Competitive football begins for Sarsfields

Sarsfields U14's were in action away to Granemore in the Feile on Saturday. The team was narrowly beaten but showed excellent character in making a good second half comeback and were denied by the post on a couple of occasions.

The seniors first competitive match of the season was away to Tír na nÓg in the preliminary round of the McMahon Cup. The Highmoss were beaten by four points and can rue a couple of missed goal chances in the second half that might well have pulled them back into the game.

McMahon Cup Preliminary Round

Tír na nÓg     0-12

Sarsfields      0-08

The team for the first competitive match of the season saw a few enforced changes. For various reasons several players were not available to Patsy Donnelly the new senior manager. Christopher Scullion, Peter Stevenson and Aidan Murray are unable to commit to the team this season and James Carmody has retired from the senior panel. To compound the selection problems a few other players have been involved in college and county football. Another notable absentee was Jimmy McDowell, who this year has stepped down after many years service to the senior team as part of the backroom team. On the field Niall McAlinden took the vacant keeper’s position, Neil McCann and Colin Haughian came into the full back line and Kieran McAlinden came in on the half back line, whilst some of the regular players found themselves playing in changed positions.

Early on Sarsfields looked the better side. Paul Magee opened the scoring and two points from Ritchie Stevenson saw the Highmoss go into a three points to one lead. Tír na nÓg narrowed the gap before Paul Hughes scored the best point of the game to restore a two point lead. Portadown levelled the match and Paul Hughes edged Sarsfields ahead with his second point. Johnny Reynolds grabbed the final point of the half for the Highmoss but yet again the home side pulled level just before the half time whistle. Both sets of supporters would have expected a similar pattern in the second half, however it was Tír na nÓg that upped the ante and with a good midfield display sent over four points to put a firm grip on the match. Eamon McGeown and Michael Stevenson were introduced and certainly Michael had an immediate impact scoring a point and creating a bit more impetus in the half forward line. Moments later Eamon McGeown grabbed a fisted point, but it came about when Ritchie Stevenson saw his superb goal effort come off the crossbar. Mark Reynolds was denied a goal chance by the Portadown keeper and Colin Haughian was very unfortunate not to palm the parried ball to the net. The home side added a couple of points to restore their four point lead, whilst a few late efforts that might have pressurised Tír na nÓg were sent wide.

Team

Niall McAlinden, Kieran Kerr, Neil McCann, Colin Haughian, Kieran McAlinden, Patrick Stevenson, Mark Reynolds, Brian Lavery, Aidan Haughian, Paul Magee (0-01), Paul Hughes (0-02), Ritchie Stevenson (0-02), Eimeid Murray, Johnny Reynolds (0-01)

Substitutes Eamon McGeown (0-01) for Neill McCann, Michael Stevenson (0-01) for Aidan Haughian

Under 14's beaten in Féile

Sarsfields U14's were in action away to Granemore in the Feile on Saturday. The team was narrowly beaten but showed excellent character in making a good second half comeback and were denied by the post on a couple of occasions.

Sean McAlinden gives his half time team talk.

Sarsfields U14 Team

Three into two does go!

Sarsfields will have three men playing in the two St. Patrick's day colleges' finals in Casement Park Belfast.

A St. Colman's victory over St. Pat's Dungannon ensured that Colin Stevenson will be joining Chris McGaughey and Thomas McAlinden in the quest for silverware on 17th March.

St. Colman's had a great 2-09 to 1-08 victory over the Dungannon side and whilst Colin didn't score, he was a constant threat and set up quite a few scores.

Chris and Thomas will be first up in the MacLarnon Cup decider and this will be followed by the MacRory Final at 2.00pm.

Colin Stevenson

Chris and Thomas Book MacLarnon Final Place

Three pointed frees from Christopher McGaughey and two points from Thomas McAlinden helped St. Michaels into the MacLarnon Cup final. St. Michael's won 1-07 to 0-08 in their semi final against Patrician High School Carrickmacross.

Well done to Chris and Thomas and best wishes for the St. Patrick's day decider.

See the match report on the Ulster Colleges website.

BT - Ulster Colleges GAA

McDevitt Cup Final Disappointment for Caolan

Caolan Skelton

St. Paul's were narrowly beaten in the McDevitt Cup final. Caolan Skelton had another fine display scoring two goals, though the goals wouldn't have made up for being on the losing side.

Underage Football Training

 U8 / U10 (boys and girls)

Saturday 2.00 to 3.00pm

At Sarsfields

All teams (boys and girls) U12 to minor

Tuesday 7.15 to 8.30pm

Silverwood Equestrian Centre

Cost £1.00 per session

The Preliminary Round of the Linwoods Armagh Feile for U14’s is on Saturday 6th March.

Sarsfields have received a bye into the next round.

www.flickr.com

Fixtures

The football season is fast approaching and both league and championship fixtures have been released. Sarsfields  first league fixture is a tough encounter away to county champions Pearse Óg on Sunday 11th April.

The dates and venues for the various championship matches have also been released and are as follows.

U21 Championship Wed 5th May St John’s or Clan na Gael v Sarsfields

B Championship Wed 2nd June Sarsfields v Ballyhegan       

IFC Sun 25th July Sarsfields v Shane O'Neill’s at Pearse Óg Park