Antrim U16LGFA team worked hard to see off a determined Fermanagh team at Derrylin.
Antrim came out of the traps with a stunning individual goal by Aoibhean Monaghan and a quick point from JoJo Darragh. Despite several other opportunities to extend the lead they didn’t manage to shake off the Erne girls who stayed in touch with a number of well struck frees.
Antrim continued to press and a period of quick scores from Erin Stewart, Chloe Boyd -Munce and the ever dangerous Monaghan meant they looked comfortable at halftime leading 1-8?to 0-5.
The second half saw Antrim maintain an impressive level of consistency while refreshing players throughout. 28 players contributing to the win.
In a strong defensive performance with Seana Bradley, Lila McCann and Sally Scullion dominant Antrim held the home side to just 2 points in the second period.
Spurred on by the efforts of Siobhan McGurk and Aoife Fitzsimons at midfield the forward line continued to pick off scores. The tireless running of Hannah Mead and the sharpshooting of her teammates allowed the young Saffs to stretch away and take the points.
Creggan hurlers were presented with their Intermediate Hurling Champions medals, the LGFA team received the Junior B Championship awards and the Minor Football team received the Laverty Cup at the club’s annual dinner in Tullygalss Hotel on Saturday night. Those were the highlights of a great night at which a host of individual awards were also presented.
Saffron Gael went along to capture glitz and glamour of a great night
The Creggan team who won the Antrim Ladies Junior B LGFA title were presented with the cup at the club dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.Creggan’s Minor Football team received their medals for winning last season’s Laverty CupMinor Camogie Player Of The Year Cora Duffin receives the Joanne McConville perpetual trophy from Sean O’Hara and Camogie chairperson Marie Therese McCann at the Creggan dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.Most Improved Senior Camogie Player Cara McCann receives her trophy from Sean O’Hara and Camogie Club Chairperson Marie Therese McCann.Joan Martin receives the Rosemary Marrion Trophy for Senior Camogie Player of the Year on behalf of her daughter Eavanne, from Camogie club chairperson Maire Therese McCann.Cara McCann and Cora Duffin who were part of the Antrim Under 16 Championship team last season, received special recognition awards from Marie Therese McCann at the Creggan GAC dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.Lifetime recognition awards were presented to family members in recognition of the role Marie McCoy, Mairead Diamond and Maureen O’Kane played in setting up Creggan Camogie club.2022 winner Suzanne Creighton presents the 2023 Camogie Club Person Of The Year award to Marie Therese McCann at the Creggan Kickhams awards dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.Minor Footballer Of The Year Fintan Close received the McAteer Trophy from Olcan McAteer.Senior Creggan and Antrim county star Ruairi McCann presents the Junior Player Of The Year award to Sean McAuley at the Creggan dinner.Anne Marie Boville presents the Vincent Totten Trophy for Senior Reserve Player Of The Year award to Sam Maguire, who accepted it on behalf of Leon BonnesPaddy Marrion presents the Senior Football Player Of The Year award to Charlie Maguire who accepted it on behalf of Aidan Maguire.Creggan LGFA Club Chairperson Kiera Maguire presents the Most Improved LGFA Player Award to Hannah Gatley, who accepted the award on behalf of Aoibh McEldowneyKieara Maguire presents the LGFA Senior Player Of The Year award to Letitia Quinn at the Creggan Kickhams awards dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.Creggan LGFA Club Chairperson Kiera Maguire presents Michelle Bradley with the LGFA Club Person Of The Year award on behalf of Charlie Devlin who was unable to attend.Antrim Intermediate Hurling Champions Creggan Kickhams at their club dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.Tommy McCann presents the Under 20 Hurler Of The Year award to Jake McAteer who received the award on behalf of Senan O’Boyle who was unable to attend.Senior team manager Stephen Fawl (left) and Tommy McCann (right) present the Senior Hurlers’ Players Player Of The Year award to Aidan McKeown at the Creggan Kickhams dinnerConor McCann, who won Antrim All Star Club award last season, is seen here with Stephen Fawl and Tommy McCann.Seamus Dougan presents the Dougan Family Hurler Of The Year award to Sean Duffin at the Creggan Kickhams awards dinner in Tullyglass Hotel..Team manager Stephen Fawl and Tommy McCann present the Intermediate Championship Cup to team captain Ruairi McCannKickham’s Club Secretary Barry Donaghy presents Niamh Allen and Christopher Totten with the 2023 Spirit Of Creggan award for their contribution so far to the clubs Centenary Grand Draw which is currently underwayAdrian McCann (left) and Tommy McCann (right) received the Spirit Of Creggan awards from 2022 winner Ciaran McCartneyPaddy Marrion receives the Club Person Of The Year award from club secretary and 2022 winner Barry Donaghy at the Creggan Kickhams Awards dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.Club Person Of The Year award winner Paddy Marrion with members of his family at the Creggan Kickhams dinner in Tullyglass HotelClub person of the Year award winner Paddy Marrion with members of his family at the Creggan Kickhams dinner in Tullyglass HotelStephen and Claire Fawl at the Creggan dinner in Tullyglass HotelMembers of the Creggan Lavery Cup winning team at the club awards dinner in Tullyglass Hotel.The McCann family at the Creggan Kickhams dinner
A late rally from visitors Louth turned this division 3 league opener at Davitt Park on its head on Sunday as the visitors came from four in arrears to win by four against a new look Antrim side.
