Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

Biggest test yet for Saffrons as the champions come to town

By Gerry Johnston

The Antrim senior team continues their Glen Dimplex Senior All-Ireland Championship campaign on Saturday when they host All-Ireland and league champions, Galway in Dunloy.

Antrim have made a good start to their campaign with a win, a draw and a defeat in their three games which keeps them in the race for a place in the top three and the spot in the All-Ireland quarter-finals that comes with it.

One week after “tying the knot” Nicole O’Neill is back in action for the Saffron as they face Galway

Saturday will be the biggest test yet for Antrim. Galway have shown themselves to be the best team in Ireland and are the current holder of both of the biggest prizes in intercounty Camogie. They won the Senior All-Ireland on the same day Antrim won the Intermediate title at Croke Park and then in April Antrim were involved in another double header with Galway at Croke Park when the Saffrons lost to Wexford in the Division 2 final while Galway recorded another win over Cork to win Division 1.

So far, Galway have been flawless in the defence of their All-Ireland title. They started the group stage with a 13-point win over Limerick and have backed that up with a nine-point win away to Offaly and then a resounding 26-point win over Down in their most recent fixture.

The Saffs began their campaign with a 17-point win in Offaly before drawing away to Down. Last time out, the Antrim ladies battled hard and gave a very good account of themselves before going down by six points to an excellent Kilkenny team.

This will be a massive game for Antrim and while there’s no tougher test than taking on the best team in the country, it’s a challenge to be relished. Antrim wants to compete at the highest level and over the last 12 months, nobody has reached higher peaks than Galway so a good result or performance here would really lay down a marker of how far Antrim have come over the last few seasons.

Antrim’s Aine Magill who scored 2-2 in the win over Offaly in the Saffron’s opening game

Win, lose or draw on Saturday, Antrim will still be in the running for a quarter-final spot. That is likely to come down to results between Antrim, Down and Limerick. With Down and Limerick playing each other this weekend that will make the permutations much clearer heading into the last game against Limerick but if Antrim could get some points here it would tip the scales massively in their favour.

This match will be played as part of a double-header with the Intermediate team taking on Armagh in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship at 2pm.

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Juniors face Armagh in Dunloy

By Gerry Johnston

The Antrim Intermediate team are involved in a crucial Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship meeting with Armagh at Dunloy this Saturday afternoon.

Both Antrim and Armagh are coming into the match with perfect records. Armagh have won three from three and are already guaranteed a place in the semi-finals while Antrim have won two from two and requires just one more point to guarantee a place in the last four of the competition.

These sides have met a few times this season with Armagh coming out on top in the league and the Ulster Intermediate final but Antrim have kept the games competitive which hasn’t been the case for Armagh’s matches in this competition so far. They started with a 33-point win over Limerick and followed that up with a 24-point win over Down and then a 30-point win over Roscommon.

Antrim have also been comfortable in their wins. They beat Roscommon by 12 points and last time out they beat Down by 14 points. Both of those games were away from home so they will be hopeful that with their last two games at home they will be able to do enough to get over the line.

Avoiding defeat to Armagh will be enough to secure a semi-final place for Antrim but even if they are unable to win on Saturday, they will have an insurance policy with a game against Limerick still to come. That would be very much a second prize though and the target will be to secure the last four spots this weekend.

These Ulster rivals have enjoyed some good battles this year and Saturday should be another tough game. They both look to be in pole position for a place in the last four but with the group winner facing the runner-up in the other group, there’s plenty at stake for both sides.

This game will be the first of a double-header alongside the senior match against Galway.

by thesaffrongael

Latharna Og continue to impress

Ladies Development Camogie League

Final score Davitts 1-1 to Latharna Og 0-20

 On a hot June evening, Latharna Og were hosted by Falls Road natives Davitts GAC in the last League game before the split. The contest started slowly with a flurry of play as Latharna Og pushed forward but struggled to convert from any chances created.

 Eventually the stalemate was broken by a well worked passage of play originating from a quick-thinking Niamh McKendry , to Sarah McConkey linking up with Colleen who dutifully cleared the backline culminating in Bronagh Shields teasing out the debut score.

