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Moore Lad, Mc Closkey and Mortimer on the losing side for St Columbs

GavinDixon — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:54:32 +0000

Local lads Ryan Moore, Conrad Mc Closkey and Ryan Mortimer were on the losing side for the St Columbs College in the Mc Larnon Cup final as they were beaten by Bessbrook from Co Armagh. For a small report and highlights click on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/17435979

Bliain’ers hits fine form for Derry in Navan

GavinDixon — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:28:04 +0000

Two 45′s from the boot of Bliain Gormley helped Derry to a 3 point win over Meath in Navan in round 5 of the National League on Sunday. After speaking to Sean Gunning (Derry selector) at the McCrory Cup final commented “Bliain was tremendous, the lad kicked 2 wonderful 45′s in each half. If he keeps himself in good shape and stays injury free, he’s got a great chance to be in the starting 15 come championship time against Monaghan.” In the Irish News John Brennan also highlighted on Bliain’s perfomence saying that he also had a very good game.

Craigbane are Ulster Champions!! Craigbane 0-06 Culloville 0-05

GavinDixon — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:19:46 +0000

Ulster Club IFC Final Result: Craigbane 0-06 Culloville (Armagh) 0-05

(report from Limavady Chronicle)

A SUPERB midfield display by Bliain Gormley paved the way for a narrow win for Derry champions Craigbane over Armagh holders Culloville Blues at wind swept Omagh on Saturday night.

However it was Down referee Cairan Brannigan who was the central figure at times as he handed out fifteen yellow and three red cards indicating that it may have been a rough house affair but apart from a few stiff challenges it was a typical championship contest. That said the difficult conditions did not make for easy refereeing and in the end a below par Craigbane just nicked the title with a brilliant Lee Moore point in injury time.
Craigbane got hit with all kinds of misfortune. Midfield powerhouse Adie McLaughlin was unable to start due to a thigh injury but came on in the dying minutes. Lee Moore, Bliain Gormley, Rory Moore and David Lowry got injured in the course of the game with Lowry having to go off in the second-half.
Craigbane played into the teeth of the strong wind in the first half and must have been happy enough to turn around just 0-4 to 0-1 in arrears. They adopted a rather defensive strategy in the second half which could well have cost them the game. They used their two extra men in the half back line and left a huge gap between themselves and the full forward line. With the wind behind them sending long passes was a bit of a lottery and at times the ball went over the end line or side line. Indeed the losers Culloville will look back a two frees one in either half that came back off a post.

Ruairi Moore the young Craigbane centre half was sent off on a second yellow as the game went into added time and with the scores tied at 0-05 each a replay looked to be on the cards. Then with time almost up Gavin Conwell using all his experience picked out his nephew Lee Moore who sent over a superb winning score.
After the game the referee was surrounded by angry Culloville players and officials who were less than pleased with his performance but Craigbane hardly noticed as the danced with joy despite the wind and lashing rain. A great success for a small country club.

On a night when experience was vital the winners full back Fergal Crossan stood out with timely interceptions and safe handling. His corner men McLaughlin and McGinty gave nothing away. The half back line struggled at times but in between injuries Ruairi Moore stood out. Ruairi Gormley was the unanimous choice for player of the match after a magnificent performance which must put him in the reckoning for a place in the county senior panel. He scored three points two with the right boot and one with the last. He fielded magnificently and worked all over the field. He has been in great form all season but this performance was exceptional. In the absence of the injured Adie McLaughlin the team captain Gavin Conwell took up the other midfield role and played well after a sluggish start.

The attack over played the ball at times particularly in the first half and it was left to the central pair of Cathal O’Kane and Lee Moore to provide the cutting edge. Craigbane got a scare in the first minute when Moore went down with what looked like a hamstring injury but after attention and despite some pain played well even though he was up against an excellent full back in Darren Rowland. Even the most ardent Craigbane fan must have admired the manner in which Culloville battled when they played for 35 minutes two men down. Even against the wind they put Craigbane under pressure at times and must be left to ponder how the game would have went had they a full compliment for the remainder of the game

Champions! Deserved victory earns Lily Whites their 7th title and a taste of Ulster! Craigbane 0-09 Swatragh 0-08

GavinDixon — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:52:28 +0000

Match Report to Follow:

Spirited second half come-back earns Lily-Whites dream date to the Intermediate Final: Craigbane 2-19 Drumsurn 5-08

GavinDixon — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:05:32 +0000

Craigbane progressed to an Intermediate final date with Swatragh after two-goal Lee Moore inspired them to a second half revival in Saturday’s scorefest against underdogs Drumsurn at Celtic Park.

