A strong second half saw Dunloy win the Junior Feis Hurling title at Waterfoot on Saturday at the expense of parish neighbours St Brigid’s, Cloughmills.
The Biddies had a good first half and went in leading by 1-06 to 0-08 at the break but the Cuchullains got their measure in the second period and a goal from midfielder Padraig McGilligan five minutes into that second period gave them a lead they would not lose.
North Antirm chairman Paddy Gray presents the Junior Feis Cup to Dunloy captain Francis McMullan. Pic by Black Sparrow Media
An early exchange of points by Dunloy’s Oisin McErlane and Cloughmills Niall McNaughton set a good early pace. Top score Liam Kearns put the Biddies in front soon afterwards but again the Cuchullains drew level, this time with a point from Francis McMullan, Cathal Mullan got the Biddies noses back in front with a well taken point and though Aidan Richmond replied for Dunloy a goal from Cloughmills corner forward Timmothy McNeill gave his team a two point lead on eleven minutes. It was score for score for the remainder of the first half with three more pointed frees by Kearns being answered by Dunloy’s by Padraig McGilligan, Ryan McFarlane, Francis McMullan (2) to level the scores late in the half, but Cloughmills got their noses in front going into half time when Niall McNaughton grabbed a late score.
Liam Kearns who finished top scorer for Cloughmills
McGoilligan and McMullan got the first two points of the second half and when midfielder McMullan grabbed a goal in the 35th minute the Cuchullains were in control. Two more McMullan points from frees stretched the lead before Cloughills got their first score of the second half through a Liam Kearns free on 42 minutes. Four in a row at the other end by Francis McMullan pulled Dunloy clear of the danger, and though Kearns added two more from placed balls the Dunloy men were not to be denied as they won with eight to spare in the end.
Match reforee Shane McDonnell with the team captains Seamus Duffin and Francis McMullan before the game
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Glen Dimplex All Ireland Intermediate Championship Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Kildare
Antrim 2-12 Offaly 1-16
Report and photos from Antrim County PRO, Michael Corcoran in Kildare
Antrim’s winning streak came abruptly to an end yesterday in blistering heat that matched the intensity of the game. It’s a competition and someone had to loose, only it gets harder to handle the longer you taste success. Offaly won the toss and decided to play with the summer breeze, that essential element that we never stop factoring into the reports; because it is essential to master that and Offaly did it in margins. Offaly’s first half gave them a two point lead at the break, the crucial moment came from a free taken by Clodagh Leahy that allowed Offaly to draw up beside Antrim for the first time in 27 minutes. Antrim were looking the part up to this point, a goal from Caitrín Dobbin fed in from Annie Lynn, showing persistence, as she struck at the sliotar three times in a goal mouth scramble. But as the heatwave persisted with pitch temperatures close to 32 degrees, Offaly kept their composure and flew two additional points from play at 31 minutes over Antrim’s bar to enjoy a lead and mark Antrim’s copy book.
Antrim’s Katie Molloy chases down the sliotar with a tracking Orlagh Phelan eyeing the prize
The second half witnessed Offaly hit another switch around five minutes into the restart as their ace striker, Mairéad Teehan drove the sliotar at pace past Antrim’s goalkeeper, Caitriona Graham, and suddenly Offaly were drifting away by six points. The Saffron’s replied with a rallying goal from Roísín McCormick as Katie Molloy extracted the sliotar from a gruelling scrum.
Maeve Kelly from Antrim stretches to gain possession in Saturday’s championship game
Antrim inched their way back up the scoreboard and a blistering solo run from substitute Erin Coulter ending in a point hauled Antrim back into the game with hope at two points the difference. But a simple point from Offaly’s Teehan pushed the gap back to three at twenty four on the clock as Offaly now went into survival mode, with Antrim making recurrent visits to float the sliotar over two more times from McCormick and Dobbin. Dobbin was held in the box and still managed to score whilst referee Joe Mullins’ arm was stretched in the air. The point stood. Desperation was crying out in the stands, supporters’ voices went up several decibels, Antrim’s game went up several paces but the sands of time ran out and Antrim were unable to find that last point to force extra time.
Offaly’s Faye Mulrooney finds a challenge from Katie Molloy to hot to handle
Saffron fans will have been gutted as this was a year where no one practised losing. It has been a superlative Antrim performance all season. A very league win, an Ulster championship and a championship table topping performance all to be immensely proud of. Next year, players, management and supporters will get to experience playing ‘up’ into division 1a, something the players have striven for all season. We look forward to reporting from far away venues in 2026.
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St Olcan’s won their first ever Feis trophy at Glenariffe on Saturday, the Tir na nÓg-Creggan-Naomh Comgall’s combination beating Glenarm in a highly entertaining Under 16 B hurling final.
When Glenram’s top marksman Kian McGarel brought his team level with a goal in the 21st minute it looked like we were in for a real ‘ding-dong’ battle but driven on by their excellent midfielder Ronan Colgan, St Olcans came back with three goals in the next four minutes, and with Colgan adding a point the south west Antrim side opened a ten point gap, one which was going to take a lot of bridging. McGarel, who was the real heartbeat of the Glenarm team, got two quick goals early in the second half to close the gap to five, and suddenly it seemed possible for the boys from Feystown, but St Olcan’s shut up shop, and with Colgan picking off the points they pulled away again to win by ten in the end.
