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Newry City AFC manager Barry Gray has announced the signing of Francis McCaffrey on a long-term deal. It's the fifth signing by the new manager with Jamie McDonagh, Conor Mitchell, Brandon Doyle and Steven Ball also signed up since the start of the year. McDonagh and Doyle are on a short term loan deal till the end of the season.
McCaffrey is looking forward to the challenge “The opportunity to play football in the Premiership again was too good to turn down. I’m happy to be here at Newry, it is a challenge that I am well up for and I can’t wait to get started. I know a lot of the lads and played against them all so I will fit right into squad.”
Commenting on his latest signing Gray said “I am delighted to have Fra onboard, Fra is a highly respected Premiership player with a lot of experience. I believe this will be vital to us moving forward into the big head-to-head games.
“Fra will add depth and experience and having worked with him previously I know exactly what to expect from him. I’m looking forward to seeing him on the pitch soon and have no doubt he’ll be a fans favourite.”
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Armagh take their place at the top of Division Two in the Allianz Football League after their comprehensive win over Meath at the Box It Athletic Grounds last night.
It's two wins out of two for the orchard county and although Meath had a promising start with 4 points in the first fifteen minutes they never capitalised with Armagh going in at half time with a six point lead 1:8 to 0:5 thanks to a goal from Tir na nOg's Cian McConville just before half time. Just a minute later Armagh's Rory Grugan had a chance of another goal but he put the ball over the bar.
Then it was a perfect start to the second half with a goal from Shane O'Neill's Ciaran Mackin just two minutes in and from then on the game just slipped away from the Royal's who while managing to get to good scoring positions continually kicked wide totalling 12 wides on the day. With Armagh continuing to push forward and score when it mattered the result was not in question.
Next game sees Armagh take on Kildare in Carlow at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday 18 February.
Final Score: Armagh 2:16 Meath 0:10
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Armagh left the Athletic Grounds with a two point win following yesterday's low scoring clash with Galway in the Lidl National Football League
The swirling breeze proved difficult for both teams, although Armagh coped better with the conditions. Armagh’s superior first half scoring haul kept them ahead with Galway failing to get on the scoreboard the first half. Galway mounted a credible comeback in the second period but couldn’t do enough to get something from the game.
Armagh were the dominant force in the opening period with the wind, posing the Galway defence problems on every attack while keeping Daniel Moynihan’s side scoreless for the first 30 minutes.
Not only that, but Galway’s uphill challenge became a huge mountain to climb ten minutes in when Linda Booth received a red card for a late and high challenge on Emily Druse.
By that stage Armagh had already opened their account, with Kelly Mallon’s delicate hand pass playing through Aoife McCoy before Mallon, playing at centerfield in the absence of Caroline O’Hanlon, shot over a free.
A second pointed free by Mallon was quickly followed, as Aimee Mackin got off the mark through a close range free while corner back Roisin Mulligan extended the advantage with a lovely taken score.
Galway had a chance to get back into the game with a rare attack but Mairead Glynn’s pass across the face of the goal towards Shauna Hynes, who was under pressure from Grace Ferguson, was punched wide.
Mallon had the final say of the first half when she added to her tally, stroking over a third free to leave her side six points ahead when the teams changed sides at 0-6 to 0-0.
The second half was just two minutes old when a more determined Galway got their end of the scoreboard up and running as Ailbhe Davoren split the posts before Roisin Leonard tapped over a free.
Leonard then played provider setting up a Leanne Coen score to cut the deficit to three. Mallon and Lauren McConville traded scores with Leonard before Armagh lost Mackin to a yellow card for the final few minutes.
Although Leonard laced over a late score as Galway searched for a goal, it wasn’t enough for the visiting side to get something from the game as they fell to a third defeat.
Armagh manager Gregory McGonigle believes they have plenty of room for improvement “We wouldn’t have been happy with the second half performance but if you’d have said at the start of the year that the first three games in Division One, you’d get three wins then we’d be happy enough,” said McGonigle.
