Author / thesaffrongael

Posts by thesaffrongael

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

Two out of two for high scoring Antrim

LGFA NFL Division 4

 Antrim 5-7 (22) – Sligo 2-8 (14) 

Antrim senior ladies made the long journey to Enniscrone-Kilglass on Sunday to play Sligo and came home with maximum points. 

In absolutely terrible conditions this group worked tirelessly and we’re thoroughly deserving winners on the day.

Antrim showed intent from the off and early scores from Lara Dahunsi and Maria o Neill set the tone for what was to come. 

Sligo then hit back with scores of their own but majors from Theresa Mellon and Sarah O’Neill put the visitors firmly in the driving seat. 

Just before the break a great block at one end of the pitch from Maeve Blaney turned defence into attack before Nicole Jones finished to the net at the other end as the visitors moved further ahead.

The last score of the half came from Aiobheann Monaghan who hammered the ball over the bar. Aiobheann who is still a minor and making her senior debut can certainly be proud of her senior debut. 

The second half was a tense affair with contrasting fortunes with Aine Devlin saving a penalty and Nicole Jones hammering a penalty to the Sligo net at the other end.

Sligo continued to battle and came within 3 points of Antrim at one stage but up stepped Maria O’Neill with a goal and Bronagh Devlin with a point to put the gloss on a personal performance from the captain who was inspirational from start to finish.

All in all a hard fought victory against a strong Sligo side who were very fit and well organised… 

Team mangers, Micky Devlin and Chris Scullion were delighted with their side’s performance, “Those girls showed unbelievable character out there today. Their work ethic from first to last whistle was top class. We introduced 7 subs today with every one of them making a massive contribution. 

That was a performance based on togetherness and energy and they managed the Conditions really well.” 

They continued “We are still working hard on the foundations here and this new look Antrim panel will keep digging deep and build week by week”

TO VIEW MORE PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/umbf8ikKpbKTER

by thesaffrongael

Antrim camogs have good work-out against Dublin

Antrim v Down Challenge match  Saturday 25th January

Antrim 1-16 Dublin 2-21

Match report and photos from Antrim County Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran

Perched atop west Belfast, St. Mary’s pitch was an Éowyn survivor; dry underfoot and free from the debris scattered around the road leading up the hill. Dublin bravely travelled the road, keen for sliotar action and they got plenty. Antrim were missing several of the regulars but that gave managers McCormick and Coulter an opportunity to run out a squad from depth and plenty of opportunities came for game time across the bench.

Antrim fared well in the first half and after a goal from Orlaith McAllister, it looked like both squads would be level at 1-09 apiece going into the break, but a tricky daisy cutter from Dublin, that could’ve been the result of a mishit, left Antrim’s keeper, Becky Ellis, rooted to the ground as the sliotar shook the back of the net for their second goal.

The second half started with a period of play where Antrim held their own point for point, but fifteen minutes in, Dublin started to win their fair share of the puck outs and converted many of those into points. Orlaith McAllister would be back in the square, firing a short low shot to goal but an outstretched hurl deflected the sliotar wide for a 45. Antrim’s Nicole McAtamney, Katie Molloy and Annie Lynn continued to threaten, but Dublin had enough on the board to enjoy the full-time whistle, in the end leading by a margin of eight points.

Antrim’s management will be heartened by today’s game, where Erin Coulter, Maeve Kelly and Amy Boyle kept the inertia going around the midfield and fed clever sliotars in for scoring opportunities. Antrim’s Cassie McArthur was pivotal in being a physical presence and Janey McIntosh was a persistent concern for Dublin’s full back line, being omnipresent across a large portion of the field.  For a winter Saturday friendly, you could argue, everyone walked off a winner.

Photos from today’s game can be found by following the link below…

https://myalbum.com/album/iQqdGEs9ghrGNL/?invite=beff6372-ea42-449e-8bb2-f0183f5bfb13

Follow Michael G. Corcoran on Twitter/X @keep_clickin for match GIFS when available.

Follow @TheSaffronGael on Twitter/X for links to match reports and much more.

by thesaffrongael

Saffrons make perfect start in testing conditions

Allianz National Football League, Division Three

Antrim 1-09-1-06 Clare

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park

ANTRIM hung on in terrible conditions at Corrigan Park to claim their first National League win with a hard fought 1-09-1-06 victory over Clare on Sunday afternoon.

Andy McEntee’s charges made a blistering start, leading through Conor Hand’s point with debutant Fionn Nagle palming over Mick Byrne’s free that hung in the wind.

Hand landed the only two-point score of the contest with a little help from the blustery elements that saw the ball bounce over and the 7th minute the hosts were well on the road to victory.

