by thesaffrongael

CPC win Foresters Cup after penalty shoot-out

Danske Bank Foresters Cup Final

Cross and Passion, Ballycastle 2-18-2-18 St Mary’s CBGS, Belfast 2-18

(AET, Cross and Passion win 3-1 on penalties)

Cross and Passion Ballycastle added the Foresters Cup to their collection of trophies this season when they beat St Mary’s in a penalty shoot-out at the end of a cracking game at Slemish Park, Ballymena on Monday afternoon.  The game had ended at 1-13 to 0-16 at the end of normal time and 2-18 apiece after extra-time and so penalties were required for the first time in a Foresters Cup decider.

CPC players race to congratulate goalkeeper Paidi O’Kane at the end of the penalty shoot-out

Cormac McCann gave St Mary’s and early lead but points by Daire Elliott and Logan McConville gave Cross and Passion the lead for the first time. The game remained close as each time CPC edged ahead St Mary’s found a reply and midway through the half, St Marys hit the front again when Keelan McCann fire over and a pointed free by Jake Ward put them two clear.

Points by Charlie McAuley and Cahir McCaughan tied things up once again but CPC moved ahead when a McCaughan penalty was saved by St Mary’s goalkeeper Fionn Smyth, but the ball rebounded into the path of CPC’s Matthew Donnelly who blasted to the net.

St Mary’s responded well with Jake Ward sending over from a 65′ which was followed by one from play by Conal Dempsey and another from Cormac McCann which sent the teams in level at the break on1-6 to 0-9.

CPC corner forward Cormac McCann celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal

Four in a row at the star of the second half saw Ballycastle take a grip of the game again but St Mary’s kept battling away and were rewarded when point from Darren Delander and Cormac McCann free got them back in contention.

Ten minutes from time McCann added his fifth point of the game one-point to leave just a point in it, but Cross and Passion stretched their lead on three occasions, as Darragh Kinney and Logan McConville found the target.

St Mary appeared to be in deep trouble but Cormac McCann sent over a close-range free but Damian McMahon replied to leave a goal between the sides with time almost up.

St Mary’s refused to panic however and the excellent McCann added a further two frees to leave the bare minimum between the sides as the game went into over time. The tension was high at this stage and chances were squandered by both sides but St Mary’s won a free with time almost up and Jake Ward split the CPC uprights to tie it all up at the final whistle.

Paidi O’Kane saves and celebrates during the penalty shoot-out

CPC ahead again in front again early in the first period of extra time with a Charlie McAuley point and when Daire Elliott got his team’s second goal there seemed no way back for the Belfast boys.

and looked to have dealt St Mary’s a hammer blow when Cahir McCaughan passed the ball across and Daire Elliott slammed a shot to the net to give his side a 2-14 to 0-16 lead.

Within two minutes St Mary’s bounced back however, when Cormac McCann broke through and rifled the ball to the net before celebrating in style. It all appeared to be in vein however when CPC stretched the gap out to three again with just seconds remaining.

We all thought it was done and dusted but St Mary’s refused to give up, and their efforts were were rewarded when right half back Aaron Kennedy’s fired a shot to the top corner of the CPC net to bring the game to penalties.

The St Mary’s corner back clears from defence

Penalties was probably something that neither side wanted but that is the way it had to be. Stand in goalkeeper Paidi O’Kane, who was drafted in at the eleventh hour when regular goalkeeper was injured during the week became the hero of the hour when he saved the first St Mary’s penalty which left the Glen Road boys up against it. The CPC boys struck their penalties clean and accurate with Charlie McAuley and Daire Elliott making no mistake. St Mary’s got off the mark through a successful Matthew Murray strike, but Cahir McCaughan made it three-from-three for Cross and Passion and when the next St Mary’s penalty was also missed the celebrations got underway in the CPC camp.

Cross and Passion scorers: Damian McMahon (0-5, 0-3f), Logan McConville (0-4, 0-3f), Darragh Kinney (0-3), Daire Elliott (1-2), Matthew Donnelly (1-0), Charlie McAuley (0-2), Caolan Christie (0-1), Cahir McCaughan (0-1f).

