The weather was kind to us on the day, paving the way for a fantastic day of golf, craic and community spirit at Balmoral Golf Club.
The purpose of the event was to raise funds towards the construction of a state-of-the-art gym facility at Shaw’s Road, an important investment in the future development of our club and players.
Played in a scramble format, everyone was able to contribute throughout their round, making for a highly competitive and enjoyable day. The prize winners were:
🏆 1st Place – Kieran Cooper, Ricardo McGreevy, Paddy Nicol & Paul Burns 🥈 2nd Place – Charlie, Clodagh & Niall McStravick, along with Trevor Hill 🥉 3rd Place – Ciarán Rogers Duffy, Damian Martin, Conor McCartan & Colin Burgess
A huge thank you to our main sponsor, Cooper’s Pharmacy, along with all of our hole sponsors, players and supporters who helped make the day such a success.
Special thanks must also go to our organising committee of Duff, Donagh, Michael and Don, whose hard work and dedication ensured the event ran seamlessly from start to finish.
The success of the day is another example of what can be achieved when our club community comes together. Every contribution, whether through sponsorship, participation or support, has helped move us one step closer to delivering our new state-of-the-art gym facility at Shaw’s Road.
Thank you to everyone who played their part in making the day such a memorable occasion.
MICK BYRNE kicked a two-pointed score in the final action of the game to ensure his side survived surrendering a 15-point lead in their 2-18-1-19 win over Con Magees at Pairc Rossa on Sunday afternoon.
Conditions played a crucial role in each half with Rossa running up a 2-15-0-3 lead at the interval, but Con Magee’s closed the gap and were on course for victory with two minutes remaining until Bryne saved the day and ensured the hosts would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Rossa played with a gale force wind in the opening half and made their advantage count. In the third minute a kick-out from Jude Scullion was charged down by Eoin Fleming, his high shot towards goal was pushed down by Scullion, but he was helpless as Dara Rocks turned the loose ball to the net.
The hosts landed four two-pointed scores within the first quarter of an hour, all coming from different scorers as Michael McEnhill, Gerard Walsh, Mick Byrne and Rory Grant all shot over from range.
Between times, goalscorer Rocks added a point and Rian Lennon got Con Magees off the mark.
Glenravel stemmed the tide for a short period and back-to-back scores from an Aidan O’Donnell free and a David Higgins point from play made it 1-9-0-3.
Rory Grant ended a scoreless period of almost 10-minutes for his side and Mick Byrne quickly added a further point.
A high Eoghan McMenamin shot dropped between the posts and in first half injury time Rossa grabbed their second goal of the half.
An angled Stephen Beattie shot was spilled by Scullion and despite having a bit of work to do, Eoin Fleming found the net to give his side a 2-12-0-3 lead at the interval.
A change of direction saw the pendulum swing in the game, Glenravel wasted little time in cutting the deficit with Colla Ward and Rian Lennon kicking early points.
In the 35th minute a low Shea O’Brion shot squeezed beneath the grasp of Mick Byrne and into the net as the visitors’ comeback trail was gathering pace.
A two-pointed Aidan O’Donnell free was the first of six-two pointers from Con Magees in the half, and despite quickfire points from Eoin Fleming and Ruairi McDonagh in response the momentum was very much with Glenravel.
Callum Higgins’ confident two-pointed attempt dropped over and Shea O’Brion converted a close range free within 60-seconds.
O’Brion kicked a two-pointed free with a quarter of an hour remaining, as a 15-point deficit was whittled to five (2-14-1-12).
A further two two-pointers in the space of two minutes had the bare minimum separating the sides.
Eoin Hynds landed a magnificent effort from play and Rian Lennon then conjured up his first two-pointed score of the afternoon.
Con Magee’s had completed the comeback by the 57th minute. Callum Higgins shot from inside the arc came back off the large post, Rossa failed to clear their lines and a tired Higgins was able to point at the second time of asking to draw the sides level at 2-14-1-17.
They almost forged ahead but for Mick Byrne to divert a low shot behind for a 45’ that was worked short by Higgins and culminated in Eoin Hynds kicking his second two-pointer to the roar of the raucous support from Glenravel.
