We are delighted to be running our first ever “Men’s Night” event in St Josephs Parish Centre in Dunloy on Fri 22nd November at 19.00. This is a free event and all men from anywhere are very welcome to come along and enjoy what will be a really great night.
Our goal with this event is to bring men together from our wider community for a really enjoyable evening of information, social interaction and food.
Over these last few years we have very sadly lost much loved members of our community to suicide – particularly men. Dunloy Stronger Together is a community group which prioritises healthy minds, healthy bodies and therefore a healthy community. We sincerely hope this will be the first of many such evenings so that we can support men to lead health and happy lives.
Our guest speakers will Armagh legend Oisin McConville, Manchester United’s legend Keith Gillespie and ‘The Mental Health Fellow’ Joe Donnelly
Moneyglass advanced to the semi-final of the Ulster LGFA Minor Championship with a comprehensive victory over Enniskillen Gaels in Moneyglass on Sunday.
St. Ergnat’s led by the superb Jo Jo Darragh had 16 points to spare in the end against a fighting Fermanagh Champions who were never quite able to get up to the pace of the superb Antrim champions.
Darragh shot St. Ergnat’s into an early 1-1 to 1-0 lead with the Enniskillen Gaels goal coming from Gracie Elliott before the home side pushed on to take complete control.
Jo Jo Darragh would go on to complete her hat-trick and add a flurry of points while Katie McCloskey rattled the Gaels net on a couple of occasions and Leah Stewart all found a way past Caithlin Henderson in the Enniskillen goals.
The points came thick and fast but the Enniskillen ability to pierce the Moneyglass defence will have been of some concern to the St. Ergnat’s management team with Gracie Elliott, Aoibhe Judge and Clara O’Donnell recording majors for the Fermanagh champions.
Jo Jo Darragh and Katie McCloskey were the star performers in a good Moneyglass side with McCloskey showing outstanding commitment as sahe left the stage before half time and made her way to play for Ahoghill in the Ulster Junior Camogie final.
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Erin’s Own Cargin held their annual youth presentation evening in their Clubrooms on Wednesday 6th November.
Special guests were senior stars Michael McCann and Conan Johnston, who took time out of their preparations for Sundays Ulster Club game with Errigal Ciaran to come along and present the awards.
Pride of place went to the clubs the U14 LGFA team who won the A Championship for the first time in the clubs history. The U14 Camogie team were also given out their medals for their successful season.
Player of the year awards were given out at all age grades in the 3 codes, but the biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Don Blue. Don received the inaugral ‘Shay Bovill Memorial Cup’ for his commitment and dedication to the club. He really is the Spirit of Cargin!
The award winners were
Conan Laverty receives the new Antrim Jersey from Brian McCann, Cargin Youth Commitee for being the highest fundraiser
Don Blue accepting the Shay Bovill memorial cup from Darren, Shay and Forlaith Bovill
Don Blue with his mum Martina and sister Ivy
Joint U16 Camogie Player of the Year Lucia Sidebottom
Joint U16 Camogie Player of the Year Caoimhe McErlane
Minor Camogoe Player of the Year Aimee Johnston
Minor Player of the Year Jack Harney
U12 Camogie Player of the Year Adele McCann
U12 LGFA Player of the Year Sofia McCann
U12 Players of the year Caoln Kealey and Brodie Conway
U14 Camogie Captains Fiadh O Boyle and Aoibh O Donnell receive the U14 Shield from Chairman Aidan Johnston
U14 Camogie Players of the year Fiadh O Boyle and Aoibh O Donnell
U14 Camogie Shield Winners
U14 Dual Player Award went to Holly McErlane
U14 LGFA Captains Cliona McKeever and Gemma McAuley receive the U14A Championship cup from Chairman Aidan Johnston
Friends of Portglenone, Casements GAC and Geraldine’s CC, presented £12,500 worth of cheques to five charities this Sunday evening, 10th November, at a wrap up event in their Social Club on Main Street to finish off the PG100 Cycling Event held in September.
