by thesaffrongael

History made at Slemish Park

U21B Hurling Championship semi-final

All Saints 2-12 Lamh Dhearg 1-7

Chris Dornan wore a smile as wide as Slemish Park as he walked off the field after his All Saints side made their little bit of history with this win over Lamh Dhearg in the semi-final of the U21 B Hurling Championship.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Cushendall native, who manages the Senior team, the Ballymena club fielded a side at this level for the first time and it proved to be a very successful night for Dorney’s side.

The visitors certainly played their part in a typically rugged championship encounter and were level at half time when the sides retreated to the dressing rooms tied at 0-6 each.

Jakub Kaczmarek ( Above and featured image) fires home his second goal to secure All Saints their place in the U21B Hurling final

The Ballymena management made a vital switch at half time when they moved Jakub Kaczmarek to the edge of the square and the switch was to pay dividends as the strong running number 10 struck with two excellent goals to swing the contest decisively in favour of the home team.

His first came with ten minutes remaining at a time when the visitors had hauled back a four point deficit to draw level at 0-10 to 1-7 and he ensured that there would be no way back for a battling Hannastown outfit as he fired home his second with only a minute remaining.

Darach Bradley put the home side ahead with a pointed free after 30 seconds and the All Saints number 11 would be an important contributor as he hit four of his side’s six first half points with Sean McDermott and Daniel Kelly their other marksmen.

Lamh Dhearg matched them all the way through the opening half where they had wind advantage with Ciaran Boyd, Adam Murray 0-2, Finn Mervyn 0-2 and Donal Martin their first half scorers and Boyd was unfortunate to see his shot come back of an upright with 7 minutes gone.

Conor McConville, Lamh Dhearg and Tiernan McGurk, All Saints challenge for the ball
Darch Bradley who scored 0-9 for All Saints in their win over Lamh Dhearg

The home side lacked penetration up front during the opening half and Kaczmarek’s switch to full-forward for the second 30 minutes proved a master stroke.

Indeed they might have had a goal as early as the second minute but Rhys Camlin in the visitors goals brought of a superb double save to deny Jakub Kaczmarek and Darach Bradley on the follow up.

All Saints seemed to be taking control however as Daniel Kelly and Darach Bradley with three on the bounce move them four ahead by the 13th minute and they looked to have found their grove.

Lamh Dhearg had other ideas however and they struck back with a goal from Conal McGuigan in the 15th minute, their first score of the second half and when Ciaran Boyd followed immediately with a point the sides were level.

The Slemish Park side had hit half a dozen wides at this point but Jakub Kaczmarek became their hero when he raced through on goal and kicked the sliothar past the advancing Rhys Camlin to move the home side three in front.

The superb Darach Bradley added two points and Kaczmarek put the icing on a fine performance as he fired home his and his sides second goal with time almost up to secure a place in next week’s final against Sarsfields.

All Saints: 1 Luke Walsh, 2 Finn Connon, 3 Peadar McGuckian, 4 Diarmuid Casey, 5 Senan O’Boyle, 6 Harry Connon, 7 Archie McGreevey, 8 Sean McDermott 0-1, 9 Daniel Kelly 0-2, 10 Jakub Kaczmarek 2-0, 11 Darach Bradley 0-9, Fintan Brady, 13 Eddie McKendry, 14 Tiernan McGurk, 15 Ciaran Logan.

Subs: Caolan Laverty for Tiernan McGurk

Lamh Dhearg: 1 Rhys Camlin, 3 Odhran Kane, 4 Corey Camlin, 5 Reece Groves, 6 Finn Mervyn 0-2, 7 Niall McGarry, 8 Ciaran Boyd 0-2, 9 Aidan Morrow, 10 Adam Murray 0-2, 23 Aidan McKeague, 12 Donal Martin 0-1, 13 Eoin Murray, 14 Conal McGuigan 1-0, 15 Sean McCarthy, 22 Conor McConville

Referee: Seamus Shannon (Rossa)

For more pics from the All Saints v Lamh Dhearg game click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/AaCtabmyBmezex

by thesaffrongael

GAA FOR ALL at Corrigan Park

Pics by Bert Trowlen

On a beautiful day Antrim GAA FOR ALL got a great opportunity to train and play a match at Antrim County ground Corrigan Park. On the GAA FOR ALL open day to welcome new members Antrim welcomed another 8 new players coming in to enjoy our games and more importantly they also had 2 clubs in Belfast expressing an interest in starting up so hopefully watch this space. With the summer holidays we were all down players but a massive thanks to Bronagh McCavigan bringing up the Aghagallon ALL STARS and Martina Loughran for also bringing up some of the Derry GAA FOR ALL TEAM.

