Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Rossa stay in the title race with win over Shamrocks

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Loughgiel 3-14 Rossa 1-21

Rossa stayed in the Division 1 title race when a point deep in injury time by Conor ‘Spud’ O’Neill gave them a one point victory over Loughgiel at Fr Healy Park on Sunday evening. The score came after play had been held up because of an incident in the Loughgiel goalmouth, which the great RTE commentator Micheál O’Hehir would have described as ‘a bit of a shemozzle’, an incident that could have turned nasty, but thankfully common sense prevailed and play resumed with normal time almost up. Both teams had chances of grabbing the winner but it was Walsh who slotted over the winner after he picked up a breaking ball about 30 meters out and sent it between the posts.

The win leaves Rossa on 18 points with one game left to play against Ballycastle, but even if they win that game they could still be caught, if Dunloy, who beat St John’s earlier in the day, win their last two games, the first of them on Friday evening against Loughgiel and the other, a match that was postponed back on the opening day of the season.

Loughgiel got away to a great start in Sunday’s game when Ben McGarry pointed inside 12 seconds and Shan McGrath added a second two minutes later. Rossa soon got into their stride though and four points in a row from Dominic McEnhill, Deaglan Murphy (2) and Daire Murphy put them two clear by the tenth minute. Loughgiel’s Shan McGrath and Rossa’s James Connolly exchanged points to keep the gap at two, but Loughgiel got back in front on fifteen minutes when left half back Declan McCloskey finished off a great move by the Shamrocks by running in along the endline and batting the ball down past Rossa goalkeeper Donal Armstrong.

When Jack McCloskey and McGrath added two more points the gap was out to three, but Rossa finished the first half strongly with points from Eoin Trainor, Deaglan Murphy (2), Declan McCartney, in reply to just one from the home side’s Declan McCloskey, to go in at the break on level terms, Loughgiel 1-06 Rossa 0-09.

With the fresh breeze at their backs in the second half most observers would have fancied Loughgiel to push on, but it was the visitors who made the better start and two points in as many minutes from Deaglan Murphy put Rossa back on top. Their lead did not last long though as corner forward Jack McCloskey won possession before rounding his marker and firing home from a narrow angle on the left, but thirty seconds later the ball was nestling in the net at the other end when Liam McEnhill finished off a good Rossa move with a neat finish.

Jack McCloskey came back with a point for the home side but Rossa came strong again and during the next ten minutes they hit five points without reply, two of them from Aodhan O’Brien two from Deaglan Murphy and one from Liam McEnhill.

Just when it appeared that the Belfast side were gaining control Loughgiel got back in the running with a goal from Shan McGrath. Two points from Daire Murphy were answered by McGrath for the Shamrocks as the tension built. Three points from each side, the pick of them a real beauty direct from a sideline ‘cut’ but Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee, kept the game deadlocked entering injury time and it looked like a draw was the most likely outcome, but with the seconds ticking away O’Neill got the break his team needed and picked up the ball to send over the winner.

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by thesaffrongael

CARRYDUFF TAKE THE POINTS BUT HAD TO WORK HARD FOR THEM

ACHL Division 2

SHANE UÍ NEILLS   2-19      CARRYDUFF  1-27

Report and Pics: Pete Hyndman

Possibly a bit of a dead rubber game, but try telling these two teams who supplied the sizeable crowd with a hammer and tongs contest, with a no quarter given attitude!!

Both clubs stood strong and pressured their opponents into needless fouls which were punished by two excellent free-takers. For the hosts Dylan McLaughlin shot 7 free’s from a 11 point tally.

Donal Rooney for the visitors was also in superb form shooting 7 frees, a “65” in a 12 point salvo from the young midfielder.

Both clubs also had 7 different scorers each, which would be a pleasing performance for any manager to enjoy.

Carryduff grabbed this game by the scruff of the net and shot 1-02 without reply in the first 4 minute’s.  Oran Teague was the first point taker, a few moments later a few bodies in the box fighting for a loose ball resulted in a foul on a Carryduff player which the referee awarded a penalty. Ronan Beatty stepped up and drove the ball beyond Michael Abram for a “major” score.

