Edmund Rice Glengormley 8-11 St Killian’s College 4-2
EDMUND Rice College emphatically overturned defeat in the group stages to comfortably beat St Killian’s Garron Tower in the Danske Bank Nannery Shield final in Magherafelt yesterday – and they managed it despite Kian McGarrel hitting the net on four occasions for the losers.
St Killian’s actually went ahead at the start with a point from Cormac McMullan and then a McGarrel goal. However as the opening half wore on, the Hightown boys got on top and turned around at the break with a lead of 3-7 to 1-1.
The first two goals came around ten minutes in from Caiden McConnell and Nathan Burns and Aiden McCorry added a third before the break.
Despite a second half hat-trick from McGarrel who was an ever-present threat, Edmund Rice continued to drive forward with Caiden Mc Connell, Nathan Burns, Aiden McCorry and Lennon McCann all finding the net.
They have now added the Nannery Shield to the Gaelfast Shield they won earlier in the season with Owen O’Reilly, David McCandles, Nathan Burns, Jayden James, Caiden McConnell and Leonard McCann all impressing while PJ Kelly, Cormac McMullan and of course goal-scorer Kian McGarrel caught the eye for St Killian’s
For most of the first half of this Casement Cup final at the Dub, the boys from Ravenhill appeared to be on line to collect their first Casement Cup title, but they were hit with two goals inside a minute by a very good Gaelcholáiste Dhoire team who turned the game around with major scores from Finbar Ó Muirí and Peadar Pio Ó Duibhn to turn a 0-4 to 0-7 deficit into a 2-4 to 0-7 lead.
Those two goals were to prove the difference between the sides in the end, for though Aquinas were always in contention, those scores gave the Dungiven school the upper hand.
The Belfast school made a good start and were well deserving of their 0-7 to 0-4 lead, but Gaelcholáiste Dhoire always looked dangerous and when they opportunities presented themselves they took them with aplomb. Finbar Ó Muirí broke through on the left to fire home the first one while Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne showed great skill as he weaved his way through to fire home the second.
Aquinas looked strong in the opening minutes and playing down toward the Road end they went three ahead in the early stages. Gaelcholáiste captain Mike Ó Dubhghail-Ó Cinníde kept his team in touch before Tadhg Mac Ainmhire put them in front on 11 minutes.
However Aquinas pushed on with the next four points, two from John Dougan and one each for Ben Christie and James Kelly. They they were knocked back on their heels but they steadied the ship, but still trailed by three at the break. (2-5 to 0-8)
Dougan’s free on the re-start closed the gap to two, but Gaelcholáiste grew stronger as the game progressed and when Cathal Ó Mianáin sent over a suburb point they were in control. Aquinas kept battling against the odds and came close in the dying minutes when a 20 metre free was deflected onto the crossbar, but Derry boys were not to be outdone as the pushed on to take the Casement Cup in their first year in the competition.
Gaelcholáiste: F Ó Muirí and PP Ó Duibhne 1-0each, M Ó Dubhghail-Ó Cinnéide 0-8, 6 frees, C Ó Mianáin, T Mac Ainmhire and J Ó Conaire 0-1 each.
Aquinas: J Kelly and J Dougan (2 frees) 0-3 each, S Doyle 0-2, C Doyle, D Leggett and B Christie 0-1 each
Sean McGourty presents the Danske Bank Casement Cup to Gaelcholáiste Dhoire captain Mickey Doyle Kennedy after his team’s win over Aquinas at the DubSean McGourty of Ulster Schools GAA presents the Man of the Match award to Darragh O’Loughlin of Gaelcholáiste DhoireCiaran O’Muiri MacUillan has his picture taken with his parents after the Casement Cup finalCathair O’Boyle, dad Niall, who is from Glenariffe, his mun Melissa, sister Caitlin and brother Ben have their photo taken with the Casement Cup Man of the match Darragh O’Loughlin with his mum Joanne (lef) his aunt Mary McKendry, who are both from Loughgiel, plus his dad DominicParents and family members form a guard of honour for the Gaelcholáiste Dhoire team as they leave the field with the cup
Ruairi Og fanatic and hurling Aficionado Colum Thompson put pen to paper after seing his beloved Cushendall suffer another narrow defeat in an All Ireland Club semi-final
The quote in the headline came from former Clare legend Anthony Daly after Limerick’s epic last gasp victory against the Banner, way back in 1996
That is the feeling being suffered by Cushendall people this evening. Within touching distance of an All Ireland Final against St. Thomas’s to yet again having our dreams shattered at the semi-final stage. Sport can be cruel. When Joe McLaughlin blasted to the Gaels net in the fourth minute to put Cushendall six points ahead an upset looked very definitely on the cards. In the early exchanges Cushendall were sensational. The ferocious tackling, the hard running and the accuracy had the Kilkenny and Leinster champions on the ropes. Eoghan Campbell rifled over two unbelievable points from distance and Paddy Burke got another. The bookies prediction and the pre match script was being systematically torn to shreds. But purple patches don’t last for ever and as is the Kilkenny way O Loughlin Gaels came roaring back. A Luke Hogan piledriver was brilliantly saved by Dall keeper Conor McAlister but the ball broke to Sean Bolger who scrambled home to leave just one point between the sides in the 26th minute. Five minutes earlier Ed McQuillan cursed his luck when following a great solo run his shot at goal agonisingly hit the post and was cleared. Fine margins. Cushendall responded well to the concession of the goal and forced their way into a three point lead by half time 1-10 to 1-7.
