Official Antrim GAA Schools Cup Hurling Year 10 All-Star Nominations 2024.25. The Winners will be announced on Friday 9th May 12pm via email to Schools & on our Social media Channels (Antrim & Gaelfast Facebook & Twitter). These players were recommended by School Teachers/Coaches, Antrim GAA Gaelfast staff and Match day Officials throughout the competition. The process to select our Antrim Schools Cup All-Stars was extremely difficult due to the high levels of performance from our players over the blitz days and knockout phases of the competitions. We had over 12 schools and over 300 pupils taking part in our Antrim Schools Cup Hurling Year 10 Competition from September to November. I would like to thank and congratulate our Parents/Guardians, Academy squad mentors, Schools & Club coaches for providing our children with opportunities to develop, take part in our games and be surrounded in the overwhelming Physical, Psychological, Social and Emotional Health & Wellbeing benefits associated with playing GAA Sports. The winners will be invited to St Marys University College on Friday 16th May 1230pm as part of the Antrim Schools Cup Hurling All-Star Awards Event. Other details to follow.
TWO members of the first hurling team to represent St MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower, in Ulster Colleges’ combat, have sadly passed away in recent weeks. Denis McKillop and fellow Cushendall day student Alex McCollam died aged 86 and 87 respectively. McKillop, from Tavnahan, Glenaan, passed away in Antrim Area Hospital a few weeks ago.
Denis McKIllop RIP
He was once the goalkeeper for Antrim Minor and Junior hurling teams, and also the first goalkeeper in a Garron Tower team to debut in Ulster Colleges’ hurling competition during the 1951-’52 season His funeral Mass and Burial were held (on Tuesday April 1) at St Mary’s Cushendall. An avid historian, Denis lived for a time with his family in the Feystown area of Glenarm. Born in November 1938 in Glenaan, he attended the local Primary School on Glenaan Road before securing entry to St MacNissi’s College in September 1951. Forever devoted to the game of hurling he was selected, after trials, by the late Fr Paddy McKavanagh to the Tower’s first team – and in 1956 gained county honours with Antrim Minors. He always bemoaned the fact his ‘minor days’ were confined to one session, even though winning the Ulster title – and was included in the squad for the 1956 All Ireland semi-final against Tipperary at Croke Park. He was then 17 but his 18th birthday fell outside the January 1st ruling. Later, he played one season in the Antrim Junior team, as goalkeeper. Denis, who spent his closing years in Cushendall, enjoyed good times in club hurling affairs with Cushendun Emmet’s – where he impressed as a cornerback – and then with Cushendall Ruairi Og as their goalkeeper.. He also had an association with the Latharna Og team in Larne and the Shane O’Neill hurling club in Glenarm.
Alex McCollam spent one year at St MacNissi’s College, joining in 1951. Fr Paddy McKavanagh, the College’s first hurling team manager, included Alex in the opening season action before the Cushendsll pupil left the Tower and joined Ballymena Academy. Following some years working in Belfast he emigrated to Western Australia, where his son Declan is a club professional golfer. Alex Died at Perth, Western Australia.
A point deep into injury time from Jay Maguire was enough to give the Paddies a share of the spoils, in a lively and entertaining encounter AT Ballyvoy on Saturday. The visitors held the upper hand in the early exchanges and held a 0-11 to 0-07 at the break, courtesy of five points from Aghagallon footballer Enda McCartan, with Finn Jemfrey, Oisin Coleman and Calan McKernan getting their other scores. Carey never really got settled into the game, but remained in contention with scores from John McMride, Darren McGowan, Conal McGlynn, Calum Cane, Conlith McKinley and Conor McBride.
The second half saw an improved Carey, and three Conor McBride points had the sides level, but an opportunist Osin Coleman goal on the 45 th minute gave the west Belfast men back their three point margin.
