All Saints got their ACHL division 4 campaign off to a winning start when they produced a strong second half comeback to defeat Junior B champions, Loch Mor dal gCais at a windy Quinn Park on Sunday.
Playing into a strong wind in the opening half, All Saints faced a tough challenge from the throw-in. Loch Mór Dál gCais used the conditions well, keeping the scoreboard ticking over through Darragh Turley’s accurate free-taking.
Despite the difficult conditions, All Saints showed great determination and work rate across the pitch. Their defence held firm under pressure, limiting Loch Mór Dál gCais to mainly long-range efforts and preventing any goal chances.
Going forward, scores were hard-earned into the breeze. Damian Gillan contributed two valuable points from play, while Pearse Martin added a free. A number of promising attacks were built, but the conditions made shooting difficult, reflected in three wides.
Around the middle third, Archie McGreevy and Luke Mulholland worked tirelessly, competing well for breaking ball and helping to keep All Saints in contention despite the elements.
Half Time: All Saints 0-03 LM 0-06
With the advantage of the wind in the second half, All Saints produced a dominant display to overturn a three-point deficit and run out comfortable winners. Goals from Eoin McGuigan and Daniel Kelly were key moments in the turnaround, while Damian Gillan added four from play and Pearse Martin adding from frees.
In midfield, Archie McGreevy and Luke Mulholland covered huge ground and played a vital role in shifting momentum after the break. The impact from the bench also proved decisive, with substitutes Jack Magill, Robert Crooks, Sean O’Brien, Gary Miskella, and Dan Kelly all making strong contributions as All Saints pulled away.
All Saints: Ronan McAllister, Finn Connon, Dwayne McKee, Kevin Brady, Dan Gray, Cormac Magill, Niall Savage, Luke Mulholland, Vinney Esler, Eoin McGuigan, Pearse Martin, Michael Connolly, Archie McGreevey, Damian Gillan, Fintan Brady Subs P Doherty, J Magill, J Downey, R Crooks, L Wash, G Miskella, D Kelly, S O’Brien, A Casey, D McGettigan, J Mooney
Despite making the long and demanding trek south to Inagh, the Antrim Under-23 camogie team came up agonizingly short in their All-Ireland U23B Championship opener, falling to Clare by a narrow two-point margin following a thrilling, goal-heavy contest.
The opening half produced a highly unusual scoreline, heavily defined by Antrim’s clinical ability to find the back of the net. While Clare relied on early points from Ellen Casey and the sharpshooting of Player of the Match Aisling Cooney (who picked off three first-half frees), Antrim made their strikes count.
In the 9th minute, Eobha McAllister stepped up and buried a crucial free into the Clare net. Though it was Antrim’s only score for most of the half, they struck gold again deep into added time when Cliona Griffin rattled the net for a second time. At the break, the scoreboard told a fascinating story: Clare 0-6, Antrim 2-0.
Clare’s Restart Surge & Antrim’s Resilience Clare came out of the dressing room firing. Within five minutes of the restart, they completely flipped the game’s momentum, finding the net twice through Ellen Casey and Aoibheann McNamara to take control of the tie.
However, the Antrim girls showed massive character and refused to let the game slip away. Passing the midway point of the second half, McAllister and Griffin tapped over much-needed points to steady the ship. Then, in the 48th minute, Griffin struck for her second goal of the game, catapulting Antrim right back into the mix.
A Nail-Biting Finish Cooney responded for Clare with two vital frees, but Antrim launched a fierce late rally. In the final ten minutes, Eobha McAllister slotted two more points, and Aimee Ferris added another, slashing the deficit to an absolute minimum with just three minutes left on the clock.
Unfortunately for the traveling side, they couldn’t find the equalizer. Aisling Cooney had the final say for the hosts, converting her ninth point of the afternoon from a placed ball to seal a hard-fought 2-11 to 3-6 victory for Clare.
Despite the heartbreaking result, Antrim can take massive positives from their resilience and attacking threat as they look ahead to hosting Limerick next Sunday in Round Two.
