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by thesaffrongael

St Louis’ secure top spot after faultless group stage

Danske Bank Mageean Cup

St Mary’s CBGS 1-11-0-20 St Louis’ Ballymena

From Kevin Herron at Paric Rossa

St Louis’ Ballymena secured top spot in the group and a semi-final place in the Mageean Cup following the Halloween break with a 0-20-1-11 win over St. Mary’s at Pairc Rossa on Wedensday afternoon.

St Mary’s were first off the mark courtesy of a Sean Og McLaren free, but Ballymena drew level through a Fiontan Bradley point.

Midfielder Jack Martin swung successive shots over and Bradley doubled his personal tally with Caleb Smith and Shea Burns in trading scores in the aftermath as St Louis’ were in the driving seat.

Further points were traded between Martin and Daire Jemfrey and a third point from Fiontan Bradley had his side 0-07-0-03 ahead.

An angled Odhran Donnelly point lifted the Glen Road outfit and Sean Og McLaren blasted over his second free to half the deficit.

Approaching the midway point in the half a single point separated the sides, Fiontan Bradley dropped a shot over to briefly send them a further point ahead- only for Corey Walsh and Niall May to quickly pop over scores within a minute and make it 0-08-0-07.

It was all one-way traffic in the last 15 minutes approaching the break as St Louis’ reeled off seven scores without reply.

Three of which were placed balls that Fiontan Bradley punished, he added a further one from play with Jack Martin conjuring up his fourth of the half and the pick of the scores was an excellent Sean McDermott effort that drifted over as their side were in control with a 0-15-0-07 lead at the interval.

Despite a positive opening to the second period, St. Mary’s found themselves further in arrears Jack Martin and Bradley (free) popped over.

St Marys Michael Marlow breaks away from his man to set up a score . PICTURE MARK MARLOW

In response Daire Jemfrey saw his angled shot sneak between the large posts and substitute Mick Marlow flashed a shot over.

Jemfrey was unfortunate to see a goal bound shot drift wide of the net as Martin and Bradley added to their increasing personal tally’s to give Louis’ a 0-19-0-09 lead with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Sean Og McLaren dropped over a fine point for his first from play of afternoon and Brendan McMorrow then popped over.

St. Mary’s gave themselves a small glimmer going into the closing minutes when Jude Collins shot was parried by the stick of goalkeeper Caolan McFerran and his attempted clearance was charged down and flicked home by the lively McLarnon to make it 0-19-1-11.

A late point from Caolan McCollum finished the afternoons scoring on the Shaws Road as St Louis’ topped the group and will head to the last four after the Halloween break.

St. Mary’s meanwhile entertain Gaelcholáiste Dhoire needing a victory to secure a quarter final spot.  

St Mary’s scorers: Sean Og McLarnon (1-3, 0-2f), Daire Jemfrey (0-2), Shea Burns (0-1), Odhran Donnelly (0-1), Corey Walsh (0-1), Niall May (0-1), Michael Marlow (0-1), Brendan McMorrow (0-1).

St Louis’ scorers: Fiontan Bradley (0-11, 0-5f, 0-1 65’), Jack Martin (0-06), Sean McDermott (0-1), Caleb Smith (0-1), Caolan McCollum (0-1).

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)

St Louis Fintan Bradley and St Marys Michael Marlow and Ethan Walsh. Picture Mark Marlow
MAGEEAN CUP ST MARYS CBGS V ST LOUIS GRAMMER. Caolan Wilson of St Marys breaks away under the watchful eye of Dylan McLarnon of St Louis. PICTURE MARK MARLOW
MAGEEAN CUP ST MARYS CBGS V ST LOUIS GRAMMER. St Marys Eamon Kearney and St Louis Caolan McCollum. PICTURE MARK MARLOW
MAGEEAN CUP ST MARYS CBGS V ST LOUIS GRAMMER. St Louis Caleb Smith and St Marys Shea Cunningham. PICTURE MARK MARLOW
Oisin Boyle of St Marys CBGS Belfast and Sean McDermott of St Louis Grammer rise for the Sliotar during the sides Mageean Cup game at Rossa Park . Picture Mark Marlow
by thesaffrongael

Oisins took the first title of the new Millennium

Intermediate Hurling Championship final preview

Oisins pipped the Faughs in 2000 thriller

Saturday’s opponents met in the first final of the new Millennium when Oisin’s beat the Faughs in the final in Armoy.

