A strong second half performance propelled Aquinas into the quarter-final of the McLarnon Cup when they overcame the challenge of a shot shy St. Louis Ballymena in this play-off at Colaiste Feirste on Friday evening.
Goals from Daire Oglsby in the opening minute of the first half and another from Declan McArdle, 11 minutes into the second paved the way for a comfortable victory for the Belfast side over a St. Louis team who offered little in attack.
The first half was an even enough affair as Daire Oglsby got on the end of a turn over from John McAtamney’s misplaced kick out to finish to the net from close range.
St. Louis settled however and enjoyed their best spell in the game with Ryan McKeever and Darach Bradley from a free closing the gap to one by the 7th minute but it would be their only scores of the half as they wasted a number of good chances to draw level.
Their opponents, Aquinas didn’t fare much better though they did launch a number of promising attacks but were thwarted by some excellent blocking by the St. Louis defence and were wayward in their shooting when the opportunities did present themselves.
Indeed the remainder of the half would prove disappointing for both sides with Jacko Watson’s point for Aquinas in the 19th minute the only further score but it was enough to send the Belfast side into a two point lead at the interval.
St. Louis need a better start to the second half if they were to get back into contention but it was Aquinas who made the more promising start but continued to miss the target.
Declan McArdle celebrates after scoring Aquinas’ second goalDaire Oglsby scorer of the opening goal
Three early opportunities went a begging before David Leggett fisted over in the third minute and when Fergus Donaghy finished to the net with 11 minutes gone it looked a long way back for the Kintullagh boys.
St. Louis continued to enjoy a fair percentage of possession but continued to take the wrong options and were turned over time and again by a resolute Aquinas defence.
In fact their only two second half scores came from Shea O’Brion frees as Aquinas began to find their range with some excellent approach play as the gaps in the opposition defence began to appear.
Jacko Watson 0-2, JJ Higgins, David Leggett, Con Gileece and Jude Dixon all weighed in with points as the Ravenhill Road side pulled away to win comfortably in the end and will now meet Abbey, Donegal in the quarter-final.
Aquinas: 1 Seanan Nagle, 2 Eoin Browne, 3 Colm Boyle, 4 Frankie Fergson, 5 Daire Oglsby, 6 Ben Christie, 7 Con Gileece, 8 Peter Mulgrew, 9 Jude Dixon, 10 Joseph Mellon, 11 Declan McArdle, 12 JJ Higgins, 13 Pearse Loughry, 14 David Leggett, 15 Jacko Watson.
Subs Used: Lorcan Cooney for Frankie Fergson, Conor McKavanagh for Con Gileece (Blood sub), Rory O’Donoghue for Peter Mulgrew, Oisin O’Hare, Sean Doyle and James Kelly
St. Louis: 1 John McAtamney, 2 Oliver O’Rawe, 3 Hugh O’Donnell, 4 Sean McDermott, 5 Jack Martin, 6 Harry Connon, 7 Caleb Smith, 8 Luke McFerran, 9 Daniel Doherty, 10 Patrick O’Neill, 11, Fergus Donaghy, 12 Darach Bradley, 13 Ryan McKeever, 14 Shea O’Brion, 15 Eddie Smith.
St. Louis Grammar, Ballymena face Aquuinis Belfast tomorrow (Friday) at Colaiste Feirste with a place in ther qurter-final of this year’s McLarnon Cup the prize for the winners.
The Ballymena side have had a good McLarnon campaign to date and in the group stages beat St. Pius Magherafelt and St. Patrick’s Downpatrick but lost to Rathome Grammar to finish second in their group to Rathmore.
St. Louis have a wide spread of players from South West clubs in their panel and a few Antrim minors with representation from All Saints, Cargin, St. Comgall’s, Tir na nOg , Loughgiel, Rasharkin, Glenravel and Dunloy.
John McAtamney, Ryan McKeever, Hugh O’Donnell, Patrick O’Neill, Darach Bradley and Shea O’Brion are just a few of the players who have performed well this year with Cargin man O’Donnell captaining the side and Harry Connon from All Saints is their Vice Captain.
