Gaelcholáiste Dhoire qualified for their first A final in Ulster Colleges hurling when they beat Cross & Passion Ballycastle in Friday’s morning’s semi-final of the Leonard Cup at UU Coleraine.
The Dungiven boys were excellent all through and though CPC drew level in the early stages with a well taken goal from Ronan Elliott and a Páidí O’Kane point Gaelcholáiste Dhoire pushed on again and were in control for most of the match.
MJ McOscair’s got their second goal around the quarter hour mark and with Harry Ó Cearnaigh adding some great scores from frees they stretched the gap before Kian Ó Ceallaigh’s goal gave them a 3-08 to 1-03 lead at the half time whistle.
With the breeze behind them in the second half CPC fared better and the defence did well to restrict the Derry boys to just four points. However the scores were hard to come by against a tenacious Gaelcholáiste Dhoire defence. There was a bit of optimism when Charlie McAuley got a goal back for the Ballycastle side, but the scoring dried up after that and the Dungiven side eased through to a final meeting with the winner of next week’s second semi-final between St Mary’s CBGS and St Pat’s Maghera
Gaelcholáiste: Oisín Ó Lochlainn, Killian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide, Dónal Ó Murchú, Brógan Ó Dubhghaill-Ó Cinnéide, Oisín Mag Uidhir, Odhrán Ó Cléirigh, Peadar Ó Ceallaigh 0-2, Seán Mac Conmidhe, Fionn Ó Conaire 0-2, Aodhán Ó Ceallaigh 1-0, Harry Ó Cearnaigh 0-5, MJ Mac Oscair 1-1, Kian Ó Ceallaigh 1-1, Seán Paul Ó Ceallaigh 0-1.
Subs used: Odhrán Ó Giolláin, Padraig Mac Giollagáin, Damhnaic Ó Ceallaigh
Cross & Passion: Cormac Bailey, Peadar Doherty, Oran Baudant, Ruairi Laverty, Cormac Burke, Matthew Donnelly, Aaron Richmond, Joe Deery, Aaron Gillan, Paidi O’Kane 0-5, Charlie McAuley 1-1, Cillian Cunning, Ronan Elliott 1-0, Patrick Campbell, Peter Laverty
Cross & Passion Ballycastle 2-10 St Patrick’s Maghera 3-1
Cross & Passion College Ballycastle survived a scare from a hard working St Pat’s Maghera side before clinching the McNamee Cup at Slemish Park, Ballymena on Friday afternoon.When man of the match John Og Darragh hit three points in the first five minutes and his cousin Killian Cassidy added another, the Ballycastle school appeared to be in command, and when Darragh grabbed the first goal of the game it looked even more conclusive. However when Patrick O’Loughlin got a goal back for the Maghera boys it gave them a bit of belief. Darragh sent over two long range points to steady the CPC ship, but when a long delivery by Harry McCloskey ended in the CPC net it was suddenly game on again. When a long range delivery by CPC dropped in around the goals and almighty scramble ensued, and Pearse McMullan and Darragh McShane were in like a flash to scramble the ball over the line, but turning to play against the breeze in the second period it appeared the ‘Convent’ still had work to do.
Darragh came close to adding to his tally in the first minute of the second half but St Pat’s managed to keep them at bay, and when the team captain received his second yellow card soon afterwards the Co Derry school must have felt they were well back in contention.
However the rest of the CPC team responded well and they harried and hassled to keep their opponents from scoring.
With time almost up St Pat’s full forward Mulholland broke through to score a fantastic solo goal, but Cross & Passion managed to keep their opponents at bay for the rest of the game to seal the win.
Cross & Passion: J óg Darragh 2-5, 0-3 frees, T Richmond 0-3 frees, K Cassidy and P McMullan 0-1 each.
St Patrick’s: P O’Loughlin 1-1, H McCloskey (free) and A Mulholland 1-0 each.
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A last minute reminder about tomorrow’s Ulster select v the Rest of Ireland Hurling game at Corrigan Park organised by Gaels against Genocide. One of the organisers of the event, Neil McManus has described the genocide in Palestine as the worst humanitarian crisis of our modern times and condemned Western Governments for their lack of response.
McManus will be unavailable to take part in Saturday’s game as he will be lining out against Slaughtneil later in the day in the Ulster Club semi-final at the Athletic Grounds but stated during the week, “This is not a political issue-it’s a moral issue”
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s game and can be purchased by clicking on the link below but if you cannot make it to the game you can still donate by clicking on the same link.
The Saffron Gael will be there to capture the event and add their support to this wonderful cause so come along and join us at Corrigan on Saturday.
