DIVISION 1B
Antrim 0-25 Carlow 0-12

Sunday 22 February

Brendan McTaggart reports from Corrigan Park, Belfast

Antrim recorded their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon as they swept aside the challenge of Carlow at Corrigan Park.  13 points was the difference between the sides, in truth the final score flattered the Barrowsiders as the Saffrons produced the goods.

With this game being billed as a ‘must win’, Antrim answered plenty of the questions being posed of this side and after a disappointing display against Kildare, there were plenty of questions.  But the longer this contest continued, Davy Fitzgerald’s side played with fluency and a confidence that has been missing in the opening three games.  Carlow were chasing Saffron shadows in the final quarter with Antrim relentless.

Seaan Elliott top scored with six of his eight points coming from placed ball while captain Conal Cunning finished the hour with six white flags.  Keelan Molloy marked his return to the county starting 15 with a man of the match display from midfield and split the uprights on three occasions – making it 17 points in total from the Dunloy clubmen.

This was a performance that overshadowed any individual displays, however.  With the three named, Joe Maskey and Ryan McCambridge also put in top performances while the work rate all over the pitch in and out of possession was outstanding and fast becoming what this side are being known for.

Carlow competed for long periods and with Marty Kavanagh at his clinical best from placed ball, they always had an outlet.  But, they rarely looked like they were capable of pinning Antrim back.  Six points coming in open play is a paltry return from the visitors and just three in the second half.

The foundations to the victory were laid in the first half, however.  Antrim played with a more attacking shape and despite a slow start, they controlled the first half with Seaan Elliott catching the eye.  The delivery of ball into the forward line was excellent throughout as the Saffrons made light of playing into the wind blowing into the far goals at Corrigan Park.

Antrim would have been content with the one point lead they held in the first half.  The elements were substantial and largely in their favour for the second half and they were quickest out of the blocks after the restart.  Elliot and Molloy started off with two big scores as they extend their lead to three points inside the opening four minutes of the second half.

Kavanagh’s fifth free of the contest left three between the sides in the 45^th minute but Carlow wouldn’t register another score for 11 minutes as Antrim turned the screw, scoring seven points unanswered from five different players.  Ruairi Donaghy’s pointed effort in the 48^th minute a particular highlight as the Naomh Éanna man rose highest to catch a side line from Molloy before splitting the uprights.

It took the Antrim lead to double figures going into the final minutes of the game as the Saffrons continued to add gloss and finish the game strongly.  A long range free from James McNaughton coupled with scores from Cunning, Stephen Rooney and substitute Eoin O’Neill put further daylight between the sides at the death.

The Saffrons face Dublin in seven days’

time with their fate still in their hands.  It will take a massive performance to get anything from the Dubs but this 70 plus minutes will help confidence going into that game.  It was exactly what was needed after the disappointment of the Kildare game and just rewards for the efforts being put in by all concerned.

ANTRIM: Cormac McFadden; Stephen Rooney, Niall O’Conner, Paddy Burke; Eoin McFerran, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy; Paul Boyle, Conor Johnston, Ruairi Donaghy; Seaan Elliot, James McNaughton, Conal Cunning

Subs: Scott Walsh on for Eoin McFerran (51’), Eoin O’Neill on for Paul Boyle (59’), Joseph McLaughlin on for Ruairi Donaghy (63’), Morgan Nelson on for Conor Johnston (69’), Ryan McNulty on for Gerard Walsh (71’)

Scorers: Seaan Elliot 0-8 (0-5f, 0-1 65’), Conal Cunning 0-6, Keelan Molloy 0-3, James McNaughton 0-2 (0-1f), Conor Johnston 0-1, Niall O’Connor 0-1, Ruairi Donaghy 0-1, Stephen Rooney 0-1, Morgan Nelson 0-1, Paul Boyle 0-1

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Niall Bolger, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiach O’Toole, Kevin McDonald, Paidi O’Shea; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Paddy Boland; Chris Nolan, Donagh Murphy, Jon Nolan; Jack Treacy, John Michael Nolan, Martin Kavanagh

Subs: Ted Joyce on for John Michael Nolan (43’), Richard Coady on for Paddy Boland (59’), Kevin Kavanagh on for Donagh Murphy (59’), Eric English on for Paidi O’Shea (67’)

Scorers: Martin Kavanagh 0-5 (0-5f), Kevin McDonald 0-2 (0-1f), Paddy Boland 0-1, Jon Nolan 0-1, Chris Nolan 0-1, Jack Treacy 0-1, John Michael Nolan 0-1

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

https://myalbum.com/album/a8Fj2MBEyjJPXM/?invite=e8eb8a26-e3d2-4ea7-90d5-631d7fe0de90

Forresters Cup School’s Hurling Quarter-Final @ Allen Park, Antrim

St. Mary’s 6-18 | St. Killian’s 0-13

PICS BY BERT TROWLEN

St. Mary’s delivered a masterclass in attacking hurling to comfortably advance to the next stage of the Forresters Cup, putting St. Killian’s to the sword with a commanding 6-18 to 0-13 victory at Allen Park. Powered by a phenomenal scoring exhibition from centre-half forward Conal Dempsey, St. Mary’s had too much firepower for their opponents on the day.

St. Mary’s Set the Tone Early

The tone was set from the throw-in. St. Mary’s wasted absolutely no time, with corner-forward Gerard Deery rattling the net for a goal in the opening minute. Following a Conal Dempsey point shortly after. Dempsey continuted what would be a devastating individual performance, slotting over his second point on four minutes.

