ST Malachy’s won the all-Belfast shoot-out at An Spórtlann on Friday for the Danske Bank Bro Ennis Shield but the trophy could well have gone to the Ravenhill Road as Aquinas Grammar rattled the cross-bar in the dying minutes.
St Malachy’s got the better start with goals from Brendan Herdman and Odhrán Kelly. But a hat-trick from Player of the Match Aidan Holmes and a brace from Conor Daly put Aquinas ahead and they went in at the break with an advantage of eight points despite a third goal for St Malachy’s via Breadan Finnegan.
The second half turned out to be a real battle with Aquinas playing against the breeze now. They edged closer with three-pointers from Herdman and the excellent Codhrán O’Rourke.
The turning point was a penalty that Finnegan buried to edge St Malachy’s into the lead and they were able to maintain that gap despite points from Holmes, Alex Jackman and Anton Doras.
Those points were cancelled out in turn by Conor Stewart, Sean Doran and Aidan Johnstone to get St Malachy’s over the line.
St Malachy’s: B Finnegan 2-1, B Herdman 2-0, C O’Rourke 1-2, O Kelly 1-1, C Stewart 0-2, A Johnstone and S Doran 0-1 each.
Aquinas: A Holmes 3-4, C Daly 2-0, A Doras 1-1, A Jackson 0-1
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Sunday’s championship game with Kilkenny as Antrim begin their Leinster campaign.
As far as Championship openers come, they don’t come more difficult than a trip to Nowlan Park. That’s the task that faces Antrim hurlers on Sunday afternoon as they begin their 2024 Leinster Championship with a trip to Kilkenny.
Playing the hurling aristocrats, All-Ireland finalists and National League finalists in their own back yard. It’s a far cry from the days of travelling to the likes of Wicklow and playing in a field that definitely could have been doing with the lawn mower down a nick (or three) and more players in the panels combined than spectators… no offence to the good people of Wicklow.
That’s the journey that Antrim have come through in recent years. It’s easy to forget that but sometimes, you have to take stock before going again.
The column inches that have been filled regarding the injuries this year has been mind-boggling, not to mention those who wanted (if not, needed) a well-deserved break. On that front, things have “Improved dramatically” – the words of team manager, Darren Gleeson.
After the press release last month where it gave the details of the injuries, when we spoke with Gleeson, he confirmed: “Gerard (Walsh), Stephen Rooney, Rian McMullan, Keelan (Molloy), Conal Bohill, James McNaughton, Michael Bradley are all available again. A massive bonus that they’re back and ready for the Championship. Conor McCann and Coby (Conal Cunning) were both nursing knocks but have come through those as well and are on the right side of things.
“You throw in the likes of Ryan Elliott, Nigel and Seaan (Elliott) who have come back and we definitely feel like we’re in a good place. Seaan’s coming back from a nasty ankle injury himself but he’s fit and available.”
Scott walsh has been named at right half back
The injury table hasn’t been cleared, however. Ballycastle duo Seamus McAuley and Ciaran Clarke are a couple of weeks short but it’s better news on Loughgiel’s Paul Boyle: “It’s better news with Paul. All the lads went through a screening check set up by the GAA and GPA at the start of the year. It showed an irregularity with Paul’s heart and we’ve been following the medical advice to get him sorted. He went through a minor procedure but unfortunately it didn’t take, he went through it again in the last 10 days or so and thank God it’s done the business.
“It’s been a hugely worrying and stressful time for Paul and his family. Paul’s as fit as a fiddle and a wonderful player. He had a brilliant club championship and was excellent for us last year. He’ll be back in full training next week.”
Conal Cunning lines out at corner forward
Gleeson and his team are not long back on Irish shores having spent some time in Portugal for an intense, warm-weather training camp. Something that seems to be the ‘norm’ these days but as the Portroe native informed us, Antrim did things a little differently: “It was hugely beneficial and when you look at the weather recently, it couldn’t have been better timed with our training pitches being closed.
“You look at counties going out to Portugal and the likes for training, they’re being heavily funded by sponsors and the likes. But these lads and fair play to the footballers as well, they’ve done the fundraising themselves with a contribution from the county board.
“I think this is what makes it more worthwhile.”
The Saffrons last competitive game will be five weeks ago this weekend when Tipperary came to Corrigan Park. While getting some of the walking wounded back on the pitch, Gleeson told us that they managed to get a couple of challenge games in: “We did have challenge games against Offaly in Abbotstown and Down in Jordanstown. They were brilliant for us in terms of getting lads game time who had been injured. Nothing beats game time in legs in preparation for the Championship. Some of the lads who had been injured probably still need some game time and they’re going back to their clubs this weekend.”
He continued: “Rory McCloskey took a knock and is feeling the effects of a dead leg. We’re monitoring him ahead of Sunday.
Ryan McGarry has been moved back to full-back
“He’s been a real shining light this year in at full back. It’s his second year in the squad and he’s been a huge positive for us. We’ll give him every chance before naming the team.”
On the trip to Kilkenny, you got the sense that Gleeson is relishing the chance to pit his Antrim side against Derek Lyng’s Cats: “Some might see it as daunting but it’s a wonderful opportunity. Playing Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in championship setting, a championship atmosphere. We’ve got the chance to pit ourselves against the League finalists and runners up of the All-Ireland last year.
“We’re massive underdogs, you just have to look at the match in Corrigan last year but we’re concentrating on getting our own performance right. You know what Kilkenny are going to bring; they have savage intensity and savage work rate. You have to match that before you even think about getting anything from the game.”
