September 7, 2025September 7, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle hold out to book a quarter final place

Bathshack Senior Hurling Championship Round 3

Ballycastle 1-20 St Enda’s 1-15

Ballycastle held off a late challenge from St Enda’s in Saturday evening’s SHC round 3 game at Pairc MacUílin to secure their first win of the campaign, a win that earns them a quarter final place against either Cushendall or Loughgiel who play later today in Cushendall. The Town played with a strong diagonal wind in their favour in the first half and were ten points up when they lost a player to a red card on 23 minutes (two yellows) and when the visitors closed to seven by the break we wondered if they could hold on. However a good start to the second half which saw them add a point through man of the match Seamus McAuley and a goal by corner forward Dairmaid McShane set them up for the win. St Enda’s did begin to close in the final quarter but the home side were able to keep the gap around the eight point mark, thanks to some heroics by their full back line and goalkeeper Ryan McMullan in particular, but when the Glengormley side grabbed a goal and a point in injury time, to reduce the gap to four, there were a lot of anxious Town fans staring at their watches. Those anxieties were relieved when substitute Lorcan Donnelly sent over a late point to send his team through to the quarter finals.

With the wind behind them in the first half Ballycastle dominated the early stages and full forward Neal McAuley put them ahead in the opening minute, but St Enda’s responded right away as Killian Jennings sent over the equaliser. Corner back Odhran Kearney came up to restore the Ballycastle before Seamus McAuley added the first of his ten points, this one from a free. When Niall O’Connor pulled one back for the visitors with a great strike from distance it looked like St Enda’s would match the home side, despite the strong wind, but once but two more from Seamus McAuley got Ballycastle going and they hit the next nine without reply, six of them from McAuley and one each from Conor Boyd, Conor Donnelly and Dairmaid McShane. With the gap out to ten thing looked really good for the Town, but when they lost a player through a second yellow card it unsettled them for a while and St Enda’s finished the half strong with two points from Joe Maskey and one from Niall O’Connor to cut the gap back to seven by half time.

The third quarter was to prove vital and the good start which brought them the McAuley point and the McShane goal gave them a great lift. St Enda’s were piling on the pressure but the home defence were solid. Seamus McAuley kept easing the pressure and twice hit over long range points against the wind to match two by Joe Maskey at the other end, Three-in-a-row from Jennings, Conlon and Maksey kept the visitors very much in contention, but two great points from play inside a minute by Conor Bradley pushed the home side nine clear.

When substitute Conor Donnelly pointed for St Enda’s with four minutes left of normal time the gap was down to eight but when Ruairi Donaghy got in for a goal as the game went into injury time the stress levels began to rise among the home fans. When Brendan Cormican added a point to leave just four between the teams the anxiety levels rose again, bearing in mind St Enda’s only needed a draw to advance, but the Ballycastle defence held out and when last substitute Ciaran Clare landed a late point the game was safe.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/SYjqLvobTd7XYx/?invite=fe26c3e8-4470-407b-bfb4-676f2fe7b55b

September 6, 2025September 9, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Glenariffe cement their place in the semi-final

IHC Group 2

Shane O’Neill’s 2-14 Oisins 3-17

Pics by David Humphreys

Oisin’s Glenariffe cemented their place at the top of the IHC Group 2 and a place in the semi-finals with a good win at Feystown over Shane O’Neill’s on Saturday night to leave the race for second place wide open.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with Niall McGarel and Dylan McLaughlin for the home side and Seanie McIntosh and Alex O’Boyle for the visitors exchanging points to leave it 0-2 apiece after five minutes.

Slowly though Glenariffe began to take control as Odhran Gillan and Calum McIlwaine pointed to move them two ahead before Colla Ward raced through the heart of the Glenarm defence before finishing confidently for the game’s opening goal.

Seanie McIntosh added a point to move his side six ahead by the 10^th minute before McGarel replied with Glenarm’s third point of the evening from a free in the 12^th minute.