St Mary’s scorers: Cormac McCann (1-8, 0-8f), Conal Dempster (0-3), Jake Ward (0-3, 0-2f, 1 65′), Keelan McCann (0-2), Darren Delander (0-2), Aaron Kennedy (1-0).

REFEREE: R Matthews (Rossa)

Little Joe Smyth, whose brother Liam was full back on the CPC team, gets his hands on the Foresters Cup after the game

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

https://myalbum.com/album/ZhHAovp8paCZYt/?invite=a2ed202e-17f2-47e8-9602-6d31ee9883f2

CROSS & PASSION COLLEGE

1 Padai O’Kane
2 Conor McCann
3 Liam Smyth
4 JJ McGarry
5 Oran Baudant
6 Eunan Johnston
7 Oisin Donnelly
8 Darragh Kinney
9 Logan McConville
10 Damian McMahon
11 Charlie McAuley
12 Caolan Christie
13 Daire Elliott
14 Matthew Donnelly
15 Cathair McCaughan

16 Conlon Douthart
17 Aaron Gillan
18 Oran Devlin
19 Shea McGowan
20 Eoin Bailey
21 Odhran Boyle
22 Joe Deery
23 Adam Scullion
24 Sean Hunter
25 Cormac McGee
26 Conall McCarry
27 Sean McHenry
28 Peter Laverty
29 Ruairi Laverty
30 Patrick Campbell

by thesaffrongael

Second half goals seal it for the Gaels

ACHL Division 2

St. Gall’s 1-11 Clooney Gaels 2-10

Second half goals from Ronan Graham and Colla McDonnell sealed an opening day victory for Cloney Gaels over St. Gall’s at the Bog Meadow on Sunday. The visitors edged a well contested opening half to lead by three at the break and Graham’s goal in the 11th minute steadied the ship after the hosts had threatened to stage a comeback.

Colla McDonnell second for the visitors put a bit of daylight between the sides after St. Gall’s had replied with a goal of their own but they were forced to defend in numbers as the Milltown Row men staged a strong finish but ultimately came up short.

Cloney Gaels travelled to Belfast on Sunday without their talisman forward, James O’Connell but over the hour they proved they are far from being a one man show as each player played their part in gaining victory in what is always a difficult fixture.

Goal scorers, Colla McDonnell and Ronan Graham (Feature Image) in Cloney Gaels win over St. Gall’s on Sunday

It was the Graham clan, Patrick and Ronan who got the ball rolling with Ronan hitting a second and Donal Graham edging the visitors 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after 8 minutes.

St. Gall’s would add only two more points before the break as the Graham’s continued to add to the Ahoghill total with Eoin Graham and Ronan 0-2 before Colla McDonnell broke the sequence with the visitors final point of the half.

Once again the name Graham continued to dominate the visitors score sheet in the second half with Eoin 0-2 and Ronan on target and Ronan adding to a great personal performance with the game’s opening goal and Colla McDonnell getting their second.

A good win for Cloney Gaels who have been going through a transition over the last couple of years with Shea Neeson, Paddy Dougan and Harry O’Donnell improving game by game in a new look full-back line and Noah Friel, Adam Mullan, Ryan Martin and Michael martin all seeing game time on Milltown Row.

St. Gall’s Scorers Eoghan Farrelly 1-1, Ptrick Friel 0-3, Ewan Rush 0-2, Aodh Mullan 0-2, Dubhaltach MacLiam 0-2, Ronan Crossan 0-1

Cloney Gaels: 1. Aiden Graham 2. Shea Neeson 3. Paddy Dougan 4. Harry O’Donnell 5. Charlie McCloskey 6. Bobby Magee 7. Dan O’Neill 8. Eamonn Brady 9. Conor Crossey 10. Patrick Graham 11. Ronan Graham 12. Eoin Graham 13. Donal Graham 14. Colla McDonnell 15. Noah Friel

Subs: Adam Mullan for Harry O’Donnell (half time). Ryan Martin for Crossey about (45mins) Ben Friel for (Eoin Graham 50mins) Michael Martin for Noah Friel (55minutes)

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)

by thesaffrongael

McManus hat-trick gives Johnnies good league start

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

St John’s 5-16 Cushendall 1-23

St John’s made a good start to their Division 1 Hurling League campaign when they beat county champions Cushendall at Corrigan Park on Sunday in a high scoring encounter.