The Kintullagh side have an experienced management team and Antrim County player, Paddy McAleer, Sean Cassidy from Slaughtneil and Neill McNicholl are sure to have their side well prepared.
The winners of tomorrow’s game will meet either Abbey CBS of Donegal or Carrickmore in the quarter-finals so why not come along to Colaiste Feirste on Friday and give the boys your support.
It has been almost four years since the life of Adrian Mc Closkey was tragically cut short when a freak accident at work took him away from his family and friends.
Loved by all who knew him, always up for the craic, and with a permanent smile on his face Adrian left behind his father and mother, seven siblings, his four children and their mother as well as a legion of friends who all miss him dearly.
Adrian has reserved a place in the hearts of all who knew him and will forever be remembered by everyone as a kind and generous gentleman and such was underlined by the legion of people who attended his wake and followed the funeral procession to lay him to rest at the Church of the Sacred Heart on Cargin hill.
The Northern Air Ambulance attended the scene of Adrian’s accident but despite their sterling efforts they were unable to save his life.
Adrian’s family and friends will be forever indebted to their efforts as they did all they could to prevent their loss as they salute their valiant endurance and pay tribute to the hugely vital service they provide.
The Air Ambulance operate solely on donations from the public, and Adrian’s family and friends are fundraising to provide funds for this hugely vital service by taking part in the Belfast Marathon on 5th May this year.
If anyone would like to take part in this ‘Run for Adrian’, which is mainly sponsored by ‘City West Construction based in San Francisco USA which was established by Thomas Neeson, a former Moneyglass and Antrim footballer and a former close friend of Adrian
please contact David Griffin (07731531933) or alternatively donate to the go fund me page by following the link below.
Run for Adrian will be followed by a great night’s craic in the Tumbledown Bar and all welcomed to come along and join in celebrating Adrian’s memory.
As the 2023 season fades into the distance and the season ahead looms large, more than a few clubs have management in place. The County team have been in early action with an away game against Monaghan in the McKenna Cup and another this Sunday when they took on Fermanagh in Ahoghill.
Today we take a look back over the past season in adult competitions, to those who reached their goals in the wide range of competitions.
(League)
Casements Portglenone lift the Division 1 Football League title for the first time. Pic Coleen Webb
Division 1
Casement’s were quick starters in the top division and John McKeever’s men retained positivity from flag fall to conclusion.
They finishing winners, bringing the Division One title to Portglenone for the first time with the Eddie Fitzsimons Memorial Trophy taking up winter residence on the banks of the Bann.
Cargin were nearest challengers but the Portglenone men held on to deliver the title.
St Enda’s endured the loss of several prominent players for their league campaign and St Ergnat’s Moneyglass finished bottom of the table but a change to league structure as suggested may well offer reprieve to both from relegation.
Division 2
Con Magees Glenravel celebrate theor win over All Saints in the final of the Antrim Intermediate Football Championship at Kelly Park, Portglenone
Division 2 saw Con Magees Glenravel claim the title. A good start to their league campaign saw Joe Cassidy’s charges lead all the way but they were to find the going tough as the season progressed, losing twice to St James Aldergrove and All Saints but the Glensmen they did hang tough in the latter stages and finishing a point ahead of St James and All Saints to claim the title.
St Patrick’s Lisburn struggled in 2023 season with just a single point gained despite their honest labours they return to division 3 for 2024. Lisburn will be accompanied by Dunloy which came as a huge surprise to most observers, though the new league structures might well remedy that before he season gets underway.
The dual club did get it together late in the season but in the event it proved as too late to save status.
Dunloy underlined their real potential in the Senior championship and progressed to the final in which they gave Cargin a run for their money and underlines the fact that the Cuchullian’s will not dwell for long in the bottom grade.
