Nine years ago today, May 29th 2017 we covered our first game as the Saffron Gael. Since that first match in Armoy between Dunloy and Loughgiel in the final of the Under 21 Hurling Championship we have posted countless match reports, previews and interviews and upwards on 15,000 photographs. To all who have supported us, especially our sponsors who we simply could not do without, to those volunteers who have taken photos and written reports and clubs who have given us their support we truly thanks you.
This is a link to that first game that Monday evening in Armoy.
Antrim Senior Camogs got their All Ireland campaign off to great start when they travelled to Derry on Sunda and came away with the a convincing win. The Saffrons set themselves up perfectly for a second-half surge in this first-round Glen Dimplex Intermediate Camogie Championship clash at Derrytrasna. Antrim went into the half-time break level at six points apiece, a commendable position given they were playing against a stiff breeze. Following the restart, the Antrim girls quickly gained the upper hand, a task made considerably easier when Derry was reduced to fourteen players following a crucial red card.
In the opening thirty minutes, Derry’s defense proved formidable, making it difficult for Antrim to break them down. The home side responded impressively every time the Saffrons edged ahead. Frees dictated much of the early scoring, with Róisín McCormick spearheading the Antrim attack by slotting over four frees, supplemented by scores from Maeve Kelly and Emma Wilson. Carla Collins led the home side’s resistance, matching McCormick with three frees and adding another fine score from open play to ensure the teams went into the dressing rooms deadlocked at 0-5 apiece
The defining moment of the match arrived just five minutes into the second half. Derry full-back Eimear McCloskey, who had already been booked shortly before half-time, received a second yellow card in the 35th minute. Even before the dismissal, Antrim had signaled their second-half intent with and early points from McCormick. Down to fourteen players and forced to reorganize for the final 25 minutes, Derry’s spirited resistance began to crumble against an Antrim side that now had both an extra player and the breeze at their backs.
Griffin, McCormick and Kelly grabbed apiece goals for Antrim
The Saffrons systematically pulled clear, further bolstered by two points from Éobha McAllister. Clíona Griffin finally cracked the game open in the 45th minute, firing a low shot across Derry goalkeeper Niamh Gribbin for the game’s opening goal. The unstoppable McCormick, who amassed a personal tally of eight points, broke clear in the 52nd minute to drill the ball into the top of the net. Following a late consolation free from Derry’s Collins, which proved to be their only score of the half, Kelly added a third goal for Antrim in added time. While Kelly’s late strike may have slightly flattered the visitors on the final scoreboard, Antrim’s dominant second-half display ensured a comprehensive and well-deserved opening-round victory.
Dominican College Fortwilliam 3-09 Carndonagh Community College 2-04
Dominican College, Fortwilliam showcased immense character and resilience in Glen Maghera on Friday, overcoming a four-point halftime deficit to capture the Lily Spence Shield with a stunning 3-9 to 2-4 victory over Carndonagh Community School, Donegal.The magnificent comeback sealed a remarkable double for the Belfast school, adding a second Ulster schools’ camogie title to the Junior Medallion Shield they previously secured in November. It was a deserved triumph driven by a devastating final-quarter surge that yielded three crucial goals, completely overwhelming their resilient Donegal opponents.
Despite a promising early start where captain Éabha Vallely fired over two of their three first-quarter points, Dominican found themselves temporarily on the back foot against the Inishowen outfit. Carndonagh’s attacking duo of Darcie Doherty and Tara McLaughlin each found the back of the net to establish a 2-2 to 0-4 lead as the break approached. However, demonstrating the grit of true champions, Vallely and her formidable midfield partner Molly McKenna crucially pulled back a couple of points just before the whistle, giving their side the vital lift they needed heading into the dressing room.
Seamus McAleenan of Ulster Schools presents the Lily Spence Shield to Dominican captain Éabha Vallely
Upon the restart, the Dominican fightback truly ignited. Vallely and McKenna quickly added to their tally with early white flags, and by the 12th minute of the half, Vallely confidently converted a 45 to bring the sides level at 2-2 to 0-8. The decisive moment of the final arrived shortly after when Méabh McComish attempted a shot for a point. Though half-blocked, the sliotar looped agonizingly over Carndonagh goalkeeper Grace McGonigle and dropped into the net. While Carndonagh’s Darcie Doherty briefly interrupted the momentum by pulling a point back immediately, Dominican would not be denied. With just seven minutes remaining, Vallely launched a free from right out on the sideline that traveled all the way into the Donegal net. Only a minute later, Saorlaith Stewart put the result beyond any doubt, smartly kicking the sliotar into the goal following a chaotic goal-mouth scramble.
The victorious charge was anchored by stellar performances across the pitch. While Carndonagh’s primary scorers Tara McLaughlin and Darcie Doherty drove their team’s challenge alongside solid defensive work from Orlaith Doherty and Blathnaid Mooney, the day ultimately belonged to Fortwilliam. Vallely and McKenna completely commanded the midfield, while Rua Fitzpatrick and Áine Maskey were absolute rocks in the Dominican defence. The final tallies reflected Dominican’s varied attacking threat, with Éabha Vallely finishing with an incredible 1-6, including frees, complemented by goals from Méabh McComish and Saorlaith Stewart. Molly McKenna added two points, including a penalty, while Aoibheann Murphy chipped in with a point. For Carndonagh, Tara McLaughlin’s 1-2 from frees and Darcie Doherty’s 1-2 accounted for their entire scoring total.
