by thesaffrongael

Inexperienced Antrim fall to strong Monaghan at Dunsilly

Ulster U20 Football Tier 2 semi-final

Antrim 0-12 Monaghan 3-15

An inexperienced Antrim, missing a number of regulars fell to a more mature Monaghan in this Tier 2 Ulster U20 semi-final at Dunsilly on Monday night.

Most of the Antrim side are under age again next year and if they can be kept together then things will get better but there will be much that manger Colin Toal can take from Monday night’s performance.

Indeed it was Antrim who made the better start and a good move opened up the Monaghan defence with Lorcan Phillips firing over and the St. Paul’s youngster might well have had a goal.

It continued to look promising for the home side and a strong run from Paul Duffin set up Sean Boyd who pointed to put the Saffrons 0-2 to 0-0 ahead after five minutes

Monaghan opened their account through the accurate free taking of Matthew Finn, one of several soft awards the corner forward greatly accepted over the hour, before Killian Kearns brought the sides level with 8 minutes gone.

The visitors were beginning to get on top and Kearns was afforded acres of space as he soloed through for the game’s opening goal with the Antrim defence nowhere to be seen.

Matthew Finn added a point from play before converting his second free of the evening before Lorcan Phillips replied at the other end and then a strong run from Niall Hynds looked like producing a goal but Martin Quinn averted the danger.

The visitors replied again with Matthew Finn converting his third free of the evening and Killian Kearns hitting a fine 2 pointer and when Finn converted a ‘45’ it was starting to slip away from the young Saffrons.

Another Finn converted free moved Monaghan 8 ahead but a great long range 2 points free from Donnacha McGurk gave Antrim a glimmer of hope as the whistle sounded for half time.

HT Antrim 0-6 Monaghan1-9

The visitors extended their lead through another Finn free at the start of the second half but Antrim were still putting some promising moves together but unable to turn them into scores with Corey Walsh and Sean Boyd both off target.

They were made to pay the price as the excellent Sean O’Connell got through for Monaghan’s second goal in the 9th minute and when the same player followed up for a third after a good initial save from Jamie McLaughlin, it was over.

To their credit Antrim kept plugging away with Paul Duffin, Ronan Quinn and Niall Hynds to the fore and replied with points from Segdae MacAdhaim, Paul Duffin, Michael McKenna and Duffin again.

Sean O’Connell and Darragh McMahon replied for the Farney County but two more from Ronan Quinn and Eamon Ward put a better reflection on the final score line as Kearns concluded the scoring with a great 2 pointer for the visitors.

A disappointing campaign for Antrim with just one point to their credit from a draw with Fermanagh. It doesn’t tell the whole story however as Colin Toal and his management team have been without key players throughout their campaign.

They have shown in spells that they are capable of much better and some of their play tonight was good but bad choices or poor finishing let them down on several occasions.

They came up against a bigger and more physically imposing Monaghan on this occasion for whom Niall Mehan Matthew Carolan, Sean O’Connell and free taker, Matthew Finn were excellent.

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM MONDAY NIGHT’S GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/9aLx27QDYVV7en

by thesaffrongael

Rossa maintain perfect start with win over the Shamrocks 

O’Neills ACHL Division One 

Rossa 3-17-1-18 Loughgiel Shamrocks 

Kevin Herron reports from Paric Rossa 

Rossa hurlers maintained their winning start to the league campaign with a 3-17-1-18 win over Loughgiel on the Shaws Road on Saturday evening. 

The hosts asserted their authority quickly and quickfire Tiarnan Murphy points had them in the driving seat, Diarmaid Rogan extended his before the opening goal arrived inside of five minutes. 

Tiarnan Murphy cut out a sideline ball and tried to drop the ball over from inside the Loughgiel half, but it dropped out of the hand of Shea McDonnell and into the net. 

A further point followed by the older of the Murphy siblings- Deaglan, scoring the first of nine frees over the course of the evening. 

Loughgiel were eventually off the mark thanks to an angled Christy McGarry score, with Deaglan Murphy responding with a free. 

Shan McGrath was the source of many of the visitors’ scores, landing his sides second from a free- only for Deaglan Murphy to conjure his third score from the same scenario. 

