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Yesterday Croke Park belonged to Armagh. After heartbreak in recent times during their Championship journey, not least the loss to Galway following the penalty shoot-out in 2022, it was their day and they deservedly emerged the winners of the 2024 Senior All Ireland Football final for the second time in their history.
It was a long 22 years in the waiting. In September 2022 many of the most vocal fans at Croke Park yesterday had never even been born. Yesterday was their day to celebrate and in fact this week no doubt. It was a special day for Armagh Manager Kieran McGeeney too. In 2002 he had been the Captain on the day, raising the Sam Maguire in the same spot and here he was managing the winning team.
In an evenly matched first half where both teams went in to the dressing rooms at 0-6 apiece it was easy to think of extra time and a replay but Armagh were having none of that and a goal by Aaron McKay in the 47th minute was the beginning of the end for Galway. It was Galway who had started the second half off with 2 unanswered points and the game flowed backward and forwards for a while but Galway never caught up after McKay's goal although it was a nerve wrecking final ten minutes with a full 6 minutes of extra time. In the 65th minute Armagh were a full 3 points ahead and Galway reduced that by 2 but couldn't manage the equaliser.
Ultimately Galway's accuracy throughout the game caught up with them with Armagh converting their chances much better. In the end an attempt for the equaliser well into injury time by Galway's Dylan McHugh hit the post and went the wrong way for them.
Armagh managed to hold on and almost got another point with their attempt also hitting the post, but it didn't matter. The whistle blew at a fitting point of the game when Jarlath Og Burns has possession in the same year his father Jarlath has possession of the GAA Presidential title. Final Score, Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13.
In his presentation speech the GAA President dedicated the win to all the people involved in clubs, from the tea makers to the ground keepers to everyone in between. Armagh Captain Aidan Forker then became the first man in history to get presented the Sam Maguire by a fellow county man. Armagh Abu.
Armagh scorers
Oisín Conaty 0-3, Ben Crealey 0-2, Aaron McKay 1-0, Barry McCambridge, Tiernan Kelly, Aidan Forker, Niall Grimley, Rian O’Neill, and Oisín O’Neill 0-1 each.
Galway Scorers
Paul Conroy and Céin D’Arcy 0-3 each, Cillian McDaid and Shane Walsh (1f) 0-2, Liam Silke, John Maher, and Rob Finnerty (f) 0-1 each.
Teams
Armagh
Blaine Hughes; Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker, Paddy Burns; Connaire Mackin, Tiernan Kelly, Aaron McKay; Niall Grimley, Ben Crealey; Rory Grugan, Rian O’Neill, Joe McElroy; Conor Turbitt, Andrew Murnin, Oisín Conaty.
Substitutes: Stefan Campbell for Turbitt (46), Ross McQuillan for Kelly (46), Oisín O’Neill for Grugan (51), Jarly Óg Burns for Mackin (59), Jason Duffy for Forker (70+5).
Galway
Connor Gleeson; Jack Glynn, Seán Fitzgerald, Johnny McGrath; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Matthew Tierney, Céin D’Arcy, Cillian McDaid; Rob Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.
Substitutes: Johnny Heaney for Finnerty (11), Seán Kelly for Glynn (45), Tomo Culhane for Comer (66), Daniel O’Flaherty for Tierney (66), Kieran Molloy for Heaney (70+5).
Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).
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The 2024 M.Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals will take place on Annaverna Mountain Ravensdale next Monday 5 August.
A total of 26 players (senior men, senior women, U-16 boys, U-16 girls) will return to the Annaverna mountain on Bank Holiday Monday, August 5, for what should be another keenly contested event.
The hurlers involved in the quest to be crowned Poc Fada Craobh na hÉireann Champion include two of the 2024 Clare senior all Ireland winning team, David Fitzgerald and Paul Duggan.
The senior men’s Poc Fada could be one of the most competitive in the history of the competition, with four former winners all vying against one another.
Kerry hurler Fionán Mackessy is the reigning champion, Kilkenny’s Killian Phelan won in 2022, former Limerick hurler Colin Ryan won in 2021, and Offaly hurler Cillian Kiely was back-to-back champion in 2018 and 2019.