With teams short a good few regulars the home team were on top from the start and went on to lead by four at half time.

Cushendall closed the gap after the break but the Corrigan Park men were always able to react and with full forward Oisin McManus in superb form they came back strong to win by five in the end.

The Johnnies made a good start to the game with a goal and a point in the opening minute, the goal coming from full forward Oisin McManus Cushendall came back with points from Ed McQuillan and Callagh Mooney. Both teams  added points but St John’s gained the upper hand again when full forward Oisin McManus got his second goal and then added a point from a free. Neill McManus kept Cushendall in touch hitting four of his team’s next five points and though the Johnnies pulled clear again a goal from the Ruairis full forward Joseph McNaughton on 23 minutes brought his right back into the game. However the home team steadied the ship in the run-in to half time and two more points by Oisin McManus and one from play by Aaron Bradley had them five in front at the short whistle.

Two points by Neill McManus and one from Fred McCurry early in the second half cut the Cushendall deficit to just two points, but four on the bounce by Oisin McManus (2), Shea Shannon and Daragh McGuinness had the gap out to six. Cushendall kept in touch as Neill McManus Fergus McCambridge and Joe McNaughton came back with scores but when Oisin McManus fired in this third goal and Shea Shannon added a point it was clear the league points were staying in Corrigan.

TO SEE MORE OF SEAN PAUL’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/inviRVze4GPSxL/?invite=d03764d5-dc59-4ece-84a1-fefcc613f95b

by thesaffrongael

Antrim regain the Ulster Camogie Cup from Derry

Antrim 2-15 Derry 2-09 

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran in Ahoghill 

The photo album can be found at the bottom of the report.

Antrim have added another piece of valuable silverware to the County cabinet, when they beat Derry in Sunday’s Ulster final. The Counties senior panel won the Very Div 1B National League on Saturday and no doubt fueled the Minor panel into pulling off something special. 

Spectators were treated to a tough game, where referee, Philip McDonald, allowed camogie to flow. Despite there being a lot at stake for either team, there were only six fouls in the first half and ten in the second considering the intensity of the match, this was a free-flowing final. 

Antrim took the game to Derry within seconds as the dynamic combination of Cara Delaney and Eva McNeill pushed into Derry’s scoring territory but after drifting the sliotar wide, McNeill would loop back around to secure the first point for Antrim from a 45. 

Antrim’s early tenacity would prevail as Eimear McCaughan drilled the sliotar towards Derry’s goalkeeper, Aoife McAteer; pulling off one of many excellent saves to keep Derry alive in the game. Antrim’s McNeill though would tidy that up with a point over the bar and Antrim were laying down a marker within three minutes of the start. 

Derry’s Cait Conway is about to endure the challenge from Antrim’s midfield pair of Aimee Ferris (13 for 9) and Eobha McAlister

Derry’s response was two points from Aoibh Mulholland and Mary Thérese McCullagh, though Mulholland’s point was a sign of things to come, as Antrim’s short puck outs would haunt the defence in the early stages of the game. 

A buoyant Antrim would push up even harder and just over the ten-minute mark, Aimee Ferris raised the green flag at the Slemish end, but celebrations were short lived as another short puck out at the Antrim end was turned over for a goal and scores stood level at 1-02 apiece. 

Tensions were bubbling over with an off the ball encounter between Derry’s Paige Bell and Antrim’s Eva McNeill but an entry in McDonald’s book would calm matters down and McNeill would go on to point two out of Antrim’s next three points, one of those screaming in from a tight angle under the clubhouse side. 

Casey Crawford formed part of Antrim’s defence that stood up to the best of Derry’s challenges

Twenty minutes in and Derry had now found themselves deep in Antrim’s territory and a feisty scrum on the edge of the box ended in Derry’s favour as Emma Quinn settled for the point, but the Saffron’s Eva McNeill would neutralise that with another fine point from a turned over ball. 

