Antrim’s team to face Clare in Division 1B of the National Hurling League on Sunday in Cushendall shows just two changes from the team that was so unlucky to lose to Wexford at Wexford Park last weekend.
Cormac McFadden takes over in goal from Domnhall Nugent while there is one change in defence where Stephen Rooney comes in for the suspended Gerard Walsh, whose apppeal against last week’s red card was turned down. That means Ruairi McCormick, Eoin McFerran and Paddy Burke make up the full back line while Rooney joins Sean McKay and Joe Maskey in the half-backs.
Ryan McCambridge and Eoin O’Neill, who did so well last week. are retained, as are the half forward trio of Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle and Sean Duffin. The full forward line are also retained with James McNaughton named on the edge of the square with Conal Coby Cunning on his left and last week scoring hero Seaan Elliott on the right.
Of course there could be changes before the throw-in but the team named is and indication what team manager Davy Fitzgerald thought of their efforts in Wexford.
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Antrim’s league match against Clare on Sunday in Cushendall.
So the national hurling league got underway last weekend, it was a fairly sedate opening, wasn’t it? Tongue pressed firmly in cheek after what was one of the greatest robberies in the great game of hurling’s history at Wexford Park.
A debatable free, transgressions from players on both sides, a questionable decision to bring the sliotar forward….twice and just to top it all off, a query over the sliotar size used by Wexford ‘keeper Mark Fanning. It all resulted in the Slaneysiders dealing a hammer blow in the 7th (SEVENTH) minute of additional time, going into the eighth.
Why is the time relevant? Referee Thomas Walsh originally gave five and while there was a delay before Fanning struck his free, to blow the game upon Domhnall Nugent’s restart was farcical. Frustration? Absolutely. All the players used throughout the match played their role to perfection on an evening that made a mockery of Wexford being monikered the Sunny South East. More like the Windy Rain Drenched Corner.
But, let’s look at the positives and there are plenty of them. Defensively, Antrim were immense. The organization and intensity in the tackle gave the home side neither time nor room in possession. When I spoke with Seoirse Bulfin prior to the opener, he said that they’d been doing a lot of work on that side of the game while Davy Fitzgerald is famed for wanting his sides to go out and produce these types of performances.
I was hugely impressed with Naomh Eanna native, Joe Maskey on the day. A strong first half was matched with a second half where Wexford players were hanging off him. Joe’s built for occasions like these and he produced the goods in spades while Ryan McCambridge gave his best performance in a saffron jersey for a long time.
Up top, it was a tough day for the forwards. You might look at the tally of 1-6 from open play and wonder what’s going on but the elements were horrible, the underfoot conditions were less than favorable (to say the least) but there were enough moments to show that the attacking talents can produce.
It was great to see Conal Cunning back to full fitness. Playing with 14 on his back, ‘Coby’ covered every blade of grass in Wexford Park in a captains performance while Seaan Elliott, substitutes Cormac McKeown and Joseph McLaughlin all looked sharp.
This Sunday sees us welcome the Banner to town, Cushendall town that is. A change of venue from a game originally scheduled for Dunloy sees Clare travel to the heart of the Glens. Given we’re deep into a monsoon season that could easily be looked upon as unseasonable, I think this is the right call. Outside of Corrigan Park, Cushendall’s pitch is probably the best surface in the county and well able to deal with the inclement weather we’re experiencing.
Thoughts track back to the last time Brian Lohan brought his Clare team to our doorstep and that infamous game in Corrigan Park back in 2021, Antrim’s first match back in Division 1. From that starting 15 and subs used however, Antrim will be missing ten players between suspension, retirements and some unable to commit while Domhnall Nugent was an outfield sub for the last 15 minutes of the game. It’s changed times but times that bring opportunity for the next wave of talent coming through.
After receiving a straight red card, Gerard Walsh will miss Sunday’s game but Niall O’Connor will return from his suspension while it’s better news with Keelan Molloy who is reported to feature.
