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by thesaffrongael

Four Masters will start as favourites in St. Stephen’s Day semi-final

Thursday 26th December 2024

    Semi Final 2

    1pm 

    Shaw’s Road, St Pauls GAC

    Four Masters (Donegal) v Fr. Rocks Cookstown (Tyrone)

    Reigning Ulster fonaCAB holders, Four Masters will start as firm favourites when they take on Fr. Rocks, Cookstown in Thursday’s semi-final of the St. Paul’s tournament at Shaw’s Road. 

    A win for the Donegal champions would set up a repeat of last year’s decider against Magherafelt but before that there is the considerable hurdle of the Derry champions to overcome.

    It took extra time to separate the Tyrone champions and Mayobridge in the quarter-final as Fr. Rocks made their bow in the tournament against the Down representatives who had already negotiated a preliminary Round encounter.

    The Tyrone champions showed great battling qualities with Mayobridge looking to have nicked it late, but the Cookstown club forced the additional time and there was no looking back from there as they built a wind-assisted lead to dominate the final 10 minutes.

    Mayobridge played against the breeze in the opening half but they got off to the perfect start as a long ball from Patrick Woods saw Gary Clerkin turn his marker and place Daire O’Keefe to finish to the net.

    With the wind behind them in extra time, the Tyrone champions would avail of the advantage with five points on the spin in the first period – two apiece from Karol Wawrynkiewicz and Long (one free) that sandwiched a McMurray score.

    A Clerkin point reduced it to 0-18 to 1-11 at the turnaround, but despite the wind advantage for the final 10 minutes, Mayobridge couldn’t turn it around.

    They will face a step up in class on Thursday as they face reigning champions, Four Masters. The Donegal Town side won the tournament last year when the age group was U17 and have returned to action with virtually the same side in this year’s tournament which has been changed back to U18.

    2023 Ulster Minor holders Four Masters survived the first assault on their crown as they saw off Monaghan Champions Scotstown 3-07-3-06 in their quarter-final clash.

    The Donegal kingpins settled into their stride when Callum McCrea broke out of defence and switched to Turlough Carr- he returned a pass to McCrea and in turn feed late replacement Thomas Lenehan to slam home inside of two minutes.

    They certainly didn’t get it all their own way against a Scotstown side who pushed them right down to the wire despite leading 2-5 to 1-4 at the interval.

    A grandstand finish was on the cards though as Scotstown battled back and hit their third goal in the 53rd minute.

    Darragh Keenan bustled his way into a shooting position and sent a bullet of a shot to the net to reduce the deficit to the bare minimum again.

    The holders hung on to book their place in the St Stephens Day semi-final against Fr. Rocks and look favourites to advance to their third final in three years but the Cookstown side can take a lot of encouragement from the Scotstown performance.

    by thesaffrongael

    Rossa romp to New Year’s Day final

    fonaCab Ulster Minor Fooball tournament at St Paul’s

    Magherafelt O’Donovan Rossa 3-10 Clann Éireann Lurgan 2-6

    Magherafelt’s Cathir Spiers cuts through the Clann Eireann defence to score his team’s opening goal

    A strong first half performance did the trick as Magherafelt held off Clann Éireann off in Belfast on Sunday to book their spot in the Ulster minor final on New Year’s Day.

    They’ll play the winners of the other semi-final between Four Masters and Coosktown who meet on St Stephen’s Day.

    A gale force wind blowing across the pitch favoured the Rossa side in the first half. They bagged the game’s first goal. Cathir Spiers cut through the Lurgan defence before hammering to the net for a 1-2 to 0-0 lead with 10 minutes gone.

    Kian Maynes and Lorcan Higgins kicked Magherafelt seven clear before Clann Éireann scored.

    When it came, it was a much-needed goal. Daire Whitmarsh kept a Cohen Henderson cross in play before beating Campbell with a precise finish at the near post.

    A three-minute burst put Magherafelt firmly back the driving seat. With Clann Éireann struggling to secure the ball from their kick-outs, Maynes and Beattie tagged on points.

    When Cathair Kerr won a third kick-out, he played in Callum Leacock who blasted to the net.

    It got even better for Magherafelt when Conall Higgins was fouled for a late penalty. He took the kick himself to notch a third goal to give Rossa a 3-7 to 1-1 lead.

    A high ball into the Magherafelt defence forced a double save from Campbell in the opening minutes of the second-half before Henderson fired over the bar.

    With seven minutes gone, Clann Éireann added their second goal after the game’s second penalty. Up stepped Henderson who was denied by Campbell before poking home the rebound.

