All-Ireland Junior D Camogie semi-final 

St Dominic’s Belfast 2-5 High Cross College, Tuam 2-0

St Dominic’s became the first Belfast college to reach and All Ireland Camogie final when they beat High Cross College Tuam in Saturday’s All Ireland semi-final at Colaiste Feirste

On top from the start St Dominic’s dominated the game from the early stages and when Amy Gault, (granddaughter of former Antrim legend Jim Nelson) put them ahead from a pointed free they never looked back.

They came close to grabbing their first goal when Aoife Fitzsimons rattled a shot off the Tuam crossbar but their supporters did not have long to wait and Erin Stewart’s raised a green flag with a shot that dipped below the crossbar.

Fitzsimons’ pace was causing the Tuam defence a lot of problems but despite their dominance St Dominic’s were not making it pay on the scoreboard. However a second point from Gault just before the break game them a 1-02 to 0-00 lead at the interval.

Gault was again the scorer when they stretched their lead just after the break and the St Paul’s player added another ten minutes into the second half. Erin Stewart’s luck was out when her goal bound shot came back of the upright but they still looked very comfortable overall.

However not having scores on the board can leave a team vulnerable and when High Cross got a somewhat fortunate goal from a Meabh Dooley free the complexion of the game suddenly changed. An excellent Aoife Fitzsimons point settled the nerves for the Belfast girls, but their was more anxiety for the St Dominic’s fans to endure when Dooley grabbed a second goal for Tuam, driving the ball low through a packed goalmouth to the net on 53 minutes.

Thankfully the St Dominic’s fans on the steep Colaiste Feirste terracing did not have long to wait for their nerves to settle again and when a long delivery by Gault deflected off a Tuam defender and into her own net the celebrations got underway.

The Tuam college never gave up the fight and pushed hard to try and salvage the game, but the St Dominic’s defence held firm and there were scenes of great celebration when the final whistle blew. The now face Gaelcholáiste Cill Dara in the final in three weeks’ time in what will surely be a great occasion for the school.

ST DOMINIC’S: A Austin; T Culbert, A McNally, M Monaghan; R McCourt, A Gault (0-4f), K McAllister; E Stewart (1-0), C McKee; A Annett, A Fitzsimons (0-1), A McGivern; E Kelly, R McElhatton, S McNama.
Sub: A McDonnell for S McNama (40).

TUAM: C Higgins; R Greaney, E Lardner, A Waldron; S Morris, E Burke, G Adeyeye; C Doyle, A Higgins; S Hayes, A Heffernan, I Comer; M Dooley (2-0 frees), S O’Connor, G Galvin.
Subs: E Flynn for S hayes (40), R Hynes for S O’Connor (40), K Gilmore for C Doyle (50), E Curley for S Morris (56), S Daly for R Geaney (58)

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/zKyQW5FLnKcbmW/?invite=1166a286-f496-4a35-a644-7d2641249ba5

The death occurred on Friday of Maeve Gilroy, one of Antrim and Ulster’s greatest ever camogie players.

The St Malachy’s player made her inter-county debut for the Saffrons in 1952 and scored three points in the Ulster final defeat of Down as the team went through to contest the All-Ireland final against Dublin. They lost narrowly that year, 5-1 to 4-2, but Gilroy had established in the Antrim team where she would remain for the next 17 seasons.

She was already regarded as one of the country’s best players when she scored two goals for Antrim against Dublin in the historic 1956 All Ireland semi-final, a match that prevented Dublin winning 19 All Ireland titles in a row. Antrim would go on to defeat Cork in the final and win the county’s fourth O’Duffy Cup.

Gilroy was a goal-scorer and leading player on the first ever Queen’s University Belfast team to defeat UCD, by a score of 3–1 to 3–0 in the Ashbourne Cup of 1959, but the cup went to UCD at the end of the round-robin series.

She featured in a total of eight All-Ireland senior finals in a variety of positions from full-forward through midfield and then defence in the second half of her inter-county career.

She was at centre-half back in the 1966 All-Ireland series for which she was presented with the Cúchulainn award, the equivalent of Player of the Year. Centre-half back was also her position a year later when she collected her second All-Ireland medal and later that autumn helped Ulster win the Gael Linn inter-provincial title for the first time.

