by thesaffrongael

Late scoring burst earns Shane O’Neill’s the points

Antrim Hurling League Division 2

Glenarm 1-18 Carey Faughs 0-16

A late scoring burst which brought 1-4 without reply saw Glenarm snatch victory over Carey in Sunday’s Division 2 Hurling League clash at Feystown. Having lead at half time by 0-11 to 0-9 the home side lost their way a little in the second half and when visitors Carey started to gain the upper hand after the interval it looked like they might be on course for the win in this top of the table clash. However the Glenarm men found another gear in the closing stages and outscored the visitors in the final five minutes to snatch the points.

The first half was well contested with Shea Hunter hitting a series of excellent pointed free for the Carey men and Nial McGarel and Ciaran Magill on target for the home side. Points from McGarel and Dylan McLaughlin in the run in to half time gave the Shane O’Neill’s men a four point lead but Conor McBride and Shea Hunter closed the gap to just two by the short whistle.

Points from Calum Cane and Conor McBride early in the second half brought Carey level but Glenarm came back with points from McGarel and McLaughlin to move two clear again. An exchange of points by McGarel and McBride kept the sides tied at the end of the third quarter, but the visitors were starting to gain the upper hand and points from James ‘Rocket’ Black, Conor McBride (2) and Callum Cane put them four ahead with just six minutes left to play. The smart money would have been on the Faughs at this stage, but Glenarm produced a great finish to turn the game around.

McGarel started the run with a point from a close range free before corner forward Sean O’Neill struck and excellent one from play. Ciaran Magill picked up a loose clearance, which was created by a Niall McGarel block, before sending over and a minute later he drilled a low shot to the net after a mix up in the Carey defence. That all but sealed the win, but just to put the icing on the cake Darren Hamill sent over a long range point from a free to wrap it all up and keep their chances of the league title very much alive.

The two teams are due to do it all again on Wednesday evening in Carey as they play a fixture which was postponed a few weeks ago, and they are also due to meet in the championship in early August, so there is still a lot to play for in the coming weeks.

To see more pics from the Glenarm v Carey game click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/oGT9GW9ebbxF8m/?invite=cd164f9f-7f7d-4a5d-b039-db348b7f377d

by thesaffrongael

Antrim’s efforts come up short as they lose out to Limerick

Glen Dimplex Camogie All-Ireland Senior Championship

Group 1: 

Limerick 2-17 Antrim 3-12

Antrim Camogis have been relegated after three seasons in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior championship! A brave second half fightback, when they came from eight points down at one stage, just came up short, and they now drop back down to Intermediate level next season.

Limerick needed the win to stay up, a draw would have been good enough to see Antrim through, but a goal conceded in first half injury time saw the Ulster champions’ hopes dip.

They trailed by 2-7 to 0-6 at the turnover and, ten minutes into the second half, the visitors hadn’t made any headway with a gap of eight points between the teams.

However goals from Róisín McCormick and Annie Lynn saw them draw level at 2-11 each and they even went a point up when McCormick despatched a 53rd minute penalty.

Limerick though responded and tagged on enough scores to get over the line and stay up.

Róisín McCormick was the star of the Antrim attack and scored five of their six first half points; the other was scored by Dervla Cosgrove.

Earlier though Limerick were already 0-3 to 0-2 ahead when Caoimhe Lyons pounced on a defensive mistake to claim the first of her two goals in the 11th minute. Her second came two minutes into added time when Caoimhe Costelloe broke the tackle and found Lizanne Boylan. Boylan’s effort was well saved by Catriona Graham but Lyons was on hand to spoon the rebound into the net.

Costelloe and McCormick divided the first six points of the second half between them with only one of those from a dead ball. When Lyons made it 2-11 to 0-9 in the 42nd minute, Limerick looked safe.

