The team who won the Antrim Senior Reserve League in 2025 were the stars of the Ballycastle McQuillans dinner on Saturday night in the Marine Hotel and the team did not the side down as they celebrated their success with gusto . County chairman Seamus McMullan was there to hand over the trophy while County Camogie chairperson Una Kelly was there to hand over the individual awards to her own home club members. Club president John Sparrow Harkin was also in attendance, plus local Parish Priest Fr Daly.
Many thanks to club for presenting the Saffron Gael with a sponsorship cheque
Committee member Anthony Mcauley presents the Joe McDonagh Bronze Award for use and promotion of the Irish Language to his wife Patricia who is club’s Cultuaral OfficerCounty chairman Seamus McMullan presents the 2024 Most Improved U16 Hurler award to Luke Connolly.Antrim Camogie chairperson Una Kelly presents the 2024 Under 16 Camogie Player of the Year award to Cara Delaney at the McQuillan’s GAC dinner in the Marine Hotel.Seamus McMullan presents the Most Improved Minor Hurler award to Tiernan Nagurski at the McQuillan’s GAC dinner in the Marine Hotel.County chairman Seamus McMullan presents the 2024 Under 16 Hurler of the Year award to Cadhan Crawford at the McQuillan’s GAC dinner in the Marine Hotel.Seamus McMullan presents the Most Improved Minor Hurler award to Tiernan Nagurski at the McQuillan’s GAC dinner in the Marine Hotel.Una Kelly presents the Most Improved Junior Player Award to Orlagh Mooney who accepted it on behalf of Grainne O’Neill who was unable to attendCounty chairman Seamus McMullan Presents the Senior Reserve Hurling League trophy to team captain Reuben McClean at the Ballycastle McQuillans dinner in the Marine Hotel.The Minor Hurler of the Year award was shared between three players in 2025. Receiving their awards from County Board Chairman Seamus McMullan and Camogie Board Chairperson Una Kelly are Darragh Donnelly, Niall McClean and Conor Donnelly.The Ballycastle two who won the Senior Reserve Hurling League in 2025, received their medals at the club’s annual awards night in the Marine Hotel, Ballycastle. Included is team manager Barry Kelly.Una Kelly presents the Junior Camogie Player of the Year award to Shannon McQuillanUna Kelly presents the Senior Reserve Camogie Player of the Year award to Fionnuala Toner.Una Kelly presents the Most Improved Senior Camogie Player of the Year award to Eimear McCaughan at the McQuillan’s GAC dinner in the Marine Hotel.Una Kelly presents the Senior Camogie Player of the Year award to Elen McIntosh,Senior Reserve team captain Reuben McClean serenades his team after picking up the trophy.Most Improved Senior Hurler of the Year Gavin MacToal is seen here with County Chairman Seamus McMullan.Anthony McAuley presents a sponsorship cheque to the Saffron Gael at the McQuillan’s Ballycastle dinner in the Marine Hotel.Seamus McMullan presents the Senior Hurler of the Year Award to Seamus McAauley at the Ballycastle dinner in the Marine Hotel.Anthony and Patricia McAuley family with their sons Seamus and Oisin at the Ballycastle dinner
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Despite both sides being short a good few regular starters due to senior and Under-20 county commitments, Cushendall and Loughgiel served up a highly competitive and thoroughly enjoyable McAuley Cup pre-season semi-final in Armoy. Cushendall ultimately held off a spirited second-half comeback from Loughgiel to secure a two-point victory, winning 1-17 to 1-15.
Loughgiel was first on the scoreboard just ninety seconds in with a well-taken point from play by Christy McGarry. However, Cushendall responded emphatically moments later when Sean McAfee found the back of the net to give the Ruairi Og men an early lead. The game quickly settled into a shootout. Tiago McGarry pointed for Loughgiel to settle them down, but Cushendall’s Joe McNaughton began to exert his influence, knocking over a point from play and shortly after converting a free. Padraig McKillop and Fergus McCambridge added to Cushendall’s tally, keeping them comfortably in front. Midway through the half, Loughgiel’s Cahal Hargan found his rhythm, scoring from a 65 and converting two frees to keep his side in touch. Teammates Connal McCloskey and Eoin McGarry also registered scores from play. However, Cushendall finished the half strongly. Points from Nicholas McLaughlin and a brace from Oisin Woodhouse ensured they went into the break with a four-point cushion, leading 1-11 to 0-10.
Loughgiel came out firing after the restart. Declan McCloskey pointed from play in the opening minute, followed by another Hargan free, cutting the deficit to two. A pivotal moment came ten minutes into the half when Cushendall introduced the experienced Neill McManus for Ed McQuillan. McManus made an immediate impact, pointing from play less than two minutes after coming on to steady the Cushendall ship. Loughgiel refused to fade as Christy McGarry grabbed his second point of the day. The game was then blown wide open in the 46th minute when Cahal Hargan breached the Cushendall defense for a crucial Loughgiel goal, leveling the momentum.
