Category / Latest News

by thesaffrongael

St Pat’s start favourites but holders CPC can cause an upset

TONIGHTS FINAL HAS BEEN POSTPONED BECAUSE OF A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING AND HAS BEEN REFIXED FOR OWENBEG TOMORROW (SATURDAY) FOR 3PM

Danske Bank Mageean Cup Final

Cross & Passion College v St Patrick’s College Maghera

St Pat’s Maghera go into Friday night’s Mageean Cup final against CPC as favourites after having gone through the qualifying campaign unbeaten, but their rivals will feel they are in with good chance themselves having won all but one their games, even though it was against Friday’s rivals.

When the two met in that opening round on October 15th in Portglenone the Maghera boys (who had beaten their Co Derry neighbours Colaiste Feirste four days earlier) laid down a marker when they sprung from the traps to dominate the early stages of the game. They had a goal and a point on the boards in the first minute, the goal coming from Lavey star Rian Collins, who ended the game on 2-04 in a man of the match performance. Finn Cartin got goal number two for the Derry school and Ultan McCloskey got the third as they opened up a 3-06 to 0-03 lead after ten minutes.

Cross & Passion looked dead and buried, especially when Collins got his team’s fourth goal, but the cup holders showed a bit of character and got themselves back into contention when Liam McGarry grabbed a goal and Cadhan Crawford added two more to cut their arrears to seven by half time.

When Oisin McCallin added the first four points of the second half there was just three between the teams but St Pat’s found their touch again and sent over some top class points to give themselves a little bit of breathing space as they pushed the gap out to six. Substitute Paidi O’Kane grabbed a goal to leave just three between them again but Rian Tohill had the last say with a point for Maghera to seal a four point win.

St Pat’s had now secured a semi-final spot where they faced St Killian’s, again under the Portglenone lights. This time they were slow starters and were just three ahead of the Garron Tower boys at the break. However they did the real damage during the third quarter when Rian Collins added some great points and Ultan McCloskey grabbed their second goal and Fionn Cartin their third. They were in total control but St Killian’s came strong in the final quarter and corner forward Connlaodh McNaughton brought them back to within six with two well taken goals.  McNaughton had a chance for a third goal but goalkeeper D0nnacha Collins made a good stop and the Maghera boys hit a late point to see them home by seven.

A big win for Cross & Passion over Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in their next round at Quinn Park, Ballymena got their bid to retain their title back on track, the Ballycastle school running up a total of 7-17 with Cadhan Crawford and Oisin McCallin again among the goals. A second from McCallin, two by the youngest player on the pitch Paidi O’Kane, plus one apiece by Emmett McKendry and Ryan McQuaid completer the rout and set up a semi-final meeting with St Mary’s.

That game, again at Quinn Park, Ballymena proved a really tough encounter in which it took extra time to see off the challenge of the Glen Road boys. The sides ended level at the end of normal time, after a great equalising point from man of the match Sean Og McLaren as both teams matched each other score for score down the finishing straight.

When St Mary’s led at half-time in extra time they must have felt they had it won, but Oisin McCallin displayed his scoring power in the second half of extra time to hit four points in a row and seal a semi-final meeting with St Louis.

That semi-final against the Ballymena school was played in very good conditions in Cushendun and when CPC led by  1-09 to 0-01 their place in their final seemed assured, despite the fact they had a strong breeze behind them. However the brilliant Fointan Bradley eventually got his team going and a goal from a penalty and three points from play in the lead-in to half time put a different complexion on things.

When Bradley hit the first three points of the second half St Louis looked favourites to advance but CPC steadied the ship and late Oisin McCallin point got them over the line.

St Pat’s, who have the brilliant Portglenone dual star Odhran Doherty in their ranks, will start as favourites, and considering the level of their performances throughout deservedly so. The have a great all around team with a host of stars throughout the field. However CPC have also stars aplenty, especially in the forward line and if they can get off to a good start then they could well be the first team to put titles back to back since they did it themselves in 2014/2015

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by thesaffrongael

Dromintee finish strong to see off Ardboe fightback 

FonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Tournament, Quarter-Final 

Dromintee 2-15-1-11 Ardboe 

Kevin Herron reports from Paric Naomh Pol 

DROMINTEE survived a twenty minute second half fightback from Ardboe that saw their NINE-point half-time advantage reduced to three in their 2-15-1-11 win in the quarter-final at Paric Naomh Pol on Sunday afternoon. 

