Category / Football

by thesaffrongael

St. Mary’s ease away from the relegation zone

ACFL Division 1

St. Mary’s Ahoghill 2-14 St. Paul’s 1-13

St. Mary’s Ahoghill eased away from the relegation zone with this hard earned but deserved win over visitors, St. Paul’s in a well contested division 1 clash at Cloney on Wednesday night.

Despite facing the breeze it was visitors, St. Paul’s who were first on the scoreboard with Niall McStravick and Caoimhin Duffy kicking them into a 2 point lead by the 10th minute.

 The hosts hit the front at the end of the opening quarter through Dan O’Neill (2pt) and a Noel Crossey 2 pointer and as they began to get on top St. Paul’s keeper, Jack McAufield pulled of a couple of important saves to deny Patrick Graham and Conor Crossey.

Patrick Graham briefly edged the home side 3 ahead but the visitors responded through Niall McStravick to leave just two in it with 21 minutes gone.

The Shaw’s Road side were giving as good as they got and Patrick Crawford closed the gap to one with a point in the 25th minute.

It was the Cloney side who finished the half strongly however as Dan O’Neill (2pt), Jimmy O’Connell, Patrick Graham and Diarmaid Graham added vital points with St. Paul’s only reply coming from Niall McStravick to leave it 0-10 to 0-5 in favour of St. Mary’s at the break

Playing into the breeze in the second half, it was Dan O’Neill who got Ahoghill of to a great start as he calmly finished just inside of the post to move his side 8 ahead with only 2 minutes of the new half gone.

The visitors replied with an excellent 2 pointer from Ciaran Duffin and the same player added another from inside the 40 meter line to close the gap to five once more and it was clear this one was far from over.

James O’Connell replied with another 2 pointer for St. Mary’s with Lorcan Phillips responding immediately with a point at the other end but it was the Cloney side’s ability to raise the orange flag that was proving the distance and Crossey struck another fine effort from distance.

S.Paul’s were handed an  to get themselves right back into contention when they were awarded a penalty but Aiden Graham pulled off another vital save and the ball was moved swiftly up the field Jimmy O’Connell got on the end of a great team move to fire below McAufield.

That goal looked to have put the contest out of reach of the visitors but it would be St. Mary’s last score and Donagh Finnegan’s side refused to give up and staged a storming finish which would come up just short in the end.

Conall Duffy pointed and Patrick Crawford followed with a fine double and when Duffy finally found a way past the impressive Aiden Graham in the Cloney nets the gap was down to six with 7 minutes still remaining.

The visitors pressed hard in the closing stages but a point from Patrick Crawford was as close as they would get as the home defence shut up shot to collect the points and see them climb to 12th in the table.

Nothing has been decided by this win and only 2 points separate the bottom six with Aghagallon one point further up the table following their draw with Tir na nOg at Parc Na nGael

by thesaffrongael

Celebrating LGFA Success at St Ergnats GAC – Presentation Evening at The Elk Toomebridge

What a night of celebration for St Ergnats GAC on Friday evening as the club honoured the incredible achievements of their LGFA teams during the 2024 season. Held at The Elk in Toomebridge, the presentation evening was a fantastic occasion that brought together players, coaches and families to mark a fantastic year for ladies football at the club.

Medals and trophies were formally presented across multiple age levels, each recognising hard-earned success, commitment, and team spirit. Among those celebrated were:

U15 Féile County Winners

U16A County Championship Winners

U18A County Championship Winners

At senior level, the silverware kept coming:

Division 2 League Winners

Division 1 League Winners

Antrim County Senior Champions

A special moment in the evening came with a speech from the club’s new Chairperson, Sarah McCann, who spoke passionately about the growing strength of ladies football within St Ergnats. Sarah praised the remarkable dedication of the players and coaches, highlighting how the recent successes are a reflection of years of commitment and progress. Sarah also expressed pride in the culture of excellence and inclusion that continues to develop within the club.

The evening was a true reflection of the hard work and dedication shown throughout the year, not just by the players but also by the management teams and the wider club community.

Congratulations to everyone involved — 2024 has been a standout season for St Ergnats LGFA, and the future looks even brighter!

