After a long successful season, Glenavy Senior Ladies felt it was only right to play another game. We braved the cold and ice at the end of November and took to our home pitch for an in house game. Despite having played for 11 months none of us were quite ready to hang up the boots! And obviously my team came away with a strong win – I think I even scored a sneaky point!
We then took to the club house to heat up with pizza. We used this evening to celebrate all those people who had helped us so much throughout the year.
We could not thank Marie Anne our first aider enough for all her work on the sideline. She was there for every game and helped all of us in some way. Collette and Tyrone were next on our thank you list. Both have been a massive support for us over the past 4 years and have been an incredible voice for ladies Gaelic. We had the impossible task of thanking our coaches Micky, Neill and Chris, all of whom sacrificed so much for us over the course of the two years and have got us further than we could have ever dreamed!
Last but not least … our very own Bert Trowlen. There are not enough words to thank this man for everything he has done for us. Bert has been there for as long as so many of us can remember and it was only right to show our appreciation. Bert was given a scrap book of memories of the Senior Ladies team, a book that could have gone on forever! It was only a small token of our appreciation. We will never be able to thank Bert enough for the work he has done.
Finally we all had a goodbye to say to Grainne McLaughlin as she took off on her travels to Australia. Grainne has been a key player for Glenavy Senior Ladies for over 10 years. For so many of us we have never played without her, so this will take some adjusting. Grainne is such a motivating player and we cannot imagine the changing rooms without her team talks. (There will be lots of FaceTimes needed). While we are all gutted to see her go, we wish her the best of luck and we cannot wait to see her back!
St Galls lifted the South Antrim McDermott Cup for the first time since 2019 after three second half goals saw them run out 3-08-0-06 winners over St Pauls in Sunday afternoons final at the Falls Park.
It took almost ten minutes for the first score to arrive in the form of a Christopher McGrath free for St Galls and Aodh Mullan then kicked a magnificent score to double the advantage moments later.
Prior to that Niall Fallon saw his low drive whistle past the post and he was denied a further time by Lorcan Murphy in the St Pauls goal.
Joe Keating got St Pauls off the mark and halved the deficit before the sides exchanged points from the placed ball, with McGrath doubling his tally and Conor McCartan then replying at the other end.
St Galls ended the half in the ascendancy and points from Fallon and a fine angled drop over from Niall McAreavey had their side 0-05-0-02 ahead at the midway point.
The Milltown men stretched their lead within two minutes of the restart. Aodh Mullan played a direct pass with the outside of the boot that was laid off into the path of Niall Fallon to burst through and pick his spot low in the net to give St Galls a 1-05-0-02 lead. Keating almost replied with a goal at the other end, but his shot was deflected over the bar for a point.
Niall Fallon dropped over his second point of the afternoon and things got better for St Galls when they struck for the second time within ten minutes of the restart, this time Ciaran Og Mullan was on hand to sweep past Lorcan Murphy and move his side 2-07-0-03 ahead.
A converted Jarlath Mervyn free made it 1-02 without reply and with a quarter of an hour remaining it looked as though victory was beyond St Pauls reach.
Conor McCartan doubled his tally for the afternoon with a splendid point from play but with ten minutes left Jarlath Mervyn put the game beyond doubt, palming to the net after a high angled ball in on top looked to have dropped just short.
St Pauls continued to probe in the last ten minutes and found two further scores through a Conor McCartan free and Patrick Copeland’s shot which dropped over the bar.
They were consolation scores however as St Galls ran out comfortable winners in the end to claim the trophy for the first time in four years.
Niall McCormick had little time to enjoy the Ruairi Og celebrations on Sunday night, with a bus to catch at Belfast International Airport on Monday morning at 4-45am, he was on the road before most of the rest of the team got to bed.
When Niall travelled to Jasper Alberta to follow a long held ambition to train as a ski instructor the week after the county final win over Loughgiel he thought his hurling season was over, but after Cushendall’s hectic struggle against Portaferry in the Ulster semi-final he was ask if he could come home for the final.
Niall jumped at the chance and arrived back home two days before the clash with the Derry champions, but with an important exam due on Tuesday back in Canada it was always going to be a very tight schedule, but one that was worth it.
Pics of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies
The former Cross & Passion College student played well in Sunday’s victory over Slaughtneil and although he was substituted near the end he can be well pleased by his performance.
When I ask him if he would be back home for the semi-final clash with Kilkenny and Leinster champions O’Loughlin Gaels on December 16th he was unsure if he could make the journey again so soon after this one. He was unsure if it would work out, but you could tell he would love to do it all again if it was logistically possible.
He keeps in touch with his team mates back home through social media so he will be well aware of what is going on and no doubts plans are already in place to make it happen.
RUAIRÍ Óg Cushendall clinched another AIB Ulster hurling club title when they beat former kingpins Slaughtneil in Páirc Esler on Sunday. The only time they looked shaky was from the 10th to the 20th minutes of the first half when they conceded 1-4 without reply. But by half-time they had fought back and taken the lead with five excellent points, the pick of them a fantastic effort from team captain Neil McManus from well inside his own half.
