by thesaffrongael

Cushendall win convincingly in first outing

Antrim Camogie League Division 1

Cushendall 3-17 Bridini Oga Glenravel 0-5

Cushendall scored a comprehensive win over Bridini Oga Glenravel in Tuesday evening’s Division 1 League game at Pairc Mhuire Cushendall, winning in the end by 21 points.

The Ruairiettes, who sat out last week’s opening round of league games, dominated all through and after an early exchange of points between full forward Orlagh Burke and Glenravel’s Eimear McAleenan the home side struck their first goal through corner forward Orlaith McCurry. Goal number two came from Orlagh Burke as the home team took control and left half forward Orlaith McAlister got her team’s third before half time as they went in leading by 3-9 to 0-4.

Erin Coulter who batted hard against the odds for Glenravel

Cushendall stretched their advantage after the change of ends but great work by the Glenravel defence, and goalkeeper Orla Donnelly in particular, kept the score down. The visitors did have a couple of goal chances of their own when they were awarded two penalties near the end but both shots, the first from Aishing Millar and the second from Eimhear McAleenan were both saved by Cushendall keeper Louise Mulholland.

Cushendall scorers: D Cosgrove 0-4, O O’Hara 1-2, O McAlister 1-1, O McCurry 1-0, Kady McNeill 0-6, Cara O’Boyle 0-2, Laura Black 0-1

Bridini Oga scorers – Eimear McAleenan (0-2), Erin Coulter 0-1, Sarah Fyfe 0-1, Clodagh McPeake 0-1.

Reeree – Owen Elliott (All Saints)

by thesaffrongael

Fixtures and Previews (Wed 17th April)

Another round of fixtures in the football leagues are scheduled for the incoming week. This is the 4th round of games as the Committee in charge look to the ‘evening’ games and some will suggest at such an early stage of the season the help of Lady Luck is needed to ensure games will all progress as scheduled.

Division One (all games at 6.30pm)

St James Aldergrove v Erin’s Own Cargin

Aldergrove are new residents this term in the top division and although they will lack for nothing in effort this does look a tough assignment as the reigning senior champions visit Crumlin.

Aldergrove drew with Lamh Dhearg up at Hannahstown last time out and they will return to their own abode for this tough looking assignment with morale lifted.

Cargin have remained undefeated to date and although they will face keen opposition on the Crumlin turf anything other than an away win is not anticipated.

O’ Donovan Rossa v Con Magees Glenravel

Rossa have as yet to gain victory in their games to date and back on home soil they will look to open account this time as Glenravel visit Shaw’s Road. Their away game against Cargin in round three was postponed last week and Hugh McGettigan’s men will be hoping to get a first win.

Con Magees have taken a time to adjust in their return to the top grade but they did earn a point last time sharing the spoils with the visiting Clooney men and they will travel in search of more.

Rossa are never easily defeated on their own Shaw’s road terrain and although they will have to work for it they may well gain a full return in this one.

St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Mary’s Aghagallon

Chris Mc Glone’s Ahoghill have fared well to date with just a single reversal endured. They did gain a good win over the visiting Rossa in their opening game and they will look for a similar positive showing again in this one from the visit of Aghagallon.

Aghagallon, have struggled to date but the St Mary’s men have been short a number of players, and with a stronger panel they may fancy their chances of a first as they take the long road down to Ahoghill.

This looks a close one if the visitors travel in strength but failure to do so will likely ensure the points will remain at home.

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Lamh Dhearg

Moneyglass have yet to register this term but will be hoping to get some points on board when Lamh Dheart visit Marion Hill.

The Hannahstown men have struggled to date but in the current circumstances an away win is a likely outcome.

St Gall’s v St John’s

Milltown based St Gall’s have impressed in their games to date and remain undefeated and they will hope to continue in such positivity as St John’s visit Milltown.

The Corrigan residents have not enjoyed a great start to the season and indeed they remain pointless as they travel to meet their city rivals.

Games between these two are usually hard tough encounters and this latest addition may well follow in the same tradition.

Ground advantage may well intervene to ensure a positive return for St.Gall’s but the Johnnies may earn a share of the spoils with a draw possible.

St Brigid’s v Kickham’s Creggan

St Brigid’s have nipped out of the start traps quickly this season and the Musgrave Park side remain unbeaten to date. They gained a win at Corrigan over the Johnnies last time and will look to extend their tally here as Creggan visit.

Kickham’s Creggan have also opened the present season in a positive mode and have recorded three victories from their games to date. They enjoyed a good win over the in-form St Enda’s last time and will travel in a positive mode.

