NFL; Division 4
Leitrim v Antrim
Pairc MacDiarmada – Sunday – 2.00pm
The Antrim team to play Leitrim on Sunday at Pairc MacDiarmada, Carrick on Shannon has been announced and is the same side that started against Longford last Sunday in Portgleone.
Hopefully Antrim can get their campaign up and running with their first win of the season but it will be a tough ask against a Leitrim side who have already recorded two wins this season.
Main photo – Antrim’s Nicole McAttamney who was player of the match in Antrim’s historic win over Cork
National Camogie League – Division 1
Cork 1-11 Antrim 2-10
The Antrim Camogie team sent shockwaves through the National Camogie League Division One this weekend, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory by defeating last year’s All-Ireland runners-up, Cork, on their home turf. Little was expected of the Saffron girls when they made the long journey south on Friday. While it must be noted that Cork was missing a number of key players from the squad that lost to Galway in last year’s All-Ireland final, taking down a traditional powerhouse in their own backyard remains a truly remarkable result for Antrim.
The Antrim team who beat Cork in the National Camogie League in Cork. Pic by Sean Kelly
The visitors signaled their intent right from the throw-in. Janey McIntosh opened the scoring for Antrim in the very first minute, setting the tone for a fearless first-half performance. Though Cork’s Hayley Ryan equalized at the seven-minute mark, Antrim quickly took control. The lethal Nicole McAtamney began to find her range, slotting a point from play and another from a free, while Aobha McAllister added back-to-back points in the 18th and 19th minutes. Cork fought hard to stay in touch, relying heavily on the accuracy of Emma Murphy, who raised two white flags, alongside a point from Orlaith Cremin. However, further scores from McIntosh and McAtamney ensured Antrim carried a well-deserved 0-08 to 0-05 lead into the halftime break.
The second half delivered an absolute spectacle. Cork emerged from the dressing room with renewed intensity, rattling off four unanswered points in the opening ten minutes. Emma Murphy sparked the revival with two more points, while Isabel Sheehan and Cremin also found the target, wiping out Antrim’s lead. Just as the momentum seemed to be irreversibly shifting toward the home side, Antrim struck a massive blow. In the 41st minute, Nicole McAtamney breached the Cork defense to smash home the game’s opening goal. Cork’s response was immediate and fierce, with Orlaith Cahalane raising a green flag of her own just two minutes later to level the dramatic contest once again.
Rather than folding under the pressure, the Saffron girls showed immense character in the final quarter. The decisive moment came in the 50th minute when Amy Ferris found the back of the net, giving Antrim a crucial second goal. Smelling a historic victory, McAtamney and McAllister quickly followed up with points to stretch the visitors’ advantage. Cork pushed desperately to salvage the game in the dying moments, securing late points through Cahalane and Millie Condon in the 58th minute, but the Antrim defense held firm. The final whistle confirmed a monumental 2-10 to 1-11 victory for the Saffrons, etching a famous chapter into their Division One campaign.
Forresters Cup School’s Hurling Quarter-Final @ Allen Park, Antrim
St. Mary’s 6-18 | St. Killian’s 0-13
PICS BY BERT TROWLEN
St. Mary’s delivered a masterclass in attacking hurling to comfortably advance to the next stage of the Forresters Cup, putting St. Killian’s to the sword with a commanding 6-18 to 0-13 victory at Allen Park. Powered by a phenomenal scoring exhibition from centre-half forward Conal Dempsey, St. Mary’s had too much firepower for their opponents on the day.
St. Mary’s Set the Tone Early
The tone was set from the throw-in. St. Mary’s wasted absolutely no time, with corner-forward Gerard Deery rattling the net for a goal in the opening minute. Following a Conal Dempsey point shortly after. Dempsey continuted what would be a devastating individual performance, slotting over his second point on four minutes.
St. Killian’s worked hard to find a foothold, registering a point around the four-minute mark and getting a fine score from play through Conor McMullan in the sixth minute. However, St. Mary’s were relentless. Dempsey fired over another point from play before breaking through to score his first goal of the game in the 9th minute, firmly putting his side in the driver’s seat.
