Category / Ladies Football

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

by thesaffrongael

Monaghan’s magic strike swings it Antrim’s way

Lidl National Football League Division 4 final

Antrim 2-07

Fermanagh 011


A superb goal from Glenavys’ Aoibhinn Monaghan swung this Lidl LGFA division 4 final Antrim’s way and they went on to claim the title and secure their return to division 3 next season.

Trailing by two points in the 52nd minute, Monaghan got on the end of a well-constructed build-up to fire past Haren in the Fermanagh goal to give her side the lead.

In a very competitive final where both sides gave it everything, Antrim ended the game with 14 players while Fermanagh finished up with 13.

It was Fermanagh who were first out of the start traps and Joanne Doonan fired over their opening point. Lara Dahunsi levelled for Antrim before a Bronagh Devlin free edged the Saffrons ahead.

Antrim’s Lisa Dahunsi in action agains Fermanagh

Antrim were beginning to find their rhythm and Maria O’Neill found the back of the net in the ninth minute to put four points between the sides.

Fermanagh responded and the excellent Eimear Smyth brought them back on level terms by the17th minute. It was end to end at this stage and Devlin fired over another free in the 19th minute before a Smyth free drew the side’s level for the third time.

In the final five minutes of the half Smyth kicked over two points while Doonan got her second of the game to give the Ernesiders a 0-9 to 1-3 lead going in at the break.

Fermanagh extended their lead to four on the restart with a point from Lisa Maguire and at this stage Antrim were struggling to turn opportunities into scores.

Indeed it was Fermanagh who were looking the more dangerous and Aine Devlin in the Saffron’s goals pulled off a fine double save to keep the opposition at bay.

It took Antrim 13 minutes to register their first score of the second half when Devlin fired over a free; their first score for 24 minutes but Fermanagh’s replied and Smyth pointed a free to keep her side ahead.

The same player added her seventh point of the game in the 49th minute to put a goal between the sides and at this stage the Ernesiders looked on their way to the title.

Things swung in favour of Antrim however when Fermanagh full-back Ciara Clarke was sin-binned in the 52nd minute and a minute later Aoibheann Monaghan produced a brilliant finish to put her side a point ahead.

In a feisty closing four minutes Antrim were reduced to 14 in the 56th minute when Aine Tubridy received a yellow card and Fermanagh then suffered a similar fate when Doonan was sin-binned to leave them with 13 players.

It was still in the balance but Maria O’Neill sealed the win for Antrim with a point in the 59th minute to bring the biggest cheer of the day from the Antrim support and herald scenes of wild celebration.

Scorers – Antrim: M O’Neill 1-1, B Devlin 0-4 (4f), A Monaghan 1-0, L Dahunsi, L Agnew 0-1 each.

Fermanagh: E Smyth 0-7 (1’45, 4f), L Maguire, J Doonan 0-2 each.

Antrim celebrate after defeating Fermanagh in the Lidl division 4 league final

Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, D Coleman; A Mulholland, Á Tubridy; T Mellon, L Dahunsi, A Kelly; B Devlin, N Jones, M O’Neill.  Subs: L Agnew for Jones (35), A Monaghan for Kelly (36), C McKenna for Coleman (47).

Fermanagh: A Haren; S McQuaide, C Clarke, E Keenan; A O’Brien, C Murphy, C Bogue; N McManus, M McGloin; S Barrett , C Martin, L Maguire; J Doonan, E Smyth, A McCabe. Subs: S McCarville for O’Brien (47), E Murphy for Keenan (54), S Barrett for Boyle (55), B Smyth for McCabe (57).

Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare).

TO VIEW MORE OF ELAINE KELLY’S PHOTOS FROM SUNDAY’S FINAL CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Antrim take control

LGFA Ulster Minor League

Antrim 2-9 Armagh 2-6

Antrim minor ladies took control of the Ulster league group with a determined and disciplined win against Armagh. In doing so Antrim guaranteed their place in the Ulster Platinum final at the beginning of May. 

Antrim started brightly with an early score from Hanna Donaghy but pretty soon it was obvious that this was a game that would require all the resilience that these young Saffs have become noted for. 

Armagh with dangerous forwards and dogged defending took control for a time and although pegged back by an excellent Erin Stewart goal the Orchard girls stretched their lead to 1-1 to 0-6 with minutes remaining in the first half.  A well taken penalty for Armagh and much needed points from Stewart 2 and the dynamic Aoife Fitzsimons kept Antrim in touch at the half. 

Antrim 1-4 Armagh 1-6. 

Antrim began the second half with greater urgency and focus and within 10 minutes they had captured the lead through a Stewart free and a well worked 45 play that encapsulated control, patience and an outstanding finish from Fitzsimons. Then Hanna Donaghy scored an individual captains goal with what seemed to be half a dozen Armagh defenders hanging on her to give Antrim the lead. 

Donaghy pointed again soon afterwards and then another Stewart point seemed to end the game.  However Armagh after 28 minutes of resolute Antrim defending grabbed a goal to set up a pulsating period of 5 minutes extra time. Antrim nerves were settled when a combination between second half substitutes Mills and McAllister put Fitzsimons in for the final point of the game. 

Antrim scorers

Erin Stewart 1-4

Hanna Donaghy 1-2

Aoife Fitzsimons 0-3

With Down and Monaghan drawing their group game Antrim clinched top spot with a game to go.

by thesaffrongael

Announcement from Antrim LGFA

The County Chairperson received yesterday (3 April) the resignation of the County Secretary, County Assistant Secretary and Chairperson of the Fixtures Committee.

We wish to put on record our thanks and appreciation to Debbie Murray and Seamus McKenna for their work in developing and promoting Ladies Gaelic Football in County Antrim during their tenures and hope that they will still have much to contribute to the county in the coming years.

In accordance with Rule 26 of The Official Guide, clubs are invited to nominate for the following positions:

  • Antrim County Secretary
  • Antrim County Assistant Secretary

Nominations for the above positions should be made to the Chairperson, Ursula Lynch via email to chairperson.antrim@lgfa.ie by Monday 7 April 2025 at 5 p.m.

The Chairperson of the Fixtures Committee shall be nominated by the Fixtures Committee and ratified by the County Board.

A meeting of the County Board shall be arranged in due course to elect a new secretary.

Is mise le meas

Ursula Uí Loingsigh
Cathaoirleach