Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

Photographer and GAA writer who has been covering hurling, football and camogie for almost forty years
by thesaffrongael

Antrim Masters begin league campaign with tough opener against Monaghan.

 Antrim v Monaghan

Portglenone: Saturday -2-00pm

The Gaelic Football Masters season opens this weekend with a full round of matches. Antrim share a very tough group this year which includes perennial competition winners Tyrone, last year’s beaten finalists Donegal, recent Tier two winners Cavan and Derry, along with Monaghan and Down.

The games take place every fortnight – Antrim’s campaign beginning this Saturday at 2pm in Portglenone where they host a Monaghan team that has started the season well with a solid preseason behind them. Paul Quigley (Derry) is the man in the middle.

Antrim have made excellent strides in recent years and look forward to another campaign.  Several additions have been added to the panel including Mark Dougan (Creggan) Michael McCourt (Glenavy) Kieran McKeown (Glenravel) Sean McVeigh, Donal Crawford, William Wilkinson (All Saints) and Conor Kennedy (St Agnes).

The team management of Frank Delargy and Timmy Connolly remain in place for another season and are realistically cautious about making any predictions. “This is a tough group. You could make a case for quite a few of these counties being in the top six in Ireland, so nothing is going to be won easily. We have a good panel on paper but that’s not how it’s judged, we need to commit fully to the cause, and if we do that we should be thereabouts at the finish. Monaghan are a dogged team and in recent seasons there has been little to spare between us. If we come out on top on Saturday it will be very hard earned” said Delargy.

When asked for a pre match comment Monaghan GAA Masters chairman Ciaran Ward said “We are looking forward to a competitive match between two counties that there has been very little to separate in recent years. Hopefully the Farney men enjoy their trip to Portglenone and reverse those recent results!”

Special thanks to Fiddlers Rest, Portglenone for their generous sponsorship of this match.

Saffron Gael extends its best wishes to players and management for the season and as usual will do its best to keep our readers up to date with all the action during the season.

Antrim Masters 2026

Antrim Over 40s Squad; Declan McLarnon Conor Kennedy James McGreevy Liam Magee Laurence Higgins Michael Herron Stephen O’Connell Sean McVeigh Michael McCarry Damian Kelly Donal Crawford, Liam Cassley William Wilkinson Seanie McGreevy Michael Donnelly Ken Golden Ryan Boyd Sean Kelly Colin Brady Michael McCann Colly Connolly Ryan Daly Dominic Neeson Declan McErlean Brendan Etherson Niall Sweeney Stephen Harbinson Mark Dougan Kieran McKeown Mark Graham Darren Craig Conor McAreavey Michael McCourt  David McAlernon Paddy Cunningham Adrian Scullion Thomas Doherty Barry McMahon.

Management; Frankie Delargy and Timmy Connolly.

Logistics and Equipment; Carl O’Neill.

Admin; Carl O’Neill (chairman) and Niall Conway.

PRO; Sean Kelly.

by thesaffrongael

Antrim’s renews acquaintances with familiar foes in Tailteann Cup opener

Tailteann Cup 1st Round

Carlow v Antrim

Netwatch Cullen Park – Sunday 1-30

Antrim renew acquaintances with familiar foes, Carlow when they make the long journey to Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday to meet the Division 4 league winners in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup.

The sides met in the opening game of Division 4 in Portglenone with hopes high in the Saffron County that Antrim could make a quick return to Division 3 following their relegation the previous year and with home advantage they were hoping to get off to a good start.

It didn’t quite work out that way however as Mark Doran’s first National League game as Antrim manager began with a sobering defeat at Portglenone, as Carlow claimed a 2-16 to 1-15 victory to open their Division 4 campaign. Despite a bright start from the hosts, a critical lapse in concentration immediately after the interval proved insurmountable. While Antrim entered the break trailing by only a single point, they found themselves six points adrift within just two minutes of the restart, a period Doran later identified as the turning point that cost his side the game.

It would take another two defeats before Antrim finally got their league campaign together but things began to come together when they defeated Wicklow in Portglenone in Round 4.

The Saffrons would go on to record 4 league victories in succession and were in with an outside chance of promotion going into their final game against London in Toome.

Antrim edged that game by a point but results elsewhere dictated that it would be Carlow and Longford who would gain promotion with Carlow going on to defeat Longford in that Division 4 final.

Carlow will start Sunday’s Tailteann Cup opener as favourites but Mark Doran’s Saffrons should hold no fear of the Leinster minnows as their form has improved as the league progressed and, prior to their Ulster championship loss to Derry, they had recorded four NFL wins on the bounce.