“There’s plenty for us to work on. There were a lot of good performances as well and in the first half I thought we were very good.”
Next challenge for Armagh is an 18 February clash with Meath at Ashbourne.
Scorers - Armagh: K Mallon 0-4 (4f), A McCoy 0-1, A Mackin 0-1 (1f), R Mulligan 0-1, L McConville 0-1.
Galway: R Leonard 0-4 (3f), A Davoren 0-1, L Coen 0-1.
Armagh: A Carr; G Ferguson, C McCambridge, R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman, N Murray; E Druse, A McCoy, S Quigley; A Mackin, L Kenny, K Mallon. Subs: E Lavery for S Quigley, M Feehan for N Murray, M O’Callaghan for E Druse, L Kavanagh for L Kenny.
Galway: D Gower; M Jordan, S Ni Loinsigh, E Gavin; K Geraghty, C Trill, A Ní Cheallaigh; M Glynn, L Coen; C Cleary, A Davoren, S Hynes; L Booth, A O’Rourke, R Leonard. Subs: M Walsh for C Cleary, E O’Riordan for C Trill, C McCarthy for S Hynes, E Reaney for A O’Rourke.
Referee: David Hurson (Monaghan).
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Down ladies made the long journey to Fr. Brehenry Park yesterday, 11 February, to face Sligo in round 3 of Division 3 of the National football league.
Paige Smyth was brought back into defence replacing the unavailable Ciara Byrne along with sharp shooter Aine Smyth. Smyth has consistently been a leader in points in Down for Loughinisland in the last few seasons and her goal threat would have been a major factor in selection, as Down had struggled to convert chances in their last two games.
Annaclone's impressive Niamh McClory and Niamh King of Castlewellen also came into starting 15. Both are part of a talented group of young footballers breaking into the Senior panel, that highlights the great work happening at the underage levels.
Sligo were looking to bounce back in this game after a heavy defeat last time out against Clare, however it was the visitors who raced out of the blocks, getting the first three scores. Sligo replied with a point of their own, but Rostrevor's Niamh Scullion quickly restored the lead back to three when she converted. Two Natasha Ferris points sandwiched another Sligo score to extend Downs lead as Sligo struggled to contain the Mourne ladies.
A Sligo goal from Sinead Regan just before half time, got the home side right back into the mix, and when referee Siobhan Coyle blew for the break Down would have been disappointed with only having a one point lead despite having most of the play.
The second half would prove to be a much tighter affair with Sligo pushing forward. The two teams traded a couple of scores each, early in the half. Castlewellan's Niamh King getting both for Down, Kelly and the impressive Rianne Smith for Sligo.
Lauren Normanly brought the scores level when she cleared the black spot. Another Smith point gave Sligo their first lead of the game but this didn't last long as Laoise Duffy finished off in style to point for Down.
A Smith free was cheered on by the home crowd as Sligo took the lead once more. The game now was getting stretched as both teams gave everything. With fifteen minutes left, a good well worked move ended with Down's talented forward Natasha Ferris getting a vital goal to give the visitors a two point lead. But Sligo refused to throw in the towel and two points in the space of a minute from Tara Breheny and yet another Rianne Smith score levelled the game with only a few minutes left.
Both teams were pushing for a winner, but right before the end of the game Down won a crucial free. When faced with unreal pressure there are few in football better than Bryansford's Natasha Ferris, who put the ball over and gave Down a one point victory and first win of the season.
Sligo will take little comfort in the much improved display from their last outing, losing by a single point in this highly entertaining game.
Speaking after the game Down manager Caoibhe Sloan said "It was good to get 3 points on the board, but there is still plenty to work on.
