by thesaffrongael

Na Magha come back strongly to take the points

ACHL Division 3

Na Magha 5-9 All Saints 3-6

All Saints travelled to the Maiden City on Sunday to meet a Na Magha side making their first appearance in this year’s ACHL Division 3. The Ballymena side started well and with the elements in their favour led 2-4 to 1-2 at the break.

A good Na Magha came back strongly in the second half however, hitting four second half goals to take the points and look like a side who can hold their own in division 3 this season.

Aidan Rankin got Na Magha off to a good start with an early goal but the visitors came back strongly with goals from Liam Cassley and Damian Gillan and Gillan then pointed a free to move his side four ahead.

Na Magha were looking a little rusty in their first outing this year but a couple of points from Crossan gave them a foothold but it would be the Ballymena side who continued to edge the opening exchanges.

Jack Magill replied with an All Saints point and Damian Gillan added two before the break to leave ‘Dorney’s’ men 2-4 to 1-2 ahead at the break but with the elements to face in the second half.

The impressive Damian Gillan extended the visitors lead with a point on the restart but Na Magha came back strongly with a goal from McAdams and points from Foley and Doherty to close the gap to one.

A Jack Magill goal edged the Slemish Park side four in front once more but the Derry City men were growing into the game and would finish strongly.

The excellent Foley began the comeback with a point and the same player struck his side’s fourth goal with Gallagher adding two points to put Na Magha in control.

Damien Gillan replied with All Saints final point but it was Na Magha who finished strongly as Doherty grabbed their fifth goal.

A good win for a strong Na Magha side who played some excellent hurling and look capable of giving any side in division 3 a run for their money this year.

For All Saints the rebuilding job continues and their side on Sunday contained a handful of youngsters who will improve as the season goes on and that first win might not be too far away given their performances to date.

Na Magha:  A Grant  C O Donnell  D Shiels  A Campbell  C Durey  C McGoran  M McCloskey  T Rankin  R Mclaughlin  T Gallagher D Foley capt  K Doherty  A Rankin  R McAdams  R Crossan  B Quigley  C Murphy  A McSteen  C O Donovan  A Breslin  K Ponsonby  O ÓDonghaile

by thesaffrongael

Antrim GAA for All up and running for 2024

Today was the day we’d all been waiting on as training started again for Antrim GAA FOR ALL. A great panel of young players coming from Sarsfields, Cargin, Davitts, St Galls, Tir na nog, Ballymena, Aghagallon and Kickhams displayed their many skills on the day but also had great craic together as our County team.

With training on every Saturday at 2.30 new members are always welcome. The All Stars would also like to thank Stephen and Simon from BOURKE sports for sponsoring the footballs for the year ahead and WEEV car chargers for sponsoring the team with new water bottles.

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel impress as they beat Portaferry in the Ards

ACHL Division 1 Portaferry v Loughgiel – April 14th 2024

Portaferry 2-7 Loughgiel 2-20

Pics and report by Michael Corcoran

Loughgiel travelled to Portaferry, in the Upper Ards, for the second ACHL Division 1 game of the season. The coastal road down was overcast with every shade of cloudy grey you could imagine. With both squads depleted in key players, it was a game anticipated to deliver every shade of hurling over the hour as younger players mixed with seasoned journeymen. Ray Mathews officiated today’s match and after a short spell of administration around new player injury rules, the sliotar was rolled in sharp on 2 O’clock.

Loughgiel played towards the town and arguably benefited somewhat from the south-south westerly breeze that allowed them to open up their score tally with Declan McCloskey pointing accurately between the uprights. Maol Connelly nudged Loughgiel along with another fine point and Connelly’s form would prove problematic for Portaferry, particularly in the second half.

Portaferry registered their intent with an opening point from Ronan Blair but apart from a second half closing point from Barry Trainor, Loughgiel would impress the small crowd along the pitch perimeter with a volley of points and a finely worked goal from the hand of Conor O’Mullan onto the stick of Eoin McGarry, who slotted it diagonally away from Portaferry’s keeper, Pearce Smyth.

Mathews blew for a second half result of Portaferry 0-2 Loughgiel 1-10. The second half would prove more promising for the ‘Ports’ as Naill Milligan found a way through Loughgiel’s defence for his first goal and the second found its way to the back of the net with a simple pull on the ground to warm up the spectators with hopes of a turnaround. Loughgiel pushed hard into the breeze and Maol Connelly broke free to run at Portaferry’s keeper with no chaperon to hinder a punishing sliotar between Smyth’s legs. Declan McCloskey kept incrementing Loughgiel’s purpose with some very accurate free taking despite shooting into the strong breeze. Portaferry’s younger marksman, Cahal Coleman, had two fine back-to-back points, bringing the Ards men to 2- 06 to Loughgiel’s 2-15 but a well worked hand pass from O’Mullan found the receiving hand of Connor Dickson and once the sliotar found the ball net between the uprights, it felt like Loughgiel were now in control.

The ‘Ports’ closed their account with a final point from Barry Trainor and with a successive volley of points from Connolly and Hargan, referee Ray Mathews blew the game to a close the game with an impressive Shamrocks victory –  Portaferry 2-07 Loughgiel 2-20

by thesaffrongael

McManus drags Cushendall back in the final quarter

Cushendall: 1-20(23) St Endas: 1-16(19)

Antrim Hurling League Division 1

Cushendall needed a last quarter comeback, when backed by the wind, to get the better of Naomh Eanna in Sunday’s leage game at Pairc Mhuire on Sunday. The Glengormley men had lead by a point at half time and during the third quarter had increased that advantage to five until a Neill McManus inspired comeback reeled them in and eventually got them over the line.