It was starting to look ominous for the home side as Orrin O’Connor saw his well hit shot crash back of the Shane O’Neill’s crossbar but the visitors continued to find opening in the home defence.

Alex O’Boyle, Michael O’Boyle, Daniel Kearney and a superb effort from Niall Magee moved them 1-9 to 0-3 ahead before Niall McGarel again briefly eased the pressure from a couple of well struck frees to leave it 1-9 to 0-5 in favour of the visitors as Darren McKeown sounded the half time whistle.

With the wind in their favour the home side were expected to respond on the restart but it was Alex O’Boyle who increased the Oisin’s lead from a pointed free in the opening minute.

A superb point from Ciaran Magill in reply failed to bring about the necessary response from his colleagues and it was Glenariffe who produced another telling blow when Seanie McIntosh fired out of reach of Michael Abram for their second goal of the evening.

McGarel replied from another converted free as David Kearney replaced Michael Haughey in the Oisin’s side and the visitors continued to call the shots with Daniel Kearney splitting the posts before McIntosh set up Michael O’Boyle with a deft pass for their third goal of the evening.

Alex O’Boyle added a point before the hard working Ciaran Magill replied with Glenarm’s 8^th point in the 14^th minute but the Feystown side were being made to workhard for their scores as the visitors defence continued to deny them space.

Colla Ward and Magill exchanged further points before Glenarm hit their best patch of the game with Niall McGarel from a free and Declan McDermott and Darren Hamill with two converted ‘65’s bringing their total to 0-13 with seven minutes remaining.

Glenarm GAC chairman Eamonn Matthews presents a cheque to Sean Harvey, whose son Eunan tragically died from cancer last month, before Saturday’s Intermediate Hurling Championship gave between Shane Ui Neill’s and Oisins at Feystown. The proceed goes to the Young Lives v Cancer.

These scores brought another response from the group leaders as ace marksman, Alex O’Boyle from a free and Oliver Kearney from play moved Oisin’s 11 ahead again by the 27^th minute and it was as good as over.

To their credit Shane O’Neill’s kept battling to the end and a good point from Ciaran Magill was followed by a goal from the same player with Alex O’Boyle punishing a rash challenge with a point at the other end.

The men in Blue were now fighting for pride and Aidan Scullion rose to bat a hanging delivery to the net in reply to another O’Boyle converted free to conclude the scoring and put a much better look on the final score-line.

This win sees Oisin’s top the group with one game still to play when they entertain St. Brigid’s Cloughmills on the 21^st September while Shane O’Neill’s will have to defeat Tir na nOg at Whitehill in their final game and hope that other results go their way if they are to qualify.

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS BY DAVID HUMPHREYS FROM THIS GAME CLOCK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/nWbhdzWsfCzBK3/?invite=6c1b60d9-6abf-4c21-81a7-d1e80bd19e87

September 6, 2025September 7, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Turley inspired Loch Mor advance despite Maguire’s excellence

Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final

Belfast Saints 3-23 Loch Mor Dal gCais 2-33

A Darragh Turley inspired Loch Mor Dal gCais finally escaped the shackles of a battling Belfast Saints to advance to the final of the Junior B Hurling Championship at Pairc Una on Friday night.

In a high scoring encounter which provided some excellent scores the sides couldn’t be separated over the 60 plus minutes and it took extra time before the Lough Shore side could pull away.

The early exchanges suggested that Loch Mor Dal gCais would have too much for their hosts as they raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead by the 9^th minute with their goal coming from the impressive Darragh Turley and Martin Braniff, Matthew Jones, Cathan O’Heireamhoin and Turley supplying the points.

Veteran, Phillip Maguire got the Belfast Saints point and the St. Teresa’s man would have a big influence on his side’s performance.

Keevan Og Grieve and Maguire 0-3 responded to Turley’s goal with Turley raising 2 more white flags (1 ‘65’) in reply to leave his side leading by five at the end of the opening quarter.

