Category / Latest News

by thesaffrongael

CPC win Gaelfast Year 8 Cup

Gaelfast Year 8 Antrim Cup Final

This year’s edition of the Year 8 Antrim Cup culminated this afternoon at the Dunsilly Training Complex, with hurlers from Cross and Passion, Ballycastle and St Killian’s College, Garron Tower competing in a high quality, high scoring encounter with the former coming out on top after establishing early daylight in the tie and retaining their Antrim Cup crown for a third straight year, despite a valiant late fight back from the St Killian’s lads.  

Cross and Passion came sprinting out of the blocks into an early lead, with Oisin Richmond splitting the posts in style to open the scoring. This was quickly followed up with points from Ronan Smith, Ruairi Hennessy, a fine score from range from captain, Sean Johnson and two really classy points from Ruairi McQuillan – something which became a running theme throughout the afternoon.

Sevie Trowlen responded well from a free to get St Killian’s underway in the tie, after good work from Niall McKay. However, further CPC scores from McQuillan and the ever-impressive Iarla Gillan restored daylight in the tie, before Joe Richmond rifled home his first goal of the afternoon to consolidate CPC’s early dominance.

Dogged defensive work from Odhran McLaughlin and Fionnbhar Atcheson in the heart of the St Killian’s defence, accompanied with fine saves from keeper, Patrick Harris, kept them in the tie, however the onslaught from CPC continued throughout the first half. A goal for the industrious Jake Feetham was followed by Joe Richmond’s second of the day, before Ruairi Hennessy found the back of the net to wrap up a supremely impressive first half display for the Cross and Passion side.

The second half saw St Killian’s coming out with a point to prove, with end to end action throughout. Early goals were exchanged by Ronan Smith, Sevie Trowlen and Jake Feetham, with a few fine points struck by Conrad Bailey to continue the rapid scoring trend of the first half. St Killian’s began to battle hard in the midfield through Ronan O’ Loan and Niall McAuley, picking up much more possession now and looking inside to find their forwards. However, the immovable Conall McAuley was often there to put a stop to any imposing danger.

Noah McAuley entered the fray and immediately found the net, before Jude Montgomery responded in equal form, finding the back of the net for St Killian’s in stylish form. This inspired a fight back in the St Killian’s corner, with the determined Trowlen finding the net for the second time, before Niall McAuley helped himself to a brace of goals too. With their tails up, St Killian’s continued to attack, with Jack Black putting one between the posts. However, CPC continued to be ruthlessly efficient in attack with Oisin Richmond finding the net, and Oisin McCaughan and Ruairi McQuillan putting the game to bed with more quality scores for the winning side.

It was a game that was played in good spirits on both sides, with the two year 8 sides boasting a truly impressive amount of skill all around.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/ep8MsyCwYpyjZ7/?invite=f2904797-47f5-4d7c-a83f-da44ce3b67ab

by thesaffrongael

McKavanagh leads Aquinas to victory

Rosina McManus Camogie Shield final 

Aquinas Grammar 4-13 St Aidan’s, Cootehill 5-3

Aquinas Grammar battled back in the final quarter of Wednesday’s Rosina McManus Shield final to beat St Aidan’s Cootehill and seal their first Ulster Camogie title for the school.

Éabha Slowey gave St Aidan’s the lead with a goal in the fourth minute and they appeared to be in control, but a goal from Aquinas captain Katie Christie eight minutes into the second half pulled her side level.

In what had been a low scoring affair up to this stage suddenly transformed and Rose Geoghegan sent over a point for Cootehill to put them back in front. Less than a minute later Katie McKavanagh fired in a goal for Aquinas but Geoghegan hit back with a brilliant individual goal to make it 4-3 to 2-8 with 13 minutes to go.

Aquinas, pushed on and McKavanagh’s accuracy from frees saw them take control again. The St Bridget’s player had edged her side into the lead before Maisie Quilton blocked a clearance and raced through for a goal. A minute later McKavanagh’s long-range free went all the way to the net.

Máiréad Markey grabbed a goal at the other end for St Aidan’s, but it was Aquinas who finished strongest with a point from Ciara Doyle and two from McKavanagh, bringing her personal total to 2-8

by thesaffrongael

Dynamic Donegal in a class of their own

Dalata Hotel Group Ulster U20 Football Championship, Group A
Antrim 0-2 Donegal 3-23

Antrim’s opening game in the Ulster Under 20 Football Championship became something of a nightmare when they were totally outclassed by a brilliant Donegal team at Dunsilly

Man of the match Seanan Carr scores the second of his two goals

This was Antrim’s first outing in Group A and it is one they will seek to park as the Tír Chonaill men, fresh from a big win in their opener against Fermanagh, were in a merciless mood throughout. 