Roger Casements club chairman, Noel Kelly, thanked all those involved in the organisation and delivery of a fantastic fundraising effort, and to all the participants of the PG100 cycling event.
The Community Rescue Service Team, represented by Sharon Gibson, was presented a cheque by Liam Martin from Premier Electrics, one of the main corporate sponsors of the event. Sharon described how searches for missing people can come at any time and sometimes go on for extended periods. The support provided greatly helps the organisation which is wholly voluntary. The local community, on the banks of the River Bann, has benefitted on many occasions from timely interventions from this charity, the most recent being within one week of the PG100 event.
Macmillan Cancer Support, represented by Catherine King, was presented with a cheque by Oisin Doherty from C. Doherty & Co Accountants, one of the main corporate sponsors. Catherine explained that she had recently moved into fundraising after many years of offering direct support to those undergoing the final stages of Cancer care. This is something that touches all communities and Portglenone is no exception. Again, Friends of Portglenone were delighted to help with this very worthwhile charity.
Motor Neurone Disease Association, represented by Stephen Thompson was presented with a cheque by Roger Casements Committee Member, Paddy Carey. Stephen described how difficult life is for the families of people suffering from this dreadful disease. Household bills mount up while the main earner in the household often can’t work. At any one time around 120 people are suffering from the disease, which at this point has no known cure. Research into it is ongoing, and Stephen described ongoing efforts to beat it. The local community has been devastated by the news that the family of an active club member is currently navigating their way through with this terrible disease and are grateful for the support provided by MNDA.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT), represented by Kevin’s father, Colin Bell, was presented with a cheque by Fergal, Sharon and Caoimhe Marron. Colin explained that since the trust was formed following the death in New York of his son, Kevin, they help other bereaved families in this predicament. Colin was able to say that they had just recently surpassed the astounding milestone of repatriating 2000 times. Donations allow this specialist charity to deliver the support, and again the local area have been grateful for this assistance in the unfortunate untimely incident which affected the Marron family with the loss of Conor.
Air Ambulance NI, represented by Katrina Hughes, was presented with a cheque by Donna Leacock from Fullan’s Food halls’, one of the main corporate sponsors. Katrina explained to the assembled audience how the service runs on donations from the public, responding to incidents right across Northern Ireland. The local community of Portglenone have benefitted from this service and the club was very proud to be able to offer this support.
The cheque presentations marked the culmination of a summer long event in Portglenone. A cross-community effort, this saw new and seasoned cyclists take off in groups of six to twelve throughout the weeks of July and August. Through blood sweat and tears, the novices gradually increased their stamina levels and shared their struggles with friends. Many new friendships were established along roads in the early mornings and late evenings. Guidance was provided by seasoned cyclists from the Bann Valley road club. Eventually the cyclists took on the challenge for the big day. A warm sunny morning in September saw one hundred cyclists take off, and all made it home to a rousing welcome!!
Each cyclist wore a specially commissioned jersey covered in the logos of the corporate sponsors. The corporate logos were on display at the wrap up event and the cyclists also raised personal sponsorship through friends and acquaintances.
The wellbeing and good will felt through the whole event has been immeasurable. A ‘Santa cycle’ is planned for December in aid of the local branch of St Vincent de Paul.
This has been a massive success, and the support for the charities has been greatly received. Remaining funds have gone to the Friends of Portglenone charity, to be put to good use in the development of facilities at the local grounds.
Ulster Junior Hurling Club Championship quarter-final
St. Mary’s Rasharkin 1-15 East Cavan Gaels 4-16
Rasharkin’s hopes of a place in the Ulster final were blown off course in Carrickmore on Sunday where they lost to a very physical East Cavan Gaels in a bad tempered affair where referee Barry Winters had his work cut out to keep a lid on proceedings.
The Antrim champions made a bright start in Pairc Colmcille with Cathir Henderson pointing them ahead in the second minute before the Gaels Colm Gargan became the first player to receive Yellow with only three minutes on the clock.
