Category / Football

by thesaffrongael

St Louis shock St Colmans in D’Alton Cup

Danske Bak D’Alton Cup quarter final at Colaiste Feirste

St Louis Ballymena 5-12 St Coleman’s Newry 4-12

St Louis Ballymena booked their place in the D’Alton Cup semi-final after a thrilling 5-12 to 4-12 victory over St Colman’s Newry.

An explosive opening from the Ballymena side laid the foundation for victory. Captain Conan McKeever fired to the net inside the opening 60 seconds and combined with Oisín Analychi as St Louis raced into an early four-point lead.

McKeever then added a free before sending Oscar Bradley through for St Louis’ second goal. St Colman’s opened their account through Aidan Quinn after seven minutes, but points from Odhrán Cassidy, McKeever and Analychi quickly stretched the Antrim side’s lead to ten.

Quinn missed a major opportunity when he blasted over with the goal at his mercy, and St Louis punished the miss immediately by firing home their third goal to lead 3-6 to 0-2 after 17 minutes.

St Colman’s responded strongly. Goalkeeper PJ Marron made an important save, but Jake Lennon and Quinn struck goals in quick succession to ignite the Newry side’s comeback.

Points from Bradley and Kiran Jayaprakash steadied St Louis before Keevan Kennedy found the net for St Colman’s, the big full forward bursting through the middle before blasting an unstopable shot to the St Louis net before Lennon added a free to leave the half-time score 3-9 to 3-4.

You felt at half time that a five point lead would not be enough but despite playing against a strong wind in the second half, St Louis struck early when substitute Cayden McGuckian soloed through and finished to the net.

Lennon opened St Colman’s second-half scoring with a free before Daniel McCartan struck their fourth goal to cut the gap to three. Quinn and Jayaprakash traded scores before St Colman’s seized the momentum. McCartan pointed and Lennon added further scores to bring the sides level with ten minutes remaining.

Lennon then edged St Colman’s in front for the first time, but St Louis responded immediately to level matters.

The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when midfielder Oisín Analychi powered through the defence and finished to the net to restore a three-point lead and the gap was out to four when McGuckian added a point soon afterwards.

St Louis held firm in the closing stages, conceding only a late Lennon free as they secured a memorable win, their fourth victory in a row in this their first year in the D’Alton Cup.

The Ballymena school now face St Malachy’s, Castlewellan in next Friday’s Dalton Cup semi-final. The sides previously met in the group stage, with Castlewellan winning 5-4 to 2-4.

St Louis Starting 15

  1. PJ Marron
  2. Lir Hamill
  3. Lir Hodkinson
  4. Charlie O’Brien
  5. Mark Kirby
  6. Joseph Killough
  7. Nicholas McCrory
  8. Conan McKeever
  9. Oisín Analychi
  10. Cahan O’Kane
  11. Kiran Jayaprakash
  12. Ronan Laverty
  13. Oscar Bradley
  14. Odhran Cassidy
  15. Alfie Gordon

St Colman’s College Starting 15

  1. Sean Daly
  2. Cillian Oreilly
  3. Patrick Fegan
  4. Dominic McGrath
  5. Conor Mallet
  6. Eoin Mackin
  7. Daniel McCartan
  8. James Morgan
  9. Aaron Mohan
  10. Fionn McKeever
  11. Ryan Sands
  12. Jake Lennon
  13. Peter Fegan
  14. Keevan Kennedy
  15. Aidan Quinn

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

De La Salle College take Gaelfast Year 8 Shield

Antrim Cup Year 8 Shield Final

Coláiste Feirste vs De La Salle College

This was an exciting game showcasing plenty of talent, with excellent tackling and clinical scoring on display from both sides.
Coláiste Feirste opened the scoring with a well-taken goal by their full-forward to take an early lead. However, this advantage was short-lived as De La Salle responded strongly, netting the next three goals — two from Aaron Devine and one from Mason Owens.

Coláiste Feirste hit back with a point from half-forward Sean Baker, followed by a goal from Cailte Ó Coinn to pile on the pressure. To their credit, De La Salle raised their game further: Shea Gourley added a point, and Aaron Devine completed his hat-trick. The Coláiste Feirste goalkeeper produced a superb save to prevent De La Salle from extending their lead further before the break.

Half-time score: De La Salle 4-1, Coláiste Feirste 2-1

De La Salle started the second half brightest, with Shea Gourley leading the charge by scoring 1-1. Coláiste Feirste replied with a point, but De La Salle hit a purple patch, rattling off 2-3 unanswered — goals and points coming from Louie Copeland and Seagram Hartley among others.

