by thesaffrongael

Antrim last met Armagh back in 2023

 by thesaffrongael

Tailteann Cup for Antrim after Ulster exit in Armagh

Today we begin the build-up to Antrim’s eagerly awaited Ulster Championship meeting with Armagh at Corrigan Park (Saturday 12-30pm). The sides last met in an Ulster Championship Preliminary Round meeting at the Athletic Ground on the 8th of April 2023 which Armagh won comfortably and today we bring you the report and photographs from that game.

Later in the week we will previerw Saturday’s clash on the Whiterock which I believe will be a great spectacle for Antrim fans as they welcome the All Ireland Champions to West Belfast and I would expect Antrim to make life much more difficult for Armagh with an upset certainly not ruled out.

Ulster SFC Preliminary Round

Armagh 0-20 Antrim 1-8

Armagh coasted into the first round of the Ulster championship after a comfortable win over a tepid Antrim in this preliminary round opener at the Athletic Grounds tonight. The visitors lacked drive and passion during the opening exchanges and found themselves 0-9 to 0-1 down after 27 minutes but finished the half better to hit three of the last four points.

The omission of Odhran Eastwood from the Antrim starting 15 came as something of a surprise but the introduction of the Saffron’s top scorer in the National League in the second half brought about some improvement though Andy McEntee’s side never looked like getting back into contention.

The home side hit the opening three points of the game through Ruairi Grugan, Ciaran Martin and Conor Turbitt and could have been further ahead but Mick Byrne pulled off a brave blocking save to deny Jason Duffy.

8/4/2023 Antrims Ruairi Mc Cann in action with Armaghs Greg Mc Cabe . in Saturdays Preliminary Round Ulster Football Championship at Box IT Athletic Grounds

Man of the match, Turbitt added two more to move his side O-5 to 0-0 ahead after 15 minutes before Ruairi McCann, Aghagallon punched over the visitor’s first point with 17 minutes gone.

The Saffrons were running into cul-de-sacs and being continuously turned over as Shane McPartlan and Stephen Campbell stretched the Armagh lead to six by the 20th minute as Patrick Finnegan replaced Colm McLarnon in the Antrim side.

Armagh continued to look dangerous in attack as Antrim continued to shoot from poor positions and Tiernan Kelly and Jermal Hall extended the home side’s lead to 8 with 8 minutes remaining to the break.

The visitors finished the half well however with Conor Stewart, Eoghan McCabe and Ryan Murray from a free closing the gap to six as Jerome Henry sounded his half time whistle but it looked a long way back even at this stage of the game.

It was Armagh who started the second half on the front foot as they had the first and Ethan Rafferty, Shane McPartlan and Conor Turbitt moved them nine ahead by the fifth minute before the battling Peter Healey set up Pat Shivers for the visitors opening point of the half

McPartlan replied immediately with an Armagh point as Antrim introduced Odhran Eastwood and Adam Loughran and it brought about an immediate response as Marc Jordan produced a strong run before setting up Conor Stewart for an excellent goal in the 51st minute.

8/4/2023 Armaghs Stefan Campbell in action with Antrims Marc Jordan in Saturdays Preliminary Round Ulster Football Championship at Box IT Athletic Grounds

It failed to bring about the required response however as McPartlan Grugan and Conor Turbitt 0-2 (1f) moved the Orchard 9 ahead after 60 minutes and it was clear that there would be no way back for Antrim.

Creggan’s Ruairi McCann pointed a close range free for the Saffrons before the excellent Turbitt replied from play and then pointed an excellent ‘Mark’ before Odhran Eastwood, who looked lively since his introduction, fired over the game’s final score.

Armagh now travel to Cavan in the first round proper while Antrim await their draw in the Tailteann Cup after another disappointing Ulster Championship display as they remain without a victory in the provincial series since their win over Fermanagh in 2014.

Armagh: E Rafferty; J Morgan, A McKay, A Forker; Ciaran Mackin, G McCabe, B McCambridge; B Crealey, S McPartland; S Campbell, R Grugan, J Duffy; J Hall, C Turbitt, T Kelly.

