As the Gaelic Masters season gets underway this week-end, Paddy McIlwaine of the Saffron Gael caught up with Antrim Masters manager, Frank Delargy. In his first year in charge last season the Portglenone native brought a degree of organisation and knowhow to the Antrim side and came very close to collecting silverware.

I wanted  to gain some insight into their exciting plans for the upcoming season. It all kicks off next Saturday, 10th May, at 1pm with a home league game against Down at All Saints GAC.

Well Frank, Antrim Masters seemed to do well last year, winning five out of six league games and pushing both Kerry and Derry close in the playoff stages. Are you looking forward to the new season?

Definitely, Paddy. We made great progress last year, narrowly missing out on a top-four finish after losing to Kerry in extra time in Tyrellstown. We had enough chances to win that one too—Kerry were just more clinical in front of goal. But that game showed us how close we are to the top. Our focus in the off-season was on attracting new players who could add quality, depth, and composure in front of goal.

Who is involved with you in running the Antrim Masters?
Timmy Connolly is back on board for another year, Paddy. He was Brian White’s number two for several years and really understands the nuances of Masters football. He reads the game excellently and knows the players inside out. Plus, he was one of the best players I ever saw in an Antrim jersey.

Fellow All Saints man Carl O’Neill has stepped up this year to take on the role of secretary and serves as our link with the national Gaelic Masters committee. Big Paddy Kelly, current county Coaching and Games Development Officer has taken over as chairman of our committee. They all work quietly behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. Sean Kelly is our PRO—no better man for the job! Hopefully, we’ll keep Sean busy as the year goes on.

Am I right in saying that Gaelic Masters sits just outside the jurisdiction of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael?
Indeed, Paddy. It’s a bit like how the LGFA and Camogie associations were—or still are. The National Committee that oversees Masters competition operates independently, regulating their own competitions and rules. For instance, we’re still using the old rules this season.

Some counties have stronger ties than others with their county boards, including full sponsorship. In Antrim, we enjoy a healthy relationship with Coiste Bainiste. As long as we do things properly and represent Antrim well, I know they’re only a phone call away if we ever need help.

There must be plenty of work to do behind the scenes?
Absolutely. The two biggest priorities right now are getting players registered before the 8th of May—that’s the deadline to declare the playing panel for the year—and securing funding. Player registration alone costs around £3K, and we also need new jerseys and equipment. This is as good a time as any Paddy to thank our generous sponsors who’ve helped us meet our financial needs for 2025: Peter McIlvenny (McIlvenny Law), Peter Murphy (AES – Aesthetic Skin Clinics), Ryan McGlone (McGlone Group/Fiddlers Rest/Portglenone), and Aodh Hannon of Hannon Transport.

Are you happy with the new recruits for the season ahead?
Yes, the committee worked hard to get the right players on board—guys who share our ambition to push on this season. On paper, we’ve added about a dozen new faces, giving us a solid mix of options across the pitch. We look a bit stronger than last year, but then again, most counties taking Masters football seriously will have strengthened panels as well, as more and more counties start to take Masters football seriously.

Have you set a performance target for this season?
Beyond the usual cliché of “one game at a time,” we’re collectively aiming to go one step further than last year and secure a top-four finish. Tyrone will be the team to beat again—they’re so well organised and have a mouth-watering panel that includes several former All-Stars. They have set a very high standard and its up to others to match up!

Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Derry, Donegal, Mayo—all take Masters football seriously and will have their sights set high. Roscommon were a surprise package last year and will be also strong again. That said, I’d be disappointed if we don’t play our way into that elite group and maybe push on from there.

But right now, our full focus is on getting two points this Saturday against Down!

On behalf of Saffron Gael, we wish the Antrim Masters panel and management the very best of luck and look forward to reporting on your matches throughout the season.
Thanks a lot, Paddy. I know the players—and our sponsors—really appreciate the coverage. It makes our job easier, and with a bit of luck, we’ll give your readers an exciting year in 2025.

Thanks, Frank.

Tailteann Cup Group 3

Westmeath v Antrim

Mullingar – Sunday 2-00pm

The draw for this year’s Tailteann Cup sees Antrim face a difficult opener when they travel to Mullingar to face Westmeath this Sunday in Cusack Park, Mullingar.

The Saffrons will want to forget the last meeting of these two sides at the same venue or maybe it’s better to remember it and travel with the mind-set that this is an opportunity to right the damage inflicted that day back on March 5^th 2023.

Everything that possibly could go wrong that day, went wrong as Andy McEntee’s side suffered a heavy defeat that would put a massive dent in their promotion hopes.

A new day, a new game and a different competition and Antrim will want to get their Tailteann Cup campaign of to a good start but face a formidable opponent.

The Antrim side has undergone many changes from that easily forgetable performance in Mullingar with Mick Byrne, Eoin McCabe, James McAuley, Joseph and Patrick Finnegan, Ruairi McCann and Conor Stewart the only players still in the panel that started that day though Dominic McEnhill came on as a substitute.

Captain that day, Peter Healy has not kicked a ball this year but is still around the panel as he recovers from a long term injury that required surgery and just where he is at in terms of recovery is not known at the time of writing.

Westmeath went on to gain promotion to division 2 in 2023 but recorded only one draw from their 7 fixtures and return to division 3 in 2025 while Antrim are relegated to division 4 for the 2025 season.

Just how those league campaigns have affected both sides remains to be seen but Antrim were somewhat unfortunate to make the drop from division 3 and were competitive in nearly all their games.

Their outstanding performance against All Ireland Champions, Armagh in the ‘Corrigan or nowhere’ Ulster Championship will have given Andy McEntee’s side a lot of confidence.