However McCormick buried a goal in the 45th minute and added a point with her club-mate Annie Lynn firing home an equalising goal two minutes later.
Limerick responded with points from Delea and Costelloe before Antrim earned a penalty in the 53rd minute. When McCormick’s shot hit the net, the Saffrons were a point up. But they couldn’t hold on with Costelloe pointing three successive frees to bring the game into added time with her side two up.

McCormick responded with a free that was immediately cancelled by Lyons and, despite the referee adding on nearly eight minutes, Limerick held out to gain revenge for a league defeat in Ballycastle in March. The result sends the Saffrons down to next season’s Intermediate championship.

Antrim: R McCormick 2-10, 1-0 pen, 0-6 frees, A Lynn 1-1, D Cosgrove 0-1.

Limerick: C Lyons 2-2, C Costelloe 0-9, 5 frees, O Kelleher and N Ryan 0-2 each, L Fennelly and R Delea 0-1 each

Antrim: C Graham, D Dobbin, M McKenna, C McKillop, E Coulter, E Martin, A Boyle, E Johnston, F Kelly, M Kelly, R McCormick, D Cosgrove, J McIntosh, C McArthur, C Dobbin.

Subs: A Lynn for F Kelly (35), L McNaughton for E Johnston (34), S Fyfe D Cosgrove (43)

Limerick: C Mulqueen, C Ryan, M Quaid, A Nelligan, C O’Riordan, S O’Callaghan, A Larkin, M Creamer, O Kelleher, L Fennelly, R Deale, L Boylan, N Ryan, C Lyons, C Costelloe.

Subs: S Woulfe for C Ryan (HT), M Ryan for O Kelleher (38), Á Reynolds for L Fennelly (53), N Brennan for R Delea (60 + 2).

by thesaffrongael

Glenravel’s connection as Galway bridge a 90 year gap

Galway’s win over Dublin in yesterday evening’s All Ireland quarter final at Croke Park was the Westerners first championship victory over the Boys in Blue since 1934. When I heard that fact announced yesterday evening, a bell rang loud in my head, and my mind went back to a story I had written on the Saffron Gael during lockdown, four years ago this month. The story was about Hugo Carey, who played at corner back on that Galway team of ’34, who was a son of Glenravel’s Henry J Carey. Just a few weeks ago Martan Carey and his siblings were back in Glenravel to check out the Carey homestead at Killygore, Rathkenny. We called down to see the house that his grandfather left all those years ago and I took a few photos of them along with his brothers and sisters and their hosts for the day Dolores and Angela O’Loan, whose father Kieran now owns the house. Little did we think that day that just a few weeks later Galway would bridge that 90 year gap and end the run of the mighty Dubs, probably the best team in the history of the game.

Members of the Carey family outside the family homestead at Killygore Road, Rathkenny in at May of this year – L-R: Pàdhraic Ó Ciardha, ex Deputy Head TG4, Mairéad Ní Chiardha (sister) Galway, Bairbre Ní Chiardh (Milwaukee USA), Angela O’ Loan (Glenravel), Máire Ní Chiardha (Galway), Claire Carey (double first cousin) Dublin, Mártan Ó Ciardha ex Head of Sport, Raidió na Gaeltachta (An Spidéal), Tim van Wagoner (Milwaukee, USA). 

This is the original story I wrote in the Saffron Gael in June 23rd 2020

Hugo Carey (left) with his father Henry, mother Margaret and brothers Joe and Pádraic

Last week I spotted a post on the Once Upon A Time in Glenravel Facebook page from Mártan Ó Ciardha from An Spidéal Co. Galway enquiring if anyone had history on his grandfather Henry J Carey who was born in Rathkenny, Glenravel in 1872. I did not know a lot about his ancestors to be honest but Mártan was soon flooded with info about his heritage from some of the many experts on the Glenravel site, and in this short time  is now more or less an honourary Glenravel man.

