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by thesaffrongael

McNeill Magic Seals Feis Glory for Cushendall

Feis na nGleann

Senior Camogie Final

Cushendall 3-23 Loughgiel 1-9

Sunday 5 July

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Cushendall recorded a resounding victory over Loughgiel on Sunday afternoon to take the Feis crown for the first time in their history.  While the Ruairi ladies were good in the first half, they were awesome in the second as they blitzed a depleted Loughgiel side.

Eva McNeill was tormentor in chief for the ‘Dall, recording an eye opening 1-12 over the hour with 1-5 of that coming in the final 10 minutes of the contest.  Brogan Abram and Kady McNeill grabbed the other goals for Cushendall with Orlaith McCurry, Abi McNeill and Dervla Cosgrove all playing starring roles.

The Shamrocks were without many of their first team players given the match was played just 24 hours after the wedding of Lucia McNaughton, and many of the team that started had journeyed back from the wedding that morning to line out for their club. However they had plenty of strong performers.  Marie Laverty in particular was excellent and carried a serious threat with her direct running.  Louise and Katie McKillop always looked lively but they were up against a white and maroon juggernaut.

Cushendall were on top from the first whistle and were four points to one clear after the opening 10 minutes.  Siobhan McKillop, Brogan Abrams and Eva McNeill (two) with the Cushendall scores while Anna McKillop recorded the opening score for the Shamrocks.

A brace of Marie Laverty frees brought Loughgiel to within a single score by the 15th minute but that was as good as it got for the Shamrocks.

Eva McNeill added another point before Abram struck the opening goal of the final.  Her floated effort into the danger area was misjudged by Emma McAllister in the Loughgiel goal and dropped over the line.  Further scores followed from Siobhan McKillop and Cliodhna Thompson to stretch the Cushendall lead to eight points with six minutes of the half remaining.

Points from Marie Laverty either side of an Eva McNeill free were followed by scores from Cara O’Boyle and Abram in first half injury time.  Abram taking her tally to 1-2 for the half with her second point a highlight of the opening 30 minutes, splitting the uprights from wide on the right and next to no angle to work with.

With the score 1-12 to 0-6 in Cushendall’s favour, Loughgiel needed a fast start to the second half.  What they got was a wall of attacks from Cushendall from the get go.  Eva McNeill opened the scoring from a free before Kady McNeill produced a moment of magic with her first touch of the second half.  Abram delivered the sliotar high into the danger area and Kady deflected the sliotar to the back of the net with a brilliant touch in mid-air.  A piece of genius that ignited the Ruairi’s into a higher gear.

The lead was stretched to 15 points when Cushendall were awarded a penalty, Orlaith McCurry upended by Charlene Campbell when through on goal.  Eva McNeill took the resulting penalty but her effort was well saved by Emma McAllister.

Cushendall did add further brace of scores from Cosgrove (one ’45) before scoring their third goal of the contest.  Emma McAllister’s attempted clearance was blocked by Eva McNeill and the sliotar went to the back of the net.

It took until the 22nd minute of the second half for the Shamrocks to add to their half time tally, Marie Laverty splitting the uprights from a free to try and break the Cushendall momentum.

Laverty and Eva McNeill traded frees before McNeill hit four points in as many minutes to add further gloss to the score board for the Ruairi’s.

The Loughgiel goal came in injury time at the end of the game, Marie Laverty’s free deceiving the Cushendall defenders on the line and dropping behind the line but it did little to paper over the cracks of a disappointing afternoon for the Shamrock camogs.

Substitute Amy McAllister rounded off the scoring in injury time as Cushendall ran out comfortable winners.

With the league title in their hands, this could be the first of three major trophies going the way of the Ruairi Og camogs this season.  There will have tougher tests later in the year and there’s no doubting Loughgiel will be coming again with a much but on the evidence of this performance, Cushendall will take some stopping.