St. Mary’s showed their ability to score from all distances and angles. Midfielder Matthew O’Neill and centre-field partner Ben McCaul both landed excellent long-range points, while Padraig Kelly and Oisin Kennedy kept the scoreboard ticking over with neat points from play.
For St. Killian’s, Donnlaodh McNaughton took on the heavy lifting. Operating at number 11, he accurately converted his frees and managed a brilliant long-range point from play just before the break. Despite his efforts, St. Mary’s went into the changing rooms with a commanding 2-12 to 0-05 lead following a late long-range point from Dempsey.
Dempsey Completes His Hat-Trick
St. Killian’s emerged for the second half with renewed determination, and McNaughton immediately punished St. Mary’s indiscipline by pointing two frees in the opening four minutes. However, any hopes of a St. Killian’s comeback were swiftly extinguished in the fifth minute when St. Mary’s full-forward Finn Smyth found the back of the net from play.
The St. Mary’s attack was operating beautifully, highlighted by a well-worked team score finished off by the ubiquitous Dempsey on six minutes. Matthew O’Neill and Ben McCaul continued to dominate the middle sectors, each adding to their tallies, while Rian Laverty managed a hard-earned point from play for St. Killian’s in the 10th minute.
The highlight of the half came in the 12th minute when Conal Dempsey carved through the St. Killian’s defense to score a brilliant individual goal. Just four minutes later, Oisin Kennedy got in on the goal-scoring action to raise St. Mary’s fifth green flag of the afternoon.
Dempsey capped off his spectacular outing by completing his hat-trick in the 20th minute with a goal from play. St. Killian’s fought bravely to the bitter end, with Donnlaodh McNaughton continuing to accurately convert frees and a beautifully struck ’65 before the final whistle.
Ultimately, the firepower of St. Mary’s was simply too much to handle, as they marched on to a semi-final meeting with Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock
St. Mary’s
St. Killian’s
When they last met…..
Allianz Hurling League – Division 1B
Antrim 2-18 Carlow 1-21
Sunday 2 March 2025
Brendan McTaggart reports from Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow
It was the late, late show for Antrim on Sunday afternoon but Gerard Walsh’s 75th minute wonder strike ensured the Saffrons fate in Division 1B remains in their own hands.
Standing over the sliotar and a wall of colour in front of him, 35 yards from goal, it was all or nothing for Antrim and Walsh, somehow, managed to find the back of the Carlow net.
Was it a deserved ending? Absolutely. Antrim showed the fight and desire Davy Fitzgerald had called for after recent defeats and but for seven or eight minutes at the end of the first half, they performed more like the Antrim team we have come accustomed to in recent times.
Goal chances came and left before finally finding a way through. On another day, Conor Johnston would be walking off with three goals beside his name. As it was, he hit the bottom of the upright, was felled in the build up to Keelan Molloy’s goal and had a fresh air strike with the goal at his mercy. James McNaughton finished with eight points, six from placed ball and uncharacteristically missed a couple of frees along with a penalty. That being said, McNaughton’s overall contribution was outstanding. His ability to evade challenges and create chances was second to none in an Antrim shirt…..
