June 23, 2025June 23, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Ruairí Ógs Denied In Extra Time

Report and pics by Brendan McTaggart

Féile na nGael Regional Hurling, Kildalkey Co Meath

Cushendall travelled to Kildalkey for the Regional hurling Féile and came so close to coming back to Antrim with the title. Having played superbly all day, the Ruairí’s came up against a talented Lavey side but it took extra time to separate the sides.

In the group stages, the ‘Dall were matched against Bredagh (Down), Sarsfields (Kildare) and the home side Kildalkey (Meath).

Playing against the Kildare side in their first game, goals from Jayden Kinney-McNaughton and Connlaodh McNaughton gave Cushendall a 2-9 to 0-3 win against a side that would finish second in their group.

Cushendall were in the goals again in their second game against Bredagh with Connlaodh McNaughton (two) and Jayden Kinney-McNaughton finding the net along with Francis Kinney-McNaughton. A comfortable win in the end with a score line of 4-9 to 0-6.

The last group game against the host clubs showed no signs of the Ruairí’s easing up with full-forward Jayden Kinney-McNaughton bagging another four goals with Connlaodh McNaughton also finding the back of the net. Final score 5-4 to 0-4.

Paired against Delvin of Westmeath in the semi-final, Jayden fired another brace with Connlaodh McNaughton doing the same. Centre half back Brian McNeill got in on the goal scoring act and while the Westmeath men posed a more attacking threat, Cushendall were full value for their 5-9 to 2-4 win.

The final itself proved to be an epic game between comfortably the two best sides in the competition. The Derry men held a half time lead of 2-3 to 1-4, Jayden continuing his incredible goal scoring record with another major while Connlaodh McNaughton was firing over from all angles.

Lavey opened up a four point lead going as time looked to be running out for the Ruairí’s but a quite brilliant goal from Connlaodh McNaughton was followed by an inspirational point from Brian McNeill from distance. The referee would call for the sliotar with no time for the restart and the sides went to extra time.

Connlaodh McNaughton edged the Ruairí’s ahead for the first time in the final but Lavey fired two majors in either half of extra time to open a five point lead. Cushendall laid siege on the Lavey goal looking for goals and did manage to pull one back through a McNeill drive but they ran out of time.

The young lads will be disappointed with how their day ended but the standard of hurling their produced throughout was exceptional. The loss of Connlaodh McNaughton early at the start of the second period of extra time was a massive blow for Cushendall but they battled superbly throughout under a searing heat and sweltering conditions. The goal scorers will take the plaudits and in Connlaodh McNaughton, Brian McNeill and Jayden Kinney-McNaughton Cushendall have exceptional talents but every one draped in maroon played their part in a wonderful run to the final.

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN”S PHOTOS FROM THE FEILE FINAL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/RvPscd62ks5xnF/?invite=12f235f9-ea95-4361-8054-49e27c3bef3e

June 21, 2025June 21, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Good luck to the Antrim teams at Feile na nGael

Good luck to all the Antrim teams who are competing in Feile today. We wish you all the very best of luck.

Go out an enjoy it all. I would ask those in charge of the teams to send us on as much info as you can on their matches.

June 19, 2025June 19, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Aghagallon back to winning ways!

ACFL Division 1

Aghagallon 1-20 Aldergrove 1-15

Match report & Pics by Brian Hamill

Aghagallon recorded their first win in several games on Wednesday evening with a well-earned five-point victory over Aldergrove. A strong second-half showing included an amazing performance by Jonny Hannon, a crucial goal from Ruairi McShane and the return of county players Adam Loughran, Eunan Walsh, and Ruairi McCann to swing the result in the home side’s favour.

The first half was evenly balanced, with both teams sharing periods of dominance. Pauric Maginnis and Ciaran Maginnis were on target early for Aghagallon, while Aldergrove’s corner forward, Seamus McGarry, looked sharp scoring from both play and frees. McGarry ended up with a tally of 1-07. By the 28th minute, Aldergrove had moved three points clear, but Jonny Hannon landed a two point free to leave it level at the break: 0-08 apiece.

Aghagallon took control early in the second half, with Hannon, McCann, and Loughran all pointing. Then came the game’s turning point: in the 42nd minute, McShane finished off an attack through the middle and a well-taken goal, giving his side a six-point cushion.

