Antrim Masters produced a dominant display to comfortably overcome Derry Masters on a scoreline of 3-13 to 0-13 in a one-sided encounter.
From the opening whistle, Antrim looked the sharper and more athletic side, setting a high tempo that Derry struggled to match. Their work rate around the field was exceptional, with strong running from defence and midfield creating numerous scoring opportunities throughout the contest.
While Derry battled hard and managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a series of points, they found it difficult to contain Antrim’s pace, movement and physical presence. The Saffron’s were clinical in front of goal, converting their chances with impressive accuracy and ruthlessly punishing any defensive lapses.
The game’s defining moments came through three well-taken goals that effectively put the result beyond doubt. Antrim’s forwards showed great composure and finishing ability, breaching the Derry defence on several occasions and leaving the goalkeeper with little chance.
Derry enjoyed periods of possession and registered 13 points, but they were unable to find the back of the net. In contrast, Antrim combined their three goals with a steady stream of points to build an unassailable lead.
Across the field, Antrim appeared stronger, fitter and more composed in possession. Their accurate shooting and ability to convert scoring opportunities proved the difference, while their defence worked tirelessly to deny Derry any goal-scoring chances.
In the end, it was a comprehensive victory for Antrim, whose superior athleticism, teamwork and finishing power saw them record an impressive 3-13 to 0-13 win over Derry Masters.
Antrim Team: Stephen Harbison, Ryan Daly, Dominic Neeson, Colin Connolly, Donald Crawford, Stephen O’ Connell, Mark Graham, Michael Herron, David McLernon, Sean Mc Veigh, Nial Sweeney, Liam Cassley, Ryan Boyd, Michael Mc Carry & James Mc Greevy.
Derry Team: Cormac Boyle, Joe Bradley, Sean Brady, Donal Brolly, Darren Conway, Ronan Devlin, Carl Diamond, Joe Gallagher, Gavin Mallon, Liam Mc Elhone, Ciaran Mc Ivor, Edward Mc Laughlin, Philip Mooney, Brian Mullan, Kevin Nixon, Kieran O’Kane, James O’ Connor, Conor Thorton, Paul White& Ruaidhri Mc Gurk.
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Antrim senior ladies got their all Ireland campaign of to a winning start on Sunday with this 15 point victory over Offaly in Randalstown.
Antrims first half performance was superb…
Captain Bronagh Devlin opened the scoring when she palmed the ball to the Offaly net and this was followed by a great point from Ciara Maguire…
Offaly then raised a white flag of their own but from the resulting kick out Antrim flew up the pitch and Maria O Neill sent the ball over the bar …
Antrim were totally dominant at this stage and points from Aine Lynch, Aileen Mc Donnell, Carla Mc Kenna and another from Maria O Neill kept the scoreboard ticking over in the Saffrons favour…
Offaly then broke and raised a green flag of their own but back came Antrim with Maguire and McDonnell getting their second score each of the day …
Antrim were playing with confidence and the fluency in their play and their pace was giving the Offaly rearguard all sorts of problems…
Antrims defence were superb in the first half as they completely dominated the defensive zone and their tackling was immense with every girl giving it everythin, and just before the break an Antrim move from one end of the pitch to the other resulted in Bronagh Devlin raising her second green flag of the day …
The second half started well with Lara Dahunsi, Ciara Maguire and Aine Lynch all taking points each to increase their advantage
The girls then seem to lose their way for 15 minutes and in this period Offaly dominated and took 5 good points…
However the Saffs weathered the storm and Devlin, O’Neill and the impressive Emma Louise Mc Areavey restored normality for the home team …
Carla Mc Kenna was then put through on goal by Caitlin Taggart but as she was about to pull the trigger the Offaly keeper took the two feet from under her, but from the resulting penalty up stepped Aoife Taggart to hammer the ball hard and low to the Offaly net and leave the keeper with no chance …
This was a great start to the campaign for the girls and they hit the road this Sunday for game two with an away game to Derry time and venue to be confirmed…
Antrim manager Micky said after the game..
“This was a great start for us . Our football at times was fantastic and we had 9 different scorers out there today …
Our work rate was immense with every girl coming out of that game with great credit…
A few girls made their first start for us today and certainly put in big performances…
We will now prepare for next weeks game where the same performance will be required in order to get another victory…
Electric Ireland Tier 3 Minor Football Championship Final Venue: Grattan GAC, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan Saturday, 30th May
Antrim staged an unbelievable second-half comeback to defeat Wicklow by a single point and claim the Electric Ireland Tier 3 Minor Football Championship title in an absolute thriller at Inniskeen. Trailing by 11 points early in the second period, the Saffrons produced a storming finish, capped off by an injury-time winner from Joey Griffin, to break Wicklow hearts in a dramatic 1-18 to 3-11 victory.
