Con Magees Glenravel held their annual awards evening in the local clubrooms on Friday evening. No expense was spared as county chairman Seamus McMullan was transported all the way rom Martinstown where he made a series of awards during a very enjoyable evening.
A few of the highlights of the evening were the presentation of South West Antrim and county titles with the minor footballers winning the Laverty Cup (South West Antrim Minor Football Championship), the Senior Reserve Football Shield and the Antrim Minor Hurling A title which was won by Glenariffe-Glenravel for the first time, six of the panel coming from Con Magee.
Members of the Glenariffe-Glenravel Minor A Hurling Championship winning team received the trophy from county chairman Seamus McMullan at the clubs awards dinner.
Topping the internal awards was club legend Kieran Hughes being inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame Aidan McCafferty receiving the SPOH award, David Higgins winning the Danny McQuillan Memorial Cup for Playing Personality, and Jarlatth O’Donnell receiving the Clubman of the Year award for the third time.
Sean Paul McKenna received the Reserve Football Cup from club chairman Ian McKeown plus the 2023 Reserve Player of the Year award which he left behind him after last years dinner in the Tullyglass Hotlel
Our two county camogs Erin Coulter and Sarah Fyfe shared the Camogie Player of the Year award, Claire Emerson won the Division 3 POY, Clodagh McCann won the LGFA Player of the Year, Aidan O’Donnell the Senior Footballer of the Year, Calum Higgins the Under 21 POY, Rian Lennon and Declan McAuley shared the Hurling honours with Senior Hurler of the Year, Harry Fyfe and Ronan McCormick the Minor Footballer of the Year, while Orlagh Gould and Emer McCann shared the LGFA Minor award.
The Fyfe family at the Con Magees Awards dinner. L-R, Katie, Sarah, Harry and Anna
TO SEE ALL THE PICS FROM THE CON MAGEES AWARDS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel
It was a war of attrition in a second half that saw Swatragh throw everything in their armoury at the Faugh’s but Carey held on to bridge a 20 year gap and win the Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship.
This was a gruelling but epic and compelling hour of hurling that you just couldn’t take your eyes off. Carey showed glimpses of their best but this win came from digging deep and grinding out the result. Those closing stages when Swatragh were throwing everything, including the kitchen sink at the Faugh’s defence were tailormade for heroes. Step forward one James ‘Rocket’ Black. For 50 minutes he was on the fringes of the game, appearing briefly with unimaginable catches and work in rucks. In the closing stages, Rocket was the difference between the sides. When Carey needed a block, Rocket was there. When Carey needed to win clean ball, Rocket was there.
It was far from a one man show, however. Given the low scoring nature of the final, it’s remarkable the Faughs had six different scorers and with all coming from play but for two points.
Carey’s Caolan McCaughan makes a brilliant block in the dying seconds to deny Swatragh corner forward Dominic Bradley as he went for the equalising point. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine
Michael McVeigh played more in defence and the middle third while he was in the right place and the right time when Swatragh thought they had crossed the Carey goal line. Calmness personified. Maybe too calm for those of a Carey persuasion. Time seemed to stand still as the sliotar stopped inches from the line and McVeigh cleared – eventually.
In a first half that saw the Ballyvoy side play with the wind, they started superbly to hold a two point lead after four minutes. The Derry men did go close to a major in the opening attack of the game but Steven McGinn was equal to the effort of first Dominic Bradley and then PJ O’Connell before Fintain McGurk’s effort went wide.
Black, James McCouaig and Caolan McCaughan all raised white flags before a James Friel free reduced the deficit to the minimum in the fifth minute.
The Faughs went close to a major with Conall McGlynn going close after McQuillan spilled the sliotar into his path but his effort was deflected wide.
McGlynn would convert the resulting ’65 before McCaughan’s second of the game to open a three point lead but scores from Sean Martin Quinn and Friel (free) kept Swatragh in touch. Friel’s second free would be Swatragh’s last score for 15 minutes and while Carey weren’t exactly shooting the lights out, they got daylight between the sides.
Scores from Black and McGlynn came after a series of bad misses from the Faugh’s. Three points was the difference going into the 22nd minute when McKinley scores the only goal of the game. Callum Cane’s effort had dropped short and McQuillan failed to deal with the dropping sliotar. McGlynn showed his predatory instincts and pulled first time to the back of the net.