The Banner made a winning start last Sunday with a 3-18 to 1-22 win over Dublin in Ennis with Tony Kelly pulling the strings along with David Reidy, Peter Duggan while Mark Rodgers was accurate from placed ball. It took a goal in additional time from Kelly to get his side over the line and recorded Clare’s first home league win in a staggering 22 months.
Sunday will be Davy Fitzgerald’s first time coming up against his home county as Antrim manager and you know he’ll relish the opportunity to come up against a Brian Lohan side. Twice they climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand together in the first Sunday in September to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup (1995 and 1997) and while Pairc Naoimh Mhuire will paint an entirely different picture for those attending, Antrim love the prospect of one of the ‘big dogs’ coming to town.
Five years ago it took the brilliance of Ciaran Clarke and Neill McManus to get us over the line against the Banner, the stage is set for someone else to write their names in Saffron history.
Davy will rally his troops again on Sunday. Lets hope the weather conditions are more suitable this time around
Following an opening day defeat in this year’s NFL Division 4 to Carlow, Antrim footballers make the long journey to Moneygall on day 2 where they will face Tipperary.
Mark Doran’s Antrim made a bright start against the O’Byrne Shield winners in Portglenone when they raced into a three point lead through Pat Shivers, Niall Burns and Conor Small after 10 minutes in an opening period that promised much.
That promising opening saw the game turned on its head when a turnover in the Antrim attack saw Carlow race forward and Mikey Bambrik placed Niall Roche to fire past John McNabb for the visitors opening goal.
It got worse for the Saffron when they conceded a penalty soon after when Conor Doyle was fouled and Christopher Blake dispatched the resulting award to the net.
The home side rallied in the period leading up to half time to trail by the minimum going into the break and there was expectation that they could push on in the second half but it never materialised.
Instead it was the Leinster minnows who took control again on the restart and two early 2 pointers saw them move clear and they never really looked like being overhauled despite Antrim’s best efforts.
Paddy McAleer rose to fist home a Paddy McBride delivery in the 59th minute to briefly lift their hopes but Antrim’s insistence on going for goals when points would have been the sensible option and their increasing concession of possession enabled Carlow to finish four to the good.
Meanwhile over at McGovern Park in Ruislip it took a late Cian Smith 2 pointer to give Sunday’s opponents, Tipperary a hard earned draw against a lively London who led their visitors for most of the way.
London were the sharper side throughout the opening half and set the early tempo, Joe McGill opening the scoring inside the first minute before Paudie Feehan replied for Tipperary.
McGill was central to much of London’s best work and added an excellent two-pointer and a free to put daylight between the sides.
London led by four at the interval with Shay Rafter, Daniel Clarke and former Antrim player, Kristian Healy on target and the exiles looked on their way to a rare victory.
Tipperary responded through Smith and a Sean O’Connor free, but London continued to look the more composed outfit as, again and again, they snuffed out promising Tipperary attacks and they weren’t helped by O’Connor pushing two frees in a row wide.
Darragh Hogan and a Sean O’Connor 2 pointer on the restart got Tipp going again and further 2 pointers from ace marksman, O’Connor saw Tipperary claw back the London lead but it all seemed to be in vain as the clock ticked down.
Substitute Michael Freaney slotted a crucial two-pointer as injury time began, before McGill restored London’s advantage with a converted free but Smith’s late double salvaged a point for the Premier County.
A point gained or a point lost? That question may not be answered until the end of the season but Tipperary will feel that they can add to that opening day draw when Antrim visit Thurles this weekend.
Mark Doran and his backroom staff will have surely reflected on Antrim’s wastefulness on Sunday past and their less than impressive scoring ratio while turnovers conceded will be another area that will have been looked at this week in training.
Despite their loss to Carlow there were elements of Antrim’s play that will have pleased the management and they will hope to build on them as they make the long journey South this weekend.
Certainly individually quite a number of Antrim players played well with Marc Jordan, Kavan Keenan, Eoghan McCabe, Niall Burns and Oisin Doherty impressing while Pat Shivers was always in the thick of things and on another day might have doubled his 0-3 contribution.