Maguire was doing all in his power to get the ‘Hoops’ going and he split the posts in quick succession and Joseph McQuillan, Kieran Grieve and Keevan Og Grieve closed the gap to the minimum by the 21^st minute.

It was Loch Mor who finished the half on top with Darragh Turley pointing 2 frees but they received a setback when Ferdia Carson was shown a second Yellow.

It failed to disrupt their rhythm however as Matthew Jones and 2 more from the imperious Turley had them four to the good at the break and they were good value for that lead

Belfast Saints had it back to a single score within 2 minutes of the restart as he fired over 3 unanswered points before Cathan O’Heireamhoin opened Loch Mor’s second half account with a point.

Things were certainly heating up as the excellent point taking continued as Brian Keatings and Paul Molloy exchanged further scores and the personal scoring battle between Maguire and Turley continued as the main protagonists exchanged scores.

The end to end exchanges continued with Matthew Jones’ point for Dal gCais bringing a reply from Chris McKee and Kevin Grieve for the ‘Saints’ and Turley again responding from a free in the 12th minute.

Kieran Grieve and Turley exchanged further minors and then it was the turn of that man Maguire as he hit three on the bounce to keep the hosts interest in the contest very much alive.

Then it was Darragh Turley’s turn again and after Matthew Jones had split the posts for the visitors, Turley converted 2 frees and added another long range effort from play to put his side back in the driving seat.

Maguire and Turley exchanged further converted frees before Maguire (f), Chris McKee and Keevan Og Grieve with a goal in the 28^th minute edged the home side ahead with two minutes remaining.

It would be the Loch Mor talisman, Turley who would come up with the final score as he pointed a free in the 30^th minute to send an enthralling game into extra and those who had turned up to witness this excellent game were certainly getting value for their money.

There was a greater sense of urgency, perhaps coupled with some relief as Loch Mor Dal gCais stepped up another notch as extra time got under way and Turley pointed from a free after 30 seconds and added another from play with 3 minutes gone.

The Saints replied through Dylan Grieve but the momentum had swung very much in favour of the Loch Shore men as Martin Braniff and Turley with three fine efforts put a little bit of daylight between the sides as they turned for the second period of extra time.

That man Turley put further distance between the sides on the restart when he rattled the Belfast Saints net in the opening minute and he added a point, direct from a ‘65’ with four minutes gone.

Cathan O’Heireamhoin added a point and two more from the superb Darragh Turley had the visitors out of sight before Phillip Maguire drove a free through a crowded goal mouth for what would be the Saints only score of the half.

The final point of the game fell to Loch Mor Dal gGais’ Cathan O’Heireamhoin but by that stage his side had both feet firmly planted in the decider and a meeting with Latharna Og, Larne.

An excellent game of hurling which produced scores of the highest order where special mention must go to Darragh Turley for Loch Mor and Phillip Maguire for Belfast Saints.

Spare a thought too for a Belfast Saints player who received a head injury and had to be taken to hospital.

We at the Saffron Gael and all Antrim GAA supporters wish him a speedy recovery.

TO VIEW BERTS PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/7zXKjJAkQoHPWn

September 5, 2025September 6, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Latharna Og in cruise control as they see of Wolfe Tones challenge

Junior B Hurling Championship – The Brustin Braes, Larne

Latharna Og 5-25 Wolfe Tones 0-02

Latharna Og cruised to the final of the Junior B Championship when they proved too strong for championship new boys Wolfe Tones at the Brustin Breas in Larne on Friday evening. When Sean Monaghan got the first point of the game for Wolfe Tones in the opening minute it looked promising for the Greencastle men, but it was to be a further 48 minute until Monaghan did it again. By that time the Larne men were over the hill and far away.

Conor Matthews got the home team going when hit a neat point from the right wing to level up the scores before Ryan O’Donnell slotted over a 65. The Larne men couldn’t seem to miss and they piled on the scores adding another ten points, plus three goals from corner forward Ryan Millar, Conor Matthews and Millar again just before half time to turn around at half time with a 3-11 to 0-01 lead.