Glenariffe won the the Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2000 when they held off a late charge by a Martin McAuley inspired Carey team. The Oisins appeared to be coasting when the gained the upper hand in the last quarter but the Faughs came within inches of bring the game to extra time with a great fightback in the final minutes. 

Here we carry the match report that appeared in the Ballymena Chronicle at the time

Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship final 2000

Glenariffe Oisins 1-17 Carey Faughs 2-12

The colourful atmosphere which added much to this occasion was only surpassed by the excellence of the hurling on show from both teams in Saturday’s thrilling Intermediate final at Armoy.                    

Scoring by both sides was faultless, and the high standard produced is a credit to the two teams. In true championship style this was a real end-to-end game, and direct from the throw-in the scoring began.

Glenariffe were first to register when a fine three-man move was ended with a Johnny McIntosh point, but it was a lead which would only last a few seconds as Martin McAuley levelled the scores from a 40 yard free at the other end. It was now fast and furious and Alastair McAllister edged the Oisins ahead again, only for Carey to reel them in once more with Martin McAuley answering from 50 yards from another ‘placed’ ball.

Dan McKillop, who is part of the Oisins panel, gets away from the challenge of Carey’s Bosco McAuley during the 2000 Intermediate Championship final in Armoy

Glenariffe got ahead again when Sean Harvey pointed from a 70 yard free, which was followed by a point from a narrow angle from Niall O’Hagan. In the tenth minute Johnny McIntosh forced a great save from Carey ‘keeper Paul Brogan, but in their haste to clear Carey conceded possession and Seamus Reid won the ball, and split the uprights from 30 yards. Three points now separated the sides, but Carey began to reel the Oisins in. From all of 75 yards Marin McAuley sent over his third free to reduce the deficit to two, but again Glenariffe pulled away with a Niall O’hagan point. At the end of the opening quarter there was little between the sides as Martin McAuley got his team’s first score from play and Julian Gillan added another to leave just a point between the sides.

Glenariffe then began to show the form they had promised and a great solo run and hand-pass from Shane McDonnell set Niall O’Hagan up for a tap-over point and when McDonnell added another the gap was out to three again. Glenariffe pushed on further with a point from Alastair McAlister and Carey appeared to be losing touch. However the Faughs plan of playing a two-man full forward line began to pay dividends and from Martin McAuley’s long clearance John McVeigh got in behind the Oisins defence and fired the ball to the corner of the net to leave just a point between the sides. (0-9 to 1-5)

The Oisins responded with a point from a free by Niall O’Hagan and one from distance from Johnny ‘Tosh’, but Carey came back with a point from Tommy Devlin. With just two minutes of the opening half remaining Glenariffe got a big break and after ‘Tosh’ added a point from play, a long delivery from a Sean Harvey free came back off the woodwork and Niall O’Hagan was on hand to kick the rebound the Carey net and send his team in at the break with a six point cushion.

Niall O’Hagan celebrates after scoring Glenariffe’s goal

Backed by the breeze in the second half Carey needed just three minutes to register their first score as Martin McAuley maintained his 100% record from frees, and when John McVeigh added one from play the gap was now down to four. Glenariffe responded with a Niall O’Hagan point and one from the veteran Dominic Kearns. With their defence gaining the upper hand again Glenariffe regained control and when Johnny McIntosh added two excellent points in the 38th and 40th minutes the gap was out to eight. Martin McAuley sent a sideline cut all the way over the bar to briefly lift Carey spirits but the Oisins had an answer when Seamus Reid sent over a point at the other end.

When the gap still at eight with just six minutes remaining Glenariffe appeared to be home and dry, but they took their foot off the pedal and Carey got themselves back into contention with the excellent Martin McAuley spearheading the Faughs comeback. Showing great skill he again pointed a side-line ‘cut’ and with just two minutes remaining notched a 40 yard point from play. With full-time coming ever nearer he charged through the Glenariffe defence to fire the ball to the net and leave just a goal between the sides. There was still more drama to come when the Faughs were awarded a 30 yard free and up stepped McAuley again to go for goal, but his well struck shot was touched over by Glenariffe goalkeeper Damian Jamison and the Oisins had survived. The resultant poc-out seconds later sparked scenes of great celebration among the relieved Glenariffe followers.