Donal Rooney followed up with a fourth minute free.

Glenarm hit back immediately as Conor McLornan in the Carryduff goals fumbled a high ball and Liam Mulvenna was quick to react and pulled a ground stroke with the ball nestling nicely into the corner of the nets.

Sean O Callaghan hit the next score before team-mate Donal Rooney slotted over his second free of the afternoon.

Glenarm where trying hard to find a score, and it came from a tight angle out on the wing where Aidan Scullion drove over a lovely effort. Glenarm’s centre half forward Dylan McLaughlin started to win a few tussles and fought to get the ball and tagged over a point before Rooney pointed another free for the visitors.

Declan McDermott reacted next to a ball up the wing and hand passed to McLaughlin to hit Glenarm’s third point.

Sean O Callaghan rifled over a point for Carryduff, before another impressive effort from the home side’s Aidan Scullion.

Tit for tat seemed to be the order of the day because Donal Rooney replied almost immediately with a 40 yard free.

On 21 minute’s Dylan McLaughlin split the uprights with another free for the Feystown boys before Donal Rooney replied from play and   Sean O Callaghan added to the Carryduff tally.

On 23 minute’s Dylan McLaughlin sent another free over the bar. On the puck out, the ball was delivered back towards Mc Laughlin who rolled a couple of tackles and sent a high speculative effort over McLornan’s bar.

In the second quarter of this exciting game Darragh Goodwin hit a point, with his colleague Rooney adding another free to his collection of place ball efforts.

Glenarm’s Ben O Boyle working in the half forward position slotted over a nice point as the clock was reading 25 minute’s.

Carryduff’s Rooney pointed again from a needless free by the home side, following up was Ronan Beatty with a point from the wing.

A hat-trick of points from the home team gave them a small bit of respite with two long range frees from the stick of McLaughlin and another strike from County player Aidan Scullion.

Sean O Callaghan responded with an away point just before the short whistle.

HALF TIME    Shane Uí Neills    1-11    Carryduff   1-14

Dan Black entered the fray at the start of the second half as Declan McDermott had been carrying a leg injury for the boys in blue.

Ronan Beatty and Sean O Callaghan added to the south Belfast side’s tally with a point a piece.

Dylan McLaughlin was proving to be a crucial asset to the home side as he hit three points without reply, a pair of frees and after a piercing run he pointed a superb effort reducing the deficit to two points.

Back came the opposition with Rooney hitting a “65”, and a free, and a fine solo effort from Conor McAllister.

The score’s were coming thick and fast and back came McLaughlin for Glenarm as he tagged onto a breaking ball and struck it from all of 30 yards, the ball flew beyond the Carryduff keeper for Glenarm’s second green flag effort. 

Oran Teague responded with a point from out near the side-line before Rooney lobbed over another free.

Ryan Mc Loughlin collected a ball and before being hooked, shortened his hurl and hit a nice effort for the boys from North Antrim before Gareth Lynch replied for the visitors.

Entering the final quarter Glenarm’s McLaughlin again reduced the arrears to 3 points with a converted free but points by Beatty and McAllister increased their lead to five.

Darren Hamill judged a “65” to perfection in the swirling wind across the pitch.

Carryduff’s Sean O Callaghan’s work rate in this game was rewarded with a great point from near the centre of the field.

On 54 minute’s Aidan Scullion kept the score board ticking over for the home side with a mighty point from distance, with Dan Black dissecting the uprights from distance also.

Time was near up but young Rooney held his nerve to point twice from free’s  to keep the 5 point lead for Carryduff to conclude the scoring.

A great match for the purists and hurling fans alike. Both clubs deserve massive credit as the fielding, stick-work, scoring and blocking was in abundance throughout the 60 minute’s.

This game should stand both teams well as they now enter the hard training as Championship begins in about 3-4 weeks.