Alongside her playing career Gilroy had become a top referee and took charge of the All-Ireland senior finals of 1961 and 1962 as well as numerous semi-finals. It’s likely that she would have refereed more finals had she not been playing in them!

Her last appearance for Antrim in an All-Ireland final was at centre-half back in 1969 when they lost to Wexford by a margin of two points. By then she was already an established coach at club level and with Queen’s University as well as a single figure handicapper in golf.

Maeve passed away on Friday at Park Manor Nursing Home and her funeral Mass will take place on TUESDAY at 12pmin St Matthias’ Church Belfast.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

Attached is a picture of Antrim All Ireland Camogie champions 1956, the photograph taken in Croke Park immediately after their win over Cork. Maeve Gilroy is 5th from left on the back row.

Back L-R: Ita O Reilly, Winnie Kearns, Ethna Dougan, Deirdre O’Gorman, Maeve Gilroy, Moya Forde, Grace Connolly, Agnes Dillon.

Front L-R: Lil Forrester, Marion Cairns, Eilish Cunning, Madge Rainey capt, Chris Hughes, Margo O’Kane, Teresa Kearns.

Antrim v Armagh senior challenge game 2^nd February 2025

County Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran reports from Dunsilly

Antrim 3-13 Armagh 0-05 Referee Owen Elliott

A drizzling start to Sunday’s game on pitch 2 failed to dampen the action, as Antrim enjoyed a run out on grass as favourites over a developing Armagh squad, now being managed by former All Ireland club winning manager P.J. O’Mullan Jnr. Antrim would approach the game as literally two halves, as the starting panel transformed at the break into another version from the bench; managers McCormick and Coulter allowing several of the experienced players game time in the second half.

Antrim, having won the toss, played towards the town side and arguably enjoyed an element of the light breeze that swept the drizzle along the pitch, which was largely dry underfoot but the lack of grass at this time of the year meant that you couldn’t buy a first touch off the ground, rather this was a day for bending at the knees and digging up the sliotar.

It was Antrim that took the game to Armagh in the first few minutes as Annie Lynn drifted her shot wide of the upright and a minute later Armagh’s keeper, Sophie Califf would deny her a goal. Armagh were quick to respond and became two points the better from Tierna Maxwell and a free from Rachel Merry after nine minutes, had the home side searching for composure and it wasn’t long before Katie Molloy had levelled the match with two points, twelve minutes having elapsed in the game.

Antrim would build on that with another two points from Dervla Cosgrove and Annie Lynn before Fionnuala Kelly was fed a sliotar from a right-hand side scramble and found the net from a pull inside the congested square at the quarter way mark. Antrim would improve on that with a point from Sarah Fife but found Armagh bettering that with two more points from Merry and Maxwell, though Antrim’s Dervla Cosgrove would float a fine point that was sourced from a sideline cut by Nicole McAtamney, bringing the half time score to Antrim 1-06 Armagh 0-04.

It took all of seven minutes in the second half before Antrim’s half time changes found their stride, and after winning possession deep into her right full forward area, Caitrin Dobbin planted a dangerous diagonal sliotar that beat the stretching goalkeeper and fell into the net just under the bar for Antrim’s second goal.

From this point onwards, Antrim took firm control of the game for over twenty minutes and notched up a further seven points before Armagh’s Caitlin Byrne made good from a well-placed pass from fellow teammate Naoise Hughes.

Caitrin Dobbin would make her presence felt in the dying minutes of the game, rolling the sliotar across the edge of the sparce square, just inches past the post and touched the most delicate of passes onto Lucia McNaughton to drift the sliotar just wide of the upright, but Dobbin’s hunger to press hard into the large 13m square was rewarded with a unselfish offload to running teammate Orlaith McAlister, slotting the sliotar from close quarters past Ciarrai Devlin for Antrim’s third goal and final score in the game, Antrim 3-13 Armagh 0-4.

