St Patrick’s Maghera 3-9 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 3-7
St Pat’s Maghera qualified for the final of the McNamee Cup when they withstood a late rally by St Killian’s College in Wednesday’s semi-final at Slemish Park, Ballymena.
With the wind behind them in the first half St Pat’s dominated play, and despite conceding and early goal by St Killian’s Niall McAuley they gradually took control.
A Patrick O’Loughlin goal saw them take control of the game and by half time they were ten clear of the Garron Tower boys, a second O’Loughlin goal and one by Quintin Darren sending them in at the break with a 3-7 to 1-3 lead.
Despite the deficit St Killian’s appeared to be still in contention, given the strength the breeze blowing towards the pavilion end, but there was little happened on the field to back up that argument as the Maghera boys had the better of things during the third quarter, and in fact St Killian’s had to defend well to keep the gap at ten.
The game seemed to be over as a contest until two quick goals by the Tower duo of Niall McAuley from play and one direct from a free by Oliver Mooney suddenly turned the game on its head.
The momentum was now with the north Antrim boys, but despite having plenty of possession they could make no more inroads into their deficit, and solid defending by the Maghera full back line, and a series of good saves by their goalkeeper kept their opposition at bay and secured a final place against Cross & Passion just after the Halloween break.
Scorers
St Patrick’s P O’Loughlin 2-3 (0-1f); Q Darren 1-2; H McCloskey 0-2f; S Herron & D McCloskey 0-1 each
St Killian’s N McAuley 2-0; O Mooney 1-2f; T McKeegan 0-3f; R Delargy & S McAuley 0-1 each
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A first quarter hat-trick of goals from Conrad Bailey and a last quarter hat-trick from midfielder Tom Richmond book-ended a comprehensive victory for Cross & Passion Ballycastle against St Mary’s CBGS Belfast in the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup semi-final in Dunloy yesterday. With John Og Darragh also in top form and ‘Mushy Og’ McMullan always dangerous on the edge of the square the Ballycastle college were unstoppable as they secured a final place against the winners of Thursday’s second semi-final between St Killian’s and St St Patrick’s Maghera in Ballymena.
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Exactly half of the 24 players selected on the 2024-25 EOS IT Solutions All-star camogie team play for Antrim clubs!
The team was announced at the University of Ulster Jordanstown campus yesterday (WEDNESDAY) afternoon and top billing goes to Cross & Passion Ballycastle with six players getting the nod.
They include Erin O’Hara who is one of just three from last year’s team to make it through the preliminary trials last week and a final trial on Tuesday, all trials facilitated by the University of Ulster in Jordanstown.
Goalkeeper O’Hara is joined in the team by Cara Delaney and Shanna Deery along with three girls who are younger sisters of previous All-star recipients. Mary McArthur is following in the footsteps of Cassie (2022) and Ceala Dobbin bridges a ten year gap back to Caitrín while Marie Laverty has equalled the achievements of two older siblings Ciara (2020) and Orlagh (2022).
Erin O’Hara CPCCara Delaney CPCCeala Dobbin CPC
Another north Antrim school, St Killian’s Garron Tower, pick up four awards, all of them members of the Ruairí Óg Cushendall club that has been so successful at under-age level in recent years. Eva McNeill’s older sister Abi was selected two years ago while the other awards go to Laura Black, Kady McNeill and Amy McAlister.
Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey scored two goals and a point in Saturday’s win over Loughgiel in the Antrim Intermediate final. She is one of three St Patrick’s Maghera students in the mix.
Bringing the total up to a dozen is Aimee Ferris. The Sarsfield’s forward has been a regular on Saffron under-age teams through the grades. She is the first player representing St Genevieve’s to make the cut since Caoimhe McNiece eight years ago.
The other players joining Erin O’Hara for a second All-star are Leah Cassidy from Bellaghy and St Patrick’s Maghera and Fiadhna Loughran, a student in St Patrick’s Keady who helped Granemore win the All-Ireland junior club title last year.
Congratulating the players, Ulster schools’ chair Chloe McShane, complimented the standard of the trials:
“Year after year, we have watched as the standards have risen at the trials. We had almost 120 girls attending trials on the opening two days last week and it was a huge task for our selectors to narrow it down to the 45 who were invited back to the final trial, never mind pick 24 who will hopefully represent us in the inter-provincial competition.
“I would especially like to congratulate Erin O’Hara, Leah Cassidy and Fiadhna Loughran who have all been selected for the second year running. What an achievement!