It was also really pleasing to see competitive debuts handed out to Niamh McGrath who came on and was exceptional. Niamh King returning from injury is a massive boost to the squad and there’s plenty of competition for places in the team"
Final score: Sligo 1-9 v Down 1-10
Down Team
1. Amy McGivern Teconnaught
2. Aimee Green Teconnaught
3. Orla Boyle Downpatrick
4. Paige Smyth Downpatrick
5. Natalie McKibbin Bryansford
6. Megan Doherty (C) Carryduff
7. Orla Duffy Bredagh
8. Clara Mulvenna Rostrevor
9. Aoife Laverty Bredagh
10. Niamh Scullion Rostrevor
11. Niamh King Castlewellan
12. Laoise Duffy Bredagh
13. Aine Smyth Loughinisland
14. Natasha Ferris Bryansford
15. Niamh McClory Annaclone
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There are a few environmental things that can spoil a good run, things like heavy rain, strong winds or if it's very cold. Any one of these is unpleasant, a mixture of any pair is miserable but if all three turn up together, well then this is advanced misery!
It was indeed advanced misery that greeted the 1000+ runners in all age groups and the thousands of spectators who turned up to compete in or to watch the Armagh International road race, 5km for elite men and 3km for their female counterparts around the Mall in the city centre. The weather on the night was responsible for the times of both races being a bit slower than in recent years but the depth of talent on show, and in the men's race 130 athletes clocked times inside 15 minutes, making these two races among the fastest in the world.
Newry AC’s Jack O’Farrell also representing N.I.& Ulster spent the race in the leading group and eventually came home in 42nd place in a time of 14’21”. Next Newry man Gary Crummy crossed the line in 15’04”which was a good effort as he had only decided on Tuesday night to run the event as he had been recovering from the flu. Third man home from the Newry club was Mark Malone and Mark stopped the timekeeper’s watch in 15’25”.
In the women's 3km Newry AC also had three athletes and despite the terrible conditions all ran well and came home in 22’21” for Ciara Coffey, junior Eve Welsh in 11’26” and SJ Beattie in 12’21 Congratulations to all three.
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This morning Armagh ladies footballer Caroline O'Hanlon is playing netball for Leeds Rhinos' in Nottingham while tomorrow she dons the Armagh jersey for a clash with Meath.
This is in her 23rd season with her county and despite a hectic timetable that would put all of us to shame, she is delighted to be playing and with three wins from three to their name in this year’s Lidl National Football League Division 1.
Three years after she first made her adult inter-county debut, O’Hanlon helped the Orchard County to claim the 2005 All-Ireland junior football championship crown — back when such a feat gained you promotion to the top-tier. She registered 0-2 from midfield the following year as Armagh lost out by a point to Cork in the TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship decider, before getting her hands on another national crown in 2012 after the Ulster side defeated Waterford in an intermediate showpiece at Croke Park.
In addition to a plethora of provincial titles, O’Hanlon has also won Division Two of the Lidl NFL on no fewer than three occasions — the most recent of those coming in April of last year. However, a combination of injuries and her commitments to Netball Superleague outfit Leeds Rhinos saw her dropping out of the panel ahead of the 2023 championship.
This raised some doubts over whether she’d feature again for Armagh, but an off-season chat with new manager Greg McGonigle, who previously managed the side in 2009, ultimately led to her returning to the fold and she played a starring role in their recent league triumphs over Waterford and Cork.
“I obviously go way back with Greg, he was my first coach when I went to college. That’s going back a few years, to say the least! He chatted to me when he came on board and I’ve a lot of trust in how he approaches teams. He has a similar outlook on how the team should be playing. That was a big factor in coming on board,” O’Hanlon acknowledged.
“I’m really happy with how that has gone. He’s got a really good balance in the backroom team, it’s a really nice dynamic and the girls seem to be responding really well. I feel like it has been really refreshing. I’m delighted with the decision at this stage.
“Greg has been around. He’s been with Armagh before, he’s been with Ulster for years. He’s an ambitious guy and obviously Armagh, we’re looking to make another step and push on from where we’ve been for the last few years.”
