OB Construction Antrim IFC Group 2 

St Pat’s Lisburn 3-8-2-14 Glenavy 

Kevin Herron reports from Kirkwoods Park 

THREE goals in arrears at the interval (3-5-0-5), Glenavy produced a stunning turn around after the break to defeat St. Pat’s Lisburn 2-14-3-8 in their Group 2 opener at Kirkwoods Park on Sunday evening. 

Despite Glenavy having the majority of possession in the early stages they found themselves a goal behind inside of four minutes. Owen Drayne won the ball close to the sideline for the hosts and offloaded to Josh McMullan- who surged towards the square and passed to Oisin Gorman to blast past Matthew Lawlor. 

Glenavy responded with three successive scores to restore parity by the 12th minute. Pearse O’Neill switched to Ciaran Loney to swing over his side’s opening score. 

The next two came from the placed ball with James Monaghan and Leon Lavery firing over from either side of the pitch. Midway through the half a Sean Burns point edged St Pat’s back ahead and less than 60-seconds later the hosts had their second goal through Gorman. 

The half forward raced towards goal and his shot took a ricochet and bobbled to the corner to make it 2-1-0-3. The lead was extended when Brendan McGarr controlled a hooked pass from the other side of the arc and popped over. 

Without a score since Leon Lavery’s 12th minute free, Glenavy finally responded when Ciaran Loney shot over his second point of the half. 

A breach allowed Jude Rafferty to convert a close range free and Owen Drayne opened his account for the evening after a nice exchange in the build-up from Josh McMullan and Jude Rafferty. 

St Pat’s increased their lead with their third goal of the half in the 27th minute. Referee Ritchie Leahy allowed Owen Drayne an advantage after he was fouled, Draynes shot came back off the large post and landed perfectly for Conor Doran to tuck home and make it 3-4-0-4. 

The sides traded scores before the break with Adam Patterson and Pearse O’Neill adding points in injury time as the three goals were the difference at the interval. 

Glenavy started the second period brightly with James Monaghan pointing from a surging Ruairi Forester run and Monaghan then kicked a close range free. 

Fionntan O’Boyle shot inches past the post following a quick move through the hands involving Monaghan and Michael Morgan, but Monaghan added his third point of the half as their momentum gathered pace. 

The visitors found the net for the first time in the 42nd minute. Paddy Fox played a pass into Ciaran Loney and he in turn slipped a short pass to Darragh Doherty to squeeze a low shot in at the far post and make it 3-5-1-8. 

A second converted close range free from Monaghan had the deficit at two, but St Pat’s Lisburn ended a 15-minute scoreless period with a point from double goalscorer Oisin Gorman. 

Glenavy should have had a second goal in the 47th minute, Pearse O’Neill carried the ball forward and laid the ball off to Odhran Arthurs, he in turn slipped the ball to Michael Morgan and his shot was bravely blocked behind by Eamonn Doyle. 

The resulting 45’ from Morgan dropped over the bar to reduce arrears to two-points again before Darragh Doherty pointed to make it a single point game with 10-minutes remaining. 

It wouldn’t take long for Glenavy to hit the front for the first time. Pearse O’Neill took and Michael Morgan combined and the ball was floated across the face of goal and scrambled in by Paddy Gallagher to make it 2-11-3-6. 

With only a single Oisin Gorman point to their name by the 26th minute of the second period;  St Pat’s needed to dig deep and they showed their resolve with quickfire points to draw level. 

Josh McMullan threaded a pass through to Jude Rafferty, a goal opportunity was on but Rafferty blasted over the bar. Then 60-seconds later substitute Ben McMullan steered his shot over and tied the game. 

The match remained a stalemate until the 60th minute when Michael Morgan doubled his personal tally and crucially nudged his side back in front, a position they wouldn’t relinquish. 

The lead was doubled through a fisted James Monaghan score, and substitute Dara Brown popped over the insurance point five minutes into time added on as Glenavy joined St Enda’s at the Group 2 summit. 