Also in the mix will be Clare senior hurler, Peter Duggan, who finished third in last year’s competition and his teammate David Fitzgerald will also be hoping to make his visit to the Cooley mountains a successful one.
Cillian Kiely is hoping for more silverware having already won the Joe McDonagh Cup with Offaly year, but knows he’ll be up against it with such a quality field.
In the Camogie senior contest Molly Lynch from Cork will be back on the mountain course to defend her all -Ireland title.
Pat McGinn a member of the Poc Fada National Commitee speaking about the unique Hurling and Camogie contests which take place on the 5k mountain course said,
“An Poc Fada Craobh na hÉireann is not only a very special sporting contest but is also a terrific reminder of our cultural past.
Martin Donnelly has been sponsoring the GAA Poc Fada for almost three decades through his MD myclubshop.ie brand – a significant contribution that has given the competition great support.
We deeply appreciate Martin’s friendship and support. The Poc Fada weekend brings many visitors to the region. It is also a chance for hurlers and camogs from the local clubs to meet their sporting heroes.
The contests start at 11.30am sharp. Parking is restricted so I would appeal to all intending to come to our event to arrive early and follow the stewards instructions. We are visitors to the mountain for the day and we should ensure that we leave the mountain and it’s surrounds the way we found it”
At the recent launch of the 2024 All Ireland Poc Fada Gerry Goodwin and Denise Lynch were inducted into the M.Donnelly GAA Poc Fada Hall of Fame.
Tyrone native Gerry Goodwin made headlines in 1982 when defeated big names like Pat Hartigan and Ger Cunningham to win the senior men’s Poc Fada title.
Speaking after his induction Gerry Goodwin said “I really appreciate this. Winning the Poc Fada in '82 was unbelievable, and the reaction back home in the club when word got out was incredible.”
Former Clare camogie star, Denise Lynch, won the women’s senior title in 2005 and is a huge fan of a competition she believes is something truly unique.
The 2024 Poc Fada Hall of Fame Inductee said, “The Poc Fada is a phenomenal competition. “It's nice to compete as an individual in Gaelic games.
"As much as I always loved to be part of a team and always hoped I was a good team player, it was nice to do something as an individual and achieve something as an individual too.From that point of view it's a great competition because there's nothing else really like it in team sports.”
2024 M.Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada playing order
Senior Hurling 11.30am sharp.
David Fitzgerald (Clare)
Cillian Kiely (Leinster Champion)
Peter Duggan (Clare)
Cathal Dillon (Munster Runner Up)
Colin Ryan (Munster Champion)
Finbarr Kelly (Ulster Runner Up)
Bobby Douglas (Connacht Runner Up)
Killian Phelan (Leinster Runner Up)
Darren Geoghegan (Louth)
Conor McAlister (Ulster Champion)
Noel Fallon (Connacht Champion)
Fionán Mackessy (Reigning Champion, Kerry)
Senior Camogie 12 noon
Anna Kearney (Munster Champion)
Ciarrai Devlin (Ulster Champion)
Kerri Austin (Leinster Champion)
Susan Earner (Connacht Champion)
AN OTHER (Sponsors Pick)
Molly Lynch (Reigning Champion, Cork)
U16 Hurling 12.15pm
Connor Delaney (Ulster Champion)
Tony Mahony (Leinster Champion)
Colm Fitzgerald (Connacht Champion)
Matthew O’Sullivan (Munster Champion)
U16 Camogie 12.30pm
Ona Kennedy (Leinster Champion)
Roisin Ferncombe (Munster Champion)
Leah Horan (Connacht Champion)
Katie Donnelly (Ulster Champion)
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Organisers of this month’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally have rubber stamped a much-improved competitive route that will comprise a mix of both new and revised closed-road special stages. Overseen once again by Clerk of the Course Wayne Turkington, the changes promise to add to the challenge of an event which is promoted by members of Northern Ireland Motor Club. Running over one day (Saturday, August 17), it is hosting the penultimate round of this year’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and could have an all-important say in the final destination of a title that Callum Devine, Keith Cronin and Matt Edwards are in strong contention to win. Standing between them and a maximum score are eight timed tests dotted in the countryside around the Ulster Rally’s Newry HQ.
