A last minute reminder about tomorrow’s Ulster select v the Rest of Ireland Hurling game at Corrigan Park organised by Gaels against Genocide. One of the organisers of the event, Neil McManus has described the genocide in Palestine as the worst humanitarian crisis of our modern times and condemned Western Governments for their lack of response.
McManus will be unavailable to take part in Saturday’s game as he will be lining out against Slaughtneil later in the day in the Ulster Club semi-final at the Athletic Grounds but stated during the week, “This is not a political issue-it’s a moral issue”
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s game and can be purchased by clicking on the link below but if you cannot make it to the game you can still donate by clicking on the same link.
The Saffron Gael will be there to capture the event and add their support to this wonderful cause so come along and join us at Corrigan on Saturday.
Gaels against Genocide have been working closely with Gaza Paediatrician Care Initiative who have arranged for Palestinians, badly injured in Gaza to come to Ireland and in partnership with the initiative we hope to raise much needed funds to go towards medical costs. Today we launched ‘Hurling for Gaza’ when hurling stars from all over Ireland will come together for this great cause in what will be a great game and occasion to be involved in. Tickets are available via link below for the game and cash will also be accepted on the day. We encourage everyone to purchase ticket whether you can make the game or not and encourage your family, friends and neighbours.
TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR DONATE CLICK ON THER LINK BELOW·
AIB Ulster Senior Hurling Club Championship – Semi Final
Cushendall v Slaughtneil
Date: Saturday 16 November – Throw-in : 7:15pm
Venue: BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh
Referee: Peter Owens (Liatroim Fontenoys, Down)
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Saturday’s Ulster club semi final between Cushendall and Slaughtneil….
Having retained the Volunteer Cup some four weeks ago, Cushendall’s journey continues with the Four Season Cup on their radar. All roads lead to Armagh on Saturday evening as the Ruairi’s begin the defence of their provincial crown against old adversaries, Slaughtneil.
Saturday will be the fifth time these two will have met in the last 10 years with Cushendall coming out on top in each of the previous occasions. The rivalry began in Owenbeg in 2014 when the young upstarts from just outside Maghera pushed the ‘Dall to the pin of their collar and it would take extra time and a replay before Cushendall would progress.
They would meet again some 12 months later in the Athletic Grounds and once again, it took extra time and an epic game of hurling before the Ruairi’s would lift the provincial trophy while last year, they had some four points to spare by the final whistle.
For all the ground that Slaughtneil have broken since lifting their first Ulster club hurling championship in 2016 and mighty performances in the All Ireland series, defeating the men from Cushendall has eluded them. Something that certainly stings a little when having a yarn with some of the natives over the years. The players, off course, would never get drawn into such statements. Like the majority of those who get the short straw and end up in front of the media, they’re too well media trained to show anything that might be construed as a weakness!
The Derry men lifted their 12th county title in succession on 26 October with a much-changed team to recent years. After Ballycastle native Michael McShane stepped away in December 2023 having led Slaughtneil in nine of that 12 in a row, Paul McCormack took the reins. A man who comes from fine dual stock and you would think, the perfect fit for a club who have serious aspirations in both codes. McCormack was part of the Armagh side who won the Sam Maguire in 2002 and captained the Orchard County to Nicky Racard Cup success in 2012. He then took to coaching with Louth where he won two Lory Meaghers in his five years in charge.
The two teams line up for the anthem before last year’s final in Pair Esler, Newry last year.
In that county final against Banagher, Slaughtneil had the household names that we’re all familiar with in their starting line up. Gerald Bradley, Brendan Rogers, Sheá Cassidy, Cormac and Oisin O’Doherty, Shane and Sé McGuigan but there’s newer stock coming through. Fionn McEldowney is a class act in both codes and having seen him play for both school (St Pat’s, Maghera), club and county (football), he’s a serious athlete but a player who you could line out anywhere and he’ll give you an eight out of 10 performance, at the very minimum. Cathal McKaigue is another who has been promoted from their minor ranks this year while Jack Cassidy and Ruairi O’Mainain will also take some looking after.
The Ruairi’s will start as favourites and with such changes to the Slaughtneil team from recent years, that’s perhaps understandable. The gap since the county final could perhaps go some way to focusing the minds of the Cushendall players and management. Looking back at last weekend, it certainly looked to deter the Cargin challenge against Errigal Ciarán but having dealt with similar already this year between the group phase and semi final in the Antrim championship, this gap is likely to be a positive for the Ruairi’s. A chance to clear up any knocks or niggles that may be lingering from the successful defence of their county crown.