Glenarm: Michael Abram, Aidan O Neill, Joshua Quinn, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Ryan Mc Loughlin(-01), Darren Hamill (1 “65”), Ciaran O Boyle, John Scullion, Ben O Boyle (-01)Aidan Scullion (-04), Dylan Mc Laughlin(1-11, 7f) Conal Ward, Liam Mulvenna(1-00)Sean O Hare, Declan Mc Dermott.

30 mins Daniel Black(-01) for Declan Mc Dermott,  51 mins Sean Mc Dermott for Liam Mulvenna, 56 mins Paddy Mc Auley for Sean O Hare.

Carryduff: Conor McLornan, Fearghal Casey, Conor Cassidy, Ciaran Goodwin, Darragh Goodwin(-01) James Woods, Michael Conway, Donal Rooney(-12, 7f,1″65″)Lorcan Mc Caughey, James Lavery, Conor Mc Allister(-02) Oran Teague(-02) Gareth Lynch(-01) Sean O Callaghan( -06)Ronan Beatty( 1-03) 

 56 mins. Ronan Kelly for Conor Mc Allister. 

by thesaffrongael

Dunloy discover their Goal-den touch in Corrigan

Senior Hurling League – Division One

St John’s 1-19 Dunloy 4-19

Sunday 29 June

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast

Dunloy proved too strong for St John’s on Sunday afternoon as they ran out comfortable nine point winners at the end of the hour.  The Cuchullains ran in four goals, all in the first half when they cut through the St John’s defence at will.  In truth, they could have had more but for the reflexes of Domhnall Nugent between the posts for the home side and the uprights on other occasions.

Dunloy had 10 different scorers throughout the hour with just three points coming from placed ball while Keelan Molloy top scored with seven points despite playing in a deeper role.

Donall Carson finished top of the scoring charts for St John’s, ending the hour with an impressive 1-5 – all his white flags coming in the first half while Shea Shannon’s accuracy from placed ball added five of his seven points overall.  Conor Johnston and Aaron Bradley went through plenty of work but they were chasing shadows in a second half which Dunloy dictated.

The home side would finish the match with 14 men, substitute Daire King seeing red for a scuffle involving Phelim Duffin but it had no bearing on the result with the Cuchullains worthy of the size of victory.

St John’s actually started this contest superbly and after six minutes held a four point lead.  Paul Shiels opened the scoring but five points in four minutes from Shannon, Johnston, Aaron Bradley and Carson (2) had the home side well in control.

They sustained their four point advantage with a brace of Shannon frees coming after white flags from Nicky McKeague but two goals in the space of a little over 60 seconds put Dunloy in the driving seat.

Luke McFerran with the first major, coming from a cross field pass from Shiels to McKeague.  McKeague would find McFerran with the pass and while he had three St John’s defenders for attention, McFerran still found the back of the net.

The second Dunloy goal was something we’ve seen countless times from Nigel Elliott.  Collecting loose ball in the middle third, Elliott burst through and found the bottom corner with the Johnnies trailing in his wake.

The home side replied to the Dunloy goals with three unanswered points from Danaan McKeogh, Aaron Bradley and Conor Johnston but the Cuchullains clicked into another gear in the final quarter.

The third goal came from another Nigel Elliott run from midfield but this time he found O’Neill in space.  Despite the best efforts of Nugent in goals, ‘Sammy’ hit the back of the net.

Keelan Molloy and Conor Johnston swapped scores before Tom McFerran was denied another Dunloy major in the 20th minute, Nugent with a superb stop but Dunloy would score four of the next five points to extend their lead to five points.  Scores coming from Shiels, Ryan McGarry, Seaan Elliott (free) and a trademark point from Keelan Molloy from wide on the right on the stand side – a solitary point from Shannon the response from the home side.

A brace of points from Carson reduced that lead to three points before a fourth Dunloy goal came in the 27th minute.  Shiels and Luke McFerran both involved in the buildup before Nigel Elliott broke through and found the back of the net.

Scores from Carson and Keelan Molloy finished the scoring for the half with the half time score 4-9 to 0-15 in Dunloy’s favour.

After the scoring fireworks of the first half, the second half started slowly.  Both sides registering a couple of wides each and O’Neill denied a second major with his effort coming back of the bottom of the post.