What caught my eye was the fact that Mártan was from Spidal, Co Galway, so I messaged him to say that the local Con Magees club had spent two Easter weekends there in 1973 and ’74 in the Teach Furbo Hotel, had great memories of the place . We played a couple of challenge games both years, among the teams the seniors faced were the mighty Corofin, who have since gone on to win five All Ireland titles, including a 3-in-a-row in 2018, 19 and 20. However it has to be said that football was not the main focus of those trips for some of us.

Mártan got back right away and thanked me for getting in touch. He told me he was a dyed in the wool GAA man himself and had covered the games in Galway, working as Head of Sport at Raidió na Gaeltachta. He then dropped a real bombshell as he told me about how he felt his uncle Hugo might possibly be the first son of a Glenravel man to win an All Ireland Senior Football medal. Having worked on the team that produced the club history just four years ago I was knocked sideways by this statement. Nobody in the club had ever heard of Hugo Carey so I ask Mártan to send me on all the info he had on his famous uncle, and true to his word he sent me the following email and photographs.

Hugo Carey became the first son of a Glenravel man to win an All Ireland Senior Football medal when he lined out at corner-back for Galway in their win over Dublin in 1934.

Hugo Carey (3rd from left) on the Galway team in the pre-match parade before the 1934 All Ireland final.

Named after his grandfather Hugh, Hugo was the son of Henry J. Carey, born to Hugh Carey (b. Rathkenny 1824) and his wife Mary McGowan (b.1829). Henry J. became a member of the RIC and was posted to Carna in Connemara.

There he and his wife Margaret Berry reared a family of seven, Hugo being the middle child was born in 1908.

Hugo Carey (4th player from left on the back row) on the Galway team who beat Dublin in the 1934 All Ireland final – On Saturday Galway bridged a 90 year gap when they beat Dublin again in the championship to book a place in the semi-final

He was on the Galway teams that won the Connacht titles in 1933 and ’34, reaching the All Ireland Finals on both occasions. They were beaten by Cavan in ’33 but the following year Hugo Carey earned his All Ireland medal playing on a side that took revenge on the Brefni men in the semi-final, and then defeated Dublin (3-5, 1-9) in the final.

Within days of that win Galway headed to the USA where they played games in Boston, Jersey City, Philadelphia and in Giant’s Stadium New York, where Hugo marked Joe Stynes, noted republican and grand-uncle of the Great Jim Stynes, the only non Australian-born footballer to be awarded the Brownlow Medal.

by thesaffrongael

Cargin come out on top despite losing a man

Antrim Football League Division One

Erin’s Own Cargin 3-15 O’Donovan Rossa 1-08

Cargin retained top spot in the Division One ratings and and secured a place in the plays-offs as they had too much firepower for Rossa in Friday evening’s penultimate league game in Toome.

Despite losing Gerard McCann  to a double yellow card twenty minutes from time the county champions were never really troubled as they showed their strength in depth once more. 

The big midfielder had dominated his area up until his early shower and played a lead role in Justin Croziers 38th minute goal, but beings a man short did not deter the home side and further goals from Tomas Mc Cann and James Laverty aided them over the winning line with a 3-15 to 1-08 winning advantage.

Cargin full back Kevin McShane

Having enjoyed a win over Portglenone in the O’ Cahan cup competition a couple of days previously table topping Cargin stepped out again in a rearranged league fixtures as Rossa visited Toome on Friday evening.

Both the combatants had regulars missing in action with the dual club, Rossa harder hit by absenteeism but in the event the city men held their own in the opening period and it was all square after ten minutes as early points from the home side’s John Carron and Benen Kelly found replies in kind at the other end as Eoghan Mc Menamin and Daren Grego raised whites apiece.

The home side may well have gained advantage in the 12th minute as Justin Crozier and Conhuir Johnston combined to send Benen Kelly in on target with the visitors net minder Niall Crossan making a good save to deny the winger.

The remainder of the first period was close but the visitors edged ahead when a Colm Fleming’s cross opened the way for Cory Walsh to finish to the net which which put them ahead as half time neared.  

