by thesaffrongael

Facile win for rampant Antrim girls

All Ireland LGFA Junior Championship

Antrim 3-18 London 0-00

Antrim senior ladies scored a facile win over London at Tir na nOg on Saturday in round 2 of their all Ireland group games and easily accounted for the visitors who suffered the indignity of failing to score while Antrim were rampant, running up a very impressive 3-18.

It was a very much changed Antrim team from their previous game with the management team making 7 personnel changes to the starting 15 with a good few of them laying down a marker.  

This is a very competitive panel of players and it’s so important for them all to have the opportunity to get good game time … 

Antrim flew out of the traps early and Theresa Mellon scored 3 wonderful points in the first 5 minutes… 

Indeed Theresa was proving a handful for the opposition defence and she then came provider for the impressive Maria O Neill on two occasions and O’Neill raised two white flags … 

Blaithin Ni Cahill then got her first score of the day with a great point and Luisne Adams then registered a point with a great long distance point… 

Nicole Jones then fired over two quick scores after good build up play from Aine Kelly and Grace Shannon… 

After a great solo run Anna Mulholland got her first score of the day and Aoife Turley then sent Maria O Neill in to raise the white flag again.

Just before the half time whistle Mellon and O Neill hit a point each to send the Antrim girls in 0-13 to no score at the break. 

The second half continued the same pattern as the first with Mellon and Ni Cahill hitting early point. London did manage to get the ball in the Antrim net in the second minute but the score was ruled out for a square ball offence.  

Antrim’s workrate was tremendous and in absolute terrible conditions they held and used the ball with great effect… 

After 10 minutes of the second half Antrim got their first goal of the day when Niamh Mc Intosh, Aine Devlin and Gemma Mc groarty worked the ball out from the back and in turn sent Ciara Brown clear and she unselfishly laid the ball off to O’Neill who hammered to the net … 

Aiobheann Monaghan and Laura Agnew then combined well to set up Anna Mulholland for her third score of the day before O’Neill grabbed her fifth point of the day from close range. 

Olivia Todd then intercepted the London kickout, she found Debbie Boyd in acres of space who in turn found Blaithin Ni Cahill with an exquisite pass and she hammered the ball to the back of the London net… 

With only a few minutes left Antrim got their third goal when after a brilliant one two between Rachel Tubridy and Maeve Blaney the latter scored a screamer from all of 20 metres, the ball hitting the inside of the left hand upright before spinning across the line and into the net.

The Antrim management team were understandably delighted with a win when they spoke to the Saffron Gael after the game.

Antrim senior ladies now travel to Carlow in two weeks’ time for their final round robin game .

“Our girls were superb in those conditions out there today. They worked so hard and used the ball really well.. 

The girls had tireless energy today and this showed in our massive turnover count… 

Every girl was excellent, plus the encouragement the girls were getting from their team-mates who didn’t get game time was tremendous. Such is the togetherness in this group.  

We chose today to give quite a few girls a well-deserved start and such is the competitiveness in this group every girl in this group showed that they have the quality to play at this level… 

All in all a good days work” 

The win secures Antrim’s place in the knockout stages but they play Carlow next weekend in the last of their round-robin games.

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

All Saints celebrate their 50th anniversary Mass

‘Today we take great pride in the tremendous development of our sports facilities and glory in the success of our club. That success has been achieved through the commitment, dedication and perseverance of so many great people as volunteers who, along with our talented young people, help make this club so special”

Fr. Paddy McKenna
13th June 2025


The words of Fr. Paddy McKenna taken from his homily at the All Saints GAC Anniversary Mass sum up perfectly the journey the Ballymena club has been on since formation in 1975. Last night at St. Patrick’s Church, Crebilly members and friends gathered to celebrate this milestone in the life of the “middle town” club.

The Mass was the official start to the club’s anniversary events and club Chairperson Jim Brady set the tone in his address when selecting “beginnings” as his theme. Here are some extracts from his contribution.


“While we have had several events to mark the 50th year of All Saints including a recent visit from Sam Maguire and a training session at Slemish Park involving Davy Fitz and the Antrim hurling team tonight marks the first of our “formal” celebration occasions. And it is very fitting that this occasion has been a Parish event. We are very proud of our roots in our parish here in Ballymena and in particular the church here at Crebilly which has stood here for some 60 plus years will no doubt have witnessed and heard the noise and activity emanating not just from down on the Woodside Road since the 1980s when we relocated to Slemish Park but from several other earlier manifestations of Gaelic games down the lanes and in the fields around the Caherty and Crebilly area before that.
 
So this, if you like, marks the beginning of our celebratory year. And it is with beginnings that I wish to concentrate on this evening.

