by thesaffrongael

Old managers make successful return to Clooney

ACHL Division 2

Cloney Gaels 0-17 Oisin’s 1-18

Former Cloney Gaels management team, Hugh Dobbin and Shay O’Hagan returned to the ground where they had gained much success over the past 6 years and recorded their first win with their new side, Oisin’s Glenariffe.

The successful partnership won three Antrim league titles with the Ahoghill side in that time and were runners up in division 2, three years in a row and added an Intermediate Championship title in 2022.

After losing their opening game to Emmet’s, Cushendun last Wednesday night the Oisins were determined to get some points on board against a Cloney Gaels side who had two wins under their belt despite introducing a number of new faces this season.

James O’Connell in action for Cloney Gaels

Conditions for both sides were terrible in their respective encounters in mid-week and were only marginally better at Cloney on Sunday as referee Fionntan McCotter got matters underway.

Playing into the wind in the opening half it was Cloney Gaels who raced into an early lead when Patrick Graham soloed through for the game’s opening point.

The visitors responded positively however as Brogan O’Connor, Aaron Cosgrove and Conor Kerr shot them into a three point lead but with James O’Connell starting to find his range, the Ahoghill side had closed the gap to the minimum by the 18th minute.

The Gaels had lost Neil O’Connell at this stage to injury to be replaced by Owen Graham and were struck another blow when their defence got itself in a tangle and Aaron Cosgrove forced the ball home through a crowded goalmouth to make it 1-6 to 0-5 after 21 minutes.

That score settled the Waterfoot side and Cosgrove, Oliver Kearney, and two from Seanie McIntosh saw them head to the shelter of the dressing rooms with a fairly healthy 1-10 to 0-5 halftime lead.

The new management team would have undoubtedly reminded their side that this one was far from over, given the renowned fighting spirit of their former charges and so it proved to be.

Despite having to replace their centre-half, James ‘Bobby’ Magee at the interval the Ahoghill side returned to the contest with renewed vigour and with the elements now in their favour they set about eating into the Oisin’s lead.

Big Shay looks on from the Oisins dug-out

Clooney Gaels dominated the opening exchanges of the second half as James O’Connell struck three points (2 frees) and Owen ‘Soda’ Graham and Martin Graham added unanswered points by the 10th minute and suddenly the Glenariffe half time lead was looking vulnerable.

Aaron Cosgrove finally got the visitors on their way again but another long range point from play and a well struck free from around mid-field by the mercurial O’Connell had it back to three by the 17th minute.

Noah Friel added another to leave just two in and the Oisin’s lead had been cut to two and the Waterfoot side were in need of some inspiration and Aaron Cosgrove volleyed over when he might have had a goal.

Seanie McIntosh eased them four ahead once more direct from a ‘65’ and the same player added another from a free to move the visitors five ahead and it looked like they had weathered the Clooney storm.

It was not the case however as Eoin Graham replied with a point and James O’Connell pointed another free to leave a goal between the sides but that was as close as the home side would get.

Aaron Cosgrove and Conor Kerr replied with points for the Oisin’s as they game edged into time added on with Ahoghill’s only reply coming from a Conor McGarry point.

After the game it became clear just how the  Ahoghill men regarded their former mentors as they shook hands with the Cloney management and with all the team at the final whistle.

Still good friends! The new Oisin’s managers, Hugh Dobbin and Shay O’Hagan have a friendly word with their former Clooney players and now mangers, Stephen O’Connell and Donal Graham

Cloney Gaels:  Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dugan, 4 Connell Walls, 5 Fienberg Graham, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Bernard Graham, 9 Conor Crossey, 10 Martin Graham, 11 Patrick Graham, 12 James O’Connell, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Neil O’Connell, 15 Noah Friel.