Further points were traded between Caolan Blair and Murphy (free) before the Shamrocks hit a five-minute purple patch that yielded four scores unanswered. 

Donal McKinley popped over his first score of the half, McGrath clipped over his second free, Ronan McGarry tried to work a goal chance but his shot was diverted over and Christy McGarry doubled his tally with a shot from range that dropped over. 

Their hard work was undone however with Aodhan O’Brien opening his account for the evening and quickly doubling it with a goal. 

O’Brien cut out Enda Og McGarry’s crossfield pass and rifled low to the bottom corner to give his side a 2-8-0-7 lead. 

Deaglan Murphy made it four from four attempts in the aftermath, but Loughgiel finished the half strongly. 

Ronan McGarry doubled his tally with an impressive angled score, Shan McGrath helped himself to two further points from the placed ball and Rian McMullan popped over a nice point. 

Deaglan Murphy closed the half out with his fifth free as Rossa were 2-10-0-11 ahead at the midway point. 

Talisman Murphy landed his first point from play shortly after the restart- though Ronan McGarry saw a difficult angled shot sail between the posts. 

Frees were traded between McGrath and Murphy and points from play between Ronan McGarry and Aodhan O’Brien. 

The sides continued to cancel each other out with O’Brien and Rian McMullan trading further points and it wasn’t until the 42nd minute that Rossa had threatened to kill the game off with their third goal. 

Eoin Trainor took a pass from Daire Murphy and despite being caught on the arm on route to the target, he was able to pop a pass into the path of Aodhan O’Brien to lash home his second goal of the evening and make it 3-14-0-15. 

O’Brien would add a further point to his personal tally before departing- though things were far from settled as Rian McMullan flashed a shot to the net to make it 3-15-1-15 with more 12 minutes remaining. 

Rossa had to withstand a few late half chances with Conor Rocks parrying a further McMullan attempt and a Tiago McGarry shot was diverted to safety. 

Substitute also flashed a quickly taken free past the post – in between those chances a further Ronan McGarry point from play and a 65’ from Shan McGrath had saw the Shamrocks close the deficit to four. 

Deaglan Murphy eased any lingering nerves with an eighth conversion from the free and he would drop over 65’ to end his side’s scoring. 

A consolation point from McMullan didn’t alter the final outcome as Rossa made it three wins from three to join St Johns on the league summit at this early juncture. 

by thesaffrongael

Saffrons in semi-final action tonight

Antrim face Monaghan tonight (Monday) in the U20 Tier 2 semi-final at Dunsilly 7-30 and we call on Antrim Gaels to come out in numbers and give them your support. Antrim lost to All Ireland champions Tyrone and to a strong Donegal side in the league stages but drew with Fermanagh in the group stages and will be hoping for a first win tonight and we wish them all the best’

Moneyglass man, Paul Duffin has been strong in the Antrim defence

by thesaffrongael

Antrim heading to Ulster A final despite Farney defeat

Ulster LGFA Minor. 

Monaghan 2-13 Antrim 0-14

Pics Niall Mitchell

Antrim lost on the road to a very well organised and talented Monaghan minor side in their final group game. The outcome sends Antrim to Ulster Platinum final against Cavan and Monaghan to Gold final against Donegal. 

A much changed Antrim side fell behind after 2 quick Monaghan points and never got their noses in front. To the credit of both teams the game was always competitive and the result was in doubt to the last with Antrim pushing for the win and the Farney girls picking off scores at vital times. 

Monaghan dominated much of the first half play and seemed to score 2 points for every Antrim score. Indeed the young Saffs were somewhat wasteful in front of goal while Monaghan were able to pick off good scores from the impressive trio of Karen McGinn, Katie McAdam and Caoimhe Kelly and deservedly led 1-8 to 0-5 at the break. 

Antrim were well served by Tara Rodgers, Aoife Garland and Chloe Boyd-Munce all making their first starts of the campaign and tried to overturn the halftime deficit with a spirited second half display. Antrim took the opportunity to rotate as many players as possible. 

