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by thesaffrongael

Fast start and strong finish seals important win for Ballygalget

ACHL Division 1

Rossa 0-14 Ballygalget 1-16

Ballygalget started and finished strongly at Rossa Park on Sunday to record their second win of the season and inflicted a second defeat on high riding Rossa in an entertaining contest in windy conditions.

It was the home side who had that wind in their favour in the opening half but they were rattled by a Caolan Coulter goal for the visitors after 2 minutes and it would prove an important goal in the end.

Rossa did make a positive response with points from Aodhan O’Brien 0-2, Thomas Morgan and Eoin Trainor to lead by the 11th minute before Coulter levelled matters with a neat, over the shoulder reply.

The Shaw’s Road side attempted to respond but Eoin Clarke in the Ballygalget goals brought off a good save to deny O’Brien before James Connolly pointed from out near the sideline to restore the Rossa lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Back came the men from down the ‘Ards’ and John McManus, Caolan Coulter and Shea Pucci hit three on the bounce by the 21st minute before Connolly responded with his second of the evening for the Rossa Park men.

The visitors were playing controlled hurling into the breeze and making better use of their opportunities and Oisin Coulter, Tim Prenter and Shea Pucci added points.

Thomas Morgan replied for Rossa with Eoin Pucci responding immediately for the visitors and Tim Prenter replied to a massive point from Gerard Walsh to leave it 0-9 to 1-8 in favour of the county Down side as Kevin Parke called for half time.

Now playing into the breeze, Rossa looked to have a bit to do if they were to maintain their recent good form and Aodhan O’Brien gave them a great start to the second half when he pointed after 30 seconds.

Back came Ballygalget with points from Caolan Coulter and Shea Pucci to extend their lead to three with only three minutes of the new half gone and it was going to take a massive effort if the home side were to overturn this lead.

Both sides then began to exchange scores with Eoghan McMenamin’s point bring a reply from Eoin Pucci and Gerard Walsh’s score bring another reply from the same player.

The tit for tat exchanges continued with Gerard Walsh, Deaglan Murphy and Thomas Morgan sending over for the home side and Eoin Pucci, Tim Prenter and Shea Pucci keeping the score board ticking with points at the other end.

Morgan’s point on 25 minutes left just a goal between the sides but that would be as close as Rossa got with Eoin Pucci and Odhran Birt ensuring there would be no way back with late points for the visitors.

An entertaining game of hurling but it was the visitor’s ability to control the pace of the game in the opening half that would decide matters on the day.

They had excellent performers in Caolan Coulter, Sheas Pucci, Eoin Pucci, Tim Prenter and John McManus while Aodhan O’Brien, Eoghan McMenamin, Thomas Morgan and Gerard Walsh caught the eye for Rossa.

Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/qYw3pxrhxyN5oy

by thesaffrongael

Ardoyne topple league leaders

ACFL Division 3

Ardoyne 2-9 St. Agnes 0-11

In an enthralling game of open football played at Fennell Park on Friday evening, Ardoyne pulled off a major shock in defeating unbeaten St Agnes’. The league leaders were first on the scoreboard with an opening point from top scorer David McGaharan, but Ardoyne responded with a point from open play from McAuley and a free from Padraig McGreevey.

League form was reflected in the remainder of the first half as St Agnes’ stamped their authority on the game. McCrea kicked over three points, while Mulgrew saw an excellent attempt on goal tipped over the bar by Tiarnan Hughes in the Ardoyne nets. Hughes was in fine form between the posts for Ardoyne and pulled off a series of saves that kept the Ardoyne men in touch at the short whistle.

Half-Time: Ardoyne 0-03 St Agnes’ 0-06

As the second half got underway it looked as though St Agnes’ were ready to push ahead. A high ball into the Ardoyne Square rebounded off the post and the follow up shot saw Hughes produce another top class save.

The pace of the game increased as the second half unfolded and the Ardoyne men seemed to gain in confidence. Kevin Lynch fired over a two pointer followed by a further point. McGaharan responded for St Agnes’ as the intensity of the game increased. The pace of McAuley was causing problems for St Agnes’ defence, but the match began to turn in Ardoyne’s favour following a lob by McAuley that was flicked into the St Agnes’ net by Kevin Lynch.

With Lynch and McAuley now combining well, Ardoyne eventually pulled ahead with a goal from an in-form McKernan. The remaining 10 minutes was a full blooded encounter with Ardoyne sensing an important victory and St Agnes’ fighting to hold on to their unbeaten record.

