Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie Championship semi-finals
Antrim 0-15 Down 0-13
Antrim Camogs were pushed to the pin of their collars before squeezing past Down in an entertaining Ulster Senior Camogie semi-final at Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel on Sunday. Leading by two points going into injury time the Down supporters must have felt their team were set to snatch victory when Beth Fitzpatrick got on the end of a long delivery into the Antrim danger area, but to the great relief of the home crowd the Saffrons shot stopper Catriona Graham produced a brilliant save when she dived full length to turn Fitzpatrick’s shot away and seal the win for her side.
When the team’s met earlier in the season in the league Antrim had run out convincing winners, but it was clear from the start that Domnhal Nugent’s charges were not going to be a push-over this time around. Playing with the breeze at their backs in the opening half the visitors fell behind to early scores from Antrim’s Evanne Martin and Cassie McArthur, but with the brilliant Paul O’Hagan leading the line the Down girls hit the next six points on the bounce to lead 0-06 to 0-02. Antrim were in a spot of bother but they fought back well and two pointed frees from Roisin McCormick and one each from play by Katie Molloy and Maeve Kelly cut the gap back to a single point by half time.
Beth Fitzpatrick increased Down’s lead in the early stages of the new half before Roisin McCormick hauled the visitors back in with three points from frees, but O’Hagan pulled one back to tie the scores at 0-09 apiece by the 42st minute. Maeve Kelly produced a couple of moments of magic to send over two quick points, and although they Saffrons now had the upper hand they could not add to that score, which kept the home fans on the edge of their seats. As the game went deep into injury time it looked like they had done enough to clinch the title, but there was late drama when Fitzpatrick shot sped towards the corner of the Antrim net, before Graham’s brilliant heroics saved the day and booked her team’s place against Derry in the Ulster final in two week’s times.
SCORERS
Antrim R McCormick 0-8 (0-7f), M Kelly 0-3, K Molloy 0-2, E Martin & C McArthur 0-1 each
Down P O’Hagan 0-10 (0-7f), B Fitzpatrick 0-2, A McAleenan 0-1
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All Ireland Minor A Shield Antrim v Laois 27th April 2025
Match report and photos from Antrim County PRO Michael Corcoran at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
Antrim 1-27 Laois 2-09
For the most part of Sunday’s Shield final, the sun shone down on Nowlan Park and particularly on Antrim’s minors. A faultless breeze-assisted second half wore their opponents, Laois, down and pegged Laois’ second half scoring to just five points compared to Antrim’s significant tally of eighteen points. But the game started out with promise for Laois, with two terrific goals, stemming from mistakes in the back line, and four points to walk in only two points behind Antrim at the short whistle. No one could have predicted that Antrim would pull away in the second half with such a display of strength, hunger, tenacity and skill.
The official for the match, Cathal McAllister from Cork, had his ‘steps’ clocked up in what was a lively game, at times end to end. No sooner had McAllister blew at the throw in, than an audacious set play from Antrim’s Eobha McAllister (no relation as the great RTE GAA commentator Míchéal Ó Muircheartaigh would have said) to a running Eva McNeill finding the catch net over Laois’ bar in under ten seconds.
Antrim pressed hard into the southerly breeze as Laois won the toss and elected to play with the elements and points favoured Antrim from Eva McNeill, Kady Mcneill and Eimear McCaughan before Laois replied with a classy point on a shortened stick from an unmarked Lara Culleton, just after teammate Eimear Murphy’s point from a free.
Eva McNeill breaks away during Sunday’s Minor All Ireland game in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
It took only eight minutes before Antrim’s midfielder Eobha McAllister would prove her authority on the sliotar, with a smart hand pass to a running Aimee Ferris. Ferris sailed a high sliotar into the breeze, but it dipped dangerously and caught out Laois’ goalkeeper, Grace Foxe for the game’s first goal. Laois weren’t phased by Antrim’s green flag and demonstrated their abundant skills when Emma Jane Cuddy fought hard for a well won ball and on the turn sailed that over Antrim’s bar to bring scores to Antrim 1-04 Laois 0-03.