They had big performances all over the field with Seanan Carr leading the way in the scoring stakes, finishing with 2-10 with 1-4 of that tally from play, but all over the field, they were a different class than their hosts.

To their credit Antrim battled hard throughout, but the Tir Conaill men were simply on a different level. They bossed the game from start to finish conceding a mere two point over the hour, none of them in the second half

They went for the jugular from the throw in and right half back Fionn Coll grabbed an early goal as he cut through the Antrim defence in spectacular fashion. While Antrim’s few attacks came down the wings the visitors went straight through the middle, going from end to end without a glove laid on them.

The pace of Donegal was causing Antrim real problems as their ability to move the ball at speed was opening up the home defence time and again, while they were also on top around the middle as they owned the Antrim restarts. 

Conor McGinty landed twice before Antrim got off the mark through Rory McErlean, but there was no let-up as Donegal continued to attack in waves and the scores flowed with Carr, Shane Callaghan and Kevin Muldoon landing before the latter thumped over a two-pointer which stretched the gap to 10.

The second goal arrived on 22 minutes from a Seanan Carr penalty, awarded after Donncha McGurk was adjudged to have fouled Kevin Lynch but to be honest it looked a bit harsh as Lynch appeared to lose his footing and fall over the top of the Antrim man.

Although Antrim responded with a score from Ciaran McAleese, it would prove to be their last of the game as matters got worse when Niall Hynds was sent off on a second yellow with 27 played.

There was no way back even at this stage and with Conor McCahill and Dylan Mulholland also getting their name on the scoresheet, Donegal went in at the break with an unassailable 2-11 to 0-2 lead.

There was no easing up in the second period despite a raft of changes as Donegal rattled off four early scores – three from Carr – before Antrim were awarded a 42nd-minute penalty for a touch on the ground, but Padraig McBride was equal to Conhuir Johnston’s effort. Again it seemed harsh on the Antrim boys as the ball appeared to have crossed the line with the umpire clearly signalling that.

It would have been little but a consolation and Donegal were in no mood to give anything else away as they blocked countless shots, while at the other end, the scores continued to flow with substitutes Donnacha Boyle, Jack, Gallagher and Darragh Hennigan all chipping in.

But Carr was the star of the show and he got his second goal of the evening with three minutes to play, capping a fine evening for his team who maintained their impressive start to the competition.

For Antrim, it’s a matter of dusting themselves off and quickly as they host Fermanagh – who had a tough evening of their own against Tyrone – on Saturday at Dunsilly (2pm)

Donegal goalkeeper Padraig McBride saves Conhuir Johnston’s penalty during the second half

Antrim scorers: R McErlean 0-1, C McAleese 0-1

Donegal scorers: S Carr 2-10 (1-0 pen, 0-6f), F Coll 1-1, K Muldoon 0-3 (1x2pt), C McGinty 0-2, D Mulholland 0-2, C McCahill 0-1, S Callaghan 0-1, D Hennigan 0-1, D Boyle 0-1, J Gallagher 0-1

ANTRIM: Sennan Nagle; Sonny Doyle, Niall Hynds, Christopher Hale; Ronan Quinn, Paul Duffin, Eamonn Ward; Mannus McCrossan, Donncha McGurk; Corey Walsh, Conhuir Johnston, Rory McErlean; JJ Higgins, Ciaran McAleese, Sean Boyd.

Subs: Segade Adams for E Ward (ht), Michael McKenna for C McAleese (ht), Tarlach Enright for S Boyd (37), Lorcan Phillips for JJ Higgins (37), Ethan Walsh for C Walsh (43)

DONEGAL: Padraig McBride; Ruairi Callaghan, Niall Prenderville, Cathal Ó Gallchoir; Fionn Coll, Callum McCrea, Conor McGinty; Sean Martin, Kevin Muldoon; Mark McDevitt, Dylan Mulholland, Seanan Carr; Conor McCahill, Kevin Lynch, Shane Callaghan.

Subs: Jack Gallagher for M McDevitt (ht), Donnacha Boyle for C McCahill (ht), David Monaghan for K Muldoon (ht), Odhran Doherty for C McCrea (ht), Darragh Hennigan for C McGinty (42)

REFEREE: C Brady (Monaghan)

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/y8EK87XPG9MvL6/?invite=7d1cfa4c-f6a7-48a5-9dff-efd21f3514d1