U16’s CONSOLIDATE TOP SPOT
Sunday 25th July 2010
This was crucial game with both teams on unbeaten runs and both in contention for a top four place. The Saints were definitely up for this game however Lisburn got off to the perfect start with a goal from their first attack. The Saints responded well with points from J Gillan and C Loughran, a goal from T Ferris gave All Saints the lead which they never conceded. J Kelly added another goal and T Ferris completed his hat trick with two well taken goals. The Saints played some of their best football this season to secure a 7 point lead at half time.
Half time Score: Lisburn 2-2 All Saints 4-3
The second half saw a strong comeback by Lisburn they penned the Saints into their own half for long periods, the only All Saints scores coming from two D Mc Nally points. Lisburn eventually whittled down the Saints lead to two points, which could have been less only for a great save by D Little from a point blank shot. With three minutes remaining a breakaway move resulted in a good goal from J Kelly, this sealed the victory for All Saints.
Final Score: Lisburn 3-6 All Saints 5-5
This result puts All Saints three points clear at the top of the table and barring any slip ups secures a top four playoff point.
Squad
D Little, O Bradley, P Killough, D Mussen, T Connelly, D Mc Kee, P Mc Aleer, D Mc Nally, J Gillan, T Ferris , C Mc Larnon, D Crawford, C Loughran, L Kirk, J Kelly, N Mc Carry, R Kinney, C Campion
Scorers
J Gillan 0-1, D Mc Nally 0-2, J Kelly 2-0, T Ferris 3-1, C Loughran 0-1
Next Game: Home to Moneyglass Thurs 29/07/10
U16’s CONTINUE UNBEATEN RUN
Thursday 22nd July 2010
After the previous weeks drawn game with Cargin, the Saints took the short trip to Whitehill. They welcomed back C Campion, returning to the squad after recovering from a broken collar bone. Unfortunately Tir Na Nog could only field 13 players so the game took on an uneven shape from the throw in. The scores came regularly throughout the first half, the downside was the two soft goals conceded which meant the score at half time did not reflect the dominance of All Saints.
Half time Score: Tir Na Nog 3-2 All Saints 3-10
The second half continued in same vein as the first, All Saints did not fully exploit the extra space available but still did enough to run out comfortable winners. The highlight of the second half being another penalty save by D Little who is becoming a bit of a specialist in this skill. Goals from T Ferris and C Mc Larnon with points from P Killough, D Mc Nally and J Gillan completed the scoring.
Final Score: Tir Na Nog 4-5 All Saints 5-14
With Creggan losing to Lisburn on the same night this result meant that All Saints returned to the top of table and moved closer to securing a top four playoff spot.
Squad
D Little, O Bradley, P Killough, D Mussen, T Connelly, C Neeson, D Mc Kee, P Mc Aleer, D Mc Nally, J Gillan, T Ferris , C Mc Larnon, D Crawford, C Loughran, L Kirk, J Kelly, N Mc Carry, C Campion
Scorers
J Gillan 0-3, D Mc Nally 0-6, J Kelly 2-2, D Mc Kee 0-1, T Ferris 2-0, C Mc Larnon 1-0, P Mc Aleer 0-1, P Killough 0-1
Next Game: Away to Lisburn Sun 25/07/10
All Saints GAC Cúl Camp 2010 – A Resounding Success
Friday the 9th of July saw the finish of another hugely successful Cúl camp at All Saints GAC, Ballymena. All children went home safe, sound and fully aware of the benefits of VHI Healthcare! Suitably attired in their kits, bags and medals.
Friday was deemed as a ‘Day of Celebration’, celebrating all the successful moments the children had experienced from the Monday onwards. To celebrate the learning and mastering of many Gaelic skills throughout the week the coaches had laid out a course/series of skills tests which the children passed with flying colours, the coaches then marking these on the children’s ‘Skills Passports’.
Paddy Cunningham paid a much anticipated visit to the camp early Friday to share in the success of the children, firstly presenting the Saffron óg children with their footballs, then speaking to the children and signing any autographs for the grateful children. Paddy spoke to the children at length, reminding them of the importance of practising their skills not just at the Cúl camp but also at home. Several interesting questions then followed for the Antrim maestro, children enquiring as to where the shuffle came from, who was his toughest opponent on the field of play and even, what was the best drink to take before playing a game of football!