Antrim were equally capable of demonstrating pace and scoring as Eobha McAllister crossed a ball into Eimear McCaughan, lifting, turning and losing her marker with some ease for a classy score. Although Laois would raise their first green flag of two inside ten minutes from a super pick pocket by Laois’ Eimear Murphy as Antrim’s Laura Black waited on the sliotar to come back onto her stick, McCaughan would perform a damage limitation exercise with two straight points in rapid succession and a nifty pass from Eva McNeill onto Amy McAlister would find the catch net over the bar and Antrim had neutralised the first green flag.
That situation wouldn’t last, as a Laois long puck out down the stand side would find the competent stick of Eimear Murphy, quickly offering the sliotar to Emma Jane Cuddy and a drifting Lara Culleton from her marker found her shot at Antrim’s net for their second goal of the game.
It’s all over, Antrim are Minor A Shield All Ireland champions!
A loose swing from Antrim’s Eobha McAlister would attract scrutiny from the match official for a yellow card and Laois’ Eimear Murphy wasted no time in dispatching that free over Antrim’s bar. The game would lapse into the scoring doldrums for upwards of ten minutes as both sides blocked, hooked and chased every ball until Aimee Ferris set up Mary McArthur for a simple point on the turn. As the short whistle blew for half time, the sides walked in with the large scoreboard announcing Antrim 1-09 Laois 2-04, just two points the difference.
Antrim’s fortunes were about to take a significant turn for the good in the second half as they worked the sliotar long and deep to take their scores. Laois would float five points over Antrim’s bar during the entire second half and had a goal opportunity, around the forty-five-minute mark that had to be pushed over for a point to salvage something from Laois’ presence in Antrim’s box, compared to Antrim’s haul of eighteen points.
Antrim showed determination, tenacity and accuracy that coalesced into points running up on the Nowlan Park scoreboard, leaving Laois a long way back and as Antrim showed no letup in their pace and energy, Laois would be locked out of a comeback.
With approximately fifteen minutes of normal time left on the clock, both sides brought fresh legs onto the field, Laois rotating three times compared to Antrim’s five.
As the final whistle blew around the hallowed turf of Kilkenny, Antrim finished on what they had come to do, win another minor All Ireland. The Nowlan Park scoreboard registered Antrim 1-27 Laois 2-09.
The Electric Ireland streaming team selected Antrim’s Eva McNeill as player of the match with a magnificent clutch of eight points, five of those from play and an impactful player covering a lot of the field, setting up scores for other players.
Antrim’s Eva McNeill picked up player of the match
Another Antrim player that caught the lens’ around the park worthy of note was Amy McAlister, with a tidy haul of seven points from play, six of those in the second half that turbo charged Antrim’s drive for the line along with Eva McNeill’s second half six points.
This was an impressive show of camogie from both teams, but success came to Antrim on this occasion and deservedly so, given their performance on the day.
Camogie president, Brian Molloy, presents the A Shield to Antrim captain, Kady McNeill
Antrim panel and scorers
Orlaith Johnston, Rhianna Black, Eva Lee, Leona Gillan, Maeve Devlin, Casey Crawford, Laura Black 0-01, Eobha McAllister 0-01, Eva McNeill 0-08 (1×45, 2f), Cara Delaney, Aimee Ferris 1-02, Mary McArthur 0-02, Amy McAlister 0-07, Kady McNeill 0-02, Eimear McCaughan 0-04, Laoise Stone, Cara Lynch, Niamh Mullan, Sarah Louise Kearns, Aoife Fitzsimmons, Sarah Flavin, Erinmae Mitchell, Amelie Annett, Órlaith Gould, Mary-Angela Nic Carthaigh, Louise McBride
Substitutions
Aoife Fitzsimmons for Cara Delaney, Amelie Annett for Mary McArthur, Órlaith Gould for Eimear McCaughan, Laoise Stone for Rhianna Black, Sarah Louise Kearns for Leona Gillan
Laois panel and scorers
Grace Foxe, Emer Conroy, Julie Ann Bennett, Chloe Troy, Sive Ó Reilly, Ella Phelan, Katie Lyons, Erin Walsh, Kaylah O Mara, Eimear Murphy 1-05 (4f), Aoife Kirby, Aoibheann Stynes, Lara Culleton 1-01, Emma Jane Cuddy 0-01, Katie Kavanagh 0-02, Amy Daly, Lucy Donoghue, Alison Curran, Niamh O’Shea, Muireann Bennett, Kayleigh Dunne, Ruby Doyle, Aoife Morris, Annie Dunne
Substitutions
Aoibheann Stynes for Kaylah O Mara, Ruby Doyle for Amy Daly, Lucy Donoghue for Lara Culleton, Aoife Morris for Chloe Troy
You can enjoy all the photos from Sunday’s final by following the link here…
In the end it was a one sided affair with eighteen points separating the sides but the Antrim fans will care to remember the second quarter of the game when Saffrons came from 0-8 to 0-1 behind to lead by 2-08 to 0-13 at half time.
