Antrim lost on the road to a very well organised and talented Monaghan minor side in their final group game. The outcome sends Antrim to Ulster Platinum final against Cavan and Monaghan to Gold final against Donegal.
A much changed Antrim side fell behind after 2 quick Monaghan points and never got their noses in front. To the credit of both teams the game was always competitive and the result was in doubt to the last with Antrim pushing for the win and the Farney girls picking off scores at vital times.
Monaghan dominated much of the first half play and seemed to score 2 points for every Antrim score. Indeed the young Saffs were somewhat wasteful in front of goal while Monaghan were able to pick off good scores from the impressive trio of Karen McGinn, Katie McAdam and Caoimhe Kelly and deservedly led 1-8 to 0-5 at the break.
Antrim were well served by Tara Rodgers, Aoife Garland and Chloe Boyd-Munce all making their first starts of the campaign and tried to overturn the halftime deficit with a spirited second half display. Antrim took the opportunity to rotate as many players as possible.
Playing with patience and composure Antrim chipped away at the Monaghan lead but the vital goal came for the home side midway through the second half and this left Antrim with just too much to do.
On a day when Monaghan needed to win they produced at key times and defended resolutely throughout.
Both sets of management could be happy with their team’s efforts in an entertaining match.
Antrim will use the next fortnight to get a number of injuries cleared while Monaghan will hope to build on today’s performance.
On a clammy dampish afternoon both these teams sit mid table after playing 3 league games and a solitary win each.
The 2 clubs deserve some credit in providing the crowd with a solid hours good hurling!!
As the referee threw the ball in, both teams defences lines stood strong and cancelled each other out.
It wasn’t until the ninth minute when the hosts Jackson McGreevy slotted over a point, he followed up with his second effort a minute later.
Next up popped Glenarm’s Sean O Hare who pointed a free, shortly afterwards he levelled this tight tussle with a well struck 70 yard free.
Mc Greevy again drove over a point taking his tally to 3 score’s.
Shane Ui Neill’s player Dylan McLaughlin collected the sliotar down the wing and struck a majestic point from out near the side-line.
Dubhaltach Mac Liam pointed next for the hosts but Glenarm where starting to win a few balls and hit a purple patch to take the lead with Dylan McLaughlin hitting three great points in a row, plus Sean O Hare rifling over a fine score.
From a very acute angle Ronan Crossan pointed for the hosts before young Gerard Burns, who has started his first year as a senior player for Glenarm drove over two excellent points.
An injury just before half time to Glenarm’s Sean O Boyle meant an early bath for him, hobbling off with a bad ankle injury, replaced by Sandy Johnston.
A point late in first half injury time for the hosts concluded the first period.
St Galls 0:07 Glenarm 0:09
The second half started in rip roaring fashion for St Galls as they levelled this tense game with two quick scores for Dubhaltach Mac Liam and a Jackson Greevy free.
Fergus Donnelly was covering every blade of grass on the pitch and took a delightful point for over 50 yards before Darren Hamill replied for the visitors with a nice effort.
Mark Napier slotted over a fine solo point, before a dead ball effort from Glenarm’s free taker Sean O Hare levelled this game for the fourth time.
It was end to end at this stage but St. Galls Jackson Mc Greevy then pointed a brace of frees, taking the hosts two scores clear.
For the hosts, Fergus Donnelly who was finding a lot of loose balls, found a gap and charged forward and drove the ball beyond Michael Abram in Glenarm nets for the game’s opening goal.
There was a bit of respite for the visitors as O Hare pierced the afternoon sky with his 5th point but it was short lived as Gregory McGreevy struck another major for the hosts, and Mark Napier getting his second point.
Sean O Hare pointed another free for the North Antrim side but it was the clock was against the Feystown side.
A threat from the hosts led to a wonder save from Michael Abram parrying the ball wide for a “65” (the supporters and St Gall’s management team applauded Abrams efforts to keep Glenarm in this match.)
