by thesaffrongael

Portglenone make their bow in FonaCAB Ulster Minor Tournament against fancied Ardboe 

St Pauls FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament preview 

Prelim Round – Portglenone v Ardboe, Sunday 23rd November, 1pm throw-in at Colaiste Feirste 

By Kevin Herron 

PORTGLENONE Minor manager Gareth Kelly admits that he was hopeful – like all the other nine participants, that his side would avoid the Prelim game in the St Pauls FonaCAB Ulster Minor Championship draw, but insists they will give it a go when they meet Ardboe on Sunday (1pm at Coaliste Feirste). 

The Antrim Minor Champions make their debut in the competition having beaten St Paul’s in a thrilling final under lights in Dunsilly last month and Kelly feels that they are up against one of the favourites for the tournament. 

“Like most teams, you are probably looking to avoid the Prelim- especially against one of the favourites” Kelly admits. 

“Ardboe are a very good team. They’ve a lot of Tyrone U-17s in that team. They are well trained and Chrissy McKaigue I know is involved. 

“We’ll go and give it a go, it’s a bonus and like every other team here, we still want to win games and we’ll look forward from there”. 

Kelly believes that his side are comfortable with the underdog tag that they are up for the challenge ahead. 

“We’ve drawn one of the favourites here in Ardboe. Themselves, Four Masters and Dungiven would have probably been eyeing this competition from a long way off, whereas we take this as bonus territory. 

“Every game we’ve played so far- we’ve been underdogs- and we sort of suit that title. It’s a good challenge, I’m sure our boys will accept it and we’re just happy to be here and be in this competition”. 

The Ports manager explains that their journey is unique, in that they have featured in B competitions down the years and only last year tasted success – winning the Minor B football Championship- their first success at Minor level as a stand alone club, having previously won Minor Football titles as part of the successful Sean Stinson’s amalgamation with neighbours Ahoghill. 

“If you said to Ryan McKeever our captain four years ago when we started this that we’d be here in this competition, you’d be absolutely laughed at” he insisted. 

“We were sitting playing B football and our story is different from everybody else. They were competing at A year after year. 

“We spent several years rebuilding and last year we won the Minor B- our club’s first Minor title. This year we’ve won the A, so it’s all about progressing. 

“These boys have broke the ceiling at this stage and it is the bonus stage. We’re looking forward to the game. It is a big undertaking for us, but we will enjoy it – we’re just delighted to be here”. 

Alongside their Minor triumph in 2025, the U-16s also claimed the U-16 A title and Kelly is hopeful that senior success will soon follow. 

“We’re definitely putting in the work (underage) and our seniors aren’t that far away. Outside of Cargin, we’ve probably been the most consistent team in Antrim over the last 10-years or so” 

“It’s a game of inches too for them, hopefully they will get over the line very shortly – hopefully next year. We can only look forward to the Minors here at the minute, we are just delighted to be here”.

by thesaffrongael

Dominican Fortwillian win the Junior Medalion Camogie Shield

Junior Medallion Shield final

Dominican College Fortwilliam 3-10 St Aidan’s Cootehill 2-5

CAPTAIN Rosa O’Connor was the star player as Dominican College Fortwilliam won their first ever provincial schools’ camogie title on Thursday afternoon in St Colman’s College Newry.

The St Enda’s midfielder dominated the middle third and picked off eight points in a competent performance alongside eight of her club mates. Others to shine for Dominican College, who only re-entered camogie competitions in the last few years, were Hannah McMillan and Orla Graham in defence, Aoife Downey alongside O’Connor at midfield while Anna O’Kane and Sofia Privilege were a handful up front.

Seamus McAleenan of Ulster Schools GAA presents the Junior Medallions Shield to Dominican Fortwilliam captain Rosa O’Connor

Aoibhin Callaghan was the key player in the Cootehill team, bagging all their total, while there was good stick work from Ella Rose Boyle and Grace Geoghegan and Gráinne Hughes had an inspired hour in goals.

Rosa O’Connor opened the scoring with a point in the first minute and was involved in the lead up to Sofia Privilege’s goal a couple of minutes later.

Anna O’Kane added a second goal before Aoibhin Callaghan got St Aidan’s Cootehill off the mark with a 45 that went all the way to the net. However O’Connor and her midfield partner Aoife Downey hit back with the next three points before Sofia Privilege forced home her second goal from a goal-mouth scramble.

Despite two late points from Callaghan, Dominican led by 3-6 to 1-2 at the break.

Although Callaghan pointed a free for St Aidan’s in the first minute of the second half, Dominican kept adding points at regular intervals to the score-board. They hit five before the 50th minute and four of those came from Rosa O’Connor.

Although they were well ahead at this stage, there was a little sting in the tail with Aoibhin Callaghan imposing herself on the final stages with a goal and two points. However they were too late to impact the outcome.