St. Killian’s worked hard to find a foothold, registering a point around the four-minute mark and getting a fine score from play through Conor McMullan in the sixth minute. However, St. Mary’s were relentless. Dempsey fired over another point from play before breaking through to score his first goal of the game in the 9th minute, firmly putting his side in the driver’s seat.

St. Mary’s showed their ability to score from all distances and angles. Midfielder Matthew O’Neill and centre-field partner Ben McCaul both landed excellent long-range points, while Padraig Kelly and Oisin Kennedy kept the scoreboard ticking over with neat points from play.

For St. Killian’s, Donnlaodh McNaughton took on the heavy lifting. Operating at number 11, he accurately converted his frees and managed a brilliant long-range point from play just before the break. Despite his efforts, St. Mary’s went into the changing rooms with a commanding 2-12 to 0-05 lead following a late long-range point from Dempsey.

Dempsey Completes His Hat-Trick

St. Killian’s emerged for the second half with renewed determination, and McNaughton immediately punished St. Mary’s indiscipline by pointing two frees in the opening four minutes. However, any hopes of a St. Killian’s comeback were swiftly extinguished in the fifth minute when St. Mary’s full-forward Finn Smyth found the back of the net from play.

The St. Mary’s attack was operating beautifully, highlighted by a well-worked team score finished off by the ubiquitous Dempsey on six minutes. Matthew O’Neill and Ben McCaul continued to dominate the middle sectors, each adding to their tallies, while Rian Laverty managed a hard-earned point from play for St. Killian’s in the 10th minute.

The highlight of the half came in the 12th minute when Conal Dempsey carved through the St. Killian’s defense to score a brilliant individual goal. Just four minutes later, Oisin Kennedy got in on the goal-scoring action to raise St. Mary’s fifth green flag of the afternoon.

Dempsey capped off his spectacular outing by completing his hat-trick in the 20th minute with a goal from play. St. Killian’s fought bravely to the bitter end, with Donnlaodh McNaughton continuing to accurately convert frees and a beautifully struck ’65 before the final whistle.

Ultimately, the firepower of St. Mary’s was simply too much to handle, as they marched on to a semi-final meeting with Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock

St. Mary’s

1. Daire Gault, 2. Ethan Hughes, 3. Eoin Flynn, 4. Jude Burns, 5. Ruairi McIlhatton, 6. Adam McCahey, 7. Daire Rainey, 8. Matthew O’Neill, 9. Ben McCaul, 10. Oisin Kennedy, 11. Conal Dempsey, 12. Jude Gamble, 13. Padraig Kelly, 14. Finn Smyth, 15. Gerard Deery.
2. SUBS –

St. Killian’s

1. Charlie McNaughton, 2. Oliver McQuillan, 3. PJ Kelly, 4. Sean McAuley, 5. Aaron Maguire, 6. Caolan Graham, 7. Dala Ward, 8. Kian McErlean, 9. Rian Laverty, 10. Conor McMullan, 11. Donnlaodh McNaughton, 12. Oisin Daly, 13. Ronan Towle, 14. Jayden Kinney McNaughton, 15. John Taggart.

When they last met…..

Allianz Hurling League – Division 1B

Antrim 2-18 Carlow 1-21

Sunday 2 March 2025

Brendan McTaggart reports from Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

It was the late, late show for Antrim on Sunday afternoon but Gerard Walsh’s 75^th minute wonder strike ensured the Saffrons fate in Division 1B remains in their own hands. 

Standing over the sliotar and a wall of colour in front of him, 35 yards from goal, it was all or nothing for Antrim and Walsh, somehow, managed to find the back of the Carlow net. 

Was it a deserved ending?  Absolutely.  Antrim showed the fight and desire Davy Fitzgerald had called for after recent defeats and but for seven or eight minutes at the end of the first half, they performed more like the Antrim team we have come accustomed to in recent times. 

Goal chances came and left before finally finding a way through.  On another day, Conor Johnston would be walking off with three goals beside his name.  As it was, he hit the bottom of the upright, was felled in the build up to Keelan Molloy’s goal and had a fresh air strike with the goal at his mercy.  James McNaughton finished with eight points, six from placed ball and uncharacteristically missed a couple of frees along with a penalty.  That being said, McNaughton’s overall contribution was outstanding.  His ability to evade challenges and create chances was second to none in an Antrim shirt…..

TEAMS

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Eoin McFerran, Paddy Burke, Stephen Rooney; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott; Eoin O’Neill, James McNaughton, Conor Johnston

Subs: Cormac McKeown for E O’Neill (32); Joseph McLaughlin for R McCambridge (64)

Scorers: J McNaughton 0-8 (6fs); K Molloy 1-1; G Walsh 1-00 (1-00f); C Johnston 0-2; E Campbell 0-2; E McFerran 0-1; C Bohill 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; C McKeown 0-1

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paidi O’Shea, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; Evan Kealy, Ciaran Whelan; Jon Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, John Doyle; Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan, James Doyle

Subs: Paddy Boland for J Nolan (54); Ted Joyce for J Doyle (59); Donagh Murphy for C Kehoe (64)

Scorers: M Kavanagh 0-7 (5fs 1’65); C Nolan 1-3; J Doyle 0-3; F Fitzpatrick 0-2; C Whelan 0-2; J Nolan 0-2; C Kehoe 0-1; T Joyce 0-1

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)