Armagh had a good first half that was physical and could punish loose play but Antrim’s back line of Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn and Caoimhe McNaughton patrolled with complete authority and offered Armagh few chances at close quarters onto goalkeepers Becky Ellis and Caitriona Graham in the second half. The addition of the seasoned players in the second half proved too much for Armagh but O’Mullan will digest the game and see many positives to discuss back in the Orchard County.

Antrim first half starting panel and scorers

Becky Ellis, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Dearbhail Dobbin, Katie Rose Bell, Niamh Neeson, Eimear Johnston, Nicole McAtamney, Sarah Fife 0-01, Katie Molloy 0-02, Dervla Cosgrove 0-02, Fionnuala Kelly 1-00, Annie Lynn 0-01, Orlaith McAlister

Antrim second half starting panel and scorers

Caitriona Graham, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Janey McIntosh, Katie Molloy, Shannagh Hegarty, Eimear Johnston, Amy Boyle, Annie Lynn 0-01, Lucia McNaughton, Eavanne Martin 0-03, Caitrin Dobbin 1-03, Sarah Fife, Orlaith McAlister 1-00

Armagh starting panel and scorers

Sophie Califf, Meabh O’Hare, Grainne McWilliams, Riona Cunningham, Eimear Hayes, Gemma McCann, Grace Fitzpatrick, Alana McEntee, Katie Convie, Ciara Hill, Corrina Doyle, Tierna Maxwell 0-02, Megan O’Callaghan, Naoise Hughes, Rachel Murray 0-02 (1f)

Photos from today’s match can be found in our album by clicking on the link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/tRozxos6tDmn52/?invite=45234c76-3377-48af-ad63-8bca62b965d4

Follow Michael G. Corcoran on Twitter/X @keep_clickin for match GIFS when available. Follow @TheSaffronGael on Twitter/X for links to match reports and much

Rosina McManus Camogie Cup final:

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire 3-11 St Genevieve’s Belfast 2-6

St Genevieve’s brave effort to win the Rosina McManus Cup came up short at Ahoghill on Wednesday when they lost out to a very good Gaelcholáiste Dhoire side in a very entertaining final. Overall the Dungiven school had just that bit extra at crucial times throughout the game but Belast girls can be very proud of their efforts and added to a very enjoyable contest.

Gaelcholáiste Dhoire moved the sliotar well through the lines and a strong start put them into a lead that the Belfast girls couldn’t reel in. Niamh Nig Uiginn was a strong presence in the middle of the field, while her Slaughtneil club mates in defence, and captain Cáitlín Nig Eocháin and Ellen Ní Mhaoláin up front kept putting the Belfast side onto the back foot.

Niamh Nig Uiginn picked up the QUBGAA player of the match award, but she was pushed close by St Genevieve’s captain Aimee Ferris, while Darcy Ward and the Munce sisters also worked hard for the Belfast team. 

Gaelcholáiste got a great start, Ellen Ní Mhaoláin playing Ella Ní Bhrolcháin through for a first minute goal. But they didn’t build on it as St Genevieve’s pushed up and Orla Munce eventually broke through for an equalising score in the 7th minute. 

However Gaelcholáiste responded with the next five scores, including three from midfielder Niamh Nig Uiginn.

St Genevieve’s badly needed a score to get back into the game and it came from their captain Aimee Ferris, who finished a great solo run with a 21st minute goal.

Gaelcholáiste hit back immediately though with a solo goal from Cáitlín Nig Eocháin and they brought a 2-6 to 2-2 lead into the second half.

Points followed on the restart from Ella Ní Bhrolcháin and Niamh Nig Uiginn, but Gaelcholáiste’s defence came under pressure. They defended well until half time sub Deirbhile Ní Mhealláin raced clear for her team’s third goal ten minutes in.

Aimee Ferris did her best to rescue her team, and they had goal chances over the last quarter. However Róisín Ní Cheallaigh and her defence worked hard as a unit to deny them a goal. 

Three points from Ferris narrowed the gap, but Nig Uiginn landed her sixth point from a free and Ní Mhealláin completed the scoring with a beautiful angled point.

