Category / Latest News

by thesaffrongael

All Saints GAC Capital Project

The ambitious All Saints club in Ballymena is planning a major development of its playing facilities as they head into 2025 – their 50th anniversary year. To mark the occasion the executive committee have embarked on a signature capital project which will deliver a new first-class facility designed to see them successfully enter their next half century.

The project will feature a gym for players including a community fitness area, a ball wall and a juvenile 3g playing surface.

Club Chairperson Jim Brady welcomed the development:

This project has been the result of an analysis of what is required to take the club to the next level. A club gym is an essential resource in the modern GAA club while the importance of year-round training facilities, particularly for our juvenile players, is paramount for their continued development.

He paid tribute to those who started the club back in 1975:

Club Chairperson Jim Brady shares the club’s ambitious plans with founding club member Brian McCambridge and one of the club’s youngest members, Se McVeigh. 

Our founding members have provided us with a fifty year legacy – one that we are duty bound to enhance and improve. Without their sacrifices and efforts our current facilities and presence in the town would simply not have been possible. We’re delighted that so many of them are still with us to see the next exciting stage in the development of All Saints GAC.

One of the club’s founding members, Brian McCambridge, was on hand to help launch the tender process:

When we started out in 1975 we could not have imagined that the club would have grown as it has. I’ve seen many changes in my time and I look forward to seeing this next exciting phase as it develops. The growth in juvenile members covering all 4 GAA codes is a measure of that growth and they need the very best facilities to continue that development.

Notice to Tender:

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS- NEW GYM, BALL WALL, 3G PITCH AND ASSOCIATED WORKS AT ALL SAINTS GAC, 90 WOODSIDE ROAD, BALLYMENA, BT42 4QH

Applications are invited from suitably experienced contractors who wish to be considered for inclusion on a select tender list for the above project. Estimated project cost of £400k excl. VAT.

A tender package will be issued on receipt of a formal request by e-mail quoting TENDER – GYM  to chairperson.allsaintsballymena.antrim@gaa.ie

The latest date for requests is 13th September 2024

by thesaffrongael

Kicking for Autism 32 visits Corrigan

On September 2nd 2023 Tori and Megan set out to kick a point at all 51 GAA pitches in Tyrone.

Their aim was to raise awareness of all those affected by Autism.

Tori’s younger brother is autistic and as a family they realise how much more there is to learn about autism but also how important it is to feel supported.

This turned out to be a hugely successful and emotional day and the support the girls received from all 51 clubs was amazing.

The girls also managed to raise the superb amount of money £18000 which went in full to Autism NI to help continue their vital work.

Following the success of “Kicking for Autism“ the girls decided they wanted to get this message across the whole island of Ireland.

Tori and Megan with the Kicking for Autism 32 committee

THEREFORE WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS YEAR TORI AND MEGAN WILL EMBARK ON “KICKING FOR AUTISM 32“

The plan is that on the weekend of the 29th August to the 1st September the girls will kick a point at all 32 county pitches in Ireland !! On Sunday it was the turn of Corrigan Park, the Antrim county ground.

All monies donated will go in full to Autism NI  who we are delighted will be supporting us again, and also Asiam.ie  the Dublin based autism charity

Links to the donation pages for each can be found below ��

THE GIRLS HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT

Donate to Autism NI: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kickingforautism2024…

Donate to AsIAm: https://www.idonate.ie/event/kickingforautism

Aghagallon manager, Pete McGrath poses for a photograph with Tori and Megan prior to the SFC game between his side and St. Brigid’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday
by thesaffrongael

St. James safe after Corrigan victory

SFC Group 1

St. James Aldergrove 4-15 St. Enda’s 3-7

St. James Aldergrove turned in a strong performance to overcome the challenge of St. Enda’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday and ensure they will be playing Senior Championship again next season.

The Glengormley side got off to the better start with a goal from Fionntan O’Connor in the first minute but that was as good as it would get for St. Enda’s as a Seamus McGarry inspired St. James took control.

McGarry opened his side’s account with a point and Cormac McGarry fired home in the third minute to give the Crumlin side a lead they would never again lose.

Seamus McGarry added a point and then Christopher McSteen weighed in with another following a mix-up in a nervous looking St. Enda’s defence.

The Hightown side came back strongly as Ronan Kalla struck a good long range point and James McAuley and Sean Murray with another from distance had the sides level at the end of the opening quarter and we looked to have a game on our hands.