Mick Byrne’s afternoon appeared to have ended when he went down in agony on half way, but battled through the pain barrier and would be the hero for his side.
Having already kicked a two-pointer in the opening half, Byrne was scoreless in the second until he hobbled forward and kicked a free from outside the arc to level in the 60th minute.
Both sides had their chances to claim victory in a frantic six-added minutes and it was Byrne who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with the final action of the game.
His angled attempt from outside the arc dropped over the bar to save his sides blushes after their 15-point lead disappeared eight minutes previous.
ROSSA: M Byrne (0-7, 1×0-2pt, 2×0-2ptf), N Crossan, D McCartney, F McDonald, P Byrne, S Beatte, T Murphy, E McMenamin (0-1), G Walsh (1x-02pt), M McEnhill (1×0-2pt), E Fleming (1-1), R Grant (0-3, 1×0-2pt), C Walsh, R McDonagh (0-1), D Rocks (1-1). SUBS: M McKernan for R McDonagh (58).
CON MAGEES: J Scullion. C Corey, E McCusker, C Henry, L McQuillan, N Swann. R Lennon (0-4, 1×0-2pt), C Higgins (0-3, 1×0-2pt), D Higgins (0-1), C Ward (0-1), E Hynds (2×0-2pt), J Martin, A O’Donnell (0-3f, 1×0-2ptf), S O’Brion (1-3, 0-3f, 1×0-2ptf), D Traynor. SUBS: C McKeown for J Martin (37), S McAuley for L McQuillan (52).
St Galls bounced back from a heavy defeat to Creggan in midweek when they beat St John’s in this West Belfast derby game at the Bog Meadows on Sunday morning.
The Johnnies, who made the short journey down from Corrigan Park, started the game well when team captain Paddy McBride fired over the opening score,
It did not take long for the home side to find a reply, and they did so in emphatic fashion. A quick free from Barra McCaffrey found Padraig Óg Murray in space, and the full-forward showed great composure to lay the ball off to Niall Fallon. Fallon did not have a lot of room but the corner forward squeezed a low angled shot past Neeson in the Johnnies goal to give his side a lead they would not subsequently relinquish.
The visitors hit back with points from McBride and Odhran McAuley but points from McCaffrey and Quinn kept St Galls firmly in the driving seat. Padraig Óg Murray managed to turn over a great score alongside Martin Murray’s excellent strike from just inside the arc, which kept the Milltown men four points ahead.
Barra McCaffrey enjoyed a spell where he knocked over consecutive scores and at the other end, St John’s found it hard to make much progress, though Paddy McBride continued to find the target with his free taking. By half-time, the home side maintained a lead of three over their rivals, though St John’s crept closer to within a goal margin after McBride and Conall Quinn offered some solace with late strikes for the Corrigan Park side. Half time – St Gall’s 1-06 St John’s 0-06
After the break, the men from the Milltown began to kick on. They started strongly once again as Dubhaltach Wilson drove down the field and clipped the ball between the posts. Barra McCaffrey then added to his growing personal tally with two great efforts, increasing his team’s lead to six points.
St John’s found themselves under the cosh, and their deficit stretched to nine points when Danny Quinn’s two-point free was accompanied by another McCaffrey score. Eventually, St John’s found some rhythm and regained a grip on proceedings. Chris Kerr was called into action for St Galls, making a great stop to deny James Wilson, but Conall Quinn was on hand to dispatch the rebound into the net.
The introduction of Cormac Austin allowed the hosts to regain control, with the young star firing over a great point from play to help maintain a healthy advantage. McBride was once again the main man for the Corrigan Park side when he drove a free over the bar, and Conchuir Adams finally got his afternoon’s scoring underway with a great swinging effort from the right-hand side that flew over the black spot.
A superb two-pointer from Conor McEvoy kept the tie alive with five minutes remaining. With only five points separating the rivals, crunch time hinted that a miraculous comeback might be on the cards. Fortunately for the home side, the experience of Aodhan Gallagher and Mickey Pollock allowed them to halt the decline. Gallagher dominated the midfield, winning the majority of the high balls in that area, and a final free from Barra McCaffrey and a score from Pollock sealed the points.