The county final itself was far from a classic. That matters little now but given how Cushendall navigated their defence, it’s fair to say they have improved from 12 months ago. Another year under the tutelage of Brian Delargy and with the experience that comes from provincial success, they have a dogged tenacity, intensity in spades with a sprinkling of brilliance all over the pitch. Natural born leaders in Paddy Burke and Eoghan Campbell before you even look at Neil McManus who needs no further introduction.
Delargy has options in attack with Paddy McGill, Ciaran Neeson, Alex Delargy and Andrew Delargy all coming off the bench against Dunloy. He elected to start Ryan McCambridge in the middle of the park with McManus lining out at 11 but at this stage it’s a much trusted back six in front of Conor McAlister.
Ed McQuillan was Cushendall’s man of the match last year in Pairc Esler in Newry
Travelling to Armagh on a Saturday evening with a big crowd expected isn’t exactly whetting the appetite. The car park at the school gives me nightmares when I think on it, it is likely to be a late one. It’s not the most ‘family orientated’ throw in time and one that’s definitely been geared towards and to facilitate the RTÉ cameras. It should detract from what promises to be a great game, spectacle and occasion.
It’s just a shame there wasn’t a doubleheader with some of the other Antrim teams that are playing this weekend. A story for another day….
As it is, Cushendall and Slaughtneil lock horns once again in the latest edition of their epic saga. If it’s anything like those contests that have preceded it, we’re in for a treat.
Fans at the Cushendall v Slaughtneil replay in Loughgiel ten years ago
Ulster Junior Hurling Club Championship quarter-final
St. Mary’s Rasharkin 1-15 East Cavan Gaels 4-16
Rasharkin’s hopes of a place in the Ulster final were blown off course in Carrickmore on Sunday where they lost to a very physical East Cavan Gaels in a bad tempered affair where referee Barry Winters had his work cut out to keep a lid on proceedings.
The Antrim champions made a bright start in Pairc Colmcille with Cathir Henderson pointing them ahead in the second minute before the Gaels Colm Gargan became the first player to receive Yellow with only three minutes on the clock.
The Dreen side responded from a Conor McKeever free to move two in front and the early indications were looking good for St. Mary’s but when Jack Barry opened the Cavan combination side’s account with a point in the 7th minute things began to change.
Rasharkin’s Conor McFerran runs at the Cavan defence
Liam O’Brien, who would have a massive influence on the game, levelled from a pointed free but Rasharkin were giving as good as they got and Shane Hasson restored their lead with a point in the 9th minute.
Conor McKeever extended that lead from a well struck free and Nicolas Kenny and Donagh Quigg exchanged further points to keep the gap at two after 13 minutes.
The tackles were going in thick and fast and Carrickmore was certainly no place for the faint hearted as play continued to swing from end to end with Liam O’Brien from a free and Conor McKillop exchanging further minors.
Some of the tackling left a lot to be desired with the Cavan combination putting in heavy challenges that were starting to unsettle Rasharkin and the Cavan men hit two points on the bounce through Nicolas Kenny and Liam O’Brien before Callum Shiels finished from close range for the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute.
That goal put East Cavan Gaels ahead for the first time in the match and four minutes later things went from bad to worse for the Blue & Ambers as Conor McKeever received a second Yellow and the Red that followed.
The Gaels pushed forward in the closing stages of the half with their numerical advantage with the excellent Liam O’Brien leading the way with two points and Nicolas Kenny adding another with Rasharkin’s only response coming from a Shane Hasson free.
As the card count continued to rise the Cavan side struck a decisive blow as the game crept into injury time with Callum Shiel getting in for his side’s second goal to leave his side 2-9 to 0-7 ahead at the short whistle.
Shiel extended the Cavan lead with a point on the restart with Cahir Henderson for Rasharkin and Nicolas Kenny for the Gaels exchanging further points and it wasn’t looking good for the Antrim men, even at this early juncture.
They did respond however and, roared on by the good crowd who had made the journey to Carrickmore they hit the next four points through Shane Hasson 0-2 and Tiernan O’Boyle 0-2, O’Boyle’s scores coming from two massive long range frees.
Rory Farrell turns away to celebrate after scoring East Cavan gaels fourth goal
Hasson’s second cut the deficit to five with 19 minutes remaining and the momentum was with the Antrim champions but the excellent O’Brien replied from a couple of frees to put further daylight between the sides.
