Above – Moya Forde (Third from right) on the Antrim team who beat Dublin by 3-9 to 4-02 in the 1967 All Ireland final in Croke Park.
By Seamus McAleenan
An Antrim camogie legend, described once by a Dublin journalist after an All-Ireland semi-final as “the best camogie player I have ever seen”, has died early on Thursday in Massereene Manor Nursing Home.
Moya Forde played in her first All-Ireland senior camogie final in 1950 and her last in 1969. Over that period of time Antrim featured in 11 All-Ireland finals and apart from the first half of the 1950 game, Moya was at full-back in all of those.
Dublin were the dominant force during her two decades playing at the top level, winning 19 titles 1948-1966. They defeated Antrim in eight finals and a number of semi-finals as well. But Antrim overcame them in the 1956 semi-final and went on to beat Cork in the final.
Eleven years later the final went to a replay that was also played in Croke Park and Moya picked up her second national medal as well as anchoring the Ulster team to its only Gael Linn interprovincial title up to 2006.
She first began playing on a senior team in The Braid as a goalkeeper when she was 12 years old “because they were afraid I would get hurt outfield” and progressed to St Louis Ballymena where she featured on three Ulster senior winning teams.
The numbers were not there to sustain a team in The Braid and she and her sister Fionnula joined Ahoghill where Moya played on their only two Antrim senior championship winning sides, 21 years apart. Ahoghill went on to claim the Ulster club title in 1969, beaten by a Limerick side in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Moya Forde (2nd from left on the front row) on the St Louis Ulster Championship winning team of 1951
A teacher, Moya coached St Mary’s Clady to the secondary schools’ Ulster championship title and Fr Cavlan Cup on a number of occasions in the 1960s and 1970s before moving on to her alma mater St Louis Ballymena where she remained for the rest of teaching career.
Predeceased by her siblings, Cáitlín, Liam, Donough and Fionnuala, all of whom played sport at a high level, Moya died following a short illness. Her funeral will take place SATURDAY 15th November to St Patrick’s Church, The Braid for Requiem Mass at midday and burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Ulster LGFA SFC Final – Brewster Park – Sunday 3.00pm
Moneyglass captain, Niamh McIntosh speaks to the Saffron Gael
This Sunday St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass travel to Brewster Park Enniskillen where they face Errigal Ciaran in the Ulster LGFA Senior Club final
In the build up to Sundays Ulster LGFA Club final in Enniskillen, Moneyglass captain, Niamh McIntosh speaks to the Saffron Gael.
In the build up to Sunday’s final Paddy McIlwaine of the Saffron Gael spoke to St. Ergnat’s dynamic captain, Niamh McIntosh.
Niamh McIntosh the St. Ergnat’s captain
Niamh as a player and now captain of Moneyglass you have experienced the highs and lows of Ulster Club Championship. Tell me about the teams you have faced over recent years and at what stage you were knocked out of the championship?
Niamh answered. In 2021 we won the Antrim Senior Championship and got to the Ulster semi-final after beating Armagh Harps in the quarter-final. That win over Armagh Harps should have proved a breakthrough for St. Ergnat’s but the Armagh champions would come back to gain revenge in 2023 and 2024.
This time it was Clann Eireann who carried the Armagh banner with the Orchard girls enjoying home advantage on both occasions.
The Moneyglass girls continued to knock at the door but found it slammed in their face as they beat McCartan’s Monaghan in 2022 after beating Bredagh in the quarter-finals but Donaghmoyne proved a bridge too far in the final.
Undeterred, St. Ergnats were back in Ulster action the following year after collecting another Antrim title and they gained revenge for the previous year’s defeat to Donaghmoyne with a quarter-final victory over the 2022 champions.
It would be the Armagh champions, Clann Eireann who would prove their downfall in 2023 and 2024 with St. Ergnat’s beating Bredagh and Donaghmoyne in respective quarter-finals but coming unstuck against the Orchard girls at the semi-final stages.
Maria O’Neill who has been in fine form for he Moneyglass side
Once again the draw seemed unkind to Moneyglass in 2025 when they were drawn away to the ‘Clann’ again in the semi-final after recording another quarter-final win over Bredagh at Cherryvale but their unfaltering belief in their own ability saw them finally overcame the Armagh challenge.
I asked Niamh about their journey to this year’s Ulster decider.
She replied. We beat St. Gall’s in the Antrim semi-final before going on to defeat St. Paul’s in the final.
We went on to play Bredagh in the Ulster quarter final, then beat Clann Eireann away in the Ulster semi-final this year to get into this year’s decider.
We had some really great battles throughout the Antrim championship this year, we were really tested and had to lift the standards with every game. In Ulster football you do feel the standards lifting again, coming up against really strong well organised opposition.
