ACFL Division 1
Tír na nÓg Randalstown 1-11 Naomh Gall St Galls 0-22
Venue: Randalstown | Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Match report: Gerard Kelly | Photos: Dominic Kelly
St Galls produced a commanding performance at Randalstown on Wednesday evening to claim a comprehensive eight-point victory, running out 0-22 to 1-11 winners in an Antrim Senior Football Division One clash that was defined almost entirely by one extraordinary individual display.
Daniel Quinn was the difference between the sides and then some. The St Galls forward finished the evening with a breath taking tally of 0-14 — including two two-point scores — in a performance that left the Randalstown’s rear-guard with no answer and will be talked about in club circles for some time.
While Tír na nÓg showed spirit throughout and had their moments, St Galls’ collective quality was simply too much on the night.
A Tight Opening Before St Galls Take Hold. For the opening twenty minutes, this was a far more competitive affair than the final score line suggests.
St Galls drew first blood through Quinn in the 6th minute, but Darragh Fagan levelled for the home side at the 7th from a well-taken effort. Quinn struck again on 9 minutes before Emmet Murray replied for Randalstown on 10, keeping the sides close.
It was Quinn who broke the game open. A superb two-point score in the 13th minute stretched St Galls clear, only for Fagan to respond in kind a minute later — his own two-point strike bringing Randalstown to within one.
Cormac Austin added a point for St Galls on 15, and it took another stunning effort from Fagan, a second two-point score in the 19th minute, to level proceedings once more.
Ciarán O’Neill pointed to make it 0-06 apiece in the 22nd minute, and for a spell it seemed as though Randalstown were in this contest for the long haul.
But St Galls quickly reasserted their authority. Padraig Jnr O’Murigh pointed on 23, Barra McCaffrey on 24, and Quinn then reeled off further points in the 28th, 30th and 32nd minutes without reply. McCaffrey added another before the break to leave St Galls leading
0-12 to 0-07 at half-time — a five-point advantage that did not fully reflect the gulf that was beginning to open up.
St Galls Extend Their Grip
Randalstown showed admirable resolve at the start of the second half. Fagan, who was outstanding throughout for the home side, produced a third two-point score in the 39th minute to reduce the gap, and added a further point on 44 to keep Randalstown within touching distance.
Quinn, however, was relentless — pointing on 38 with another two-pointer and again on 43 and 49, with O’Murigh and McCaffrey chipping in to push St Galls further clear.
The most dramatic moment of the evening arrived in the 57th minute when a Randalstown substitute found the net to raise the green flag and inject brief hope into the home support.
O’Neill pointed on 60 to leave three between the sides, but St Galls came again — Quinn nailing two late points in the 55th and 56th minutes, and Michael Hopkins rounding off the scoring deep in injury time on 62 to seal a deserved victory.
The Verdict
For St Galls, this was an authoritative statement of intent. The Quinn-led attack was clinical and inventive in equal measure, with Barra McCaffrey contributing four points and O’Murigh two more to complement their talisman’s haul.
The defence, marshalled well throughout, gave Randalstown precious little room to work with.
For Tír na nÓg, the performance of Darragh Fagan — finishing with 0-08, including three two-point scores — stands as a bright light on an otherwise difficult evening. He was the one Randalstown player who consistently found a way through, and his work rate and accuracy will give the home management something to build on.
But on a night when Quinn was in this kind of form, even the most spirited of opponents were always going to find it a stretch.
TÍR NA NÓG RANDALSTOWN: Conor McKenna; Ryan Crilly, Brendon McLarnon, ManusSmith; Sean McKeown, Ciarán O’Neill (0-2), Ciaran Logan; Ryan O’Neill, Oliver McAtamney; Emmet Murray (0-1), Eamonog McAllister, Pádraig Redmond; Connor Hastings, Darragh Fagan (0-8), Alex O’Donnell.
NAOMH GALL ST GALLS: Niall McCurdy; Christopher Hale, Gairech Mac Adhaimh, Eoghan McCurdy; Seán McCaffrey, Dubhaltach Mac Liam, Damien Ball; Manus McCrossan, Aidan McDonagh; Martin Murray, Daniel Quinn (0-14), Cormac Austin (0-1); Barra McCaffrey (0-4), Padraig Jnr O’Murigh (0-2), Michael Pollock.
Also used: Aodhan Gallagher for A. McDonagh, Ruairi Wilson for D. Ball, Michael Hopkins (0-1).
Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)
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