A week later the girls in the area assembled at All Saints’ GAC on the Woodside Road in Ballymena for the LGFA event.
The number of schools taking part, the skill and fitness levels and the competitive nature of the games is a testament to how LGFA is growing as a sport in SW Antrim.
Once again the sun decided to shine, making sure all the girls had a great day.
Similar to the boy’s competition the games were played in a great spirit.
The cup competition saw the Ballymacrickett girls in no mood to be out done by their male counterparts, defeating Millquarter PS by the narrowest of margins.
In the shield St Brigid’s Ballymena enjoyed success for the second year in a row over, coming their neighbours St Colmcille’s.
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Ballymacrickett Primary School have recently completed a unique double in South West Antrim Cumann na Mbunsol circles.
The Glenavy based school, within the space of a week, have been victorious in the SW Antrim 7 a side boys and girls football competitions.
Boys
The boy’s competition was hosted and superbly run by Creggan Primary School. After weeks of heavy rain the sun finally shone on the boys who gathered on the Staffordstown Road for a fantastic day of football.
The group games saw plenty of game time for all involved, with a super level of skill in evidence.
The recent introduction of a shield for these competitions has ensured that every team has something to play for, right until the end of the day.
In the cup competition, Ballymacrickett and Moneynick battled their way through to the final, with Mount ST Michael’s Randalstown and St Comgall’s Antrim progressing in the shield.
The finals highlighted the competitive nature of the event with both games won by a single score.
Congratulations to Mount St Michael’s who emerged victorious in the shield.
Ballymacrickett ran out cup winners and carry the best wishes from all in South West Antrim as they progress to the county finals.
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Naomh Bríd were delighted to welcome representatives from Belfast Harlequins RFC, Ulster Rugby, IRFU and the Ulster GAA to Musgrave Park for a pre-match reception ahead of our ACFL Division 1 clash with Erin’s Own Cargin. The event highlighted the Sport 4 Peace project which is a powerful cross-community initiative led by Ulster GAA in partnership with Ulster Rugby, the IFA and FAI, and supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme. Bringing people together through sport, the programme promotes participation, leadership and meaningful engagement across communities throughout Ulster. Massive thanks to all for attending a wonderful evening, despite the result and as always thank you to Una McCarney for putting on a brilliant spread!
Gort na Mona visited Aldergrove as big underdogs but their young forward line started the game with ferocious pace with Matthew McConnell scoring a goal in the 1st minute. The visitors were playing with a significant breeze behind them but were out of the blocks with serious intent. They continued to cause the Aldergrove back line issues with their inside forwards movement and racked up another point before Aldergrove managed to get the scoreboard moving when they hit back with 2 points.
The Gort’s keeper made an excellent save to prevent a Seamus McGarry goal before the visitors started to turn the screw with another goal and 3 points before Aldergrove got their final score of the 2nd half. Gort na Mona continued to dominate and went in at half time with a well-deserved lead of 2-9 to 0-3, thanks to a second McConnell major and it appeared game over.
With the wind at their backs Aldergrove came out a different side and had scored a goal and 2 points with Cormac McGarry scoring a great goal to bring the game back to 7 points before Gort na Mona replied with a great point from their no. 14. However the visitors were now struggling to contain a reinvigorated forward line with Ryan McCarthy winning plenty of ball up front and feeding the runners.
Aldergrove brought the game level with another goal from Conor Morris some great 2 pointers from Cormac McGarry and a point from Fergal Burke. With 5 minutes left to go Seamus McGarry hit a superb 2 point effort to go two up and this was followed by another point to move his side 3 points ahead.
With 4 minutes left to go, Aldergrove were reduced to 14 men to give the supporters plenty to worry about for the last part of the game but they held tight to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.
Rossa produced a fantastic second half display to record their second football league win of the season against a gallant hard working St Paul’s team.
With a strong wind at their backs St Paul’s were full value for their half time lead, going in at the break 2-3 to 0-3 in front.
St Paul’s made the early running and the Rossa defence had difficulty keeping tags on their fast moving forward line where Caoimhin Duffy and Lorcan Phillips were impressive. But it was their wing half back Niall McKenna who finished off an excellent move for a goal after taking a great pass from Conal Duffy.
Then after 15minutes Caoimhin produced the highlight of the game when he scored a long range goal leaving Mick Byrne stranded after a kick-out. St Paul’s extended their lead to eight points after a Lorcan Phillips point and things were looking bleak for the home side. Rossa steadied the ship late in the half when Colm Fleming and Diarmuid Rogan slotted over points.
Rossa started the second half in great form. They got to grips with the midfield area and with Stephen Beatty and the excellent Patrick Moyes driving them forward they responded with a string of points from Eoghan McMenamin, Ruari McDonagh, Tommy Morgan, Colm Fleming, Stepthen Beatty and Dominic McEnhill. Following a two pointer from 55meters from Mick Byrne Rossa went into the lead which they never relinquished. Rossa, with the introduction of every sub, grew stronger and ultimately it was their power off the bench that ensured victory for the home side.
St Paul’s worked hard throughout the sixty minutes and Mark Munce, James Farrell, Niall McKenna and Caoimhin Duffy can be proud of their efforts.
Rossa: M Byrne 0-3 (1xTPf, 0-1f), M McKernan, P Moyes, J McGurk, P Byrne, S Beatty 0-4, N Crossan, O McVicker, D Morgan, C Walsh, E McMenamin 0-1, D Rogan 0-1, C Fleming 0-3 (0-1f), E Fleming, R McDonagh 0-2
Subs: D McEnhill 0-1f, C McDonnell 0-1, T Morgan 0-2, Rory Grant, F McDonald
St Paul’s: L Higgins, A Kavanagh, E McGreevy, M Duffy, C McCann, M Munce, N McKenna 1-0; J Farrell 0-1, C Hughes, C Burke, C Duffy 1-5 (0-5f), L Phillips 0-1, S Burns, P Crawford, C Duffy
Subs: C Killyleagh, O Stevenson, C Finnegan, L Murphy
