St. Paul’s produced a strong performance to overcome the challenge of Ballycastle in wintry conditions in Rasharkin on Saturday. Ten minutes into the game the heavens opened with a heavy hail shower but when conditions settled down the sides went on to produce a good final.
It was last year’s beaten finalists, St. Paul’s who dominated the opening half and goals from Maeve Devlin in the 11th and 19th minute saw them in control at the halfway stage.
Ballycastle, for whom Emma Connor was excellent at centre-half, did better after the break and actually out-scored their opponents but never looked like getting the goal they needed to mount a serious challenge.
The heavens open in Dreen during the Junior Camogie final between St. Paul’s and Ballycastle
The ‘Castle’ were first on target as Shannon McQuillan pointed a free in the 4th minute but Nicole Munce fired over the equaliser as the game was treated to a heavy shower of hailstones.
Saorlaith Brennan gave the Shaw’s Road girls the lead with a point in the 10th minute and when Maeve Devlin followed with a goal from an acute angle St. Paul’s were in control.
Saorlaith Brennan added her second point of the afternoon before Shannon McQuillan replied from her second free in the 17th minute as the North Antrim side struggled to break down a solid ‘Hoops’ defence.
A second goal from Devlin, two minutes later and points from Rebecca McConville and Fionnghuala Rocks saw the Shaw’s Road side head for the dressing rooms leading 2-5 to 0-2 and even at this stage it looked a long way back for Ballycatle.
The Sea siders needed a good start to the second half if they were to make inroads into the St. Paul’s lead but it was St. Paul’s who extended their lead with a Niamh Ritchie point after 30 seconds.
Slowly though Ballycastle started to enjoy some success with their free taker, Shannon McQuillan adding two more to bring her total for the evening to four and Emma McQuillan striking a good effort from play to give her side some encouragement.
Rebecca McConville for the Red & White hoops and McQuillan with another well struck free exchanged further points by the 22nd minute but St. Paul’s were always able to find a response.
Fionnghuala Rocks fired over a long range free and Saorlaith Brennan added another from play before Erin O’Harra in the ‘Castle’ goals pulled off an excellent save as the Belfast girls threatened again.
Louise McBride replied with a late point for Ballycastle and it was to prove the game’s final score as last year’s beaten finalists celebrated at the final whistle after a game where they were always in control.
Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship Final
Cargin 0-10-0-08 Portglenone (AET)
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
Cargin won their third Padraig McNamee Cup on the spin but were forced to dig deep and go to the well in their 0-10-0-08 extra-time win over Portglenone at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Champions were pegged back deep in second half injury time when Aidan McAleese kicked his second free in a matter of minutes to restore parity and force extra-time.
Late in the first period, Pat Shivers and Tomas McCann pointed inside of 60-seconds to edge them back ahead before their insurance score arrived from a Eunan Quinn point in the dying embers of the second period of extra-time to ensure the Toome outfit make it three successive county titles and six in the last seven years.
Battle of the big men! Portglenone’s Niall Delargy and Cargin’s John Carron battle it out under a dropping ball during Sunday’s Antrim Senior Football final at Corrogan Park. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine
Portglenone were first off the mark inside of sixty-seconds, Conor Magee fed the ball off to Oisin Doherty- who weaved his way forward and clipped the ball over.
At the other end Tomas McCann bore down on goal and dragged his low shot a few yards wide of the far post.
A turnover in midfield led to the Bannsiders doubling their advantage with Ronan Kelly firing in a pass that was laid off to Enda Lynn to float over.
Ronan Kelly then converted an angled free as the Ports had settled the better on the Whiterock Road.
It took Cargin until the 13th minute to register on the scoreboard, Tomas McCann popping over from the placed ball and Pat Shivers then swung over another less than 60-seconds later – taking a pass from Mick McCann and dropping his shot between the posts.
With five minutes to the break Portglenone were temporarily reduced to 14-men. Dermot McAleese was cited for a bodycheck off the ball and referee Kevin Parke issued a black card.
A fine block from Conor Magee prevented a possible Cargin goal before the break after Sean O’Neill was advancing and had lined up a goal-bound effort.
The Champions would hit two scores in less than a minute to edge ahead at the break. Tom Shivers ran onto a Mick McCann pass through the hands and dropped over with Conor Johnston adding another in the first minute of added time to ensure the Toome outfit were 0-04-0-03 ahead at the midway point.
Portglenone returned to their full complement two minutes after the restart and the returning McAleese kicked an advanced mark to draw the game level.
