NFL Division 3

Fermanagh 2-16 Antrim 3-12

Despite a fast start and a strong finish Antrim came up just short when they fell by the minimum to old adversaries, Fermanagh in an excellent division 3 clash at St. Joseph’s Park in Ederney on Sunday.

The Saffrons with an opening day win over Clare behind them, looked on their way to a second victory over a Fermanagh side who had lost heavily to Kildare, a week earlier.

Keeper, Mick Byrne kicked them into an early lead from a ‘45’ and Paddy McBride added a second from play in the 5^th minute before Fionn Nagle’s palmed effort sailed wide of the goal as the visitors dominated the opening exchanges.

Fermanagh’s Aultan Kelm had his shot at goal saved by Marc Jordan before Ronan Boyle pointed at the other end to move Antrim three clear after 11 minutes and they were good value for that lead.

Fermanagh were finding it hard to penetrate the visitors defence but the game took a twist when Conor Love drilled his shot from the right of goals low to Mick Byrne’s right to level the contest.

Antrim were breaking the ball to good affect and picking up the loose ball and they hit back when Fionn Nagle fisted a Ryan McQuillan free to the net and Paddy McBride followed with a point to move them 1-4 to 1-0 ahead by the 16^th minute.

Jonathan Cassidy responded with a Fermanagh point before Garvan Jones added a second goal for the home side following poor marking in the Antrim defence and it heralded a good period for the home side as Darragh McGurn and Cassidy again added points to move them two in front.

The visitors looked in some trouble for the first time in the game but finished the half strongly with Patrick McBride pointing before Dominic McEnhill send a pin point lob over the head of Ross Bogue in the 29^th minute.

Fionn Nagle added a point before Antrim were punished for the first 50 meter free of the day which Garvan Jones stroked over to leave his side trailing by two at the break.

The Saffron management, with some justification will feel that their side should have been much further ahead at this stage and they were made to pay as the action got under way again with the increasingly influential Garvan Jones firing over three successive points to move his side ahead.

A couple from Antrim’s Paddy McBride had the sides level once more and another from Keeper Mick Byrne saw the Saffrons regain their lead before Ultan Kelm replied from a free to level it once more.

Garvan Jones and Conor Stewart exchanged further minors to leave it tied at the end of the third quarter but the home side hit a purple patch with Declan McCusker and Jonathan Cassidy both punching over before Jones added another from a close range free after Antrim were punished for dissent.

McEnhill had a shot deflected over at the other end and Ryan McQuillan followed from a free to leave two in it again with ten minutes remaining and it still looked anybody’s game but it brought another response from Kieran Donnelly’s side.

The impressive Jonathan Cassidy and Fionan O’Brien mover the home side four ahead with three minutes remaining but they were forced to withstand a fighting Antrim come up short despite fighting finish finish from the visitors as they laid siege on the Fermanagh goal.

Substitute Patrick Ferris and Fionn Nagle had close range shots charged down as the home goal led a charmed life before another substitute, Ruairi McCann rose to palm the ball to the Fermanagh net in the 74^th minute.

That was as close as Antrim got with the full time whistle sounding from the kick-out and it was the home crowd who were relieved to hear the whistle as Fermanagh draw level with Antrim on points after two rounds of games.

Both sides are on the road in the next round as Antrim travel to Offaly and Fermanagh are away to Clare on the the 15th February.

Antrim: Michael Byrne, John Morgan, Eunan walsh, Kavan Keenan, Ronan Boyle, Joe Finnegan, Dermot McAleese, Conor Stewart, Conor Hand, Patrick Finnegan, Marc Jordan, Patrick McBride, Ryan McQuillan, Fionn nagle, Dominic McEnhill.