Cushendall celebrate their win over Loughgiel in the Senior Camogie final at Feis na nGleann. Pic by John McIlwaine

TEAMS

Cushendall starting XV: Orlagh Burke; Laoise McCollam, Anna McNeill, Tamara Black; Aoife McClafferty, Abi McNeill, Laura Black; Dervla Cosgrove, Siobhan McKillop; Brogan Abram, Orlaith McCurry, Cara O’Boyle; Cliodhna Thompson, Eva McNeill, Kady McNeill

  • Subs: Rhianna Black for S McKillop (HT), Ellen Leech for C O’Boyle (53), Amy McAllister for C Thompson (53), Aimee McDonnell for L McCollam (57), Erinmae Mitchell for E McNeill (60+4)
  • Scorers: E McNeill 1-12 (6fs), B Abram 1-2, D Cosgrove 0-3 (1f, 1’45), K McNeill 1-00, S McKillop 0-2, O McCurry 0-1, C O’Boyle 0-1, C Thompson 0-1, A McAllister 0-1

Loughgiel starting XV: Emma McAllister; Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Aoibheann Gillan; Finvola McVeigh, Katie Lynn, Sarah Flavin; Orlagh Laverty, Laoise McKillop; Kirsty McKendry, Marie Laverty, Katie McKillop; Anna McKillop, Annie Lynn, Caela Dobbin

  • Subs: Rose McMullan for M McGarry (17), Carlina Sullivan for C Campbell (44), Shanna Devlin for K McKendry (47)
  • Scorers: M Laverty 1-8 (1-6fs), A McKillop 0-1

Referee: Lee O’Reilly (Dunloy)

TO SEE MICHAEL CORCORAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/yQph27t6tyS7yZ/?invite=28ee4748-a365-441a-b783-9f3a54d102e8

To see more of Brendan’s photos from the final, click on the link below….

https://myalbum.com/album/qbVaL6Pyz3hesU/?invite=b9915422-fc53-469b-bcb3-d72a87435910

by thesaffrongael

Quickfire double helps Dunloy to victory over Rossa

ACFL Division One 

Rossa 0-13-2-12 Dunloy 

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa 

A quickfire double within less than 60-seconds in the first half helped Dunloy to a 2-12-0-13 win over Rossa at the Shaws Road on Sunday afternoon. 

Despite playing against a strong wind in the opening half the visitors went in with the lead at the break after Donnach Laverty shot home and less than a minute later a thumping Eoin O’Neill strike had their side in the driving seat, and they wouldn’t relinquish it for the remainder of the contest. 

It was Rossa who began brightly shooting into the Shaws Road end with Michael McEnhill kicking a two-pointed score inside of the first minute. 

Sean McEnhill steered a high shot over the bar to extend the lead, with Conal Cunning replying for Dunloy. 

Rossa stretched clear as Colm Fleming kicked two two-pointed frees, in between times Nigel Elliott popped over an angled point and he double his account following a one-two with Aaron Crawford. 

Elliott cut the gap further before he contributed to the games opening goal in the 26th minute. 

The full-forward kicked the ball high in the air and Rossa keeper Ruairi McDonagh got caught underneath the break, the ball was palmed into the path of Donnach Laverty and his shot almost trickled to the bottom corner to level the game at 0-7-1-4. 

Dunloy moved ahead for the first time when Ruairi McDonagh’s kick out was seized, Conal Cunning carried the ball forward and laid it off to Eoin O’Neill who tried his luck with a thumping shot that McDonagh had no chance of stopping. 

In response, Colm Fleming kicked his third free of the half- this time a one-pointed effort, though it closed the gap at the interval as Dunloy were 2-4-0-8 to the good. 

The visitors were first off the mark after the break when Padraig McGilligan gathered a pass that was launched in his direction and he shot over the bar. 

At the other end Eoghan McMenamin replied following a neat move involving Corey Walsh and Dominic McEnhill. 

