New Antrim manager, Mark Doran faces a baptism of fire when his side face Derry and Donegal in the Group stages of the McKenna Cup.
It was always going to be difficult whoever the Saffrons were drawn against but they don’t come more difficult than the Tir Connaill men.
.Jim McGuinness’ men will face Derry in what will be a repeat of the final from the last time the competition was played, when the Oak Leaf County won by a score of 0-12 to 0-6.
Luke Barrett was part of the Donegal backroom team that year, but he has since linked up with Derry, managed by Ciarán Meenagh.
Barrett was part of the set-up as they won back-to-back Ulster titles and reached the All-Ireland final, but stepped away from the backroom team back in September.
Mark Doran and his backroom team will relish the opportunity to run their eyes over Antrim’s new crop of players for 2026 against strong opposition but the Down native’s priority will be a quick return to division 3 after facing relegation last year.
Over the past number of years, Mark has been involved at the highest levels of the game, including coaching roles with Down, Clare, and Roscommon senior football teams, and team management with Ballybay and Slaughtneil.
Doran will have Cargin’s Michael McCann and Paul Bradley from Slaughtneil as his coaching staff while Barry Gillis is his goalkeeping coach and Brendan Murphy will be in charge of strength and conditioning.
The Down native has opted for experience as he attempts to make the return from division 4 at the first attempt with Cargin’s Tomas McCann and John Carron, Creggan’s Conor and kevin Small and All Saints Paddy McAleer amongst former players who have been recalled to the panel.
There was no McKenna Cup in 2025 but the Ulster GAA confirmed its return in September for what will be the 100th anniversary of the competition.
A Charlie Mone inspired Clontibret O’Neill’s of Monaghan swept aside the challenge of Derrygonnelly from Fermanagh in the first quarter-final of the St. Paul’s-fona/cab Ulster Minor Football club championship at Colaiste Feirste on Saturday.
The Monaghan side led 1-7 to 1-3 at the break with their goal coming from Evan Treanor after 11 minutes and Darragh Keenan, Malachy Treanor, Charlie Mone, Jack Brady, Daniel Boylan and Odhran Boylan all weighing in with points.
22/11/2026 Clontibrets Charlie Mone in action with Derrygonnellys Michael Duffy in the St Pauls Minor Competion at Colaiste Feriste
Derrygonnelly did well to contain the O’Neill’s to four in the opening half but with the elements in the favour of the Monaghan men after the break it was going to take something better from the Fermanagh champions if they were to turn this one around.
The second half was less than a minute old when Odhran Boylan fired home Clontibret’s second goal and even then it looked as good as over and the Monaghan champions would push on to rake up an impressive second half tally.
Darragh Keenan, Charlie Mone, Jack Sullivan, Daniel Boylan, Jack Brady and Shane Connolly gave an exhibition of point taking as Clontibret romped home winners by 19 point to set up a semi-final meeting with Bredagh of Down.
Charlie Mone led his line superbly and caused endless problems for Derrygonnelly up front while Darragh Keenan, Odhran Boylan, Evan Treanor and Shane Connolly were others to impress for a Clontibret team who could go all the way.
22/11/2026 Derrygonnellys Evan Mc Kenna in action with Clontibrets Charlie Mone and Alex Windrum in the St Pauls Minor Competion at Colaiste Feriste
St. Patricks celebrated their 60th Anniversary on Friday 21st Nov with a Gala Ball in the Balmoral Hotel. We were delighted to welcome Michael Geoghegan, Ulster GAA President , Seamus McMullan , Antrim GAA Chair , Ursula Lynch. Antrim LGFA Chair, Patrick McGroarty, Antrim LGFA Development Officer & David Honeyford MLA, from our good neighbours at Glenavy. Michael Fitzpatrick ran a very smooth operation as our MC for the evening. The occasion was captured by our friend , Bert Trowlen , Saffrongael.
Our evening commenced with our Chair. Tony Ewing, giving a short recount of the trials and tribulations that the club experienced in its nomadic existence from 1965 through to 1995, due to the troubles and the mis representation at local government level. The club were always thankful for the support we received from St.Josephs & St.James. clubs. Through the work of Kieran Drayne, the club secured a lease in 1995 for our current ground on Kirkwoods Road through Lisburn Council, although at the time , we were unable to play home on a Sunday! The club developed good working relationships with Council officials and the pitch and changing room facilities improved over time. Thirty years later we are on the cusp of purchasing Kirkwoods from the MOD, how times have changed for the better.
The Lynchpin – We reflected and celebrated on the central role Mickey Lynch (Club President) played throughout the decades and enthused at his experiences and story telling. 2025 was a memorable year for Mickey as we had a surprise event as part of our Club history night to celebrate his 80th birthday, alongside his lovely family.
