Glenravel edged home ahead in this keenly contested ACFL Div1 game on Wednesday evening at Fr Maginn Park, but the home supporters were biting their nails towards the end as Rossa reduced a six point deficit to only two when their county stars Michael Byrne and Domenic McEnhill converted two, 2-pointers within a minute in injury time to get within a single score from victory. It wasn’t to be in the end but the visitors came mighty close to upsetting the home side’s evening.
After Antrim’s Ulster Championship exit at the weekend the two sides welcomed back their county players in search of much needed league points. Glenravel opened brightly with well taken points from Ryan McQuillan and Rian Lennon but Rossa came back a minute later with a goal from Corey Walsh. Ryan McQuillan restored the home side’s lead with a lovely 2-pointer but the sides were back level again as Michael McEnhill tapped over for the Belfast men. Niall Hynds, who had an impressive hour’s football, nudged Glenravel ahead once more but again the sides were level as Eoghan McMenamin was starting to exert his influence on the game. The see-saw scores continued right up to the break with the home side’s scores coming from Ryan McQuillan and a couple from Joe Martin whilst Rossa replied through McMenamin and a couple of points from Dominic McEnhill leaving honours even at the interval. The opening half was a very balanced affair with the sides level on four different occasions but Rossa will have been slightly disappointed at squandering at least half a dozen chances that cost them dearly in the end.
The second half opened with a point from Glenravel’s Sean McKay but that was followed by a six minute spell when Rossa started turning the heat up on the home side. Johnny Fyfe in Glenravel’s nets brought off a great save as Diarmuid Rogan looked odds on to score as he fired from close range but Fyfe was equal to it. In the following five minutes Rossa notched up four points to take a three point lead. Keeper Michael Byrne popped over a free and that was followed by two points from Oisin McVicker and a point from Corey Walsh to leave the Belfast men ahead by three. A fine 2-pointer from Ryan McQuillan reduced the gap to the minimum but Domenic McEnhill doubled that gap as we entered the final quarter with Rossa ahead by a couple of points. Both teams were looking to their bench at this stage and the introduction of Declan Traynor certainly paid dividends when he found the roof of the net after Rossa’s full back Gavin McGrath lost his footing as he went in to block the kick. Ryan McQuillan pointed and then Glenravel pressure on the opposition as they tried to get out led to a lovely turnover from substitute Harry Fyfe and two passes later Ryan McQuillan netted to leave the home side ahead by five points 2-12 to 1-10. Oisin McVicker reduced that to four points but again up stepped McQuillan with points off his left and right foot to leave the home side ahead by six points with four minutes left on the clock. However late drama was to follow in injury time as Michael Byrne from a free and Domenic McEnhill from close to the left hand sideline converted two by 2-pointers to leave only two between the teams as Rossa tried to grab victory from the face of defeat. The home side held their nerve in the end to get over the line ahead 2-14 to 1-15 and breathe a collective sigh of relief.
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No fewer than 11 Antrim under-age players feature in the fourth McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars camogie team that collected their awards on Tuesday night at a gala dinner in the Whitla Hall in Queen’s.
There are three awards for St Killian’s Garron Tower and all three pick up jerseys in defence – Laoise McCollam, Erin McNaughton and Eimear Ward .
The other three are for St Dominic’s Belfast who won the Dr Cunningham Cup on their way to a first All-Ireland title for a Belfast school and two of those are in defence – Erin Stewart and Amy Gault. The other St Dominic’s player on the team is Amelie Annett and she forms an all-Antrim midfield with Eimhear McCloskey from St Louis Ballymena.
Both Cross and Passion Ballycastle players, Eimear McCaughan and Adria McAllister, are included on the left wing of the forward line, while Adria’s Dunloy team-mate Mya McKinley, a student in Loreto Coleraine, is the goalkeeper.
The final Antrim player in the team also attends a school across the Bann. Portglenone’s Jojo Darragh was in excellent form for St Conor’s Clady/Kilrea during their run to the All-Ireland senior final, scoring 2-4 in their semi-final win in Westport.
Meanwhile Aoife Fitzsimons, a regular with the Antrim minor camogie team this season and joint-captain of the St Dominic’s team that won the All-Ireland schools’ camogie title in March, has been included in defence in the Future Stars LGFA football team.
There are two other Antrim players featuring in the football team. Anna Rice who plays for Glenavy and also St Dominic’s is in midfield while St Mary’s Magherafelt and Cargin defender Laura Scullion also makes the team.
This is the fourth year that camogie has been included in the McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars awards scheme and Ulster schools’ secretary Úna Kelly feels that it is a great addition to the schools’ camogie calendar.
“The trials this year were of a very high standard and it is great to see emerging talent get the recognition they deserve. Some come from schools that are strong in camogie while others are playing at a much lower level in our competitions.
