All Ireland Tier 3 Minor semi-Final

Saturday, 23 May 2026 at St Peregrine’s, Dublin

Antrim 3-19  Laois 1-13

When Antrim lost to Monaghan and Armagh in the Ulster championship it looked like their season was over but the young Saffrons, under the watchful eyes of Donal Laverty, Eoin Doherty, Ciaran Browne, Mark Carey, Che Connor and Eimear McCullagh have put all that behind them and have found a new lease of life in the Electric Ireland Tier 3 championship.

On Saturday they travelled to St. Peregrine’s in Dublin to face Laois in the All Ireland semi-final and their performance was stepped up another level when they proved too good for the O’Moore County youngsters.

Antrim surged into the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Tier 3 Championship (Seamus Heaney Cup) final after securing a dominant 3-19 to 1-13 victory over Laois. The semi-final clash, held at the neutral St Peregrine’s GAA grounds in Dublin, saw the Saffrons use their goal-scoring power to dismantle the O’Moore County by 12 points.

Proud Antrim and Moneyglass man, Donal Laverty with the St. Ergnat’s players who were part of Antrim’s success on Saturday: Brandon O’Donnell, Niall Quinn, Sionan McCormick and Joey Griffin

Laois opened with high intensity, taking an early two-point lead through well-taken scores from Dan Downey and Cian Murphy. Antrim quickly responded via ConorMcArt, but a follow-up point from Laois’s Will McGrath kept the O’Moore men ahead 0-3 to 0-1 after just six minutes.

The game shifted entirely when Antrim’s Tiernan Lee began dictating play. Lee reduced the gap with a fine individual point before assisting Colm Kane for the equaliser, and then struck a lethal blow by firing home Antrim’s opening goal. Despite continuous pressure, Laois found momentary relief through points from Eoghan Harris and McGrath to keep themselves within touching distance.

Second-Half: Saffrons Pull Away

Antrim put the game beyond reach in the second period, orchestrated by the lethal attacking duo of Shea McFernan and Joey Griffin. McFernan, Campbell, and Kane executed a clinical sequence of points to stretch Antrim’s lead to ten points (2-14 to 0-10) with 15 minutes left on the clock. Laois were handed a lifeline when Tadh Hughessaw his goal bound effort blocked at the expense of a foul, resulting in a Sean Maree point, but Antrim responded immediately.

A late surge cemented Antrim’s dominance as Joey Griffin slid home their third goal. Laois captain Fionnan Brennan managed to grab a late consolation goal for his team, followed by traded points from McFerran and Will McGrath before Eamonn English blew the final whistle.

This win sees Antrim advance to the Tier 3 final against Wicklow at a venue that has yet to be announced and hopefully the Saffrons can draw a big support to the final and witness their side put the icing on the cake of a season that has got better and better over recent weeks.

Team captains, Fionnan Brtena (Laois) and Shea McLernon (Antrim) with match referee, Eamonn English

Antrim 1. Niall Quinn, 2. Cillian McKenna, 3. Shea McLernon 0-1 (Captain), 4. Bradan O’Donnell, 5. Thomas Douthart, 6. Conor McArt 0-3, 7. Sionan McCormack 0-2, 8. Dara Campbell 0-4, 9. Tom Convery 0-1, 10. Conall Wilson, 11. Joey Griffin 1-1, 12. Sean McPeake, 13. Colm Kane 0-4, 14. Shea McFerran 1-3, 15. Tiernan Lee 1-0.

Subs: Nathan Burns for Sean McPeake, Sean McMullan for Conall Wilson, Ruairi O’Connell for Tiernan Lee, Dàire Thornbury for Colm Kane, Cillian McDonnell for Cillian McKenna

Laois: Mark Dowling, Dan Downey  captain,  Fionnan Brennan, Darragh Brennan, Dale Heffernan, Cian Murphy, Will McGrath, Cillin Hoey, Will Craig, Tom Lawler, Sean Maree, Tadhg Hughes, Ethan Neilon, David Timmons, and Eoghan Harris.

Subs: Michael Brennan for David Timmons (Half-time)

Nisun Balogun for Darragh Brennan (45 mins)

Referee: Eamonn English

Tailteann Cup, Round 2A 

Antrim 4-12-2-12 Tipperary 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

ANTRIM had two goals to spare as they advanced to the quarter finals of the Tailteann Cup with a 4-12-2-12 victory over Tipperary at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon 

Victory over Carlow two weeks ago ensured that a victory for the Saffrons would guarntee a quarter final spot with victory or a second shot at redempotion should they need it. 

It took eight minutes for the first score to arrive at a sun-soaked Corrigan as Paddy McAleer took a pass inside the arc and clipped over. 