Team Lineups & Scorers
Clare
Scorers: A Cooney (0-9, all frees), E Casey (1-1), A McNamara (1-0), E O’Driscoll (0-1)
Starting XV: A Anderson, C Queally, C Lilly, C Ryan, G McMahon, A Walsh, A Marren, J Daly, D Griffin, E O’Driscoll, A Cooney, C Cahill, A McNamara, E Casey, M Millea
Antrim
Scorers: C Griffin (2-1), E McAllister (1-4, including 1-2 frees), A Ferris (0-1)
Starting XV: M Gately, S Fyfe, A O’Donnell, D Dobbin, S O’Neill, K Molloy, C Crawford, S Hegarty, O McAlister, C O’Boyle, A Ferris, E McAllister, C Griffin, E McIntosh, J McIntosh
Con Magees Glenravel made the 40-mile journey to West Belfast’s Davitt Park well worth the trip, bringing home the two points after a dominant second-half display against Michael Davitt’s. While the first half was a tightly contested, point-for-point battle, the visitors found another gear after the break with the strong wind at their backs to secure a comprehensive 1-21 to 0-10 victory in Division 3 of the Antrim Hurling League.
The game started with high intensity, with Davitt’s drawing first blood through a point just two minutes in. Con Magees responded swiftly via Conor Laverty , before Davitt’s retook the lead thanks to a well-struck 40-meter point from Caoimhin Rainey and the 6th minute, Davitt’s Stephen Thompson had extended their lead.
Glenravel’s Joseph McKay quickly made his presence felt, knocking over consecutive points in the 9th and 12th minutes to reel the hosts back in before Conleth O’Loan found his rhythm for Con Magees, slotting three points in a rapid four-minute spell (including two frees) to swing the momentum.
However, the final ten minutes of the half belonged to Davitt’s Christopher Gallagher. Operating with pinpoint accuracy, Gallagher launched an aerial assault, scoring four massive long-range points between the 20th and 29th minutes—including one from a ’65. Just before the whistle, Darragh Donaghy managed to scrape a crucial equalizer for Con Magees, leaving the sides deadlocked at the interval.
The visitors came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders. Joseph McKay hit an early free, though Davitt’s managed to stay in the fight with points from Cormac Maguire and Sean Og Smyth to keep the margins tight.
The turning point came around the 10-minute mark. Following a score from Fergus Donaghy Conleth O’Loan found the back of the net for the only goal of the game, breaking Davitt’s resistance.
From that moment, Con Magees dictated the terms. Fergus Donaghy immediately followed up the goal with another point, sparking an unrelenting scoring streak. Rian Lennon and Joseph McKay kept the scoreboard ticking, while Niall McKeown added his name to the scoresheet with a pair of well-taken points. Davitt’s scoring dried up completely in the final quarter as Glenravel’s attack pulled away, eventually sealing a commanding 14-point win.
Michael Davitt’s (Micheál Mac Daibhéid)
Gearoid Mac Oscar (Gearoid Cosgrove)
Peter Carleton
Tomás Ó Tuathaláin (Thomas Toland)
Michael Og O’Caorthanainn (Michael Og Rowntree)
Oskar Deevy Persson
Deagian Ó Maonaigh (Deagian Mooney)
Criostóir Ó Gallchobhair (Christopher Gallagher)
Stephen Mag Uidhrin (Stephen McGivern)
Cormac Mag Uidhir (Cormac Maguire)
Caoimhin Ó Rálne (Caoimhin Rainey)
Colm McKee
Stiofán Mac Tomáis (Stephen Thompson)
Pádraig Ó Fhinin (Padraig Keenan)
Sean Ó Ceallaigh
Seán Mac Gabhann (Sean Og Smyth)
Con Magees Glenravel (Conn Mag Aoidh)
Rónán Ó Donnghaile (Ronan Donnelly)
Stiofán Mac Aiclin (Stephen Atcheson)
James Duffin
Oisín MacEoghan (Oisin McKeown)
Harry Fyfe
Rian Lennon
Caolán Lennon
Fergus Donaghy
Céagán McAuley
Luke Loughlin
Ciarán Ó Laibheartaigh (Ciaran Laverty)
Darach Mac Donnchaidh (Darragh Donaghy)
Conchubhar Ó Laibheartaigh (Conor Laverty)
Connlaodh Oluain (Conleth O’Loan)
Joseph McKay
TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy opened up their 2026 league campaign with a resounding victory over Loughgiel at Pearse Park. The Cuchullains started the game strongly with three goals in the first seven minutes of the match setting the tone. They took full advantage of the wind in their favour and put the Shamrocks under pressure for the majority of the first half – outscoring Loughgiel 3-9 to 0-1 in a 15 minute period that saw the Cuchullains put serious daylight between the sides.
Dunloy had six different goal scorers with Nicky McKeague top scoring with 1-7 while Oisin McCallin ended with 1-6 before coming off with a little over five minutes of the game remaining.
Rian McMullan finished top of the scoring charts for the Shamrocks, finishing the hour with five of his eight points coming from open play and gave the Dunloy defence plenty to think about. Roan McGarry grabbed Loughgiel’s goal in the second half and finished with 1-3, his turn and finish for the major a rare highlight for the travelling support.
