As Antrim get ready to face Meath tomorrow (Sunday) in Croke Park I received a message from an old All Saints colleague and former Antrim player, Enda McAtamney. In the late 80’s I was taking my first tentative steps at Sports Photography-Journalism.
In 1990 Enda was part of a great Antrim side who met Meath in a NFL Division 2 game at Casement Park, a Meath team that contained many household names like Mick Lyons, Martin O’Connell, PJ Gillick, David Beggy, Liam Hayes, Brian Stafford and Brian Flynn.
Antrim turned in a splendid performance in a game I had the pleasure to cover. As on Sunday coming the Saffrons were outsiders but they out played Sean Boylan’s side to record a famous win.
Thanks to Enda, a man who keeps meticulous records, I have the pleasure of featuring the programmes from that game and a report written by Tony Magee.
I hope it provides another small bit of inspiration for Sunday’s Tailteann Cup side. Antrim were underdogs on that day, 4th March 1990 and are again underdogs tomorrow.
A league table, which was published that day along with the report shows that Antrim were sitting proudly in second place in division 2, behind Roscommon but above Mayo, Meath Tyrone, Monaghan Laois and Wexford
Peter Healey who captains Antrim tomorrow’s, father Andy Healey, lined out at left back that day and Joe and Patrick Finnegan’s dad Greg played at full-forward.
Benny Devlin was reserve goalkeeper that day and is now an important part of the Antrim coaching staff.
Incidentally Roy McLarnon was part of the Antrim backroom team back then and the St. Agnes man is still part of the Saffron team as they head out at H.Q on Sunday, perhaps another good omen.
Former Meath manager and now Antrim supremo, Andy McEntee will renew acquaintances with his former charges when the sides meet this Sunday in the Tailteann Cup semi-final at Croke Park.
McEntee managed Meath for six years before taking up the reigns in Antrim and I’m sure the Meath native will have mixed emotions about Sunday’s draw but I have no doubt he will be fully focused on getting the Saffrons their fifth win on the trot and a place in the Tailteann final.
After a slow start under McEntee’s tenure, Antrim have improved immeasurably and with a bit of luck might well have been in contention for the division 3 league title but conceded victory in a number of games they should have won.
None more so than their loss to Down in Newry where they deservedly led going into the final minutes but crumbled to a late onslaught from the Mourne men. If that defeat was hard to take then their loss to Fermanagh at Corrigan Park in Round 4 was even harder to fathom.
Antrim’s Marc Jordan in action against Carlow in the quarter-finals. The Lamh Dhearg man has been outstanding for the Saffrons this year
Antrim lost that one by a point after leading by 8 early in the second half with Down coming from five down to beat Antrim in Round 2.
The Saffrons simply couldn’t see games out when in winning positions and it was something that Andy McEntee and his backroom team had to work on as he continued his rebuilding job.
A meltdown in Mullingar had the Meath man scratching his head but there was no obvious answer to what had gone wrong but the visit of Cavan in the following round provided the perfect opportunity to put matters right.
Mickey Graham’s Cavan were firm favourites to win the division and so it proved to be but Antrim turned in a great performance that day to defeat the Breffni men and show just what they were capable of.
A first round defeat to Armagh in the Ulster Championship ensured that Antrim would be joining Sunday’s opponents in the Tailteann Cup with the Saffrons kicking their group campaign off with a home win over a Leitrim side that had defeated them in the first round knockout in the same competition in 2022.
Dominic McEnhill’s accuracy from frees has been vital for the Saffrons in this year’s Tailteann Cup
Further wins away to Wexford and an excellent victory over Fermanagh in Armagh in Round 3 suggested that the Antrim project was now very much on course and earned the Saffrons a home draw against Carlow last Sunday which McEntee’s side won, but perhaps not as convincingly as they would have liked.
Dominic McEnhill kicked the Saffrons on after a slow start and a Ruairi McCann goal before the break ensured that Andy McEntee’s side held a 1-08-0-05 lead at the midway point.
Micky Bambrick shot low to the net to bring the visitors within four-points at 1-15-1-11 at a time when Antrim had lost two players to Black cards. The Saffrons pushed on to win by four in the end but that win came at a price.
