Nine years ago today, May 29th 2017 we covered our first game as the Saffron Gael. Since that first match in Armoy between Dunloy and Loughgiel in the final of the Under 21 Hurling Championship we have posted countless match reports, previews and interviews and upwards on 15,000 photographs. To all who have supported us, especially our sponsors who we simply could not do without, to those volunteers who have taken photos and written reports and clubs who have given us their support we truly thanks you.
This is a link to that first game that Monday evening in Armoy.
Darren Hamill rolled back the years, as he starred for the hosts with an excellent performance of hurling skills, fielding and his pin point accuracy from the dead ball. The former county star slotted over 10 free’s and also struck a fierce 21 yard free to the net to earn a one point victory.
Glenarm’s defence worked considerably well and drowned out any real Creggan threat. Barry Hamill, John Scullion, Kieran O Boyle, Declan Mc Dermott, Sean Mc Dermott and Michael Fury all had a solid hour and helped pave the road to a great win against the worthy opponents.
Creggan played really well also but for their stubborn opposition who hassled and harried them. Conor and Ruairi Mc Cann did the most scoring with Conor bagging 1-08(6 f’s) and Ruairi knocking over 5 points from open play.
It was a lovely evening for hurling at Feystown, with a sizeable crowd there to enjoy, what turned out to be a brilliant spectacle for advertising our great game.
Paírc Fearsithe fell silent before proceedings got under way as there was a minute’s silence, which was impecably held, for Creggan member Gerry Small who had passed away.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
First blood fell to Glenarm, as Conal Ward slotted over a second minute point and Darren Hamill hitting his first free of the game, but Creggan bounced back with a brace as Morgan Nelson and Ruairi Mc Cann hit a point each.
Hamill knocked over another point from a free before Rory Mulvenna drove over a nice effort from 40 yards.
The score’s were coming in thick and fast as the visitors hit 3 score’s in a row with Conor Mc Cann converting a free, and Ruairi driving 2 points over Michael Abram’s bar.
Hamill again punished the Creggan boys with a free to level the game, and some great spreading of the ball in the next few minute’s was a joy to watch but both teams squandered their chances and shot wide.
The Loughshore team then hit a purple patch as Sean Duffin got 2 points from out the pitch and Conor and Ruairi Mc Cann hitting points, the former effort was a converted free.
Half time was creeping up and with Glenarm trailing by four, they needed a lift, up stepped captain Darren Hamill who converted two free’s the second just as the short whistle sounded.
Shane Uí Neill’s 0-07 Creggan 0-09
GLENARM UP THE ANTE.
The second half resumed with the visitors moving the ball better which resulted in the two Mc Cann’s grabbing more score’s, Conor’s effort was a needless free from Glenarm.
Hamill got his first point after the break from a free from 55 yards. The Creggan boys starting playing with a bit of swagger and won a loose ball, Conor Mc Cann dipped and collected the ball before lashing it beyond a diving Michael Abram in the home nets. The hosts where now trailing by six!!
John Scullion working at corner back for the home side claimed a loose sliotar and soloed up the pitch and slotted over a fine point from 45 yards, but Conor Mc Cann then slotted over another effort from the dead ball.
At this stage Glenarm upped the ante and started dominating a large portion of this tight tussle. A free from Hamill from midfield was converted and a minute later Darren stood over a 21 yard free, before sending a unstoppable shot beyond Creggan’s Cormac Rice for a Glenarm major……Game on.
Two minute’s later the teams where level as Sean O Hare and Dylan Mc Laughlin pointed which pleased the large crowd, and a moment later Glenarm took the lead as Aidan Scullion found the target from distance.
Fair play to Creggan, Conor Mc Cann who stopped the rot and hit two free’s to lead by the bare minimum, before Glenarm’s captain Darren Hamill rallied the side and drove over a brace of free’s. With Mc Cann replying with a solitary point to level this fixture for the fourth time.
In the closing minute’s of this battle Mc Cann struck another free for the visitors, before Hamill calmly split the uprights again to level matters. It was anybody’s game at this stage but in added time it was all shoulders to the wheel to claim the ball, which fell to wing half Dylan Mc Laughlin who hit it right over the black spot to earn a one point win for the home side.
Glenarm.
Michael Abram, Sean Mc Dermott, Barry Hamill, John Scullion0-01, Kieran O Boyle, Declan Mc Dermott, Michael Fury, Conal Ward0-01, Aidan Scullion0-02, Rory Mulvenna 0-01, Dylan Mc Laughlin 0-01, Ryan Mc Loughlin, Paddy Mc Auley, Darren Hamill 1-10, 10f, Sean O Hare 0-01
subs. Sean O Boyle for Declan Mc Dermott 36mins, Liam O Neill for S O Boyle 58mins. Liam Mulvenna.
Creggan
Cormac Rice, Paul Colgan, Odhran Hampsey, Peadar Mc Guckian, Senan O Boyle, Kealan Mc Cann, Daniel Doran, Sam Maguire, Ronan Mc Guckian, Sean Duffin 0-02, Sean Mc Auley, Michael Maguire, Conor Mc Cann 1-08, 06f, Morgan Nelson 0-01, Ruairi Mc Cann 0-05.
subs. Ryan Mc Grath, Shea Devlin, Aidan Mc Guire.
Reiteóir Lorenzo Mc Mullan ReplyForward
TO SEE MORE OF PETE’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
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.
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)
Antrim Senior Camogs got their All Ireland campaign off to great start when they travelled to Derry on Sunda and came away with the a convincing win. The Saffrons set themselves up perfectly for a second-half surge in this first-round Glen Dimplex Intermediate Camogie Championship clash at Derrytrasna. Antrim went into the half-time break level at six points apiece, a commendable position given they were playing against a stiff breeze. Following the restart, the Antrim girls quickly gained the upper hand, a task made considerably easier when Derry was reduced to fourteen players following a crucial red card.
In the opening thirty minutes, Derry’s defense proved formidable, making it difficult for Antrim to break them down. The home side responded impressively every time the Saffrons edged ahead. Frees dictated much of the early scoring, with Róisín McCormick spearheading the Antrim attack by slotting over four frees, supplemented by scores from Maeve Kelly and Emma Wilson. Carla Collins led the home side’s resistance, matching McCormick with three frees and adding another fine score from open play to ensure the teams went into the dressing rooms deadlocked at 0-5 apiece
The defining moment of the match arrived just five minutes into the second half. Derry full-back Eimear McCloskey, who had already been booked shortly before half-time, received a second yellow card in the 35th minute. Even before the dismissal, Antrim had signaled their second-half intent with and early points from McCormick. Down to fourteen players and forced to reorganize for the final 25 minutes, Derry’s spirited resistance began to crumble against an Antrim side that now had both an extra player and the breeze at their backs.
Griffin, McCormick and Kelly grabbed apiece goals for Antrim
The Saffrons systematically pulled clear, further bolstered by two points from Éobha McAllister. Clíona Griffin finally cracked the game open in the 45th minute, firing a low shot across Derry goalkeeper Niamh Gribbin for the game’s opening goal. The unstoppable McCormick, who amassed a personal tally of eight points, broke clear in the 52nd minute to drill the ball into the top of the net. Following a late consolation free from Derry’s Collins, which proved to be their only score of the half, Kelly added a third goal for Antrim in added time. While Kelly’s late strike may have slightly flattered the visitors on the final scoreboard, Antrim’s dominant second-half display ensured a comprehensive and well-deserved opening-round victory.