The final quarter was a tense, tit-for-tat battle. Padraig McKillop notched his second for Cushendall, but Declan McCloskey stepped up massive for Loughgiel, converting a free and then scoring from play to keep the pressure on. In the dying minutes, Cushendall’s discipline and experience shone through. Joe McNaughton punished Loughgiel infractions by slotting two late frees, bringing his personal tally to an impressive haul. Midfielder Darragh Bradley then sealed the deal with a fantastic point from play in the 57th minute, putting Cushendall just out of reach before the final whistle.
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Antrim have named their team for tonight’s Under 20 Hurling final against Down at the Dub Arena, Belfast. Sean Og McLaren starts in goal behind a full-back line of Cathair Donnelly, Liam Glackin and Colla Ward, while the half-back line is made up of Niall Magee, Callum McIlwaine and Conor McCann.
Charlie McAuley and Thomas McLaughlin form the midfield pairing with Liam McEnhill, Orrin O’Connor and Conor Donnelly making up the half forward line. Oisin McCallin is named at full forward with Fiontan Bradley on his left and Ronan ‘Rosie’ Fitzgerald on his right.
The two teams met in the first round of the round-robin series back in January in what was a “game of two halves” dictated by a strong wind. Antrim put in a big shift in the first half against the breeze, and lead by two points at the break.
Oisin McCallin was the star of the show that day, finishing top scorer while Roan McGarry & Jay McAlonan came off the bench to grab late goals that put a gloss on the scoreline for the Saffrons. It has to be said Down had three players in action that day who had lined out for their seniors the previous day in the National Hurling League.
Antrim will no doubt go into tonight’s game as firm favourites after scoring big wins over Tyrone, Donegal and Wicklow in their subsequent games, but their game against Derry at Celtic Park gave a little bit of concern, as they struggled to shake off the Oak Leaf challenge. There was only a point between the two teams that night going into injury time, but four late points gave the Saffrons’ scoreline a better look.
When Down met the Derry men in their round robin game a couple of weeks ago, it was a different story, as the men from the Ards beat Derry comprehensively, and that should act as a warning to the Saffrons just what this Down team is capable of, and they must not take them lightly.
Pupils from Gaelscoil an Chairtil, Glenann PS, Mary Queen of Peace, Glenravel, St Anne’s Corkey, St John’s Carnlough, St Ciaran’s Cushendun, St Joseph’s Dunloy, St Olcan’s Armoy and St Patrick’s Loughgiel got to display their skills during the half-time games in Corrigan Park on Sunday during the half-time interval in the Antrim v Dublin National Hurling League Game Division 1B. Bert was there to capture some of the action.
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Ulster Under 17 Hurling Championship final at Dunsilly
Antrim 4-14 Wicklow 1-15
Antrim claimed the Ulster Under 17 Hurling title after a thrilling 4-14 to 1-15 victory over Wicklow at Dunsilly. In a game of shifting momentums, Dominic McKinley’s side had to weather a fierce second-half fightback from the Garden County before unleashing a devastating goal blitz to secure the Danny McNaughton Cup.
Playing with a stiff breeze at their backs in the opening period, Antrim struggled to fully capitalize on their elemental advantage despite dictating much of the play. Instead, the Saffrons relied heavily on the dead-ball accuracy of Cody McGarry. The wing-back was in superb form from frees, providing the bulk of their early scores alongside efforts from Connlaodh McNaughton and Cahir McCloskey. This kept the scoreboard ticking over and ensured Antrim carried a 0-09 to 0-05 lead into the dressing rooms, with Wicklow’s Colin Lawrence keeping his side in touch with some accurate shooting of his own.
Upon the restart, the dynamic of the game completely changed. Wicklow stormed out of the blocks, with Lawrence and substitute Joe Keeshan hitting four unanswered points within six minutes to wipe out the deficit and draw level. Just as Wicklow looked like favourites to push on, Antrim showed tremendous character and flipped the script. In the eighth minute of the half, Cillian Cunning struck for Antrim’s first goal to halt Wicklow’s momentum. Three minutes later, Antrim captain Joe Casey added a second goal in somewhat fortunate circumstances, slipping as he struck the ball but managing to deceive Ross Weld in the Wicklow net.
The game opened up into a frantic final quarter as both sides traded points. Antrim struck a massive blow in the twenty-first minute of the half when Connlaodh McNaughton fetched a high catch and buried a superb third goal for the Saffrons. Wicklow refused to go away quietly, and a twenty-seventh-minute goal from Jim O’Brien brought them right back into the contest. However, Antrim had the final say deep into injury time. In the thirty-third minute, Ronan Elliott finished off a slick team move with Antrim’s fourth goal, extinguishing any lingering Wicklow hopes and sealing a memorable victory.
Wicklow’s Colin Lawrence who had a great game for the Garden County, scoring ten points overall
Fir Ionaid (Substitutes): 16. Robert Cowman 17. Joe Keeshan 18. Kalem Buckley 19. Zak Windsor 20. Sean Byrne 21. Peter Mooty Monaghan 22. James Dragusin 23. Dylan Rooney 24. Donnacha Clarke 25. Nathan Gough 26. DJ Williams 27. Rian Kennedy 28. Callum Jordan Dempsey 29. Paul Farrell
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