Creagh Concrete management are presented with the Antrim Camogie jersey as a small gesture of thanks from the senior squad. L-R Amy Boyle – captain, Martin McIvor – purchasing manager, Aisling O’Donnell, Tom McKeague – Accountant, Sarah O’Neill, James McKeague – Managing Director, Becky Ellis, Dominic Dillon – TSP Planner and Niamh Neeson.
Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran
Antrim Camogie were delighted to have announced a senior team sponsorship arrangement with Toome based Creagh Concrete some months back, as this secured financial stability for the county sports unit and with that firm footing, the senior team have gone from strength to strength; winning the Very 1b National league, then the Ulster championship, Creagh can be pleased that their commitment to Antrim Camogie and women in sport has and continues to be a success story.
Antrim’s captain, Amy Boyle holds up the coveted Antrim jersey along with James McKeague – Managing Director along with the Very National 1b league and Ulster Championship trophies.
Saturday will offer up another building block for more success, if Antrim manage to beat rivals, Offaly, in the All Ireland Intermediate semi final championship, in Newbridge, Co.Kildare. For now though, Antrim took some time out to thank Creagh for their sponsorship and presented Managing Director, James McKeague, a framed Antrim camogie jersey, which has been heralded by many as being one of the most sought after pieces of merchandise due to the design and associated successes that the jersey has brought to the county.
Antrim Camogie’s treasurer, Angela Boyle, who played a pivotal role in attracting Creagh as the main sponsor is delighted to share in the presentation of the jersey to James McKeague – Managing Director.
Antrim’s semi final game throws in at 1pm as part of the double header weekend in St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, where Kerry play Down at 3pm in the other semi final. With the weather forecast to be nothing short of fabulous, travelling supporters will be in for a treat and hopefully witness the passage to the final in Croke Park on the 10th August. Antrim will no doubt want that travelling sixteenth player to have a loud and supporting voice with a swathe of saffron to add additional visual impact.
Merchandise available at O’Neills outlets, Stewarts Sports and a pop up shop at request. Tickets for the game can be purchased here…
Antrim senior ladies made the long journey to Carlow on Sunday in the All Ireland LGFA Junior Championship and after emphatically beating the home side 8-16 to 3-7 they have secured their place in the All Ireland semi final on Sunday 13th July at Clones with a 4 pm throw in …
Indeed Antrim made light work of a Carlow team that played a division above the Saffrons this year …
With just 15 seconds on the clock Theresa Mellon had raised the first green flag of the day, but the lead was short lived as from the resulting kick out Carlow broke up the pitch and raised a green flag of their own..
From Antrim’s kick out they secured their own possession and Niamh Mc Intosh and Maeve Blaney combined to set up Lara Dahunsi for her first of a personal tally of 7 points from play …
Carla Mc Kenna then turned over the Carlow kick out and she sent Maria O Neill racing through and with her new golden boots she hit the roof of the Carlow net …
Dahunsi, Anna Mulholland and Maria O Neill then all raised white flags before O’Neill found the bottom corner of the net after some sublime football between Aoife Kelly and Ciara Brown to further stretch their advantage.
Lara Dahunsi then knocked over two more points and the lively Theresa Mellon added a point to her earlier goal, before Carlow replied with a point and were then awarded a penalty which their full forward tucked into the bottom corner…
However from the kickout Antrim created a classic goal. Aine Devlin hit a short ball to Orla Corr who in turn found the raiding Niamh Mc Intosh down the right hand side. Niamh fed Aoife Kelly who spotted Sarah O Neill bursting through the middle and she made no mistake finding the net from close range.
Again Antrim turned the kickout over and Laura Agnew found Maria O’Neill in space and she completed her hat-trick with 25 minutes on the clock …
Indeed two minutes later Maria returned the favour to Laura and she raised a green flag of her own …
O’Neill then knocked a free over the bar and the last score of the half came from Lara Dahunsi when the St Paul’s player caught a wonderful ball in the air before turning two defenders and split the posts from all of 30 metres.
