Category / Ulster Colleges

by thesaffrongael

St. Louis win despite second half rally from Rathmore

McLarnon Cup Group stages

St. Louis 1-10 Rathmore Grammar 1-05

St. Louis Ballymena recorded an opening day win despite a second half rally from Rathmore Grammar at Quinn Park, Ballymena today in the opening game of the Group stages of the McLarnon Cup. The Ballymena College led from start to finish and were well on their way to victory when they led by 1-6 to 0-1 at half time.

Their goal came from Conan McAuley after20 minutes when he was on hand to finish to the net after Rathmore keeper, Sonny Doyle pulled off a good save from Hugh O’Donnell with the ball breaking favourably to the lurking McAuley.

Barry McCloskey had opened the scoring from a close range free in the opening minute and Hugh O’Donnell and Conor McKenna added two more before McAuley’s goal put St. Louis in a fairly comfortable position.

The home defence coped well with everything that Rathmore could put to them and recycled the ball and countered well but a series of poor misses kept the Belfast college in with a shout though it was hard to see where their scores were going to come from.

They finally opened their account through a 30 meter free from their best forward, Fiontan O’Boyle in the 30th minute by which time a dominant St. Louis had increased their lead through Conor McKenna and McAuley to lead by 8 at the half way stage.

Rathmore made a couple of changes and made a strong start to the second half with Oscar Conlon marking his introduction with a point and when Fiontan O’Boyle pointed his second free of the game in the 6th minute the Belfast side were threatening to make a game of it.

They flattered to deceive however as St. Louis reasserted their authority on matters and a strong run from Barry McCloskey saw Paul Boyle come close to finishing to the net but McCloskey’s pass was just out of reach.

St. Louis came back with excellent points from Ryan McNeill and Darra Martin and looked to have matters sewn up with ten minutes remaining but Rathmore were beginning to enjoy a bit of success with Rory Grant and Thomas Lloyd driving them on from mid-field.

The visitors scored 1-2 during the closing stages with Michael Morgan coming off the bench and scoring 1-1 while Fiontan O’Boyle brought his total for the day to 0-4 with the other point but two points in reply from substitute Shea O’Brion saw the Ballymena side home with five to spare.

St. Louis: 1 James McLaughlin, 2 Caoimhin Kennedy, 3 Conor Higgins, 4 Dara Martin, 5 Joe McCormick, 6 Aodhan McGarry, 7 Shane Martin, 8 Conor McKenna, 9 Cormac Mullan, 10 Kevin McCann, 11 Conan McAuley, 12 Cal O’Brien, 13 Barry McCloskey, 14 Paul Boyle, 15 Hugh O’Donnell. Subs Shea OBroin came on for Paul OBoyle Senan OBoyle for Conan McAuley Archie McGreevey for Cormac McMullan Darach Bradley for Dara Martin Conor Bresnahan for Conor Higgins

Rathmore: 1 Sonny Doyle, 2 Emmet McCloy, 3 Ronan Arthurs, 4 Sean Lavery, 5 Conall Devlin, 6 Deaglan Mooney, 7 Donncha McGurk, 8 Rory Grant, 9 Thomas Lloyd, 10 Cormac Blaney, 11 Fiontan O’Boyle, 12 James Close, 13 Rory McErlean, 14 Conor Logue, 15 Eoin Campbell

Referee: Richie Leahy (Naomh Comhghall)

by thesaffrongael

Tower tops in game of two halves

Corn Uan Uladh group game

St Killian’s Garron Tower 5-12 St Louis Ballymena 2-10

THIS was St Killian’s Garron Tower’s first game in the schools’ top senior camogie championship after they beat St Patrick’s Keady in last year’s Fr. Davies Cup final. It probably couldn’t have gone better for the Tower.

Last year’s beaten finalists St Louis Ballymena had many of last year’s squad back including Eimear Johnston, Eimear McGivern, and Katie Molloy who all picked up All-stars in October while another All-star, Sarah Fyfe, returning from injury, came in as a sub at half-time. They were also missing a few players including Erin Coulter, another All-star. 

While the Tower were also missing one or two through injury, they still could call on the four players who picked up All-stars, Abi McNeill, Cara O’Boyle, Lára Haughey and Orlaith McAlister.

These four were prominent as St Killian’s stormed into a half time lead of 4-10 to 1-3. There was a very strong breeze blowing down the pitch in Ballymena and this was always going to be a game of two halves. However that interval lead was just too much for St Louis to haul back.

