Many congratulations to Antrim players who have been honoured for their great displays throughout the season. On Wednesday All Saints Kavan Keenan was named on the Tailteaan Cup team of the year, the All Saints man catching the eye with some great defensive displays on the Antrim team who reached the semi-final before losing to Laois. Well done Kavan
Loughgiel’s James McNaughton Kavan Keenan of All Saints, BallymenaPaddy Burke of Ruairi Og, Cushendall
On Thursday the Saffrons had two nominations on the All Stars Hurling team with Paddy Burke of Ruairi Og Cushendall rewarded for some great defencive showings in the Leinster Hurling Championship and James McNaughton of Loughgiel Shamrocks nominated among the forwards.
“North Antrim is delighted to have had the chance to celebrate the Festival of Hurling at Fr Barrett Park in memory of Brendan McGarry. It was very special to have Brendan Snr, Jean, Kevin and Una with us in Loughgiel to celebrate this fantastic incentive. The Festival is in memory of Brendan, and should continue in its status in Club identity and history as much as the McCaughan Cup is in Larne, the Feis in Glenariffe and as the Darragh Cup is in Cushendall. All players who attended had received a new North Antrim jersey. We celebrate their talent and abilities and wish to see them develop. Hurling is our tradition, formed by family and passion and we in North Antrim GAA are very proud to stand side by side with the McGarrys.
For more photos from Saturday click on the link below
Antrim Camogie Senior Championship group game Loughgiel v Dunloy 14th Sept 2024
Loughgiel 6-10 Dunloy 0-08
Match report and photo album from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park
A porridge sky shifting quickly across the horizon was governed by a strong southerly breeze running up the length of the pitch in Fr. Healy Park, but the mild temperature helped to avoid spoiling the afternoon for many of the supporters lining the pitch. An in-form Shamrocks side clicked into gear and ran out the convincing winners as Dunloy struggled to find a weakness to leverage, despite taking the game to the hosts in the first five minutes.
Six Shamrock goals, divided equally between the two halves, dealt a blow to the Cuchulainns, reminiscent of July’s league game at Pearce Park. Dunloy will no doubt take stock, regroup and will want to avoid meeting Loughgiel in the semi final, at least not before dusting off today’s loss.
Owen Elliott took charge of the game and with Loughgiel electing to play into the wind, towards the clubhouse, promptly got proceedings underway, throwing in down towards the low side of the pitch. Dunloy’s Katie Molloy pointed within the first two minutes from a pass laid off by Brid Magill. Aine Magill was quick to bring trouble back to Loughgiel but a brave block from Emma McFadden forced Magill to work and persevere for her point. With Dunloy two on the board, Eobha McAllister would make that three just before Christine McCloskey was awarded a free but free taker, McFadden, was unable to reach the posts against the wind, leaving Dunloy to smother the sliotar into safety.
The sliotar didn’t stay safe for too long as Loughgiel’s Caitrin Dobbin netted on the nine minutes followed by a fine point from Roisin McCormick from around the hosts’ dugout area. Play commenced with Loughgiel returning back to cause the visitors more problems but Elliott blew for a foul on McCormick and that was safely dispatched for back to back points with twelve gone on the clock.
Loughgiel kept applying pressure and had Annie Lynn drifting the sliotar off target from a McCormick pass that looked promising but the Loughgiel supporters would settle for a second goal on twenty minutes as Lucia McNaughton delivered into a sure-footed McCormick as she moved with authority into the striking zone.
It wouldn’t all be about the full forward line though, as McCormick swept back deep on the puc-out, finding Clare McKillop holding a right wing back position running into space. McKillop would solo run half the length of the field before delivering over the bar for her point.
With twenty one minutes on the large Fridge Raiders scoreboard, Loughgiel’s Annie Lynn shook the back of Mary Martin’s net and the Shamrock’s tally of goals were now three and three points to Dunloy’s three points.
Awarded a free in her own half, Loughgiel’s McNaughton quickly offloaded to McCormick but a dying sliotar was spilled wide by Dunloy for the 45. McCormick tucked the 45 over the bar, followed by a free for a foul on Anna McKillop. A welcome point from play came from Caitrin Dobbin with twenty nine on the clock, after a sequence of interplaying hand passes with Christine McCloskey as the two Shamrocks weaved their way up to within Dobbin’s striking distance.
Although the Cuchulainnes hadn’t raised a flag in nearly twenty five minutes, they were grinding out every ruck, chasing every ball and when an overly eager Amy Boyle pushed Katharine Mullan, Elliott awarded a free and Nicole McAtamney lifted Dunloy up by the point just before Elliott blew for half time, leaving the scoreboard to announce Loughgiel 3-06 Dunloy 0-04.
As Owen Elliott rolled in the sliotar to commence the second half, Dunloy faced an uphill battle against a goal hungry Loughgiel, wind in their faces and for short spells, driving rain. But they never dropped their heads and made Loughgiel work for the sliotar, though McCormick would get the Shamrocks’ tally underway from a free just two minutes in. Dunloy replied with a McAtamney point as Elliott blew for a throw ball infringement.