This does look a close one between a couple of in-form rivals and a draw does look possible.

St Enda’s Glengormley v Casement’s Portglenone

Reigning division 1 league champions Casements seem course to retain their hard earned trophy as their programme to date strongly suggests. They have remained unbeaten so far and have emerged for the season looking good.

St Enda’s struggled to get it together last term but they have shown improvement this term in the early stages of the season.

St Enda’s will give this one a real lash but John McKeever’s men will start as firm favourites and should collect the points.

All Saints Ballymena v Tir na nOg Randalstown

This all South west affair brings together close rivals as All Saint’s play hosts to Tir na nOg.

Tir nanOg have been in form in the early part of the season and a good win over Moneyglass last time underlined current well being.

All Saint’s lost to Portglenone last time but they will hope to learn from that and back on home terrain they may well return to winning ways but a close one is in prospect.

Division Two

Gort na Mona v St Pauls

After a couple of outings apiece nothing separates this duo on ratings with one victory apiece.

The Gorts opened with a win over the visiting Ardoyne whilst St Paul’s returned from Rasharkin points secured.

Both failed to add to their tally in round two, enduring defeats to St Teresa’s and St Patricks respectively and will each look for better in this one.

St Patrick’s Lisburn v Michael Davitt’s

Having gained victory away to St Pauls last time, St Patricks welcome Michael Davitts to their Lisburn abode.

St Patrick’s will look to add another positive result but having impressed last time with a good win at Rasharkin Davitt’s may well add another couple of points.

Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Teresa’s

St Teresa’s have made a positive start to the season and remain undefeated after back to back wins over Gort na Mona and St Patricks and they will seek to keep the winning show on the road here as they visit Sarsfield’s.

The Paddies opened account last time with a win at Ardoyne following an opening day defeat at the hands of the visiting Glenavy.

A close game is in prospect with a tentative vote awarded to the Bear Pit residents.

Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Mary’s Rasharkin

Dunloy lost out to the inform Glenavy last time after an opening day win over Davitt’s and are back on home soil this time as the play host to Rasharkin.

Dunloy will start as firm favourites and they should collect the points

St Joseph’s Glenavy v Kickham’s Ardoyne

St Josephs Glenavy have really hit the turf running in the present season and the Chapel Hill residents remain unbeaten in their games to date.

North Belfast based Ardoyne have also started the present season well but they may find this as a step too far with a home win anticipated.

Division Three

Patrick Pearses v Wolfe Tones

Pearses will start this one as favourites and although their visitors are not without hope ground advantage may well swing it Pearses’ way.

Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v St Malachy’s

MacRory Park residents Cardinal O’ Donnell’s have left the start traps this term in a very positive mode and should retain their undefeated record in this one as St. Malachy’s visit the Whiterock.

Laochra Loch Lao v St Agnes

Laochra Loch Lao remain unbeaten in their outings to date and they should earn another couple of points from this one as they cross swords with St. Agnes.

by thesaffrongael

Biddies hold on for two precious points

ACHL Division 3

St. Brigid’s 1-14 Glen Rovers 2-10

In a rematch of last year’s junior championship final, St. Brigid’s Cloughmills held on to win by the finest of margins against old rivals Glen Rovers in Armoy on Sunday to record their second win of the season.

Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, Odhran McCurdy opened the scoring for the Cloughmills men with a fine long range effort but Armoy replied with a well taken score from Emmet O’Hara to tie the game.

Cloughmills started to find their rhythm and with the strong wind in their favour they hit a purple patch, scoring 1.08 without reply, the major coming from James Doherty.

However Armoy recovered well, scoring 1.02 in quick succession, their goal coming from Emmet O’Hara to bring themselves back into contention. Cloughmills responded with two points from Callum McKendry to leave the score 1.11 to 1.03 in favour of Cloughmills at the interval.

After the restart and with the wind now in their favour Armoy immediately began to eat into the Cloughmills lead with scores from Turlough McBride and Trevor Linton to leave six between the sides.

The home side were then awarded a penalty after Colin Liordan was fouled inside the small rectangle but Emmet O’Hara’s well struck shot sailed over.

The visitors to the Glen were coming under more and more pressure but Eoin Dobbin relieved the pressure with a point at the other end.