Shane Hasson had taken over the free taking duties from the unfortunate Conor McKeever and he converted another but Liam O’Brien was punishing every perceived indiscretion by the Dreen side as he replied with two more.
Things appeared to be turning in favour of the Antrim men when Rory Farrell received a straight Red with seven minutes remaining and a minute later Shane Hasson fired home to close the gap to four and a comeback looked on the cards.
We then had a bizarre situation when Cian McEntee bundled the sliotar to the net at the other end but was then dismissed following consultation between Barry Winters and his umpires but the goal was allowed to stand.
A minute later Rory Farrell drove the final nail in the Rasharkin coffin as he fired home his side’s fourth goal from close range with Liam O’Brien and Tiernan O’Boyle exchanging late points and Rasharkin’s Brian Og O’Neill becoming the second Rasharkin man to receive Red.
A tough uncompromising game of hurling, spoiled by too many late challenges but East Cavan Gaels look like being serious challengers in the final. A strong physical side with good individuals in Tadh Barry, Jack Barry, Jack McGuinness, Canice Maher, Callum Shiel, Nicolas Kenny and the excellent Liam O’Brien.
They face a massive challenge in the final however against Ballinascreen of Derry who defeated Ballela of Down in the other semi-final the Derry side will start that decider as firm favourites.
For Rasharkin the loss of Conor McKeever was immeasurable but the men from Dreen have had a superb season and did their club and county proud and can push on from their Antrim success as they contest Intermediate next season.
East Cavan Gaels: Conor Gallagher, Sean Walsh, Tadh Barry, Colin Gargan, Jack Barry, Jack McGuinness, Canice Maher, Philip McKeon, Callum Shiel, Liam O’Brien, Daire Leddy, Rory Farrell, Nicolas Kenny, Cian McEntee, James Tully
ALREADY 1-12-1-05 ahead at the break, holders St Killian’s turned on the style in the second period and cruised into the semi-final of the Danske Bank Mageean Cup with a 5-20-1-10 victory over St. Mary’s at Ahoghill on Thursday afternoon.
The holders settled into the quarter-final clash nicely with Thomas McLaughlin converting an early free and Calum McIlwaine and Callagh Mooney adding points from play.
Sean Og McLaren landed St. Mary’s first point from a converted angled free and a close-range effort from the placed ball moments later was rifled to the net to give his side the lead for the only time in the game.
It was short-lived however when Aodhan Campbell floated in a shot that sailed high into the top corner to give St Killian’s a 1-03-1-01 lead by the 10th minute.
McIlwaine and McLaren (free) traded points before Garron Tower hit seven unanswered points to take firm control.
Nicholas McLaughlin started the spree and added would add another in-between three successive points from Thomas- who would claim four in total with Canice McIntosh also finding range in the dominant period.
St. Mary’s would rally as the half drew to its conclusion as Sean Og McLaren landed another two frees and midfielder Darren Delander pulled off a magnificent long-range point, with Callagh Mooney doubling his account between times to ensure that Killian’s led 1-12-1-05 at the break.
Thomas McLaughlin clipped over his sixth point of the afternoon to extend his sides lead shortly after the break and things soon got better when Joe McKay’s shot was parried by Eoghan Millar and Nicholas McLaughlin scrambled home at the rebound to make it 2-13-1-05.
McLaren (free) and Darren Delander hit back with successive scores, but Charlie McAuley landed a free from range and Canice McIntosh swung over his second point from play.
The wind was taken out of St. Mary’s sails on the 43rd minute as Nicholas McLaughlin’s low shot crashed off the post and Calum McIlwaine reacted quickest to divert the ball to the net and open up a 3-15-1-07 advantage.
Substitute Dylan McNaughton made an immediate impact with a point upon his introduction with Sean Og McLaren sending over his seventh point from the placed ball for the afternoon.
Two-goals in the space of two minutes placed further daylight between the sides with Thomas McLaughlin claiming his first major and Joe McKay lashing home another.
St. Mary’s may have added a second goal late-on, but Caolan Wilson saw his 21-yard free flash past the post in what would have been scant consolation.
Garron Tower talisman McLaughlin provided another two scores and Calum McIlwaine popped over his third of the afternoon with substitute Oisin Boyle pointing for St. Mary’s before the afternoon was out.
In the end, the Champions powerfully swotted off the Glen Road outfits challenge and advanced to the last four to keep their hopes of retaining the Mageean Cup alive and well.
