The Carey Faughs v Castleblaney Ulster Intermediate Hurling quarter final which was fixed for today (Saturday) in Carricmore has been put back until tomorrow because of the weather.
With Storm Bert sweeping across the country conditions were too bad to play the game, so it was decided to put it back a day with the venue and starting time the same as the original
New Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald was the guest of honour at Thursday evenings Devenish Antrim Club All Stars awards dinner at the West Belfast venue. As well as handing over the hurling awards the former Clare legend did an interview on stage with BBC GAA correspondent Mark Sidebottom, chatting about events throughout is illustrious career as a player and in management. Sidebottom questioned Davy about his decision to take the Antrim job this year, but the former Waterford manager was keeping his cards close to his chest.
With football manager Andy McEntee unfortunately unable to attend the Football awards were handed out by his right hand man Terry McCrudden.
Footballer of the Year went to Michael McCann of Cargin while younger brother Tomas won the Top Scorer award,
The Eamon Trainor Memorial Shield for Referee of the Year was presented to Kevin Parke by Eamon’s sister and brother Elizabeth and Anthony.
A great variety of clubs were represented in both hurling and football and once again it was the players from the lower divisions who got the best reception for their achievements this season.
Overall another great night and special thanks must go to the man behind the event Paddy Cunningham, the Devenish for hosting the event and O’Neill’s Sport for their generous sponsorship.
Cargin’s clean sweep which saw Tom Shivers win the Young Footballer of the Year award, Tomas McCann win the Top Scorer of the Year and Mick McCann win overall Player of the Year
Joseph McLaughlin of Ruairi Og won the Young Hurler of the Year, Seaan Elliott of Cuchullains win the top scorer award while Ruairi Og’s Eoin Campbell won the overall Hurler of the Year award.
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Ulster Intermediate Hurling Club semi-final
Carey Faughs v Castleblaney Hurling
Pairc Colmcille Carrickmore
Sunday 1-30pm
At the second time of asking ‘Weather Permitting’ Pairc Colmcille will have a familiar feel to Carey Faughs as they make the journey to the Co Tyrone venue for the second time in three weeks to face Castleblaney in this Sunday’s Ulster Intermediate Club Championship semi-final.
Last week’s scheduled game at the same venue was postponed following the death of James Black, father of Faughs player James ‘Rocket’ Black and at the time of writing Sunday’s clash is still scheduled despite a Yellow weather wanrning for the weekend.
Three weeks ago the Ballyvoy men visited the same venue where they took on local side, Carrickmore and avenged a defeated by the same opposition, three years earlier in the opening round of Ulster.
It took penalties to separate Carey and the Tyrone champions after the sides finished level after extra time in an epic struggle.
Two brilliant saves from Carey goalkeeper Steven McGinn during the penalty shoot-out finally decided the issue after the sides had ended level at the end of normal time, and again at the end of extra time, Carey grabbing last gasp points to avoid defeat in both cases.
Conal McGlynn, Caolan McCaughan and Conlith McKinley and Conor McBride were the men who provided the scores to match the local side all the way to that dramatic penalty shootout and will carry their challenge into Sunday’s semi-final.
Steven McGinn has been excellent for the Faughs this season as the last line of defence and has been consistent throughout the Antrim division 2 league and championship campaigns.
In front of him Sean McBride has been a colossus at the heart of a hard working defence where Patrick Gillan and James ‘Rocket’ Black have performed heroically in a solid unit, Black coming up with some excellent scores.
Caolan McCaughan and James McCouaig add strength and experience around mid-field and the Ballyvoy side will travel to the now, familiar, Pairc Colmcille confident that they can advance to the final.
Middletown 1-13 Castleblayney 0-17
In the other semi-final Castleblaney of Monaghan caused an upset when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Middletown of Armagh in the Athletic Grounds, avenging a defeat to the same opponents back in 2021
Castleblaney led for the majority of the game, but when Middletown youngster Rory Grimes buried a 45th-minute goal, it looked like the Armagh champions were going to take control.
Castleblaney stood strong to land the final two scores of the night however, both through Niall Garland, to edge through by the minimum of margins.
The Armagh champions wasted a bagful of chances at the Athletic Ground hitting 16 wides over the course of the game while Castleblaney were much more economical in their finishing.
Niall Garland top scored for the Monaghan side with 0-6 (4f’s) while Thomas Hughes, Declan Hughes and Mark Treanor carried the majority of the Castleblaney scoring threat.
Castleblaney are managed by former Rossa player Tony Austin and —-McManus whose two sons play for St. John’s so they are sure to have some prior knowledge of the Antrim Intermediate champions.
A big crowd followed Carey Faughs to Carrickmore last day out and it should be even bigger on Sunday and in a season where the loss of their talisman ‘We Joe’ Heggarty appears to have galvanised the club, I expect them to advance to the decider.
Castleblayney Scorers v Middletown:N Garland 0-6 (4f); T Hughes 0-4; M Treanor & D Hughes 0-2 each; F Rafter, C McNally & B McGuigan 0-1 each
Carey Faughs v Carrickmore: Steven McGinn, Zach McCaughan, Sean McBride, Patrick Gillan, Michael McVeigh, James Black, Conall McGlynn, Caolan McCaughan, James McCouaig, Conlith McKinley, Conor McBride, John McBride, Shea Hunter, Patrick Butler, Callum Cane. Subs Eoin Hill
This evening’s Mageean Cup semi-final between St Killian’s Garron Tower and St Louis Ballymena, which was schdulend for Portglenone at 6pm, has been postponed until tomorrow and will now be played in Cushendall at 2pm
Former Clare legend and new Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald was the guest of honour at the Loughgiel juvenile awards night in Shamrocks clubrooms on Friday evening and not surprisingly he was a bit hit among the largre crowd of young hurlers who attended.
The main award of the evening was the presentation of the McMullan Cup to the Shamrocks Under 16 team who beat Dunloy in the final back in June. A great night for the young hurlers of Loughgiel which Davy appeared to really enjoy himself. No doubt a lot of other clubs will have the invites out to the Sixmilebridge man already.
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