by thesaffrongael

Brídíní Óga face tough task in Abbotstown

Above – Team captain Tori Edgar

All Ireland Junior A Camogie semi-final

Abbottstown, 3pm: Brídíní Óga (Antrim) v Patrickswell (Limerick)

It is back to the scene of their greatest triumph for Brídíní Óga Glenravel on Saturday as the travel to Abbotstown in Dublin to take on Munster champions Patrickswell of Limerick in the All Ireland Junior A Camogie semi-final.

Bronagh Laverty
Molly Woulahan

Three years ago the Glenravel girls beat another Limerick team at the same stage of the competition, edging out Adare in a thriller at the same venue with what most of their fans would rate as their best ever display. Two weeks after that victory they beat the Wicklow champions Knockananna in the final, in what was their greatest ever achievement, but they didn’t have to produce as a good a performance that day to get over the line.

It is their second Saturday in a row visiting the capital city as last week they beat British Champions Fullen Gaels in the quarter final at Whitehall Colmcille. The did the bulk of the work in the early stages and built up a nine point lead and as things turned out they needed it all before getting over the line by 3 in the end.

Sarah Fyfe
Eimhear McAleenan

Patrickswell impressed in the Munster final win over Clare champions Cloney-Quinn, running up a big score in the process as they won by 2-15 to 1-05. It is clear Brídíní Óga will have to be at their best if they are to make back to the final but they have great run of wins behind them to get to this stage, wins against good teams like Cushendall, in the opening round, Loughgiel in the Antrim final and Dungiven in the Ulster final. They will not want all that good work go to waste as they bid for another final spot. They will have to be at their best to get over the line, just as they were in those wins, so the will go in with no fear, knowing that if the produce their best they have every chance of making it through.

The Bridini Oga management team of Chris Dornan and Ronan Donnelly

by thesaffrongael

Magnificent Millquarter win SW Antrim Indoor 5-a-Sides

Millquarter Primary School were the winners of the SW Antrim Cumann na mbunscol indoor 5 a side LGFA competition held at the Antrim Forum on Thursday.

On a day when 13 schools were participating, the girls from Millquarter and Ballymacricket manoeuvred their way through the group stages and play offs to reach the cup final.

The shield final saw St Colmcille’s Ballymena emerge victorious against St Joseph’s Crumlin in what was an outstanding day of football, showcasing the talent that is running through South West Antrim.

Proceedings began with every school getting lots of game time and the competition was heating up as the day progressed. After the morning’s activities the teams were split into cup and shield sections.

The play-off matches were fiercely contested with rarely more than one goal separating the competitors.

This resulted in two outstanding finals with the Millquarter and St Colmcille girls taking the spoils. A big well done to them and all the girls involved in a fantastic celebration of football.

An extra thank you must go to our two referees Ryan and Fintan who were on duty the entire day and acquitted themselves excellently throughout, their efforts allowed the day to run smoothly.

Competing schools.

St Brigid’s Ballymena 

St Colmcille’s Ballymena

St Paul’s Ahoghill

Moneynick

Millquarter 

Mount Saint Michael’s Randalstown 

Creggan

St Joseph’s Crumlin 

St Oliver Plunkett’s Toome 

St Mary’s Portglenone 

Ballymacrickett 

Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel

St Comgall’s Antrim

TO VIEW MORE PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/goMydLSYpxXuSY

by thesaffrongael

Portglenone’s Fearless Five Prepare for 150ft Croke Park Abseil in aid of Air Ambulance NI

Five courageous women from Roger Casements GAC/LGFA and Geraldine’s Camogie Club Portglenone are gearing up to take part in an epic charity challenge this Saturday, 29th November, as they prepare to abseil an astonishing 150 feet from the Croke Park skyline, descending in full view of the iconic Hogan Stand.

Catherine McCallion, Roisin Convery, Patricia McCarry, Emma O’Boyle, and Elaine McAleese will proudly represent the Co Antrim club and entire county as they join a wider group of 53 brave participants, all united in their mission to raise funds for Air Ambulance NI Charity.

While these ladies may never have played in the GAA Headquarters for club or county, they are now preparing to take on something even more daunting — stepping off the roof of Croke Park itself in support of a life-saving cause.

With expert support from events company Adventure.ie, participants will take on one of Dublin’s most unique adrenaline challenges while helping sustain the vital Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). Each year, Air Ambulance NI Charity need to raise £3 million to ensure the helicopter and HEMS team can continue to respond to the most critically ill individuals across the region.

This challenge is the latest in a strong tradition of charitable support within the club. In the past, Roger Casement GAC & LGFA alongside Geraldine’s Camogie Club have rallied together for major fundraising efforts, including the PG100 initiative last year and the joint campaign with Erin’s Own Cargin GAC for the Memorial Paddy Fullan Masters Match, now running successfully for two consecutive years. Their ongoing commitment reflects just how active, united, and community-minded the club continues to be.

The five club members from Roger Casements & Geraldine’s Camogie Club are calling on their community to get behind them, with every donation helping Air Ambulance NI continue delivering advanced critical care in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. 

Supporters can contribute to their fundraising efforts by making a donation to one of their online pages below as these remarkable women take the leap for a life-saving cause.