Conal McGlynn with three points on the bounce and a Con McKinley point gave the Faughs back the lead with seven minutes remaining, but Jemfrey equalised for the Paddies, only for McBride and McGlynn points to restore Carey’s one point advantage.
It looked like the home side had done enough to secure both points, but Sarsfields never gave up and Maguire cancelled out in stoppage time to earn his team a share of the spoils.
Carey.
S Hunter, O Healy, S McBride, A Hughes, S Mathers, J McBride, Z McCaughan, C Cane, P Butler, F McVeigh, C McKinley, D McGowan, C McBride, D McBride, C McGlynn
Sarsfields
D McKernan, O Coleman, M Johnston, D Coleman, J Ward, C McKernan, R McKenna, D Smyth, A McGarrigle, N McEnlea, E McCartan, F Jemfrey, J Maguire, T Ward, J McKernan
Antrim Minor Hurlers faced Meath on Saturday in what turned out to be the first round of the Leinster B Championship in Páirc Tailteann Navan.
Both sides were informed the night before that their last Group Game would double up to be the Leinster B Knockout Championship.
Antrim with a slight breeze advantage raced into a 1-04 to 0-00 lead after the opening 8 minutes, the goal coming from Christy Leech.
In the next seven minutes Meath were back in the game out scoring Antrim by 1-03 to 2pts in this period.
The goal coming from a deflection that Antrim Keeper Liam Magee could do nothing about.
In the Final 15 minutes of the half Antrim took complete control and produced some brilliant team play and scores, 3 from from the Cadhan Crawford 3 from James McDonnell & 2 from the impressive centre half back Dylan McNaughton.
The second half was nip and tuck through the first 10 minutes, the breeze had lifted in Meath’s favour but strong defending from Antrim’s full back Conor McCann aided by Paddy Morgan & Aaron Quinn thwarted the danger and Meath were forced to shoot for scores from further out the field.
Daire JemfreyJay McAlonanRonan Taylor
Antrim then fired in two goals, one from joint captain Cadhan Crawford which her fired to the top corner of the Meath net and one from vice captain James McDonnell. From then on Antrim were always in control and ran out winners in the end on a scoreline of 3-23 to 1-19.
Although the Leinster A comes to an end these young lads will go all out to try to win the B Competition.
The Opening Game in the A Championship against Offaly with some harsh decisions and a black card at a crucial time will feel like the game that got away from them this year.
They now face Kildare this coming Saturday at 2pm in Dowdallshill in the Leinster B Championship Semi Final
Joint captains Conor McCann and Cadhan Crawford recieve the Ulster Minor Cup from Ulster GAA President Michael Geoghegan after their win over Down back in early March
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Rossa made it three from three on Saturday evening as they inflicted Dunloy’s first league defeat of the season. In an entertaining game, it was a strong first half and ability to score goals that proved to be the difference.
All of Rossa’s goals came in the first half, two from James Connolly with Thomas Morgan adding the third. Both men contributed hugely throughout the hour with Morgan’s agility and pace causing problems while Connolly’s presence on the edge of the square gave the Dunloy defence their fill of it.
Deaglan Murphy gave an energetic display from the middle of the park but it was the back six that formed the basis for this victory. Dunloy trailed by 11 points at half time and with the wind at their back, looked to make inwards into that lead and while they threatened to make a comeback, five points was as close as they got. The Rossa defence soaked up the pressure, led superbly by Ciaran Orchin, Chris McGuinness and Daire Murphy.
Nicky McKeague continued his fine early season form, finishing top scorer for the Cuchullains with 11 white flags beside his name while Paudie Martin, Luke McFerran and Anton McGrath were always in the thick of things.
Tom McFerran put in a great shift in the middle of the pitch while Eamon Smyth and Deaglan Smith had good games in the half back line. The Dunloy management will look at the three goals as being avoidable as they looked to come to terms with the aerial bombardment sent their way. They created few clear cut goal scoring opportunities however as Rossa saw out the second half.
