute. The Cargin man then landed five points in a row, the opening two from frees.
Midfielder Charlie Curley interrupted the run to tag on a point, but Johnstone and Lorcán O’Donnell finished the first half scoring to make it 1-12 to 0-2 at the break.
Action from St Mary’s win over St Malachy’s, Belfast in the semi-final final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly.
Pic by Bert Trowlen
Any complacency St Mary’s might have had going into the second half was knocked out of them by Rónán Edgar who careered through their defence to find the net within 45 seconds of the re-start. James Sargeant sent over a long range free in response and, at the other end, Pádraig Kelly did well to smother and clear a goal-bound free from Edgar.
Callum Walsh kept St Malachy’s going with a point in the 35th minute, but St Mary’s weathered the storm and gradually regained control of the game, helped by points from Birt and Johnstone (two frees).
Then in the 50th minute a long clearance out of defence was taken at pace by Johnstone who ran straight through the centre and fired the sliotar to the roof of the net for his second goal.
In fairness Edgar responded with a decent goal at the other end and Caoimhín Killyleagh added a point. But they were mere consolation scores with AJ McCann shooting over from wide on the right to complete the scoring for Magherafelt.
St Mary’s will now face Rathmore Grammar in the final after the south Belfast school overcame St Colman’s Newry in the other semi-final.
St Mary’s: Pádraig Kelly, Leo Gribbin, Odhrán Mulligan, John McGurk, Rónán McCallion, James Sargeant (0-2 frees), Niall O’Donnell (0-1), Charlie Curley (0-1), Luke Burns, Michael Walls, Conhuir Johnstone (2-9, 0-4 frees), Jack Convery, Lorcán O’Donnell (0-1), AJ McCann (0-1), Patrick Birt (0-2)
Subs: Ray McKenna for D Martin (45), Pádraig McKevitt for E Stanley (45).
Action from St Mary’s win over St Malachy’s, Belfast in the semi-final final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly.
Pic by Bert TrowlenSt Mary’s Magherafelt who beat St Malachy’s Belfast in the semi-final final of the Dankse Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly. Pic by Bert TrowlenSt Mary’s Charlie Curley in action against St Malachy’s Caoimhín Killyleagh, during Monday’s the semi-final final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly.
Pic by Bert TrowlenAction from St Mary’s win over St Malachy’s, Belfast in the semi-final final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly.
Pic by Bert TrowlenAction from St Mary’s win over St Malachy’s, Belfast in the semi-final final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly.
Pic by Bert TrowlenAction from St Mary’s win over St Malachy’s, Belfast in the semi-final final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Casement Cup at Dunsilly.
Pic by Bert Trowlen
Antrim wore the new Fibrus sponosred jerseys for the first time in Saturday’s Walsh Cup game against Dublin at Parnell Park.
Antrim started their Walsh Cup campaign with a seven point defeat to Dublin at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon but despite defeat it was an encouraging display by the men in Saffron. The final scorline was a little unkind to the visitors as Dublin got a goal in the final minute to put a somewhat one sided slant on things. Not that Dublin didn’t deserve their victory, for they were well worthy of the win, and were never headed throughout the hour.
With the Dunloy players all missing Antrim started with four debutants, with the Loughgiel’s trio Rory McCloskey Paul Boyle and Rian Bubbles McMullan plus Sarsfields Caolan McKernan all in the starting line-up.
Antrim’s James McNaughton in action with Dublins Daire Gray in Saturdays Walsh Cup game at Parnell Park
With their centre forward Joe Flanagan in impressive form Dublin held the upper hand through the first half. Flanaghan hit nine in the opening half but with Neill McManus on target from frees and Mick Bradley and Niall McKenna adding scores from play the visitors kept in touch. A Liam Murphy goal on 25 minutes put Dublin well clear but a great spell before the break and a series of excellent points from Paul Boyle, Rian MMullan, James McNaughton (2) and Neill McManus left them just two in arrears going in at half time. (1-14 to 1-12)
A Liam Murphy goal in the opening minute of the new half swung the game firmly towards Dublin but Antrim kept in touch and a good little spell during the half saw them close to within a goal again as Daniel McKernan, James McNaughton and Mick Bradley all found the target and when McManus set up Niall McKenna for a well taken goal it was game on again.
Antrims Michael Bradley in action with Dublins Paul Crummey and Andrew Jaminson Murphy in Saturdays Walsh Cup game at Parnell Park
Paul McMullan denied the Dubs what looked like a certain goal when he somehow got a hurl to a shot by substitute Andrew Jamieson-Murphy, when Paul Boyle pointed at the other end second later the side were level with just 13 minutes left on the clock.
However the Dubs finished stronger and pulled away to win by seven in the end.
DUBLIN: D Perry; J Bellew, D Gray (0-1), E Moran; D Power, C O’Leary (0-2), D McBride (0-1); C Costello (0-1), A Mallett; C Dowling, J Flanagan (0-14, 8 frees, 3 65s), C Boland (0-1); C O’Sullivan (0-2), G Whelan (1-1), L Murphy (1-0).
Subs: J Madden for A Mellett (49), C Boyle (0-1) for C Dowling (49), A Jamieson-Murphy (1-2, 0-1 free) for L Murphy (55), C Burke for C Costello (57), A Considine for D Power (62), E O’Donnell for J Flanagan (67).
ANTRIM: P McMullan; P Burke, R McCloskey, N O’Connor; M Bradley (0-3), E Campbell (0-2), C Bohill (0-2); J Maskey, D McKernan (0-1); P Boyle (0-1), J McNaughton (0-4, 1 free), N McKenna (1-2); R McMullan (1-1), N McManus (0-3, 2 frees), C McKernan (0-1).
Subs: S Walsh for D McKernan (50), E O’Neill for N McManus (50), D McMullan for C McKernan (50), A Bradley for R McMullan (56), E McAlonan for J Maskey (56), S McAuley (0-1) for P Boyle (61), E Og McGary for M Bradley (61), G Walsh for C Bohill (61), E Trainor for R McCloskey (64)
REFEREE: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)
Dublin’s Cian O Sullivan in action with Antrims Enda Og Mc Garry in Saturdays Walsh Cup game at Parnell ParkAntrims Paddy Burke in action with Dublins Ciaran Dowling in Saturdays Walsh Cup game at Parnell ParkDublins Paul Crummey in action with Antrims Eoghan Campbell and Eoin Trainor in Saturdays Walsh Cup game at Parnell Park