Following a rest period for the top two divisions of the NFL last weekend, Armagh will be back in action tomorrow afternoon against Meath at the Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA club (throw-in 2pm). Like the Orchard women and defending champions Kerry, the Royals also have a 100% record from their opening three games of Division 1 and are currently being guided by a man who is familiar to O’Hanlon and her inter-county colleagues.
After bringing a three-year spell with Armagh, two as a selector and one as a manager, to an end in the wake of their quarter-final exit in last year’s TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship, former Kildare goalkeeper Shane McCormack assumed the Meath hotseat for the 2024 season. This adds considerable intrigue to tomorrow’s fourth round encounter, but O’Hanlon is trying not to pay too much attention to the opposition at this point in the campaign.
“Meath seem to be going really well. Obviously we know that they’ve got a lot of quality, that speaks for itself. They’ll be a tough opponent. Delighted to see Shane doing well, but I think from our perspective, we’re not really focusing too much on Meath. We’re still trying to build ourselves.
“Adapt into the new style that the guys want us to be playing. We’re still very much focused on what we’re about. We’ll just prepare for each game and look forward to it. You want to see where you’re at against the best teams in the country and that’s what playing in Division One is about.”
Tomorrow’s clash in Ashbourne isn’t the only item on O’Hanlon’s agenda this weekend, however, as there is the small matter of Leeds Rhinos’ Superleague opener against Severn Stars at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham this morning at 11am.
Since she first signed up to this competition with Team Northumbria in 2014, O’Hanlon has found herself having to strike a balance between her two sporting passions.
She normally trains with Rhinos in England on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, before returning to train with Armagh on Thursdays. Despite being under contract across the water at the Yorkshire-based club, she also works as a GP for a number of days when she is on home soil.
Her ability to line out for either or both teams on a weekend depends on how the sports are scheduled and while there aren’t likely to be any conflicts for O’Hanlon in the springtime, it can still be quite taxing to play netball and ladies football within the same weekend.
“It’s not new to me, but obviously it doesn’t get easier as time goes on! It’s about managing it and I’ve trained to do that. Hopefully we’ll be able to perform at both. Greg and the team are very good at looking after you and we’ve a good backroom team as well, making sure that you’re in good condition. We’ll just listen to them and hopefully be able to impact both.”
It has certainly been quite a journey for O’Hanlon since she first started playing top level netball in the UK with the high points undoubtedly being the Superleague titles she garnered with Manchester Thunder in 2019 and 2022.
She has also represented Scottish side UWS Sirens and although she didn’t feature in the 2016 season, the Queen’s University Belfast graduate, who was named TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year and Senior Players’ Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014 respectively, has been a largely ubiquitous presence in the Netball Superleague over the past decade.
“When I was younger, it wasn’t something that was even on my horizon. I obviously would have played within Northern Ireland. Clubs and international. Whenever the opportunity came, it was a no-brainer to play at that level week in, week out. The quality and the intensity of the Superleague has grown every season. I’m delighted to still be able to feature in that,” O’Hanlon added.
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A comprehensive ten point victory over Meath at Ashbourne has moved Armagh to the top of Lidl National Football League Division 1 table.
Both teams had come into this game with 100% records from the opening three rounds of this year’s NFL, but with scores of 1:4 apiece from Aimee Mackin and Kelly Mallon it is Armagh who are the new pace-setters in the top tier.
While Emma Duggan shone brightly throughout, Meath who are under the guidance of former Orchard boss Shane McCormack in 2024 — ultimately suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Fresh from featuring for Leeds Rhinos in the Netball Superleague on Saturday, Caroline O’Hanlon got Armagh up and running with a second minute point at the end of a patient move. 2020 TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year Mackin followed up with a neat score, before both she and O’Hanlon doubled their respective tallies to offer Armagh an early stranglehold on the contest.
Meath finally opened their account through a Niamh Gallogly point on the first-quarter mark and their deficit was further reduced when Emma Duggan found the target either side of a Mallon free.
