January 25, 2023January 25, 2023 by thesaffrongael

Strong Antrim presence in St. Mary’s bid for Ulster glory

MUSA Cookstown Thursday 26th January at 11:30.

There’s a strong Antrim presence on the St. Mary’s Magherafelt side who make their bid for Ulster glory in Cookstown on Thursday. Moneyglass’ Kate Higgins captains the Convent side and is joined by Leah Stewart, Aoife Kelly, Sarah O’Neill, Sally Scullion, Cara McKeefry, and Cara McCann.

This will be St. Mary’s third Ulster Final in two weeks. This time it is the turn of the Ladies Under-20 football team who will face Loreto College Omagh at the MUSA, Cookstown.

**Kate Higgins from Moneyglass who will captain the St. Mary’s side**

Captained by Kate Higgins, the girls are determined to go one step further this year after suffering defeat to Coláiste Oirial in last year’s final. Captain Higgins stated, “I think our defeat last year will drive us to success in 2023. Miss Hughes and Mr McCauley have worked hard with us at training and the team spirit is excellent. The Under 16 girls have really pushed the older girls on at training and everyone in school is looking forward to the final on Thursday.

The St. Mary’s girls got off to a flying start in their under 20 Ulster campaign with three wins from three in the group stages against St Pius X College Magherafelt, Holy Trinity College, Cookstown and St. Ciaran’s, Ballygawley. Throughout the group stage there was a common theme, teams found it difficult to deal with the ferocity of the SMG attack. With Aoife Kelly and Caoileann Quinn’s attacking runs were constantly rewarded by the excellent movement of Eva Small in the full forward line who proved a thorn in opposing teams’ defensive sides.

The St Mary’s girls accumulated substantial scores with sharp shooters, Sarah Devlin, Amy-Rose Mulligan and Niamh O’Donnell on target. With the help of Leah Stewart and Cara Mckeefery the girls racked up impressive score lines to cement their place in the quarter final.

Loreto Letterkenny were waiting in the quarter- final and on a cold, wet day in Owenbeg the SMG girls picked up where they left off from the group stages. Again, Small and O’Donnell caused problems in the full forward line and strong defensive performances from Sarah O’Neill and Seannagh McLarnon ensured that St Mary’s came out on top.

  In the Semi-Final the SMG girls travelled to MUSA to face a determined Sacred Heart Newry team from Down who posed the girls biggest challenge to date. Little separated the girls in the first half and an early goal from Newry made it clear that the Magherafelt girls would not get everything their own way. Against a strong breeze in Cookstown, the girls managed to gain a two-point lead at half time. St Mary’s came out determined at the start of the second half, however, it wasn’t until that last 10 minutes where a fantastic team move ended with a Sarah O’Neill’s goal that cemented a place in the final for the second year in a row.

The journey for SMG to the Ulster Final has been down to a real team drive, a strong bench and the great work of the management team plus the passion to lift the Ulster title in 2023.

L to R Leah Stewart Moneyglass , Sally Scullion Cargin, Aoife Kelly Moneyglass , Sarah O’Neill Moneyglass , Cara McKeefry Moneyglass and Cara McCann Creggan

**The St. Mary’s magherafelt side who play Loreto College, Omagh in the Ulster U20 final in Cookstown on Thursday**

January 16, 2023January 16, 2023 by thesaffrongael

St. Patrick’s advance on cold night in Ahoghill

Corn Uan Uladh semi-final

Corn Uan Uladh senior camogie semi-final

St Louis Ballymena 1-4 St Patrick’s Maghera 2-8

ST PATRICK’S Maghera are back in Ulster schools’ Corn Uan Uladh camogie final after avenging defeat by St Louis Ballymena in last year’s semi-final on Monday evening in Ahoghill.

Overall Maghera were probably the better balanced team with players capable of striking scores when under pressure. During the second half, after St Louis scored their goal to bring the game down to three points, they closed down the Ballymena midfield area not allowing them to run at their defence.

They also worked the ball better into an inside forward line that carried a little more threat than their Ballymena counter-parts.