“These awards will hopefully give them all the boost they need to push on into senior schools’ and minor inter-county teams and ultimately have a long and successful career at senior level.
“Already we have seen no fewer than seven from the very first team in 2022 play for their senior intercountry team in this year’s National League – Eimear Doherty and Orlaith Hull with Derry and Sarah O’Neill, Erin Coulter, Shannagh Heggarty, Janey McIntosh and Orlaith McAlister with Antrim.”
2024-25 McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars:
QUB Future Stars 2025 – LGFA
Ladies Football
1
Aoibheann Watt
St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon
2
Aoife Fitzsimons
St Dominic’s Belfast
3
Annie Crowe
Loreto Cavan
4
Anna Lavery
St Ronan’s College
5
Keeva Owens
Loreto Grammar Omagh
6
Laura Scullion
St Mary’s Magherafelt
7
Méabh Vallely
St Catherine’s College Armagh
8
Anna Rice
St Dominic’s Belfast
9
Aoife McDermott
St Columba’s Comprehensive Glenties
10
Cara McMoran
St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon
11
Karyn McGinn
Largy College
12
Sarah McAvinney
Coláiste Dhún an Rí
13
Kayla O’Reilly
St Clare’s College Cavan
14
Charlotte Havern
St Paul’s High School Bessbrook
15
Caoimhe Gollogly
St Patrick’s Keady
QUB Future Stars 2025 – Hurling
2024-25 McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars:
(HURLING)
1 Oisín McLaren (De La Salle Belfast)
2. Paddy Morgan (St Killian’s Garron Tower)
3. Emmet óg Mac Íomhair (Gaelcholáiste Dhoire)
4. Matthew Murray (St Mary’s CBGS Belfast)
5. Dylan McNaughton (St Killian’s Garron Tower)
6. Eunan Johnston (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)
7. Tom Hickson (Our Lady & St Patrick’s Knock)
8. Logan McConville (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)
9. Darren Delander (St Mary’s CBGS Belfast)
10. Danny Doyle (St Colman’s Newry)
11. Conor Sargent (St Mary’s Magherafelt)
12. Darragh Kinney (Cross & Passion Ballycastle)
13. Peadar Pio Ó Duibhne (Gaelcholáiste Dhoire)
14. Nathan McKenna (Coláiste Feirste)
15. Sean Donnelly (Dean Maguirc Carrickmore)
THE McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars hurling team, announced at a gala dinner in the Whitla hall, is dominated by Antrim and five of those involved in the recent Danske Bank Foresters’ Cup final included.
Matthew Murray and Darren Delander are the pair from St Mary’s CBGS while the three players from Cross & Passion Ballycastle – Eunan Johnston, Logan McConville and Darragh Kinney – featured for the school in their Mageean Cup and All-Ireland Paddy Buggy Cup successes.
There are also two from St Killian’s Garron Tower, defenders Paddy Morgan and Dylan McNaughton, and one each from Belfast schools La Salle (Oisín McLaren) and Coláiste Feirste (Nathan McKenna).
Danny Doyle from St Colman’s College Newry has been selected on both the hurling and football teams, a first in the awards scheme that was introduced for football ten years ago and hurling was added in 2019. Doyle, who plays for Newry Shamrocks and Down under-age teams was selected at midfield on the football side and in the half-forward line for the hurling team.
There are two Antrim players listed in that football team, Portglenone’s Tom Duffin (St Conor’s College) and Joe Logan, Rathmore Grammar and St Bridget’s.
Meanwhile Jay Gault picks up one of the two awards for male handballers. Jay has represented St Mary’s CBGS in both hurling and football this year and is twin brother of Amy who made the camogie team. The twins mother is Ciara Gault, an All-Ireland winner in camogie with Antrim while their grandfather is the legendary Jim Nelson.
