by thesaffrongael

Magic McAllister leads Dunloy to Minor title

Antrim Minor A Camogie final at Pairc MacUílin

Dunloy 7-14 Cushendall 7-10

Dunloy and Cushendall served up a fantastic contest in Friday evening’s final of the Antrim Minor Camogie final in Ballycastle, Dunloy’s never say die attitude getting them over the line in injury time at the end of a classic game. Led on by their brilliant midfielder Eobha McAlister Dunloy trailed by nine points ten minutes from the end of normal time, but McAllister (who ended with 5-07 to her name) led a remarkable comeback, scoring 3-02 in that period to turn the game around and seal a remarkable win.

However Cushendall deserve great credit for their performance and despite starting without six regulars, three of whom were on the Antrim team who beat Derry in the Ulster Minor final, they were equally brilliant and deserve great credit for their part in a remarkable match.

Eobha McAllister gets away from two Cushendall opponents on her way to scoring an early point during the Minor Camogie final in Ballycastle. Pic by Aaron Alatas

McAllister got her team on the scoreboard early with a point but Tamara Black came back with a goal on three minutes to put Cushendall ahead. Eobha McAllister got the first of her five goals soon afterward and added a point from a 45, but a goal by Cushendall full forward Niamh McNeill reeled the Cuchullains in again. However the Dunloy girls were dominating possession four in a row opened a five point gap after 23 minutes. A fantastic individual goal from Cushendall’s Evan McNeill on 25 minutes brought her team right back into the game and they finished the first half in a flurry with Niamh McNeill and Amy McAlister grabbing goal and Eva McNeill adding a point to give them a four point lead at the interval. (4-02 to 1-07)

Eva McNeill and Aimee Ferris exchanged points early in the second half to keep the gap at four but Cushendall came strong again and a great goal from a narrow angle from Amy McAllister and a point from Eva McNeill stretched their lead to four. Dunloy had a mountain to climb but Eobha McAllister brought them right back into it with a goal and two points in a two minute spell just before the end of the third quarter.

Cushendall’s Niamh McNeill who scored a hat-trick of goals in her team’s minor final game against Dunloy. Pic by Aaron Alatas

The game swung again in Cushendall’s favour when Amy McAllister grabbed her second goal and Scarlet Kerr-McKillop, Cliodhna Thompson and McAlister added points to pull eight clear again and they appeared to be in a strong position. They were still eight in front with ten minutes of normal time left to play, when Eobha McAllister took the game by the scruff of the neck and three goals in four minutes, plus one from Erin McMullan put them five clear.

Remarkably Cushendall turned it around again and a third goal by Niamh McNeill and points from Erinmae Mitchell and Eva McNeill had them level as the game entered injury time. As the rain began to fall in torrents we all thought we were in for extra time but McAllister was unstoppable and pointed Dunloy ahead before Erin McMullan sealed the win with a goal.

Dunloy players celebrate at the final whistle

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLOCK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Gaelic for Mothers & Others at All Saints today

Mothers & Others Blitz at All Saints

All Saints GAC Gaelic for Mothers & Others are absolutely thrilled to receive a grant from Bloc Blinds in support of our upcoming Gaelic for Mothers and Others Festival of Football.

Their backing means the world to us — helping us bring together 9 teams from across Ulster for a day of football, friendship, and fundraising for local charity White Butterfly Foundation @thewhitebutterfly_foundation

Blitz tomorrow! All support welcome. Matches 12-3pm and live music in the bar 4-6pm 

by thesaffrongael

McErlain powers Cargin to victory

Minor ‘C’ Camogie Championship final

Cargin 3-9 St. Enda’s 3-5

A player of the match display from mid-fielder, Caoimhe McErlain powered Erin’s own, Cargin to victory over St. Enda’s in a hard fought Minor C Championship final at Slemish Park, Ballymena on Friday night.

It was the Glengormley side that looked the more likely winners in an opening half where they edged the exchanges and looked in a strong position when a Cliona McGinley shot dipped to the net to give them a 2-4 to 0-6 lead as Lee O’Reilly sounded his half time whistle.

It was the sweet striking McErlain who kept the Toome girls in contention with half a dozen well struck frees but they still looked in a bit of trouble with Roise McQuillan’s opening goal for the Hightown girls, a point from the same player and three from corner forward, Aoibh Nic Coille giving them a four point lead at the break.

Caoimhe McErlain who gave a masterful display to power Erin’s own to victory

The heavens had opened about ten minutes before half time and the rain continued to fall as the second half got under way as an Orla Johnston goal in the opening minute and another somewhat fortuitous effort from Roisin Quinn saw Cargin move 2 ahead with only 5 minutes of the new half gone.