However no-one could fault the effort from either team in very trying conditions in Ahoghill. A coating of snow lay on the pitch and with the temperature around or just under zero it very much resembled the conditions that Loughgiel excelled in for their All-Ireland club semi-final before Christmas. Both sets of players rose above those conditions to produce a rip-roaring performance.

Maghera’s two first half goals were crucial to the final result. Those were the difference between the teams at the break, 2-4 to 0-4, and meant that St Louis were always chasing a result.

Ballymena started brightest and camped out in their opponents half for the first six minutes. But they couldn’t register a score for all the pressure. Then Maghera captain, Eavanne Martin, drove a free from just inside her own half down to the left corner where Caoimhe Chambers took possession, rounded her marker and buried the sliotar in the net.

With the help of two fine points from Katie Molloy and another from Maria Gately, St Louis fought their way back to 1-1 to 0-3 after 12 minutes. However their failure to score over the next 15 minutes, left them with a mountain to climb.

Lavey’s Carla Collins pointed a long range free and Caoimhe Kearney added a third Maghera point before the second Maghera goal arrived in the 18^th minute. Caoimhe Kearney’s cross from close to the corner flag was fed through by Ellie Griffin for Cara Donnelly to force into the net from close range.

The teams exchanged points before the break but the Derry school were now in charge and on their way to a final meeting with first time finalists St Killian’s.

Ballymena though gave themselves a lift at the start of the second half. They could have had a goal within 40 seconds when Aisling O’Donnell’s shot was deflected for a 45. Anna McKillop sent that 45 into the Maghera goal area where it broke and Eimear Johnstone found the net.

However the leaders showed composure to close the game down and Ballymena failed to score for the rest of the half while Maghera tagged on enough scores to pull themselves clear.

Sub Mary Therese McCullagh made it a four points’ gap in the 38^th minute and four minutes later the sliotar was fed out for Carla Collins to post her side’s sixth point.

Collins added the final nails in Ballymena’s coffin with points in the 55^th and 56^th minutes to keep St Patrick’s, already the record title holders, on track for an 18^th crown.

St Louis: E McGivern, S Shannon, A McKillen, L McGarry, E Coulter, D Dobbin, C Crawford, K Molloy 0-2, A O’Donnell, C Griffin, S Fyfe 0-1 capt, A McKillop, M Gately 0-1, C O’Boyle, E Johnstone 1-0

Subs: C Henderson for C O’Boyle (40)

St Patrick’s: M Hughes, E Murray, E Doherty, A McNeill, E McCormack, C Conway, E Kelly, O Hull, E Martin capt 0-1 pen, B McLaughlin, C Collins 0-5, 4 frees, C Donnelly 1-0, E Griffin, C Chambers 1-0, C Kearney 0-1

Subs: MT McCullagh 0-1 for B McLaughlin (30), B Brolly for E Kelly (55)

Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)

January 13, 2023January 13, 2023 by thesaffrongael

St. Malachy’s in 7^th Heaven

Danske Bank McDevitt Cup final

Friday 12.30pm in MUSA

St Malachy’s Belfast 7-10 St Patrick’s Keady 2-1

LAST year’s McDevitt Shield winners St Malachy’s Belfast stepped up a grade to collect the McDevitt Cup with this emphatic win over St Patrick’s Keady this afternoon in the Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown.

However a gap of this proportion at the end would have been hard to envisage after 15 minutes. St Patrick’s Keady pressed hard during that opening spell and were unlucky when a shot came off the post while goalie Callum Bradley also came to St Malachy’s rescue on a couple of occasions.

Slowly though the Belfast College started to take control with Dylan Rogers getting them on their way with a point and further points from Daire Keenan (0-2), Cathair McKenna (0-2) and Rogers again before Michael Jennings intercepted a poor kick-out to hammer home the game’s opening goal in the 21^st minute.

Cathair McKenna, who was superb throughout, added a second and when Jennings got in for his side’s third goal just before the break it was all over with the Antrim road side taking a 3-9 to 0-0 lead into the break.

Then Daire Donnelly scored a goal on the break for the Belfast side and they visibly improved for the rest of the half, adding goals from Darragh Rooney and Cathair McKenna, to change ends with a 3-9 to 0-0 advantage.

