Category / Latest News

by thesaffrongael

Casements lay their semi-final hoodoo to rest as they beat Lamh Dhearg to seal final spot

Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship, semi-final

Portglenbone 1-17 Lámh Dhearg 0-9

Casement’s Portglenone bridged a 25 year gap when they beat Lamh Dhearg in Saturday’s Antrim Senior Football Championship semi-final to reach their first final since 2009. There appeared to be a jinx on the Portglenone men in recent years when they lost the last five semi-finals, all of them games they could, and in some cases should have won, but they made no mistake this time around, compressively beating the 2017 champions Lamh Dhearg by eleven points.

The first five minutes saw both teams suffer from nerves as they struggled to find any rhythm but things began to settle when the veteran Paddy Cunningham pointed the Hannahstown men ahead, but Portglenone hit back straight away and Niall Delargy brought his team level after good work by Niall McKeever. That score really setteled the Portglenone men and they went ahead with a Daniel McNicholl point soon afterwards before striking a telling blow with a goal seconds later, when they took advantage of a slack back pass which let Fergal O’Kane nip in to set up Stephen Kelly to finish to the net.

A very good save by Lamh Dhearg goalkeeper Gerard Smyth denied the Casements another goal soon afterwards and for a little while they looked a bit uncertain again. However they steadied the ship and the run in to half time saw then regain their momentum and two points from Hagan and one from Kelly as they scored freely in those losing minutes to go in at the break with a six point advantage, 1-08 to 0-05.

Points from Enda Lynn and Kelly in the opening minutes of the second half strengthened their confidence and you sensed there was going to be no slip ups this time around, but the Casements followers know not to get too confident and they had to endure a scare when Lamh Dhearg worked a great opening. Declan Lynch appeared to be on goal, but he passed to Conor Murray when a shot at goal appeared the best option and Murray got closed down by the Casements defence and his shot went wide of the target. There was another scare soon afterwards when a Casments kick went straight to Paddy Cunningham, but with the keeper off his line’s Cunningham’s shot towards the empty goal rose over the bar and what proved to be the last real chance was gone

Things went from bad to worse for the men from Hannahstown when they lost two players to red and black cards, which created even more space for Casements to exploit. Substitute Sean Byrne got through to send over a good point which he celebrated with gusto and soon afterwards Stephen Kelly could have had a second goal, only to be denied by Smyth in the Lamh Dhearg goal, but by this stage the result was beyond doubt and Casements had put their semi-final hoodoo to rest.

PORTGLENONE: K Mullan; R Delargy, K O’Kane, C McGhee; D McNicholl (0-1), R Hagan, F O’Kane; D McAleese, N McKeever; N Delargy (0-1), M Hagan (0-2), S Kelly (1-0); O Doherty (0-4, 2f), E Lynn (0-2), R Kelly (0-6, 4f).

Subs: A McAleese for D McAleese (HT), C Tierney for C McGhee (57), S Byrne (0-1) for E Lynn (60), C Delargy for M hagan (60+3)

LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth; Ross Murray, M McGarry, B Rice (0-2); O McKeown (0-2), D Lynch, D Smyth (0-1); P Fitzsimmons, M Jordan; D Murray, T McCrudden, Ryan Murray; P Cunningham (0-4, 3f), M Herron, C Murray.

Subs: P Mervyn for T McCrudden (16), E Matassa for D Murray (HT), F Mervyn for McMcGarry (46), M Lowe for Ryan Murray (49)

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE GAME JUST CLINK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/y9RVmMKYhArDrV/?invite=f06a3e05-077d-4462-aa48-c14c9070c5c1

by thesaffrongael

St. Teresa’s hold on to take their place in the final

IFC Semi-Final

St. Teresa’s 1-10 Sarsfield’s 1-9

St. Teresa’s withstood a late rally from Patrick Sarsfields at Davitt’s Park on Saturday to advance to the final of the Intermediate Football Championship where they will meet All Saints, Ballymena in two weeks-time.

In a game played with real championship intensity with no quarter asked or given it was the Glen Road side who led 1-5 to 0-6 at half time despite having a penalty saved in the 4th minute.

Michael Bradley dived to his left to push away Francis Dugan’s spot kick but Anton Taylor climbed to get the final touch to an inviting delivery to beat Bradley for the game’s opening goal in the 9th minute.

Sarsfield’s came back with an excellent goal from Miceal Ferris entering the final quarter to level the contest at 1-8 apiece but two quick points in reply from Francis Dugan and Niall McCann steadied St. Teresa’s.

The Stewartstown Road side threw everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents in the closing stages but a Gary Lennon point would be as close as they got despite ample opportunities to send the game into extra time.