Colgan opened the scoring for his side in the first minute and after McGarel brought Glenarm level a strong run from full forward Oisin Mooney set up a goal for corner forward Oisin Devlin. Three points from Colgan were answered by McGarel and Aaron Maguire to keep Glenarm in touch and when McGarel sprinted through from midfield so score a brilliant goal the sides were level.
Unfortunately for Glenarm they didn’t get any time to build on McGarel’s major as the next four minutes saw St Olcan’s hit the net three times, two of them from Michael Sloan and on from Colgan and by half time they were they had stretched their lead to 4-09 to 1-07, Colgan hitting four of their five points, and Sloan the other.
Two points by McGarel early in the second half gave Glenarm a bit of hope but McKay and Colgan hit back with two of their own to restore that ten point gap. When McGarel came back with goals in the 41st and 42nd minutes there was renewed hope for the Shane O’Neill side, but that was as close as they would get and the south west side steadied the ship to wrap up the silverware and collect their first Feis trophy.
Darrach O’Mullan of North Antrim GAA presents the Under 16 Hurling Shield to St Olcan’s captian Ronan Colgan after his team’s win over Glenarm in Saturday’s final
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Cushendall won the first silverware at Feis na nGleann ’25 when they beat Dunloy in Friday evening’s Under 16 Camogie final at Glenariffe. Ahead from the opening minute when player of match Cliodhna Thompson got the first of their eight goals they girls in maroon were unstoppable. They went on to lead by 4-11 to 0-05 at half time.
Dunloy had a mountain to climb in the second half but to their credit they kept plugging away and were rewarded for their endeavours by scoring two goals and four points in that second period and in Keeva McFerran, Ciara McMullan, Adria McAllister, Caoilflhionn McShane and Caitlin Gormley they had players who all did well.
After Cliodhna Thompson’s early goal the ‘Ruairiettes’ fans were expecting a goal rush but it was another 2o minutes before they got their second, Thompson again the finisher after rounding a defender and batting the ball to the Dunloy net. Goal number three came three minutes later from Scarlet Kerr McKillop Anna Birt got the fourth just on half time to give her team a 4-11 to 0-05 lead at the break.
Thompson completed her hat-trick of goals seven minutes into the second half as well as adding some top class points. Goal number six came from second half substitute Lucia Trainor and after corner forward Laoiseach McNaughton got the seventh Trainor struck again for number eight. Dunloy had their best spell of the game midway through the second half when Caitlin Galvin and Mia Gormley found the net with Adria McAllister, Caoilflhionn McShane and Maggie Cairns adding points.
However a slick moving and hard working Cushendall team were always in control and their impressive record in underage Camogie continues.
Match referee Ryan O’Reilly presents the Under 16 Feis Camogie Cup to Cusendall captain Claoidhne Thompson after her team’s win over Dunloy at Feis na nGleann in Glenariffe on Friday evening
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Glen Dimplex All Ireland Intermediate Championship Antrim v Offaly, Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, Kildare
Preview and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran
Antrim Camogie supporters are in for a treat this Saturday, with the All Ireland semi final against Offaly to be played in excellent conditions, and if we were of the gentle type, we might wince at the prospect of it being forecast to be close to 28/29 degrees, a proverbial heat wave. But that’s nothing that can’t be resolved by sitting in the shade of the stand in an airy Antrim top or if you are on holidays, find a shady spot by the pool and pray the wifi will stay up for the live stream – details to be released later.
Antrim’s Katie Molloy had one of her best performances against Offaly in Portglenonewith six points from play
Antrim have arrived at Cedral St. Conleth’s by topping the table with three out of three wins in the group 1 games, whilst Offaly’s route was via the quarter final game against Carlow ending 3-18 to 2-09 for Offaly. Both Antrim and Offaly have already met in the group 1 round 1 game in Portglenone. Antrim took the win by two points and learned that Offaly can score goals, with Mairead Teehan (14) slotting two goals at close quarters and will be looking to repeat something similar and will bring that capability to Saturday’s game, a stern test for Antrim’s back lines.
Amy Boyle sweeps back to disassemble the Offaly threat and allow Clare McKillop to solo away with the spoils
Supporters will then be curious to learn of Antrim’s line out for Saturday. We already know that Cassie McArthur and Evanne Martin are sitting this game out due to injury. That creates the prospect of two other names starting and Antrim will reveal the team tomorrow morning as part of their e-teamsheet distribution to supporters that has proved very engaging and successful.
Antrim’s Nicole McAtamney will play a vital role surveying and controlling the mid field on Saturday
Questions arise then to add to the excitement, namely how will each team handle the forecasted heat, will there be any green flags raised and by whom and who will come out the victor to continue their journey to an All Ireland final in Croke Park? Stay tuned, all will be revealed tomorrow. Throw in is at 1pm for Antrim’s game, whilst Kerry play Down at 3pm in the same venue.
