Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Camogie Celebration Evening

Report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Leighinmhor House, Ballymena

Antrim Camogie’s annual celebrations of success and endevours took place on Sunday 1st February in the ballroom of Leighinmhor House, Ballymena. Not only was this a well attended event, but proceedings ran like clockwork and drew to a closure on the dot of 7pm.

After recapping the events of 2025 from a slideshow accompanied with traditional music, memories and emotions could be seen on some faces as the past year unfolded before their eyes. Antrim’s Chairperson, Úna Kelly welcomed everyone and recapped the year succinctly, followed by a buffet meal and then some opening words from our Ulster Chairperson, Karen McCormick.

Karen McCormick, Ulster Chairperson addresses a packed hall and congratulates everyone on their success through 2025

Minor past manager, Willie Devlin took to the podium and talked about the minor’s successes being built on determination and a want for delivering success. Willie recapped past events that many probably have forgotten about, like surrendering two goals in the opening minutes of an All Ireland round to Waterford, but cool heads, focus and determination got the squad over the line in the end. Much of that was to shine through for the Ulster and later All Ireland successes. Willie went to lengths in thanking the committee for their support, which he believed was part of the formula for success.

Past captain Kady McNeill enjoys accepting the All Ireland winners shield from Willie Devlin during last night’s celebration dinner

The past senior manager, Carl McCormick then took us on a nostalgic journey where he underlined the importance of community friendship and support from camogie friends and players regardless of where you are in your personal journey through life. Carl congratulated the players and backroom management for their incredible commitment and thanked co-manager, Martin Coulter, for his help and support across the year.

Carl McCormick addresses the room with a warm recollection of efforts applied throughout 2025

The evening wrapped up with a presentation from Emma Mcneill to Ryan O’Reilly of the Connor McNeill cup for Ryan’s outstanding commitment in 2025, chairing the referee committee and navigating the demands of sourcing referees for our games. Karen McCormick presented the Camogie Association media award for Photography to Michael Corcoran and everyone was entertained to the last minute with fine traditional music from local group Tób go bog é.

Amy Boyle receives the National League 1B cup from joint past manager, Martin Coulter. Antrim will now play in the top flight 1a league this year.

You can see more photos from last night’s evening here…

https://myalbum.com/album/gW3hjPQsMKQMpR/?invite=4d7fd386-669f-4435-bf75-57a9c76cb285

by thesaffrongael

Antrim minor Camogs secure final place

Ulster Minor Camogie Semi-Final

Antrim 4-22 Armagh 4-04 – at Falls Park, Belfast

Pics by Bert Trowlen

Antrim’s point taking was the key feature of the young Saffrons win over Armagh in Sunday’s Ulster Minor Camogie Semi-final on the 4G pitch at Falls Park.

The match opened with Antrim setting a blistering pace at Falls Park. Caoimhe McErlain signalled Antrim’s intent early on, converting a free in the 2nd minute, followed by a sharp point from play by Anna Smyth in the 7th. Armagh fought back briefly when Maeve Hayes scored a fine point from play, and Nicole O’Reilly levelled the scores with a long-range free in the 9th minute. However, Antrim soon took control. Caoimhe McErlain dominated the scoring for the remainder of the half, slotting a free, a ’45’, and a point from play. Aoife McGrogan also added to the tally. A crucial moment arrived in the 19th minute when Antrim goalkeeper Maeve Scullion produced a brilliant point-blank save to deny Armagh a goal. This defensive stand allowed Antrim to keep pushing, with Anna Smyth and Caoimhe McErlain adding further scores to leave the half-time score at 0-14 to 0-4 in favour of the Saffrons.

The second half saw Armagh attempt a comeback, with Maeve Hayes scoring an early point and later finding the back of the net for a goal in the 14th minute. Antrim, however, remained unfazed. Louise McBride and Caoimhe McErlain kept the scoreboard ticking over with early second-half points. As the game reached its conclusion, Antrim found another gear. Eimhear McCloskey pointed from play before Mia Carlin scored a wonderful individual goal. The scoring was completed by Mary-Angela Nic Carthaigh, who pointed under pressure in the final minute. Despite a high-scoring half from both sides involving several goals, Antrim’s clinical finishing ensured a comfortable victory and a place in the Ulster Minor final.

