Category / Photos of the week

by thesaffrongael

Saints & Slimmers 2025 Finale: Dance, Community, and Champions

“I’ll Be There For You” was the song of choice for one of the participating teams at Friday night’s Saints & Slimmers Finale event and it perfectly sums up the mood on the evening as the participants relied on their team of “Friends” to give their best dance performance.

8 teams came together to spend the evening celebrating with family and friends at the conclusion of another successful Saints & Slimmers programme.

Held in the wonderful setting of Tullyglass House Hotel the participants, arranged in teams named after TV Law & Order shows, rounded their 7 week challenge off in some style.

Having spent the past 2 months exercising every muscle they have it was time to hit the dance floor and show off their Lip Snyc and dancing skills to over 400 friends, supporters and club members.


With 8 routines in all from Madonna’s “Hung Up” through to KC & The Sunshine’ Band’s “Get Down Tonight” there was plenty to keep everyone entertained. And that’s just what they did. Each team put on show the final results of their 7 week dance preparation to rapturous applause from those attending. But of course there were also points on offer and champions to be crowned.

First up on the night was the naming of the Biggest Male & Female Loser. Competitors waited with bated breath for the overall winners to be announced. Crowned 2025 female winner was Orlagh McKenna while crowned male winner alongside her was Anthony Lee.

Then it was on to the Dance winners. The judges had an unenviable task in choosing their winners but choose they did and announced in 1st place was Charlies (Bar) Angels dancing to The Cure’s “Love Cats”, 2nd place went to Connolly’s Spar Cagneys with Frank Sinatra’s “Send In The Clouds” with McKillop’s Spar MacGyvers and their take on Rednex “Cotton Eyed Joe” and the Pizza Parlour Professionals version of Maroon 5’s Moves Like Jagger joint placed in 3rd.

Celebrations had barely receded when we were introduced to the overall champions of the 7 week programme. A combination of points awarded for attendance, weight loss and team activity challenges had brought us to this point.

Deserving winners and Saints & Slimmers Champions 2025 were the Bert’s Cafe Columbos who led from Week 1 to the finish. Announced in 2nd place were Connolly’s Spar Cagney’s while in 3rd place were the Eco Flame Fugitives.


Saints & Slimmers has community at heart and this was very much in evidence during Friday night’s event when a cheque was presented to local charity Womans Aid. Kelly McDonald, representative of the organisation, received the donation on their behalf.

The money was raised as a result of a day long Spin Cycle Spinathon at the Ballymena Harmony Hub in the centre of town. Thanks to the generosity of the participants, their families and the Ballymena public a grand total of over £3k was realised. A fitting way to pay tribute to the spirit of community which is at the heart of the All Saints club and bring this year’s programme to a conclusion.

Special thanks to all of our team and event sponsors:

Connolly’s Spar (Cagneys)
Pizza Parlour (Professionals)
Charlie’s Bar (Angels)
Bert’s Cafe (Columbos)
McKillops Spar (MacGyvers)
Teamkit (Taggarts)
ECO Flame (Fugitives)
Knockdene Healthcare (Kojaks)

And our tutors:
Regan & Dara (Dance)
Flamingo Fitness (Teresa & Andrew)
Ballymena Runners (Raymond, Mairead & Stephen)
Gladiators (Lyndon & Nicole)
Lifestyle Gym (Michael & staff)
Ali Donaghy & Lisa Kirkwood (Treasure Hunt)

We would also like to thank the local venues without whom the programme could not take place:

St. Brigid’s PS
St. Patrick’s College
Slemish College
Lifestyle Gym

Bernie Daly, (Club All Saints) presents a cheque to Kelly McDonald from Womans Aid, proceedsof the clus recent Saints & Slimmers fund raiser. Included in the photograph are Jim Brady (All Saints Chairman), Eamon McKillop (Club All Saints) and Conor Connolly (Chairman, Club All Saints)


Flamingo Fitness


Gladiator

And finally our thanks to our charity partner this year:

Woman’s Aid

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by thesaffrongael

Abbey end Aquinas’ McLarnon Cup challenge

Danske Bank McLarnon Cup

Abbey Vocational School, Donegal 2-14 Aquinas Grammar School 1-05

ABBEY Vocational School laid down a marker when they beat Aquinas in Wednesday’s Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-final on the 4G pitch at Garvaghey.