Approaching the midway stage in the second half, Cargin regained their slender advantage after Mick McCann found John McNabb with a quick free and the veteran keeper hung up a high shot that dropped over.
Their lead was doubled when Sean O’Neill was hauled down and Tomas McCann converted the placed ball, but Enda Lynn replied quickly from play.
Cargin captain James Laverty is tackled by Portglenone’s Ruairi Hagan during Sunday’s Antrim county final at Corrigan Park. Pic by John McIlwaine
Cargin restored their two-point lead on the 59th minute, again O’Neill was illegally brought to ground and this time Pat Shivers swung over the free to give his side a 0-07-0-05 lead going into added time.
Substitute David Johnston was adjudged to have overcarried and Aidan McAleese clipped over the free to make it a single point game again.
It looked as though his side’s chance had come and gone however when they were awarded a difficult angled free that Michael Hagan hung up and Pat Shivers claimed, but after Sean O’Neill was blown for overcarrying the chance of redemption came and Aidan McAleese kicked his second free of injury time to draw the game level and ensure extra-time was on the cards.
Cargin centre-back Kevin McShane and corner forward Jamie Gribbin in action against Portglenone’s Ruairi Hagan. Pic by Bert Trowlen
Extra-time:
Portglenone drew first blood early in extra-time when Aidan McAleese’s free dropped short and Niall McKeever’s fisted attempt snuck inside the large post.
However, Cargin hit back with a late double at the end of the first period. John McNabb hoisted a high ball that Mick McCann gathered and laid off to Pat Shivers to land a marvellous angled point.
A trip on Jamie Gribbin then afforded Tomas McCann to kick his third free of the contest and he obliged to ensure his side held a 0-10-0-09 lead at the midway point in extra-time.
The second period ebbed and flowed with McCann’s score still the difference. Enda Lynn dragged an attempt off the target and that would be his sides last proper attempt.
A minute into time added on at the end of the second period Cargin substitute Eunan Quinn settled the game with a fine shot that sailed over the bar.
Big Pat Shivers makes a great catch in the final minutes of the game. Pic by Bert Trowlen
Cargin: J McNabb (0-1), K O’Boyle, R Gribbin, Conan Johnston, J Crozier, K McShane, S O’Neill, P Shivers (0-3, 0-1f), G McCann, B Kelly, Conor Johnston (0-1), J Laverty, T McCann (0-3f), M McCann, T Shivers (0-1). Subs: J Carron for G McCann (23), J Gribbin for B Kelly (44), E Quinn (0-1) for T Shivers (47), D Johnston for Conan Johnston (50), B Kelly for R Gribbin (73), C Gribbin for P Shivers (77), R Devlin for S O’Neill (80+1).
Portglenone: K Mullan, R Delargy, K O’Kane, D McNicholl, C Magee, R Hagan, N Delargy, N McKeever (0-1), D McAleese (0-1m), F O’Kane, E Lynn (0-2), S Kelly, O Doherty (0-1), M Hagan, R Kelly (0-1f). Subs: A McAleese (0-2f) for S Kelly (37), R Convery for C Magee (37), S Byrne for R Kelly (50), K McKenna for F O’Kane (58), S Delargy for R Delargy (68).
Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)
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Antrim Camogie Intermediate Championship Final Ahoghill v Loughgiel 12th Oct 24
Ahoghill 3-07 Loughgiel 0-09
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Páirc Uí Catháin, Port Chluain Eoghain.
An early goal from Ahoghill’s Aisling O’Donnell in the first thirty seconds of the game, set up St. Mary’s for a run of goals as conditions wreaked havoc on scoring points. With four seasons rolled into one, Ó Cathan Park offered little shelter but spectators were noisy and enthusiastic, delivering an exciting sound track for this intense Intermediate Championship.
Both halves catered for more fouls than points but the difficult conditions majored in that, as both sides went toe to toe for the full sixty minutes and three extras.
Match referee, Owen Elliott, got the game underway after Ahoghill won the toss and opted to play towards the clubhouse just past the hour and a loose sliotar from the throw-in, delivered in high towards Loughgiel’s goals, found the stick of a pressing Aisling O’Donnell, who wasted no time finding the net. This would be Ahoghill’s technique for the next two goals, deliver a soaring sliotar and let the force of the wind drop it sharply down for a gamble near the goal mouth that paid off three out of the five occasions.
But an unphased Shamrocks squad went quietly about their work and found the space above Ahoghill’s bar from acute angles near the scoreboard. Carlina Sullivan would strike first with a minute and half gone, followed by points from Ceala Dobbin and Kirsty McKendry around the four minute mark, allowing Loughgiel to pull alongside Ahoghill on the scoreboard.