The large scoreboard announced twenty six minutes gone and scores Antrim 1-06 Derry 1-04 but in the remaining four minutes plus extra time, Derry rolled up another three points, one from Mary Thérese McCullagh and two from a very dynamic Aoibh Mulholland, her first from a stealthy tackle to gain possession and her second coming from a rebound off Antrim’s bar. As McDonald brought the first half to a close, Derry walked in one point the better, Antrim 1-06 Derry 1-07. 

The second half started with a bang as Antrim’s pacey runner Amy McAlister was prevented from making a run on goal and McDonald called for a penalty. Despite picking her spot as low into the left-hand corner, Antrim’s markswoman, Eva McNeill couldn’t have struck a better penalty as it bounced up awkwardly just short of the line but miraculously Derry’s Aoife McAteer, later Player of the Match, stretched and pulled off the save to keep Derry well in the game. We should point out though that Antrim’s goalkeeper pulled off nothing short of a miraculous save in the first half as she blocked an incoming sliotar at point blank range, see one of our album photos to appreciate this. 

Antrim’s goalkeeper, Orlaith Johnston pulls off a goal saving block at point blank range

That save was converted into a forty-five and McNeill cruised that effortlessly over the bar just before Antrim’s Amy McAlister would eventually have her goal as Eobha McAlister caught the puck out and sent it accurately into Amy McAlister. 

A Casey Crawford – Aimee Ferris – Eva McNeill combination of passes would allow McNeill to notch the Saffron’s score up by another point, though Derry’s Emma Quinn would steady the cause with a reconciliatory point after Antrim robustly defended a near goal line attack. 

As the scoreboard’s clock struck twenty minutes into the second half, Antrim would enter a purple patch and undoubtedly tipped the game beyond Derry’s grasp as five points bombarded the catch net , though a super point from Derry’s Cait Conway and a late goal from a free catch by Emma Quinn wasn’t enough to close the gap as Antrim converted the last two frees into solid points from Eva McNeill and Eobha McAlister. 

As McDonald brought the game to a finish, the final score stood Antrim 2-15 Derry 2-09. A remarkable game of topflight minor camogie, full of intensity, skillful hooking and brave blocking that was a showcase for Ulster camogie. 

Antrim starters and scorers 

Orlaith Johnston, Rhianna Black, Eva Lee, Leona Gillan, Maeve Devlin, Casey Crawford, Laura Black, Eobha McAlister 0-03 (1f), Aimee Ferris 1-01, Cara Delaney, Eva McNeill 0-08 (1f), Órlaith Gould, Amy McAlister 1-01, Mary McArthur, Eimear McCaughan 0-01 

Aoife Fitzsimons 0-01 

Derry starters and scorers 

Aoife McAteer, Ellie McCartney, Grace Draine, Lucy McKaigue, Ellie Griffen, Paige Bell, Eimhear Conway, Cait Conway 0-01 (1f), Aoife McWilliams, Mary Thérese McCullagh 0-02, Connie McBride, Aoibh Mulholland 0-03, Leah Cassidy 1-00, Jemma Shivers 0-01 (1f), Emma Quinn 1-02 

Photos from Sunday’s Minor final can be found in our album here… 

https://myalbum.com/album/mYNqtXR7WpxF4Z/?invite=eaf4d9ae-7a6b-4edf-8c1a-46edd813c765

by thesaffrongael

Creggan off to good start

Report and Pics: Joe Rice

ACHL Division 2

Kickham’s Creggan 4-17 Carey Faughs 0-12

Kickham’s Creggan find themselves top of the league after one round of the ACFL following Sunday’s emphatic victory over last year’s division 2 champions, Carey Faughs at their Staffordstown Road ground on Sunday.

Carey, who opted to remain in division 2 for 2025, travelled to the Lough Shore to get their campaign under way. The conditions were excellent with bright sunshine and a slight breeze.  A larger than normal crowd had gathered to watch what was expected to be a close encounter, but this wasn’t the case as the home side romped home with 17 points to spare.

