There was a fantastic turnout on St Stephens Day morning as Rossa club members descended on Divis Mountain for their 16th annual Charity Walk / Run.
The Charity fundraiser has previously raised in excess of £36,000 for a variety of charities and causes close to the hearts of members of the Shaws Road club.
This year all proceeds from the event went to the Welcome Centre Belfast
Main pic is Moneynick PS, Competition winners
South West Alllianz Ireland cumman na mbunscol indoor 5s
It was a day of great joy for the girls of Moneynick PS at the Alllianz Ireland cumman na mbunscol indoor 5s. They emerged victorious after a scintillating day of football at the Antrim Forum.
Battling their way through the group stages and play offs, the Moneynick girls overcame a gallant Mary Queen of Peace team in the final. They show great skill, determination and teamwork throughout the day and were worthy winners in the end.
The newly introduced shield end of the competition saw the excellent football from the morning continue into the afternoon. The eventual winners were Millquarter Primary school, defeating St Comgall’s in the final.
Well done to all the girls involved throughout the day and thanks to the teachers and staff who ensured that it ran so smoothly.
Participating schools
St Brigid’s Ballymena
Ballymacrickett
St Colmcille’s Ballymena
Creggan PS
St Comgall’s Antrim
Gael Scoil Ghleann Darach
St Joseph’s Crumlin
Millquarter PS
Moneynick PS
Mount St Michael’s Randalstown
St Oliver Plunkett’s Toome
Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel.
Lámh Dhearg held their 38th Annual Juvenile Presentation Awards night in a packed Beechlawn Hotel generously sponsored by Choice Blinds. Special guests were Parish Priest, Fr Patrick Devlin, Terry Mc Crudden Senior Football captain, Paddy Mervyn Senior Hurling captain, Sara Kennedy Senior Camogie captain, Ciara Doherty Vice Captain Senior LGFA and Hugh Kennedy Principal of club’s feeder School Ballymacward PS.
Chairman, Brian Smyth in his address warmly welcomed everyone, complimented the juveniles and mentors for their commitment throughout the season. He encouraged the juveniles to keep playing and working at their skills and they were all achievers, and the club has a healthy future ahead. Brian paid tribute to the successful panels ( u12 Camogs- Lavey Shield winners, u15 Camogs Feile C Regional Champions and u16 Camogs and LGFA winners of County B Championships) and thanked them for bringing great credit to the club.
Brian also outlined exciting plans for the clubs second phase of development and was confident members would positively help support the fund-raising ventures. Brian concluded by acknowledging the sterling work of committee members and club volunteers for their unstinting work throughout the season and thanked Colm Cochrane and his subcommittee for organising the night.
Before the presentation of the team and individual awards the packed room were shown two presentations, Lámhs on Tour 2023 and Pictorial Review of 2023 and they were both popularly received and enhanced the atmosphere of the night.
Individual Awards
| U13 Most Improved Hurler | Orin Agnew |
| U13 Hurler of the Year | Dylan Quinn |
| U15 Most Improved Hurler | Eoin Flynn |
| U15 Hurler of the Year | Fiontann McAufield |
| U13 Most Improved Footballer | Ryan McCague |
| U13 Footballer of the year | Orin Agnew |
| U15 Most Improved Footballer | Enda Reilly |
| U15 Footballer of the Year | Ryan Fox |
| U12 Most Improved Camog | Maebh Tracey |
| U12 Camog of the Year | Caragh McKenna |
| U14 Most improved Camog | Riona McKenna |
| U14 Camog of the Year | Katie Flynn |
| U16 Most Improved Camog | Lila McCann |
| U16 Camog of the Year | Laoise Stone |
| U12 Girls Football Most Improved Player | Cara McAuley |
| U12 Girls Football Player of the Year | Roma Murray |
| U14 Girls Football Most Improved Player | Riona Mc Kenna |
| U14 Girls Football Player of the Year | Sophie Morris |
| U16 Girls Football Most Improved Player | Brenna Armstrong |
| U16 Girls Football Player of the Year | Aoife Fitzsimons |
SPECIAL AWARDS
| John McPeake Shield Handballer of the Year | Cara McAuley | |
| Diarmuid Frazer Memorial cup | Maebh Tracey | |
| Charlie Smyth Award – Most Overall Improved Player | Ciaran Herron | |
| Sam McGarry Award – Outstanding commitment and desire | Winning both championshipU16 LGFA TeamU16 Camogie Team& All their Coaches Emer Mc GarryMeabh MartinBronach KeeganTony StanleyConor Fitzsimons Fra Stone David BakerUrsula Lynch | |
| Davy McGarry Award for Youth Personality of the Year | Amelie Annett | |
Featured photograph. The Moneyglass team celebrate after returning home with this year’s Feile title
wileThe Annual Antrim and Newtownabbey Sports Awards for 2023 took place in Theatre at the Mill with Moneyglass U15 Feile team shortlisted for Junior Team of the Year and Cathy Carey also shortlisted for Coach of the Year.
