Glen Dimplex All Ireland Intermediate Championship Group 1 Round 3 Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel Saturday 21st June, 2pm
Preview and photos from Michael Corcoran
Saturday 21st June will see the final game for Antrim in the round robin group stages of the Glen Dimplex All Ireland Intermediate championship, where they will play host to Meath. At the moment, Meath sit third in the table with a healthy win against Westmeath, 3-15 to 2-08 but a bruising loss against Offaly, 0-11 to 3-15. Meath are largely an unknown quantity in 2025, as Antrim hasn’t had the opportunity to step into the ring to date. That will change on Saturday.
Antrim, and applying allowances for last week’s weather in Mullingar, will want to tidy up a few loose ends that were exposed in Cusack Park. Apart from that, the Antrim machine will roll out onto home turf and spectators should be in for a thrilling game. Last week’s majors came from three of Antrim’s well known players, namely Nicole McAtamney, Roisín McCormick and Caitrín Dobbin.
Nicole McAtamney surveys the Park before taking a sideline in last week’s game against Westmeath
McAtamney was in authoritative form patrolling mid field with her signature scan of the parish before offloading to a saffron jersey, dropping in a penalty and a long haul free for two green flags.
Coming on in the second half, McCormick switched things up much to Antrim’s benefit
McCormick was busy generating opportunities with a spoonful of tyranny as she reshaped Westmeath’s defence and was rewarded with her own goal, whilst Dobbin enthralled Saffron supporters in the stand with her first touch and regularly lighting up the afterburner for two goals gifted in by McCormick. If Saturday’s game offers up half of those thrills and spills, Antrim could be on a semi final ticket.
Caitrín Dobbin, proved a handful last Saturday and will feel at home in Loughgiel on Saturday
The important weather forecast offers up lots of sunshine and a warm air, conducive to supporter jerseys on mass, cool drinks and maybe an ice cream or two. Don’t forget to apply sun cream.
Match report and photos to follow the game right here on the Saffron Gael.
Main picture above – Marie Anne Forester and Olwyn McCambridge hand over a junior team kit to Olivia Mulholland to take to Ghana where she will be delivering workshops promoting Gaelic games.
Olivia Mulholland is one of St Joseph’s LGFA minor team and a lower sixth pupil at St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena.
On the 21st June 2025, she will be travelling with a select group of teachers and pupils from St Louis Grammar School to Ghana, West Africa to work alongside the St Louis Sisters in their local community of Oku.
The St Louis Sisters have highlighted areas where support is needed at the local school and clinic, and Olivia will be working directly with the people of Oku to deliver real life benefits for them.
During her time there, she will be involved in various projects, including:
• Painting and planting which will enhance the school and clinic environments.
• Participating in workshops focused on Developing Education, learning from the community and sharing their knowledge.
• And finally, helping to fund a small building project to meet specific needs within the village in Oku.
Over the last few months alongside her studies and training, Olivia has been busy fundraising to make all of this possible.
Olivia commented ‘I have currently raised just over £5500 and all funds raised will go directly to these projects. This financial support will make a real difference to the community, and I am so grateful to everyone who has donated.’
In addition to the education workshops in local schools, Olivia and her classmates are arranging some additional fun workshops where she plans to promote Gaelic games to the children. Former coaches of Olivia, Marie Anne Forester and Olwyn McCambridge heard about her plans and were able to offer her a complete Glenavy junior team kit that is no longer used.
Olwyn commented ‘In a world where we all need to be more sustainable – we are delighted to be able to support Olivia in this way. She is a great ambassador for the club and a great role model for other young girls.’
Marie Anne agreed ‘It will be great to see pictures of these unused tops making a difference to the children Olivia is going to be working with in Oku, West Africa.’
