On a terrible day for football with treacherous conditions under foot it was Rossa who got off to the better start with Diarmuid Logan scoring a goal and a point and Ruairi Grant hitting his first point all inside the first 9 minutes.
Kickhams first point arrived through the boot of Shea McCann in the 11th minute followed by a Connor Johnston point. Pearce Short hit the last two points for Rossa with Sean Duffin replying with a point for Kickhams, leaving the |Shaw’s Road side 4 ahead at halftime.
Kickhams were first out of the blocks in the second half with Cain Graffin grabbing a quick goal only for Rossa to reply with points from Ruairi Grant and Diarmuid Logan but that was to be their last score.
Rossa v Creggan
The visitors responded and Connor Johnston and Shea McCann hit points apiece before Fintan Close hit the equaliser with a brilliant long range point.
Shea McCann put Kickham’s in front for the first time on the 27th minute and Sean McAuley made his way up-field in the 30th minute to put Kickham’s two ahead
Creggan finished strongly and the hard working Sean Duffin put the finishing touch to an entertaining match with a well taken goal to move his side into the semi-finals
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Paddy Quinn presents the Nipper Quinn Shield to the St Pau’s captain after his team’s win
St Paul’s won the Nipper Quinn Shield when they held off a late rally by St John’s in Saturday’s final at Rossa Park. Played in difficult conditions on a sanded pitch, and in heavy rain, the St Paul’s boys were pushed to the pin of their collar to hold off a late rally by the boys from Corrigan, but both teams deserve the highest of credit for the display they produced.
St Paul’s right half forward Bradley McDonnell proved the difference between two well matched sides, giving a man of the match performance as he scored an incredible 2-07 for the Shaws Road side, but it was far from a one man show as centre back Ben Gamble corner forward Fiontann Burns and goalkeeper Lorcan Douglas also contributed to the victory. Dylan Hand was the stand out player for St John’s while Odhran O’Prey and Connor McGibbon also starred.
St John’s took an early lead with a Dylan Hand point, but despite playing against the strong breeze St Paul’s came back strongly and a goal and two points from Bradley McDonnell had them four ahead after ten minutes. Dylan Hand and Conor McGibbon came back with points for the Johnnies to level matters, and they could have been ahead but for a couple of great saves by Burns in the St Paul’s goal. St Pauls had moved ahead just before half time but the Johnnies got the break they needed when Hand drove a ground ball through a packed goalmouth to send them in at half time with a 1-04 to 1-03 lead.
The Corrigan Park side made a great start to the second half when Hand pointed to put them two ahead and then followed it up a minute later with a great goal to put five between the sides. McDonnell responded for St Paul’s with a great point on the run to cut the gap back to four, but St John’s appeared to be in the driving seat when midfielder Odhran O’Prey broke through and batted the ball down into the St Paul’s net to put his side seven ahead.
The frantic pace of the game continued as St Paul’s hit back with a goal and a point from McDonnell, plus points from Ben Gamble and Darragh Loughran to leave just a point between the sides, and when corner forward Fiontan Burns drilled a low shot through a packed goalmouth St Paul’s were two ahead.
Eoin Rice pointed to increase their lead to two, but Dylan Hand got the Johnnies back in front when he fired a close range free to the St Paul’s net and corner forward Fraser McGivern added a point from play. St Paul’s again responded to the challenge the Bradley McDonnell swung the game back in their favour with three points in a row, one from a 65 and two from play to put his side back ahead.
Those scores sealed the win for St Paul’s but they had to withstand a late charge by St John’s who threw everything they had at it in the dying minutes. The Corrigan Park boys came within a whisker of saving the game but were denied again by goalkeeper Douglas and a great high catch by substitute Ethan Ervine who was back helping out his defence
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Antrim Ladies Gaelic Football Association is pleased to announce that Michael Devlin and Chris Scullion have been appointed as the Senior Management team for the 2025 season. They will take over from Emma Kelly, who led the team through an impressive era of success, including back-to-back Ulster Junior titles in 2021 and 2022, the All-Ireland Junior title in 2022, and the LIDL Division Four and TG4 Ulster Intermediate titles in 2023.
Both from Glenavy, Devlin and Scullion guided their home club, St. Joseph’s Glenavy, to the 2023 Ulster Intermediate Final. In a joint statement, they said, “We are excited to take on this new challenge as joint managers of the Antrim senior ladies, focused on building a team culture rooted in hard work, resilience, and a passion for the game. Our goal is to bring together the best players in Antrim who are committed to a shared vision for success. Together, we’re aiming high and ready to face every challenge—it’s a new Antrim, a new approach.”
They look forward to working closely with the county board and providing opportunities for every player with ambitions to represent Antrim. With a strong backroom team supporting them, Devlin and Scullion aim to help each player develop and perform to the best of their ability through a professional setup.
Michael Devlin brings a wealth of coaching experience from St. Joseph’s Glenavy and other clubs in Armagh, with successes in league and championship competitions. Scullion, likewise, has contributed significantly at Glenavy, coaching teams from youth levels to senior men and women’s teams, including the Senior Ladies’ Intermediate Championship win and a historic appearance in the 2023 Ulster final.
Get ready for an unforgettable night with the legendary Sean Magee performing live and our support artist the Brilliant Oonagh Clarke – it’s sure to be one for the books. You won’t want to miss Sean’s hits like “Tippin’ It Up to Nancy” and more!
Everyone is welcome, so come along and enjoy a fantastic night of music, dancing, and drinks and to prolong the Inetermediate Hurling Championship winning celebration.
St Patrick’s Maghera 3-9 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 3-7
St Pat’s Maghera qualified for the final of the McNamee Cup when they withstood a late rally by St Killian’s College in Wednesday’s semi-final at Slemish Park, Ballymena.
With the wind behind them in the first half St Pat’s dominated play, and despite conceding and early goal by St Killian’s Niall McAuley they gradually took control.
A Patrick O’Loughlin goal saw them take control of the game and by half time they were ten clear of the Garron Tower boys, a second O’Loughlin goal and one by Quintin Darren sending them in at the break with a 3-7 to 1-3 lead.
Despite the deficit St Killian’s appeared to be still in contention, given the strength the breeze blowing towards the pavilion end, but there was little happened on the field to back up that argument as the Maghera boys had the better of things during the third quarter, and in fact St Killian’s had to defend well to keep the gap at ten.
The game seemed to be over as a contest until two quick goals by the Tower duo of Niall McAuley from play and one direct from a free by Oliver Mooney suddenly turned the game on its head.
The momentum was now with the north Antrim boys, but despite having plenty of possession they could make no more inroads into their deficit, and solid defending by the Maghera full back line, and a series of good saves by their goalkeeper kept their opposition at bay and secured a final place against Cross & Passion just after the Halloween break.
Scorers
St Patrick’s P O’Loughlin 2-3 (0-1f); Q Darren 1-2; H McCloskey 0-2f; S Herron & D McCloskey 0-1 each
St Killian’s N McAuley 2-0; O Mooney 1-2f; T McKeegan 0-3f; R Delargy & S McAuley 0-1 each
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Date: Friday, 25th October
Time: Doors open at 8:00pm
Support: Oonagh Clarke Music.
Bar: Fully stocked!
