Former Clare legend and new Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald was the guest of honour at the Loughgiel juvenile awards night in Shamrocks clubrooms on Friday evening and not surprisingly he was a bit hit among the largre crowd of young hurlers who attended.
The main award of the evening was the presentation of the McMullan Cup to the Shamrocks Under 16 team who beat Dunloy in the final back in June. A great night for the young hurlers of Loughgiel which Davy appeared to really enjoy himself. No doubt a lot of other clubs will have the invites out to the Sixmilebridge man already.
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE DINNER CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Casement’s Portglenone 1-7 Four Masters (Donegal) 2-11
Despite a superb individual performance from midfielder Odhran Doherty, Casement’s Portglenone were forced to succumb to an excellent all round Four Masters of Donegal in the quarter-final of the Paul McGirr Cup in Dromore on Sunday.
Doherty covered every blade of grass of Gardrum Park and accounted for all but one of his sides total over the hour but the Donegal champions had greater strength in depth throughout the field and that proved the difference in the end.
Doherty got the Antrim champions off the mark from a pointed free in the opening minute but Four Masters replied with a vengeance as Gethin Mosby found the net with four minutes gone.
Mosby’s goal seemed to fire the boys in Blue into action and they added points from Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan and a fine long range effort from Thomas Carr before Slevin fired home their second major of the evening with only 11 minutes on the clock.
Portglenone looked rattled as they tried to cope with the movement of the Masters but they did reply through two fine points from the impressive Odhran Doherty, much to the approval of the good crowd who had travelled to support them.
Thomas Lenehan, who was impressing on the ‘40’ replied for the Donegal side and Thomas McHugh moved them further ahead before Odhran Doherty brought his and his sides total to four for the half to leave Four Masters 7 ahead at the break
Half Time: Casements 0-4 Four Masters 2-5
The Bannsiders needed a good start to the second half if they were to turn this one around but in the event it was Four Masters who continued to call the shots as Finn Gillespie, Thomas Carr and Thomas Lenehan 0-2 moved the 11 ahead after14 minutes.
The Antrim side had yet to register in the second half and might have been further behind but Eoghan Smith pulled off a great save to deny the opposition when a goal looked certain.
Gethin Mosby moved the Donegal side 12 ahead before Odhran Doherty final opened the Casement’s second half account with a point in the 20th minute and it brought about a response.
Casement’s were still battling hard and it took a superb point blank save from Fintan James to deny the excellent Doherty as he tried to drag his side back into the contest.
Conor Burns became the second Portglenone player to get his name on the score sheet with a point in the 22nd minute and Doherty was finally rewarded for his efforts when he found a way past James in the Four Masters goal with five minutes remaining.
It was too little-too late with Lenehan replying with a point in the 26th minute but it was fitting that the final score of the game would fall to man of the match, Doherty as he brought his personal total of the evening to 1-6.
A good season for this excellent Portglenone side who have won the Antrim U16 championship and Breslin Cup but on the day they came up against a bigger and stronger Four Masters side.
More than half of today’s Casement’s side are under age next year again and they should again be serious contenders in the year ahead.
Four Masters: Fintan James, Eoghan Thomas, Ethan McCrea, Sean Sweeney, Thomas Healey, Jack McGroarty, Odhran McMullin, Thomas Carr, Thomas Griffin, Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan, Rory Doherty, Finn Gillespie, Gethin Mosby, Thomas McHugh.
Casement’s: Eoghan Smith, Cillian McKenna, Conall Morgan, Cillian McDonnell, Thomas Douthart, Christy McDonnell, Tom Duffin, Odhran Doherty, Rory O’Kane, Eoghan McErlean, Tom Convery, Conor Burns, Frank McAleese, James McVeigh, Conor McKeever
St. James’ Aldergrove held their annual dinner dance on Saturday night at the Devenish Complex. With 300 guests in attendance, a great night was had by the juvenile and senior players and their families. The ever-present Katrina Moore was MC of the event, and she held counsel in her own inimitable style and humour.
Chairman Paul McCarthy opened the proceedings with a short welcome speech and then the senior men and ladies’ captains, Ronan Hanna and Anna Crossan, awarded all the juvenile female and male awards to the next generation of Grove stars.
The formalities were completed when John Jones updated the members on the club development plans, the significant growth of the membership, the need for volunteers and launched the Christmas cash call fundraiser.
After the meal, the kids mingled and danced away with their senior counterparts to complete a fantastic evening and the club made a cheque presentation to Bert Trowlen on behalf of the Saffron Gael.
Bert Trowlen receives a cheque for £500-00 from St. James’ Aldergrove at theit Annual Dinner in the Devenish on Saturday night. Bert received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael
TO VIEW BERT’S PHOTOGRAPHS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Casements GAC’s Under 18 Minor Football Captain, Ryan McKeever, receives the Laverty Shield from Casements Club Chairman, Noel Kelly.
Casements GAC’s Under 18 Minor Football Captain, Ryan McKeever, receives the Minor ‘B’ Championship Cup from Casements Club Chairman, Noel Kelly.