Points followed through midfielder Patrick Butler – twice splitting the posts in the space of 60 seconds with the first coming from a huge distance out. Swatragh would finish the half on top however with scores coming from Sean Martin Quinn and O’Connell to leave the half time score 1-9 to 0-6.
Swatragh would have been content with the half time score given the elements in their favour for the second half. It was going to take a massive effort from the Faugh’s to get over the line, but not many could have predicted just how much of an effort and how far they had to dig deep.
The lead was reduced to four by the 8th minute of the second half with Sean Martin Quinn (free) and Friel splitting the uprights. A McGlynn free in the 40th minute briefly halted the Swatragh charge but the Derry champions hit a purple patch with another three points in barely three minutes. Sean Francis Quinn, Friel (free) and Bradley all converting to leave two between the sides.
Carey’s Conlith McKinley drives the ball to the Swatragh net for the only goal of the game in Saturday’s Ulster Intermediate Hurling Final at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel. Pic by John McIlwaine
The Swa had another glimpse of the Carey goal when substitute Michael Kirkpatrick’s effort dropped wickedly into the six yard box. Swatragh had a sniff, the Carey defence scrambled and McVeigh was the man to clear the threat.
Conlith McKinley pointed to take his tally to 1-1 for the final with 14 minutes of the hour remaining. Incredibly, that would be Carey’s last score of the game. Three points separated the sides going into the final quarter and Swatragh laid siege on the Carey defence.
Points from Sean Martin Quinn and Friel (free) reduced the deficit to the minimum with five minutes of the hour remaining. It was as close as Swatragh got, however. They had chances with Friel skewing a couple of frees wide and substitute Kevin McAllister’s deflected effort going wide of the post while Rocket rose to the challenge.
As the final whistle blew three minutes over the hour, the outpouring of emotion onto the Fr Healy Park surface matched the occasion. Epic scenes after an epic hour of hurling.
For Carey, the journey continues.
Team captain Shea Hunter holds the Ulster trophy aloft after his team’s win over Swatragh in Saturday Ulster final in Loughgiel. Pic by John McIlwaine
TEAMS
Carey: S McGinn; Z McCaughan, S McBride, P Gillan; J McCouaig, J McBride, J Black; C McCaughan, P Butler; C McKinley, C McGlynn, C McBride; C Cane, M McVeigh, S Hunter. Subs: F McVeigh for C McBride (60+2)
Swatragh: N McQuillan; B Kearney, P Turner, M Ó Hagáin; T Walsh, J Friel, C Quinn; M McCormack, S F Quinn; S M Quinn, P Cunning, C Murray; D Bradley, PJ O’Connell, F McGurk. Subs: O O’Kane for F McGurk (40); M Kirkpatrick for P Cunning (42); D Quinn for M McCormack (57); K McAllister for C Murray (60+2)
SCORERS
Carey: C McKinley 1-1, C McGlynn 0-3 (1’65, 1f); J Black 0-2, C McCaughan 0-2, P Butler 0-2, J McCouaig 0-1
Swatragh: J Friel 0-5 (4f), S M Quinn 0-4 (3f), C Murray 0-1, D Bradley 0-1, PJ O’Connell 0-1
Referee: Peter Owens (Laitroim, Down)
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Over 200 guests attended St. Mary’s GAC, Ahoghill Annual Dinner and Presentation evening in the Wild Duck in Portglenone on Friday night. Pride of place during the awards ceremony went to the clubs Senior Camogie side who won this year’s Intermediate Championship and they received loud applause as they were being presented with their medals.
The other award winners on the night were:
Maura Downey presented the Minor Camog of the Year to Caoimhe Scullion.
Senior Hurler of the Year, Ronan Graham presented by Chris McGlone
Reserve Footballer of the Year, Jack McFall presented by Chris McGlone
Joint Senior Footballer of the Year, Ronan Graham and James O’Connell, presented by Fionnbar O’Neill
The Intermediate Camogie Championship Cup presented to Eadaoin McGarry by Gerard McGarry.
AIB All Ireland Senior Club Championship semifinal Sarsfields v Loughgiel
1st December 2024, Throw-in at 2pm in Kingspan Breffni, Cavan
Michael Corcoran for the Saffron Gael interviews Loughgiel’s captain Christine McCloskey ahead of Sunday’s semifinal game.