    With nine points between the sides, Clann Éireann went down to 14 men after Adam Furphy’s 41st minute black card.

    Magherafelt, beaten by eventual champions Four Masters last year, never looked in any trouble with Finn Campbell and Tiarnan McDonald tagging on late Clann Éireann points.

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

    https://myalbum.com/album/ExgGSkFZosaKWv

    Magherafelt: Karl Campbell; Turlough Cartin, Zack Gavigan, Ronan Conway; Michael McKenna, Rory Small, Cathair Kerr; Jude Beattie (0-1), Cathir Spiers (1-0); Callum Leacock (1-0), Caolan Higgins (0-1), Lorcan Higgins (0-2), Kian Maynes (0-2), Conall Higgins (1-4, 1 -0 pen, 2f), Michael Higgins
    Subs:     Ronan Ferris for Caolan Higgins (INJ 44), Michael Lavery for Kerr (55), Ben McCormack for Spiers (59), Cillian McCabe for Conway (63)

    Clann Éireann: Conan McCafferty; Lennan McCavigan, Finbar Mallon, Daire Whitmarsh (1-0); James Moriarty (0-1), Daire Young, Tiarnan McDonald (0-1); Sean Geoghegan, Cathal Dorrian; Finn Campbell (0-1), James McCooe (0-1), Adam Furphy; Cohen Henderson (1-2, 1f); Euan McAreavey; Cailean Lavery

    Subs: Conor Beattie for McCavigan (44), Joe Beatty for Lavery (55)

    Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)

    by thesaffrongael

    Vincent Kerr R.I.P.

    We at the Saffron Gael were saddened to hear of the death this week of Tir na nOg stalwart, Vincent Kerr. A post on facebook from his nephew, Michael Kerr highlighted the life and career of Vincent whose career with the Randalstown club spanned 35 years.

    Last night we said farewell to Uncle Vincent. Just short of his 89th birthday, he was in his last days as he was in life, strong, determined, dignified and fun.

    A lifelong sports fan, an early boxer, Vincent became one of our club’s best players and most highly decorated hurlers. His Tir Na nOg playing career spanned 35 years in hurling and football winning the Antrim Junior Championship in 1960.

    His skills were utilised first for Antrim at minor level in the early 50s, and then winning two Ulster finals and competing in two All Ireland finals for Antrim in 1958, and 1959, and representing Ulster in the railway cup in the early 60s.

    In his mid-40’s he retired his GAA playing days and followed a new passion combining his love of birds with his competitive nature and became a member of the pigeon racing fraternity, winning regular trophies and titles.

    Vincent was a master tradesman, no skill was beyond his capability and our extended family circle, the club and local friends and community all benefitted from his precision with his tools.

    Earlier this year he said goodbye to his wife Mary of over 60 years, but accepted his loss and his illness with dignity and grace.

    There will never be another like Vincent and we have all lost a champion, a great neighbour, a loving family man.

    Rest in Peace Vincent – truly a man for all ages.

    by thesaffrongael

    Clann Eireann and Magherafelt meet at St. Paul’s

    Sunday 22nd December 2024

    Semi Final 1  – 1pm 

    Shaws Road, St Pauls GAC

    Magherafelt (Derry) v Clann Eireann (Armagh)

    The first of the fonaCAB-St. Paul’s Ulster Minor football semi-finals is down for decision this Sunday at Shaw’s Road and it throws together two strong opponents, both who will have their eyes set on a place in the final.

    A strong second half showing by Armagh champions Clann Éireann saw the Lurgan side book their place in the semi-final of the fonaCAB at the expense of St Molaise of Irvinstown in their quarter final at Sportlann, Colaiste Feirste.

    There was little between the two teams in the opening half, Clann Éireann turning around with a two point lead, but the really got going early in the second and added three more goals to their half time total of 2-2 to open a massive gap. However the Irvinstown boys kept battling away and three goals in the last ten minutes brought them back to within seven at the end.

    With the stiff breeze at the backs in the second half Clann Éireann were soon ahead with early scores from Cohen Henderson and Euan McAreavey. Barry Goodwin levelled matters again with a point for Irvinstown but the next ten minutes was all one way traffic as the Armagh boys began to hit their stride. Five in a row from goalkeeper Liam Carroll, Cohen Henderson, Euan McAreavey (2) and James McCooe saw them pull well clear and it was clear at this stage they would advance.

    In their quarter final Magherafelt were forced to withstand a late rally from Antrim champions, St. Brigid’s before progressing to Sunday’s semi-final.

