Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

North Antrim players dominate the Colleges Hurling All Stars

With two of the three north Antrim colleges featuring in the 2024 Mageean Cup final, and the other in the semi-final, it is no surprise that the Colleges Hurling All Star team is dominated by the three north Antrim schools. They have snapped up 12 of the 15 jerseys. Four awards go to All-Ireland Paddy Buggy Cup champions Cross & Passion Ballycastle while the six St Killian’s Garron Tower players named featured strongly for the school when they captured the same title in 2023d. St Louis Ballymena students Jack Martin and Fionntán Bradley complete the dozen.

As regards club representation, there are five from Ruairí Óg Cushendall, three from Loughgiel Shamrocks, two from Oisín Glenariff and one each for Dunloy and Ballycastle.

The six St Killian’s players who won All Star awards were, L-R, Thomas McLaughlin, Colla Ward, Charlie McAuley, Oran McCambridge, Calum McIlwaine, Callagh Mooney

One of the Shamrocks, CPC winning captain Liam Glackin, is joining an elite group of players who have collected three successive All-star awards. In Liam’s case he now will have a complete collection of jerseys from the half-back line.

In addition there are also no fewer than four other players who were on last year’s team including Thomas McLaughlin from St Killian’s. The Ruairí Óg player was goalkeeper on last year’s team when his brother Joseph picked up his second award at full-forward. Thomas now takes over on the edge of the square from Joseph.

Club and school team-mate Callagh Mooney also collects a second award as does Colla Ward, an All-Ireland judo champion and an Ulster minor club winner with Oisín Glenariffe.

The two St Louis students selected are Jack Martin and Fionntán Bradley, the latter one of the five Ruairí Óg players named. He also holds a Mageean medal – with his school two years ago.

Interestingly two of the St Killian’s All-stars are sons of All-stars. Conor McCambridge picked up two awards in 1992 and 1993, and in that second year his Garron Tower team-mate Pádraig McIlwaine joined him. Oran McCambridge and Callum McIlwaine now follow their fathers.

The fourth double All-star was a member of the Derry team that won Ulster and All-Ireland minor football titles last year. Cathal Ó Mianáin’s brother and current Derry senior hurler Ruairí was also a dual All-star in 2022 and 2023.

The Loughgiel trio of Roan Fitzpatrick, Liam Glackin and Roan McGarry.

Derry All-Ireland football minor winning captain and 2024 minor footballer of the year James Sargent also comes into defence. The Lavey dual player holds three Derry minor hurling medals as well as Kirk Cup and Casement Cup medals with his school St Mary’s Magherafelt.

The other non-Antrim player in the selection is the first to represent the new Downpatrick school, Lecale Trinity. Cian Clarke was the sub goal-keeper on the Red High team that won the Danske Bank Mageean Cup three years ago. He is a son of long-time Down net-minder Graham Clarke and is currently between the posts for Down at under 20 level.

The team will collect their All-star awards at a Gala Dinner in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Belfast on May 2nd.

Oonagh Murtagh, Head of South Business Centre at Danske Bank, announced the teams commenting:

“At Danske Bank, we’ve been passionate about helping our society thrive since our beginnings 200 years ago. One way we do that is through our youth sports sponsorships with Ulster Schools GAA, Ulster Schools’ Cup Rugby and the Northern Ireland Football Association.

“The Ulster Schools All Stars is a fantastic, long-standing initiative that recognises outstanding sportsmanship across Gaelic football and hurling each year – and something we’re really proud to be a part of. This year’s GAA competitions have showcased the very best of our young players. It’s a real testament to how our young footballers and hurlers have been nurtured and developed throughout their school sporting career.

The five Ruairi Og players on the All Star team. L-R, Oran McCambridge, Charlie McAuley, Fiontann Bradley, Thomas McLaughlin, Callagh Mooney

“The commitment and dedication to even be nominated for an All Star is immense, and we’d like to congratulate all of the players selected to participate in the trials as well as the remarkable 30 individuals who made the two All Star teams this year.”

The 15 players selected for the 2023-24 Danske Bank All-star hurling team are:

1.      Cian Clarke, Lecale Trinity Downpatrick

2.      James Sargent, St Mary’s Magherafelt

3.      Colla Ward, St Killian’s Garron Tower

4.      Cathal Ó Mianáin, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire

5.      Jack Martin, St Louis Ballymena.

6.      Charlie McAuley, St Killian’s Garron Tower

7.      Liam Glackin, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

8.      Ronan Fitzgerald, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

9.      Calum McIlwaine, St Killian’s Garron Tower

10.  Oran McCambridge, St Killian’s Garron Tower

11.  Callagh Mooney, St Killian’s Garron Tower

12.  Fionntán Bradley, St Louis Ballymena

13.  Conor Donnelly, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

14.  Thomas McLaughlin, St Killian’s Garron Tower

15.   Roan McGarry, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

by thesaffrongael

All Saints up and running

ACHL Division 4

All Saints 4-15 Shane O’Neills 0-9

All Saints got their 2025 season up and running after a disappointing opening day two point defeat to St Brigid’s. They proved too strong for a Shane O’Neill’s second string who have joined the all county leagues this year.

