Antrim minors fell to a brace of late goals from group leaders Down in a seesaw encounter at Colaiste Feirste.
Down settled the better of the two teams and with Rice McHugh and Clodagh Shannon in good form raced to an early lead. The Saffrons to their credit kept working hard and as the game progressed they chipped away at the Mourne lead with scores from Jojo Darragh, Aoife Fitzsimons and Erin Stewart taking well worked points.
Down had goaled midway through the half but Antrim finished the better as an opportunist goal by Orlaith McCrory and a brace of points from Chloe Boyd-Munce gave the home team the halftime lead.
Antrim 1-7 Down 1-6
Down brought on All Ireland winning captain Isa McCarron at the break while Antrim introduced Aoibhean Monaghan and Evie McAllister.
The Mourne girls got the perfect start as they goaled from the first attack and looked to have taken control. To their credit Antrim stuck to their task and a clever finish by the irresistible skipper Leah Stewart gave her team the advantage again.
Down picked off a couple of points but were rocked when McAllister arrowed a brilliant finish to the net.
Erin Stewart then pointed from a free but some wasteful passing and good Down pressure meant this was the young Saffs final score.
Down hadn’t finished though and a fortunate third goal and then a sharp finish by the impressive McHugh saw them take the spoils. Antrim 3-8 Down 4-10
The home team were well served by McCavana Lynch and McGurk in defence while Lara Scullion battled gamely throughout.
Once again Antrim were depleted due to injury and illness but they never looked sorry for themselves. Down were good value for the win with the clinical finishing of McHugh always difficult to counter.
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE ANTRIM V DOWN GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
In a hard-fought Antrim Football League Division 2 encounter played in difficult, swirling winds, Aldergrove emerged victorious over Lisburn, driven primarily by an exhibition of free-taking from Fearghal Burke. Despite the harsh conditions, both sides traded blows in a tightly contested match that ultimately came down to composure over the dead ball.
With the elements offering a slight advantage to Lisburn in the opening period, the visitors started brightly. Fearghal Burke and Conor Browning quickly registered points from play within the first seven minutes to set the early tempo.
Lisburn, however, were unfazed by the conditions and responded effectively. Jude Rafferty slotted over a two-pointer from a free, which was quickly followed by a point from play by Eamonn Doylebut Aldergrove hit back, with midfielder Rian Owens landing a well-taken point under intense pressure.
The momentum shifted on the 13-minute mark when Lisburn’s Adam Patterson confidently converted a penalty to put the home side in a commanding position and when Ben McMullan then added a two-pointer the home side looded to be in a strong position. As the half neared its conclusion, a scramble in the box following a save resulted in a goal credited to Lisburn’s number 17 at the 26-minute mark. Aldergrove managed to steady the ship just before the whistle, with with corner forward Seamus McGarry scoring a crucial two-pointer in the 28th minute. to send his team in at the break level on 1-5 apiece, reflecting the back-and-forth nature of the half.
Following the interval, Aldergrove began to assert their dominance. Seamus McGarry opened the second-half scoring with a converted free just over five minutes in.
It was then that Fearghal Burke truly took the game by the scruff of the neck. Showcasing remarkable accuracy despite the swirling wind, Burke knocked over two frees in quick succession and followed it up with a point from play on 13 minutes. Lisburn pulled a point back, before Oisin Graham grabbed another for the visitors.
Lisburn refused to lie down and brought themselves right back into the contest when midfielder Tom Buckley smashed a spectacular goal off the crossbar midway through the second half and when they grabbed anther point they were right back in the mix.
However, Aldergrove’s discipline and Burke’s unwavering boot proved to be the difference. Burke landed a brilliant two-pointer aon 23 minutes and continued his flawless free-taking clinic with conversions at on 55 and 57 minutes.
While Lisburn’s Jude Rafferty grabbed a late two-pointer to keep the pressure on, Aldergrove’s defense held firm. The defining defensive moment came in the 33rd minute when Gerald Mallon put his body on the line with a massive block to deny a near-certain Lisburn goal, securing the win for the visitors.
Ultimately, Aldergrove’s 1-16 to 2-8 victory was hard-earned. While both teams navigated the tricky conditions with grit, Aldergrove’s superior accuracy from placed balls—spearheaded by an outstanding performance from Fearghal Burke—proved to be the decisive factor in this Antrim Football League clash.
TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy recorded their opening win of the 2026 league campaign on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Sarsfields by the bare minimum. The county champions had to comeback from eight points down at half time and produce a scoring burst of 1-7 unanswered in a little of 10 minutes to get the win and leave the Paddies wondering how they contrived to leave the Village with the loss.