The Saffrons doubled their advantage a minute later, this time Eoghan McCabe laid the ball off to Niall Burns to send the ball over the black spot. 

Tipperary hit back and were off the mark through a fisted James Morris point, and two minutes later a close range Sean O’Connor free levelled things up. 

A foul on Paddy McAleer allowed Dominic McEnhill to edge Antrim infront again on the quarter hour mark and McEnhill kicked his second free of the half after referee Conor Dourneen blew up Tipp goalkeeper Shane Garland for taking too long over a kick out. 

The games opening goal arrived after 26-minutes and fell to the hosts, Ryan McQuillan showed fast footwork to drive towards goal and unleashed a powerful drive into the net to make it 1-4-0-2. 

In response, Sean O’Connor converted his second free of the half for a shirt pull and Daithi Hogan almost found the net for the visitors, though his close range angled attempt was held by John McNabb. 

Antrim should have doubled their goal tally when Ronan Boyle forced a turnover and found McQuillan and he in turn slipped the ball to Marc Jordan in front of goal, but his low attempt was somehow turned past the post by Shane Garland. 

Before the resulting 45’ was taken, Tipp were temporarily reduced to 14-men with Kieran Costello black-carded.John McNabb eventually took the 45’ and shot over to extend his sides lead. 

Two minutes before the break the Saffrons found their second goal. Paddy McAleer broke the kick out from Garland and Ronan Boyle took up the reins and slipped the ball to McQuillan to round Garland to fire home making it 2-5-0-3. 

The sides traded scores in injury time before the break, Cian Smith clipped over a straightforward free and just before the whistle Marc Jordan popped the ball to Eoghan McCabe to end the halfs scoring and make it 2-6-0-5 at the midway point. 

Playing with the breeze advnatage in the second period Tipperary were a threat from the outset. 

Paudie Feehan launched a high ball into the square where Michael Freaney gathered and goal bound shot on the turn crashed off the post, with Charlie King eventually shooting a point. 

A two-pointed Sean O’Connor further narrowed the deficit before Antrim got on the scoreboard when Tiernan McCormack fisted over after good work from Eoghan McCabe in the build-up. 

The Saffrons looked to have taken a huge step towards victory with their third goal in the 47th minute. 

A quickly taken free was played into Marc Jordan and he picked out Conor Hand and on his home turf, Hand blasted home to put three goals between the sides (3-7-0-7). 

Successive points from Paudie Feehan and subsitute Paddy Creedon kept Tipp in touch, but Marc Jordan halted momentum with a point and in the 56th mintue a fourth goal arrived. 

Conor Hand claimed mark in midfield and switched the ball to Tiernan McCormack to bare down on goal and then opt to pop it across to Ronan Boyle to slam home and extend the advantage to double figures (4-8-0-9). 

The lead stretched through further points from Niall Burns and Ryan McQuillan before Tipp came charging back in the closing stages. 

John McNabb did well to divert Daithi Hogan’s shot behind for a 45’ that  was converted by subsitute Steven O’Brien. 

Talisman Sean O’Connor clipped over a free and in the 65th minute the visitors grabbed a consolation goal, O’Brien firing into the bottom corner from close range. 

The Tipp subsitute brought his tally to 1-2 with an angled shot that dropped between the posts, with Paddy McAleer temporarily steming the tide with a point at the other end. 

The nerves were jangling in the 69th minute when Sean O’Connor dropped in an attempt from the edge of the arc that Joe Higgins bundled to the net to make it 4-11-2-12. 

However, in the closing four minutes Antrim steadied things and subsitute Tomas McCann ended the afternoons scoring as Mark Doran’s charges booked their place in the quarter-final in two weeks time. 

ANTRIM: J McNabb (0-1 45’), J Morgan, J Finnegan, K Keenan, E McCabe (0-1), P Healy, M Jordan (0-1), P McAleer (0-2), C Hand (1-0), T McCormack (0-1), R McQuillan (2-1), R Boyle (1-0), P Shivers, N Burns (0-2), D McEnhill (0-2f). SUBS: E Walsh for P Healy (HT), A Loughran for D McEnhill (54), C Hynds for T McCormack (64), T McCann (0-1) for C Hand (68), B Kelly for R Boyle (70+2). 

TIPPERARY: S Garland, J O’Neill, E O’Connor, M Corcoran, C King (0-1), J Morris (0-1). E Moloney, J Higgins (1-0), P Feehan (0-1), E Craddock, M Freaney, K Costello, C Smith (0-1f), S O’Connor (0-5, 0-4f, 1×0-2ptf), D Hogan. SUBS: P Creedon (0-2) for C Smith (46), K Butler for K Costello (55), S O’Brien (1-2) for E Craddock (57), J Feehan for M Corcoran (60), D Brennan for D Hogan (65). 