Both sides are back into action next weekend when Glenavy travel to Ahoghill on Saturday afternoon, while St Pat’s Lisburn make the trip to Hightown to face St Enda’s just over 24 hours later. 

ST PAT’S LISBURN: C O’Neill, C Doran (1-0), S Burns (0-1), J McMullan, E Doyle, J Wilson, C Smyth, T Buckley, A Patterson (0-1), C Burns, O Gorman (2-1), D Austin, B McGarr (0-1), O Drayne (0-1), J Rafferty (0-2). 

SUBS: J Broderick for C Doran (49), C Ward for O Drayne (52), C Rush for C Burns (550, B McMullan (0-1) for J Wilson (55),J McGurk for T Buckley (60). 

GLENAVY: M Lawlor, R Forester, P McKevitt, M Fox, M Johnston, C Hamill, P Fox, D Doherty (1-1), C Loney (0-2), F O’Boyle, P Gallagher (1-0), P O’Neill (0-1), L Lavery (0-1f), M Morgan (0-2, 0-1 45’), J Monaghan (0-6, 0-3f). 

SUBS: F Shannon for L Lavery (HT), D Brown (0-1) for C Hamill (47), O Arthurs for M Johnston (47), R Philips for P Gallagher (56). 

REFEREE: Ritchie Leahy (MONEYGLASS)

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OB CONSTRUCTION 1FC Group 2

Naomh Comhghall 1-18 Naomh Eanna 2-19

St. Enda’s of Glengormley went into this OB CONSTRUCTION IFC Group 2 opener against Naomh Comhghall of Antrim as the firmest of favourites and eventually obtained the result that they had set out to achieve, but only after a mighty scare from the Antrim town side.

Naomh Comhghall took the game to the division 2 league winner’s right from the throw in with Torin Hodkinson hitting a 2pointer inside the opening minute and Ryan Clarke converting a free to put them 0-3 to 0-0 ahead by the 4^th minute.

The home side were playing with great pace and intensity and when Aaran McGaw palmed the ball to the net from close range following a lung busting run from James McCabe, the Hightown side looked in trouble.

Two more converted frees from the sweet striking Torin Hodkinson  had Naomh Comhghall 8 points ahead and seemingly in dreamland and Naomh Eanna looked in serious trouble but they slowly got a grip on proceedings and showed just why they are league champions.

Ruairi Griffin’s driving runs caused plenty of problems for Naomh Eanna

Sean McBride got them of the mark with a point in the 11^th minute and points from Stephen O’Connor, Sean Neilan and a splendid 2 pointer from Padraig O’Hare had the gap down to three by the 16^th minute.

It was the Glengormley men who were now controlling matters as they got to grips with Naomh Comhghall’s kick-out strategy as O’Hare fired over again and when Conan Lyttle struck a first time ground shot, via an upright to the net, they were ahead for the first time.

SeanMcCullagh added a point to move the visitors 2 ahead but Naomh Comhghall responded through a Ryan Clarke free and another from play from the excellent Ruairi Griffin to level matters with four minutes remaining to the break.

The visitors edged ahead for the second time when Sean McCullagh split the posts and then struck a decisive blow when Sean Neilan finished to the net from close range after his initial effort had come back of an upright.

Team captain, Stephen O’Connor, who was having an increasing influence on proceedings, added a couple of points and when Ruairi Griffins effort came back of an up right at the other end, fate seemed to have turned its back on the Antrim town men with referee Paul McNally calling for the ball and the visitors six ahead.

Naomh Comhghall returned to the field for the second half with renewed determination and vigour as Michael McCabe hit the opening point and Odhran Eastwood and Torin Hodkinson exchanged further points before another Hodkinson effort saw the umpire raise another Orange flag.

Sean McCullagh had a good game for St. End’s but retired with what looked a serious shoulder injury

Ruairi Griffin was causing plenty of problems for the opposition and he raced forward again to split the uprights and cut the gap to two by the 12^th minute as the Naomh Comhghall support found its voice.