Ahoghill’s O’Donnell would figure in an assist as she found Noreen Graham running into space on the right hand side of the pitch. Graham floated the sliotar wide of the right upright but it was well calculated to draw back in from the wind, which was coming from the right corner and that point would be the last the game would see for nearly another twelve minutes as five fouls resulted in no scores until Loughgiel’s Carlina Sullivan stirred the scoreboard back into life with another point from an acute angle under the scoreboard.
Ahoghill’s Catriona Graham played a big role in sweeping back not only to take her fair share of the frees but to strengthen the mid field and finding the sliotar, offloaded to mid fielder Niamh Neeson. Neeson played for the high lob and down it fell to a waiting Katie McCloskey and St. Mary’s would enjoy their second goal of the game with twenty nine minutes elapsed.
It would fall to Loughgiel’s Orlagh Laverty to close the gap by a point, taking a free from a foul deemed a push on the back and as the extra time in the first half incremented down to zero, Elliott blew for the break with sides standing Ahoghill 2-01 Loughgiel 0-05.
With only two points the difference as the game restarted, Ahoghill would now enjoy a portion of the wind on their backs and with a minute and thirty gone on the clock, O’Donnell was busy finding Maura Downey, getting St. Mary’s underway with a fine point.
Loughgiel’s Orlagh Laverty was now profiling more in the game and getting possession of the sliotar at the Shamrocks’ dugout, Laverty carried the sliotar with immense skill into the wind for upwards of twenty metres and delivered for one of the most challenging points of the game.
Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey was by now having a good game and it could have been better as she reached high above her head to swing on a dropping sliotar but as it bounced off the right upright for potentially a dangerous goal mouth scramble, Elliott blew for a square infringement.
Loughgiel were every bit still in the game, especially after Ceala Dobbin pointed coming in from the right side of the pitch but that was neutralised quickly as Niamh Neeson was pulled to the ground and the resulting free from Caitriona Graham at six minutes widened the gap by two points once more and soon to be five as Katie McCloskey received a high sliotar, dropping on the edge of the square for St. Mary’s to strike and raise the green flag for the last goal of the match.
Loughgiel’s Eva McGarry managed to make good of the advantage as Orlagh Laverty was fouled making her way towards Ahoghill’s scoring zone and that point, despite down the three goals, tallied up four points of a difference in favour of St. Mary’s. Loughgiel needed to keep the momentum going and with twenty minutes left, this was realisable until the game ground down to five fouls in a row, resulting in as many minutes ebbing away in the game.
It would be Ahoghill that came out of the grind with three points on the trot, two from Caitriona Graham and one from Katie McCloskey before Loughgiel replied with a point from a free taken by Orlagh Laverty due to a trip on Eimear McGivern.
With three minutes signaled for extra time, Ahoghill’s Maura Downey wouldn’t need them as she pointed on the last minute of ordinary time to make it feel like Loughgiel had too much to do in the three minutes and Ahoghill’s defense, being solid all along, wasn’t going to give any quarter at the last few minutes.
As play recommenced from a foul on Caitriona Graham, St. Mary’s goal keeper ran out to deliver the free into a long familiar sound of the final whistle. Ahoghill had won the intermediate Championship 3-07 to Loughgiel’s 0-09.
Ahoghill will now gear up for their Ulster campaign as Loughgiel now turn their attention to Sunday’s senior championship match against Dunloy in Cushendall.
Shauna McKillop, Erin Connolly, Aoife O’Mullan, Zoe Cassley, Ciara Dobbin, Ciara Connolly, Sarah Flavin, Louise McKillop, Cara Connolly, Therese McKinley, Kirsty McKendry 0-01, Orlagh Laverty 0-03 (2f), Ceala Dobbin 0-02, Catie Connolly, Carlina Sullivan 0-02, Eva McGarry 0-01
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OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship Final
All Saints 3-15 St Teresa’s 0-7
Saturday 12 October
Brendan McTaggart reports from Toome
All Saints bridged a 13 year gap to win the Intermediate championship on Saturday afternoon after a super display against St Teresa’s. The Ballymena side came into the final as favourites but the manner of their win may have been somewhat surprising.
They played with the wind in the first half and built a seven point lead but with three goals in the second half into a strong breeze, All Saints put in a distinguished performance.
The victory was built on the foundations laid in a first half where Conor Stewart was simply irresistible. Five of his six points came in the opening 30 minutes and all came from a similar position in the pitch. In front of goal but fully 40 yards from goal, Stewart put on an exhibition. He had plenty of support in that opening half with Paddy McAleer filling his boots. Three of his four points came before the half time whistle and with just one of those coming from placed ball, McAleer too was showing the way for his side.