It took a time for the Antrim management to come up with their best side but there was plenty of evidence during the closing rounds of the league that the Saffrons were on an upward trajectory.

Kevin McCann, John Carron, Conor Small, Paddy McBride, Sean O’Neill and Oisin Doherty started in that league opener against Carlow but McBride and Small have left the panel, O’Neill is injured and only Doherty has figured in recent league games.

At the time of writing the Antrim team to play carlow has just been announced and is along familiar lines in recent outings and looks good enough to do the buisness. (Team in Featured image)

The return of Peter Healey to the side has been a massive boost while John McNabb, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keernan, Marc Jordan, Eoghan McCabe, Joe Finnegan, Paddy McAleer, Pat Shivers, Niall Burns and Dominic McEnhill, who have all featured regularly getting the nod.

Carlow went into their league campaign on the back of a four game winning run in the Leinster Shield and added the division 4 league title so will be firm favourites at Netwatch Cullen Park.

In Mickey Bamberick, Conor Doyle, Ross Dunphy, Colm Hulton, Paddy McDonnell and Eoghan Ruth, Carlow have top class performers but don’t rule out an upset in Carlow Town on Sunday afternoon.

by thesaffrongael

Saffrons Eye Three-in-a-Row but Down will pose a major challenge

Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie Championship Final

  • Fixture: Antrim vs. Down
  • Date & Time: Tonight (Friday), 7:30 PM
  • Venue: Cargin GAA, Toome

Antrim and Down are set to cross swords tonight in Toome for the Ulster Senior Camogie title, marking the first of at least two crucial encounters between the counties over the next six weeks. With a June 20th clash already in the calander in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship—and potential Croke Park meetings later in the summer—tonight is an early opportunity for the Saffrons to lay down a marker

Going into tonight’s provincial decider, the Saffron probably carry the favourites tag, but team manager Elaine Dowds’ will dispel any such talk among her team. She is well aware of the challenge Down present

While a glance at the league tables might suggest similar seasons—both teams secured just one win and faced relegation in February. Antrim spent their spring battling it out in the elite tier of Division 1A, competing fiercely against the very best in the country. Their standout victory came on the road against last August’s All-Ireland senior finalists, Cork—a massive scalp that proves this Saffron squad belongs at the top level. They were also very unlucky to lose out to All Ireland champions Galway when they met in Cushundun.

By contrast, Down operated a tier below in Division 1B. Despite a solid win over Dublin at Fontenoy Park, the Mourne county failed to build any momentum. While they stayed competitive against Limerick and Wexford, Domhnall Nugent’s side were well off the pace against Offaly and Clare.

Both sides cruised through their respective Ulster semi-finals against lower-tier opposition on the last weekend of April, as expected. Anrim beat Derry by 2-13 to 1-3 in their semi-final in Portglenone and while that scorline would suggest that is was one way traffic, for a good part of the game it was anything but, and if they are to win tonights game they will need to be on their toes from the very start this time out.

Teenage sensation Éobha McAllister stole the show against the Oak Leafers, racking up a stunning 1-5. With dead-eye free-taker Nicole McAtamney continually punishing opposition indiscretions, Abut it took them a long time to get going that day.

Manager Elaine Dowds does has the luxury of a strengthening hand. The semi-final saw Becky Ellis step comfortably into the goalkeeper jersey, while highly experienced defenders Caoimhe McNaughton and Caoimhe Conlon returned from injury for their first starts of the season. Getting vital minutes into these proven players only makes Antrim a more formidable prospect tonight, especially with a number of senior players also balancing Sunday’s All-Ireland U23 semi-final against Limerick.

Down’s semi-final victory over Division 3 champions Armagh was comfortable, but stepping into the ring with a battle-hardened Antrim side will be a severe step up in class.

The Mourne women will be looking to players like Gerra McGrattan (who hit 1-4 from play against Armagh) and half-backs Beth Fitzpatrick and Dearbhla Magee to stem the Saffron tide. However, they are a team in transition. Only five players from the Down squad that last won this title in 2023 started their recent semi-final.

Conversely, Antrim’s core remains rock solid. Nine of the starting XV that won the All-Ireland intermediate title five years ago were on the pitch for the semi-final win over Derry.

For Antrim, tonight is about more than just early-season bragging rights. The Saffrons are chasing a third successive provincial title—a historic milestone they haven’t reached in nearly half a century. With top-flight experience, returning veterans, and a cohesive, settled squad, Antrim should be good enough to get the job done, but it will not be the formality that some pundits are suggesting.

by thesaffrongael

St Pat’s beat St Killian’s to book Gallagher Cup final place

PICS BY SEAN TROWLEN

Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-final

St Patrick’s Maghera 3-12 St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-5

ST Patrick’s Maghera established a significant half-time advantage in the first of the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-finals in Ballymena yesterday to fend off a wind-assisted St Killian’s Garron Tower in the second half.