Michael Wilson reports (Photos courtesy of the Derry Journal)
Going into the game as strong favourites, Craigbane found themselves nine points down after only 10 minutes as Dominic Woods’ side shot out of the blocks to shock them with three early goals. Instrumental in that good start was Drumsurn’s dominance of the midfield battle with Damien Canning and Michael Coll taking control and playmaker Ciaran Mullan snapping up any breaks to throw long, accurate passes into Pearse McNicholl.
Come the second half and a different ‘Lilywhite’ 15 emerged, hitting 1-4 without reply to turn the game on its head inside eight minutes with Lee Moore to the forefront of every attack. Drumsurn rallied and managed a further two goals of their own but there was a inevitability about Craigbane from the minute Moore found the back of the net with a 34th minute penalty after he had been fouled following-up on brother Ryan’s effort which came off the post.
It was a remarkable turnaround after a first half in which only Craigbane’s decision to move Gavin Conwell back into the midfield saved them from further punishment.
At that stage Craigbane couldn’t cope and after Brain Rainey’s opening score 40 seconds in, Drumsurn looked capable of finding the net every time Mullan collected possession in midfield.
The sides were at two points each when Drumsurn found the net for the first time on five minutes, Cahair Friel this time the man to gather possession in the middle third after Coll had taken a clean catch at a Craigbane kick-out. His long pass toward McNicholl still left the big forward with plenty to do but he gathered the pass well under pressure before rounding Paul Sharkey in the Craigbane goal and rolling into an unguarded net.
Within three minutes Drumsurn had their second goal but this one was a personal disaster for Craigbane’s Fergal Crossan. The former county man slipped coming out from the back, presenting easy possession to Ciaran Mullan who had the relatively simple task of playing in Cahair Friel who finished low past Sharkey.
Craigbane were reeling and things went from bad to worse two minutes later when Ryan Mullan broke quickly, swapped passes with Friel and slotted low under the bemused Sharkey who had now conceded three goals in five minutes.
Moore halted the Drumsurn charge temporarily in the 12th minute with a point but Ciaran Mullan’s second ‘45 of the day on 15 minutes restored the nine point cushion.
Three further scores from two Lee Moore frees and Cathal O’Kane helped chip away at the Drumsurn advantage before Paul Butcher grabbed himself a lovely point which, had he noticed Martin Mullan in acres of space in front of goal, could have provided Drumsurn’s fourth goal of the day. As it was, Craigbane were just happy to hear the whistle trailing 0-06 to 3-04.

Rejuvenated
The ‘Lily Whites’ signalled their intent with seconds of the restart, Blain Gormley’s huge ‘45 signalling the extent to which the breeze have been a first half factor. Thirty seconds later Cathal O’Kane showed he is equally adept with either foot when he swivelled onto his left before scoring a lovely point on the turn.
Moore’s penalty signalled the real shift in momentum and Craigbane tails where up with Drumsurn now struggling to win any meaningful possession which left McNicholl and Friel, such a threat first half, starved of ball.
Craigbane had already moved one point into the lead, courtesy of Moore, Adie McLaughlin and Conwell, by the time Drumsurn finally got on the second half scoreboard but Cahair Friel’s point could and possibly should have been more had he realised the space and time afforded him by the Craigbane’s backline in the 39th minute.
The normal second half pattern resumed with Craigbane notching a further three unanswered points as the game began to go away from Drumsurn. But just as it looked over, Friel took an astute hand-pass from Butcher at pace, accelerated forward brilliantly to finish into the net and suddenly, with ten minutes left to play, it was all square at 1-15 to 4-06.
Just when they needed it though and as if to make up for his first half slip, up-stepped Crossan with perhaps the score of the day, taking possession, beating his man and firing over the bar from more than 50m to put his side back into the ascendency.
The score that probably put Craigbane into the final arrived on 52 minutes when Ciaran Mullan inexplicably presented possession to Craigbane substitute Noel Reilly who headed for goal only to scuff his shot across the face of goal. Luckily for him and Craigbane, it found the alert Lee Moore who rolled into the empty net for 2-16 to 4-06.
Another point from the increasingly influential Crossan seemed to have ended Drumsurn hopes but Ciaran Mullan had other ideas as he found redemption for his earlier pass to Reilly by hitting to back of the net with two minutes left.
That left three between the teams but despite a couple of late points for both teams, Drumsurn could not find the sixth goal that could have taken them through and Craigbane advanced.
Craigbane: Paul Sharkey; Cathal McLaughlin, Rory Moore, Martin McGinty; Brian Rainey (0-1), Fergal Crossan (0-2), Adrian Devine; Blain Gormley (0-1, 1’45), Adie McLaughlin (0-1); Ruairi Gormley (0-1), Cathal O’Kane (0-2), David Lowry; Ryan Moore (0-1), Lee Moore (2-8, 4f), Gavin Conwell (0-2, 2f). (Subs) Noel Reilly for D Lowry, 42mins;
Drumsurn: Steven Harbinson; Dane Mullan, Cahir Mullan, Craig Chewning; Daryl Mullan, Paul Butcher (0-2), Chris Harbinson; Michael Coll, Damien Canning; Ryan Mullan (1-1), Ciaran Mullan (1-2, 2’45), Ciaran Ferris; Martin Mullan, Pearse McNicholl (1-1), Cahair Friel (2-2). (Subs) Micheal Archibald for M Coll, 45mins; Matt Ferris for M Mullan, 54mins; Ronan McNicholl for C Ferris, 57mins.
Referee: Joe Mulholland