The second half belonged to their speedsters. Patrick Ferris in particular catching the eye as he carried the ball deep into the St Teresa’s defence and caused mayhem on a regular basis. Ronan McKillop, Ciaran Campbell and Connell Lemon also heavily prominent as the Ballymena men dealt with the elements much better that their opponents.
St Teresa’s will look at the first half and know they gave All Saints too much room. They looked to pack their defence and they did hold onto possession well but they couldn’t curtail an All Saint’s attack that was proving to be uncontainable.
Conor Stewart who kicked six superb points as All Saints defeated St. Teresa’s in the IFC Final in Toome on Saturday
Their midfielders, Darren McCann and Pierce O’Rawe went through a mountain of work and played the shirt off their back while Ryan and Conor Mallon caught the eye. They just couldn’t match All Saint’s in attack, however. The Ballymena men were defensively astute with Peter McNicholl staying deep in the second half and his side played with a purpose that ensured they weren’t going to be denied.
St Teresa’s opened the scoring on a cold afternoon in Toome with a free from John Mallon. He would finish with three points beside his name before coming off midway through the second half and while the Glen Road side had the lion’s share of possession, they couldn’t make inroads in the All Saints defence. The south west men looked for turnovers and to hit St Teresa’s with precise attacks. Three points in as many minutes from Conor Stewart had the All Saints men two ahead inside the opening 10 minutes and while John Mallon would half that deficit in the 12th minute, it would be their last score for 15 minutes as All Saints began to find their range and gain more possession.
A Connell Lemon point preceded a brace from McAleer (one free) as All Saints mixed their point of attack but it was the simply sublime shooting from Stewart that really was a confidence booster for his side. He would add another two simply brilliant scores to take the Ballymena lead to seven with six minutes of the half remaining.
Sean McVeigh celebrates Rian Tom’s goal
The St Teresa’s challenge wasn’t helped with the black card dismissal of Niall McCann with three minutes of the first half remaining. They did have a goal scoring chance just before half time when Anton Taylor went close. He was first to a dropping ball played in from a Francis Dugan ’45 and as the ball came Taylor’s way, he went for power off the deck but his effort went to the wrong side of the post.
That was a pivotal moment in the game and could have given the west Belfast men a huge boost going into the second half and while seven points certainly was insurmountable given the weather conditions that would be in their favour, they needed a bright start to the second half.
It didn’t come. If anything, All Saints won the game in the opening exchanges of the second half with McAleer, Conor Stewart and Lemon all firing over to extend their lead to 10 points. It could have been more but for the crossbar coming to Ciaran Murtagh’s rescue after Shaun O’Callaghan’s effort came back off the woodwork.
A Darren McCann score from distance gave the St Teresa’s support something to hang onto, a sublime score from distance and wide on the right but moments like those were fleeting for his side.
With Ferris exerting his influence on the game, it was his direct running that brought a massive goal chance for All Saints. His speed and agility left the St Teresa’s defence in his wake but his drilled effort was superbly saved by Murtagh between the sticks.
All Saints didn’t have long to wait before celebrating their first goal of the match, however. Sean McVeigh it was who got on the end of a sweeping move that saw him left with the goal at his mercy. He palmed into the net to leave 12 between the sides after 12 second half minutes.
Points from Taylor and John Mallon followed as St Teresa’s continued to look for ways to penetrate a tight All Saints defence. Lemon’s second of the match preceded points from Niall McCann and Taylor. They came either side of a massive goal chance for McVeigh. With the goal at his mercy, McVeigh went for glory off the deck but he found the side netting at the near post.
County chairman, Seamus McMullan presents the IFC Cup to All Saints captain, Shaun O’Callaghan
The second and third All Saint’s goals came in the 55th minute and added further gloss to the score line for the Ballymena men. Ferris was at the heart of the build up with a mazey run that saw the ball falling to substitute Rian Tom and he made no mistake. From the resulting kick out, All Saint’s found themselves through on goal and it was Lemon who finished to cap off a super individual performance and extend his sides lead.
Scores came at the end of the game from Michael McCarry, a brace of frees for the All Saints substitute to put 17 points between the sides and his side saw out the time that remained with minimal fuss.
It was an accomplished performance from the All Saints who were excellent throughout. Having reached this stage for the third time in four years, they have been knocking on the door. That door was burst off the hinges in Toome. All Saints will now have an eye on a run in Ulster.
