NFL Division Four
Waterford 0-11 Antrim 4-18
Frahers Field, Dungarvan

Peter Healey marked his return to the Antrim side after a long absence as the Saffrons brought their winning run to three on the bounce at Frahers Field, Dungarven on Sunday.

Healey who played his football for St. Enda’s, Glengormley but now lives in Dublin where he won a Dublin championship with his former club’s namesake, St. Enda’s last played for Antrim in the Tailteann Cup three years ago where he picked up a serious injury.

Healey has kept in touch with Antrim and attended recent training sessions and he informed me two weeks ago in Portglenone that he wasn’t far away from an Antrim return and he marked that return with a goal.

The Saffrons continued their recent winning streak after they ran riot on Sunday afternoon where they tore hosts Waterford apart to earn their third consecutive victory in the National Football League.

Marc Jordan who was one of four goal scorers for Antrim in Dungarven

Antrim went into the tie against the bottom side off back-to-back victories over Wicklow and Leitrim with Sunday’s result giving them an outside chance of gaining promotion but it would take results to go their way elsewhere.

It was a dominant performance from start to finish in Dungarvan with the Saffrons hitting nine scores in the opening quarter of an hour after Marc Jordan’s first major gave the traveller’s a huge boost.

Jordan was set up by the returning Peter Healy who combined with his defensive partner in the attacking third, with the Lámh Dhearg man lashing his effort beyond Paudie Hunt.

Dominic McEnhill and Pat Shivers added points from range to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Antrim early on with their efforts seeing orange flags raised.

The pair were then gifted a white flag opportunity moments later after a stray Paudie Hunt kickout, and Shivers set up McEnhill for the score as the away side began to create scoring opportunities.

The returning Peter Healy then got through for a second Antrim goal as the visitors began to turn the screw, picking their opponents apart with precision passing and overturning possession as they displayed a passion their opponents simply couldn’t match.

McEnhill added another two-pointer, this time from a dead ball and Antrim continued to press at every opportunity.

Aided by the stiff breeze in the opening half, Antrim had the points secured by the halfway stage but continued to call the shots after the break, and initially out-scoring their opponents in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

When James Walsh finally raised Waterford’s second white flag of the second half, Antrim replied with two further goals to put the game out of site of the opposition.

Rossa star, McEnhill, continued to score at will and Antrim looked firmly in the driving seat as they increased their score difference in the league standings.

Ruairi O’Hagan and Joseph Finnegan combined before working it to Ryan McQuillian for a slick finish on the hour mark, ensuring the victory with Antrim’s third major of the afternoon.

Three minutes later John McNabb’s ‘45’ came back off the upright and landed just outside the square where Adam Loughran was quickest to react on the loose ball and he finished first time to the net for Antrim’s fourth of the afternoon to put his side further ahead.  

The hosts did show a bit of fight following a couple of well-taken late two-pointed frees from Michael O’Brien, but Antrim reacted again with a series of orange flags to move out of site as the opposition continued to concede possession.

Séan O’Neill entered the fray and his late score accompanied by a couple from Paddy McAleer saw the scoreboard move into new territory for Antrim as they continued to score at will and continue their outside chance of promotion ahead of next weekend’s tie with London.

The hopes of promotion are slim, but after a hefty tally which brings Antrim back in the positive column for score difference, head to head could be a decisive factor next weekend.

To have any chance of promotion Antrim need to beat London next weekend and Leitrim would have to defeat Carlow in Carlow and Wicklow would have to beat Longford in Longford.

Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Tommy Martin, Billy Hynes, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Adam Crawford, Caoimhín Walsh (0-01), Glen Power; Dermot Ryan (capt) (0-01), Michael O’Brien (0-05, 2TPF); James Walsh (0-01), Alan Dunwoody, Liam Mulligan; Darragh Walsh, Stephen Curry (0-02, 0-01 f), Adam Murray

Subs: Cian Kiely for Ó Cuirrín (28), Colin Foley for Crawford (HT), Kyle Flynn for Murray (52), Conor Keating (0-01) for D Walsh (57

