October 13, 2023October 13, 2023 by thesaffrongael

A super Saturday at inaugural Ulster GAA Games For All festival

Seventeen teams from clubs and organisations across the province took part in the inaugural Ulster GAA Games For All festival at Donaghmore St Patrick’s GAC, Tyrone, at the weekend.

Over 270 players participated in a fun-filled day of inclusive activities open to all ages and abilities, which included Gaelic football, hurling, handball and rounders, face-painting, sensory bus and garden, and photos with the Ulster Football Championship Anglo-Celt trophy.

The event was truly a fantastic day in the GAA For All calendar, with the players cheered on by proud parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members.

The event also received support from some notable figures in the Ulster GAA scene, such as Down senior football manager Conor Laverty, who took part in coaching skills and refereeing games, and Tyrone joint manager, Feargal Logan.

Teams who attended on the day were:

• Beragh Red Knights

• St Mary’s Aghagallon

• Oakleaf Lions

• Armagh Harps

• St Patrick’s Carrickcruppen

• Crossmaglen Rangers

• St Peter’s Warrenpoint

• Strabane Sigersons

• St Bronagh’s Rostrevor

• Derry GAA For All (two teams)

• Antrim GAA For All

• St Patrick’s Donaghmore

• Éire Óg

• Naomh Eanna

• Bredagh

• Clan na Gael

The day concluded with tea and refreshments for everyone in the Torrent Complex, where special Ulster GAA for ALL medals and balloons were presented for each participant to take home.

Ulster GAA President Ciaran McLaughlin said:

‘’Everyone in Ulster GAA is delighted with the success of our first Games For All Festival and that so many players, of all ages, were able to participate in and enjoy our fun games and activities, both on and off the pitch. It was wonderful to witness so many smiling faces and such a happy atmosphere.

‘’I want to commend the committed volunteers across the province who drive Games For All opportunities in their clubs and organisations and this has helped us see a significant increase in the number of clubs engaging with us during the year.

‘’We are already looking forward to growing our numbers in 2024 and I would encourage every club to consider establishing their own opportunities for anyone who wants to get involved. Inclusion is about making a difference and being truly inclusive is living the GAA motto, ‘Where we all belong’.”

***Down senior football manager Conor Laverty is greeted by one of the Antrim team***

Kieran McKeever, Chair of the Ulster GAA Leadership & Planning Committee added:

‘’The Ulster GAA Games For All Festival was an absolutely brilliant experience for everyone involved – most importantly the players, and there were over 270 of them, but also for their parents and family members who came along to support the event.

‘’We have plans to establish structures within each county in Ulster to help promote and grow the initiative and build on the positivity that has been evident around this event. There are no boundaries for those with disabilities, and that’s something we want to keep pushing. On a special day like we had at the festival, you can clearly see that.”

The GAA For All programme in Ulster is rapidly growing, and provides a fantastic opportunity for those with additional needs to be included in the GAA, not only for participation and exercise but also for the social experiences.

Saffron Gael’s Bert Trowlen, whose grandson Tyler is a member of the Aghagallon team, went along and captured a series of superb images

***Ulster GAA President Ciaran McLaughlin joins in the fun***

October 13, 2023October 14, 2023 by thesaffrongael

McKernans to the fore as Sarsfields bridge 43 year gap

A look back at Sarsfields last Intermediate triumph in 2017

Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Patrick Sarsfields 0-16 Carey Faughs 1-7

Kevin McKernan punches air after sending over a Sarsfields point. Pic by John McIlwaine

By Brendan McTaggart

43 years. A long time in any man’s books and more than a lifetime for many of those in attendance at Armoy on Saturday afternoon but by 4:20pm they were made to wait no more. Sarsfields, county champions. 1973 was the last time the Paddies tasted success at the Intermediate level before going on and taking senior honours the following year and on Saturday evening they broke their duck. Six points separated the Paddies and Carey after a tense battle played in horrible conditions in Armoy. To be honest the score line flattered the Faughs as Sarsfields were dominant, in the second half in particular, but a series of wides and missed opportunities meant that the Faughs were always in with a shout.