Totalling eighty-three competitive miles, Turkington says while the stage names may be known to people, crews will still have to do their homework.
“Keeping the stages challenging for competitors and entertaining for spectators is the number one priority, so from that perspective the Ulster Rally is not really changing,” says Turkington. “The main change this year is we will be a one-day rather than the traditional two-day event.
“Although all the stage names may be familiar, the stages themselves have all been changed. For SS1 and SS5 (Shinn Bridge), a lot of variations have been made to this stage and by running it in the opposite direction, we have picked a sequence that has never been used previously.
“Moving to SS2 and SS6 (Banbridge North), again, the name is the same but it is different. We have reversed – and lengthened – it compared to 2023 and that has allowed us to offer another new stage to competitors. SS3 and SS7 (Tyrone’s Ditches) has also been reworked.
“There are not as many changes for this one because the version we used in 2023 had a lot of character and we didn’t want to lose that – but we still wanted it to offer something different. We have achieved this with a 50/50 split – 50% classic and 50% new. It is now also longer than before, at 13.90-miles, and that makes it the longest special stage of this year’s Ulster Rally.
“Finally, SS4 and SS8 (Babylon Hill) has a familiar name but is a very different stage to the one we have seen before. It has many classic elements and is a lovely stage to finish any rally on.”
Further information on spectator viewing points, as well as a time and distance schedule and seeded entry list for the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, will be available in the next few weeks from the official event website www.ulsterrally.com
You can also check out www.facebook.com/ulsterrally
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Callum Devine and his co-driving team-mate Noel O’Sullivan will have the honour of leading away the 100-plus-strong field at the 47th Modern Tyres Ulster Rally in Newry next weekend.
In their Michelin-shod Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 car, the Irish duo will be the first to sample the revised 2024 route at competitive speeds. In all, competitors can look forward to a total of ten closed-road special stages on Saturday, August 17, with these totalling over eighty miles.
The top 10 spots are dominated by the very latest Rally2 cars, with Devine’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title rivals Matt Edwards (M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2), Keith Cronin (M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Josh Moffett (Citroen Racing C3 Rally2) seeded at two, three and four.
After five rounds of the cross-border series, 2016 Tarmac champion Keith Cronin is currently leading the way on 73 points courtesy of victories in Galway and West Cork with Mikie Galvin. However, success for Welshman Matt Edwards on Easter’s Circuit of Ireland, and consecutive wins for County Londonderry’s Callum Devine, have propelled them into the title mix as well.
Indeed, there is real strength in depth down the field, with the fiercely competitive modified class bringing the Ford Escort Mk2s of Frank Kelly, Damian Toner, Camillus Bradley, Oli Benton and John Devlin up against Jason Black’s rapid, rear-wheel-drive Toyota Starlet. Fans can also look forward to seeing Adrian Hetherington’s immaculately restored Fiat 131 Abarth going up against the clock at the Northern Ireland Motor Club Limited meeting.
In the Rally4 category for front-wheel-drive machines, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed starlet Aoife Raftery (Peugeot 208) is set to trade stage times with Joseph Kelly, Jack Brennan and Se Og Martin who have all entered in the same French-developed supermini.
The action begins on Saturday morning with an opening loop of two stages comprising ‘Shinn Bridge 1’ and ‘Banbridge North 1’ before cars return to Newry for service at Modern Tyres’ Carnbane Industrial Estate headquarters. After the second loop of three tests, crews will again make their way back to service, with a regroup planned in-between stages six and seven – ‘Shinn Bridge 2’ and ‘Banbridge North 2’ – at Banbridge Civic Building on the Downshire Road from 2pm. Here, rally goers can see the cars up close and meet the crews. The third and final loop will comprise timed runs over ‘Kilrea Hill 2’, ‘Tyrone’s Ditches 2’ and ‘Babylon Hill 2’ before the winners cross the finish ramp at 5.30pm in Newry.