Dominican:S Reilly, A Scullion, T Kalu, ER Hughes, K Sheehy, H McMillen, O Graham, R O’Connor 0-8 (4 fs), A Downey 0-1, A O’Kane 1-0, A Reilly, O Lynch, A Conwell 0-1, S Privilege 2-0, M McGarrigle.

Subs: É Vallely for M McGarrigle (45), R McQuillan for A Sullivan (56)

St Aidan’s: G Hughes, C McBreen, L Fitzpatrick, M McDermott, S Dempsey, ER Boyle, K McMullen, G Geoghegan, N Fitzpatrick, E Lynch, A Callaghan 2-5 (1-4 fs), L Morris, A Smith, E Farrelly, A Byrne.

Sub: R Carragher for E Farrelly (54).

Referee; John Devlin (Tyrone)

by thesaffrongael

CPC go through to meet St Pat’s in Mageean final, but they had to work hard for the win

Danske Bank Mageean Cup semi-final:

Cross & Passion Ballycastle 1-15 St Louis Ballymena 1-14

Cross & Passion College Ballycastle held off a St Louis comeback to secure their place in the final of the Mageean Cup against St Pat’s Maghera on December 6th. Twenty minutes into this game it had all the appearances of being one sided stroll of the Ballycastle school when they led by 1-09 to 0-01. They had taken their scores with relative ease to build up a deserved 11 point lead, and despite having the benefit of a stiff breeze they appeared to be on course for a comfortable win.

St Louis dangerman Fiontan Bradley who ended the game with 1-09 to his name

However things took a dramatic turn when their ace forward Fiontan Bradley, who had been fairly well contained by the CPC defence, was hauled down in the large square and match referee Ray Mattews awarded a penalty. The Ruairi Og ace stepped up an blasted the ball home and all of a sudden things began to change and in the five minutes of play that remained in the first half he added another three points to leave just six between the sides at the interval.

When Bradley hit the first three points of the second half the gap was back to three and at that stage they smart money was on the St Louis to advance, but CPC eventually found some rhythm in their play and stretched the lead back to six. The CPC fans must have thought the pressure was off, but St Louis came again and had the gap down to the minimum when CPC’s star man Oisin McCallen intercepted a St Louis hand pass and found space to fire over the game clinching point.

McCallin was the man who got CPC up and running at the start of the game and two pointed frees were followed by points from Conan Johnston, Cadhan Crawford and Logan McConville. Bradley got his team on the scoreboard when he pointed a difficult free on fiftheen minutes, but CPC were well on top and two more from McCallin and one from corner forward Paidi O’Kane were followed by the first goal of the game from the Dunloy youngster who cut through on goal and fired a ground shot to the net after his initial effort had been denied by a great ‘hook’ by St Louis defender Joe McFadden.

CPC midfielder Logan McConville hits a sideline ‘cut’

Eleven clear at this stage you were wondering just how big the gap could be at the change of ends, but Bradley turned the game on its head with a goal and three points in the run-in to leave things looking a lot brighter for the Ballymena school as they made their way to the changing rooms at half time.

When McCallin got the first three points of the new half, to make it six in a row, CPC appeared to be in trouble, but McCallin settled them with two good points, one on either side of fine score by Paidi O’Kane. However it was ten more minutes before they raised another flag and in that time St Louis knocked over four of their own to leave just two between the teams. When Bradley cut it back to one you wondered how CPC could hold on, but a stroke of genius by McCallin saw him split the post at the other end to put his team two clear, and though St Louis had the last point of the game it was to prove too little, too late and CPC were over the line

CPC: P O’Kane 1-2, O McCallin 0-8 (3fs), C Johnson and C Crawford 0-2 each, L McConville 0-1.

St Louis: F Bradley 1-9 (0-7fs), C McCollum 0-3, J McAlonan and C Smith 0-1

Oisin McCallin who led the line for CPC

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/qDkFD7p33diXWg/?invite=d1770aa3-cc7d-424c-9103-ddb7217234e2

by thesaffrongael

St. Paul’s Fona/Cab Ulster Minor tournament gets underway

The St. Paul’s Fona/Cab Ulster Minor Football championship, 2025 starts this weekend with Clontibret of Monaghan and Derrygonnelly of Fermanagh getting the action underway when they meet at Colaiste Feirste at 3-00pm on Saturday.

Sportslann Colaiste Feirste is the venue for all three of the weekend’s games and later at the same venue on Saturday Southern Gaels of Cavan and Bredagh of Down cross swords at 6.30pm.

The following day Antrim champions, Casement’s Portglenone make their Ulster bow and face what looks like a difficult opponent in Ardboe of Tyrone in a Preliminary round game at 1pm.