McCormick was quickly back taking frees for a trip on Dobbin and a foul on Shauna Devlin. With 3-09 on the board for Loughgiel, fortune would favour a dropping ball sent in by Loughgiel’s Anna Connolly, fooling the visitors’ netmondder for goal number four.
A five minute passage of play witnessed a number of fouls, none of which helped anyone’s scoreline but Aine Magill made the most of her run on the high side of the pitch from close to the visitors’ dugout for a fine point with fifteen gone in the second half.
An improving weather spell would have gone unnoticed by Annie Lynn as she dropped her head and offloaded into a running Lucia McNaughton, delivering to the back of Dunloy’s net for the Shamrocks’ fifth goal. McAtamney would reply with two points from two frees with twenty one gone before Keeper Martin would face misfortune again, as Marie Laverty delivered the sliotar at an awkward height, sliding off Martin’s hand and into the net.
Loughgiel closed their account after Christine McCloskey pointed from an assist from sister Marie Laverty. Elliott blew with little gone over the hour, leaving the scoreboard to registering Loughgiel 6-10 Dunloy 0-08.
Loughgiel have one last game left in the table away against Brídíní Ogá, Glenravel this Friday and Dunloy host Ballycastle a week today. That will wrap up the table and we move into the knockout stages.
Loughgiel starters and scorers
Amy Boyle, Clare McKillop 0-01, Katie Lynn, Finvola McVeigh, Maria Lynn, Emma McFadden, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle, Anna Connolly 1-0, Christine McCloskey 0-01, Lucia McNaughton 1-0, Annie Lynn 1-0, Caitrin Dobbin 1-01, Roisin McCormick 1-07 (5f 1×45), Anna McKillop, Marie Laverty 1-0
Photos from today’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…
Don’t forget to enjoy all of our photos in the Saffron albums on a large screen such as a laptop or tablet. Click on a photo to see it larger, look at the album as either a photo book or web pages and you can order a copy online as a keep’s sake.
Reigning football champions Erin’s Own Cargin advanced to the semi-final stages of this year’s competition with a convincing win over St Mary’s Ahoghill on Friday evening with a performance that suggests that they are well on course to retain the title.
Ronan Devlin’s charges looked at ease and were always in control under the Casement’s floodlights and took an early lead through a Tomas McCann penalty after Michael McCann was upended inside the danger area.
Michael McCann added a point shortly after and it was 19 minutes before James O’Connell finally got the Cloney side off the mark with a fine point.
Cargin continued to look composed as Tomas McCann, Conhuir Johnston, Justin Crozier, and the impressive Jamie Gribbin added to their increasing tally on the scoreboard with the latter on hand to finish to the back of the net nearing the end of the opening period
Sean O’Neill started the move down the left and found Tomas McCann to offload to his brother Michael who placed the advancing Jamie Gribbin to send to the top corner of the net.
St Mary’s were fighting hard to get their own game together and did increase their tally in the latter stages of the half with James O’ Connell delivering a 40 metre free between the posts in the 23rd minute.
It brought an immediate response from the men in Green with a late point by Conhuir Johnston after another sweeping move and as the half time whistle sounded it looked as good as over with the reigning champions leading 2-10 to 0-03.
There would be no let-up as he second half got under way as the Toome side with a place in the semi-final stages obviously secured, came forward from the throw in and Benen Kelly provided a precise finish which split the posts to increase their advantage.
St Mary’s were not about to give up the ghost despite the situation they faced and Fionnbar O’ Neill placed Ronan Graham’s who’s delivery from away out on the right flank sailed between the posts before James O’ Connell punished an indiscretion with another a couple of minutes later.
Cargin were quick to return fire as James Laverty advanced from the right to fire between the posts and Paul McCann followed with another to extend the champions advantage to 2-13 to 0-05.
At this stage Erin’s Own introduced a couple of replacements with David Johnston coming in for James Laverty and Conan Johnston replacing Jamie Gribbin.
The Toome side continued to press and after a superb catch by the hard grafting Pat Shivers sent Conhuir Johnston away to fire between the posts, Tomas McCann added another with his sibling Michael following suit to move his side 2-16 to 0-05 clear with ten minutes remaining
St Mary’s replaced Seamus McKeever with Harry O’ Donnell just as Michael McCann fired between to posts to add to the Toome men’s lead with Benen Kelly quick to add another.
Substitute Ronan Devlin, who had replaced Paul McCann in the latter stages,
gothis name amongst the scorers with a well delivered 55th minute point with fellow replacement David Johnston following suit.
