March 10, 2024March 11, 2024 by thesaffrongael

League champions Casements off to winning start

Antrim Football League – Division 1

Casements 0 -14 v 0 -04 Aldergrove

Frankie Delargy reports from Kelly Park

Roger Casements produced a solid, if not spectacular start to the defence of their league title, with a workmanlike performance at Kelly Park.

An Adrian Dougan led Aldergrove gave the current Eddie Fitzsimons cup holders their fill of it for the opening 30 minutes, but a brace of points from the classic feet of Enda Lynn at the start of the second half relaxed the home side and in the end they ran out fairly comfortable winners, outscoring the Crumlin side by 0-11 to 0-1 in that second period.

Casements may have had more possession in the opening quarter, but it took two frees from Paddy Kelly and one from Michael Hagan to unhinge early season gremlins. This advantage was quickly cancelled out though, with the visitors having their best spell of the game, controlling exchanges in the second quarter. Two excellent points from the illustrious boot of Seamus McGarry and a long range effort from Cormac McGarry left the teams trading on equal terms, three apiece, as the whistle blew for half time.

Casements with the wind on their backs began the second half in impressive fashion, those two super points from Lynn enough to deliver a platform for Casements that they would not relinquish. A gap began to open up on the scoreboard with a brace each from Paddy Kelly and Michael Hagan, as Casements finally started putting some nice moves together. Lynn added two more in the 22^nd and 24^th minute, linking up nicely with his one touch movements and ability to break the tackle opening up gaps in the visitors defence.

Brian McQuillan and Gerad Mallon tried hard to keep up the fight for St James, and the excellent Cormac McGarry added another to his tally, but as the contest fizzled out it was all Casements, with the excellent Hagan brothers Michael (2) and Ruairi keeping the scoreboard ticking over in favour of Portglenone, as the referees Paul Burns clock ticked over to full time.

Casements scorers – Enda Lynn (4) Michael Hagan (4) Paddy Kelly (4) Ruairi Hagan (1) Ciaran McAleese (1).

St James – Seamus McGarry (2) Cormac McGarry (2).

Referee Paul Burns.

March 10, 2024March 11, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Antrim gave it their all but Westmeath had that bit extra

National Hurling League Division 1B

Westemeath 2-18 Antrim 1-15

A brave display by an understrength Antrim side came up short against Westmeath in Saturday’s National Hurling League Division 1B game at Mullingar. Missing 12 players through injury and participation in the Under 20 Ulster Hurling Final Antirm gave it everything they had but just did not have enough to see them home.

Playing against the breeze in the opening half Antrim fell behind as David Williams, David O’Reilly and Eoin Keyes all fired over for the home side, before Conal Coby Cunning opened the Saffrons’ account with a pointed free. Cunning’s score lifted the spirits and when Eoghan Campbell and Conor McCann added points they were just a point behind after 21 minutes.

The concession of a soft goal knocked Antrim back again but two minutes later lady luck smiled on them when a harmless looking shot from Niall McKenna found its way to the Westmeath net. Just one in arrears Antrim appeared to be in a strong position, but Westmeath dominated the remainder of the first half and stretched their lead to four by the time Galway referee Shane Hynes sounded the half time whistle.

With wind, Antrim won’t have been too disappointed by the margin but again they made a slow start after the break with substitute Peter Clarke racing through for a score and Williams adding another.

Westmeath would go 15 minutes before their next score, but Antrim added just two of their own in this time as substitute Eoin McFerran landed with his first touch and McKenna with another.

Another of the Westmeath subs, Killian Doyle, would end their barren spell, but points from Cunning and one from deep by Niall O’Connor left just a goal between the sides.
It was a scrappy second half with daylight fading by the second, but the game breaker arrived with 10 to go as Williams launched a free from his own half into the wind. The ball dropped and broke with Davy Glennon whipping past Smyth.

He and Doyle would add points and although Antrim tagged on some scores late, the game was gone as Westmeath claimed a big win.

