by thesaffrongael

Early second half goals swing it Aquinas’ way

McLarnon Cup

St. Mary’s CBGS 0-11 Aquinas 2-9

Two goals early in the second half turned this McLarnon Cup encounter firmly in the direction of Aquinas Grammar as they overcame the challenge of St. Mary’s CBGS at Cherryvale on Friday.

The Glen Road seat of learning had looked the more accomplished side during the opening half and with their defence dealing with everything that came their way, they held a 0-9 to 0-5 half time lead and were good value for it.

Jack Watson shot Aquinas into an early lead with a point after 15 seconds but St. Mary’s replied through Padraig Murphy, Corey Walsh and Ethan Walsh to lead by two after 5 minutes.

James McConville pointed at the other end to close the gap to the minimum but it brought another response from the Glen Road side with Corey Walsh Oisin O’Boyle and Padraig Murphy hitting three on the bounce to move them four ahead at the end of the opening quarter.

JJ Higgins punished a bad kick-out to return the ball between the uprights and Oisin O’Hare added another but the momentum was still very much with St. Mary’s and Sean Og McLaren replied with two at the other end.

The sides exchanged points in the lead up to half time with O’Hare for Aquinas and Odhran McAuley for their opponents on target to leave the half time score 0-9 to 0-5 in favour of St. Mary’s.

At this stage of the game it was the Glen Road side who looked in control as their well organised defence were dealing adequately with everything Aquinas had thrown their way but the game would take a dramatic turn at the start of the second half.

Half Time: St. Mary’s 0-9 Aquinas 0-5

Aquinas came storming out of the start blocks as the second half got underway but were guilty of a bad miss in their first attack before Jacko Watson hammered home the game’s opening goal in the second minute.

The momentum was very much with the Ravenhill Road side and St. Mary’s Fiachra McDonald pulled off a great block to deny Higgins but it only delayed the inevitable as Jack McConville found the net for the second time with only four minutes on the clock.

St. Mary’s looked shell shocked but Padraig Murphy opened their second half account with a point which was quickly cancelled out as Jack McConville pointed a free in the 6th minute.

J J Higgins added a point and as things began to get a bit contentious, the Glen Road side lost a player to a second Yellow card.

The excellent Padraig Murphy pulled one back for St. Mary’s with a point in the 17th minute but it would be their last score of the evening as Aquinas finished strongly to take the points.

Substitute Sean Doyle got his name on the Aquinas score card and Padraig O’Hare concluded the scoring with a great long range point with things threatening to boil over at the final whistle before sanity was restored.

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by thesaffrongael

North Antrim Awards Dinner

North Antrim GAA held their awards dinner in the Marine Hotel on Friday night where the trophies which the club’s had battled for over the year were handed out, those that were won in north Antrim competitions and in All County. Chairman Paddy Gray welcomed all those who attended and started the evening by presenting a sponsorship cheque for £500 to the Saffron Gael, something that is once again greatly appreciated.

The Hurler of the Year awards for Junior, Intermediate and Senior were re-introduced this season with Rasharkin’s Conor McKeever picking up the Junior, James Rocket Black getting the Intermediate and Paddy Burke of Ruairi Og Cushendall getting the Senior award. Sadly Rocket was unable to attend because of a family bereavement and Paddy could not be there because of Cushendall’s Ulster semi-final the following evening.

Dunloy players and mentors who receive awards on behalf of their club at the North Antrim dinner the Marie Hotel

Paddy’s mother Clare was there to pick up her sons award while club chairman Skinner McAlister was the man to pick up a host of throphies, including the Volenteer Cup for the Senior Hurling Championship. Loughgiel Camogs were in a similar position as they were in action in the Ulster Club final the following afternoon. Dunloy Camogs picked up the Division 1 and 2 League trophies, plus the Senior Feis Cup.

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by thesaffrongael

Davy Fitzgerald is chief guest at Shamrocks juvenile awards presentations

Former Clare legend and new Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald was the guest of honour at the Loughgiel juvenile awards night in Shamrocks clubrooms on Friday evening and not surprisingly he was a bit hit among the largre crowd of young hurlers who attended.

The main award of the evening was the presentation of the McMullan Cup to the Shamrocks Under 16 team who beat Dunloy in the final back in June. A great night for the young hurlers of Loughgiel which Davy appeared to really enjoy himself. No doubt a lot of other clubs will have the invites out to the Sixmilebridge man already.

