Category / Ulster Colleges

by thesaffrongael

CPC withstand St Pat’s comeback

Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final – Ulster Colleges Hurling 1 copyCPC’s Eunan Laverty in action against St Pat’s Ryan McPeake during Friday’s Foresters Cup semi-final in Cloughmills. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Cross and Passion Ballycastle 1-12 St Patrick’s Maghera 2-6

By Seamus McAleenan

WHEN St Patrick’s Maghera hit 2-2 in the opening 8 minutes of the second half of this Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final in Cloughmills to turn a half-time deficit of four points into a 2-6 to 0-8 lead, Cross and Passion’s defence of the title looked under real threat.

However Maghera failed to score over the final 24 minutes of play and, despite a number of wides, Ballycastle reeled them in and took control of a game they had dominated in the opening half.

There was a swirling wind and both teams were wayward in their shooting with Ballycastle shooting 14 wides to Maghera’s ten, but the north Antrim side applied more pressure over the hour and deserved to reach next week’s decider.

Cathal Hargan was superb at the back for Ballycastle, who did well to protect their full-back line from long ball to Callum Murray, while Michael O’Boyle operating around the middle, Seamus McAuley and Rian McMullan, particularly during the opening half, put Maghera under pressure.

The Derry school used Darragh McGilligan as sweeper and, especially in the first half, he hoovered up a lot of ball, with PJ McAleese and Paddy Quinn their main driving force.

Maghera opened well with a point from Murray, but both teams missed opportunities during the first quarter before Seamus McAuley, with two points inside 40 seconds, put his team ahead by 0-3 to 0-2.

That had increased to 0-8 to 0-4 at the break with McAuley now totalling four and O’Boyle two for Cross and Passion and four different on target for the Derry challengers.

Two goals from full forward Callum Murray swung the game in St Pat’s favour early in the second-half, but CPC hit back to win by three in an exciting second half. Pics by Dylan McIlwaine

Things altered significantly at the start of the second half with Darragh McGilligan’s point effort blocked down into the path of Callum Murray who slotted home.

Two minutes later a long ball from Paddy Quinn was broken down by Murray and the burly full-forward fired home a second goal. Enda Downey and Paddy Quinn from a free added points and suddenly Maghera were four clear.

However McAuley posted a handy free in response and the holders were up and running again. He added a second free and was under the ball that broke loose in the 47th minute for Odhrán McGrath to sweep home.

That put them a point up. Maghera then missed several frees and, while Ballycastle also added to their wide count, they were still able to add points for O’Boyle and then a free from McAuley.

The last ten minutes were scoreless, although Murray threatened a goal and PJ McAleese kept Maghera pressing. However Cross and Passion were in control now seeing the game out and they will not be easily knocked out of their stride in the final by neighbours St Killian’s Garron Tower.

Cross and Passion : Kevin McAuley, Mark McClean, Enda óg McGarry, Ronan Laverty, Conal McGlynn, Cathal Hargan, Dylan Devlin, Conleith McKinley, Sean Brogan, Michael O’Boyle 0-3, 0-2 frees, Eunan Laverty, Rian McMullan 0-1, Joe McToal 0-1, Seamus McAuley 0-7, 0-5 frees, Odhran McGrath 1-0

Subs : Reuben Millar for S Brogan (inj) (21), Conor O’Mullan for R Miller (42)

St Patrick’s : Cathair McElhinney, Daithí McGuigan, Eoghan MacOscair, Ryan McGill, Harry O’Donnell, PJ McAleese, Ryan McPeake, Paddy Quinn 0-2, 0-1 free, Seamus McKenna capt., Jamie Duggan, Fintan McGrath 0-1, Darragh McGilligan, Enda Downey 0-2, Callum Murray 2-1, Shea Cassidy.

Referee : Ryan O’Reilly (Con Magee’s)17CPC’s Sean Brogan makes an early exit after receiving a facial injury, but the midfielder hopes to be fit for next week’s final. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Pics by Dylan McIlwaine

by thesaffrongael

Good start boosts St Killian’s as they power to Foresters final

Danske Bank Foresters Cup – Ulster Colleges Hurling1 copySt Killian’s full-forward Oliver Kearney whose two early goals set his team on the road to victory over St Mary’s in today’s Foresters Cup semi-final at Allen Park. Pic by John McIlwaine

St Killian’s College 4-18 St Mary’s CBGS 3-7

A quick-fire start by St Killian’s which saw them put 1-3 on the board in the first five minute, an advantage they stretched to 2-5 to 0-1 after eight, saw the Garron Tower boys through to next week’s final of the Foresters Cup at the expensive of St Mary’s today at Allen Park.