Antrim: John McNabb; John Morgan, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Joseph Finnegan (0-01), Peter Healy (1-00), Eoghan McCabe (capt) (0-01); Paddy McAleer (0-02, 0-01f), Marc Jordan (1-00); Ronan Boyle, Dominic McEnhill (0-08, 1xTP, 1xTPF), Tiernan McCormack; Ryan McQuilligan (1-00), Adam Loughran (1-00), Pat Shivers (0-05, 1xTP, 0-1f)

Subs: Seán O’Neill (0-01) for Jordan (HT), Ruairi O’Hagan for Healy (51), James McAuley for McCormack (58), Tomas McCann for Boyle, Tom Shivers for P Shivers (both 62)

Referee: Mark Loughran (Tyrone)

 NFL Division 4 Table

team	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
1 Wicklow	6	4	0	2	27	8
2 Carlow	6	4	0	2	14	8
3 Longford	6	3	1	2	4	7
4 London	6	3	1	2	-1	7
5 Antrim	6	3	0	3	13	6
6 Tipperary	6	2	2	2	-1	6
7 Leitrim	6	3	0	3	-5	6
8 Waterford	6	0	0	6	-51	0

NFL Division 4

Waterford v Antrim

1-00pm Dungarven

An improving Antrim make the trip to Waterford this weekend hoping to make it three wins on the bounce. Recent form would suggest that the Saffrons should be in the chase for a promotion place but a bad start to their campaign makes that highly unlikely.

Despite being relegated from division 3 last year, Antrim were expected to be in the race for an immediate return to the higher grade but they made a disastrous start to  this year’s Division 4 league campaign, losing their opening three games.

Carlow, Tipperary and Longford have all lowered the Saffron colours with two of those defeats coming at Kelly Park in Portglenone as new manager, Mark Doran searched in vain for a winning formula.

He finally found it in Carrick on Shannon in Round 4 where Antrim produced a solid performance to overcome the challenge of a Leitrim team that had been going well and they carried that improved form into their meeting with Wicklow in Round 5.

That win over Oisin McConville’s Wicklow will have done the Saffron’s confidence a world of good and while the promotion ship looks to have sailed, Antrim will want to finish their campaign on a high.

They travel to Dungarven this weekend to face a Waterford side firmly nailed to the bottom of the table with the Deise still searching for their first win in this year’s division 4 campaign.

It has been a disastrous National Football League campaign for Ephie Fitzgerald’s Waterford as they were ripped apart by London last time out in a wind-assisted first-half, and although they worked hard in the second-half, the six-point winning margin at the finish was a fair reflection on the game.

Michael Maher’s London led Waterford by 13 points with half-time approaching, only for two late first-half goals by the visitors, leaving the home team looking anxiously over their shoulder.

The final margin of the Exiles’ victory over Waterford was six points, but it could quite easily have been more.

London took the game to Waterford in the second period into the wind rather than opting to protect their lead and with a touch more luck could easily have had another two or three goals.

Darach O’Cathasaigh, Conor Murray, Michael O’Brien, Darragh Walsh, Alan Dunwoody and Stephen Curry were best for Waterford in Ruislip and are likely to lead their challenge against Antrim on Sunday.

Dungarven has proved a successful venue for the Saffrons in the past and it was there that they clinched the division 4 title a few year’s back under Enda McGinley and manager, Mark Doran will be keen to build on their recent success.

John McNabb has been excellent for Antrim in goals and has weighed in with vital scores, contributing 0-5 against Wicklow last day out while Marc Jordan, Paddy McAleer, Conor Hand, Adam Loughran, Ryan McQuillan, Pat Shivers and Dominic McEnhill all weighed in with vital scores.

John Morgan and Cathal Hynds came into the starting line-up and both did enough to merit a start in Dungarven and I would expect the side to start along similar lines though Joe Finnegan could return after missing the Wicklow game through suspension.

A win for Antrim would make it three from three in their last three outings but they would do well not to underestimate a wounded Waterford side who may have nothing but pride to play for but will be keen not to finish their season pointless.

Division 4

team	P	W	D	L	+/-	Pts
1 Carlow	5	4	0	1	19	8
2 Longford	5	3	1	1	14	7
3 Tipperary	5	2	2	1	14	6
4 Wicklow	5	3	0	2	12	6
5 London	5	2	1	2	-6	5
6 Antrim	5	2	0	3	-6	4
7 Leitrim	5	2	0	3	-15	4
8 Waterford	5	0	0	5	-32	0

Ulster MFL

Antrim 0-17 Donegal 0-17

Antrim minors got their Ulster League campaign up and running when they entertained Donegal on Saturday at Dunsilly with the Saffrons producing a solid performance but in the end they were forced to share the points with the Tir Connaill outfit in a game they should have won.

