by thesaffrongael

Late points secure Rasharkin the win

ACHL Division 3

St. Mary’s Rasharkin 2-11 Lamh Dhearg 1-10

St. Mary’s Rasharkin claimed the points in a keenly contested division 3 clash at Dreen against Lamh Dhearg on Sunday to keep themselves in touch with the leaders in division 3.

In a low scoring first half the home side led 1-4 to 0-4 at the break with the scoring improving for both sides after the interval as Rasharkin held on for a useful four point victory.

It was Rasharkin who got off to the better start with Thomas McMullan firing to the net for the game’s opening score in the 8th minute with Conan McMullan moving them four ahead with a point in the 10th minute.

The scoring dried up for a time with the mid-field exchanges and indeed the general play scrappy at times and it would be another 13 minutes before Conan McMullan sent over his second point of the evening as the visitors struggled to find a score.

25 minutes had elapsed before Adam Murray finally got the Hannastown side off the mark but a minute later Donagh Quigg restored the home side’s four point advantage.

The visitors did finally find their range in the run up to half time with three points, the best of these coming from Donal Martin with Conor McKeever replying for Rasharkin to leave his side 1-4 to 0-4 ahead at the break and all still to play for in the second half.

A point from Padraig Mervyn for the visitors in the opening stages of the second half had it back to 2 as the Hannastown side opened brightly but it brought a strong response from St. Mary’s as Conor McKeever pointed a free before Thomas McMullan found the net for his and Rasharkin’s second goal with 6 minutes of the new half gone.

Conor McConville for Lamh Dhearg and Thomas McMullan exchanged points but the visitors were starting to enjoy some success and Padraig Mervyn and Donal Martin pointed and then got through for a Lamh Dhearg goal with Conor McKeever interrupting those scores with a point for the hosts.

McKeever then pointed a free but it was to be his last action of the evening as he was given his marching orders following a second Yellow and Lamh Dhearg continued to push forward with Donal Martin again on target to close the gap to two with time almost up.

St. Mary’s looked in a bit of trouble but regrouped to finish strongly and Tiernan O’Boyle pointed a free before Donagh Quigg sent over the insurance point in injury time to give his side the points.

A good win for St. Mary’s Rasharkin which brings them level with Lamh Dhearg on 8 points but the Dreen side have 2 games in hand on the Hannastown side with Cuchullain’s Dunloy and Gort na Mona also on 8 in a tight division.

Rasharkin: 1 Brendan Kelly, 2 Conor Doherty, 3 Aidan McKeever, 4 Daniel Hasson, 5 Jason McGregor, 6 Tiernan O’Boyle, 7 Conor Donaghy, 8 Ruairi O’Boyle, 9 Conor McFerran, 10 Conor McKeever, 11 Conan McMullan, 12 James Higgins, 13 Donagh Quigg, 14 Thomas McMullan, 15 Oisin Doherty

Subs Used: Cathal Darragh, Jack Quinn, Liam Tunney

Lamh Dhearg: 1 Padraig Jo’hEarain, 2 Aaron Ferris, 3 Aidan McGuigan, 4 Fiachra Clenaghan, 5 Odhran Waldron, 6 Fionn Mervyn, 7 Dan Murray, 8 Ciaran Boyd, 9 Sean Paul Gibson, 10 Mark Finnegan, 11 Conor McConville, 12 Daniel Mulholland, 13 Padraig Mervyn, 14 Adam Murray, 15 Donal Martin, 16 Shane Gray, 17 Michael McGarry, 18 Conal Megraw,

Referee: John O’Connor   

by thesaffrongael

Super Saffrons Take U20 Crown

‘Fulfil’ Leinster U20 Hurling Championship

Tier 2 Final

Antrim 3-21 Carlow 1-10

Sunday 17 May

Brendan McTaggart reports from Ashbourne, Co. Meath

A brilliant second half performance from Antrim’s u20s saw them surge to the Leinster u20 tier two championship on Sunday afternoon.  17 points the difference between the sides and by the time Kevin McDonnell called for full time, the young Saffrons were well worth their margin of victory.