U15 Féile manager Kevin Madden presenting the County Féile A Cup to team captain Jojo Darragh at the St Ergnat’s LGFA awards night in the Elk
U15 Féile A County Champions with their coaches Kevin Madden, Ruairi O’Boyle and Donal Laverty
Minor panel who won the Antrim A County Championship with manager Cathy Carey.
U16 manager Donal Laverty presenting the County A Cup to captain Mia McLarnon.
Minor manager Cathy Carey presenting the U18A County Cup to captain Annie Griffin.
St Ergnat’s senior panel who won Division 2 league, Division 1 league and County Championship with manager Charlie O’Kane
Senior manager Charlie O’Kane presenting the Senior County Championship Cup to captain Cathy Carey.
Club Chairperson Sarah McCann and event organiser Nuala Graffin at the St Ergnats awards night
by thesaffrongael

A look back at Antrim’s last meeting with Wexford

Chadwick’s Wexford Park will feel like a familiar venue for Antrim as they make the trip to the Leinster venue to meet Wexford in the knock-out stages of the Tailteann Cup this Sunday.

The sides met at the same venue on the 18th May last year in the Group stages of the same competition with a Ruairi McCann goal sending the Saffrons to a one point victory over the home side.

Today we carry a report from that game back in 2024 and later in the week we will be previewing Sunday’s game and assessing Antrim’s chances of repeating that win and advancing to the semi-final.

Saffron’s make it two from two at Chadwick’s Wexford Park

Tailteann Cup-Group 2-Round 2

May 18th 2024

Wexford 0-17 Antrim 1-15

Antrim made it two from two in the Tailteann Cup when they travelled to Chadwick’s Wexford Park but they had to withstand a late rally from the home side who kicked the last two points of the game.

Had they lost it would have been unfair on Andy McEntee’s side who might have had two more goals prior to those injury time points from Wexford and for most of the 70 plus minutes the Saffrons had the measure of their hosts.

Once again it was Ruairi McCann of Aghagallon who proved to be a thorn in the Wexford side as his goal after 5 minutes gave Antrim a lead they would not again lose.

Conor Hand who was on target for the Saffrons in Wexford in last year’s Tailteann Cup

After that McCann got little change from Wexford full-back, Gavin Sheehan but The big Aghagallon sharp shooter’s goal provided the Saffrons with the boost to push on to lead by four at half time.

Wexford fought hard and had it back to one on three occasions in the second half but each time Andy McEntee’s men were able to find a response.

McCann’s early goal – his third in two games – and points from defenders Declan Lynch and Joseph Finnegan settled Andy McEntee’s men saw them 1-2 to 0-3 ahead by the 11th minute, a lead which Wexford were never able to overturn.

Wexford got off to the better start and settled into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead within three minutes courtesy of Darragh Lyons and Páraic Hughes.

Having beaten Wexford at the same stage last year, Antrim’s intent was clear as full-forward Ruairí McCann, fresh from his two goal salvage against Tipperary, gathered a long delivery and outwitted his marker to fire to Will Foley’s net.

Seán Nolan levelled from a free, but Antrim were solid in defence and deadly on the counter as Declan Lynch, Joseph Finnegan, Niall Burns and captain, Dermot McAleese raised white-flags for a 1-4 to 0-3 lead after 18 minutes.

Wexford lacked real spark, but they had the gap down to 1-6 to 0-7 after 30 minutes as Seán Nolan tagged on three further points (two frees) and Kevin O’Grady also weighed in after a strong run from full-back Gavin Sheehan.

The momentum was very much with Antrim at this stage and Wexford survived a real scare after a Ryan McQuillan double moved the visitor 1-8 to 0-7 ahead after 34 minutes.

Indeed, with Antrim ‘keeper Michael Byrne deep in Wexford territory, the Saffrons turned over the home kick-out only for Conor Hand to fire wide of an empty goal with Wexford keeper,  Will Foley stranded in no man’s land

Ryan McQuillan who finished with 0-6 against Wexford last year

Andy McEntee’s men had to settle for a four point advantage at the change-of-ends but might well have been further ahead.

Wexford staged a comeback at the start of the second half and had closed the gap to one as they kicked five of the first seven points of the second-half.

Seán Nolan, Mark Rossiter, Niall Hughes, O’Grady and a second from defender Darragh Lyons added increasing momentum to the home charge while a brace in response from McQuillan kept Antrim ahead.

Antrim were always able to respond however as Paddy McAleer and goalie Michael Byrne chipped in for a 1-12 to 0-12 advantage after 53 minutes – the latter with a ‘45′ after Wexford ‘keeper Will Foley denied Ruairí McCann as he threatened a second goal.

