Month / June 2025

by thesaffrongael

Andy McEntee’s reign as Antrim manager has come to an end

After three years in charge Andy McEntee’s tenure as Antrim Senior Football Manager has come to an end.

We would sincerely like to thank Andy and his entire backroom team for their service and commitment to our Senior Footballers during their term.

With the Saffrons, Andy made successive Tailteann Cup semi-finals with our Footballers in 2023 and 2024. As well as bringing through a whole host of U20 talent integrated into our senior panel.

He had this to say “ Having finished our Tailteann Cup campaign, my three-year tenure as Antrim manager has come to an end.

There are a lot of people that I would like to thank for the past three years. Firstly, I would like to thank Donal Murphy for making that first call and persevering to convince me to make the trip up the M1.

I would also like to thank the County Board Chairman at the time, Ciarán McCavana and the current Chairman, Seámus McMullan who ensured that we had the continuous support of the county board over the last three years.

To the Saffron Business Forum, I would like to express my gratitude for their support.

I have been very fortunate to work with a backroom team (too many to mention) who have such love for Antrim football. I would like to pay tribute to the medical and performance team who have worked tirelessly to ensure players received the best treatment and are in the best possible condition at all times to represent their county.

To the management team of Tom, Terry, Justin, Brendan, John and Darren, I would like to thank you for your massive contribution.

To the players, I would like you to know that it has been an honour to get to know and work with such a great bunch of young men. I wish you nothing but the best going forward. I will be watching.

To all of the above I hope that you continue to strive to reach your potential as a county.

“Ni neart go cur le chèile”

Finally, I would like to mention my family who never ceased to support me from Limerick to Belfast, from Sligo to Croke Park and everywhere in between”.

We wish you and your family the best of wishes for the future. You will always be welcome in the Saffron County.


Thank you Andy 💛🤍

by thesaffrongael

Conor Devlin Tournament at Whitehill this Saturday

In a tournament that continues to grow from strength to strength each year, we are delighted to once again be hosting our 17th annual Conor Devlin Tournament at Whitehill this Saturday.

We extended invites this year to fellow U15 Antrim clubs, as well as those from Down, Tyrone & Derry. We have no doubt that both the Cup and Shield competition will be hotly contested between the following teams; our amalgamation team Naomh Olcán with neighbours Creggan, Swatragh, St. Enda’s, Ard na Rí, Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon, Bredagh, Glenariffe & Banagher.

This year is that bit more special, as the Devlin family welcome Louise Fraser from Falkirk, outside Edinburgh to the tournament. After Conor’s tragic death in 2007, Louise was one of the individuals to receive some of Conor’s organs. Louise is keen to meet the members of Tír na nÓg and to view our wonderful facilities.

Everyone at Tír na nÓg will put their shoulder to the wheel this week to ensure the tournament is as memorable for all involved. Eamonn will have the pitches in pristine condition, Paddy will have the flags flying and the BBQ will be lit, Colm will have the fixture board ready.

Here hoping for a great day all round

by thesaffrongael

Ballycastle seal Division 3 title

Antrim Hurling League Division 3

Ballycastle 2nds 2-17 Dunloy 2nds 1-14

Ballycastle reserves wrapped up the Division 3 Hurling League title when they beat their nearest challengers Dunloy in Wednesday evening’s game at Pairc MacUillin. The win puts them two clear of the Cuchullains with both teams having one game each still to play. If the McQuillan’s men were to lose their final game against Gort na Móna and Dunloy win their the following week then they would be level on points, but Ballycastle would come out on top on the head to head between the two.

Despite falling behind to an early Gabriel McTaggart goal Ballycastle bounced back with three on the trot from James Bakewell, Lorcan Donnelly and Cathal Conor to draw level before Anthony Mullan gave them the lead with a well taken goal. Oisin McCamphill, who was to be the outstanding player on the night, pulled one back with his first point of the game, but Ballycastle were on top and a point from a Croisti McAuley  free was followed by a Lorcan Donnelly goal, following a long delivery from inside his own half by Oisin McAuley.

Dunloy’s Oisin McCallin who scored 12 points, despite ending up on the losing team

The rest of the half became a bit of a shoot-out between McAuley and McCallin, McAuley hitting four of his team seven points and McCallin hitting all seven for his side, in a superb display. However the most significant moment of the half came five minutes from time McCallin got in behind the Ballycastle defence and appeared to have a clear run on goal. However just as the left half forward was about to ‘pull the trigger’ Ballycastle full back Cormac Donnelly somehow managed to block the shot to deny what looked a certain goal.

Croisti ‘Bamba’ McAuley who was top scorer for Ballycastle

McCallin ( who was to end the night on 12 points) got the first score of the second half to cut the gap back to four, but that was as close as they would get and three in a row from McAuley, Oisin Donnelly and Niall McClean pushed the lead out to seven. That was the biggest it was to be and each time McCallin reduced the gap McAuley was there to claw back the deficit. The deficit was down to just four with time almost up but late points from Croisti McAuley and substitute Conor Donnelly sealed the win for the Town.

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/p7vmttBVxoFpRW/?invite=29105c56-578f-440a-9938-4cb508a4d26e

by thesaffrongael

Aggies claim Division 3 title

ACFL Division 3

St. Agnes 0-18 Laochra Loch Lao 1-11

St. Agnes claimed the ACFL Division 3 league title when they overcame the challenge of nearest rivals, Laochra Loch Lao at Pairc Naomh Una on Wednesday night.