Soon after Ash Mulvenna pucked a long-range clearance from which Beth McAuley chalked up her first score, by another from a free as a result of a foul on the tenacious Niamh McKendry. Megan McKillop was no stranger to the scoreboard and converted Erin Petticrew’s eagle eyed handpass.

The favour was returned shortly after with Erin benefitting from some nice movement on the forward line taking the score to 0-7 to 0-0 in favour of the visitors. Ash and Francesca continued to display a blanket defence, returning the sliothar upfield away from danger time and time again.

Eventually however, Davitts spotted a gap and worked their way through the once impenetrable backline, rattling the “onion bag” with a short range rifling shot – little could be done to stop it, the only major of the day as it would turn out. Davitts kept the pressure and despite a heroic block down from Sarah McConkey as they homed in on goal once more, Latharna Og’s discipline slipped gifting a close quarter free which Davitts gratefully converted.

 Beth McAuley added another point from play taking the score to 1-1 Davitts to 0-8 Latharna Og as he half time whistle sounded. That was as close as the two teams would get, with the Brustin Brae girls showing their skill and stamina in the blistering heat. Megan McKillop got the second half off with a lovely point from play, another one for Bronagh Shields and McKillop followed with another.

The Latharna Og defence was outstanding and kept a clean sheet throughout the second half against the wind with Kate O’Brien, Leigh Murphy and Francesca Black shepherding the resolute Davitts forwards away from scoring positions.

Francesca Black would eventually put her body on the line leading to the introduction of Emma McConkey into the game. Bronagh Shields continued to mesmorise the Davitt’s defence, allowing Megan and Beth to add 2 points each to their tally.

Nuala Petticrew selflessly handed off a golden opportunity to Beth McAuley who converted as Alicia Gribben was introduced with 15 minutes left to play and made a strong contribution. Davitts would only threaten the Larne defence in earnest twice in the second half, but were foiled by a textbook block by Ash Mulvenna which resulted in a broken hurl.

Latharna Og continued their recent good form in a game that was a forward’s dream, perfect conditions and some well taken scores but the player of the Match was Bronagh Shields who worked tirelessly between half back and half forward, almost raising the green flag from an unfortunately deflected ground stroke.

Latharna Og Scorers: Beth McAuley 0-12 (4f) Megan McKillop 0-5 Bronagh Shields 0-2 Erin Petticrew 0-1

Latharna Og: Sarah Murray, Leigh Murphy,  Kate O’Brien,  Sarah McConkey,  Colleen Duffy,  Ash Mulvenna,  Francesca Black,  Natasha Dempster,  Niamh McKendry,  Erin Petticrew,  Nicola Black,  Bronagh Shields,  Beth McAuley,  Megan McKillop,  Nuala Petticrew,  Emma McConkey,  

Subs: Emma McCloskey,  Alicia Gribben , Alex Fergie

by thesaffrongael

Naomh Padraig – Ag Obair Le Chéile


Small Rural Clubs and Amalgamations

By Marty Bellew
I made the decision to move from Belfast to North Antrim a load of years back. Well, actually, my wife made the decision for me. Her mother’s family, from Cushendall and her father’s from Loughgiel, when someone with that genetic mix tells you to do something there’s no point in arguing. My own family are Naomh Gall people through and through. My nieces and nephews and their fathers are all very active in the club to this day. The youngest brother, Ciaran, ‘Barrett’ migrated to the North West a few years back and is the current net minder for Setanta Hurling Club in Killygordon, Donegal. He claims he’s the best keeper in the county – he’s not! But he loves every minute of playing for his club and the great friends he has made along the way. A small club offering him an experience to match the childhood memories spent in the hustle and bustle of Belfast playing for St Galls.
When you move away from the place where you grew up, one of the biggest decisions you have to make is deciding on a club for your children. It’s more important than picking a house or a school, it’s life-changing and something my wife and I did not take lightly. With her mum being a Regan from Cushendall and her father being a McFadden from Loughgiel, naturally we chose … Naomh Padraig North Antrim, as our club.


