Antrim v Offaly All Ireland A Shield round 4 Sunday 23^rd March 2025 

Antrim 1-11 Offaly 0-09 

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran in St. Mary’s GAA Club, Ahoghill 

Two very distinct halves entertained the supporters lining the perimeter of Ahoghill’s Fr. McGuigan Park. Offaly won the toss and preferred to play with the breeze running down the pitch towards Crosskeys but it was Antrim that made the most of the conditions and after raising the green flag only six minutes into the first half, Offaly never managed to close the gap before the short whistle as teams walked in five points apart. 

Offaly came out after the break with renewed determination and were dominant for the first ten minutes; Antrim having to react to several goalmouth scrambles and a great shift put in from goalkeeper Maeve Scullion as she brought down persistent shots from Offaly to find the net. Antrim weathered that storm, and some balance returned but the Saffrons, like Offaly, were never able to master the elemental advantage, instead containing Offaly to a no score in the last twenty minutes, maintaining the Saffron lead at the final whistle of five points. 

Simon Redmond from Dublin got proceedings underway and reached for his notebook within the first minute as Offaly found the catch net for their two points from Laura Foley and Siofra Ginty. 

Antrim responded from a free by Caoimhe McErlain that had to be deflected for a 45, but the breeze exaggerated the drift for the wide. McErlain though would be instrumental in finding Adria McAllister running in at close range to find the net and raise the green flag with only six minutes gone on the clock. 

McErlain would prove to be Antrim’s powerhouse in today’s game, pointing three times and creating scoring opportunities as she offloaded to Cliodhna Thompson, taking her first point of three by splitting the catch net over the bar. 

Offaly were quick to respond, and Siofra Ginty cruised two points in succession from a personal tally of seven on the day only to find Antrim’s JoJo Darragh moving Antrim ahead with her point on the twelfth minute but three minutes later, Laura Foley would point and Offaly would not return to move the scoreboard for the remaining fifteen minutes of the first half with a scoreline Antrim 1-02 Offaly 0-05. 

In contrast, and at the core of Antrim’s win, the Saffron’s would make good of the remaining time and five points on the trot took Antrim into the short break with those five points the difference. One of those points came from Cliodhna Thompson as she took a free at the sideline near the clubhouse from a near impossible angle given the strength of the breeze, which didn’t appear to alter the sliotar’s path. And equally thrilling at the opposite end of the field, Offaly were destined to test keeper Scullion from close quarters but a brave hook by Laoise McCollam thwarted that effort.  

In the second half, Offaly came out as the dominant force and Siofra Ginty started what looked like a comeback for the faithful county. Two points from two frees were equally matched though by Antrim as Caoimhe McErlain made good of the free awarded from Tamara Black being tripped and JoJo Darragh floated her attempt successfully over the bar from a tidy pass from Kiera McLaughlin.  

Offaly would continue though with their strong engagement, and two points came in rapid succession, one from a free and the Offaly’s nineth and final point was a sure-fire goal only for a brave block from Laoise McCollam that deflected the sliotar over the bar. 

Antrim’s tally was nudged up by two more points from Caoimhe McErlain and Anna Smyth amidst a plethora of fouls, fourteen in total over the remaining twenty-one minutes, illustrating the intensity the game took as both sides played exhaustively to Redmond’s long whistle. 

The result for Antrim secures a semifinal position but it will take round five to finalise the table and deliver clarity on the opposition. 

Antrim starters and scorers 

Maeve Scullion, Kiera McLaughlin, Laoise McCollam, Isabelle Martin, Orla Munce, Fiadh Sands, Amy Gault, Tegan Cassidy, Anna Smyth, Tamara Black 0-01, Caoimhe McErlain 0-03 (2f), JoJo Darragh 0-03, Adria McAllister 1-00, Aedin Vallely, Cliodhna Thompson 0-04 (2f) 

Offaly starters and scorers 

Aoibhinn Slattery, Elodie Loonam, Tara Moran, Dara Delaney, Cara Brophy, Ruby Oakely, Ailbhe Martin, Annie Mulhare, Ali Smyth, Rachel Cunningham, Laura Foley 0-02, Keeva Davey 0-01 (1f), Shauna Mannion, Siofra Ginty 0-06 (2f), Holly Sexton 

Photos from today’s game can be found in the album here… 

https://myalbum.com/album/KsV94X5yKU6JJE/?invite=2d42a754-c279-4e4d-b8d6-b7e349f8d836

Report and photographs from Michael Corcoran in Croke Park

For the first time in the ‘AIB Club Player Awards’, all four codes of Gaelic football, Ladies football, Camogie and Hurling were united in a landmark awards ceremony in Croke Park.

Gathered amongst the Uachtaráin of Cumann Lúthcleas Gael and An Cumann Camógaíochta, estemmed guests, the award winners, their families and friends, a special mention was given to members of Cumann Peil Gael na mBan, joining the awards for the first time, making it an historic year for the Championships.

Altogether, 60 players took to the stage and received their awards for their unwavering commitment, their tireless training, on field performance and contribution to their club’s championship campaign in 2024. Of particular relevance to Antrim, was the attendance of Lucia McNaughton, Clare McKillop and Amy Boyle from Loughgiel Shamrocks, who were selected onto the AIB Camogie team of the year 2024.