The Stewartstown Road side had been in control for long periods and Philip McPeake’s major late in the first half looked to have given them enough daylight at the interval to hold off the Cuchullains. That looked to be the case with neither side recording a score in the opening 12 minutes of the second half before the home side finally found their range.
The Paddies had chances at the death to get at least a draw but it was the home side who hung on for the victory.
Dunloy won the toss and elected to play against the substantial breeze that predominantly blew towards the score board at Pearse Park. Sarafields showed their intent with Daniel Smyth firing over his first of three points with the game barely 20 seconds old.
The first goal of the game came with the first meaningful attack by the home side with Nigel Elliott making the run into space where he collected the ball. Elliott showed plenty of composure to apply the finish but the home side wouldn’t record another score for 18 minutes. While Sarasfields did have the lions share of possession in that time, Dunloy struggled to make any inroads in a well organised Paddies defence.
A run of seven points unanswered from the visitors put them five ahead going into the final 10 minutes of the half. Caolan McDonnell, Skillen, Garry Lennon and Conor Glenholmes all getting on the scoresheet as the visitors to Pearse Park made the most of the elements in their favour, squeezing up on the Dunloy kickouts.
Stephen McAlone pointed for the home side, firing over after great work from James Scally but it was the visitors who finished the half on top. Glenholmes splitting the uprights before McPeake’s major in the 25th minute. Collecting a quite brilliant, precise pass over the top by Fionn Jemfrey, McPeake remained calm despite Chrissy McMahon rushing out to try and reduce the angle.
With the Paddies ahead 1-9 to 1-1 at half time, Dunloy had a mountain to climb. They did have the wind but eight points felt like a big lead and as Sarsfield started the half with control and patience, the chances of a Cuchullain comeback looked slim.
But, the home side went through the gears starting with Elliott’s first white flag of the hour. Two pointers followed from Aaron Crawford and Jack Martin as Dunloy reduced the Sarafields lead to just three points.
Elliott took his tally to 1-2 for the game before Tom McFerran dissected the posts in the 53rd minute from a free to bring Dunloy to within touching distance.
The comeback was complete with the next attack when the home side scored their second major of the game. Tom McFerran went for a two pointer, only for his effort to drop short. Sarsfelds failed to clear their lines and Charlie Cunning was on hand to palm the ball into the back of the net to give Dunloy a two point lead with six minutes of the hour remaining. The home side wouldn’t record another score however and while they tried to hold onto possession and see out the time remaining, the visitors looked to up the ante.
Sarsfields regained composure and could have had a second goal of their own moments later. Jemfrey racing through and punched the ball beyond McMahon in the Dunloy goals but his effort went to the left of the posts and wide.
Daniel Smyth hit his third white flag of the contest, a brilliant effort with the outside of his boot but the Paddies couldn’t get the equalising score in the time that remained.
The Cuchullains are on their travels for their next football match as they face Rossa on 15 April while Sarsfields will welcome St Brigids to the Bear Pitt on the same evening looking for their opening league win.
TEAMS
DUNLOY: Chrissy McMahon; Michael Traynor, Sean Og Blaney, Cathair McCloskey; Jack Martin, Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella; Ciaran McQuillan, Paudie McGilligan; Charlie Cunning, Tom McFerran, James Scally; Stephen McAlone, Nigel Elliott, Emmett McKendry
Scorers: N Elliott 1-2; C Cunning 1-00; J Martin 0-2 (1TP); A Crawford 0-2 (1TP); S McAlone 0-1; T McFerran 0-1 (1f)
SARSFIELDS: Michael Brady; Kevin Barry McArdle, Connor Laverty, Philip McPeake; Joe McNally, Conor Moley, Liam Mitchell; Cormac Murray, Ethan Mervyn; Daniel Smyth, Conor Glenholmes, Caolan McDonnell; Tomas Skillen, Garry Lennon, Fionn Jemfrey
Scorers: D Smyth 0-3; P McPeake 1-00; C McDonnell 0-2; T Skillen 0-2 (1f); G Lennon 0-2; C Glenholems 0-1
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Creggan had six points to spare over neighbours Tir na nÓg in Sunday’s early game at Whitehill as the Kickhams maintained their perfect start to the league campaign. The game, which had a 10-45 throw-in due to the funeral of former Creggan player Bosco Murray, was played in a variety of weather conditions, but provided good entertainment for those who had made the effort to attend.
With Creggan leading by 0-02 to 0-01 after ten minutes Dominic McAteer grabbed the first goal of the game to stretch the visitors lead to four and centre forward Liam Quinn pushed it out to five soon afterwards with a well taken point.
