St. Genevieve’s won the Year 10 Gaelfast Camogie Shield on Wednesday when they beat Rathomre in the final at Woodlands in a well contested game.
St Genevieve’s got off to a flying start setting the tone early with a well-taken goal from Ella Cavanagh. A crucial defensive block from Sophie Rea helped maintain their momentum, followed by another important stop from Erin Grego. Rathmore responded with a point from their Lila McCavanagh but St. Genevieve’s Ella Cavanagh struck again, netting another goal to extend their lead to 2-0 to 0-1.
As the first half progressed, St. Genevieve’s No. 8 made a key interception, but Rathmore’s Lila McCavanagh showed her accuracy from a free, narrowing the gap to 2-0 to 0-2. McCavanagh then broke through for a goal, bringing the game back to a single point. However, she missed a crucial free shortly after, and the sides went into halftime with everything still to play for.
Straight from the throw-in at the start of the second half, St. Genevieve’s right-half forward Sophie O’Hanlon found the net, pushing the lead to 3-0 to 1-2. A powerful shot from Erin Cunningham was initially saved by the Rathmore keeper Aisling McKeown but O’Hanlon was quick to react, finishing the rebound to the net to put St. Genevieve’s even further ahead at 4-0 to 1-2. Rathmore managed to respond with a point but St. Genevieve’s Ella Cavanagh soon added another fine score, making it 4-2 to 1-3.
Rathmore’s No. 9 kept her side in the game with another point, but St. Genevieve’s keeper came up big with a crucial save, leading to a ‘65’. As the final whistle blew, St. Genevieve’s walked away as deserved winners, having dominated key moments throughout the match.
TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK IN THE LINK BELOW
Antrim v Down Very National League Div 1b Saturday 15th March 2025 in Ahoghill at 2pm
The Very National League game between Antrim and Down takes a run out to Ahoghill, where Antrim turned out against Wexford and came off the field with a one-point win to start their league efforts.
Saturday’s weather forecast suggests sunny intervals and very light winds. This has been the case for most of this week, so Ahoghill’s turf should prove to be sound for this important game for both teams.
Scoring from placed play will be paramount on Saturday, who will Antrim select for the role?
Antrim currently sit second to Clare on the table only by virtue of points and a win on a home venue will be paramount given how the league fixtures for round five stand, with an away game against Clare on the 22nd of March and Down go up against a solid Wexford squad.
Antrim’s Katie Lynn raising her game against Westmeath; will need that again against Down on Saturday
Antrim’s recent game against Westmeath in Ballycastle was an opportunity to flex the bench and was seen to be part of the McCormick/Coulter development strategy, but history will dictate that Saturday’s game specifically against Down won’t allow management the latitude to sway from a winning plan. Down will turn up with expectations and this will be a test for Antrim’s form, so far three wins from three games. A fourth win would probably place them in a league final and that could be a back-to-back experience with Clare. What panel will start on Saturday, and can they make it four from four? Grab a ticket and answers will be available from 2pm.
Antrim come out for the second half against Down in last year’s league game in the beautiful setting of Attical
Eight time All Ireland winning hurler Richie Power was the guest of honour at the Ballycastle McQuillans awards dinner in the Marine Hotel on Friday night and the Kilkenny legend proved a very popular guest. The two time All Star spoke about his career with Kilkenny and with his club and admitted that one regret he had was not winning a Kilkenny senior title with Carrickshock. He went on to say he would gladly swop his eight All Ireland medals with the Cats for just one senior club medal with Carrickshock.
Antrim county chairman Seamus McMullan was also in attendance as was the new County Camogie chairperson Una Kelly who is of course also a prominent member of the Ballycastle club.
