Category / Division 1

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks deny Dunloy the chance to retain the league cup

Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1a Tuesday 8th July 2025

Loughgiel 4-11 v Dunloy 3-09

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel

On a drizzling murky evening unbecoming of a summer’s eve, Loughgiel and Dunloy squared up in their penultimate league encounters, with Dunloy in with a chance to retain their league cup if the stats would hold true for them. Unfortunately a win for Cushendall against Ballycastle and a loss at the hands of Loughgiel would close the door for the Cuchullians, despite another game to play and the league baton now passes across to Cushendall.

Tonight’s game drummed up goals and lots of points worked up from creating space and chances. Loughgiel’s Orlagh Laverty picked up tonight’s form where she left off, running, scoring and creating scoring chances. Laverty would strike with the first goal at the road end after twenty minutes and spectators could have been forgiven to think the game was sliding away from Dunloy as the Shamrocks started to run up the points, but a goal three minutes later from Eobha McAllister amidst a flurry of close quartered action brought the game back to six the difference in favour of Loughgiel.

Another Cuchullian goal, this time from Lisa McConville, again at close quarters from a Mary McArthur lob that was brought down initially safely by Loughgiel’s goalkeeper, Emma McAllister, had Dunloy trailing by only four points at the half time whistle, Loughgiel 1:10 Dunloy 2:03 and still everything to play for at the restart.

Loughgiel’s Emma McFadden brings the sliotar into Shamrock possession

Dunloy took the restart by the horns and two fine points from Eobha McAllister closed the gap to just two before Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty found Katie McKillop and a well placed sliotar to the left side of Clodagh O’Kane after seven minutes, took Loughgiel another goal forward. It wasn’t too long before a third Shamrock goal would appear, as Emma McFadden launched a long ball, gained as the spoils of a tackle, into the half forward area and a running substitute, Carlina Sullivan found the back of Dunloy’s net.

The Shamrocks were on the verge of drifting well ahead until Dunloy struck green again with their substitute, Sarah Louise Kearns, finding a way to slip the sliotar past an advancing Loughgiel goalkeeper and now with only two points in the game with nine minutes of normal play, scores stood at Loughgiel 3-10 Dunloy 3-08.

Dunloy’s Mary McArthur takes the spoils away from a ground battle

Both Loughgiel and Dunloy found themselves swapping points, Dunloy’s coming from a well worked move up the field, eventually finding the secure hand and stick of Eobha McAllister and Loughgiel’s Orlagh Laverty would finish tonight’s game with a point and a goal that stemmed from a McFadden catch from a Dunloy puck out, released to find Laverty on the move for that final score in the game, leaving the scoreboard at Loughgiel 4-11 Dunloy 3-09.

Loughgiel panel and scorers

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Emma McFadden, Maria Lynn, Ciara Connelly, Louise McKillop, Zoe Cassley, Ciara Laverty, Anna Connelly 0-01, Shanna Deery, Marie Laverty 0-02, Katie McKillop 1-01, Orlagh Laverty 2-04, Kirsty McKendry 0-01, Anna McKillop 0-02, Shauna McKillop, Finvola McVeigh, Sarah Flavin, Therese McKinley, Carlina Sullivan 1-00

Dunloy panel and scorers

Clodagh O’Kane, Kathryn Boyle, Sarah McIlhatton, Carly McNamee, Casey Crawford, Katie Laverty, Eilis Kearns, Eimear McMullan, Micha Cunning, Eobha McAllister 1-06 (1f), Caoimhe Molloy 0-02, Kyra Doherty, Mary McArthur 0-01, Erin McMullan, Lisa McConville 1-00, Kirsty McFerran, Sarah Louise Kearns, Orla McMullan, A McAllister 1-00

You can see more photos from the game by following this link to the album…

https://myalbum.com/album/SPTJGKWrbQFE3R/?invite=89b0c4d1-cb1d-4983-9876-db7509e0b283

by thesaffrongael

Ruairis rally late to seal the league title

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Ballycastle 2-08 Cushendall 2-14

A late scoring burst which yielded a goal and four points without reply saw Cushendall win the Division 1 League title for the first time in thirty years, beating Ballycastle by 2-14 to 2-06 at Pairc MacUilin on Tuesday evening. When Ballycastle’s full-forward Ellen McIntosh scored a brilliant goal from the narrowest of angles in the 53rd minute to cut the deficit back to a single point, it looked like they could get something out of this game, but Cushendall came back with a vengeance and hit a goal and four points within six minute to seal the win. With this game in the bag the Ruairis needed Loughgiel to do them a favour against Dunloy up at Fr Healy Park and within a few minutes the word had   filtered through that the county champions had won by five against their old rivals and Cushendall were able to celebrate their success.

Cushendall substitute Caoimhe O’Hara receives treatement from team attendant Collette Birt during their clash with Ballycastle

Eimear McCaughan gave Ballycastle an early lead but Orlagh O’Hara brought Cushendall level soon afterwards. Two points from full forward Ellen McIntosh put the home team two clear but again Cushendall found an answer when Cara O’Boyle and Orlagh O’Hara found the target for Cushendall.  