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by thesaffrongael

Ports fall to their Donegal ‘Masters’

Paul McGirr Cup quarter-final

Casement’s Portglenone 1-7 Four Masters (Donegal) 2-11

Despite a superb individual performance from midfielder Odhran Doherty, Casement’s Portglenone were forced to succumb to an excellent all round Four Masters of Donegal in the quarter-final of the Paul McGirr Cup in Dromore on Sunday.

Doherty covered every blade of grass of Gardrum Park and accounted for all but one of his sides total over the hour but the Donegal champions had greater strength in depth throughout the field and that proved the difference in the end.

Doherty got the Antrim champions off the mark from a pointed free in the opening minute but Four Masters replied with a vengeance as Gethin Mosby found the net with four minutes gone.

Mosby’s goal seemed to fire the boys in Blue into action and they added points from Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan and a fine long range effort from Thomas Carr before Slevin fired home their second major of the evening with only 11 minutes on the clock.

Portglenone looked rattled as they tried to cope with the movement of the Masters but they did reply through two fine points from the impressive Odhran Doherty, much to the approval of the good crowd who had travelled to support them.

Thomas Lenehan, who was impressing on the ‘40’ replied for the Donegal side and Thomas McHugh moved them further ahead before Odhran Doherty brought his and his sides total to four for the half to leave Four Masters 7 ahead at the break

Half Time: Casements 0-4 Four Masters 2-5

The Bannsiders needed a good start to the second half if they were to turn this one around but in the event it was Four Masters who continued to call the shots as Finn Gillespie, Thomas Carr and Thomas Lenehan 0-2 moved the 11 ahead after14 minutes.

The Antrim side had yet to register in the second half and might have been further behind but Eoghan Smith pulled off a great save to deny the opposition when a goal looked certain.

Gethin Mosby moved the Donegal side 12 ahead before Odhran Doherty final opened the Casement’s second half account with a point in the 20th minute and it brought about a response.

Casement’s were still battling hard and it took a superb point blank save from Fintan James to deny the excellent Doherty as he tried to drag his side back into the contest.

Conor Burns became the second Portglenone player to get his name on the score sheet with a point in the 22nd minute and Doherty was finally rewarded for his efforts when he found a way past James in the Four Masters goal with five minutes remaining.

It was too little-too late with Lenehan replying with a point in the 26th minute but it was fitting that the final score of the game would fall to man of the match, Doherty as he brought his personal total of the evening to 1-6.

A good season for this excellent Portglenone side who have won the Antrim U16 championship and Breslin Cup but on the day they came up against a bigger and stronger Four Masters side.

More than half of today’s Casement’s side are under age next year again and they should again be serious contenders in the year ahead.

Four Masters: Fintan James, Eoghan Thomas, Ethan McCrea, Sean Sweeney, Thomas Healey, Jack McGroarty, Odhran McMullin, Thomas Carr, Thomas Griffin, Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan, Rory Doherty, Finn Gillespie, Gethin Mosby, Thomas McHugh.

Casement’s: Eoghan Smith, Cillian McKenna, Conall Morgan, Cillian McDonnell, Thomas Douthart, Christy McDonnell, Tom Duffin, Odhran Doherty, Rory O’Kane, Eoghan McErlean, Tom Convery, Conor Burns, Frank McAleese, James McVeigh, Conor McKeever

Referee: Paul Gallagher (Castlederg)

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by thesaffrongael

Naomh Séamas Clg celebrate

St. James’ Aldergrove held their annual dinner dance on Saturday night at the Devenish Complex. With 300 guests in attendance, a great night was had by the juvenile and senior players and their families. The ever-present Katrina Moore was MC of the event, and she held counsel in her own inimitable style and humour.

Chairman Paul McCarthy opened the proceedings with a short welcome speech and then the senior men and ladies’ captains, Ronan Hanna and Anna Crossan, awarded all the juvenile female and male awards to the next generation of Grove stars.

The formalities were completed when John Jones updated the members on the club development plans, the significant growth of the membership, the need for volunteers and launched the Christmas cash call fundraiser.

After the meal, the kids mingled and danced away with their senior counterparts to complete a fantastic evening and the club made a cheque presentation to Bert Trowlen on behalf of the Saffron Gael.

Bert Trowlen receives a cheque for £500-00 from St. James’ Aldergrove at theit Annual Dinner in the Devenish on Saturday night. Bert received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael

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