To their credit St. Patrick’s Keady never gave up and fared better during the second half while never really looking like getting back into contention. Indeed they opened their scoring seven minutes into the second half with a point from John McKee but St. Malachy’s relied immediately with a goal from Darragh Rooney.

Shea McCloskey got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble for Keady’s opening goal and James Hamilton added another from the penalty spot but at the other end Darragh Rooney kept St Malachy’s on course with their fourth goal and there were further majors for Aodhán Pierce, Tiernán Conway and Michael Jennings with Shea McCloskey bagging a consolation score for Keady.

Jennings and Cathair McKenna were in the running for Player of the Match for their work-rate and scoring. They were well supported by Dylan Rodgers and Aodhán Pierce with a mention also for Callum Rooney in goals.

For Keady Shea Farrell, Darragh McElroy, Darragh McKee and Ollie Galvin all gave their best on a day that they were very much second best to an excellentSt. Malachy’s.

St Malachy’s : Callum Bradley, Barra Bellew, Connaire Smyth, Ciarán Lopez, Dara Graham, Aaron Connolly, Daire Donnelly 1-0, Aodhán Pierce 1-2, Ruairí O’Connell-Scullion 0-1, Dylan Rogers 0-2, Cathair McKenna 1-2, Daire Keenan 0-1, Donal Maguire, Darragh Rooney 2-1, Michael Jennings 1-1

Subs: Tiarnan Conway 1-0 for B Bellew, B Bellew for T Conway, T Conway for D Keenan, Tomás Benson for D Maguire, Conor McGoran for D Graham.

St Patrick’s: Paul Grimes, Darragh McElroy, Jack Gormley, Eoin O’Hara, Keaton O’Hara, Ronan Mallon, Liam McGarvey, Shea McNaughton, Darragh McKee, John McKee 0-1, James Hamilton 1-0, Shea Farrell, Ollie Galvin, Shea McCloskey 1-0, Cayden Feeney

Subs: Peadar Fagan for E O’Hara, Johnny Loughran for R Mallon, Ruairi Mullan for K O’Hara, Darron Sweeney for C Feeney, Harry Smith for L McGarvey, Conor McKeever for J McKee

Referee: Martin Conroy

**St. Malachy’s celebrate after defeating St. Patrick’s Keady in the Mc|Devitt Cup final in Cookstown on Friday.**

December 2, 2022December 2, 2022 by thesaffrongael

Maghera withstand early second half rally to claim the Leonard Cup

Danske Bank Leonard Cup final

Quinn Park Ballymena

St Patrick’s Maghera 3-11 Cross & Passion Ballycastle 3-4

St. Patrick’s Maghera withstood a strong rally in the third quarter to push on and win the Leonard Cup when they overcame the spirited challenge of Cross & Passion in Ballymena today.

The Derry College were the stronger team in the first half and deserved to be 2-5 to 2-1 ahead at half-time and at this stage it looked like they would push on and win comfortably but Cross & Passion emerged from their half-time team talk like a side reborn.

The North Antrim side dominated the third quarter as they reeled in a four point half time deficit to draw level after 14 minutes and a major surprise looked on the cards but they were unable to sustain that level of intensity.

That goal from substitute Logan McConville in the the 47^th minute was to prove their final score the Derry side woke from their slumber and finished with an unanswered 1-4 for Padraig O’Kane to lift the Cup.

Maghera were fast out of the traps with a goal from Ruairí Biggs in the second minute. However Conor Anderson responded four minutes later only for Fionn Cartin to blast to the net at the other end.

It was an explosive start to the game, but neither team could maintain that pace. It was 15 minutes before Rian Collins made it 2-2 to 1-1 and Ballycastle responded with a fine team goal, finished by corner-forward Darragh Kinney.

Seán O’Kane opened the second half with two points inside the first two minutes, but Maghera didn’t add to their total for another 17 minutes. During that time CPC hit an upright and the crossbar with Kinney’s shot from an acute angle looking destined for the net before McConville netted to tie the teams at 3-4 to 2-7.

Like all good sides Maghera were able to respond however and Ruairí Biggs popped over a free in the next attack before Seán O’Kane drilled his shot to the net in their next attack to open up a four point gap.