A dominant opening half, which saw them lead by 2-6 to 0-1 at half time gave the Donegal school an advantage they were never likely to lose, though in truth Aquinas could have been a bit closer had they have taken their chances, one of them a penalty after nine minutes.  

Daniel McArdle did raise the hopes of the Belfast side midway through the second half when he converted a penalty to add to the three points they had already scored in that period. However the Abbey, who had 10 of the Four Masters side who won the St Paul’s tournament in their panel, were always in control as the secured a semi-final spot against St Patrick’s, Downpatrick on Monday next. The other semi-final, which sees Rathmore Grammar and Our Lady & St Patrick’s, Knock cross swords, goes ahead tomorrow (Friday) at Coláiste Feirste (4pm).

Abbey C Meehan 1-7; C McCahill 1-1; T McBride & S Carr 0-2 each; T Carr & C McCrea 0-1 each

Aquinas D McArdle 1-1; P Mulgrew; J Watson, D Leggett & JJ Huggins 0-1 each

by thesaffrongael

A tale of two halves, but Shamrocks come out on top

Doherty Wood Shavings Antrim Junior Camogie ChampionshipDoherty1 (1)

St Mary’s Ahoghill 4-10 Loughgiel Shamrocks 3-18IMG-20170809-WA0002 copy

A tale of two halves was the story at Clooney, Ahogill in the Doherty Wood Shavings Antrim Junior Camogie Championship as Loughgiel dominating the first scoring 3-10 to the homes score of 1-06 and Ahoghill fighting back in the second half scoring 3.06. In the end Loughgiel withstood the fightback to finally run out 5 point winners and advance to play either Rasharkin or Gortnamona.

Ahoghill got off to a great start with young Aine Graham firing to the Loughgiel net in the first 60 seconds. The visitors responded well to this initial setback firing over the next 6 points. Ahoghill responded through the stick of Maura Downey but the shamrock ladies were starting to find their stride with further points before Carla McGarry reacted quickest to score Loughgiels first goal. Kirsty McKendry also got in on the goal scoring act soloing through the home defense to fire home from 20 yards and just before the short whistle the visiting team scored their third goal through the stick of Rioghnach McNaughton.

Whatever Dermot Graham said to his team had the desired effect as the home team came out a different side in the second period. Two early goals through Aine and Noreen Graham closed the gap and put pressure on the Loughgiel side. Carla McGarry and Meadhbh McCormick responded with points for the shamrocks but the fluidity of the attack that was abundant in the first period was not seen in the second. Ahoghill closed the gap to a single point with another goal by Aine Graham with 10 minutes to go but Loughgiel finally found another gear and late points saw them run out 5 point winners.

A game in which the youngsters stood out, Carla McGarry for the visitors and Maura Downey for the hosts. Loughgiels firepower was also the feature of the game with all 6 starting forwards registering scores while Ahoghill relied mainly on Aine and Noreen Graham and the excellent Maura Downey to make inroads into the shamrock defense. Overall an excellent game of camogie played with great determination and heart, with very little between the two teams.

Meadhbh McCormick 0.08 (3F & 1 45) Carla McGarry 1.04 Kirsty McKendry 1.03 Rioghnach McNaughton 1.01 Cara McIntryre 0.01 Sarah McCloskey 0.01

by thesaffrongael

O’Ciarain stars as St. Gall’s take the points at Milltown

CRLL5101 copyAll County Hurling League Division 2

St. Galls 1-16 Tir Na nOg 1-8

Tomas O’Ciarain stole the show as St. Gall’s defeated visitors Tir Na nOg at Milltown on Sunday. The full-forward hit 1.11 of his side’s 1.16 total and proved a handful for the visitors defence throughout the hour.

Sean Duffin opened the scoring for the visitors when he converted a 2nd minute free but O’Ciarain replied with the equaliser with three minutes gone.

Kevin Sheerin edged the Whitehill side ahead once more from another free following a foul on Ciaran McKeown but again St. Gall’s were able to respond and Karl Stewart sent over the equaliser in the 14th minute.

The visitors were certainly holding their own at this stage as Kevin Sheerin pointed them ahead once more as he converted another free after being fouled himself.

It was the Milltown side who finished the half the stronger however as O’Ciarain hit four points to leave his side leading by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break, Tir Na nOg’s other point coming from Kevin McCann.

Indeed it could have been worse but Ruidi Graham pulled off an excellent save to deny Brendan Bradley what looked a certain goal.