With the breeze at their backs All Saints started strong opening up a five point lead mainly through three back to back points from Daniel Kelly. Glenarm to their credit were contesting every ball and pulled back the lead with a string of scores of their own.

The pace of Cormac Magill and Eoin McGuigan were causing the Glenarm defence major problems and along with points from Ronan McAllister they opened up a 0-11 to 0-5 lead at the break.

The introduction of Darach Bradley at the break was a major boost for the Ballymena side.  Playing into the wind he contributed 2-2 with his direct running opening holes in the home sides defence.

Bradley was also fouled for a penalty which Eoin McGuigan dispatched to the net before Cormac Magill scored the last goal of the game late on.  

All Saints: Ciaran Cassley, Kevin Brady, Paddy Murphy, Dwayne McKee, Archie McGreevey, Eoin McAllister, Dan Gray, Harry Connon, Jack Magill, Eoin McGuigan (1-4), Ronan McAllister(0-2), Niall Savage, Dan Kelly(0-3), Cormac Magill (1-4), Michael Connolly Subs Darach Bradley(2-2) Vinney Esler, Luke Walsh, Finn Connon, Diarmuid Casey, Dan McCoy

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks always had the upper hand

O’Neill’s Sportswear Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Cushendall: 0-14(14)  Loughgiel: 2-18(24)

PICS BY SEAN PAUL McKILLOP

A sharp and fit looking Loughgiel team picked up two more league points when they travelled to Cushendall on Sunday evening and come away with a comfortable ten point win. Admittedly the Cushendall side was well understrength but Loughgiel will be happy with their teams’ display as the picked off some excellent scores throughout the hour.

The early stages were competitive but Loughgiel got on the board first when Christy McGarry and Daniel McCloskey hit the first two scores, but Neill McManus cut the gap back to a point. McManus kept the Ruairis in touch throughout the first half, scoring nine of his team’s first half total of ten, most of them from frees.

A goal from corner forward Eoin McGarry and a point from Daniel McCloskey in the 9th and 10th minutes gain the upper hand and as the half advanced they opened that gap to six by the half time whistle, Shan McGrath sending over a series of well struck frees to help his team to a 2-09 to 09 lead at half time.

When McGrath and McCloskey got the first two points of the second half it was clear the home side had a big task on their hand if they were to get anything out of the game they would have to up the tempo. McManus kept his team in touch for a while as he knocked over a series of frees, but the Shamrocks were stretching the gap by the minute and two from substitute Smyth and from right half forward Rian McMullan kept them in control.

Cushendall hit back to back points through Padraig McKillop and Paddy McGill but points for the visitors by McMullan and McGrath wrapped up a ten point win.

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by thesaffrongael

Offaly take control in the second half to beat Antrim in the Leinster MHC

Leinster Minor Hurling Championship – Tier 2

Pics by Bert Trowlen

A strong finish by Offaly ended Antrim’s chances in their opening game in the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship, Tier 2, at Dundalk on Satruday as the Faithful County boys turned on the style to make it two games out of two in their group.

When left half forward James McDonald grabbed the Safron’s second goal 11 minutes into the second half things looked promising for the Antrim side. However Offaly, with the strong breeze at their backs, seemed to find another gear and driven on by team captain Odhran Fletcher they hit 2 goals and 9 point in the final 18 minutes to just a single point in reply to win by 12.

Antrim got off to a bad start when right half forward Conor Thornton goaled in the opening minute and team captain Fletcher added a point thirty seconds late. Thing looked bleak for the Ulster champions but with the elements in their favour they hit back immediately and three point from Sean Smith, James McDonald and Jay McAlonan close the gap to a single point after four minutes. Things really took off when corner forward Cadhan Crawford fired home a fantastic goal soon afterwards and when the excellent James McDonnell added two quick points they were four points clear in the eighth minute. (1-05 to 1-01)

They suffered a setback when Offaly corner forward Ruairi Woods grabbed his team’s second goal but the Saffrons still held the upper hand and were 1-08 to 2-03 ahead when things began to turn. They suffered a bad blow when goal scorer Cadhan Crawford was forced to retire injured on 24 minutes and things got worse two minutes later when a sideline cut by Fletcher deceived the Antrim keeper and ended up in the back of the net.

Two points down at half time (3-05 to 1-09) Antrim started the second half well and Sean Smyth pulled a point back. They had a couple of good goal chances and were unfortunate not to get frees on a couple of occasions, but when Sean Smyth was brought down close to goal on eleven minutes James McDonnell fired the resultant penalty to the net to put them back in front. Offaly came back with two point to regain the lead but Antrim were still dangerous and when Christy Leach cut through on goal he was taken out by the Offaly goalkeeper James Carroll, but despite protests from the Antrim sideline the match referee played on.

From that stage on Offaly took control and added five more unanswered points. On 48 minutes the Faithful county were awarded a penalty which also saw Antrim corner back Aaron Quinn receive a black card, which left the Antrim fans enraged wondering why the same rule hadn’t applied at the other end earlier. Fletcher fired home Offaly’s fourth goal from the penalty and Antrim had a mountain to climb, as Offaly pushed on, adding goal number five through Ruairi Woods five minutes later.