Antrim lost Conor Stewart to a suspected cruciate injury and Dermott McAleese to an injury to his eye that affected his vision and both had to be replaced with Eunan Quinn coming in for Stewart and Joe Finnegan replacing McAleese.
News on the grapevine suggests that Dermott McAleese will be available for selection but the news isn’t so good for All Saints youngster Stewart who looks likely to be out for a considerable time.
Declan Lynch returned to the Antrim side against Carlow and had his best game of the seasonMick Byrne has nailed down the number 1 jersey this year with concistent performances and weighed in with some excellent points from long range frees
The Antrim team is not likely to show too many changes to the one that defeated Carlow and who have performed so well in the Tailteann Cup.
Michael Byrne was replaced by Luke Mulholland in goals late in the game after going down with tight calves but should be OK as should captain, Peter Healey who left the field with a slight niggle.
Patrick McCormick, Eoin McCabe, Declan Lynch, Marc Jordan, Cathal Hynds, Ruairi Boyle, Adam Loughran, Ruairi McCann (Creggan) Paddy McBride, Dominic McEnhill and Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) are all likely to start but at the time of writing the team had not been announced.
What of Meath?
Meath have been very impressive during this year’s Tailteann Cup campaign and will start Sunday’s semi-final as firm favourites.
James McEntee, nephew of Antrim manger, Andy McEntee and Jordan Morris dovetailed superbly as Tailteann Cup favourites Meath hit Wexford hard and early to wrap up their semi-final place at their ease.
Colm O’Rourke’s side burst out of the traps and ran up a 13-point lead with just 23 minutes on the clock, allowing them to cruise home to an eventual 17-point win.
McEntee and Morris led the early blitz and finished with six points apiece while Aaron Lynch netted in the 20th minute and substitute Cathal Hickey added a second major for the Royals in second-half stoppage time.
It’s Meath’s biggest win of the O’Rourke era and pairs them in a meeting with Antrim at Head Quarters on Sunday.
Meath v Wexford: Sean Brennan; Harry O’Higgins, Ronan Ryan, Adam O’Neill; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Jack Flynn, Conor Gray; Jack O’Connor, James McEntee, Cathal Hickey; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch.
Subs: Donal Lenihan for Lynch h/t, Dathi McGowan for McEntee 48, Ciaran Caulfield for Keogan 49, Cillian O’Sullivan for Flynn 51, Eoghan Frayne for O’Connor 59.
Scorers for Meath: Jordan Morris 0-6 (1m), James McEntee 0-6, Aaron Lynch 1-2, Mathew Costello 0-4 (2fs), Cathal Hickey 1-0, Daithi McGowan 0-3, Jack Flynn 0-1, Eoghan Frayne 0-1.
Aghagallon’s Ruiri McCann has been amongst the goals for Antrim this year and will be hoping to bring that form into Sunday’s semi-final against Meath
Antrim Have nothing to lose
Antrim will go into this semi-final as rank outsiders in many peoples book but Andy McEntee’s side have nothing to lose and I believe if they can produce their best form they have the ability to beat Meath.
A big Antrim support would certainly help the Saffron cause and the Saffron Gael will be there to capture the action and, hopefully the celebrations that follow.
We send Andy McEntee, his backroom team and Antrim our best wishes at Croke Park and look forward to Sunday’s encounter against his former side.
Following a heavy defeat on Sunday, Lamh Dhearg travelled to Clooney on Wednesday night and recorded a five point win over St. Mary’s Ahoghill. The visitors raced into an early three point lead and by half time were well on top when they led 1-9 to 0-6.
A goal from Martin Graham, early in the second half threatened to bring about an Ahoghill comeback but it never quite materialised as the visitors pushed on to win by five in the end.
Marc McGarry, and two from Conor Murray had the visitors three in front by the 4th minute and then Ahoghill were dealt a severe blow when they had a player dismissed following an off the ball incident.
They responded however through points from Eamon Brady, Tom McGlone and Fionnbar O’Neill to draw level with 8 minutes on the clock but the visitors came back with four unanswered points courtesy of Declan Smyth, Aaron McAufield, Shaun McManus and Murray to reassert control.
James O’Connell replied with a couple for the home side to leave just two in it after 15 minutes.
Lamh Dhearg stepped up the momentum during the second quarter as Conor Murray split the posts and the talisman got forward to finish to the net in the 24th minute to put a bit of daylight between the sides.
