Easy Victory for Free Scoring Saints
Antrim Junior Hurling Championship:
All Saints 0-17 Ardoyne 0-3
A sparkling first half performance by All Saints, Ballymena saw them coast to an easy victory over a battling but outclassed Ardoyne in the opening round of the Junior Hurling Championship at Whitehill on Sunday.
Inspired by an outstanding half-back line of Damian Gillan, Liam Cassley and Brian McToal and with Damien Kelly and Tyrone Hasson dominant at mid-field, they raced into a 0-10 to 0-00 half time lead.
Indeed it was Kelly and Cassley who led the way in the scoring stakes with Cassley accounting for four of his side’s first half total and Kelly weighing in with four himself. Wing-half Gillan was also well to the fore and his two points ensured that recovery was going to be unlikely for an Ardoyne team who just couldn’t get going despite the efforts of their best player, Jim McAuley.
After the break the city side moved McAuley from full-back to centre-half-forward and the move brought about an improvement in their fortunes with the former county minor panellist opening their account from a well struck free.
This score seemed to give them a lift for a while and a number of efforts from the same player dropped in around the Ballymena parallelogram but were well dealt with by Gerry Maybin and his defence.
McAuley did manage to tag on a further two points from the placed ball and for a while the South West side lost their way but they were soon to reassert their dominance with Ruairi McVeigh sending over and Damian Kelly pointing a free. As the South West side took control again Tyrone Hasson put the game well beyond the opposition as he pointed a long range free and followed with a great long range point from play.
An excellent performance by a young Ballymena side who’s defence was rock solid throughout and who now go forward to meet St. Agnes in the quarter-final. They are likely to face a much sterner test against the ‘Aggies’ but on this performance they are sure to be in with a great chance of advancing to the semi-final.
The only down side was a late injury to Damian Gillan who sustained a shoulder injury and the management team will be hoping that its not too serious and that the flying half-back will be available for the quarter-final.
All Saints: Gerry Maybin: Darren McGaughey, Chris McAffee, Francis Casey: Damian Gillan, Liam Cassley, Brian McToal: Damian Kelly, Tyrone Hasson: Ruairi McVeigh, Declan McKee, Martin McNally: Anthony Mitchell, Sean O’Kane, Gerard Maybin. Subs: Niall Walsh for Anthony Mitchell, Anthony Mitchell for Sean O’Kane
Referee: Kevin Gormley (Tir Na nOg)
Saints Hurlers edged out in Feis Semi Final Thriller
North Antrim Junior Hurling Championship Semi Final:
All Saints 3-19 Ruairi Og Cushendall 5-16 (AET)
All Saints and Cushendall served up a fantastic game of high intensity, skilful and dramatic hurling at Quinn Park last night (Thursday 23rd June), where it took 90 minutes to separate the sides.
All Saints started the much brighter with an early goal from Damian Gillen and points from Ciaran McGarry, Damian Kelly (2), Declan McKee and Kieran Butler, however Cushendall battled back to go into the break leading by 4 points.
In the second half, Cushendall eased out to a 6 point lead before All Saints stormed back to snatch a draw with a late goal from Rory McVeigh to send the game into extra time.
In the first half of extra time, All Saints once again started off very brightly and opened up a 4 point lead at the break with Rory McVeigh pointing and Damian Kelly and Martin McNally grabbing a brace each.
Once again Cushendall fought back and netted from a 21m free in the dying seconds to send the game into a second period of extra time.
At this stage there was nothing between the teams, with both sides showing great determination and no lack of entertainment. With time running out, it looked like Rory McVeigh had won the game for the Saints as he scrambled the ball to the net from close range. However, Cushendall weren’t done yet, and almost immediately went back up the other end and forced the decisive goal to take them into the final.
Amazingly, in the other semi final, it also took 2 periods of extra time to separate Loughgiel and Ahoghill, with the Shamrocks eventually squeezing out a 1 point victory.
The final between Cushendall and Loughgiel will take place at Slemish Park Ballymena as part of the Feis na Gleann, next weekend, Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd July.