McQuillan had the gap back out to four points after 56 minutes before Wexford sub Jack Higgins, Seán Nolan (free) and Páraic Hughes gave the locals a fighting chance (1-14 to 0-15).

But Antrim twice went dangerously close to netting telling blows – the Wexford ‘keeper brilliantly denying Marc Jordan minutes before full-back Gavin Sheehan thwarted Ruairí McCann’s bid to touch home a cross from Patrick McBride.

Antrim held out nevertheless, McQuillan’s sixth of the day safeguarding the spoils despite the loss of attacker Conor Hand to a black-card in added-time.

Antrim and Sligo are now both guaranteed qualification, with their forthcoming duel set to determine who goes straight to the quarter-finals.

Scorers for Antrim: Ryan McQuillan 0-6 (3fs), Ruairí McCann 1-0, Patrick McAleer 0-3, Declan Lynch, Joseph Finnegan, Niall Burns, Declan McAleese, Cathal Hynds, Michael Byrne (‘45) 0-1 each

Scorers for Wexford: Seán Nolan 0-6 (4fs), Darragh Lyons, Páraic Hughes, Kevin O’Grady, Mark Rossiter (1f) 0-2 each, Niall Hughes, Jack Higgins, Ben Brosnan (f) 0-1 each

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Declan Lynch, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Niall Burns, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese; Patrick McAleer, Cathal Hynds; Conor Hand, Patrick McBride, Ruairí McCann (Creggan); Ryan McQuillan, Ruairí McCann (Aghagallon), Marc Jordan.

Subs: Dominic McEnhill for McCann (Creggan) (51), James McDonnell for Keenan (67), Colm McLarnon for McCann (70+4).

Wexford: Will Foley; Dylan Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O’Connor; Darragh Lyons, Eoin Porter, Glen Malone; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Mark Rossiter, Páraic Hughes, Conor Carty; Seán Nolan, Kevin O’Grady, Eoghan Nolan.

Subs: Jack Higgins for Carty (HT), Conor Kinsella for E. Nolan (45), Graham Staples for Lyons (60), Ben Brosnan for O’Grady (68), Jonathan Bealin for S. Nolan (69).

Referee: David Murnane (Cork).

by thesaffrongael

Football Fixtures and Previews (Wed 4th June)

It is back to the mid-week setting for the Football leagues with full list of fixtures set for the Wednesday setting.

Another full list is scheduled for Sunday 8th June.

Wed 4th June

Division One (7.15 pm)

St Mary’s Aghagallon v Tir na nOg

Tir na nOg have struggled this season in the league with only a single win recorded to date coupled with a couple of points from drawn games and the Whitehill residents will hope to finish their league campaign in a positive mode.

St Mary’s Aghagallon visit Whitehill this time with a far from positive record themselves with just six points banked and the men from the Armagh border will hope for a strong finish to ensure progress up the table.

This does look like being a close one and if the visitors are unable to dig deep and discover real positivity ground advantage may well see the Randalstown men gain the verdict.

Kickham’s Creggan v Erin’s Own Cargin

This one certainly looks a contender of the ‘match of the day’ as league leaders Cargin, who sit four points ahead of their closest rivals, travel a few miles up the road to meet Kickham’s Creggan in what promises to be a close affair which is certain to attract a bumper attendance.

Creggan sit in second place in the table and remain close on the heels of their parish neighbours and they will be more than keen to lower the colours of the Toome men.

Cargin remain unbeaten thus far in competition but ground advantage may open the door for a home win or indeed a share of the spoils.

St Gall’s v All Saint’s Ballymena

Only a point separate these sides in the table with All Saints on 16 points and their hosts on Wednesday night, St. Gall’s on 15. Both will again be without their county players, as has been the case for the better part of this campaign and there might not be too much between them at Milltown but home advantage could swing it in the way of St. Gall’s

O’ Donovan Rossa v St James Aldergrove

It’s been a poor season for Rossa to date with only one win against Ahoghill to their credit and they face a St. James’ Aldergrove side who have been more than holding their own in division 1.

Rossa need to get points on board sooner than later but the Crumlin side are going well at present and might just have enough to add to Rossa’s problems.