Subs: Patrick Ferris for Kavan Keenan, Ruair McCann for Patrick Finnegan, Niall Burns for Ronan Boyle

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NFL Division 3

Fermanagh v Antrim

St. Joseph’s Ederney – Sunday 2-30 pm

Following last week’s opening day win over Clare at Corrigan Park, Antrim have named an unchanged team to face Fermanagh in Ederney in round 2 of the National Football League division 3

Allianz National Football League, Division Three

Antrim 1-09-1-06 Clare

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park

ANTRIM hung on in terrible conditions at Corrigan Park to claim their first National League win with a hard fought 1-09-1-06 victory over Clare on Sunday afternoon.

Andy McEntee’s charges made a blistering start, leading through Conor Hand’s point with debutant Fionn Nagle palming over Mick Byrne’s free that hung in the wind.

Hand landed the only two-point score of the contest with a little help from the blustery elements that saw the ball bounce over and the 7^th minute the hosts were well on the road to victory.

Nagle had the simplest of tasks in turning home from close range after Paddy McBride played a one-two before bearing down on goal and opting for a switch to the St Enda’s clubman.

It took Clare until the 10^th minute before they replied but it was in the form of a goal.

Aaron Griffin held onto the ball well before laying it off to Ciaran Downes whose attempted shot dropped to the net with a little help of a deflection to make it 1-04-1-00.

A converted Emmet McMahon free followed midway through the half for the visitors but Antrim soon regained the initiative.

Midfielders Conor Hand and Conor Stewart combined- with the later kicking his first point of the afternoon and Ryan Murray opened his account on his first appearance for the Saffrons since 2023.

Clare may have doubled their goal tally before the break; however, Brian McNamara’s shot was magnificently pushed behind by Mick Byrne and McNamara sent a low effort into Byrne’s mid-drift a few minutes later.

The hosts added to their lead before the break, Byrne lofted in a free that swirled in the wind and rain; Ronan Boyle let fly with a shot into the crowd and Paddy McBride gathered and popped over to give his side a 1-07-1-01 lead at the midway point.

Byrne made another crucial save within minutes of the restart, denying Sean McAlister’s angled shot.

Clare hit quickfire points through Ciaran Downes and McAlister- who bore down on goal, but his attempt rose over the bar.

On the 51^st minute Emmet McMahon looked as though his shot was destined for the net until Byrne stuck up a hand to divert the ball over the bar.

With ten minutes remaining Antrim were without a score and their six-point advantage was halved.

The pressure lifted when Paddy McBride swung over a free after Clare were penalised for not having the required three attackers in their own half.

Conor Stewart doubled his account soon after as Antrim were now 1-09-1-04 to the good.

Visitors Clare weren’t going quietly though as Brian McNamara clipped over and substitute Cormac Murray reacted quickly to a loose ball that dropped, and his shot flew over in the first minute of injury time.

Their last chance to salvage a point came deep into injury time as Keelan Sexton floated a free into the square, but the ball was palmed wide, and Antrim survived a second half fightback to make a winning start to the 2025 season.

ANTRIM: M Byrne, J Morgan, E Walsh, K Keenan, R Boyle, J Finnegan, D McAleese, C Stewart (0-2), C Hand (0-3), P Finnegan, M Jordan, P McBride (0-2, 0-1f), R Murray (0-1), F Nagle (1-1), D McEnhill. Subs: R McQuillan for D McEnhill (23), P Ferris for K Keenan (61), N Burns for R McQuillan (70+1).

CLARE: E Tubridy, M Doherty, C Brennan, C Rouine, I Ugweuru, F Kelliher, A Sweeney, B McNamara (0-1), S McAllister, E Cleary, E McMahon (0-2, 0-1f), D Walsh, C Downes (1-1), A Griffin (0-1), K Sexton. Subs: G Murray for S McAllister (56), C Murray (0-1) for A Griffin (66), S Griffin for C Rouine (70+1), D Burns for E Cleary (70+1).