TEAMS
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Eoin McFerran, Paddy Burke, Stephen Rooney; Joe Maskey, Eoghan Campbell, Conall Bohill; Niall O’Connor, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott; Eoin O’Neill, James McNaughton, Conor Johnston
Subs: Cormac McKeown for E O’Neill (32); Joseph McLaughlin for R McCambridge (64)
Scorers: J McNaughton 0-8 (6fs); K Molloy 1-1; G Walsh 1-00 (1-00f); C Johnston 0-2; E Campbell 0-2; E McFerran 0-1; C Bohill 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; C McKeown 0-1
Carlow: Brian Tracey; Paidi O’Shea, Dion Wall, Paul Doyle; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; Evan Kealy, Ciaran Whelan; Jon Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, John Doyle; Conor Kehoe, Chris Nolan, James Doyle
Subs: Paddy Boland for J Nolan (54); Ted Joyce for J Doyle (59); Donagh Murphy for C Kehoe (64)
Scorers: M Kavanagh 0-7 (5fs 1’65); C Nolan 1-3; J Doyle 0-3; F Fitzpatrick 0-2; C Whelan 0-2; J Nolan 0-2; C Kehoe 0-1; T Joyce 0-1
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
National Hurling League – Division 1B
Antrim v Carlow
Date: Sunday 22 February
Venue: Corrigan Park, Belfast
Throw in: 1pm
Brendan McTaggart previews Antrim’s upcoming hurling league game with Carlow
Antrim’s league goes into its fourth match of the campaign on Sunday with Carlow making their way to Corrigan Park and while it’s not quite ‘win or bust’, it’s certainly a case of the Saffrons needing a win to keep their fate in their own hands.
The journey to date has been less than remarkable, other than a rainy Saturday night in Wexford town where Davy Fitzgerald’s charges where sank by some questionable decisions at the end. Defeats have followed to Clare and Kildare in the weeks since, that performance a couple of weeks ago in St Conleth’s Park certainly leaving a serious sense of dread coming into the second half of the league.
Getting nothing from the Clare game can be forgiven. They are an outfit who have serious aspirations for Liam McCarthy honours never mind league and the second half performance that day should have given anyone a sense of optimism for the Kildare game. A second half blitz that saw the Lilywhites go from two points ahead at half time to 12 inside 10 minutes if the restart.
Antrim never looked like they would make serious inroads into that lead as Kildare showed what a bit of momentum can do for a side in this game. For how poor the Saffrons were that 70 minutes, credit should be given to a brilliant Kildare performance. They were thoroughly deserving of that win and that gives them a serious platform to maintain their Division 1B status for the 2027 season.
It’s a platform that Antrim would do anything to find themselves. With Carlow, Dublin and Down in the three remaining fixtures, three wins may not even be enough. Two will certainly require the Saffron’s needing favours elsewhere. Is this contest all or nothing? Win or bust? Die dog or…. As far as the league campaign goes, it’s a massive game. A return to Corrigan Park and the scene of some helter skelter encounters with the Barrowsiders throughout the years.
Antrim make a few changes to the 15 with Cormac McFadden returning to between the sticks while Eoin McFerran is restored to the defence having missed out on a starting place against Kildare. Keelan Molloy makes a long awaited return to the starting 15 and will line out in midfield with Ryan McCambridge – Domhnall Nugent, Ruairi McCormick and Eoin O’Neill the players to miss out with Nugent and ‘Sammy’ taking their place on the bench.
It’s a starting 15 and an attacking six that looks good on paper. Pace in abundance and can give any team on the island plenty to think about. They’ll need to fire if the Saffrons are to get anything from a Carlow side who have performed well so far.
They faded going down the stretch against Wexford with the yella bellies outscoring them 1-10 to 0-2 in the last 15 minutes. It took Lee Chin coming off the bench to get Wexford out of jail on that occasion a fortnight ago.
Carlow, who are now managed by Pat Bennett, Davy’s assistant with Antrim last season, have names in their side that we have heard plenty of in the recent past with Marty Kavanagh still his accurate best on frees while Chris and Jon Nolan will need some looking after.
When we travelled to Carlow 12 months ago, it was a tale of two halves. A brilliant free from Gerard Walsh deep in injury time gave the Saffrons a share of the spoils but it was a game that they could well have won having played superbly in the second half.
A week of a break since that Kildare game is hopefully a good thing. Sometimes you want to get out and at it as soon as possible to get a poor performance out of your system but and hopefully Carlow coming to Belfast at a bad time for them. Antrim need to put in a massive performance to salvage their league season, we know they’re capable off it, there is no better time to produce the goods than Corrigan Park against Carlow.