Senior Awards LGFA Most Improved Player – Eva Devlin Players’ Player – Ciara Marshall Manager’s Player – Clare Kearney
Minor Most Improved Player – Katie Longley Players’ Player – Niamh George Manager’s Player – Beth Gartland
GAA Reserves Players’ Player & Manager’s Player – Owen Drayne
Seniors Young Player – Jude Rafferty Players’ Player & Manager’s Player – Adam Patterson
President’s Award recipient- Peter Burns.
The ballot prize were then drawn out with the top prize being a trip to New York.
Ballot Prize Winners 21st Nov
NY Trip- Kashif Akrim AIF tickets (Club) – Aoife Mc Kibbin £100 ( Ronnie Thompson)- Peter Ferris £50 ( CD Plumbing)- Kathlyn Mc Laughlin Glenfenndich – Helena Maginness-Fitzpatrick Jameson ( Hagues Bar) – Fiona Healy Prosecco ( Hagues Bar)- Patricia O’Neill
Thank you to all our sponsors in supporting the ballot.
The evening concluded with a great set of tunes from Finn Mc Ginn.
On behalf of the organising team, we would like to thank Elaine and her team for the excellent service & support in planning this memorable evening for St.Patricks GAC.
buildkirkwoods- in the next 10 years, we aspire to drive Lisburn GAA forward with ground and facilities improvements to match the needs of our ever-expanding club & community.
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St Brigid’s clinched this year’s U21A football title piping a gallant St Gall’s outfit by five points in a gripping encounter. After being delayed for a week due to inclement weather, it’s fair to say that this year’s showpiece was well worth the wait. Chaotic, frenetic, hard-hitting, dramatic and with scores aplenty: it really was a spectacle for the sizable crowd in attendance who’d braved November’s cold chill. These two have been trailblazers when it comes to underage success in recent years with St Gall’s targeting two in a row and St Brigid’s keen to add to their already glittering list of accolades. It should’ve come as no surprise that this one would be a proper stormer.
Opting to play with a stiff breeze in the first half, the Musgrave Park men took full advantage of the elements as they racked up an eleven-point lead at the break with Joseph Logan in prolific form, firing in two majors. St Brigid’s were electric going forward and with the two McGurks dominating midfield and scoring from range for fun, the Milltown men’s hopes were looking rather bleak.
JJ Higgins (14) turns away in celebration after scoring the goal that sealed victory for St. Brigid’s over St. Gall’s in the U21A Football final at Woodlands on Sunday
Indeed, Naomh Gall had it all to do in the second thirty but my word did they come close. Daniel Quinn’s prowess from range saw him tally 0-07 with four coming courtesy of the orange flag. Despite being reduced to thirteen men, it looked like a Lazarus-like comeback was on the cards as when Niall Fallon’s two-pointed effort found it’s mark, the gap was reduced to a single point with five minutes of normal time left on Colin Thompson’s watch.
Nevertheless, Naomh Bríd steadied the ship and kept their composure well to finish the stronger of the two as the numerical advantage became more apparent in the closing stages. JJ Higgins found the net two minutes from the end with a clinical finish before Joseph Logan fired over another point to cap off a fine individual performance and seal the silverware for the men in white and blue.
St Brigid’s flew out of the traps and raced into a seven-point lead in the opening ten minutes. Donncha McGurk’s perfectly flighted effort from the forty-five brandished an orange flag before St Brigid’s fired in an early major as they pounced on the counter with a superb goal from Joseph Logan who rifled his effort into the roof of the net. McGurk’s name-sake Brian then demonstrated his own ability from range with another towering effort from well beyond the arc as Naomh Bríd were fully cashing in on the wind at their backs. Naomh Gall were giving as good as they got but just couldn’t make anything stick on the scoreboard as St Brigid’s were devastating on the counter.
Joseph Logan whoes first half double sent St. Brigid’s on their way to victory
It wouldn’t be until the eighteenth minute when St Gall’s would break their duck as Padraig O’Muirigh tapped over a close-range free to give his side some respite. St Brigid’s responded emphatically though as Rory McErlean found his bearings from a free before Brian McGurk doubled his two-point tally for the day with another soaring effort from well outside the arc. JJ Higgins would then open his account on the twenty-second minute as they sought to turn the screw.
Naomh Bríd’s compact defence was proving a tough nut to crack but Callum Walsh managed to power his way through to slot over St Gall’s first from play with five remaining until the short whistle. Moments later, Liam Lynn added another as he rose highest to fist over Daniel Quinn’s flighted effort from the forty-five.
Just as it appeared that the men in blue were inching their way back into it, their opponents dealt them another hammer blow. Again, it would be Logan who would do the damage as the young number fifteen found himself in acres of his space before advancing forward to drill low and hard to the net, doubling his goal tally for the day for good measure.
