Category / Ladies Football

by thesaffrongael

Antrim off to a perfect start in Longford

LGFA Junior Championship Group Stages

Longford 0-5 Antrim 4-15

Antrim senior ladies got their all Ireland campaign off to the perfect start when they travelled to Longford on Sunday and returned home with a resounding 4-15 to 0-5 victory… this was an absolute superb performance from the Antrim girls from first to last whistle.

Antrim went on the attack straight from the throw in and Lara Dahunsi popped over their first point of the day which was quickly followed by Maria Oneill, Theresa Mellon, Bronagh Devlin and Ana Mulholland all raising white flags.

Longford then hit back with two of their own but after some fantastic interchanging of passes between the Antrim forwards Maria O’Neill hammered the ball to the net. Antrim then turned over the Longford kickout and Nicole Jones broke clear to raise her first green flag of the day. 

The Antrim girls were totally dominant at this stage and further one pointers from Mellon and O’Neill kept them in full control. 

At this stage Antrim had the bit between their teeth and O’Neill and Jones both got their second goals of the day after some fantastic slick football from the Antrim girls. 

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Ana Mulholland hitting an early point and this was followed by scores from Dahunsi, Mellon, Jones and O’Neill. 

Carla McKenna then broke clear and unselfishly led the ball off to O’Neill who raised another white flag. 

Gemma McGroarty then sent Luisne Adams through for a superb point and the final score of the day came from Debbie Boyd who after rounding two defenders calmly slotted over the bar.  

Antrim managers Micky and Chris were delighted with the team performance.

“Our girls played some fantastic football today. Our work-rate and desire to win today was very evident.. the girls were far from happy with their performance in the Ulster final and knew they would have to put in a much better performance to get the right result today … 

We now play London on Saturday 14th June at Randalstown with a 1pm start and will hope to continue from where we left of today. 

Great credit to every one of our girls today for a superb performance”

by thesaffrongael

Jones hat-trick paves the way for St. James’ victory

Antrim LGFA Division 1

Glenavy 2-12 Aldergrove 6-15

A fine display of finishing by St. James’ Nicole Jones led her side to a comprehensive victory over neighbours Glenavy in division 1 of the LGFA All County League at Chapel Hill on Monday night.

The Aldergrove mid-fielder would finish with 3-3 as their side proved too good for their neighbours and deadly rivals to claim the early season bragging rights.

The visitors opened at a fast pace and were 2-3 to 0-0 up after 7 minutes with their goals coming from Meabh Rooney and Nicole Jones and Rooney, Jones and Caitlin Taggart their point scorers.

Helen Morgan finally got the home side off the mark from a pointed free and Lydia Grant added another but it provided only temporary respite as Nicole Jones pointed at the other end before firing home her side’s third goal in the 12th minute.

Megan McGarry for Glenavy and Orla Rooney for the Crumlin side exchanged further points before St. Josephs sent over three on the bounce through Helen Morgan, Bronagh Forester and Keela McAlister as the home side came more into the game.

Aoife Taggart replied from distance with 20 minutes on the clock but Glenavy were starting to grow in confidence and Helen Morgan 0-2 and Megan Hanna fired over points that sandwiched a goal from Keela McAlister.

The final point of the half fell the way of Orla Rooney for St. James who led 3-7 to 1-9 at the break but at this stage it still looked anybody’s game.

HT 3-7 TO 1-9

Orla Mullin in the Glenavy goals pulled off a fine fingertip save to deny the visitors on the restart and when Helen Morgan pointed a free in the second minute, the Aldergrove lead had been reduced to three points.

It would be as close as the Chapel Hill girls got however as St. James came back with a vengeance with Caitlin Taggart 0-2 and Aoife Taggart pointing before Katie McArt got on the end of a well-constructed build up to fire home her side’s fourth goal.

That was in the 11th minute and a minute later Nicole Jones put the game well and truly out of reach with her third major of the evening.

Aoife Taggart would add a sixth goal for the visitors in injury time and in between the team in Red would add to their ever increasing points tally with Caitlin Taggart, Aoife Taggart, Nicole Jones and Orla Rooney all to the fore.

Keela Taggart replied with a point and Glenavy’s best player, Helen Morgan converted a late penalty award but by that time the points had been secured by a slick moving St. James.

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/djGJ6bo4Dd8zvA

by thesaffrongael

LGFA success for St. Mary’s P.S. Portglenone

LGFA Allianz SW P.S. 7’s

St Mary’s Primary School are the South West Antrim Allianz Ireland 7 aside LGFA winners for 2025 after navigating their way through an excellent days football at  All Saints GAC. 

Ladies football is thriving in Portglenone, the girls from the area now have the opportunity to represent the Casements club and this was backed up by the performance of the girls on the day. They negotiated their way through the group stages with relative ease to reach the semi finals.