All Saints: Gerry Maybin, Darren McGinty, Chris McAfee, Frank Casey, Brian McToal, Liam Cassley (0-1), Tyrone Hasson, Gary Miskella, Ciaran McGarry (0-1), Martin McNally (0-3), Damian Kelly (0-9), Kieran Butler (0-2), Damien Casey, Damian Gillan (1-0), Rory McVeigh (2-2)
Subs: Declan McKee (0-1), Sean O’Kane, Gerard Maybin, Tony Connolly, Anthony Mitchell
National Hurling Director to take Coaching Clinic at All Saints
Paudie Butler is the GAA’s National Hurling Coordinator. His remit is to promote and raise the standard or hurling throughout Ireland.
He is coming to All Saints on Monday evening, 11th April, to take our U14s for a coaching session.
This is a tremendous opportunity for our young hurlers and club mentors to learn from the GAA’s elite hurling coach.
We encourage everyone to make a special effort to attend the event which begins at 7:00pm. Players should be at the pitch for 6:30pm.
Saints get first win on Quinn Park
Ulster Hurling League Division 5A:
All Saints 6-15 Carryduff (Down) 2-13
On the first game to be played at Quinn Park (19th February 2011), All Saints hurlers put on a very good performance to beat Carryduff in the opening game of the 2011 Ulster Hurling League.
The game started well for All Saints with Sean O’Kane winning a free in the opening seconds which Damian Kelly converted. The rest of the half was a tight affair with both sides exchanging points, while Sean O’Kane nipped in for a typical opportunistic goal 10 minutes before the break.
At half time, the score read 1-07 to 0-07 in All Saints favour.
In the second period, the Saints had the breeze at their backs but would have to finish the job with 14 men, as Damien Casey was dismissed shortly before half time for dissent.
All Saints upped the tempo in the second half and reeled off some excellent moves in the second half, with Liam Cassley and Rory McVeigh putting on the finishing touches.
Cassley was in particularly fine form at centre half forward and scored 2 fine goals as well as 6 or 7 points.
The rest of the goals were scored by Conrad Butcher, Rory McVeigh and substitute Anthony Mitchell who put the game beyond doubt with his first touch.
To their credit Carryduff battled to the end and did score 2 late consolation goals, but it was not enough to stop All Saints recording the first win on the new sod of Quinn Park.
Related:
- Photo Gallery: All Saints v Carryduff
“Coaching the Coaches” – Hurling Course
| March 13, 2010 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 3:30 pm |
| 10:00 am | to | 3:30 pm |
| 10:00 am | to | 3:30 pm |
“Coaching the Coaches”
Saturday 13th March
Edmund Rice College
10am-10.45am PAUDIE BUTLER
National Hurling Direction – Indoor (PowerPoint)
11am-12noon DINNY CAHILL
Field based session at Edmund Rice College
12noon–12.15 DINNY CAHILL
Questions and Answers
12.30 – 1.15 LUNCH
1.15 – 2.15 PAUDIE BUTLER
Field based session with National Hurling
Director at Edmund Rice College
2.25 – 3.15 WORKSHOPS
JOHN CROSSEY :
Training with Intensity – St Enda’s GAC
JIM NELSON:
Coaching the tackle, indoor hall at Edmund
Rice College
3.15 – 3.30 QUESTION & ANSWERS
CLOSE
Fee: £5 per coach including lunch, this must be paid on
the day and receipts will be issued.
Registration: Contact Kieran Megraw:
Kieran.megraw.ulster@gaa.ie & include name, club
and mobile number
Hurling Coaching Workshop – Ballycastle 28/01/2010
| January 28, 2010 | ||
| 7:30 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
| 7:30 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
| 7:30 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
Ulster Council : Games to Develop Hurling Workshop
Designed for all coaches working with players from U14 up to Senior
Venue : Mc Quillans Gac Ballycastle
Date: Thursday 28th Jan
Time: 7.30pm start
The session will be outdoor under lights
________
The Workshop will be repeated on the following dates
Thursday 4th February Belfast
Wednesday 10th February Creggan Kickhams GAC
Thursday 25th February St Mary’s Rasharkin
Thursday 4th March Belfast
For further details and to register please contact Kieran Megraw
kieran.megraw.ulster@gaa.ie
Kieran Megraw 07918 719791
Saints Crash out of Junior Hurling Championship
Antrim Junior Hurling Championship:
All Saints 0-06 Creggan 4-12
All Saints crashed out of the Junior Hurling Championship at the hands of a more skilful and efficient Creggan team at wet and miserable Ahoghill on Monday night.
