Category / Ladies Football

by thesaffrongael

Four wins from four as Antrim LGFA beat Longford

LIDL Ladies Gaelic Football League – Division 4

Antrim 4-10 Longford 1-08

Antrim made it four wins out of four in Division 4 of the LGFA League when they beat Longford in Sunday’s game at Dunsilly. Leading by 1-04 to 0-3 at the end of a scrappy first half Antrim hit their stride in the second period when backed by the strong breeze and three well taken goals, two of them by Theresa Mellon and one by Anna Mulholland saw them pull away to win convincingly in the end.

Antrim started strongly with two early points from Devlin and Mulholland it looked like they were totally in charge, but they missed a succession of easy scoring opportunities and when Longford began to settle they looked a better team than they had one in the early minutes. The Leinster girls drew level with points from centre forward Katie Crawford in the seventh and thirteenth minutes and with a bit of luck could have had a good few more, hitting the woodwork on four occasions in the first half.

Antrim did edge ahead with another point but just two minutes from half that was all that separated the sides until Lara Dahunsi was on the end of a good move to palm the ball to the net to give her team a 1-04 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

With the breeze at their backs in the second half Antrim began to edge away from the visitors Tow points from Maria O’Neill, in reply to one from Crawford for Longford put them four ahead, but a superbly take goal from a narrow angle by Naomh Brigid’s Theresa Mellon proved a significant score. Points followed from Bronagh Devlin and Lara Dahunsi before Mellon got in again to fire home another left footed score and it was clear the league point were in the bank.

Anna Mulholland grabbed her team’s fourth goal as the game entered the last quarter and the management took the opportunity of emptying their bench. To their credit Longford kept battling to the end and the grabbed a late goal from a penalty by corner forward Lauren McGuire, but Antrim were home and dry by this stage and kept their unbeaten record intact with an eleven point win.

ANTRIM

Aine Devlin, Niamh McIntosh, Maeve Blaney, Carla McKenna, Sarah O’Neill, Ciara Brown, Orla Ni Corra, Aoife Kelly, Anna Mulholland, Theresa Mellon, Lara Dahunsi, Laura Agnew, Bronagh Devlin, Nicole Jones, Maria O’Neill.

Subs – Isla Anett, Aine Lynch,  Emily Kearns, Aine Kelly, Nicole Munce

LONGFORD

Riana McGrath, Emily Reilly, Emme Bleakly, Leanne Keegan, Caoimhe McCormack, Eimear O’Brien, Ella Duggan, Shauna Hagan, Niamh Brady, Katelyn McKeon, Katie Crawford, Ella O’Reilly, Kamilla Burke, Aislining Cosgrove, Lauren McGuire.

by thesaffrongael

Creggan Juvenile Awards

Creggan Kickhams held their annual Juvenile Awards evening it the club hall last week

Bert Trowlen went along for the Saffron Gael to get some photos.