It was mouth-watering end to end entertainment as Eastwood replied for St. Enda’s to move them three ahead once more but once again the sweet striking Hodkinson struck from distance and his 2 pointer had it back to the minimum again.

His opposite number on the Naomh Eanna side, O’Connor responded with an Orange flag of his own with Hodkinson replying once again, this time for a single point and at the other end Michael McCabe produced a superb block with his face, the Naomh Comhghall number seven had prevented what looked a certain goal but had to be replaced for his pains.

There was no let up from either side with Ryan Clarke and Miles Devine pointing for the ‘Town’ to leave it all square again with 6 minutes of normal time remaining but Naomh Eanna once again found a response.

Stephen O’Connor kicked two in reply at the other end, his second going over via the cross-bar with Aaran McHugh replying for the home side and it was back to a single score again.

A long range effort from Caolan O’Loan sailed just wide of the upright as Naomh Comhghall threw their last dice and it was St. Enda’s who kicked the final two points of the game through Sean McBride and Odhran Eastwood to leave them four to the good at the final whistle.

A good win in the end for the league winners but the four point margin slightly flatters them and doesn’t fully do justice to an excellent Naomh Comhghall side who gave it everything and certainly played their part in making this an excellent contest.

Sean Neilan finishes from close range for a St. Enda’s goal

Naomh Comhghall: 1 Caolan Mc Known 2 Shane Og Gribbon 3 Iarlaith McKeatin 4 Dannan OHara 5 Rauiri Griffin 6 Cathal Donnelly 7 Micheal Mc Cabe 8 James Mc Cabe 9 Louis Higgins 10 Aaron Mc Gaw 11 Torín Hodkinson 12 Leo Mc Aleer 13 Dylan Murdock 14 Miles Devine 15 Ryan Clarke

Subs: Eoin Lynot for Dannan Ohara Caolán O’loan for Aaron Mc Gaw (Ht) Micheal Mc Cabe for Aaron Mc Hugh

St. Enda’s: 1 Owen Kennedy, 2 Cillian Browne, 3 Diarmuid McNulty, 4 Eoghan O’Hare, 5 Conan Lyttle, 6 James McAuley, 7 Sean McBride, 8 Padraig O’Hare, 9 Sean McCullagh, 10 Zac Kyle, 11 Stephen O’Connor, 12 Mickey Morgan, 15 Odhran Eastwood, 14 Fionn Nagle, 13 Sean Neilan

Subs: Deaglan MacDiarmid, Michael McKenna, Ronan Kalla

Referee: Paul McNally (Creggan)

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OB Construction Antrim IFC Group 1 

Davitts 1-11-3-18 Aldergrove 

Kevin Herron reports from Davitt Park 

THREE second half goals saw Aldergrove surge clear of Davitts and claim the points with a 3-18-1-11 win in their OB Construction IFC clash at Davitt Park on Saturday evening. 

The Crumlin outfit had the better of the early exchanges and found the games opening two points through scores from Cormac McGarry and Fergal Burke. 

However, the game’s opening goal fell to the hosts after James Lindsey slipped a pass into Padraig McParland and he rifled beyond Shane O’Neill and into the net to make it 1-0-0-2. 

CJ Sullivan extended his side’s lead from a converted free, before Aldergrove kicked into life again with four unanswered points inside a four minute spell. 

The deficit was halved through Eoin Gough’s shot that dropped over and a fisted angled point from Emmet Irvine levelled. 

The visitors showed great tenacity to turn over substitute Sean O’Neill and a score was forthcoming through Seamus McGarry to edge his side back in front, with Ronan Hanna landing his first of the contest to make it 0-6-1-1. 

Goalscorer Padraig McParland kicked his first point of the evening in response, though a converted Cormac McGarry free restored the two-point deficit. 

Shortly after the midway point in the half Davitt’s were back on level terms, McParland flashed over from CJ Sullivan’s slipped pass and then Sean O’Neill popped a pass over the top that Sullivan got on the end of and he steered the ball over. 

There was no further advance for the Beechmount natives though, as Aldergrove moved into a four-point lead by the 27th minute. 