The visitors did score the opening three points of the half, Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliott (’65) and McKeague extending the Dunloy lead and but for some last gasp defending from Ryan McNulty, Seaan Elliott would have added to Dunloy’s goal tally in the same period.

The lead was extended to 10 points going into the final six minutes when St John’s scored their goal.  Donal Carson with the finish that owed much to his determination and perseverance despite the presence of the Dunloy defenders.

Four minutes remained when Daire King was sent off, much to the dismay of the home crowd but it had little effect on the outcome of the game.  Dunloy finished with a flourish with Ryan Mort, McKeague and Keelan Molloy firing over with a Shannon ’65 the only response for the home side by the time referee Patrick Tumelty called time.

The hunt for league honours goes into the last round of matches with nothing decided yet.  Dunloy will host Loughgiel on Friday evening while the Johnnies league is over and they turn their attention to the championship.  They will hope for their long list of absentees to shorten before these two sides face each other in the championship.

TEAMS

St John’s: Domhnal Nugent; Odhran Carleton, Conall Morgan, Jack Bohill; Darragh McGuinness, Ryan McNulty, Enda McGurk; Shea Shannon, Caoimhin Hanna; Aaron Bradley, Conor Johnston, Danaan McKeogh; Donall Carson, Michael Bradley, Ruairi Galbraith

Subs: Adrian Downey for M Bradley (10); Michael Napier for D McKeogh (47); Daire King for R Galbraith (54)

Scorers: D Carson 1-5; S Shannon 0-7 (4fs 1 ’65); C Johnston 0-4; A Bradley 0-2; D McKeough 0-1

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Conor Kinsella, Eoin McFerran, Oran Quinn; Keelan Molloy, Ryan McGarry, Kevin Molloy; Nigel Elliott, Aodhan McGarry; Tom McFerran, Nicky McKeague, Luke McFerran; Eoin O’Neill, Seaan Elliott, Paul Shiels

Subs: Ryan Mort for P Shiels (38); Oisin McCallin for T McFerran (44); Phelim Duffin for C Kinsella (44); Deaglan Smith for L McFerran (50)

Scorers: Keelan Molloy 0-7; N Elliott 2-00; N McKeague 0-4; S Elliott 0-3 (2fs 1’65); L McFerran 1-00; E O’Neill 1-00; P Shiels 0-2; O Quinn 0-1; R McGarry 0-1; R Mort 0-1

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Colin Schools 2025 Football League

Following on from the successful league format in 2024, the Colin Primary Schools League expanded in 2025 with the addition of Christ the Redeemer PS, Lagmore. Joining Holy Evangelists, St Kierans PS & Good Shepard PS with boys and Girls Gaelic Football teams from P6 &P7 years.

The 3G facilities at Sally Gardens in Poleglass host all matches over a 8 week period and continues to provide a strong identity for developing Gaelic Games in the area.

In the Boys section, Christ the Redeemer defeated both St Kierans and Holy Evangelists. In their final league game played on a day that produced all four seasons, Christ the Redeemer PS finished with a  win despite the difficult test in a well organised and determined Good Shepard PS. The game itself was fast flowing with some excellent passages of play and is a testament to the coaches at the school & the clubs from which the boys receive their weekly training. In their final league games, St Kierans PS battled despite having a depleted squad but doing enough to get the result v Holy Evangelists.  

The girls sectioned delivered further evidence of the continuing growth of ladies Gaelic football in the Colin Area with clubs such as Colin Gaels, St Paul’s GAC, Sarsfields & Lamh Dhearg all having a strong identity within the school teams. The high standard of football produced by all schools in the girls section is a testament to the schools & GAA clubs coaching. Christ the Redeemer PS on the final league day had too much to see off Good Shepard and needed this victory as defeat could have left the door open for St Kierans PS to mirror their successful 2024 season. In the final league fixture St Kierans and Holy Evangelists played out to a draw. 

Unfortunately on the last day the weather prohibited the outdoor awards ceremony taking place. Thanks to the teachers and parents / guardians who facilitated the running of the league programme and to Christ the Redeemer for facilitating the awards ceremony.