Dunloy surged clear after Eoghan McGrath landed a two-pointed score from play and then Ryan McGarry picked out Oisin McCamphill to register his first of the afternoon and make it 2-8-0-9. 

Quickfire Dominic McEnhill points kept his side in touch, though they were unable to cut the deficit further in the final ten minutes. 

The sides traded scores, both coming from close range frees converted by Conal Cunning and Dominic McEnhill. 

Talisman Nigel Elliott fisted over a further two points as the game ticked into time added on. The sides closed the contest out with frees converted by Colm Fleming and Cunning respectively as Dunloy ran out 2-12-0-13 winners at the conclusion. 

ROSSA: R McDonagh, S McDonald, M McKernan, F McDonald, D Morgan, C Fleming (0-6f, 2×0-2ptf, 0-2f), C McDonald, S McEnhill (0-1), E McMenamin (0-1), M McEnhill (0-2, 1×0-2pt), D McEnhill (0-3, 0-1f), D Rogan, C Walsh, D Murphy, R Murray. SUBS: D Friel for R Murray (40). 

DUNLOY: C McMahon, C McCloskey, A Crawford, M Traynor, C Kinsella, R McGarry, J Scally, P McGilligan (0-1), C Cunning (0-3, 0-2f), E O’Neill (1-0), J Martin, O McCamphill (0-1), D Laverty (1-0), N Elliott (0-5), E McGrath (0-2, 1×0-2pt). SUBS: R Cunning for M Traynor (40), E McKendry for D Laverty (60). 

REFEREE: Colly Thompson (ST JOHNS)

More photos from the game can be viewed below

https://myalbum.com/album/gKakyR5ZB7vYFS/?invite=af3e232f-0961-4b1e-b1c8-e7528972661d

by thesaffrongael

Bradley Points Ruairi’s to Feis Glory

Feis Na nGleann

Senior Hurling Final

Cushendall 1-23 Loughgiel 0-18

Sunday 5 July

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Cushendall rounded off a fine weekend for the Ruairi’s by taking the senior honours against Loughgiel.  Eight points was the difference after the hour and while it was probably a fair reflection given Cushendall’s dominance in the second half, they were indebted to the brilliance of Conor McAllister between the sticks.

The Ruairi Og netminder produced four top saves, the second in the first half one of the best you’ll see, with McAllister taking man of the match.  While not many would argue that fact, Fiontan Bradley will probably be wondering what more he would have to do to collect that honour.  The Cushendall forward finishing the contest with 1-14, 1-7 from open play in a quite remarkable performance.

Their defensive organisation held Loughgiel to just three points in 20 minutes of the second half, effectively the winning of the contest.  Oistin Birt, Scott Walsh, Connor McCann and substitute Eoghan Campbell all pivotal.

Loughgiel were well in this game at the half way mark.  Rian McMullan and Roan McGarry were giving the Cushendall defence their fill of it while Paul Boyle was always a threat.  They can potentially rue their luck at coming up against McAllister and a performance for the ages but they struggled to curtail the Cushendall onslaught at the start of the second half.

Roan McGarry finished top of the Shamrocks scoring charts, six of his seven points coming from placed ball while Rian ‘Bubbles’ McMullan’s 0-5 all came from various angles.  Rian ‘Betty’ McKee and Ronan ‘Rosey’ Fitzgerald were always busy in midfield while Cormac McFadden produced a number of top saves throughout but Cushendall were too hot to handle in that second half.

The sides were tied on one point apiece with scores from Rian McMullan and Fiontan Bradley when Bradley scored the only goal of the game in the sixth minute.  The Cushendall man looked to be short of options at the end of a strong run but he swung his hurl one handed and found the back of the net despite the best efforts of Cormac McFadden in the Loughgiel goals.  That goal gave Cushendall the lead and one they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

Loughgiel were looking sharp, Paul Boyle in particular but they hit four wides in succession and couldn’t build any early momentum.  Rian McMullan and Boyle split the uprights either side of a super point from Nicholas McNaughton before Bradley’s first from play left three between the sides at the midway point of the half.