Ronan Hanna claimed three of the four scores on the spin, steadying himself to kick his second and in between a Seamus McGarry point- Hanna fisted over a third and then palmed a floated high ball from Fergal Burke over to open up a 0-11-1-4 advantage. 

Davitt’s would half the deficit with back-to-back scores before the break. Padraig McParland guided a shot over under pressure and a high Anthony Rowntree shot dropped over the posts to ensure that two separated the sides at the interval (0-11-1-6). 

The sides traded points quickly after the restart, Aldergrove extended their lead through a Cormac McGarry score, with Anthony Rowntree replying. 

Crucially, the visitors first goal of the game put them firmly in the driving seat and they pressed home their advantage in the last 25 minutes. 

Oisin Graham superbly won a break from goalkeeper Shane O’Neill and he played a pass into Ronan Hanna, a quick interchange saw Gerard Mallon lay the ball into the path of Fergal Burke and he was somehow able to squeeze his fisted attempt past Ryan McAuley and into the Davitts goal to give his side a 1-12-1-7 lead. 

A fisted Oisin Graham score followed before Aldergrove had their second goal in the 41st minute. 

The subsequent kick from Graham’s score was charged down by Eoin Gough and the ball quickly played into Ronan Hanna and he slipped the ball off to Cormac McGarry who shot low into the corner, making it 2-13-1-7. 

Substitute Sean O’Neill converted an angled free, but it take Davitt’s a further 15-minutes before their next score arrived and in that time Aldergrove tagged on a further three points. 

Referee Kevin Parke awarded the visitors a free for a breach and Seamus McGarry clipped the ball over from close range, Eoin Gough dropped in a high ball and Ronan Hanna blasted over with Cormac McGarry swinging over his fourth point. 

After a flurry of chances went wide and short, Michael Connolly added to Davitt’s tally- though their defensive struggles manifested again in the closing stages. 

A fourth Seamus McGarry point was soon followed by his side’s third goal when substitutes Conor Totten and James Trowlen combined for the latter to poke home, despite Trowlen being felled by Ryan McAuley- that earned the Davitt’s keeper a yellow card in the aftermath. 

Trowlen added a further point to close his sides scoring for the evening, with Padraig McParland landing a two-pointer from play in response in what was the final action of the game. 

Victory for Aldergrove saw them hit top spot in Group 1 at the end of the first round of fixtures. 

Both sides are back into action next weekend with Davitt’s making the short trip to the Glen Road to take on St Teresa’s, whilst Aldergrove will be hoping to make it two from two when they travel to take on St Agnes’ at Woodlands. 

DAVITTS: R McAuley, C Toner, N Maginn, C Rainey, J Lindsey, D Mooney, J Scally, A Rowntree (0-2), M Connolly (0-1), O Deevey Persson, CJ Sullivan (0-2, 0-1f), B Maguire, P McParland (1-5, 1×0-2pt), A McGrattan, C Slane. 

SUBS: S O’Neill (0-1f) for A McGrattan (8), P McLaughlin for B Maguire (38), G Burns for O Deevey Persson (40), A McGrattan for C Slane (56). 

ALDERGROVE: S O’Neill, C Lagan, C Fogerty, L Fleming, C McVeigh, E Irvine (0-1), E Gough (0-1), R Owens, O Graham (0-1), C Hendron, S McGarry  (0-4, 0-1f), G Mallon, R Hanna (0-5), F Burke (1-1), C McGarry (1-4, 0-1f). 

SUBS: R McCarthy for C Hendron (HT), D Gough for G Mallon (42), L Smyth for E Irvine (44), J Trowlen (1-1) for F Burke (56), C Totten for R Hanna (59). 

REFEREE: Kevin Parke (ST ENDAS)

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OB Construction Antrim IFC Group 1 

Gort na Mona 1-16-1-12 St Teresa’s 

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Mac Ionnrachtaigh

Pics by Martin Brunty

TARLACH ENRIGHT amassed 0-12 of his side’s scores as Gort na Mona opened up their OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship campaign with a 1-16-1-12 win over St Teresa’s at Pairc Mac Ionnrachtaigh on Friday evening. 