Aldergrove hit back with a goal themselves, from their star performer Seamus McGarry, around the hour mark, but any chance of a comeback was halted when an Aldergrove player received a straight
red card for a high tackle on Ciaran Maginnis as the Aghagallon man drove forward.

Aghagallon capitalised on the extra space in the closing stages. Hannon, who finished with 0-11, added two more scores, while Michael McStravick and Loughran added insurance points to seal the result.

TO VIEW BRIAN HAMILL’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/VXabocYMjisBhy

June 18, 2025June 18, 2025 by thesaffrongael

McGrath’s late point seals the win for the Shamrocks

McCaughan Cup final at the Brustin Braes, Larne

Loughgiel 0-23 Armoy 0-22

An injury time point from top scorer Cahir McGrath gave Loughgiel victory over Armoy in Tuesday evening’s McCaughan Cup final at the Brustin Braes in Larne. It looked like the Glen Rovers men had had earned themselves extra time when Thomas Burns and Conor Christie landed two late points to tie the scores as the clock ticked into injury time, bu McGrath, who had shown great accuracy all through the game, landed a late point to secure the victory.

The sides were level at the end of close fought opening quarter, Cahir McGrath hitting all of the Shamrocks five points while the Armoy scores were shared by Charlie Douthart, Emmet O’Hara and Arthur Devlin who hit one apiece with the other two coming from Conor Christie.

Loughgiel forged back ahead Aodhan McFadden, Cahir McGrath, Mark McFadden and Odhran McMullan, in reply to jst one from Armoy centre forward Emmet O’Hara, but Armoy put in a strong finish to the opening half to close within a point by the short whistle.

The second half continued in a similar vein with PJ McBride and Conor Christie getting scores to edge Armoy ahead but one by Patrick Bradley and two more from McGrath got the Shamrocks back ahead. Conor Christie was keeping Armoy in touch with a series of excellent scores, but McGrath always had an answer. With the Shamrock leading by three two quick points by Emmet O’Hara and Thomas Burns cut the deficit back to a single point but Eddie McCloskey came back with one for the men in red to put them two ahead, but Burns and Christie squared things up entering injury time, before Cahir McGrath sealed the win.

A great game of hurling, played in a great spirit and Armoy will count themselves unlucky to get nothing out of the game.

Five of the Loughgiel team who won All Ireland Senior Club medals in Croke Park thirteen years ago when the Shamrocks beat Offaly champions Coolderry in the final added McCaughan Cup medals to their roll of honour at the Brustin Braes in Larne on Tuesday evening. Two venues and two occassions which are worlds apart, but the joy getting out there and playing the game is still there.

The beauty of sport

TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/ECNnbcuHRVFNLd/?invite=4c021d06-0705-4e3a-a781-a8a8390b7b7c

June 18, 2025June 19, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Portaferry’s Pearce Smyth wins the Ulster Poc Fada

Ulster Poc Fada at Gowkstown Hill, Glenarm

Pearce Smyth of Portaferry won Tuesday evening’s Ulster Poc Fada at Gowkstown Hill, Glenarm when he edged out Antrim’s Sean Og McLaren of St Paul’s by one shot in a great contest, the Down man setting a new record of 23 pocs into the bargain. Smth and McLaren both go through to the All Ireland finals in the Cooley Mountains on August 4^th.

Ellen Leech of Ruairi Og Cushendall who won the Senior Ladies Poc Fada at Gowkstown Hill, Feystown on Tuesday evening. Ellen will represent Ulster in the All Ireland finals in August. Pic by John McIlwaine

Ellen Leech of Ruairi Og Cushendall won the Senior Ladies event while her club mate Eimear Ward made it a club double when she won the Girls Under 16 section. The Under 16 Boys section was won Donnacha Collins of Derry, the Lavey clubman edging out Cadhán Graham of Oisins and Antrim.

After the contest, everyone went back to Shane O’Neill’s GAC clubrooms at Forsythe Park where wall were treated to tea and sandwiches before the presentations by Declan Woods of Ulster GAA and Ulster Camogie Chairperson Karen McCormick.

A word of praise for the host club Shane O’Neill’s for another excellently organised event. The only down side was the midges, but Terence Mulvenna says he will have that sorted for next year.