Ballycastle got the upper hand and boosted by a great goal by Ellen McIntosh, following a brilliant run by Eimear McCaughan, they went four ahead with half time fast approaching they opened a four point gap, but Brogan Abram cut it back three before Orlagh O’Hara capitalised on a short puc-out that went astray and levelled matters just on half time.

Ballycastle’s Fay McIntosh in action against Cushendall’s Amy McAllister during Tuesday evening’s leagute game at Pairc Mac Uilin

Ballycastle were finding the going tougher after the change of ends and three points from the visitors through Brogan Abram and Orlagh O’Hara gave them a bit of breathing space. They had opened the gap to five midway through the second half but an excellent point by Eimear McCaughan and a goal by Ellen McIntosh gave the ‘Castle renewed hope.

However a Brogan Abram point got Cushendall going again on 24 minutes and two minutes later Cara O’Boyle delivered the killer blow with brilliant individual goal, before Orlagh O’Hara closed the door on their opponents with three more points to seal the league title.

Cushendall’s Cara O’Boyle celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal

by thesaffrongael

St Paul’s Blitz Aghagallon with First-Half Firepower

ACFL Division 1

St Paul’s 3-11 Aghagallon 1-9

ACFL Division 1 – Saturday, June 21st

Report and Pics: Brian Hamill

St Paul’s turned on the style under the Friday night lights as they swept aside Aghagallon with a powerful first-half performance that laid the groundwork for a convincing win in this Antrim ACFL Division 1 clash.

The Shaw’s Road men were out of the blocks like lightning, and within four minutes, they had rattled the net through a surging run and finish from Lorcan Phillips. That early goal set the tone for what would be a dominant opening half, with the hosts moving the ball with pace and precision.

A second green flag followed shortly after, this time from Caoimhin Duffy, who finished coolly after a mistake in the Aghagallon defence. Conall Duffy added a third goal before the break, and by the 20 minute mark, the home side had opened up a nine-point lead.

Aghagallon, to their credit, kept battling. Ruairi McCann, Eunan Walsh and Adam Loughran chipped in with points to keep the scoreboard ticking, but they struggled to gain a foothold in midfield where James Farrell and Conor Hughes were dominant.

The second half saw a brief rally from the visitors. Jonny Hannon, who had been their most dangerous outlet, found the net for Aghagallon, midway through the half to reduce the deficit to six and converted several frees on the day. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as St Paul’s responded with a string of well-taken points from Ciaran Rogers-Duffy frees and from general play.

The majority of the second half was all about game management for the hosts, who controlled possession and picked off scores with relative ease. The result sees St Paul’s leapfrog the visitors in the division 1 league table.

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN HAMILL’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/FzC3ijVgXHyBYT

by thesaffrongael

A night for the big teams in the Antrim Camogie League

Antrim Camogie League Division 1

It was a night for the big teams in tTuesday’s Antrim Camogie League Division 1 with Dunloy, Loughgiel, Cushendall and Ballycastle all running out convincing winners against Tir na nÓg, Bridini Oga, Ahoghill and Portglenone.

Caoimhe Molloy had her sights set well during her team’s win over Tír na nÓg at Pearse Park

The Randalstown girls did quite well in the first half of their game in Dunloy, but the flood gates opened in the second half as they added eight goals to the one they had scored in the first half, Derbhail Elliott and Caoimhe Molloy both netting hat-tricks.

Loughgiel hit seven in their win over Bridini Oga at Fr Healy Park, Ruairi Og hit 4-28 against Ahoghill in Cloney while Ballycastle ran up 7-13 in their win over Portglenone at Pairc MacUílin

Tír na nÓg centre back Emma Louise McAreavey battle it out with Dunloy’s Aoibhe McAllister

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE DUNLOY V TÍR NA NÓG GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/ECN5Lgs2uzeQXg/?invite=41f908af-e696-4aa2-8aec-f6a52f7e0cda

by thesaffrongael

Ruairi Og Juvenile Awards

Ruairí Óg hosted their annual Juvenile Presentation on Saturday, a special occasion to celebrate the remarkable achievements of their young players both on and off the field from the season past. 

The event spanned all age groups, from the Fundamentals group to the Under-16 hurlers and camogs, recognising the dedication, hard work, and progress made throughout the season. 

Funamental award winners
Under 6 Hurling awards winners with Ruairi Og senior hurler Christy McNaughton
Under 6 Camogie awad winners
Under 8 hurlers who recieved their awards from Antrim county star Fred McCurry

Successes included the U12 Gael na Glinntí hurling team winners of the A section of the North Antrim festival of hurling, U14 Tain Óg winners Gael na Glinntí, U15 Camogie Féile winners & All Ireland finalists, U16 hurling league champions and U16 camogie league, feis & championship winners. 

Players were applauded for their sporting achievements, while off-field contributions such as commitment and teamwork were equally highlighted. 

Under 8 Camogie winners
Under 10 hurling winners
Under 10 hurling winners with Fred McCurry

Individual camogie awards were presented across all levels from Under 12 up, with special mentions for those who demonstrated exceptional growth and performances this season. 

The Presentation day was a fitting tribute to the talent and spirit of the club’s youth, reflecting Ruairí Óg’s strong commitment to nurturing both athletic and personal development in its players.

To see more photos from this event click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/uoKNDYp4WcDRmN