Injury time goals in both halfs sees Craigbane through to the Semis. Craigbane 2-09 Slaughtmanus 1-07

GavinDixon — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:20:42 +0000

Match Report By: Bernie Mullan. Photographs By: Michael Hasson Photography.

Championship favourites Craigbane may have ended up five point winners in this scrappy quarter final at wind swept Banagher but it would be fair to say that they stumbled into the last eight rather than cruised. They won the game with a Lee More goal in injury time at the end of the first half and another from the games best player Aidey McLaughlin three minutes into added time at the end of the second.
Slaughtmanus often looking the slicker team had their chances to record a shock but they will look back at a thunderous shot from Brian Duddy shot that rattled the cross bar five minutes into the second half when four points separated the teams. With the wind behind them Slaughtmanus were on a roll and Craigbane struggling.
In the end it was the greater experience of the winners and the high class finishing of Aidey McLaughlin and Lee Moore that took the White Rock men into the semi final.
Slaughtmanus manager Eugene O’Kane had just three subs on the bench as his squad suffered a further blow during the week with the emigration of dangerous corner forward Shane Connor.
Craigbane minus their suspended attack leader Cathal O’Kane brought in the long serving Kieran McElhinney to partner an out of touch Bliaine Gormley at midfield and moved the powerful McLaughlin to centre half forward and he along with full forward Moore got the all important scores.
It would be unfair to criticise the teams for the quality of the game, they had to contend with a very strong wind which blew directly into the Feeny end of the Banagher ground. Passes were over hit and frees into and with the wind were carried far from where they were intended to go.
Craigbane missed a number of first half chances but hit the first six points but when the St. Mary’s narrowed the gap to three coming to half time there must have been deep concern in the favourites camp. Then it was the wizardry of Lee Moore who rescued the situation with a brilliant solo goal and hold a comfortable six point interval lead.
Moore and McLaughlin will have better games but they still were the match winners with their all important scores. They were not at their best in the middle of the field but McElhinney used the ball intelligently. Defensively they coped quite well with Martin McGinty, and Brian Rainey covering well. Gavin Conwell did his usual drift out from corner forward and was a major contributor to the victory.
When wind assisted Craigbane threatened to blow the Tamnaherin side away in the opening stages Ciaran McGlinchey, Kyle Gallagher and Ronan Devine held the fort. The mobile midfield pair of Robertson and Lyons more than held their own. With attack leader Gavin McShane not at his best the front line failed to function to any great degree and they had to depend on frees to keep them in touch.
While they had a degree of success by bombing in high balls to big Ian Doherty in the second half they probably should have varied their game a bit more. Doherty broke the ball down but the losers other forwards were too slow to react and generally it was the winners defence who tidied up the situation. Adrain O’Kane and Brian Duddy did show well at times but the lack of ability to take scores from open play in their front line was a big drawback. Six of their seven points came from frees and in this regard Gavin McShane and Adrain O’Kane could not be faulted.
Craigbane had recorded three wayward wides before Gavin Conwell got them off the mark with a fifth minute free. Martin Doherty whose long distance kicking out was a feature of the game did well to save a swirling shot from Brian Rainey but by the eleventh minute Craigbane had hit six wides and Slaughtmanus had hardly got in an attack. It was unlucky thirteenth for the losers when McElhinney set up Aidey McLaughlin for a spectacular forty metre point and this settled Craigbane who began to make better use of their possession. Midway through the half David Lowry made it 0-3 to nil and just after that Ruairi Gormley kicked his team’s seventh wide..
Lee Moore was being well shadowed by a brace of Slaughtmanus defenders but he was on hand to screw over a left footed effort under pressure to widen the gap further. Aidey McLaughlin with another superb effort was on target again but with the wind dipping a bit Slaughtmanus were beginning to rumble. Still the gap was widening as Ruairi Gormley made the score 0-6 to nil in the 20th minute.