Niall McKenna pointed Sarsfield’s ahead in the opening minute before referee Darren McKeown pointed to the penalty spot at the other end when Anton Taylor was brought down in the small square.

Bradley went full lengthy to deny Francis Dugan from the spot kick but Taylor pointed before climbing to fist home to put his side ahead after 9 minutes.

A couple of fisted points from Philip McPeake and Ethan Mervyn closed the gap to one before Paul McGoldrick replied with a good point for the Glen Road side.

Bradley in the Sarsfield’s goals brought off his second great save of the evening to deny Anton Taylor but Niall McCann pointed a free and then added another from play to move St. Teresa’s four in front.

Sarsfield’s who finished the half strongly however and a couple of points from Daniel Smyth and a fisted effort from Caolan McKernan had it back to two at the break.

It was St. Teresa’s who made the better start to the second half with John Mallon striking two terrific points to increase their lead to four with only two minutes of the new half gone.

Conor Glenholmes from a free and Caolan McKernan for Sarsfields and Francis Dugan for the Glen Road side exchanged further points to leave just a goal in it and when Ferris fired left footed to the net in the 17th minute it was all square.

The momentum seemed to have swung in favour of the Stewartstown Road side but Francis Dugan and Niall McCann responded with St. Teresa’s points and the men in Yellow and Blue withstood a frantic finish from their opponents to advance to the final.

St. Teresa’s: 1 Ciaran Murtagh, 2 Aodhan Dugan, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Ryan Mallon, 5 Eoin Connolly, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Conor Mallon, 8 Darren McCann, 9 Pierce O’Rawe, 10 John Mallon, 11 Niall McCann, 12 Sean Maguire, 13 Francis Dugan, 14 Anton Taylor, 15 Paul McGoldrick, 17 Philip Glennon, 16 Phil Maguire.

Sarsfields: 1 Michael Bradley, 2 Caolan McDonnell, 4 Martin McPollin, 5 Ethan Mervyn, 6 Liam Mitchell, 7 Christopher Loughran, 8 Cormac Murray, 9 Niall McKenna, 10 Philip McPeake, 11 Caolan McKernan, 12 Samuel Walsh, 23 Conor Glenholmes, 28 Daniel Smyth, 15 Miceal Ferris, 17

Subs: Gary Lennon for Daniel Smyth, Thomas Skillen for Samuel Walsh

Referee: Darren McKeown (ST. Gall’s)

https://myalbum.com/album/4pMghT6Qc3P3Xq

by thesaffrongael

An early Halloween for Fr. Healy Park as Dunloy give a fireworks display

Antrim Camogie Senior Championship Semi Final

Dunloy 2-17 Cushendall 2-06

28th Sept 2024

Dunloy 2-17 Cushendall 2-06

A rejuvenated Dunloy side shook off the ghosts from their recent loss to Loughgiel in the championship table stage, and brought energy and dominance to quell Cushendall’s game plan and book a place in this year’s final.

Cushendall bookended today’s match, having started on a roll and kept hold of a small lead for twenty minutes or so in the first half and then came back in the final stages to tally up two goals. It would prove too little and too late as Dunloy had amassed a ten point difference by the twenty eighth minute of the second half and all but one of those points came from play.

Cushendall won Owen Elliott’s coin toss and opted to play towards the road end in today’s semi final. It would take the Dall only seconds to turn over a loose sliotar from the throw-in and Kady McNeill would get Cushendall on the scoreboard with only twenty seconds gone.

 Five minutes would drift by before Dunloy would reply from a free taken by Nicole McAtamney and as both sides traded points to level out at four points apiece in the twenty second minute, a total of eleven fouls had punctuated the game and left supporters wondering who would survive the stop-start and it would be Dunloy to perculate first out of the grind. Dunloy’s Katie Molloy gathered up the sliotar and using nothing but her sheer strength, pulled away from a defending pack to put Dunloy one point in the lead after twenty three minutes. Dunloy would tack on another point from  Eobha McAllister as she received a long hand-pass from Katharine Mullan.

With four minutes to the short whistle, Dunloy were now starting to breakdown Cushendall’s defence and when Katie Molloy was pulled to the ground, McAtamney dropped in a dangerous sliotar that Goalkeeper Louise Mulholland saved and cleared away. The Cuchullains though would be knocking on the Dall’s door in short shrift as Molloy pointed and having tasted her second point, was happy to rescue a dying strike from Eobha McAllister and deliver deep into Mulholland’s net for the first goal in the game at thirty two minutes on the clock. Elliott calculated something in the region of six minutes of extra time would be needed due to the accumulation of time from earlier fouls and with no score from either side after Dunloy’s goal, Elliott brought the first half to a conclusion with the large Fridge Raiders’ scoreboard announcing Dunloy 1-07 Cushendall 0-04.