With two games remaining going into Wednesday’s fixture the Aggies were in a strong position. Win and the title was theirs. Lose and they still had another bite at the cherry against Pearses in their final game.

They certainly didn’t get it all their own way against a robust and talented, Laochra Loch Lao who were determined to take the race for the title to the final day of the season.

The Irish language side got themselves off to the best possible start when PJ O’Prey cut in from the right and fired past Collum Carroll in the opening minute to serve notice of their intentions.

St. Agnes Ryan Reilly sets up an attack

Conall Turley replied from two pointed frees for St. Agnes but a well struck 2 pointer free from Jack Mac Liomhair put the visitors three ahead again by the 12th minute.

Once again the sweet striking Turley converted a free to take his total for the evening to three and then Ronan Carroll took advantage of a bad kick out to leave just one between the sides.

Both sides wasted opportunities as the intensity of the game increased and two converted frees from Caoilte MacGiolla Fhiondain for the Falls Road side and a late pointed reply by Mark Boyle for the Aggies left it 1-4 to 0-5 at half time in favour of the visitors.

Laochra Loch Lao were good value for that lead as they dominated the closing stages and could have been further ahead but it was a different story when both sides made the long trip back from the changing rooms after the half time break.

A fisted point from Shay Madden and another from play from Mark Boyle had the side’s level within three minutes before Rian McShane edged he visitors back ahead from a free in the 4th minute.

Laochra Loch Lao goal scorer, PJ O’Prey looks around for support

It was nip and tuck for a spell after this with scores at one end finding a response at the other and for a spell these two well matched sides couldn’t be separated.

Points from Madden and Carroll for St. Agnes and a Jack MacLomhair respose for laochra had it all square again at the end of the 9th minute before a superb Ryan Reilly point, another from Cormac McBride and one from Daithi McGaharan moved St. Agnes three ahead and for the first time they seemed to be gaining control.

The excellent Ryan Reilly came forward to fist another and the gap was out to four but Laochra Loch Lao replied through Tomas Tolan and Jack MacLomhair to leave just two in it with 11 minutes still remaining.

St. Agnes had the scent of victory and a first league title for quite a number of years in their sights and they were not going to give up that hard earned lead easily and again the responded.

Ronan Carroll fires over a St. Agnes point

Daithi MacGaharan, Mark Boyle, Ronan Carroll and Ronan Gilligan all added to their total going down the home straight with Laochra Loch Lao replying through Rian McShane and a late free from Caolan MacFhiondain.

There were scenes of celebration at the end as the faithful St. Aggies supporters joined their team at the end to congratulate their heroes and join in the victory photograph.

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/df5F2GkKXB7oBE

by thesaffrongael

Cuchullains dine at the top table of All Ireland Feile

Dunloy U15 Hurlers embarked on a memorable trip to Wexford on Friday last to compete in the All Ireland Division 1 Hurling Feile. 

Having come through a tough Antrim Feile a few weeks earlier as well as the Football a few weeks later, this talented bunch of lads were going down without any inferiority complex to play in the top Division in Ireland.

Played at the Wexford Centre of Excellence in Ferns on a scorching summer’s day, they were drawn in a group that consisted of Ballygunner, Raparees & Monageer.

First up was Ballygunner who would go on to win the tournament, and it was a nervy start by both teams with Dunloy giving their Waterford counterparts as good as they got.  The game ended in a 3 point win for Ballygunner with Dunloy relishing the possibility they might get another crack at them later in the tournament.

The next two group games were comfortable wins against the two Wexford teams winning by 13 and 11 Points respectively.  A goal scoring spree by full forward Ronan Elliott certainly helped in these two games.

Fr PJ McCamphill, who was part of the Dunloy group at Feile in Wexford, met up with his good friend GAA President Jarlath Burns

This was enough to progress to the quarter final stage to play the winners of the other group in Division 1 which was Kilmacud Crokes. They had overcome hurling royalty in Na Piarsagh & Sixmilebridge in their group to earn the right to face Dunloy.

With the games coming thick and fast you would have expected a slow start, but Dunloy were first out of the traps with an early Ronan Elliott goal.  It was a lead they would never lose in a tense and thrilling encounter, eventually running out 7 point winners thanks to a second half goal by Harry Blaney and a penalty save by Tom Richmond. Other notable performances in this knockout game were Paidi O’Kane, Oisin O’Brien, Aaron Richmond, Peader Doherty, Blaine Mullan & Cillian Cunning.

The Semi-final pairing was against Ballinora from Cork and once again Dunloy started the strongest, going in at the short whistle 0-05 to 0-01 ahead.  They stretched their lead to 6 points early in the second half but the game turned following two goals from the strong running Ballinora team. They say sport is just a game of inches and it certainly was proved the case on several occasions in the dying seconds with Dunloy trying to overhaul a 3 point deficit.  The final whistle came too soon for the gallant cuchullain lads and a 1 score defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the boys from North Antrim who had dominated long periods of this contest.

Fr PJ and GAA President Jarlath Burns with the O’Reilly brothers in Wexford

Dunloy mentors and players, although disappointed at the time, should be extremely proud of the effort of this group of lads (who all played their part) and they showed that they were able to compete with the top teams in Ireland. On another day they could have been in an All-Ireland Final and who knows what could have happened.

It’s onwards and upwards for the same group of lads as they go on to Derry next Saturday to represent Antrim in the All Ireland Division 2 Feile.