Three points in as many minutes from corner-forward Fintan McQuillan, followed by a goal from full-forward Oliver Kearney got the north Antrim side off to a flyer, and though St Mary’s came back with a point from the excellent Dannan McGeough the Tower were in full flow and Padraig McKillop and McQuillan knocked over points and Kearney grabbed his second, despite playing against the breeze.

St Mary’s got themselves back into the game when corner forward Davy McGowan took advantage of slackness in the Tower defence to fire the ball home, and when midfielder Ronan Crossen knocked over two points in as many minutes, they were back in contention.

The comeback ended midway through the opening half when right half forward Ronan McAteer grabbed goals in the 14th and 16th minutes, the first one a fine finish after catching a long delivery just outside the large square and the other struck left sided off the ground from close range. Davy McGowan grabbed his second goal for St Mary’s and Danan McGeough pointed from a free to cut the gap, but two late points put St Killian’s ahead by double scores at the break – 4-8 to 2-4.

As they had done at the start of the game St Killian’s hit the ground running in the second half with two Oliver Kearney points and one each from Pearse McKeegan and Fintan McQuillan. McGeough replied for St Mary’s but three on trot from St Killian’s eased them further clear. St Mary’s came back into the game with some of their best play of the match, but they insisted on going for goals when simple points were there for the taking and the St Killian’s defence were able to scramble them away. The Belfast boys did make a breakthrough when McGowan sprinted clear for his third goal but by this stage the final spot had been decided as St Killian’s go through to play the winners of tomorrow’s second semi-final between CPC and St Pat’s Maghera.

St Killian’s : 1.James McAllister2. Donal Kearney 3. Liam McLoughlin, 4. Mark Emerson 5. Pearse McKeegan 0-1, 6. John McAllister 0-1, 7. Aidan Scullion, 8. Aidan Ritson, 9. Ciaran Black 0-2, 10. Ronan McAteer 2-0, 11. Ciaran Magill 0-3, 12. Cathal Hynds, 13. Pádraig McKillop 0-1, 14. Oliver Kearney 2-3, 15. Fionntan McQuillan 0-7.

Subs : Shea McDonnell for D Kearney (ht), Sean O’Boyle for P McKillop (45), Euan McSparran for R McAteer (45), Callum Kilgore for A Ritson (50)

St Mary’s : 1. Jay Burns 2. Owen May 3. Liam McCluskey 4. Tiernan McKenna 5. Ruairi Murray 6. Dan Murray 7. Eoin Trainor 8. Ronan Crossen 9. Danan McGeough 10. Daragh Dellany 11. Caolan O’Duffin 12. Paul Smith 13. Daragh Murphy 14 Caolan McKernan 15. Davy McGowan

Referee – Owen Elliott – All Saints

Pics by John McIlwaine

 

 

 

by thesaffrongael

St Pat’s edge out St Louis in thrilling quarter final

Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup quarter-final

St Patrick’s Maghera 4-8 St Louis Ballymena 4-7

A very late point from Eoghan MacOscair took St Patrick’s Maghera through to the Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final after a terrific quarter-final in Glen yesterday.

St Louis went into an early lead with a Colla McDonnell goal and could have been well in control had they taken a couple of easier goal chances in the opening 10 minutes.

Maghera got up and running with a goal from Cahair Higgins  and two points each from Fintan McGrath and Paddy Quinn put them 1-5 to 1-1 ahead before the teams swapped green flags.

Then just before half-time Colla McDonnell fired home his second goal and the teams went in level at 3-2 to 2-5.

Maghera had the better of the third quarter with Quinn and Higgins stretching their lead before goals from Quinn and PJ McAleese seemed to leave them in a comfortable seven points lead.

However St Louis fought back with some excellent points and with time almost up grabbed their fourth goal through Player of the Match Paudie McGilligan.