The Dreen side responded from a Conor McKeever free to move two in front and the early indications were looking good for St. Mary’s but when Jack Barry opened the Cavan combination side’s account with a point in the 7th minute things began to change.
Rasharkin’s Conor McFerran runs at the Cavan defence
Liam O’Brien, who would have a massive influence on the game, levelled from a pointed free but Rasharkin were giving as good as they got and Shane Hasson restored their lead with a point in the 9th minute.
Conor McKeever extended that lead from a well struck free and Nicolas Kenny and Donagh Quigg exchanged further points to keep the gap at two after 13 minutes.
The tackles were going in thick and fast and Carrickmore was certainly no place for the faint hearted as play continued to swing from end to end with Liam O’Brien from a free and Conor McKillop exchanging further minors.
Some of the tackling left a lot to be desired with the Cavan combination putting in heavy challenges that were starting to unsettle Rasharkin and the Cavan men hit two points on the bounce through Nicolas Kenny and Liam O’Brien before Callum Shiels finished from close range for the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute.
That goal put East Cavan Gaels ahead for the first time in the match and four minutes later things went from bad to worse for the Blue & Ambers as Conor McKeever received a second Yellow and the Red that followed.
The Gaels pushed forward in the closing stages of the half with their numerical advantage with the excellent Liam O’Brien leading the way with two points and Nicolas Kenny adding another with Rasharkin’s only response coming from a Shane Hasson free.
As the card count continued to rise the Cavan side struck a decisive blow as the game crept into injury time with Callum Shiel getting in for his side’s second goal to leave his side 2-9 to 0-7 ahead at the short whistle.
Shiel extended the Cavan lead with a point on the restart with Cahir Henderson for Rasharkin and Nicolas Kenny for the Gaels exchanging further points and it wasn’t looking good for the Antrim men, even at this early juncture.
They did respond however and, roared on by the good crowd who had made the journey to Carrickmore they hit the next four points through Shane Hasson 0-2 and Tiernan O’Boyle 0-2, O’Boyle’s scores coming from two massive long range frees.
Rory Farrell turns away to celebrate after scoring East Cavan gaels fourth goal
Hasson’s second cut the deficit to five with 19 minutes remaining and the momentum was with the Antrim champions but the excellent O’Brien replied from a couple of frees to put further daylight between the sides.
Shane Hasson had taken over the free taking duties from the unfortunate Conor McKeever and he converted another but Liam O’Brien was punishing every perceived indiscretion by the Dreen side as he replied with two more.
Things appeared to be turning in favour of the Antrim men when Rory Farrell received a straight Red with seven minutes remaining and a minute later Shane Hasson fired home to close the gap to four and a comeback looked on the cards.
We then had a bizarre situation when Cian McEntee bundled the sliotar to the net at the other end but was then dismissed following consultation between Barry Winters and his umpires but the goal was allowed to stand.
A minute later Rory Farrell drove the final nail in the Rasharkin coffin as he fired home his side’s fourth goal from close range with Liam O’Brien and Tiernan O’Boyle exchanging late points and Rasharkin’s Brian Og O’Neill becoming the second Rasharkin man to receive Red.
A tough uncompromising game of hurling, spoiled by too many late challenges but East Cavan Gaels look like being serious challengers in the final. A strong physical side with good individuals in Tadh Barry, Jack Barry, Jack McGuinness, Canice Maher, Callum Shiel, Nicolas Kenny and the excellent Liam O’Brien.
They face a massive challenge in the final however against Ballinascreen of Derry who defeated Ballela of Down in the other semi-final the Derry side will start that decider as firm favourites.
For Rasharkin the loss of Conor McKeever was immeasurable but the men from Dreen have had a superb season and did their club and county proud and can push on from their Antrim success as they contest Intermediate next season.
East Cavan Gaels: Conor Gallagher, Sean Walsh, Tadh Barry, Colin Gargan, Jack Barry, Jack McGuinness, Canice Maher, Philip McKeon, Callum Shiel, Liam O’Brien, Daire Leddy, Rory Farrell, Nicolas Kenny, Cian McEntee, James Tully