Conor Murray fires home the opening goal
Ahoghill’s only response came from a James O’Connell free in the 27th minute but it was the men from Hannastown who had the final score of the half with Murray pointing in the 30th minute to leave his side six ahead at the short whistle.
Declan Smyth doubled his tally to move Lamh Dhearg further ahead at the start of the second half but Martin Graham raised the home side’s hopes when he fired to the net in the 8th minute to cut the deficit to two points.
A point from mid-fielder Patrick Graham had it back to one by the 10th minute as the home crowd roared their approval and Shaun McManus and Terry McCrudden for the visitors and Jimmy O’Connell, from a Mark and then a free kept it finely balanced at the end of the third quarter.
Conor Murray and Ben Rice for Lamh Dhearg and Dan O’Neill and James O’Connell for the Clooney side exchanged further points and 14 man St. Mary’s were still hanging in there but a goal from Declan Dunne with six minutes remaining finally killed off their challenge.
Declan Dunne finds the decisive score
Pointed frees from James O’Connell and Patrick Graham closed the gap to six with four minutes of normal time remaining but it was as close as Ahoghill got with Lamh Dhearg hanging on to take the points and climb above their hosts in the table.
Ahoghill: N Crossey, J Magee, Diarmaid Graham, G Graham, F O’Neill (0-02m), E Brady, Donal Graham, P Graham (0-01), T McGlone (0-01), D O’Neill (0-01m), M Graham, P Dougan, J O’Connell (1-07, 0-06f), C McDonnell, S Madden. Subs: CP Crossey for C McDonnell (46), C McCarry for M Graham (56), H O’Donnell for P Dougan (56).
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, P Larkin, B Rice (0-01), R Murray, A McAufield (0-01), M McGarry (0-01m), F Mervyn, S McManus (0-02, 0-01m), M McElgunn, D Smyth (0-02), M Hynds, C Maxwell, T McCrudden (0-01), C Murray (1-06, 0-01f), D Dunne (1-00). Subs: N McGarry for A McAufield (40), A Murray for R Murray (46), K Fay-Kelly for F Mervyn (56), C Nolan for P Larkin (57).
Rasharkin’s relentless march towards the division 3 title continues and it seems that no one can stop them. Cardinal O’Donnell’s will have other ideas as they sit a point behind the men from Dreen but with a game more played.
St. Mary’s sit on 28 points from 14 starts while their nearest challengers, O’D’s have 27 from 15 starts with that defeat coming at MacRory Park back on the 26th April to the Rasharkin men and their meeting in the South West next Wednesday night will go a long way to deciding the destination of the league title.
On Wednesday night it took St. Mary’s a while to get going at Valley Parade with the home side kicking the opening two points through Gerard McDonnell and Vincent Lismore and when Rasharkin came back with a point from Tiernan O’Boyle and a goal from Eamonn McNeill the Tones replied again to close the gap to one through McDonnell.
Slowly though the visitors began to settle into their rhythm as Eammon McNeill 0-2, Fearghal Keneddy and Ryan Lynch struck points and when Lynch followed with his side’s second goal at the end of the opening quarter the league leaders never looked back.
Suddenly gaps began to appear in the Wolfe Tones’ rear guard as Oran McMullan, Ryan Lynch (penalty) and Oisin Casey added further goals and by half time Rasharkin were out of site as McNeill added two further majors to put his side 7-8 to 0-3 ahead.
Rasharkin began the second half on the front foot again with unanswered points from Ryan Lynch, Oisin Casey, Killian O’Boyle, Ruairi O’Boyle and Fearghal Kennedy before Declan O’Neill and Jonah Magill replying with points for the city side.
Antrim’s newest club were enjoying their best spell in the game at this stage and they matched Rasharkin point for point for a time before losing two players to Black cards and Rasharkin put the game to bed in the closing stages with further goals from Oisin Casey and Jack Quinn.
O’Donnell’s visit Dreen next Wednesday night and nothing other than a win for the MacRory Park side will suffice. A win for the league leaders would put matters to bed but there was only a goal between the sides in the first game back in April and the Whiterock Road side will travel believing they can keep their promotion hopes alive.
Cargin gained the bragging rights with a narrow win over their nearest neighbours, and close rivals Creggan following a fully contested division one game in Staffordstown on Wednesday evening.