The foundations for the victory were laid in a first half where Antrim played against a strong wind and led by three points.  While Carlow narrowed that gap to two points some five minutes into the second half, Antrim dominated.  Keeping the Barrowsiders scoreless for the remainder of the game while going through the gears.  Cadhan Crawford top scored for Antrim, firing over 1-7 while Orrin O’Connor and half time substitute Conor Donnelly grabbed the goals.  With a total of 10 different scorers and 3-14 from open play, it was an extremely pleasing performance from Mickey McShane’s side who had leaders all over the pitch.  Captain Liam Glackin was instrumental and with Calum McIlwaine, Callagh Mooney and Orrin O’Connor also catching the eye.  Charlie McAuley got my nod for man of the match however.  ‘Chuck’ finished with three points beside his name and covered every blade of grass on the Donaghmore Ashbourne pitch.  His retention was excellent throughout while his aerial ability to catch clean ball in horrible conditions was peerless on the day.

Carlow won the toss and elected to play with the elements at their back as the monsoon season in County Meath began.  The rain was torrential but the start from the Saffrons lifted the spirits of those who braved the weather in attendance.  A point from Oisin McCallin was quickly followed by the first goal of the game.  Thomas McLaughlin putting in the hard yards to and Carlow tackles before finding O’Connor.  The angle was acute but it was a rasping drive from the Glenariffe man to find the back of the net.  A point from Crawford gave the Saffrons a five point lead inside the opening four minutes.

Carlow added scores from Peter Lynch and Jake Nolan but Antrim’s control and ability to break through the Carlow lines at speed gave them an edge.  Points followed from Crawford and McAuley before Kyle Nolan replied for Carlow.

The Barrowsiders had a glimpse of goal when Lynch got on the end of a flowing move, his effort was aimed for the bottom corner but Sean Og McLaren managed to deflect the sliotar away at full stretch.

Antrim continued to make light of the elements, using a brand of hurling that saw them have runners off the shoulder and options for the man in possession.  When they got the ball in quickly to Crawford, McCallin and McLaughlin, they looked like they had scores in them with every touch.  Their movement causing the Carlow defence insurmountable problems. 

The Saffrons tagged on scores from McCallin, Ronan Fitzgerald, Crawford, Liam McEnhill and Callagh Mooney in the second quarter with Carlow responding through Jake Nolan and frees from Ruairi Murphy to leave the half time score 1-10 to 0-9 in the Saffrons favour.

The ground work was put in during that opening 30 minutes but there was still work to do given that the same Carlow side came back from seven points down when the sides met last week to take the win.  It was going to take another strong performance from Antrim after the restart and the early signs looked good.  They fashioned a goal chance that saw McAuley going close and Crawford’s rebound leaving the Carlow defence scrambling to clear the danger.  Thomas McLaughlin would eventually tap over to get the Saffrons off the mark in the second half.

Jake Nolan and Cadhan Crawford swapped scores before Colm Kavanagh found the back of the Antrim net.  It looked like the Carlow forward was either fouled or was being blown for overcarrying and the referee definitely blew his whistle before the Carlow forward struck for goal but the goal was given and Antrim were being posed another question.

Mickey McShane’s side answered that question emphatically, however.  Kavanagh’s goal was the last score the Barrowsiders would register for the remainder of the final while Antrim turned the screw with their intensity in the middle third.

The second Saffron goal came from Conor Donnelly, his finish was out of the top drawer but the work of McCallin in the build up was eye catching and the vision he showed to find Donnelly in space was exemplary.  It increased the Antrim lead to five once again and was the perfect response to that Carlow goal.

The third Antrim major came with a quarter of the game remaining with Callagh Mooney this time creating the chance and Cadhan Crawford finishing with aplomb.  The young Ballycastle forward had a bit of work to do when he received the sliotar but his finish was excellent.

The final quarter was a procession for the Saffrons as they fired over a further eight points to put some daylight between the sides.  Mooney, McAuley, Crawford and Niall Magee raising white flags.

An excellent end to the U20 season for this group of players and as Mickey McShane alluded to after, it wasn’t the competition they wanted to be competing in with aspirations of the top tier but silverware nonetheless for a talented group of hurlers.

TEAMS

Antrim Starting XV: Sean Og McLaren; Cathair Donnelly, Liam Glackin, Conor McCann; Ronan Donnelly, Calum McIlwaine, Niall Magee; Charlie McAuley, Callagh Mooney; Liam McEnhill, Orrin O’Connor, Ronan Fitzgerald; Cadhan Crawford, Thomas McLaughlin, Oisin McCallin

Subs: Conor Donnelly for R Fitzgerald (HT), Reece Cunning for R Donnelly (46), Oisin McCamphill for L McEnhill (46), Ben O’Kane for Cathair Donnelly (54)

Scorers: C Crawford 1-7 (7fs), O O’Connor 1-1, Conor Donnelly 1-1, O McCallin 0-3, C McAuley 0-3, C Mooney 0-2, N Magee 0-1, L McEnhill 0-1, R Fitzgerald 0-1, T McLaughlin 0-1

