There were celebrations at Slemish Park on Thursday night as All Saints collected the Division 3B league title after a 3-12 to 2-4 win over Davitt’s.
Johnny Sayers’ side have been the outstanding team in the division all season and their fast and skilful brand of camogie has seen them swipe aside all teams in the division on their way to the title.
All Saints won 10 from 10 and can now look forward to playing in a higher division next season. Meanwhile preparations are ongoing for the Junior B Championship which gets underway with a home game against Ardoyne on the Thursday 21st of August.
All Saints Camogs who completed their Division 3B campaign unbeaten with a win over Davitt’s on Thursday night to claim the title.
All Saints manager, Johnny Sayers presents the Division 3B trophy to team captain Roisin Ward
All Ireland Junior Football Championship final preveiw
Louth will provide the sternest of tests for Antrim at Croke Park on Sunday at the Wee County aim to emulate what their Senior Footballers did earlier this season won the Leinster Senior Championship. Like Antrim Louth have new management in place since last November and they have had a great run so far, narrowly missing out on promotion to Division 2.
New manager Kevin Larkin and his backroom team have been unbeaten since losing to Down at the end of February. They went on a run then that has seen them retain their Leinster Junior title, beating Carlow in the final and like the Saffrons they are just one game away from an All Ireland title.
Like the Antrim management team of Chris Scullion and Mickey Devlin, Larkin has been full of praise for his team and their work-rate during the season.
“Getting to the All Ireland final was obviously our goal at the start of the year,” Larkin said. “But it’s easy to work with a group of players like that. Their dedication, their drive, their commitment, they’re just fantastic…they really are.”
“It won’t be anything new to them. They’ve played in Croke Park plenty of times, so we’ll take that factor out of it and it’s just another game.
“We’re just looking forward to the week now. We’re not wishing away the days. We’re kind of taking it in our stride and enjoying every bit of it.
“Naturally there are going to be nerves, but like I’ve said, this group of players are used to big, big games. Even in the National League we had big games against the likes of Wexford and Laois and yes there will be nerves, but our players are well used to that and we’re going to overcome them on Sunday.”
Larkin is all too aware of the challenge that Antrim will provide his side on Sunday – Division 4 champions, Ulster Junior champions and on a 16-match unbeaten run of their own – but he says the focus starts with Louth and their own performance and that Sunday’s game is not about righting the wrongs of last year’s All-Ireland defeat, but winning and getting up to Intermediate level.
“Antrim are a fantastic team,” said the Louth boss.
“They’ve beaten teams like Fermanagh and Leitrim and they beat a good Sligo team in the semi-final as well. But we’re going into this game with one thing on our minds and that’s the win.”
The Antrim duo of Mickey and Chris will no doubt be in the same frame of mind and keeping their unbeaten run going is their main aim. Their team has a clean bill of health going into the game, they have great mixture of youth and experience and will go into Sunday’s final in confident mood.
With the early start to the game they will travel down to Dublin on Saturday afternoon and complete the journey into Croke Park early on Sunday morning.
The Saffrons face a tough task but they have shown all season that they are capable of taking on any side. An upcoming Sligo team put it up to them in the semi-final, but when things got tough they found an answer, and that will stand them in good stead.
Mickey and Chris and their backroom team have been excellent all season and within one win of completing the perfect year. Go ahead and bring it home!
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE MEET & GREET NIGHT IN GLENAVY LAST WEEK CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
At last week’s meet and greet night at Chapel Hill, Glenavy, the Saffron Gael spoke with Antrim’s joint managers Mickey Devlin and Chris Scullion ahead of Sunday’s All Ireland LGFA Junior final against Louth in Croke Park. At the time it was intended to be a video interview but unfortuately my video skills came up short once again so it was back to the keyboard to get it all down
Saffron Gael
Before you took the county job had you two managed at club level ?
