Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Glenarm 1-09 Cushendun 1-19

PICS BY MICKY MORGAN

Antrim Hurling League Division 2 action saw North Antrim rivals Cushendun secure a convincing 1-19 to 1-09 victory over Glenarm at Feystown. Referee Fergus McAllister threw in the ball for a match that started as a tightly contested affair. Cushendun talisman Conlaoth McNeill, widely known as Loaf, opened the scoring in the first minute with a free. Glenarm quickly responded through Darren Hamill, setting a pattern of tit-for-tat scoring for the opening quarter. John Joe O’Connell and a sideline cut from Loaf kept the visitors ticking over, but points from Aidan Scullion, Kieran O’Boyle, and another pair from Hamill eventually gave Glenarm a narrow 0-05 to 0-04 lead by the 22nd minute. However, Cushendun finished the half strongly. Loaf spearheaded a four-point scoring burst in the closing minutes, including another impressive sideline cut, sending his team into the halftime break with a 0-08 to 0-05 advantage.

Cushendun emerged for the second half with renewed intensity, rattling off three quick points in the opening three minutes through Conor McHugh and two frees from Loaf McNeill to extend their lead. Sean O’Hare temporarily halted the momentum with a free for the hosts, but the visitors kept the scoreboard moving with further points from Loaf and Andrew Breslin. The defining moment of the game arrived in the 15th minute when excellent work from John Joe O’Connell on the wing resulted in a great ball played into Colm McKeegan, who made no mistake and fired low to the net for a crucial Cushendun goal. Glenarm showed signs of a fightback shortly after; following an O’Hare free, Aidan O’Neill found the back of the net in the 18th minute. O’Neill placed the ball into the bottom corner on his second attempt after Archie McSparran had bravely saved the initial shot on the goal line. Despite this lifeline reducing the deficit, Glenarm could not bridge the gap.

The final ten minutes belonged entirely to Cushendun, with Conor McHugh adding two more points to his personal tally and the prolific Loaf converting a string of late frees to cap off a superb individual performance, sealing a comfortable ten-point win for the visitors.

The win gets the Emmet’s league title race back on track after last week’s shock defeat to Carryduff, which adds even more excitement to next Sunday’s clash with league leaders Ballycran back at the Rigs in Cushendun.

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All Ireland Under 23 Camogie Championship

Wexford 1-13 Antrim 4-6

Venue: Enniscorthy

Antrim’s Under 23 camogie squad has marched into next weekend’s All-Ireland B Championship semi-finals with a spring in their step after a thrilling, goal-heavy victory over Wexford on Sunday.

A brace of goals in each half proved to be the ultimate difference-maker, with senior standout Cliona Griffin delivering a devastating attacking masterclass.

Wexford opened the scoring through a Ciara Butler free, but Antrim quickly seized the momentum. Just six minutes in, Cliona Griffin found the back of the net for her first goal of the afternoon, followed closely by two frees from Elen McIntosh.

The Saffron attack briefly stalled midway through the half, allowing Wexford to edge ahead by the 22nd minute thanks to the sharp shooting of Butler and Caoimhe Byrne. However, Antrim responded emphatically before the break. Griffin shattered the Wexford momentum with her second goal, which was swiftly followed by points from Sarah Fyfe and McIntosh.

Half-Time Score: Antrim 2-4 | Wexford 0-6

The second half tested Antrim’s resolve. Elen McIntosh knocked over her first point from play shortly after the restart, but the Saffrons were subsequently pinned back by intense Wexford pressure. Antrim endured a 20-minute scoring drought, during which Butler and Byrne combined for four points to narrow the gap to a single point. Crucially, however, the home side never managed to take the lead.

In the 52nd minute, Antrim finally broke the siege. Following a frantic scramble for possession 20 metres out, Griffin emerged with the sliotar and fed Orlaith McAlister, who ruthlessly dispatched the ball into the net.

Six minutes later, Griffin hammered the final nail into the coffin, firing home her third goal in the 58th minute to complete a spectacular hat-trick. Wexford fought fiercely until the bitter end—with Byrne finding the net and Reddy and Butler adding late points—but Antrim manager Elaine Dowds saw her team hold their nerve to hear the final whistle.

While Griffin’s hat-trick stole the headlines, Antrim boasted star performers across the entire pitch:

• Defence: Captain Katie Molloy anchored the backline brilliantly, while Casey Crawford executed a flawless man-marking job on Wexford’s dangerous forward, Kayla Reddy. Orlaith Johnson was also rock-solid between the posts.
• Work Rate: The Ballycastle contingent of Elen McIntosh, Janey McIntosh, and Shannagh Heggarty provided tireless energy and crucial scores alongside goalscorer Orlaith McAlister.

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Scorers

Antrim

• Cliona Griffin: 3-0
• Orlaith McAlister: 1-0
• Elen McIntosh: 0-5 (4 frees)
• Sarah Fyfe: 0-1

Wexford

• Caoimhe Byrne: 1-3
• Ciara Butler: 0-9 (8 frees)
• Kayla Reddy: 0-1

Leinster Under-20 Hurling Championship – Tier 2

Venue: Co Laois

Final Score: Antrim 3-22 | Kerry 0-14

The Antrim under-20 hurlers continued their formidable run in the Tier 2 Leinster Under-20 Hurling Championship, securing their third consecutive victory with a commanding 3-22 to 0-14 win over Kerry in Co Laois.