Gradually Slaughtmanus began to make inroads into the Craigbane defence who tended to give away needless frees when the opposition ran at them. Gavin McShane got them off the mark in the21st minute when Barry Lyons was fouled and eh followed with a brilliant conversion a minute later. Adrain O’Kane got on the end of a sweeping move but his finish was poor.
There were signs of panic in the Craigbane defence when Adrian Devine upended O’Kane with a wild challenge and Gavin McShane cut the gap back to three and it was now looking good for the underdogs. That good feeling turned to a sinking one when Lee Moore took advantage of a mix up in the opposing defence and pounced on the loose ball and never one to look a gift horse in the mouth he sped through and with time and apace put his team into a 1-6 to 0-3 interval lead.
A minute after the restart Martin McGinty was pulled down in a good looking attack but he got stopped illegally and Lee Moore made the score 1-7 to 1-3. Slaughtmanus then had a let off when a dipping shot from Conwell came back off the bar and then the game took on a new life. Fergal Hargan went route one and Ian Doherty got his fist to the ball and the score was now 1-7 to 1-3.
Craigbane were all at sea for a spell as keeper Sharkey saved well from Doherty and Duddy hit the bar when another goal looked on. In the 40th minute Gavin McShane from a free cut the gap to three but at the three quarter stage Gavin Conwell sent over after a foul on Ruairi Gormley.
Both teams were a bit wayward in their finishing recording two wides each before a converted Adrian O’Kane free for a foul on Brian Duddy left just three between the teams with nine minutes left. It looked to be heading for a close finish when Kyle Gallagher decided to go it alone and finished with his team’s only score from play and now just two separated the teams and the pressure was on Craigbane.
Then a good bit of Slaughtmanus work fell flat when Brian Duddy fouled the ball on the ground. Craigbane began to push forward again and the clever Gavin Conwell found Lee Moore in space and he raised the white flag.
Young Ryan Moore failed to punish a free on himself when he shot across the goals and wide. Slaughtmanus stayed in contention with a superbly struck O’Kane free s the game drifted into added time. It was another clever pass from Conwell that put Adie McLaughlin through on goal and despite keeper Doherty getting a touch to the ball it spun over his head an into the net and there was no way back for the St. Mary’s.
Craigbane scorers Lee Moore 1-03, (0-1, free) Aidey McLaughlin 1-02, Gavin Conwell (0-02 frees), David Lowry and Ruairi Gormley 0-01 each.
Slaughtmanus scorers Gavin McShane (0-04 frees), Ian Doherty 1-00, Adrain O’Kane (0-02 frees), Kyle Gallagher 0-01.

Strong second half performance sends 14 men Lily-whites through. Craigbane 2-09 Foreglen 1-06

GavinDixon — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:55:13 +0000

Craigbane stormed through to the Quarter-Finals of the Intermediate Championship after a gallant second half display at Slaughtmanus. Craigbane trailed at half time 0-05 to 0-03 where they played with a slight breeze behind their backs. It was a first half to forget as they made a tally of 11 wides which they could have easily regretted. The second half was much more different, they came out of the traps and made Foreglen work for every ball. A point from David Lowry and a fisted goal from Cathal O Kane gave Craigbane the edge as it was game on! Twelve minutes into the second half, Craigbane were reduced to 14 men. Cathal O Kane getting sent off for a second yellow card. The dvd shows it clearly that the referee was bought by the Foreglen player who clearly got Cathal sent-off in an unsportsmanship behaviour. This drove every Craigbane player even hungrier for the ball. Two points from brothers Lee and Ryan Moore made it 1-08 to 0-05. With 10 minutes to go, Foreglen still to register a score in the second half, a well worked Craigbane attack was set up by Conwell, Rory Gormley and Lee Moore who finally gave it to Bliain Gormley who blasted the ball to the net and it was good night Irene for the chaps. Foreglen did finally score from a 21 metre free and a controversial penalty which was deemed outside the box. In injury time Aidey Mc Laughlin scored the games final point as he scored a marvellous point against the slight breeze from his accurate left boot. Up next…Slaughtmanus!!