Glenravel pair, Ryan McQuillan and Cathal Hynds could come into the recokoning for a starting place following their performances for Queens in Wednesday evenings Siggerson Cup quarter-final win over TU Dublin. Hynds gave a dominant display at mid-field for the Belfast side while McQuillan contributed 1-7 in a man of the match display.
Even at this stage of the season the Saffrons need to get something from their visit to Moneygall and while it won’t be easy, if they can put individual errors behind them and convert a higher percentage of scoring opportunities then they can get their first points on the board.
Tipperary v London: Shane Garland; Jack Harney, James Morris (0-01, Eoin O’Connell; Charlie King, Paudie Feehan (Captain) (0-01), Luke Boland; Joe Higgins, Kieran Costello; Eoin Craddock, Sean O’Connor (0-09, 3 2pt, 1 2pf), Steven O’Brien; Cian Smith (0-07, 1f, 1 2pt), Cathal Deeley, Daithi Hogan (0-01)
Subs: Micheal Freaney (0-02, 1 2tp) for Cathal Deely (43’), Jack O’Neill for Paudie Feehan (49’), Paddy O’Keefe for Steven O’Brien (53’), Mark Stokes for Charlie King (62’), Emmet Moloney for James Morris (70’)
We all have someone or know someone who has succumbed to the Great American Dream or the lure of lands far away in search of ‘better things’. Some come back home, having tried it and some make the most of their opportunity. For one Dunloy man living in San Francisco, he’s went about it the hard way.
A member of the Antrim u21 All Ireland final team of 2013 and the self-proclaimed ‘best shot stopper Dunloy has ever produced’, Ger Dixon’s story is one of familiarity but incredible bravery and inspirational as his social media posts for the last year or so have told. When he produced and wrote the song ‘Dunloy’ it caught everyone’s attention. As Curly McIlwaine said: “It’s that good a song, even a Loughgiel person would like it.” It strikes a chord, forgive the pun, in more ways than one.
Ger has been living in the States for the better part of seven years now and while he has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is now, it was far from plain sailing. An addiction to alcohol and drugs culminating in an attempted suicide before an intervention from friends and family travelling across the pond. Ger’s story is one worth listening to.
When I chatted with him, the song was first and foremost in my mind but I thought this was the chance to get Ger’s story out there. A chance for people to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark. That is one of the most overused cliché’s when it comes to talking about mental health but it is very true.
“I’ve been in San Francisco for about seven years, initially coming out to play hurling with Na Fianna but two years later I transferred to the Tipperary hurling team out here.
TO HEAR GER’S SONG ‘DUNLOY’ CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Ger Dixon in action for Antrim during the 2013 All Ireland Under 21 final against Clare in Thurles
“It’s a great experience with a great bunch of lads and some serious talent comes out from all over Ireland in the summer. It’s great to be able to say that I’ve hurled with and against some of the best hurlers in Ireland.”
Ger has been there since 2019 with fellow Dunloy comrade Barry Dowds and childhood friend, Conor Crawford. They created a base and while they’ll always be Dunloy men, San Francisco is home.
Ger’s struggles with mental health and addiction is something that we can all relate to, unfortunately. But, there aren’t many who will step up and be proactive once they turn the proverbial corner. Ger said: “You know, we often hear about someone down the street who struggled with mental health or maybe even tried to end their life, but you cant just walk up and ask, right? I want to break that silence. I didn’t just think about suicide, I f**king attempted it. But I’m here now, and I want people to see that it’s preventable and that life can turn around. So, whether that’s through my Tik Tok’s, Instagram, or the challenges I take on, I’m open about it all to show that reaching out for help really does change everything.”
The song, if you haven’t heard it yet, is brilliant and took the better part of eight months to create and came about through one of Ger’s challenges in 2025: “It all came about when I was running from LA to San Francisco. It equated to 30 miles a day for 14 days. I was told that I was the first Irishman to do this and with that, Dunloy was always on my mind.