    Magherafelt held on to earn a spot against the Armagh champions on Shaw’s Road on Sunday and this first semi-final is likely to attract a bumper crowd to West Belfast.

    Finbar Mallon and captain, Dire Young are the mainstays of a strong Clann Eireann defence with Sean Geoghegan and Conan McCafferty forming a strong mid-field partnership for the Lurgan side.

    Euan McAreavey spearheads a potent Clann Eireann attack where Cohen Henderson and James McCooey have been amongst the scorers.

    Derry sides have figured prominently in this competition over the years and while Magherafelt did just enough to get past St. Brigid’s there is a feeling that there could be more to come.

    Rossa held the upper hand from the start and with their pace causing St Brigid’s problems at the back and Cathir Spiers opened their account with a point inside four minutes. Things got worse for St Brigid’s when the Derry champions grabbed the opening goal of the game through Kian Maynes, but St Brigid’s hit back right away and top scorer JJ Higgins swung a ball across the Rossa goalmouth for Joseph Mellon to palm to the net.

    The Derry boys led by five at the break and increased that lead to eight at a stage in the second half. It began to look like this would be a real runaway for the Derry side, but to their credit St Brigid’s kept on battling and closed to within three by the time Down referee Gavin Finnegan sounded the final whistle.

    Both sides will have concerns about the manner in which they let substantial leads slip in their semi-finals and this one could go either way but on the evidence of their respective semi-final performances Clann Eireann are given a tentative nod but it could well come down to which sides hits their best form on the day.

    by thesaffrongael

    Late rally not enough as St. Louis bow out

    McLarnon Cup Knockout

    St. Louis Ballymena 3-8 St. Malachy’s Castlewellan 3-11

    A late rally from St. Louis Ballymena fell short as the Kintullagh side bowed out to St. Malachy’s castlewellan in the knock-out stages of the McLarnon Cup at Colaisre Feirste on Wednesday afternoon.

    The Down side were well on top during the opening half with the superb Ruairi Madine pulling the strings and looked well on their way to the next round when they led by 3-9 to 1-2 at the halfway stage.

    Madine was the Ballymena side’s tormentor in chief during this periods but St. Louis will surely reflect on his two late first half goals which were both preventable as the reason why they were left with too much to do in a much improved second half.

    It took the Kintullagh side 17 minutes to register their first point from an Odhran Duffin free but by this stage the Down side had registered 1-3 through Martin Og Brannigan, Ruairi Madine and Manus Middleton with their goal coming from Rian Walsh.

    Castlewellan kept building up a healthy lead with points from Middleton (0-3), Shea Barker, Caolan Flannagan and Luke Rooney before Caleb Smith gave St. Louis a lift when he finished a well worked move to the net in the 20th minute.

    Patrick O’Neill added a point but those two late goals from man of the match, Madine left the South West Antrim club with a mountain to climb in the second half.

    Whatever was said at the break, St. Louis returned to the field a much more determined and focused side in the second half and Ryan McKeever, Odhran Duffin (f) and Caleb Smith 0-2 split the posts in the opening 13 minutes.

    Manus Middleton and Ryan McCourt replied with points for the Castlewellan College but St. Louis were now enjoying much more of the play and Damian Kinsella gave them a major boost when he finished to the net with 7 minutes remaining.

    Fullback Sean McDermott followed with a great long range point before Odhran Duffin finished a fine move to the net with time almost up.

    St. Louis pushed hard during the final minutes but a Cillian Scullion point was as close as they would get with St. Malachy’s relieved to hear the final whistle.

    St. Louis: 1 Charlie Cunning, 2 Shea griffin, 3 Sean McDermott, 4 Oisin Hamill, 5 Patrick O’Neill, 6 Jack Martin, 7 Ryan McKeever, 8 Sean Og Blaney, 9 Luke McFerran, 10 Odhran Duffin, 11 Sean O’Brien, 12 Fiontan Bradley, 13 Cillian Scullion, 14 Caolan McFerran, 15 Caleb

    St. Malachy’s: 1 Callum Travers, 2 Harry Keenan, 3 Luke Brannigan, 5 Shea Barker, 6 Ross Green, 7 Martin Og Brannigan, 8 Daelach McGreevey, 9 Odhran McCann, 10 Ryan McCourt, 11 Luke Rooney, 12 Manus Middleton, 13 Rian Walsh, 14 Ruairi Madine, 15 Caolan Flanagan, 16 Matthew Murran

      Referee: Fergal Laverty  

    TO VIEW BERTS PIS FROM GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW  

    https://myalbum.com/album/WUq82scrsYmWNe/