The GAA – Where We All Belong. People who belong to each other also have a responsibility towards each other, and that responsibility was demonstrated on the roads of Bellaghy last evening, as thousands of Gaels from throughout the country responded to the call to support the Brown family in their pursuit of the truth.
Similar scenes followed Sean Brown’s brutal murder in 1997 with a few important differences. Last night’s journey was the reverse route, from the chapel through the village to the grounds of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones, now named in his memory. In 1997, the mood was one of sorrow and grief. Last night the mood was one of resilience, defiance and determination.
GAA President, Jarlath Burtns was amongst the thousands who attended the ‘Walk together for Truth’ in Bellaghy on Friday night
Sean Brown was the ordinary clubman who keeps the GAA at the heart of communities across the length and breadth of Ireland. What was extraordinary with Sean Brown is that he did these ordinary things in an extraordinary way. His commitment to his club was such that even the gates he closed every night in life, and through which the crowds entered the pitch last night, were made by his own hands.
What is also extraordinary is the commitment of his wife Bridie and their family in a pursuit, that has now turned into a fight, for the truth. Five High Court judges have instructed that the truth be told, and last night the GAA and the Brown family have told the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, that they now demand that this inquiry takes place. In the words of Jarlath Burns, “The GAA can no longer hold our dignified silence.”
That silence was resolutely broken on the streets of Bellaghy last night as the GAA community spoke loud and clear that they will be behind the Brown family every step of the way in their fight for the truth.
Sean Brown had the trust and the love of his community. That same community stood pride in his memory last evening. Sean Brown would have been proud of his family, his parish and the GAA.
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Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Saturday’s Leinster Senior Championship game between Antrim and Galway in Salthill.
Antrim’s Leinster championship campaign goes Into The West on Saturday afternoon as they face Galway in their backyard. It’s a contest that anyone with any kind of Saffron coursing through their veins should relish. A chance to pit your wits against the Tribesmen under the cloak of championship and the intensity that comes with that.
The Leinster Championship itself has been an unforgiving mistress for Antrim as they go to Galway in search of their first points of the campaign. Given that my old mate Paddy Power has the handicap betting at 21 points and the home side at an eyewatering 1/80, it’s going to take something probably never seen before in hurling circles for the Saffrons to get anything out of the game. When you throw in the list of absentees, an already difficult task is stretched even further. Conal Cunning is a long-term absentee with clubmates Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy joining him on the side line. Elliott picking up his injury against Wexford while Molloy was originally chosen in the starting 15 for the Dublin game but is said to have picked up a hand injury. Conor Johnston’s return from injury remains uncertain with his game time against Dublin reduced greatly, a game that Niall McKenna also missed after a close family bereavement.
Top scorer James McNaughton misses out through suspension but the Loughgiel man will be back for the Offaly game the following week.
James McNaughton will also be missing after his red card the last day towards the end of the Dublin game and that leaves you with potentially six forwards missing that if put together would make for a great starting unit.
To look beyond Saturday just for a moment, Antrim travel to Tullamore in the last day. A game that could be a winner takes all contest but that is dependent on how Offaly fare against Wexford on Saturday. A win for the Faithful County and it leaves all sorts of scenarios that, for the moment, don’t bare thinking about.
Back to Saturday in Salthill. While it’s a championship game and there is always something to play for, really, Antrim have nothing to lose. No-one, least of all Paddy Power, is expecting Davy Fitzgerald’s team to come away from Salthill with a positive result so they can play with a certain freedom.
While Galway are undoubtedly favourites, their form this campaign hasn’t exactly been eye catching. As it stands, Kilkenny and Dublin are top dogs in Leinster with the Tribesmen not too far off them but they are a side finding their feet again under Micheál Donoghue despite reappointing the man who brought the Liam McCarthy Cup back to Galway in 2017. He has taken over the reins from Henry Shefflin and is in the midst of a rebuild.
Nigel Elliott
With Offaly laying in wait, playing Galway eight days beforehand with potentially, their Leinster Championship survival on the line, it’s not ideal. An extra week maybe wouldn’t have went a miss in there. Given the list of players missing, it’s going to take something miraculous for Antrim to get a result. A performance where they die with their boots on, give everything they have possible and show that they are willing to fight to the very end is something that Davy Fitzgerald has been demanding from day one. There has been periods within matches that Antrim can look to, those periods shown against Wexford and for the majority of the Kilkenny game, Antrim looked to be a match. They travel to Galway with a weakened side, an ear for the result coming out of Wexford Park and an eye on Tullamore next weekend.
