Category / Junior

by thesaffrongael

Glenariffe triumph in epic battle at Fennell Park

LGFA Junior Championship

A passionate crowd of supporters from the Glens and from North Belfast gathered at Fennell Park yesterday evening for the preliminary round of the Antrim Ladies Junior Football Championship. With the sun descending beautifully behind them in the shadow of Cavehill, little did they realise the exhibition of Gaelic football that was in store for them as the Senior Ladies of Ardoyne Kickhams and Glenariffe Oisíns gave battle.

Given their blistering league form, Ardoyne entered the clash as clear favourites, and as the opening half developed it looked a certainty that this game would follow the league form book. The ever-reliable Anna McGarry got the Ardoyne ladies off to a dream start. She struck twice in quick succession, hitting the back of the net with two goals to rattle the visitors. Her clinical finishing was brilliantly aided by the in-form Alex Trainor, who confidently slotted over the first of her impressive six points of the evening.

It was well past the ten-minute mark before Sionainn Graham finally registered the first goal for the visitors, offering a lifeline for the Glenariffe side. In truth, however, the remainder of the half was utterly dominated by the home side, who dictated the pace and won the vital battles across the pitch.

The closing minutes of the first half saw Ailisa Frame emphasise Ardoyne’s dominance with a gaol and point to put the ladies from the District a clear nine points ahead and firmly in the driving seat of this game. 

Half-Time Score: Ardoyne Kickhams 3-06  Glenariffe 1-03

Alex Trainor struck first blood for Ardoyne immediately after the restart, slotting over her opening point of the second half to extend the home side’s lead. However, Glenariffe’s powerhouse, Sionnain Graham, quickly gave notice that the half-time break had breathed new life and hope into the Glens side, firing home her second goal of the game.

For a brief moment, the Kickhams duo of Trainor and Orla McGarry looked to have restored order, combining beautifully to tag on a goal and a point between them. Yet, what followed blew the game completely wide open. Over the next fifteen minutes, Glenariffe somehow established dominance. Launching a blitz on the Ardoyne goals, they rattled off an incredible 2-06 to leave the sides locked dead even as the third quarter came to a dramatic close. Saorla Maguire pulled off a magnificent save for the Ardoyne ladies, that unfortunately led an injury requiring her replacement between the posts for Ardoyne.

The final quarter of this game was an absolute war of attrition as the teams traded score for score in a furious, high-octane battle. Neither side was willing to blink, ultimately forcing a period of extra time to try to separate two teams that refused to be beaten.

As the sun fully disappeared behind the Belfast hills, the players left every single ounce of energy on the pitch. Both panels fought tooth and nail to establish ascendancy under the fading light. Ardoyne dug deep, showing their quality by slotting over six crucial points during extra time. However, it was Glenariffe who found the lethal touch when it mattered most. The visitors hit the home side with two devastating goals and a vital point, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

With the final whistle, this exhibition of pulsating football saw the heroic effort from the Ardoyne ladies fall just short, while Glenariffe deservedly secured progress to the next round of the Championship by the bare minimum.

Full-Time Score: Ardoyne Kickhams 5-16  Glenariffe 7-11

Ciceam Ard Eoin: 1. Saorla Maguire 2. Tierna McAuley 3. Colleen McLaughlin 4. Aoife McDonnell 5. Niamh McAuley 6. Ella McLaughlin 7. Catherine McGarry 8. Lauren Coleman 9. Aideen McDonnell 10. Anna McGarry 11. Orlaith Lynch 12. Cadhla Glover 13. Ailisa Frame 14. Alex Trainor 15. Natasha Rooney 17. Cailiosa Doherty 18. Abbi Maguire 19. Cliodhna Lynch 20. Kacey McLaughlin

Glenariffe Oisin: 1. Meabh McIlwaine 2. Mary-Rose McDonnell 3. Kate Ewings 4. Molly Magee 5. Scarlett McKillop (1-0) 6. Laura McMullan 7. Ciara McKeague 8. Derval McMullan (1-05, 4f) 9. Emer O’Neill (1-01)10. Clodagh McMullan (1-01) 11. Maebh O’Neill 12. Leah O’Boyle 13. Caitlin Hunter 14. Sionainn Graham (3-04)15. Isabella black 16. Caitlin O’Boyle 17. Cara Kilgore 18. Sarah Black 19. Majella Johnston