Gaelcholáiste: E Ní Bhrolcháin, C Nig Eocháin and D Ní Mhealláin 0-1 each, N Nig Uiginn 0-6 (5frees), E Ní Mhaoláin and O Nic an Bhaird 0-1 each.

St Genevieve’s: A Ferris 1-5, 0-1 free, O Munce 1-0, N Munce 0-1.

Gaelcholáiste: Róisín Ní Cheallaigh, Bláithín Ní Ghribín, Erin Nic Giolla Domhnaigh, Aisling Nic Cormaic, Ellie Nic Giolla Domhnaigh, Saoirse Ní Cheranaigh, Máiréad Ní Agáin, Saorla Ní Cheallaigh, Niamh Nig Uiginn, Ellen Ní Mhaoláin, Cáitlín Nig Eocháin capt, Ríonach Ní Chearnaigh, Clódagh Ní Mhaoláin, Ella Ní Bhrolcháin, Odharnait Nic an Bhaird.

Subs: Deirbhile Ní Mhealláin for C Nic Maoláin, Caoimhe Croskery for O Nic an Bhaird.

St Genevieve’s: D Ward, M Slane, E OReilly, N Curry, B Largey, E Rea, R Hamill, N Munce, C Molloy, O Munce, A Ferris capt., J Massingham, A Curry, E Gilgunn, G Mullan.

Subs used: S Kennedy, MJ Cahill, E Kennedy, K McAllister 

Referee: P Lagan

To see more pics from the game just click o the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/VeNtRC4qUCVnBo

Ulster Universiy 4-15 Trinity 4-05

A excellent game in Crossmaglen on Tuesday, 28th January, saw Ulster University and Trinity battled it out in a fiercely contested game with the winners set to be crowned league winners. From the opening whistle, UU set the tempo, with early points coming from Cassie McArthur and Lara Devlin which gave them a good footing.

 Their strong start, however, was met with an immediate response from Trinity, who launched a long ball into the square. UU goalkeeper Eimear McGivern managed to block the initial effort, but an unfortunate deflection saw the ball find its way into the net, giving Trinity an early goal.

Undeterred by the setback, UU quickly responded with two well-taken points to bring the game level once again. The momentum shifted significantly in their favour when captain Evanne Martin produced a moment of brilliance, the Creggan star embarking on a spectacular solo run before striking the ball off her stick and over the bar from 50m out.

This ignited UU’s attacking play, and they took firm control of the first half. Fionnuala Kelly and Lara Devlin both found the net, adding to UU’s growing tally. Despite a determined response from Trinity, the halftime score stood at UU 2:9, Trinity 2:3, giving UU a well-earned six point cushion.

UU carried their dominance into the second half, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with well-placed points from Cassie McArthur and Fionnuala Kelly. Their relentless pressure paid off in the third quarter when they netted their third goal of the game, further solidifying their advantage. However, Trinity refused to back down, responding immediately with a goal of their own to keep themselves in contention.

As the game entered its final stages, both teams battled fiercely, leading to frantic goalmouth scrambles at both ends. Despite Trinity’s best efforts to close the gap, UU continued to find their scores, ensuring their lead remained intact. The match concluded with UU emerging victorious on a scoreline of 4:14 to 4:05, capping off a fantastic performance from all their players.

This was a game marked by skill, determination, and teamwork, with every UU player contributing to a well-deserved win. Their ability to respond to Trinity’s challenges, maintain control, and convert crucial chances was instrumental in their success. With such a strong showing, UU will look to carry this momentum forward into their next fixture.

1. Eimear McGivern
2. Alex Healey
3. Grace Daly
4. Carla McEldowney
5. Erin Coulter
6. Evanne Martin
7. Emily Fitzpartick
8. Sophie McGrath
9. Eimear Johnston
10. Kaitlin Gallagher
11. Aisling O’Donnell
12. Lara Devlin
13. Grace Cunningham
14. Cassie McArthur
15. Fionnuala Kelly

Replacements

Bronagh McCloskey for Lara Devlin (50mins)

Lia Kelly for Emily Fitzpatrick (50mins)

Nuala Devlin for Grace Cunningham (55mins) Aoibhinn Daly for Aisling O’Donnell (55mins