St. Olcan’s Secondary School U15 Hurling Feile Team –
Back row L-R: Shea Graffin, Sean O’Hara, Ronan Colgan
Front Row L-R: Ronan Maguire, Fergus Maguire, Joe Connolly, Padraigh Robinson
Oisin Johnston – U12 Hurling Player of the Year receives his award at the Creggan Kickhams juvenile awards
Ronan Maguire and Ryan McKay – U14 Hurling Most Improved Players receive their awards at the Creggan Kickhams juvenile awards
Joe Connolly – U14 Hurling Player of the Year receives his award from Tommy McCann
– Shea Graffin – U16 Hurling Most Improved Player
Ronan Colgan – U16 Hurling Player of the Year with senior player Tommy McCann
Sean O’Hara from St. Olcan’s U15 Hurling Feile Team
U16 Gaelic Football Team – Breslin Shield Winners – Back Row L-R: Ronan Maguire, Oisin Dunlop, Jonathan Hegarty, Ronan Colgan, Conal Wilson, Shea Graffin, Ryan McKay
Front Row L-R: Domhnall McKay, Sean O’Hara, Fintan Keane, Shay McLernon, Tiarnon McLernon
Jamie McAuley – U12 Gaelic Footballer Player of the Year with senior player Teddy McKeown
Jamie McAuley – U12 Gaelic Player of the Year with Conor Cann
– Tiarnon McLernan – U14 Gaelic Most Improved Player of the Year with Conor McCann
U14 Gaelic Player of the Year Conal Wilson received his award from senior player Teddy mcKeown.
Jonathan Hegarty – U16 Gaelic Most Improved Player of the Year
Under 16 Footballer of the Year Shea McLarnon with Conor McCann
Captain of the Breslin Shield winning team Fintan Kane with senior players Conor McCann and Teddy McKeown
Grace Sargent and Cara Bateson – U12 Camogie Most Improved Players of the Year
Tiarna Maguire and Erin McCann – U12 Camogie Joint Players of the Year
C O’Boyle receives the Under 14 Camogie Team Spirit Award
Cliodhna Dunlop received the U14 Camogie Most Improved Player of the Year
Katie McGrath received the U14 Camogie Player of the Year award
Joint Most Improved Under 16 Camogie Players of the Year Roisin Maguire is with Molly Doherty
Joint Under 16 Camogie Players of the Year Aoibh McEldowney and Ailbhe O’Boyle
Niamh Maguire and Tiarna Maguire – U12 LGFA Joint Most Improved
Iona Maguire – U12 LGFA Player of the Year
Katie McGrath – U14 LGFA Most Improved Player of the Year
Saorla Mallon – U14 LGFA Player of the Year
Most Improveed Under 16 LGFA Player of the Year Connie Daly
U15 LGFA Feile C Winners Back Row L-R: Tanisha McCann, Grace Mullan, Katie McGrath, Cliodhna Dunlop, Niamh Hegarty, Clodagh Devlin, Cadhla McMinn, Annie Rankin, Olivia Mullan Front Row L-R: Saorla Mallon, Connie Daly, Mary Kate McLaughlin, Erin Donaghy, Shauneen Devlin, Caddie Doherty, Chloe Maguire
U12 Gort Na Mona Camogie Tournament Winners Back row L-R: Tiarna Maguire, Eimear Maguire, Ellie McAuley, Aoibhe McAteer, Emily Cleary, Niamh Maguire Front Row L-R: Erin Fawl, Lauren McCartney, Erin McCann, Grace Sargent, Cara Bateson
Enda Maguire presents Cerys O’Boyle with the Christina’s Maguire U14 Camogie Team Spirit of the Year award
by thesaffrongael

St. Louis GAA Mid-Term Camp A Huge Success!

Despite the cold conditions, the St. Louis GAA Mid-Term Camp proved to be a fantastic success, bringing together enthusiastic P5 and P6 pupils from our feeder schools for two action-packed days of Gaelic games.

Monday saw the children take to the field for Hurling and Camogie, showcasing great skill and determination. On Tuesday, the focus shifted to Gaelic football, with plenty of energy, teamwork, and fun on display. The commitment and enthusiasm of all involved made for an unforgettable experience.

A huge thank you to the schools, parents, and, most importantly, the children for their participation and support. Your dedication helped make this camp a truly special event, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

by thesaffrongael

late Mellon point seals another victory for the Saffrons

LGFA NFL Division 3

Fermanagh 3-9 Antrim 3-10

A point in injury time from Theresa Mellon sealed victory for Antrim as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a hard earned win over Fermanagh in Tempo on Sunday.

Antrim senior ladies travelled to Tempo on Sunday to take on reigning all Ireland junior champions Fermanagh. Both teams went into this game unbeaten but it was the Antrim girls who took the 3 points home and remain top of the table. 

Antrim came out of the blocks flying and with ten minutes on the clock they found themselves 2-3 to 0-1 ahead. Maria O’Neill opened the scoring with a point and from the resulting kick out the ball fell to Laura Agnew who blasted to the net and gave the keeper no chance.  Theresa Mellon then scored a brilliant individual goal and she followed it up with a point soon after as the Saffrons dominated the opening exchanges. 