The Victorious County Antrim Under 18 ‘B’ Championship and Laverty Shield Winners, Casements 2024
Odhran Doherty receives the 2024 Under 18 Player of the Year Award from Team Manager, Gareth Kelly.
Reserve Football Manager, Barry McErlean, presents Brian McManus with the Reserve Player of the Year Award.
Club Chairman, Noel Kelly, and Senior Manager, John McKeever, present Niall Delargy and Ronan Kelly with the Joint Senior Player of the Year Award 2024.
Club Chairman, Noel Kelly, and Secretary, Martin Kearney, present Roisin Convery with Casements GAC Club Person of the Year Award 2024.
Geraldines Camogie Club Chairperson, Carla McGrogan, presents Aoife McKenna with the County Antrim Minor ‘B’ Championship Cup 2024.
Geraldines Club President, Marie Doherty, presents Hannah Friel with the Young Player of the Year Award 2024.
The Victorious Antrim County Camogie Under 18 ‘B’ Championship Winners, Geraldines
Geraldines Senior Camogie Manager, Phelim McCloskey, presents Dearbhail Dobbin with a presentation from the club in recognition of her Ulster Minor Player of the Year Award.
Geraldines Club Treasurer, Zara Convery, presents Geraldines Captain, Aine Mulholland, with the Junior Feis Cup 2024.
The Victorious Antrim Camogie Junior Feis Cup Winners, Geraldines 2024
Siobhan McAfee presents The Teresa Grant Memorial Trophy to 2024 Senior Camogie Player of the Year, Aine Mulholland.
Club Sponsor, Owen Kelly from McCauley Trailers, presents the 2024 Geraldines Club Person of the Year Award to Sinead McKeever.
Tony Convery and wife Joanne, Sean and Dympna Kelly and Ciaran and Caroline McDonnell enjoying the celebration night.
TO VIEW PADDY’S PICS FROM THE EVENING CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
A large crowd attended Saturday’s Ulster v the Rest of Ireland hurling spectacular at Corrigan Park, organised by Gaels Against Genocide in Gaza.
The were entertained to a fine game of hurling with little separating Davey Fitzgerald’s Ulster and a Rest of Ireland Select taken by another Clare native, Louis Mulqueen.
Although the result was inconsequential, the Ulster side did run out 3-19 to 2-21 winners although the visitors were disputing that score in the end.
It was a first opportunity for Fitzgerald to see some of his Antrim players in action and the Saffrons’ contingent on the field were certainly not taking it easy as they looked to make an impression, with Eoin O’Neill’s first half-goal helping the Ulster side into a 1-9 to 0-10 lead at the break.
Niall McKenna cracked home a second major five minutes into the second period but the Rest of Ireland team hit two of their own with Iraqi-born Leitrim hurler, Zak Moradi landing the first, but it was a bundled home effort from Joe Maskey that tipped the balance in favour of the hosts in the end.
In all, it was an excellent afternoon with the Gaza Paediatrician Care Initiative the big winner as all of the funds are going towards their effort to bring badly injured Palestinians to Ireland for treatment.
“There were a lot of moving parts and trying to draw them together took a group of dedicated volunteers to make it work,” said Paul Collins from the Gaels Against Genocide Group.
“We are absolutely delighted with the turnout and I think people have bought into the charity and idea of 30 children coming from Gaza to get the treatment they need in Ireland. We are just helping out the Irish paediatricians who came up with the idea.
Antrim and Ulster manager, Davy Fitzgerald helps support a banner highlighting the GAA’s support for the crisis in Gaza
“There’s been fantastic buy-in from the public and players. Those who were unable to make it, the messages of support and donations they made have been heart-warming.”
The Gaels Against Genocide group emerged from weekly protests in the Belfast and has already held its own rallies.
However, the need for this event to take place at all was bittersweet as on one hand, the generosity of the GAA community is helping make a difference, but then the fact this has to happen at all is a source of deep regret.
The scenes of death and destruction visited upon the Palestinian people have been horrifying with the UN estimating around 70 per cent of the victims are women and children.
It was perhaps fitting that local children played a huge part in the day’s events in pre-game and at half-time as those of a similar age in Gaza have a very different reality.
“With the GAA being community-based, we were very confident the West Belfast, Antrim and further afield GAA communities would rally behind, and that’s how it has worked out,” Collins added.
“It’s a terrible thing we’ve had to do all of this, but we’ve families here and children playing in the Go Games, which is quite poignant as children in Gaza don’t have the opportunity to enjoy sport like the kids here today.
The Ulster & Rest of Ireland teams take the field at Corrigan on Saturday
It was heart-warming to see the response of the Gaels of Antrim and further afield as they came together to raise funds that sadly will only make a difference to those fortunate enough to avail of this excellent initiative.
Meanwhile governments refuse to condemn this genocide despite the fact that it is being broadcast daily on our T.V. screens and by social media.
TO VIEW BERT’S PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THIS EVENT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