Subs: S Magill, R Finn, C Higgins, S Sheridan, Connaire Mackin, C McConville, E Woods, J Kieran, A Nugent (capt), O Conaty

Antrim: M Byrne; E McCabe, P Healy (capt), J McAuley; P McCormick, J Finnegan, M Jordan; C Stewart, K Small; C McLarnon, R McCann, P McBride; P Shivers, R McCann, R Murray.

Subs: Odhran Eastwood, Dominic McEnhill, Adam Loughran

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)

8/4/2023 Antrims Conor Stewart in action with Armaghs Stefan Campbell . in Saturdays Preliminary Round Ulster Football Championship at Box IT Athletic Grounds
by thesaffrongael

St Malachy’s battle back to claim their first Kirk Cup

Danske Bank Kirk Cup final

St Malachy’s Belfast 2-19 St Patrick’s Keady 3-14

Pics by Matthew McAllister – Ulster Schools GAA

A brilliant second half which saw them come back from two goals behind to win in the end by two points saw St Malachy’s Belfast clinch the Danske Bank Kirk Cup for the first time at Stewartstown on Tuesday afternoon against St Patrick’s Keady.  

Corner forward Shea Bell, who slotted over 10 points over the hour (6 from frees and 4 from play) plus left half back Harry Feeney who accounted for 2-2 were the heroes of the hour for the Antrim Road boys as they upset the odds to take the honours.

The Belfast school held the upper hand during the first 20 minutes and led by 0-5 to 0-4 Bell accounting for 3 of his team’s total but the Armagh boys hit back with a goal from James Hamilton and they held the upper hand during the remainder of the half. Two points from Conor McKeever, plus one apiece from Cayden Feeney and Shea McNaughton saw them stretch their advantage to three and when Sé O’Connell fired home a goal in added time the Keady school were in a very strong position going in at the break. (2-08 – 0-08)

The gap was out to seven not long after the restart James Hamilton grabbed their third goal and the Belfast boys had to be thankful to Bell for keeping them in touch. The smart money would certainly have been on Keady at this stage but St Malachy’s dug deep and points from Bell and Brennan proved to be the first steps in their comeback. Things really swung in St Malachy’s direction when Harry Feeney hit two goals, one on either side of a Bell point, to tie the scores with just ten minutes left on the clock.

Sé O’Connell put Keady back ahead but St Malachy’s were not to be denied and three points from Bell started the run which saw them home.

St Malachy’s: H Feeney 2-2, S Bell 0-10, 6fs, R Ó Scanaill 0-3, O Brennan 0-2, C Carabine and D Keenan 0-1 each

St Patrick’s: J Hamilton 2-2, S McConnell 1-1, 0-1f, C McKeever 0-4, C Feeney 0-3, 2fs, C Baxter 0-2, S McNaugthon and L Beagan 0-1 each

Sean McGourty of Ulster Schools GAA presents the Kirk Cup to St Malachy’s captain Conor McCusker after his team’s comeback win over St Pat’s Keady.

by thesaffrongael

St Patrick’s Rasharkin at the the Double

St Patrick’s Rasharkin completed the football double adding the Fee MacGorman 7 a side boy’s football trophy to the indoor 5 a side won earlier this year.

At the annual Allianz Ireland South West cumann na mbunscoil blitz in Creggan the football on display was, like the weather outstanding. 

After a fiercely competitive morning of football the teams were split into a cup and a shield section.

In the shield a determined and skilful St Brigid’s Ballymena overcame hosts Creggan in an entertaining and enthralling game to see the school lift its first piece of boys football silverware in sometime.

In the Cup final Mount St Michael’s Randalstown and St Patrick’s Rasharkin produced a game of outstanding skill, quality and endeavour. It was nip and tuck the whole way, with the Rasharkin men prevailing at the end. Best wishes go to St Mary’s as they progress to represent the South West in the all county finals.

Well done once more to both teams.