The opening exchanges saw Antrim draw first blood when Conor McArt slotted over a fine point in the 8th minute. However, Wicklow responded instantly, unleashing a devastating offensive onslaught. Joe Keeshan levelled proceedings in the 9th minute before Wicklow captain Harry Butler struck the game’s opening goal just a minute later, looping a dipped effort over the Saffron goalkeeper.
Oscar Nolan quickly added another point, and when Sam Goodbody struck a magnificent two-pointer in the 12th minute, Wicklow were firmly in the driving seat. Antrim attempted to stem the tide with points from Dara Campbell (19 mins) and a Tom Convery free (20 mins), quickly followed by a neat score from Colm Kane to momentarily narrow the deficit.
Wicklow’s relentless pressure could not be contained. Joe Keeshan turned tormentor-in-chief, firing over a point in the 22nd minute before raising another white flag with a clever fisted effort sixty seconds later. In the 25th minute, Sam Goodbody dealt Antrim a massive blow, reactively fisting a dropping ball into the back of the net for Wicklow’s second goal. Despite a late Tom Convery free for the Saffrons, another fisted point from the clinical Keeshan in injury time ensured Wicklow led comfortably by 2-9 to 0-5 at the interval.
Any hopes of an immediate Antrim revival seemed dead in the water within seconds of the restart. Antrim attacked from the throw in and a good move saw Tom Convery in the clear in a one on one with Jack Peter Nolan but the Wicklow keeper advanced to make a good blocking save. To make matters worse Wicklow counter from the kick out and skipper Harry Butler swung over a fine point to stretch the lead to a seemingly insurmountable 11 points.
However, the Saffrons refused to surrender. Ten minutes into the second half, Rasharkin’s Shea McFerran ignited the comeback spark by converting a crucial two-pointer. Moments later, McFerran was at the heart of the action again; his powerful shot shattered back off the upright, only to be inadvertently diverted into the net by a tracking Wicklow defender.
With the gap suddenly closing, Dara Campbell and Sionan McCormack raised successive white flags to trim the deficit to just three points. Just as Antrim looked to have all the momentum, they were rocked to the core. A swift Wicklow counter-attack cut through the Saffron defence, allowing Enda Lacey to palm home their third goal of the afternoon and restore a six-point cushion.
Undeterred by the setback, Antrim threw caution to the wind. Driven forward by captain Shea McLernon, they pressed Wicklow relentlessly up the pitch. The superb Sionan McCormack, alongside Conall Wilson and the talismanic McFerran, hit a string of unanswered points to cut the deficit right back down to three by the 24th minute of the half.
The grandstand finish belonged entirely to Antrim. As the clock ticked towards the red, Dara Campbell stepped up to strike a magnificent two-pointer, following it up almost immediately with a sensational equalising point to level the scores.
With the game on a knife-edge and edging into time added on, it was Joey Griffin who wrote his name into Antrim GAA folklore. Gathering possession under intense pressure, Griffin coolly slotted over the winning point to seal an unforgettable, historic championship victory for the Saffrons.
Griffin was ultimately named Man of the Match for his late heroics, though selectors were spoiled for choice with his Moneyglass clubmate Sionan McCormack, captain Shea McLernon, Dara Campbell, Colm Kane, and Shea McFerran all putting in monumental displays to secure the silverware.
ANTRIM – 1 Niall Quinn St Ergnats Moneyglass, 2 Cillian McKenna Roger Casements Portglenone, 3 Shea McLernon Kickhams Creggan, 4 Bradan O’Donnell St Ergnats Moneyglass, 5 Thomas Douthart Roger Casements Portglenone, 6 Conor McArt St James Aldergrove, 7 Sionan McCormack St Ergnats Moneyglass, 8 Dara Campbell Roger Casements Portglenone, 9 Tom Convery Roger Casements Portglenone, 10 Conall Wilson Kickhams Creggan, 11 Joey Griffin St Ergnats Moneyglass, 12 Sean McPeake Erin’s Own Cargin, 13 Colm Kane St Endas, 14 Shea McFerran St Marys Rasharkin, 15 Tiernan Lee Lamh Dhearg.SUBS – 17. Daire Thornbury (Naomh Pól) 18. Seán McMullan (Con Magee’s Glenravel) 19. Ruairí O’Connell Scullion (Naomh Éanna) 20. Nathan Burns (Naomh Éanna) 21. Cillian McDonnell (Roger Casements Portglenone) 22. Eoin Nelson (St Joseph’s Glenavy)
WICKLOW – 1 Jack Peter Nolan Kiltegan, 2 Chris Kehoe Dunlavin, 3 Sean O’Brien St Patricks, 4 Enda Leacy An Tochar, 5 Oscar Kelly Kilcoole, 6 Conor Fitzgerald Blessington, 7 Sean Byrne Kiltegan, 8 Oscar Nolan An Tochar, 9 Joe Keeshan An Tochar, 10 Josh Furlong Kiltegan, 11 Odhran Cullen AGB, 12 Lucas Reid Avoca, 13 Harry Butler (C) Rathnew, 14 Sean Corrigan Hollywood, 15 Sam Goodbody St Patricks.
