by thesaffrongael

Doherty the go-to man as Portglenone claim the Laverty Shield

Laverty Shield Final

Casements 4-16 St. James 4-6

An excellent Casements, Portglenone proved too good in the end for St. James, Aldergrove in this high scoring Laverty Shield final at Whitehill on Saturday evening. The young Bannsiders looked like running away with it from early in the game but St. James’ to their credit, kept battling to the end and struck with three late goals to put a much better reflection on the final scoreline.

Odhran Doherty was the go-to man for the Casement’s as he dictated matters from mid-field for long periods and contributed 0-11 on the night with a superb exhibition of scoring both from play and frees.

It was the young Casements who were fast off the mark when Conor Burns pointed them ahead following a fine save from Daniel McCuthcheon in the Adergove goals

Two points from Odhran Doherty and another from Burns had the Casements four ahead with nine minutes gone before Lewis Smyth finally got the Crumlin side on their way from a pointed free in the 13th minute.

Two more from the excellent Doherty moved the Bannsiders five ahead by the 20th minute and when Christy McDonnell got forward to palm an inviting cross from Tom Duffin to an empty net it wasn’t looking good for the team in red.

The Portglenone pressure was relentless as Doherty and McDonnell added further points before Liam Og Cullen raised Aldergrove second white flag of the evening from a 29th minute free.

Back came the Casements and they struck with a second goal when Conor McCann’s shot on goal was partially blocked but it looped over the despairing grasp of Daniel McCutcheon and ended in the net.

Odhran Doherty who scored 0-11 as Portglenone defeated Aldergrove in the Laverty Shield final at Whitehill on saturday evening

The final score of the half fell the way of the Crumlin side when Lewis Smyth sent a long range free between the uprights but it looked a long way back as the sides headed to the dressing rooms with Portglenone holding a convincing 11 point lead.

St. James returned to the action determined to make inroads into the Casements lead and after Odhran Doherty pointed a free after 30 seconds they came back with an excellent goal from Liam Og Cullen in the second minute.

Doherty was on target again for the team in yellow and their opponents were dealt a severe blow when Cullen received a second yellow after pulling down the Portglenone mid-fielder with 25 minutes remaining.

The Aldergrove management began to empty their bench at this stage but it was Casements who continued to call the shots as Odhran Doherty pointed a free and followed with another from play.

Lewis Smyth replied from a free but things went from bad to worse for the Crumlin side when James McVeigh blocked an attempted clearance before finishing to the net to make it 3-12 to 1-4 with ten minutes of the second half gone.

Full-back, Conall Morgan got forward for a fourth major and it was in danger of turning into a route but Aldergrove continue to introduce replacements as Doherty brought his total for the evening to 0-10.

To their credit 14 men, Aldergrove refused to throw in the towel and replied with points from Cormac Morris and Lewis Smyth before Smyth got through for his second goal of the evening with 8 minutes remaining.

Substitute Rian Hope found himself in acres of space as he finished to the net for a third goal for the Crumlin side and as they began to enjoy a bit of success, Cormac Morris added a fourth to put a much better look on the final scoreline.

There was still 10 between the sides as Joe McCavana sounded his final whistle as Stephen Graham presented the Laverty Shield to Ryan McKeever, captain of an excellent Casements, Portglenone side with Graham congratulating both side for their part in what was a very entertaining game of football.

Casements Portglenone: 1 Eoghan Smith, 2 Christy McDonnell,3 Conall Morgan, 4 Conor Dunlop, 5 James McVeigh, 6 Oisin McAtamney, 7 Ryan McKeever, 8 Odhran Doherty, 9 James McAleese, 10 Conor McCann, 11 Tom Convery, 12 Conor Burns, 13 Frank McAleese, 14 Tom Duffin, 15 Conor McKeever, 16 Thomas Douthart, 17 Ruairi O’Kane, 18