Carlow Starting XV: Oisin McNally; Gavin Murphy, Alan Wall, Seanie McMahon; Daniel Bolger, Aodhan Kehoe, Ciaran O’Neill; Martin Carroll, Peter Lynch; Colm Kavanagh, Jake Nolan, Ruairi Murphy; Thomas Sheehan, Kyle Nolan, James Brennan

Subs: Andy Jordan for D Bolger (38), Eoin Doyle for A Kehoe (48), Jack Foley for C O’Neill (57)

Scorers: J Nolan 0-4, R Murphy 0-4 (3fs), C Kavanagh 1-00, P Lynch 0-1, K Nolan 0-1

Referee: Kevin McDonnell (Dublin)

To see more of Brendan’s photos from Ashbourne, follow the link below….

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by thesaffrongael

Molloy stars as Antrim beat Wexford in U23 Camogie final

All Ireland U23 Tier 2 Camogie final

Antrim 1-11 Wexford 1-09

Antrim have been crowned the All-Ireland U23B Camogie champions after securing a hard-fought 1-11 to 1-9 victory over a tough and physical Wexford side at O’Raghallaigh’s in Drogheda. The young Saffrons established their advantage early in the game, spearheaded by a brilliant individual goal from Eobha McAllister in the 15th minute, and demonstrated immense defensive resilience to hold on until the final whistle in greasy, showery conditions. Tipperary referee Mike Ryan allowed for a highly physical and intense contest, waving play on through robust challenges and limiting stoppages mostly to technical fouls, which made for a fantastic spectacle.

Eobha McAllister celebrates after scoring her team’s goal in the fifteenth minute of the U23 Final win over Wexford.

The opening twenty minutes saw just three scores, reflecting the ferocious intensity and work rate from both sides. Wexford’s Ciara Butler opened the scoring after nine minutes, before Cara O’Boyle equalized for Antrim. The game’s turning point came shortly after when O’Boyle delivered a long crossfield pass to Eobha McAllister, who deceived two defenders with a clever pick-up before firing a left-handed strike into the Wexford net. Contributions from Janey McIntosh, McAllister, and a massive long-range effort from inside her own half by captain Katie Molloy helped Antrim build a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the interval, having had the benefit of the breeze in the first half.

Antrim corner forward Cliona Griffin eyes the target.

While some pundits might have favored Wexford to capitalize on the conditions after the break, Antrim’s defense stood resolute. Both teams utilized a sweeper system from the start. Katie Molloy dropped back as the extra player for the Saffrons, pivoting a rock-solid defense and commanding the game so effectively that she earned the Player of the Match award. On the other side, Karen Tomkins performed a similar role well for Wexford. The third quarter remained tight on the scoreboard but highly entertaining. Elen McIntosh was the standout performer during this period, turning up the heat with three excellent points to push Antrim into a commanding 1-9 to 0-6 lead entering the final quarter. Moving the ball forward, Orlaith McAlister, Janey McIntosh, and Cara O’Boyle put in massive shifts, while Cliona Griffin’s pace constantly threatened the Wexford defense.

Elen McIntosh wins possesion before sending over an Antrim point.

Wexford mounted a fierce comeback in the final quarter, aided by Leah Furlong pushing into midfield and Layla Stafford applying heavy pressure with her driving runs. The introduction of substitutes in the 48th minute paid immediate dividends for Wexford. A long free from Keeva Steadman caused a scramble in the square, allowing substitute Aisling Goggins to bundle the sliotar into the net past Antrim goalkeeper Orlaith McAlister. Antrim responded maturely to this setback with crucial scores from Janey McIntosh and an Eobha McAllister free to regain control, but the pressure mounted in the dying minutes as Wexford reduced the deficit to just three points.

The two minutes of added time were full of drama. Cliona Griffin almost set up Cara O’Boyle for a clinching goal at one end, before Wexford countered dangerously. Ciara Butler looked goal-bound to tie the game but was halted by a crucial tackle from Katie Molloy. Steadman’s resulting low free deflected off an Antrim hurl and went over the bar for a point, ensuring the Saffrons survived the late scare to claim the All-Ireland title.

Team captain Katie Molloy battles to break through a Wexford challenge

Antrim Lineup and Scorers: O Johnson, E Coulter, A O’Donnell, D Dobbin, S O’Neill, K Molloy (0-1 free), C Crawford, S Heggarty, C O’Boyle (0-1), A Ferris, O McAlister, E McAllister (1-4, 3 frees), C Griffin, E McIntosh (0-3), J McIntosh (0-2). Substitutes: L Black for A Ferris, C Burns for E McIntosh.