QUB Future Stars 2025 – Mens Gaelic Football
2024-25 McKeever Sports Queen’s University Future Stars:
(FOOTBALL)
Eoin Monaghan
St Mary’s College Irvinestown
Bobby Magowan
St Mark’s Warrenpoint
Mark Wilkinson
St Columba’s College Stranorlar
Aodhan Quinn
St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon
Ciaran McCrystal
Dean Maguirc College Carrickmore
Darragh Feeney
St Macartan’s College, Monaghan
Tom Duffin
St Conor’s College, Clady/Kilrea
Danny Doyle
St Colman’s College Newry
Elliot Kerr
St Ciaran’s Ballygawley
Peter Colton
Omagh CBS
Tomás Carr
Abbey Vocational School
Joel Kerr
St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon
Brian óg McGuckin
St Patrick’s Armagh
Joe Logan
Rathmore Grammar Belfast
Eoghan Convie
Lecale Trinity Grammar School, Downpatrick
Antrim Hurlers – QUB Future Stars 2025
The eleven Antrim hurlers who were selected on the Queens Future Stars teamAntrim Gaelic Football + LGFA Future StarsAntrim CamogieSt Killians Camogs and Hurlers Dylan McNaughton, Laoise McCollam, Erin McNaughton, Eimear Ward and Paddy Morgan.Cross & Passion College Future Stars Eimear McCaughan (Camogie), Adria McAlister (Camogie), Logan McConville (Hurling), Jane Feetham (Rugby) and Eunan Johnston (Hurling).St Marys College Hurlers Matthew Murray and Darren DelanderSt Dominics Camogie Camogs Amy Gault, Amelie Annett and Erin StewartSt Conor’s College JoJo Darragh and Tom Duffin
Naomh Padraig, Lisburn proved too good for a lack luster St. Joseph’s Glenavy at Kirkwoods Park on Wednesday night. The visitors pointed three early frees from the boot of Fergal Henry to lead 0-3 to 0-2 after 11 minutes but flattered to deceive as the home side took control.
Oisin Gorman from a pointed free and Rudi Smyth had given the Kirkwoods Park side an early lead and they reacted smartly to Henry’s cameo contribution with Oisin Gorman prominent as they took control.
Gorman would score 1-4 before the break but Naomh Padraig’s first goal came from the boot of Eoin Dixon as he punished a bad kick-out to finish to the net.
In between Colm Burns, Rory Kennedy and Rudi Smyth 0-2 added points as a well drilled Naomh Padraig put themselves in a commanding position when they led 2-11 to 0-5 at the break.
Glenavy’s first point from play arrived late in the half from Fiontan O’Boyle with Paddy Gallager adding another before the break to leave his side trailing by 12 at the break.
The second half became something of a foul ridden none event as Naomh Padraig closed ranks and the Lisburn side would add only one further point as the visitors fought to get back into the game.
They had little success though Ruadhan McKenna in the home goals pulled of an excellent early save as the visitors briefly threatened before Oisin Gorman moved his side 13 in front with his side’s only score of the half.
After that it was a case of what we have- we hold but Glenavy never looked like getting the scores they needed to get back into contention and it was left to Fergal Henry who converted four second half frees to put a better look on the final score-line.
A good start to the season for Naomh Padraig with two wins from three starts and it moves them above Wednesday night’s visitors and augers well for the season ahead.
Naomh Padraig: 1 Ruadhan McKenna, 2 Jack McMullan, 3 Sean Burns, 4 Luca Mulholland, 5 Josh McMullan, 6 Ben McMullan, 7 Che Smyth, 8 Brendan McGarr, 9 Adam Patterson, 10 Rory Kennedy, 11 Oisin Gorman, 12 Colm Burns, 13 James Morgan, 14 Rudi Smyth, 15 Eoin Dixon
St. Joseph’s: 1 Darragh De Brun, 2 Timmy Honeyford, 3 Odhran Arthurs, 4 Rian Phillips, 5 Pearse O’Neill, 6 Padhraic McKevitt, 7 Jonathan Phillips, 8 Ben McCambridge, 9 Ciaran Loney, 10 11 Patrick Gallagher, 12 Darragh Armstrong, 13 Jack Shannon, 14 Fergal Henry, 15 Fiontan O’Boyle
Referee: Martin Quinn
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St Gall’s hit four goals at a wet and windy Corrigan Park on Wednesday to keep pace with Cargin as they overcame the spirited challenge of a St. John’s side, desperate to get some much needed points on board.
The visitors struck with two early majors, which kept their noses in front throughout the opening half but St. John’s battled all the way in search of their first points of the present league campaign.
The Milltown Row side were always able to find a response as they added two more goals in the second half to leave them five clear at the final whistle.
St Gall’s kicked two early wides and dropped one short before striking the game’s opening goal when Callum Walsh broke at pace and exchanged passes with Barra McCaffrey before firing low to the net in the 5th minute.
The Johnnies made an immediate response and looked in for a goal of their own but Niall McCurdy smothered Conor Hand’s effort when he looked set to score.
Four minutes later for St Gall’s made another decisive strike as they moved the ball at pace and Ruairi Wilson placed Danirl Quinn, who found Barra McCaffrey and the left the corner-forward finished into an empty net.
Walsh added a point before Odhran Quinn finally got the Corrigan men of the mark but McCaffery replied with a point at the other end as St. Gall’s continued to avail of their opportunities’
St Gall’s continued to take the game to their opponents with their kick passing opening up space in the St. John’s defence but they were guilty of some poor shooting as they went looking for 2 pointers.
Brendan Bradley and Paddy McBride swapped scores before Niall Burns added another at the other end but St Gall’s should have been further ahead at this stage as their wide tally continued to rise.