There they met Mount St Michael’s from Randalstown,  whilst the other semi final saw St Joseph’s Crumlin and Ballymacrickett face off in a local Derby. This game saw Ballymacrickett emerge victorious.

The final was an excellent advertisement for the game in the area with great skill, determination and teamwork in evidence. It resulted in victory for St Mary’s and they will progress to the county final later this year.

The shield competition saw St Brigid’s Ballymena continue their recent successful spell, defeating Moneynick in another excellent game. Well done to them.

Participating teams were Ballymacrickett,  Brigid’s Ballymena, Creggan, St Mary’s Portglenone, Mount St Michael’s Randalstown, St Colmcille’s Ballymena, St Comgall’s Antrim, St Joseph’s Crumlin, Mary Queen of Peace, Millquarter and Moneynick.

Well done to all the girls involved and to the organisers for a wonderful day’s football. 

To view more pics from the LGFA 7’s click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/MB644LgX9hKKiA

by thesaffrongael

Early goals send Antrim on their way to victory

LGFA Ulster JFC

Derry 1-5 Antrim 4-12

Antrim senior ladies made the journey to Ballerin on Saturday to play Derry in the opening round of the ulster junior championship and came away with a 4-12 to 1-5 victory. 

Antrim had the ball in the Derry net after just 14 seconds when Theresa Mellon broke clear and planted the ball into the bottom corner. 

Maria O Neill then hit the first of her tally of five points with Aoife Kelly following up a minute later with a superb point from a tight angle. 

Then on the fourth minute Antrim scored their second goal when the lively Maria O’Neill danced past two defenders and made no mistake from close range. 

Captain Bronagh Devlin then put a 30 metre free over the bar to leave Antrim nine to the good with only 8 minutes on the clock. 

The impressive Theresa Mellon then got her second goal when she finished high to the net after great approach play between Ana Mulholland and Sarah O Neill. 

Derry then hit 3 unanswered points on the bounce before Maria O Neill and Nicole Jones raised white flags for the Antrim girls. 

Antrim were dominating the game again and Aoife Kelly, Theresa Mellon and Laura Agnew all registered one pointers just before the half time whistle.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Antrim dominating the ball as they did in the first but they just couldn’t register a score. 

Derry then punished them for their misses when they hit an unanswered 1-2 and Antrim were struggling to find the flair they had played with in the first half. 

But again this Antrim team showed character and resilience and Ciara Brown was instrumental in setting up points each for the hard working Olivia Todd and Maria O Neill. 

Maria then scored a free and with two minutes to go Blaithin Ni Cahill sent Laura Agnew through and she found the net to put the gloss on a good performance from the Antrim girls. 

The Antrim management team of Micky and Chris were delighted to get their championship campaign of to a good start. The men said after the game. 

“We controlled the game for the biggest part of the 60 minutes… created and took some great scores but most off all the players worked really hard and deserved their victory today. 

We now go next week again against the unknown of London in Tir na nOg Randlestown next Saturday with a 1 pm throw in”

TO VIEW MORE OF ELAINE KELLY’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/JprAtCGs8jhSLH

by thesaffrongael

Antrim heading to Ulster A final despite Farney defeat

Ulster LGFA Minor. 

Monaghan 2-13 Antrim 0-14

Pics Niall Mitchell

Antrim lost on the road to a very well organised and talented Monaghan minor side in their final group game. The outcome sends Antrim to Ulster Platinum final against Cavan and Monaghan to Gold final against Donegal. 

A much changed Antrim side fell behind after 2 quick Monaghan points and never got their noses in front. To the credit of both teams the game was always competitive and the result was in doubt to the last with Antrim pushing for the win and the Farney girls picking off scores at vital times. 

Monaghan dominated much of the first half play and seemed to score 2 points for every Antrim score. Indeed the young Saffs were somewhat wasteful in front of goal while Monaghan were able to pick off good scores from the impressive trio of Karen McGinn, Katie McAdam and Caoimhe Kelly and deservedly led 1-8 to 0-5 at the break. 

Antrim were well served by Tara Rodgers, Aoife Garland and Chloe Boyd-Munce all making their first starts of the campaign and tried to overturn the halftime deficit with a spirited second half display. Antrim took the opportunity to rotate as many players as possible. 

Playing with patience and composure Antrim chipped away at the Monaghan lead but the vital goal came for the home side midway through the second half and this left Antrim with just too much to do.  

On a day when Monaghan needed to win they produced at key times and defended resolutely throughout. 

Both sets of management could be happy with their team’s efforts in an entertaining match. 

Antrim will use the next fortnight to get a number of injuries cleared while Monaghan will hope to build on today’s performance. 

Antrim scorers

E Stewart 0-10. (0-7f)

A Monaghan 0-2

A Fitzsimons 0-1

A McGarry 0-1