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Antrim's hurlers return to the top flight

Allianz Hurling League Division 2A finalAntrim 2-23 Kerry 2-20

Saffrons’ eyes firmly on the prize despite lengthy delay

Allianz Hurling League, Division 2A finalAntrim v Kerry (Sunday, 1.30pm, Tullamore)

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Tributes pour in for 'Mr Saints', Harry Cunningham Snr

THE boxing community is in mourning at the news of Saints ABC stalwart Harry Cunningham Snr's passing following a battle with Covid-19.

Reds hit a magnificent seven to reach Shield semis

Toal’s Bookmakers County Antrim Shield, quarter-finalCliftonville 7-2 Dundela CLIFTONVILLE marched into the semi-finals of the Co. Antrim Shield as they put seven past Dundela at a chilly Solitude last night. Joe Gormley was on target four times for Paddy McLaughlin’ s side with Chris Curran finding the net twice in three second half minutes and Ryan Curran completing the rout to send the holders comfortably through. It was an excellent performance from Cliftonville and whilst they did concede twice, there was never any real danger they would be in for a nervous night as they kept their bid to retain the Shield on course. It was a quiet opening 10 minutes with little by the way of opportunities but as the minutes passed, Cliftonville began to exert control. Chris Curran say a shot saved and fumbled, but cleared to safety, while on 14 minutes Levi Ives put Mark McKee away on the left and his pull-back was met by Ryan Curran but Dundela goalkeeper Michael Argyrides turned it behind for a corner. The visitors were unable to put any sustained pressure on Cliftonville although Ethan Warnock did have a decent effort from a curling free-kick that wasn’t too far away. However, the bulk of the action was taking place at the other end and Cliftonville were going closer with each chance, their best yet arriving on 21 minutes as Conor McMenamin played an excellent low cross in from the left with Thomas Maguire meeting it first-time, but his effort came back off the underside of the bar and somehow stayed out. Maguire then floated in a cross for Gormley who just couldn’t get enough purchase on it to guide it on-target. The Reds’ talisman couldn’t be denied for long and on 30 minutes he struck the opener as Chris Curran made a clever break, passed inside to McKee who spotted Gormley cutting in from the right and this time his finish was superb, low into the corner. The pair combined again six minutes later with McKee clipping in a delightful ball to the back post where Gormley was unmarked and his finish was a thing of beauty, catching the ball when swivelling on the volley to guide it home. Gormley was almost in for a third on a couple of occasions but just couldn’t get the ball under control but was to have no such issues on 42 minutes when he pounced on a poor back-pass to lift the ball over Argyrides to complete his hat-trick. The first half scoring wasn’t done there as Dundela pulled one back moments before the. break when Guillaume Keke mulled his way through, and the ball broke to Owain Beggs who was felled by Garry Breen when about to finish and the penalty was awarded. Up-stepped Beggs to roll down the middle and leave it 3-1 art the break. Cliftonville almost cancelled this out straight after the break in rather fortuitous fashion when a mix-up in the Dundela defence say Argyrides hack clear, but the ball came off Gormley and looped towards the empty net only for the goalkeeper to scramble back and gather. Chris Curran then had a shot blocked as Cliftonville went for the kill although Declan Dunne was called into action at the other end when Tom Mathieson’ s curling effort from range needed to be tipped over. However, it wasn’t long before the floodgates opened as the hosts put this game firmly to bed with a further three goals in quick succession. On 52 minutes, Gormley turned provider as he squared for Chris Curran to find the net having been put in by Ryan Curran. Two minutes later and Ryan Curran again played an excellent ball through to Chris who lashed low with his shot coming off both posts before nestling in the net. Gormley was then denied on a couple of occasions by Argyrides when through but there would be no denying him his fourth of the night on 59 minutes as Con or McMenamin squared for The Reds’ talisman to turn home at the back post. A raft of substitutions followed with Paddy McLaughlin making three changes, but it was Dundela substitute Daniel Burns who made the immediate impact as a bit of a mix-up in the Cliftonville defence allowed him to pounce with his first touch and guide a shot into the net for 6-2 in the 65th minute. There was never any real prospect of Dundela getting into this and on 70 minutes, the scoring was wrapped up and fittingly it was Ryan Curran - celebrating his 27th birthday - who got it when he poked home after McMenamin had rolled the ball across goal. Cliftonville substitute Lee O’ Brien almost got in on the act when his rasping drive was tipped over, while Dunne was called into action at the other end late on to deny Beggs a consolation, but the game had long since been decided as Cliftonville marched into the last four. Elsewhere, Glentoran required penalties to get the better of Ards as the East Belfast side moved into the semi-finals thanks to a 5-4 win on spot-kicks after the game ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. Linfield were 2-0 winners over Carrick Rangers, while Larne romped to a 4-0 victory over Crusaders. CLIFTONVILLE: D Dunne, L Ives, G Breen (S McGuinness 64), C Curran, C McMenamin, M McKee, T Maguire, L Bagnall (L O’ Brien 64), O Casey, J Gormley (E Devine 64), R CurranGoals: Gormley (30, 36, 42, 59), C Curran (52, 54), R Curran (70) DUNDELA: M Argyrides, M Kerr, E Warnock, J Taylor, K Owens, E Kane (C McComb 85), D McMaster, W Falkner, G Keke (E Wynne 71), O Beggs, T Mathieson (D Burns 64)Goals: Beggs (pen, 44), Burns (65) REFEREE: Shane Andrews

Naomh Éanna’s McElhone helps create a piece of AFL history

THERE is nothing new in GAA members travelling Down Under and making their mark in Australian Rules with names such as Jim Stynes, Tadgh Kennelly, Pearce Hanley, Martin Clarke and Zach Tuohy rolling off the tongue.