Pearse Fitzsimons netted in time added on as Lámh Dhearg ground out a hard fought 4-18-3-19 victory over St Galls at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening.
The visitors made the short-trip to Hannahstown hoping to maintain their strong start as the league entered the second stage.
They shaded the early exchanges with Dubhaltach Wilson twice shooting over between Conor Murray free’s in reply.
Lámh Dhearg hit the front through a well taken Declan Smyth score from outside and things got better when Adam Murray’s shot dropped and Conor Murray’s presence spooked Niall McCurdy- who was unable to get a fist on Murray’s attempt that found its way to the net.
Daniel Quinn responded with a point at the other end for St Galls, but Conor Murray fisted over his first from play.
A second goal arrived midway through the half after Declan Smith’s long ball was steered into the path of Mark Finnegan by Murray and Finnegan advanced for goal, picking his spot low in the corner to give his side a 2-4-0-3 lead.
Murray clipped over a further point from play and the Lámhs were relatively comfortable until St Galls netted approaching the 20-minute mark.
A sideline ball was floated in and touched down for Daniel Quinn to show composure and slot past Gerard Smyth.
Points were traded between Evan Stanley and Quinn (free) with Conall McGirr swinging a shot over to reduce arrears.
St Galls were penalised for not having the required numbers back, with Conor Murray landing a two-pointed free and Mark Finnegan added another two-pointed score from play to give his side a 2-10-1-05 lead.
Back-to-back converted frees from Quinn saw St Galls close the gap at the break, but it was the hosts in the driving seat at the midway point.
Lamh Dhearg extended their advantage after the break, Adam Murray shot over on the turn and namesake Conor added two more points to his personal tally- converting a free and then adding his third point from play.
The Murray’s added further scores in their period of dominance, a third goal arrived on the 35th minute- Calum Fegan-Lappin played a tremendous pass into Conor Murray’s path and he made a run towards goal but opted to slip in Adam for a simple palm to the net that made it 3-13-1-07.
Conor then kicked his second free of the half- however thereafter St Galls began to claw back the large deficit.
Daniel Quinn steered a high shot between the posts, Segdea Mac Adam took a lay off from Niall O’Neill and curled a shot over and Quinn notched his sixth point from a free.
Further points from Niall O’Neill and a two-pointed free from Daniel Quinn had almost halved the deficit with 13 minutes remaining (3-14-1-13).
A converted two-pointed free from Mark Finnegan was immediately cancelled out by a tremendous Brendan Bradley two-pointer from play.
Finnegan kicked another free from inside the arc a few minutes later and in response, Daniel Quinn sent over another two-pointed free.
St Galls were closing in on the Lámhs and on the 57th minute Conn Doherty gave them another huge shot when he guided a low shot to the corner of the net to make it 3-17-2-17.
Talisman, Daniel Quinn kicked his final free of the evening and shot over from play to leave a single point in it.
The Milltown outfit completed a remarkable fightback a minute into added time when Gerard Smyth’s kick-out was intercepted and the ball was immediately slipped into the path of Quinn- who rounded Smyth and kept his nerve to shoot home and give his side a 3-19-3-17 lead.
Lámh Dhearg didn’t panic though and responded with a goal of their own at the other end. Gerard Smyth found Conor Murray with his kick and after being illegally held, he took a quick free and found Declan Smyth, Mark Finnegan intercepted on the loop and dropped a shot goalwards that Pearse Fitzsimons bundled underneath the bar and in.
The hosts showed great game management in the aftermath as Ross Murray took possession, headed for goal and opted for a fisted point.
Garrick Mac Adam would receive his marching orders from referee Conal Roberts before the game was out as Lámh Dhearg breathed a huge sigh of relief for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat late on.
Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, F Mervyn, P Mervyn, Ross Murray (0-1), D Smyth (0-1), B Rice, D Murray, C Boyd, P Fitzsimons (1-0), E Stanley, C Fegan-Lappin, D Martin, M Finnegan (1-5, 1x2pt, 1x2ptf, 1f), C Murray (0-9, 1x2ptf, 4f), A Murray (2-1). Subs: R Diamond for D Murray (43), N McGarry for E Stanley (43), S McCarthy for C Boyd (46), SP Gibson for P Mervyn (46).