“Friends and family from home kept pushing me on and that sparked it. I jotted down rhymes with green and gold in my veins and also themes of mental health, keep moving forward and don’t look back.
“I always saw Dunloy in triangles. The chapel, the GAA grounds and St Joseph’s Primary School was one and the other was The Village Inn, Pappy’s Bakery and Sharon’s Hairdressers. Sharon sadly didn’t make the cut but it’s still a Dunloy staple to me!
Ger is still keeping his eye in and is hurling away in the USA
“I built the song around those places, pride in my name and pride in Dunloy. I always say, the two things that I’m proud to always say is that I’m Ger Dixon and I’m from Dunloy.
“The mental health layers tied in as well. In the end, I cant take credit for the vocals or instrumentals – that came from the app ‘Suno’ but the lyrics and heart? That’s all me.”
The challenges show no signs of ending for Ger as he looks towards this year and next as he continues his journey and tries in his own, undoubtedly unique way to help raise awareness: “Right now I’m running a minimum of 5k everyday in 2026. Sometimes barefoot to spice things up. I’ve got a few more challenges in mind, maybe run 100,000 steps in a day or a 100 miler. We’ll see but the big one I’m planning is in May 2027. I’m running (and cycling) from San Francisco to New York – that’s roughly 3000 miles.
“If anyone’s up for sponsoring, daily spots are open!
“I’m also hoping to get back in goal for Tipperary hurling if my legs will cooperate with me. In the meantime, I’ll keep telling my story. Whether it’s a silly video or a massive challenge, it’s all for mental health and suicide prevention.
“I push limits in my past challenges, like the 421-mile run, the 12-hour treadmill stint, or the fasting for 48 days. It’s all for the cause. I only know one way; keep the conversation alive.”
But, when it all comes down to it, Ger is keenly aware of the help that brought him to where he is today. Ger took the opportunity to express his gratitude and love for those who were there for him: “I want to thank my mates, Conor Crawford and Wayne Walsh who went out of their way when I was at my darkest and lowest point to look after me. Two of my sisters, Julie and Kathy who flew out to help figure out what was going on and to my whole family back at home. My other sisters Dana and Paula, my big brother DJ and to my mum and dad, thank you for standing by me. I’m sorry for the stress my mad challenges cause and for the pain I put you through during my darkest of times.
“To families and friends and caregivers of those struggling. You are everything. You are why we live. I cant begin to imagine the helplessness you feel watching someone you love stripped of their humanity, their dignity, their will to go on but please know that it’s your perseverance that keeps us going. It’s your companionship and promise that wakes us each morning. Your commitment will be the ray of light that guides us through the darkness.
“I will keep going though because showing that life can get better is the only way I know how to do this. Who knows, maybe I’ve inspired someone again during my long runs or this song!”
The Antrim Cup Year 9 LGFA competition delivered another brilliant day of schools’ football, as teams from across Belfast and Antrim gathered to contest the Shield knockout stages. With high skill levels, strong teamwork, and plenty of competitive spirit on display, it proved a superb showcase of emerging talent in the county.
The knockouts produced some excellent contests, with every school contributing to a vibrant and sporting day of football. In the end, it was Dominican College Fortwilliam and St. Louise’s Comprehensive College who battled their way through a challenging field to book their places in this year’s Shield Final.
Both schools impressed throughout, blending determined defending with sharp attacking play to edge out strong opposition. Their consistency, organisation, and work rate shone through in the crucial moments, earning them well-deserved spots in the decider.
A special well done also goes to all the participating schools, who played their part in making the event such a success:
All Saints College
Trinity College Belfast
St. Dominic’s Grammar School Belfast
Coláiste Feirste
St Colm’s High School Belfast
Dominican College Fortwilliam
St. Louise’s Comprehensive College
With the final now set for Wednesday 4th March, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exciting contest between two well‑matched and talented squads. The future looks bright for Ladies Football in Antrim, with the next generation already making their mark.
Well done to all involved — players, coaches, schools and Gaelfast for organising.
We look forward to the year 9 LGFA Cup competition on Monday 2nf Feb.
