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