St Killian’s Callagh Mooney in action during his team’s Mageean Cup quarter final win over St Mary’s in Ahoghill. Pic by John McIlwaine
St Killian’s: B Duncan,C McNaughton, C Ward, C McCann, D Higgins, C McAuley (0-1f), J Scullion, A Campbell (1-0), C Mooney (0-2), M Furey, C McIlwaine (1-3), C McIntosh (0-2), O Gillan, T McLaughlin (1-8, 2f), N McLaughlin (1-2). Subs: C Leech for M Furey (HT), J McKay (1-0) for O Gillan (HT), J Kearney for A Campbell (41), D McLaughlin for N McLaughlin (44), O McCambridge (0-1) for C McNaughton (46).
St. Mary’s CBGS: E Millar, E Kearney, M Marlow, F McKinney, C Short, E Walsh, C O’Neill, C Wilson, D Delander (0-2), S Cunningham, C Walsh, S Og McLaren (1-7f), J Gault, S Burns, M Murray. Subs: N May for J Gault (42), D Jemfrey for M Murray (42), O Boyle (0-1) for S Cunningham (45), C McCann for S Burns (55), K Grieves for S Og McLaren (55).
Referee: Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Carrickmore proved a successful venue for Antrim Intermediate champions, Carey Faughs last Sunday when they overcame the challenge of the local side and can see the Antrim Junior Champions, Rasharkin make it two from two when they visit the Tyrone ground on Sunday.
It took penalties to separate the Faughs from Carrickmore in a fiercely contest Intermediate quarter-final with two brilliant saves from Carey goalkeeper Steven McGinn during the penalty shoot-out finally deciding Sunday’s Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter final.
A day earlier in Armagh Rasharkin had produced a great performance as they swept aside the challenge of Sean Treacy’s in the quarter-final of the JHC. It was a top performance from the Antrim champions who put on a show from the first whistle.
The trio of Donagh Quigg, Conor McKillop and Conor McKeever did the majority of the damage on the scoreboard, combining to register 4-16 between them which is remarkable in itself.
Rasharkin went on to win 4-23 to 0-13 against the Lurgan side and never looked in trouble at any stage in the contest and will travel to Carrickmore with confidence but they should be wary of East Cavan Gaels.
Hurling in Cavan has made strides in recent years and East Cavan Gaels proved they are no slouches when they beat Omagh St. Enda’s by 6-10 to 1-14 in their quarter-final clash at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Liam O’Brien, Rory Farrell, Nicolas Kenny, James Tully, Daire Leddy and Cian McEntee got the goals for the Cavan side and will give them confidence as they travel to Pairc Colmcille.
It has been a good season for the men from Dreen and they gave notice of just what they are capable of with a win over Glen Rovers, Armoy in the Antrim final.
St. Mary’s led by three at the break in Loughgiel but with the wind in their face in the second half there was questions as to whether they had done enough.
Two goals in the opening four minutes of the second half swung the game decisively in the direction of Rasharkin as the men from Dreen dictated the early second half exchanges with Conor McFerran following up on a Conor Devlin save from Donagh Quigg in the opening minute to finish to the net from close range.
Three Minutes later the excellent Quigg got in for a second St. Mary’s goal and suddenly a three point lead had been stretched to nine and the Blue & Amber’s were firmly in the driving seat.
They carried that good form into last weekend’s meeting with Sean Tracey’s with Conor McKeever finishing with 1-9, Donagh Quigg with 2-3 and Conor McKillop with 1-4.
James O’Mullan’s return to the last line of defence has given added confidence to a Rasharkin defence where Daniel and Conor Doherty and Aidan McKeever have caught the eye in a unit that has given little away.
Shane Hasson and Connor McFerran form a creative and hard-working mid-field while captain Quigg, McKeever and McKillop all carry serious scoring threat.
Scoring might not be so plentiful for St. Mary’s and their Cavan opponents in Carrickmore as it was in their respective quarter-finals but Rasharkin are flying at present and I would expect them to advance to the Ulster final with something to spare.
Rasharkin v Sean Tracey’s: James O’Mullan; Daniel Doherty, Conor Doherty, Connaire Doherty; Ruairi O’Boyle, Aiden McKeever, Tiernan O’Boyle; Shane Hasson, Conor McFerran; Cathir Henderson, Emmett McFerran, Conor McKeever; Donagh Quigg, Conor McKillop, Declan McKay
Subs: Conor Higgin for R O’Boyle, Daniel Hasson for S Hasson, Caolan Maria for D Doherty, Terry McGregor for C McKillop, Brian Og O’Neill for D McKay.