Despite this defeat, St Agnes’ hold on to top position in the league but will be disappointed with their unbeaten run coming to an end. Ardoyne will be delighted to take the scalp of the league leaders but will take more satisfaction from the renewed sense of belief and the discipline on display.

Full-Tine Score: Ardoyne 2-09 St Agnes’ 0-11

Ciceam Ard Eoin: Tiernan Hughes, Odhran Mullan, Micheál McGreevy, Conor Magee, Joe Gibson, Pearse Marley, Finnén O’Brien, Daniel Moore, Gary McKernan (1-0), James Og McAuley (0-02), Kealan McCallan (0-01), Eoghan Corrigan, Padraig McGreevy (0-01,1f), Cahal Keown (0-01), Kevin Lynch (1-04, 0-02F)Cormac Barnes, Fiontan Lagan,

Naomh Una: Colum Carroll, Cormac Flannery, Mark Caldwell, Killian McCormick, Patrick Carroll, Ryan Reilly, Conor Kennedy, Ronan Gilligan, Patrick Mulgrew (0-01), James Campbell, Declan Crummey, Declan McLarnon (0-02), Ronan Carroll, David McGaharan (0-05), Barry McCrea (0-03, 0-2f), Neill Gillespie, Conor Gilligan, Kevin Floyd

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN MC KEE’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Drom & Inch win the Liam McGarry Cup

Liam McGarry Memorial Cup – Senior Hurling Challenge

Loughgiel 0-19 Drom & Inch 1-19

Tipperary’s Drom & Inch won the Liam McGarry Memorial Cup at Fr Healy Park on Saturday evening when they beat the hosts Loughgiel Shamrocks in a highly entertaining game which some top class hurling.

The Shamrocks started the game well with points from Shan McGrath, Darragh Patterson and Paul Boyle, and James McNaughton was in on goal for what seemed a certain score, only to be denied by a brilliant save by the Drom & Inch netminder Eoin Collins.

Carmel McGarry, daughter of the late Liam McGarry, presents the cup to Drom & Inch captain Podge Campion while Campion presents a framed Drom & Inch jersey to Enda Og McGarry, grandson of Liam

Centre forward David Collins got the Tipp men on the scoreboard with a point from inside his own half and corner forward John Campion added a second soon afterwards it was nip and tuck of the next ten minutes as both teams grabbed two points apiece, but three points in a two minute spell, two of them from James McNaughton and one from Ruairi McCloskey appeared to have given the home side the upper hand. However the visitors gained the upper hand during the second quarter and following a great move which saw right half back Kevin Hassett grab a point and a minute later corner forward John Campion got in for a goal. The remainder of the first half was dominated by the Tipperary men who added five mote to their total, two of them from midfielder Tony Cahill, in reply to two by Shan McGrath and Paul Boyle for the home side, to lead by 1-10 to 0-10 at the break.

Loughgiel started the second half well and three unanswered points by James McNaughton, Shan McGrat and ‘Bubble’s McMullan had them back level within six minutes. Campion restored the Drom & Inch lead with a point from a 65 but McNaughton and Boyle responded with two more for the home side to move back ahead. However the Tipp men grew stronger as the game progressed and a series of excellent points from Kinane, John Campion (2) Jack Lillis and team captain Podge Campion moved them well clear. Loughgiel never gave up the fight however and three late points brought them right back into contention, but Drom & Inch held on to take the victory and the Liam McGarry Cup

by thesaffrongael

Antrim secure their first championship game with a narrow margin 

Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin makes no mistake in placing the sliotar past Leah Gallagher

Antrim 1:16 (19) Offaly 3:08 (17) 

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran at Roger Casements GAA Club, Portglenone. 

A warm blustery day welcomed one and all to the opening game of this year’s All Ireland Intermediate championship from group 1. Spectators would have to face occasional showers and with both sides sizing each other up in the first half, occasional scoring too. A low scoring first half gave way to a torrent of scores from both teams in the second half, leading to a crescendo of sideline activity as the game lay finely in the balance for either side to win. Antrim would, however, demonstrate nerve and resolve to close the deal and rack up their three points on the table. 