O Loughlin Gaels started the second half with real intent and in the twinkling of an eye they had levelled the game thanks to two points from Mark Bergin and one from Eoin O’ Shea. It was end to end stuff but by the 55th minute the Kilkenny men had worked themselves into a two point lead.
Joe McLaughlin got inside Mikey Butler to fire over a super point to again put the minimum between the teams. Cushendall had chances but several snatched efforts drifted wide when scores looked on. As the seconds ticked away it was frantic stuff but in the second minute of injury time Dall captain Neil McManus found space and from fully 80 yards into the breeze he dissected the uprights to bring his team level. Navan was rocking, The Dall supporters were in full voice at the end of a scintillating hour of hurling. Stephen Murphy pocked the ball out, it was hell for leather around the middle of the park but the ball fell to wing back David Fogarty who sent a sublime strike like an arrow through the Dall uprights and through the Dall hearts as well. We prayed for another minute and another chance and it came but Neil McManus’s effort fell inches wide of the left hand post. Final score O Loughlin Gaels 1-17 Cushendall 1-16.
It was utterly heartbreaking. Another gut-wrenching loss at the semi final stage. Cushendall folks won’t need reminding that since 1996 we have now lost to Wolfe Tones by a point, St. Joseph’s after a replay, De La Salle after extra time, St. Thomas’s by a point and now to O Loughlin Gaels by a point as well. That is our crown of thorns and we have to wear it. People will tell you that you get out of life what you put into it. Don’t listen to them, if that were the case then Neil McManus’s last gasp effort would have sailed over the bar. The next time in the white hot heat of championship hurling we are a point down and need a score I want Neil McManus on the ball. It was cruel too on Paddy Burke who played out of his skin adding to his reputation as one of the top defenders in the game. And what a debut season for Joe McLaughlin. Still a teenager but a player who has registered plenty of championship goals and critical scores, what a future he has if he wants it. Today he took a current All Star Mikey Butler for a goal and a point.
I hope our players realise how proud we are of them and how much winning The Antrim and Ulster Championship means to all of us and it is a fitting tribute to our greatest ever member, The legendary Wee John McKillop who we lost earlier in the year. The 2023 season is over for Cushendall, this one will sting for a while but just like purple patches the darkness doesn’t last long. No more can be asked of a team than to give it everything. Cushendall did that today and there is no shame in defeat as long as you dust yourself down and go again. Before we know it we’ll be standing in Ballycastle or Dunloy or Loughgiel watching matches in the May sunshine, running our eye over our own team and the opposition in anticipation of the championship starting again.
The final line of The Great Gatsby reads “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Championship semi-final
Four Masters 6-14-1-01 Castleblaney Faugh’s
Kevin Herron reports from Shaws Road
Four Masters claimed their place in the final of the FonaCAB Ulster Minor Tournament for the second year in succession after they comprehensively breezed past Castleblaney Faugh’s in Sunday afternoons semi-final on the Shaws Road.
Both sides edged their respective quarter final clashes by the bare minimum eight days previous and Four Masters picked up where they left off at the end of their dramatic comeback win over Magherafelt, netting within the opening three minutes through Conor McCahill.
The goal settled the Donegal Champions down after they survived a prior scare at the other end.