The visitors went into the West Belfast  derby as slight favourites in the eyes of many given their extended Championship runs to the final and semi final in their last two campaigns, but despite finishing in the bottom half of Division 2- Gort na Mona are more than capable of possessing a challenge to many sides at Intermediate level. 

It was St Teresa’s that hit the front inside of four minutes, a surging Niall McCann run forward saw him lay the ball off to Liam Connolly and the 18-year old steered his shot over the bar for the opening score. 

That advantage only lasted until the 7th minute when Tarlach Enright kicked his first two-pointer free of the evening, a few minutes after a similar opportunity dropped short from outside the arc. 

Gort extended their lead when Niall Brown’s shot rattled the bar and Matthew McConnell was on hand to pop over. 

Liam Connolly halved the deficit with a fisted point in response, though Tarlach Enright was hauled down on the edge of the arc and he shot over his second two-pointed free of the half. 

Enright clipped over a free from close range a few minutes later after referee Fionntan McCotter penalised St Teresa’s for a breach, and he added his first from play closely followed by a curling shot from Caoimhin Beck that dropped over. 

St Teresa’s briefly halted the hosts momentum when John Mallon played a short free to Philip Maguire with Maguire fisting over his first of proceedings. 

On the stroke of half time a foul on Jack Ireland gave sharpshooting Enright the opportunity to kick his third two-pointed free and he made no mistake, with Ronan Hamill replying in first half injury time as Gort na Mona held a 0-10-0-4 advantage at the interval. 

The sides traded points in the early stages of the second half as Caoimhin Beck doubled his personal account from a high shot  that sailed over, John Mallon hitting back from a converted free. 

Talisman Tarlach Enright shot over his second point from play after a one-two with Niall Brown before he popped over, 

Trailing by seven-points St Teresa’s needed a spark from somewhere and a four-minute purple patch saw them close to within just two points. 

John Mallon landed a two-pointed free, shot over from play just inside the arc and clipped over his second one-pointed placed ball after Ciaran Donnolly had been black carded- giving the Glen Road outfit a numerical advantage for 10-minutes. 

A fine score from Eoin Connolly had reduced arrears to just two (0-12-0-10) with little over  quarter of an hour remaining, but Gort instantly replied in the form of an angled Dessie McClean point. 

Ronan Hamill shot over his second of the evening to again bring his side to within two with 10 to go, though a foul on Enright allowed him to chip over the resulting free and Ciaran Donnolly returning to proceedings to balance up the player count in the closing stages. 

The game’s opening goal arrived five minutes from time and Gort looked to have sealed the points when Eoghan Corrigan’s angled attempt dropped over keeper Mark Small and landed in the net to give his side a 1-14-0-11 lead. 

Enright would make sure of victory landing his fourth two-pointed free of the contest from close to the sideline and a tricky angle in the aftermath of Corrigan’s goal. 

St Teresa’s rallied in the closing stages and grabbed a consolation goal three minutes into added time after John Mallon dropped in a high ball that was fisted down and allowed Ryan Mallon to bundle the loose ball to the net from close range. 

John then kicked his fourth free before the conclusion but their brief fightback was in vein as Gort na Mona claimed the derby spoils and top spot in the Group 1 standings at this early juncture. 

GORT NA MONA: A Farrelly, D Cahill, C Donnelly, P Cournane, T Morton, M Savage, E Corrigan (1-0), J Ireland, C Carson, R O’Scullion, T Enright (0-12, 4×0-2ptf, 2×0-1f), C Beck (0-2), D McClean (0-1), M McConnell (0-1).

SUBS: R Brown for P Cournane (55), P Mulvenna for M McConnell (55), D McKeown for C Beck (57), J Thompson for T Morton (60). 

