The four Gaelic games’ codes of Camogie, hurling and men and ladies football assembled in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast to witness the club championship draw for 2025.
First up to the podium were Antrim Camogie and Úna Kelly, Chairperson, who supervised the draw where the following clubs were assigned a number that will slot into the fixtures sent to every club secretary.
Antrim Camogie Chairperson, Úna Kelly supervising the Club draw along with County Secretary, Sinead O’Kane
The structure that was voted in by the clubs is; Round Robin, first team to the final, 2nd and 3rd play semi-final and 4th and 5th team out.
Confirmed dates and venues will follow.
The fixtures assignment is as follows:
Rd 1:
Team 2 v Team 5
Team 3 v Team 4
Bye- Team 1
Rd 2:
Team 1 v Team 2
Team 5 v Team 3
Bye – Team 4
Rd 3:
Team 1 v Team 3
Team 4 v Team 5
Bye – Team 2
Rd 4:
Team 4 v Team 1
Team 3 v Team 2
Bye – Team 5
Rd 5:
Team 5 v Team 1
Team 2 v Team 4
Bye – Team 3
Men’s championship club football draw followed on from the Camogie
Men’s football followed and the four groups assigned as follows:
Gp1 Cargin, Tír na nÓg, Dunloy, St. John’s
Gp2 Portglenone, Glenravel, St. James, Rossa
Gp3 Lámh Dhearg, St. Galls, All Saints, Creggan
Gp4 St. Brigid’s, St. Paul’s, Aghagallon, Ahoghill
Club championship hurling preceded the Antrim LGFA Club championship draw
Then the hurling, assigned into two groups with fixtures and venues to follow:
Gp1 Cushendall, Loughgiel, Carey Faughs, Rossa
Gp2 St. John’s, Dunloy, Ballycastle, St. Enda’s
Antrim LFGA Chairperson, Ursula Lynch, supervises the last Club draw of the morning
Finally, Ursula Lynch, Chairperson of the LGFA supervised the draw for the LGFA and this too was assigned into two groups:
Gp1 Glenravel, St Galls, Glenavy
Gp2 Moneyglass, St. Pauls, St. Brigid’s
A photo shoot took place afterwards and everyone took advantage of the marvelous weather to go outside with Irish Olympian and guest speaker at the Saffron Forum, Ciara Mageean.
Ciara Mageean was the guest speaker at the Saffron Business Forum that followed the Club draw
You can view those photos here by clicking on the link…
Colm Duffin raised four orange flags as St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass were forced to dig deep to overcome the spirited challenge of Naomh Padraig Lisburn and maintain their place at the top of division 2.
The visitors made the early running and raced into an early lead with the elements in their favour with Eoin Dixon pointing in the second minute.
They received a setback when Tyler Cassidy got through for the game’s opening goal for the home side with only four minutes on the clock but came back through two scores from Dixon, the second a 2 pointer to go ahead.
Conor Boyd brought the sides level with a Moneyglass point in the 9th minute and added another in the12th to edge them back ahead but it would be their final score of the opening period as Naomh Padraig finished the half on top.
Brendan McGarr brought the Liburn side level again with a point in the 13th minute and two more from the impressive Dixon and one from Rory Kennedy had them three ahead with 24 minutes gone.
The home side just could not get their game going and they looked in a spot of bother when Jude Rafferty fired past Jamie McLaughlin for Naomh Padraig’s opening goal in the 27th minute to leave his side 1-8 to 1-2 ahead at the break.
Tyler Cassidy closed the gap to five with a point in the opening minute of the second half but Naomh Padraig responded through Eoin Dixon to extend their lead to six with only two minutes of the new half gone.
The home side were beginning to come into the game and Colm Duffin raised an orange flag with a fine long range effort before the visitors responded with 2 of their own, the second coming from the impressive Oisin Gorman.
Sean Boyd and Conor Boyd closed the gap to five at the end of the third quarter and then Conlaodh McCann put Moneyglass right back into contention when he finished to the net, a minute later.
The visitors were coming under increasing pressure for the first time in the game but replied through a Ruadhan McKenna pointed free, the visitors keeper sending a long range effort between the uprights for an excellent 2 pointer.
The tide was turning however and the momentum was very much with the home side as Paul Duffin and Colm Duffin with a couple more 2pointers reeled in the visitors lead with 9 minutes remaining.
It was Naomh Padraig who were now being forced back on the defensive but looked to have held on for a massive victory when Tyler Cassidy exchanged late points with Eoin Dixon but there would be one more decisive play to come.
Colm Duffin, as he has done so often over the years became the St. Ergnat’s hero when he sent over his fourth 2 pointer of the evening in injury time to see his side home by the minimum and maintain top spot in the division alongside Sarsfields.
