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by thesaffrongael

Bradley steers St Louis to Foresters final

Danske Bank Ulster Schools Hurling  

Foresters Cup semi-final

St Louis 1-13 St Killian’s 0-13

A man of the match performance by centre forward Fiontan Bradley guided St Louis Ballymena to victory over St Killian’s Garron Tower in Friday evening’s semi-final of the Foresters Cup at Quinn Park, Ballymena.

Bradley’s ability to find the target at regular intervals proved the difference between the two sides, and his goal early in the second half was the score that decided the contest. With Caolan McCollum also a starring role at right half forward it gave the Ballymena boys a decided edge.

An evenly contested opening quarter saw the sides level at 0-3 apiece, but St Louis pushed on with four in a row from Bradley (who ended with 0-9) and one from McCollum to open a five point lead. Two St Killian’s pointed frees closed the gap as Canice McIntosh found the target to close the gap to three at the interval.

Bradley struck early in the second half to increase the St Louis lead and when McCollam broke through to score the only goal of the game soon afterwards it was a long way back for the Garron Tower boys. St Louis could have sealed the win a minute later when Bradley found Domnhal McKay on the edge of the square, but a brilliant point blank save by the Tower goalkeeper Ben Duncan turned the ball around for a 65.

To their credit the Tower boys battled hard and held the upper hand during the last twenty minutes, but they hit a series of bad wides during that time that could have got them back into the game. They did close the gap nearing the end but a well taken point from St Louis Caolan McCollum sealed St Louis place in the final against St Pat’s Maghera.

ST LOUIS

1 – Conal Boyd

2- Joe McFadden

3 – Aaron Doherty

4 – Rory Blaney

5 – Niall McCloskey

6 – Eddie Smyth

7 – Domhall McKay

8 – Seamus McMullan

9 – James McGarry

10 – Eunan Curry

11 – Fiontan Bradley

12 – Caolan McCollum

13 – Dylan O’Boyle

14 – Neil Rodgers

16 – Euan Curry

Robert Crooks for Seamus McMullan

Ryan O’Boyle for Domhall McKay

Cian Higgins for Dylan O’Boyle

ST KILLIAN’S

1 Ben Duncan

2 Cadhan Graham

3 Ciaran McLaughlin

4 Eunan Harvey

5 Niall McKeown

6 Conor McCann

7 Dermot McManus

8 Dylan McNaughton

9 Ciaran McCann

10 Shane McQuillan

11 Christopher Leech

12 Canice Macintosh

13 Nicholas Mc Laughlin

14 Cahir McCambridge

15 Conleth McNaughton

Referee – Ray Matthews.

by thesaffrongael

Denis O’Brien was guest speaker at the Saffron Business Forum breakfast

Saffron Business Forum had its biggest ever breakfast on Friday at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Shaws Bridge with star guest Denis O’Brien in the hot seat with host Paul McErlean.

The event was sponsored by Whiterock Finance a locally owned Fund Manager, which was established in Belfast in 2012. David McCurley, Director, also took the opportunity to launch a new £75m equity fund, the largest ever locally managed equity fund to be available to businesses here.

Also promoting their businesses in the Three for Three slots were Magheramorne Estate,
Burke Systems and Solutions Ltd and MH Fire Safety Engineers.

In what was undoubtedly a major coup for the Saffron Business Forum, Dublin billionaire Denis O’Brien provided insights into the construction of his business empire with a series of fascinating stories about his work in the Caribbean with Digicel and in the South Pacific.

The 200 plus audience listened intently to Denis, who was very forthright on a whole range of issues, expertly questioned as always byPaul McErlean from MCE.

One of the key questions afterwards was, how could the forum ever top the quality of that speaker and event again? We will have to see…

by thesaffrongael

‘Tosh’ late goal gave Antrim victory over Galway

Antrim’s wins over Galway have been few and far between over the years but 18 years ago this week the Saffrons shocked the Tribesmen in the National Hurling League Division 1B game at Casement Park. Antrim held the upper hand for most of the game, but trailed by two at half time. They got back on top again during the second half but once more Galway rallied to take a two point lead with time almost up Johnny ‘Tosh’ proved the hero of the hour when he cut in from the left wing and fired a rasping shot to the Galway net.

The goal would cap a great day for Antrim GAA for as the teams were leaving the field it was announced over the PA that St Gall’s had just beaten Nemo Rangers in the All Ireland Senior Club semi-final in Portlaoise. Not a bad double.

Incidentally in this report of the Galway game, which featured in the Irish Times on Feb 20th 2006, descibed McIntosh as….. the big Armoy man!!! Obviously they thought the goal was so good only Clute could have scored it!

