On Saturday, February 1st, Ulster University will host a Knowledge Exchange Seminar where the main focus will be on coaching in Gaelic games. The keynote presentation will be given by Jim Gavin, former manager of the Dublin Senior Football Team, and current Chair of the Football Review Committee. Jim currently manages at underage level and will speak about coaching at both developmental and elite levels. In addition, there will be presentations detailing some of the findings of the Youth Participation Study, a piece of research conducted with over 5,000 Gaelic games participants across the island of Ireland, aged 13 to 20 years old. The first presentation will focus on gender differences in participation and physical activity, and explore the implications of these differences for girls and young women athletes. The second presentation will examine the nature and extent of physical activity among Gaelic games participants, with a particular focus on the differences in activity across different levels of participation, from single-code Club only players, through to players representing their counties on development squads. The final presentation will examine the importance of coach autonomy behaviours – where coaches create environments wherein the voice of the player is heard, and players feel understood and respected.
There will also be an opportunity for attendees to have their say, both on the presentations that they have attended, but also on the best ways forward in terms of minimising dropout from Gaelic games, encouraging greater participation, and ensuring that all Gaelic games participants are sufficiently physically active.
The event is free of charge, and lunch will be provided.
The event is open to those involved in coaching at all age groups.
2025 is an exciting year for St Mary’s Aghagallon as our Senior ladies embark on their first season in ladies’ football. This is something our club has been working towards for a number of years, and we are thrilled with the opportunity for our girls to represent the club at senior level.
Our coaches have dedicated a considerable amount of their time and effort over a number of years coaching our junior ladies and ensuring that they have skills necessary to compete with the best that Antrim has to offer. We entered teams up to U16 level in 2024 and our girls have made significant progress over the last few years. In 2024, we have also established our Gaelic for Mothers & Others (G4MO) team, which was very well supported by the community. This strengthened our belief that there was a healthy appetite for ladies’ football in Aghagallon and with that the decision was made to establish a Senior team for the first time.
Senior training began two weeks ago, and the girls are working incredibly hard to get themselves ready for the season ahead. The coaches are confident that by the start of the season, the skills will be sharpened and the fitness in place to allow us to compete in the league and championship.
The establishment of a Senior LGFA team is a major milestone for the club as we now have senior teams representing the club across 3 different codes (GAA, Camogie & LGFA). We are positive that the girls will make us proud, and we wish them luck on their journey for this year and beyond.
As part of the preparations Fionnuala Murphy the Chairperson of Referee Committee Antrim LGFA was invited to Aghagallon to take a rules workshop with the players and management.
Then the girls had an in-house game to help implement the rules which Fionnuala refereed.
Great to see yet another LGF senior team in Antrim.
Coláiste Feirste came up just short in Wednesday’s Casements Shield semi-final at Owenbeg, losing out to a Jude Bryson inspired St Columb’s Derry team whose ability to grab goals set them apart from their Belfast opponents.
There were four scoring stars in the game, two from St Columb’s who each scored on seven occasions and two from Coláiste Feirste who split the posts six times each. However Bryson’s goal scoring ability was to prove the difference in the two teams, the corner forward five goal haul set up a final meeting with St Patrick’s Dungiven
The Na Magha forward scored four of those goals in the opening half with his St Columb’s team-mate Cathal McNicholl scoring all five points to take the boys from the maiden city to an interval lead of 4-5 to 0-9 from Coláiste Feirste with Tomás Mac Adaim keeping the Belfast school in the battle with five white flags.
Oran Morris became the third St Columb’s player to register a score when he pointed early in the second half. But Nathan Mac Cionnaith was starting to make an impact at the other end with the first of his five second half points, all from open play.
Bryson and McNicholl responded with points while scores from defenders Oisín Ó hÉanna and Aaron Ó Coinn, along with Mac Cionnaith, brought the Falls Road team a little closer. However Bryson’s fifth goal put St Columb’s in a strong position going into the final quarter and they were able to maintain that gap between the teams through to the final whistle.
Nathan Mac Cionnaith was excellent during the second half, while Aaron Ó Coinn and Oisín Ó hÉanna put in a solid hour. However the goals came early and it meant that Coláiste Feirste were chasing the game from the start.
St Columb’s: J Bryson 5-2, C McNicholl 0-7, 0-3 frees, O Morris and T McFeely 0-1 each.
Coláiste Feirste: T Mac Adaim (3 frees) and N Mac Cionnaith 0-6 each, O Ó hÉanna (1 free) and A Ó Coinn 0-2 each, O Mag Uidhir 0-1.
St Columb’s: Callum Mackey Richardson, Finn Mackey, Kayne Ponsonby, John Paul McCafferty, Rory Hope, Oran Morris, Conor O’Donnell, Fergal Cutliffe, Joe Bryson, Tiernan McFeeley, Cathal McNicholl, Eoin O’Kane, Jude Bryson, Liam Meenan, Oran Donnelly
Coláiste Feirste: Ciarnán Ó Cearúill, Cillian Ó Néill, Barra Mac Craith, Caomhán Ó Mealláin, Oisín Ó hÉanna, Aaron Ó Coinn, Christopher Mac Roibeaird, Ruairí Ó Scolláin, Conall Mac Mathúna, Aidan Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, Nathan Mac Cionnaoith, Tomás Ó Corráin, Dúaltach Ó Cianáin, Caolán Mac Coille, Tomás Mac Adaim
Sub: Odhran Mag Uidhir for C Mac Coille (44)
to see more of Bert’s pics from this game click on the link below
Antrim kick off their fourth year in division 3 of the National Football League with a difficult opener against Clare at Corrigan Park on Sunday. The Banner had three points to spare over Andy McEntee’s Antrim in the corresponding fixture last year in Ennis and will travel to Belfast confident of getting their league campaign off to a winning start.