At this point it began to go badly wrong for St. Enda’s as keeper Seanan Nagle got caught in possession as he pushed up-field and McGarry sent a lobbing shot to the empty net to restore the Crumlin’s side lead.

The superb McGarry added a point and as things went from bad to worse for the men in Amber, Gerard Mallon’s attempt at as point bounced over the St. Enda’s net minder and ended in the net in the 21st minute.

Cormac McGarry fires home St. James’ opening goal

The Glengormley side were clearly rattled as St. James continued to turn the screw with the imperious McGarry tagging on two more points and Declan Gough added another before Stephen O’Connor replied with a late St. Enda’s point to leave his side trailing by 10 at the half way stage.

Seamus McGarry and Ronan Hanna added points on the restart to move Aldergrove 12 ahead with only four minutes of the new half gone before Sean Murray responded with a great goal to give his side just a glimmer of hope.

Murray’s major failed to have the desired affect however as McGarry and Hanna replied with another double and even at this early juncture it was obvious there was only going to be one winner, given the Aldergrove dominance all over the field.

Stephen O’Connor and Seamus McGarry exchanged further points and in between Conor Totten in the St. James goal pulled off an excellent save as St. Enda’s briefly threatened.

To their credit the Hightown side never gave up and O’Connor added another point before Sean Murray climbed to palm an inviting delivery to the net with 8 minutes remaining.

It proved too little-too late with Ronan Hanna from a free and Oisin Graham replying for St. James’ and O’Connor responding with Naomh Eanna’s final point with time almost up.

Totten again came to the Aldergrove rescue as St. Enda’s fought to the end before substitute Kian Jones rubbed salt in an already gaping St. Enda’s wound when he lobbed the keeper in injury time.

This win ensures St. James Division 1 and Senior Championship football next season while St. Enda’s now join Glenravel, Tir na nOg and St. Gall’s in the knock out relegation play-offs

St James Aldergrove: 1 Conor Totten, 2 Aiden Ervine, 3 David Aiken, 4 Eoin Gough, 5 Conor Browning, 6 Chris McVeigh, 7 Andrew Flood, 8 Oisin Graham, 9 Brian McQuillan, 10 Declan Gough, 11 Christopher McSteen, 12 Gerald Mallon, 13 Cormac McGarry, 14 Ronan Hanna, 15 Seamus McGarry

Subs: 20 Kian Jones

St. Enda’s: 1 Seanan Nagle, 2 Killian Jennings, 3 Diarmuid McNulty, 4 Niall Heatley, 5 Ronan O’Neill, 6 Conan Lyttle, 7 Ruairi Hamilton, 8 Niall McKeown, 9 Sean Murray, 10 Eoghan O’Hare, 11 Ronan Kalla, 12 Sean McBride, 13 James McAuley, 14 Fionntan O’Connor, 15 Stephen O’Connor

Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/MhB8xH7bNW3C6Z

by thesaffrongael

Strong second half sees St Brigid’s through

Antrim Senior Football Championship – Round 3

St Brigid’s 0-15  Aghagallon 1-10

At half time in Sunday’s Antrim Senior Football Championship Round 3 game at Corrigan Park it looked like St Brigid’s participation in this year’s campaign may well be coming to an end as they trailed Aghagallon by seven points. They had been totally outplayed in the first half by a hard-working and skilful Aghagallon side, for who left half forward Johnny Hannon had been excellent, picking off five points of his team’s 1-7 total, the goal coming from Eunan Walsh in the ninth minute. The south Antrim men had struggled to gain possession throughout the field and had managed just three points throughout the thirty minutes, just one of those coming in the last eighteen minutes.

The St Mary’s men must have been confident pushing on and making it through to the knock-out stages, but when the sides re-emerged for the second half what we saw was a mirror image of the first half with the roles reversed. Right form the throw-in at the start of the second half the men from Musgrave Park took control of the game as they assumed the role that Aghagallon had played in the first. Within the third quarter they were totally dominant, hitting six points without reply to bring themselves back to within a point, and out of the danger area.

Aghagallon got them back in contention again with three points in a six minutes spell, but that was the end of their scoring and St Bride’s regained control to push on and win the game by two points, to end up group winners and set up a quarter final meeting with Dunloy in two weeks’ time.