However Cargin, with Gerard Mc Cann and John Carron getting to grips with the battle for midfield, finished the run-in better and further points from Conhuir Johnston and  Pat Shivers brought them back on terms at the short whistle. ( 0-07 to 1-04)

Rossa started the second half well as Colm Fleming despatched a 35 metre free between the posts but Cargin came back with one from Conhuir Johnston to level matters and then added back to back points before Gerard Mc Cann’s cross opened the door for Justin Crozier to finish to the net.

A Cormac Mc Gettigan point from a 40 metre free got Rossa going again but it was to provide only  a temporary respite as the Toome men upped the ante and despite losing Gerard Mc Cann to the second yellow, continued to hold the upper hand. 

John Carron

Jamie Gribbin made a welcome return to action after a long term injury stretch and and showed well, plus a trio of points from Conhuir Johnston Pat Shivers, and David Johnston saw them extend the advantage 1-12 to 1-07.

The home side were very much in command as the game moved towards conclusion and if any doubt still lingered on the possible outcome when Tomas Mc Cann despatched a 30 metre free between the posts and was soon to add a major score after Pat Shivers and Conhuir Johnston combined to open the door.

Just to put the icing on the cake full-back Kevin Mc Shane foraged forward from his full back berth to send James Laverty in for a late goal.

The gallant visitors did retain positivity until the end but a late point from Dara Grego came as too little too late as the home side breasted the chequered flag points secured on a 3-15 to 1-08 winning advantage.

Referee Patrick Nolan (Lamh Dhearg)

Teams

Cargin

John Mc Nabb (0-10, Brendan Laverty, Kevin Mc Shane, Ronan Gribbin, James Laverty (1-00), Benen Kelly (0-02), Gerard Mc Cann, Justin Crozier (1-01), Charlie Mc Cann, Pat Shivers (0-04), David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann (1-01), Conhuir Johnston (0-05), Conan Johnston (0-01)

Subs

Jamie Gribbin

Diarmuid Quinn

Odhran Molloy

Cian Scullion

Rossa

Niall Crossan, Conail Mc Donnell, Gerard Walsh, Jack Morris, Rory Grant, Cormac Mc Gettigan (0-010, Michael Mc Enhill, Eodhain Mc Menamin, Dara Grego, Eoghain Mc Menamin, Conor O’ Neill, Colm Fleming (0-03), Ronan Maguire, Coary Walsh

Subs

Oisin Murphy

Mattie Mc Kiernan

Daire Cunningham

by thesaffrongael

The winning streak continues for the Comgall’s men

ACFL Division 3

Naomh Comhghall 2-19 O’’Donnell’s 1-5

On Saturday evening Naomh Comhghall senior men took on O’Donnell’s hoping to continue their unbeaten run. The first half saw the men find their formation and pursue a sleek flow of points ticking over from Miles Devine, Tom Patchett, Ryan Clarke and Ruairí Griffin.

O’Donnell’s continued to put pressure on the St.Comgall’s men but couldn’t manage to get into the rhythm nor break through the iron back line.

HT St. Comgall’s 0-10 O’Donnell’s 0-00

Momentum with the men in white continued, however O’Donnell’s made a few changes which gave them a second wind. The visitors powered on and found the back of the net getting them a well-deserved break onto the scoreboard.

In retaliation, Aaron McGaw found his way to the forefront of the O’Donnells defence and buried the first goal for St. Comgall’s into the back of the net and this was swiftly followed by another goal from a very athletic Ruairí Griffin.

Both sides exchanged points in the closing stages with Naomh Comhghall running out convincing winners against a side who were tipped to be their greatest rivals for the title at the start of the season.

A memorable night for the Naomh Comhghall men with the win, securing the league title and gaining promotion to division 2.

On behalf of Naomh Comhghall the committee and supporters would like to thank Barry Burns and his team for the management and success we have had with our senior men this year. We are looking forward to the championship and going for the double.