St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Paul’s

St. Paul’s took a while to get up to speed in division 1 but recorded a massive win last time out against St. Gall’s to add to an earlier victory over visitors Dunloy. They now sit on 5 points and a win here would move them comfortably away from the bottom of the table.

Ahoghill are only one point behind Wednesday night’s visitors and need to get more points on board soon and will see this as an opportunity to get them and home advantage could edge it the way of the Cloney side.

Con Magee’s Glenravel v Lamh Dhearg

Con Magee’s have been performing well recently and, like All Saints and St. James, have made the transition to division 1 football in their stride. They came from behind to defeat Tir na nOg at Whitehill last day out and have ran Cargin and Casements close at Fr. Maginn Park and are a side gaining in confidence week by week. Their visitors Lamh Dhearg have recovered from a poor start to put some fine performances together but home advantage could edge it Glenravel’s way.

St Brigid’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy

Last year’s division 1 winners, St. Brigid’s have been finding the going tough this year but were somewhat unfortunate to lose last time out in Ballymena and with home advantage should have too much for a Dunloy team who are likely again to be short some key players.

St John’s v Casement’s Portglenone

This looks an interesting one with the Johnnies taking some time to get it together before recording a couple of important wins over Rossa and Aghagallon to move onto 5 points.

They face a Casement’s side who started badly themselves but have hit a rich vein of form recently to climb to 4th place in the table and the Portglenone side should have enough to record another win at Corrigan.

Division Two (all games (7.15 pm)

St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass (2A)

Moneyglass have dropped only one point this season, away to Sarsfields who they share top spot with at present.

This is the first game after the split and they face a difficult away fixture as they travel to Lisburn to meet a Naomh Padraig side who have been performing well this year and St. Ergnat’s will need to be at their best to maintain their unbeaten run.

St Teresa’s v Patrick Sarsfield’s (2A)

This could be another close one as unbeaten Sarsfield’s make the short journey to the Glen Road to meet a St. Teresa’s side who defeated them in the semi-final of the IFC last year.

Sarsfield’s won the corresponding league fixture at the Bear Pit earlier in the season but they are likely to face a stiff test here and a draw cannot be ruled out.

St Mary’s Rasharkin v St Enda’s (2B)

Rasharkin have struggled to get it together this season with an extensive injury list while their visitors, St. Enda’s just missed out on a place in 2A at the split.

The Glengormley side have mixed the good with the bad this year but recorded an impressive win away to Davitt’s last time out and lost by the minimum to Sarsfield’s and should take the points on their travels to Dreen.

Gort na Mona v St Comgall’s Antrim (2B)

Naomh Comhghall have performed well since their promotion from division 3 last season with wins over Davitt’s and Rasharkin and have been unfortunate in a few of their other fixtures. The Antrim town side won the corresponding fixture comfortably at Dunsilly but Gort na Mona will be a different proposition at Enright Park and Gort na Mona might well gain revenge for that early season loss.

Division Three (7.15 pm)

Wolfe Tones v Eire Og

The bottom 2 in division 3 meet in this one at Jordanstown with only a point separating the protagonists and this one could go either way with a tentative vote given to Wolfe Tones.

Laochra Loch Lao v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

Laochra Loch Lao currently sit second in the table, just three points behind leaders St. Agnes and should have enough to claim the points against an O’Donnell’s side struggling for form at Colaiste Feirste.

St Malachy’s v St Agnes

St. Agnes suffered their first defeat of the season to Ardoyne at Fennell Park last day out and face another difficult away fixture against a St. Malachy’s side who sit third in the table, five points behind the ‘Aggies’ but with a game in hand. This could be another stiff test for St. Agnes but they should have enough to get back to winning ways.

Kickham’s Ardoyne v Patrick Pearses

Kickham’s Ardoyne raised a few eyebrows with a win over league leaders, St. Agnes last time out and will go into this one with confidence as they play host to Pearses. Fennell Park will be a familiar venue for both sides but recent good form would suggest a win for the Kickham’s.

by thesaffrongael

Con Magees host South West Football Go Games

Sunday morning saw p3 and p4 boys take part in the South West Football Go Games blitz, at Fr Maginn Park Glenravel. The host club Con Magees fielded 4 teams and had 34 young Con Magees out kicking football. There were also teams from Creggan, Aldergrove and Randalstown who enjoyed a great festival of football. Thanks to all the teams who took part.

Aldergrove
Glenavy
Tir na nOg
Creggan