Teams
St Galls: Chris Kerr; Christopher Hale, Gairech Adams, Ethan Walsh; Damien Ball, Dubhaltach Wilson 0-1, Conor Ryan; Manus McCrossan, Aodhan Gallagher; Martin Murray 0-1, Daniel Quinn 0-7 (0-4F, 1xTPF), Aaron Mackel; Barra McCaffrey 0-6 (0-1F), Padraig Óg Murray 0-2, Niall Fallon 1-0 Subs: Mickey Pollock 0-1, Cormac Austin 0-1
St John’s: Brian Neeson; Paddy McDiarmid, Oisin Jackson, Lorcan McCallin; Dannan McKeogh, Conor McEvoy 0-2 (1xTP), Odhran McAuley 0-2; Paddy McBride 0-5 (0-3F), Adrian Oliver; Ronan Donnelly, Conal McGlade, James Wilson; Odhran Quinn, Conall Quinn 1-1, Conchur Adams 0-1 Subs: Matthew Leydon, Shae McKee, Fintan McKinney
Referee – Ray Matthews
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Despite posting a personal tally of 2-10, Darragh Fagan found himself on the losing side as All Saints produced a splendid opening half at a windswept Quinn Park to overcome the challenge of Tir na nOg.
In the proverbial game of two-halves, it was All Saints who made all the running with the strong wind at their backs and at one stage threatened to overrun the opposition when they led 2-13 to 0-1 after 23 minutes with their goals coming from Connell Lemon and Benny McDonnell.
Right from the throw in it was the home side who went on the attack and James McDonnell fired the opening shot across Sean McAtamney’s goal before Sean O’Callaghan, Patrick Ferris 0-2 and Benny McDonnell pointed the hosts into an early lead.
Darragh Fagan who scored 2-10 for Tir na nOg but still ended up on the losing side
Lemon got in for the opening goal after 12 minutes and as the flood gates opened, Benny McDonnell hit three more points and Ferris continued to use his pace as he brought his own personal tally to three.
Brendan McDonnell was leading his line to perfection as he got in for the Ballymena side’s second goal and Emmet Killough, McDonnell again and Ciaran Campbell moved their side further ahead before Ciaran Logan finally got the visitors on board with a point in the 23d minute.
Darragh Fagan got his name on the score card with Sean O’Brien and Connell Lemon replying immediately for the home side and Fagan finishing the half with a point and following with a 2 pointer to leave 16 between the sides at half time.
If Tir na nOg were to make inroads into the All Saints lead then it was imperative that they got off to a good start and Fagan kicked another 2 pointer within 20 second as play got underway again.
It was just the start that the Randalstown side needed but All Saints made a quick reply and a good counter attack saw Harry Connon cut in from the left and beat his marker before firing home his side’s third goal of the afternoon.
Oliver McAtamney replied with a point for the visitors who were now doing much better with the wind at their back and Connell Lemon was then shown Black with Fagan converting the resulting free for another 2 pointer.
A Ciaran Logan point brought the visitors total to 0-10 and at this stage All Saints were playing the possession game in an effort to take the sting out of the opposition attack with some success.
Conor Stewart pointed to move the home side 3-15 to 0-10 ahead after 11 minutes but Tir na nOg replied with a goal from Fagan as he got on the end of a route one delivery to give his side a glimmer of hope with 16 minutes still remaining.
It was Fagan who continued to chip away at the All Saints lead with a series of 2 pointers with Ciaran Campbell interrupting the sequence with a Ballymena point and with time almost up it was Fagan who concluded the scoring with his second goal of the game after being set up by Eamon Og McAllister.
It proved too little-too late however with Colly Thompson’s full time whistle sounding from the kick out and it was ‘Baker’ Bradley’s side who collected another valuable 2 points to move further away from the bottom of the table.
Emmet Killough who had a solid game at mid-field for All Saints
On the day they were the better side and looked like running away with it in the opening half but would have been happy to hear the full-time whistle in the end.
Tir na nOg find themselves stuck at the bottom of the table and are suffering from injuries and absentees at present but there will be much from their second half performance to encourage their management and in Darragh Fagan they had the outstanding player on view.