WESTMEATH: N Conaty; S Egerton, T Doyle, C Gaffney; J Gillen, K Regan, J Bermingham; R Greville (0-1), S McGovern; N Mitchell, D Williams (0-8, 5 frees, 2 65s), O McCabe; E Keys (1-2), J Boyle (0-1), D O’Reilly (0-2)
Subs: A Craig for J Gillen (32), K Doyle (0-2) for D O’Reilly (HT), P Clarke (0-1) for S McGovern (HT), D Glennon (1-1) for E Keys (52), M Daly for O McCabe (66)

ANTRIM: T Smyth; P Duffin, R McCloskey, P Burke; S Walsh, R McGarry, N O’Connor (0-2); E Campbell (0-2), E Og McGarry; R McAteer, R McMullan, N McKenna (1-1); C Cunning (0-7, 5 frees), C McCann (0-2), F McCurry.
Subs: E McFerran (0-1) for S Walsh (45), C Boyd for E Og McGarry (45), C McGarry for R McMullan (54), A Bradley for R McAteer (58)

REFEREE: Shane Hynes (Galway).

March 10, 2024March 10, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Antrim bounce back from Wexford fiasco as they beat Kerry in Whitehill

Very National Camogie League – Division 1B

Antrim 2-15 Kerry 0-11

After last week’s atrocity in Wexford when and badly understrength side suffered a record defeat, Antrim got back to somewhere nearer their expected team line-out as they picked up their second win in three outings by beating Kerry at Tir na nÓg.

Early points from Siobhan and Anna McKillop gave them a confidence boosting start and though Kerry hit back to level by the 9^th minute, Cassie McArthur restored the Saffrons’ lead when she got the first goal of the game two minute later. The visitors showed that it was not going to be plain sailing for the home team when they came back again to level matters by the half way stage of the first half with two points from Clodagh Walsh and one from Norette Casey

A point from Annie Lynn and two from Anna McKillop got Antirm back and top and though Jackie Horgan came back with two more for Kerry and Anna McKillop goal and points Erin Coulter and Caitrin Dobbin had Antrim 2-7 to 0-8 clear at the half time whistle.

Annie Lynn pushed the lead out to five within a minute of the restart but the visitors brought it back to three again as Annemarie Leen and Jackie Horgan responded. However when Annie Lynn, Erin Coulter and Siobhan McKillop added points the gap was getting to a more comfortable level and they pushed on to win by 2-15 to 0-11 and claim a very important two league points.

Antrim: A McKillop 1-3, 0-3 frees, C McArthur 1-1, A Lynn 0-3, S McKillop, E Coulter and D Cosgrove (1 free) 0-2 each, C Dobbin and E McIntosh 0-1 each. Kerry: J Horgan 0-6, 5 frees, C Walsh 0-2, E O’Donoghue, N Casey

March 9, 2024March 10, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Opening day win for impressive Tyrone

Eirgrid Ulster under-20 Football Championship (Round One)

Antrim 0-07 Tyrone 8-15

Tyrone opened their account in the Ulster under-20 football championship with a stylish performance when they proved too strong for their hosts Antrim at a chilly Dunsilly on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Hands side were to conclude with a huge advantage but the home team remained in touch with their visitors for most of the opening period before an early Gavin Potter goal gave the visitors an early advantage.

Antrim with the breeze behind them fought to stay in touch with the visitors in the early stages of the first period but a 7^th minute Gavin Potter goal was followed shortly after by another from Oisin Gormley and Tyrone were on their way at 2-03 to 0-02 ahead.

The Saffron lads fought to stay in touch as Cahir Donnelly tried to inspire them but the visitors were dominating, and a third major by centre forward Eoin Mc Elholm gave them a a 3-04 to 0-03 advantage. Tom Shivers had raised a couple of white flags for the home side to bring his personal haul to three but the visitors were to have the last say in proceedings.

The end to the opening period saw the Red Hands organised another attack and although net minder Shea Laverty made a good save to deny the shooter a foul on corner man Oisin Gormley was punished by a spot kick award and which was steered to the back of the net and Tyrone had earned a 4-05 to 0-05 interval lead.

Tyrone enjoyed the aid of the breeze which was now accompanied by rain as the second half commenced and Antrim were first away as Tom Shivers raised an early white flag but the visitors were quick to follow in kind as Cormac Devlin (2), Conor Owens, and Gavin Potter replied with points for the visitors.

The Tyrone show was now well on the road as the second half progressed and despite the honest endeavours of the Saffron lads they were struggling to get off the rack and a well-constructed offensive saw Cormac Devlin and Eoin Mc Elholm in for goals apiece in the 41^st and 43^rd minutes.