Conor Cunning in action for Antrim against Galway. If things go to plan there will be another C Cunning from Dunloy facing Galway again on Sunday.

National Hurling League Division 1B

Antrim 1-14 Galway 0-16

National Hurling League Division One B/ Antrim 1-14 Galway 0-16: A late goal by Johnny McIntosh gave Antrim an unexpected victory over Galway at Casement Park yesterday.

It was a 70th-minute solo effort by the big Armoy man who cut in from the left wing to slam the ball home from close range. He had already sent over seven points, six of them from frees, to emerge the hero of the day.

Antrim hustled and harried their opponents throughout with the defence holding firm and had it not been for a series of wides – nine – in the second half, the winners would have wrapped up victory much earlier.

The hurling wasn’t out of the top drawer but total commitment was the order of the day by the Antrim players who snuffed out their more illustrious opponents in many instances. Goalkeeper Damien Quinn also pulled off two remarkable saves.

Team managers Paul McKillen and Jingo McKernan who guided Antrim to the famous win over Galway

Antrim breezed into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes but Ger Farragher put over a free seven minutes later to level, following points by Niall Healy and Eugene Cloonan.

Had it not been for the accuracy of Farragher from placed balls – he hit a total of 10 – the winners would have been out of sight well before the final whistle. They were level again on the half-hour and once more three minutes later but points by Kevin Broderick and Farragher sent Galway in leading by 0-9 to 0-7 at the interval.

A blazing restart by Antrim pegged Galway in their own half for nearly 20 minutes as the home side tagged on five unanswered points to go three ahead. Farragher grabbed three frees to balance the scales again but Galway could never establish authority.

The fast and furious action was level at 13 and 14 points before Cloonan scored his second point in a minute to give the visitors a 0-15 to 0-14 lead with six minutes left. Farragher pointed his 10th free but when Cloonan sliced through for what seemed a certain goal on 67 minutes Quinn dashed out to bring off an amazing stop.

Then right on time, McIntosh produced the winning blast that stunned Galway.

Dunloy’s Paddy Richmond who scored 0-3 on the day

ANTRIM: D Quinn; B McAuley, M McCambridge, G Cunningham; J Campbell, K McKeegan, C Herron; C Cunning (0-1), M Herron; C Hamill, B Delargy, M Scullion (0-1); S Óg McFadden (0-2), P Richmond (0-3), J McIntosh (1-7, 0-6 frees). Subs: B McFall for Hamill (half-time), B Quinn for Scullion (53 mins), M Dallas for McFadden (61 mins), J Scullion for Cunning (66 mins).

GALWAY: L Donohue; D Joyce, T Óg Regan, G Mahon; D Hayes, C Dervan, S Kavanagh; F Healy (0-1), D Collins; G Farragher (0-10, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ’65), R Murray, K Broderick (0-1); N Healy (0-1), E Cloonan (0-3), D Donohue. Subs: K Daly for D Donohue (50 mins), A Coen for Murray (59 mins), MJ Quinn for Hayes (61 mins).

Brian McFaul
Martin Scullion

Referee: E MacMuiris (Dublin).

by thesaffrongael

St Pat’s pull clear in dominant second half

Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final

St Patrick’s Maghera 1-24 Rathmore Grammar 1-11

A dominant second half display by St Pat’s Maghera saw them secure a place in the final with a bit to spare as they got the overran Rathmore Grammar in Thursday’s semi-final of the Foresters Cup at Colaiste Feirste.

The Derry side were just two ahead at the end of very competitive opening half, Rathmore’s Ronan Taylor performing really well at midfield for the Belfast school. However Bradley, Collins and O’Kane were in top form for the Derry side and they went in at the break leading by 0-9 to 0-7.

After the change of ends things took a dramatic turn as St Pat’s took complete control of the game, holding their opponents scoreless throughout the third quarter while adding a series of excellent points, plus a goal from centre back Dara O’Kane. The second half was more than twenty minutes gone before Rathmore raised their next flag and there was a consolation score when Chris Robb grabbed a goal, but the Derry side were home and hosed by this stage and they will now go forward to meet the winner of tomorrow’s second semi-final between St Louis Ballymena and St Killian’s Garron Tower, that match taking place at Quinn Park, Ballymena with a 5-30 pm throw-in.  

Maghera: D O’Kane 1-1, R Collins 0-10 (5f), O Doherty 0-3. P Bradley, P O’Kane, F Cartin, C McFlynn and R Biggs 0-2 each.

