March 6, 2025March 6, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Goals the difference as Portglenone advance

O Cahan Cup

Casements Portglenone 3 – 10

Randalstown Tir Na Nog 0 – 11

The old adage that goals win games was evident at O Ceillagh Park Portglenone on Wednesday night when Portglenone ran out nine point victors in this South west senior championship tie.

Goals from Oisin Doherty, Michael Hagan and Aidan Mc Aleese made the difference, the last one from McAleese in the very last action of the game to put gloss on the margin. The truth is that from general play there was little to separate the sides, with some excellent individual performances and score taking from distance to get the season up and running.

Casements, with the help of those two first half goals went in five points up, and try as they did, Randalstown just couldn’t find a way to reel in that deficit as Portglenone managed the game out to a successful conclusion.

The occasion marked the introduction to senior football of two seventeen year olds. Casements Ryan McKeever came on in the second half and didn’t look an inch out of place. For the visitors full forward Dylan McLarnon caught the eye from the start, winning lots of first phase possession. Both look to have a bright future for their clubs.

For the hosts Aidan Mc Aleese, Enda Lynn and Michael Hagan looked sharp and in blue, Darragh Fagan, Sean Paul McAtamney and the lively Dylan McLarnon put in big shifts on the night.

Special mention to referee Kevin Parke for his excellent handling of the new rules in a match that passed off without incident.

March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 by thesaffrongael

St Louis win Year 8 Hurling Antrim Shield final

Gaelfast Year 8 Shield final

Final Score St Louis 5-5 vs. 2-6 St Malachy’s

St Louis Ballymena won the Year 8 Hurling Shield at Woodlands in Wednesday when they came from a goal down at half time to beat St Malachy’s in a really good final.

The match began as a cagey affair with both teams needing time to settle into the game. St Malachy’s would settle first as midfielder Cormac Carbine would raise the first white flag of the afternoon. St Louis would reply instantly with a point from their own Joseph McMullan. Lorcan McGarvey and Adam Kane in the St. Malachys defence would play a key role in halting St Louis attacks. Eventually, St Louis pressure would be rewarded through long-range delivery being latched on by corner forward Alfie Gordon. St Louis started to gain control of the match with Cayden McGuickan scoring a point from a great solo run. 5 minutes before half time, St Malachy’s would equalise with a goal from Conn Culbert as the midfielder stormed through the St Louis defence to put the sliotar in the side netting. St Malachy’s would keep up the pressure with a pointed free from Carbine before Gerard McAllister top-spined the sliotar in the roof of the net from an acute angle to put his side four ahead at half-time.

Half time St Louis 1-2 vs. 2-2 St Malachy’s

St Louis would take full control of the game at the restart, where they hit 3-2 without reply in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Ronan Laverty and Joesph McMullan scored a point apiece, while the two St Louis corner forwards combined well with Aidan Scullion scoring a goal and Alfie Gordon got 2 more goals to complete his hat-trick. St Malachy’s would fight to the very end with players like Conn Culbert scoring 2 long-range points, Fionntan Killyleagh and Cormac Carbine scoring a point apiece to close the gap. St Louis would go on to score another goal through substitute Kiran Jayarprakash, which would give St Louis the insurance score that they sought after. St Louis could thank players like Luke Bradley, Conor McKeever, and Tomas Matthews for their work rate throughout the whole game, which gave them a framework to win the game.

Congratulations again to St Louis on a real team performance and becoming Year 8 Hurling Shield 2025 Winners.

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March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 by thesaffrongael

CPC finish strong to book final place against St Mary’s

Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup semi-final

Cross & Passion Ballycastle 2-12 St Killian’s 1-10

Cross & Passion College Ballycastle secured a place in the Foresters Cup final when they beat St Killian’s College, Garron Tower in Wednesday’s semi-final at Coleraine University. For three quarters of the game there was little between the two sides the Ballycastle school finished strongly as they hit eight points without replay to see off the St Killian’s challenge.

Playing with the advantage of a strong diagonal breeze St Killian’s led at half time but you felt their one point advantage (0-7 to 1-3) was not going to be enough, and so it proved.

With Cathair McCambridge picking off ealy points for St Killian’s they opened a two point lead before CPC corner forward

Cathair McCaughan raced in from the left wing and flicked a ball across the St Killian’s goal, which Matthew Donnelly batted down into the net. With Conlith McNaughton and McCambridge finding the target for St Killian’s they hit back to take a one point lead at the interval.

CPC’s left half forward Caolán Christie drilled a low shot to the net in the opening minute of the second half but St Killian’s hit back right away following a Cahir McCambridge point Donnacha Laverty hit the back of the CPC net to put St Killian’s back in front. However CPC were gaining the upper hand as the game advance and it took a good penalty save by goalkeeper Ben Duncan to deny McConville a goal. There was no let up for the Tower boys however and CPC picked off some very good point to seal the win.

CPC: M Donnelly and C Christie 1-0 each, L McConville 0-5, 4 frees, D McMahon and C McCaughan 0-3, 1 free each, C McAuley 0-1.

St Killian’s: D Laverty 1-0, C McCambridge 0-7, 5 frees, C McNaughton 0-2, C McGarrell 0-1.

Cross & Passion: Patrick Campbell, Conor McCann, Liam Smyth, JJ McGarry, Oran Baudant, Eunan Johnston, Oisin Donnelly, Darragh Kinney, Logan McConville, Damian McMahon, Charlie McAuley, Caolan Christie, Daire Elliott, Matthew Donnelly, Cathair McCaughan

Subs: Eoin Bailey for D Elliott (40), Odhrán Boyle for C Christie (59)

St Killian’s Ben Duncan, ⁠Jake Laffan, ⁠Paddy Morgan, ⁠Brian McNeill, ⁠Odhran Kerr, ⁠Dylan McNaughton, ⁠Cadhan Graham, ⁠Ronan Magee, Christopher Leech, ⁠Shane McQuillan, ⁠Connlaodth McNaughton, ⁠Charlie Black, ⁠Donncha Laverty, ⁠Cahir McCambridge, ⁠Connal óg Trainor

Sub: Cian McGarrell for C óg Trainor

Referee: Owen Elliott

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March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Local Schools in hunt for National Awards

Two South West Antrim Primary Schools have made the shortlist for the prestigious Cornmarket Cumann na mBunscol national awards.

Moneynick Primary School are in the running for the Promotion of Gaelic Games and Culture award. Anyone with even a passing interest in Cumann na mBunscol will know of the great work taking place on and off the pitch in Moneynick and they richly deserve to be in the final three of the category.

St Mary’s Portglenone are flying the flag for Antrim and indeed Ulster in The School of the Year award. Over the years of South West and all county competition, St Mary’s have regularly been at the business end of the boy’s football and camogie tournaments. The past number of years has seen this continue but in addition they have also been successful in hurling and LGFA, quite an achievement for the Portglenone School.

Both schools carry the support and best wishes from all in Aontroim Cumann na mBunscol and from the GAA community as a whole.

The awards take place this Friday in the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone.

March 5, 2025March 5, 2025 by thesaffrongael

Cumann na mBunscol Cross Country

Moneynick P.S. hosted the first South West Antrim Cumann na mBunscol Cross Country Competition at Saint Benedict’s College, Randalstown.

We were honoured to collaborate with the PE department and their GCSE pupils. Their meticulous planning and attention to detail consolidated the success of the event. We are grateful for their continued friendship and post primary partnership.

Over 80 pupils braved the 1200m course with the top 3 individual runners and top two teams in the boys and girls races recognised with commemorative Cumann na mBunscol medals.