The resulting placed ball was put over the bar from Mark Napier, followed up by Jackson and Gregory Mc Greevy slotting over points. A final point from St. Galls late on finished the game as the referee called for the sliotar.
Although an 11 point win looks a one sided game, both teams played really well and it wasn’t until the final quarter that St. Galls upped the ante and hit two game changing goals.
The hosts had a few great ball winners and scorers with Fergus Donnelly, Jackson Mc Greevy, Mark Napier and Dubhaltach Mach Liam all putting in a great hours work.
For Glenarm the Hamill brothers, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Conal Ward and young Gerard Burns all performed well. We wish John Scullion a speedy recovery from a chin injury.
Glenarm’s management will have a headache after today’s game, as they already have 6 senior players injured from the past two games and will be hoping that some of them will be available for the visit of St. Paul’s on the 26th April.
Brendan McTaggart reports from Chadwicks Wexford Park
The scoreline only told part of a frustrating story for Antrim as they fell to an 11 point defeat in their Leinster Championship opener on Saturday afternoon. In a hugely competitive game, instead of leaving Wexford Park discussing the game, the Antrim fans found themsleves discussing the officiating of the game.
Saffrons manager Davy Fitzgerald was visibly fuming after the game and pulled no punches with his assessment.
Antrim did make a brilliant start to the game and held four point leads on two different occasions in the opening 10 minutes. Five different scorers for their first six points, a penalty blazed over the bar from Gerard Walsh can be forgiven at such an early stage in the game and while it felt like Wexford were slow in clicking into gear, Fitzgerald stated that they were given a helping hand: “We started really well and the first 15 minutes of the second half we did really well.
When the home side did get to the pace of the game, it was Lee Chin who took the game by the scruff of the neck. Like 12 months ago, Chin was imperious. 16 white flags, 12 from placed ball and to say he was a handful would be an understatement. His aerial ability, cuteness in possession and accuracy from placed ball, Chin was bordering impossible to mark. Nine points in the first half, five from frees and all in the space of a 20 minute period that saw the home side outscore Antrim 0-11 to 0-3.
Wexford were reduced to 14 men in the same period with Jack O’Connor’s game ending for an off the ball incident involving Joe Maskey. Referee Lyons issuing a straight red after consultation with his umpires.
Antrim battled well and while they were made to work incredibly hard for any scores, the four point half time deficit was far from insurmountable. Indeed, five minutes into the second half the difference was halved with James McNaughton and Walsh bringing Antrim to within touching distance.
Four points separated the sides midway through the half when the game swung dramatically in favour of the home side. The first goal came through Kevin Foley when he rose highest among a crowd to fetch the sliotar. As he landed, he spotted a gap and found himself through on Ryan Elliott’s goal. His finish was brilliant and matched his catch second earlier. As Antrim looked to come to terms with the sucker punch, they were reduced to 14 men with Conor Boyd receiving a second yellow card for a fairly innocuous challenge. Another Chin free followed before Wexford’s second goal in the 60th minute. A strong run from Cian Molloy through the heart of the Saffron defence created the space for Cian Byrne and he gave Elliott no chance with a rasping drive to the top corner. A further two Chin frees followed as Wexford made it 2-3 in just less than 10 minutes and the Saffrons numerical advantage was wiped out. An uphill task was transformed into mission impossible but the Saffrons continued to fight and battle against the home side, something Fitzgerald was pleased with: “But look, I’m proud of the lads. The first 20 minutes of the first half, unreal. For 15 minutes of the second half, we were there.
“I’m not disappointed in the display. There was patches there where we were very good.
“It’s not me I feel bad for here, it’s those lads in there.
An 11 point defeat, beaten but not broken. This was a game where little should be taken from the final score. Antrim did do plenty of things well, very well in fact and there is plenty of positives to take from this display. The frustration of the 70 plus minutes will take some work to erase from the memory as they prepare for their next match. The small matter a home game against Kilkenny in eight days time.