Wolf Tones kept battling away but Latharna Og were on a different level and they stretched the lead by the minute with some well taken scores. Goal number four came on 47 minutes through substitute Kieran McKillop’ and though Wolf Tones came back with a point, Monaghan again the scorer, substitute Heggarty got goal number to wrap it all up.

The Larne men now face Loch Mór Dál gCais. In the final, after the Loughshore men beat Belfast Saints after extra time in the other semi-final

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/y4zxjkan83YWbY/?invite=e2b2d4cf-8d1a-4381-9714-9dbda56a9b57

September 5, 2025September 7, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Creggan edge a game of 2 halves

IHC Group 1

Cloney Gaels 3-15 Creggan 2-19

Cloney Gaels and Kickham’s Creggan served up a real championship encounter to decide who would top Group 1 in the Intermediate Championship in front of a good crowd, which included Davey Fitzgerald at Cloney on Friday night.

In the proverbial game of two halves it was the home side, despite losing Eoin Graham to a hamstring injury after 2 minutes, who were in command for most of the opening half and goals from Ronan Graham and a couple from Colla McDonnell sent them to the dressing rooms leading 3-7 to 0-9 and good value for that lead.

James O’Connell score 0-6 of his sides 7 first half points as he punished some rash tackling while it was Creggan free taker, Morgan Nelson who was very much to the fore for the Staffordstown Road side with 0-7 of his side’s first half total of 0-9.

Sean Duffin 0-2 was the other Creggan first half scorer while Ronan Graham got the Gaels other point to add to his goal which arrived after 23 minutes.

**Morgan Nelson who had a great game as Creggan came from behind to defeat Ahoghill in the IHC in Cloney on Friday night**

Colla McDonnell fired home from close range when he punished a defensive mix-up, three minutes before half time and the same player got their third as the game edged into time added on.

Ahoghill will feel on reflection that they might have been further ahead at the break as their high press and slick movement put the Kickham’s under constant pressure and there would have been much to discuss in the visitors dressing room at half time.

Whatever was said certainly seemed to do the trick and Creggan were a different team in the second half as they abandoned their sweeper system, which clearly wasn’t working and took a much more direct approach.

They hit the first three points of the second half through Sean Duffin, Diarmuid Mulholland and Ruairi McCann to close the gap to four by the 5^th minute before James O’Connell got his side off the mark with 7 minutes gone.

The game took a decisive turn in favour of the visitors when Matthew Rodgers fired to the net in the 10^th minute and a point from Conor Small had it back to the minimum at the end of the third quarter.

James O’Connell replied with his 9^th of the evening from a free and when he added another from the same scenario the Cloney side appeared to have weathered the storm.

Creggan were having none of it however as the intensity of the exchanges stepped up another notch with the impressive Morgan Nelson, Diarmuid Mulholland and Nelson again brought the sides level and the same player edged them ahead for the first time from a 50 meter free by the 19^th minute.

Once again the Cloney response came through the stick of James O’Connell who tied the contest for the second time in the 24^th minute and Ronan Graham edged them ahead once more with five minutes remaining.

**Colla McDonnell celebrates after scoring Cloney gaels third goal of the evening**

Just when it looked like the Ahoghill side had regained control it was Kickham’s Creggan whop again responded and Ruairi McCann set up Conor Small for their second goal to restore their lead again and it was clear that this one was going right down to the wire.

Superb free taker, O’Connell converted two on the bounce at the other end but points from Conor Small and a Matthew Rodgers ‘65’ kept the Creggan noses two ahead.

Thomas McGlone replied to close the gap to one again as Cloney Gaels pressed in an attempt to save the contest but that would be as close as they got and it is Kickham’s who now top Group 1.

Cloney Gaels sit only a point behind them but have played a game more and have completed their programme and must wait results from the other group games before they know their fate, but should be safe.