It was very much one-way traffic thereafter with five points in succession. Tomas Carr notched up two of those in-between a fine Tiarnan McBride point.
Turlough Carr burst through and took a point before he steered a pass to goal scorer McCahill- who landed a terrific point.
Four Masters had effectively sealed victory inside of 17 minutes with a further 3-01 in the space of four minutes.
McCahill doubled his goal tally after showing a burst to speed to power in at the by-line and then fire a low shot across the face of goal and into the bottom corner to make it 2-05 to 0-00.
Within 60-seoconds a third goal arrived, Kevin Muldoon watched on as his shot crashed off the bar, only for Oisin Doherty to palm home from close-range.
A fantastic curling shot from Turlough Carr doubled his account on the midway point before Doherty saw his low drive whistle past the post.
On the 17th minute the Donegal Champions added their fourth when Kevin Muldoon picked out Conor McCahill and the corner-forward fired in his third goal of the half.
They further extended their lead with another four points to make it 4-10 without reply. Oisin Doherty added a point to his goal and McCahill dropped over his second point of the half.
Tiarnan McBride and Doherty would double their point tally also before Castleblaney eventually found a response on the 25th minute.
Max McGinnity popped the ball off to Tristan Nugent who bore down on goal but had to make do with a point.
It failed to shift the momentum and Four Masters added 1-01 before the break. Kevin Muldoon did well to keep a free from drifting out of play and Theo Colhoun pounced to fist home his sides fifth.
Oisin Doherty would convert a free before the break as a one-sided half came to its conclusion with Four Masters 5-11-0-01 ahead and on route to the New Year’s Day decider.
Castleblaney started the second half brightly and netted their second and final score of proceedings.
Tristan Nugent steered the ball into the path of Canice Murphy and he was able to scuff a low effort to the net.
It was mere consolation though as Oisin Doherty kicked his fourth point of the afternoon, bending a shot between the posts.
Turlough Carr looked as though he was going to double his tally after shaping up for a shot that came back off the large post, with Callum McCrea reacting quickest to register a point.
Four Master’s 6th arrived on the 48th minute, Oisin Doherty’s shot dropped in the small square and after a scramble ensued, Turlough Carr was on hand to bundle home and make it 6-13-1-01.
Master’s keeper Lewis McCaughan did well to deny Canice Murphy a second goal inside the final ten minutes and it was the Donegal natives that ended the afternoons scoring via a point from substitute Calum Dunnion to seal a 6-14-1-01 victory for his side and ensure they will return to the Shaws Road in little over a fortnight time for a chance to avenge last year’s final defeat.
Four Masters: L McCaughan, E O’Neill, D McGinty, T McGovern, C Gavigan, C McCrea (0-01), A Quinn, T McBride (0-02), T Colhoun (1-00), T Carr (0-02), K Muldoon, P McGonagle (1-00), C McCahill (3-02), O Doherty (1-04, 0-01f), T Carr (1-02). Subs: A McHugh for T Colhoun (45), L McNamee for K Muldoon (50), D Griffin for P McGonagle (50), C Dunnion (0-01) for C McCahill (50), J Quinn for C Gavigan (50).
Castleblaney Faugh’s: J Flanagan, D Function, P Carville, A Higgins, H McQuillan, T Carey, T McGeough, S Hanratty, C Murphy (1-00), S Broderick, T Nugent (0-01), B Sherry, M McGinnity, L Mone, C Conlon. Subs: S Miller for B Sherry (36), T McMahon for S Broderick (57), D Flanagan for A Higgins (57).
A late point from out on the stand sideline from O’Loughlin Gael’s right half back David Foggarty saw the Kilkenny Champions edge out Cushendall in Sunday’s AIB All Ireland Club Hurling semi-final in Navan. Ruairi Og captain Neill McManus had a chance seconds later to bring the game to extra time but his shot was just wide of the target and a day that had looked so promising in the early stages ended in heartbreak for the Antrim champions who gave so much in a remarkable contest.
Cushendall’s Joseph McLaughlin celebrates after scoring his team’s goal early in the game.
Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half the Ruairis gave an exhibition of slick hurling as they raced away to lead their much vaunted opponents by 1-5 to 0-0 after just five minutes, the goal coming from young corner forward Joseph McLaughlin who broke away from a ruck of players and send a low shot past O’Loughlin’s goalkeeper Shephen Murphy. Things got even better when they stretched their advantage to eight as they dominated play, but the Kilkenny men started to find their feet. Cushendall right half forward Ed McQuillan was desperately unlucky to see his goal-bound shot rebound off the base of the upright during the second quarter and the Leinster champions took advantage. They slowly edged their way back and boosted by a goal from corner forward Sean Bolger they closed to the gap to just three by half time.