Despite Morgan opening the scoring, it was the home side who made the brighter start. Three points in as many minutes from Luke McFerran, Martin and Tom McFerran had them two clear inside six minutes but it was their last score for 14 minutes as the visitors to Pearse Park took a stranglehold. A run of 1-8 without reply, just two of those coming from placed ball and five different scorers. Eoin Trainor, Deaglan Murphy, Morgan, and Aodhan O’Brien dissecting the posts while Connolly grabbed his first goal of the game in the 16th minute. The goal coming from a long ball which he won himself with a piece of individual brilliance before rifling home. Indeed, it could have been better for the Shaw’s Road men but for O’Brien’s effort being saved by Eoghan Richmond between the sticks. The Dunloy netminder had the presence of mind to deny the follow up with a superb piece of bravery.
Dunloy got the scoreboard ticking once again with McKeague’s first point from a placed ball. He would follow up with another two in the space of five minutes along with Paudie Martin’s second of the game to leave five between the sides.
The home side had their own sight of goal amongst McKeague’s scoring spree, McGrath with a brilliant touch and burst of speed to evade the Rossa defence but his effort was well saved by Donal Armstrong between the sticks for Rossa.
Eoghan McMenamin extended the lead to six once again before Rossa added their second and third majors in the space of two first half minutes. Connolly grabbed his and his teams second and almost a carbon copy his first goal. Getting on the end of a long ball before finishing expertly while Morgan made the most of a mistake in the Dunloy full back line from close range for Rossa’s third.
Ryan Mort had the final say of the half as he fired over Dunloy’s eighth point to leave the half time score 3-10 to 0-8 in Rossa’s favour.
Dunloy had whatever wind was blowing at their backs for the second half and had added a further three points inside the opening minute of the second half. Tom McFerran, Paudie Martin and McKeague all dissecting the uprights and when McKegaue and Ronan Molloy added further scores, it made it five without reply and the Rossa lead reduced to six inside six minutes of the second half.
The sides went toe to toe with Deaglan Murphy and James Connolly prominent for the visitors while McKeague and Luke McFerran were firing for the Cuchullains.
Five points separated the sides with 10 minutes remaining but the visitors to Pearse Park finished strongly outscoring Dunloy five points to one with O’Brien, Connolly (two) and Deaglan Murphy (two) firing over with a McKeague free the solitary response for Dunloy. The Cuchullains had a sniff of a major in the closing stages with Anton McGrath going close but he was denied by a diving save from Oisin McVicker who turned the sliotar away at full stretch.
The action continues next Sunday for the Cuchullains as they host Cushendall while Rossa take on old rivals, St John’s on the same afternoon.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Conor Kinsella, Daire McMullan, Oran Quinn; Paudie McGilligan, Eamon Smyth, Deaglan Smith; Ciaran Elliott, Tom McFerran; Ryan Mort, Nicky McKeague, Luke McFerran; Paudie Martin, Ronan Molloy, Anton McGrath
Subs: Jack Martin for C Elliott (38); Ben O’Kane for D McMullan (51)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-11 (7fs, 1’65); P Martin 0-3; T McFerran 0-2; L McFerran 0-2; R Mort 0-1; R Molloy 0-1
Rossa: Donal Armstrong; Oisin McVicker, Ciaran Orchin, Patrick Moyes; Declan McCartney, Chris McGuinness, Daire Murphy; Diarmuid Rogan, Deaglan Murphy; Eoin Trainor, Pearce Short, Thomas Morgan; Eoghan McMenamin, James Connolly, Aodhan O’Brien
Subs: Michael Armstrong for E McMenamin (54); Liam McEnhill for D Rogan (57); Owen May for T Morgan (60); Darrach Morriarity for J Connolly (60+2)
Scorers: J Connolly 2-3; Deaglan Murphy 0-8 (6fs); T Morgan 1-3; E Trainor 0-2; A O’Brien 0-2; Daire Murphy 0-1; E McMenamin 0-1
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)
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