Antrim have named an unchanged team for tomorrow’s top of the table Allianz Football League clash against Down at Corrigan Park where a win over the Mourne men would put the Saffrons in a challenging position for promotion following a bright start to this year’s campaign.
Despite a long injury list, Antrim have recorded wins away to Limerick and at home to Offaly but Sunday’s meeting with Down looks their most difficult fixture to date. Cormac McGettigan, who was forced to retire through injury last day is named in the side but Ruairi McCann, Aghagallon and Peter Healey are just two of the injured who have not been named on the substitutes list.
Former Dunloy and Antrim Camogie star Eilish Cunning, who passed away earlier this week, will be laid to rest tomorrow (Sunday) after Requiem mass in St Patrick’s & St Joseph’s Church, Dunloy at 10-30am.
Steeped in the GAA Eilish (McCamphill) grew up in Dunloy in a family full of Gaels and is was no surprise that she ended up marrying another great Gael from the parish, Barney Cunning.
Eilish played Camogie for Dunloy and after winning a senior championship medal with them in 1955 she was selected for the Antrim county team in 1956. The Saffrons won Ulster, beating Down in the final, and made their way to the All Ireland final where they beat Cork by 5-3 to 4-2 at Croke Park, to collect the county’s first title since the 3-in-a-row of 45, 46 and 47. She was also on the team the following year when the Saffrons were narrowly beaten by Dublin by 3-3 to 3-1 in the decider. This was also a golden period for Dunloy Camogie who also won county titles in 1957, 58 and 61.
Eilish and Barney were married in April 1961 and not surprisingly Camogie took a back seat for some time as they had seven children Brian Óg, Jarlath, Angela, Deirdre, Paula, Aideen, Maureen and baby Neil, who sadly died in infancy.
Eilish got back into the game as the girls grew up and she took on a coaching role where she guided teams to underage and Junior titles, which helped kick-start a Camogie revival in the club.
The medals started coming back into the house again and after Brian Og and Jarlath began collecting Antrim and Ulster Senior Hurling medals with Cuchullains in the 1990s, and Deirdre chipped in to win two Senior Camogie crowns with Dunloy and four with Rossa after moving to Belfast when she got married, and also followed in her mums footsteps by winning and All Ireland medal, when she was on the Antrim team that won the Junior All Ireland in 1997.
The winning ways moved on a generation in 2017 when Eilish’s grandson Conal was part of the Dunloy team who ended a barren spell for the club by winning the SHC and has since added four more Celtic crosses to his collection.
Overall Eilish Cunning’s contribution to the game of Camogie. and to the Cuchullains club, has been immeasurable. She will be missed by us all, but most of all by her family and close friends, of whom there were many. To them we offer our sincere condolences at this sad time.
A beautiful photo of Eilish with her grandson Conal taken by her daughter Angela during lockdown
Eilish and her husband Barney on their wedding day in 1961
Guests at St. Mary’s Rasharkin GAC 80th Anniversary Dinner Left to right: Mark Doherty (Chairman of St. Mary’s GAC), Conor carville (Glen Maghera captain) Seamus mcMullan (Antrim Chairman, Jarlath Burns (GAA President Elect) Niamh Cosgrove (Antrim Camogie captain) and Liam Vallaley (Antrim Camogie)Ciara O’Boyle received acknowledgement for her Ulster Camogie Post Primary school All-Star – presented by Niamh Cosgrove Tiernan O’Boyle received acknowledgement for his Antrim club All star – Presented by Conor Carville Minor Camog of the year: Ciara O’Boyle – presented by Niamh Cosgrove The St. Mary’s Rasharkin senior football team and management with special guest, Seamus McMullan, Couty Chairman and the Division 3 league and junior championship cup at the club’s dinner in Tullyglass House on Friday night.Seamus McMullan presents the ACFL Division 3 and JFC Cups to Rasharkin captain, Thomas McMullanJunior football winners and Division 3 league winner medals were presented by Seamus McMullan, Conor Carville and Jarlath Burns to the team and management of Stephen Hardy, Paul Baird, John McTaggart and Paddy McNeill The Gerry Dalrymple cup for senior footballer of the year: Donagh Quigg, presented by Conor CarvilleThe St. Mary’s Rasharkin Camogie team who won the Briddie McMenamin Shield with guests, Niam Cosgrove and Liam Vallely and team managementPaddy McLernon award for most improved Camog: Maria Higgins – presented by Danny McLernon Senior Camogie player of the year: Niamh McFerran – presented by Niamh Cosgrove Eugene Gribbon trophy for Senior Hurler of the year: Donagh Quigg – presented by Hannah Gribbon Mickey McAleese cup for Minor Footballer of the year: Connlith Johnston – presented by Paddy McNeill and Conor Carville McMullan cup for most improved Hurler of the year: Conor Higgins (His mum, Mabel received award on his behalf) – presented by Brendan McMullan Reserve footballer of the year: Ethan McAfee – presented by Conor CarvilleThe Dan Doherty cup for club person of the year: Barney Cowan – presented by Colette Quinn and Jarlath Burns.McKillop shield for Juvenile team of the year: U14 Camogs – Fiona Mooney, Caroline Doherty and Terry McCann – presented by Jarlath BurnsChristy Hardy trophy for most improved Footballer: Cormac McMullan – presented by Stephen Hardy
Antrim star Ruairi McCann says it is important to try and lay down a marker this weekend ahead of their Ulster Championship quarter-final clash with Down.