Playing with patience and composure Antrim chipped away at the Monaghan lead but the vital goal came for the home side midway through the second half and this left Antrim with just too much to do.  

On a day when Monaghan needed to win they produced at key times and defended resolutely throughout. 

Both sets of management could be happy with their team’s efforts in an entertaining match. 

Antrim will use the next fortnight to get a number of injuries cleared while Monaghan will hope to build on today’s performance. 

Antrim scorers

E Stewart 0-10. (0-7f)

A Monaghan 0-2

A Fitzsimons 0-1

A McGarry 0-1

by thesaffrongael

St Galls take the points at Milltown Row

ACHL Division 2

St Galls 2:18      Shane Ui Neills  0:13

Pete Hyndman reports from Milltown

On a clammy dampish afternoon both these teams sit mid table after playing 3 league games and a solitary win each.

The 2 clubs deserve some credit in providing the crowd with a solid hours good hurling!!

As the referee threw the ball in, both teams defences lines stood strong and cancelled each other out.

It wasn’t until the ninth minute when the hosts Jackson McGreevy slotted over a point, he followed up with his second effort a minute later.

Next up popped Glenarm’s Sean O Hare who pointed a free, shortly afterwards he levelled this tight tussle with a well struck 70 yard free.

Mc Greevy again drove over a point taking his tally to 3 score’s.

Shane Ui Neill’s player Dylan McLaughlin collected the sliotar down the wing and struck a majestic point from out near the side-line.  

Dubhaltach Mac Liam pointed next for the hosts but Glenarm where starting to win a few balls and hit a purple patch to take the lead with Dylan McLaughlin hitting three great points in a row, plus Sean O Hare rifling over a fine score.

From a very acute angle Ronan Crossan pointed for the hosts before young Gerard Burns, who has started his first year as a senior player for Glenarm drove over two excellent points.

An injury just before half time to Glenarm’s Sean O Boyle meant an early bath for him, hobbling off with a bad ankle injury, replaced by Sandy Johnston. 

A point late in first half injury time for the hosts concluded the first period.

St Galls   0:07      Glenarm   0:09

The second half started in rip roaring fashion for St Galls as they levelled this tense game with two quick scores for Dubhaltach Mac Liam and a Jackson Greevy free.

Fergus Donnelly was covering every blade of grass on the pitch and took a delightful point for over 50 yards before Darren Hamill replied for the visitors with a nice effort.

Mark Napier slotted over a fine solo point, before a dead ball effort from Glenarm’s  free taker Sean O Hare levelled this game for the fourth time.

It was end to end at this stage but St. Galls Jackson Mc Greevy then pointed a brace of frees,  taking the hosts two scores clear.

For the hosts, Fergus Donnelly who was finding a lot of loose balls, found a gap and charged forward and drove the ball beyond Michael Abram in Glenarm nets for the game’s opening goal.

There was a bit of respite for the visitors as O Hare pierced the afternoon sky with his 5th point but it was short lived as Gregory McGreevy struck another major for the hosts, and Mark Napier getting his second point.

Sean O Hare pointed another free for the North Antrim side but it was the clock was against the Feystown side.

A threat from the hosts led to a wonder save from Michael Abram parrying the ball wide for a “65” (the supporters and St Gall’s management team applauded Abrams efforts to keep Glenarm in this match.)

The resulting placed ball was put over the bar from Mark Napier, followed up by Jackson and Gregory Mc Greevy slotting over points. A final point from St. Galls late on finished the game as the referee called for the sliotar.

Although an 11 point win looks a one sided game, both teams played really well and it wasn’t until the final quarter that St. Galls upped the ante and hit two game changing goals.

The hosts had a few great ball winners and scorers with Fergus Donnelly, Jackson Mc Greevy, Mark Napier and Dubhaltach Mach Liam all putting in a great hours work.

For Glenarm the Hamill brothers, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Conal Ward and young Gerard Burns all performed well. We wish John Scullion a speedy recovery from a chin injury.

Glenarm’s management will have a headache after today’s game, as they already have 6 senior players injured from the past two games and will be hoping that some of them will be available for the visit of St. Paul’s on the 26th April.