Naomh Padraig was formed 8 years ago to serve a purpose, a vision. That being, to provide sporting opportunities for children in small rural communities with dwindling populations. Numbers in small rural Primary schools are on the decline, aided by a government turning their backs on them through cuts to funding and the withdrawal of key services. Likewise children from small rural communities need the help and support of others to sustain and develop their national games. Naomh Padraig started off as an amalgamation of Armoy, Carey and Cushendun. Cloughmills joined in a little later too. The trend in recent years, within the GAA, has been for families to bypass their small local club for the big established neighbour. For many it is the easier option and can you blame them? Life is hectic, these are stressful days we live in and people look for ways to counter that.
My family threw ourselves headfirst into the club. I didn’t want to drop our kids off at the
pitch for someone else to have to give up their free time. With the limited abilities I have I offered my services as a coach. Eventually I became safeguarding officer too, my reward for non-attendance at that year’s AGM. I haven’t missed an AGM since due to the fear of ending up as toilet attendant, fundraising committee member or worse, coach of the pre-schoolers – my daughter is four now and I can’t control her let alone 15 more like her. My wife plays an active role in the life of the club too. She is finding her feet in the role of PR whilst washing kits, serving food and some. We will get her to the
other side of the fence eventually. She just doesn’t know it yet!
The early years of an amalgamation are tough. The first few AGM’s were feisty, some believed in the system and others decided it wasn’t for them. There is some politicking goes on. Have you ever listened to a conversation between an Armoy and a Carey man? Then Cushendun want hurling played one way and Cloughmills another, you slowly get the picture. Our various clubs want matches and training to be at their home ground, naturally. They want the very best for the children of their area. Why wouldn’t they? Those children have the same GAA hopes and dreams as children from more populated places. But there is a way!! Eventually, with the will of the collective, and through great leadership, Naomh Padraig found its feet. Through trial and error, give and take, we discovered amalgamations can be hugely rewarding, they can be a success, whatever that means. People from those small rural communities started to buy into the process and numbers slowly began to rise. What started out as a couple of hurling teams grew to fielding teams at every juvenile age


group. Then came the Camogs!! Initially a pipe dream, developed by the most underappreciated members of any GAA club, women! They have been phenomenal in getting teams up and running, sourcing kits, coaching, leading and organising fixtures – something they need a lot of help with from the higher powers. They have led the club by example along with the help and support of a few very talented men. In recent times Naomh Padraig has begun the process of feeding players back into the parent clubs, and even some to county teams. Something we could only dream of in the early years. Dropoff levels are tiny – a great indication that something is working. The recent successes of Carey Faughs and Cushhendun at intermediate level have been supported in some small part by the development of players through the Naomh Padraig system. There are plenty more on their way.
My families’ experience with Naomh Padraig has been rewarding and enriching. We have found a home from home. The pride and energy people from small rural communities have in themselves is endearing. Outsiders, blow-ins to the club, add another dimension, they see something different. We heave a Kilkenny man, a Bellaghy man and people from places in Ireland I have never even heard of, all offering a fresh perspective. We have even dipped our toes in Gaelic football on the odd occasion, a culture shock to the hurling men of North Antrim. I have enjoyed the arguments between a few colourful characters in our club over it. I may even have stirred it up from time to time.
The foundations of the GAA, the beauty of our sport is its people. All of them, including those from areas suffering from depopulation. Being involved with small communities standing up against this trend has been inspiring. Do they have to work harder than the big established clubs? Do they have greater problems to solve? Undoubtedly, but working through these challenges is what makes it all worthwhile. It builds character, it builds resilience and it instils pride.
Thanks to everyone in Armoy, Carey, Cushendun and Cloughmills for welcoming us with open arms into your clubs – our clubs. They’ve been some of the happiest days of our lives.

by thesaffrongael

Return of the Antrim & Dublin Friendship Games 2022

Cumann na mBunscol Aontroma were delighted to welcome the return of the Antrim vs. Dublin Friendship Games today, following a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

This is a once in a lifetime experience for these children, who travelled to St. Patrick’s Drumcondra on Monday to compete with their Dublin counterparts across all codes followed by a guided tour of Croke Park, which really capped off a day to remember for our future county stars.

This year’s event was extra special with the county moving from what was a traditional Belfast Only XV to an All-County XV, enabling players from Belfast, North Antrim and South-West Antrim to represent their county together in Gaelic Football (Boys & Girls), Hurling,

The north and south west Antrim schools met at St Brigid’s PS in Ballymena beofre meeting up with their Befast counterparts in Belfast on route to Croke Park