Division 3
In Division 3 it was St. Mary’s Rasharkin who recorded a memorable double when they won the league and completed a championship double. O’Donnell’s pushed them all the way however and the MacRory Park side were the only team to record a win over St. Mary’s in the league and pushed them all the way in a championship final where they had built up a healthy lead before succumbing to the South West side
Championship
In the Senior Championship holders Cargin set out on the trail of another title and the Toome men were not asked set any sertious tasks as they moved through the group stages undefeated following wins over Rossa, Tir na nOg and St Johns.
The Toome men were asked serious questions before gaining a quarter victory over Aghagallon and again in their semi-final win over St Brigid’s.
Cargin were strong favourites to get the better of surprise packet Cuchullian’s in the final. Dunloy had caused a major surprise when they defeated Lamh Dhearg in the quarter-final and they went on to beat league winners, Casement’s Portglenone in the semi’s and matched Erin’s Own for long periods in the final before losing to the holders at Corrigan Park, going down to the strong favourites in the latter stages 2-10 to 0-10.
Ulster championship
Tomas McCann’s red card, which was subsequently recinded, was a bad blow for Cargin against Glen
Cargin gave Derry champions, Glen Maghera a run for their money in the 2022 Ulster club series and were drawn against the reigning Ulster champions again in 2023. The Antrim champions were giving as good as they got at Celtic Park but fate intervened and a harsh red card to Tomas McCann proved fatal. With 14 men Cargin battled all the way before going down to the Maghera side who would go on to retain Ulster and the Toome men were left to reflect on what might have been as that red shown by the Cavan official was later rescinded.
Intermediate Championship
Con Magees Glenravel celebrate their win over All Saints in the final of the Antrim Intermediate Football Championship at Kelly Park, Portglenone
Con Magees were installed as firm favourites for the Intermediate football championship and in the event Joe Cassidy’s men, with the league title secured went on to make it a double adding the Intermediate championship to their haul.
The Glensmen had impressed on the way to the decider with wins over Gort na Mona and Sarsfield’s before coming out on top in a close encounter in the decider with a 2-11 to 0-14 victory over All Saint’s to complete the double.
The Con Magees went on to face their counterparts from Derry, Glenullin in the Ulster Intermediate championship and like the Toome men Glenravel failed to cope with the challenge posed by the Oak Leaf men at Celtic Park.
Junior Championship
Rasharkin celebrate their Junior Football Championship win over O’Donnell’s at Dunsilly
Having secure the division three league title St Mary’s Rasharkin were installed as firm favourites to complete the double.
The Dreen men had only lost one game in the league to O’Donnell’s and in the event the MacRory Park residents were to provide the opposition in the championship decider.
Both had impressed in their respective trails to the decider but on the day it was the Dreen residents who came from behind to edge the decider and finish 3-07 to 0-14 winners over the West Belfast men.
Rasharkin faced a very strong challenge in the Ulster Junior Championship, , coming up against a very strong Monaghan side, Blackhill, in the opening round with the Breffni men proving too strong for St Marys’ to run out 5-11 to 1-07 winners.
Tir na nOg became the first winners of the South West Antrim Under 23 Football League when they beat All Saints in the final
HURLING
Cushendall celebrate after the County Antrim Senior Championship Hurling Final 2023 at Corrigan Park.
In hurling it was Ruairi Ogs of Cushendall who set the standards when they collected the Antrim Senior Championship after defeating Loughgiel Shamrock’s in a closely contested final in Corrigan Park. Only a point separated the sides at the finish with a James McNaughton free with virtually the last puck of the sliotar drifting just outside an upright. Loughgiel got some consolation when they lifted the Division 1 league title.
Cushendall would go on to defeat Portaferry in the Ulster club semi-final but it took a late free from Neil McManus to send the game into extra time. The Ruairis would go on to defeat Slaughtneil in the Ulster final before losing by 1-17 to 1-16 to Kilkenny champions O’Loughlin Gaels in the All Ireland semi-final Cushendall dedicated their season to their most famous son, wee John McKillop who passed away earlier in the year and the men from the North Antrim coast did him proud.
John McKillop RIP
Intermediate Championship
Creggan celebrate their win over Sarsfields in the final of the Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship at Dunsilly.