A lightning start saw them kick 2-5 unanswered within the first 11-minutes- though Ardboe rallied after the break and a 48th minute Ruairi ‘Razza’ O’Neill (15) goal saw the Tyrone Champions cut the gap to three. 

Scorer of Dromintee’s first goal- Ronan Martin, helped himself to three of his sides last five scores thereafter and that eased any lingering doubts and ensured his side will make the return trip to West Belfast over the festive period to take on the winners of the final quarter-final clash between Dungiven and Four Masters.. 

Ardboe almost had a goal from the first attack when last week’s top scorer Darragh Devlin charged through, but he failed to hit the target and tamely shot wide. 

Instead, it was Dromintee who were first off the mark through a Calvin Mooney point, a two-pointer followed a minute later when Fionn Toale switched the ball to Diarmaid O’Rourke to shoot over from the edge of the arc. 

O’Rourke doubled his account and things got much better in the eighth minute when the Armagh Champions shot in the game’s opening goal. 

Oisin Byrne cut in along the byline and laid the ball off to Fionn Toale and he picked out Ronan Martin to blast home via the post and make it 1-4-0-0. 

Momentum was firmly with Dromintee with Oisin Byrne swinging over a point and adding his side’s second goal in the 11th minute from Fionn Toale’s assist. 

Ardboe were shaken and it took until the 14th minute before they replied from a close range Darragh Devlin free, though they fell further behind when Jarleth O’Neill and Mooney kicked scores within the space of 60-seconds to move their side 2-7-0-1 ahead. 

Three scores in succession kicked Ardboe back into gear, Cahir McKeown dropped a shot over, Ruairi ‘Razza] O’Neill laid the ball off to Darcy Mallon to find range and after Jamie Concannon was felled, Devlin converted his second free of the half. 

The half concluded with the sides trading scores through Ronan Martin and Devlin (free) as Dromintee were well in the ascendancy, leading 2-8-0-5 at the halfway point. 

The Tyrone Champions were much quicker out of the blocks after the break and had reduced arrears by a third within the first six minutes. 

Edan McCartney was fouled by Tomas Fox- allowing Devlin to kick fourth free, within less than a minute he fired over his first from play and added another from the placed ball shortly afterwards. 

Dromintee goalkeeper James Bennett needed to react quickly to divert a low Devlin effort behind at the expense of a 45’, though the pressure lifted when Conor Dunne landed a 45’ to get his side up and running for the second period. 

Points were exchanged between Edan McCarney and Keane McArdle- whose shot clipped the bar and went over. 

Midway through the half, Devlin brought his tally from the placed ball to six to make it a six-point game (2-10-0-10) but the next score would half the deficit. 

Ardboe were very much on top and with 12-minutes remaining a Ruairi ‘Razza’ O’Neill (15) shot snuck its way into the corner of Mc Bennett’s net to set up a grandstand finish on the Shaws Road. 

Dromintee needed cool heads and hit the next on the 54th minute through Fionn Toale’s shot that hung up and dropped between the posts. 

In response, Jamie Concannon landed a point back, but Ronan Martin kicked the first of three points on the spin to restore his side’s six-point advantage by the hour mark. 

Martin’s first was a high effort that curled between the posts, and he added two further scores; on both occasions Fionn Toale was the supplier. 

Deep into injury time Conor Dunne’s 45’ dropped short and substitute Michael Walker’s close range attempt finished the afternoon’s scoring as Dromintee booked their place in the last four and will return to St Pauls again on St Stephen’s Day when they will face the winners of the last quarter-final clash between Dungiven and Four Masters (14th December). 

