Antrim 1-17 Wicklow 3-11

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.

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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.

Good Luck Antrim!

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.

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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