No.Antrim (Aontroim)Armagh (Ard Macha)
1Maeve ScullionKatie Donnelly
2Cara LynchBella Crossan
3Laoise StoneCaoilinn Donaghy
4Isabelle MartinAoibhe McLoughlin
5Orla MunceCiara Gray
6Not ListedEmma Hart
7Amy GaultCaitlin Molloy
8Amelie AnnettNicole O’Reilly
9Eimhear McCloskeySorcha Mc Kinney
10Tegan CassidyCara McGeary
11Caoimhe McErlainMaeve Hayes
12Anna SmythAnnie McGeown
13Eimear McCaughanFarragh McGeary
14Aoife FitzsimonsJessica Mc Creesh
15Erinmae MitchellAoife Black
No.Name
16Mia Carlin
17Mary-Angela Nic Carthaigh
18Niamh Mullan
19Aoife Neeson
20Fiadh Sands
21Maisie Monaghan
22Louise McBride
23Aedin Vallely
24Maeve O’Donnell
25Hannah Mead
26Cara Delaney
—Brogan Graham
—Aoife McGrogan

Armagh Substitutes

No.Name
16Katie Haughey
17Eimear O Callaghan
18Jessica OHanlon
19Sorcha Mc Kinney
20Siobhan Shields
21Fausta Gramantaite
22Sarah Beagan
23Meadhbh Monaghan
24Cliodhna McKenna
25Alannah Hoey
26Ella Louise Fearon
27Mollie Gray
28Hannah O’Callaghan
—Annabelle McKevitt
—Caitlin Trainor

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

https://myalbum.com/album/FDXG3dR6iBq7FD/?invite=caf26d2b-910a-46bf-b92e-b6aaca322cfb

by thesaffrongael

Antrim Minor Camogie squad to face Armagh

The Antrim Minor Camogie squad to face Armagh tomorrow in the Ulser semi-final is

Aedin Vallely
Amelie Annett
Amy Gault
Anna Smith
Aoife Fitzsimons
Aoife McGrogan
Aoife Neeson
Brogán Graham
Cara Delaney
Cara Lynch
Caoimhe McErlain
Eimear McCaughan
Eimear McCloskey
Erin Mae Mitchell
Fiadh Sands
Hannah Mead
Isabelle Martin
Laoise Stone
Louise McBride
Maeve O’Donnell
Maeve Scullion
Maisie Monaghan
Mary-Angela McCarthy
Mia Carlin
Niamh Mullan
Orla Munce
Tegan Cassidy

The management tema is

-JP McLarnon (manager)
-Ursula Lynch (assistant manager)
-Stephen Magill (coach)
-Sally Delaney (female liaison officer)

The game, which is fixed for the 4G pitch at Falls Park, throws in at 2-30

by thesaffrongael

St Dominics progress in the All Ireland series.

ST DOMINIC’S Belfast shook off a determined challenge from Castleknock Community College in the St Brigid’s Castleknock GAA grounds yesterday to set up an Allianz Dónal Burke Cup semi-final with Scoil Mhuire agus Íde Newcastlewest in a fortnight.

The teams were level at the break, but the visitors from Belfast were improved for the second half and two goals from Lámh Dhearg and Antrim minor forward Aoife Fitzsimons gave them a lead they weren’t going to surrender.

Castleknock opened with a point from the excellent Mary Bourke, who went on to claim all but a point of their total. The home side had most of the early pressure and led by 0-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes. They stretched that to 1-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes with a goal from Bourke.

Maeve Devlin points had been keeping St Dominic’s going during that period of Castleknock pressure. Her goal from a long range free then pulled her side back into contention. Right on the half-time whistle Méabh Rooney goaled to leave the scores level at 1-8 to 2-5.

St Dominic’s went two up in the early stages of the second half with points from Maeve Devlin and Aoife Fitzsimons. Although Bourke hit back with a point, Fitzsimons went through for a superb solo goal. This was followed by a point from Cliona McGinley and then a second goal from Fitzsimmons in the 48th minute.

While Bourke clipped over a couple of points in response, the gap was too wide and St Dominic’s had secured the win.

St Dominic’s: A Fitzsimons 2-1, M Devlin 1-4, M Rooney 1-0, C McGinley 0-2, R MacElhatton 0-1.

Castleknock: M Bourke 1-10, E Plunkett 0-1.

