by thesaffrongael

Dunloy discover their Goal-den touch in Corrigan

Senior Hurling League – Division One

St John’s 1-19 Dunloy 4-19

Sunday 29 June

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast

Dunloy proved too strong for St John’s on Sunday afternoon as they ran out comfortable nine point winners at the end of the hour.  The Cuchullains ran in four goals, all in the first half when they cut through the St John’s defence at will.  In truth, they could have had more but for the reflexes of Domhnall Nugent between the posts for the home side and the uprights on other occasions.

Dunloy had 10 different scorers throughout the hour with just three points coming from placed ball while Keelan Molloy top scored with seven points despite playing in a deeper role.

Donall Carson finished top of the scoring charts for St John’s, ending the hour with an impressive 1-5 – all his white flags coming in the first half while Shea Shannon’s accuracy from placed ball added five of his seven points overall.  Conor Johnston and Aaron Bradley went through plenty of work but they were chasing shadows in a second half which Dunloy dictated.

The home side would finish the match with 14 men, substitute Daire King seeing red for a scuffle involving Phelim Duffin but it had no bearing on the result with the Cuchullains worthy of the size of victory.

St John’s actually started this contest superbly and after six minutes held a four point lead.  Paul Shiels opened the scoring but five points in four minutes from Shannon, Johnston, Aaron Bradley and Carson (2) had the home side well in control.

They sustained their four point advantage with a brace of Shannon frees coming after white flags from Nicky McKeague but two goals in the space of a little over 60 seconds put Dunloy in the driving seat.

Luke McFerran with the first major, coming from a cross field pass from Shiels to McKeague.  McKeague would find McFerran with the pass and while he had three St John’s defenders for attention, McFerran still found the back of the net.

The second Dunloy goal was something we’ve seen countless times from Nigel Elliott.  Collecting loose ball in the middle third, Elliott burst through and found the bottom corner with the Johnnies trailing in his wake.

The home side replied to the Dunloy goals with three unanswered points from Danaan McKeogh, Aaron Bradley and Conor Johnston but the Cuchullains clicked into another gear in the final quarter.

The third goal came from another Nigel Elliott run from midfield but this time he found O’Neill in space.  Despite the best efforts of Nugent in goals, ‘Sammy’ hit the back of the net.

Keelan Molloy and Conor Johnston swapped scores before Tom McFerran was denied another Dunloy major in the 20th minute, Nugent with a superb stop but Dunloy would score four of the next five points to extend their lead to five points.  Scores coming from Shiels, Ryan McGarry, Seaan Elliott (free) and a trademark point from Keelan Molloy from wide on the right on the stand side – a solitary point from Shannon the response from the home side.

A brace of points from Carson reduced that lead to three points before a fourth Dunloy goal came in the 27th minute.  Shiels and Luke McFerran both involved in the buildup before Nigel Elliott broke through and found the back of the net.

Scores from Carson and Keelan Molloy finished the scoring for the half with the half time score 4-9 to 0-15 in Dunloy’s favour.

After the scoring fireworks of the first half, the second half started slowly.  Both sides registering a couple of wides each and O’Neill denied a second major with his effort coming back of the bottom of the post.

The visitors did score the opening three points of the half, Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliott (’65) and McKeague extending the Dunloy lead and but for some last gasp defending from Ryan McNulty, Seaan Elliott would have added to Dunloy’s goal tally in the same period.

The lead was extended to 10 points going into the final six minutes when St John’s scored their goal.  Donal Carson with the finish that owed much to his determination and perseverance despite the presence of the Dunloy defenders.

Four minutes remained when Daire King was sent off, much to the dismay of the home crowd but it had little effect on the outcome of the game.  Dunloy finished with a flourish with Ryan Mort, McKeague and Keelan Molloy firing over with a Shannon ’65 the only response for the home side by the time referee Patrick Tumelty called time.

The hunt for league honours goes into the last round of matches with nothing decided yet.  Dunloy will host Loughgiel on Friday evening while the Johnnies league is over and they turn their attention to the championship.  They will hope for their long list of absentees to shorten before these two sides face each other in the championship.