There were first half goals from Orlaith McAlister, Cara O’Boyle, Orlaith McCurry and Monique O’Boyle while Kady McNeill shot four points from play.

Ciara O’Boyle scored 1-2 before the break and was the one St Louis forward to really trouble the Tower defence.

Not surprisingly the Kintullagh girls dominated the second half with Katie Molloy driving them forward. The Dunloy defender scored four frees and another point from play while sub Sarah Fyfe brought the teams closer with a goal. Cara Henderson also hit bar.

However, although they didn’t score for the first 20 minutes of the second half, St Killian’s defence soaked up all the pressure and when Kady McNeill buried their fifth goal, they were through their first big test.

This week the Tower face St Patrick’s Maghera who defeated Cross & Passion by 4-9 to 0-4 on Thursday, while St Louis have another north Antrim derby.

As there are just four schools in Corn Uan Uladh this year, all four are assured of semi-final spots. However the league positions at the end of the group games will determine semi-final pairings.

St Killian’s: Kady McNeill 1-4, Orlagh McAlister 1-1, Monique O’Boyle 1-1, Cara O’Boyle 1-0, Orlaith McCurry 1-0, Laura Haughey 0-4, Niamh Graham 0-1, Ellie Joe Butler 0-1

St Louis: Ciara O’Boyle 1-2, Sarah Fyfe 1-0, Katie Molloy 0-5, Anna McKillop 0-2, Maria Gately 0-1.

St Killian’s: L: Mulholland, E McMullan, Catherine O’Boyle, E McCambridge, A Mulholland, A McNeill, L Black, Cara O’Boyle, L Haughey, K McNeill, O McAlister, EJ Butler, O McCurry, M O’Boyle, N Graham.

Subs: E Butler for N Graham (40), Ú McAlister for E McCambridge (44), R Black for EJ Butler (55)

St Louis: E McGivern, S Shannon, A McKillen, A Vallely, G Kearns, D Dobbin, K Molloy, A O’Donnell, E Johnston, E O’Neill, E Gould, A McKillop, M Gately, C Henderson, C O’Boyle.

Subs: S Fyfe for E O’Neill (HT)

by thesaffrongael

McGarry leads Cross & Passion to victory

Danske Bank Mageean Cup

Cross & Passion Ballycastle 2-21 St. Mary’s CBGS 1-12

Cross & Passion, Ballycastle continued their unbeaten run in the Danske Bank Mageean Cup when they proved too strong for St. Mary’s CBGS in Ballymena today. The North Antrim College had most of the damage done by half time when they led 2-12 to 0-5, thanks to goals from Roan McGarry and Darragh Kelly.

Kelly got the show on the road with a point in the opening minute and further points from Tiarnan Heggarty and Liam Glackin had Cross & Passion 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after 10 minutes.

St. Mary’s responded with a second point from Adam Murray and a fine long range point from Finn Jeffrey had the side’s level and the Belfast side seemed to be gaining a foothold but it was only temporary as the Ballycastle side came storming back.

Roan McGarry pointed and followed with the game’s opening goal when he was first to react to a shot that came back off the crossbar and the Loughgiel corner-forward was starting to assert his mark on the game.

Roan McGarry who scored 1-11 in his side’s win over St. Mary’s in Ballymena today
St. Mary’s Darragh O’Sullivan looks up before delivering to his forward line

Points from Ronan Fitzgerald and Eoin McGarry and four further points from the excellent Roan McGarry (2 f’s) had Cross & Passion in a commanding position and he would add three more before the interval to a Darragh Kelly goal with St. Mary’s only reply coming from Adam Murray (0-2).

The Glen Road side performed better in the second half and got off to a good start when Ruairi McAreavey goaled in the opening minute and the same player followed with a good point from out near the sideline to give his side some hope.

Roan McGarry replied with a point for Cross & Passion but a Caoimhin Ruinee point for St. Mary’s kept their hopes of a comeback alive but they failed to build on their early second half success.

The Ballycastle side responded with points from Roan McGarry, Darragh Donnelly, Eoin McGarry, a fine long range effort from Ronan Fitzgerald and at the other end Eoghan Richmond pulled off a great save to deny McAreavy.

The superb McGarry kept the scoreboard moving for Cross & Passion in the closing stages with Adam Muray 0-02 and Edna McGurk replying for the Glen Road men and Tiarnan Heggarty getting the final score of the game for a rampant Cross & Passion who look the team to beat in this year’s Mageean Cup.