Spirits were high as the teams went to the changing rooms at and for the first ten minutes of the second half they showed well, but the concession of two quick goals turned the game on its head as they appeared to knock the stuffing out of the home side.
Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy gets past the challenge of Antrim’s Conor Johnston
Kilkenny flew from the traps at the start of the game and after Stephen Donnelly hit the first score inside a minute Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly, Fionán Macakessy and Paddy Deegan all picked off points as star-struck Antrim were left chasing shadows. James McNaughton settled things a little with a pointed free but the Leinster champions stretched the lead to 0-8 to 0-01, despite playing against the stiff breeze.
Antrim couldn’t get their hands on the ball but three quick points from James McNaughton, Keelan Molloy and Conall Bohill settled them into the game and suddenly the tide began to turn.
A great pass from Conor Johnston sent James McNaughton away in the left corner and the Shamrocks speedster showed the Cats defence a clean pair of heels before firing past Eoin Murphy in the Kilkenny goal and suddenly the sides were level.
McNaughton seemed set for a second goal soon afterwards but his shot came back of the butt of the post and Murphy got it clear, but Keelan Molloy showed great skill just before the break to squeeze the ball home to complete an eight point turnaround and send the Saffrons in with a one point advantage. (2-08 to 0-13)
Keelan Molloy wheels away in celebration after scoring Antrim’s second goal just before half time
Three Eoin Cody points in reply to one by McNaughton early in the second half saw the visitors open a two point gap. Antrim looked set to take the lead again when Nigel Elliott made a brilliant run from midfield, but Murphy was equal to the shot as he turned it over the bar for a point which tied the scores yet again. The blow that started the Kilkenny avalanche of scores came on 52 minutes when Kilkenny Martin Keoghan disposed ad Antrim defender who was soloing up the field, Keoghan the racing through to fire past the helpless Ryan Elliott in the Antrim goal.
Suddenly from being in a very competitive position it appeared that the rug had been pulled from under the Antrim team and incredibly they went on to add a further 1-13 to a single Antrim point. The Saffrons introduced four of their Under 20 team who had run Dublin close during the week, but to be honest they never really saw the ball as the Kilkenny midfield and half-back line totally dominated possession and with man of the match Eoin Cody leading the charge the Cats pulled away to win by 18 in the end.
Kilkenny corner forward Eoin Cody who gave a great scoring exhibition, ending up with 1-13 to his name
ANTRIM: R Elliott; S Rooney, N O’Connor, P Burke; C Boyd, J Maskey, C Bohill (0-1); E Campbell, G Walsh; K Molloy (1-1), N Elliott (0-1), S Walsh; R McCambridge, J McNaughton (1-9, 0-9f), C Johnston.
Subs: C McKeown for C Johnston (HT), S McKay for R McCambridge (52), J McLaughlin for S Walsh (55), E O’Neill for E Campbell (69), A McGarry for G Walsh (69).
KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler (0-1), H Lawlor, T Walsh (0-1); M Carey, R Reid, P Deegan; C Kenny (0-2), J Molloy (0-2); F Mackessy (0-1f), J Donnelly (0-1), B Ryan (0-1); S Donnelly (0-3), M Keoghan (1-2), E Cody (1-13, 1-9f).
Subs: H Shine (0-1) for F Mackessy (40), L Hogan for S Donnelly (64), B Drennan (0-1) for J Donnelly (67), K Doyle for M Carey (67), E Lyng for C Kenny (70).
REFEREE: S Hynes (Galway)
Antrim corner fowrard Ryan McCambridge in action against Kilkenny’s Paddy Deegan
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Erin’s Own Cargin 3-10 Casement’s Portglenone 0-08
The Erin’s Own Club rooms at Toome will provide residence for the O’Cahan Cup for the next year as Cargin proved too strong for Casement’s Portglenone in the final before a good crowd at the home of St Mary’s Ahoghill Sunday evening.