Nagle had the simplest of tasks in turning home from close range after Paddy McBride played a one-two before bearing down on goal and opting for a switch to the St Enda’s clubman.

It took Clare until the 10th minute before they replied but it was in the form of a goal.

Aaron Griffin held onto the ball well before laying it off to Ciaran Downes whose attempted shot dropped to the net with a little help of a deflection to make it 1-04-1-00.

A converted Emmet McMahon free followed midway through the half for the visitors but Antrim soon regained the initiative.

Midfielders Conor Hand and Conor Stewart combined- with the later kicking his first point of the afternoon and Ryan Murray opened his account on his first appearance for the Saffrons since 2023.

Clare may have doubled their goal tally before the break; however, Brian McNamara’s shot was magnificently pushed behind by Mick Byrne and McNamara sent a low effort into Byrne’s mid-drift a few minutes later.

The hosts added to their lead before the break, Byrne lofted in a free that swirled in the wind and rain; Ronan Boyle let fly with a shot into the crowd and Paddy McBride gathered and popped over to give his side a 1-07-1-01 lead at the midway point.

Byrne made another crucial save within minutes of the restart, denying Sean McAlister’s angled shot.

Clare hit quickfire points through Ciaran Downes and McAlister- who bore down on goal, but his attempt rose over the bar.

On the 51st minute Emmet McMahon looked as though his shot was destined for the net until Byrne stuck up a hand to divert the ball over the bar.

With ten minutes remaining Antrim were without a score and their six-point advantage was halved.

The pressure lifted when Paddy McBride swung over a free after Clare were penalised for not having the required three attackers in their own half.

Conor Stewart doubled his account soon after as Antrim were now 1-09-1-04 to the good.

Visitors Clare weren’t going quietly though as Brian McNamara clipped over and substitute Cormac Murray reacted quickly to a loose ball that dropped, and his shot flew over in the first minute of injury time.

Their last chance to salvage a point came deep into injury time as Keelan Sexton floated a free into the square, but the ball was palmed wide, and Antrim survived a second half fightback to make a winning start to the 2025 season.

Antrim full back Eunan Walsh makes a brilliant block to deny Clare a match saving goal in the final minute of Sunday’s league opener at Corrigan Park

ANTRIM: M Byrne, J Morgan, E Walsh, K Keenan, R Boyle, J Finnegan, D McAleese, C Stewart (0-2), C Hand (0-3), P Finnegan, M Jordan, P McBride (0-2, 0-1f), R Murray (0-1), F Nagle (1-1), D McEnhill. Subs: R McQuillan for D McEnhill (23), P Ferris for K Keenan (61), N Burns for R McQuillan (70+1).

CLARE: E Tubridy, M Doherty, C Brennan, C Rouine, I Ugweuru, F Kelliher, A Sweeney, B McNamara (0-1), S McAllister, E Cleary, E McMahon (0-2, 0-1f), D Walsh, C Downes (1-1), A Griffin (0-1), K Sexton. Subs: G Murray for S McAllister (56), C Murray (0-1) for A Griffin (66), S Griffin for C Rouine (70+1), D Burns for E Cleary (70+1).

REFEREE: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/7LYtf2k7uAN9cC

by thesaffrongael

Saffrons sunk by dynamic Dubs

Allianz National Hurling League – Division 1B

Antrim 0-14 Dublin 1-25

Saturday 25 January 

Brendan McTaggart reports from Croke Park, Dublin

If Davy Fitzgerald was under any illusions as to the task he has on his hands, he would have had his eyes opened in Croke Park on Saturday evening.  A 14 point defeat that, if we’re honest, probably flattered the Saffrons as Dublin cruised to an opening weekend win in the Division 1b of the Allianz National hurling league.

Since taking up the reins, Fitzy has told us on more than one occasion that it was going to take time to implement the plans he has.  At times, scarce as they might have been, you could see what the plans might be.  It’s not dramatic or drastic changes but it’s taking a bit of getting used to.  Davy has called for patience and time.  There’ll be no major or harsh judgements made on the opening day of the league as the size of the job has been outlined further after this 70 minutes of hurling. 

Deploying Niall O’Connor as the extra man in defence, Antrim looked to nullify the threat from the home team and in the opening quarter they looked to have that home sides attacking talents under control.  In attack, James McNaughton was the pick of the bunch and the Loughgiel man excelled in that opening 35 minutes.  He had plenty of support from Nigel Elliott and Niall McKenna as Antrim made a bright start to the game.