 Training started with County star Patrick McBride doing the warm-up and a few drills and then Gearóid Adams added his experience to the drills as both coaches kept things moving along nicely. We then split the panel into two teams and the skill level shown by everyone was fantastic with great goalkeeping, defending and some fantastic scores on the day. The day was a fantastic success and a massive thanks to Gearóid, Paddy, Bronagh, Martina, Philip, Kevin and Peter for keeping everything going all day. Thanks also to Angela Callon and her husband for showing up on the day and supporting us and also not forgetting the main man Bert Trowlen. Our last thanks go to Aiden Kelly and his club Naomh Eoin for the use of their facilities and pitch which were first class.

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Gaelic Masters complete  league campaign in joint third place.

Down 1 – 10  Antrim 1 – 15

Antrim completed their league campaign in the All Ireland Masters series with a solid performance in Bright GAC, defeating a gallant Down team by five points. This victory propels Antrim to joint third in the league, their highest ever league placing, as this team goes from strength to strength under its new management.

With Dublin and Roscommon finishing in the top two positions on twelve and eleven points respectively, Antrim join Kerry Tyrone and Cork on ten points, and will play off against one of these counties on August 10th for a place in the top four elite group, the Dr Loftus Cup.

Despite losing quite a few players from the matchday squad that defeated Derry the previous week, Antrim always looked comfortable and never really looked in any real danger of defeat.

Antrim Gaelic Masters stalwart, James McGreevey (St. Paul’s) joins Down captain, Martin Murphy and Referee Paul Quigley (Doire Trasna) prior to the game

On the day there was a good mixture of players contributing to the scoreboard, amongst them Liam Magee 1  -01,  Ryan Boyd 0 – 04,  Kevin McAllister 0 – 03, Tony Scullion 0 – 02, Niall Sweeney 0 – 02,  and point each from Michael Herron, Adrian Scullion and team captain for the day and Antrim Masters stalwart James McGreevy.

Best in Saffron was man of the match Colin Brady who was a rock at full back and once again showing his value to this team.

Finishing with five wins out of six during an impressive league campaign demonstrates the progress Antrim Gaelic Masters are making, and now go forward with confidence to the championship series playoffs in two weeks.

Referee: Paul Quigley (Doire Trasna).

by thesaffrongael

Rampant Randalstown hit Con Magees with eight goals

Intermediate Hurling Championship–Group 2– Round 1

Tir na nÓg 8-14 Con Magees 1-12

Tir na nÓg scored a runaway win over Con Magees Glenravel in Sunday’s IHC Group 2 game at Whitehill and sounded a warning that they will be one of the teams to look out for in this year’s campaign. The Glenravel side started quite promisingly and were three points to the good in the early stages, but once the Randalstown boys found their range there was no stopping them as they ending up rattling the Glenravel net on eight occasions, something that will do their score difference no harm at all.

Points from Declan McAuley, Conleth O’Loan and Cormac McKeown got the visitors off to a promising start but the home team were soon into their stride and three points from corner forward Ciaran Logan, and one from Ciaran McKeown had Tir na nÓg in front by the ninth minute. Eamon Og McAllister added a point to put them two clear before full forward Pearse Sheering got the first goal nearing the end of the first quarter.

Conleth O’Loan pulled one back for Glenravel from a free and second later the ball was over the bar again after Declan McAuley caught the puc-out and found Ciaran Laverty, who put Cormac McKeown in for another point.

Tir na nÓg came back strongly with points from Ciaran Logan and Daniel Martin before Eamon Og McAllister got his team’s second goal as they pushed on to lead by 2-09 to 0-07 at half time.

Con Magees got the first point of the second half through Declan McAuley but Randalstown were starting to the open gap and Josh Higgins fired in their third goal a minute later. Declan Traynor lifted the Glenravel spirits when he grabbed a goal on 37 minutes but it was all downhill from there on for the visitors as Tir na nÓg came back with two points in a minute from Eamon Og McAllister and Ciaran Logan, which were followed soon afterwards by goal number four, Pearse Sheerin finding the net for the second time.

Things got even worse for the visitors when they were reduced to fourteen men after their goalkeeper received a red card, though they did manage to pull a couple of points back through Cormac McKeown. Goal number six came from midfielder Ciaran McKeown, while seven and eight followed soon afterwards from the rampant blues who will fancy their chances of a semi-final spot even at this early stage.  