Catherine:         Catherine McCallion is fundraising for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland

Roisin:                 Roisin Convery is fundraising for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland

Patricia:              https://www.justgiving.com/page/patricia-mccarry-1

Emma:                https://www.justgiving.com/page/emma-oboyle-2

Elaine:                 https://www.justgiving.com/page/elaine-mcaleese-2

by thesaffrongael

St John’s and Slaughtneil met in the Ulster Minor Hurling finals of 2011 and 2012

St John’s and Slaughtneil, who meet in Sunday’s Ulster Senior Hurling Final at Armagh on Sunday have met in the finals of the Ulster Minor Hurling Club Championship in 2011 and 2012.  The competition, which is hosted by Derry club Ballinascreen, has produced many great finals over the years, and these two were no exception, with St John’s winning tight games on both occasions.

To be honest I had forgotten who the Johnnies had played in the two finals they won until Michael McMullan of Gaelic Life pointed it out, so I went searching through the archives and found the pics from both games.

The 2012 winning team which has current players Shea Shannon (left) and Aaron Bradley (3rd from left front) , joining in the celebrations Standing (L-R): Shea Shannon, Feargal Morgan, Domhnall Quinn, Aaron Bradley, Ross Hannigan, Matthew Magennis, Mark McKenna, Caoimhin Hanna, Ryan McNulty, Anto Allsopp, Domhnall Nugent, Padraig Nugent, Ronan McCafferty, Jude McCurdy, Dermot Heading, Conor McEvoy. Kneeling (L-R): Jack Hannigan, Michial Dudley, Matthew McKiernan, Ciaran Johnston, Donal Carson, Michael Bradley, Conor Johnston, Aaron McQuillan, Simon Doherty.

In the 2011 final the man of the match awards, which goes to a player on each team, were won by Brendan Rodgers for Slaughtneil, and Conor Johnston for St John’s, two men who went on to have great careers at senior level. In the 2012 final Conor again won the MOM award, but I don’t appear to have taken a photo of whoever won the Slaughtneil award.

According to Michael McMullan there are twelve of the Slaughtneil team still playing and seven for St John’s, which is an incredible statistic. The Derry champions have Brendan Rogers, Shane McGuigan, Gerald Bradley, Ruairi McCartney, Meehaul McGrath, Conor McAllister, Prionsias Burke, Paul Neill, Cormac O’Doherty, Mark McGuigan, Conan Hunter, Sean O’Doherty, and though I’m not 100% sure of the Johnnies but Im taking a guess at nine Conor Johnston, Ciaran Johnston, Domnhal Nugent, Simon Doherty, Michael Bradley, Ryan McNulty, Michial Dudley, Caoimhin Hanna and Donal Carson

TO SEE PICS FROM THE TWO FINALS IN 2011 AND 2012 CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW

2011 FINAL

https://myalbum.com/album/9Q7MZZy6owUgmi/?invite=338d415c-b91a-4e85-8860-29cbb6247ab5

2012 FINAL

https://myalbum.com/album/ZtPGXK2vJhDaMZ/?invite=486624bb-b136-40e0-9518-ae180512642d

by thesaffrongael

Ardboe to progress but it could be close

Sunday 30th November 2025

Quarter Final 4

1pm @ St Pauls GAC

Dromintee (Armagh) v Ardboe (Tyrone) 

The fourth quarter final of the St.Paul’s/fona/cab Ulster Minor Football, Club championship is down for decision this weekend when Tyrone champions, Ardboe face Dromintee from Armagh.

The Armagh champions make their bow in the competition where they will face an Ardboe side with one game already under their belts and you would feel that the extra game will give the Tyrone side a slight advantage.

That game was against Antrim champions, Casement’s, Portglenone and while the Bann siders put it up to their opponents in the opening half it was Ardboe who turned the screw with five second half goals to win fairly comfortably in the end.

Darragh Devlin top scored for the Tyrone side with 2-8 to his credit while Darragh Muldoon, Ruairi O’Neill and Darcy Mallon were the Ardboe goal scorers whose confidence will have been boosted by this opening day win.

Armagh champions Dromintee who face Ardboe at St. Paul’s on Sunday

Their opponents on Sunday Dromintee, won their first Armagh Minor title in the club’s 138 year history when they defeated Clann Eireann in this year’s final.

The manner in which they did so in such a controlled, calculated and superbly coached display meant they were rarely troubled in their win at the Athletic Grounds. 
Dromintee had eight different scorers on the night.  Oisin Byrne 0:06, Calvin Mooney 0:04, Michael O’Neill 0:04, Fionn Toale1:01, Ronan Martin 0:02 Fergus Toale 0:02, Conor Laverty 0:01 Odhran Martin 0:01 were the men on target in a team captained by Conor Laverty.

Dromintee entered the game without three of their spine players Gavin O’Rourke, Michael Walker & Diarmaid O’Rourke all of whom have long term injuries but the strength in depth of the squad was such that there was seamless integration with the three replacements.

Games in this competition have been very difficult to predict over the years and Dromintee will have to put the euphoria of winning that first Armagh title to the back of their minds if they are to advance to the semi-final with Ardboe given the nod but it should be close.