The Feile team, for the second year in a row, have won both the Antrim and All Ireland Feile titles. Many of whom also won U14A and U16A championship this year as well. The team have shown excellent commitment and dedication throughout the season and were well deserved winners of the Junior Team of the Year at the Antrim and Newtownabbey Awards. The team award was presented to the team captain, Mia McLarnon.
Cathy Carey, coach of the Feile and U16 teams this year was also awarded for her efforts collecting the Coach of the Year award. Cathy has said she is delighted with her award, but couldn’t do it without the help of management teams that she has coached along with over the years.
Ulster Intermerdiate Club Final
Steelstown 2-12
St Joseph’s Glenavy 2-11
There was bitter disappointment for St. Joseph’s Glenavy in Carrickmore on Saturday but when that disappointment abates the Chapel Hill girls can hold their heads high and look back on what has been a magnificent season.
Two years ago it was Steelstown who were feeling the same disappointment as they lost by the narrowest of margins to Kinawley in the Ulster decider and on Saturday it was Glenavy who felt the same emotions but what an effort they put in.
Caoimhe O’Kane set up Dara McKeever who got Steelstown off the mark with a point in the opening minute and O’Kane would go on to have a major impact on the final outcome.
Emma Doherty followed with a second and Aoife Collins moved the Derry champions three ahead as Glenavy took time to settle and the Chapel Hill side were in need of a score to settle early nerves.
It arrived when Grainne McLaughlin collected a long delivery and the Antrim county player left several defenders in her wake before powering through for the game’s opening goal and levelling the contest in the 10th minute.
This score brought Glenavy and McLaughlin to life and the excellent centre half forward added two quick points to move her side two ahead, much to the approval of the large Orange clad support who had made the journey to Carrickmore
Steelstown were struggling to deal with the pace of the Glenavy attack as Ellen Morgan finished off another clinical move, before a free from McGeough put a halt on the St Josepeh’s onslaught.
Steelstown regrouped and began to take possession on a difficult surface but they were having serious problems containing a lively Glenavy attack as Grainne McLaughlin fired over to restore the Antrim girls three point lead.
It was underdogs Glenavy who were now calling the tune and defying the odds as they continued to edge the exchanges but a late point from McGeough lifted the Steelstown mood as they headed to the dressing room at the end of a half where they were very much second best.
The feel good factor for the Antrim champions continued on the restart as McLaughlin pointed a free to restore St. Joseph’s three point advantage but they were hit with a cruel blow soon after as Caoimhe O’Kane got on the end of a speculative delivery from Kathy Holly to finish to the net from close range and the Derry champions were back on level terms.
It was end to end stuff at this stage of the contest as Grainne McLaughlin and Orla McGeough exchanged further points but Glenavy were relieved when Aoife Collins looked in for a goal but fluffed her lines and Ciara McGurk fired wide from the follow up with the goal at her mercy.
With just over ten minutes remaining, McGeough pointed to give Steelstown the lead for the first time since early in the game but Glenavy had the scent of victory in their nostrils and Ellen Morgan split the posts at the other end to tie the contest once more.
McLaughlin then pointed the girls in Orange ahead from a free from a difficult angle and the stage was set for a barn storming finish as McGeough responded with a Steelestown point to level matters once more at 1-8 apiece.
The Glenavy support were in fine voice as Aoibheann Monaghan moved the Antrim champions ahead again with a point in injury time and the Steelstown dream looked to have been shattered once more.
The Cup looked to be heading to Chapel Hill but there would be one last twist in this enthralling contest and Steelstown worked the ball forward into the danger area and were awarded a free that McGeough calmly fired over to send the game to extra time.
Bitter disappointment for St. Joseph’s and it looked like the momentum had swung in favour of Steelstown as they started overtime on the front foot as substitute, Leah McGonagle gave them an early lead and when Dara McKeever got in behind the Glenavy defence to fire to the net it looked over.
McGeough and McGonagle extend the Steelstown lead to six and only the most optimistic would have given the Antrim champions a chance but Glenavy quite simply would not throw in the towel.
They replied with a couple of points and Ellen Morgan gave them a glimmer of hope when she fired past Molly McBride in the Steelstown goals to close the gap to one with virtually the last kick of the game but time was not on their side and it was the girls from Derry City who put two years of disappointment behind them as they celebrated at the final whistle.