DROMINTEE: J McBennett, J O’Neill (0-1), C Dunne (0-1 45’), G O’Rourke, Fergus Toale, T Fox, M O’Neill, D O’Rourke (0-3, 1×0-2pt), K McArdle (0-1), C Mooney (0-2), Fionn Toale (0-1), S Harris, R Martin (1-4), O Carnegie, O Byrne (1-1). SUBS: M Walker (0-1) for S Harris (37). 

ARDBOE: S McConville, R Forbes, C McKeown (0-1), Peter Joe Quinn, D Mallon (0-1), D McKeown, JP Doris, E McCartney (0-1), J Concannon (0-1), Ruairi O’Neill (10), Dylan Devlin, J Muldoon, D Muldoon, Darragh Devlin (0-7, 0-6f), Ruairi ‘Razza’ O’Neill (15) (1-1). SUBS:  O Coleman for Dylan Devlin (18), 

REFEREE: Paul Falloon (Down)

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LIK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/zQErxWEkutM2T7/?invite=3bcd82e2-9973-4b33-b3fc-d59c8784c21f

by thesaffrongael

Naomh Séamus annual dinner dance

Naomh Séamas held their Annual Dinner Dance and awards ceremony last night at the Tullyglass Hotel. With nearly 400 people in attendance the night was a celebration of a club that is clearly intent on getting bigger and better.

There was some important initiatives launched at the evening with their Club Facility Development plan launched. This was followed by the announcement of their 1st club development fundraiser when they will be hosting the Quid games on the 28th Feb 2026.

There was also the significant announcement that their Chairman of 13 years, Paul McCarthy was stepping down. Paul was awarded a gift for recognition of his time and dedication to the club.

Then it was over to the awards for all their players from young to old, girls to boys where they got their awards presented by the Senior Ladies and mens captains Anna Crossan and Seamus McGarry.

There was a special presentation to the club President Seamus Henry for his time and service to the club over the past 60 years.

The club the presented Bert Trowlen of the Saffron Gael with a cheque to help support their sterling work throughout the year.

The dancing and craic kicked on into the late hours. Another hugely succesful night and the club would like to thank the Tullyglass team for a fantastic evening. Also a big shout out to Bert Trowlen for his fantastic photographs.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT CLICK ON HE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/9zjyzwrnTDWB3T/?invite=509140e7-66b1-4ed7-8756-5c08a2be02a4

by thesaffrongael

Moneyglass write their names in the history books

AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Ladies Football Championship semi-final:

St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass (Antrim) 1-12 Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) 1-10

Photographs: Elaine Kelly

Moneyglass wrote their names in the history books today when they pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the history of LGFA by beating Dublin and Leinster champions Kilmacud Crokes in the All Ireland Senior Ladies semi-final at Kilmacud’s home ground Pairc de Burca.

The never-say-die attitude that has epitomised Charlie O’Kane’s side over recent seasons finally paid the dividends their efforts deserved when they beat Errigal Ciaran to collect a first Ulster title last month.

The Antrim and Ulster champions, who went into the game as rank outsiders, battled from start to finish and when they went in at half time trailing by just two points, it was clear that they were not the underdogs everyone had painted them.

With club legend Cathy Carey and Maria O’Neill leading the line the Ulster champions cancelled out early score from the Dublin champions with one apiece at the other end.

The South Dublin outfit moved back ahead with two points from Michelle Davoren and one from Cotter, but two from the evergreen Cathy Carey and one from O’Neill restored parity and it was becoming clear that the gap in standards that many of the so called experts had talked about was not as obvious as predicted.

Crokes struck a telling blow when Daveron grabbed the opening goal of the game four minutes before the interval to move her team a goal clear, but Carey kept Moneyglass very much in touch when she sent over to leave just two between the sides at the interval.

It was clear the self-belief was growing in the Moneyglass side and things got even better when Cathy Carey moved them ahead from a free. The Moneyglass fans were in full cry at this stage and when Maria O’Neill got in for a goal they were in ecstasy, but they were brought back to earth when Cotter came back with three in a row for last year’s All Ireland finalists.