Despite playing into the breeze, Mark McFerran and Daire Thornbury fired Antrim into an early two point lead before the visitor’s replied through Mark Anthony McGuinness, Danny Og Cooney and Callum Dorrian to take the lead with 7 minutes gone.

Tom Convery converted a ‘45’ into the stiff breeze and a fine point from the impressive Sean McCormack had the boys in Saffron ahead once more but again Donegal responded through Tadhd McDaid, Darragh O’Hare (f) and Lewis Cunnea to move two ahead by the 17^th minute.

Dara Campbell, who had a fine game at mid-field for the hosts, responded for Antrim with Danny Og Cooney and Darragh O’Hare 2pt on target for the visitors and Tom Convery punishing a breech at the other end to leave Donegal 0-10 to 0-6 ahead at the break but with the breeze to face in the second half.

Antrim looked in a bit of trouble when Tadhd McDaid from play and then from a free extended the visitors lead at the start of the second half but they replied through Joey Griffin 2 pointer and another from Thomas Douthert to get their second half up and running.

The Saffrons were then punished as the ball was moved forward after a disputed free which O’Hare converted but they responded in the best possible way with Mark McFerran, Daire Thornbury and Aodhan O’Hanlon on target at the other end.

Indiscipline began to creep into the Antrim play though it has to be said that a number of the frees against them were of the soft variety and ace free taker, Darragh O’Hare took advantage with four on the bounce with Dara Campbell hitting a 2 pointer and a single from play to keep the home side in touch.

A great point from Sean McCormack had the side’s level going into injury time but again they were punished for an indiscretion, much to the annoyance of the home support, which O’Hare converted.

It looked as good as over at this stage but the young Saffrons showed tremendous fighting spirit and Daire Thornbury became their hero as he split the posts in the 34^th minute to give them a share of the spoils.

Antrim: 1 Niall Quinn, 2 Braden O’Donnell, 3 Shea McLarnon, 4 Conor McArt, 5 Sean McCormack, 6 Thomas Douthert, 7 Conal Wilson, 8 Dara Campbell, 9 Sean McMullan, 10 Tiernan Lee, 11 Mark McFerran, 12 Joey Griffin, 13 Aodhan O’Hanlon, 14 Tom Convery, 15 Daire Thornbury.

Subs: 17 Sean McPeake for Joey Griffin, 23 Nathan Burns for Conal Wilson

Donegal: 1 Ronan O’Donnell, 2 Niall McBrearty, 3 Mark Wilkinson, 4 Raynne Rowan, 5 Thomas McHugh, 6 Conor Griffin, 7 Fionan Coyle, 8 Tadhd McDaid, 9 Shay McNulty, 10 Aaron McGinley, 11 Mark Anthony McGuinness, 12 Lewis Cunnea, 13 Darragh O’Hare, 14 Danny Og Cooney, 15 Callum Dorrian

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

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Louth senior ladies 0-15 

Antrim senior ladies 0-6 

Antrim ladies unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday when they travelled to Louth and were comprehensively beaten by the home team… 

Antrim travelled to this game with a skeleton squad due to injuries and illness and with no additional players this year numbers were extremely low… 

In all fairness Louth controlled the game from start to finish and the Antrim girls were a shadow of themselves compared to their previous 4 games… 

As hard as the Antrim girls tried nothing was going right for them and they found themselves down by 9 at the short whistle… 

The Saffrons had a mountain to climb in the second half but again it was Louth who were dominating the game and Antrim had to make do with living on scraps… 

All in all it was a day to forget but certainly management and players will take their learnings from the game … 

Next up for the Antrim girls is a home game in 3 weeks time against Laois… 

Main picture – Antrim’s top scorer Ryan McQuillan finds an opening before sending over a late point during the second half of Saturday’s win over Wicklow at Portglenone. Pic by John McIlwaine

NFL Division Four

ANTRIM 2-18 WICKLOW 1-14

 An Antrim side who finally got their season up and running in Carrick on Shannon last Sunday continued to show improvement as they swept aside the challenge of second placed Wicklow in Portglenone on Saturday evening.