Our beginnings in 1975 were humble to say the least. When Father Jordan made his call for people to come forward to help establish a Gaelic club in the town he maybe did it not knowing what the response would be. However, as the last five decades have shown he needn’t have worried. But back then in 1975 the landscape was very different to that of today. There were no facilities available and if we’re honest the GAA interest, knowledge and experience of the average Ballymena born and bred person was limited to a small number of people who would thankfully become involved in the establishment of the club.
It had been these people who had established Gaelic teams and clubs in the years beforehand. These clubs folded over time but interest in Gaelic games was clearly evident locally. What helped support this interest were people who had come to Ballymena from outlying areas for work and in some cases through marriage. The early history of our club is that along with our local people we now had the involvement of people from other strong GAA areas like Lavey, Rasharkin, Randalstown, Glenarm, Glenravel, Portglenone and Belfast to name several.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to the clubs that produced those people and to these people themselves who then became mainstays of All Saints. They brought with them to Ballymena a love of and an understanding of Gaelic Games and Gaelic culture.Staying with the theme of beginnings I return to Father Jordan, I, like many of you here this evening, wasn’t around when Father Jordan was in our parish but we’re very lucky that there are some people who were and they’re sitting here with us this evening and that’s been a great source of information, storytelling and knowledge for me as I set out to document the club history. I’ve been told that Fr. Jordan’s call to seek interested people came about because he noticed that a lot of our parish community we’re leaving each Sunday to go and watch Gaelic games in neighbouring parishes and villages and towns and his thoughts were on why can’t we do that for our own parishioners in our own area. So a very small band of people answered his call and came together to establish the All Saints club.

I had the opportunity to make contact with his sister Mary in recent years and I was delighted with the information she was able to share with me on Fr. Jordan and on his love for Gaelic games and culture. I was equally delighted that she was able to visit with us here in Ballymena at the club on several occasions and on one notable occasion when she managed to meet with some of our founder members who had worked with her brother to establish the club. It was a lovely moment and confirmed for her the legacy of her brother’s efforts all those years ago.

In finishing this evening I wish to pay tribute. Tribute Fr. Jordan, tribute to our founder members and tribute to everyone who has worked so hard, been so committed and showed such enthusiasm. These people have brought us from an initial meeting in a house on the Market Road in 1975 to the Hugomont Suite in 2025 and been responsible for everything that has happened and been achieved in between.

Our thanks to each and every one of them.

The club wish to thank our Parish Priest, Fr. Michael McGinnity, Fr. Paddy McKenna, our parish folk and children’s choir, all who participated in the celebration Mass and our 50th Anniversary committee.

We also thank all of our fellow Antrim clubs who facilitated fixture changes to accommodate the club Mass.

TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE ANNIVERSARY MASS AND THE CELEBRATIONS IN THE CLUB AFTER CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Molloy dominant as Cargin close the gap

ACFL Division 1

                                  Erin’s Own Cargin 4-19 St Galls 3-12

A towering performance from mid-fielder Odhran Molloy assisted by the scoring power of John McNabb ensured victory for Cargin to draw within a point of their opposition St Gall’s who arrived with a three point advantage over their hosts on Friday evening.

Senior keeper McNabb excelled in his full-forward birth for Cargin’s second string and contributed  a personal haul of 2-12 over the hour, including four two pointers.

St Gall’s were quick into their stride but the visitors missed early opportunities and it was Cargin mid fielder Odhran Molloy who opened their account with a 3rd minute point but the visitors were soon to nip ahead as Liam Lynn raised white before Paddy Murray despatched a 30 metre free on the same path.

A lively opening as corner forward Liam Lynn quickly added a goal but the home side were quick to reply as Paul McCann and Odhran Molloy opened the way for the lively P J Quinn to reply in kind at the other end.

The visitors aided by a lively easterly breeze, took advantage of the elements as Daniel Murray and Patrick Og Murray despatched 55 metre frees between the posts, and when the latter added a goal to open up a healthy lead the Milltown Blues looked on their way at the end of the opening quarter.

John McNabb sent a ‘45’ metre free between the posts to reduce the deficit and when he followed with a 60 metre ‘two pointer’ from an Enda McGrogan pass the deficit was reduced to a single score.

The visitors finished the half on top and late points from Jarlath Mervyn and Patrick Og Murray ensured a 2-09 to 2-06 lead at the short whistle.

The Toome men were to enjoy the favours of the breeze in the second half and they were quickly in to their stride as an Odhran Molloy fetch opened the way for Diarmuid Quinn to fire over the bar with a John McNabb ’45’ despatched between the posts providing addition a minute later.

A Paddy Murray point saw the visitors open their second half account but the home side were quick to reply with Odhran Molloy dominating in the central zone and a John Mc Nabb ‘two’ pointer saw the Toome men take the lead.