With Cushendall playing with whatever was left of the afternoon’s breeze on their backs, expectations were running high that something might come from that slim elemental advantage, but Dunloy’s Katie Molloy wasn’t having any of that, as Eobha McAllister dropped in a cunning ball twenty seconds from the throw-in and Molloy punished the space with a rocket to the back of Mulholland’s net.

For the next twelve minutes, Dunloy would start to put away seven points as if they were going to go out of fashion before Cushendall replied with a point from substitute Amy McAlister and one of the finest points of the game from Cushendall’s Kady McNeill as she solo ran from just over the half way line, protecting the sliotar all the time on her stick, despite several challenges to dispossess.

Dunloy’s right wing forward, Aine Magill would grab similar attention as she caught a dropping ball on the edge of Cushendall’s ‘D’ and sent that fizzling over the bar to bring scores to Dunloy 2-15 Cushendall 0-06.

But Cushendall were determined to fight back despite the scoreboard displaying twenty seven minutes gone in the second half, as Aoife McClafferty was pushed in the back and the resulting free from Brogan Abram dropped in towards the terrace steps and it would eventually fall to Kady McNeill to strike at  Dunloy’s net for the Dall’s first goal.

Despite the goal, Dunloy were by now home and dry. A point from Katie Molloy before Cushendall’s Kady McNeill struck at the heart of Aileen McManus’ goals for the Dall’s second of the game, was matched by Dunloy’s Eobha McAllister to give Dunloy a comfortable win of 2-17 to 2-06 at the end of two extra minutes.

Dunloy will now meet Loughgiel to set up an exciting final of the Antrim Camogie Senior Championship 2024, details TBC.

Dunloy starting panel and scorers:

Aileen McManus, Sarah McIlhatton, Brid Magill, Kathryn Boyle, Casey Crawford, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon, Eimear Johnston, Katharine Mullan, Nicole McAtamney 0-07 (2f), Eobha McAllister 0-02, Bronagh Magill, Aine Magill 0-02, Katie Molloy 2-03, Cassie McArthur 0-03

Cushendall starting panel and scorers:

Louise Mulholland, Caoimhe McNaughton, Sinead Cosgrove, Anna McNeill, Aoife McClafferty, Ellen Leech, Laura Black, Cara O’Boyle, Siobhan McKillop, Brogan Abram 0-01, Eva McNeill 0-02f, Laura McMullan, Kady McNeill 2-02, Orlagh O’Hara, Orlaith McAlister, Amy McAlister 0-01

Don’t forget to enjoy all of our photos in the Saffron albums on a large screen such as a laptop or tablet. Click on a photo to see it larger, look at the album as either a photo book or web pages and you can order a copy online as a keep’s sake.

Photos from this evening’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/utbE5qVADxx8XT/?invite=56d129af-4df8-4b6b-b9f6-f8e3488a441d

Follow Michael G Corcoran @keep_clickin on X (formerly Twitter) for match Gifs when available.

Follow The Saffron Gael @TheSaffronGael on X for links to match reports.

by thesaffrongael

Solid Saints advance to decider

Intermediate Football Championship semi-final

All Saints 0-13 St. Paul’s 0-6

All Saints produced a solid performance to overcome the challenge of St. Paul’s at sunny Hightown on Saturday and progress to the final of the Intermediate Football Championship.

The Ballymena side were in control from early in the game where they raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead against a strangely subdued St, Paul’s side who looked a little overawed by the occasion.

It would be 18 minutes before the Shaw’s Road outfit would raise their first score but by that time they had kicked half a dozen wides, some of them well off target.

It was All Saints who made most of the first half running as they dictated the tempo of the game, sitting deep to force turn over after turn over as they raced into a four point lead through Ronan McKillop, Paddy McAleer 0-2 f’s, and James McDonnell by the 10th minute.

The Slemish Park side looked to be in for the game’s opening goal but Patrick Ferris saw his rocket cannon back of the crossbar after a strong run from deep.

Connell Lemon added another point for All Saints before Mark Munce got a strangely subdued St. Paul’s off the mark with a point in the 18th minute.

Conor Stewart fires over an All Saints point

Ruairi Hamill followed with another as the Shaw’s Road side appeared to find their feet and when Ronan McKillop saw his first time ground shot come off an upright things looked to be turning in favour of the West Belfast side.

Ruairi Hamill added another for the ‘Hoops’ to close the gap to two as they enjoyed their best period of the game but McKillop made up for that earlier miss as he stroked the final point of the half between the uprights to leave Baker Bradley’s side 0-6 to 0-3 ahead at half time.

The division 1 side were first to emerge from the half time dressing room with St. Paul’s taking a time to join them and it was All Saints who were first to threaten as Jack McAufield got down to turn a Ronan McKillop shot for a ‘45’.