Wexford Lineup and Scorers: K Steadman (0-1 free), E O’Brien, L Maddock, G Roche, L Nolan, K Tomkins, L Furlong, S Buttle, L Stafford (0-2), R Kinsella, C Butler (0-4, 3 frees), K Flood, E Tomkins (0-2), C Byrne, K Flood. Substitutes: A Goggins (1-0) for R Kinsella, G Ivanoff for K Flood.

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by thesaffrongael

LATE RALLY EARNS CREGGAN THE POINTS AT BALLYVEELY

ACFL Division 2

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills 1-17 Kickham’s Creggan 0-25

 Report: Joe Rice

Kickham’s Creggan travelled to Cloughmills on Sunday with the sides serving up an entertaining game of hurling and providing some excellent scores over the hour.  In a highly competitively first half, the sides were level on a couple of occasions but it was the hosts who finished the half stronger to lead by two at the interval.

After the break it was the Kickham’s who took control as they gained the upper hand around mid-field  and the South West lads pulled away for a comfortable 5 point win as the hosts scoring threat dried up, with St Brigids only able to add 4 points from the placed ball converted by the sweet striking Michael Devlin.

 Referee, Fionntan McCotter, got proceedings underway and Creggan were 2 points up in as many minutes, both off the hurl of Kevin Rice before James O’Boyle responded on the 4th minute to reduce the gap to 1. 

Creggan’s tally increased with a point a piece from Conor McCann and Morgan Nelson but the home side’s responded from a superb goal from the hurl of Eoin Dobbin, giving Creggan’s keeper no chance. 

As we reached the 15-minute mark it was point for point as Creggan’s Ronan McGuckian, Sean McAuley, Ruari McCann, Morgan Nelson and Sean Duffin added points with  St Brigid’s, Michael Devlin, adding to his tally with 2 further points from play, reducing the deficit to 2 points between the sides. 

Both sides battled on intensely with 3 more points from play for the visitors, Sam Maguire, Sean Duffin and Conor McCann.  St Brigids, for their part, were biting at the heels of the visitors with Stephen Smyth scoring 2 points on the trot in the 15th & 16th minute and Geoffrey Og Laverty narrowed the gap to a point with 19 minutes gone before Michael Devlin converted a free to put the sides level. 

Eoin Dobbin nudged St Brigids ahead on the 21st minute while Ryan Watson increased the gap to 2 points as St. Brigid’s enjoyed a period of domination. Conor McCann converted a free to reduce the deficit to the minimum again but Cloughhmills increased the gap to 3 points with 28 minutes gone through a converted 65 from Michael Devlin and a superb long range point from play by Eoin Dobbin.  Creggan did pull 1 back in injury time with Conor McCann getting the last score of the first half to leave the ‘Biddies’ leading by two at the break.

HALF TIME SCORE:     ST BRIGDS 1.13 v CREGGAN 0.14

Fionntan McCotter had to blow his whistle several times to encourage Creggan out of the changing room as St Brigids lined up eager to resume where they had left off.  Creggan’s Sam Maguire pointed immediately for the Kickham’s  and his team mate, Morgan Nelson added another in the 34th minute it was all square.   Michael Devlin’s briefly edged the home side ahead again from a free but at this stage of the game the tide was turning and the visitors were starting to take control.

Creggan responded with 3 unanswered points, 2 from Conor McCann and another from Morgan Nelson, to put their team 2 ahead with the home side replying from another free in the 44th minute by Devlin and as we headed into the final quarter Creggan were dominating all over the field.

St Brigid’s just couldn’t break down the visitors’ defence while at the other end Creggan increased their lead with  points in the 45th, 46th and 47th minutes from Ruari McCann (0-2)and 1 from Conor McCann to edge three ahead.   The St. Brigid’s scoring threat had all but dried up at this stage and again it was left to Michael Devlin to convert a free in the 51st minute. 

As we headed into the last 5 minutes of normal time, Creggan’s Conor McCann converted 3 more frees to give his team a 5 point cushion and with 3 minutes left of injury time on the clock, Cloughmill’s Michael Devlin converted his 4th free of the half while the concluding score of the match fell to Creggan’s Morgan Nelson, giving the visitor’s a comfortable 5 point win.