The Moneyglass girls still held a one point lead but when the referee Barry Redmond signalled there was seven minutes of injury time still to be played, the tension was unbearable. However the Moneyglass defence held on and a late score from substitute JoJo Darragh sealed their place in the All Ireland final against reigning champions Kilkerrin Clonberne at Croke Park in two weeks’ time

Scorers – St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass: C Carey 0-6 (4f), M O’Neill 1-3 (0-1f), L Stewart, E Mallon, J Darragh 0-1 each.

Kilmacud Crokes: N Cotter 0-6 (5f), M Davoren 1-2, D Egan, E Rutledge 0-1 each.

 ST ERGNAT’S, MONEYGLASS: A Devlin; C Graffin, N McIntosh, L Stewart; A Leahy, S O’Neill, R Bradley; A Kelly, E Louise McAreavey; C Griffin, M O’Neill, N Neeson; B Devlin, C Carey, E Mallon. Subs: L McCann for Kelly (38), J Darragh for B Devlin (44).

KILMACUD CROKES: D Gower; P Greene, E Sweeney, C Regan; S O’Donoghue, A Kane, N Carr; D Egan, K Murray; L Kane, A Davoren, N Cotter; A Conroy, M Davoren, E Rutledge. Subs: K McDaid for L Kane (42), A Bedford for O’Donoghue (45), A O’Grady for Regan, E Kane for Conroy (both 52).

Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel dreams sink in titanic All Ireland semi final

AIB All Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship Loughgiel 3-14 St. Finbarr’s 3-15

Report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA Club, Co. Meath

As the ink dries in all of the camogie articles written about the games over the weekend, one stands out to go down in history. The Loughgiel v St. Finbarr’s game. It took over ninety minutes of play, six goals and twenty nine points to decide that the Barr would go through to the All Ireland final to play Athenry, Galway, beating Loughgiel in the end by an agonising point. Sixty minutes of regular play, an additional 2 x 10 minutes of extra time and a further 2 x 5 minutes of extra extra time would be needed to bring the matter of who would be the fortunate victor to a conclusion.

St. Finbarr’s started the better of the two sides, pointing first with the chilling breeze over their left shoulder and then a sideline ball well caught and delivered into the back of Loughgiel’s net by Orlaith Cahalane had the Barr sideline excited.

The ominous threat from County Down woman, now a Cork resident by way of a student work placement, Sorcha McCartan, raised the Barr’s second green flag as she gathered up the sliotar from an unmarked position. Despite St. Finbarr’s building momentum, the Shamrock’s stayed in touch with four points, only one of those from play by Marie Laverty with the other three dropping over St. Finbarr’s bar by Róisin McCormick from two frees and a forty five.

Lucia McNaughton brought them even closer with a fine point from an Anna Connolly pass. Connolly, who has been slowly building her recent game portfolio in a quiet fashion worked relentlessly during the entire game. McNaughton brought the game to the short whistle with only four the difference, Loughgiel 0-05 St. Finbarr’s 2-03.

Anna Connolly, a whirlwind of a presence takes physio time out ahead of extra time

Loughgiel came out in the second half the brighter side, owning much of the play, which was at times hugely physical. Dobbin, McCormick and Lynn tipped sliotars over the bar in the first eighteen minutes with just one pointed reply from the Barr’s Keeva McCarthy but it was McCormick’s goal on the twentieth minute that shook more than the net as the Shamrock supporters went wild, calculating that this was the first time Loughgiel went ahead and now the dream was real.

But dreams are fragile things and when the Barr clipped three points over McAllister’s bar at the top of the pitch, one of those a recycled Kate Wall effort by Keeva McCarthy, the pendulum swung over in favour of St. Finbarr’s. A well struck forty five from Loughgiel brought them one point closer and then Loughgiel’s captain, Amy Boyle, saved the game with her point in play just before referee, Liz Dempsey, blew for full time with scores Loughgiel 1-10 St. Finbarr’s 2-07.

Loughgiel’s captain, Amy Boyle, drew sides in normal play to take the game into extra time

The first portion of extra time witnessed the Barr strike first with a point from McCartan, then the Shamrocks eased ahead by two points on the fifth minute with an Annie Lynn goal but McCarthy and McCarton neutralised that difference with two points, McCarton taking hers with the classic turn and over the shoulder effort, with 2-10 apiece at the break.