The home side lost then the services of Cahir Donnelly, the victim of a second yellow card offence in the 50^th minute and when Eoin McElholm nipped in for another major shortly after that was that.

Both sides gave game time to late replacements and Tom Shivers had the last say on the board with a 59^th minute point, just before the final whistle sounded which signalled an 8-15 to 0-07 win for Tyrone.

Antrim: Shea Laverty (0-01), Ciaran Maginnis, Cahir Donnelly, Paddy Gowdy, Tiernan Mc Cormick, Paul Duffin, Connloadh Mc Cann, Manus Mc Crossan, Tom Shivers (0-05), Callum Walsh, Enda Mc Cartan, Enda Mc Cartan, Rory Mc Erlean, Niall Duffy, Jonny Hannon, Niall Fallon

Subs

Jack Toner

Ronan Quinn

Charlie Mc Cann

Niall Hynds

Tyrone: Conor Mc Anerny, Joey Clarke, Ben Hughes, Connor Devlin, Shea O’ Hare (0-01), Michael Rafferty, Odhran Brolly, Ruairi Mc Hugh, Paddy Mc Cann, Cormac Devlin , Ruairi Mc Hugh, Paddy Mc Cann, Cormac Devlin , Eoin Mc Elholm, Gavin Potter , Ronan Cassidy ,Conor Owens , Oisin Gormley

Referee: R Donoghue (Derry)

March 9, 2024March 17, 2024 by thesaffrongael

Derry dethrone Antrim in Ulster U20 Hurling final

Ulster Under 20 Hurling final

Antrim 2-12 Derry 2-15 at Corrigan Park

**Antrim’s top forward Cormac McKeown battled throught the tackles during the U20 Ulster final against Derry**

A late scoring burst saw Derry dethrone champions Antrim in Saturday’s Ulster Under 20 Hurling final at Corrigan Park, a win that puts the Oak Leaf county into the A section of the Leinster Championship.

A dominant first half performance by the Derry side saw them take control of the game and they were well worthy of their four points lead at the interval. When the visitors hit the opening point of the second half to increase their lead to five, Antrim faced an uphill battle, but Derry failed to score during the next twenty minutes and the home side got themselves back into contention despite shooting a series of bad wides from frees and from play. With ten minutes left to play the gap was down to just two, but Derry substitute Ben Kealy hit a great point from play to put his side three clear as Antrim struggled to find any fluency in their play.

However with seven minutes left in normal time a good move saw Antrim full forward Ronan Eager break through to fire home his second goal of the game and bring the Saffrons level. The holders appeared to be in a great position at this stage, but Derry showed their mettle in the eight minutes which remained, outscoring the home side by 0-5 to 0-2 to deservedly seal the win.

**Daire McMullan, who had a great game at centre back for Antrim**

Playing with a stiff diagonal breeze in the favour Derry opened the scoring in the second minute with a point from Segdáe Melaugh, but Antrim were soon level through Ronan Fitzgerald. Man of the match James Friel pit Derry back ahead when he pointed a free from distance and on six minutes they increased their lead to two when corner forward Odhran McElhinney popped over a point. Cormac McKeown, with a good point from out on the right wing, closed the gap for Antrim and a minute later the young Saffrons took the lead for the only time in the game when full forward Ronan Eager fired in a goal, despite being on his knees.

***Derry’s Aimon Duffin soloes out of defence***

However the next ten minutes was all Derry, and with their two star men, Friel and O’Mianain running the show they hit a goal and four, with just a single Cormac McKeown point in reply. The two goals came within a minute of each other, O’Mianain firing a twenty metre free through the Antrim defensive wall, and then adding one from play a minute later.

Antrim fought back to close the gap with points from Cormac McKeown with another beauty from play and Aodhan McGarry adding two frees, but Derry were still four to the good at the break Friel displayed his suill from long range frees to add two more to his total.

When Derry opened the second half with another pointed free, this time from O’Mianain the gap was out to five again, as Antrim started to control the play. However the Saffrons could not make their advantage show on the scoreboard and after Nial McGarrel, Aodhan McGarry and Cormac McKeown closed the gap, the scoring dramatically dried up.

From the 40^th to the 50^th minutes they squandered a series of opportunities, six in a row going wide of the target. Eager.s second goal on 53 minutes, and a pointed free by Joe McLaughlin brought them back level, but they couldn’t push on and Derry finished strongly to seal the win