Tir na nÓg kept in touch with points from Oliver McAtamney, Emmet Murray and free taker Darragh Fagan but Creggan still held the upper hand and led by 1-06 to 0-05 at half time.
A half time hail shower sent the spectators running for cover but by the time they returned to the field conditions had thankfully improved. Tir na nOg got themselves back in the game when Oliver McAtamney finished off a good move by palming the ball to the net to close the gap to just two, Creggan hit back right away and three quick points, one from Conor Johnston and two from Liam Quinn to stretch the gap to five again.
Creggan then took control and the gap was out to nine when Eunan McAteer fisted over from close range before Shea McCann stretched the gap to ten when he popped over a free.
It appeared the contest had petered out when Creggan led by ten with just three minutes of normal time to play but quick thinking by the home side’s full forward Darragh Fagan fired a low shot to the corner of the Creggan net. Less than a minute later Tir na nOg grabbed another goal and suddenly the gap was down to just four, but Creggan went straight up the other end and were awarded a penalty which Shea McCann fired past the diving Tir na nÓg goalkeeper Sean Paul McAtamney to seal the win.
Antrim were left rueing missed opportunities in Cushendun on Sunday evening as a resilient Limerick side weathered a second-half storm to secure a five-point victory. After a narrow opening-round loss to Clare, the Saffrons faced another bitter pill to swallow in a game defined by a strong wind and clinical finishing from the visitors.
Playing with a significant wind at their backs, Limerick dominated the opening period. Despite Antrim taking an early lead through Éobha McAllister and Aimee Ferris, the visitors soon found their rhythm. The momentum shifted early when Limerick’s Amy Foley was forced off with an injury; her replacement, Donna Kenny, proved to be the game’s decisive factor, immediately settling into her stride with accurate free-taking.
Limerick’s Donna Kenny who scored a goal and five points, all from frees, to swing the game in the Munster team’s favour
The turning point of the half came when Ella Hession intercepted a short poc out, driving forward to rifle the ball into the net. By the interval, Limerick led 1-9 to 0-5. However, Antrim remained optimistic; not only would they have the wind in the second half, but Limerick were reduced to 14 players after midfielder Claire Power received a second yellow card just before the whistle.
Antrim emerged with intent, dominating general play as they looked to chip away at the seven-point deficit. Points from Ellen McIntosh, Cara O’Boyle, and substitute Fionnuala Kelly narrowed the gap. The Saffron defence was immense, restricting Limerick to just a single point from play for the vast majority of the half.
Amy Ferris comes within inches of levelling the game in the 57th minute
With three minutes remaining on the clock, the home side looked destined to level the scores. A loose ball bouncing in the Limerick square fell to centre-forward Aimee Ferris. She pulled hard on the strike, beating the goalkeeper’s hurley, but the ball agonisingly appeared to strike the keeper’s leg and rebounded out for a ’45’.
The missed chance proved to be the final roll of the dice for Antrim for although Katie Mollo pointed the resultant 45 to close the gap to just two you sensed it wasn’t to be the Saffrons’ day and the momentum shifted back to the visitors. Just a minute later, Limerick clinically ended the contest when a long-range free from the prolific Donna Kenny dipped under the crossbar for their second goal, sealing the win.
Antrim’s Casey Crawford breaks out of defence during the opening half
Antrim must now regroup quickly as they prepare to host Down this Friday, while Limerick move forward with momentum to face Clare.
Teams and Scorers
Antrim: O Johnson, E Coulter, A O’Donnell, D Dobbin, C Crawford, K Molloy (0-1), S O’Neill, S Heggarty, J McIntosh, C O’Boyle (0-1), A Ferris (0-1), C Griffin, E McIntosh (0-3), O McAlister, E McAllister (0-4, 3fs).
Sub: F Kelly (0-1) for O McAllister.
Limerick: C Mulqueen, C Ryan, C O’Riordon, A Foley, T Dore, E Woulfe, E O’Donovan, E O’Halloran (0-1), C Power, C Curtin, S O’Brien, L Boylan (0-1), R Molloy, E Hession (1-1), C Griffin (0-2fs).
Subs: D Kenny (1-5fs) for A Foley, M Geary for R Molloy, L Southern for C Griffin, A Boyle for S O’Brien.
This photo sums up the efforts that all players and their families make to succeed in the game. Theresa Dore’s parents left Limerick at 7am on Easter Sunday morning to make an almost 300 miles journey to watch their daughter face Antrim in Cushendun Co Antrim, a ‘stone’s throw’ from the Mull of Kintyre on the Scottish coastline. Their journey was worthwhile as Theresa and her teammates went home with the points, facing a return journey of the same distance
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