In the second portion of extra time, Loughgiel wasted no time in making use of their previous momentum and McCormick soared a point over goalkeeper Ciara Hurley’s bar from a sideline pass before Caitrín Dobbin’s point attempt morphed into a deadly drop-in behind Ciara Hurley’s stick and under the bar for the Shamrock’s third goal. Yet again the Barr pulled the Shamrocks back with a point and then a goal from substitute Eimear Hurley, driving hard towards the goal on the left flank. McCarthy would now drift the Barr ahead by one point, leaving Loughgiel’s McCormick to make sure of her free to once again level the game at the end of the second portion of extra time. If the supporters wanted tension, they had it it heaps.

Loughgiel’s taliswoman, Róisin McCormick delivered in abundance during Saturday’s titanic battle

In the third portion of extra time, no side was able to move their campaign forward, despite the Shamrocks having three successive attempts to score from inside the small rectangle but it wasn’t until the fourth and final portion, where the nerves along the sideline were etched away and voices reduced to croaks. Going into this segment of play, both sides were 3-12 apiece and the Barr struck first with a point, followed by McCormick’s point from play. Then a Marie Laverty foul, taking her out of the game, left McCormick to take the Shamrocks into the lead one last time from that free before Orlaithe Cahalane pointed for the draw and a point from an advancing Ciara Golden in a ‘do or die’ effort by the Barr took them to the final whistle as winners, the score board announcing Loughgiel 3-14 St. Finbarr’s 3-15.

Kirsty McKendry clears the threat on her first touch as Loughgiel’s Clare McKillop patrols her zone with full authority in Saturday’s semi final

This was undoubtedly one of the finest games of camogie to have been played for an All Ireland place in the final. St. Finbarr’s were able to tolerate the nerves and game intensity, despite this being their first experience at this level. Loughgiel were heroic to the end and flew the Club, County and Provincial flags at their very highest. This is the game we all love. Sometimes though, as the song sung by the late Amy Winehouse goes, ‘Love can be a losing game’.

You can enjoy photos from Saturday’s epic game here…

https://myalbum.com/album/D9sVKQxJF5Jo9M/?invite=3ffe2cde-d883-4939-828a-2f2334df8191

Loughgiel Panel

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Katie Lynn, Lucia McNaughton 0-01, Emma McFadden, Clare McKillop, Amy Boyle (c) (0-01), Anna Connolly, Katie McKillop, Róisin McCormick 1-09 (4f, 3×45), Ciara Laverty, Catrín Dobbin 1-01, Annie Lynn 1-01, Marie Laverty 0-01

Shauna McKillop, Maria O’Hara, Aoibheann Gillan, Maeve Shannon, Louise McKillop, Kirtsy McKendry, Mary McKillen, Orlagh Laverty, Shanna Deery, Ceala Dobbin, Anna McKillop, Therese McKinley, Finvola McVeigh, Sarah Flavin, Carlina Scullion

Management Johnny Campbell, Neil McGarry, Ronan McCloskey, Ciaran McCloskey, Conor Gillan

St. Finbarr’s Panel

Ciara Hurley, Stephanie Punch (c), Sofia Daly, Gráinne Cahalane, Aoife O’Neill, Méabh Cahalane, Ciara Golden 0-01, Emma Olden, Aisling Shannon, Sorcha McCartan 1-03, Kate Wall, Keeva McCarthy 0-06 (5f), Orlaith Cahalane 1-04, Nicole Olden, Hannah O’Leary

Gillian Fitzgerald, Aisling Egan, Kate Cahalane, Liz O’Donovan, Ella Wigginton Barrett, Eimear Hurley 1-01, Aoife Byrne O’Riordan, Meg Twomey, Farrah Geasley, Natasha Varian, Aoife O’Connor, Elizabeth Dillon, Holly Fitzpatrick, Alex Moynihan, Cara O’Neill

Management Brian O’Sullivan, Marian McCarthy, Dylan Byrne, Paul Harte, Anthony O’Neill