A well contested game of football in which Naomh Padraig certainly played their part and they will be disappointed not to have taken something from it as they continue to show that they can match it with the best in the division on their day.
In a low scoring game at Rossa Park Tir na nÓg took the points in this basement battle to move themselves two places up the table. With a stiff breeze making scoring difficult the home team really struggled with five of their eight scores coming from goalkeeper Mick Byrne.
Aaron McNeilly put the visitors ahead early in the game but Rossa came back with pointed frees from Byrne and Dominic McEnhill to go in front for the only time in the game. A 2-pointer from Joshua Higgins put the Randalstown men ahead and Barry McCormick increased the lead with one from play soon afterwards. Mick Byrne cut the gap with another well struck free. Two by Aaron McNeilly increased the Tir na nÓg lead to 0-7 to 0-3, though another Byrne effort cut the Rossa deficit to three by half time (0-04 to 0-07)
Tir na nOg centre back Ciaran O’Neill pushed his team four clear early in the second half but Byrne pegged it back to three again with another well struck free to keep his team in touch. However Tir na nÓg were on top and an Arron McNeilly point from play was followed by a goal from full forward Eamon Og McAllister. McNeilly added another point to stretch the Tir na nOg lead to eight, and though Rossa closed the gap with a point from Rory Grant and a 2-pointer free from top scorer Byrne, that was as close as they got.
TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Cargin extended their unbeaten run to nine when they overcame the challenge provided by St John’s in what was a close enough affair at Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening.
The opening period saw the Johnnies stand tall in defiance after the Toome men nipped quickly out of the traps with an early goal from centre forward, Sean O’Neill who found the net after a defence splitting delivery from Tomas McCann.
O’Neill’s goal gave the visitors a lead that remained until the half time whistle signalled a break in proceedings but at that stage St. John’s had closed the gap to a single point.
James Laverty came close to fining the net for a second major but Matthew Leydon made a couple of good saves and the bye ball total increased with Cargin holding a slender lead 1-03 to 0-03 by the 23rd minute.
David Johnston, Pat Shivers, Tomas Mc Cann, and Callum Gribbin had raised white flags for the visitors but the home side closed the gap to the minimum in the last minute as Conor McGlade despatched a long range two pointer between the posts
Cargin started the second half with the breeze at their backs and extended their lead with early points from Pat Shivers and went on to edge the second half exchanges.
David Johnston who had a fine game for cargin in their win over St. John’sSean O’Neill who scored Cargin’s opening goal and (Featured image) Jimmy Gribbin who scored their second
Tomas McCann continuing to provide problems as he fired between the posts and when Conan Johnston came forward from his defensive role to convert a long range 2 pointer, the visitors had extended their advantage to 1-09 to 0-07.
Cargin were in charge and a good move involving net minder, John McNabb and Sean O’ Neill in the build-up saw Jamie Gribbin fire to the net in the 42nd minute.
St. John’s replied and Conal Mc Glade fired over and the impressive Ryan Mc Nulty followed suit as the home side fought to stay in touch with the league leaders.
Ryan McNulty and central defender Adrian Oliver were working overtime and they closed the gap further in the 52nd minute as Conor Hand’s approach from the right preceded a well taken major by the county man and it looked like the home side were on the road to recovery.
Just five points separated the sides at this stage with the visitors leading 2-11 to 1-09 with time still remaining on the match clock but this was as close as the Coirrigan park side got.
Cargin were alive to the threat and responded positively with points from the hard grafting David Johnston and James Laverty to set the visitors back on course.
Patrick McBride approached from the right hand side to deliver between the posts but the visitors were quick to reply as replacement Tom Shivers raised a late white flag to see the Toome men safely over the winning line to remain unbeaten.
St Johns: Matthew Leyden, Ross Hannigan, Diarmuid Brecknell, Conor Mc Evoy, Adrian Oliver, Oran Quinn, Adrian Oliver, Ryan Mc Nulty (0-02, Enda Mc Gurk, Stephen Tierney, Patrick Mc Bride (0-01),Conor Hand (1-02), Conhuir Adams, Andy Mc Gowan, Conor Mc Glade (0-06)
Subs
Patrick Nugent
Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Sean og Quinn, Kevin Mc Shane, Hugh O’ Donnell, Benen Kelly, Conan Johnston (0-02)*, Callum Gribbin (0-01), Gerard Mc Cann, Pat Shivers(0-02), David Johnston (0-02), Sean O’Neil (1-00), John Carron), Tomas Mc Cann (0-04), James Laverty (0-02), Jamie Gribbin (1-01)
The decent sized crowd that assembled to watch two mid-table teams spar in this mid-season league encounter were treated to a memorable score fest that in the end saw Casements record their sixth win of the campaign, as they make their way into top six contention after enduring, by their own standards, a bleak start to the campaign.