Photo above – St Patrick’s goalkeeper Ruadham McKenna who hit three 2pointers inside five minutes to bring his team right back into the game
Antrim Football League – Division 2
Glenavy 0-16 St Patricks Lisburn 1-11
When St Patrick’s Lisburn turned around at half time seven points in arrears to their hosts Glenavy at Chapel Hill on Wednesday evening most of those in attendance must have thought this was going to be a drab old game with little incident. However all was to change in the second half as the Lisburn men got right back into the game, thanks mainly to three 2pointers by the visitors’ goalkeeper Ruadham McKenna that got his team right back into the game and though they ended two points short in the end, they certainly had the home fans worried for a while.
Two club legends, Joe O’Boyle of Glenavy and Mickey Lynch of Naomh Padraig Lisburn were at the game at Chapel Hill
Glenavy started strongly with three points from Fergal Henry, James Gallagher and Henry again in the 9th minute. Lisburn hadn’t raised a flag by the end of the opening quarter but when Josh McMullan grabbed a goal on 16 minutes they were back on terms. However that was to be their only score of the first half as the home side hit seven in a row, three from Fergal Henry frees, two by Jack Shannon and one each from James Gallagher and Pearse O’Neill to lead by 0-10 to 1-00 at half time.
Clubmates Josh McMullan and Che Smyth clashed heads during the game and play was suspended for quite a while, Josh was able to return to the action after getting patched up but Che had to leave the field and was taken to hospital. All of us with the two speedy recoveries
When Shannon added another at the start of the second half things looked bleak for the Lisburn men, but after Josh McMullan sent over a point, goalkeeper McKenna lifted the spirits with a great 2pointer in the 38th minute. A clash of heads between two Lisburn players held the game up for a good few minute but once it going McKenna did it again and two minutes after that he added a third to bring his team back to within a point. Two in a row from James Gallagher gave Glenavy a bit of breathing space but Lisburn kept in touch when Rudi Smyth sent over a point. Fergal Henry and Eoin Dixon exchanged point to cut the deficit to just two, but Shannon and Henry pushed the gap out to four by the 56th minute. Lisburn kept up the pressure and landed two more points in added time, but the home team held on to win in the end by two.
Fergal Henry who was top scorer for Glenavy
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With two rounds of the Antrim ACFL Division 1 remaining O’Donovan Rossa gave themselves a fighting chance of survival with an excellent win over All Saints at Rossa Park on Wednesday night.
The high flying Ballymena side travelled to Belfast placed second in the league and expected to add two more points to sustain their challenge for a place in the league semi-finals but were taking down to earth with a bang.
Both sides had their county players back on board for the first time this season and it was Rossa’s returning Dominic McEnhill who would make a significant impact on his side’s victory.
McEnhill formed a twin threat up front with the excellent Thomas Morgan and the All Saints defence quite simply couldn’t cope with that threat.
Corey Walsh turna away in celebration after scoring Rossa’s goal
Morgan for Rossa and Benny McDonnell for the visitors exchanged early point and Dominic McEnhill restored the Rossa lead before one of All Saints returning county men, Conor Stewart got on the end of a good move to fire past Michael Byrne for the game’s opening goal with 9 minutes gone.
That score should have settled Baker Bradley’s side but instead it was bottom placed Rossa who returned to the offensive with Gerard Walsh 2pts and Dominic McEnhill levelling matters by the 11th minute.
Rossa looked dangerous every time they came forward as they moved the ball with a confidence that belied their lowly league position and a smart interchange saw Thomas Morgan place Corey Walsh who palmed to an empty net at the end of the opening quarter.
Walsh’s goal gave the hosts a lead they would not lose despite Conor Stewart replying with 2 quick fire points at the other end and the same player replied to a Thomas Morgan point to leave it finally balanced.
Morgan and McEnhill struck a couple of excellent 2 pointers to move the home side five clear as their confidence began to grow and they were handed an opportunity to move further ahead when referee Colin Thompson spread his arms to indicate a penalty.
All Saints Ciaran Campbell holds onto the ball despite taking a heavy hit from Eoghan McMeneman
Up stepped Dominic McEnhill to take the penalty award buy Saints’ keeper, Ryan Stewart dived full stretch to his right to save the penalty.