Loughgiel had their first glance of McAllister’s goal moments later, Paul Boyle passing to Shane O’Boyle but his effort was saved by a diving Cushendall ‘keeper.

The sides went score for score with Roan McGarry (2) firing over for the Shamrocks while Sean McAfee and Bradley (free) found the target for Cushendall.  Another point from Rian McMullan reduced the deficit to two points before Cushendall had another chance for a major.  Ryan McCambridge making a trademark run through the heart of the Loughgiel defence but his effort was well saved from McFadden.

Bradley and McMullan traded white flags before McAllister produced a wonder save to keep Loughgiel at bay.  Dan McCloskey and Paul Boyle combining and with the goal at his mercy, Boyle was faced by a diving McAllister who put his body on the line and took a sliotar to the side of his head from point blank range for good measure.  The Ruairi Og ‘keeper reacted superbly and was on hand to deny McCloskey with the rebound to somehow deny the Shamrocks a certain goal.

McFadden was called into action at the other end of the pitch, denying Sean McAfee but the sides finished the half evenly.  Roan McGarry (2) and James McNaughton splitting the uprights for Loughgiel while Bradley (free) and Nicholas McLaughlin did the same for the Ruairi’s to leave the half time score 1-8 to 0-10 in Cushendall’s favour.

Ronan Fitzgerald and Paul Boyle fired over points either side of scores from Charlie McAuley and Eoghan Campbell before the Ruairi’s hit the first real scoring burst of the contest.  Five points in as many minutes, four from Bradley (one free) and one from Thomas McLaughlin put some daylight between the sides.

Rian McMullan scored his fourth and fifth points of the game either sides of a brace of points from Bradley while McFadden denied McAfee with a brilliant save in the same period of time.

That opening quarter to the second half proved to be the winning of the game.  That fact was compounded when Loughgiel and Roan McGarry saw their penalty saved by McAllister in the 47th minute.  

With seven points between the sides in the final 10 minutes, Cushendall saw out the contest expertly.  Bradley (2), Ed McQuillan (2), and McAfee all raising white flags and while it felt like Loughgiel always needed a major to get back into the contest, they added to their score with points from Cormac McFadden (free), Roan McGarry (two frees) and Dan McCloskey.

Both sides will have their eyes on the U21 championship in the coming weeks and with the race for the Volunteer Cup not long after, you would expect both sides to be stronger later in the summer.  The win rounded off an excellent weekend for the Cushendall club as they won the three matches on Feis Sunday.

TEAMS

Cushendall starting XV: Conor McAllister; Connor McCann, Liam Gillan, Fred McCurry; Scott Walsh, Oistin Birt, Charlie McAuley; Ryan McCambridge, Callagh Mooney; Nicholas McLaughlin, Ed McQuillan, Sean McAfee; Thomas McLaughlin, Fiontan Bradley, Oisin Woodhouse

  • Subs: Eoghan Campbell for L Gillan (HT), Alex McCambridge for F McCurry (HT); Joseph McNaughton for N McLaughlin (51)
  • Scorers: F Bradley 1-14 (5fs, 2’65s); N McLaughlin 0-2; E McQuillan 0-2; S McAfee 0-2; T McLaughlin 0-1; C McAuley 0-1; E Campbell 0-1

Loughgiel starting XV: Cormac McFadden; Ruairi McCormick, Enda Og McGarry, Pearce Patterson; Eddie Smyth, Declan McCloskey, Caolan Blair; Rian McKee, Ronan Fitzgerald; Rian McMullan, Dan McCloskey, Roan McGarry; James McNaughton, Paul Boyle, Shane O’Boyle