TEAMS

St John’s: Domhnal Nugent; Odhran Carleton, Conall Morgan, Jack Bohill; Darragh McGuinness, Ryan McNulty, Enda McGurk; Shea Shannon, Caoimhin Hanna; Aaron Bradley, Conor Johnston, Danaan McKeogh; Donall Carson, Michael Bradley, Ruairi Galbraith

Subs: Adrian Downey for M Bradley (10); Michael Napier for D McKeogh (47); Daire King for R Galbraith (54)

Scorers: D Carson 1-5; S Shannon 0-7 (4fs 1 ’65); C Johnston 0-4; A Bradley 0-2; D McKeough 0-1

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Conor Kinsella, Eoin McFerran, Oran Quinn; Keelan Molloy, Ryan McGarry, Kevin Molloy; Nigel Elliott, Aodhan McGarry; Tom McFerran, Nicky McKeague, Luke McFerran; Eoin O’Neill, Seaan Elliott, Paul Shiels

Subs: Ryan Mort for P Shiels (38); Oisin McCallin for T McFerran (44); Phelim Duffin for C Kinsella (44); Deaglan Smith for L McFerran (50)

Scorers: Keelan Molloy 0-7; N Elliott 2-00; N McKeague 0-4; S Elliott 0-3 (2fs 1’65); L McFerran 1-00; E O’Neill 1-00; P Shiels 0-2; O Quinn 0-1; R McGarry 0-1; R Mort 0-1

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/XGGrJD3BmfVSwq/?invite=5f76b620-ddf4-4817-9395-fe84a0d37b4b

by thesaffrongael

Saints hit Naomh Comhghall for seven

U18 Football League Division 2

All Saints 7-7 Naomh Comhghall 0-7

All Saints climbed to fourth place in division 2 of the U18 Football League division 2 with a convincing win over St. Comgall’s at Slemish Park on Sunday morning.

The Ballymena side ran out convincing winners against a youthful but talented St Comgall’s side. 

The early exchanges were tight with missed opportunities on both sides. Conall Boyd got Saints off the mark but Comgall’s responded with a nicely taken equaliser, and followed with a 2nd to take the lead. 

This seemed to prod the Saints’ boys into action with 2 well taken goals from the boot of Eddie Smith and a point from Sean O’Brien. 

The Saints defence were standing firm marshalled by Watt, Connon, Henry and Anderson, restricting the Antrim town lads to shots from distance. Torin Hodkinson fired over a superb 2 pointer with the outside of the boot to reduce the gap. 

A fine team move involving King, Patterson and Croskery sent Sean O’Brien through for a well taken goal and another point from Boyd stretched the lead further.

Antrim responded with a well taken point after a few near misses caused by some good defending by Devlin and Murphy. 

When they finally got in for a goal chance Alex Crawford made a fine double save.

Bradley and Patterson were working hard around the middle of the park and they combined for Bradley to point the final score of the 1st half. 

The 2nd half began with Comgall’s starting well and got an early point on the board. O’Brien got on the end of another swift move to fire over the crossbar. Aodhan McGarry then found himself free at the back post to round the keeper and fire to net. Comgalls responded with 2 well taken scores but were unable to breech the Saints defence for a goal. The young Antrim lads, a few of which had played Feile the day before, kept on battling with some great work form McAleer, Floyd and Hodkinson they were keeping the Saints defence honest. 

As the teams entered the final 15 minutes the Saints boys introduced Crooks and Mulholland who worked hard to create chances. A point from King and McGarry pounced to get his 2nd goal after a fine save by the Antrim keeper. In the final few minutes Smyth broke through for his 3rd goal and Balmer also got in on the act with a well taken finish. 

A convincing win for the Ballymena men, the final score perhaps flattered the home side a little but Comgall’s gave a good account of themselves.

The sides meet again in the Laverty shield in a few weeks.

Gort na Mona are in the driving seat at present with 12 points from 6 games while Sarsfields and Rossa have 12 from 8 games played with the Ballymena on 11from 8 played

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

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by thesaffrongael

Antrim Camogie All County U10 Go Games creates games, memories and laughs

Report and photos from Antrim County PRO Michael Corcoran in St. Mary’s GAA and Camogie Club, Ahoghill

No one needed a coat or brolly. That’s a great starting position for any sporting event. In fact, sun cream was, for the latter portion of the day, in order. Starting with a parade around the top pitch with smiling faces and eager camogie players, Antrim’s Development Officer, Rachel Neeson managed to dial in the perfect blend of game time, organisation and memorabilia for the girls to take home as keep sakes.

Under the supervision of Antrim Camogie’s Carla McGrogan, the starting and finishing hooter bellowed around Ahoghill’s grounds synchronising everyone to a perfectly timed chorus of camogie. There was no shortage of eagerness to get to the ball or score or just enjoy the game.

The day kicked off with a parade around the top pitch, games that were aimed at maximising game time and then to finish the day, the all important prize distribution of medals to say thank you for coming along to play camogie and we hope you had a terrific experience. And there was a nice surprise as two of Antrim’s senior county players, Dearbhail Dobbin and Caitrina Graham showed up to hand out the medals and a souvenir programme to everyone.