St. James Aldergrove: 1 Daniel McCuthcheon, Adam Magd, 3 Ronan Ferguson, 4 Sean O’Toole, 5 Rory Finney, 6 Cayden Lagan, 7 Liam Og Cullen, 9 Luke Delaney, 10 Fionntan Muldoon, 11 Lewis Smyth, 12 Eoin McAleese, 13 Chris Robb, 14 Jamie Murray, 15 Sean O’Hare, 18 Breagh Maguire, 17 Rian Hope, 19 Nathan O’Hara, 20 Rian Carl, 21 Malachy Kennedy, 22 Cormac Morris, 23 23 Odhran Maguire, 24 Ryan Menary, 25 Lonan Magee

Referee: Joe McCavana Naomh Comhghall

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by thesaffrongael

Doyle’s goal proves decisive for St Paul’s

Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 2 – Round 3

St Paul’s 1-15 Glenravel 0-14

A goal by corner forward Paddy Doyle nine minutes into the second half set St Paul’s on the road to glory as they overcome Con Magees Glenravel by four points in Friday evening’s Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2 game at Whitehill, Randalstown.

St Paul’s had held a one point lead at half time 0-9 to 0-8 but just after the break substitute Sean McKay brought Glenravel level. It looked like remaining a close affair but six minutes later Doyle struck the telling blow when he fired home for the only goal of the game, which put a bit of daylight between the sides, and the Shaw’s Road men held the upper hand until the end.

Glenravel had started well as the heavy rain fell and points from Conleth O’Loan, Ciaran Laverty and Cormac McKeown had them three clear after four minutes. Caolan Ó Duibhfinn, who was to finish as top scorer, got St Paul’s on the scoreboard a minute later and he added another from a free soon afterwards, but Conleth O’Loan landed a long range free and Ciaran Laverty sent one over from play to put Glenravel three clear by the tenth minute.

Two by Paddy Doyle and Conal Finnegan brought St Paul’s back to within a point again but James Duffin and Cormac McKeown hit back for the Con Magees to open the gap to three once more. The last ten minutes of the first half saw St Paul’s get on top and five points without reply, two from frees and three from play, all of them from the stick of Caolan O’Duibhfinn which put them two clear in first half injury time, but substitute Sean McKay, who had just come on for the injured Conleth O’Loan, hit the last point of the half to leave just a single point between the sides at the ‘’short whistle.’

When McKay levelled six minutes into the second half it looked like being a closely fought contest, but Doyle’s goal three minute later gave the Belfast side a lead they would not consequently lose. They added another point soon afterwards to open a four point gap and that’s is basically the way it remained as each time Glenravel brought it back to three St Paul’s found a reply as they held out to the final whistle

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by thesaffrongael

PPB Performance Youth Athletic Development Camp in Cushendall

Cushendall and Antrim star Paddy Burke hosted the second PB Performance Youth Athletic Development Camp for boys and girls aged 11-15. The three-day camp, held at Páirc Mhuire in Cushendall, attracted a variety of young Gaels from around the Glens. The camp emphasised the holistic development of young GAA athletes, covering fundamental movement skills, strength, speed, and plyometrics both in the gym and on the hurling pitch. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of mobility, lifestyle habits, sports nutrition, and mental skills. Special guests Colleen Patterson and Neil McManus provided valuable insights into the level of preparation required to excel in hurling and camogie.

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by thesaffrongael

Portglenone win Minor B Camogie Championship final

Geraldines Portglenone 3 – 12 St Johns Carnlough 1.07

A large crowd gathered in Dunsilly on Friday night to watch the Minor B camogie final between Geraldine’s Portglenone and St John’s Carnlough.

Weather conditions were miserable with torrential rain during most of the match, but despite this both teams turned in good displays.

Portglenone took the first point of the game followed quickly by a goal by Eimear Smith, but the Carnlough girls responded with 2 points from Brooke Taggart and Saoirse Campbell before Aoife McGrogan and Aoife McKenna added further points for Portglenone.  Jo Jo Daragh and Hannah Friel added 2 more points before wing forward Eimear Smith rattled home a goal into the Carnlough net.  Whilst the Carnlough forwards were able to press with some fine passing and possession they were unable to convert these into scores and the missed opportunities saw them trailing at the half way point Portglenone 2.07 to Carnlough 0.03.