When O’Loughlin’s wiped out the three point deficit within four minutes of the restart it looked like the Cushendall fans were in for a long afternoon, but with the Burke brothers Paddy and Martin, centre back Eoghan Campbell and midfielder Ryan McCambridge in superb form they steadied the ship and kept their noses in front until seven minutes from time. Against the wind, and the odds, the Cushendall men produced heroics, but they shot five wides in the last ten minutes, all from very scoreable positions, which proved their undoing and the men from Kilkenny city took advantage to set up a final place against Galway champions St Thomas in the final in four weeks’ time.
Sean Bolger celebrates after scoring O’Loghlin’s goal
O’Loughglin’s captain Mark Bergin won the toss and elected to play against the strong diagonal breeze, and it was Cushendall who flew from the traps with a point from a Neill McManus free and one from play by Niall McCormick. Ryan McCambridge split the uprights to put his team three clear and when Joseph McLaughlin cut in from the right corner to five home a brilliant goal the Cushendall fans must have thought they were in dreamland.
Things got even better when masterful centre back Eoghan Campbell sent over a point from distance, and though the Kilkenny champions opened their account soon afterwards, Campbell struck again to restore the Ruairi’s seven point advantage.
When Neill McManus sent over a monster free from well inside his own half the gap was out to eight. You felt it was too good to be true, and it was, as O’Loughlin’s began to claw their way back.
The gap was back to five when Ed McQuillan cut through the O’Loughlin’s defence, but his well struck shot rebounded off the post and it was a sign that things were beginning to change, and they closed the gap to just two, but a later McManus point from a free sent his team in with a three point lead at the break.
Ed McQuillan cuts through the O’Loughlin defence before rattling a shot of the base of the upright
O’Loughlin’s appeared to be gaining the upper hand when they wiped out their three point deficit inside four minutes, with two points from Mark Bergin and one from Eoin O’Shea.
Neill McMaus settled his team with two well taken points, one from a free and the other from play to give his team a two point advantage, but his opposite number Mark Bergin came back with one at the other end for the Kilkenny champions.
Cushendall rode their luck when O’Loughin’s Sean Bolger fired wide of an open goal following a long free out of defence when Alex Delargy was adjudged to have over-carried, but in truth the free should have gone the other way as Delargy was clearly being held.
Going down the ‘home straight’ O’Loughins twice edged ahead, only to be pulled back and the tension rose. When David Foggarty hit the lead score for the Leinster men in injury-time the Antrim fans were hoping their team would get one more chance. As things turned out they got a couple but lady luck was not on their side and the men in white and green squeezed home.
Joseph McLauglin and O’Loughlin’s Mickey Butler give confilicting signals after McLaughlin struck a late point
O’Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin (0-9, 0-5 frees); Sean Bolger (1-1); David Fogarty, Conor Heary (0-2 each); Paddy Deegan, Jack Nolan, Eoin O’Shea (0-1 each)
Ruairi Og Cushendall: Neil McManus (0-9, 0-7 frees); Joseph McLaughlin (1-1); Eoghan Campbell (0-2); Paddy Burke, Ryan McCambridge, Ronan McAteer, Ed McQuillan (0-1 each)
O’Loughlin Gaels: Stephen Murphy; Tony Forristal, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy; Jack Nolan, Cian Loy; Eoin O’Shea, Mark Bergin, Conor Heary; Sean Bolger, Luke Hogan, Owen Wall.
Subs: Conor Kelly for Bolger 44 mins; Jamie Ryan for Nolan 54 mins; Paddy Butler for O’Shea 57 mins.
Ruairi Og Cushendall: Conor McAlister; Paddy Burke, Liam Gillan, Martin Burke; Scott Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Ruairi McCollam; Francis McCurry, Ryan McCambridge; Ed McQuillan, Fergus McCambridge, Ronan McAteer; Joseph McLaughlin, Neil McManus, Niall McCormack.
Subs: Sean McAfee for McAteer 22 mins; Alex Delargy for McCormack h-t; Aidan McNaughton for Gillan h-t; Stephen Wash for McCollam 47 mins; Christy McNaughton for McCurry 58 mins.