Under-foot conditions were very wet and accompanied with a strong breeze and rain, it made for difficult hurling. However, it was Creggan who started off the better side with the wind in their backs in the first half.
All Saints certainly found it hard to adapt to the conditions and gave away several frees due to mis-timed tackles, the majority of which were tapped over the bar by Thomas McCann. Mid way through the first half the impressive McCann broke through the All Saints defence and fired a shot to bottom right hand corner of the net. Aided by a couple of excellent long range points from midfielder Michael Maguire, Creggan went in with a 1-11 to 0-01 lead at the interval, the sole All Saints score coming from a Paul Scullion free 5 minutes before half time.
With the strong breeze at their backs, Saints took the field early and were hopeful of drawing themselves back into the game, but they were dealt a sucker punch in the opening minutes as a long ball was spilled by Saints’ goalkeeper Gerry Maybin and Creggan full-forward Conor McCann scrambled the ball into the net. To the Saints’ credit, they did not drop their heads and continued to put their opponents under pressure. Liam Cassley got their first score of the second period as he powered through and sent a driven shot towards the Creggan goal only for a defender to deflect it over the bar for a point. Cassley’s midfield partner Damian Kelly also chipped in with 2 well-worked points in a row and it looked as if the Saints were finding their feet. However, Creggan responded with a Conor McCann free and another couple of scrambled goals to effectively finish the game as a contest.
All Saints continued to bombard balls into the Creggan goalmouth in the final 10 minutes, but it was not to be their day and they could not find a way through. Paul Scullion fired over a ‘70 in the dying minutes but it was nothing more than a consolation score.
All Saints: Gerry Maybin, Francis Casey, Enda Casey, Gerard Maybin, Mark McGaughey, Colm Hasson, Damian Gillan, Damian Kelly (0-02), Liam Cassley (0-01), Brian McToal, Gary Miskella, Kieran Butler, Paul Scullion (0-02 f, 0-01 ‘70), Sean O’Kane, Michael McCarry.
Subs: Damien Casey for Damian Gillan, Danny McCormack for Gerard Maybin
2009 Adult Championship Draws
Last night the draws were made for the 2009 Antrim Football and Hurling Championships. Following their Intermediate Football Championship victory in 2008, All Saints have stepped up to the Senior competition, and will face the winners of Portglenone and Creggan in the Quarter Finals.
All Saints will once again compete in the Junior Hurling Championship, having being beaten by Rasharkin in the Semi Finals in 2008. This year, All Saints will meet Creggan in the Preliminary Round.
The dates and venues for the Championship ties will be published when confirmed.
Antrim Senior Football Championship 2009
Preliminary Round
1. Cargin v Moneyglass
2. Lamh Dherg v Gort Na Mona
3 St Pauls v St Johns
4. St Galls v Rasharkin
5. Portglenone v Creggan
Quarter Finals
A. 3 v 4
B. 1 v 2
C. St Brigids v Dunloy
D. 5 v All Saints
Semi Finals
D v C
A v B
Antrim Junior Hurling Championship 2009
Preliminary Round
1. St Brigids v Davitts
2. Ardoyne v Larne
3. St Agnes’ v Cloughmills
4. All Saints v Creggan
5. Rasharkin v Glenravel
Quarter Finals
A. 1 v MacDermotts
B. 5 v St Endas
C. 3 v Cushendun
D. 2 v 4
Semi Finals
A v B
D v C
Senior Hurling Meeting
Senior Hurling Meeting, Slemish Park @ 7.30pm, Wednesday 21st of January. All those interested in playing senior hurling this year must attend this meeting. The senior Hurling manager will also be selected at this meeting.
Ballymena dumped out of JHC
Antrim Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final:
Rasharkin 5-15 Ballymena 1-09
It was a case of déjà vu for Ballymena, as for the second year running they were dumped out of the Junior Hurling Championship by Raskarkin at the semi-final stage.
Rasharkin will now go on to face St Teresa’s in the Final, as they overcame Cloughmills on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-09 in the other semi-final.
Match report from Ballymena game to follow.