However Maghera were not to be denied and MacOscair’s injury-time effort puts them into a semi-final against holders Cross and Passion Ballycastle tomorrow (FRIDAY).

Before that however St Killian’s Garron Tower will take on St Mary’s Belfast in the first semi-final today (THURSDAY), 12pm in Allen Park, Antrim. Garron Tower comfortably disposed of Divis Schools last week, but will be up against a different obstacle here.

St Killian’s depend a lot on their Leonard Cup team that recently lost that final by a point to Ballycastle. It is supplemented by the likes of Ruairí Óg trio of John McAllister, Ronan McAteer and Daniel Kearney.

St Mary’s have been energised by that win over Maghera and they will come into the game as favourites. They will look to Liam McCluskey and Caolan McKernan in defence and Dannan McKeogh and Ronan Crossan up front, while Daniel Churchill and Daniel Murray form a strong midfield.

St Patrick’s : Paddy Quinn 1-3, Fintan McGrath 1-3, Cahair Higgins 1-1, PJ McAleese 1-0, Eoghan MacOscair 0-1

St Louis : Colla McDonnell 2-2, Shane O’Boyle 1-2, Paudie McGilligan 1-2, DJ Crawley 1-0, Darragh Donaghy 0-1

by thesaffrongael

Aghagallon boys to fore as St Ronan’s make history

Danske Bank MacRory Cup final5St Ronan’s players celebrate with the Danske Bank MacCrory Cup after their win over St Mary’s Magherafelt in today’s final at Armagh Athletic Grounds. Pic by John McIlwaine

St. Ronan’s Lurgan 1-9 St. Mary’s Magherafelt 1-7

A St. Ronan’s Lurgan team, backboned by players from St. Mary’s Aghagallon made history today at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh when they won their first MacRory Cup title by overcaming the challenge of holders, St. Mary’s Magherafelt in a hard fought final.

The Saffron Gael has been following both colleges and their respective Antrim contingents in the week leading up to the final and carried interviews with both managers, David Wilson of St. Ronan’s and Kevin Brady, St. Mary’s and we were at the Armagh venue on Monday to capture the historic occasion.

St. Ronan’s playing in their first MacRory final in only the third year of their existence got off to the perfect start when they were awarded a penalty in the opening minute following a foot block, and Oisin Smyth stepped up to tuck it confidently away.

Smyth followed with a 4th minute point as the new kids on the block made the better start but St. Mary’s opened their account when Creggan’s Liam Quinn stepped inside his marker to fire over with six minutes gone.

Both sides were creating chances as the game started to open up but failing to take their scoring opportunities, and a further 12 minutes had elapsed before Conal Devlin moved up field to fire over for the St Mary’s and close the gap to two.

The Derry lads were now coming more and more into the game despite playing into the wind and Devlin was brought down as he raced through on goal and Daniel Bradley fired the ball past Luke Mulholland from the penalty spot to give the holders the lead for the first time with 24 minutes gone.

Adam Connolly increased that lead to two with an excellent point and St. Mary’s looked like they were taking the initiative, but St. Ronan’s responded through an Eoin McConville free and another from play to draw level with three minutes remaining to the break.

The final score of the half arrived just on half time as Creggan’s Tiernan McAteer split the uprights to give the Convent a slender one point lead going into the break and with wind advantage to come in the second half Kevin Brady’s side must have felt that they were in the driver’s seat as they headed to the dressing rooms.

GOOD START

Ryan Meehan, who was to receive the Man of the Match award, sent over for the Lurgan college on the restart and at the other end Luke Mulholland came off his line to punch clear as a couple of dangerous dropping balls were lobbed into the danger area.

St. Ronan’s were defending well and breaking with efficiency and Eoin McConville gave them back the lead from a 9th minute free but the Magherafelt side replied almost immediately through Tiernan McCann following good approach play from Tiernan McAteer.

The superb Ryan Meehan restored St. Ronan’s lead with an excellent point in the 44th minute but again St. Mary’s hit back and Cormac Murphy set up Daniel Bradley to tie the contest for the fourth time in the game and it was clear it was going to take something, or someone special, to separate these two well matched sides.

That someone special, Ryan Meehan duly obliged with a great point from a difficult angle and when Aghagallon’s Marc McAffee added another with virtually his first touch to announce his arrival St. Ronan’s had created a bit of daylight as the clock ticked down.