Referee: Patrick O’Callaghan

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN MC KEE’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/2n7jH7p26SsF6D

by thesaffrongael

Goals The Difference As St Brigid’s Defeat All Saints 

Junior Hurling Championship 

Group 3 

All Saints, Ballymena 1-13 St Brigid’s 4-11 

Saturday 25 July 

Brendan McTaggart reports from Slemish Park, Ballymena 

Two goals in either half proved to be decisive for St Brigids as they got their junior hurling championship off to a winning start on Saturday evening.  They had seven points to spare over All Saints by the time that Terry O’Reilly called for time at the end of the game and sealing a vital win in this group. 

This was an even contest for the majority of the game but it was the Musgrave Park side’s performance in the final quarter that proved to be the winning of the game.  They restricted All Saints to just two points while scoring 1-4 themselves in the same period. 

David Prenter and James Bready shared the goals between them for St Brigid’s, both grabbing majors in either half while the performance of James Kelly belittled the fact he stepped off a plane less than 24 hours earlier from trekking across south Asia!  Kelly’s performance as the game progressed lifted his side as they finished strongly. 

The home side will look at that final quarter and know they let this game slip from their grasp.  With Damian Gillan in top form, they had a player capable of conjuring something from nothing.  He finished with 11 white flags, four from open play and a constant thorn in the side of the St Brigid’s defence. 

All Saints ability to comeback from losing goals was hugely impressive and Cormac Magill’s goal early in the second half had them on terms but they would only raise the white flag on three occasions, proving to be a telling factor in the outcome of this game. 

The opening score of the game came via the hurl of Prenter.  Collecting the sliotar, he showed tremendous footwork to evade the challenges before firing to the back of the net, giving his side the dream start. 

Both teams were guilty of passing up scoring opportunities in the opening quarter, St Brigid’s in particular wasteful in front of the target.  Gillan’s free taking and a points fromCormac Magill and Luke O’Rawe had the sides tied. 

The second goal of the game came in the 23rd minute with Bready taking advantage of indecision in the All Saints defence.  With the sliotar lose after a scramble, Bready took advantage and pulled first time to the back of the net to put three between the sides. 

The home sides responded superbly with a trio of Gillan white flags to tie the sides at the short whistle.  They did have a half chance for a major in the closing stages of the half but Niall Savage’s kicked effort went to the wrong side of the posts from the tightest of angles. 

St Brigid’s almost started the second half exactly like the opening exchanges of the game when Oisin McDonnell went close for their third goal.  Ronan McAlister was equal to his effort however and cleared the sliotar to safety. 

It was the home sides turn to find a major early in the half though with Cormac Magill making the most of indecision in the St Brigid’s defence and finishing well, giving his side the lead for the first time in the game. 

The Musgrave Park men responded superbly to that setback, however.  James Kelly pointed his first free of the second half before Bready grabbed his second major.  The St Brigid’s man fired home to the near post with the All Saints lead lasting barely two minutes. 

With Kelly metronomically accurate from place ball and Jake Massingham pointing from distance, St Brigid’s looked much stronger and better placed as the half progressed.  They led by three points with a little over four minutes remaining when Prenter’s second goal put daylight between the sides.  Reading the break of the sliotar from Oisin McDonnell, Prenter gave McAlister no chance between the sticks and effectively win the game for his side. 

All Saints were reduced to 14 men in the final minute of the hour, Cormac Magill seeing red for an overzealous challenge but it had little impact on the outcome of the game.  St Brigid’s deservedly taking the championship points and putting themselves in prime position to progress from the group. 