Indeed Lara was causing the home defence endless problems with her intelligent runs for the ball and her quality finishing….
The second half opened with an Ana Mulholland point after brilliant approach play from Eimily Kearns and Aine Kelly. Maeve Mulholland was the provider for Antrims’ next two points when she found Maria O’Neill twice in a row with two long range passes.
Carlow got two points of their own before the hard working Aoife Kelly got her just reward that her performance deserved when she rounded a defender and the keeper and coolly rolled the ball into the net …
Lara Dahunsi then took her total to 7 points from play when she slotted over two scores in quick succession.
Aine Lynch, who had a magnificent game in the middle of the field, then sent Maria O’Neill clear down the right hand side and she slipped the ball across the square for the lively Blaithin NiCahill who nipped in in front of two defenders to palm the ball into the net and raise the green flag for the 8th time for the Antrim girls and unselfishly laid it off to Maria O Neill to to get the final score of the day and secure that All Ireland semi-final place in style.
Antrim scorers were
Maria O’Neill 3/05
Theresa Mellon 1/1
Aoife Kelly1/0
Sarah O’Neill 1/0
Lara Dahunsi 0/7
Anna Mulholland 0/2
Blaithin Ni Cahill 1/01
Laura Agnew 1/0
Team manager Micky O’Kane said after the game.
‘Our girls were outstanding today ..
their football at times was an absolute joy to watch …
Every girl in our panel takes credit for that performance.
They all work so hard and give up so much time to represent their county.
They all enjoy playing football and are all very competitive at training …
It would be great to see a massive support in Clones in two weeks time which would be really appreciated by these girls in their quest to reach an all Ireland final ..
Fr. Healy Park was awash with red and white for the annual club day and that didn’t deter Dunloy minors from putting on a strong performance. A breezy summer day with late sunshine brought pitch temperatures upwards of 26 degrees but no one was complaining. Two solid goals from Dunloy in the first half left the Shamrocks with much to do on the turn. Although Loughgiel did deliver two well worked goals in the second half, Dunloy ran away with the points using the breeze to their upmost benefit. Long puck outs from their goalkeeper Mya McKinley dropped far up the pitch to eventually overwork Loughgiel’s catch net.
Loughgiel’s Caela Casey breaks free from Dunloy’s ring of steel
Dunloy’s scoring blitz started with potential from a racing Eobha McAllister as she punched her throw-in prize hard into the clubhouse end wind. The sliotar had all the legs and although drifting wide, it sent out a message that despite the elemental challenge, McAllister had its makings.
For the first fifteen minutes, both sides went toe to toe, Loughgiel trailing by only one point 0-05 to 0-06 but when a Dunloy puck out worked its way cleanly into Loughgiel’s box, Erin McMullin found the back of the net with only a two point reply from Loughgiel before McMullin took advantage of a dropped ball at close quarters to raise her second green flag, in the closing stages of the first half. The half time whistle from referee Ryan O’Reilly left the score on the large Fridge Raiders scoreboard, Loughgiel 0-07 Dunloy 2-09. Walking into the clubrooms, Loughgiel would reflect on not capitalising on the two real goal scoring opportunities from close range that were hit with no power and directly to the goalkeeper.
Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty takes a spill in the second half
The second half commenced with some similarity to the initial game throw-in, as Dunloy’s McAllister hurtled out of the throw-in with the sliotar to claim her point on this occasion. The Shamrock’s were largely holding their own but their first touch had deserted them and any potential to build up a run at goal went amiss as the sliotar couldn’t be picked up quick enough to protect the prize and Dunloy were eager to take advantage of that. With thirteen gone on the clock, Eobha McAllister claimed her own goal from a long wind-assisted puck out. Loughgiel replied with a goal, when the sliotar found itself round the back of keeper McKinley and running in at speed, Loughgiel’s Eva McGarry made no mistake in finding the net at very close range. Loughgiel looked lively now, despite a two goal and five point difference and seven minutes later it was one goal and seven points, as Riona McCaughan struck green gold from a well worked sequence that was clockwork in appearance.