ST BRIGIDS:  No.1 Christopher McKern, No.2 Johnny Duffin, No.3 Corey Blair, No.4 Sean McKendry, No.5 Reece Watt, No.6 Ruari Laverty, No.7 Ryan Dobbin, No.8 Geoffrey Og Laverty (0.02), No.9 James O’Boyle (0.02), No.10 Ryan McFarline, No.11 Michael Devlin (0.08), No.12 Conor Laverty, No.12 Ryan Watson (0.01), No.14 Eoin Dobbin (1.02), No.15 Stephen Smyth (0.02), No.16 Cathaoir McFerran, No.17 Dean O’Boyle, No.18 James Doherty, No.19 Seamus Duffin, No.20 Conor McKendry, No.21 Jack McDowell, No.22 Aaron McGuckian, No.23 Kevin O’Boyle, No.24 Dara Waterson, No.25 Michael Reid.

CREGGAN: No.1 Cormac Rice, No.2 Ryan McGrath, No.3 Odhran Hamsey, No.4 Peadar McGuckian, No.5 Sennan O’Boyle, No.6 Kealan McCann, No.7 Daniel Dornan, No.8 Sam Maguire (0.02), No.9 Ronan McGuckian (0.01), No.10 Sean Duffin (0.10), No.12 Ruari McCann (0.04), No.13 Morgan Nelson (0.04), No.14 Kevin Rice (0.02), No.15 Sean McAuley, No.17 Thomas McCann, No.18 Michael Maguire, No.19 Paul Colgan, No.20 Aidan McIlwee, No.21 Shea Devlin, No.23 Conor McCann (0.07).

REFEREE:          FIONNTAN McCOTTER

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by thesaffrongael

Antrim Retain Junior Title

TG4 Ulster Junior LGFA Final

Antrim 3-18 Derry 2-6

Antrim retained their Ulster Junior title with a dominant display over Derry. Tight defending, a powerful midfield duo and sharp forwards helped the Saffrons to a 15 point victory.

Derry’s Aine Ni Lochlainn opened the scoring with a pointed free and Antrim then had a goal disallowed and were denied another by some brave goal keeping by Thomasina Cassidy. In the eleventh minute Ni Lochlainn doubled her tally with another free as the Derry girls made a bright start. 

Antrim took a while to turn territorial dominance into scores but they finally got off the mark with a 13th minute point from Maria O Neill and then hit another 2-4 without reply. O Neill hit the first goal in the 16th minute and then turned provider for Aoibheann Monaghan who found the bottom corner, soccer style. Midfielders Aine Tubridy and Omolara Dahunsi both pointed while O’Neill contributed another couple. Ni Lochlainn and Niamh Hannon cancelled two of the points however the last say of the half was from Theresa Mellon whose point helped the Saffron’s to a 2-6 to 0-4 interval lead. 

Antrim were quick out of the traps in the second half as Tubridy Monaghan and O Neill all pointed within the five minutes of the restart. Kate Hargan found the net for Derry with seven gone and then Jemma Shivers fired over. In the 12th minute Aine Tubridy’s shot ended up in the net via the crossbar and further points followed from Dahunsi, Mellon and wing back Laura Agnew. 

The final ten minutes was full of drama. Oak Leafer Ni Lochlainn netted from a close in free before Antrim’s Aoife Taggart saw yellow. Hannon and O Neill traded points but Antrim remained dominant and further points arrived courtesy of Mellon, Monaghan and captain, Bronagh Devlin. With just seven seconds left on the clock Dahunsi fired over from over 40 meters to finish a player of the match performance with a two pointer. Full time score Antrim 3-18 Derry 2-6. 

Antrim – A. Devlin, E. Kearns, M. Blayney, M. Mullholland, L. Agnew (0-1), C. Brown, D. Coleman, O. Dhaunsi (0-4), A. Tubridy 1-2, T. Mellon (0-3), M. O Neill (1-5), A. Davidson, E. Mc Areavey, B. Devlin (0-1) and A. Monaghan (1-2)

Subs Used – A. Taggart, L. Mc Nicholl and A. Mullholland

Derry – T. Cassidy, C. Dillon, L. Brewster, A. Mulligan, A. Donnelly, B. Donnelly, S. Heron, S. Duggan, C. Donnelly, K. Hannon (1-0), C. Moore, N. Hannon (0-2), R. Doherty, A. Ni Lochlainn (1-3) and J. Slevin.

Subs Used – S. Hargan, A. Crozier, A. Mc Allister and E. Dillon

Referee – S. McGoldrick (Fermanagh)

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