TEAMS 
All Saints Starting XV: Ronan McAlister; Kevin Brady, Dwayne McKee, Luke Mulholland; Daniel Gray, Robert Crooks, Niall Savage; Luke O’Rawe, Harry Connon; Cormac Lemon, Cormac Magill, Gary Miskelly; Jack Magill, Archie McGreevy, Damian Gillan 

  • Subs: Pearse Martin for N Savage (HT); Michael Connolly for J Magill (40), Vincent Esler for A McGreevy (40); Sean O’Rawe for H Connon (57) 
  • Scorers: D Gillan 0-11 (7fs); C Magill 1-1; L O’Rawe 0-1 

St Brigid’s Starting XV: Matthew Madden; Ronan O’Loughlin, James Kelly, Jake Massingham; Conn Flannery, Phelim Lennon, Dara Sidebottom; Michael Kerr, Joseph McCarney; James Bready, Toirealach Brolly, John McGuckian; David Prenter, Oisin McDonnell, Fionn McCann 

  • Subs: Cathal Conway for T Brolly (47); Conor Leonard for J Bready (57) 
  • Scorers: J Bready 2-1; J Kelly 0-7 (5fs); D Prenter 2-00; J Massingham 0-1; O McDonnell 0-1; F McCann 0-1 

Referee: Terry O’Reilly (Gort na Mona) 

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW….

https://myalbum.com/album/HVbAbcADKcVmcU/?invite=1a0f05ac-b4ce-4529-be71-eb40770503e3

by thesaffrongael

Early goals send Antrim on their way to victory

LGFA Ulster JFC

Derry 1-5 Antrim 4-12

Antrim senior ladies made the journey to Ballerin on Saturday to play Derry in the opening round of the ulster junior championship and came away with a 4-12 to 1-5 victory. 

Antrim had the ball in the Derry net after just 14 seconds when Theresa Mellon broke clear and planted the ball into the bottom corner. 

Maria O Neill then hit the first of her tally of five points with Aoife Kelly following up a minute later with a superb point from a tight angle. 

Then on the fourth minute Antrim scored their second goal when the lively Maria O’Neill danced past two defenders and made no mistake from close range. 

Captain Bronagh Devlin then put a 30 metre free over the bar to leave Antrim nine to the good with only 8 minutes on the clock. 

The impressive Theresa Mellon then got her second goal when she finished high to the net after great approach play between Ana Mulholland and Sarah O Neill. 

Derry then hit 3 unanswered points on the bounce before Maria O Neill and Nicole Jones raised white flags for the Antrim girls. 

Antrim were dominating the game again and Aoife Kelly, Theresa Mellon and Laura Agnew all registered one pointers just before the half time whistle.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Antrim dominating the ball as they did in the first but they just couldn’t register a score. 

Derry then punished them for their misses when they hit an unanswered 1-2 and Antrim were struggling to find the flair they had played with in the first half. 

But again this Antrim team showed character and resilience and Ciara Brown was instrumental in setting up points each for the hard working Olivia Todd and Maria O Neill. 

Maria then scored a free and with two minutes to go Blaithin Ni Cahill sent Laura Agnew through and she found the net to put the gloss on a good performance from the Antrim girls. 

The Antrim management team of Micky and Chris were delighted to get their championship campaign of to a good start. The men said after the game. 

“We controlled the game for the biggest part of the 60 minutes… created and took some great scores but most off all the players worked really hard and deserved their victory today. 

We now go next week again against the unknown of London in Tir na nOg Randlestown next Saturday with a 1 pm throw in”

TO VIEW MORE OF ELAINE KELLY’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/JprAtCGs8jhSLH

by thesaffrongael

Rasharkin dip their toes in the Ulster water

Ulster JHJC Quarter-Final

Sean Tracey’s Armagh v Rasharkin

Athletic Grounds Armagh-Saturday 2-00pm

St. Mary’s Rasharkin defied the odds to defeat Glen Rovers, Armoy in the Antrim final in Loughgiel two weeks ago and on Saturday they travel to the Athletic Grounds where they will face Sean Tracey’s of Lurgan in the Ulster club championship.

Despite Rasharkin finishing above Armoy in the league, it was last year’s beaten finalists Glen Rovers who were tipped to take this year’s Junior title in Loughgiel and when Rasharkin lead by only three at half time after playing with a strong breeze it wasn’t looking good for the Dreen side.

Two goals in the opening four minutes of the second half swung this Junior Hurling Championship decider decisively in the direction of St. Mary’s Rasharkin though they were forced withstand a late rally from Glen Rovers.