In what was a memorable day for all and a big thanks must go to Kevin Small from Creggan PS for organising and to Gaelfast coaches and staff for making sure everything ran so smoothly.  

by thesaffrongael

North Antrim players dominate the Colleges Hurling All Stars

With two of the three north Antrim colleges featuring in the 2024 Mageean Cup final, and the other in the semi-final, it is no surprise that the Colleges Hurling All Star team is dominated by the three north Antrim schools. They have snapped up 12 of the 15 jerseys. Four awards go to All-Ireland Paddy Buggy Cup champions Cross & Passion Ballycastle while the six St Killian’s Garron Tower players named featured strongly for the school when they captured the same title in 2023d. St Louis Ballymena students Jack Martin and Fionntán Bradley complete the dozen.

As regards club representation, there are five from Ruairí Óg Cushendall, three from Loughgiel Shamrocks, two from Oisín Glenariff and one each for Dunloy and Ballycastle.

The six St Killian’s players who won All Star awards were, L-R, Thomas McLaughlin, Colla Ward, Charlie McAuley, Oran McCambridge, Calum McIlwaine, Callagh Mooney

One of the Shamrocks, CPC winning captain Liam Glackin, is joining an elite group of players who have collected three successive All-star awards. In Liam’s case he now will have a complete collection of jerseys from the half-back line.

In addition there are also no fewer than four other players who were on last year’s team including Thomas McLaughlin from St Killian’s. The Ruairí Óg player was goalkeeper on last year’s team when his brother Joseph picked up his second award at full-forward. Thomas now takes over on the edge of the square from Joseph.

Club and school team-mate Callagh Mooney also collects a second award as does Colla Ward, an All-Ireland judo champion and an Ulster minor club winner with Oisín Glenariffe.

The two St Louis students selected are Jack Martin and Fionntán Bradley, the latter one of the five Ruairí Óg players named. He also holds a Mageean medal – with his school two years ago.

Interestingly two of the St Killian’s All-stars are sons of All-stars. Conor McCambridge picked up two awards in 1992 and 1993, and in that second year his Garron Tower team-mate Pádraig McIlwaine joined him. Oran McCambridge and Callum McIlwaine now follow their fathers.

The fourth double All-star was a member of the Derry team that won Ulster and All-Ireland minor football titles last year. Cathal Ó Mianáin’s brother and current Derry senior hurler Ruairí was also a dual All-star in 2022 and 2023.

The Loughgiel trio of Roan Fitzpatrick, Liam Glackin and Roan McGarry.

Derry All-Ireland football minor winning captain and 2024 minor footballer of the year James Sargent also comes into defence. The Lavey dual player holds three Derry minor hurling medals as well as Kirk Cup and Casement Cup medals with his school St Mary’s Magherafelt.

The other non-Antrim player in the selection is the first to represent the new Downpatrick school, Lecale Trinity. Cian Clarke was the sub goal-keeper on the Red High team that won the Danske Bank Mageean Cup three years ago. He is a son of long-time Down net-minder Graham Clarke and is currently between the posts for Down at under 20 level.

The team will collect their All-star awards at a Gala Dinner in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Belfast on May 2nd.

Oonagh Murtagh, Head of South Business Centre at Danske Bank, announced the teams commenting:

“At Danske Bank, we’ve been passionate about helping our society thrive since our beginnings 200 years ago. One way we do that is through our youth sports sponsorships with Ulster Schools GAA, Ulster Schools’ Cup Rugby and the Northern Ireland Football Association.

“The Ulster Schools All Stars is a fantastic, long-standing initiative that recognises outstanding sportsmanship across Gaelic football and hurling each year – and something we’re really proud to be a part of. This year’s GAA competitions have showcased the very best of our young players. It’s a real testament to how our young footballers and hurlers have been nurtured and developed throughout their school sporting career.

The five Ruairi Og players on the All Star team. L-R, Oran McCambridge, Charlie McAuley, Fiontann Bradley, Thomas McLaughlin, Callagh Mooney

“The commitment and dedication to even be nominated for an All Star is immense, and we’d like to congratulate all of the players selected to participate in the trials as well as the remarkable 30 individuals who made the two All Star teams this year.”