St Dominic’s

1. Aoife Rice (Naomh Pol)
2. Roise McCourt (Rossa)
3. Abaigh McNally (Naomh Pol)
4. Tara Culbert (Naomh Gall)
5. Maisie Monaghan (Naomh Brid)
6. Cara Lynch (Lamh Dhearg)
7. Amy Gault (Naomh Pol)
8. Maeve Devlin (Naomh Pol)
9. Amelie Annett (Lamh Dhearg)
10. Erin Stewart (Rossa)
11. Hannah McAllister (Naomh Eoin)
12. Aoife Fitzsimons (Lamh Dhearg)
13. Cliona McGinley (Naomh Eanna)
14. Rionagh MacElhatton (Naomh Brid)
15. Meabh Rooney (Ardoyne)

by thesaffrongael

Miracle in Portstewart as McAllister heroics seal comeback win for CPC

Corn Uan Uladh Final Cross & Passion Ballycastle 6-6 | St Patrick’s Maghera 2-17

In one of the most remarkable finals in the history of the competition, Cross & Passion College (CPC) Ballycastle overturned a seemingly insurmountable half-time deficit to deny St Patrick’s Maghera a fourth consecutive title.

The hero of the hour was undoubtedly CPC captain Éabha McAllister. The Dunloy teenager produced a Roy of the Rovers performance, shaking off a difficult first half to score a stunning hat-trick of goals in the closing stages, securing her school’s first provincial title since 2022 by a single point.

A Tale of Two Halves

Few at the pristine Eoghan Rua, Coleraine grounds would have predicted a Ballycastle victory at the midway point. The reigning champions, St Patrick’s Maghera, were dominant, entering the break with a commanding 2-10 to 2-2 lead.

The first half belonged to Maghera’s Emma Quinn. The centre-forward gave a masterclass, hitting seven points and orchestrating an attack that left CPC reeling. Despite an early goals from Adria McAllister, a sister of Éobha, who found the net in the 8th minute before setting up Louise McBride for another shortly after—Ballycastle lost their way midway through the half. Maghera hit an unanswered 2-6, including two goals from full-forward Aoibh Mulholland, to take an eight-point lead into the dressing rooms.

For Éobha McAllister, the first half was a nightmare. Usually deadly from the dead ball, she was uncharacteristically off-colour, missing several frees and accounting for most of her team’s wides.

The Captain’s Redemption

The turnaround began immediately after the restart. McAllister, putting her first-half struggles behind her, struck 1-3 from frees within five minutes, dragging CPC back to within two points.

However, Maghera showed the resilience of champions. They weathered the storm, with Róisín McAtamney, Quinn, and Branagh Brolly firing over points to re-establish a comfortable lead. When Orla McCartney scored with 11 minutes remaining, Maghera led by seven points (2-14 to 3-5), and the title looked destined to stay in Derry.

The Grandstand Finish

What followed was an individual display of brilliance that will be talked about for years in north Antrim.

  1. 49th Minute: McAllister’s long-range free deceived the defence and ended up in the Maghera net.
  2. 54th Minute: The CPC captain stepped up to bury a penalty, narrowing the gap further.

Despite Maghera’s Emma Quinn landing her 11th point of the day to keep a two-point cushion, the momentum had shifted. Following a missed free and a penalty appeal waved away, it looked like time might run out for Ballycastle.

Then, deep in added time, McAllister took matters into her own hands. collecting the ball in her own half, she launched a solo run, offloaded to Louise McBride, and immediately demanded the return pass. gathering possession on the 20m line, she fired low into the corner of the net for her fourth goal of the game.

Maghera had no time to respond. The Ballycastle defence threw bodies on the line in the dying seconds to preserve the 6-6 to 2-17 victory.

What’s Next?

Cross & Passion Ballycastle now advance to the All-Ireland senior series. They will face Munster champions Ursuline Thurles (who defeated Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig) in the semi-final, scheduled for February 7th in north Antrim.

Match Stats

Player of the Match: Éabha McAllister (CPC)

Scorers:

  • CPC: É McAllister 4-5 (2-5fs, 1-0 pen), L McBride 1-0, A McAllister 1-0, T Cassidy 0-1.
  • St Patrick’s: E Quinn 0-11 (9fs), A Mulholland 2-0, B Brolly 0-2, R McAtamney 0-2, A O’Loughlin 0-1, O McCartney 0-1.

Teams:

  • CPC: M McToal, S Flavin, S-L Kearns, M Cunning, C Delaney, A Gillan, F Sands, É McAllister (capt), R McMullan, L McBride, T Cassidy, M Laverty, A McAllister, M McArthur, E McCaughan.
  • St Patrick’s: O Johnston, E Conway, Ellie Griffin (capt), I Martin, L McKaigue, A McWilliams, O McKenna, O McCartney, B Brolly, R Quinn, E Quinn, MT McCullagh, A O’Loughlin, A Mulholland, R McAtamney.

Referee: J O’Neill (Armagh)

TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/AxVRLgE7PA8Z4K/?invite=ebb3cb90-193f-4faf-a05e-23c48817e1b2