 It took 4 minutes for Creggan’s Conor McCann to trouble the scoreboard with a point from play.  With 10 minutes gone, Matthew Rodgers and Sean McAuley had increased the home side’s tally to lead 0.3 – 0.0.  Callum Cane got the visitors up and running with a point on the 11th minute, but Creggan’s response was almost immediate with a point from Conor Small.  Conall McGlynn cancelled Small’s point out as both sides traded scores heading up to the short whistle.  

Kickham’s Sean Duffin, got on the score sheet with 2 fine points from play before Conor McGlynn and Conor McBride reduced the gap to two.  Creggan’s first goal came when Matthew Rodgers dropped a high ball in over the goalkeeper’s head to increase the distance between the 2 teams.  Conor McGlynn converted his 3rd free of the first half and the last score until the break was another point from play from Sean Duffin.

 HALF TIME SCORE:  CREGGAN 1.07 – CAREY 0.05

 Referee, Sean Elliott, got second half proceedings under way and a confident Creggan increased the gap to 6 points from a converted free by Conor McCann.  Carey’s response was to convert 2 frees of their own from Callum Cane and Conor McBride as their confidence started to grow and the game started to open up as a contest. 

Both sides battled hard and scores were hard to come by with both guilty of inaccuracy.  The home side’s Matthew Rodgers got his second point while his team mate Thomas McCann got on the score sheet.  The visitor’s Conor McBride, hit a purple patch with 3 unanswered points before Creggan responded with a 40 minute free from Conor McCann. 

Two goals in quick succession from Sean Duffin and a converted penalty from Conor McCann killed the game as a contest.  With 15 minutes left on the clock, Carey could only add a further 2 points, one each from Caolan McCaughan and Callum Cane, while Creggan went up through the gears with 3 points from Sean McAuley, a third from Matthew Rodgers, a second from Thomas McCann before Conor Small got the home side’s 4th goal, Creggan were home and dry. 

The last score of the game was from Kickham’s substitute, Dan Doran, with a point from play moments after entering the play.  Creggan’s management will be delighted with the margins of this comfortable win, while Carey were unfortunate to lose 2 men through injury, which didn’t help their cause.

 This win puts Creggan top of the league on score difference after one round of games but the Kickham’s won’t be getting too carried away with this result. Last year’s Intermediate and league champions Carey were without a number of players and undoubtedly their results will improve as the season progresses.

Creggan:  No.1 Shay Devlin, No.2 Peadar McGuckian, No.4 Senan O’Boyle, No.3 Aidan Maguire, No.5 Dan Doran (0.01), No.6 Ruairi McCann, No.7 Jake McAteer, No.8 Sean Duffin (0.03), No.9 Kealan McCann, No.10 Matthew Rodgers (1.02), No.11 Thomas McCann (0.02), No.14 Conor McCann (1.04), No.13 Sean McAuley (0.04), No.15 Conor Small (1.01), No.17 Michael Maguire, No.16 Joseph James Smyth, No.19 Lee Johnston, No.21 Michael Carey Small, No.20 Danaan O’Hara, No.26 Ryan McGrath, No.24 Conor Loughran, No.25 Ronan McGuckian, No.23 Paul Colgan.

Carey:  No.1 Jimmy Joe Burns, No.2 Kevin Murphy, No.3 Zach McCaughen, No.4 Oisin Healey, No.5 Somhairle Mathers, No.6 Caolan McCaughen (0.01), No.7 Daniel McBride, No.8 Callum Cane (0.03), No.9 Ryan McQuaid, No.10 Adam Hughes, No.11 Darren McGowan, No.12 Fiachra McVeigh, No.13 Ryan McQuaid, No.14 Conor McBride (0.05), No.15 Conal McGlynn (0.03), No.17 Collum McKiernan, No.18 Eoin McCarry, No.19 Eoin McKinley, No.20 Michael McCormick, No.21 James McNeill.

 REFEREE:  SEAN ELLIOTT, LAMH DHEARG.