The 2010 camp hosted 80 children on a week where there was much rain anticipated but in the end didn’t really materialise, Tuesday and Friday threatened but it wasn’t enough to dampen the spirits of the eager children from the All Saints club and some from other neighbouring clubs too. All children were given a week’s coaching by the club’s (mostly) young coaches with the emphasis being on fun, enjoyment and friendships. Each day the children were given coaching on two different skills of the game and then at lunchtime children sat in their groups and enjoyed a healthy lunch with their coaches where GAA quizzes took place to test the children’s knowledge of all things GAA.
The children finished off their week with a healthy B-B-Q and a presentation by their coaches of bags, medals and skills passports. The club’s last two camps were successful ventures however 2010 took the camp to a new level and this was down largely, to the number of enthusiastic coaches that the club had at their disposal, many thanks to them all for helping the club and the children.
All in all, a great start to the Summer of 2010.
This article and photos taken by Paddy McIllwaine will appear in this week’s Ballymena Chronicle. Photos from the week long Cúl Camp taken by Eamon McKillop and Denis Rocks will appear on the website gallery shortly.
Saffron Star to Attend Juvenile Presentation Evening
The celebration of the club’s juvenile talent within the club will be celebrated on Sunday the 31st of January in the Slemish Park pavillion starting at 5pm. Special guests this year include one of Antrim Football’s stars of the summer, Thomas McCann as well as guests from the world of Hurling & Camogie. This promises to be a great evening so try and get along to acknowledge and congratulate the efforts and achievements of the youth within our club!
Juvenile Presentation (U-12 to U-16) and Awards evening: Sunday 31st of @ 5pm. We would make a special appeal to all parents to attend this event also. Evening will include a finger buffet.
Get Behind Our Young Saints
Our U-14 Footballers will contest the final of the South West League Shield Final on Saturday against Lisburn at Randalstown. The throw in at the Whitehill venue is 12.00 noon and the club are urging as many supporters/members to make their way there to cheer on our young saints. This fine squad of players have been in very impressive form of late taking some very noticeable scalps en route to the final in the form of Rasharkin, Moneyglass and Ballycastle. The boys have been training hard all year under the expert guidance of Declan Agnew and Damian Gillan and both men have put alot of time and effort into this squad of players both this season and last.
Lisburn will pose formidable opposition on Saturday to the Saints as they are very much a stylish yet dogged team who have also this season taken some ‘bigger’ teams down a peg or two this season. For the record both teams finished on 14 points in the final League standings, so there really is nothing between the two sides; expect a very tight game.
Good luck to the boys for Saturday, from all at the All Saints club.
Battling Young Saints Claim Important Victory
SWFL U-14
ALL SAINTS 5-8 ST ENDA’S 2-6
All Saints U14’s got back to winning ways on Friday night with a terrific performance against a previously unbeaten St Enda’s side. They started well playing with a strong breeze in the first half and opened the scoring with a long range point. St Enda’s replied with one of their own before a strong run and finish into the net from James Gillan gave them a 3 point lead.
St Enda’s were playing the better football though and only a great save from Dylan Little prevented them from levelling the scores. However they knocked over a couple of points and a goal in the dying minutes of the half meant they led at the break by 2 points.
Another fantastic save in the opening minute of the second from Little seemed to galvanise the young Saints and they started to play they type of football they are capable of. A superb move involving Gillan, Ciaran McLarnon and Caolon Loughran ended up with Loughran firing into the top corner and they never looked back from that.
In defence Stephen McAllister had got to grips with St Enda’s danger man and the Slemish Pk team began to play a shorter hand passing game which was paying off. Loughran extended the lead with a couple of well pointed frees and when he got his second goal Saints lead by seven. St Edna’s rallied with a fortunate goal but further goals for Gillan and from Connell Lemon meant that Saints ran out comfortable winners by eleven points.
This was a great team performance in terrible conditions and the team can be proud of the determination they showed and must now carry this on to the end of the season. Well Done Lads
Big Day out in Clones for Eoin, Aidan, Jack & Sean
Eoin Campbell, Jack McDermott, Aidan Campion (all St Brigid’s) & Sean O’Rawe (St Colmcille’s) recently represented their School, Club & County in the Cumann Na Bunscol game at half time of the Ulster Football Semi-Final between Antrim and Cavan.
The four boys who represent the All Saints club at U-12 level are all very talented and committed footballers. Well done to the boys on this very special occasion.