  • Subs: Ryan O’Boyle for E Smyth (39), Liam McGarry for S O’Boyle (44), Ashton McGarry for P Patterson (45), Conor O’Mullan for J McNaughton (50)
  • Scorers: R McGarry 0-7 (4fs, 2’65s); R McMullan 0-5; P Boyle 0-2; J McNaughton 0-1; D McCloskey 0-1; R Fitzgerald 0-1; C McFadden 0-1 (1f)

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Rasharkin)

To see more of Brendan’s photos from the final, follow this link….

https://myalbum.com/album/ezA3xiPTa7fKTs/?invite=7046e72e-8393-4eba-91b7-d1c114bc068d

by thesaffrongael

St. Mary’s Rasharkin coast to division 3 title

ACFL Division 3

Eire Og 0-6 Rasharkin5-21

When St. Mary’s Rasharkin won the Feis Junior Cup on Thursday night in Cloughmills, their thoughts turned immediately to Sunday’s Division 3 game away to Eire Og where a win would give them the division 3 league title and promotion to division 2 for next season.

The Derriaghy side had provided Rasharkin with a stiff challenge in their corresponding game in Dreen which St. Mary’s were fortunate to win so, on paper this looked like a difficult fixture for the South West side.

It didn’t quite work out that way however as a young and slick moving Rasharkin proved much too good for an Eire Og side who were missing a number of regulars.

Playing against the breeze in the opening half, Rasharkin raced into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after 6 minutes with their goal coming from Colm Kennedy who was set up by James Higgins.

Eamonn McNeill scored the opening point from a free and added a second from play and Oran McMullan added another before Stephen Erskine kicked a great 2 pointer to get the hosts off the mark.

Erskine’s point provided only temporary respite however as Oran McMullan fisted over at the other end but Eire Og were starting to have some success as Conor Dixon raised another Orange flag to bring their total to four.

Back came Rasharkin with Fearghal Kennedy and Tiernan O’Boyle  splitting the posts before Brian Og O’Neill finished to the net for their second goal with 15 minutes gone.

Rasharkin continued to dominate with their movement and sharp passing opening up the Eire Og defence and Eamonn McNeill added a point before the visitors were awarded a penalty.

Up stepped McNeill but his spot kick was well saved by Jamie King in the Eire  goals but it only served to postpone the inevitable as Fearghal Kennedy, James Higgins 0-2, Oran McMullan, Eamonn McNeill and Colm Kennedy added points to leave the visitors 2-13 to 0-4 ahead at half time.

It didn’t get any better for Eire Og on the restart though, to be fair they never stopped battling but were missing too many players to make a contest of it and it was Rasharkin who continued to find the target.

Thomas Hasson pointed and Oran McMullan climbed to palm the ball to the net and Brian Og O’Neill split the posts again before Eamonn McNeill fired home their fourth goal with only 8 minutes of the new half gone.

Colm Kennedy fires home Rasharkin’s opening goal and is congratulated by Brian Og O’Neill

Conor Dixon finally got the hosts second half off the mark from a free in the 9th minute and St. Mary’s took the opportunity to test their bench but their intensity and drive never dropped and Jamie King in the home goals pulled off an excellent save to deny McNeill.

The Rasharkin driving force, Eamonn McNeill responded with a point and then found the net for his side’s 5th goal and Cormac McMullan and substitute, PJ McMullan added further points with Conor McKenna striking a late consolation point for the Derriaghy side.

There were muted celebration from Rasharkin after the game their management team immediately turned their attention to the Junior Football Championship where Eire Og might well be one of their strongest rivals.