Hannon was top man in the first half getting his team off the mark with an early point from play and though Conon McNicholl brought St Brigid’s level on six minutes, Aghagallon were ruling the roost as Hannon put them back in front with a pointed free from distance on eight minute and when Eunan Walsh grabbed the only goal of the game a minute later the men from the Lough Shore were flying high.

Peter King settled the St Brigid’s nerves with a point on twelve minutes, but it was to a be a brief respite for the Belfast side as Aghagallon came roaring back and three in a row from Eunan Walsh and Hannon (2) pushed their lead out to six by the 20th minute. James Smith pulled one back for St Brigid’s on 24 minutes to close the gap to five, but Aghagallon finished the half strongly and points from Mark McAfee and Hannon sent them in at the break with a seven point cushion.

Although the breeze did not seem excessive during the first half it soon became clear that his was stronger than most people sitting in the shelter of the stand had thought, as St Brigid’s re-emerged a transformed side. Points from Patrick Finnegan and Conor McNicholl in the first two minutes gave them the lift they needed and when McNicholl added another on five minutes it was clear they had taken control. A pointed 45 by goalkeeper Declan Heery made it five in a row for the south Antirm men and a minute later Michael Cummings fisted over to reduce the gap to a single point.

Substitue Pauric Maginnis got Aghagallon’s first score of the second half when he finished a good move by cutting in along the endline and fisting the ball over the bar, but there could well have been a goal on offer as St Brigid’s were caught out at the back. The next five minutes saw both teams hit two apiece as Aghagallon goalkeeper Luke Mulholland and substitute Maginnis sent over in reply to King and Heery for St Brigid’s. For a while it looked like St Brigid’s would be content to qualify without actually winning the game, but in the final minutes they pushed on to hit four in a row to end up winners by 0-15 to 1-10 and set up a meeting with Dunloy.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Qualification still in the balance despite resounding victory over Davitt’s

IFC Group 2

All Saints 8-11 Davitt’s 0-4

Baker Bradley and his backroom staff will not read too much into this facile victory with Davitt’s arriving at Quinn Park with only 15 men and quite a number of their regulars missing for various reasons.

Before the game kicked off qualification was going to be down to the final game of the series away to Glenavy in two weeks-time and before throw in word filtered through that St. Joseph’s had beaten Sarsfields, who had already qualified.

Bradley gave game time to a number of players who have not figured recently but it was his more established campaigners that would ensure a night devoid of anxiety for the Derry native.

The Ballymena side, with all their county men on board scored four goals in each half and played some good attacking football against a Davitt’s side who battled to the end but were out of their depth on this occasion.

Sean McVeigh fisted home the first with more than a hint of square ball about it and then the returning Ronan McKillop added a second to make it 2-4 to 0-0 with 17 minutes gone.

Paddy McAleer palmed home goal number three before the Davitt’s persistence paid off with a wonderful point from Deaglan Mooney in the 22nd minute.

All Saints Patrick Ferris fires past Liam McGivern for his side’s sixth goal

McAleer powered home a rocket to make it four majors for the Ballymena side who went on to lead 4-6 to 0-2 at the short whistle.

Caomhan Slane opened the second half scoring with an excellent point for Davitt’s but with places very much up for grabs and the possibility that score difference might come into play the home side never eased up with McAleer making it a hat-trick with another fisted effort after 8 minutes.

At this stage the home side emptied their bench, a luxury unavailable to the depleted visitors and it was one of the replacements, Patrick Ferris who got through for a sixth goal as the West Belfast side started to tire.

Paddy McAleer brought his total to four with a simple tap in after the ball rebounded into his path off the woodwork and the big county man concluded the scoring with his side’s 8th of the evening with time almost up.

Three minutes earlier the impressive Paul McLaughlin had brought his side’s total for the evening to 0-4 with possibly the best point of the game and the West Belfast side will now prepare for their final game against Gort na Mona.

Paul Toner, Davitt’s treasurer presents a cheque for £500-00 to Paddy McIlwaine who received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael

A win there would see them avoid a relegation playoff and they are likely to have a much stronger panel available for that one in two weeks-time.

All Saints now face the daunting task of an away visit to St. Joseph’s Glenavy, the Chapel Hill side will start that one as favourites following Sunday’s win over Group leaders, Sarsfield’s who have already inflicted defeat on the Ballymena side in the Group stages.

TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/kxJMbJtNd6CUzm