St John’s were beginning to have a wee bit of success and narrowed the gap by the break with Quinn kicking a free and Conal McGlade adding another from play as the half came to a close.
Indeed McGlade might well have had a goal but McCurdy pulled of a smart save to push it onto the bar to keep his team 2-4 to 0-4 ahead.
The St. Gall’s net minder was called into action again, early in the second half to deny Ryan McNulty and it was St. Gall’s who would add to their half time lead as Niall Burns converted a free.
McGlade and Quinn replied for the Johnnies but Daniel Quinn kept the visitors lead in tact as he split the posts at the other end.
The Johnnies were still in contention and were awarded a free for a 3v3 offence, and Paddy McBride opted for a 2 pointer which he struck sweetly between the uprights.
Just when it looked like the Whiterock men might get something from the contest St Gall’s hit back with a Quinn point and the visitors then struck with a third goal in the 47th minute as McCaffrey’s dipping delivery was palmed home by Niall O’Neill.
O’Neill’s goal moved the visitors 8 ahead but St. John’s were still fighting hard to turn matters around and Conor Adams and McBride fired over with Conor Hand on target from a two-pointer to get them right into contention.
McCurdy was again called into action as Odhran Quinn’s half-blocked effort seemed to be heading for the corner but the danger was cleared and the visitors were now coming under increasing pressure.
The Milltown side hit with a counter punch five minutes from time, with a fourth goal as Eoghan McCabe burst through and found McCaffrey, who passed inside for Brendan Bradley to fire past Lambert.
The Johnnies efforts finally paid off when Conor McEvoy registered from the penalty spot after John McCaffrey impeded Hand inside the area, but time was against the hosts with Quinn thumping over the insurance score.
St. John’s: ER Lambert; R Hannigan, J Bohill, E McGurk; C McEvoy (1-0 pen), R Quinn, S Wilson; C Hand (0-3, 1xtp), R McNulty; P McBride (0-4, 1xtpf), D McGuinness, S Tierney; C Quinn, O Quinn (0-3, 1f), C McGlade (0-2). Subs: P Nugent for C Quinn (26), C Adams (0-1) for D McGuinness (42), R Donnelly for O Quinn (53), A Bradley for S Tierney (58)
ST Gall’s: N McCurdy; J McCaffrey, C Mac Adhaimh, E McCurdy; R Wilson, D Mac Liam, C McCabe; C Stinton, C Burke; N Burns (0-2, 1f), B Bradley (1-1), C Walsh (1-1); B McCaffrey (1-1), N O’Neill (1-1), D Quinn (0-3). Subs: E McCabe for C Burke (HT), L Lynn for C McCabe (36)
On an evening when both sides were able to blood new players and introduce them to Division 1 football it was Kickhams who came out on top with a score line of 1.14 to 1.10
Creggan appeared to have the game wrapped up at half time when the led by 0-09 to 0-02, and though St Brigid’s closed the gap to four midway through the second half when Shea McCann fired to the visitors net, but the Musgrave Park side fought their way back to within two points, only to be denied by two late points from Duffin and Rodgers for the home side.
The home side dominated the first half and Conor Small started the scoring inside a minute with a point with Paul Bradley replying for St Brigids on the 4th minute. Kickhams then hit 5 points in a row, three of them from centre forward Conor Small, who looks to be getting back to the form he is capable of playing, and a point from Sean Duffin who was covering every blade of grass. The fifth point came from Jamie McCann who along with Conor McCann was controlling the middle of the field, but John Morgan came back with a second point for the visitors soon afterward. However that was to be their last score of the half as the home taean took over and three excellent points from Jamie McCann stretched their lead to Kickhams 0.09 to St Brigids 0.02 by the time referee Colm McDonald blew the half time whistle.
The Musgrave Park men came flying out of the traps in the second half with three unanswered points from Peter King and Conan McNicholl from no15 and one from no10and when Patrick Finnegan added another they were right back in the game. Creggan reacted well to the pressure and they hit back with Dominic McAteer point and when young Shea McCann finished a great move with his goal at senior level the men from the Lough Shore were 9 to the good.
Most of the spectators were probably thinking the game was over at this stage but St Brigids had other ideas as they hit back brilliantly with four points in a row through Jack Dowling, Patrick Finnegan, Paul Bradley, and Shea Downey. On 51 minutes the gap was down to just two points when John Morgan found the Creggan net and suddenly the smart money was on the visitors to take the points However with the Kickhams rearguard under pressure they tightened up with young Fintan Close and Liam McLernon leading the way and on 25 minutes Ricky Johnston scored a nice individual point to ease the pressure. McNicholl came back with a good point for St Brigid’s to up the pressure yet again, but the last two scores went to Kickhams through Sean Duffin and Mathew Rodgers to put Kickhams 4 clear at the end.
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