Cushendall booked their place in the final of the McAuley Cup at Armoy on Sunday with an eight point semi-final win over Loughgiel.
Both teams were short a good few regulars but they still produced a high scoring and entertaining game. Loughgiel went ahead in the early stages with points from Rian McMullan and Conor Deery but when Sea McAfee put Cushendall ahead with a goal in the third minute they held the upper hand for much of the game. Rian McMullan was picking off the points for the Shamrocks, with Enda Og McGarry and Conor O’Mullan adding to the tally but a second goal for the Ruairis by corner forward Ciaran Neeson and points from Padraig McKillop, Paddy Sharpe and Dan Delargy helped them to a 2-08 to 0-10 lead by half time.
Delargy increased Cushendall’s lead six minutes into the second half to push the gap out to five, but Loughgiel stayed in touch with good scores from ‘Bubbles’ McMullan (2) and Eoin McGarry (2). Half way through that second period the veteran Paddy McGill, who had been introduced at half time, started to make his prescence felt and two points inside a minute gave the Ruairis a bit more breathing space.
The Shamrocks got themselves back into contention when they hit four points without reply, two from Bubbles and one each Eoin McGarry and Donal McKinley, but Cushendall finished strongly and after McGill got another point, Padraig McKillop and Fergus McCambridge did likewise before Paddy Sharpe put the icing on the cake with an injury time goal
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St Galls continued their unbeaten run in Division 1 of All County league when they put Glenravel to the sword in Fr Maginn Park on Sunday with a convincing 1-20 to 0-11 win. Both sides fielded teams depleted due to county commitments at senior and U20 level but with one game already under their belt the Belfast men proved too strong for Glenravel for whom this was their opening game of the season. Ahead by eight points at the halfway mark St Galls were never going to be caught and were good value for their twelve point winning margin.
Slack play in the home team defence gifted St Galls a goal chance when centre half forward Brendan Bradley fisted across goals and his colleague Niall O’Neill fired home from short range to give the visitors the perfect start. Marty Murray followed up shortly after before Daniel McQuillan put over for Glenravel with seven minutes gone but that would prove to be their only score of the opening quarter whilst their opposition tagged on another three points from Daniel Quinn, Colm Walsh and the very impressive Barry McCaffrey to leave St Galls ahead 1-04 to 0-01. Aiden O’Donnell slotted over a free to double the Glensmen’s score but McCaffrey and Quinn again stretched the St Galls lead. Fergus Donaghy popped up for a good score for Glenravel but back came the city men with three unanswered points off the boots of Brendan Bradley and Barry McCaffrey. Sean McKay and Aiden O’Donnell added for Glenravel between which Barry McCaffrey popped up with a nice score to give his side a convincing half time lead of 1-10 to 0-05.
Glenravel needed a good start to the second half and Captain Rian Lennon produced that with two well taken scores and when Aiden O’Donnell’s free went over it reduced the gap to six points but then St Galls wrestled control of the game back and recorded four unanswered points from McCaffrey, Daniel Quinn, Marty Murray and Ruari Wilson to stretch their lead to ten points by the end of the third quarter and effectively seal the game. Both teams traded scores to the end of the game but as a contest it had fizzled out long before referee Richard Leahy called time.
Next up for Con Magees is a tough away encounter with Ahoghill on Thursday Apr 3rd at 7:30pm whilst St Galls need to wait a few more days to Sunday April 6th at 2pm to face Aghagallon at home at the Bog Meadows.
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Following their relegation from division 1 last year, St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass got their division 2 campaign off to a winning start when trhey entertained newly promoted Naomh Comhghall, Antrim.
They didn’t get it all their own way however against last year’s division 3 and Junior Championship winners who did enough to show that they will not be out of their depth in the higher grade.
Indeed it was visitors Naomh Comhghall who opened the scoring through the excellent Ryan Clarke who accounted for all the visitor’s first half scores and was a threat throughout.
St. Ergnat’s replied through Aidan McErlain and Kevin McCann to take the lead but Clarke had his side back on level terms by the 10th minute.
Both sides were giving it everything and points from Kevin McCann, Conor Boyd and a 2 pointer from Dermot McErlain in response to two more from the excellent Clarke had the home side two in front at the short whistle.