The trophy has remained in storage for a few years with the South West division opting to reinstate their competition again this term and in the event it proved a good decision with the final drawing a big attendance to Cloney.
Both the contestants have secured the trophy over the years and both occupy residence in the top grade with a close affair expected as they lined out in opposition on Sunday evening.
The reigning county champions Cargin started as favourites but as St Comgall’s based whistler Paul Burns signalled start it was the Casement’s lads who were to nip faster out of the traps but Cargin were soon to gain in stride.
Pat Shivers celebrates after scoring his sides third goal
Ronan Kelly and Aidan Mc Aleese raised white flags apiece in the opening minutes but the Casement’s flattered to deceive as Erin’s Own took control.
The Bann-siders attempted to keep the score board attendant in work but they missed several opportunities to increase their tally and it was the opposition who opened account when the Gribbin brothers combined as Jamies delivery opened the way for sibling Callum to split the posts.
Casement’s, despite having their share of possession continued to find the target elusive as the first period continued as the Toome men proved strong in defence with Conan Johnston and Ben McLarnon influential at the back and it was a clearance by the latter that sent Pat Shivers on his way to raise white and square matters.
Cargin were beginning to dominate at mid- field as the game progressed with Jamie Gribbin and Pat Shivers adding points apiece before net minder John Mc Nabb vacated his domain for a term to grab back to back points to earn a 0-06 to 0-02 advantage.
Casement’s had lost their way and their Toome based rivals continued to threaten with the Gribbin brothers and the Shivers boys causing more and more problems for their opponents.
Pat Shivers raised a further white flag in the 26th minute after his brother Tom played a role and when Jamie Gribbin added another it ensured a 0-08 to 0-02 lead for the Toome men at the end of the first period.
The second half started with the residence of the O’Cahan cup still to be resolved but Cargin were soon to gain in impetus as a combination of the Shivers brothers, Tom and Pat paved the way for Benen Kelly to find the net with an excellent finish.
Cargin keeper, John McNabb comes of his line to foil Conor Magee’s goal attempt
Big full forward Aiden Mc Aleese always posted threat to the Cargin defence when he split the posts twice in succession but Erin’s Own were quick to return fire as the hard grafting Jamie Gribbin eluded a couple of stiff challenges to split the posts in the 42nd minute.
Casements were doing all in their power to get their own game going but their opponents were soon to deliver a decisive blow as a John McNabb delivery found Benen Kelly who sent Jamie Gribbin away to find the net.
Gribbin’s goal moved the Toome side 2-10 to 0-05 ahead and it was as good as over at this stage as both sides emptied their benches.
Casement’s fought to the end but with limited success and another pointed free by Aiden Mc Aleese was cancelled out by one at the other end by Pat Shivers.
The big full forward, who was excellent over the hour was then sent on his way after a slick combination between Michael Mc Cann and Sean Og O’ Neill to bury the leather in the back of net and that was that with the silverware on its way to Toome.
South West Chairman, Stephen Graham presents the O’Cahan Cup to Cargin captain, James Laverty
Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-02), Conan Johnston, Kevin O’ Boyle, Sean og Quinn, Benen Kelly (1-01), Kevin Mc Shane, Sean og O’ Neill, Michael Mc Cann, Tom Shivers (0-01) , Jamie Gribbin (1-02), John Carron, Callum Gribbin (0-01),
Ben Mc Larnon, Pat Shivers (1-03), David Johnston
Subs
James Laverty
Tomas Mc Cann
Tomas Mc Cann
Jack O’ Neill
Charlie Mc Larnon
P J Quinn
Casement’s: Kevin Mullan, Ronan Delargy, Kevin O’ Kane, Patrick Graffin, Ryan Convery, Conor Mc Ghee (0-01), Stephen Kelly, Niall Delargy, Fergal O’ Kane, Oisin Doherty, Ronan Kelly (0-02), Aodhan Mc Aleese (0-05), Ciaran Mc Aleese.