As always these games are sure to attract good crowds to Colaiste Feirste and we will bring you all the action from the weekend games in the Saffron Gael and continue to bring you coverage of the tournament as it progresses.

1/11/2025 Defending champions Fourmasters will face Dungiven when they put their Fonacab Ulster Minor Tournament on the line in December . It is a repeat of the 2022 decider won by Derry Champions with a late , late winner , The reining champions are striving for three titles in a row , having come through Donegal for the forth successive year . Fourmasters , Dungiven and Clontibret are the three teams in the draw who have won the competition before with Ardboe and Southern Gaels losing finals . Tyrone champions Ardboe will face Portglenone in the preliminary round with Dromintee waiting in the last quarter final Picture Seamus Loughran

Game 1

Saturday 22nd November 2025

Quarter Final 2

3pm @ Sportlann, Colaiste Feirste 

Clontibret (Monaghan) v Derrygonnelly (Fermanagh) 

Game 2

Saturday 22nd November 2025

Quarter Final 1

6.30pm @ Sportlann, Colaiste Feirste 

Southern Gaels (Cavan) v Bredagh (Down)

Antrim champions, Casement’s Portglenone

Game 3 

Sunday 23d November 2025

Prelim Game 

1pm 

Sportlann, Colaiste Feirste 

Ardboe (Tyrone) v Portglenone (Antrim)

by thesaffrongael

Cross & Passion retain MacNamee Cup

Danske Bank MacNamee Cup final

Cross & Passion Ballycastle 1-12 St Patrick’s Maghera 2-7

CROSS and Passion Ballycastle retained the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup in an exciting final in Allen Park, Antrim on Wednesday evening evening, a goal from Ronan Smith two minutes before half-time the key score in the contest.

In a game played in cold conditions, which included a few snow showers, both sides served up a game of excellent hurling with little separating them throughout.

Cross & Passion’s K Gillan comes out to clear the danger

Up until Smith’s strike, St Patrick’s Maghera seemed to be able to respond to everything CPC threw at them. However they went in at the break a point down, 1-7 to 1-6, and the Ballycastle boys then hit them with three points in three minutes to open a gap.

Cross & Passion just about deserved their victory as they moved the sliotar that little bit faster and more directly while Danny Cassidy in the Maghera goals denied them at least two goals in the first half and another after the break.

Maghera had a lot of possession in their opponents’ half and could have taken points to keep the score-board moving. Instead they over-elaborated and Ballycastle were able get in around them and snuff out the danger.

They were held scoreless over the last 24 minutes of play. Ballycastle only scored two frees in that period, but those two scores divided the teams at the final whistle.

Sean Johnston, one of the stars of the game for CPC, started the scoring with a point, but that was the only time Ballycastle led until Smith’s goal. Fionn Mullan responded with a point and Daithí McGarrity took a pass from Mullan to hit the net.

Although free-taker Ruairí McQuillan hit back with two scores, the goal was still the difference at the midway point of the half.

Ballycastle then hit three scores in two minutes, from Iarla Gillan, Johnston and Jake Feetham to level the game. But within two minutes Maghera were on top again with points from McGarrity, Mullan and Davin Gallagher.

St. Pat’s Daniel Boyle breaks down the sliothar.

There was another McQuillan free before Smith’s snap-shot hit the Maghera net and on the resumption Smith and Johnston (two) stretched their lead.

Maghera hit back with a point from a Kearney free and in the 36th minute the same player stroked a penalty to the net. Unfortunately that was their last score.

Indeed there were only two further scores in the remaining 24 minutes, both Ruairí McQuillan frees that were enough to see CPC home.

Cross & Passion: R Smith 1-1, R McQuillan 0-5 (fs), S Johnston 0-4, I Gillan and J Feetham 0-1 each

St Patrick’s: D Kearney 1-2 (1-0 pen, 2 fs), D McGarrity 1-1, Fionn Mullan 0-2, Fiontan Mullan and D Gallagher 0-1 each

CPC: O McConville, K Gillan, C McAuley, C Keenan, D McMullan, D Boyle, O O’Connell, C Bailey, I Gillan capt, R McQuillan, S Johnston, N McAuley, R Smith, J Feetham, B Murtagh

Subs: R Hennessey for C Keenan (19), J Richmond for B Murtagh (39)

St Patrick’s: D Cassidy, D Ruddy, C Ruddy, S O’Kane, R Quinn, C McNicholl capt, C Dillon, D Kearney, Daniel Boyle, Fionn Mullan, D McGarrity, D Gallagher, F Kerr, Fiontan Mullan, Danny Boyle

Sub: P Hogan for Danny Boyle (39)

Referee: Lorenzo McMullan

Alistar McGilligan presents the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup to Cross & Passion captain, Iarla Gillan

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE MacNAMEE FINAL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/uwrNz4pD3yD2Gd