St Killian’s only scored once against the breeze, a pointed free from Morgan McNaughton, but they coped well with the constant pressure from Maghera with goalie Seve Trowlen in superb form.

Maghera turned around at the break with a lead of seven points, but their failure to hit the net left them a little vulnerable for a comeback from the Tower. No fewer than seven players contributed the eight points with Harry McCloskey on two scores.

St Killian’s were more in the game with the breeze behind them but found Maghera difficult to handle on the counter-attack.

Quentin Farren was the first goal-scorer in the second half and, although Morgan McNaughton hit back with a goal for the Tower, Patrick O’Loughlin stretched Maghera’s lead with a second goal. Again St Killian’s hit back, with a goal from Tiarnán McAleenan, but Feargal Convery broke for a third Maghera goal ten minutes from time.

Once more the Tower came back with a goal from Niall McAuley, but they still couldn’t close the gap of seven points that had been there from the break. Ryan Murray. Quentin Farren and Feargal Convery were the stars for Maghera while Morgan McNaughton and goalie Seve Trowlen stood out for the Tower.

St Patrick’s will find out their opponents in next week’s final after the second semi-final today (FRIDAY) in Dunsilly at 1pm between St Mary’s CBGS Belfast and Cross & Passion Ballycastle. CPC, winners of the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup with this team last season, will be favourites to set up a repeat of the MacNamee decider.

St Patrick’s: Q Farren 1-1, P O’Loughlin and F Convery 1-0 each, H McCloskey and R Murray 0-2 each, D Boyle, T McKenna, D McGarrity, A Mulholland, M McGrath, M Duffin and D Kearney 0-1 each.

St Killian’s: M McNaughton 1-3, T McAleenan and N McAuley 1-0 each, C Haughey 0-2.

by thesaffrongael

Antrim beaten by Fermanagh in U16 LGFA brone final

U16 Bronze Ulster Final

Antrim 2-2 Fermanagh 1-10.

It was the second game of the day for Saffrons as Antrim U16s came up against Fermanagh in the Bronze final at Errigal Ciaran.

After a win last week against Down in extra time, Fermanagh came into the game as favourites and that certainly showed as they won the throw in and went straight on the attack only to put their first effort wide of the post.

They soon took a 3 point lead with scores from Lucy Gallagher, Megan Mullally and Jessica Largo-Elis.

Antrim quickly reorganised and tightened up across the field, using the ball a lot better from defence into attack to find Sophie Skelly to opening Antrim’s account for the day.

Antrim continued to press Fermanagh and soon took the lead with a well worked goal from Lauren Magill into the bottom corner of the net to put Antrim in front, but Fermanagh responded straight away to level the game.

Sophie Skelly then restored Antrims lead with a well worked free to Niamh Ní Mhuirrigh who gave the ball back to Skelly to slot it over with her left foot this time.

Antrim then picked up their first yellow card of the game with 5 minutes left of the 1st half and they increased their work rate across the pitch to make sure the Ernesiders did not get level before half time.

Half time Antrim 1-2, Fermanagh 0-4.

Starting the second half Fermanagh used the player advantage to their strength and within seconds of the throw in they went straight for the Antrim net. They caught Antrim on the overlap and captain Jessica Largo-Elis got their only goal to give they back the lead.

Just as Antrim battled to get their defence sorted, they picked up a dubious second yellow card within the opening minutes leave them with 13 players on the field. However, they still worked hard to move the ball only for the final execution of 4 wides in a row, while Fermanagh adding 4 points of their own to increase the lead.

As Antrim returned to 14 players on the field within a minute, they were back to 13 with yet another yellow card.

They worked tirelessly in defence and keeper Hanika Abhol putting in the performance of a lifetime to keep Fermanagh at bay. She retrieved the ball from a Fermanagh attack and carried it out to find Aoibhinn Austin who delivered a cross field ball to Ava le Mahieu on the 45 line. She carried the ball up the field and dispatched an excellent goal to give Antrim some hope.

Again, Antrim failed to covert scorable chances and hit a a few more wide, while Fermanagh didn’t make the same mistake and finished off with 2 frees to end the game.

Antrim U16s players and management will be disappointed in the result but they will learn a lot from that defeat and come back stronger next year.

TO SEE MORE OF BRIAN McKEE’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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