Two years ago, Loughgiel Shamrocks met Sarsfields in an All-Ireland final in the field of dreams, Croke Park. The Shamrocks had broken through the Ulster glass ceiling and had hopes of returning home with the Bill and Agnes Carroll Cup. Sarsfields would scoop up the spoils in a narrow win by just three points but Loughgiel’s captain, Christine McCloskey (Laverty then), believes the difference came down to experience.
Christine in action in the Ulster semi-final against Clonduff
Loughgiel were faced with a snow-covered pitch in the semi-final stage in ‘22. The squad didn’t consider not playing the game. Much to their credit, they stopped off at an Applegreen and filled up hot water bottles and warmed up in full track suits and tops. It is reported that they replied on given options, “we’re here to do a job” and that reflects the tenacity and drive this squad still has.
The Saffron Gael caught up with Christine, whilst getting ready to do a spot of babysitting and the ever-approachable camog was happy to share some views on this Sunday’s All-Ireland semifinal against Sarsfields.
The weather will be a bit different this year and McCloskey picks up the conversation, “I’ve played in Breffni Park before, albeit a different occasion. We (Antrim) were playing Down in an All-Ireland Intermediate match and it was affected by Covid rules, namely no spectators. Nevertheless, some of the squad got to experience the pitch and I’d say, particularly at this time of the year, it’ll be one of the few venues where the pitch will be in good condition. We played our All-Ireland final under lights in very cold conditions, so Sunday’s time and forecast are great.”
“The venue is a bit further away from our usual competition locations this year, like Clonduff and Beragh, but it is what it is and thankfully we haven’t to travel south of Dublin, that would be a long haul for supporters.”
Losing the 2022 final in Croke Park still hurts
Losing the final of 2022 still hurts and rang out in Lucia McNaughton’s interview with Michael McMullan from the Gaelic Life. But McCloskey says they’ve all accepted that and it’s woven into their experience now. The very thing they said they lacked coming into the All-Ireland scene. Despite the sense of loss, McCloskey is keen to add, “We had a great sense of pride, lining out in our club jerseys. It didn’t go past any of us, the sense of occasion walking out the tunnel onto the pitch. It’s destined to always be a core memory in your life.”
“Sarsfields are a good outfit but we won’t be deliberating over their game, we are focused on controlling the controllables and that means playing our game and we’ll see how it rolls on the day. After the Slaughtneil years, we have built on our mental strength and that is something that takes time to have across the entire squad. I remember being one of the younger members on the panel, now here I am leading the team as one of the older girls. That said, we are in the enviable position of having many leaders and I could pick one from each of the lines.”
Christine in action against Sunday’s opponents Sarsfields in the All Ireland final in 2022
Any team that reaches an All-Ireland game has momentum built up not only from training and challenging games but buoyed up by support. Christine is eager to point out that “We have been so lucky with the show of support. We’ve been fed and clothed that reflects the level you need to compete at this level. That means our recovery programs have been excellent; we could train harder for longer. From the support we experienced at the clubhouse after the County and Ulster wins to the fund-raising Big Breakfast and the sponsorship programme, I can only say it has been phenomenal and I can only thank everyone again!”
Supporters will make the 2 hours and forty-minute, 120-mile trip from the heartland of Loughgiel on Sunday to Breffni Park. McCloskey knows the Shamrocks will travel in numbers and the experience to be had for some of the juvenile girls will be inspiring, “These are the kind of occasions you remember when you are young, and that being the case, I hope at the very least, our younger girls will feel proud and be excited, maybe this is the sort of thing that will drive them on and we will be able to enjoy their endeavor’s down the line.”
Whatever the result on Sunday, there is no denying that the club machine called Loughgiel Shamrocks has been in overdrive since the Ulster win and has left no stone unturned in the preparations. Many will be hoping though, for a positive outcome and another big day out in the field of dreams.
Christine lifts the Ulster Championship trophy after the Shamrocks emphatic win over Swatragh
Saturday’s Intermediate club hurling final in Loughgiel is sure to draw a bumper crowd as Antrim Champions, Carey Faughs take on Swatragh of Derry. Both sides have impressed on their way to Saturday’s decider and will be well prepared for what should be an excellent final.
The inclusion of former Cloney Gaels player, PJ O’Connell in the Swatragh side adds a little bit more intrigue to the contest if any more were needed and O’Connell, now living in Kilrea will have been able to pass on some insight into the Carey side.