 McNabb added another shortly after Diarmuid Quinn had added a point and the home side had gone three points ahead 2-13 to 2-11.

John McNabb who scored 2-12 in his side’s victory over St. Gall’s on Friday night

Daniel McCann announced his presence with a point but the visitors were quick to make reply and a Patrick Murray goal brought them back on level terms before an Odhran Molloy fetch and point from the resultant kick out ensured his side had regained the lead.

Cargin dominated the closing stages and Diarmuid Quinn added a goal and McNabb followed with a further ‘2’ pointer before Molloy opened the way for a goal for the rampant Mc Nabb and the home side had gained a 4-17 to 3-12 advantage as the long blast approached.

Odhran Molloy had the last say on matters, grabbing back to back points in the last minutes to see his side breast the winning line at 4-19 to 3-12 to get within a point of the division one leaders.

Cargin: Shea Laverty, Jack Harney, Gerard Mc Corley, Sean og Quinn, Ben Mc Larnon, Marty Kane, Ronan Devlin, Darren Mc Daid (0-01), Odhran Molloy (0-03), PJ Quinn(1-01), Paul Mc Cann, Cian Scullion, Diarmuid Quinn (1-02), John Mc Nabb( 2-12), Enda McGrogan

Subs

Daniel McCann (0-01)

Michael Laverty

Tom McCann

St Galls: Niall McCurdy, Oisin O’Callaghan, Tiarnan Keenan, Christopher Hale, Eathan Mc Cabe, Gareth Adams, Mark Kelly, Jarleth Mervyn, Michael Hopkins(0-02),Conall Murray, Liam Lynn, Mark Kelly, Nial Fallon (Paddy Murray (1-04)Sean Burke (0-02)

Referee: John Hasson (All Saint’s)

by thesaffrongael

Antrim avoid Dire Straits playing Sultans of Swing in the second half

Glen Dimplex All Ireland Intermediate Championship

Westmeath 4-04 Antrim 5-09

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran

Torrential downpours across portions of Saturday’s game defined scoring conditions as visibility dropped to mere metres at times, grips were saturated and underfoot was slippy but it it didn’t detract from the intensity of the match. Attempts to float the heavy sliotar through a curtain of rain for points were far and few between, as both sides opted to play safe and go low.

It was Westmeath that leveraged those conditions early in the game and amidst a sprinkling of chaos in the Antrim defence, Westmeath found themselves two goals up after fifteen minutes before Antrim came back with a Nicole McAtamney penalty, as referee Karol Collins agreed Caitrin Dobbin was pulled to the ground on her advance to goal.

Westmeath making their presence known in Saturday’s epic game in Cusack Park

Antrim looked like they had steadied the ship at 2-02 apiece, points from Lucia McNaughton and Maeve Kelly as McAtamney struck again from a free that tucked itself under the bar for her second green flag but Westmeath had their share of luck too, as a high dropping ball bounced out of the hand of Antrim’s keeper for their third of the game at twenty eight minutes gone.

Antrim’s Katie Molloy battles the elements during a torrential downpour

Unrelenting rain was the hallmark of the second half and Westmeath wasted no time in puncturing Antrim’s net with their fourth goal from a delicate pass into Julie McLoughlin, but Antrim were about to swing their fortunes and the appearance of Roisin McCormick from the bench would send Westmeath into turmoil, infusing skills with pushing forward, feeding Katie Molloy and Caitrin Dobbin, Dobbin enjoying two goals, one of those from a Katie Molloy Annie Lynn genesis and onto McCormick. McCormick would announce her presence quietly at first, cruising two frees over Westmeath’s bar before becoming a handful for Westmeath.

Caitrin Dobbin takes aim for one of her goals against Westmeath

One of Dobbin’s goals came from a tenacious read of Westmeath’s puck out by McCormick as the dud ball slammed short, picking it up and offloading into Dobbin for her goal. A buoyant Antrim had four goals in the bag and McCormick was about to be rewarded with her own goal to register five on the scoreboard for Antrim with nine points gathered up from McCormick, Dobbin, Kelly and two from McAtamney to Westmeath’s 4 goals and four points, Westmeath only managing to score 1-02 in the second half speaks volumes of Antrim’s swing in fortunes as they continued to keep the sliotar forward and ground down any advance from Westmeath.

Making the difference, Roisin McCormick picking out a fellow player to advance Antrim’s score

Despite Collins adding on four extra minutes, Westmeath were unable to make good of those precious minutes and Antrim walked in 5-09 to 4-04, a tough but well won three points, facing Meath now on Saturday 21st June in Loughgiel.