The score of the game fell to Conhuir Johnston as he delivered between the posts in the last minute to ensure a place in the semi-finals for the reigning champions and serve notice that whoever seeks to replace them at the summit will have to earn that reward.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Kevin O’ Boyle, Kevin Mc Shane, Benen Kelly (0-02), Justin Crozier (0-01), Paul Mc Cann (0-01), Sean O’ Neill, Gerard Mc Cann, Pat Shivers (0-010, Tom Shivers, Jamie Gribbin (1-02), Conhuir Johnston (0-04), Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Tomas Mc Cann (1-04)
Subs:
Conan Johnston (0-01)
Conan Devlin (0-01)
David Johnston (0-01)
Callum Gribbin
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, Seamus Mc Keever, James (Bobby) Magee, Donal Graham, Fionnbar O’ Neill, Tom Mc Glone, Patrick Graham, Conor Crossey, James O’ Connell (0-02), Eamon Brady, Donal Graham (0-02), Patrick Graham, Ronan Graham (0-01)
Subs
Ger Graham
Aodhan Graham
Shea Neeson
Harry O’ Donnell
Referee: C Mc Donald (St Gall’s)
FOR MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Na Gaeil Oga progressed to the semi-final of the Minor B Football Championship, but patience was the key in their 4-16-1-09 win over Moneyglass at Sarsfields on Sunday morning.
Both sides should have hit the net inside of three minutes, the hosts going close through a Fionn Jemfrey shot that he flashed wide of the post, whilst Odhran Duffin saw his shot turned behind by Oisin Devlin and Ruairi Mac Aonasa’s 45’ cannoned off the bar.
The vistors were first off the mark as Callum O Muireadhaigh dropped a shot over the bar and he doubled the lead 60-seconds later, converting a free.
He stretched his sides lead with a further free midway through the half with Na Gaeil Oga hitting back from the same source after Darragh McLaughlin was felled close to the target and he stroked the resulting free between the posts.
The opening goal arrived on the 24th minute and fell to the hosts. Sean McCarthy won back possession close to the side-line midway through the half and his lay-off began a sweeping move that ended with Fionn Jemfrey slipping Jake Ward through and Ward lashed a fine shot low to the net to give his side a 1-01-0-03 lead.
Moneyglass immediately hit back with four unanswered points, O Muireadhaigh kicked successive frees inside of 60-seconds and then turned provider for Caolan Buiteach steering over from close range.
Marcas Duffin extended the lead on the stroke of half-time with Jake Ward replying from a free as Moneyglass held a 0-07-1-02 lead at the interval.
The hosts levelled within two minutes of the restart, Calum Fegan weaved his way forward and shot over before Fionn Jemfrey landed a smart score.
However, Moneyglass powered ahead for the final time when they cut through the Na Gaeil Oga defence and Eunan McErlain rifled to the net to make it 1-07-1-04.
A converted free from Conall McMahon followed and he would add another from play with Fionn Jemfrey pointing in between as parity was restored on the 39th minute.
Na Gaeil Oga hit the front again through a close-range free from Gerard Doherty, his last action Conlai Mervyn replaced him, and the substation paid instant dividends when Mervyn got on the end of a Fionn Jemfrey pass, advanced and squeezed his shot beneath Moneyglass keeper Niall Quinn and into the net to give his side a 2-08-1-07 lead.
Thereafter the hosts confidence grew with Jemfrey sending a fantastic shot over with the outside of the boot and Conall McMahon converting his second free of the half.
Moneyglass may have snuck a second goal in but Corey Camlin pushed Callum O Muireadhaigh’s free off the line and instead they had to make do with a Odhran Duffin point.
Jemfrey and McMahon helped themselves to further points in the aftermath and Calum Fegan doubled his account for the afternoon as the lead stretched further.
The hosts third goal arrived on the 53rd minute when Jake Ward played a fine pass that Sean McCarthy latched onto, despite Niall Quinn keeping out his initial effort, McCarthy guided home at the second time of asking to make it 3-13-1-08.
The sides traded scores through Jemfrey and O Muireadhaigh before Na Gaeil Oga finished strongly in added time.
A foul on Mervyn resulted in a free that Jemfrey sent rocketing into the top corner, he would add a further point from play with Calum Fegan landing an outstanding point that finished their afternoon scoring as the amalgamated side advanced to the last four.
Na Gaeil Oga: O Devlin, L Campbell, Jay Ward, D McGibbon, KB McArdle, C Fegan (0-03), C Camlin, S McCarthy (1-00), D McLaughlin (0-01f), C Devlin, F Jemfrey (1-07), C McMahon (0-03, 0-02f), R Webb, G Doherty (0-01f), J Ward (0-01f). Subs: D Fegan for R Webb (37), C Mervyn (1-00) for G Doherty (40), T Lee for L Campbell (50), P Dorothy for C Devlin (50), F McCallum for J Ward (54), C McCausland for D McGibbon (58).
Moneyglass: N Quinn, O O Domhnaill, S Graffin, T McWilliams, F McCloskey, E McErlain (1-00), R Kennedy, D Duffin, O Hamill, J Mac Dhuifinn, C O Muireadhaigh (0-06, 0-05F), M Duffin (0-01), O Duffin (0-01), C Buiteach, R Mac Aonasa. Subs: B O Domhnaill for O O Domhnaill (26), D Mhic Fhirrleinn for F McCloskey (53), G O Coinne for R Mac Aonasa (53).