Mallon and Mackin went on to add placed-ball efforts for the visitors, but with Maire O’Shaughnessy and Duggan splitting the uprights in fine style, Meath were just two points in arrears at 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.
It was an initially tentative start to the second period from both teams, but the excellent Mackin brought the tie back to life by finishing superbly to the net off her reliable left boot seven minutes after the resumption. And while the Royals responded to this set-back with points from Aoibhin Cleary and Marion Farrelly (free), Mackin and Eve Lavery also raised white flags to keep Armagh in the driving seat.
Their chances of extending their winning run were given a further boost heading into the final-quarter as Mallon lashed home a second goal for the Ulster side via impressive approach work by Mackin.
This effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt and in spite of Duggan contributing her fourth point of the action, Emily Druse and Mallon (two) also found the range late on to put the seal on an emphatic Armagh victory.
Final score Armagh 2-12 - Meath 0-8
Scorers - Armagh: K Mallon 1-4 (0-2f), A Mackin 1-4 (0-1f), C O’Hanlon 0-2, E Druse, E Lavery 0-1 each.
Meath: E Duggan 0-4 (2f), M Farrelly 0-1 (f), N Gallogly, A Cleary, M O’Shaughnessy 0-1 each.
Armagh: A Carr; G Ferguson, C McCambridge, R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; E Druse, A McCoy, E Lavery; A Mackin, L Kenny, K Mallon. Subs: C Doyle for Kenny (13), M O’Callaghan for Lavery (45), E O’Brien for Druse (56), M Lennon for McCoy (58), M Ferguson for Coleman (60).
Meath: M McGuirk; K Newe, A Sheridan, N Troy; N Gallogly, M.K. Lynch, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, S Melia; M Thynne, E Moyles, C Smyth; M Byrne, M Farrelly, E Duggan. Subs: C Lawlor for Newe (13), S Lynch for Farrelly (45), L Young for Smyth (50), T Foster for Thynne (56), S Ennis for Melia, R Casserly for Byrne (both 60).
Referee: Eddie Cuthbert (Down).
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Armagh manager Greg McGonigle has paid tribute to his goalscorers Aimee Mackin and Kelly Mallon, along with the versatile and long-serving Caroline O’Hanlon, as they led the way as the Orchard County maintained their brilliant start to the Lidl NFL with a 2-12 to 0-8 win over Meath at Donaghmore-Ashbourne on Sunday.
Mackin and Mallon struck 1-4 as Armagh remain the only side to win all four games in the top flight.
“As I keep saying to younger players coming into our set-up, Aimee Mackin and Kelly Mallon are the last two people to leave the field every single night and they’re the first two people on the field,” said McGonigle. “It doesn’t come from our coaching, it comes from them being diligent and putting in the hard work. That’s obviously why they’re two of the best forwards in Ireland.
“She is nearly superhuman,” McGonigle added about O’Hanlon who had played for Leeds Rhinos in the Netball Superleague on Saturday. “She’s a credit to not even just female athletes, but any athlete as regards playing at the top of your game. Her knowledge of the game as regards her coaching of younger players. We have a lot of 18, 19 year olds on the panel, who mightn’t get game time, but they’re getting some experience playing with Caroline O’Hanlon.”
Armagh led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval and pushed for victory when Mackin found the net seven minutes after the restart, while Mallon’s strike killed off any notion of a comeback by Meath.
““It was obviously a big game, whoever won would get on top of the table,” said Meath player Mary Kate Lynch. “It’s not gone away from us. We still have three games left and it’s still there for the taking. I think it’s still there for anyone really at this point in time. We’ll have to just reassess, go back. See where the errors were and kick on from there.”