Dominic Kearns is lifted shoulder high by Johnny McIntosh, Alastair McAlister and Mark Sidebottom as he holds the cup aloft.

GLENARIFFE – Damien Jamison, Paul Shepherd, Mick McKillop, Padraig McIlwaine, Sean Harvey, Liam McCollum, Norris Murray, Dominic Kearns, Gerard Black, Alastair McAllister, Shane McDonnell, Dan McKillop, Niall O’Hagan, Johnny McIntosh, Seamus Reid.

Subs – Mark Sidebottom for O’Hagan

CAREY – P Brogan, B McAuley, J McBride, A McCormick, P Devlin, J McAuley, J Butler, M McAuley, T Devlin, J Gillan, J McVeigh, S Murphy, C McCaughan, G McAuley, S McNeill.

Gerry and the Cosgrove clan celebrate the 2000 victory

by thesaffrongael

Film on Gort na Móna to premiere on Friday

A new film about west Belfast GAA club Gort na Móna is to be screened at their clubhouse on Friday (18th October).

The documentary was made as part of the club’s 50th anniversary celebration, which has seen various events organised throughout the year.

The event will take place as part of this year’s Féile na Carraige programme, run by Upper Springfield Irish language organisation Glór na Móna.

Clubman Niall Enright said, “The film celebrates the role that Gort na Móna has played in the Upper Springfield community since its formation in 1974.

“We’re pleased to be launching it as part of Féile na Carraige. Glór na Móna is celebrating its own 20th birthday and Gort na Móna GAC has had a close relationship with the group since its earliest days.”

Niall continued, “We were also happy to partner with local community media group Northern Visions on the film to help bring the idea to fruition.

Desy McClean, Niall Enright and Terry Reilly who all feature in the documentary

“We’ve had a busy year with the 50th anniversary – organising blitzes and mountain walks, doing history projects and looking to the future with a new strategic plan.

“We’re happy to use every medium to show the benefits that Gort na Móna – and the GAA generally – brings to children and adults, to our families and our communities.”

The film event takes place at Gort na Móna GAC on Friday 18th October from 7.30pm followed by live music and refreshments. Anyone interested in attending is asked to RSVP to niall@usdt.co.uk

by thesaffrongael

Camogie developing successfully on the hill

Lámh Dhearg Senior Cámogs won the Development Cup on Sunday 13th October in a keenly contested match against a very strong Loch Mór Dál gCais.

A magnificent achievement considering this was only the second year of the Club fielding a Senior team after a 30+ year hiatus.

There was little between the two teams at half time with Lámh Dhearg going into the break ahead by 3 after an evenly balanced half. After a few positional changes the Lámhs began to assert their authority in the second half and kept the score board ticking over. Yet the final score didn’t reflect the intensity and competitiveness of the game and it took some resolute defending by the Lámhs and the goalposts twice to deny Loch Mór adding further scores.

Loch Mór never gave up & competed to the final whistle and will take heart from their gallant performance and will no doubt do well in Junior next season.

The Lámhs win was 12 years in the making. 

The decision to reform a Lámh Dhearg Senior team last year was due to having a large number of minors coming through with the risk of having few matches for them in the Minor league so they put a call out for players to come join their young minors and the pieces of their Senior Team started to come together.

The Lámhs have an eclectic mix of players, their multigenerational team contains minors, G4MO, ladies footballers who had never held a hurley in their hand before, a retired ex-County player and our Captain Aedin O’Neill, an All-Ireland medal winner, retired 7 years previous who came out of retirement to join our team.

The GAA is a big family and following through on that the Hannahstown side also have two mothers playing alongside their daughters and two different sets of sisters on the team.

Last year the Lámhs were beaten in the Development Shield Final and and although it was an achievement to have reached the Final they were devastated at the time but there was a determination amongst the players that they could possibly go further the next year & WIN.

The ladies worked hard in pre-season putting in the gym sessions and the pitch sessions.

They entered Division 3 this season where they experienced playing well-seasoned stronger teams throughout the league.

Towards the end of the League they started to enjoy a bit a success with a few wins peppered amongst their losses and their defeats were less severe and confidence and momentum began to build.