Gaels against Genocide have been working closely with Gaza Paediatrician Care Initiative who have arranged for Palestinians, badly injured in Gaza to come to Ireland and in partnership with the initiative we hope to raise much needed funds to go towards medical costs. Today we launched ‘Hurling for Gaza’ when hurling stars from all over Ireland will come together for this great cause in what will be a great game and occasion to be involved in. Tickets are available via link below for the game and cash will also be accepted on the day. We encourage everyone to purchase ticket whether you can make the game or not and encourage your family, friends and neighbours.
TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR DONATE CLICK ON THER LINK BELOW·
Captains Odhran Doherty (Portglenone) and Tomás Carr (Four Masters) at the tournament launch
Four Masters v Roger Casements Portglenone
Sunday 17th Nov. Gardrum Park, Dromore @ 4pm
The second quarter final in the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship in association with MFC Sports takes place at 4:00 p,m, in Gardrum Park Dromore this Sunday and promises to be an intriguing encounter between Antrim champions Rogers Casement’s Portglenone and Donegal’s Four Masters.
The Four Masters club are currently riding on the crest of a wave sweeping all before them in Donegal underage football having won both the U16 and U18 championships coming on the trail of last year’s U18 team who are the current holders of the Ulster U18 title won in fine style at St Pauls last year. Led by the inspirational Tomas Carr from midfield the Donegal town lads will be looking to emulate their club mates as they seek to win the Ulster crown, Carr forms a formidable midfield partnership with Thomas Healy and they will be hoping to provide an attacking platform for a forward line featuring the impressive Thomas Lenehan, Finn Gillespie and Gethin Mosby among others. Ethan McCrea and Conal Flannery form the spine of a very tight back line which has rarely been penetrated this year to date conceding just 0-4 in the county final against Dungloe.
Four Masters manager Emmett Gallagher commented on the importance of Ulster football at this level ‘’We are delighted and honoured to be part of the Paul McGirr tournament for 2024. Underage football is about development and gaining experiences. Our players are relishing the opportunity of playing against the best players and club teams of their age in Ulster. We know we face a tough challenge in the quarter final from Roger Casements. They are a club with a proud tradition and have had a great year to date winning the Antrim U16 Championship and their Senior team getting to a county final. We look forward to what should be a close and competitive game.”
Roger Casements are hoping that this crop of players can crown what has been a fine year for the Portglenone club, a year that has seen them making huge progress across all levels and marking them out as the possible heir to Cargin’s throne. Having had a huge victory over St. Paul’s in the Antrim semi-final, the black and amber boys emerged 3 point victors in an epic encounter with a highly fancied St. Brigid’s side in their county final. Despite trailing by 3 points and being reduced to 13 men early in the second half the South West Antrim lads dug deep into their reserves to secure a very warranted and historic first U16 county title. The flame haired Odhran Doherty who produced a scintillating display in that final will be the man the Donegal boys will have to stop, Conall Morgan and Christy Doherty lead their defence while Tom Convery, Conor McKeever and Conor Burns will be tasked with the job of keeping the scoreboard ticking against a mean Four Masters rearguard.
Roger Casements manager Owen Doherty is really looking forward to the occasion on Sunday ‘Roger Casements are thrilled to participate in the prestigious Paul McGirr Tournament following our first ever 16 Antrim Championship. Competing in this renowned tournament is an exciting opportunity for our players to continue develop their skills against the top teams in Ulster. We look forward to the opportunity to represent Antrim in Ulster against the formidable Four Masters Donegal on the 17th November.” An enticing encounter is expected and it would prove very difficult to predict a winner between the two sides, Four Masters ability to nullify Doherty in midfield could well be the deciding factor.
Paul McGirr
“Paul Mc Girr was only 18 years old when he was fatally injured during a county minor match in Omagh. Paul was representing Tyrone in an Ulster Minor Football Championship game against Armagh when he collided with another player. Paul was a fierce competitor and had risen through the footballing ranks with Dromore and Tyrone GAA. His youthful energy and application were recognised by all around the village of Dromore, with many children looking up to Paul as someone they aspired towards. Although Paul was taken at such an early stage in his life, his spirit lives on within the wider GAA community. Each year, the ‘Paul Mc Girr’ tournament takes place in Dromore, which sees the U-16 winners of each Ulster County battle it out to be declared an Ulster Champion.”_
AIB Ulster Senior Hurling Club Championship – Semi Final
Cushendall v Slaughtneil
Date: Saturday 16 November – Throw-in : 7:15pm
Venue: BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh
Referee: Peter Owens (Liatroim Fontenoys, Down)
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Saturday’s Ulster club semi final between Cushendall and Slaughtneil….