Lynn would again reply for his side, but St Brigid’s finished the half with yet another score. This one came from a more unlikely source as Sonny Doyle powered his way forward from full-back to put the finishing touches on a flowing move to give his side a commanding eleven-point lead before the whistle for the interval sounded with the scores 2-09 to 0-04 in favour of Naomh Bríd.
Naomh Gall understood they had an uphill battle on their hands in the second period, but with the heavy attacking artillery they had amongst their ranks, they also knew they had it in them. They started positively as centre-forward Daniel Quinn blasted over a free from beyond the arc to cut the deficit into single figures again.
Daniel Quinn is halted in his tracks as he attempts to break through the St. Brigid’s defence
Although St Brigid’s responded through Isaac Robinson, there was much more purpose about St Gall’s from an offensive standpoint as they looked to also capitalise on the wind themselves. Quinn was once again on hand to curl in a superb effort from a tight angle to galvanise his side. The game was now being played at a frenetic pace and hard-hits were flying in from all angles and there was a bit of needle injected into proceedings. With a few off the ball incidents occurring, things were getting a little heated and in one such exchange St Gall’s were reduced to fourteen men as their uphill task became even trickier.
Nevertheless, the men in blue seemed unperturbed and used this as fuel in their attempts at clawing back the deficit. Midway through the half, they got a lifeline as Aaron Mackel pounced among a melee of players to sweep in off the deck with a beautiful effort from his left foot as the ball nestled in the roof of the net. With six points now the margin, it looked as though it could be game on again.
However, the feisty element to the game soon spilled over as both sets of players were involved in a bit of an entanglement. Once all had calmed, St Gall’s were sanctioned with a second dismissal and it now seemed that with a two-man disadvantage, surely it would be too much to ask.
Yet again though, with their backs against the wall, the Milltown men rose once more as the imperious Daniel Murray would hit the next two in a row and suddenly the gap was down to four as the game approached the final ten minutes. Naomh Bríd were then reduced to fourteen men, or temporarily at least, as they fell victim to a black card which gave their counterparts that little more impetus. Talisman, Murray, would strike again on the fifty-third minute with yet another two-pointed effort as St Gall’s continued to rally.
St Brigid’s were desperate for some form of respite to quell the oncoming tide of scores from their opponents and had Joseph Logan to thank once again as he tapped over from close range moments later. However, the gap was cut to the minimum on the fifty-fifth minute as a superb effort from beyond the arc found its’ target from the cultured right boot of Niall Fallon and somehow, someway St Gall’s were on the verge of a titanic come-back.
Padraig O’Muirigh Jnr is first to the ball
Perhaps it was this score which stirred St Brigid’s back into life as they recaptured their form from the first-half to finish with aplomb. Full-forward JJ Higgins managed to stab home to the net amongst a sea of bodies to score his side’s third major. The numerical advantage was now really beginning to take its toll as St Brigid’s maintained possession well to take the sting from proceedings in the closing moments. Ethan Walsh and Logan would exchange points as the game went into time added on before Dara Quinn added a little more gloss to the score-line with a well-taken effort from close range to seal yet another title for this crop of St Brigid’s players.
Credit to both for an enthralling game. Despite suffering setback after setback, St Gall’s character never faltered. They will maintain a good few of this current crop for next year and will hope to go again and taste success at this grade once again. For St Brigid’s, they have been synonymous with titles at underage. This current crop are no exception and with the nucleus of the side still U21 next year, they will have their eyes set on repeating this feat next year.
Couinty committee member, Terry Reilly presents the U21A Football Championship cup to St. Brigid’s captain, Niall Duffy
Naomh Gall: C Óg Mullan; F McCullough, G McAdhaimh, C Hale; S MacAdhaimh, L Lynn (0-02,) E Walsh (0-01;) M McCrossan, O Maskey; D MacCrabhagain, D Quinn (0-07 – 2 t.p,) P O’Muirigh (0-01;) N Fallon (0-02 – 1 t.p,) C Walsh (0-01,) A Mackel (1-00)
Naomh Bríd: L Cullinan; C Logue, S Doyle (0-01,) T McKenna; A McNicholl, N Finnegan, C O’Connell; B McGurk (0-04 – 2 t.p,) D McGurk (0-02 – 1 t.p;) D Quinn (0-01,) N Duffy, I Robinson (0-01;) R McErlean (0-01,) JJ Higgins (1-01,) J Logan (2-02)
Referee: Colin Thompson (St. John’s)
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FonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Tournament, Preliminary Round
Portglenone 0-18-5-12 Arrdboe
Kevin Herron reports from Colaiste Feirste
A FIVE STAR display saw Ardboe advance to a quarter final of the FonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Tournament after they saw off Portglenone 5-12-0-18 at Colaiste Feirste on Sunday afternoon.