Carnlough substitute Eimear Ward started strong in the second half adding 2 points, one from a free.  In response Naoise Henry added 2 points followed by a goal from her teammate Aoife McKenna.  In the last 10 minutes the Carnlough defence held firm with some great saves from goalkeeper Leanne Magill whilst Eimear Ward added a goal and 2 more points to the Carnlough score. 

Whilst both teams played some fine camogie in the most difficult conditions, it was the first touch and scoring ability of the Portglenone forwards that made the real difference and resulted in their win. 

Portglenone. Aoife McKenna 1.02, Aoife McGrogan 0.03, JoJo Daragh 0.01, Hanna Friel 0.01(F), Eimear Smith 2.01, Naoise Henry 0.03, Aedin Vallely 0.01

St Johns. Brooke Taggart 0.01, Saoirse Campbell 0.01, Eimear Ward 1.04, Ciara McLaughlin 0.01

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by thesaffrongael

Gaels finish strongly to maintain 100% record

Intermediate Hurling Championship

Cloney Gaels 0-21 Cushendun Emmet’s 0-14

Cloney Gaels have one foot in the semi-final of the Intermediate Hurling Championship after they beat Cushendun on Friday evening in poor conditions at Feystown, Glenarm to make it 3 wins out of 3. Cushendun, who are still pointless after three games, did well in the opening half and in the early stages of the second, but when Cloney upped the pace they were able to pull clear and had seven points to spare at the end.

Things have not gone well for the Emmet’s this season and with the Kilgore brothers absent all season and centre back Donal O’Hara out with a broken hand, they faced an uphill struggle after losing their first two games. They started well enough and were 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after seven minutes, Tom Scally and Dominic McQuillan giving them the lead after seven minutes. Cloney began to settle into the rhythm and points from James O’Connell, Ronan Graham and Patrick Graham had them 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after 13 minutes, and it could have been more had it not been for a couple of excellent saves by Emmet’s goalkeeper John V Morgan.

Cushendun then had their best spell of the game and four points on the trot from Sean McKay, Dominic McQuillan, Tom Scally and Conor McHugh had them two clear by the 20th minute. A point on the run by Donal Graham and a great effort from a free from inside his own half by Fionnbar O’Neill put Cloney level. Two points from Conlaoth McNeill put the Emmets two ahead but four on the spin from James O’Connell had the Ahoghill men 0-11 to 0-09 in front by the time referee Paddy Tumelty blew the half time whistle.

The Emmet’s started the second half really well and a pointed 65 from ‘Loaf’ McNeill and one from play by Tom Scally had them level by the 35th minute. It looked like we were in for a close contest, but Cloney took control again and four points without reply, three of them from James O’Connell and one from Patrick Graham, opened a three point gap. Another excellent save by Morgan in the Emmet’s goal was followed by a point from a ‘Loaf’ McNeill free and the Cushendun men were still within reach, but they managed just one more point as a James O’Connell inspired Cloney side pulled away, O’Connell getting three more points and Eamon Brady one to end up seven clear at the end.

CLONEY GAELS

Aiden Graham, Bernard Graham, Patrick Dougan, Bernard Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill. Neill O’Connell, Danny O’Neill, Eamon Brady, Connor Crossey, Donal Graham, Ronan Graham, Patrick Jr. Graham, Owen Jr Neeson, Owen Graham, James O’Connell.

CUSHENDUN EMMET’S

John V Morgan, Mark McSparran, Archie McSparran, Pearse McKeegan, Sean McKay, Jack McKay, Calum Kilgore, Aidan McSparran, Andrew Breslin, Conor McHugh, Tom Scally, Alex McMullan, Dominic McQuillan, Conrad McDonnell, Conor Bannon.

Referee – Paddy Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

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