Dermot McErlain struck another 2 pointer, 8 minutes into the second half to move Moneyglass four in front and Aidan McErlain added a goal and suddenly the home side had opened up a seven point lead and it wasn’t looking good for Naomh Comhghall.
However they responded with a goal from Tom Patchett and a well struck 2 pointer from Ryan Clarke and the gap was back to two with 16 minutes of the new half gone.
Clarke continued to carry a strong attacking threat for ‘the town’ and he had it back to one with 11 minutes remaining and at this stage an upset looked a strong possibility.
St. Ergnat’s regrouped however to dominate the closing stages as Dermot McErlain, Kevin McCann and Conor Boyd hit three on the bounce to move them four ahead by the 24th minute.
McErlain made victory certain as he struck a late point with Patchett replying with a consolation point for the visitors who will be pleased by many aspects of their performance if not the final result.
St. Ergnat’s: 1. Jamie McLaughlin, 2. Damian Duffin, 3. Frank Duffin, 4. James McCormick, 5. Matthew Mullen, 6. Connor Boyd, 7. Oisin Hamill, 8. Kevin McCann, 9. Dermot McErlain, 10. Callum Murray, 11. Aidan McErlain, 12. Connor O Kane, 13. Niall Boyd 14. Column Duffin, 15. Charlie McCloskey,
Subs Sean Carey for Colm Duffin,
Feargal Duffin for Nail Boyd,
Senan O Boyle for C O Kane
Naomh Comhghall: 1Anton Watson, 2, Caolan McKeown3 Cathal Donnelly, 4 Sean Hinfey, 5 Shane Og Gribbon, 6 Michael McCabe, 7 Eoin Lynch, 8 James McCabe, 9 Louis Higgins, 10, Dylan Murdock, 11 Miles Devine, 12 Aaron McGraw, 13 Ryan Clarke, 14 Ruairi Griffin, 15 Tom Patchett
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O’Neills Antrim Football League Division Two St Teresa’s 1-11 Gort na Móna 0-9
When second half substitute Dessie McClean scored soon after being introduce to push Gort na Móna’s lead out to six, most of the punters at Pairc MhicDhomhnaill/ÚIDhoctairtich would have fancied them to go on and win a game they had dominated for most of the opening thirty minutes. However St Teresa’s were far from finished, and despite a lack lustre opening half they began to find a bit of rhythm in their play and by the time the final whistle sounded they were comfortable winners.
It was probably the first time most of the spectators at the Glen Road venue had seen the new rules in a live game and like some of the players, and members of the press, there was a fair bit of confusion, especially during the first half. However match referee Dermot Scullion did a good job in keeping things flowing and this turned out to be an enjoyable game.
Playing with the breeze at their backs the Gorts got the first two scores, two sweet strikes from goalkeeper Thomas McCaffrey sending two 45s between the St Teresa’s uprights. Anthony Varndell pulled one back for the home side with an excellent finish but McCaffrey added two more from dead balls to open up a three point lead for the visitors. St Teresa’s Anton Taylor and McCaffrey exchanged points to leave two between the sides before Eoghan Hamill hit an excellent score for the home side to leave just one between the sides but the Gorts finished the half strongly and two two-pointers in quick succession from Ciaran Donnelly and Darren Boyd moved their team five points clear at the half time whistle.
Dessie McClean’s quick start to the second half increased the visitors lead to six and they looked good value for it too. However St Teresa’s began to get on top and points from Conor O’Rawe and Darren McCann got them back into the game. The scoring dried up after that for the Turf Lodge men and St Teresa’s started to pick off the scores. The gap was down to three 45 minutes in when St Teresa’s got the break they needed Conor Mallon finished off a move he had started by firing home the only goal of the game.
Spirits were really high now with the home team and they dominated the final quarter picking off the points, O’Rawe edging them ahead for the first time before Niall McCann sent over a two pointer from outside the large arc. Paul McGoldrick then added two points in quick succession, both fisted over, but the second one should have been a goal. Anthony Taylor could also have had a goal in injury time, but was denied by McCaffrety in the Gorts goal.
ST TERESA’S: P Maguire; P Glennon, P Johnston, A Dugan; C Mallon (1-0), E Connolly, C O’Rawe (0-2, 1f); D McCann (0-1), A Varndell (0-1); E Hamill (0-1), S Maguire (0-1), P O’Rawe; M Small, J Mallon, A Taylor (0-1). Subs: P McGoldrick (0-2) for J Mallon (36), N McCann (0-2, 1x2pt) for A Varndell (36), R Mallon for M Small (48).