Both sides were missing a few regulars but that didn’t lessen the fare provided and an early goal by Dermot McCann ensured the home side led at the end of the opening period.
The visitors nipped ahead early into the second half however with back to back John Carron points and were never headed after that though the game was in the balance until the final whistle.
Both sides exchanged points in the opening exchanges but Creggan took the lead in the 6th minute as a slick left sided approach opened the way for Dermot McCann to fire home from close range.
John Carron lies strewn as Dermot McCann (8) watches his shot nestle in the Cargin net for the game’s only goal
Little separated the sides after this but the home side continued to hold sway at mid-field with Dermot McCann prominent and despite Ciaran Bradley and David Johnston raising white flags in reply to a fine Keelan Mc Cann point the home side retained advantage 1-03 to 0-03 at the end of the opening quarter.
Cargin began to get a foothold in the central zone at the start of the second quarter with Gerard Mc Cann and John Carron coming more and more into the game but a strong run by the impressive Sean Duffin opened the way for Paddy Coey to split the posts
The home side held a four point advantage at this stage but Cargin kicked four on the bounce in as many minutes through Ronan Gribbin, Jamie Gribbin and a two from Tom Shivers to bring the sides level at 0-07 to 1-04 as the end of the opening period drew near.
A fine James Laverty point edged the visitors ahead and Creggan then suffered a telling blow when goal scorer McCann was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card, reducing the Kickham’s to 14 men for the remainder of the game.
John Carron, who’s two early second half points began the Cargin fightback is fouled by Creggan’s Tiernan McLarnon
It was Creggan who finished the half on top however as a fine individual score from Joe Mc Ateer and a Paddy Coey finish from a free in time added saw the home side head to the dressing rooms a point ahead.
Cargin started the second half on the front foot as mid-fielder John Carron added back to back points but a Paddy Coey pointed free at the other end following a foul on the impressive Sean Duffin tied the contest once more.
As the game continued in intensity in the warm sunshine Cargin took the lead when Tom Shivers, who had a fine game added a couple of points and David Johnston followed with another to move the visitors 0-12 to 1-7 ahead.
The extra man was evidently having its toll but the home side were still working their socks off to compensate and Dominic McAteer fired over to close the gap to the minimum again in the 52nd minute.
Cargin replacement, Sean Og O’ Neill made an immediate impact as he grabbed a fine 25th minute point to move his side two ahead with Dominic McAteer again reducing the deficit to one from a 40 meter free and it still looked anybody’s game.
James Laverty has the ball broke from his grasp by Tiernan McLarnon
Sean Og O’ Neill’s delivery sent Tom Shivers away to split the posts at the other end to secure a two point advantage once more and that score looked to have secured it for the Toome side.
There would be one last drama in this excellent contest however as a turnover deep in the Creggan defence and a swift counter-attack saw Sean Duffin race clear on a one on one with Cargin net-minder John Mc Nabb but the big net minder parried his shot and it was cleared to safety.
Dominic Mc Ateer did have the last say when he drilled a 62nd minute free between the posts but it was Cargin who held on to breast the line with the points secured.
Creggan: Peter Graham Jake McAteer, Ethan Carey Small, Conor Og Mc Cann, Sam Maguire, Aodhan Maguire, Joe Mc Ateer (01), Dermot Mc Cann (1-0), Keelan Mc Cann, Tiernan Mc Larnon, Conor Small, Liam Quinn (0-01), Paddy Coey (0-03). Dominic Mc Ateer (0-04), Sean Duffin (0-01)
Subs
Conor Mc Cann
Odhran Mc Larnon
Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Sean og Quinn, Kevin Mc Shane, Gerard Mc Corley, Justin Crozier, Kevin O’ Boyle, Ronan Gribbin (0-01), Gerard Mc Cann, John Carron (0-02), James Laverty (0-01), Brendan Laverty, David Johnston (0-02), Ciaran Bradley (0-01), Tom Shivers (0-04), Jamie Gribbin (0-02)
Subs
Conan Johnston
Sean Og O’ Neill (0-01)
Ben Mc Larnon
Referee: C Mc Donnell (St Gall’s)
Cargin keeper, John McNabb gets down to deny Sean Duffin late in the game.
