A dominant second half display by St Pat’s Maghera saw them secure a place in the final with a bit to spare as they got the overran Rathmore Grammar in Thursday’s semi-final of the Foresters Cup at Colaiste Feirste.
The Derry side were just two ahead at the end of very competitive opening half, Rathmore’s Ronan Taylor performing really well at midfield for the Belfast school. However Bradley, Collins and O’Kane were in top form for the Derry side and they went in at the break leading by 0-9 to 0-7.
After the change of ends things took a dramatic turn as St Pat’s took complete control of the game, holding their opponents scoreless throughout the third quarter while adding a series of excellent points, plus a goal from centre back Dara O’Kane. The second half was more than twenty minutes gone before Rathmore raised their next flag and there was a consolation score when Chris Robb grabbed a goal, but the Derry side were home and hosed by this stage and they will now go forward to meet the winner of tomorrow’s second semi-final between St Louis Ballymena and St Killian’s Garron Tower, that match taking place at Quinn Park, Ballymena with a 5-30 pm throw-in.
Maghera: D O’Kane 1-1, R Collins 0-10 (5f), O Doherty 0-3. P Bradley, P O’Kane, F Cartin, C McFlynn and R Biggs 0-2 each.
Rathmore: C Robb 1-1, R Taylor 0-4 (3f), J Ward 0-2, D McGurk, M Armstrong and A O’Hanlon 0-1 each
Antrim hope to get back to winning ways when they travel to Markievicz Park on Sunday to play Sligo but they face a difficult task against a Sligo side who have proved a tough opponent in the past.
Both sides have been going well in division 3 this year and recorded wins in their opening two game, (Antrim defeated Limerick and Offaly while Sligo beat Limerick and Wicklow) but both came unstuck at the weekend.
Antrim’s defeat came at the hands of neighbours Down at Corrigan Park on Sunday past where the visitors emerged with a fairly convincing victory over a youthful Saffron side.
Ronan Boyle has had a solid season at corner-back for AntrimCormac McGettigan has established himself in ther Antrim attack
Nine points separated the sides at the final whistle as Down finished strongly with an unanswered 1-5 after Mick Byrne had drawn Antrim level at 1-5 to 0-8, 15 minutes into the second half.
Meanwhile Sligo travelled to Clare where they lost by the minimum, 0-9 to 1-5 and will be aiming to get back on track when Antrim visit this Sunday.
Former All Ireland winner, Tony McEntee is the man again in charge of Sligo and the Crossmaglen man brings a wealth of experience to the post and led them to promotion from division 4 last year.
The sides last met at Sunday’s venue back in 2020 and it was Sligo who emerged victorious on that occasion on a 0-15 to 0-14 winning margin.
A year later Sligo travelled to Corrigan and it was Antrim who gained the upper hand on that occasion in a nail biting 3-13 to 3-12 win.
Paddy O’Connor top scored for Sligo with 0-6 that day at Markievicz Park and is still a prominent figure for the Connaught side while Devaney, Cummins, Lally and Kilcoyne all remain from that narrow win over Antrim.
Sweeper-Keeper! Mick Byrne has weighed in with vital scores for Antrim this season
Antrim have undergone massive changes in personnel since their last meeting with Sligo, many of them enforced through injury and with that injury list showing little sign of improving, manager Andy McEntee has given youth its chance with quite a bit of success.
Oisin Kerr, Patrick Gallagher, Ricky Johnston, Mark Gardiner, Niall Delargy, Colum Duffin, Conor Murray and Paddy Cunningham all started at Markievicz Park but have since retired while Peter Healey and James McAuley, who played that day, have joined Ryan Murray, Kevin Small, Stephen Beatty, Cathal Hynds and Ruairi McCann on a lengthy injured list.
Declan Lynch, Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Marc Jordan, Eunan Lynch, Patrick McBride and Dermot McAleese all saw action back in 2020 and they should be joined by Michael Byrne, Ronan Boyle, Kavan Keenan, Joseph Finnegan, Paddy McAleer, Colm McLarnon, Eoin Hynds, Niall Burns, Cormac McGettigan and Dominic McEnhill as Antrim’s class of 2024 aim to get back to winning ways.
Joe Finnegan who should line out at centre-half at markievicz Park and Paddy McAleer who found the net against Down
Despite last week’s defeat, Antrim have performed admirably under the stewardship of Andy McEntee and are a team blessed with pace and attacking flare and play a good brand of football.