Since this interview, the team has been named with six of the starting 15 not playing any league games and a further two on the bench. The starting 15 certainly has a more familiar feel to it with Ryan McGarry dropping back a line and Ryan Elliott returning to goals. Conal Bohill joins Eoghan Campbell and Scott Walsh at half back while James McNaughton partners Niall O’Connor in midfield. Michael Bradley makes a welcome return from a long term shoulder injury to start on the three quarter line with Nigel Elliott and Niall McKenna while Conor McCann will line out on the edge of the square where he’ll have Conal Cunning and Seaan Elliott on either side.
Four players from last year’s Ulster Schools Camogie All Star team were honoured again last night at the 2014 award whichs were held last night in the Elk in Toome. Erin Coulter of St Louis Ballymena, Orlaith McAlister and Cara O’Boyle of St Killians Garron Tower, plus Janey McIntosh of Cross & Passion all picked up their second awards at another super night in the Elk, which was once again superbly organised by the hard working team of teachers behind the event
The team is dominated by the three north Antrim schools with McIntosh joined by Erin O’Hara, Noelle McAuley and Shannagh Heggarty from CPC and Ciara O’Boyle, Anna McKillop, Dearbhail Dobbin and Aisling O’Donnell from St Louis with St Killian’s Louise Mulholland making it 12 in total from the three schools.
There was a 13th Antrim player picking up an award, Sarah O’Neill, a student in St Mary’s Magherafelt, who plays her club Camogie with Cargin
St Louis top the list with five – Erin Coulter, Ciara O’Boyle, Anna McKillop, Dearbhail Dobbin and Aisling O’Donnell while Cross & Passion had four – Erin O’Hara, Noelle McAuley, Shannagh Heggarty, Janey McIntosh (though unortunately Noelle was unable to attended) and St Killian’s three – Cara O’Boyle, Orlaith McAlister, Louise Mulholland
Ulster Camogie chairperson Karen McCormick (centre) with fellow guests Katie McAnenly (left) and Niamh Cosgrove, with two of the All Star team Janey McIntosh and Dearrbhail Dobbin who all addressed the guests at the dinner.
The individual awards were presented by two former stars Katie McAnenly (formely Katie McAuley) who was on the first two All Star teams in 2004 and 2005 and Niamh Cosgrove (formely Donnelly) who was on the 2008 All Star selection, after winning an All Ireland Junior A title with CPC. She also went on to win and All Ireland Intermediate title with Antrim and managed the St Killian’s team who won and All Ireland Schools C title
Two of the teachers who set up the Ulster Schools All Stars twenty years ago, Catriona Scott and Orla Fox received boquets of flowers from two of the current All Stars team
The EOS IT Solutions Ulster Schools’ Camogie All-stars 2023-2034 were –
Cáit Conway, Carla Collins, Leah Cassidy, Orlaith Hull of Ulster champions St Patrick’s, Maghera
Erin Coulter, Ciara O’Boyle, Anna McKillop, Dearbhail Dobbin, Aisling O’Donnell St Louis, Ballymena
St Mary’s Portglenone completed the football double adding the Fee MacGorman 7 a side boy’s football trophy to the indoor 5 a side won earlier this year.
At the annual Allianz Ireland South West Cumann na mBunscol blitz in Creggan the football on display was outstanding and encouraging for Antrim Gaels. An excellent turnout of schools and supporters added to the championship atmosphere.
After a fiercely competitive morning of football the teams were split into a cup and a shield section.
In the shield a determined and skilful St Patrick’s Rasharkin overcame St Bernard’s Glengormley in an entertaining and enthralling game.
In the Cup final Creggan and St Mary’s Portglenone (a repeat of last year’s final) produced a game of outstanding skill, quality and endeavour. It was nip and tuck the whole way, with the Portglenone men prevailing at the end. Best wishes go to St Mary’s as they progress to represent the South West in the all county finals.
Well done once more to both teams.
In what was a memorable day for all and a big thanks must go to Teresa McCann from Creggan PS for organising and to Gaelfast coaches and staff for making sure everything ran so smoothly.
The always fiery local rivalry between these sides brought a high scoring contest to Milltown and with the return of County men for both sides, the game brought with it some great end to end action.
St John’s came out of the traps early and with relentless pressure and direct running from Conal Hynds and Patrick McBride, and were rewarded for their efforts and managed to score three early goals.
These was added to by another three points from play and place ball and the Johnnies looked on course for their first win of the season.
St Galls were stunned found themselves 3:3 to 0:1 down after 15 minutes. This left the men in blue with a mountain to climb but that they did, as they dug deep to score 2-7 without reply in what was an exciting turnaround.
2-3 of those scores came from the impressive Niall Burns and 0-2 from the experienced Michael Pollock. In remarkable fashion St Galls found themselves one up at the break.
The second half again brought with it a thrilling contest which was tightly contested throughout and with not much separating the sides. Niall Burns and Bara McCaffery kept the score board ticking for the ‘Blues’ whilst Conal Mc Glade and Luke Peden kept the game within touching distance for the visitors. St Galls however used their bench well and would be glad to see the return of key players from injury to include Niall O’Neill who proved a dangerous target man inside in, winning a number of balls and setting up some key scores to keep the game his side in front.
Aodhan Gallagher also sparked life into the St Galls men from the bench and his experience showed around the middle of the field at key moments. Considering the bad start, St Galls showed true grit and held out for an impressive win to keep their unbeaten run alive while St. John’s still await their first win of the season but on this performance it shouldn’t be too long in coming.