St. Mary’s weren’t going to concede without a fight however and in typical fashion they responded with a good point from Conal Devlin to close the gap to the minimum but they were unable to add to that score as a number of opportunities sailed wide of the target.

It was the Lurgan lads who were to have the final say as Eoin McConville pointed a 30th minute free to put two between the sides leaving St. Mary’s needing a goal to save the day but despite forcing three 45’s in injury time the St. Ronan’s defence stood strong.

The final whistle was greeted with wild scenes of celebration as St. Ronan’s, formed only three years ago through the amalgamation of three Lurgan schools lifted their first MacRory title. Despite being pushed all the way by St. Mary’s they were deserving winners and in Mark Meehan they had the outstanding performer on the field.

As I said at the start, the Saffron Gael has been following the contribution made by Antrim players to both sides and in keeper Luke Mulholland St. Ronan’s had a confident and competent keeper who came off his line to punch clear when danger threatened on a number of occasions and exuded confidence throughout.

In front of him his Aghagallon club mate, Aidan Mulholland was solid throughout at full-back while Jamie Lamont and Jack Lenehan were others who performed solidly in defence. Adam Loughran worked tirelessly on the ‘40’ and Marc McAffee scored with virtually his first touch when coming on to put the icing on a great day for St. Ronan’s and for the St. Mary’s Aghagallon club.

St. Mary’s too were well represented by players from Kickham’s Creggan and Liam Quinn, Tiarnan McAteer and Jamie McCann all got on the score sheet and Dominic McAteer came on as a second half sub but the day belongs to St. Ronan’s.

Congratulations to David Wilson, Colm Fegan and Mickey Donnelly, the St. Ronan’s coaching staff and commiserations to Kevin Brady and Ronan Devlin at St. Mary’s. A big thank you to both managers for the time they took out to speak to us last week and well done to both sets of players for a memorable

St.Ronan’s Lurgan: L Mulholland, E McCluskey, A Mulholland, J Haddock, A McCreanor, J Lamont, J Haughey, J Lenehan, T Kelly, O Smyth (1-1), A Loughran, R Meehan (0-3), R McConville, L Monteiro, E McConville (0-4, 3f). Subs: J Megoran for R McConville, M McAfee (0-1) for Monteiro

 St.Mary’s Magherafelt: O Lynch, C Doyle, G Lupari, L McElhone, J Crawford, S McErlain, C Devlin (0-2), J McErlain, J McCann (0-1), A Connolly (0-1), T McAteer (0-1), R Keenan, L Quinn (0-1), C Murphy, D Bradley (1-1). Subs: A McCluskey for Keenan, D McAteer for McCann, C O’Neill for Bradley, R Hughes for Connolly

Referee: P Faloon, Down

game on the day.

3The nine Aghagallon players who were part of the St Ronan’s panel
by thesaffrongael

Storming second half not enough to give CPC All Ireland glory

All-Ireland Senior Colleges A Camogie final7The agony and the ecstacy as CPC’s Katie Lavery burries her head in her hands while Loreto players celebrate winning their sixth All Ireland title. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Loreto Kilkenny 2-18 Cross and Passion Ballycastle 4-8

(C) Seamus McAleenan reports from Darvar Co. Louth (C)

“That was one of the greatest second half turnarounds that I have ever witnessed. To take a team that was bound to be deflated at half-time and get them to produce that performance, it was superb. Thank God we had enough of a cushion to ride the storm.”

Loreto Kilkenny coach Brendan O’Sullivan couldn’t have summed up better what was a real roller-coaster of a game in Darver GAA Centre in Louth on Saturday.

His team were defending champions in search of a sixth senior title and they opened the Ulster champions with ease in the early stages of this game.

Ballycastle were caught napping with a quick free and Jane Cass nipped in to place Katie Brennan for a 5th minute goal. Three minutes later Brennan set Ruth Kent up for a second goal and a 2-3 to 0-0 lead.

Things got worse for the Ulster team with Loreto seeming to find their team-mates effortlessly and the points flowing; by the 15thminute, the deficit had risen to 2-8 and still Ballycastle had not even made any impact at the other end.