The Saffrons played out of their skins in that one and led the All Ireland champions by a point at half time and that lead could have been greater but Kavan Keenan’s penalty just before half time was saved by Blaine Hughes.

Paddy McBride, Eunan Walsh, Dermott McAleese and Marc Jordan were missing through injury in Antrim’s meeting with Sunday’s opponents back in 2023 while Kavan Keenan, Conor Hand, Ronan Boyle and Ryan McQuillan are amongst the emerging new faces likely to see action in Mullingar.

Antrim can take a lot of confidence from that performance against Armagh and if they can perform to that level and keep it going for the 70 plus minutes then they are quite capable of getting a result at Cusack Park.

Group 3 Tailteann Cup: Westmeath, Limerick, Antrim, London

Ulster U20 Football Tier 2 semi-final

Antrim 0-12 Monaghan 3-15

An inexperienced Antrim, missing a number of regulars fell to a more mature Monaghan in this Tier 2 Ulster U20 semi-final at Dunsilly on Monday night.

Most of the Antrim side are under age again next year and if they can be kept together then things will get better but there will be much that manger Colin Toal can take from Monday night’s performance.

Indeed it was Antrim who made the better start and a good move opened up the Monaghan defence with Lorcan Phillips firing over and the St. Paul’s youngster might well have had a goal.

It continued to look promising for the home side and a strong run from Paul Duffin set up Sean Boyd who pointed to put the Saffrons 0-2 to 0-0 ahead after five minutes

Monaghan opened their account through the accurate free taking of Matthew Finn, one of several soft awards the corner forward greatly accepted over the hour, before Killian Kearns brought the sides level with 8 minutes gone.

The visitors were beginning to get on top and Kearns was afforded acres of space as he soloed through for the game’s opening goal with the Antrim defence nowhere to be seen.

Matthew Finn added a point from play before converting his second free of the evening before Lorcan Phillips replied at the other end and then a strong run from Niall Hynds looked like producing a goal but Martin Quinn averted the danger.

The visitors replied again with Matthew Finn converting his third free of the evening and Killian Kearns hitting a fine 2 pointer and when Finn converted a ‘45’ it was starting to slip away from the young Saffrons.

Another Finn converted free moved Monaghan 8 ahead but a great long range 2 points free from Donnacha McGurk gave Antrim a glimmer of hope as the whistle sounded for half time.

HT Antrim 0-6 Monaghan1-9

The visitors extended their lead through another Finn free at the start of the second half but Antrim were still putting some promising moves together but unable to turn them into scores with Corey Walsh and Sean Boyd both off target.

They were made to pay the price as the excellent Sean O’Connell got through for Monaghan’s second goal in the 9^th minute and when the same player followed up for a third after a good initial save from Jamie McLaughlin, it was over.

To their credit Antrim kept plugging away with Paul Duffin, Ronan Quinn and Niall Hynds to the fore and replied with points from Segdae MacAdhaim, Paul Duffin, Michael McKenna and Duffin again.

Sean O’Connell and Darragh McMahon replied for the Farney County but two more from Ronan Quinn and Eamon Ward put a better reflection on the final score line as Kearns concluded the scoring with a great 2 pointer for the visitors.

A disappointing campaign for Antrim with just one point to their credit from a draw with Fermanagh. It doesn’t tell the whole story however as Colin Toal and his management team have been without key players throughout their campaign.

They have shown in spells that they are capable of much better and some of their play tonight was good but bad choices or poor finishing let them down on several occasions.

They came up against a bigger and more physically imposing Monaghan on this occasion for whom Niall Mehan Matthew Carolan, Sean O’Connell and free taker, Matthew Finn were excellent.

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM MONDAY NIGHT’S GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/9aLx27QDYVV7en

Antrim face Monaghan tonight (Monday) in the U20 Tier 2 semi-final at Dunsilly 7-30 and we call on Antrim Gaels to come out in numbers and give them your support. Antrim lost to All Ireland champions Tyrone and to a strong Donegal side in the league stages but drew with Fermanagh in the group stages and will be hoping for a first win tonight and we wish them all the best’

Moneyglass man, Paul Duffin has been strong in the Antrim defence

Ulster MFC Quarter-Final

Armagh 2-9 Antrim 0-10

Despite an excellent second half Antrim lost to a Daithi O’Callaghan inspired Armagh in Crossmaglen on Saturday afternoon.

The young Saffrons will reflect on the number of wides they kicked in the opening half when they had the breeze at their backs as Ryan Dynes goal sent the Orchard to the dressing room leading 1-6 to 0-3 at the halfway stage.

Odhran Doherty was Antrim’s only first half scorer, the Portglenone lad converting three first half frees with Odhran Reel, Conal Wilson, Daithi O’Callaghan, Harry Fearon and a couple from Ronan Martin the Armagh first half point scorers.

It was obvious at the half way stage that Antrim would have to show marked improvement in the second half and despite facing the breeze, improve they did.

It was Ronan Reel who extended the Armagh lead with a point, early in the second half but points from Tom Duffin, Cillian Scullion and Odhran Doherty’s fourth pointed free of the evening had the Saffrons daring to believe.

Cormac Scullion added another to leave just two between the sides and the momentum was very much with the visitors before Daithi O’Callaghan grabbed the game by the scruff of the kneck to fire the Orchard back into control.

The mid-field dynamo hit an unanswered 1-2 to put his side in the driving and might have had a second goal but was off target from the penalty spot.

To their credit Antrim fought to the end and kicked the last two points through Joe Logan and a Torin Hodkinson 2 pointer to close the gap to five but that would be as close as they got.

It was a much improved second half from John O’Kane’s side but they will look back on their inaccuracy in the opening half and if they had scored a greater percentage of their opportunities then there would have been little in it in the end.

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/mFGfDL7Xp3vP35