Final thanks to CLG NAOMH PÓL / ST PAULS GAC & ST KIERANS PS Poleglass for their ongoing support in delivering another excellent Colin Primary Schools League & also to the staff at Sally Gardens for their logistical support & Belfast Crystal for their fantastic league winners awards.  

Boys league Winners                                                       Girls league Winners

2024 Holy Evangelist (Twinbrook)                                  2024 St Kierans PS (Poleglass)

2025 Christ the Redeemer  (Lagmore)                          2025 Christ the Redeemer (Lagmore)

by thesaffrongael

Belfast “ Biddies” make hurling history

Antrim Hurling League – Division 4

Rossa 2-22 St Brigid’s 4-23

The sport of hurling has been given an unprecedented boost on Belfast’s Malone and Lisburn roads where the St Brigid’s club has been crowned Antrim Division Four champions with a game to spare.

The men from Musgrave Park took on and beat Rossa seconds at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday evening in an epic top of the table clash, which saw the fledgling squad from South Belfast prevail by seven points.

St Brigids teenage marksman James Kelly, who bagged 1-14 in their previous outing against Ballymena All Saints weighed in with a remarkable 0-17 haul ( 0-9 from play) in the historic win which guaranteed St Brigids – formed just five seasons ago – would be playing division three hurling in 2026.

But this was far from a one man performance, corner forward David Prenter pounced for the “ Biddys” opening goal which he buried after 5 minutes, Oisin “ willo the wisp” McDonnell added a second shortly after.

A delicious over the shoulder point from Fionntain Cleary followed and then came a long range effort from teenager Donnacha McGurk which gave the away team a ten points interval lead.

But Rossa came with an early third quarter surge, James Close popped over three points from midfield and then two second half goals sniped in quick succession saw the West Belfast outfit take the lead with five minutes remaining on the clock.

But St Brigid’s, minus two talismanic leaders in the injured Phelim Lennon & Nial Murtagh, found a way.

With the clock ticking, Dara Sidebottom thieved a ball from a ruck on Rosa’s 13m line and found Cathal Conway with a subtle hand pass and the latter first timed to the “ onion bag”.

Game on.

Nearing injury time, Conway – a grizzly bear of a man – returned the compliment, emerging from a forest of sticks to boot the ball into the raiding Sidebottom’s path, which he whipped on first time low of his left. The net bulged and the covered stand heavily populated with travelling fans convulsed in a guttural roar.

Deep into injury time, James Kelly -the schoolboy with ice in his veins & kryptonite in his wrists – landed another monster free from 85m, St Brigid’s had hurled themselves into history.

The whistle sounded, Brian McGurk, so pivotal as goalkeeper let out a primal shriek, Jake Massingham who’d been a contender for man of the match at corner back,  jumped higher than an Eastern bloc pole vaulter, Peter Heaney who played with a groin tear had a perma smile tattooed on his face that was wider than the mouth of the Lagan, Peter Middleton back with titanium screws in his ankle after a year out had played like a man in titanium armour; Todd Engman from Minnesota had a hurl in his hand & a tear in his eye, Darren Hamill hugged his boy Pearce, coach and player, father & son- suspended somewhere between disbelief and ecstasy – ; John McGuckian -a veteran of many campaigns with St Brigid’s Cloughmills  – who thought he’d seen it all before confessed that he hadn’t, Conor McElhatton, Cuan Polley, Mikey Kerr and Michael Burke, three pups and an aul gnarly dog, jigged and leapt uncontrollably;  big Jack Pardy from Offaly, stood wide eyed like a majestic lighthouse, unshakable & unsinkable as he’d been all season.

And somewhere amidst the frothing sea of waving hurls, John Rush, a prisoner of a collapsed moment, gazed south over the cityscape,  stunned as an Easter island statue beckoning home some unseen ship on a hitherto unimagined horizon.

“ We’ve done it, we’ve done it “

The words spilled from the manager, first a trickle, then a torrent, just like the team he & big Darren had built.