St Galls: N McCurdy, C Hale, A McDonagh, S MacAdam (0-1), R Wilson, C McGirr (0-1), L Lynn, C Doherty (1-0), C Stinton, M Hopkins, B Bradley (1x2pt), M Murray, D Quinn (2-12, 2x2ptf, 5f), N O’Neill (0-1), D Wilson (0-2). Subs: S Burke for A McDonagh (18), A Gallagher for C Stinton (38), G MacAdam for M Hopkins (38).
Referee: Conal Roberts (St Johns)
PICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOWPICTURE MARK MARLOW
As Antrim await the visit of Limerick to Corrigan Park tomorrow (Saturday) for what is a ‘Must win game’ for the Saffrons if they are to maintain interest in the Tailteann Cup, we take a look back at the last time these sides met on the 28th January 2024 and we will be hoping for a similar outcome tomorrow
Allianz NFL Division 3
Limerick 2-7 Antrim 2-14
Antrim got their Allianz NFL Division 3 campaign of to a great start at Rathkeale, Limerick on Sunday with an excellent seven point win over a Limerick side who were playing their football in division 2 last year.
The Saffrons were the better team for most of the game and dominated from early in the contest to lead 1-7 to 0-4 at the halfway stage but were hit by a 1-4 blast from the home side, either side of half time and looked in trouble early in the second half.
Their response was decisive however with a great goal from Creggan’s Ruairi McCann steadying the ship and an excellent exhibition of point taking from Dominic McEnhill would see the Saffrons home comfortably in the end.
Dominic McEnhill who scored 1-5 against Limerick in Rathkeale
The Saffrons were forced into two changes in their starting line-up before throw-in with Colm McLarnon and Cormac McGettigan replacing injured pair, Cathal Hynds and Ruairi McCann of Aghagallon.
Antrim got off to a bright start in Rathkeale with Eoin Hynds pointing them into an early lead and the Saffrons would go onto dominate the early exchanges with goalkeeper, Mick Byrne edging them into a two point lead.
Ian Corbett’s reply for Limerick was quickly cancelled out by the returning Dermot McAleese who captained the side today in the absence of Peter Healy who remains on the Antrim injured list.
Peter Nash briefly closed the gap to two but the visiting Saffrons were growing in confidence and Niall Burns marked his debut with an Antrim point and Dominic McEnhill followed from a free before the impressive Rossa man stroked home a penalty to put Andy McEntee’s side in a strong position.
McEnhill, who was involved in a lot of the Antrim play, added a point and Creggan’s Ruairi McCann got his name on the score-sheet to move the visitors 1-7 to 0-2 ahead.
However, Limerick’s Tommy Childs and Robbie Childs struck late points to close out the scoring in the first half and serve notice that they were still in contention.
Paddy McBride who played in Antrim’s win over Limerick in Rathkeale
That was bourne out as the second half got under way as Aaron Sullivan kicked Limerick’s third point on the bounce on the restart and when Ian Corbett fired home from the penalty spot in the 10th minute it wasn’t looking good for the visitors.
Antrim’s appeals that the Rossa keeper had been fouled in the build-up fell on deaf ears and Antrim had now conceded 1-4 without reply and appeared to have lost control.
They showed tremendous character however as Ruairi McCann kicked a great point, their first for nearly 20 minutes, and Mick Byrne came forward to add another from a 40 meter free as the visitors reacted in the best possible manner.
Dominic McEnhill followed with another and Antrim seemed to have weathered the Limerick storm but were rocked back on their heels again as the hosts struck with their second goal of the game at the other end.
However, Antrim weren’t to be denied, and the key moment came on 57 minutes when Ruairi McCann scored Antrim’s second goal of the day, before the visitors closed out the win by scoring four of the game’s last five points.
Limerick received a setback when Brian O’Sullivan was Black carded and the Saffrons pressed home their advantage as Dominic McEnhill kicked three late points with Ronan Boyle getting his name on the scorecard as Andy McEntee’s side get their Division 3 campaign up and running.
A good win for the Saffrons and while McEntee will surely lament that spell just before and after halftime when his side conceded 1-4, he will be delighted with their response.
Antrim now have home games against Offaly on the 4th February and Down on the 18th and will hope to build on their opening day win and will hopefully have a few of the missing injured back in harness for those games.