Cushendall’s Fergus McCambridge tangles with Slaughtneill’s Chrissy McKeague early in the game.
After the break Cushendall took control and soon opened a six point lead, and not even a late rally from the Derry champions could reel them in. Slaughtneil have beaten Dunloy and Loughgiel during their great run in Ulster over the past ten years, but on the three occasiosns they have faced the Ruairi Ogs they have come up just short. Every game between them has been close but Cushendall have always had their number. ther were times in today’s game when they appeared to be getting the upper hand but once again the Antrim champions found an answer.
The Ruairis were the much sharper team throughout, Slaughtneil’s eleven week wait since they defeated Kevin Lynch’s in the Derry decider must surely have had an effect on their preperations. Cushendall on the other hand had been battled-hardened by a tough campaign in Antrim and then a semi-final scare from Portaferry a fortnight ago.
Player of the match went to Ed McQuillan who was a late replacement in the team. McQuillan just returened to the team this season after a bad run of injuries but today he was in superb form, picking off four great points, from play, while 18 years old Joseph McLaughlin fired over three top class scores to augment McManus’ accuracy from the dead ball. But there were many heroes for the ‘Dall all around the pitch.
Man of the match Ed McQuillan celebrates after hitting the first of his four points
McQuillan was on the mark early in the game and McManus added two frees to Eoin Campbell’s opening point as Cushendall took a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes.
However a Brendan Rogers point sparked Slaughtneil into action and points from Mark McGuigan and Cormac O’Doherty frees (two) saw the Derry champions take the lead before O’Doherty intercepted a pass from Eoin Campbell and the sliotar quickly passed through hands for Eamon Cassidy to find the corner of the net.
Cushendall appeared to be in a bit of bother, but their response was quick and decisive and points from McManus (two frees), Ronan McAteer, McQuillan, McLaughlin and Man of the Match McQuillan again sent the ‘Dall in with a narrow lead at the break. (0-10 to 1-6)
They came out full of bite and ten minutes into the second half had stretched their lead to six points with scores from the same quartet of players who got them back into the game in the run in to half time.
Se McGuigan fires in great shot past Cushendall goalkeeper Conor McAlister for Slaughtneill’s opening goal
Sé McGuigan finally got Slaughtneil going again with a 46th minute point, but their attacks were less structured than Cushendall’s and the high ball in was well handled by the Burkes, Liam Gillan and Eoin Campbell who seemed to be everywhere as a sweeper in front of them.
The only hiccup came in the 54th minute when Shea Cassidy stole in for a goal and Shane McGuigan added a point to close the gap to three, and suddenly there was another mini crisis.
However McManus cleverly won himself a free that he converted and that was a crucial insurance point as Peter McCullagh and Scott Walsh exchanged points.
Shane McGuigan again closed the gap to three points, but fittingly Joe McLaughlin sent a really stylish shot over his left shoulder from right under the stand to clinch a famous win.
Slaughtneil had a late chance to pull back a goal when they were awarded a free 25 metres from goal but Cormac O’Doherty’s well struck shot was well saved by C
The victory moves Cushendall one ahead of Dunloy’s tally of 11 provincial titles as they look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final with Leinster champions Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels on the weekend of 15/16 December.
Neill McManus and Ryan McCambridge had their children with them when they went up to collect the Four Seasons Cup
Cushendall:
C McAllister; L Gillan, P Burke, M Burke; S Walsh (0-1), E Campbell (0-1), R McCollam; F McCurry, R McCambridge; R McAteer (0-2), N McManus (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), F McCambridge (0-1); E McQuillan (0-4), N McCormack, J McLaughlin (0-3) Subs: A Delargy for N McCormack (48)
Slaughtneil:
O O’Doherty; P McNeill, S Cassidy; K McKaigue; Shane McGuigan (0-2), R Ó Mianáin, C McKaigue, M McGrath; J Cassidy, E Cassidy (1-0); M McGuigan (0-1), C O’Doherty (0-4 frees), Sé McGuigan (0-1); G Bradley, B Rogers (0-1) Subs: Shea Cassidy (1-0) for G Bradley (22), J McGuigan for E Cassidy (41), P McCullagh (0-1) for M McGuigan (48)
Referee: James Clarke (Cavan)
Ed McQuillan receives the Man of the Match award
John and Laura De Novi who travelled from Florida to cheer on the Ruairi Ogs in Newry
South West Alllianz Ireland cumman na mbunscol indoor 5s
It was a day of great joy for the girls of Moneynick PS at the Alllianz Ireland cumman na mbunscol indoor 5s. They emerged victorious after a scintillating day of football at the Antrim Forum.
Battling their way through the group stages and play offs, the Moneynick girls overcame a gallant Mary Queen of Peace team in the final. They show great skill, determination and teamwork throughout the day and were worthy winners in the end.
The newly introduced shield end of the competition saw the excellent football from the morning continue into the afternoon. The eventual winners were Millquarter Primary school, defeating St Comgall’s in the final.
Well done to all the girls involved throughout the day and thanks to the teachers and staff who ensured that it ran so smoothly.