Clare came close to gaining promotion back to division 2 last year, having been relegated the previous year but had to settle for third place to Down and Westmeath with a point separating them from the Lake County.
McEntee begins his third term in charge of the Saffrons and the former Meath manager has been well received in his adopted county that has seen them play an attractive brand of football.
Mick Byrne returns for another season as Antrim’s last line of defence
Success is difficult to measure but Antrim have reached successive Tailteann Cup semi-finals which saw them lose to eventual winners Meath in 2023 and to Laois in 2024.
The Saffrons finished 4th in division 3 in 2022 under Enda McGinley having gained promotion from division 4 under the Errigal Ciaran man the previous year.
Survival in division 3 under Andy McEntee would have been seen as success in 2023 where Antrim finished 6th and in 2024 Antrim went one better, finishing 5th and this year’s campaign looks no less daunting.
Antrim face difficult away trips to Fermanagh, Offaly, Laois and Kildare with Leitrim and Sligo joining Clare in their trips to Corrigan this season.
The introduction of the new rules will add further intrigue to all of this year’s National League fixtures and Antrim have tested the water in challenges against Monaghan and Louth.
Just who adapts best and fastest to these rule changes will have a big bearing on how their league campaigns will pan out but I would expect the changes to bring about some confusion and controversy through the early rounds as teams come to terms with the changes.
The changes may well prove a benefit to Antrim however with a big emphasis on speed and moving the ball quickly and Antrim look to have the players who can adapt to these changes.
Team captain Peter Healey will miss the early rounds with an ongoing injury and Colm McLarnon is sidelined while Ruairi McCann of Creggan has opted out for 2025 and Declan Lynch and Paddy McAleer have retired but Antrim retained the majority of the panel who have served them well over the last few years.
Mick Byrne, Paddy McBride, Marc Jordan, Ronan Boyle, Joe and Patrick Finnegan, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), and Eunan Walsh will backbone a strong panel and Dermot McAleese will captain the side where the fit again Conor Stewart will provide a further boost.
Ryan Murray has returned to the Antrim panel following a year out with serious injury
Ryan Murray has returned to the Antrim panel after a year out with serious injury and the lamh Dhearg man will add much needed experience to the Antrim attack.
Niall Hynds, Patrick Ferris, Shaun O’Callaghan, Aaron McNeilly, and young Adams from St Johns are amongst the new faces in the panel as Andy McEntee continues to build the panel and these lads will add competition for places.
Clare manager Peter Keane has been handed a significant boost with Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton set to return to the senior panel ahead of the 2025 season.
Last month, former Kerry manager Keane succeeded Mark Fitzgerald in the role. Clare were without several stalwarts including Cleary and Sexton for 2024. In the aftermath of Colm Collins’ departure several squad members stepped away including Cleary, Sexton, Cian O’Dea and Pearce Lillis.
Cleary spent the summer in America playing Gaelic football for Chicago Wolfe Tones where he won a national title. His presence in Croke Park last October representing Munster in the interprovincial series sparked hopes a return was on the cards.
Clare will travel to West Belfast confident they can add to last year’s victory over Antrim in Ennis but Andy McEnee’s Saffrons have put in a lot of work in the build up to Sunday’s opener and can claim the win that could set them up for a good season.
Ruairí Óg hosted their annual Juvenile Presentation on Saturday, a special occasion to celebrate the remarkable achievements of their young players both on and off the field from the season past.
The event spanned all age groups, from the Fundamentals group to the Under-16 hurlers and camogs, recognising the dedication, hard work, and progress made throughout the season.
Funamental award winners Under 6 Hurling awards winners with Ruairi Og senior hurler Christy McNaughtonUnder 6 Camogie awad winnersUnder 8 hurlers who recieved their awards from Antrim county star Fred McCurry
Successes included the U12 Gael na Glinntí hurling team winners of the A section of the North Antrim festival of hurling, U14 Tain Óg winners Gael na Glinntí, U15 Camogie Féile winners & All Ireland finalists, U16 hurling league champions and U16 camogie league, feis & championship winners.
Players were applauded for their sporting achievements, while off-field contributions such as commitment and teamwork were equally highlighted.
Under 8 Camogie winners Under 10 hurling winners Under 10 hurling winners with Fred McCurry
Individual camogie awards were presented across all levels from Under 12 up, with special mentions for those who demonstrated exceptional growth and performances this season.
The Presentation day was a fitting tribute to the talent and spirit of the club’s youth, reflecting Ruairí Óg’s strong commitment to nurturing both athletic and personal development in its players.
To see more photos from this event click on the link below