Mickey
Yes we had managed Glenavy for two years and then we took a break for a year before applying for the county job. We had been involved in management for a few years and because we were managing in Division 1 we knew a good bit about the Ladies Football in the county. We actually took over in November 2024. We held four trials (where clubs were ask to send along their best player) and we picked our panel out of that.
SG
Was there many new players joined the squad since you two took over.
Mickey.
Eighteen! With us being involved in Division 1 League football for a long time we had a good idea of what was in the county. Things went a bit astray last year so we intived players we knew were good enough for this squad and when they all turned up in force were delighted
SG
You have had a pretty good run so far, you have to be pleased with how things have gone.
Mickey
Yes it has been as good as we could ask far so far but to be honest the big prize is on Sunday week when we play Louth.
SG
Have you played Louth in the league this year?
Chris
No, Louth are in Division 3 and have finished 3rd in that division, so they are a very good side. They were beaten by Fermanagh in last year’s final and they have come out of Leinster this year as champions so they are in the final because they deserve to be.
SG
How are things going in the Antrim camp lads? Have you any injury worries ahead of the game?
Chris
Pretty much. We have a few wee niggles but our physio Sean has done great work with the girls and of course the girls know how to look after themselves as well. They do their own recovery work and they know how to act when they go to their own club training as well, so we are almost there!
The Antrim team with some of the young fans who attended the meet and greet night at Chapel Hill
SG
Have you played any games since the win over Sligo in the semi-final?
Chris
We have 32 players in the panel and every one of them have played their part this season. They have all played their part and we have used as many substitutions as we could during it all.
Mickey
All the girls have played some part in the league, 24 of them played in the Ulster Championship and in the All Ireland series we have used 27, and as a result of that we have belief in them all.
No Sligo were the last side we faced, that was in the semi-final. They were a very good team and we had to be at our very best to get past them. Ok I know there were patches of that game when we weren’t at our best, but you are not going to play the perfect game from start to finish.
SG
Maybe that was a good thing, it was stand your team in good stead going into the final. If you look at Cork hurlers, they probably got it too easy against Dublin and look what happened them!
SG
Have you played any challenge games since the semi-final?
Mickey
No we just carried on with the same training as we had been doing all along, same nights, same times, nothing extra. At the end of the day we want to keep it as low key as we can. You just look forward the next game….and that is our next game.
SG
What are your plans for the weekend? I assume you will be travelling down the on the Saturday?
Chris
Yes because we are the first of the three games on the day (which has a throw-in time of 11-45) we need to be down on the Saturday evening and travel in to Croke Park in the morning.
SG
What about yourselves, have you even managed a team in Croke Park before?
Laughter from Mickey and Chris before Mickey says
No, but we have been at plenty of games in Croke Park.
SG
That will be a thrill for you both
Mickey
Yes of course, any manager will tell you that it is always their dream to manage there. It is the pinnacle of every Gael’s career to do so and as a manager it is no different.
Chris
It is every Gael’s dream who walk out onto Croke Park and for us to so as managers of our county it is an absolute honour and privilege to do so
Young Antrim fans with the Division 4 League and Ulster Junior Championship cups at the Meet & Greet night. They will be hoping the girls add the All Ireland trophy on Sunday
Part of the West Belfast Festival, Féile an Phobail, the initiative for the matches comes from an unusual source – PCI minister, Rev David Moore, who is leading the Church’s special ministry in the west of the city known as An Tionólann, or The Gathering.
Picture by William Cherry / Press Eye
Launching ‘Between the Sticks’ when Select Antrim Hurling and Camogie teams will meet two Scottish Shinty teams on 2 August in a composite rules match at Antrim GAA’s current ground, Corrigan Park in West Belfast. Part of Antrim’s 140th anniversary celebrations and Féile an Phobail, the Shinty teams, from Stirling and the Isle of Skye, are being brought to Belfast by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s minister in West Belfast, Rev David Moore. Pictured at the launch, which took place at Corrigan Park are (LtoR) Antrim’s County Chairman, Séamus McMullan and Rev David Moore.