Belfast native Quinn taking the lead in youth development in his adopted city

Former St Paul’s GAC member appointed head of the youth academy at MLS club Minnesota United

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Star find the extra edge to advance in Steel and Sons Cup

Steel and Sons Cup, Round One (AET)

Harbinson thrilled to welcome quartet back into the fold

ANTRIM Senior football manager Lenny Harbinson says he is delighted to welcome back a quartet of experienced players as they prepare for the resumption of the National League next Saturday. The Saffrons will travel to Wicklow knowing a victory will see them take a huge step towards promotion from Division Four ahead of their final game at home to Waterford, so with that in mind, back comes Kevin O’Boyle, Mark Sweeney, Ryan Murray and Paddy McCormick who were not part of the panel earlier in the season. O’Boyle enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Cargin defence having put injuries in recent years behind him, so will be a huge addition along with Sweeney who is now based back in Belfast having worked in Dublin full-time, whilst Murray has opted to stay at home for now having moved out to Dubai last year and McCormick has returned from his studies in Galway. All four will bolster the panel that was hitting form when lockdown came, having scored a hugely impressive victory over table-toppers Limerick in their last outing back in early March. Harbinson said he resisted the urge to draft in some fresh faces given the condensed nature of this year’s remaining games but did also admit there were some eye-catching performances throughout the club championships. “We’ve got a pretty strong panel at the minute but then things can change in two weeks with injuries and everything else,” he said. “Kevin had been afflicted with injuries over the last few years but this year with the break in football, it gave him a good rest period and he’s played well for Cargin in the Championship. “Being able to pick someone who has experience and knows what we are trying to do is great, similar with Mark Sweeney. “Mark’s circumstances changed a bit in that he is primarily based in Belfast and similar again with Ryan Murray who didn’t go back to the Middle East. That’s a positive for us. “Paddy McCormick was probably our best player two seasons ago and he’s come back from Galway, so to have those four players back is great. “We saw a number of good, young players throughout the championship but to hit the ground running in a tight period of training and games is difficult. “Although we saw some good, up-and-coming talent, we felt we just needed to bring more experienced guys in who know what we are about. We’ll just see what happens over the next few weeks.”

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Sadness at the passing of Pearse’s stalwart O’Neill after long illness

THE passing of Pearse’s GAC Chairman Michael O’Neill has been greeted with sadness throughout out the GAA community in Belfast. Michael lost his brave battle with head and neck cancer on Monday after fighting the good fight and his journey had been followed by Gaels throughout the city and beyond. A regular contributor to this paper with match reports from his beloved Pearse’s, Michael was a towering figure in the club and community, helping revive the fortunes of the North Belfast club that was on the verge of extinction in the late ‘noughties’ as his drive and huger saw a huge revival in fortunes. Messages of sympathy poured in when the news broke of his passing, with clubs expressing their deep sadness at the loss of a popular figure within GAA circles. “I couldn’t believe it,” said his brother and Pearse’s secretary, Tomás. “We have a couple of friends in Gort (na Móna) through the Irish language, but we were getting messages from all over. Rossa sent a message; Michael lived out in Crumlin for a load of years, so we were getting messages from Aldergrove too. “St Paul’s, who we wouldn’t have a huge connection with, sent messages and probably because of Anto Finnegan as he and Michael were always on supporting each other, but right across we’ve had loads of messages. We’ve a big rivalry with Ardoyne but they have been so good and shows the good of the GAA coming out. “I even saw Stephen Beatty (Rossa player who lost his own father this year) putting stuff up and that really means a lot.” Michael filled various roles in Pearse’s, from player to coach and served on the committee over the years, but perhaps one of his greatest achievements was in revitalising the club’s juvenile structures. He guided youngsters to success and was a part of the minor management team 10 years ago that developed a crop of players who are now the nucleus of the senior team. “The club had come close to folding around the turn of the century but there was a group that managed to get it back up and running and then we managed to get the seniors going again with myself, Michael and a few others there from the start of it,” said Tomás. “Michael then came in as secretary and worked for a long time. Secretary is a big role as you have to get pitches booked, keep people informed in the club and really keep the whole thing going so as an administrator he really got the club on a strong footing from there. “We were playing senior football and coaching teams at the time. He was taking the U12s and they won a B Championship but then he and Anthony Finn got our first minor team in close to 20 years going. That team is still the bulk of our senior team now, so it made a long-lasting impression.”