The historic victory was achieved by the starting Dominican lineup of Zara Reilly, Ava Birch, Cailtin Donnelly, Lara Hickey, Rua Fitzpatrick, Áine Maskey, Amy McGuigan, Molly McKenna, captain Éabha Vallely, Méabh McComish, Aoibheann Murphy, Niamh Carlile, Isla McGarvey, Róise McLaughlin, and Saorlaith Stewart. Substitutions, Cliodhna Hannaway replaced Amy McGuigan on 24 minutes, before both Eiblinn Simpson and Effie Walsh entered the fray on 35 minutes for Róise McLaughlin and Isla McGarvey respectively.
Carndonagh Community College
The valiant Carndonagh sidelined out with Grace McGonigle in nets, supported by Roisa Duffy, Orlaith Doherty, Eimear Gallagher, captain Tara McLaughlin, Blathnaid Mooney, Olivia Crowe, Aoife McLaughlin, Niamh McElwaine, Sophia Crowe, Faye McWeeney, Eibhlin Nolan, Kate McGonigle, Darcie Doherty, and Naomi Synott.
Sean Og McLaren retained his Antrim Poc Fada title at Feystown, Glenarm on Saturday morning completing the course in 21 pocs, a new course record. The big st Paul’s man who had a great weekend overalll as he was goalkeeper on the Antrim Under 20 team who beat Carlow in the Leinster Tier 2 final at Ashbourne. At the Poc Fada the former All Ireland Under 16 winner was followed home by Aidan Scullion from the host club while Cadhan Graham of Oisins, Glenariffe finished 3rd.
Graham’s sister Naimh, who plays her Camogie with St John’s Carnlough, won the Senior Ladies event, just edging out Loughgiel’s Caela Casey by a couple of feet in the end after a great battle all the around the course. Loughgiel had first and second place in the Under 16 Boys event with Damian Laverty taking the top spot ahead of his Shamrocks team-mate Lorcan Murtagh with PJ Kelly of the host club coming third
Jane Feetham from Armoy, who plays her Under 16 club Camogie with St Paul’s in Belfast, won the Under 16 Girls event and like the other winners goes through to the Ulster finals back in Glenarm on June 16th.
PJ Kelly Mr Poc Fada, Terence Mulvenna, the man who sets out the courseLiam Og McLaren and his dad Liam snrDamian Laverty with his dad Damian snr, mum sinead and sister Rioghnach.U16 winner Damian Laverty
Updated pics and report from Michael Corcoran in Ballyholland Harps GAA Club, Newry
The third Mary Coulter memorial tournament took place again in Ballyholland Harps GAA Club, outside of Newry comprising fifteen small sided teams of seven players from a panel of ten. The field was sifted down to a Cup, Shield and plate. Loughgiel were the inaugral Cup winners in 2024, successfully defending the coveted title in 2025 and now run out Cup winners after a clean sweep of six hard fought games on a compressed pitch that allowed three games to run concurrently. The final was a close affair with Eglish (Tyrone), the Shamrocks tip toeing over the line with one point to spare.
Loughgiel sevens panel with Shanna Deery, Ciara Laverty, Emma McAllister, Marie Laverty, Megan McGarry, Louise McKillop, Annie Lynn, Katie Lynn, Anna Connolly and Caela Dobbin
Eglish put up a strong fight and no wonder when the player of the Cup tournament went to an Eglish player, ‘Ciara Donnelly’.
Eglish’s Ciara Donnelly is awarded the player of the Cup tournament
The Shield final was contested between two Antrim sides, Tír na nÓg and O’Donnovan Rossa’s, the Randalstown girls proving successful in their final though Rossa held their own with a fine performance from Natalie McGuinness, picking up player of the Shield tournament.
Tír na nÓg picking up the Mary Coulter Shield 2026Rossa’s Natalie McGuinness picks up the player of the Mary Coulter Shield tournament 2026
The Plate went to Madden (St. Joseph’s Madden, Armagh) beating Drumsurn 2 in the final with a player of the match going to a Madden player Gemma McCann.
St. Joseph’s, Madden from Armagh, winners of the Mary Coulter Plater 2026Madden’s Gemma McCann seen being awarded the player of the tournament for the Mary Coulter Plate 2026.
Loughgiel, Liatroim 1, Madden, Drumsurn1, O’Donovan Rossa’s, Ballyholland, Tír na nÓg and Liverpool Wolf tones.
Group B
Eglish, Clonduff, Ballymacnab, Kilmacud, Drumsurn 2, Cullyhanna and Liatroim 2.
Sides were pitched in for over three hours on a tight hooter time, distilling out to a cup final between Loughgiel and Eglish, Shield final between Rossa and Tír na nÓg, and a plate final between Madden and Drumsurn 2.
Here’s Saturday’s action photos from across the day, leading to the Cup, Shield and Plate winners.