The Saffrons appeared to be heading for victory when they held what looked like a healthy lead going into the final quarter and with a gale at their backs, but a Kate Flood inspired visitors hit 1-2 going down the home straight to break Antrim’s resistance.
Emma Kelly’s side went into this game with a much changed side as more than a dozen of last year’s side have stepped away from the panel but for long periods in the game the new-look Saffrons more than held their own.
Losing team captain Ciara Brown to the sin bin late on didn’t help, but despite this the home side continued to engineer scoring opportunities but tired legs and that little bit of inexperience seemed to creep into their play as they were turned over on a number of occasions.
Antrim were first to threaten but a promising attack came to nothing and it was Louth’s Niam Rice who gave the Wee County the lead when she pointed in the 6th minute and Kate Flood doubled the visitors advantage with ten minutes gone.
Antrim created a number of early opportunities but the swirling wind made scoring difficult while at the other end the Antrim defence was playing out of its skin with Sarsfield’s pair Duana Coleman and Carla McKenna making a number of excellent tackles and turn overs.
Emma McFerran was another who came well to the fore in a resolute Antrim defence while her St. Brigid’s colleague, Hannah Donaghy impressed, despite still being a minor.
Ana Mulholland and Lara Dahunsi were more than holding their own at mid-field but it would be 23 minutes before Antrim would open their account when Caitlin Taggart converted a free and the same player tied the contest from another in their next attack.
Things got even better for Emma Kelly’s charges as half time approached as Duane Coleman launched an attack from deep in her own half and a smart build up saw Blaithín Ní Cathail finish superbly to the Louth net.
Kate Flood replied with a late point for Louth but it was looking good for the home side as the half time whistle sounded as they led by two with the elements in their favour for the second half.
With the wind now at their backs Antrim began the second half in impressive fashion as Lara Dahunsi split the posts in the opening minute but at the other end it took and interception from Duane Coleman to prevent Niamh Rice from finding the Antrim net.
It seemed to be going Antrim’s way when Aoife Taggart pointed another free to extend their advantage but Rice replied immediately for the visitors but Theresa Mellon kicked an excellent point and then Dahunsi cancelled out a Flood reply.
It was looking good at this stage for Antrim but Louth slowly began to gain the upper hand as they drove forward and drew a hat-trick of frees which Flood greatly excepted to close the gap to the minimum.
The Antrim problems were compounded when Ciara Brown saw yellow with four minutes remaining but they continued to battle but were unable to turn promising attacks into scores.
It was visitors Louth who would take advantage and substitute Mischa Rooney cut in from the right and pointed before Rice kicked her third point of the evening before Ciara Woods got the final touch to a speculative delivery to finish to the Antrim net.
Wood’s goal put a rather flattering gloss on the final score and it was rough justice on an Antrim side who had performed well throughout the contest.
The performance augers well for an Antrim side who were forced to make wholesale changes from last year’s lineout and hopefully they can gain a win sooner rather than later as they fight to maintain their division 3 status and build for the future.
“The wind was difficult for both teams, but it was just silly mistakes that cost us,” said Antrim manager, Emma Kelly.
“We can look at the positives where we are up in Division Three and didn’t look out of place, but it is very disappointing as we could and should have won it.
“Some of our kicking (in the second half) was carrying long or skidding away. We just have to learn from it and go again.” She concluded.