GORT NA MÓNA: T McCaffrey (0-4, 3x45s, 1f); D Cahill, C Connolly, C Keenan; S Campbell, C Donnelly (0-2, 1x2pt), P Cournane; M Savage, T Morton; B Burns, D Boyd (0-2, 1x2pt), P Mulvenna; M Brady, M McMullan, C Beck. Subs: D McClean (0-1) for S Campbell (HT), M McConnell for M Brady (40), R Brown for M McMullan (51).
REFEREE: Dermot Scullion
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Antrim v Offaly All Ireland A Shield round 4 Sunday 23rd March 2025
Antrim 1-11 Offaly 0-09
Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran in St. Mary’s GAA Club, Ahoghill
Two very distinct halves entertained the supporters lining the perimeter of Ahoghill’s Fr. McGuigan Park. Offaly won the toss and preferred to play with the breeze running down the pitch towards Crosskeys but it was Antrim that made the most of the conditions and after raising the green flag only six minutes into the first half, Offaly never managed to close the gap before the short whistle as teams walked in five points apart.
Offaly came out after the break with renewed determination and were dominant for the first ten minutes; Antrim having to react to several goalmouth scrambles and a great shift put in from goalkeeper Maeve Scullion as she brought down persistent shots from Offaly to find the net. Antrim weathered that storm, and some balance returned but the Saffrons, like Offaly, were never able to master the elemental advantage, instead containing Offaly to a no score in the last twenty minutes, maintaining the Saffron lead at the final whistle of five points.
Simon Redmond from Dublin got proceedings underway and reached for his notebook within the first minute as Offaly found the catch net for their two points from Laura Foley and Siofra Ginty.
Antrim responded from a free by Caoimhe McErlain that had to be deflected for a 45, but the breeze exaggerated the drift for the wide. McErlain though would be instrumental in finding Adria McAllister running in at close range to find the net and raise the green flag with only six minutes gone on the clock.
McErlain would prove to be Antrim’s powerhouse in today’s game, pointing three times and creating scoring opportunities as she offloaded to Cliodhna Thompson, taking her first point of three by splitting the catch net over the bar.
Offaly and Antrim lean in for one of the many battles in today’s game in Ahoghill
Offaly were quick to respond, and Siofra Ginty cruised two points in succession from a personal tally of seven on the day only to find Antrim’s JoJo Darragh moving Antrim ahead with her point on the twelfth minute but three minutes later, Laura Foley would point and Offaly would not return to move the scoreboard for the remaining fifteen minutes of the first half with a scoreline Antrim 1-02 Offaly 0-05.
In contrast, and at the core of Antrim’s win, the Saffron’s would make good of the remaining time and five points on the trot took Antrim into the short break with those five points the difference. One of those points came from Cliodhna Thompson as she took a free at the sideline near the clubhouse from a near impossible angle given the strength of the breeze, which didn’t appear to alter the sliotar’s path. And equally thrilling at the opposite end of the field, Offaly were destined to test keeper Scullion from close quarters but a brave hook by Laoise McCollam thwarted that effort.
In the second half, Offaly came out as the dominant force and Siofra Ginty started what looked like a comeback for the faithful county. Two points from two frees were equally matched though by Antrim as Caoimhe McErlain made good of the free awarded from Tamara Black being tripped and JoJo Darragh floated her attempt successfully over the bar from a tidy pass from Kiera McLaughlin.
Simon Redmond from Dublin prepares for a throw ball in today’s game against Offaly
Offaly would continue though with their strong engagement, and two points came in rapid succession, one from a free and the Offaly’s nineth and final point was a sure-fire goal only for a brave block from Laoise McCollam that deflected the sliotar over the bar.
Antrim’s tally was nudged up by two more points from Caoimhe McErlain and Anna Smyth amidst a plethora of fouls, fourteen in total over the remaining twenty-one minutes, illustrating the intensity the game took as both sides played exhaustively to Redmond’s long whistle.
The result for Antrim secures a semifinal position but it will take round five to finalise the table and deliver clarity on the opposition.