Match referee, Barry Nea, got proceedings underway and was reaching for his notebook in less than thirty seconds, preparing to enter a score from Offaly midfielder, Faye Mulrooney, but the sliotar drifted wide, leaving Antrim to register the first point from Katie Molloy as Molloy and Roisin McCormick performed a tidy 1-2-1 with 2 minutes gone on the board. 

Roisin McCormick prepares to receive the sliotar before pointing one of her three from play

McCormick would be up next with her own point before Offaly’s half forward; Christine Cleary, would get Offaly out of the blocks with a point. Offaly kept that momentum going with another two points, from Caoimhe O’Donovan and Clodagh Leahy just before Molloy clipped the sliotar over the bar from a spearheaded advance from McCormick and Lucia McNaughton. 

Offaly were about to take the lead in the game at four points to three but two back-to-back points from an on-form Molloy pulled Antrim back into a one point lead. Despite numerous advances from Offaly, Antrim managed to keep the Faithful County at bay with that small lead and improved it by one as Molloy earned her fifth point of the first half just as the short whistle drew the first half to an end. 

In the second half, Antrim’s two point lead would soon become nine as McCormick, Molloy, Maeve Kelly and Caitrin Dobbin savaged the catch net over the bar and when Nicole McAtamney played a low sliotar into Cassie McArthur, a wall of Offaly jersey’s forced the offload to Dobbin and at short range with just four minutes elapsed in the second half, the games first green flag was raised. 

That should have been a marker in the sand for Antrim to push on, but relaxing too early, Offaly’s Mairead Teehan made good of her pickup within Antrim’s box and at short range, flicked the sliotar past goalkeeper, Caitriona Graham, and suddenly Offaly were right back in the game. 

In superlative scoring form, Katie Molloy cruises one of her six points from play over Offaly’s bar

Antrim would welcome three more points compared to Offaly’s two from Grace Teehan, giving the Saffrons a seven point lead but Antrim was about to be tested as Offaly’s substitute, Becky Bryant, was in the right place at the right time to fire back a rebounded save from team mate, Mairead Teehan and that goal was followed in less than a minute later from Teehan herself. When Clodagh Leahy dropped a free over the bar, both sides stood square at seventeen points each with eight minutes of normal time left plus injury. 

Antrim supporters would breathe a sigh of relief as McCormick made good of a foul on Katie Molloy and just in normal time, Antrim’s Annie Lynn would give the Saffrons another point to stretch the lead to two. Offaly’s chance to close that back to one went amiss as the Faithful Counties’ free taker, Clodagh Leahy, made an uncharacteristic error and drifted the sliotar past the upright.  

As referee Nea brought the game to a halt, Antrim could now relax without any threat to their three points in the round robin table, the game ending Antrim 1-16 Offaly 3-08. Antrim are now away to Westmeath on the 14th June for their second game in group 1. 

Antrim panel and scorers 

Caitriona Graham, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Sarah O’Neill, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney, Maeve Kelly 0-02, Roisin McCormick 0-05 (2f), Lucia McNaughton, Cassie McArthur, Katie Molloy 0-06, Caitrin Dobbin 1-02, Becky Ellis, Dearbhail Dobbin, Katierose Bell, Sarah Fyfe, Niamh Neeson, Janey McIntosh, Eimear Johnston, Eavanne Martin, Aisling O’Donnell, Annie Lynn 0-01, Orlaith McAllister, Fionnuala Kelly, Dervla Cosgrove, Colleen Paterson 

Offaly panel and scorers 

Leah Gallagher, Aoife Liffey, Megan King, Cathy Fogarty, Roisin Kinsella, Amy Byrne, Orlagh Phelan, Sharon Shanahan, Faye Mulrooney, Clodagh Leahy 0-03 (1f), Christine Cleary 0-01, Grace Teehan 0-03 (1f), Caoimhe O’Donovan 0-01, Mairead Teehan 2-00, Fianait Dooley, Emer Reynolds, Karla Mannion, Hannah Feenane, kaitlyn Kennedy, Ciara Maher, Orla Kilmartin, Niamh Sheehy, Becky Bryant 1-00, Grainne Kennedy, Emma Buggy, Aoife O’Donovan, Elizabeth Kilmartin, Aine Rigney, Aoife Hoctor, Ellen Regan, Kate Pilkington 

You can see more photos from today’s game by clicking on the following link… 

https://myalbum.com/album/VrpsdAETga5d33/?invite=9c985690-81cd-403f-8332-9896fc7f47ed