Weekend Results
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1
Waterford 2-12 Cork 1-6
Dublin 0-16 Galway 1-12
Kerry 0-8 Mayo 0-8
Armagh 2-12 Meath 0-8
Lidl NFL Division 2
Monaghan 2-10 Donegal 1-13
Kildare 0-8 Tipperary 0-7
Tyrone 2-8 Laois 2-8
Cavan 1-4 Westmeath 0-6
Lidl NFL Division 3
Down 3-12 Antrim 1-11
Clare 1-9 Offaly 0-8
Roscommon 0-17 Sligo 0-8
Wexford 0-10 Louth 1-7
Lidl NFL Division 4
Longford 2-17 Derry 3-5
Fermanagh 10-12 Kilkenny 0-5
Leitrim 2-11 Limerick 1-7
Carlow 3-9 Wicklow 0-11
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Down hosted Derry on Saturday 17 February in the first round of the Ulster Ladies Minor Championship at Jack Mackin Park in Newry. Terrible conditions faced both teams as torrential rain battered down on the pitch making ball handling and shooting especially difficult throughout the match.
There was little to separate either team at the beginning of the first half, with midfields and defences giving little chances. Derry twice took the lead and twice Down levelled, trading points over the bar. However, as the half went on it was the visitors who were on the front foot and won a penalty in the 21st minute. Unfortunately for Derry, this penalty was missed, as the Derry forwards powerful shot came back off the crossbar and was cleared to safety by the covering Down defenders. Derry was denied another goal a few minutes later. Aine McAllister did well to get to the ball first and get her shot away, only to see the ball hit the bar again. Derry did reclaim the lead with a well taken score when Magherafelt's Anna Donnelly put the ball over, after a good hand passing move created the chance. With the half drawing to a close Down created a great chance as they opened the Derry defence. As Meabh Coughlan raced through on goal, she was brought down and after a brief check with the umpires the referee gave the penalty. This was dispatched into the bottom corner to give Down a two point lead right on the stroke of halftime Down 1-2 v Derry 0-3.
The second half saw no let-up in the rain, but this time Down looked the stronger side. A good hand pass move resulted in a Lucy Connell point. Derry then got right back into the game when they got their second penalty of the match. Aine McAllister making no mistake this time from the spot and drew level. Down were playing some great football in the conditions, as the defence and midfield never let Derry get a foothold in the second half. Clonduff's Emily Bingham Abbot was a stand out performer for Down. Her pace and ability to be in the right place at the right time caused so many turnovers, but in truth it was an overall team display that would have been pleasing for the Down management team. Two unanswered points from the impressive Meabh Coughlan of Dundrum moved Down clear but the game was never comfortable as Derry fought till the end. Carryduff full forward Cara Donnelly was another who had a great game, securing the win with a late point and extend the lead to three.
An extremely hard fought win for Down. Derry will rue missed chances and curse the Down crossbar.
Final score: Down 1-6 - Derry 1-3
Down Team: Erin Gough, Kara Trainor, Cora Byrne Convery, Aine Catney, Anna Downey, Phoebe Richards, Emily Bingham Abbott, Roisin McKenna, Niamh McConville, Ciara McLornan (C), Meabh Coughlan, Niamh McGinley, Lucy Connell, Cara Donnelly, Molly Tumilty, Caoimhe Lavery, Anna McDonagh, Anna McParland, Aoife Hanna, Eve Rice, Kate Smith, Katelyn Magee, Katie Havern, Eimear Napier, Ellie Sergeant, Ezara Morgan, Lara Heaney, Niam Madine, Naimh McElroy & Rachael McAteer
Derry Team: Teagan McAdams, Shannon McCorriston, Hannah McEldowney, Dararose McElhinney, Grace Loughran, Anna Henry, Duvessa Quinn, Rhianna Doherty, Eve Convery, Aoife Gormley (C), Kate McCann, Sarah Loughran, Shona Fullerton, Aine McAlister, Anna Donnelly, Caoimhe Mullan, Catherine O’Kane, Eva Moran, Orlaith Doherty, Molly McGuinness, Orla Martin, EllaRae Devine, Shannon Gallagher, Ava Bradley, Lily Hurl, Erin McDonald, Amber McGroary, Leanne McCullagh, Shannon McCartney & Ciarrai O’Kane.
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