St Patrick’s Loughgiel won, the LGFA section of the Cumann na mBunscol county finals at St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena on Monday, despite the fact they never played the game until six weeks ago. Run off on a round-robin basis St Patrick’s beat runners up South Antrim Champions St Anne’s Belfast, and South West winners Ballymacrickett PS from Glenavy. In doing so they girls completed what might be a unique double, after winning the Camogie title three days earlier at the same venue. The Loughgiel teams also picked up the Player of the tournament award which went to Caelagh Connolly.
Henry Duffin presents the LGFA Cup to the St Patrick’s Loughgiel captainBallymacricket PS Player of the tournament Caelagh Connolly receives her award from Henry Duffin Runners-up St Anne’s PS, Belfast
Final Score:Loughgiel Shamrocks3-20Cushendall Ruairí Óg4-10
Venue:Cushendun
Shane O’Boyle who starred for the Shamrocks
Loughgiel Shamrocks put on a blistering display of attacking hurling to claim the Countess of Antrim Cup on Monday evening, defeating a resilient Cushendall Ruairí Óg side that ultimately left themselves with a mountain too tall to climb.
A Blistering First Half by the Shamrocks set their intentions from the very first whistle. Shane O’Boyle opened the scoring just 29 seconds in, quickly following it up with a second point before Roan McGarry rattled the net from a free at the two minute mark. Cushendall struggled to cope with the early onslaught, managing only a single point from Christy McNaughton by the 7th minute.
Loughgiel’s relentless pressure, highlighted by accurate shooting from McGarry and a well-taken point from Paddy Laverty, saw them open up a commanding 1-07 to 0-01 lead after just eleven minutes. This electric start effectively laid the foundation for their victory.
Cushendall eventually found their footing. Points from Charlie McAuley and Callagh Mooney, along with a much-needed goal from Joe McNaughton in the 19th minute, briefly stemmed the tide. However, Loughgiel’s attack was too fluid. Shane O’Boyle grabbed a goal of his own, and with players like Ryan Hill, Tiago McGarry, and Ronan Fitzgerald all adding points, Loughgiel entered the dressing room at half-time with a comfortable eleven-point cushion (2-14 to 1-06).
Cushendall corner forward Fintan McKillop who scored 2-02 of his team’s total
To their credit, the Ruairís came out fighting in the second half. Fintan McKillop sparked hope with an early goal, but Loughgiel quickly extinguished the momentum. Within minutes, Shane O’Boyle found the back of the net for his second goal of the game, reasserting Loughgiel’s dominance.
Cushendall undeniably fared better in the latter thirty minutes. McKillop managed to secure a second goal to keep his team in the fight, and Callagh Mooney added a fourth green flag for the Ruairís late in the game. Christy McNaughton also kept the scoreboard ticking over with consistent frees and ’65s. Despite winning the second-half goal battle, Cushendall simply couldn’t close the massive gap established in the opening quarter.
Loughgiel managed the game out expertly, with late points from Ronan Fitzgerald ensuring they crossed the finish line as deserved 3-20 to 4-10 winners.
The standout players of the evening wore the Loughgiel colours. Roan McGarry was the Man of the Match, dictating the play and punishing Cushendall with incredible accuracy from both placed balls and open play. Shane O’Boyle was equally devastating, providing a massive attacking threat with two crucial goals and early points that set the tone, while Ronan Fitzgerald also starred.
For Cushendall, Fintan McKillop, Callagh Mooney and Christy McNaughton carried the main threat. McNaughton’s reliability on dead balls and Mooney’s constant drive and late goal ensured the Ruairís fought proudly until the final whistle, even when the game was drifting out of reach.
North Antrim chairman Martin Magee presents the Man of the Match award to Roan McGarry of Loughgiel Shamrocks Martin Magee presents the Countess of Antrim Cup to Loughgiel captain Eddie Smyh.
Loughgiel Shamrocks John Francis Connolly; Liam Glackin, Eddie Smyth, Ashdon McGarry; Tiago McGarry, Ben McGarry, Conall McCloskey; Ronan Fitzgerald, Patrick Laverty; Finn Henry, Shane O’Boyle, Pearce Patterson; Roan McGarry, Ryan Hill, Conan Johnston.
Scorers: Roan McGarry 1-08 (1-04 frees), Shane O’Boyle 2-03, Ronan Fitzgerald 0-04, Patrick Laverty 0-01, Ryan Hill 0-01, Tiago McGarry 0-01, Paddy McGarry 0-01, Damien Quinn 0-01.
Cushendall Ruairí Óg Shane Coulter; Senan Black, Aodhan Campbell; Stephen Walsh, Paddy Sharpe; Callagh Mooney, Charlie McAuley; Ed McQuillan, Joseph McNaughton, Darach Bradley; Ciaran Neeson, Christy McNaughton, Fintan McKillop.
Scorers: Fintan McKillop 2-02, Christy McNaughton 0-05 (0-02 frees, 0-02 ’65s), Callagh Mooney 1-01, Joseph McNaughton 1-00, Charlie McAuley 0-01, Ed McQuillan 0-01.
