With the 2019 season fading into the distance and the 2020 season just around the corner it is time to take a look back at matters in Antrim over the past year. We will start with the football and look at the sides that enjoyed success and some of the games that lit up the Antrim leagues and championships.
We start with Erin’s Own, Cargin who collected their third championship in the past four years and added a Minor championship and division 1 league title as the Toome men continue to set the standards that others aspire to.
That championship title didn’t come easy and in the final Cargin were taken to a replay by a Lamh Dhearg side who will feel that they let it pass them by on day one when they were in top until late on the game.
Down but not out! Michael McCann is brought down during the Antrim SFC Final
Cargin refused to lie down however, coming from behind to gain a draw and won the replay after extra time at a packed Corrigan Park. On the day of their drawn game their minor footballers produced a sterling performance to beat a St. Brigid’s side who went into the final as strong favourites but were out fought by a determined Erin’s Own side.
In 2018 league specialists Cargin lost their title to neighbours Creggan but regained the title after a titanic last day’s battle against the same side on the Staffordstown Road. Creggan ended up with something to celebrate however when they beat Ahoghill in the O’Cahan Cup final to retain their title.
Cargin’s Paul McCann in action against Lamh Dhearg 
Marty Kane, Cargin carries the ball out of defence
Cargin celebrate their Minor Championship victory over St. Brigid’s
Cargin’s Ulster campaign saw them lose on the opening day to a good Derrygonnley side at Corrigan while their minors suffered a similar fate to Enniskillen Gaels in the fonaCAB Ulster tournament at St. Paul’s but the Toome side again look the side to beat in 2020.
In division 2 a strong Rossa side dictated matters from early in the season to regain their place in division 1 in 2020. Rossa lost just two games on their journey to league success with Tit na nOg, Randalstown beating them at Rossa Park while All Saints pipped them in their league encounter in Ballymena.
Changes in the league structures meant that the second placed side in division 2 would face the second bottom side in division 1 in a play-off for promotion-relegation. St. Mary’s Ahoghill came out on top in a two legged battle with St. Ergnat’s, Moneyglass with both games somewhat bizarrely played at Portglenone.
The first game saw Ahoghill come late to earn a draw and it took a late Patrick Graham goal in the second game to ensure St. Mary’s division 1 football in 2020 with Antrim’s great survivors producing another Houdini act.
Action from Rossa’s win over Moneyglass in the ACFL Division 2 at Rossa Park
Spare a thought for St. Ergnat’s! They were well in the running for promotion all season but suffered back to back defeats to eventual league winners Rossa but looked favourites going into the Intermediate championship final against an Aldergrove side that had an indifferent league campaign.
Aldergrove manager, Paddy Nugent is embraced after his side’s Intermediate championship success against Moneyglass
Paddy Nugent’s side produced the goods when it mattered however and at a wet and windy O’Cahan Park produced an excellent performance to lift their first Intermediate championship for some time with Brian McQuillan, Seamus McGarry and Fergal Burke superb for the Crumlin side.
St. James bid for Ulster success ended in defeat when they lost to Naomh Naille of Donegal at Corrigan Park, Paddy Nugent’s men going down 2-10 to 1-10 in a game they could have won.
St Patrick’s Lisburn bridged a yawning gap, stretching away back to 1995 when they defied the strong challenge of Kickham’s, Ardoyne to gain the verdict after a keenly contested and hugely entertaining Junior championship final in Glenavy.
St. Patrick’s Lisburn who added the McCormick cup to their JFC success this season
At the third attempt the Lisburn side took their first title in 23 years but it was a mixed season for the Kirkwood Park side as they suffered relegation from division 2 having gained promotion for the first time the previous season.
The Lisburn side completed a good season when they defeated Casement’s Portglenone in the McCormick Cup final in Ahoghill.
Their championship opponents, Ardoyne gained some consolation for their JFC defeat when they defeated St. Mary’s Rasharkin in the division 2-division 3 relegation-promotion play offs and will play their football in division 2 in 2020 while Rasharkin will join Lisburn for their first ever season in division 3.
St. Brigid’s celebrate their U21 final win over Tir na Nog
The U21 Football championship saw a good St. Brigid’s side retain their title with a win over Tir na nOg at Colaiste Feirste. The Musgrave Park side were pushed all the way by a spirited Whitehill outfit.
St. Gall’s celebrate after defeating Lamh Dhearg in the U21B final at Colaiste Feirste
In the U21B final St. Gall’s recorded a facile victory over Lamh Dhearg, Paddy Murray’s side chalking up a big win at Colaiste Feirste in the first of the U21 double header
Tir na nOg, Randalstown celebrated their Centenary year with success in the Minor A League, pipping St. James Aldergrove to take the title while combination side, Gaeil an tSeibhe Dhuibh were division 2 winners.
St. Mary’s Aghagallon defeated All Saints Ballymena in an U16A league play-off to take the title with the U16 2A title going to Gaeil an tSeibhe Dhuibh and St. Joseph’s Glenavy the U16 2B title winners.