All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Joe Rafferty, 3 Michael Read, 4 Sean McDermott, 5 Patrick Ferris, 6 Sean O’Callaghan, 7 Harry Connon, 8 Emmet Killough, 9 Peter McReynolds, 10 Connell Lemon, 11 Conor Stewart, 12 James McDonnell, 13 Sean O’Brien, 14 Benny McDonnell, 15 Ciaran Campbell.
Subs Used: Charlie Metrustry, Sean McVeigh, Cal O’Brien, Paudie Mitchell,
Tir na nOg: 1 Sean Paul McAtamney, 2 Ryan Crilly, 3 Brandon McLarnon, 4 Daniel Martin 5 Sean McKeown, 6 Ciaran O’Neill, 7 Ciaran Logan, 8 Ryan O’Neill, 9 Cormac Devlin, 17 Oliver McAtamney, 11 Eamon Og McAllister, 12 Emmet Murray, 13 Caleb Smith, 14 Darragh Fagan, 15 Declan Mallon
Subs: Tiernan Bonnes for Declan Mallon, Christie Hefferon
Referee: Colly Thompson (St. John’s)
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Creggan Kickhams cemented their place at the summit of the Antrim Division 1 League table with a hard-fought 1-13 to 0-13 victory over St. Brigid’s at Musgrave Park, Belfast on Sunday. The win brings the Kickhams’ impressive tally to eleven wins and a draw from twelve outings, though they had to dig deep in the second half to withstand a strong challenge from a resilliant St. Brigid’s side.
Playing with a strong wind in the first half, the Musgrave Park ment took control of the game early on. They opened their account on the three-minute mark and quickly found their rhythm. Creggan responded with a well-worked team point from Kevin Small on seven minutes, but St. Brigid’s capitalised on the elements to dictate the pace. JJ Higgins added a point from play, followed quickly by a free from Reuben Carleton. The Musgrave Park men continued to press, with Paul Bradley proving a constant threat, hitting three excellent scores—two from play and one from a free—in a devastating seven-minute spell. Niall Duffy also added his name to the scoresheet as St. Brigid’s built a commanding lead.
Creggan managed to stay in touch through the efforts of Conor Johnston, who hit two crucial first-half points under severe pressure. Shea McCann kept the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors with a trio of reliable frees, while Dominic McAteer slotted over a well-worked team point right on the 30-minute mark to leave the half-time score at 0-10 to 0-06 in favour of the home side.
Turning around to face the wind, St. Brigid’s grabbed an early second-half score through Donncha McGurk to extend their advantage. Creggan, however, began to utilize the elements. Joe McAteer fired over a point from play, and Sam Maguire followed suit to close the gap. The defining moment of the match arrived 17 minutes into the second half. St. Brigid’s were reduced to 14 men when a St Brigid’s player received a black card for a deliberate pull-down inside the square. The referee immediately awarded a penalty, and Shea McCann made no mistake, burying the ball in the back of the net to completely shift the momentum.
Creggan ruthlessly exploited their 10-minute numerical advantage. With St. Brigid’s scrambling, McCann immediately added another point from play. The Kickhams pushed forward in waves, resulting in a string of scores. Full forward Conor Small added a good individual point, and Kevin Small split the posts again to stretch the lead. St. Brigid’s battled fiercely, returning to their full complement of 15 players for the closing stages. JJ Higgins managed to register a hard-earned point under immense pressure to keep the home side’s hopes alive. However, Creggan had the final say, with Joe McAteer launching a brilliant long-range effort in the 29th minute to seal the victory. The final whistle confirmed a 1-13 to 0-13 win for Creggan Kickhams, showcasing their championship credentials as they survived a thorough test in South Belfast to remain perched at the top of the Division 1 standings.
St. Brigid’s: 1 Declan Heery, 2 Aodhan McNeill, 3 Conor King, 4 Finn McKiernan, 5 Brian McGurk, 6 Peter King, 7 Reuben Carleton, 8 Jack Dowling, 9 John Toner, 10 Joseph McCarney, 11 Niall Duffy, 12 Paul Bradley, 13 Conan McNicholl, 14 James Smith, 15 JJ Higgins.