O’Ciarain extended the St. Gall’s lead on the restart when he was on hand to scramble the ball over the line following a shot from Jackson McGreevey.

Tir Na nOg responded with another pointed free from Kevin Sheerin following a foul on Ciaran McKeown before Karl Stewart placed O’Ciarain for a St. Gall’s reply.

O’Ciarain was in fine form as he hit the next two points, one from play but again Kevin Sheerin split the posts in reply.

O’ Ciarnain and Colm Duffin exchanged further points and when Kevin McCann set up Pearse Sheerin for a goal in the 47th minute a Tir na nOg come-back looked on the cards.

It was as close as they were to get however with Jackson McGreevey replying for the Milltown men before setting up Anto Healey for another and Tir na nOg tagging on a late consolation point from Sean Duffin to conclude the scoring.

Tir na nOg, although well beaten in the end certainly had their chances in a game where some of the shooting from both sides was wasteful in the extreme.

The visitors hit 16 wides over the hour but their opponents weren’t a lot better in the shooting stakes, racking up 15. St. Gall’s hit 10 in the first half while Tir Na nOg hit 8.

While others were wasteful it was that man O’Ciarain who showed how scores should be taken as he fired over from every angle in a man of the match performance.

Kevin Sheerin once again top scored for the Whitehill side getting 0-4 of his side’s total with their goal coming from his brother Pearse Sheerin.

St. Gall’s: Tomas O’Ciarnan (1.11), Karl Stewart (0.1), Kieran McGourty (0.1), Justin McGreevy (0.2), Anto Healy (0.1)

Tir Na nOg scorers: Kevin Sheerin (0.4-4frees), Sean Duffin (0.2- 1 free), Colm Duffin (0.1), Kevin McCann (0.1), Pearse Sheerin (1.0)

St Gall’s

S O’Hare, P Fion, S Burle, S Morris, A Gribbon, J McDonnell, R Irvine, J McGreevy, A Hanaway, A Healy, P Friel, K Stewart, A McGourty, T O’Ciarain, B Bradley.

Tir na nOg:

Ruidi Graham: Stephen Carey, Tony Martin, Brendan Kerr: Conor Fitzgerald, Colm Duffin, Caoimhin Duffin: Sean Duffin, Emmet Martin: Ciaran McKeown, Pearse Sheerin, Ciaran Logan: Kevin Kerr, Kevin Sheerin, Rory Bonnes.

 

 

 

by thesaffrongael

Photos of the week

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Young Creggan fan Cillian McCollum pins his colours to the mast as he warms up during last week’s All County Football League game against Aldergrove. Pic by John McIlwaine

 

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Cushendall goalkeeper Conor McAlister grabs a high ball during his team’s league win over Ballycran. Pic by Sean Paul McKillop

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Loughgiel’s James McNaughton goes above Slaughtneill’s Meehaul McGrath to win the ball during the McAuley Cup game in Armoy

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Action from Glenavy U16’s win over Rossa in the All County Girls Football League game at Chapel Hill. Pic by Bert Trowlen

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Stinson’s James McLarnon sends Aghagallon goalkeeper Luke Mulholland the wrong was from the penalty spot to get his team off to a great start. Pic by John McIlwaine

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The Premier Section! Young Rossa fans watch their team’s All County Football League game against Creggan at Rossa Park Pic by John McIlwaine

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Brídíní Óga’s Laoisa McKenna makes a break during the Junior Feis Camogie semi-final against Ballycastle. Pic by Sean Paul McKillop

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Sean McKay celebrates after scoring Glenravel’s goal late in the first half of their Breslin Cup semi-final win over Aghagallon Pic by John McIlwaine

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Aldergrove’s Conor Browning celebrates after scoring a goal during his team’s league game against Creggan. Pic by John McIlwaine

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Gareth Magee (right) fires in Aghagallon’s third goal in his team’s league win over St Paul’s at Shaw’s Road

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From Waterford to Waterfoot! Former Waterford goalkeepr Clinton Hennessy shows his football skills as he kicks the ball over Oisin’s bar during the first half of Tuesday evening’s Junior Feis Shield in Waterfoot.

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The joy of sport shows on the faces of the Derry players as they are applauded off the field by the Creggan and Aldergrove teams after their win over Antrim in last Sunday’s Special Challenge Match in Creggan. Pic by John McIlwaine