Click on the link below for more of Bert Trowlen’s pics

https://myalbum.com/album/yQgNwhnFM69yZp/?invite=35d8682a-c536-4736-8967-3fe06573d1d3

by thesaffrongael

Rampant Gaels off to a winning start

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 1

Cloney Gaels 3-26 St. Paul’s 2-16

Cloney Gaels hit an impressive 3-26 as they overcame the challenge of Visitors St. Paul’s in the opening Group 1 game of the Intermediate Hurling Championship in Ahoghill on Sunday.

The final score-line was a little unkind to a St. Paul’s side who played some excellent hurling but didn’t have the accuracy of a free scoring home side who denied them space at the other end of the field.

Cloney Gaels led 1-13 to 1-9 at the end of a fairly even opening half with both sides missing good goal opportunities but the turning point came 7 minutes into the second half when Colla McDonnell fired to the corner of the visitors net.

Patrick Graham hit a third for the Ahoghill side at the end of the third quarter to put it out of reach of the visitors who kept battling to the end and were reward with a consolation goal from Patrick Doyle in injury time.

It was visitors St. Paul’s who were first on target with Declan Chapman pointing them ahead in the opening minute with Ronan Graham striking the equaliser from 60 meters with four minutes on the clock.

A James O’Connell free and another by the same player from a ‘65’ had Cloney Gaels two ahead by the 8th minute with Conall Duffy replying to close the gap to one.

Duffy then saw his effort on goal come back of an upright and Aiden Graham pulled off a good save to deny Lorcan Phillips who was quickest to react on the follow up and it seemed to bring the home side to life.

James O’Connell from a free, Dan O’Neill and Colla McDonnell added points and then Graham hit a great effort from out on the left to move the home side five in front by the 13th minute.

Caolan O’Duibhfinn wasted a good opportunity to bring the visitors back into contention before Eamonn Brady raced through for a good point at the other end and when Eoin Graham fired to the net at the end of the opening quarter, the Gaels had moved 9 ahead.

It was just reward for the Cloney number 14 who’s pace and strong running had opened up the St. Paul’s defence on at least three previous occasions with St. Paul’s calling full-back Frankie Sewell ashore soon after and introducing Caoimhin Killyleah with Bairre Burns moving to full-back.

It brought about improvement as the Shaw’s Road side began to enjoy some success with Sean Munce, Conall Duffy, Caolan O’Duibhfinn and Lorcan Phillips adding points in reply to one from Diarmaid Graham for the home side.

Further points from Declan Chapman and a 31st minute goal from the same player had it back to five at the halfway stage with James O’Connell keeping the score board ticking for the Gaels.

Phillips hit another point, 30 seconds into the second half to close the gap to four and James O’Connell and O’Duibhfinn  exchanged pointed frees before Patrick Graham moved Cloney five ahead once more.

McDonnell’s goal in the 7th minute came after a bad miss from James O’Connell and saw the Ahoghill men find another gear as O’Connell 0-2 and Bobby Magee extended their lead to 9 by the 12th minute.

St. Paul’s were still contesting every ball and replied with points from Caolan O’Duibhfinn and Stephen Rooney but when Patrick Graham got in for Cloney Gaels third goal it looked as good as over.

James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell, Eoin Graham and substitute, Jack McFall added to the Cloney total with four on the bounce before Patrick Doyle pulled one back for the visitors with six minutes remaining.

O’Connell from a free and Fionnbar O’Neill with a massive point, Eoin Graham and Dan O’Neill concluded the scoring for the home side with Caolan O’Duibhfinn from a free and Doyle’s injury time goal putting a better look on the final score-line.

This win sees Cloney Gaels join Tir na nOg and Sarsfields at the top of the table. The Whitehill side recorded a facile win over Con Magee’s at Whitehill while Sarsfields had three to spare over Cushendun at the ‘Bear Pit’

Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Daniel O’Neill, 10 Donal Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Eoin Graham, 15 James O’Connell

Subs: Shea Neeson, Jack McFall, Neill O’Connell, Eoin Neeson, Charlie McCloskey

St. Paul’s: 1 Chris Murray, 2 Ciaran O’Carroll, 3 Frankie Sewell, 4 Tiarnan Auld, 5 Thomas Duff, 6 Stephen Rooney, 7 Marcas Munce, 8 Sean Lawell, 9 Bairre Burns, 10 Caolan O’Duibhfinn, 11 Lorcan Phillips, 12 Declan Chapman, 13 Conall Duffy, 14 Patrick Doyle, 15 Sean Munce

Subs: Ciaran Killyleah, Declan Quinn, Liam Walsh, Callum Murray

Referee: Darren McKeown

TO SEE MORE PICS BY BRIAN McKEE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/xmA4wUfLdJu3Zx