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by thesaffrongael

Antrim Camogs beat Clare in ‘dead rubber’ game

Clare v Antrim Very Div 1B National League, Ennis  22nd March 2025

Clare 1-10 Antrim 5-12

A Day of Firsts

Saturday was a continuum of firsts, as three of Antrim’s players, Lucia McNaughton, Amy Boyle and Clare McKillop picked up Club All Star awards at a gala evening on Friday, bringing together all four Gaelic field sports (men & ladies’ football, hurling and Camogie) to an awards ceremony under the one roof for the very first time.  Saturday was the first day out for our new green Creagh away kit, a first time in Cusack Park Ennis for all, a first for many to play Clare at senior level and then a first half hat trick from the impressive Cassie McArthur.

Antrim made the long journey to Ennis on Saturday past to play the last game in the 2025 1B league season. The match was of no significance as both teams had already progressed to the league final having won their previous four league games. Clare ran out their panel, and Antrim gave more game time to girls returning from injury.

Maeve Kelly got the Antrim ball rolling with two points from play, followed up from two points from placed balls for Derval Cosgrove, whilst Clares first score came from the caman of Hannah Mae Neylon.

From the 15th minute on it became the Cassie McArthur show, with a quick fire hat trick, the first following in after the Clare goal keeper batted out a dropping ball with Cassie pulling to the back of the net, the second from a pass from the returning McCormick and the third, the best of the bunch with a thunderous strike which gave the keeper no chance down close to her post. After this McArthur tagged on a further two points with Lucia McNaughton also scoring a fine point from play. Clare also scored a brace to leave the half time score Antrim 3-07 Clare 0-03.

A number of changes occurred on the short whistle on both sides. The second half began with more urgency from the home side, and they came back with a number of points to close the gap. However further goals from Maeve Kelly and a fourth from McArthur left the final score at 5-12 to 1-10 at the long whistle.

This was a fixture fulfilled, and Antrim now sit proudly on top of the Very Div 1B National  league table, but no trophies were handed out today. Next Saturdays league final will see a very different Clare team sheet and a different game at Abbotstown National Games Development Centre.  

Antrim scorers

Cassie McArthur 4-02

Maeve Kelly 1-02

Derval Cosgrove 0-05 (3f, 1 45)

Lucia McNaughton 0-1

Sarah Fyfe 0-1

Erin Coulter 0-1

TO SEE MORE OF AIDAN RYAN’S PICS FROM THE LEAGUE GAME IN CLARE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

We knew all along there could be no other way

A glimmer of common sense has finally emerged through the cloud that has hung over the Antrim v Armagh, Ulster Championship opener on the 12th April. Antrim emerged first from the draw and nominated Corrigan Park as their home venue.

Ulster Council deemed Corrigan unfit to host the game on safety and capacity grounds but Antrim footballers dug their heels in saying ‘Corrigan of nowhere’ The Gaelic Players Association has backed the Antrim stance.

There had been doubts over the fixture ever taking place after Antrim players said they wouldn’t play the game unless it was at the Belfast venue.

But negotiations in recent days have seemingly resolved the issues of contention and the game is now set to be played in west Belfast on 12 April, with the resolution expected to be rubberstamped by Ulster GAA later this week.

We at the Saffron Gael feel that it never should have been an issue and to be fair, the noises coming out of Armagh suggested that they felt Antrim were right to make their stand.

Health and safety issues, largely concerning the big demand for tickets from the very well supported All-Ireland champions, had led the provincial body to move the game to Newry’s Pairc Esler.

This only hardened the “Corrigan or nowhere” stance from the Antrim players and indeed the county’s GAA board which put the match in potential jeopardy.

That scenario could have led to Antrim’s removal from the remainder of the football championship, which would have involved them being thrown out of the second-tier Tailteann Cup. (Talk about kicking a man when he’s down)

It’s understood that Antrim GAA have been able to convince Ulster officials that the required health and Safety provisions will be in place for the provincial quarter-final.

Antrim were first out of the hat in the Ulster SFC draw last October which normally means home advantage for that team.

Even with home advantage, the Saffrons will go into the contest as massive underdogs having suffered relegated to Division Four of the Allianz Football League on Sunday.

by thesaffrongael

Davitt’s two pointers earns them a share of the spoils

Antrim Football League Division 2

Davitt’s 1-14 Glenavy 1-14

Davitt’s staged a late comeback to earn a share of the spoils against visitors Glenavy at Davitt Park on Sunday, hitting three two-pointers in the last ten minutes to bring them level at the final whistle.

The visitors appeared to have it all wrapped up when they hit 1-6 without reply in the second half to go six clear, but two sweetly struck two-pointers from Sean Ó Suilleabháin and one from goalkeeper Aaron Slane saw the Falls Road men claw their way back to earn a share of the spoils.

The home team had the better of things in the early stages with a Deaglan Mooney goal sandwiched between two points by McLoughlin. Fergal Henry got Glenavy on the scoreboard with a point from a free but Ó Suilleabháin restored Davitt’s five point lead when he got the first of his scores. Two more by Fergal Henry and one by centre back McKevitt closed the gap for the Crumlin side and when Henry added a two pointer and John Phillips added one from play they were back on terms. However Davitt’s pushed on and a pointed free by McLauglin and a two pointer by goalkeeper Aaron Slane helped the Belfast men to a 1-6 to 0-07 lead at the break.