A superb point from Orlaith Johnston increased that lead to three and then Mia Carlin in the St. Enda’s goals pulled off a great save as the girls in white and green threatened to overrun they’re opponents.

Cargin were edging the exchanges and another superb point from Caoimhe McErlain, her first of the second half and 7th of the evening moved them four ahead with 12 minutes remaining and they looked to be taking control.

St. Enda’s had other ideas however and came back immediately with a goal from the excellent Aoibh Nic Coille before substitute Kila Sheehy had her shot for goal deflected over to level the contest.

It looked anybody’s game at this stage but it was Cargin who finished the stronger with Caoimhe McErlain sending over a long range point to give them back the lead with 8 minutes remaining.

Aoibh Nic Coille who led the St. Enda’s challenge

McErlain had been the driving force for Erin’s Own and she enjoyed a bit of fortune when her long range free took a deflection and ended in the St. Enda’s net.

That goal restored Cargin’s four point advantage and would be the final score of the contest with the Erin’s Own defence repelling a late onslaught from the Glengormley girls.

Sinead O’Kane, the Camogie Board secretary presented the Minor C Cup to Cargin’s joint captains, Roisin Quinn and Orlaith Johnston and commended both sides for their part in a very competitive and entertaining game of camogie in difficult conditions.

Cargin: 1 Lucia Sidebottom, 2 Holly McErlane, 3 Tara McLarnon, 4 Holly may Graham, 5 Grace O’Boyle, 6 Aimee Johnston, 7 Aoife O’Boyle, 8 Annie Griffin, 9 Caoimhe McErlain, 10 Aoibh O’Boyle, 11 Roisin Quinn, 12 Elena Sidebottom, 13 Fiadh O’Boyle, 14 Orlaith Johnston, 15 Darcie Murray.

St. Enda’s: 1 Mia Carlin, 2 Keeley Lawlor, 3 Cara Lyttle, 4 Tara Rodgers, 5 Orla Graham, 6 Gabriella McLarnon, 7 Hannah McMillan, 8 Niamh Mullan, 9 Cliona McGinley, 10 Roise McQuillan, 11 Aine McCavana, 12 Aoife Downey, 13 Aoibh Nic Coille, 14 Jane Martin, 15 Sarah O’Boyle

Subs: Kila Sheehy for Sarah O’Boyle

Referee: Lee O’Reilly

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

David v Goliath semi-final kicks off weekend action

ACFL Division 1 semi-final

Erin’s Own v All Saints

Tir na nOg 2-00pm Saturday

Reigning county SFC holders, Erin’s own Cargin and last year’s Intermediate Football Champions, All Saints kick off this weekend’s action when they face off in the Division 1 League semi-final at Whitehill on Saturday (2-00pm).

The Erin’s Own side finished their league campaign four points ahead of Creggan and St. Brigid’s and six ahead of Saturday’s opponents, All Saints, who played a game less than the other three.

Unconfirmed news suggests that St. Brigid’s have withdrawn from the other semi-final against Creggan which was scheduled for Glenavy at 5-00pm on Saturday evening and if that is the case then the Kickham’s will presumably be handed a place in the final.

At the time of writing the Erin’s Own v All Saints game is still on the fixture list and should go ahead and both sides will take the opportunity of getting a competitive game under their belts prior to the championship.

Cargin will rightly start as firm favourites and have once again been the team to beat this season, suffering only one defeat in the league against St. Brigid’s.

The reigning County Champions have continued to impress in 2025 with their excellent balance of youth and experience.

John McNabb is an excellent keeper and has contributed handsomely with important scores this year and has embraced the new rules with relish as has his Erin’s Own colleagues.

Kevin McShane, James Laverty, Gerard McCann, John Carron and Michael and Tomas McCann are all experienced campaigners in a side complemented by a host of young emerging talent.

Pat and Tom Shivers, Jamie and Callum Gribbin, Benen Kelly, Sean Og Quinn and Sean Og O’Neill are just a few of the players who will be keen to stake a place in the forthcoming championship side if called upon on Saturday.

For All Saints it has been another good season as they finished in the top four for the second consecutive year and they now find themselves in bonus territory as they face Ronan Devlin’s side in Saturday’s semi-final.

Like Cargin they are likely to be without a number of players through holidays and injuries but players like Conor Brennan, Sean McVeigh, Michael McCarry, Connell Lemon, Emmet Killough, James and Benny McDonnell, Conor Stewart, Kavan Keenan, Rian Tom and Matthew Downey will relish the challenge if available.

Whatever side Saturday’s opponents field it is Cargin who will start as firm favourites and rightly so but Baker Bradley and his All Saints side will give it their best shot and see where it takes them.