A disappointing ending for Gabriel Crawford and his team but they can take heart from their play for good parts of the game. They are out again over the next two weekends against Meath and Wicklow so there is still something left to play for.  

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by thesaffrongael

Crawford relishing challenging schedule as Saffrons take on Offaly

Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship

Tier 2 Group 1

Antrim v Offaly

Date: Saturday 5 April

Venue: Dowdallshill, Co Louth

Throw in: 2pm

Brendan McTaggart speaks with Antrim minor hurling manager, Gabriel Crawford

Having collected the Ulster Hurling minor cup with impressive performances last month, Antrim minors travel to Dowdallshill, Co Louth for their opening match of the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Saffrons begin their campaign in Tier 2 with the ‘carrot’ of matches in the Leinster Championship ‘proper’ to come, they face Offaly in their first of four frenetic weeks ahead.  Before the calendar turns to May, Gabriel Crawford will guide his side to matches against Offaly, Wicklow, Westmeath and Meath in successive weekends.  A challenging schedule but one Crawford is relishing. 

In their last outing in the Ulster final, Antrim were hugely impressive.  Leading 1-15 to 0-1 at half time, they were relentless in the second half as they ran out 4-27 to 2-6 winners by the final whistle.  11 different scorers and as Crawford told us, the group felt like they had something to prove to themselves: “Derry won it last year and for a lot of these boys, it was a second chance.  Antrim used their u16 squad for the minors last year.

“You have your physicality from the likes of Derry and Down but I feel like it was our stickwork that got us through those games.

“It was tough.  The schedule is so tight.  We were only out on grass a week before that first game against Derry, there was no such thing as challenge matches and with plenty involved with school hurling, it’s had its challenges.  We had seven lads who were involved with CPC (winners of the Paddy Buggy Cup) so to juggle that brought it’s own challenges but look, Joe Cassidy (CPC teacher/coach) was great to work with and at the end of the day, I have seven lads back with me here who are brimming with confidence after winning an All-Ireland.”

“The panel is made up of clubs from right across the county and I couldn’t be happier with the backroom team.  Mattie Donnelly is in there and he’s not long stepped away from inter-county and big Natty (Donal McNaughton) who’s won multiple championships with Cushendall, Alan Rainey from Davitts, Ryan McAfee and Kevin McCann – a former junior All Ireland winner with Antrim are all great coaches in their own right.  Chris Ashcroft is in there for S&C and has been unreal also.

“Every person has a role and a voice, they’re definitely good men to have around you.”

The early signs are that Crawford and his team are going in the right direction and while there is plenty of work that goes into that behind the scenes, you got the impression that things are beginning to fall into place when he told us: “Antrim hurling is in a really good place right now.  You have Davy Fitzgerald at the top and then someone of the caliber of Mickey McShane in with the 20s and that’s an exciting place to be in for any player coming up through the age groups now. 

“We’ve been saying to the lads that this is what they’ll expect to see next year when they go through to the 20s and hopefully in two or three years after that, seniors.

“We’re working a lot on the S&C and psychological side of things that will help these lads to push towards seniors and when you have the likes of Brendan Murphy in there overseeing the S&C side of things, it’s as close to a professional set up as you’re likely to see.

“With the steppingstones in place, it’s about ensuring the players are best placed and ready to make the transition.  Crawford said that while they have put in the hard yards, something has fallen into their laps when he told us: “I would say the way we set up and how I want the team to hurl is very similar to that of the 20s.  It wasn’t something that happened on purpose, it’s the hurling philosophy that I believe in and like my teams to set up with.  I was watching the u20s train one night after us and I saw a lot of similarities to what we’re trying to do. 

“That kind of thing will help these lads with their transition next year, instead of maybe starting back from square one with a different ethos.

“And look, Mickey and Davy are only ever a phone call away and they’re always willing to take that call.”

Offaly began their campaign last week with a three point win over Meath, the Antrim manager had the opportunity to watch Saturday’s opposition: “I went down to Birr and watched Offaly’s match against Meath last week in their first game.  It will be a step up from Ulster but look, we have a great bunch of lads here and I believe they have what it takes to progress from this group.”

Crawford said that while they can train as hard as they can to get things right on the pitch, that psychological barrier still exists when playing games against teams like that of Offaly.  He told us: “It still exists but it comes from not coming up against that opposition often enough.  We’ve been drumming it into them that they’re only human, just like us.  It doesn’t matter where they’re from and they are every bit as well prepared as what they will be.

“Offaly are in a similar situation to us, apart from that generational team (u20s) last year that make up the majority of their senior team now, they’ve been putting a lot of work into their underage teams.  They’re no different to us and we’re trying to tell our boys that.”

Crawford confirmed that he has no injury concerns ahead of their trip: “There’s a couple of niggles there but everyone is fully fit.  We’re pushing these lads to get the most out of them and getting them as far as they can.  It’s important that they have the right mindset going out in these matches and competing.”