Most Improved Minor Hurler Conor Mooney receives his award from Kilkenny legend Richie Power at the Ballycastle McQuillan’s GAC dinner in the Marine Hotel.Minor Hurler of the Year Cathair Donnely receives his award from Richie Power.Shannon McQuillan receives the Most Improved Junior Camog award from Richie PowerRebecca Barrett receives the Junior Camogie Player of the Year award from Richie PowerJunior Hurler of the Year Ardan Kelly receives his award from Richie Power at the Ballycastle McQuillan’s Awards dinner in the Marine Hotel.Shannon McQuillan accepts the Most Improved Senior Reserve Camog award on behalf of Christina Hamilton, who was unable to attend.Senior Reserve Most Improved Hurler Oisin Donnelly recives award from Guest of Honour Richie Power.Senior reserve Camogie Player of the Year Niamh Campbell receives her award from Richie Power at the Ballycastle GAC dinner.Connal Magee receives the Senior Reserve Hurler of the Year award from Richie Power.Most Improved Senior Camog Becky Elliis receives her award from Richie Power.Orann Donnelly receives the Most Improved Senior Hurler of the Year award from Richie Power at the McQuillans GAC awards dinner.Guest of honour Richie Power presents the Senior Hurler award to Oran Kearney at the Ballycastle McQuillans GAC dinner.Caoimhe McKendry and club President John Harkin present a bouquet of flowers to Guest of Honour MariaMcQuillans GAC Chairman Fr Raymond Fulton presents a sponsorship cheque to the Saffron Gael at the club’s presentation dinner in the Marine Hotel.Fr Fulton with guests Richie an Maria Ballycastle club President John ‘Sparrow’ Harkin makes a special presentation to Guest of Honour Richie Power at the Ballycastle McQuillan’s GAC dinner in the Marine Hotel.Richie Power with Ballycastle club secretary Dessie Donnelly at the club dinner. Dessie played on and All Star team with Richie’s father, Richie snr, back in the late 1980s.Richie Power with Antrim county board chairman Seamus McMullan and Antrim Camogie chairperson Una Kelly
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE BALLYCASTE DINNER CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Antrim v Waterford All Ireland U16 A Shield, Abbotstown 9th March 2025
Antrim 1-07 Waterford 1-07. Referee Philip McDonald, Cavan
Match report and photos from pitch side Antrim management
Antrim went head-to-head with co-league leaders, Waterford on pitch 1 in Abbotstown. When the short whistle went for the break, it was no surprise that scores stood at 0-04 each with two Antrim points from play by Teagan Cassidy and one each from JoJo Darragh and Tamara Black.
Antrim recovered well after an early second half goal from Waterford in the first four minutes. Second half scorers for Antrim were Cliodhna Thompson with a fine goal and again a point each from Teagan Cassidy , Tamara Black and JoJo Darragh, all scores coming from play.
Referee Philip McDonald from Cavan along with Waterford’s joint captains and Antrim’s Kiera McLaughlin
Antrim were wasteful on frees, missing nine score-able chances but on the plus side, Antrim know that and it’s something that will be worked on.
The defence again were outstanding and a special mention of Antrim’s keeper Mia Carlin who made two point blank saves and was injured on her elbow during the second save but elected to stay on and finish the game.
Antrim U16 manager, Liam Vallely, had this to say, “There was great resolve shown by the girls against our joint table toppers and we came away with plenty to improve on.”
Antrim v Derry Round 1 of the All Ireland Minor A Shield 9th March 2025
Antrim 5-12 Derry 2-08
Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran in Ballycastle
It was almost a blistering summer-like day in Páirc Mhic Uilín, Ballycastle but if the day came up a tad short on that front, the game didn’t. Played at a blistering pace from start to finish, spectators were entertained with sixty solid minutes of quality camogie as goals flowed each end amidst tough rucks and skillful solo runs, catching, hooking and blocking.
Derry opened their account straightaway, having referee Simon Redmond from Dublin, reaching for his notebook within the first thirty seconds to record their point. Antrim’s reply was two points in quick succession from Eva McNeill and Mary McArthur.