John McGoldrick gave them a good start with an early point, and though the home side came back with points from McManus and Alex Delargy. Points from Eddie O’Connor, Oliver Breen and John McGoldrick, in reply to one by McManus, saw the Glengormley men begin to open up a gap. A goal from corner forward Ruairi Diamond put them five clear at one stage, but nearing half time McManus fired in his team’s first goal to cut the deficit back to a single point at the interval.

The second half saw Naomh Eanna push further ahead as John McGoldrick (2) and Eddie O’Connor increased the gap to four after just three minutes. The gap went from three to four on a couple more occasions but Cushendall were starting to get to grips with the situation and with McManus unerring from frees they hit six on bounce, four of them from McManus and once each from Andrew Delargy and Patrick Sharpe. McGoldrick came back with another one from a free seven minutes from time, but McManus finished with three more without reply to seal the win.

by thesaffrongael

McManus points St. John’s to narrow victory

O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Hurling League Division One

St John’s 2-13 O’Donovan Rossa 1-14

Both these sides had impressive wins on day one of the ACHL Division 1 so a close encounter was anticipated when they met at Corrigan Park on Sunday and so it proved to be.

It was nip and tuck all the way and looked anybody’s game but the ‘Johnnies’ gained the upper hand as the contest entered the closing stages.

The game got underway in less than ideal conditions and didn’t improve as the rain came down but despite this both sides combined to serve up a highly entertaining and compelling contest.

There was a real competitive edge about the game from the throw in with every ball fiercely contested but in the end it was the free taking of Oisin McManus that swung it in the way of the Whiterock men.

Rossa’s Oisin McVicker pulls first time on the sliotar

MacManus finished with 1-8 from placed ball, his goal in the first half having a bit of fortune about it, while Conor Johnston was excellent in attack as he contributed 0-4 from open play.

For Rossa, Diarmuid Rogan was superb from both frees and play, hitting nine in total, and it was the Shaw’s Road side that looked like taking the spoils as they moved two ahead with ten minutes remaining.

Down came he rain just as the game began, making conditions difficult but it didn’t deter either side as they went at it tooth and nail right from the throw in.

Aided by a stiff wind, Rossa were first to register with midfield pair Diaarmuid Rogan and Conall Shannon pointing in the opening minute.

Oisin MacManus got the Johnnies on the board from a ‘65’ but the visitors continued to make the early running with Rogan and MacManus swapping points before the Rossa man added pointed frees of his own either side of a fine effort from Dara Rocks.

St John’s began to grow into it with MacManus replying from two frees and they started to get their running game going with Conor Johnston getting their first from play after 17 minutes to close the gap to one.

Rogan replied with a free, but the Johnnies were starting to come into their own and a fine move saw Johnston in the clear and he fired over the equaliser.

The Johnnies hit the front as a MacManus free was dropped, under pressure by Rossa goalkeeper Domhnall Moran and ended in the net.

St. John’s Shea Carson is challenged by Niall Crossan

Rossa responded however to finish the half strongly and Rogan pointed a free before Eoin Trainor converted directly from a sideline to reduce the arrears to one at the short whistle with St John’s leading 1-7 to 0-9.

A heavy shower during the interval made conditions more difficult as the sides emerged for the second half but it was St. John’s who made the better start with Stephen Tierney splitting the posts from an acute angle. Oisin Donnelly then cut through to finish to the net to put his side five ahead with only four minutes of the second period played and the momentum was very much with the home side.

Rossa regrouped however as Diarmuid Rogan replied from play and followed from a free as conditions worsened with players from both sides losing their footing.

The visitors then got the break they needed on 47 minutes as Stephen Shannon sent a low ball into the danger area and although Eoghan McMenamin fumbled his attempt to gather, Declan McCartney was on hand to finish to the net and the sides were level.

McMenamin then hit back-to-back points and Rossa appeared to be heading for victory but back came St John’s as Conor Johnston had a shot tipped over and MacManus landed yet another free.

He would connect with two more before Rogan replied with one of his own to leave one in it in added time, but McManus had the final say as he converted again for what would prove to be the insurance score.

St. John’s: D Creggan; O Carleton, C Morgan, C McEvoy; R McNulty, Ciaran Johnston, D McGuinness; a McMahon, S Wilson; Conor Johnston (0-4), S Tierney (0-1), O Donnelly (1-0); O MacManus (1-8, 1-7f, 0-1 65), S Shannon, R Galbraith.

Subs: D C arson for S Shannon (HT), M Dudley for R Galbraith (HT), A McGowan for C McEvoy (45), M McCartin for D McGuinness (60), J McAllister for S Wilson (60+7).

Rossa: D Moran; O McVicker, C Orchin, N Crossan; E Trainor (0-1 sl), C McGuinness, S Shannon; D Rogan (0-9, 5f), C Shannon (0-1); E McMenamin (0-2), P Short, D Rocks (0-1); T Morgan, D McCartney (1-0), C Boyle.

Subs: N Devlin for D Rocks (55), R Murray for C Boyle (59), A McLean for C Shannon (60+6)

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)