In the Intermediate Hurling Championship it was surprise package Kickham’s Creggan who lifted the title by defeating Sarsfields in the final at Dunsilly. After a poor league campaign that saw them relegated to Division 3, the Kickham’s came good in the championship and went on to defeat Bredagh in the Ulster quarter-final but fell to a good Carrickmore side in the Ulster semi-final at Dungiven.
Robert Emmet’s Cushendun put a string of good performance together on their way to winning the Division 2 league title with Clooney Gaels in second place. The Emmets were hot favourites to go on and add the Intermediate crown but Creggan shocked them in the semi-final at Glenravel.
Junior Hurling Championship
Cloughmills celebrate their win over Armoy in the JHC final in Glenariffe.
It was St. Brigid’s Cloughmills who claimed the Junior Championship title after defeating Glen Rovers, Armoy in a good final in Waterfoot. St. Brigid’s began their championship campaign with a 1-19 to 0-13 win over Gort na Mona at Enright Park in the opening round of their Group 2 qualifying section and followed that up with another victory over All Saints in Cloughmills. They went on to beat Lamh Dhearg in the semi-final where they had the advantage of a home fixture as a result of topping their group. They went on to defeat rivals, Cloughmills in the final by 1-12 to 0-13 to set up a meeting with Castleblaney Faughs in the first round of Ulster. Ahoghill was the venue and the ‘Biddies’ looked favourites to advance to the semi-final but lost by a goal to the Monaghan champions.
In Division 3 of the league it was Cuchullain Hurling Club of Armagh who topped the table with Cloughmills finishing second.
Ardoyne won Division 4 of the Antrim Leagues without dropping a point
Liam Watson won the Antrim Poc Fada at Feystown while Teresea McAllister of St John’s Carnlough won the Senior Ladies event
In Division 4 Kickham’s Ardoyne had a great season as they finished tops with 28 points from 14 starts and the North Belfast side would go on to claim the Junior B Championship to complete a remarkable season.
Cushendall celebrate with the Reserve Cup after their win over Cushendun in the final in Glenariffe. Pic by Sean Paul McKillop
Cushendall won the Reserve Cup while Ballycastle won the Senior Reserve league
CAMOGIE
In Camogie it was Loughgiel Shamrocks who added another Division 1 League and Senior Championship double and they would go on to defeat old adversaries, Slaughtneil in the semi-final before recording a facile victory over Liatroim of Down in the final to retain their Ulster title. Dicksboro of Kilkenny got the better of the Shamrocks in the All Ireland semi-final at Ashbourne. They had a brilliant first half and appeared to be on course to make it through to another final, but the Kilkenny champions finished strongly to book thier place in the final for the first time. Loughgiel’s dissapointment was made even worse when the Boro went on to win the final. However they continue to set the standards in Antrim and Ulster that the chasing pack need to emulate.
Antrim Intermediate Camogie Champions Loughgiel, who beat Cargin in the final at Dunsilly.
Loughgiel also claimed the Intermediate title when the beat Cargin in the final, but they were beaten in the first round of the Ulster by Granemore of Armagh, who went on to win the All Ireland title.
In the Junior there was success for St. Mary’s Rasharkin and the girls from Dreen had a great run in Ulster in the Bridie McMenanin Shield, before losing to Drumsurn in the Ulster final.
Bridini Oga won Div 3 Camogie League the only team in adult camogie leagues to go through the full campaign without losing a point.
Ballycastle, won the Division 2 League while St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass won the Development League trophy
Division 2 Reserve League winners Ballycastle Moneyglass Camogs won the Development Championship
Bridini Oga deserve a mention for their great All Ireland Junior B win on January 8th against Wicklow champions Knockanana at Kinnegad. It was of course the 2022 final, but because of a variety of reasons the final was held over until 2023 and the Glenravel girls made history by clinching the title.