Clerk of the Course Wayne Turkington said: “We are absolutely delighted with the entry for the 47th running of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally. The top 10 starters alone is good enough to grace any international rally, with all the main Rally2 manufacturers set to be represented.
“There promises to be exciting and unpredictable battles played out across all the different classes at this year’s event, which I believe has all the ingredients required to make it one of the very best in recent times. Whoever comes out on top will have definitely had to earn it.”
Further information on spectator viewing points, as well as a time and distance schedule and full seeded entry list for the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, is now available from the official event website (www.ulsterrally.com) or via the free-to-download Sportity smartphone app where users should enter the password UR2024.
Modern Tyres Ulster Rally – Top 10 Seeds
1 Callum Devine / Noel O’Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2).
2 Matt Edwards / David Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
3 Keith Cronin / Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
4 Josh Moffett / Andy Hayes (Citroen C3 Rally2).
5 Eddie Doherty / Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia Rally2).
6 David Kelly / Dean O’Sullivan (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5).
7 John MacCrone / Kirsty Riddick (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
8 James Ford Neil / Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally2).
9 Andrew Purcell / Liam Brennan (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5).
10 Cal McCarthy / Eric Calnan (Citroen C3 Rally2).
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Cllr Pete Byrne presented this year’s Be Active Cup to winners Ballynahinch Olympic FC who beat Cleary Celtic FC earlier this month at The Showgrounds in Newry.
The Be Active Cup was developed this year as a local soccer tournament to see teams from various leagues within the district playing against each other. This was a fantastic opportunity for the Council to promote sport across the district and encourage strong links between local clubs in the sporting soccer scene.
The final saw Newry side, Clearly Celtic FC play against Ballynahinch Olympic FC in what was a close match displaying skill and talent on the pitch from both teams. After the final whistle was blown it was 1-0 to the Ballynahinch side, with the winning goal scored by Ryan Walsh. The Man of the Match award went to Cleary Celtic’s Marty Havern
Ballynahinch Olympic FC U12s and Cleary Celtic U12s Select also displayed their skills in a Juvenile match prior to the senior game. The Ballynahinch side did the double as their juveniles celebrated a 3-1 victory.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Pete Byrne presented the medals and trophies as he congratulated all involved in their superb efforts throughout the tournament.
“I was thrilled to be part of this year’s Be Active Cup initiative,” said Cllr Byrne. “The tournament was organised to bring citizens from across the district together, fostering new relationships through football. It was a tremendous success for the district, with every team displaying true sportsmanship and pride. Our district is rich in talent across all sports, and it’s so important we continue to engage with the community to support, develop, and promote the importance of health and wellbeing in all aspects of life. I extend my thanks to all the participating teams, leagues, match officials, Newry City FC for hosting the final, and the leisure staff for making it such a success.”
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Welshman Matt Edwards believes it is anyone’s guess which Rally2 driver will emerge victorious when a full field gathers in Newry this weekend for the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally.
Edwards hailing from the coastal town of Llandudno is a two-time winner of this closed-road event, which hosts the penultimate round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
His triumphs came during his successful campaigns in the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship, a series he dominated on three occasions, with his most recent title secured in 2021 after a season-long battle with fellow countryman, Osian Pryce.
Once again, Edwards is in the mix for silverware, with a win on Easter’s Circuit of Ireland and podium finishes in Killarney and Donegal keeping him in the hunt for the Irish Tarmac title. However, with February’s Galway International ending in retirement and counting as one of his allowed drop scores, the pressure is on Edwards to deliver a strong result.
“It’s hard to predict,” Edwards said when asked if his previous victories on the Ulster stages make him a favourite. “That was a while ago now. I think there are five or six of us all needing a good result on this rally, and everyone is still working to find time in their cars and drive at a competitive pace, so picking a clear favourite is very difficult.
“However, having a general feel for the Newry area, even if the stages aren’t identical, definitely helps. I don’t think much of the route is the same as 2021, but based on past results, I’d say I’m comfortable with the technical nature of the roads here and enjoy the challenge they present. The roads are slower on average compared to Donegal, for example, but that played to our strengths on the Circuit this year, so that’s a good sign for us.”