“There is a long tradition of Gaelic games in these islands and the coming together of these sports from Scotland and Ireland will be something special. As they are playing composite rules, we have called the event ‘Between the Sticks’ or ‘Idir Camánaibh’, as it paints a picture of the two Gaelic games coming together. It is also symbolic of much more besides, as we seek to reconnect with the west of the city as a church,” Mr Moore said.
“We could not have done it without the support of Antrim GAA, and I want to thank them, especially Collie Donnelly, former County hurler and chairman, who has got us to this point. Antrim is providing the special teams’ kits, County facilities on the day, and has just been really engaged and supportive,” he said.
The men’s shinty squad is drawn from a team from Stirling in Stirlingshire and Uddingston in Lanarkshire, with the women’s team coming from the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, north west of the Scottish mainland.
There is a history of the two games coming together, with the first shinty-Hurling match between Irish and Scottish Gaelic teams taking place in 1896 in London. Annual international fixtures in both countries have become a regular fixture, with 2024’s international between Ireland and Scotland resulting in an Irish victory. Jenna Beaton, who has been playing shinty since primary school is the coach of Skye Camanachd.
In 2013 she played for Scotland in the women’s international and is looking forward to Saturday’s match. “In 2013 we won that match, but win or lose it’s good craic and we are all looking forward to Saturday. Half of the team have played combined rules, and I hope that everyone watching will enjoy it.
“For us it is always a tough game, because we use different rules, and you have to get used to that, which makes it more exciting to play and, I hope to watch. I might make a wee appearance up front, depending on how things go,” she said.
Playing shinty-Hurling-Camogie composite rules, with 14 players aside, aspects of each sport are involved, which means that both sides are equally disadvantaged. Each half will last for 35 minutes, with teams using their own sticks. Like the scoring, the goal to be used is the goal used for hurling.
Al Reed, who is captain of the joint men’s shinty team has been playing for 17 years. In 2018 he played for Scotland at university level against Maynooth University in the County Kildare town. “Shinty is a Highland sport that was brought to the central belt of Scotland, and has a special place in Scottish Gaelic culture. It was actually brought here by the Irish centuries ago, and has developed into its own local game. All the guys are looking forward to Saturday’s match and a big shout out to the organisers for having us over,” he said.
As for tactics, both Scots were keeping their cards close to their chests, although Mr Reed said, they’d be aiming “to get to the ball first from the throw in and then get it away quickly, but not too high.”
The gates open at 3pm with the men’s game starting at 4pm. The women’s match is scheduled for 6pm. The two friendlies are free for everyone and will have a ‘carnival atmosphere’ with a Photo Booth opportunity for the children with some of Antrim’s Hurlers, which is being provided by County sponsor, Fibrus. Antrim’s half pace hurlers will also be showing their skills, and pace, during the half-time game providing entertainment for all the family.
County Chairman, Séamus McMullan, will be at the match and is looking forward to it as part of Antrim’s 140th year of celebration, “This event is a powerful reminder of the enduring ties between Antrim, particularly the Glens of Antrim, and the Highlands of Scotland – links rooted in Gaelic language, culture, and sport. As we celebrate 140 years of the GAA in Antrim, it’s fitting to honour that shared heritage through our ancient games of hurling and shinty. In coming together across traditions and communities, we’re not just marking history – we’re continuing it.”
Mr McMullan continued, “The bond of friendship developed between Collie and Rev David has brought this game into being. We really thank them for that and wish the teams the best for Saturday’s games.”
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland once had several congregations in west Belfast, which closed during the 1970s and 1980s for various reasons. On the first Sunday of each month, Mr Moore holds a service in An Chultúrlann, the Irish cultural heritage centre on the Falls Road – which from 1882 for 100 years was Broadway Presbyterian Church.
“There is a link with west Belfast that has been lost and as Presbyterians we’re trying to re-establish it through An Tionólann. In reconnecting we have held a number of events during recent Festivals as a way of initially reconnecting and ‘Between the Sticks’ is very much part of that,” Mr Moore said.