The Shamrock’s managed to improve their scoreline with an additional two points but Dunloy had by now tamed the wind and another seven points put the game beyond Loughgiel as O’Reilly blew for full time, the scoreline ended Loughgiel 2-12 Dunloy 3-24.
Loughgiel panel and scorers
Maeve Scullion, Rhea Dickson, Brianna McCloskey, Eibhlin Kearney, Sarah Flavin, Aoibheann Gillan, Catherine McGarry, Anna Smyth, Rose McMullan 0-04 (2f, 45), Caela Casey, Marie Laverty 0-04 (2f), Caela Dobbin 0-03, Aoife McKinley, Caoimhe McGarry, Eva McGarry 1-00, Aoife Cunningham, Riona McCaughan 1-00, Roise McGarry 0-01
Report and photos from Antrim County PRO Michael Corcoranin St. Mary’s GAA and Camogie Club, Ahoghill
No one needed a coat or brolly. That’s a great starting position for any sporting event. In fact, sun cream was, for the latter portion of the day, in order. Starting with a parade around the top pitch with smiling faces and eager camogie players, Antrim’s Development Officer, Rachel Neeson managed to dial in the perfect blend of game time, organisation and memorabilia for the girls to take home as keep sakes.
Under the supervision of Antrim Camogie’s Carla McGrogan, the starting and finishing hooter bellowed around Ahoghill’s grounds synchronising everyone to a perfectly timed chorus of camogie. There was no shortage of eagerness to get to the ball or score or just enjoy the game.
The day kicked off with a parade around the top pitch, games that were aimed at maximising game time and then to finish the day, the all important prize distribution of medals to say thank you for coming along to play camogie and we hope you had a terrific experience. And there was a nice surprise as two of Antrim’s senior county players, Dearbhail Dobbin and Caitrina Graham showed up to hand out the medals and a souvenir programme to everyone.
Teams attending today’s blitz were in order of the programme:
St. Brigids, Lámh Dhearg, Geraldines Portglenone, Erin’s Own, Cargin, St Mary’s Ahoghill, Tír ná nÓg, Creggan, Dunloy, Naomh Eoin, St Mary’s Rasharkin, Pádraig Sarseil, Naomh Gall, Ruiarí Óg, Naomh Pól, Brídíní Óg, Naomh Éanna, Mhic Uilín, Ballycastle, Loughgiel Shamrocks and St. John’s, Carnlough.
We have a bumper album of photos for you to flick through and you can find that here…
Photoshoot Sunday 22nd June 2025 on location in Commercial Court, Donegall Quay and the ‘Lady of the Lagan’, Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran
The two codes of Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie came together today to launch the championship season across senior, intermediate and junior categories. The photoshoot in Commercial Court was chosen to encompass the coloured umbrellas and thus coincide with ongoing campaigns to draw attention and support to our diverse playing and supporting community.
The combined codes of Antrim LGFA and Camogie attend today’s photoshoot in Commercial Court
From the start of the year, both codes, under the stewardship of Ursula Lynch, Chair Antrim LGFA, and Úna Kelly, Chair Antrim Camogie, have been progressively aligning fixtures for both league and championships to work for both entities. It has been more than just a wish, as fixture committees have worked enthusiastically together to make it a reality.
Belfast’s ‘Big Fish’ and Harland and Wolff form one of the back drops for today’s combined championship launch from Junior to Senior categories.
At the venue, Úna Kelly had this to say “We have been working closely with the LGFA this year in terms of fixtures planning and as we move towards integration with the GAA in 2027, we believe we are working hard together to bring our organisations forward in a position of strength through our close relationship.
We have secured funding from Belfast City Council to enable us to continue to work to empower and promote sport throughout our county for women and girls of all ages and backgrounds.”
You can view today’s photoshoot launch here in our album…