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Paddy Burke, Conor Boyd; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh; Nigel Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Scott Walsh; Paul Boyle, James McNaughton, Seaan Elliott
Subs: Eoin O’Neill for N Elliott (concussion check: 32/35); Cormac McKeown for P Boyle (HT); Sean McKay for E Campbell (54); Joseph McLaughlin for S Elliott (56); Eoin O’Neill for J McNaughton (concussion check: 64/67); Eoin O’Neill for N Elliott (68); Ryan McGarry for S Rooney (70+3)
Scorers: J McNaughton 0-8 (4fs 2 ‘65s); G Walsh 0-4 (0-1 pen, 0-2 fs); K Molloy 0-3; N Elliott 0-1; S Elliott 0-1; J McLaughlin 0-1; C McKeown 0-1
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Simon Donohue, Conchúir Ó Foghlú; Cian Molloy, Damien Reck, Charlie McGuckin; Conor Hearne, Richie Lawlor; Jack O’Connor, Rory O’Connor, Kevin Foley; Cathal Dunbar, Lee Chin, Cian Byrne
Subs: Seamus Casey for C Byrne (61); Jack Redmond for R O’Connor (66); Darragh Carley for S Donohue (66); Niall Murphy for R Lawlor (69); Darren Codd for K Foley (70+2)
Scorers: L Chin 0-16 (12fs); C Hearne 0-3; R O’Connor 0-3; C Byrne 1-00; K Foley 1-00; C Dunbar 0-1; S Casey 0-1
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Despite an excellent second half Antrim lost to a Daithi O’Callaghan inspired Armagh in Crossmaglen on Saturday afternoon.
The young Saffrons will reflect on the number of wides they kicked in the opening half when they had the breeze at their backs as Ryan Dynes goal sent the Orchard to the dressing room leading 1-6 to 0-3 at the halfway stage.
Odhran Doherty was Antrim’s only first half scorer, the Portglenone lad converting three first half frees with Odhran Reel, Conal Wilson, Daithi O’Callaghan, Harry Fearon and a couple from Ronan Martin the Armagh first half point scorers.
It was obvious at the half way stage that Antrim would have to show marked improvement in the second half and despite facing the breeze, improve they did.
It was Ronan Reel who extended the Armagh lead with a point, early in the second half but points from Tom Duffin, Cillian Scullion and Odhran Doherty’s fourth pointed free of the evening had the Saffrons daring to believe.
Cormac Scullion added another to leave just two between the sides and the momentum was very much with the visitors before Daithi O’Callaghan grabbed the game by the scruff of the kneck to fire the Orchard back into control.
The mid-field dynamo hit an unanswered 1-2 to put his side in the driving and might have had a second goal but was off target from the penalty spot.
To their credit Antrim fought to the end and kicked the last two points through Joe Logan and a Torin Hodkinson 2 pointer to close the gap to five but that would be as close as they got.
It was a much improved second half from John O’Kane’s side but they will look back on their inaccuracy in the opening half and if they had scored a greater percentage of their opportunities then there would have been little in it in the end.
TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Antrim’s goalkeeper Maeve Scullion sets up for another brilliant save at close quarters from Offaly’s skillful Siofra Ginty
Antrim v Offaly Eir All Ireland U16 ‘A’ Shield 19th April 2025
Antrim 1-10 Offaly 3-06
Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran in Portglenone
Antrim’s dream of an All-Ireland final came to an end when a determined Offaly side fired in their third goal in the eleventh minute of the second half, leaving the Saffrons with an uphill battle to close a six-point gap, despite Offaly unable to score for the remainder of the game.
A Cliodhna Thompson goal in the twenty sixth minute found the roof of the net from a free, despite the line packed with Offaly players. This gave Antrim hope, but as they say, goals win games, and an eventual two points difference would see Offaly over the line for their final.