Bridini Oga Glenravel who won the All Ireland Junior A title
Ladies Football
Moneyglass who beat St Paul’s in the final of the Senior LGFA Championship
Moneyglass were once again the stand out team in the Ladies Football senior competitons, winning the league and championship double, beating St Paul’s in the Championship decider. When they beat 14 times winners Donaghmoyne of Monaghan in the Ulster quarter final in Monaghan, the first time in over 20 years Donaghmoyne had lost at home, hopes were high of going all the way this time. However they were shocked in the semi-final by Armagh champions Clann Éireann, who went on to take thier first Ulster senior title by beating Down champions Bredagh in the final.
Glenavy who won the Antrim Intermediate LGFA championship. They are see here before their win over Naomh Mhuire in the first round of the SFC in Donegal
Glenavy won the Intermediate title in Antrim, beating local rivals Aldergrove in the final at Hannahstown before setting off on a brilliant run in Ulster. They had to make the long journey to St Mary’s in Donegal in the preliminary round and victory there gave them home advantage in the quarter final against Ballyhaise of Cavan. They put on a great show at Chapel Hill as they booked their place in the semi-final against Down champions Rostrevor with an impressive win. Conditions were horendous as they again used their home advantage very well to see their great run continue as the added yet another win at Chapel Hill to set up a final against the competitions’ hot favourites Steelstown of Derry.
The final turned out to be an epic battle. Glenavy appeared to be on the road to victory when they lead going into injury time, but the Derry champions saved the game with a late score before going on to win it in extra time, and break Glenavy hearts, but the memory of their great campaign will live long in the memory.
St John’s, under the management of county football star Patrick McBride, won the Junior title but were beaten by Down champions Carryduff in the Ulster quarter final at Corrigan Park.
Three second half goals from Tim Prenter, Chris Egan and Daithi Sands saw a dominant Down outfit come from 0-15-0-12 down at the break to book their place in the Conor McGurk Cup final with a 3-28-0-28 win over Antrim in Tuesday evenings semi-final , under lights at Dunsilly.
The men from the Ards had the upper hand for parts of the first half as well, but when Antrim hit a good spell late in the half they appeared to be in control when they went in at the break with a three point lead. However Down came out of the traps at the start of the second half like a steam train and within ten minutes they had turned their three points deficit into a six point lead, as the moved the ball fast an accurately. Their hurling was crisp and their decision making a step above the home side, and though Antrim had a little spell when they got in top, they could not match the drive and pace of their opponents as they booked thier place in this weekend’s final.
Antrim’s Paul Boyle is closed down by two Down defenders
Antrim started the game well and quickly established a three-point advantage. Rian McMullan converted a free, Niall McGarel popped over from Paul Boyle’s layoff before Boyle then dropped one over from play.
Eoghan Sands hit back for the Mourne outfit, and they should have registered the first goal when Finn Turpin’s low shot crashed off the post.
A long-range John McManus point cut the deficit before Pearse Og McCrickard sent an angled shot over the bar to restore parity.
Points from Aaron Bradley, Rian McMullan and Niall McKenna edged Antrim ahead again, though Down responded on each occasion – Marc Fisher with back-to-back scores and Pearse Og Mc Crickard landing his first free of the evening to make it 0-06 apiece.
McCrickard hit his second from play to give his side the lead for the first time on the 13th minute and would double it from a 65’.
Paul Boyle doubled his personal tally in response and a second converted Rian McMullan free drew the sides level again.
Down would hit the front on a further two occasions before the break, Eoghan Sands was able to escape some heavy attention and steer a shot over, with talisman Pearse Og McCrickard landing his second free of the half to move their 0-10-0-08 ahead.
A further McMullan free was quickly followed by an outstanding Seamus McAuley point from play that brought parity.
Points were traded between Finn Turpin and McMullan from play as Antrim stepped things up approaching the break.
Tim Prenter fires the ball to the Antrim net for the first of his team’s three second half goals
A drag back on Eoin Trainor saw Rian McMullan conjure up his third converted free of the half and Stephen Rooney then dropped over a fine score.
Paul Boyle swung over his third point and a further placed ball from McMullan made it five scores on the spin.