However, with 4 minutes gone on the clock, Derry’s Grace McCartney found Connie McBride and a lobbed sliotar bounced out of the hand of Antrim’s goalkeeper, Orlaith Johnston and Derry suddenly looked like the contender.
Eva McNeill would close that to a point of a difference as she floated her free over the bar from a push in the back foul. Derry though stroked another three points over the bar, two coming from McCartney and one from Emma Quinn before Antrim’s Eobha McAllister won a ground ball and placed it right between the uprights.
With fifteen minutes gone, Derry’s Connie McBride would strike at Antrim’s net as she pushed through to the edge of the box and struck a low diagonal shot, making that two goals from the full forward.
Antrim’s reply was equally as good as Cara Delaney offered up the sliotar to Eobha McAllister and sending in a high ball that dropped over the head of the goalkeeper to have the umpire reaching for the green flag and Antrim were now on their way to closing the three point gap.
Antrim’s first goal from Eobha McAllister slips in under Derry’s bar in Ballycastle
Derry were still intent on pushing up sliotars to find the full forward line and when Ellie McCartney fed a ball into Aoibh Mullholland, it looked ominous but Antrim’s defence were now swarming and Mulholland opted to take her point score on the twentieth minute.
That would mark a turning point for Antrim’s fortunes as they now started to test Derry’s defence with a series of attacks around the box that ended in Derry offering up a wide that McNeill cruised over before Kady McNeill helped Antrim’s scoring campaign with a fine point on the twentieth minute.
With confidence building, Antrim pushed up deep into Derry’s defence and it would fall to Eimear McCaughan to raise the green flag from an impossibly tight angle on the left of the goal, and Antrim took the lead for the first time in twenty three minutes. Scores stood Antrim 2-06 Derry 2-05.
Antrim would close out the first half with another two points from Eva McNeill as Derry’s Emma Quinn pointed from a free awarded due to an Antrim charge and that brought the first half to a finish, Antrim 2-08 Derry 2-06.
Derry opted to play away from the clubhouse on winning the toss, into a noticeable breeze that had by now dropped for the second half. Antrim would take that as an omen and within the first five minutes, Eimear McCaughan would have her second goal from a fine pass from Cara Delaney.
This was going to be Antrim’s half as they doubled down on the rucks, played clever sliotars off the hand and closed Derry down when they advanced into the scoring area. Eobha McAllister would start Antrim’s fourth goal, winning the ball and dropping it deep to the left hand side of the pitch, where Aimee Ferris took possession and offloaded towards Aoife McAteers net. Despite the sliotar being saved, an advancing Mary McArthur pulled and in the twelfth minute in the second half, Antrim were four goals and nine points to Derry’s two goals and seven points.
Antrim’s Mary McArthur finds the net past Derry’s Aoife McAteer for Antrim’s fourth goal in the game
Although Derry would make regular advances up as far as Antrim’s twenty metre line, scores alluded them and when Antrim’s Kady McNeill sent in a high dropping ball, the angle was perfect to slip between McAteers stick and the bar for Antrim’s fifth and final goal of the game. Derry would reply from a free from Connie McBride before Kady McNeill stroked the last point of the game in the thirty first minute.
Scoring differences in the second half narrate the game unfairly, as Antrim scored 3-03 to Derry’s 0-02. Never at any point did Derry ease up and had Antrim not been on form, this was a game that would have gone the other way as Derry illustrated physicality, skill and determination matched only by Antrim’s and bettered on the day.
Antrim starting panel and scorers
Orlaith Johnston, Rhianna Black, Eva Lee, Leona Gillan, Maeve Devlin, Casey Crawford, Laura Black, Eobha McAllister 1-01, Kady McNeill 1-03, Cara Delaney, Eva McNeill 0-07 (3f 1×45), Órlaith Gould, Aimee Ferris, Mary McArthur 1-01, Eimear McCaughan 2-00