Antrim Scorers: Shea McFerran (1-3, inc 2-pt), Dara Campbell (0-6, inc one 2-pt), Tom Convery (0-2, 2f), Conor McArt (0-1), Colm Kane (0-2), Sionan McCormack, Conall Wilson 0-1, Joey Griffin (0-2).
Wicklow Scorers: Sam Goodbody (1-2, inc one 2-pt), Harry Butler (1-1), Joe Keeshan (0-4, 2 fisted), Enda Lacey (1-0), Oscar Nolan (0-2). Josh Furlong 0-1, Sean Byrne
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We have already posted a preview earlier in the week and hope to be in Inniskeen tomorrow as Antrim take on Wicklow in the Electric Ireland Tier 3 Minor Football final but we thought we should wish all concerned good luck.
It’s been a great campaign for the Antrim Minors and it would be nice if we could get a big support along to support the young Saffrons and let’s hope they can bring the Minor Championship trophy back home tomorrow evening.
Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Tier 3 Final
Antrim v Wicklow
Grattan’s GAA
Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan
Saturday, 30th May 2026 at 14:00
Antrim and Wicklow will battle for silverware this Saturday, 30th May, in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Tier 3 Football Championship Final (Seamus Heaney Cup). The highly anticipated showpiece is scheduled for a 2pm throw-in at the neutral grounds of Inniskeen Grattan’s GAA in County Monaghan, with Eamon O’Connor confirmed as the match referee.
How They Got Here
Antrim’s Goal-Power Surge
After early-season setbacks against Monaghan and Armagh in the Ulster Championship, Antrim found a massive lease of life under the management team of Donal Laverty, Eoin Doherty, and Ciaran Browne. They found momentum by producing a 3-15 to 1-5 win over Wexford in their opening game in the Electric Ireland Tier 3 Championship.
They followed that up with a spectacular 2-22 to 2-08 point-taking exhibition against Carlow in the quarter-final at this same Inniskeen venue. Last weekend that excellent Antrim form continued with an emphatic 12-point semi-final win, dismissing Laois 3-19 to 1-13 at St. Peregrine’s in Dublin.
Captain Shea McLernon, Tiernan Lee, Shea McFarren, Shea McFerran, Joey Griffin and Conor McArt have been in blistering scoring form, driving Antrim’s high-octane offensive unit.
Wicklow’s Resilient Resurgence
Wicklow enters the final having shown tremendous grit and defensive resolve through their Tier 3 campaign. The Garden County served notice of their intent in this year’s championship with an opening win over Fermanagh and they followed that win up with victory over New York before securing their final ticket by outlasting a dangerous Waterford team in a tense semi-final arm-wrestle, ultimately edging it 0-11 to 1-06.
Midfielder Sam Goodbody, free-taker Josh Furlong, forward Harry Butler, and Odhran Cullen have formed the backbone of a Garden County squad that knows how to grind out tough results under intense pressure.
Tactical Battleground
This final presents an intriguing clash of styles. Antrim will aim to utilise the expansive Inniskeen pitch to replicate the high-scoring displays that tore apart Carlow and Laois. Wicklow, meanwhile, will hope to use their disciplined defence to choke the supply lines to the Antrim attack, relying on the accurate point-kicking of Furlong and Butler on the counter-attack.
It’s been an excellent campaign for Antrim and the Electric Ireland Tier 3 championship has breathed new life into a Saffron side who turned in some descent performances in Ulster without getting the results those performances deserved.
When I spoke to manager, Donal Laverty during the week he was delighted by his side’s campaign and feels the competition has brought his charges forward in leaps and bounds in their development and was looking forward to Saturday’s final.
“We’re just delighted to get the opportunity to represent Antrim on a national stage and to let people see the qualities these young men have as footballers. They’ve worked as hard as anyone over the past 5 months and we’re pleased that the fruition of all that work sees us reach the Tier 3 final and we’ll give our all to get a positive result on Saturday”
With national silverware on the line, expect a frantic, closely contested battle in Monaghan as both counties aim to cap off their minor campaigns with an All-Ireland title but results to date would suggest that the young Saffrons have the scoring power and knowhow to take the title back to North.
Route to the final
Antrim: Wexford 3:15 to 1:05 Carlow 2:22 to 2:08 Laois 3:19 to 1:13
Wicklow: Fermanagh 1:16 to 1:08 New York 3:18 to 0:12 Waterford 0:13 to 1:09
The Antrim Panel. Niall Quinn, Cillian McKenna, Shea McLernon (Captain), Bradan O’Donnell, Thomas Douthart, Conor McArt, Sionan McCormack, Dara Campbell, Tom Convery, Conall Wilson, Joey Griffin, Sean McPeake, Colm Kane, Shea McFerran, Tiernan Lee, Nathan Burns, Sean McMullan, Ruairi O’Connell, Dàire Thornbury, Cillian McDonnell.