Roan McGarry who won the Man of the Match award
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Antrim senior ladies suffered a heavy defeat to Derry in this second round robin game of the All Ireland JFC
Derry were deserved winners on the day and certainly avenged their Ulster final defeat 3 weeks ago. The Saffrons never really got going and no matter what they tried, it just wasn’t working.
Antrim were minus a number of regulars, mainly due to injuries but it was no excuse for this under power performance
Playing against the strong wind in the first half Antrim went in at the break 5 down. They missed a catalogue of chances in the second half and that didn’t help their cause and Derry raised two second half green flags and that extinguished any hope Antrim had of getting back into the game.
In the end it must be the Saffrons they were beaten by a superior team on the day and the Antrim management will be keen to put this defeat behind them and hope that they will have some of their injured players back for their next game.
There were changes to the Antrim line-up, but take nothing away from the hosts, who took the game to them with some outstanding displays.
Sarah Heron was excellent at centre half-back, with Claudy pair Blaithin Donelly and Kate Hargan tireless at midfield.
Steelstown’s Orlagh McGeough came off the bench, while Anna Donnelly also performed well.
The Antrim management weren’t too critical of their side “This group give so much time and are so committed and will certainly be keen to get back on track and better performances will certainly come their way. They have had more good days than bad and there will certainly be no panic after one defeat”
On a day when things didn’t quite work out for Antrim Alyssa Davison, Laura Agnew and Maeve Blaney were their best performers.
Derry seemed to take motivation from that earlier Ulster final defeat and performed admirably all over the field.
Manager Seamus Shivers said “There was no need either for extra motivation. We all felt that we had a point to prove in terms of our own performance regardless of how the result would go, but thankfully we were able to get both the performance and the result.”
Derry led 2-3 to 1-0 at half time with their goals coming from J Slevin and J Shivers with Ni Lochlainn adding the three points as they led 2-3 to 1-0 at the break, Maria O’Neill beating Thomasina Cassidy for Antrim’s only score.
Antrim did improve on the restart but were always chasing the visitors.
Bronagh Devlin, Aoibheann Monaghan and Aine Tubridy tagged on points, but Orla McGeough, Clodagh Moore and Ni Lochlainn kept the scoreboard moving for the home team.
Ni Lochlainne would finish the game with an impressive 0-11 as the Oak Leaf girls ran out fairly convincing winners in the end.
Scorers:
Derry: A Ni Lochlainne 0-11 (3tp); A Duffy 0-3; J Slevin & J Shivers 1-0; Orlagh McGeough 0-2; C Moore 0-1
Antrim: M O’Neill 1-1; A Monaghan 0-3; A Davidson 0-3; B Devlin 0-2; A Tubridy, A Taggart & L Agnew 0-1 each
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The annual North Antrim Hurling and Camogie Skills Competition was held in Glenariffe on Friday lost. Thanks to Oisins CLG for use of facilities and to students of St Killian’s Garron Tower for leading the skill stations.
North Antrim Skills results: Girls Team – St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s Ballycastle Boys Team – St Anne’s Corkey P5 – Maria McMullan St Anne’s P5 – Ronan McKeegan – St Mary’s Cushendall P6 – Ellie McLaughlin – Glenann P.S. P6 -Callum McDonnell – St Patrick’s Glenariffe P7 – Shannon Elliot – St Josephs Dunloy P7 – Conor Dixon – St Joseph’s
Cargin’s recent run of good form continued when they travelled to Moneyglass on Sunday and inflicted a heavy defeat on St. Ergnat’s.
A deflected goal from Mick McCann in the 5th minute sent them on their way and further goals from Jack O’Neill and rising star, Patrick O’Neill had them in firm control as half time approached.
Aidan McErlain 2pt, Colm Duffin 0-4, Dermot McErlain and Seanchan Duffin chipped in with points for the hosts but further goals from Mick McCann and Jack O’Neill had the men from Toome in a commanding position when they led by 6-5 to 0-8 at the short whistle.
Conhuir Johnston chipped in with three points for the visitors in that opening half with Mick McCann and Cillian Scullion the other Erin’s own first half points scorers.
Johnston continued to display unerring accuracy as the second half got underway with three points, one of them raising the orange flag with Colm Duffin and Tyler Cassidy replying with points for the hosts.
Two more from Antrim selector McCann and a goal from his brother Paul in the 12th minute put the game well out of reach of St. Ergnat’s though they continued to give it everything against now impossible odds.
Moneyglass replied with further point from Aidan McErlain and Colum Duffin but the Cargin response was relentless and devastating as David Johnston and Jack O’Neill split the posts at the other end.
To their credit the home side never gave up and were rewarded for their efforts when Sean Boyd found the net in the 23d minute but back came Cargin with points from Conchuir Johnston 0-3 and Odhran Molloy with St. Ergnat’s responding with a consolation point from Caolan Boyd.
The Toome men appear to have hit a rich vein of form and have now scored 14 goals in their last three games and might just be hitting form at the right time as they prepare for their ultimate goal, the senior championship.
Mick McCann showed once again that he has plenty still to offer while Jack O’Neill, Patrick O’Neill and Conhuir Johnston were others to catch the eye in a very impressive team performance.
St. Ergnat’s, to their credit never gave up and in Colum Duffin, Seanchan Duffin, Tyler Cassidy, Aidan McErlain and Sean Boyd had battling performers on the day.
