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by thesaffrongael

Cavan Gaels can advance in Boxing Day semi-final

Fona/CAB Ulster Minor Tournament

Cavan Gaels v Mayobridge

Flying centre half forward, Joshua Shehu led Cavan Gaels to victory over a battling St. Molaise of Irvinestown in the final quarter final of the fona/CAB Ulster Minor football tournament and the Cavan champions can go one further when they take on Mayobridge of Down in Tuesday’s semi-final at St. Paul’s.

Shehu contributed 0-6 of his side’s total over the hour and his pace and movement made him a constant threat to the Fermanagh champions but he was only one of an excellent Cavan Gaels side who had strong performers in Ben Tully, Michael Monaghan and Jacub Jaskiewicz.

Patrick Woods who scored 0-4 for Mayobridge against St. Paul’s in the quarter final

They certainly didn’t get it all their own way against a battling St. Molaise of Fermanagh who were in contention until the closing stages of the game when a Barry Godwin goal with four minutes of normal time closed the gap to three points.

Joshua Shehu eased the pressure with an excellent point under pressure for Cavan Gaels and mid-fielder, Ben Tully ensured there would be no way back for the Irvinestown side with the final score of the game.

In the other quarter-final Mayobridge overcame the spirited challenge of host side St. Paul’s but were forced to fight all the way against the Antrim champions.

St. Paul’s looked to be heading for a rare victory for Antrim clubs in the quarter-final when they led the Down champions, by three points early in the second half.

Mayobridge looked rattled but they responded positively and Corey Clerkin got them on the comeback trail as he fired over after forcing a turnover.

This score provided the Mourne side with a lift and they would hit a further four points without reply as Woods pointed a free and then O’Keefe broke clear but seemed to have lost control but he volleyed over to level with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Ben Tully, who was excellent for Cavan Gaels against St. Molaise

From the resulting kick-out, Mayobridge again won the break and it was worked to Woods on the right who fired over and with nine minutes remaining, he would add another from distance to put two between the sides.

Daire O’Keefe was excellent for Mayobridge at mid-field with some excellent fielding for the Mourne side and added a score during the second period while Patrick Woods also made a big impact with some fine scores.

Manager, Francis Poland feels that his side will need to improve on that performance if they are to overcome the challenge of Cavan Gaels.

“Our side showed great character to come back against St Paul’s and I honestly thought we were gone but they dug in. They are the sort of team who never gives up”

Ryan Couler’s goal proved pivotal in the Mayobridge comeback against St. Paul’s while Patrick Woods kicked 0-4 (2 frees) and Daire O’Keefe had a solid hour at mid-field for the ‘Bridge’ but they will need to be on their game right from the start if they are to overcome a fancied Cavan Gaels

by thesaffrongael

St Malachy’s win the Danske Bank McDevitt Cup

Danske Bank McDevitt cup final

St Malachy’s Belfast 3-4 St Patrick’s Keady 2-5

St Malachy’s Belfast won the Danske Bank McDevitt Cup on Wednesday when they beat St Patrick’s Keady in the final at St Patrick’s GAC Banbridge.

Ronan Niblock proved the star of the show for the Antrim Road college, bagging 2-1 overall in a man of the match display.

In a closely fought first half there was nothing to separate the sides, Niblock hitting the first goal as they sides ended the half on level terns at 1-3 apiece.

When Niblock got his team’s second goal just after the restart it was always going to be a long way back for the Armagh side. Bryan Cullen grabbed a goal for Keady to keep their hopes alive but St Malachy’s held out to win the game by two points

St Malachy’s: R Niblock 2-1, E Maguire 1-0, T Conway 0-3, 1 free

St Patrick’s: C Carr and B Cullen 1-1 each, R Mullen 0-2, 1 free, J Keegan 0-1

by thesaffrongael

Edmund Rice College wins Nannery Shield

Danske Bank Nannery Shield Final

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

by thesaffrongael

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire beat Aquinas in Casememt Cup final

Danske Bank Casement Cup final

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire  2-11 Aquinas, Belfast 0-11

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 Dub
Sean McGourty of Ulster Schools GAA presents the Man of the Match award to Darragh O’Loughlin of Gaelcholáiste Dhoire
Ciaran O’Muiri MacUillan has his picture taken with his parents after the Casement Cup final
Cathair 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 Dominic
Parents and family members form a guard of honour for the Gaelcholáiste Dhoire team as they leave the field with the cup
by thesaffrongael

“You can’t say it’s like a death in the family but it’s very hard to find anything else in life that would compare to it.”

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.”

Simply for me….. we go again.