That score seemed to knock the fight out of the Ballycastle college though they never gave up but St. Patrick’s were back in control and finished with late points from Odhrán Doherty, Seán and Dara O’Kane to run out seven point winners in the end.

Scorers:

Maghera: S O’Kane 1-3, R Biggs 1-2, F Cartin 1-0, D O’Kane 0-3, R Collins 0-2, O Doherty 0-1.

CPC: C Anderson, D Kinney and L McConville 1-0 each, O McCallin 0-2, C Johnson and O Connolly 0-1 each

Maghera: Oisín Mulholland, Conor McLarnon, Odhrán Burke, Niall McNicholl, Daithí McCloskey, Pádraig O’Kane, Daragh O’Neill, Pauric Bradley, Odhrán Doherty, Rian Collins, Dara O’Kane, Ruairí Biggs, Sean O’Kane, Dara Hasson, Fionn Cartin.

Subs: Michael McMaster for D Hasson (ht), Ronan McGuckian for F Cartin (47).

Cross & Passion: R McShane, L Connolly, R McQuaid, E Johnston, L Smyth, A McGarry, L Magee, O Connolly (0-3), L McGarry, R McGilligan, C Johnson, O McCallin, D Kinney (1-1), C Anderson, C Crawford (1-0)

Subs: L McConville, R McGilligan

Referee: B Toland (Lámh Dhearg)

November 18, 2022November 18, 2022 by thesaffrongael

McCurry goal sends Tower on way to victory

Corn Uan Uladh Group game

St Killian’s Garron Tower 2-8 St Patrick’s Maghera 0-4

St Killian’s Garron Tower won their second game in the Ulster Schools’ senior camogie championship, doing enough in the first half in Quinn Park Ballymena to pull clear of a Maghera side that enjoyed a 4-9 to 0-4 win over CPC last week.

Indeed Maghera failed to score during the second half when the diagonal breeze favoured the Tower. But the Derry school fielded without any of the players who won Corn Eimhear last Friday with a runaway win over CPC.

It will be a huge surprise if up to half a dozen of the younger squad are not pushing through when the semi-finals are played after Christmas.

**Tower’s Orlaith McCurry fires home the game’s opening goal**

St Killian’s did the spade work in the first half when they worked very hard in defence and grabbed scores at key points.

Monique OBoyle’s movement at full forward opened gaps and she was able to hit the target on three occasions with Orlaith McCurry grabbing a goal that gave the Tower a huge lift.

Maghera were always under pressure in possession, but they will still be very disappointed with just two points from play – one for Bellaghy’s Orlaith Hull who was featuring at midfield and Creggan’s Eavanne Martin at centre half-back.

St Killian’s turned around with a lead of 1-5 to 0-4 and they pushed on immediately with points from Cara OBoyle and an Orlaith McAlister free.

Maghera kept working hard to get ball into their forwards but Abi McNeill, Laura Black and Aisling Mulholland returned it with interest and the final result was never in doubt after several Tower forwards had goal efforts blocked before Monique OBoyle laid off a pass for Orlaith McAlister to lift the net.

The Tower have a derby tie with CPC next week, while Maghera will play St Louis Ballymena.

St Killian’s: Louise Mulholland, Maeve McAlister, Eimhear McMullan, Úna McAlister, Aisling Mulholland, Abi McNeill, Laura Black, Cara McAuley 0-2, Lára Haughey, Kady McNeill, Orlaith McAlister 1-2 (0-2 fs) Ellie Jo Butler 0-1, Niamh Graham, Monique OBoyle 0-3, Orlaith McCurry 1-0

Subs: Eimear Butler for K McNeill, Rhianna Black for N Graham, Erin McCambridge for M McAlister

St Patrick’s: Maria Hughes, Michaela Doherty, Eimear Doherty, Nicole Cassidy, Ellen McCormick, Evanne Martin 0-1, Erin Kelly, Orlaith Hull 0-1, Cara Donnelly, Roisin Bryson, Carla Collins 0-2 (fs), Louise Hassan, Katie Marie Griffin, Cara Mc Closkey and Annie Madden

Subs: Eimear Murray for R Bryson, Eva McEldowney for E Martin, Kaitlyn McNally for C McCloskey

Referee: Owen Elliott