Hopefully we’ve learned a lot and gained experience from past campaigns as to how to manage games better and stay composed when it matters most. The younger girls coming through have also made a big impact. They’ve brought great energy and competition, which has pushed everyone on.
I then asked the Moneyglass captain about what she knew about Sunday’s finalists, Errigal Ciaran of Tyrone and who she thought would be their stand out players.
Niamh answered, Errigal Ciaran are a really strong, well-organised side with a lot of pace and quality all over the pitch. They have some top-class players who’ve won an All-Ireland with Tyrone this year, the likes of Claire Canavan, Aoife Horisk, and Meabh Corrigan to name but a few, so we know it’ll be a big challenge.
What about her own side and how their preparations have gone?
Preparations have been going well, training has been sharp and there’s a great buzz around the group. Everyone’s really been putting in the work but we’re just trying to keep things simple, enjoy the build-up, and be ready to give it everything on Sunday.
I posed the question. Who have been the Moneyglass players who have stood out for you during the present campaign?
Niamh replied. I could name 25 girls who have played their part at some stage during this year’s campaign because it really has been a team effort but the likes of Maria O’Neill and Bronagh Devlin have been excellent all year with the county and have continued that good form with their club and Cathy Carey can always be relied upon for a good performance.
Sarah O’Neill and Emma Louise McAreavey have been strong in defence all year but this really has been an all-round team effort.
I then asked Niamh about the Moneyglass management team of Charlie O’Kane and Maxi Curran and what they brought to the table.
Charlie O’KaneAnne Marie McCormick and Marie Dobbin, part of the backroom staffMaxi Curran
She replied. We’re very lucky to have Charlie and Maxi, they’ve brought great experience and knowledge to the group. Training’s is always well organised and challenging, but there’s good balance too, they know how to get the best out of us. They’ve a lot of belief in the players, and that gives everyone confidence going into big games like this.
St. Ergnat’s take on Errigal Ciaran in Brewster Park on Sunday at 3.00pm. Confidence within the Moneyglass camp appears to be high and so it should be.
The Tyrone champions are certain to provide a stern test for the Antrim champions who have been knocking consistently at the Ulster door over the last five years but Niamh McIntosh and her colleagues should have the experience and knowhow to finally gain access to their first Ulster Senior title!
Dermot McAleese of Ballymena Engine Spares presents a cheque for £500-00 to Paddy McIlwaine who received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael
Above – Steven McGinn (white helmet) is mobbed by his team ates after his match winning save in the penalty shoot-out in Carrickmore.
Glenariffe’s opponents at Owenbeg on Saturday are Tyrone champions Carrickmore who last season pushed the Antrim Intermediate champions Carey Faughs to the limit in the Ulster quarter final in Carrickmore. After a bruising battle the Tyrone side and the Antrim champions could not be seperated, nor indeed could extra time devide them, and it took two great save by Carey keeper Steven McGinn in a penalty shoot-out to get the Faughs over the line.
AIB Ulster Camogie Senior Championship Final Box IT Athletic Stadium, Armagh 16th November 2025 1:30pm
Preview of Sunday’s AIB Ulster Camogie final between Clonduff and Loughgiel and photos from Michael Corcoran.
Both of these teams are familiar rivals in the Ulster scene, having met last year in the semi final stage. That game was played in damp conditions under the distant profile of Hen Mountain in the impressively scenic Mournes. Loughgiel ran up a big score in that game due to a solid second half performance despite the Shamrocks dropping to fourteen players. It was a game though that entertained the Loughgiel supporters, many having travelled all of the 160 mile round trip.
Last year’s semi final attracted crowds from as far away as Ballycastle, Portaferry and Cushendall to mingle with the Loughgiel supporters.
In that semi final, Clonduff’s quartet of Fionnuala Carr, Sara Louise Graffin, Orla Gribben and Paula O’Hagan stood out as the sources of danger for Loughgiel. Sister’s Sara Louise and Fionnuala took their scores over the bar, whilst O’Hagan managed an early goal from a Graffin pass. This will be Clonduff’s first appearance in an Ulster final, hoping to join the winning ranks of Liatroim, Newry and Kilkeel, all from Down.
Clonduff’s Paula O’Hagan will pose a threat on Sunday and will be happy to take her scores outfield if Loughgiel decide to barricade the goal run.
But the game will be remembered mostly for the second half drama, where Roísín McCormick ran up a hat trick, one of those coming from a 45th minute penalty given for a foul on an inbound Caitrín Dobbin. Despite playing with fourteen players, the Shamrocks forged ahead and in the end totalled six goals and thirteen points to Clonduff’s goal and fourteen points.
Fionnuala Carr hopes for intervention but there was no stopping the Shamrocks that day
The recent semi final game against Slaughtneil will have sent out tidal waves of consternation for opponents and those waves initially washed up onto Clonduff, who witnessed the game’s action from the bank. The game will have offered up no immediate insight in how to break down the Shamrocks, but that won’t hamper the Hilltowners from trying.