James McNaughton who was Antrim’s top scorer with ten points in Saturday’s league opener against Dublin at Croke Park. Pic by John McIlwaine

Two points separated the sides in the 10th minute when the only goal of the contest came.  It was a quite brilliant piece of hurling that had the Dublin support purring.  Daire Gray with the cross field ball into the corner for Iain Ó hEithir to gather.  The Dublin defender surveyed his options and picked the run of Conal Ó Riain who didn’t have to break stride as he bore towards Ryan Elliott’s goal.  The pass was sublime and the finish was emphatic, Ó Riain put daylight between the sides but Antrim responded well to hit four of the next five scored before the 21st minute.  All from the hurl of McNaughton (three frees) while Dublin sharpshooter Cian O’Sullivan provided the response the home side.

With just two between the sides going into the final quarter of the half, Dublin clicked through the gears.  In the time that remained before half time, the Saffrons managed two white flags – both from McNaughton (one free) while Dublin split the uprights a further eight times.  Five from O’Sullivan and placed balls while a brace from Dara Purcell and Ó Riain had eight between the sides at the short whistle.

Antrim’s Nial O’Connor hand passes the ball away during Saturday’s NHL Division 1B game against Dublin at Croke Park. Pic by John McIlwaine

Any hopes of a dramatic Antrim comeback were soon extinguished in the opening exchanges of the second half with O’Sullivan, Conor Burke and Ó Riain splitting the posts to extend Dublin’s lead.

McKenna added points either side of a brace from O’Sullivan but the Dubs were purring through the gears with some precise passages of play that Antrim simply had no answer to.

Antrim’s inability to win possession from either attacking or defensive puck-outs where killing their chances of building any sort of attacking or score board momentum and while the Dubs were far from efficient in that second half, totalling 10 wides after the interval, they never looked like wavering.

The Saffrons continued to look for ways through the Dublin defence, Keelan Molloy playing in a much deeper role at times as they looked to alternate their point of attack but a number of wides, albeit from distance and shots dropping short ensured the Dubs could play without any semblance of a major threat coming their way.

Both sides emptied their benches, Antrim in an attempt to breathe impetus into their attack while the home side had thoughts on saving legs and getting game time into their panel.

Antrim looked to drop deeper and starve the Dublin attack of any meaningful space but the home side were more than happy try and take scores from distance.  Conor Burke’s score that saw him run fully 50 yards unopposed before splitting the uprights from half way one that left some scratching their head.

O’Sullivan would finish with 13 points beside his name in a man of the match display while Ó Riain’s 1-3 was eye catching and his overall performance was certainly top drawer.  Paddy Burke, Declan McCloskey and Nigel Elliott all performed well for the Saffrons but there’s work to be done ahead of their next outing when they welcome Westmeath to Corrigan Park next Sunday.

Dublin’s Dara Pircell in action during his team’s win over Antrim at Croke Park. Pic by John McIlwaine

TEAMS

Dublin: Eddie Gibbons; John Bellew, David Lucey, Iain Ó hEithir; Paddy Dunleavy, Chris Crummey, Daire Gray; Brian Hayes, Conor Burke; Conal Ó Riain, Cian O’Sullivan, Darragh Power; Fergal Whitely, John Hetherton, Dara Purcell

Subs: Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing for F Whitely (43); Sean Gallagher for D Gray (46); Cillian Hayes for B Hayes (57); David Purcell for J Hetherton (59); Jack Lambert for P Dunleavy (63)

Scorers: C O’Sullivan 0-13 (10fs 1’65); C Ó Riain 1-3; D Purcell 0-3; C Crummey 0-2; C Burke 0-2; J Hetherton 0-1; C Hayes 0-1

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Conor Boyd, Ryan McGarry, Paddy Burke; Declan McCloskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle; Niall McKenna, Nigel Elliott, James McNaughton; Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill, Niall O’Connor

Subs: Eoin McFerran for C Boyd (HT); Gerard Walsh for R McGarry (HT); Seaan Elliott for N O’Connor (47); Joe Maskey for C Bohill (54); Joseph McLaughlin for E O’Neill (66)

Scorers: J McNaughton 0-10 (8fs); N McKenna 0-2; N O’Connor 0-1; N Elliott 0-1

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

Dublin centre forward Cian O’Sullivan who hit 13 points in his team’s win over Antrim at Croke Park. Pic by John McIlwaine

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

https://myalbum.com/album/ZVqBDsvkxBXWvd

by thesaffrongael

Antrim team to meet Clare announced

NFL Division 3

Antrim v Clare

Sunday Corrigan Park – 1-00pm

The Antrim team to face Clare in Sunday’s NFL Division 3 opener has been announced. Manager Andy McEntee has gone with a fairly experienced lineout with Fionn Nagle the only new face from last year and the St. Enda’s man makes his NFL debut at full-forward.

Nagle’s inclusion will come as no surprise to those who have seen him in action for the Glengormley Club and he should give the Saffron’s another scoring option in a side that sees the experienced Ryan Murray return after a year out with a serious injury.