Antrim LGFA Under 16A Final
Cargin 4-14 St Gall’s 1-11
Report by Gareth Scullion
For the 2nd year running on a slippery Dunsilly surface, Cargin’s u16s achieved their target of winning the U16A final with a clinical performance against a St Galls side full of determination and vigour, completing Back-to-Back U16A titles for the first time in the club’s young LGFA history.
Having rained heavily earlier in the day, Pitch 2 at Antrim’s training headquarters was sleek and handling would have to be on point in order for either side to win the day. Being the only side to have taken points off the Clann na hEireann girls this season in the league, St Galls entered the final with confidence knowing they had the tools to cause problems. Star forward Aoibheann Austin would be the one they hoped could unlock the Green defence and take the game to the girls from the South West and wrestle the title away from them.
The initial period of the game was combative, tenacious and tight, the conditions proving difficult if passes were not precise, and both sides showed great endeavour when in attack. Saorlaith Stewart and Aela Niblock were lively and potent while Eva McCann and Emma Diver schemed and probed at a packed St Galls defence. While not a spectacle of free flowing football, it was an intriguing game of intense tackling and counterattacking play. St Galls were first to get off the mark through Niblock, but this was quickly cancelled out by Gemma McAuley, who then added another which Saorlaith Morris responded to. But this was when the game changed irrecoverably for the Milltown ladies when Cargin nudged ahead and once the girls in green got their noses in front after 10 minutes it would be they held the upper hand from then on. Firstly 2 goals from Caoimhe Doherty then Eva McCann opened up a quick gap, then a series of points from the boots of Cliodhna McKeever, Emma Diver, Gemma McAuley and Dervla McCaffrey opened up a sizeable lead. Eva McCann then completed her hat-trick with another well taken goal and the St Galls girls suddenly had a mountain to climb.
Cargin at this juncture were putting a lot of pressure on the kickouts with Annie Convery and Gemma McAuley in particular breaking a lot of ball and feeding the dangerous Cargin forward line, led at the top by the hardworking Dervla McCaffrey, the busy Eva McCann and the ever dangerous Cliodhna McKeever. Emily Scullion and Maisie Kelly were defensively resolute while the battle between Adele McCann and Aoibheann Austin was an intriguing one. Cara Liddy and Holly McErlean swept up in the full back line and Aimee Graham produced some top class reactions as she smothered a few goal bound efforts as the Azzuri continued to battle through.
It was looking to be a final that was slipping away from the St Galls girls but just before half time a couple of minors from Aoibheann Austin, followed by a neatly lobbed goal from Caragh Flynn after some intense pressure tackling on the Cargin full back line. While there was a lot to do it at least gave hope that with effort and a bit of luck in the conditions, a comeback was possible. Halftime score was 3-12 to 1-5.
As anticipated, the Milltown girls came out hard and playing no nonsense direct football. Eimear and Orla Doherty were on the front foot, Sophia Garcia’s kickouts were finding their targets, and Liy Hannaway, Saorlaith Morris, Caragh Flynn, Aela Niblock and Niamh Ni Mhuirrigh had thrown off the shackles and running direct. Aoibheann Austin was playing much deeper now, trying to link in with Erin NíEoghain, Anna NíBeaglaoich and Róise McKee. Olivia McGirr, Brooke Whelan and Sadbh Drain were now living on the edge of driving forward but also exposed more at the back as the team pushed higher up the pitch. There was no doubt St Galls looked a more dangerous side but the space at the back was now also utilised by the Cargin forward line. Gemma McAuley and Annie Convery’s power drives were starting to get through feeding Cliodhna McKeever. Caoimhe Doherty was winning dirty ball and the deeper Aoibheann Austin came, the more she ran into the traffic of Emily Scullion and Maisie Kelly. If she got through that Adele McCann was then waiting. Both sides were still operating at full steam but the Cargin full back line were looking staunch and the Belfast girls began to attempt scores from distance that weren’t paying off.
Still, while the gap was only closing slightly, the Belfast girls industry was gaining yards. Manager Tomás McCann introduced Bella Scullion and Sophia McCann into the fray for more control in the back line and more intent in the forward line. The result was quick to see as St Galls narrowly survived two goal chances and a penalty shout but not a third effort as finally an attack resulted in a lofted ball into the square where Cargin’s ‘Player of the Match’ Annie Convery rose highest to pluck the ball out of the air. She then swivelled, sending the ball low and hard into the near corner of the net. At 15 minutes to go it felt a very decisive moment of the match. Clann na hEireann immediately sent on Annie Scullion, Cara Neeson, Shannon McFall, Niamh Martin and Aoibh O’Donnell into the defence to give fresh legs to see out the result.
Still the girls in Blue did not stop trying and with 5 minutes to go were awarded a penalty. While it was perhaps too little, too late for the Azzurri anyway, it was unfortunately hit over the bar for a singular score rather than a three pointer. That would be the last goal attempt of the day and the South West girls managed the game out and were delighted to welcome back onto the field long term absentee and taliswoman, Niamh McAleese as their final substitution. In the receding light, referee Emma Kelly blew the long whistle to conclude the game and the girls in green were winners once again, a tremendous feat following their first u16A title in 2025. Final score was 4-14 to 1-11.
Tomás and Maura McCann can be very pleased with their charges. In tricky conditions they played intelligent football, relying on movement as opposed to brute strength. St Galls are obviously well coached and the girls have kicked on each year. The variance of teams now contesting underage ‘Grade A’ finals has grown with Cargin, St Galls, St Enda’s and Gort na Mona now the teams dining at the top table, with Rossa, Creggan and St Johns rising, it has meant greater competition and a higher quality of football as a result. This can only bode well for Antrim LGFA if they aspire to eventually reach the Senior grade of intercounty competition.
Referee – Emma Kelly (St Paul’s)
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