Loreto then hit their first wide, and more wides followed as a combination of poor finishing and a tighter effort from Ballycastle slowed things a little before the break.

Eventually Cross and Passion won a penalty that Róisín McCormick tapped over to get them going. Anna Connolly added another point soon after, those late points resulting in a half-time score of 2-10 to 0-2.

Two of CPC’s four second half goals as Charley McCarry grabes her team’s second (left) while Player of the Match Roisin McCormick hits the fourth. Pics by Dylan McIlwaine

But what a transformation for the second half! A long ball straight from the throw-in wasn’t dealt with properly by the Loreto goal-keeper and Ciara Laverty nipped in to put the sliotar in the net.

And before 85 seconds had been played, Róisín McCormick sped in from the right corner to crash home a second goal.

However Kilkenny managed to get a point or two to relieve the pressure over the next 15 minutes – three frees from Rachel Kelly and one each from Tara Clifford and Ciara O’Keefe kept them going when the momentum was with Ballycastle and the score-line stood at 2-15 to 2-7 with 50 minutes gone.

Then Charley McCarry took a pass from McCormick for a third Ballycastle goal. Loreto came back with points from Caoimhe Dowling and Ruth Kent, before McCormick soloed in for another goal for Ballycastle- and that was followed by a Kirsty McKendry point to cut the gap to three as the game slipped into five minutes of injury-time.

Only a score separated the teams at that point, but Steffi Fitzgerald decided to take matters into her own hands and she had three solo runs in the time remaining. Two resulted in wides, but the third produced the insurance point.

O’Sullivan noted after the game. “We may have fallen apart during that second half, but we didn’t fall asunder – and there is a difference. We were really under the cosh, but still able to get a few scores to relieve the pressure.”

Meanwhile a disappointed Barry Kelly (Ballycastle coach) praised his charges, while ruing what happened in the first 15 minutes.

“They drove through us during that period, seemed to be a stick ahead in everything they were doing. They have serious runners and they really hurt us.

“But we did the same to them in the second half – and that is why the girls can hold their heads high.”1Maeve Kelly sets off on a solo run. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

The brilliance of Ballycastle during the second half certainly eclipsed the inadequacies of the opening 30 minutes, but it is scant consolation for a team that proved they were as good as their opponents.

Roisin McCormick picked up Player of the Match award. Indeed no-one was off the pace during that second half, but for the full hour Katie Lynn was probably her team’s most consistent performer.

Loreto looked so brilliant during the opening 15-20 minutes in almost every position, but it was the experience and ability of the likes of Steffi Fitzgerald, Tara Clifford and the Kellys that eventually saw them over the line in a game that delivered 32 scores from 14 players, only seven scores from frees, some superb long-range Loreto points, two absolutely brilliant Roisin McCormick goals and one of the greatest comebacks in a final at this level.

Loreto : Hannah Brennan, Issy Caroll, Ciara O’Shea, Nicole Carter, Eimear Leahy, Tara Clifford 0-1, Sinead Keoghasn, Caoimhe Dowling 0-1, Ciara O’Keefe 0-1, Hannah Kelly 0-3, Steffi Fitzgerald 0-4, Rachel Kelly 0-4, 0-3 frees, Jane Cass, Katie Brennan 1-1, Ruth Kent 1-3.

Sub : Eibhlin Phelan for I Caroll (35).

Cross and Passion : Aoife McGowan, Catie McCaughan, Katie Lynn, Aoife O’Mullan, Méabh O’Neill, Catherine McShane, Finvola McVeigh, Bronagh McKeague, Maeve Kelly, Anna Connolly 0-1, Kirsty McKendry 0-1, Dearbhail Magill 0-1, Ciara Laverty 1-0, Roisin McCormick 2-5, (0-4 frees), Charley McCarry 1-0.

Subs: Katie Laverty for C McCaughan (50), Carla McGarry for C Laverty (54)

Referee : Gavin Donegan (Dublin)

Tears for souveniers. Devestated CPC players are consoled by family and friends after their brilliant comeback comes up just short. Pics by Dylan and John McIlwaine

15CPC’s Ciara Laverty had to takes some heavy knocks as she got her team’s second half off to a brilliant start with a goal. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine

Pics by Dylan and John McIlwaine