The sides were all square after an entertaining opening half but Ardboe were much more efficient with the breeze in the second period and hit four goals in the second period, with Darragh Muldoon, Darragh Devlin (x2) and Ruairi O’Neill (10) all finding the net to ensure their side will return to west Belfast next week to take on Dromintee in the last quarter final clash.
A close range Darragh Devlin free inside of two minutes had Ardboe up and running, but at the other end the crossbar prevented them from falling behind to the opening goal.
Portglenone won a free and Tomas Duffin quickly galloped forward at pace and his fiercely driven shot cannoned off the underside of the bar and out.
It took the Antrim holders seven minutes to kick their opening score, Ryan McKeever had closed down a short Ardboe kick out and after a prolonged period of possession and waiting for an opening to arrive, Conor Burns popped the ball over.
Burns edged his side ahead 60-seconds later, taking a pass from Frank McAleese and firing over and things got better for the Ports when a breach was called by referee Neil McGeown and Odhran Doherty opted for a two-pointed attempt, which he successfully converted.
They had further joy when Tomas Duffin sent a high shot over and a second pointed score came from play courtesy of Conor Burns that had his side 0-7-0-1 ahead by the 13th minute.
After spending over 10-minutes on the backfoot Ardboe kicked into life with Ruairi O’Neill dropping a shot over and Darragh Devlin added his first from play-despite an initial shot being blocked down.
Devlin kicked his second free of the half after Jamie Concannon had his run illegally halted and a further placed ball was successfully converted after Darragh Muldoon was fouled on his way through.
By the 23rd minute Portglenone had gone 10-minutes scoreless and saw their six-point lead whittled to just two, Burns added a further score after his side forced a sideline and Ryan McKeever clipped possession into his path, only for Darragh Devlin to instantly respond from play.
The games opening goal arrived after 26 minutes, a quick flowing move through the hands saw Darcy Mallon with the opportunity and he poked home to the net to give Ardboe a slender 1-6-0-8 lead.
A point followed after Edan McCartney sped forward and produced the score, but in first half injury time a free outside the arch gave Odhran Doherty the chance to restore parity and he obliged to tie the game up at the break with the score, 0-10-1-7.
Despite playing against the breeze, Portglenone hit the opening score of the half and it was a fourth two-pointed score and third from Doherty, this time from play and from a difficult angle.
Their advantage was immediately halved when Ruairi O’Neill clipped over his second point of the afternoon and moments later free-taker Devlin nailed a two-pointed placed ball to nudge his side 1-10-0-12 ahead.
Devlin then turned provider for his side’s second goal. Playing a delightful long pass to Darragh Muldoon to gather and fire to the net.
Muldoon added a point a few minutes later after gathering and shooting over on the turn as Portglenone’s chances were beginning to look bleak.
To their credit the Casements chipped away and were back to within three points with a quarter of an hour remaining.
A dangerous burst from Thomas Douthart ended with a point and then Odhran Doherty converted his third free of the afternoon following a robust challenge on Tomas Duffin.
Portglenone were then hit with a hammer blow as Darragh Devlin blasted home a third goal in the 47th minute to make it 3-11-0-14.
Back-to-back close range Doherty frees had closed the gap, however ten minutes after netting his sides third; talisman Darragh Devlin floated shot found the net and it was game over with three minutes remaining.
The pattern continued again with Doherty landing another two converted frees on the spin, only for Ardboe to reply with another goal, their fifth coming on the hour mark.
Jamie Concannon played a one-two with Devlin and opted to palm the ball across for the other Ruairi O’Neill at number 10 to have the simplest of tasks in touching the ball to the net and make it 5-11-0-18.
Devlin would kick a further free before the final whistle as Ardboe comfortably sealed their passage into the last eight and a meeting with Armagh winners Dromintee next weekend at St Pauls.
PORTGLENONE: J McAtamney, C McKenna, O McAtamney, J McVeigh, Cillian McDonnell, Christy McDonnell, T Douthart (0-1), O Doherty (0-11, 0-9f, 2×0-2ptf), T Duffin (0-1), R McKeever, T Convery, C Burns (0-5, 1×0-2pt), E McErlean, F McAleese, P McCloskey. SUBS: C Morgan for C Burns (35), R McAleer for T Duffin (51), T Duffin for E McErlean (54), P O’Boyle for P McCloskey (60+3).
ARDBOE: S McConville, R Forbes, C McKeown, PJ Quinn, D Mallon (1-0), D McKeown, JP Doris, E McCartney (0-1), J Concannon, Ruairi O’Neill (1-0), Dylan Devlin, J Muldoon, D Muldoon (1-1), Darragh Devlin (2-8, 0-6f, 1×0-2ptf), Ruairi O’Neill (0-2). SUBS: O Coleman for Dylan Devlin (58). REFEREE: Neil McGeown (ARMAGH)
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