Cathal McMullan, Paddy Kelly, Barney Cowan and F Kennedy have done a brilliant job in rebuilding their side this year with a host of young players replacing the old guard but the experience provided by Eamonn McNeill, Brian Og O’Neill, Pearce Kelly and a few others has been an important factor in their continued development

Eire Og: 1 Jamie King, 2 Adam McKenna, 3 Barry McDaid, 4 Karl McKenna, 5 Conor McKenna, 6 Stephen Erskine, 7 Dermot Burns, 8 Patrick Maxwell, 9 Mark Graham, 10 Ronan McKeown, 23 Conor Dixon, 12 Ciaran Rice, 19 Joe Erskine, 21 Aaron Thompson, 20 Brendan Shannon

Subs: James O’Connell for Erskine, Nathan Crane for Aaron Thompson, Ciaran Cahoon for Conor Dixon

Rasharkin: 1 Ryan Doherty, 2 Peacse Kelly, 3 Fergus Quigg, 4 Daniel McGurk, 5 Pearse McTague, 6 Fearghal Kennedy, 7 Thomas Hasson, 8 Tiernan O’Boyle, 9 Cormac McMullan, 10 Colm Kennedy, 11 Eamonn McNeill, 12 James Higgins, 13 Killian O’Boyle, 14 Oran McMullan, 15 Brian Og O’Neill

Subs: Jason McGregor for Pearce Kelly, Daniel Doherty, PJ O’Mullan for Brian Og O’Neill, Aodhan McTeague for Killian O’Boyle, Oisin Casey for Eamonn McNeill

Referee: Martin Quinn (St. Enda’s)

TO VIEW MY ALBUM FROM TODAY’S GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/5Whk7axpXrUdXv

by thesaffrongael

Ardoyne Kickhams: 120 Years of Resilience, Community, and Championship Glory

Ardoyne Kickhams are a club built on community, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit. This week, that spirit was rewarded with silverware as their senior hurlers secured the Division 4 Hurling League title. It is a massive achievement on its own, but the timing makes it even more special. The victory comes just as the club prepares to mark a historic milestone: 120 years since its foundation.

A Birthplace Anchored in History

In 1907, a group of local Gaels gathered in an upstairs room on the main Crumlin Road, just above Flax Street. Ardoyne Kickhams was born out of that meeting. Today, that birthplace sits just 300 yards away from the club’s current premises.

The club’s unique identity was shaped by its immediate surroundings. The initial committee meetings took place in the nearby Passionist Monastery at Holy Cross. To honour this connection, the club adopted its iconic black and white colours, directly reflecting the traditional Passionist habit.

Bridging the Past and Present

Each year, Ardoyne holds its traditional Club Day, featuring the popular Poc Fáda and Cic Fáda competitions. These events are far more than just fun or traditional contests; they are a physical celebration of history.

The events start at the end of Flax Street where it meets the Crumlin Road—literally yards away from the house where the club was formed. Participants then make their way towards the club mural at the opposite end of the street. This tradition creates a direct, living link between that original meeting room from 1907 and the building in which the club stands today. It is a historical connection that many of the younger or newer members might not even realise, but such a legacy remains the bedrock of who this club is.

A Growing Sporting Legacy

For over a century, this club has proudly striven through difficult times to keep Gaelic games alive in the very heart of the Ardoyne community. Over the 120 years of its existence, this club has never had the basic building block of owning its own pitch, and yet they have celebrated success at senior, intermediate, and junior grades across Gaelic football, hurling, and Camogie.

In recent years, that legacy has expanded even further. The club’s ladies’ football teams have risen through the ranks, earning a formidable reputation across the county and ensuring the Kickham’s name remains synonymous with sporting excellence.

Forged Through Adversity

The history of Ardoyne Kickhams is also deeply shaped by what they have endured over the 120 years of their existence. During the recent conflict, no GAA club felt the impact to the extent of Ardoyne Kickham’s. Yet, through every hardship, the club remained a sanctuary, a source of pride, and a beacon of hope for the local area.

This latest league title is not just a victory for the players on the pitch; it is a testament to the generations of volunteers, families, and players who refused to let the flame of Gaelic games go out in Ardoyne. As the club approaches its 120th anniversary, they will be celebrating with justifiable pride its deep roots in its community and its contribution to Gaelic games across this county.