The ICC in Belfast was the venue for this year’s packed Irish News Ulster All Stars awards. Neil Delamere was the MC for the evening and after a three course meal, attendees were treated to a panel discussion from Oisín McConville, Kevin Cassidy and Peter Canavan, ranging from who slept with who to the adoption and success of the new rules in football.
Antrim were well represented with nominees and awards across the four codes. All Star Awards on the evening went to the following players; congratulations from everyone at the Saffron Gael:
Lámh Dhearg LGFA held a very successful day of events to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The day began with u7 and 8 blitzes. A feast of football was served on a cold autumnal day by the host club along with Ardoyne, Rossa, St Paul’s and Sarsfield’s.
After the games a group photograph was taken of LGFA players and coaches on the pitch.
In the clubrooms after a hot buffet LGFA members enthusiastically participated in online bingo with the adults enjoying the game as much as the Children. It was very apt to see juveniles, coaches and players all together enjoying the bingo.
The bingo was followed by an entertaining chat show compered brilliantly by the confident and articulate hosts Caoimhe Whinnery and Celine Daly.
The interesting and insightful interviews with many key personalities focused on the origins and development of LGFA which was fascinating to listen to with some witty and happy memories relived.
It was also encouraging to see County Antrim LGFA chair, Ursula Lynch, County Senior Managers Mickey Devlin, Chris Scullion and Colette Ward, Senior Team Admin Manager present and they also contributed to the chat show.
The chat show concluded with Caoimhe Whinnery extending a vote of thanks and summarising the rapid and successful growth and development of LGFA in the club.
Special presentations were then presented to Kieran Megraw for Development of LGFA and Barney McKenna was inducted into the club Hall of Fame and both recipients deservedly received standing ovations.
The day finished with craic agus ceol and music from senior LGFA player Dymphna Cleneghan.
The well organised and enjoyable day was a fitting and poignant tribute to all who have worked hard in developing LGFA in the club and no doubt a bright future lies ahead for LGFA on the hill.
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Ulster LGFA Senior Club Championship Quarter-Final
Bredagh (Down) 2-5 St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass (Antrim) 5-10
Cathy Carey led the way as St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass overcame the challenge of Bredagh, the Down champions at Cherryvale on Saturday.
The St. Ergnat’s and Antrim star struck with two first half goals to send her side to a 3-6 to 1-3 half time lead, the Bredagh goal coming from Aoife Laverty and even at this stage it looked a long way back for the Down champions.
Moneyglass continued to dominate during the second half, kicking some excellent points and goals from Sarah O’Neill and Jo Jo Darragh ensured there would be no way back for the Bredagh despite a second goal from Eilish Ward.
The Antrim champions must now await the result of the quarter-final between a fancied Clann Eireann, Armagh and Derrygonley of Fermanagh after their game, as cheduled for Sunday was postponed owing to a waterlogged Derrygonnley pitch with that game rescheduled for Wednesday night.
Saturday is another milestone in Lámh Dhearg’s proud and distinguished history as they come together to celebrate 20 years of LGFA in the club. Orla Megraw an established player and member of the organising subcommittee is very excited about the anniversary celebrations as she fondly reflects.
“It’s brilliant that it’s come so far from what it was like at the start”
“We were training at Hannahstown Hall with the Seniors and U-12s together in 2005 and wearing one of the old mens kits that looked like it was from the 80’s.
“We’ve come so far now to having two senior LGFA teams- one of the few clubs in Antrim to have that, along with the juvenile teams, Gaelic for Mothers and Others.
“It’s a really great testament to all the work my Dad [Kieran Megraw] started and continued along with all the subsequent dedicated and committed coaches for sticking with us, especially over those first few years when it looked like we were never going to win a match”.
“It’s really positive to have juveniles coming through and some of the original senior players now coaching them.”
“At the start we didn’t really have that and now girls can play with their own age group the whole way up- which is great for their development and getting to know their team-mates.
“Then, from starting out at FUNdamentals the whole way up through their age groups with the coaches selflessly giving up their time, it is amazing and much appreciated.
“It gives everybody the opportunity to get some game time at their own age group and hopefully it will be very positive whenever they come out as senior players”.
Orla and members of her family came together with others to suggest the idea of an event to celebrate the occassion and is looking forward to meeting with past team-mates and coaches.
“Over the last couple of years we realised that it would be important to recognise it as most of us can’t believe it has been 20-years”
“A few of the girls that have been there from the start, My Dad, my sister Caoimhe and I had met up over the summer and thought it would be nice to plan something”.
“Obviously there have been so many different girls over the last 20-years, some that have gone onto play for Gaelic for Mothers and Others, some who’ve maybe retired and some who would have played for us before their home team had an LGFA team and they have since gone back to their own club.
“We just thought it would be a great opportunity to meet up with everybody and celebrate how far we have developed and progressed and involve the juvenile, seniors and Gaelic for Mothers and Others teams”.
“I’m really looking forward to celebrating all our achievements and then catching up with people that we haven’t seen for years and years”
“It would be great to see all of those girls who aren’t playing anymore or who have gone back to their home clubs, all of our mentors over the years and coaches- we wouldn’t see them every week anymore, it would be nice to catch up with them as well and they will be warmly welcomed.
“We’d love to encourage anybody who has been involved with LGFA in the club at any age to come up and have a good chat about all the memories and enjoy the craic”.
Saturday promises to be an eventful day to mark the 20th anniversary with a busy programme of activities.
Programme
3pm Under 7/8 Blitz
4.45 Group photo
5.30 Buffet
6.00 Bingo for children and adults
6.30 Question & Answer session with some of the key former and current personalities of LGFA in the club
8pm Craic agus Ceol
No doubt many will attend the celebrations. It clearly bodes well for a healthy future of LGFA in the club and a credit to all concerned in its 20 years existence.
Reigning Antrim champions, St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass produced a power packed performance to overcome the challenge of old adversaries, St. Paul’s and claim their fifth Antrim Senior title on the trot at Glenavy on Saturday.
Driven by Cathy Carey at mid-field, the county stalwart kicked six of her sides seven first half points to leave St. Ergnat’s 0-7 to 0-2 ahead at the break with their other first half point coming from Maire O’Neill.
Their opponents only first half scores came from Niamh Richie after 8 minutes and Emilie Rogers Duffy with 10 minutes gone but it was going to take a much improved second half effort from the former champions if they were going to get back into the game in the second half.
That comeback never looked like materialising as Moneyglass hit two quick points on the restart and when Bronagh Devlin got in for a goal in the 4th minute it looked as good as over.
Eimer Rocks and Niamh Richie did add to St. Paul’s opening half total with two more second half point but it was St. Ergnat’s who continued to dominate with Cathy Carey bring her total for the evening to 0-10 and Bronagh Devlin, Maire O’Neill, Rebecca Bradley and Jo Jo Darragh all contributing to the Moneyglass total.
St. Ergnat’s will now turn their attentions to another tilt at Ulster where they are likely to face much stiffer opposition but on this form they will feel that they can give it a real go.
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