NFL; Division 4
Leitrim v Antrim
Pairc MacDiarmada – Sunday – 2.00pm
The Antrim team to play Leitrim on Sunday at Pairc MacDiarmada, Carrick on Shannon has been announced and is the same side that started against Longford last Sunday in Portgleone.
Hopefully Antrim can get their campaign up and running with their first win of the season but it will be a tough ask against a Leitrim side who have already recorded two wins this season.
Forresters Cup School’s Hurling Quarter-Final @ Allen Park, Antrim
St. Mary’s 6-18 | St. Killian’s 0-13
PICS BY BERT TROWLEN
St. Mary’s delivered a masterclass in attacking hurling to comfortably advance to the next stage of the Forresters Cup, putting St. Killian’s to the sword with a commanding 6-18 to 0-13 victory at Allen Park. Powered by a phenomenal scoring exhibition from centre-half forward Conal Dempsey, St. Mary’s had too much firepower for their opponents on the day.
St. Mary’s Set the Tone Early
The tone was set from the throw-in. St. Mary’s wasted absolutely no time, with corner-forward Gerard Deery rattling the net for a goal in the opening minute. Following a Conal Dempsey point shortly after. Dempsey continuted what would be a devastating individual performance, slotting over his second point on four minutes.
St. Killian’s worked hard to find a foothold, registering a point around the four-minute mark and getting a fine score from play through Conor McMullan in the sixth minute. However, St. Mary’s were relentless. Dempsey fired over another point from play before breaking through to score his first goal of the game in the 9th minute, firmly putting his side in the driver’s seat.
St. Mary’s showed their ability to score from all distances and angles. Midfielder Matthew O’Neill and centre-field partner Ben McCaul both landed excellent long-range points, while Padraig Kelly and Oisin Kennedy kept the scoreboard ticking over with neat points from play.
For St. Killian’s, Donnlaodh McNaughton took on the heavy lifting. Operating at number 11, he accurately converted his frees and managed a brilliant long-range point from play just before the break. Despite his efforts, St. Mary’s went into the changing rooms with a commanding 2-12 to 0-05 lead following a late long-range point from Dempsey.
Dempsey Completes His Hat-Trick
St. Killian’s emerged for the second half with renewed determination, and McNaughton immediately punished St. Mary’s indiscipline by pointing two frees in the opening four minutes. However, any hopes of a St. Killian’s comeback were swiftly extinguished in the fifth minute when St. Mary’s full-forward Finn Smyth found the back of the net from play.
The St. Mary’s attack was operating beautifully, highlighted by a well-worked team score finished off by the ubiquitous Dempsey on six minutes. Matthew O’Neill and Ben McCaul continued to dominate the middle sectors, each adding to their tallies, while Rian Laverty managed a hard-earned point from play for St. Killian’s in the 10th minute.
The highlight of the half came in the 12th minute when Conal Dempsey carved through the St. Killian’s defense to score a brilliant individual goal. Just four minutes later, Oisin Kennedy got in on the goal-scoring action to raise St. Mary’s fifth green flag of the afternoon.
Dempsey capped off his spectacular outing by completing his hat-trick in the 20th minute with a goal from play. St. Killian’s fought bravely to the bitter end, with Donnlaodh McNaughton continuing to accurately convert frees and a beautifully struck ’65 before the final whistle.
Ultimately, the firepower of St. Mary’s was simply too much to handle, as they marched on to a semi-final meeting with Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock
St. Mary’s
St. Killian’s
When they last met…..
Allianz Hurling League – Division 1B
Antrim 2-18 Carlow 1-21
Sunday 2 March 2025
Brendan McTaggart reports from Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow
It was the late, late show for Antrim on Sunday afternoon but Gerard Walsh’s 75th minute wonder strike ensured the Saffrons fate in Division 1B remains in their own hands.
Standing over the sliotar and a wall of colour in front of him, 35 yards from goal, it was all or nothing for Antrim and Walsh, somehow, managed to find the back of the Carlow net.
Was it a deserved ending? Absolutely. Antrim showed the fight and desire Davy Fitzgerald had called for after recent defeats and but for seven or eight minutes at the end of the first half, they performed more like the Antrim team we have come accustomed to in recent times.
Goal chances came and left before finally finding a way through. On another day, Conor Johnston would be walking off with three goals beside his name. As it was, he hit the bottom of the upright, was felled in the build up to Keelan Molloy’s goal and had a fresh air strike with the goal at his mercy. James McNaughton finished with eight points, six from placed ball and uncharacteristically missed a couple of frees along with a penalty. That being said, McNaughton’s overall contribution was outstanding. His ability to evade challenges and create chances was second to none in an Antrim shirt…..
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Eoin McFerran, Paddy Burke, Stephen Rooney; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott; Eoin O’Neill, James McNaughton, Conor Johnston
Subs: Cormac McKeown for E O’Neill (32); Joseph McLaughlin for R McCambridge (64)
Scorers: J McNaughton 0-8 (6fs); K Molloy 1-1; G Walsh 1-00 (1-00f); C Johnston 0-2; E Campbell 0-2; E McFerran 0-1; C Bohill 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; C McKeown 0-1
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paidi O’Shea, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; Evan Kealy, Ciaran Whelan; Jon Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, John Doyle; Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan, James Doyle
Subs: Paddy Boland for J Nolan (54); Ted Joyce for J Doyle (59); Donagh Murphy for C Kehoe (64)
Scorers: M Kavanagh 0-7 (5fs 1’65); C Nolan 1-3; J Doyle 0-3; F Fitzpatrick 0-2; C Whelan 0-2; J Nolan 0-2; C Kehoe 0-1; T Joyce 0-1
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
NFL Division 4
Leitrim v Antrim
Sunday 2.00pm
A season that has started badly for Antrim footballers sees the Saffrons face another stiff challenge when they make the journey to Pairc Sean MacDiarmada in Carrick on Shannon on Sunday to face Leitrim.