De La Salle dominated much of the second half, though they had to rely on goalkeeper John Gault and full-back Reilly Marron for some crucial interventions to keep goals out. Credit to Coláiste Feirste for refusing to give up: players like Aodhan Ó Donnchú and Dáire Mac Amhlaí drove forward, adding 1-1 late on to give the scoreline some respectability.

De La Salle’s midfield and half-back line provided a solid platform for victory, with outstanding work rate, tackling, support play, and chance creation. Standouts included Shea Tully, Ronan McLaughlin, Logan Gibson, and man of the match Jude Toner, who dominated from start to finish.

Full-time score: De La Salle College 8-4, Coláiste Feirste 3-3

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS EVEN CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Casements post intent with opening win against St Johns

Antrim Football League – Division 1

Casements 2 – 17  v 1 – 08 St Johns.

St Johns raced into a four point lead in the early stages of this division one football league encounter with an opening season league score from Conall Quinn and two scores from evergreen Paddy McBride, including a two pointer, gave the visitors an early  four point cushion. It took a point blank save from keeper Kevin Mullan after eight minutes to deny Johnnies full forward Ronan Quinn an almost certain goal and extend that lead to seven!

It was nine minutes before the hosts chalked up their own first score of the season, through a well worked move finished off by Michael Kelly, but after that the floodgates opened and that was the first of eight scores in a row which saw the Bannsiders go from four down to four up. Although Mc Bride added a short free to stop that sequence, a brilliant quick handed moving weave resulted in Aidan McAleese palming across the St Johns goalmouth for the marauding Kevin O’Kane  to palm into the St Johns net, to send the home side seven points up at the interval.

The opening quarter of the second half saw St Johns stage a mini resurgence as the teams went toe to toe for a period, and with the help of a well taken penalty St Johns reduced the deficit to a manageable five point margin and it was all to play for. Sensing the danger, Casements new manager Mattie McGleenan went to the bench and introduced Ruairi Hagan and Odhran Doherty, both who went on to have a significant impact on how the game finished. 

Ruairi Hagan made several interceptions before energising  the home support with a superb score from wide on the left, and minor debutant Tom Duffin lifted the crowd even further with an inspiring tackle of his own to claim back the only ball of the evening he had misplaced, before racing fifty yards to knock it over the bar.

If minors are supposed to ease their way onto a senior set up someone forgot to tell Tom. Despite his tender age took the game to his illustrious opponents from the throw in, scoring two points and setting up several more, including Stephen Kelly for the goal that finished the game off.

Except for an involvement with St Pats Maghera hurling team there is the possibility Odhran Doherty would have been handed hi senior debut – the tall midfielder settling for a fifteen minute role at the end where he too caught the eye and got amongst the scorers.

For St Johns, the Quinn trio looked more than lively, aided by Paddy Mc Bride and big Simon Mc Donagh who battled hard throughout.

Casements look like a team that will take a bit of stopping though. Mattie McGleenan has them moving the ball much quicker and the forward play is looking joined up, with lots of interactive link up play the feature of the evening. Nine different scorers is also a stat that will please the new management.

In a solid team performance Dermot McAleese led from the front as usual and there were excellent performances from Ronan Kelly, Aidan Mc Aleese and Conor McGhee.

Long after the result is forgotten this match may be remembered as the evening Tom Duffin and Odhran Doherty made their senior debuts – two very bright lights indeed have arrived on the Antrim senior football club scene.

Referee – Mark O`Neill

by thesaffrongael

St Louis’ retain the Antrim Cup in repeat of 2025 decider

Gaelfast Year 8 Antrim Cup Final

St. Mary’s 4-2-2-12 St Louis’ Ballymena

Kevin Herron reports from Woodlands

Wednesday afternoon’s Year 8 Antrim Cup Final was a repeat of the 2025 decider and the outcome was the same as St Louis’ Ballymena got the better of St. Mary’s CBGS in a fantastic game at Woodlands- running out 2-12-4-2 winners.

It was the locals from the Glen Road who started the game brightly as Patrick O’Reilly picked out Aaron Patrick Walsh to swing a shot over the bar.

A few minutes later St. Mary’s had the opening goal of the contest. Liam Rea slipped the ball across the area to Adam Walsh, he was unable to get his shot away and Luis Holmes was on hand to blast home from close range.

Ballymena got up and running when Charlie Herald switched the play to Conn Og McErlaine to clip the ball over.

They then restored parity after Fiontann McCoy floated a free into the small square and Charlie Herald palmed the ball to the net to make it 1-1 apiece.

St Louis’ then forged ahead when Oscar Bradley’s shot dipped and Alex Leith was on hand to turn the ball into the net.