ST TERESA’S: M Small, A Dugan, C McGoldrick, R Mallon (1-0), C O’Rawe, E Connolly (0-1), L Connolly (0-2), D McCann, S Maguire, P O’Rawe, P Maguire (0-1), N McCann, J Mallon (0-6, 1×0-2ptf, 3×0-1f), A Taylor, R Hamill (0-2). 

SUBS: P McCaffrey for P O’Rawe (36), C Delaney for R Hamill (58). 

REFEREE: Fionntan McCotter (SARSFIELDS)

Ulster Intermediate Football Club Championship

Glenullin (Derry) Moneyglass (Antrim)

Owenbeg 4-00pm Saturday

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass make the trip to Owenbeg this Saturday where they will face Derry champions, John Mitchell’s Glenullin in the Ulster Intermediate football championship.

Despite losing quite a number of players to emigration at the end of 2024 and dropping down to division 2, St. Ergnat’s have defied the odds in 2025 and their youthful side make the return to the higher grade for 2026 after finishing runners up to Sarsfields in division 2 this year.

Sarsfields were a familiar foe to St. Ergnat’s this season and took three points of the Moneyglass men in the league and when they were drawn in the same group in the championship it looked a difficult draw for both.

It would be St. Ergnat’s who would emerge group winners however with a 2-15 to 0-12 win over the ‘Paddies’ in their opening group game, a draw away to St. Enda’s and wins over Naomh Padraig Lisburn and Rasharkin.

The Moneyglass side hit 4-17 in a convincing semi-final win over last year’s beaten finalists, St. Teresa’s to earn a place in the final against familiar foes, Sarsfields at Dunsilly.

St. Ergnat’s held the upper hand for the greater part of this final and led 0-7 to 0-4 in a low scoring opening half. They went on to run out deserved 0-14 to 0-8 winners in a game that was competitive throughout.

The difference in the end was the battle in the middle third and it was the men in blue and yellow who dominated under both kick-outs as their triumph was well and truly forged in their engine room with Ferghal Duffin, Seanchan Duffin and Kevin McCann winning countless possession and breaks to provide the fulcrum for attacks.

With frees proving the source of half the Moneyglass tally and five from eight of the Sarsfields total, scores were hard-earned in this one and again further illustrates the combative nature of the game.

Despite their impressive form this season, St. Ergnat’s will start Saturday’s quarter-final at Owenbeg as underdogs against a John Mitchell’s side who will be making their third appearance in the Ulster IFC in four years.

Rules involving teams from the Oak Leaf County and Antrim are different with the Antrim champions unable to compete at Intermediate the following year while Glenullin have opted to remain at Intermediate level over a four year period.

Hardly a level playing field but it is what it is and St. Ergnat’s manager Benny Marron and his backroom team will be concentrating on his own side but, undoubtedly will have ran the eye over Saturday’s opponents

Glenullin were convincing in their semi-final win over Greenlough and after trailing by two at the halfway stage they came strong in the second half with goals from Ryan McNicholl, Killian Bradley and Neil McNicholl paving the way for a 3-11 to 0-12 victory.

Foreglen proved a much more difficult challenge in the final with the game in the balance right up to the final whistle and it took a superb side-line free from ‘Skinner’ Bradley to see John Mitchell’s over the line.

Glenullin’s last meeting with an Antrim side was two years ago when they met Glenravel at Celtic Park and the Derry champions ran out winners in that one and will be confident of adding another Saffron scalp in the form of St. Ergnat’s this weekend.

The McNicholl and Bradley clans will lead the Mitchell’s challenge with Donal O’Kane and Killian Bradley others who are likely to play a big part as they aim to overcome the Moneyglass’ challenge.

The underdog’s tag is unlikely to faze St. Ergnat’s however and the Antrim champions are capable of going toe to toe with their opponents with the Duffin’s, Colm, Seanchan, Fergal and Paul, Tiernan McCormick, Kevin McCann, Aidan McErlain to the fore and Zac McCaughan, who won an Ulster Intermediate Hurling championship with Carey last year making a seamless transition to the big ball game and adding strength to the Moneyglass defence.