Both teams were finding it difficult to get to grips with the worsening conditions as the rain poured down but Armoy continued to chip into the Biddies lead and only 4 points separated the sides with 5 minutes remaining. Glen Rovers continued to press and Kieran McToal got on the end of a ball across the square to send it to the Cloughmills net to leave it a 1 point game. Armoy pushed hard for an equaliser in the dying minutes but the Cloughmills defence held out to secure the win.

by thesaffrongael

Antrim book their place in the Ulster final

Ulster U16 Camogie Championship 

Down v Antrim at Liatroim Fontenoys

Antrim 8-14 Down 1-6

Antrim qualified for the 2024 Ulster U16 Camogie final with an impressive victory over Down in Leitrim on Sunday. The seeds of victory were sown in an explosive opening half from the girls in saffron and white. A long, early ball from Caoimhe McErlain caused confusion in the Down defence where Cliodhna Thompson was on hand to flick the ball to the net for an Antrim goal in the second minute. Amy McAlister and Marie Laverty soon followed with a point each to open up a five point gap. Antrim registered a second goal in the opening ten minutes when centre forward Eva McNeill soloed through and finished brilliantly to the back of the net. The Antrim forwards were moving well and there was no let up for the Mourne girls. Eimear McCaughan hit two points in quick succession and when McNeill plundered her second goal of the day the writing was on the wall. Down did get some respite when Catlain Faye struck a goal for the home side. But it was only temporary relief because straight from the puc-out Aiofe Fitzsimmons worked the ball upfield to Cliodhna Thompson who rounded her marker and crashed the ball to the down net. Thompson added two points either side of a free from Caitlin Faye for Down and credit to the home side they hit three frees in a row. However at the other end Antrim continued to score at will with points from Caoimhe McErlain, Amy McAlister, Marie Laverty and Eva McNeill they held a commanding advantage at half time 5-8 to 1-5. 

   In the second half Antrim emptied the bench with the maximum number of subs permitted getting game time. Eva McNeill got her third goal of the game after five minutes. Marie Laverty and Cliodhna Thompson hit a point a piece. Eimear McCaughan then hit two fine goals in a row and Louise McBride finished the scoring for Antrim with two pointed frees against a solitary point for Down in the second half from Aiofe Gilmour. Final score Antrim 8-14 Down 1-6.

Antrim team 1. Mya McKinley 2. Laura Scullion 3. Carly McNamee 4. Laoise Stone 5. Erin McMullan 6. Maeve McAlister (capt) 7. Erinmae Mitchell 8. Caoimhe McErlain (0-1) 9. Aiofe Fitzsimmons 10. Louise McBride (0-2) 11. Eva McNeill (3-1) 12. Marie Laverty (0-3) 13. Amy McAlister (1-2) 14. Eimear McCaughan (2-2) 15. Cliodhna Thompson (2-3).

Subs used: Cara Delaney, Amelie Annette, Cora Pierce, Anna Smyth, Eimear McCloskey, Brid O Kane, Brianna McCloskey, Cara Lynch.

by thesaffrongael

Goals make the difference as Glenariffe-Glenravel prevail

Antrim Minor Hurling Championship – Division 1

Glenariffe-Glenravel 4-16 Cushendall 1-15

Two goal in each half were the key scores as Glenaiffe-Glenravel beat neighbours Cushendall in the opening game if the Minor Hurling season at Waterfoot on Sunday.

The key scores came in the second quarter, the first from Cathair McNaughton on 18 minutes while the second one came just on the stroke of half time through top scorer Orrin O’Connor. Goal number three came midway through the second half, O’Connor striking again while Peadar McDonnell got the fourth in the final ten minutes. Thomas McLaughlin pulled on back near the end for Cushendall, but it was a case of too little-too late as the home side was home and dry by that stage.

Orrin O’Connor, Colla Ward and Calum McIlwaine got the first three points of the game for Glenariffe-Glenravel but Cushendall came back strong with five in a row through Callagh Mooney and two apiece from Thomas McLaughlin and Fionntan Bradly to move two ahead. Two from Peadar McDonnell brought the home side level before Orrin O’Connor grabbed the first goal of the game.

Thomas McLaughlin closed the gap to two but three from O’Connor and one from Peadar McDonnell saw some daylight appear between the sides. Two pointed frees by Fionntan Bradley cut the deficit down to four, but Orrin O’Connor’s goal left seven between them at the break.

Three from Orrin O’Connor frees at the star off the second half stretched the gap to nine but one from play by Callagh Mooney and three from frees by Bradley cut the gap back to five.

Cushendall were still in the hunt but Orrin O’Connor’s second goal closed the door for the Ruairi Ogs and when Peadar McDonnell got the home side’s fourth goal the destiny of the points was well and truly decided.

The next round of games are in two weeks’ time when Glenariffe-Glenravel travel to Ballycastle while Cushendall host Dunloy.

Rossa host Ard na Rí that same day while Loughgiel have a bye.

PICS BY MICKEY MORGAN