Talking about people’s perceptions, he continued, “In the north of Scotland, you have people who speak a Gaelic language, they play a Gaelic game, they’re in a Gaelic culture, but their background is probably, but not always, Presbyterian. In some ways, what we are doing here is a kind of ‘narrative disruption’ and we think the matches are a great way to do this, as it may not fit with what most people ideally see as ‘Presbyterian’. We would like as many people to come along as possible on Saturday. It’s a free family-fun day out and I’m looking forward to it,” Mr Moore said.
Antrim last played Louth in an All Ireland final in 2012. Ahead of Sunday meeting with the Wee County we look back on that result 13 years ago
29th July 2025
Antrim 3-09 Louth 0-07
TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Junior Football Championship Final Croke Park
Antrim were crowned TG4 All-Ireland junior champions for the second time in four seasons with a composed and clinical performance at Croke Park in 2012.
A dominant first half laid the groundwork for an 11-point victory that sees the Saffrons return to the intermediate ranks. They led by 2-03 to 0-02 at the break and never looked in danger thereafter, as Louth failed to replicate the form that had seen them inflict a nine-point defeat on Antrim earlier in the campaign.
This result turned the tables emphatically and secured a second West County Hotel Cup for Antrim, who last won the title in 2009.
Louth came into the game having racked up 15-79 across their four previous championship outings, but their attack faltered on the big stage and they fell to a second final defeat in three seasons. They were also beaten in the 2010 decider by Limerick.
Kirsty McGuinness stepped up as the match-winner, scoring a goal in each half. Her first came from the penalty spot after Anna Finnegan was fouled by Louth goalkeeper Una Pearson midway through the first half. Referee Seamus Regan showed Pearson a yellow card, and McGuinness calmly converted past substitute keeper Kelly Cunningham.
Three minutes later, Finnegan added a second goal, finishing low from close range after good work by Mairead Cooper, who had netted twice in the 2009 final.
Cooper got the scoreboard moving in the tenth minute with the game’s opening point, and though chances came for more goals before half-time – with Cooper going close and Finnegan striking the crossbar – the two-goal lead proved a solid cushion against the breeze.
Louth registered their first point in the 22nd minute but failed to build momentum. Their best first-half opportunity fell to Lisa Kelly, but Antrim goalkeeper Ciara McCoy produced a fine stop.
McCoy would go on to be named player of the match, and her second-half saves from Rosanna Heeney – twice – kept Louth at bay as they chased an unlikely comeback. Even when the gap was narrowed to seven points, McCoy stood firm, denying a third Louth goal chance when Ann-Marie Murphy pulled a shot wide.
Antrim lost Cooper to the sin bin late on, but it mattered little. In the final minute, McGuinness added her second and Antrim’s third goal, beating Pearson at her near post to seal a deserved win.
Antrim’s return to the intermediate championship comes off the back of a composed, well-structured display built on defensive discipline, accurate finishing, and big-game composure.
Scorers for Antrim: K McGuinness 2-00, A Finnegan 1-01, C Timoney 0-04f, M McCurdy 0-02, C Mullan & M Cooper 0-01 each.
Scorers for Louth: M O’Connell, G Lynch, S Lynch, A.M. Murphy (f), K Flood, J McGuinness & S Byrne 0-01 each.
ANTRIM: C McCoy; B Scullion (N Cooper 50), E Kelly, S Haughey; C McHugh (D McAteer 56) , N Kelly, A Tubridy; C Mullan, G McGinley; C Carey, K McGuinness, C Timoney; A McAtamney (M McCurdy h.t.), A Finnegan (R Fulton 57), M Cooper.
LOUTH: U Pearson; A.M. Lynch, A Carney, A McGee; M McMahon, M O’Connell, P Marmion (V McGinn h.t.); G Lynch, S Lynch; L Kelly, A.M. Murphy, C O’Connor, C O’Connor; R Heeney, K Flood (S Byrne 40), J McGuinness (K Cunningham 15, J McGuinness 23, E Conlon 54).