Subs: Ryan McKeever, Sean Byrne, Paddy Graffin
Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgall’s)
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It was only in the last 15 minutes when Oisin’s managed to shake off their visitors, Kickhams Creggan, to finish 13 points to the good in Saturday’s Division 2 league game at Waterfoot
Glenariffe would have been firm favourites for this one and they got off to a great start, 3 points and a goal within the first 6 minutes. Orrin O’Connor got the home side up and going with a fine point from play and Alex O’Boyle converted the next 2 frees and when Seanie McIntosh found the net the omens didn’t look good for the visitors. Thomas McCann got the first point for the Creggan with 6 minutes gone, while Morgan Nelson reduced the gap to 4 points on the 8th minute. O’Boyle converted another free as both teams began to settle as the game opened up.
Creggan’s Conor McCann got his first point on the 12th minute while McIntosh responded with a point from distance to leave it 1.05 – 0.04. Creggan’s Morgan Nelson reduced the deficit to 2 points , finding the net on the 19th minute. The same player pointed 2 minutes later to level the contest but that was only short lived as McIntosh raised the 2nd green flag on the 21st minute to put them 3 in front. Alex O’Boyle added to the home side score with a point on the 26th minute while Conor McCann added a 2nd point for the visitors to leave it a goal between the teams. As we headed towards the short whistle, there was nothing between the teams until Alex O’Boyle found the net in added time.
HALF TIME SCORE: Glenariff 3.06 v Creggan 1.06
Ray Matthews got proceedings underway for the 2nd half. As Creggan came on to the field in the 2nd half, they knew they were going to have to reduce the 2-goal deficit quickly. Morgan Nelson pointed from a converted free on the throw in and adding a point 2 minutes later. Lee Johnston scored his first point on the 31st minute. Nelson converted his 2nd free on the 39th minute to leave 2 points between the sides, but that was as good as it got for Creggan as Keelan McCann was the only scorer of the rest of the contest, a point on the 51st minutes. As we headed into the last quarter, Glenariffe put on a display that delighted the home support. They displayed some beautiful free flowing hurling, moving the ball at pace. Creggan did their best to keep up and were unlucky with several goal chances going wide but it was the men from Waterfoot’s day. Niall Magee got the first of two 2nd half points on the 39th and 52nd minute, Alex O’Boyle converted 2 frees on the 40th and 50th minute, while Brogan O’Connor added 2 points, one minute apart, on the 40th and 41st minute. Glenariff’s last goal came on the 50th minute as a result of a goal mouth raucous. This was stopped on the line twice by Shea McCann only for Michael O’Boyle to flick it past on his 3rd attempt while rolling on the ground. McIntosh finished the contest with the last 2 scores to give him a personal tally of 2 goals and 3 points. Creggan’s management will be disappointed with the way this game went. They came back well in the 2nd half but just faded in the final quarter allowing a much pacier Oisin’s to take advantage
REFEREE: RAY MATTHEWS
GLENARIFF: No.1 Paul McMullan, No.2 Patrick McIlwaine, No.3 Michael Haughey, No.4 Cailin Devlin, No.5 Brogan O’Connor (0.02), No.6 Niall Magee (0.02), No.7 James Kearney (0.01), No.8 Calum McIlwaine, No.9 Oliver Kearney, No.10 Orrin O’Connor (0.01), No.11 Conor Patterson, No.12 Daniel Kearney, No.13 Alex O’Boyle (1.06), No.14 Seanie McI|ntosh (2.03), No.15 Michael O’Boyle (1.00), No.16 Odhrain Gillan, No.17 Ronan Leech, No.18 Cathal Graham, No.19 Sean McMullan, No.20 Ben O’Boyle, No.21 Martin McAllister, No.22 Jack Leech, No.23 Cahir McNaughton.
CREGGAN: No.1 Shea Devlin, No.2 Dylan Hinfey, No.3 Aidan McKeown, No.4 Paedar McGuckian, No.5 Matthew Rodgers, No.6 Ruairi McCann, No.7 Keelan McCann (0.01), No.8 Senan O’Boyle, No.9 Jake McAteer, No.10 Dan Doran, No.11 Thomas McCann (0.01), No.12 Lee Johnston (0.01), No.13 Morgan Nelson (1.05), No.14 Conor McCann (0.03), No.15 Sean McAuley, No.16 Joseph James Smyth, No.17 Conor Loughran, No.18 Danaan O’Hara No.19 Michael Maguire, No.20 Paul Colgan, No.21 Michael Carey Small, No.23 Niall McAuley, No.24 Ronan McGuckian.
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