Antrim stamped their authority on the game right from the throw-in. A blistering start saw them breach the Kerry defense twice in the opening stages, with early goals from Callum McIlwaine and Cadhán Crawford. That immediate attacking surge left Kerry reeling, and by the 10-minute mark, the young Saffrons had already built a comfortable 2-2 to 0-1 lead.

The Ulster side maintained their relentless pace and control of the sliotar as the half progressed, stretching their advantage to 2-5 to 0-3 by the 20th minute. Kerry managed to find some rhythm before the break, tapping over a few much-needed scores to keep themselves within touching distance but the teams headed to the dressing rooms with Antrim leading by 2-6 to 0-7.

Emerging for the second half, Kerry showed signs of a revival, battling hard to narrow the deficit. However, Antrim’s composure shone through. They absorbed the pressure and responded emphatically, knocking over a string of points to widen the gap to 2-14 to 0-12 midway through the half.

The match was effectively put to bed in the final 10 minutes when Thomas McLaughlin found the back of the net for Antrim’s third goal of the afternoon. This final blow capped off a genuinely free-scoring and remarkably balanced team performance from start to finish.

Looking ahead, Antrim’s momentum sets up a highly anticipated clash next week against Carlow, who secured their own victory over Down today. Given the current standings and form, it is highly likely that next week’s opponents will meet again in the championship final.

Antrim scorers

Cadhan Crawford 1-6 (0-3f)
Thomas McLaughlin 1-1
Callum McIlwaine 1-0
Callagh Mooney 0-3
Charlie McAuley 0-2
Oisin McCallin 0-2
Orin O’Connor 0-2
Conor Donnelly 0-1
James McDonnell 0-1
Niall Magee 0-1
Roan McGarry 0-1
Ronan Fitzgerald 0-1
Sean Og McLaren 0-1 (0-1f

ANTRIM

1	Sean Og McLaren	Naomh Pol
2	Cathair Donnelly	Mac Uilin
3	Liam Glackin (Capt.)	Na Seamróga
4	Conor McCann	Ruairi Og
5	Ronan Donnelly	Naomh Eoin
6	Calum Mc Ilwaine	Óisín Gleann Airimh
7	Callagh Mooney	Ruairi Og
8	Charlie Mc Auley	Ruairi Og
9	Ronan Fitzgerald	Na Seamróga
10	Liam Mc Enhill	Ó D Rosa
11	Orrin O’Connor	Óisín Gleann Airimh
12	Niall Magee (sub for No. 12)	Óisín Gleann Airimh
13	Cadhan Crawford	Mac Uilin
14	Thomas Mc Laughlin	Ruairi Og
15	Oisin McCallin	Cú Chulainn, Dún Lathai

Subs – James McDonnell (St Paul’s), Fintan McKinney (Naomh Eoin), Conor Donnelly (Mac Uilin), Reece Cunning (Cú Chulainn, Dún Lathai), Ben O’Kane (Cú Chulainn, Dún Lathai), Roan McGarry (Na Seamróga)

Ulster LGFA Junior Championship

Antrim 4-21 London 1-06 

Antrim senior ladies progressed to the ulster junior football final with this comprehensive 24 point victory over London… 

The girls showed intent from the first whistle and with one minute on the clock Maria O Neill had the ball in the London net … 

Antrim were full of energy and some of the football they were playing was absolutely fantastic… 

Midway through the first half the impressive Lara Dahunsi hit a two pointer and this was followed by another Maria O’Neill goal and some excellent point taking from the boot of Caitlin Taggart who was proving a handful for the London rear guard … 

Aileen Mc Donnell also rattled over two great scores and after a brilliant passage of play Theresa Mellon raised another white flag… 

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Antrim dictating proceedings and after an eye catching move Ciara Brown finished to the net.. 

Aisling Mulholland and Emily Kearns were making some great interceptions at the back and indeed the two girls combined well to set up Ciara Maguire who split the posts and Alssya Davison then raised another white flag with Laura Agnew also getting her name on the score sheet… 

Antrims last score was an absolute sublime two pointer from inspirational captain Bronagh Devlin who lead by example for the full 60 minutes… 

Every girl can be so proud of their preformance in this game and the football that Antrim played was nothing short of exceptional at times … 

Antrim now play Derry in the ulster final … 

The game will be played at Brewster Park on Saturday 16 May with a 1 pm throw in… 

Would be great for these girls to have a big support on the day ..  

Scorers … 

Maria ONeill 2-1

Lara Dahunsi 1-2 1 x 2 pt

Bronagh Devlin 0-2 1x 2pt

Caitlin Taggart 0-4 

Aileen Mc Donnell 0-3 

Ciara Brown 1-0 

Ciara Maguire 0-2 

Laura Agnew 0-1 

Alyssa Davison 0-1

Theresa Mellon 0-1