In some ways, the situation Edwards faces this Saturday mirrors 2021, and although a win won’t guarantee him the crown before the Cork ‘20’ International, it will be a big step forward. “It gives us a clear objective,” he admits. “It was good to be able to prepare properly for that in 2021 and deliver when it counted, so I’ll be drawing on that experience again for this one.
“The pace will be intense from the first mile, as it has been in every other round of the Irish Tarmac Championship. Dave [Moynihan, co-driver] and I have been quick off the mark in the last few rallies, with more seat time and growing familiarity with the Ford Fiesta Rally2, so we should be in the mix come the end of the Ulster.”
Further details on spectator viewing points, along with a time and distance schedule and seeded entry list for the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, are available on the official event website www.ulsterrally.com
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The Ford Fiesta Rally2 crew of Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin stormed to victory on the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally to strengthen their grip on this season’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title.
Thousands of fans lined the stages of the Northern Ireland Motor Club event to see the pair record what could be a pivotal result in the battle to be crowned champions of the cross-border series.
Their margin over the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of runners-up and defending Irish Tarmac champions Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan was 15 seconds after 10 stages totalling 83 competitive miles.
They took control of proceedings on the second speed test from the similar car of Matt Edwards and Dave Moynihan and were never headed from that moment on. Their dominance on the lanes around Newry highlighted by the fact they recorded quickest times on almost half of the stages.
Speaking at the finish, Cronin, a winner of the Ulster Rally back in 2017 with the same team-mate said: “It is great to get the win – I am delighted with the result. Those were some of the toughest stages that we have come across this season and the mixed conditions added to the challenge.
“We had a great start to the Championship but the last two rounds have not gone well for us, so we needed this result. I would not say we are in control now because there are so many anomalies because in sport anything can happen but yeah, we needed a win here and this one feels good."
Second place at the Northern Ireland Motor Club meeting for Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan keeps their Irish Tarmac title defence dream alive with only September’s Cork ‘20’ International Rally remaining. The newness of their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 combined with changeable road and weather conditions always meant maximum points was going to be a tall order – and so it proved.
A three-horse race effectively became a two-horse affair after Matt Edwards and David Moynihan retired from the third stage of the Ulster Rally. Their participation was over as soon as it started when an impact with a bank on ‘Kilrea Hill 1’ damaged the rear hub on their Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Edwards’ demise, and mechanical failure for the Citroen C3 Rally2 of James Ford on stage seven, elevated double Irish Tarmac Champion Josh Moffett up to third at the finish. His perseverance after a brief trip into a field, a puncture, and then an overshoot was handsomely rewarded with a cheque for €5,000 (£4,260) for being the top Citroen Racing C3 Rally Trophy contender home.
The meteoric rise of 2023 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Modified Champion Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabis RS Rally2 Evo) continued as he was satisfied with fourth overall, the seat time and mileage proving useful ahead of his next outing at the Galway Summer Rally on September 1st. Rounding out the top five was Scottish duo John MacCrone and Kirsty Riddick (Ford Fiesta Rally2); they had been sixth but gained a place on the penultimate speed test after a heavy compression over a jump inflicted terminal suspension damage on Jason Dickson’s Ford Fiesta Rally2 machine.
In the National section of the event, Welshman Steve Woods and Kenny Hull were the clear victors and, as the second highest ranking Citroen C3 Rally2 crew on the final leaderboard, claimed second-place prize money in the Citroen Racing C3 Rally Trophy to the tune of €3,000 (£2,556).
There was drama – and heartbreak – in the Modified race, meanwhile, as propshaft failure for the Toyota Starlet of Jason Black and Karl Egan sidelined them on stage seven of ten and handed the spoils to Damian Toner and Aodhan Gallagher (Ford Escort Mk2). Black had once again shown electric pace and held a near 20-second advantage before disaster struck on ‘Banbridge North 2’. “It is really unfortunate how it ended for Jason but I will take a win when I can get it,” said Toner. “I am over the moon to come away with the victory at the end of what has been a tricky day.”