Clare’s citation: Stood out as solid in the Ulster semi final defeat of Clonduff and provided the glue for a defensive effort that held Swatragh to just five points in the provincial decider. The Antrim senior has forged a reputation as one of Ulster’s very best defenders.

Amy’s citation: The Antrim captain is a force of nature in the middle third and lit up both her province and beyond. Boyle seemed to pride herself coming away from rucks and breaking ball contests with the sliotar in her hand. Intercepted a Sarsfields pass out of defence to setup a Roisin McCormick goal in the All-Ireland semi final, summing up what she’s all about.

Lucia’s citation: An experienced and respected figure in the Shamrock’s camp. Pilfered 0-2 and 0-3 tallies in the Ulster semi final and final, though did her best work in general play, creating and cajoling. Provided the pass for Caitrin Dobbin’s goal, which ended the Ulster final as a contest. Dobbin then played McNaughton in for a goal during their early blitzkrieg against Sarsfields in the All Ireland semi final.

You can see more photos from the awards in our photo album here…

https://myalbum.com/album/bzD4hmGz66BT5u/?invite=1cc58250-4008-48ed-b157-3643c28f62ca

Antrim 1-16 Down 0-12 

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran in Ahoghill 

Six minutes into the first half of today’s Very National League encounter between Antrim and Down would leave a watermark, whenever Antrim’s Annie Lynn would raise the green flag from a skillful pull into the right side of Down’s goals, beyond the reach of temporary goalkeeper, Neisha McCullough. Down would shadow Antrim all the way to the short whistle with only that goal and a point the difference but the Saffrons would return to the field for the last thirty-three minutes in a dominant role, much of it physical, with periods of skillfull hooking and blocking that kept their opponents from working their way back into a winning position. 

Antrim would be the first to visit their opponents scoring zone within the first two minutes of the throw-in but early attempts from Annie Lynn and Katie Molloy would drift wide. It would take a foul on Katie Molloy for Dervla Cosgrove to convert that to a point after five minutes on the clock and then a Caitrin Dobbin/Katie Molloy advance at close quarters would force the sliotar out wide for Annie Lynn to pull on the ground ball for the only goal in the game. 

Down were able to close the score gap after Paula O’Hagan made good of a foul on Sophie McGrath and then returned for her own point in play after winning the sliotar the hard way from a ruck. Antrim would reply with three points on the trot with the third of those coming from a Nicole McAtamney textbook block that setup Caitrin Dobbin for the point. 

Down, though, weren’t figuring on letting Antrim drift too far in front and replied with three points from fouls stemming from three in the hand and a slap of the stick but such was the ebb and flow of the early stages in the game, Antrim came right back with three points, Katie Molloy getting the best of those with a skillful pickup and delivery. 

With twenty-six minutes elapsed, a throw ball from Antrim would find the ball net from an accurate Paula O’Hagan free and it could have been two converted frees only O’Hagan’s angle for the second proved to be impracticable. Referee Bernard Heaney brought the first half to a close, Antrim 1-07 Down 0-06. 

Down’s sideline felt that they were initially slow to get into the game, and the second half would mirror those sentiments, as Antrim made frequent visits over Down’s bar for five in a row, Katie Molloy enjoying three of those with her first needing a cool redirect by goalkeeper McCullough over the bar. 

Down would now come back into the game at thirteen minutes as O’Hagan dropped another free over the bar and an opportunity to bump up the scoreboard from a penalty as Antrim’s goalkeeper, Becky Ellis, stood up an advancing Grace Cunningham more robustly than referee Heaney allowed. O’Hagan would fire the sliotar to Ellis’ right just inside the post, but her reach was sufficient to prevent Down from raising the green flag. O’Hagan though would make amends with a fine point from play after Down mounted a period of pressure in front of Antrim’s nets. Saoirse Sands would add to that with her own point before O’Hagan’s accuracy found the ball net from two more frees.  

With only six points the difference, Down still had a window of opportunity despite the clock ticking down from twenty-six minutes of normal time and three added for injury but Antrim would tack on another two points in that time compared to Down’s one point from play by Grace Cunningham, and it would fall to Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin to enjoy the last point in the game from a Sarah Fyfe pass before the long whistle brought proceedings to an end, score on the board Antrim 1-16 Down 0-12. 

Saturday’s result seals Antrim’s entry into the league final on the 29^th March against Clare. Antrim will have a head-to-head with Clare on the 22^nd for the last league game and neither side are likely to go all out, sensibly keeping something in reserve for the final. 

Antrim starters and scorers 

Becky Ellis, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Eavanne Martin, Shannah Heggarty 0-01, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney, Maeve Kelly 0-01, Lucia McNaughton, Dervla Cosgrove 0-04 (4f), Annie Lynn 1-01, Katie Molloy 0-05, Caitrin Dobbin 0-04 

Down starters and scorers 

Neisha McCullough, Clare McGilligan, Tara Monan, Aoife McDowell, Dearbhla Magee, Beth Fitzpatrick, Blanaid Savage, Dearbhla Coleman, Niamh Savage, Aimee McAleenan, Deirbhile Savage, Gerra McGrattan, Sophie McGrath, Erin Elliott, Paula O’Hagan 0-10 (8f), Grace Cunningham 0-01, Saoirse Sands 0-01 

More photos from today’s game, including the half time matches can be found in the album here… 

https://myalbum.com/album/n76BtNqzZF46h4/?invite=49151dce-9264-4c5b-b714-55b2536d5d51