Antrim: S Murphy; D Coleman, E Ferran, C McKenna; G Shannon, C Brown, H Donaghy; A Mulholland, L Dahunsi (0-2); T Mellon (0-1), C Taggart (0-1f), A Sheehan; B Ní Cathail (1-0), A Taggart (0-2f), C Logan.
Subs: N McArdle for G Shannon (27), C Maguire for B Ní Cathail (39), C Finucane for A SHeehan (47), E Rodgers-Duffy for C Taggart (58)
Louth: R Lambe; K Mathews, A White, C O’Reilly; H Lambe, A Breen, S Mathews; E Byrne, A Halligan; M Duffy, R O’Connor, L Byrne; N Rice (0-3), K Flood (0-6, 5f), A Russell.
Subs: L White for A Russell (17), C Keenan for R O’Connor (39), C Woods (1-0) for M Duffy (45), M Rooney (0-1) for E Byrne, K Murphy for H Lambe (60+3)
Lidl Ladies NFL Division 3: Antrim v Louth (Sunday, 2pm, Davitt Park Belfast)
Antrim ladies footballer go into to Sunday’s opening game in Division 3 with a team which is short a lot of regulars, with the retirement of team captain Cathy Carey and the decision of a few of her Moneyglass team mates to take a break. Star of the team for the past couple of seasons Orlaith Prenter plus Glenavy ace Grainne McLaughlin have gone to Australia, which is a major blow to the team, but with some of Prenter’s Moneyglass team mates also absent, plus Aisling McFarland and Aine Turbity, team manager Emma Kelly has a big task on her hands.
With team captain Cathy Carey deciding to call it a day after over 20 years’ service Emma Kelly must have been tempted to try and persuade her great leader to stay on, but the manager thought that would have been unfair on Carey, a player who has given such great service to her county.
The Moneyglass and Antrim legend Carey led the Saffrons to promotion from Division 4 last season while also winning the Ulster Intermediate title, but narrowly missing out on an All Ireland Intermediate final appearance.
Cathy Carey
One piece of good news that Emma Kelly announced was that Carey will be on hand to help out this season, just not in a playing capacity.
“Cathy has given plenty of time during her career. It is her own personal decision – it is the same with girls who’ve stepped away for work or exams or travelling,” said Kelly.
“Cathy will be on the sideline for our home games to be another set of eyes for us. “There was no point in ringing Cathy and asking her to drop in because we’ve lost too many players. That wouldn’t be fair on her either. She has given us enough time and it is her decision.”
With Carey retired, Ciara Brown from St Paul’s has been promoted to captain, while Brown’s clubmate Lara Dahunsi is vice-captain alongside St Brigid’s defender Emma Ferran.
Antrim begin their Division Three campaign with a home game against Louth at Davitt’s on Sunday.
Emma Kelly has urged supporters to get behind the team and says it is up to the players to step up and be counted in the absence of so many experienced players.
“From the League final last year, we’ve lost 10 starters so it is a big hit,” said Kelly.
“It isn’t ideal when you’ve so many key players stepping away at the same time, but these things happen. You have to deal with it.
“It is sink or swim.
“It is up to the rest of the girls to step up. We’ve only five starters from last year and they have to step up and be the leaders.
Lara Dahunsi
“They might only be 21 or 22 years old, but they need to step up and be counted. It is Division Three and they’ll have to learn. We’re still hoping to play good football and put it up to the rest of the teams in the division.
“It will take some time for players to settle into the squad.”
She added: “It is going to be a difficult year, we can’t deny that. We need everybody to get out and support us now. It is a brand new squad.
Kelly has given great service to Antrim as a manager and she certainly deserves the supprt of all those who have to welfare of Antrim football at heart, so get along to Davitt Park and cheer on her new charges
Antrim LGFA captain Cathy Carey has decided to step away from the county team after more that 20 years service. Dairi Walsh take a look over her great years of service to the Saffron shirt.
After giving more than 20 years of service to the Saffron cause, Antrim stalwart Cathy Carey feels the time is now right to step away from inter-county ladies football.
Since making her senior debut way back in 2002, the St Ergnat’s Moneyglass star has established herself as a key component of the Ulster side. Having appeared off the bench for Antrim’s TG4 All-Ireland junior football championship success over Limerick in 2009, she was listed at right half-forward when Northern Ireland soccer international Kirsty McGuinness inspired the Saffrons to a final victory against Louth in the same competition three years later.