Mick Byrne converted the resulting ‘65’ but All Saints finished the half well with Benny McDonnell and Connell Lemon pointing to leave four between the sides at the break but the visitors would have the breeze behind them in the second half.
It was Rossa who continued to look the more dangerous side as matters got under way again and Thomas Morgan and Rory Grant moved them six ahead by the 2nd minute before Sean McVeigh and Benny McDonnell closed the gap to four once more by the 6th minute.
There was a distinct lack of cohesion about the All Saints play as Kavan Keenan attempt to find the unmarked Sean McVeigh cannoned wide of the big full-forward with Morgan pointing at the other end after 11 minutes.
All Saints rang the changes with Michael McCarry and Darach Bradley entering the action but it was Rossa and that man Morgan who continued to dictate matters as he moved his side 7 clear with 13 minutes remaining.
Rossa made clever use of their possession as they began to slow matters down and the visitors were finding it increasingly difficult to get their hands on the ball.
They did manage a couple of late points from a Michael McCarry free and one from Connell Lemon from play but the final score of the game fell the way of an excellent Rossa as Corey Walsh bisected the uprights.
Thomas Morgan who was a constant threat to the All Saints defence
With two rounds of games left there are two battles going on within the division. Rossa gave themselves a fighting chance of survival as they move onto 6 points with Ahoghill and Tir na nOg and St. John’s on 7.
They face a difficult away trip to Dunloy on Saturday before finishing their programme with a home game against St. Brigid’s on Wednesday the 2nd July.
At the other end of the table another battle is going on for a top four spot that would guarantee a place in the league semi-finals.
All Saints looked in a strong position when they travelled to Belfast to meet Rossa, sitting second in the table behind Cargin and on course for a place in those semi-final but they will need at least one win from their two remaining games if that is now to be achieved.
The first of those comes at home to neighbours Glenravel in Ballymena on Saturday and they then face a difficult away trip to Aghagallon to conclude their league programme.
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Sarsfields put themselves in pole position to claim the ACFL Division 2 title when they travelled to Moneyglass on Wednesday night and recorded a three point victory over their challengers for the title, St. Ergnat’s.
Both sides were locked on 21 points going into this ‘winner takes all’ contest, the sides having shared the points earlier in the season at the Bear Pit before the league split and both a long way clear of third place St. Teresa’s.
A superb exhibition of free taking from Brian Healy would prove the difference between the sides in the end, the Sarsfield’s sharp shooter accounting for 1-9 of his side’s total on the evening. 0-6 from frees and his goal coming from the penalty spot.
Healy’s goal came in the second minute and points from Conor Moley 2pt, and Healy 0-2 had the visitors 1-4 ahead by the 6th minute as they started at blistering pace.
Sean Boyd opened the St. Ergnat’s account with a point in the 8th minute in exchange to another Sarsfields point from Conor Glenholmes and two pointed frees from Tyler Cassidy and another from play by Conor Boyd had it back to 4 by the 22nd minute.
Philip McPeake and a converted Healy pointed free in exchange to points from Aidan McErlain and Colum Duffin left Sarsfield’s leading by five at the break.
Aidan McErlain got St. Ergnat’s off to a great start when he found the net, two minutes into the second half but Sarsfields replied with point from Garry Lennon and another Brian Healy free to move four ahead again by the 8th minute.
A great 2 pointer from Colum Duffin cut the deficit to two once more and it was down to one when Conor Boyd split the posts for his second of the evening.
Just when it looked like the tide was turning Healy struck another brace of 2 pointers of the ground with Duffin replying with a similar effort for the team in blue in the 48th minute but that would be as close as they would get.
Both sides added 0-3 in the run in with a Healy 2 pointer and Lennon on target for Sarsfields and Colum Duffin (2pts) and Kevin McCann replying for St. Ergnat’s.
St. Ergnat’s are at home to St. Joseph’s Glenavy in their final game while Sarsfield’s entertain, Naomh Padraig Lisburn and, barring slip-ups the Division 2 title looks on its way to the Stewartstown Road.
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