Rathmore: C Robb 1-1, R Taylor 0-4 (3f), J Ward 0-2, D McGurk, M Armstrong and A O’Hanlon 0-1 each

by thesaffrongael

It could be fine margins as Antrim face difficult trip to Sligo

Allianz NFL Division 3

Sunday 25th February

 Markievicz Park-2-00pm

Antrim hope to get back to winning ways when they travel to Markievicz Park on Sunday to play Sligo but they face a difficult task against a Sligo side who have proved a tough opponent in the past.

Both sides have been going well in division 3 this year and recorded wins in their opening two game, (Antrim defeated Limerick and Offaly while Sligo beat Limerick and Wicklow) but both came unstuck at the weekend.

Antrim’s defeat came at the hands of neighbours Down at Corrigan Park on Sunday past where the visitors emerged with a fairly convincing victory over a youthful Saffron side.

Ronan Boyle has had a solid season at corner-back for Antrim
Cormac McGettigan has established himself in ther Antrim attack

Nine points separated the sides at the final whistle as Down finished strongly with an unanswered 1-5 after Mick Byrne had drawn Antrim level at 1-5 to 0-8, 15 minutes into the second half.

Meanwhile Sligo travelled to Clare where they lost by the minimum, 0-9 to 1-5 and will be aiming to get back on track when Antrim visit this Sunday.

Former All Ireland winner, Tony McEntee is the man again in charge of Sligo and the Crossmaglen man brings a wealth of experience to the post and led them to promotion from division 4 last year.

The sides last met at Sunday’s venue back in 2020 and it was Sligo who emerged victorious on that occasion on a 0-15 to 0-14 winning margin.

A year later Sligo travelled to Corrigan and it was Antrim who gained the upper hand on that occasion in a nail biting 3-13 to 3-12 win.

Paddy O’Connor top scored for Sligo with 0-6 that day at Markievicz Park and is still a prominent figure for the Connaught side while Devaney, Cummins, Lally and Kilcoyne all remain from that narrow win over Antrim.

Sweeper-Keeper! Mick Byrne has weighed in with vital scores for Antrim this season

Antrim have undergone massive changes in personnel since their last meeting with Sligo, many of them enforced through injury and with that injury list showing little sign of improving, manager Andy McEntee has given youth its chance with quite a bit of success.

Oisin Kerr, Patrick Gallagher, Ricky Johnston, Mark Gardiner, Niall Delargy, Colum Duffin, Conor Murray and Paddy Cunningham all started at Markievicz Park but have since retired while Peter Healey and James McAuley, who played that day, have joined Ryan Murray, Kevin Small, Stephen Beatty, Cathal Hynds and Ruairi McCann on a lengthy injured list.

Declan Lynch, Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Marc Jordan, Eunan Lynch, Patrick McBride and Dermot McAleese all saw action back in 2020 and they should be joined by Michael Byrne, Ronan Boyle, Kavan Keenan, Joseph Finnegan, Paddy McAleer, Colm McLarnon, Eoin Hynds, Niall Burns, Cormac McGettigan and Dominic McEnhill as Antrim’s class of 2024 aim to get back to winning ways.

Joe Finnegan who should line out at centre-half at markievicz Park and Paddy McAleer who found the net against Down

Despite last week’s defeat, Antrim have performed admirably under the stewardship of Andy McEntee and are a team blessed with pace and attacking flare and play a good brand of football.

Sweeper-keeper, Mick Byrne has weighed in with some important scores this year and has made the goalkeeping jersey his own while returning pair, Paddy McAleer and Dermot McAleese have added much needed experience.

Benen Kelly, Ryan McQuillan, Declan Lynch, Pat Shivers and Oisin Doherty all saw some action from the bench against Down and will be hopingt for the nod when Andy McEntee announces his team but I don’t expect the Meath man to make too many changes from the side that started last week.

Much will depend on just how the new faces in the line-up will react to the Down defeat but I expect Antrim to put that defeat behind them and emerge with a narrow victory against a Sligo side who will go into Sunday’s clash with a similar mind-set.

Antrim v Sligo 2020: Oisin Kerr, Patrick Gallagher, Ricky Johnston, Mark Gardiner, Declan Lynch (0-01), James McAuley, Peter Healy, Ruairi McCann, Marc Jordan, Eunan Walsh, Patrick McBride, Niall Delargy, Patrick Cunningham (0-09, 6f), Colum Duffin (0-01), Conor Murray (0-02)

Antrim V Down 2024: M Byrne (0-2 frees); R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan; M Jordan, J Finnegan (0-1), D McAleese; C McLarnon, P McAleer (1-0); E Hynds, N Burns, R McCann; P McBride, C McGettigan, D McEnhill (0-3, 0-2 frees) Subs: B Kelly for C McGettigan (h/t), R McQuillan for N Burns (54), D Lynch for D McAleese (59), P Shivers for C McLarnon (64), O Doherty for E Hynds (68)