Just one point separated the sides with 15 minutes to go, largely down to the profligacy of the Sarsfileds attack but the McKernan brothers, Kevin and Daniel stepped up the tempo when it was most needed. The duo had been a thorn in the side of Carey for the majority of the match but they, along with Niall McKenna and Darragh McGuinness were immense in the closing stages as the Paddies turned the screw. Carey fought hard throughout the hour and once again, James ‘Rocket’ Black was a shining light for the men from Ballyvoy. Rocket was played in a number of positions throughout the hour and played a main roll in a lot that was good in the Carey men. James McCouaig was superb in defence while Cathal ‘Doog’ McAuley was always dangerous on the edge of the Paddies square.

The Faugh’s were reduced to 14 men with nine minutes remaining, their excellent full-back Sean McBride getting the line for a second yellow card but the writing was already on the wall at that stage for Carey.

With Donal McKernan unable to start the final with a leg injury, Sarsfields gave a Eoghan Rodgers a place in the starting 15. Rodgers lined out in the corner forward berth but was Rockets shadow throughout the game, anywhere the influential Carey man went, Rodgers wasn’t too far behind.

With the weather worsening at the throw in, it looked like the heavy underfoot conditions would suit the Faughs and in the early exchanges that appeared to be the case as the boys from Ballyvoy got off to the dream start. The match was only 90 seconds old when the Faughs scored the only goal of the game. Sarsfields ‘keeper David Ward failing to clear a ’65 from Black that hung in the wind, McAuley pulling the lose sliotar to the back of the net. The start they would have hoped for and the start that many neutrals would have been keen to see. Despite Carey playing in a league above the Paddies in 2017, Sarsfields started the match as strong favourites. Game on.

Daniel McKernan showed his pedigree when he opened the Paddies account with the next attack of the game but Carey’s dream start almost changed to a fairy-tale for the men from Ballyvoy when they were awarded a penalty in the 4^th minute. Again, it was McAuley who was causing the Sarsfileds defence problems. The Carey full forward collected the sliotar before being bundled to the floor inside the square. Match referee Colum Cunning awarded the Faughs a penalty which McAuley took himself, electing to drive the sliotar over the bar, much to the relief of the Sarsfields faithful, a decision that baffled most of the Faughs followers.

It was a reprieve for Sarsfields, in hindsight maybe going for goal with less pressure and in the circumstances was better option for Carey and the Paddies took full advantage. They scored four unanswered points thanks to efforts from McKenna, Darragh McGuinness and two Kevin McKernan frees to take the lead and while Black replied for the Faugh’s, Sarsfields were well on top, scoring another trio of scores to lead by three in the 22^nd minute and banish any memory of their nightmare start. McKenna, Kevin McKernan and Niall McAlea raising the white flags for their side. McAuley and Kevin McKernan traded frees in the closing stages but the Sarsfields midfielder should have put daylight between the sides in first half injury time. Through on goal, Steven McGinn produced a superb save to deny the Paddies and while McKernan was also first to the rebound, his grounds stroke somehow managed to spin wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Faugh’s made a bright start to the second half with McAuley landing two more frees to take his tally to 1-4 for the match to leave the minimum between the sides and while Sarsfields always looked dangerous in attack, they were struggling to find their range.

The Paddies had goal chances, twice they were denied with referee Cunning calling a square ball on Gary Lennon on both occasions while the Sarsfields full forward brought the best out of McGinn in the 40^th minute but a superb score from McKenna after a strong run was all they had to show for their efforts in the opening exchanges of the second half.

A long range point from half back Jack McBride brought Carey to within touching distance once more but Sarsfields found another gear when it mattered most. Five unanswered points in as many minutes from the 46^th minute put them firmly in control, Kevin McKernan with his fifth and sixth points of the final with Daniel McKernan (twice) and substitute Donal McKernan helping to open a six point gap with ten minutes remaining.

The Carey challenge hit a major road block when full back Sean McBride received his second yellow card soon after and while the Faughs never slackened in their pursuit of glory, Sarsfields proved to be a step too far. McAuley and McKenna exchanging frees in the closing stages to leave six points between the sides at the full time whistle.