Down pulled a score back through Ciaran Milligan on the stroke of half time but trailed 0-15-0-12 at the midway stage.
Pearse Og McCrickard reduced arrears within 60-seconds of the restart, converting his third free of the evening and Tim Prenter then slammed home the opening goal of proceedings to give his side a 1-13-0-15 advantage.
Prenter added a point shortly afterwards with Danny Toner then swinging over his first point of the evening to make it 1-03 without reply since the restart.
Niall McKenna doubled his personal tally in response and scores were traded between Prenter and Paul Boyle in the aftermath.
The visitors extended their lead with three points on the spin giving them a 1-19-0-17 lead. Pearse Og McCrickard dropped over two more frees- with Chris Egan pointing from play in between times.
An excellent Conor Boyd point from play looked to have lifted the Saffrons and Rian McMullan landed his fifth free to leave Prenter’s goal the difference.
Down’s Eoghan Sands who gave a masterful display at centre forward.
Down took a huge step towards victory with a second goal on the 47th minute. Tim Prenter pulled the ball across, and Chris Egan swopped in and flicked home to give his side a 2-19-0-19 lead.
Substitute Tom McGrattan would add another point and McCrickard was on target from play as the Mourne men pulled further clear.
The hosts would make inroads into the deficit with five unanswered points in a dominant five-minute spell.
Talisman McMullan would conjure up three further frees and in between Niall McKenna floated over his third point of the evening and substitute Fred McCurry squeezed a shot inside the posts.
The Saffrons hard work was undone with a quarter of an hour remaining as Down hit their third goal of the half.
Tim Prenter saw his close-range effort blocked on the line, but Daithi Sands was on hand to rifle home and seal the Mourne men’s place in Saturday’s decider.
Ronan Sheehan’s charges pressed on as Eoghan Sands and back-to-back McCrickard frees putting three clear goals between the sides (3-24-0-24).
The last eight scores were equally shared thereafter. Paul Boyle and Rian McMullan added two further scores to their individual tallies with Boyle’s second the best of the bunch.
Remarkably, Pearse Og McCrickard wouldn’t add to his impressive tally of 0-11 in the dying embers and Down’s last four scores were shared between four different scorers.
Tim Prenter brought his tally to 1-02 with an effort that clipped the inside of the large post and dropped over and Tom McGrattan doubled his account before fellow substitutes James Duggan and goal scorer Sands completed the job as Down reservedly ran out 3-28-0-28 winners and booked their place in Saturday’s final against Donegal.
Antrim’s Niall McKenna sends over a point.
Antrim: C McFadden, P Duffin, R McGarry, R McCormick, R McCloskey, C Boyd (0-01), D McMullan, S Rooney (0-01), E Trainor, P Boyle (0-06), S McAuley, N McKenna (0-03), N McGarel (0-01), R McMullan (0-13, 0-09f), A Bradley (0-01). Subs: C McGarry for A Bradley (HT), F McCurry (0-01) for S McAuley (HT), D Wilson for R McCormick (HT), C McKernan for R McCloskey (46), N O’Connor for E Trainor (46), S Walsh for D McMullan (60), M McGibbon for S Rooney (60).
Down: S Keith, J McManus (0-01), T Murray, C Cassidy, M Fisher (0-02), C Teggart, B Trainor, L Savage, C Milligan (0-02), F Turpin (0-01), E Sands (0-03), P Og McCrickard (0-11, 0-06f, 0-01 65’), T Prenter (1-02), C Egan (1-01), D Toner (0-01). Subs: A Furlong for C Cassidy (HT), P Smyth for S Keith (HT), N McFarland for M Fisher (HT), T McGrattan (0-02) for F Turpin (HT), D Mullan for C Milligan (HT), M McAreavey for J McManus (40), D Sands (1-01) for C Egan (48), J Duggan (0-01) for D Toner (48), J Murphy for B Trainor (65).
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)
Down goalkeeper Stephen Keith makes a brilliant point-blank save from Antrim’s Rian McMullan.