St. Mary’s CBGS: 1 Reece Killyleagh, 2 Michael Marlowe, 3 Michael Darragh, 4 Connell Short, 5 Jay Maguire, 6 Edna McGurk, 7 Odhran Cosgrove, 8 Darragh Coleman, 9 Darragh O’Sullivan, 10 Adam Murray, 11 Baire Burns, 12 Callum Lapin, 13 Finn Jeffrey, 14 Ruairi McAreavey, 15 Caoimhin Ruinee, 18 Shea Cunningham, 20 Lorcan McCallin, 19 Connor Corr, 17 James Duffy.

St. Mary’s scorers: Ruairi McAreavey 1-1, Adam Murray 0-6, Caoimhin Rainey 0-1, Finn Jeffrey 0-1, C Lappin 0-1 Edna McGurk 0-1, O Cosgrove 0.1, C Rainey 0-1,

Cross & Passion: 1 Eoghan Richmond, 2 Conin Sheridan, 3 Cathair Doherty, 4 Cian Baudant, 5 Conor Donnelly, 6 Ben McGarry, 7 Joseph Magee, 8 Liam Glackin, 9 Ronan Fitzgerald, 10 Tiarnan Heggarty, 11 Darragh Kelly, 12 Ben O’Kane, 13 Eoin McGarry, 14 Darragh Donnelly, 15 Roan Mcgarry, 16 Frank McCaughan, 17 Conall Magee, 18 Gavin McToal

Cross & Passion scorers: Roan McGarry 1-11, Darragh Kelly 1-2, R Fitzgerald 0-3, E McGarry 0-2, T Hegarty 0-2, L Glackin 0-1

Referee: Eamon Mulvenna (Bredagh)

by thesaffrongael

McNaughton fires the Tower to victory

Danske Bank MacNamee Cup quarter-final

St Killian’s 7-7 St Louis Ballymena 3-5

CONLETH McNaughton was the star of the derby quarter-final in the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup yesterday afternoon in Ballymena, scoring five goals as the teams battled hard in driving rain.

Two of those goals came in the opening half with PJ Molloy responding for St Louis. But St Killian’s led by 3-4 to 1-4 at the interval, their third goal coming from Cormac McMullan.

Despite another goal from Molloy and one from Jack McQuillan, St Killian’s kept pulling away from the home team with McNaughton completing a second half hat-trick of goals.

St Killian’s will now face St Patrick’s Maghera in the semi-final while the last of the quarter-finals, Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock v St Mary’s CBGS Belfast, takes place this (Thursday) afternoon with the winner from that lined up to play Cross & Passion Ballycastle in the semis.

St Killian’s: C McNaughton 5-1, D Ward 1-1, C McMullan 1-0, C McGarrell 0-3, C Graham 0-2

St Louis: PJ Molloy 2-2, J McQuillan 1-2, E McGuckian 0-1

by thesaffrongael

CPC beat Red High at Hannahstown

Danske Bank Mageean Cup

Cross & Passion College Ballycastle 4-18 St Patrick’s Downpatrick 1-4

CPC made it two wins out of two when they beat last season’s Mageean Cup winners Red High at Hannahstown on Tuesday afternoon. It was clear the Down school were facing a massive task when they turned around at half time trailing by 0-7 to 0-2, despite having the use of the wind in the first half.

With Daragh Donnelly and Loughiel’s minor final man of the match Roan McGarry, showing well the Convent looked impressive. When Roan’s brother Ben got the first goal of the game nine minutes after the restart it was clear that CPC were not going to be caught, wand when younger brother Road added two more the only thing in question was the size of the winning margin.

Noah Rodgers scored a consolation goal for Red High, but CPC kept knocking over the points and goal number four eventually came through Darragh Donnelly.

CPC’s face St Mary’s CBGS next week when a win would secure a semi-final place.

St Killian’s Garron Tower get their campaign going on Thursday in Ballymena when they face St Patrick’s Maghera.

CPC: R McGarry 2-3, D Donnelly 1-2, B McGarry 1-1, D Kelly 0-3, T McGarry 0-2, R Fitzgerald 0-2, C Donnelly 0-1, C Cane 0-1, G McToal 0-1, E McGarry 0-1, L Glackin 0-1

St Patrick’s: N Rodgers 1-0, M Dorrian 0-1, L Morgan 0-1, L McCabe 0-1, S McCarthy 0-1