The 15 players selected for the 2023-24 Danske Bank All-star hurling team are:

1.      Cian Clarke, Lecale Trinity Downpatrick

2.      James Sargent, St Mary’s Magherafelt

3.      Colla Ward, St Killian’s Garron Tower

4.      Cathal Ó Mianáin, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire

5.      Jack Martin, St Louis Ballymena.

6.      Charlie McAuley, St Killian’s Garron Tower

7.      Liam Glackin, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

8.      Ronan Fitzgerald, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

9.      Calum McIlwaine, St Killian’s Garron Tower

10.  Oran McCambridge, St Killian’s Garron Tower

11.  Callagh Mooney, St Killian’s Garron Tower

12.  Fionntán Bradley, St Louis Ballymena

13.  Conor Donnelly, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

14.  Thomas McLaughlin, St Killian’s Garron Tower

15.   Roan McGarry, Cross & Passion Ballycastle

by thesaffrongael

CPC win the JJ Murphy Cup

Danske Bank JJ Murphy Cup final

Cross & Passion Ballycastle 7-8 St Mary’s Limavady 4-8

A scoring burst between the 12th and 19th minutes of last week’s JJ Murphy Cup final in Kilrea took Cross & Passion clear of St Mary’s Limavady and on their way to retaining the trophy, their second football title of the season.

During that period on top CPC scored five goals and a point and that helped them to an interval lead of 5-3 to 4-4. During the second half the boys from north Antrim were able to close out Limavady at the back and pick off enough scores to stay comfortably in the lead.

St Mary’s had the better start with Riley Brolly’s hand-pass sending Daithí O’Connor through for the first goal after three minutes. Limavady led by 1-2 to 0-2 when Ballycastle’s goal run began with Killian Cassidy sending Daire Kearney in for the first strike.

Seamas McAleenan of Ulster Schools GAA presents the JJ Murphy Cup to CPC captain Killian Cassidy after his team’s win over St Mary’s Kimivady in the final at Kilrea

Kearney scored the second Ballycastle goal as well, tapping in when Iarla Gillan’s shot came back off a post and Iarfhlaith O’Kane quickly lobbed in a third. John óg Darragh and Ronan Smith scored the other goals to put CPC into a commanding lead.

Through that spell however Liam McClelland brought off two excellent saves at the other end before Limavady moved the dangerous Corin Burns to the edge of the Ballycastle square. Burns responded with two goals in quick succession and when O’Connor added his second after a fine solo run, Limavady were very much back in the hunt.

Burns closed the gap to a single point on the re-start, but the north Derry school didn’t score again until the 49th minute, by which point a goal from Dara McShane and five unanswered points had stretched Ballycastle’s lead to nine points.

CPC captain Killian Cassidy rounded off a good team performance by sliding home the seventh goal a couple of minutes from time.

CPC celebrate with the cup

Cross & Passion: D Kearney 2-1, R Smith 1-2, 0-1 (f), J óg Darragh, K Cassidy, I O’Kane and D McShane 1-1 each, T Richmond 0-1.

St Mary’s: C Burns 2-5, 0-2 (fs), D O’Connor 2-0, K King, E O’Dwyer and C Donaghy 0-1 each.

Cross & Passion: Liam McClelland, Gerard Gillan, Ben Linton, Malachy McSparren, Sean Johnson, Pearse McMullan, Rory McCloskey, Tom Richmond, John óg Darragh, Ronan Smith, Killian Cassidy, Iarfhlaith O’Kane, Dara McShane, Iarla Gilla, Daire Kearney.

Subs used: Killian Bellew for S Johnson (40), Finn McKeown and Jamie Maguire for D McShane and I Gillan (both 48)

St Mary’s: Killian Kealey, Conall Carraig, Jacob Cassidy, James Duffy, Ciarán McIvor, Cormac Cooke, Cillian Donaghy, Cahir Carton, Corin Burns, Caiden McWilliams, Davan Gallagher, Kian King, Riley Brolly, Daithí O’Connor, Emmett O’Dwyer.

Referee: Sean McGuigan (Slaughtneil)

St Mary’s Limivady