REFEREE: Conor Dourneen (CAVAN)

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Tailteann Cup – Round 2A

Antrim v Carlow

Corrigan Park – Sunday 3-15

Antrim entertain Tipperary in the Tailteann Cup this Sunday at Corrigan Park, fuelled by a burning sense of unfinished business.

The Saffrons’ reward for their nail-biting, eight-goal extra-time thriller of a win over Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park is a massive home draw in Round 2A. When these sides met earlier this year in Division 4 of the National League, Tipperary ran out four-point winners. However, most of the Antrim contingent in attendance that day feel the Saffrons should have won. The controversial dismissal of two Antrim players completely shifted the momentum, a setback manager Mark Doran previously stated cost his side promotion. With Tipp coming to the Belfast cauldron of Corrigan Park, Antrim have the perfect opportunity to set the record straight.

Tipperary travel north after an impressive away victory against Sligo in the opening round, but they face a completely different animal this weekend. Boosted by the incredible character shown in their dramatic victory on Sunday, Antrim possess the scoring power and the home crowd advantage to exploit Tipperary’s vulnerabilities. With a place in the knockout stages firmly in their sights, the Saffrons are primed to avenge their league heartbreak and prove they are true contenders for the silverware.

That league defeat still rankles but Antrim are a much more settled side than that which featured in that poor start to their league campaign.

Dominic McEnhill has been in fine scoring form for the Saffrons

John McNabb, Joseph Finnegan, Kavan Keenan, Marc Jordan, Eoghan McCabe, Paddy McAleer, Eunan Walsh, Ryan McQuillan, Ronan Boyle, Pat Shivers, Niall Burns, Dominic McEnhill and Peter Healey have been regular starters and Sunday’s lineout is unlikely to show too many changes from the one that succeded in Dr Cullen Park.

The Saffrons have also built a strong bench as the season has progressed and Benen Kelly, who scored that winning goal in Carlow is just one of a number who will be hoping for a starting nod in Corrigan.

Tipperary showed that they should be considered as a serious threat thanks to an impressive two-point win over Sligo at Markievicz Park last day out and the league victory over Antrim earlier in the season.

A strong first half, during which they scored four two-pointers, was the foundation for Tipperary’s fine win over Sligo. Full-forward Sean O’Connor scored two of these two-pointers and 0-06 in all.

.Tipperary, who were breeze-assisted in the first half, made a blistering start and had built up a five-point lead by the ninth minute, 0-06 to 0-01.

Two early two-pointers set the tone for Tipperary, with Micheal Freaney and Daithi Hogan finding the range from distance. Sean O’Connor would also impressively land a brace of two-pointers for the visitors, who were good value for a seven-point lead by the 30th minute, 0-11 to 0-04.

Peter Healey whoes return tio the side has strengthened the Antrim defence

Sligo, who trailed all the way through, only played in fits and starts but Pat Spillane’s brace of two-pointers ignited a second-half rally that almost forced extra-time

Midfielders Joe Higgins and Paudie Feehan, with Charlie King also impressed for the Munster side as they held on for a deserved win and will travel North with confidence.

That piece of unfinished business and a packed Corrigan crowd could be the catalyst to drive the Saffrons on to victory however and keep their season alive.

Following Antrim’s spectacular first round win away to Carlow, Antrim have received a home draw in Round 2A where they will entertain Tipperary.

Benen Kelly’s sensational last minute goal with the sides tied in extra time and a penalty shootout beckoning was the stuff that dreams are made of and sent the Saffrons up the road from Netwatch Cullen Park with a smile on their face.

Carlow had already defeated Antrim in the opening game of the division 4 league in Portglenone at the end of January and when the Saffrons went on to lose to Tipperary (away) and Longford at home, two weeks later their season looked to be over before it had started.

Antrim regrouped however to win four league games on the bounce, narrowly missing out on promotion to Carlow and Longford.

It was the Tipperary defeat that really rankled with Antrim manager, Mark Doran and his backroom staff adamant that it is a game they feel they should have won.

Antrim had two men sent off in that game in Moneygall on a pitch that was bordering unplayable but they will feel this is an opportunity to go some way to putting matters right.

The Full Draw

The draw for rounds 2A and 2B of the Tailteann Cup has taken place.

Round 2A sees the eight Round 1 winners meet, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

In Round 2B, the eight first round losers face each other with season ending elimination on the cards for the teams that lose those ties.

First named teams have home advantage with the games to be places on 23 or 24 May.

Tailteann Cup Round 2A

Antrim v Tipperary

Fermanagh v Wexford

Offaly v Winner (Down v Leitrim)

London v Laois

Tailteann Cup Round 2B

Wicklow v Limerick

Clare v Longford

Waterford v Sligo

Loser (Down v Leitrim) v Carlow