“I would also like to thank all the schools across Ulster who have nurtured the talent coming through from the clubs. We have our senior competitions beginning next week and I look forward to seeing the players we have seen over the last couple of weeks shine for their schools as the competitions progress.
Amy McAlister – St Killian’sEva McNeill – St Killian’s Kady McNeill – St Killian’s
“Finally our thanks to Paul Rouse at UU at Jordanstown for providing the facilities for the trials as well as a beautiful set of jerseys for all those who attended the final trial.
Once again it is hoped that the inter-provincial tournament can be resurrected this year. The inter-pros have not taken place since November 2018 when Ulster won their third title.
The 24 players named will receive their awards at a gala dinner in the Elk restaurant in Toomebridge early in 2025.
Laura Black – St Killian’sKatie McCloskey – St Pat’s MagheraAimee Ferris – St Genevieve’s
EOS IT Solutions Ulster Colleges’ Camogie All-stars 2024-2025:
Erin O’Hara, Cara Delaney, Shanna Deery, Mary McArthur, Ceala Dobbin, Marie Laverty (Cross and Passion, Ballycastle)
Laura Black, Eva McNeill, Kady McNeill, Amy McAlister (St Killian’s, Garron Tower)
St Louis’ Ballymena secured top spot in the group and a semi-final place in the Mageean Cup following the Halloween break with a 0-20-1-11 win over St. Mary’s at Pairc Rossa on Wedensday afternoon.
St Mary’s were first off the mark courtesy of a Sean Og McLaren free, but Ballymena drew level through a Fiontan Bradley point.
Midfielder Jack Martin swung successive shots over and Bradley doubled his personal tally with Caleb Smith and Shea Burns in trading scores in the aftermath as St Louis’ were in the driving seat.
Further points were traded between Martin and Daire Jemfrey and a third point from Fiontan Bradley had his side 0-07-0-03 ahead.
An angled Odhran Donnelly point lifted the Glen Road outfit and Sean Og McLaren blasted over his second free to half the deficit.
Approaching the midway point in the half a single point separated the sides, Fiontan Bradley dropped a shot over to briefly send them a further point ahead- only for Corey Walsh and Niall May to quickly pop over scores within a minute and make it 0-08-0-07.
It was all one-way traffic in the last 15 minutes approaching the break as St Louis’ reeled off seven scores without reply.
Three of which were placed balls that Fiontan Bradley punished, he added a further one from play with Jack Martin conjuring up his fourth of the half and the pick of the scores was an excellent Sean McDermott effort that drifted over as their side were in control with a 0-15-0-07 lead at the interval.
Despite a positive opening to the second period, St. Mary’s found themselves further in arrears Jack Martin and Bradley (free) popped over.
St Marys Michael Marlow breaks away from his man to set up a score . PICTURE MARK MARLOW
In response Daire Jemfrey saw his angled shot sneak between the large posts and substitute Mick Marlow flashed a shot over.
Jemfrey was unfortunate to see a goal bound shot drift wide of the net as Martin and Bradley added to their increasing personal tally’s to give Louis’ a 0-19-0-09 lead with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Sean Og McLaren dropped over a fine point for his first from play of afternoon and Brendan McMorrow then popped over.
St. Mary’s gave themselves a small glimmer going into the closing minutes when Jude Collins shot was parried by the stick of goalkeeper Caolan McFerran and his attempted clearance was charged down and flicked home by the lively McLarnon to make it 0-19-1-11.
A late point from Caolan McCollum finished the afternoons scoring on the Shaws Road as St Louis’ topped the group and will head to the last four after the Halloween break.
St. Mary’s meanwhile entertain Gaelcholáiste Dhoire needing a victory to secure a quarter final spot.
St Mary’s scorers: Sean Og McLarnon (1-3, 0-2f), Daire Jemfrey (0-2), Shea Burns (0-1), Odhran Donnelly (0-1), Corey Walsh (0-1), Niall May (0-1), Michael Marlow (0-1), Brendan McMorrow (0-1).
St Louis’ scorers: Fiontan Bradley (0-11, 0-5f, 0-1 65’), Jack Martin (0-06), Sean McDermott (0-1), Caleb Smith (0-1), Caolan McCollum (0-1).
Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)
St Louis Fintan Bradley and St Marys Michael Marlow and Ethan Walsh. Picture Mark MarlowMAGEEAN CUP ST MARYS CBGS V ST LOUIS GRAMMER. Caolan Wilson of St Marys breaks away under the watchful eye of Dylan McLarnon of St Louis. PICTURE MARK MARLOWMAGEEAN CUP ST MARYS CBGS V ST LOUIS GRAMMER. St Marys Eamon Kearney and St Louis Caolan McCollum. PICTURE MARK MARLOWMAGEEAN CUP ST MARYS CBGS V ST LOUIS GRAMMER. St Louis Caleb Smith and St Marys Shea Cunningham. PICTURE MARK MARLOWOisin Boyle of St Marys CBGS Belfast and Sean McDermott of St Louis Grammer rise for the Sliotar during the sides Mageean Cup game at Rossa Park . Picture Mark Marlow
GAELCHOLÁISTE Dhoire were playing their very first ever Danske Bank Mageean Cup match in Slaughtneil on Friday and their inexperience at the top level, rather than their ability, cost them a maiden victory.
They struggled with the pace of the game in the first half and were lucky not to be further behind than 1-8 to 0-7 at the break, three late points from Jude Ó Conaire, Cian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide and Dylan Ó hÉireamhóinn (free) closing the gap significantly.
St Louis dominated the first half and, despite Emmett óg McKeever opening the scoring, the Ballymena side raced into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, the goal scored by Caleb Smith after hesitancy in the 10th minute when a long free from Sean óg Blaney bounced in the danger area.
Fiontán Bradley and Luke McFerran were causing big problems up front while Blaney and Domhnall McKay were dominating in defence. St Louis wasted several goal chances in the second quarter, but were still well in control until the late points from Gaelcholáiste.
Those points and the half-time inquest saw the Dungiven school come out in the second half totally transformed and they took the game to Ballymena. Finbar Ó Muirí began to cause problems up from while the half-back line of Cathal Ó Mianáin, Daire Ó Lochlainn and Ger Ó Diolúin turned the screw.
Ó Muirí and McKeever narrowed the gap to two points. Then Gaelcholáiste had a goal disallowed for a square infringement before McFerran created the opening for Bradley to rattle the net.
Although Cian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide set Ó Muirí up for a goal in reply three minutes later, Bradley pointed twice and St Louis looked comfortable again at 2-12 to 1-9 with 12 minutes left.
But that lead was cut by three frees against one from St Louis and when Cathal Ó Mianáin burst through the centre and off-loaded to Jude Ó Conaire for a second Dungiven goal, the lead was down to just one point.
But, as they had done earlier in the half, St Louis hit back with Bradley the inspiration. The Cushendall player’s burst up the right wing ended with a pass across the 20m line and sub Neil Rogers at the second attempt whipped it to the net.
Gaelcholáiste’s next outing is on Tuesday afternoon in Kevin Lynch Park when they entertain Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock. They don’t have long to learn the lessons of Friday evening.
St Louis: F Bradley 1-7 (6fs), C Smith and N Rogers 1-0 each, L McFerran 0-3 (1f), J Martin 0-2, D McLarnon 0-1.
Gaelcholáiste: F ó Muirí 1-3, J Ó Conaire 1-1, E óg McKeever and D Ó hÉireamhóinn (fs) 0-3 each, C Ó Mianáin (f) and C Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide 0-1 each.
St Louis: Caolan McFerran, Aaron Doherty, Sean óg Blaney, Ryan McClements, Sean McDermott, Domhnall McKay, Damian Kinsella, Jack Martin, Tiarnan Bonnes, Fiontan Bradley, Dylan McLarnon, Luke McFerran, Eunan Curry, Caleb Smith, Jay McAnonan.
Subs: Caolán McCollum for C Smith (36), Ger McFadden for S McDermott and Neil Rogers for J McAnonan (both 52)
Gaelcholáiste: Caoimhín Ó hÉireamhóin, Seamus Mac Con Midhe, Lorcán Ó Muirí, Déaglán Ó Ceallaigh, Cathal Ó Mianáin, Daire Ó Lochlainn, Ger Ó Diolúin, Daire Ó Daimhín, Oran Ó Donghaile, Cian Ó Dughaill-Ó Cinnéide, Emmet Óg Mac Íomhair, Dylan Ó hÉireamhóin, Jude Ó Conaire, Ciarán Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliam, Finbar Ó Muirí
Subs: PP Ó Dáimhín for D Ó hÉireamhóinn (ht), Oisín Mag Uiginn for O Ó Donghaile (36), D Ó hÉireamhóinn for C Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliam (47), Dylan Ó Ceallaigh for C Ó Muirí-Mac Uilliam (55), Conán Ó Diolúin for D Ó Lochlainn (59)
Referee: Owen Elliott (Antrim)
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