Not that it is likely to make much difference with both sets of management having already run their eyes over their respective opponents and it could be very much down to who wants it most on the day and who plays to their full potential.
Carey have certainly had to dig deep on route to Saturday’s final with both their quarter-final and semi-final going down to the wire.
Carey Faughs fans went through a range of emotions as they watched their heroes battle it out with a great Carrickmore team in the quarter final. Twice they came back from the dead to eventually take the game to penalties, when hero of the hour Steven McGinn sealed the win with two late saves.
It was back to Carrickmore and a meeting with Castleblaney Faughs for the Ballyvoy side in the semi-final for a game that had been postponed twice owing to the death of James Black, father of James ‘Rocket’ Black initially and then to Storm Bert.
Carey manager Eddie McCloskey
The men from Ballyvoy were forced to dig deep before overcoming the challenge of excellent Monaghan champions Castleblaney in what turned into an uncompromising arm wrestle with little opportunity for open hurling.
It was nip and tuck all the way with Castleblaney leading for most of the contest but a long range point from mid-fielder Callum Kane brought the travelling Ballyvoy supporters to their feet as they edged ahead with ten minutes remaining.
Castleblaney were still hanging in there and free taker Fergal Rafter levelled once more but it would be the final time the sides were level and as play began to open up James McCaouig produced a strong run from deep in defence but was dispossessed.
However the ball broke favourably to substitute Fiachra McVeigh who sent Conor McBride clear on the right and he made no mistake as he fired to the net from 25 meters for the only goal of the game.
McBride’s goal moved the Antrim champions four ahead as the clock ticked towards full time but Castleblaney rallied with a point from Thomas Hughes and Carey were forced to defend in numbers as the Monaghan side went looking for the goal that would have sent it to extra time.
What about Swatragh?
In their Championship quarter final, Swatragh defeated Lisbellaw of Fermanagh 2-16 to 2-11 in Brewster Park on Saturday, November 2nd. Swatragh’s Sean Martin Quinn opened the scoring with a point. And Paul Cunning increased Swatragh’s lead with a well taken score.
PJ O’Connell (14) in action for Swatragh in the semi-final win over Bredagh
The South Derry side always had the upper hand and P J O’Connell and Mick McCormack scored two goals in four minutes to put them in a commanding position.
Lisbellaw’s J P McGarry replied with a goal in the 63rd minute and John Duffy fired wide from a penalty 10 minutes from time as the Fermanagh side fought to get back into contention but to no avail
Swatragh’s commanding display was led by O’Connell, James Friel, Sean Martin Quinn, Paul Cunning, and keeper Niall McQuillan.
Ahoghill was the venue for Swatragh’s meeting with Bredagh in the semi-final with the Derry men having six to spare in the end against the Down side.
Swatragh started the game with three scores, two of them coming from PJ O’Connell who was playing on his former home pitch.
Swatragh always seemed to have a man free and James Friel worked a short free to Quinn with the Swatragh player having ample time to slot the ball over the bar to put Swatragh five ahead.
Bredagh managed to narrow the gap to three at the break but Swatragh extended their lead on the resumption, and scored the only goal of the game when Oisin O’Kane took a pass from PJ O’Connell and found the net.
Bredagh hung in with Christie firing over a couple of frees but Swatragh continued to keep them at arm’s length.
Friel, who finished Swatragh’s top scorer with 0-5, pushed the gap back out to five in the 52nd minute and Bredagh weren’t able to respond.
Stephen McGinn has been excellent in the Carey goals this season and proved their hero against Carrickmore with those two amazing penalty saves while Patrick Gillan, Shea Hunter and James McCouaig have excelled in a strong Carey defence.
Youngster Callum Cane and Patrick Butler have formed a strong mid-field partnership while Connor McBride, James ‘Rocket’ Black and Caolan McCaughan have provided vital scores in a sharp attack.
They will face a Swatragh side on Saturday who have been impressive throughout their Ulster campaign and in James Friel, PJ’O’Connell, Sean Marty Quinn, Oisin O’Kane, Paul Cunning and keeper Niall McQuillan they have top performers.
This one could go either way but in a season where the Ballyvoy men have overcome adversity both on and off the field, Saturday can provide the perfect ending for the Carey Faughs.