Most games since the switch over to the new rules haves seen the two point scores from outside the new arc very much in the minority, but Davitt’s showed that it doesn’t have to be that way as they showed great skill from long range, especially in the second half. Slane’s two pointer before the break may have been their first double, but incredibly all their four scores in the second half were also two-pointers. Their first after the change of ends was from corner forward Ó Suilleabháin saw them increase their lead to three, but Glenavy hit back with a barrage of points, four of them from the evergreen Fergal Henry plus a goal from Darragh Doherty which put them six clear with just a few minutes left on the clock. The visting fans must have felt they were heading home with the points, but Davitts’ ability to hit two pointers saw them claw their way back to level and two more excellent strikes from man of the match Ó Suilleabháin and another from goakkeeper Slane, which tied things up in injury time and left Glenavy fans wondering just how did this happen!

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON HTE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Six of the best sees Lecale Trinity through

Treanor Cup

St. Mary’s CBGS 1-13 Lecale Trinity 6-9

Despite strong individual performances from Shea McGarry, Conall Dempsey, Padraig Kelly and Jack Kelly St. Mary’s had no answer to a powerful Red High from Downpatrick in this Treanor Cup encounter on Monday afternoon.

The old saying, goals win games was very much in evidence as the Co Down college hit six over the hour with Shea King, Darragh McAlinden, Ciaran Shields, Fionn Fennell, Daragh Convie and Darragh Morgan, rattling the St. Mary’s net.

St. Mary’s battled hard with Shea McGarry kicking their opening point and then seeing his well struck penalty go over instead of under the bar.

Shea King and Darragh Morgan formed a strong mid-field partnership for Lecale Trinity and were on top for long periods over the hour despite the best efforts of Shea mcGarry for the Glen Road side

Red High led 3-4 to 1-5 at half time with Padraig Kelly scoring the St. Mary’s goal and their points coming from McGarry, Conall Dempsey and Jack and Padraig Kelly.

The same quartet provided the majority of the Belfast side’s second half scores with Dempsey adding four to his first half total and Padraig Kelly 0-2 and Shea McGarry all adding points.

The ability of Lecale Trinity to hit hard and fast on the break and their ability to score goals proved the decisive difference in the end with McAlinden, Shea King, Darragh Morgan, Fionn Fennell and Ciaran Shields impressive for the Dowpatrick College.

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

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by thesaffrongael

Second half revival secures points for Aldergrove

ACFL Division 1

Tir na nOg 0-14 St. James’ 2-11

While planes may have been at a standstill at Heathrow, the men from Aldergrove were very much in business during the second-half of this opening game at Randalstown on Sunday afternoon.

 The first half of this game played in blustery conditions was dominated by the home side. After an opening exchange of points, the Randalstown men outscored Aldergrove over the next 20 minutes by 9 points to 2. O’Donnell sparked this period of dominance with a point scored from a very tight angle at the dressing room end. Higgins also got into the act when, despite the best efforts of the Aldergrove defence, he swung a beautiful point over the bar.

Tir na nóG were soon well settled into their groove, highlighted when McCormick sent over a 2 pointer with just over 20 minutes gone. Aldergrove chipped away at the scoreboard but were unable to contain the home side. A high ball from the men in blue into Fagan at full forward led to a penalty, but McGarry in the Aldergrove net produced one of many fine saves during the afternoon.

 The chances were coming to Aldergrove but too many dropped balls and loose passes frustrated their attempts to get a foothold on this game as the first half came to an end.

 Half-time: Tír na nOg 0-10 Naomh Séamus 0-5

 Whatever John Rafferty said to his men at half time, a rejuvenated Aldergrove stamped their authority on the second-half from the throw in. Brian McQuillan cut through the Randalstown defence and, although his shot went wide, it was a very clear statement that Aldergrove were determined to make their mark on this game.

 It took a while for the game plan to come together but with a defence growing in confidence and forwards starting to find their shooting feet it was clear that Aldergrove were gaining dominance as the second-half unfolded. Cormac McGarry was first to put the ball in the net for Aldergrove, and when McAtamney then produced a great save to frustrate a follow up Aldergrove attack, it was clear that this was not Randalstown’s day as McGarry hit the roof of the net again after collecting the rebound.

The majority of the play in the second-half saw Aldergrove on the attack, with Randalstown finding it difficult to get out of their own half. The last 10 minutes of play saw Randalstown go point for point with Aldergrove but they were unable to stem the red tide.

 As the final whistle drew near, McGarry in the Aldergrove nets produced a save to cap off a great display. The save resulted in Aldergrove powering down the pitch, but a resulting penalty taken by S McGarry rebounded off the crossbar. He would not have been too annoyed though, as the final whistle blew and Aldergrove hit the road with both points in the bag.

 Tír na nOg 1 Sean-Paul McAtamney 2 Sean McKeown 3 Ciaran McGrellis 4 Brandon McLarnon 5 Paul McCloskey 6 Barry McCormick (0-3) 7 Ciaran Logan 8 Ryan O’Neill 9 Ciarán O’Neill (0-1) 10 Aaron McNeilly (0-5, 0-2f) 11 Joshua Higgins (0-1) 12 Ryan Crilly 13 Dylan McLarnon 14 Darragh Fagan (0-2) 15 Alex O’Donnell (0-1)

Naomh Séamas 1 Oisin McGarry 2 Cayden Lagan 3 Emmett Irvine 4 Aiden Irvine 5 Corey Fogarty 6 Chris McVeigh 7 Eoin Gough 8 Brian McQuillan 9 Conor Browning 10 Sean Patrick Fogarty 11 Oisin Graham (0-1) 12 Christopher McSteen 13 Ryan McCarthy 14 Ronan Hanna (0-3,0-2f) 15 Seamus McGarry (1-6, 0-1f) 16 Anthony Brown 18 Conleith O’Toole 19 Ronan Aiken 20 Michael Smart (1-1) 21 Declan Gough 23 Fergal Hanna

Referee: Darren McKeown

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