Following showpiece defeats to Longford and Wicklow in 2016 and 2021 respectively, she scored 2-1 in a superb captain’s performance as Antrim defeated provincial rivals Fermanagh to claim their third All-Ireland junior crown in a replayed fixture at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh in August 2022. Last year saw them narrowly losing out to Clare at the semi-final stage of the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate championship, but even though there is a sense they could push on to even greater heights, Carey will be watching on from the outside in 2024.
“I suppose I’m pushing on a wee bit. It has been 20 odd years of playing senior county, so there’s been a lot in that. I kind of started thinking about it midway through last season. Then getting towards the end of the season, I started to talk about it a wee bit,” Carey explained.
“We’ve good underage coming through the county. It’s other people’s time to play and represent the county, I’ve kind of done my service. In terms of whether I’d be physically ready, I probably would be, but I just felt it was time to do it and finish up there.
“It has been a long stint, but that is probably what made the decision harder. You’re going ‘God, I’ve been there that long, what’s going to happen without it?’ Not to the team obviously, just in terms of me seeing a big massive change to my life. People always tell you that you find plenty to do, so hopefully that’s right.”
Cathy Carey in action in the 2022 drawn final against Fermanagh in Croke Park
Before opting to retire from inter-county duty, Carey (who is set to turn 34 next month) consulted a number of people within her own family and wide circle of friends – including those who had made a similar decision in the past.
“Nobody believed me because there has been plenty of years I’ve been like that. That’s me! I’ve always gone back, I never really thought seriously about it. A couple I’ve spoken to that have retired, [I was] trying to get their viewpoint on it.
“Everybody comes at it with so many different opinions that I made my mind up as much as possible myself. Because it’s only me that’s really going to either go or not go, but talking it over is helpful.”
Although she cherishes the All-Ireland junior titles that she has won with the Saffron County, Carey believes that last April’s Lidl National Football League Division 4 final triumph is up there as one of the biggest achievements in her Antrim career.
Following many years of trying to get out of the fourth-tier of the NFL, Carey and Antrim managed to do so with a 1-19 to 2-6 victory at the expense of Leitrim at Parnell Park. She scored 0-3 from play in a typically assured display from centre-forward and was subsequently selected on the Division 4 team of the Lidl National Football Leagues alongside six of her county colleagues.
“That was probably the biggest thing for me because there had been so many years that we had been so close to getting out of Division 4 and we just never did it. The All-Ireland was really special, the Ulster is really special, but that Division Four title is one of those ones where it was like ‘Thank God’ and you could take a breath after that final.
“Some were just happy to win Division 4 and win the final, but a few of us had been slogging along for a good few years. It was nearly more of a relief than anything to get out of it.”
Having been so competitive in a higher championship grade last year, Antrim will be hoping to make a big splash in Division 3 of the Lidl NFL in 2024 – starting with their opening game against Louth at Davitt Park in Belfast tomorrow week (January 21). While Carey plans to be a spectator for her old team’s games as the year progresses, she acknowledged only time will tell how she adapts to this new role.
“I don’t know if I’m looking forward to being a spectator, but I’ll definitely go to their games and see how everything is going. I’ll be keeping in touch with Emma (Kelly, Antrim manager). There’s still that connection to it, but I’ll see how the first game goes watching it. I’ll know my true feelings then I would imagine!
Given she also had a spell as an inter-county dual player — she was corner-back on the Antrim team that reached an All-Ireland intermediate camogie championship final in 2011 — Carey is used to having a lot on her plate.
This will remain the case in spite of her stepping away from the Antrim panel as she currently has a busy job as operations manager at CrossFit Anam in Toomebridge and intends to continue lining out at local level for reigning county champions Moneyglass. She has also been heavily involved from a managerial perspective with a number of underage sides in her club and was named Coach of the Year at the Antrim and Newtownabbey Sports Awards in November 2023.
She hasn’t ruled out the prospect of moving into adult coaching at some point in the future – whether that be at club or inter-county level – but for now she is just embracing her combined responsibilities as a Moneyglass senior footballer and juvenile mentor.
“That’s something I would probably think about moving further afield [adult coaching]. I just want to concentrate on club and enjoy coaching underage girls at the minute. I would imagine maybe at some stage possibly, but at this stage I’m very happy taking underage girls,” Carey added.