Westmeath Panel and scorers

Aoife Corcoran, Emily McCabe, Dearbhail McLoughlin, Claire Gaffney, Katie Coleman, Roisín Scally, Laura Doherty, Caoimhe McCrossan 0-02 (1f), Aoife O’Malley, Karen Keegan, Áine Newman, Hannah Core 0-01, Meadbh McLoughlin 1-01, Julie McLoughlin 2-00, Olivia Kelleghan 1-00

Anna Weir, Fiona Keating, Ciara Corcoran, Katie Penrose, Reanna Kennedy, Eva Cawley, Kate Whyte, Rebecca O’Neill, Mary Geraghty, Muireann Scally, Holly Dowdall, Caoimhe McCormack

Antrim panel and scorers

Becky Ellis, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Sarah O’Neill, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney 2-02, Maeve Kelly 0-02, Eavanne Martin, Lucia McNaughton 0-02, Cassie McArthur, Katie Molloy, Caitrín Dobbin 2-01

Caitriona Graham, Dearbhail Dobbin, Katie Rose Bell, Sarah Fyfe, Niamh Neeson, Janey McIntosh, Emer Johnston, Roisín McCormick 1-03 (2f), Aisling O’Donnell, Annie Lynn, Orlaith McAllister, Fionnuala Kelly, Dervla Cosgrove, Collen Patterson

You can view more photos from Saturday’s game here…

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by thesaffrongael

Cushendall hold off late Loughgiel rally to bridge an eleven year gap

North Antrim Minor Hurling Championship – Darragh Cup

Cushendall 4-21 – Loughgiel 3-18

Cushendall held off a second half challenge from Loughgiel to take the John Darragh Memorial Cup for the first time since 2014 at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall, on Friday evening. When the Ruairis went in at half time with a nine point lead (3-11 to 1-08) it looked as if they were racing home untroubled. The gap was still nine with just five minutes of normal time remaining, but goals in the 53rd and 57th minutes by Logan McConville and Conan Johnston closed the gap to just three. There were a few very anxious looks at the clock by the home fans as Loughgiel searched for an equaliser, but Cushendall slammed the door on the Shamrocks with two late points from Nicholas McNaughton and one from Ryan McAuley to seal the win with six to spare.

Malachy Darragh presents the John Darragh Memorial Cup to Cushendall captain Thomas McLaughlin after his team’s win over Loughgiel in Friday evening’s final at Pairc Muuire.

A point within 20 seconds from Cahir McCambridge put Cushendall ahead but Ryan O’Boyle had Loughgiel level two minutes later. Conleth McNaughton edged Cushendall back ahead but two in a row from the Shamrocks by Ryan O’Boyle and Conan Johnston gave Loughgiel the lead by the fifth minute.

A goal from Fiontan Bradley in the seventh minute kick started a Cushendall surge and though Caolan McCollum came back with a point for the visitors, the young Ruairis were starting to hit their stride and five unanswered points from Fiontan Bradley, Thomas McLaughlin, Ryan McAuley, Oran McCambridge and Bradley again put them 1-07 to 0-4 ahead by the end of the first quarter. Caolan McCollum pulled one back for the Shamrocks but the winners hit back with a devastating double blow as Cahir and Conor McCambridge hit two goals in as many minutes. Two more points by Fiontan Bradley pushed the gap out to eleven and though Dan O’Mullan pulled a goal back for Loughgiel the Ruairis went in at the break with a nine point cushion. (3-11 to 1-08)

Loughgiel’s Oisin Connolly in action during the Darragh Cup final against Cushendall

The scoring dropped off a bit during their third quarter, but Cushendall stretched their lead to twelve. Ryan O’Boyle and Logan McConville kept Loughgiel’s hopes alive but when Conlaith McNughton got Cushendall’s fourth goal most people in the big crowd would have thought the game was over. However the Shamrocks hit four of the next five points and when Logan McConville and Conan Johnston fired home goals in the 54th and 57th minutes it was game on once again. The nerves were starting to jangle among the home fans as Loughgiel were on the verge of a mammoth comeback, but Cushendall held their nerve and two points by Nicholas McNaughton and one by Ryan McAuley sealed a memorable victory.

CUSHENDALL

Shane Coulter, Paddy Morgan, Conor McCann, Charlie McAlister, Patrick McCambridge, Aidan Campbell, Diarmuid McManus, Callagh Mooney, Thomas McLaughlin, Ryan McAuley, Oran McCambridge, Nicholas McLaughlin, Cahir McCambridge, Fiontan Bradley, Connlaodh McNaughton.

LOUGHGIEL

Sean Douthart, Eunan Johnston, Eddie Smyth, Thomas McNulty, Ger McFadden, Ashton McGarry, Niall McCloskey, Donal McKay, Logan McConville, Ryan O’Boyle, Oisin Connolly, Liam McGarry, Caolan McCollum, Dan O’Mullan, Conan Johnston.

Referee – Colm Cunning (Dunloy)

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