TEAMS
All Saints: Ryan Stewart; Michael Read, Cal O’Brien, Kavan Keenan; James McDonnell, Shaun O’Callaghan, Patrick Ferris; Sean McVeigh, Peter McNicholl; Connell Lemon, Ciaran Campbell, Ronan McKillop; Emmett Killough, Conor Stewart, Paddy McAleer
Subs: Rian Tom for K Keenan (42); Michael McCarry for C Campbell (50); Matthew Downey for P McAleer (50); Joe Rafferty for M Read (55); Brendan McDonnell for R McKillop (55)
Scorers: C Stewart 0-6; C Lemon 1-2; P McAleer 0-4 (1f); S McVeigh 1-00; R Thom 1-00; M McCarry 0-2 (2fs); P Ferris 0-1
St Teresa’s: Ciaran Murtagh; Aodhan Dugan, Paul Johnston, Ryan Mallon; Eoin Connolly, Colm McGoldrick, Conor Mallon; Darren McCann, Pierce O’Rawe; John Mallon, Niall McCann, Sean Maguire; Francis Dugan, Anton Taylor, Paul McGoldrick
Subs: Philip Maguire for S Maguire (42); Eoghan Hamill for F Dugan (49); Mark Small for J Mallon (54); Anthony Varndell for E Connolly (55); Philip Glennon for A Dugan (57)
Scorers: J Mallon 0-3 (2fs); A Taylor 0-2; D McCann 0-1; N McCann 0-1
Graham Tarmac Antrim Junior Football Championship Final
St Agnes 1-03-0-09 St Comgall’s
Kevin Herron reports from Hightown
St Comgall’s dealt with the elements better and survived a late scare to the lift the Antrim Junior Football Championship, defeating St Agnes 0-09-1-03 on a wintry Saturday afternoon in Hightown.
A prolonged hail shower created pools of water on the surface prior to throw-in and both sides were forced to try their upmost to adapt.
Pre-game favourites St Comgall’s hit the front after Tom Patchett’s free dropped short, Miles Devine gathered and laid the ball to Patrick O’Connor to drop his shot over the bar.
St Agnes had one sole attempt on target in the opening half, though Ronan Carroll kicked his free wide.
It took Comgall’s until the 18th minute to double their advantage in the form of Miles Devine point and he would double his individual tally moments later after exchanging passes with Ryan Clarke and bending his shot inside the posts.
Devine added a converted free before the break as his side were 0-04-0-00 ahead at the interval.
St Comgall’s extended their lead with three converted frees inside of the first six minutes of the second half.
Tom Patchett’s trusty left foot guided the first two over with Ryan Clarke kicking the other from close-range.
The occasion appeared to be getting the better of the Aggies with Anthony Watson easily gathering a scuffed Shay Madden attempt.
After 47 minutes the West-Belfast natives finally registered on the board after Conall Turley switched to David McGaharan to kick their opener.
It would be the first of three unanswered as Ronan Carroll dropped over a second and converted a free on the 51st minute to reduce arrears to four (0-07-0-03).
St Comgall’s steadied things up with Miles Devine feeding Patchett to kick his first from play of the afternoon and Patchett notched up his third converted free on the stroke of full-time.
The Antrim town natives would see the game out with 14-men after James McCabe was shown a second yellow card and subsequent red for getting involved in an incident off the ball.
St Agnes’ took immediate advantage of their numerical advantage from the resulting free that Colin Clarke floated into the rectangle and substitute Patrick Mulgrew’s fisted attempt saw the ball tail through a ruck and into the net.
Time was against the Aggies though and their fightback was in vain as St Comgall’s held on to claim the Championship for the first time in 3-years.
St Agnes’: C Carroll, P Carool, R Reilly, K McCormick, R Gilligan, C Flannery, B McLarnon, C Turley, D Turley, C Clarke, R Carroll (0-2, 0-1f), J Campbell, D McGaharan (0-1), S Madden, C McBride. Subs: C Gregory for B McLarnon (40), P Mulgrew (1-0) for D Turley (45), D Crummey for D McGaharan (60).
St Comgall’s: A Watson, S Gribbon, C Donnelly, C McKeown, M McCabe, J McCabe, D O’Hara, J Henry, L Higgins, J Webb, P O’Connor (0-1), A McGaw, R Clarke (0-1), M Devine (0-3),T Patchett (0-4, 0-3f). Subs: E Lynott for D O’Hara (41), D Murdock for A McGaw (45), D Hanna for J Webb (52), C Griffin for R Clarke (60+1).
Referee: Ray Matthews (O’Donavan Rossa)
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