It has been a bad start to the season for an Antrim team who suffered relegation from division 3 last season and hopes of a quick return from the basement division have been quickly dashed as they suffered defeat in their first three games of the present division 4 campaign.
Antrim opened this year’s division 4 campaign against Carlow and after a bright opening, where they led by three, they were hit by two quick fire goals by the visitors and never really recovered, going down by four points in Portglenone.
Their poor early season form continued in round 2 when they travelled to Tipperary where they led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break, but the loss of a player to a straight Red just before the interval saw them suffer another four point loss.
Despite those losses there were hopes that they could get their first points on board when Longford visited Portglenone last weekend but once again the Saffrons failed to deliver and suffered their heaviest defeat to date, going down to a heavy 15 point defeat.
Confidence is obviously low in the Antrim camp following these defeats and nothing is likely to fix that confidence but a win and normally a visit to Leitrim would have provided an opportunity to get a much needed win under their belts.
James McAuley of St. Enda’s lined out at right back for Antrim against Longford while (Featured Image) Jack Lenehan had his first start of the season.
However the Connacht minnows have been going well themselves this year and after losing by the minimum to Wicklow in their opening game they have recorded wins over Waterford at MacDiarmada Pairc and away to London last weekend.
London will have sleepless nights over this one however as a Barry McNulty inspired Leitrim produced an incredible display to overturn a 12-point deficit in a dramatic Allianz NFL Division 4 clash at McGovern Park on Sunday in Ruislip.
McNulty was the name on everyone’s lips as he hit an incredible six two pointers in the second half after his introduction at the interval while another sub, Killian Gaffey, made a couple of decisive interventions, including clawing away a late London goal chance that might have snatched victory.
The home side had looked on course to extend their unbeaten run to five matches as they eased into a 1-14 to 1-2 lead with 33 minutes on the clock. Michael O’Reilly got the goal while Joe McGill raised three well-taken orange flags.
Barry McNulty was the Leitrim hero; introduced at half-time for his first action of the year, the Glencar Manorhamilton man proceeded to land six booming two-pointers. Five of those came from play including the 56th minute strike which saw the visitors hit the front for the first time in the game.
London pressed late in the game and might have snatched it at the death but were denied by some last ditch defending by the visitors and Leitrim now find themselves on 4 points along with Longford and Wicklow with Carlow leading the division with 3 wins from 3 starts.
There will have been much for Antrim to reflect on after that heavy defeat to Longford at the weekend. The Antrim press when Longford attacked was disjointed as they afforded their opponents acres of space.
At the other end of the table Longford showed just how to press, denying Antrim space and turning them over or forcing them into hurried shooting options.
Individually some of the Antrim performances haven’t been bad and Mark Doran and his backroom staff will have been pleased by the return of Aghagallon’s Adam Loughran against Longford.
Loughran weighed in with a well taken goal and the return of Ryan Murray from a long term injury will have been another positive for the Antrim management with the Lamh Dhearg man kicking a couple of points and looking lively after being introduced.
Conor Hand, Jack Lenehan and Cathal Hynds made their first start of the season but Peter Healey remains a long term injury and it is not known when the Ballyboden St. Endas man might return and John Morgan and Ronan Boyle still remain on the injured list.
It will have been a cause for concern that the Saffrons didn’t raise their first Orange flag until Pat Shivers was introduced from the bench midway through the second half and the big Cargin man kicked their second as scoring remains to be a problem for Doran’s side.
Wholesale changes doesn’t appear to be the answer and I wouldn’t expect there to be many alterations from the team who played Longford last weekend for the visit to Carrick on Shannon.
An improved collective performance in both defence and attack is what Antrim will be hoping for at MacDiarmaida Pairc and if the visitors can attain that and put the dampeners on Barry McNulty, Tom Prior and Co then I feel they will be in with a fighting chance to break their duck.
The only way is up!
Gaelfast Antrim Schools Camogie
Year 9 Camogie Shield Final at Woodlands
Coláiste Feirste 7-04 All Saints College / Edmund Rice College 3-00
In an entertaining final held at the Woodlands 4G pitch, Coláiste Feirste, produced a commanding performance to claim the Antrim Schools Shield title. Despite the windy and wet conditions, they overcame All Saints / Edmund Rice with a final scoreline of 7-04 to 3-00. The foundation for this victory was laid in a strong opening half, where Coláiste Feirste displayed pace, precision, and a clinical edge. Their attacking intent was clear from the outset as they moved the ball quickly through the lines, building a healthy 4-04 to 2-00 lead by half-time.
All Saints / Edmund Rice battled gamely throughout the opening period and worked hard to stay in contention, but they found scores difficult to come by against a well-organised Coláiste Feirste defence. While the opposition showed moments of resilience, Coláiste Feirste’s ability to turn turnovers into scores proved decisive. The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Belfast side maintaining their intensity and fitness to add a further three goals. Their movement off the ball and sharp finishing effectively put the contest beyond doubt, ensuring they remained firmly in control.
To their credit, All Saints / Edmund Rice continued to compete and were rewarded with a goal in the latter stages, though the gap was already too great to bridge. Coláiste Feirste remained composed, managing the game with confidence and discipline until the final whistle. While All Saints / Edmund Rice can take positives from their determination throughout the competition, Coláiste Feirste walks away with a truly memorable victory. The atmosphere was bolstered by the spectators whose support could be heard throughout the match, and credit is due to the teachers and players for producing such a high-quality game in tough weather conditions.