Antrim showed their intent right from the start with pace and aggression unsettling Oisin McConville’s side but it would be 12 minutes before they opened the scoring when Ryan McQuillan fired over.

Meanwhile, a highly rated Wicklow had found scores hard to come-bye themselves with a number of opportunities going a begging and they were made to pay when a lighting run from deep by Eunan Walsh saw his pass across goal palmed home by Pat Shivers in the 14^th minute.

Four minutes earlier the hosts might have had the game’s opening goal but Conor Hand’s well struck effort sailed just wide of Mark Jackson’s right hand post after he had outpaced the Wicklow defence.

Shivers goal settled the Saffrons but they were guilty of another missed goal opportunity before Paddy McAleer extended their lead with a point and Dominic McEnhill raised an Orange flag as they continued to call the shots.

As the pace of the home side continued to create openings, Ryan McQuillan finished to the net to put his side 2-4 to 0-0 ahead after another well executed build up and when Pat Shivers followed with another 2 pointer in the 24^th minute it was hard to see a way back for Wicklow.

The visitors finally opened their account with an Eoin Darcy pointed free after the ball had been moved forward for dissent and further points from Kevin Quinn, Sean Murphy and another Darcy free brought their total to 0-4 for the opening half.

Ten ahead at the break, Mark Doran’s side looked to have the heavy lifting done as the teams took the field for the second half and when Ryan McQuillan and Conor Hand added early points they were looking good.

Marc Jordan, who had been the provider for those two opening points, added two himself in quick succession and these scores finally brought a response from a Wicklow side who were in second place in the league going into Saturday’s game.

Kevin Quinn and Dean Healy kicked points and then Padraig O’Toole finished to the Antrim net following a goalmouth scramble and with 28 minutes still to play the travelling support roared their approval.

Mark Jackson raised an Orange flag as the visitors game started to gain a bit of traction and when Darcy fisted over the deficit had been reduced to six and for the first time in the game there was a sense of anxiety along the Antrim line.

John McNabb came forward again to convert a ‘45’ and another closer to goal with Darcy replying from a free at the other end but McNabb’s 2pointer with 10 minutes remaining seemed to knock a lot of the fight out of McConville’s side.

Substitute Ryan Murray announced his arrival with a point and big Erin’s Own keeper, McNabb stretched his total for the evening to 0-4 before Ryan McQuillan kicked his side’s final point.

Jackson raised another Orange flag for the visitors and Kevin Quinn concluded the scoring, deep in injury time but Antrim were well out of sight and they will be delighted to make it back-to-back victories and their first at home in 2026 as their hopes of promotion, despite being minimal, still remain in the balance.

Antrim Team: John McNabb 0-5 (1TPf, 0-2f, 1 ’45’); John Morgan, Cathal Hynds, Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe ©, Sean O’Neill, Marc Jordan 0-2; Paddy McAleer 0-3 (1TP), Eunan Walsh; Conor Hand 0-1, Adam Loughran 0-1, Ronan Boyle; Ryan McQuillan 1-2, Pat Shivers 1-0, Dominic McEnhill 0-4 (1TPf, 1TP)

Subs: Ryan Murray 0-1 on for Ronan Boyle (53’), Oisin Doherty on for Adam Loughran, Patrick Finnegan on for Cathal Hynds (63’), James McAuley on for Kavan Keenan (55’), Tiernan McCormick on for Sean O’Neill (69’)

Wicklow Team: Mark Jackson 0-4 (2TPf); Cian Deering, Craig Maguire, Tom Moran; Gavin Fogarty, Malachy Stone, Darragh Fee; Dean Healy ©, Jack Hardy; Cillian McDonald, Padraig O’Toole, Kevin Quinn 0-3; Matt Nolan, Sean Murphy 0-1, Eoin Darcy 0-4 (0-3f)

Subs: Christopher O’Brien 0-2 (1TP) on for Gavin Fogarty (51’), Oisin McGaynor 1-0 on for Sean Murphy (49’), Jo Prendergast on for Cillian McDonald (49’)

Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)

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