It’s another final defeat for the Faughs who have been knocking hard on the door for the last few years, it seems it’s only a matter of time before they make the breakthrough while the Paddies go on to represent Antrim in the Ulster championship and will be hoping that Saturday’s silverware will be added to when their football counterparts take on St Pat’s of Lisburn in the Junior football decider next Saturday.

Sarsfields: David Ward; Peter Corr; James Cunningham; Jack Daniels; Michael Callaghan; Caolan Mervyn; Caillin Caldwell; Kevin McKernan; Darragh McGuinness; Daniel McKernan; Niall McKenna; Niall McAlea; James McKernan; Gary Lennon; Eoghan Rodgers

Subs: Donal McKernan for M Callaghan (35 mins)

Scorers: Kevin McKernan 0-6 (2 frees); Niall McKenna 0-4 (1 free); Danial McKernan 0-3; Darragh McGuinness 0-1; Niall McAlea 0-1; Donal McKernan 0-1

Carey: Steven McGinn; Eoin Hill; Sean McBride; Daniel Hill; Michael McVeigh; James McCouaig; John McBride; Kevin Murphy; James Black; Shea Hunter; Nat Hunter; Martin Hunter; Peadar McVeigh; Cathal McAuley; Sean McLoughlin

Subs: Fiachra McVeigh for K Murphy (HT); Gerard McBride for S McLoughlin (50 mins); Daniel McBride for J McBride (inj)

Scorers: Cathal McAuley 1-5 (0-1 pen, 4 frees); James Black 0-1 (1 free); John McBride 0-1

Referee: Colum Cunning (Dunloy)

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October 13, 2023October 13, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Gaelfast Belfast Year 8 School’s Cup gets under way

St. Louis Year 8 Boy’s Gaelic football team had their 2^nd round of games this week in the Gaelfast Belfast schools cup. The schools involved this week were St Louis Ballymena, Blessed Trinity Belfast and Our Lady’s St Patrick College Knock

SLG Ballymena won the first game against Blessed Trinity with some fine scores from Cillian Gillespie and Rory Garrett getting on the score sheet, OLSPCK had a win over Blessed Trinity and they beat SLG in the final game!

Next Round of games should happen within next 2 weeks! Great opportunity for the boys to get to play and represent the school in school competitions!

Results:

SLG 7-6

Blessed Trinity 3-2

Result

SLG 5-2

OLSPCK 8-6

Result

Blessed Trinity 1-3

OLSPCK 6-8

October 13, 2023October 13, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Edmund Rice College win the Year 10 Football Shield

Gaelfast Year 10 Football Shield Final

Edmund Rice College 6-8 St Pats Academy, Lisburn 3-3

Edmund Rice College won the Gaelfast Year 10 Shield when they beat St Pat’s Academy Lisburn by 6-8 to 3-3 in Wednesday’s final at Dunsilly. The Glengormley boys did most of the damage in the first half, at the end of which they led by 4-4 to 0-2 and it was going to be a long way back for their Lisburn opponents. To their credit St Pat’s did make a fight of it in the second half, hitting 3-1 in the third quarter, but Edmund Rice steadied the ship and finished strongly to take the title.

St Pat’s centre forward Ronan Arthurs got the opening score of the game when he pointed from play, but Edmund Rice came back with a goal from corner forward Corey McCann and a point from midfielder Jayden James. Eoin Morris pointed to bring St Pat’s back to within two but the rest of the first half belonged to Edmund Rice College and goals from Ciden McConnell in the 12^th and 15^th minutes and one from corner forward Odhran Torbitt in the 14^th saw the Glengormley boys push their lead out fourteen points by half time. (4-4 to 0-2)

St Pat’s made a very good start to the second half and quick point from Darragh McParland and a goal from half forward Eoin Morris saw them close the gap. Torbitt came back with a goal for Edmund Rice College but two quick goals from Lisburn’s full forward David McNally gave them some hope. However Edmund Rice College put up the shutters at this stage, holding their opponents scoreless for the last sixteen minutes of the game. At the other end the Glengormley boys found their scoring touch again and points from Lennon McCann, Caiden McConnell, Alfie McIlhennon and Jayden James saw them home with a bit to spare.