These clubs met in a round robin stage of last seasons championship, that one ended in a draw, and with both sides missing a few regulars another draw was forecast in the Saffron Gael match preview. That looked unlikely when Glenravel opened up a nine point gap after only twelve minutes, or when Casements looked like they had weathered the storm to go six up with only eight minutes left. In the end, when Ritchie Leahy blew for full time there was one single point between the sides after a full on absorbing contest that gave both sets of supporters a proper run for their money.
Con Magees signalled their intent early, in fact in the very first minute, when playmaker and scorer in chief Eamon Fyfe drilled an unstoppable shot low and hard past Kevin Mullan in Portglenone nets to get the hosts off to a perfect start.
Although Casements Ronan Kelly, Caolan Tierney and Aidan McAleese all raised white flags in the opening quarter to keep in touch with minors finished off by Glenravels Sean McKay and Conleth OLoan, the contest took on a new look when inside of a glorious five minute spell that man Fyfe and county star Ryan McQuillan hammered home a goal apiece, and when McQuillan fired over from distance, followed up by the best score of the day from the emerging talent Niall Hynds, saw the gap open to nine points on the scoreboard.
Portglenone responded with a quad of their own, Dermot McAleese starting a resurgence of kind with a brilliant effort, that was followed by scores from Kelly cousins Paddy and Ronan (2), plus a great solo effort from Kevin O’Kane reducing the margin to a manageable amount, but Con Magees twin scoring threats McQuillan and Fyfe (2) saw the half out in favour of the hosts, who went in a goal to the good at the break.
Playing down the “hill” and with a gentle wind on their back, Casements started the second half in business-like fashion, dominating proceedings and drawing level just five minutes in with well taken points from the boot of Stephen Kelly (2) and Ronan Kelly. Anyone thinking this game was heading in one direction was misplaced when Glenravel substitute Fergus Donaghy picked his spot and rifled a bullet to the back of Portglenone net to once again establish a three point lead for the Glensmen.
As the contest started the turn for home Casements showed their character once again, furnishing eight of the games next ten scores. All points, the highlight of these being a long range Paddy Kelly free resulting in deux points, and a cool finish from Oisin Doherty, as the game started to ebb and flow back in favour of the visitors who were now four points to the good, despite a duo from the left foot of Ryan McQuillan to keep the contest honest.
Eight minutes to go though and anything could happen such was the frantic pace of the game that had swayed one way then the other from the opening bell.
Two glorious chances went abegging as Glenravel came again. Firstly a piledriver from Eamon Fyfe slammed off the crossbar, the alert Fergus Donaghy on hand to register another point. Meanwhile just a minute later with a goal at his mercy the normally accurate Ryan McQuillan pulled his goalbound effort right, and to the dismay of the home supporters, wide of the uprights.
That could have been two goals in a minute for Glenravel, though they had to settle for just one white flag as a reward. The game had almost swayed once again, Portglenone regrouping and determined to see out the clock registered three points as the game finally ticked over to its inevitable conclusion.
Or maybe not! With less than 90 seconds remaining on the stopwatch, and the visitors comfortably five up, a superb solo effort from Calum Higgins reduced the deficit to four. Glenravel saw a late window and threw all they had at it, a weave of sharp passing delivered Eamon Fyfe for a one on one opportunity just ten yards out, but a magnificent stop from Kevin Mullan was deemed to be a foul by the man with the whistle, and Fyfe himself left debutant stand in keeper John McAtamney with no chance. In the blink of an eyelid there was just a single point between them. Could the Saffron Gael match pundit be right…was this match destined to be a draw?
Stand in as the injured Kevin Mullans replacement, keeper John McAtamneys first kick for Casements seniors was the last kick of the day, when in mid air Ritchie Leahy blew his long whistle to signal the end of an absorbing contest, with the visitors short nose in front at the line.
As an advertisement for fast open football this was as good as it gets. Seven goals scored and at least four more (two from each side) that should have been, sandwiched between thirty six points. Hard hitting and competitive, but not quite at championship levels that both teams will produce in a few months when they once again lock horns in championship mode.
County panellists Dermot McAleese Ryan McQuillan Calum Higgins, Daniel McNicholl and Niall Hynds all look on top of their game.
For Glenravel Eamon Fyfe looked every inch a loss to county management throughout, his finishing was box office. Three goals and one off the crossbar a good return for an hours work…marquee forward in actionwhile Charlie Henry, Sean Higgins and Fergus Donaghy can be pleased with their contributions.
For Casements Caolan Tierney, Kevin O Kane, Paddy Kelly Oisin Doherty and Stephen Kelly upon his introduction all caught the eye at stages.
Roll on the round robin.
Referee Ritchie Leahy (Moneyglass).
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