Having retained the Volunteer Cup some four weeks ago, Cushendall’s journey continues with the Four Season Cup on their radar. All roads lead to Armagh on Saturday evening as the Ruairi’s begin the defence of their provincial crown against old adversaries, Slaughtneil.
Saturday will be the fifth time these two will have met in the last 10 years with Cushendall coming out on top in each of the previous occasions. The rivalry began in Owenbeg in 2014 when the young upstarts from just outside Maghera pushed the ‘Dall to the pin of their collar and it would take extra time and a replay before Cushendall would progress.
They would meet again some 12 months later in the Athletic Grounds and once again, it took extra time and an epic game of hurling before the Ruairi’s would lift the provincial trophy while last year, they had some four points to spare by the final whistle.
For all the ground that Slaughtneil have broken since lifting their first Ulster club hurling championship in 2016 and mighty performances in the All Ireland series, defeating the men from Cushendall has eluded them. Something that certainly stings a little when having a yarn with some of the natives over the years. The players, off course, would never get drawn into such statements. Like the majority of those who get the short straw and end up in front of the media, they’re too well media trained to show anything that might be construed as a weakness!
The Derry men lifted their 12th county title in succession on 26 October with a much-changed team to recent years. After Ballycastle native Michael McShane stepped away in December 2023 having led Slaughtneil in nine of that 12 in a row, Paul McCormack took the reins. A man who comes from fine dual stock and you would think, the perfect fit for a club who have serious aspirations in both codes. McCormack was part of the Armagh side who won the Sam Maguire in 2002 and captained the Orchard County to Nicky Racard Cup success in 2012. He then took to coaching with Louth where he won two Lory Meaghers in his five years in charge.
The two teams line up for the anthem before last year’s final in Pair Esler, Newry last year.
In that county final against Banagher, Slaughtneil had the household names that we’re all familiar with in their starting line up. Gerald Bradley, Brendan Rogers, Sheá Cassidy, Cormac and Oisin O’Doherty, Shane and Sé McGuigan but there’s newer stock coming through. Fionn McEldowney is a class act in both codes and having seen him play for both school (St Pat’s, Maghera), club and county (football), he’s a serious athlete but a player who you could line out anywhere and he’ll give you an eight out of 10 performance, at the very minimum. Cathal McKaigue is another who has been promoted from their minor ranks this year while Jack Cassidy and Ruairi O’Mainain will also take some looking after.
The Ruairi’s will start as favourites and with such changes to the Slaughtneil team from recent years, that’s perhaps understandable. The gap since the county final could perhaps go some way to focusing the minds of the Cushendall players and management. Looking back at last weekend, it certainly looked to deter the Cargin challenge against Errigal Ciarán but having dealt with similar already this year between the group phase and semi final in the Antrim championship, this gap is likely to be a positive for the Ruairi’s. A chance to clear up any knocks or niggles that may be lingering from the successful defence of their county crown.
The county final itself was far from a classic. That matters little now but given how Cushendall navigated their defence, it’s fair to say they have improved from 12 months ago. Another year under the tutelage of Brian Delargy and with the experience that comes from provincial success, they have a dogged tenacity, intensity in spades with a sprinkling of brilliance all over the pitch. Natural born leaders in Paddy Burke and Eoghan Campbell before you even look at Neil McManus who needs no further introduction.
Delargy has options in attack with Paddy McGill, Ciaran Neeson, Alex Delargy and Andrew Delargy all coming off the bench against Dunloy. He elected to start Ryan McCambridge in the middle of the park with McManus lining out at 11 but at this stage it’s a much trusted back six in front of Conor McAlister.
Ed McQuillan was Cushendall’s man of the match last year in Pairc Esler in Newry
Travelling to Armagh on a Saturday evening with a big crowd expected isn’t exactly whetting the appetite. The car park at the school gives me nightmares when I think on it, it is likely to be a late one. It’s not the most ‘family orientated’ throw in time and one that’s definitely been geared towards and to facilitate the RTÉ cameras. It should detract from what promises to be a great game, spectacle and occasion.
It’s just a shame there wasn’t a doubleheader with some of the other Antrim teams that are playing this weekend. A story for another day….
As it is, Cushendall and Slaughtneil lock horns once again in the latest edition of their epic saga. If it’s anything like those contests that have preceded it, we’re in for a treat.
Fans at the Cushendall v Slaughtneil replay in Loughgiel ten years ago