Portglenone were the hosts for today’s All-Ireland game and worries regarding the status of the pitch were unnecessary as the turf weathered the recent deluge of rain remarkably well.
Today’s referee, Karol Collins, got proceedings underway, with a coin toss that allowed Antrim to choose playing into the wind in the first half, and at the top of the hour at 3 o’clock, it would be Antrim’s JoJo Darragh that would press into Offaly’s territory in just under thirty seconds from the throw-in but the sliotar would drift wide of the post.
Antrim’s Anna Smyth would register the first score with a fine point following a period of intense play for the sliotar and Eimear Ward would make that two points on the board following a skillful solo run and with six minutes gone, Cliodhna Thompson tidied up a pass that gave Antrim three points.
Offaly’s Laura Foley had Collins chalking up The Faithful County’s first point after a pass from teammate Keeva Davey, but Antrim’s first pain point would come sixteen minutes in from a free awarded to Offaly that dropped dangerously into Antrim’s square from Keeva Davey. An instinctive reaction from keeper, Maeve Scullion was to block the sliotar, but an unmarked and alert Siofra Ginty would pull on the loose ball for Offaly’s first of three green flags.
Antrim would respond to that goal with a fine solo and point from Cliodhna Thompson, but Offaly would reply with a punishing point from Ginty after a puck out dropped short into the wind, followed by Ginty’s 45. Antrim’s Caoimhe McErlain kept the scoreboard alive when she won a hard-earned ruck with a fine finishing point but just as the Saffron’s were making progress, Offaly replied with another two points, one from a free by Ginty and a second after Antrim’s Amy Gault swept back to the goal line to save a certain goal but the puck out went straight into the hands of a receptive Keeva Davey.
There was no shortage of physicality and strength in today’s All Ireland encounter between Antrim and Offaly
With only three points the difference at the twenty fifth minute, amidst a cluster of players in Antrim’s square, Siofra Ginty managed to find the net for her second goal and topped that with a point in less than a minute. Antrim would claw back one of those whenever Cliodhna Thompson was fouled and made good of the opportunity for her point just before the half time whistle, scores on the board Antrim 0-06 Offaly 2-06.
Offaly made good of the wind advantage in the first half and carried the sliotar far into Antrim’s half from their puck outs, negating the need and risk of working the sliotar out and up the pitch. Offaly made the most of those and worked their opportunities into unmarked players to create goal opportunities. It would be Antrim’s turn to see if the elements would deliver similar opportunities.
The second half started well for Antrim, Thompson and McErlain both pointing early but Offaly turned up the heat on the eleventh minute and a tidy sequence of play seeing Caragh Brophy hand pass at speed to a running Annie Mulhare, offloading to a nearby and unmarked Laura Foley for Offaly’s third and final green flag.
Antrim’s Fiadh Sands races to gain possession of the sliotar as the clock counts down the last few minutes in today’s All Ireland game between Antrim and Offaly
Six points adrift, Antrim started their move on the board as Tamara Black cleverly intercepted a free out from Offaly, and solo ran the sliotar close enough to carry the bar. The game now entered a period of physical intensity, reflecting Offaly’s determination to preserve their lead and Antrim’s need to gain more ground on the board. Offaly had their chance at another goal thwarted by Antrim’s Maeve Scullion after a brilliant save to keep the Saffrons in the game and Antrim’s perseverance was rewarded as Cliodhna Thompson found the net from a packed goal line from a free outside of the 13m line.
Despite several attempts to gain ground to deliver the sliotar over Offaly’s bar, Antrim weren’t able to find a break and Collins blew for full time, much to the relief of the Offaly fans who were weathering an intense period of play from a pressing Antrim.
Final score on the board, Antrim 1-10 Offaly 3-06. Offaly now progress to the final, playing Waterford, who managed to win by two points from Derry today.