They would add three further points before the interval, Liam O’Neill picked off a fine score, and back-to-back scores followed from McCoy- the first he squeezed over and the second coming from a converted free to ensure his side held a 2-4-1-1 advantage at the break.

St. Mary’s halved the deficit upon the games resumption, Flynn Johnston dropped in a high ball to the back post and Liam Rea palmed home.

In response Tiernan Mulholland shot over and a second converted free of the game from Fiontann McCoy saw St Louis’ begin to pull clear again.

It was end to end stuff and St. Mary’s had another lifeline when substitute Cody Agnew steered the ball home following a scramble in the area to make it 2-6-3-1.

The second half pattern continued as four-points without reply saw St Louis’ restore the healthy lead they enjoyed at the interval.

McCoy notched his third free, Tiernan Mulholland and Liam O’Neill added to their personal tallys and goal scorer Charlie Herald added a point to his first half goal,

In reply, a sustained period of pressure in and around the Ballymena goal ended with Caleb McGuinness poking home his sides fourth – and halving the deficit in the process.

Points were traded between Charlie Herald and Luis Holmes and the final score of the afternoon came through a Fiontann McCoy free, this despite St. Mary’s laying siege to the St Louis’ goal in the closing stages but they were unable to further close the gap as the Louis’ players celebrated retaining the trophy and following in the steps of their predecessors.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Casements and the Johnnies get the Division 1 Football League going tonight

2026 Antrim Senior Football League Preview

The Antrim football leagues are set to kick off early in 2026! Division One action gets underway tonight Wednesday when Casements host the Johnnies while all the othrer games are set for Sunday, March 15th, launching a competitive schedule expected to conclude in late June. With a host of players missing from Division 1 because of county hurling and football commitments it is hard to call most of these games.

Here is a look ahead at the opening fixtures:

Wed 11th March

  • Casement’s Portglenone v St John’s – The Division action gets underway tonight (Wednesday) at Kelly Park, Portglenone when the Casements take on St John’s. Casement’s enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign and are eager to build on that momentum under newly appointed manager Mattie McGleenan, who is joined by Niall Kelly and Donal Parkinson. St John’s, the reigning senior hurling champions, will be balancing their dual ambitions. The Corrigan Park men will certainly not neglect their football and travel to the South West looking for a fast start.
  • Division One (Sunday, 15th March )
  • Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Brigid’s Reigning county champions Dunloy, begin their title defence at home in Pearse Park. They welcome a well-prepared St Brigid’s side who have been knocking on the door of a senior title in recent years, and the team that ran the champions closest of all in last year’s quarter final. Although both teams are short a good few players because of football and hurling county commitments this will be an excellent early measuring stick for the South Belfast men.
  • Lamh Dhearg v Con Magee’s (Glenravel) Hannahstown’s Lamh Dhearg haven’t hit their desired heights over the past couple of seasons and will look to bounce back on their home turf. Glenravel, under new manager Pauric McKenna will still be in experimental mode but will travel up to Hannahstown hoping for a good start, but Lamh Dhearg will prove tough opponents.
  • Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Paul’s An exciting all-city derby sees Sarsfields back in the top tier after several years away, playing host to St Paul’s. The ‘Paddies’ will be fired up for this visit, and a tight, competitive clash is expected—a draw is a very real possibility here.
  • St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v O’Donovan Rossa Moneyglass makes a swift return to Division One following a brief spell in the second tier, welcoming Hugh McGettigan’s Rossa to Marian Hill. Managed by Loup native Padraig O’Kane, the hosts will be well-prepared, but Rossa will travel down confident in their chances of grabbing an opening victory.
  • All Saint’s v St Gall’s St Gall’s have been building steady momentum in recent years. Backed by a strong management team of former players Sean Kelly, Terry O’Neill, and Colm Brady, they are primed to make an impact. Meanwhile, Ballymena’s All Saints, guided by ‘Baker’ Bradley, are also expected to be serious contenders in the race for silverware this season.
  • Tir Na Nog Randalstown v St Mary’s Aghagallon Aghagallon hits the road to face Tir Na Nog at Whitehill. Expect a hard-fought contest, but home advantage might just give the Randalstown men the edge they need to secure the win.
  • Erin’s Own Cargin v Kickham’s Creggan The standout fixture of the round. Last year’s beaten county finalists, Cargin, begin their campaign under new manager Dermot Carlin (assisted by Ronan Devlin, Niall Jackman, and Kevin Doyle). They host their bitter rivals, Creggan, who are still led by Joe Cassidy and Odhran McLarnon. Despite Cargin’s home advantage, this fierce derby is too close to call and a share of the spoils wouldn’t be a surprise.