Moore Lad gets Derry Minor Captaincy nod!

GavinDixon — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:34:52 +0000

Craigbane G.A.C would like to congratulate Rory Moore on achieving the Derry Minor Captaincy for the year 2011. Rory who played at full-back in last years Derry Minor team will captain this years Derry Minor team against Fermanagh in Celtic Park for the 1st Round of the Ulster Championship on Sunday 22nd May. Throw-in @ 1:45pm. It has been a remarkable achievement for the lad as he’s been hampered with injuries over the past 12 months. In a league game against Greenlough last year he aggrevated a shoulder injury which kept him out for over 3 months, then in February this year he sustained a wrist injury playing in the early stages of Ulster Minor League for the Derry Minors keeping him out for at least 6 weeks. His 2 other brothers also need a special mention. Ryan will be aiming for a start in the forward line for the Derry Minor Championship team. As for Lee he will also be pushing for a starting position in John Brennans Derry Senior Championship football team come Sunday 22nd May.

Catherine through to Rose of Tralee Finals!!

GavinDixon — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:56:41 +0000

Craigbane’s Catherine Feeney has won her final heat in Portlaoise to go through to the Rose of Tralee finals. The Gortscreaghan lass was one of the lucky 7 girls from 28 that has made the televised final in August. It has been a roller coaster 2 months for the Magherafelt based Physio-therapist who has had great support to date. This weekend (19th June) see’s her going to Ballinasloe (Co Galway) to the Escort Bootcamp. The following Saturday (25th June) is a trip to Tralee for a fund-raising weekend to help support the festival and local charity Mental Health. Then on Friday 1st July, Catherine makes the trip to Dublin for a photo-shoot. Guests include ‘All-Ireland Talent Show Mentor’ Daithi O Se. Catherine will now be competing against 51 other Roses from across Ireland, England, America and all over the world for the Rose of Tralee crown.

Catherine’s Poem for Tralee (Written by John Hood)

I was born in the Sperrins in the Townland of Craigbane,
its a place you should visit if you possibly can,
Don’t tell me theres a place in which it’s better to be,
cause thats a prospect i cannot see.
I just love the mountains, rivers and trees,
the sight of the cattle, the sheep the birds and the bees.

———————————————————————–
The people are hard working, generous and kind
and certain to support you in diversity you’l find,
Lets not forget our neighbours in Claudy and Park,
who support us in everything from daylight, till dark
Supermarkets and factories we have none at all,
Its up to the tradesmen and farmers to answer the call.

—————————————————————————
Gaelic Footballs our passion at Gerry Crossan Park,
St Josephs our team that step up to the mark
Leagues, Championships and cups galore
have graced our cabinets in years gone before.
Our team is fit, youthful and fast
and it wont be long till they better the past.

———————————————————

Well im the Physio that keeps them all fit,
no suprise then that i need plenty of kit,
Sprains, knocks, bruises, hamstrings and quads,
little wonder that sometimes its in the lap of the gods.
Well i must sign off now, I’ve so much more to see,
But here’s hoping to come back to Derry, as the rose of tralee.

Second defeat for Ladies as Dungiven mark 5pt win

GavinDixon — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:28:53 +0000

Craigbane Ladies suffered their 2nd successive defeat at the hands of Dungiven on Tuesday night. For the large majority of the 1st half the ladies were without doubt the better team, Dungiven failing to register a score until 19mins of the 1st half. Danielle Mullaly and Laura Cooke putting Craigbane ahead after 10mins with 2 fine points. Poor defending led to 2 Dungiven goals before the 1st half as the ladies trailed 2-01 to 0-02 at half time. Five minutes into second half the Ladies lost their captain Gemma Mc Cullagh to a freak hand injury, but despite the loss of the their team captain, the ladies matched their opponents with 3 points each in the second half. Final score: Craigbane 0-05 Dungiven 2-04.