Fermanagh then got themselves back into the game with points from Blaithin Bogue and Eimear Smyth but after a great interception at the back from Niamh McIntosh the Antrim girls broke to the other end and Lara Dahunsi took a great point.

Antrim’s third goal came from Dahunsi who beat the keeper from 20 meters with both teams then exchanged scores leading up to the interval with Fermanagh finding the net through Sinead Barrett and the Saffrons scoring 3 points through Maria ONeill, Theresa Mellon and inspirational captain Bronagh Devlin who was exceptional throughout. 

The second half was a completely different story as Fermanagh showed exactly why they are all Ireland champions and with ten to go the Saffron girls lead was down to the bare minimum.

 Maria O Neill and Lara Dahunsi added points apiece but Fermanagh hit back with a goal from Aoife McCabe and a point from Eimear Smyth to take the lead with 2 minutes of the 5 minutes added time remaining. 

This Antrim group have got a bit of steel about them however and their resilience and character really showed as they stared defeat in the face. Aoife Kelly with a defence splitting pass found Lara Dahunsi and she struck the ball over the bar to level the contest. 

It looked like both sides would have to settle for the draw but there was one more piece of drama and from the resulting kick-out Ana Mulholland won possession in midfield and she found Theresa Mellon in space and she kept her cool to fire over the winning score, seconds before the final whistle. 

Indeed Ana showed great commitment in playing the game after a very few tough days with a family bereavement. 

All in all it was another 3 points and the character within this group was what got them over line when they were starring defeat in the face. 

Joint managers Micky and Chris said after the game “That was a brilliant advert for ladies football. Both teams really went at it and the resilience our girls showed was unreal. We were absolutely superb at times but at times we put ourselves under pressure. There is nobody here getting carried away however.

We are still very much in the building process and together we are all learning week by week. Quite a lot of what we are about is very new to the group and together we are all working hard to develop and steer the group in the right direction” 

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

https://myalbum.com/album/axVyqJPejgQrqm

by thesaffrongael

Two out of two for high scoring Antrim

LGFA NFL Division 4

 Antrim 5-7 (22) – Sligo 2-8 (14) 

Antrim senior ladies made the long journey to Enniscrone-Kilglass on Sunday to play Sligo and came home with maximum points. 

In absolutely terrible conditions this group worked tirelessly and we’re thoroughly deserving winners on the day.

Antrim showed intent from the off and early scores from Lara Dahunsi and Maria o Neill set the tone for what was to come. 

Sligo then hit back with scores of their own but majors from Theresa Mellon and Sarah O’Neill put the visitors firmly in the driving seat. 

Just before the break a great block at one end of the pitch from Maeve Blaney turned defence into attack before Nicole Jones finished to the net at the other end as the visitors moved further ahead.

The last score of the half came from Aiobheann Monaghan who hammered the ball over the bar. Aiobheann who is still a minor and making her senior debut can certainly be proud of her senior debut. 

The second half was a tense affair with contrasting fortunes with Aine Devlin saving a penalty and Nicole Jones hammering a penalty to the Sligo net at the other end.

Sligo continued to battle and came within 3 points of Antrim at one stage but up stepped Maria O’Neill with a goal and Bronagh Devlin with a point to put the gloss on a personal performance from the captain who was inspirational from start to finish.

All in all a hard fought victory against a strong Sligo side who were very fit and well organised… 

Team mangers, Micky Devlin and Chris Scullion were delighted with their side’s performance, “Those girls showed unbelievable character out there today. Their work ethic from first to last whistle was top class. We introduced 7 subs today with every one of them making a massive contribution. 

That was a performance based on togetherness and energy and they managed the Conditions really well.” 

They continued “We are still working hard on the foundations here and this new look Antrim panel will keep digging deep and build week by week”

TO VIEW MORE PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/umbf8ikKpbKTER