Subs: Owen Graham for Neil O’Connell, Conor McGarry for James Magee, Shea Neeson for ConallWalls, Jack McFall for Noah Friel, Ryan Neeson for Colla McDonnell

Oisin Glenariffe: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Patrick McIlwaine, 3 Niall Murray,4 Cailin Devlin, 5 Donall Kearney, 6 Michael Haughey, 7 Daniel Kearney, 8 Oliver Kearney, 9 Odhran Gillan, 10 Seanie McIntosh, 11 Conor Kerr, 12  Ronan Leech, 13 Brogan O’Connor, 14 Aaron Cosgrove, 15 Ben O’Boyle

Subs: Maìrtin McAllister for Patrick McIlwaine and Dan McKillop for Ronan Leech

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)

by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle weather the Ballygalget storm

Antrim Hurling League – Division 1

Ballycastle 2-18 Ballygalget 1-10

Ballycastle got their first league points on the board at Pairc MacUílin when they beat visitors Ballygalget by 2-18 to 1-10 in game that was played in a mixture of sunshine and driving rain.

Playing against a stiff wind Ballycastle made a great start and following points from Críostaí McAuley and Ciaran Butler, Orran Donnelly set Butler up for an excellent goal. Eoin Puccie pulled a couple back for the Ards men but two from Neal McAuley, another from Butler and one from Rambo McCarry helped stretch the lead to 1-7 to 0-6 by half time, Ben Teggart chipping in a point to those by Pucci for Ballygalget.

Ballycastle’s Críostaí McAuley wins possession during the win over Ballygalget

With the elements at their back at the start of the second half the town hit the first four points through Orran Donnelly, Neil McAuley (2) and Ronan McCarry to stretch the lead out to nine. As a second heavy shower made conditions even more difficult Ballygallget looked like might sing without trace, but to their credit they played their best hurling of the game as the Pucci brothers Eoin and Shae sent over points and midfielder Fergal Gilmore grabbed a goal and suddenly the gap was back to six.

Ballygalget centre back Ciaran Watson hand pass the ball away

The Down men must have felt they were still in with a chance of salvaging something from the game but their hopes were dealt a bad blow when Ballycastle’s Rambo McCarry soloed through and his in a shot at goal from the right. The shot didn’t appear to carry any real danger, but the wet ball skidded off the hand of the visitors goalkeeper and ended in the net.

There was no way back now for the men in green as Ballycastle finished with a flourish with points from Ryan McCooke, Críostaí McAuley, Orran Donnelly and Lorcan Donnelly to end up eleven clear at the final whistle.

Rambo McCarry soloes towards the Ballygalget goal
by thesaffrongael

Antrim’s search for a win continues despite battling performance

Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final: 

Down 0-13 Antrim 0-9

Antrim’s search for a win in the Ulster Senior Football Championship goes on after losing out to Down in Pairc Esler, Newry on Saturday evening. The Saffrons gave their all, despite being short a host of players, but in the end came up four points short of a Down team, who looked but a shadow of the team who beat Antrim in the league at Corrigan Park a few weeks ago.

Trailing by 3 at half time Antrim looked to be in real bother coming out to face the stiff breeze in the second half, but they battled for everything in that second period and were unlucky to lose the second period by a single point. They missed a succession of chance and appeared to be very unlucky when Conor Hand was bearing down on goal and somehow put the ball to the wrong the side of the post with a goal looking certain.

Marc Jordan drives forward for Antrim with Declan |Lynch in support as Ceilum Doherty moves in

Down started positively and went two clear with points from Ryan McEvoy and Pat Havern as Antrim struggled to get to the pace of the game. However the Saffrons began to settle and two points, one of them a real beauty from Ryan McQuillan brought them level, though Down kicked on again with points from Rooney and Murdock as they went on to lead by 0-6 to 0-3 at the end of a disjointed first half.   

With wind advantage in the second period Down increased their lead to four soon after the restart and again you began to feel the game was getting away from Antrim. However they stuck to their guns and two quick points from Marc Jordan and Eoghan McCabe kept them very much in touch. However each time they were within touching distance again Down were able to pick off a score and keep them at bay. An exchange of points by Antrim’s Marc Jordan and Down’s Liam Walsh keeps the gap at four.

When Antrim intercepted a Down attack Ruairi McCann broke away and when the Creggan man set up Eoghan McCabe the chance of a goal was on, but McCabe just sent it a few inches too high and the chance of goal was gone.

Antrim’s Eoin McCabe breaks clear of Down’s Pierce Laverty

A bad injury to Antrim defender Eunan Walsh after a collision with his own man saw and extra nine minutes added the play, but the stoppage appeared to have killed the Antrim momentum and Down held out to win by four and seal a place in the next round against either Armagh or Fermanagh.