Clonduff players up on the bank take in the Ulster semi final game in Slaughtneil.
Loughgiel have reached for another gear this year and players coming off the Antrim county scene have delivered in spades for their club’s championship endeavours so far and league hardened players continue to contribute and progress along with returning players and those that have moved up into a regular senior appearance. The Shamrock’s faced a hungry Dunloy in the Antrim Camogie senior final, providing one of the most enjoyable championship games seen in recent years and Loughgiel couldn’t have asked for a better pre Ulster prep match.
Clonduff’s passage to the Ulster final came by way of a bye for the Down team but their journey to their own county final was no breeze. Despite a 4-16 to 1-11 score against Portaferry in round 2, the Ports closed that gap and trailed in the final by only eight points with a final scoreline Clonduff 1-15 Portaferry 0-10, giving the Hilltowners a run for their money and arguably a good preparation match for the Ulster final if you can live with the four week wait as the Down final was over on the 18th October. Typically, O’Hagan and Carr delivered scores to haul Clonduff over the line for their eleventh Down Camogie title, despite the presence and threat from the Port’s Niamh Mallon.
The Box IT Athletic Stadium, Armagh will be the stage for Sunday’s final and stealing a marketing line from a well know brand, this isn’t just any final, this is the AIB Ulster Camogie Senior Club final. Title holders Loughgiel, have had recent success in Armagh, having won against Down side Liatroim in ’23 on a day that witnessed a deluge of rain and a concerned grounds team for the following double bill senior hurling game. The Shamrocks will be hoping to do it again for four in a row with their current form, whilst the Mourne side attempting to make their own history, might have a mountain to climb, but this one isn’t on their doorstep.
You can revisit last year’s semi final game between Loughgiel and Clonduff on the Saffron Gael here…
St Killian’s Garron Tower 5-10 St Patrick’s Keady 1-9
Full forward Clíodhna Thompson was the star of the show at Dub Arena today as her goal and seven points guided St Killian’s to a Fonentoy’s Cup win over St Patrick’s Keady, their title at this grade. Keady had started the game well and corner forward Molly Comiskey sent over three unanswered points to settle her team into the game.
St Killain’s College celebrate their win over Ard Scoil Naomh Padraig Keady in the final of the Fonenoy’s Cup at the Dub Arena. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine
The Tower girls needed a lift and it came from Thompson who sent over two points from play and when Anna Birt got through for St Killian’s opening goal the tide began to turn. Aoife Campbell and Ceolin McKeown tagged on points but Keady came back strongly with four points from, two of them from the excellent Comiskey and one each from Katie Donnelly and Annie McKeown to draw level just minutes from the break. Suddenly there was a different complexion to the game but in the minutes before the short whistle Thompson added two points before finishing the first half on a high, following good approach work by midfielder Dervla McMullan to send her team in five points to the good.
Anna Birt fires in the first of her two goals
That proved a great boost for the Garron Tower girls and they were on the front foot from the restart, Thompson again leading the line as she slotted over three more points. Eight minutes into that second period second half substitute Georgie Twigg made her mark when she grabbed goal number three for the north Antrim team. Keady had a chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty nearing the end of the third quarter, but Katie Donnelly’s shot was well saved by Ellen McAlister in the St Killian’s goal and the Armagh teams’ chances were gone. They battled away against the odds but the Tower were not going to be stopped and Twigg set up Anna Birt for her second goal and substitute Naoise O’Mullan added her team’s fifth in injury time to put them 13 clear at the final whistle.
Catherine McGourty of Ulster Schools presents the Fonenoy’s Cup and the Player of the Match awards to St Killian’s captain Cliodhna Thompson
St Killian’s: Ellen McAlister, Niamh Higgins, Clodagh McAuley, Dana McKenna , Aoife Campbell 0-1, Laoiseach McNaughton, Emily Elliot, Dervla McMullan, Ceolin McKeown 0-1, Katie Burns, Anna Birt 2-2, Orlaith Quinn, Gabriella McNeill, Clíodhna Thompson 1-7 (0-2fs), Ciara McDonnell
Subs: Georgie Twigg 1-1 for C McDonnell (ht), Lucia Trainor for G McNeill (47), Naoisé O’Mullan 1-0 for D McKenna (55), Eimear Black for K Burns (58), Hannah Abram, Megan Kelly, Kodi Kerr, Cathryn McCormick, Aoife Molloy
St Patrick’s: N Digby 1-0, M Comiskey 0-6 (4fs), A Grimley, A McGeown and K Donnelly 0-1 each.
St Killian’s Georgie Twigg celebrrates with her mum Karen and her dad Gary at the final whistle
TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