Sweeper-keeper, Mick Byrne has weighed in with some important scores this year and has made the goalkeeping jersey his own while returning pair, Paddy McAleer and Dermot McAleese have added much needed experience.
Benen Kelly, Ryan McQuillan, Declan Lynch, Pat Shivers and Oisin Doherty all saw some action from the bench against Down and will be hopingt for the nod when Andy McEntee announces his team but I don’t expect the Meath man to make too many changes from the side that started last week.
Much will depend on just how the new faces in the line-up will react to the Down defeat but I expect Antrim to put that defeat behind them and emerge with a narrow victory against a Sligo side who will go into Sunday’s clash with a similar mind-set.
Antrim v Sligo 2020: Oisin Kerr, Patrick Gallagher, Ricky Johnston, Mark Gardiner, Declan Lynch (0-01), James McAuley, Peter Healy, Ruairi McCann, Marc Jordan, Eunan Walsh, Patrick McBride, Niall Delargy, Patrick Cunningham (0-09, 6f), Colum Duffin (0-01), Conor Murray (0-02)
Antrim V Down 2024: M Byrne (0-2 frees); R Boyle, E Walsh, K Keenan; M Jordan, J Finnegan (0-1), D McAleese; C McLarnon, P McAleer (1-0); E Hynds, N Burns, R McCann; P McBride, C McGettigan, D McEnhill (0-3, 0-2 frees) Subs: B Kelly for C McGettigan (h/t), R McQuillan for N Burns (54), D Lynch for D McAleese (59), P Shivers for C McLarnon (64), O Doherty for E Hynds (68)
Antrim are still searching for their first win of the season after losing out to neighbours Down at Davitt’s last weekend. Both sides opened by trading wides but when Down’s Niamh King was fouled, Natasha Ferris would open the scoring by slotting over the resultant free. At the other end Hannah Donaghy found Lara Dahunsi who opened Antrim’s account for the day but Bredagh’s Laosie Duffy powered through the middle to put the Mournewomen back in front.
Donaghy showed promise at the other end but her shot on goal missed the target and it was just too much of a stretch for Blaithín Ní Cathail to get on the end of it.
In the Antrim goal, Shauna Murphy made a clearance from a dangerous attack but referee Anthony Marron pointed to the spot, adjudging that the Down forward had been dipping for the ball at the time. Ferris converted from the kick to put the visitors in control.
Ciara Brown gave a captain’s performance on the day, and that was nowhere more evident than with her own shooting. Not normally credited as a prolific scorer, the St Paul’s woman hit 0-3, all from distance and all very impressive points.
A second penalty for Down was put well wide but moments later King found Ferris again who palmed the ball into the net to stretch Down’s lead.
Dahunsi received a yellow before the break and Antrim trailed 0-5 to 2-5.
Ferris continued in the second half with another point but with Antrim reduced to 14 for the start of the second period, Cliodhna Logan made a number of penetrating runs through the Down defence and was unlucky to finish with only one point.
With Dahunsi back in the fray her impact was immediate, scoring from distance out on the right – the first of a number of scores for the St Paul’s star. Down kept the pressure up though, trading scores with Antrim as Anan Mulholland also got on the scoresheet.
With Antrim keeping pace and Carla McKenna adding a goal from play, Down were awarded a third spot kick, converted by Sarah Dougherty, putting some shine on the result, the visitors running out winners 3-12 to 1-11.
Antrim Minors fell to a late Tyrone rally at the Queen’s Sport Arena last night in the opening game of the Ulster Championship. Antrim led by two point sin the opening stages with scores from Cliodhna Logan and Hannah Donaghy but Tyrone quickly caught up and added a goal to push in front.
Keala McAllister levelled for the home side, raising the green flag herself and two points from Meadbh Gallagher saw the Saffs through two to the good at the break, leading Antrim 1-5 Tyrone 1-2.
The visitors came out much stronger in the second half, and the pressure they exerted saw six points without reply. Logan eventually broke that streak, with points either side of a stunning goal from St Brigid’s Hannah Donaghy.
At the other end, Tyrone hit the post from a spot kick but two late points saw the spoils go back to the O’Neill county.
Two goals in each half saw St Genevieve’s 4-4 claim the Year 9 LGFA Shield at Dunsilly on Wednesday evening against St Colum.
St Genevieve’s held the upper hand throughout the opening half and led by 2-02 to no score at half time Playing some great football they increased their lead with a third goal after the break. St Colm hit back with a goal of their own and were unlucky not to grab another soon afterwards, but St Genevieve’s steadied the ship and pushed on to hit a further 1-02 to wrap up a convincing win.