The Championship was ahead and the ladies were ready to hopefully overcome the loss from the previous year!

The Lámhs began to filter their skilled and experienced U16 players into the Senior squad and the injection of Youth alongside the steadfast Minors and Senior ladies added a new dimension to the team.

The 2024 Semi-final was a stiff test against a strong talented and physical Larne team. The win was a hard earned victory with very little difference between the two teams at the final whistle, but they had come out victors and the final was ahead of them

The Lámhs had played Loch Mór the previous year on several occasions and they were very close games. The Lámhs knew they had a tough task in the final as Loch Mór also had the luxury of skilled U16 players available to their panel.

On Sunday the nervous tension in changing room was palpable but once the ladies got out on the pitch, game mode kicked in

After 60mins of game time the Lámhs emerged victors & the demons of the previous years were banished…

They had won the Division 3 Development Cup and created history at Lámh Dhearg. The future for camogie in Hannahstown is extremely bright considering their 16’s won the double at all county B and the club now field teams from under 6 to Senior.

Thanks to Gort Na Mona for hosting the final so well.

TO VIEW PHOTO ALBUM CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/AzPSDE6UiXDrtd

by thesaffrongael

Longevity a key factor as Saints claim their fourth title

As the hangovers from the weekend celebrations start to abate and sore limbs receive treatment we reflect on what is always a special occasion for Antrim Gaels.

Saturday saw All Saints claim their fourth Intermediate title. The last one came in 2011 and the Ballymena men suffered a number of painful defeats in the years since that last success including two final defeats in the previous three years

Longevity is a word often used when referring to those who have served their club well over a long period of years but much has been rightly made of the fresh bunch of youngsters who finally got the Slemish Park men over the line on Saturday.

The appointment of Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley as All Saints manager, three years ago was not universally heralded by the critics but the former Antrim county manager has silenced the critics.

New faces have been introduced and there has been a buzz about training at Quinn Park with previously unimaginable numbers turning out week after week at training as the feel good factor has taken a hold.

When I briefly spoke to the Glenullin native after the game as he shared in the excitement that only winning can bring, I pointed out to him that six of the starting side on Saturday and two of the subs had featured in that championship success over Portglenone back in 2011.

All Saints went on to defeat the Fermanagh and Cavan champions in Ulster that year before narrowly losing to Cullaville of Armagh in the semi-final after extra time in Omagh.

The men of 2011! Left to Right: Rory McVeigh, Peter McReynolds, Emmet Killougth, Michael McCarry, Sean McVeigh, Peter McNicholl and Paddy McAleer

Sean McVeigh was a box to box mid-fielder back in 2011 and with Michael McCarry went on to serve Antrim well and the elder statesmen of the side back then are still driving their younger colleagues on by example.

Peter McNicholl has been another who refused to throw in the towel when he was afforded little game time last year and has been terrific at the heart of the Ballymena defence this year.

Emmet Killough, Paddy McAleer and Peter Pizza’ McReynolds were emerging youngsters in that championship run 13 years ago and with Rory McVeigh were member of an All Saints All County Minor B championship winning side a few years previous.

The aforementioned 8 stood proudly together for a photograph after the championship win in Toome on Saturday.

Big Sean is no longer a box to box mid-fielder but has weighed in regularly with important goals throughout the league and championship in 2024 and got another in the final against St. Teresa’s.

Michael McCarry has been restricted to appearances from the bench in recent games but kicked two frees when introduced late in the final proving once again that class is permanent.

Peter McReynolds has returned recently from a career threatening injury but like Rory McVeigh has had to be content with a place on the bench as All Saints emerging youngsters have staked their claim.

Emmet Killough continues to produce strong performances for the Ballymena side and is a vital cog in the side while Paddy McAleer has been part of the county setup for more than a decade and one again displayed his class in their Toome success with four points.

When the celebrations from Saturdays success have died down it will be back to the coal face and more training sessions under the regime of ‘Honda’ Mullan as the Ballymena side set their sights on another crack at Ulster.

For one or more of these men it could be a last hooray in the Black & White of All Saints but I wouldn’t rule out any of them being back next year as All Saints contest their first Senior Championship since 2012.

That winning feeling! All Saints celebrate their win over St. Teresa’s in the IFC Final in Toome on Saturday