Dunloy’s ability to keep the scoreboard ticking in the second half put away any thoughts of an unlikely turnaround having built a 22 point lead and while the Shamrocks did fare much better after the interval, they never looked like making inroads into the Cuchullains lead.
Loughgiel actually made a great start and had the opening two points on the board before the clock reached one minute. Roan McGarry and Darragh Patterson with the points but Dunloy’s ability to create major chances and force turnover ball in the Loughgiel defence meant they had the Shamrocks on the back foot. Goals from Oisin McCallin, Tom McFerran and Nigel Elliott putting the home side into a healthy position.
A run of eight points in as many minutes from the home side with a solitary point from Rian McMullan had the Cuchullains in a 14 point lead before they scored their fourth goal of the game. Ciaran Elliott this time applying the finish as the Dunloy forwards forced another error in the Loughgiel defence.
McCallin and McKeague would do the majority of the scoring with Aaron Crawford getting in on the act to stretch the Dunloy lead while Rian McMullan’s third point of the half left the half time score 4-15 to 0-5 in Dunloy’s favour.
With the wind blowing towards the Academy at Pearse Park, Loughgiel looked to make inroads into the Dunloy lead. They opened the scoring through Darragh Patterson only for Dunloy to score their fifth major. Nicky McKeague applying the finish as Dunloy showed their clinical touch.
The second half lacked the fluency of the first with Loughgiel showing more tenacity and Dunloy controlling the game as much as they could. The Shamrocks challenge was hurt with Darragh Patterson sent off in the 45th minute but realistically, it had no bearing on the result.
Dunloy’s sixth goal came in the 50th minute, substitute Oisin McCamphill finding the back of the net with his first touch. Nigel Elliott with the assist, his reverse pass catching the Loughgiel defence on the hop and put McCamphill through on goal.
Roan McGarry took his tally to 1-3 for the match, collecting a crossfield ball and turning his man before firing beyond Ryan Elliott in the 52nd but Loughgiel were in damage limitation territory with eight minutes remaining.
Loughgiel will hope for better when they welcome Rossa to Healy Park on Sunday 12 April for their next game while Dunloy will welcome Glenariffe to Pearse Park on the same day.
DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Conor Kinsella, Daire McMullan, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Paul Shiels, Paudie McGilligan; Aaron Crawford, Reece Cunning; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Barry Scott; Ciaran Elliott, Oisin McCallin, Tom McFerran
Subs: Jack Martin for C Kinsella (40); Oisin McCamphill for C Elliott (49); Michael Traynor for O Quinn (54); Francis McMullan for O McCallin (54); Anton McGrath for N Elliott (60+1)
Scorers: N McKeague 1-7 (2fs); O McCallin 1-6 (4fs); T McFerran 1-2; N Elliott 1-2; C Elliott 1-00; O McCamphill 1-00; A Crawford 0-2; B Scott 0-1
Antrim senior ladies gained promotion to Division two of the national league following their two point victory over Down on Sunday.
This win secures back to back promotions for Antrim, something this group can be really proud of.
Indeed with only seconds remaining Antrim were down by 2 but a long ball into the square from Theresa Mellon found its way to Laura Agnew who somehow managed to finish to the Down net.
Antrim played against a very strong wind in the opening half but were probably unlucky to go in at half time 3 points down.
Even against the wind Antrim were dominant but just couldn’t convert all their chances into scores.
The second half started well for Antrim when they hit two points and reduced the lead to the bear minimum.
But Down hit them with a sucker punch of a goal and Antrim had to regroup again…
But this team just never gives up and they chipped away at Down’s lead to again leave the bare minimum in it with time running out.
The Saffrons pushed hard and with virtually the last kick of the game Laura Agnew found the net to send the Antrim supporters wild and confirm promotion for the team.
This game lived up to its billing of a shootout with promotion the prize for the winners and the result was in doubt right up to the final seconds.
Antrim management said after the game:
This is a remarkable achievement for these girls.
They work so hard and give up so much of their time to play county football.
Every player in our group played in the league this year so credit to them all as each and every one of them have helped Antrim reach division two.
They now look forward to the national league final on Sunday April 12th against Louth. Venue to be confirmed later!
Antrim Scorers …
Maria O Neill 0-3
Ciara Brown 1-0
Laura Agnew 1-0
Theresa Mellon 0-2
Lara Dahunsi 0-1
Alyssa Davison 0-1
Aine Lynch 0-1
TO VIEW MORE OF ELAINE KELLY’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