The two sides meet this weekend in a dress rehearsal for April’s meeting at Páirc Esler, but Antrim will have home advantage on Sunday when they welcome Conor Laverty’s men to Corrigan Park with two League points on offer.
Both teams are two from two in Division Three this season along with Westmeath as the battle for promotion moves up a notch in round three.
“In terms of the Ulster Championship, you are always trying to gain an advantage on your opponent,” said the Creggan man.
“Given the fact that we play each other in a couple of months time in the Championship, you’d certainly want to be putting your best foot forward.
“It would be great to be approaching that Championship game with some sort of an advantage.
“For us, we can’t look that far ahead. Down in seven or eight weeks isn’t our concern at the moment, we just have to look ahead to this weekend.”
Down edged a thrilling 2-18 to 2-17 Division Three tie in Newry in last season’s National Football League after Antrim led by five points with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Two goals from McCann’s namesake from Aghagallon gave Antrim the perfect start to the game as they led 2-8 to 1-9 at half-time, but a Conor Poland goal and two stoppage-time points from Pat Havern and Andrew Gilmore saw Down claim the spoils.
“It was definitely one that got anyway from us last year,” added McCann.
“We were ahead in the last few minutes of the game and it went back and forth a bit. We were very disappointed not to come away with the points from that game.
“Down are probably the favourites for promotion and rightfully so. They were unlucky not to get promoted last year and it is going to be a massive challenge for us with a team like Down coming to Corrigan Park.
“In recent times, nearly all the games we’ve played against them have all been in Páirc Esler so it will bring a different dynamic playing the game in Belfast.”
Antrim remain without several key players including Ryan Murray, Patrick Finnegan and Conor Stewart while Conor Hand is suspended following his red card against Offaly.
Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Peter Healy, Eoghan McCabe and Adam Loughran have also yet to feature for the Saffrons this season.
Antrim manager Andy McEntee
Antrim boss Andy McEntee has brought in a host of fresh talent and they’ve delivered back-to-back wins against Limerick and Offaly and McCann said it bodes well for the future when they return to full strength.
“Over the last two years we’ve had a wrath of players who’ve come in and blooded in well,” said McCann.
“In the last few games, we’ve had more new faces that have come in and played particularly well.
“In any scenario, you want to have your best hand to choose from and having players out with ACL injuries and other long-term rehabs isn’t ideal and you’d rather be with them than without them.
“We know there’s a serious depth to our squad and we’re confident in the boys we have and of the boys we have to come back as well.”
Ruairi McCann in action during their win over Offaly at Corrigan Park.
Few, if any fixtures in the Antrim football calendar attract attention as much as the Saffrons meeting with neighbours Down and this Sunday’s clash in the National League at Corrigan Park is sure to attract a bumper crowd to the Whiterock Road.
A year ago Antrim travelled to the ‘Marshes’ to meet Sunday’s opponents in Round 2 of the league as rank outsiders and came within a whisker of causing an upset when they led by five going into the final stages of the game.
A Conor Poland goal and late points from Liam Kerr, Pat Havern and Andrew Gilmore saw the Mourne men snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and sentenced Antrim to their second defeat in two outings.
Colm McLarnon, who lined out at mid-field against Offaly and came on in last year’s defeat to Down in the Marshes
A week earlier the Saffrons had suffered defeat to Offaly at Corrigan Park and that defeat in Newry more or less put paid to their promotion aspirations before the league had really got underway.