The Club is very proud of you all.
Below is an interview Eoin Campbell done with Jerome Quinn after the game …
Half-time Stars from Jerome Quinn on Vimeo.
Saints Just Miss Out On Final Place At U-15 Og Sport
All Saints were unlucky not to qualify for the finals of the U15 Og Sport 7 a side tournament held in Creggan on Saturday. They were drawn in a tough group with Cargin, Creggan and Sean Stinson’s and their first game was against a classy Cargin side who looked to have experience of this format of the game before. This told and they quickly took the initiative and lead by seven at the break. However Saints fought back in the second half and a goal from Paddy McAleer brought them back into it but they went down by 5 points in the end.
Next up were Creggan who had beat Stinson’s in their first game and Saints showed they had quickly come to terms with the tactics required for seven’s and they played some great football and lead by a point at the break. Paddy McAleer and Diarmuid McNally leading from the front with some great scores. Creggan came back strongly in the second half and a great goal from James Gillan in the last minute meant the match finished a draw.
This meant Ballymena had to beat Stinson’s in the last game by a margin and hope Cargin did them a favour by beating Creggan for them to advance. They started poorly with the opponents getting an early goal but great defending especially from Phelim Killough and goals from Decky McKee and Diarmuid McNally meant they lead at half time. A great second half point from Timmy Connolly stretched the lead to 2 points but a combination of bad luck and few dubious decisions meant they were unable to extend this and they ran out winners by a 2 point margin in the end.
Unfortunately this wasn’t enough and they lost out on a place in the final on points difference to Creggan after Cargin had obliged by beating them in their final game. This was a enjoyable experience for the boys whose attitude was superb and they definitely picked up a few things by playing the shorter and faster version of the game. Thanks to Joe Rocks and Joe Rafferty who were a great help to the team on the day.
Squad: Timmy Connolly (0-1) Dara Mussen,Odhran Bradley,Phelim Killough, Conor Campion, Decky McKee (1-0) Caolon Loughran,Diarmuid McNally (1-4) Paddy McAleer (1-10) James Gillan (1-0)
U-16s Impressive Score Taking Overcomes Tir Na nOg
ALL SAINTS 6:17 – TIR NA nOG 1:07
All Saints started the game brightly at a sun drenched Slemish Park on Thursday night and their early dominance was rewarded when a forceful run from midfield gave Emmet Killough the space to fire to the top corner of the net. Further points followed before Tyrone Hasson finished to the net. The young Saints were now playing some fantastic football and one move where the ball was moved quickly from defence to attack resulted in half back Conor Rafferty finishing confidently to the net. A further goal from full forward Tyrone Hasson kept the Slemish Park outfit firmly in control. The Randalstown boys were now starting to get to grips with the game and tagged on some wonderful scores, but the half finished as it had started, with Diarmuid Mc Nally finishing a flowing All Saints move to the net.
H/T ALL SAINTS 5:08 TIR NA nOG 0:03
The second half started brightly for the visitors and they were playing some great football and they scored 1:03 during this period, but slowly but surely the Ballymena boys got back into their stride, and a further goal from Emmet Killough saw them pull further away and they finished the game with some wonderful points to win on a score line of:
F/T ALL SAINTS 6:17 TIR NA nOG 1:07
Missed Opportunities Cost U-14s a Spot In Top Four
SWFL U-14
All Saints 2-5 Moneyglass 2-8
AllSaints U14’s missed their opportunity to move into the top four of the league with a wasteful performance in front of goal at home to Moneyglass on Firday night. They started brightly and led by five early on, after 2 good points from midfielder Caolon Loughran and a well taken goal from Ciaran Ferris. They should have been out of sight by half time but a reluctance to take their points and some poor shooting when they did meant that they only led by 6 at the break.
Saints missed a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half and this gave the away side the lift they needed. Moneyglass were now well on top at midfield and a goal and three unanswered points brought them level. The Slemish Pk boys should have gone back in front after a couple of goal mouth scrambles but the ball just wouldn’t go in. Moneyglass then attacked up the field and put the ball in the net to now lead by six. A late penalty from Paddy Stewart, their first score of the second half, brought it back to three but time ran out before they could get the equalising score.
Credit to Moneyglass in the way they battled back in the second half but this was a game All Saints should have won comfortably, however they will learn from this and come back stronger for it.