With the gale force wind at their backs St. Mary’s led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval but with the elements in their favour in the second half, Glen Rovers were expected to take control.

Instead it was the men from Dreen who 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.

St. Mary’s were forced to withstand a late rally from their North Antrim opponents but stood strong to take the title before the celebrations got underway.

Rasharkin defeated Davitt’s and Ardoyne to qualify from Group 1 while Armoy won all three games in Group to set up what looked to have the makings of a good final and so it proved to be.

The men from Dreen can go into Saturday’s quarter-final with confidence against a Sean Tracey’s side who will have confidence themselves after defeating Erne Gaels in last weekend’s preliminary round.

Donagh Quigg in action against Armoy in the Antrim final and above celebrating with the cup can lead Rasharkin to a win over Sean Tracey’s in Armagh on Saturday

The return of James O’Mullan to the Rasharkin goals has been a major boost while Daniel and Conor Doherty and Connaire Donaghy form a solid full-back line for St. Mary’s.

Ruairi and Tiernan O’Boyle flanked Aidan McKeever in the half-back line against Armoy while Shane Hasson and Conor McFerran formed an experienced mid-field partnership against Glen Rovers.

Team captain Donagh Quigg led by example in a man of the match performance and his goal early in the second half and another from Conor McFerran proved match winning scores and these two with Emmet McFerran carry the scoring threat that can see them advance to the semi-final on Saturday.

Throw in at the Athletic Grouds in 2-00pm and Rasharkin are likely to bring a big support to the Armagh venue and lets hope the Blue & Ambers can make their journey worth while.

Rasharkin v Armoy: 1 James O’Mullan, 2 Daniel Doherty, 3 Conor Doherty, 4 Connaire Donaghy, 5 Ruairi O’Boyle, 6 Aidan McKeever, 7 Tiernan O’Boyle, 8 Shane Hasson, 9 Conor McFerran, 10 Cathir Henderson, 11 Emmet McFerran, 12 Conor McKeever, 13 Donagh Quigg, 14 Conor McKillop, 15 Declan McKay.

Subs: Brian Og O’Neill for Conor McKillop, Connor Higgins for Tiernan O’Boyle, Caolan Maria, Daniel Hasson

by thesaffrongael

So close yet so far for battling Lamh Dhearg

AIB Ulster LGFA Junior Club Q/Final

Lámh Dhearg 1-6 Cumann Pheadair Naofa 0-10

Despite a spirited performance, Lamh Dhearg made their exit from the Ulster Junior Club Championship when they lost by the minimum to a good Cumann Pheadair Naofa in Hannastown on Saturday.

It was a case of, so close yet so far in a game that was in the balance right up to the final whistle with Enya Quinn’s late point for the Down champions clinching a place in the semi-finals where they will meet Monaghan champions Aughnamullen next weekend.

In a very tight, hard fought contest, St. Peter’s edged the early exchanges with some fine flowing football and looked the more impressive of the two sides. With never more than the bare minimum between them the hosts soon got to grips with the game and took a slender one point lead into the break thanks to five scores from Robin Murray, who was at the heart of everything good that the Antrim champions could produce in a good first 30 minutes.

Murray kicked five of Lámh Dhearg’s six first half points, whilst the Down Champions scores came from Enya Quinn, Anna Craven & Alicia Seoin.

The Blues had an appeal for a penalty waved away just before the half, but would have been pleased to be only one behind having played into the wind in the first half.

Disaster looked to have struck for the visitors early in the second when Emma Russell received a yellow card and whilst she was sitting out her 10 minutes in the sin-bin Lamh Dhearg seized an opportunity to pull away from their doggedly determined opponents, when a high ball into the square from a Murray free shortly after found the net to establish a four point lead.

The Lamh’s looked in a strong position at this stage but that proved to be their final score as Warrenpoint slowly, but surely, crept level with five unanswered points, the impressive Enya Quinn pointing the equaliser with six minutes to play before firing over the winner, three minutes later for a first ever Ulster semi-final appearance for the seaside town.

To view Berts Photographs click on the Link Below

https://myalbum.com/album/z5TAXhrjRtamHt