Down: J O’Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy 0-1, C Doherty 0-1; M Rooney 0-1, P Laverty, D Guinness 0-2; C McCrickard, O Murdock 0-1; S Johnston, L Kerr 0-1, R Johnston 0-1 (0-1m); B O’Hagan, P Havern 0-1 (0-1f), D Magill.

Subs: O Savage 0-3 (0-2fs, 0-1m) for Havern (23), E Brown for McCrickard (47), S Annett (0-1) for O’Hagan (52), R Magill for S Johnston (61), R Mason for Magill (74).

Antrim: M Byrne 0-1 (0-1 45); R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan; D Lynch, J Finnegan, D McAleese; C Hynds, M Jordan 0-1; C Hand 0-1, P McBride 0-1 (0-1f), E McCabe 0-1; R McQuillan 0-3 (0-2fs), R McCann 0-1 (0-1f), D McEnhill.

Subs: N Burns for McEnhill (HT) P McAleer for Boyle (52), E Hynds for Walsh (67), P Shivers for McQuillan (76).

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).

Antrim who lost to Down at Pairc Esler in the quarter-final of the Ulster Championship
by thesaffrongael

McCann abscence a bad blow for Antrim

Antrim have named their team for tomorrow’s Ulster Senior Football Championship game with Down at Pairc Esler.

There are two changes from the side who beat Wicklow at Corrigan Park two weeks ago, the bad news being that Ruairi McCann of Aghagallon, who scored the Antrim goal that day, is missing because of appendicitis, a bad blow for the Saffrons.

Conor Hand of  St John’s, who came on for Dermot McAleese in that game, is named at right half forward for Saturday while Eoin Hynds of Con Magees, Glenravel, who came on for RuairiMcCann of Creggan that day, lines out from the start at left half forward.

by thesaffrongael

Great day of fun…and Camogie, at the Lucia Quinney Mee tournament in Ballycastle

There was lots of excitement about Pairc McQuillan on Thursday morning as teams from all over Antrim and Derry gathered to battle it out for the annual Lucia Quinney Mee Cup and Live Loudly, Donate Proudly shield. This was the third Camogie blitz graciously hosted by Lucia’s home school, Cross, and Passion College, named to honour a young lady who will always hold a special place in the hearts of everyone at CPC.

The school organised an annual event for year 8 girls to remember Lucia’s passion for promoting organ donation discussions and was successfully ran by the CTEC Sport pupils in upper 6th at CPC, alongside teacher, Mrs Catherine Black.

Schools participating were CPC, St Killian’s, St Louis Ballymena, St Patricks Maghera, Loreto Coleraine, St Conor’s Kilrea, St Pius and St Marys Magherafelt. It was a celebration of friendship, friendly competition, memorable moments, and pure happiness watching the girls take to the pitches with their teammates, and gave each other, their teachers and coaches, and various spectators a great day’s excitement and entertainment.

Tournament hosts CPC were narrowly beat in an exciting semi-final against St Pats, Maghera, whilst the other semi-finalists St Marys Magherafelt had a close encounter with neighbouring school, St Pius but came out on top to go head-to-head with St Pats in the Cup final. In the shield competition, St Killian’s Garron Tower faced Loreto Coleraine & the other semi-final featured St Conors playing St Louis. After tough fought semi-finals, St Killian’s faced St Louis, with St Killian’s coming out victorious to win the shield competition. All eyes were then onto the cup final when St Marys & St Pats battled it out. St Marys walked away as the Lucia Quinney-Mee Cup champions for the 1st time.

After the presentation of awards to the finalists, and a deserving round of applause for all the teams, winners, and runners-up, it was fitting to end the day with the important message about organ donation, with thanks to Lucia’s Mother, Father and sister Alice speaking on behalf of Live Loudly, Donate Proudly, to encourage us all to have informed conversations about organ donation. Special thanks also to Caitlin McBride and …………. for speaking on behalf of ………. to encourage young girls to have the important conversations about organ donation. All in all, a wonderful day honouring a wonderful girl.