Elsewhere, in the Micra Challenge – a one-make series specifically for the Japanese supermini – Philip White and Liam Callaghan came out on top by more than half a minute from Stanley Orr and Jane Edgington. Barry McIntrye and Brian Keohane (Honda Civic) won the Ulster Junior Rally.
Reflecting on the 47th instalment of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, Clerk of the Course Wayne Turkington said: “Once again, the Ulster Rally has delivered for both the fans and the competitors.
“The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally has a fearsome reputation for challenging the very best crews from right around the world and last weekend’s event not only ensured that long-held tradition continued, it also vindicated the decision by organisers to revert to a single-day format for this year – providing a real gruelling, flat-out day of competition which has already had plenty of praise from those who took part.”
Modern Tyres Ulster Rally – Top 10 Results
1 Keith Cronin / Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 1h 16m 50.3s
2 Callum Devine / Noel O’Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +15.4s
3 Josh Moffett / Andy Hayes (Citroen C3 Rally2)
4 Eddie Doherty / Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 Evo)
5 John MacCrone / Kirsty Riddick (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
6 Steve Wood / Kenny Hull (Citroen C3 Rally2)
7 Cal McCarthy / Eric Calnan (Citroen C3 Rally2)
8 Damian Toner / Aodhan Gallagher (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
9 Oli Benton / Kyle Diffin (Ford Escort Mk2)
10 Frank Kelly / Lauren Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2)
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Newry City AFC U21s got their season off to a positive start with a win over Newington at Valley Leisure Centre on Saturday morning 24 August in the NIFL Championship U21 Development League emerging victorious with a 3:1 win.
The first few minutes of the game was cagey. Both teams tried to wrestle control of the ball. Newry came out the better and started to move the ball well and open up Newington’s back line. With the first worked attack the ball was played down the left for Darragh McParland to play Daniel O’Sullivan in on goal, the Newington goalkeeper made a great point blank save. Jack Deery was first on the scene to head home to give Newry a 1-0 lead with 3 minutes played.
Newington fought well and managed to equalise on the 13th minute when Newry’s Rory O’Connor was fouled on the ball. However, the referee waved play on and Newington found themselves back in the game.
Newry continued to create chances, with control of the ball and game. Only for Newington’s Goalkeeper, who had a phenomenal game. Newry would have found themselves out of sight.
Lee Fallon, played a clipped ball over the top of the defence to Jack Deery, who calmly controlled the ball under pressure and rolled it across the box for Daniel O’Sullivan to make it 2-1 to Newry going in to half time.
The game was well controlled again by Newry in the second half and again only for Newington’s goalkeeper the game would have been out of sight.
2 penalties were awarded to Newry in the second half after great play into the box. Daniel O’Sullivan had his penalty pulled from the corner by the brilliant Newington goalkeeper.
In the dying moments of the game, Daniel with great courage took penalty number two to make it 3-1.
A game well controlled by Newry and on another day, it could have been a more comfortable ride.
Full Time 3-1 Newry.
Team List; Calum O’Reilly, Adam Heaney, Pierce Patterson, Darragh Cluskey, Eoghan Hickey, Louis Crilly, Rory O’Connor, Evan McEnteggart, Kyle Harte, Adam Doran’s, Lee Fallon, Jude Whitten, Karl Woods, Keelan McEvoy, Jack Deery, Daniel O’Sullivan, Darragh McParland
Debuts made for Newry from;
Jack Deery, Darragh McParland, Lee Fallon, Adam Dorans, Adam Heaney and Keelan McEvoy.
Next up the U21s welcome Ballyclare Comrades to The Showgrounds on Monday 2nd September KO 7.45pm.
Newry City AFC U18s
Newry City AFC U18s started their season with a 6-0 defeat away to the reigning League Champions Cliftonville. The score was a fair reflection and could have been worse but for some excellent goalkeeping by Artan MacPhaidin making his debut for Newry. There were a lot of positives particularly in the first half as the boys worked hard and kept the game scoreless until one minute before half time and Cliftonville went in 1-0 up at the break. Unfortunately tiredness kicked in, in the second half as a lot of players were new to this level of football and the intensity involved. Ciftonville ran out convincing winners with five goals in the second half, three of which came in the last ten minutes.