Teams attending today’s blitz were in order of the programme:

St. Brigids, Lámh Dhearg, Geraldines Portglenone, Erin’s Own, Cargin, St Mary’s Ahoghill, Tír ná nÓg, Creggan, Dunloy, Naomh Eoin, St Mary’s Rasharkin, Pádraig Sarseil, Naomh Gall, Ruiarí Óg, Naomh Pól, Brídíní Óg, Naomh Éanna, Mhic Uilín, Ballycastle, Loughgiel Shamrocks and St. John’s, Carnlough.

We have a bumper album of photos for you to flick through and you can find that here…

https://myalbum.com/album/XTGxhBVsGLjf8U/?invite=085462f7-a8d7-45a0-8bac-ce54682b8ace

by thesaffrongael

Stop-over in Antrim for Hertfordshire GAA

English boys in Feile action in Swatragh

Hertfordshire GAA will be one of the sides taking part in Saturday’s Feile in Swatragh and Saffron Gael caught up with their team and management after an overnight stay in Co. Antrim.

The Hertfordshire side flew into Dublin on Friday night and made the trip to Antrim where they were greeted by Slemish Barn owner Maeve Bird and suitably catered for by local woman, Cecilia McDermott.

The Hertfordshire team chose Slemish Barn, in Aughafatten for their stopover prior to their pickup on Saturday morning and the relatively short journey to the Co. Derry venue where they will be taking part in division 5 of the football Feile.

The Hertfordshire side is made up of players from St. Vincent’s, St. Dympna’s, St. Colmcille’s and Eire Og and Keith Jackman, Community Development Officer for the county brought me up to date on the state of Gaelic games in the English County.

Hertfordshire GAA who took part in the Football Feile in Swatragh on Saturday

Keith visits schools in the county to coach Gaelic games and tells me that they have upwards on 350 children participating in the coaching sessions.

The panel who will be taking part in Saturday’s session at Swatragh are made up entirely of English born boys, an indication of the growth of our games across the sea.

Amongst the management party was Rebecca Carroll, the Hertfordshire Feile Co-ordinator who has been in the post for 16 years and her enthusiasm for her job and her knowledge has been a major factor in development in the county.

John Gaughan and Tony Crawley made up the backroom team accompanying Hertfordshire and they have promised to keep the saffron Gael updated on today’s Feile proceedings.

Maeve Bird, owner of the Slemish Barn in Aughafatten, Co. Antrim with Herttfordshire GAA’s Rebecca Carroll and Keith Jackman and local man, Seamus Dobbin
by thesaffrongael

Colin Schools 2025 Football League

Following on from the successful league format in 2024, the Colin Primary Schools League expanded in 2025 with the addition of Christ the Redeemer PS, Lagmore. Joining Holy Evangelists, St Kierans PS & Good Shepard PS with boys and Girls Gaelic Football teams from P6 &P7 years.

The 3G facilities at Sally Gardens in Poleglass host all matches over a 8 week period and continues to provide a strong identity for developing Gaelic Games in the area.

In the Boys section, Christ the Redeemer defeated both St Kierans and Holy Evangelists. In their final league game played on a day that produced all four seasons, Christ the Redeemer PS finished with a  win despite the difficult test in a well organised and determined Good Shepard PS. The game itself was fast flowing with some excellent passages of play and is a testament to the coaches at the school & the clubs from which the boys receive their weekly training. In their final league games, St Kierans PS battled despite having a depleted squad but doing enough to get the result v Holy Evangelists.  

The girls sectioned delivered further evidence of the continuing growth of ladies Gaelic football in the Colin Area with clubs such as Colin Gaels, St Paul’s GAC, Sarsfields & Lamh Dhearg all having a strong identity within the school teams. The high standard of football produced by all schools in the girls section is a testament to the schools & GAA clubs coaching. Christ the Redeemer PS on the final league day had too much to see off Good Shepard and needed this victory as defeat could have left the door open for St Kierans PS to mirror their successful 2024 season. In the final league fixture St Kierans and Holy Evangelists played out to a draw. 

Unfortunately on the last day the weather prohibited the outdoor awards ceremony taking place. Thanks to the teachers and parents / guardians who facilitated the running of the league programme and to Christ the Redeemer for facilitating the awards ceremony.

Final thanks to CLG NAOMH PÓL / ST PAULS GAC & ST KIERANS PS Poleglass for their ongoing support in delivering another excellent Colin Primary Schools League & also to the staff at Sally Gardens for their logistical support & Belfast Crystal for their fantastic league winners awards.  

Boys league Winners                                                       Girls league Winners

2024 Holy Evangelist (Twinbrook)                                  2024 St Kierans PS (Poleglass)

2025 Christ the Redeemer  (Lagmore)                          2025 Christ the Redeemer (Lagmore)