Conor Stewart, who had been quiet up to this point fired over All Saints opening score of the second half and a superb effort from Emmet Killough after a deft side step moved the Ballymena men five in front again after 9 minutes.

Patrick Ferris fisted over after a lung bursting run to increase the gap to six at the end of the third quarter and Conor Stewart struck a fine long range effort as the St. Paul’s challenge continued to come unstuck on a solid All Saints defensive wall.

At this stage the Ballymena management rang the changes with Michael McCarry, Benny McDonnell and Matty Downey replacing Sean McVeigh, Ronan McKillop and Ciaran Campbell while Conor Hughes and Shea Burns were introduced by their opponents.

St. Paul’s Liam McLarnon drives at the All Saints defence

Conall Duffy finally got St. Paul’s going again as he pointed a free in the 17th minute but Stewart hit another monster of a point to keep his side seven in front with seven remaining.

The Shaw’s Road side were still giving it everything but were continuing to be turned over by an All Saints defence where Michael Read, Peter McNicholl and Sean O’Callaghan were giving nothing away but Ruairi Hamill pointed from a 24th minute free as Charlie Metrustry replaced Paddy McAleer.

Another Duffy free left just five in it with five minutes of normal time to play but there was a feeling that only a goal would resurrect their chances and it never looked like coming.

Instead it was All Saints substitutes McCarry and Metrustry who would add points for the Ballymena men in the closing stages as they eased into the final where they will meet St. Teresa’s in two weeks-time.

All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Michael Read, 3 Cal O’Brien, 19 Rian Tom, 5 James McDonnell, 6 Sean O’Callaghan, 7 Patrick Ferris, 8 Sean McVeigh, 9 Peter McNicholl, 10 Connell Lemon, 13 Emmet Killough 14 Conor Stewart, 15 Paddy McAleer, 21 Ciaran Campbell, 24 Ronan McKillop,

St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Aodhan Kavanagh, 3 Stephen Rooney, 4 Diarmuid O’Sullivan, 5 Miceal Duffy, 6 James Farrell, 7 Niall Ward, 8 Mark Munce, 9 Ciaran McAlea, 10 Conall Duffy, 11 Niall McStravick, 12 Ruairi Hamill, 13 Caoimhin Duffy, 14 Liam McLarnon, 15 Lorcan Phillips

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

TO VIEW PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/vBQAZBXKnuuVE6

by thesaffrongael

Exciting Minor Hurling final in prospect

Antrim Minor Hurling Championship final

12 noon at Glen Rovers Armoy

Sunday 29- September

Reigning Minor Hurling Champions Dunloy Cuchullains bid to make it back to back titles when they take on Glenariffe-Glenravel in Sunday’s final in Armoy.

Dunloy’s Caolan McFerran and Paudie Martin

Dunloy were very impressive when beating Cushendall in their semi-final two weeks ago, getting away from the Ruairis in the second half after a fantastic high scoring opening thirty minutes. The young Cuchullains had a team full of stars but corner forward Paudie Martin was the stand out man, scoring 3-08 over the hour, and only two points of that total from frees, a truly remarkable achievement. Not far behind him the in the honours list was goalkeeper Caolan McFerran, who pulled off a series of remarkable saves to keep the Ruairis at bay, especially during the first half.  There are a long list of others of course like Ben O’Kane and Reece Cunning in defence, and the two Oisins, McCallin and McCamphill up front.

Glenariffe-Glenravel had an easier semi-final where they beat Rossa with a bit to spare, but they beat Loughgiel in the semi-final and have had a good league campaign, finishing in second place, just two points behind the Cuchullains. There is a wealth of talent in the squad with four of the team Niall Magee, Calum McIlwaine, Orrin O’Connor and Phelim Ward regular starters in the club’s senior team who face Tir na Nóg in the Intermediate Championship semi-final next weekend.

This promises to be a great game of hurling between two very good teams. Dunloy will understandably start as favourites, and deservedly so, but if Glenariffe-Glenravel can make a steady start it could be closer than many people think.

Glenariffe-Glenravel’s Phelim Ward and Orrin O’Conor

The Dunloy and Glenariffe-Glenravel starting line-ups from the semi-final were

DUNLOY:

Caolan McFerran; Cahir McMullan, Sean Og Blaney, Charlie Cunning; Reece Cunning, Ben O’Kane, Jack McKeever; Ryan McClements, Jack Martin; Donnach Laverty, Luke McFerran, Aidan Richmond; Oisin McCallin, Oisin McCamphill, Padraig Martin

GLENARIFFE-GLENRAVEL

Ben Duncan, Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Michael Furey, James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort, Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion, Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christoper Leach, Oisin Gillen, Phelim Ward, Joe McKay