On Friday 30th August the U18s travel to play Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park KO 8pm.
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TG4 have announced that the station will again broadcast weekly matches and highlights from the upcoming Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) season. With four players coming from Armagh and Down there will be much local interest.
A record thirty-four Irish players will take the field this season with four players from Armagh and Down including Amy Mullholland from Forkhill playing for Freemantle, Blaithin Mackin from Shane O'Neills playing for Melbourne, Lauren McConville from Crossmaglen playing for Gold Coast Suns along with Clara Fitzpatrick from Bryansford.
The AFLW Competition begins this weekend with eighteen teams battling it out to see who will reach the Grand Final on November 30th.
TG4 will broadcast two matches deferred each weekend as well as weekly highlights as part of GAA 2024 on Monday evenings at 8pm.
AFL Aussie Rules na mBan starts this Saturday at 12:00pm with Essendon v Freemantle. See below the full line-up of matches for the first two rounds:
Saturday 31 August 12:00pm - Deferred Round 1 - Essendon v Freemantle
Sunday 1 September 12.05pm - Deferred Round 1 - Brisbane Lions v Kangaroos
Saturday 7 September - Deferred Round 2 - Melbourne v Brisbane Lions
Sunday 8 September - Deferred Round 2 - St Kilda v Sydney Swans
TG4's Head of Sport Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said: "The growth of the AFLW has been phenomenal and we are excited to be bringing the best action from Australia to viewers in Ireland each week. With so many players from Ireland competing in the competition it is a great opportunity to showcase this growing sport to a free-to-air audience on TG4."
2024 Irish Players
Mayo
Niamh Kelly (Adelaide Crows)
Dayna Finn (Carlton)
Sarah Rowe (Collingwood)
Rachel Kearns (Geelong Cats)
Aileen Gilroy (Hawthorn)
Grace Kelly (St Kilda)
Tipperary
Orla O’Dwyer (Brisbane Lions)
Aisling McCarthy (Freemantle)
Anna Rose Kennedy (Geelong Cats)
Aishling Moloney (Geelong Cats)
Niamh Martin (North Melbourne)
Donegal
Amy Boyle Carr (Adelaide Crows)
Niamh McLaughlin (Gold Coast Suns)
Tanya Kennedy (Sydney Swans)
Armagh
Amy Mulholland (Freemantle)
Lauren McConville (Gold Coast Suns)
Blaithin Mackin (Melbourne)
Dublin
Jennifer Dunne (Brisbane Lions)
Sinéad Goldrick (Melbourne)
Meath
Orlagh Lally (Freemantle)
Vikki Wall (North Melbourne)
Leitrim
Áine Tighe (Freemantle)
Eilish O’Dowd (GWS Giants)
Kerry
Paris McCarthy (Sydney Swans)
Julie O'Sullivan (Sydney Swans)
Cavan
Aishling Sheridan (Collingwood)
Monaghan
Muireann Atkinson (Collingwood)
Roscommon
Joanne Cregg (Freemantle)
Offaly
Kate Kenny (Geelong Cats)
Down
Clara Fitzpatrick (Gold Coast Suns)
Tyrone
Cara McCrossan (Gold Coast Suns)
Galway
Áine McDonagh (Hawthorn)
Cork
Erika O’Shea (North Melbourne)
Fermanagh
Blaithín Bogue (North Melbourne)
Dates for AFL Women’s Season
Round 1 - Weekend of 31 August / 1 / 2 September
Round 2 - Weekend of 6 / 7 / 8 September
Round 3 - Weekend of 12 /13 / 14 September
Round 4 - Weekend of 20 / 21 / 22 September
Round 5 - Weekend of 27 / 28 / 29 September
Round 6 - Weekend of 3 / 5 / 6 October
Round 7 - Weekend of 11 / 12 / 13 October
Round 8 - Weekend of 18 / 19/ 20 October
Round 9 - Weekend of 25 / 26 / 27 October
Finals series / Elimination finals - November
More information www.afl.com.au
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