REFEREE: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)

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NFL Division 3

Antrim v Clare

Sunday Corrigan Park – 1-00pm

The Antrim team to face Clare in Sunday’s NFL Division 3 opener has been announced. Manager Andy McEntee has gone with a fairly experienced lineout with Fionn Nagle the only new face from last year and the St. Enda’s man makes his NFL debut at full-forward.

Nagle’s inclusion will come as no surprise to those who have seen him in action for the Glengormley Club and he should give the Saffron’s another scoring option in a side that sees the experienced Ryan Murray return after a year out with a serious injury.

NFL Division 3

Antrim v Clare

Corrigan Park – Sunday 26^th January-1-00pm

Antrim kick off their fourth year in division 3 of the National Football League with a difficult opener against Clare at Corrigan Park on Sunday. The Banner had three points to spare over Andy McEntee’s Antrim in the corresponding fixture last year in Ennis and will travel to Belfast confident of getting their league campaign off to a winning start.

Clare came close to gaining promotion back to division 2 last year, having been relegated the previous year but had to settle for third place to Down and Westmeath with a point separating them from the Lake County.

McEntee begins his third term in charge of the Saffrons and the former Meath manager has been well received in his adopted county that has seen them play an attractive brand of football.

Success is difficult to measure but Antrim have reached successive Tailteann Cup semi-finals which saw them lose to eventual winners Meath in 2023 and to Laois in 2024.

The Saffrons finished 4^th in division 3 in 2022 under Enda McGinley having gained promotion from division 4 under the Errigal Ciaran man the previous year.

Survival in division 3 under Andy McEntee would have been seen as success in 2023 where Antrim finished 6^th and in 2024 Antrim went one better, finishing 5^th and this year’s campaign looks no less daunting.

Antrim face difficult away trips to Fermanagh, Offaly, Laois and Kildare with Leitrim and Sligo joining Clare in their trips to Corrigan this season.

The introduction of the new rules will add further intrigue to all of this year’s National League fixtures and Antrim have tested the water in challenges against Monaghan and Louth.

Just who adapts best and fastest to these rule changes will have a big bearing on how their league campaigns will pan out but I would expect the changes to bring about some confusion and controversy through the early rounds as teams come to terms with the changes.

The changes may well prove a benefit to Antrim however with a big emphasis on speed and moving the ball quickly and Antrim look to have the players who can adapt to these changes.

Team captain Peter Healey will miss the early rounds with an ongoing injury and Colm McLarnon is sidelined while Ruairi McCann of Creggan has opted out for 2025 and Declan Lynch and Paddy McAleer have retired but Antrim retained the majority of the panel who have served them well over the last few years.

Mick Byrne, Paddy McBride, Marc Jordan, Ronan Boyle, Joe and Patrick Finnegan, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), and Eunan Walsh will backbone a strong panel and Dermot McAleese will captain the side where the fit again Conor Stewart will provide a further boost.

Ryan Murray has returned to the Antrim panel after a year out with serious injury and the lamh Dhearg man will add much needed experience to the Antrim attack.

Niall Hynds, Patrick Ferris, Shaun O’Callaghan, Aaron McNeilly, and young Adams from St Johns are amongst the new faces in the panel as Andy McEntee continues to build the panel and these lads will add competition for places.

Clare manager Peter Keane has been handed a significant boost with Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton set to return to the senior panel ahead of the 2025 season.

Last month, former Kerry manager Keane succeeded Mark Fitzgerald in the role. Clare were without several stalwarts including Cleary and Sexton for 2024. In the aftermath of Colm Collins’ departure several squad members stepped away including Cleary, Sexton, Cian O’Dea and Pearce Lillis.

Cleary spent the summer in America playing Gaelic football for Chicago Wolfe Tones where he won a national title. His presence in Croke Park last October representing Munster in the interprovincial series sparked hopes a return was on the cards.

Clare will travel to West Belfast confident they can add to last year’s victory over Antrim in Ennis but Andy McEnee’s Saffrons have put in a lot of work in the build up to Sunday’s opener and can claim the win that could set them up for a good season.