Antrim travelled to Tipperary in Round 3 and finally got their first win of the season but their only other win would come at home to Cavan in Round 6 though their performances were descent in most of their other league outings.
Both Antrim and Down were in the early stages of new management with Andy McEntee having taken up the Antrim reigns and Conor Laverty, the Kilcoo legend, the new man in charge of the Red & Blacks.
Down went on to collect 10 points in the 2023 campaign but would lose out to Cavan on score difference for the second promotion place.
Both Antrim and Down have made impressive starts to this year’s NFL campaign with Antrim travelling to Limerick in round 1 and coming away with a seven point win before avenging last year’s defeat to Offaly in Belfast on the 4th of February.
Contrasting emotions! Marc Jordan can’t hide his disappointment as he leaves the field at Pairc EslerJob well done! Conor Laverty, delighted with his side’s performance
Meanwhile Down have got their 2024 campaign off to a flier as they beat Wicklow by five points in Aughrim and followed it up with an emphatic win over Limerick in Newry.
So both sides go into Sunday’s meeting on the Whiterock on a high and while it’s early days, the result could have a Major bearing on promotion come the end of the season but for the here and now, both managers will be concentrating on Sunday’s game.
The Antrim camp have been decimated by injuries from the side who took part in that agonising defeat in Newry last year but Andy McEntee has successfully introduced a number of new faces to the panel this year.
Kevin Small, Conor Stewart, Pat Shivers, Jack Dowling, Adam Loughran, Peter Healey, Patrick Finnegan, Ryan Murray, James McAuley and Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) are some of the players who saw action in the Marshes in 2023 while Dermott McAleese sustained a serious shoulder injury that saw him miss the rest of the 2023 season.
Thankfully McAleese has made a successful return as team captain this year but none of the above mentioned have figured in the league to date though the majority are still around the panel and at various stages of recovery.
McEntee will be hoping that McCann, who scored two goals in Newry last year will be able to play some part on Sunday but at the time of writing it is unclear if any of the afore mentioned will be available.
The Meath native and his backroom staff have taken the appropriate action as they have introduced a number of new faces to the panel while promoting a number of others from the panel and to date the results have been encouraging.
Dominic McEnhill turns away after scoring from the penalty spot against Offaly. McEnhill will be one of the players that Antrim will look to for scores as Down visit Belfast on Sunday
The Antrim supremo has pulled off something of a master stroke by converting former half-back, Eunan Walsh to the problem full-back birth while Kavan Keenan, Niall Burns and Eoin Hynds have grabbed their opportunity as the new faces in the side.
Hynds’ brother Cathal and Cormac McGettigan are the latest to have fallen to the injury curse this year but the return of Paddy McAleer after an extended absence through injury and the scoring form of Dominic McEnhill have been major factors in Antrim’s success to date.
Down will travel to Corrigan in confident mood. Ollie Murdock struck two identical penalties against Limerick last day out and Daniel Guinness scored a third while Pat Havern converted five frees and Liam Kerr was also impressive.
Conor Laverty’s side started last year’s encounter in Newry as 1/8 favourites in some of the bookmakers and while those odds are likely to have improved considerably the smart money still looks to be on Down.
The improvement in Antrim since McEntee has taken over cannot be underestimated however and Antrim supporters should turn up in numbers on Sunday, confident that their sides are capable of overturning last year’s defeat.
Antrim v Offaly: M Byrne (0-1 f); R Boyle (1-0), E Walsh, K Keenan; M Jordan (0-1), J Finnegan, D McAleese; C McLarnon, P McAleer; E Hynds (0-1), N Burns (0-2, 1 f), R McCann (Creggan); P McBride, C McGettigan, D McEnhill 1-0 Subs: C Hand for C McGettigan (48), D Lynch for D McAleese (70+3), O Doherty for N Burns (70+3)
Down v Limerick: J O’Hare; P Fegan (0-1), R McEvoy, J Flynn; P Laverty, D Guinness (1-1), C Francis; O Murdock (2-3, 2-0 pens), N McParland; R Mason, L Kerr (0-3, 0-1 free), S Johnston (0-2); C Mooney, P Havern (0-5 frees), O Savage (0-1) Subs: S Annett for C Mooney (h/t), A Doherty for N McParland (45), A Gilmore for O Savage (45), G Collins for C Francis (55), K Anderson for J O’Hare (57)
