by thesaffrongael

St Louis’ retain the Antrim Cup in repeat of 2025 decider

Gaelfast Year 8 Antrim Cup Final

St. Mary’s 4-2-2-12 St Louis’ Ballymena

Kevin Herron reports from Woodlands

Wednesday afternoon’s Year 8 Antrim Cup Final was a repeat of the 2025 decider and the outcome was the same as St Louis’ Ballymena got the better of St. Mary’s CBGS in a fantastic game at Woodlands- running out 2-12-4-2 winners.

It was the locals from the Glen Road who started the game brightly as Patrick O’Reilly picked out Aaron Patrick Walsh to swing a shot over the bar.

A few minutes later St. Mary’s had the opening goal of the contest. Liam Rea slipped the ball across the area to Adam Walsh, he was unable to get his shot away and Luis Holmes was on hand to blast home from close range.

Ballymena got up and running when Charlie Herald switched the play to Conn Og McErlaine to clip the ball over.

They then restored parity after Fiontann McCoy floated a free into the small square and Charlie Herald palmed the ball to the net to make it 1-1 apiece.

St Louis’ then forged ahead when Oscar Bradley’s shot dipped and Alex Leith was on hand to turn the ball into the net.

They would add three further points before the interval, Liam O’Neill picked off a fine score, and back-to-back scores followed from McCoy- the first he squeezed over and the second coming from a converted free to ensure his side held a 2-4-1-1 advantage at the break.

St. Mary’s halved the deficit upon the games resumption, Flynn Johnston dropped in a high ball to the back post and Liam Rea palmed home.

In response Tiernan Mulholland shot over and a second converted free of the game from Fiontann McCoy saw St Louis’ begin to pull clear again.

It was end to end stuff and St. Mary’s had another lifeline when substitute Cody Agnew steered the ball home following a scramble in the area to make it 2-6-3-1.

The second half pattern continued as four-points without reply saw St Louis’ restore the healthy lead they enjoyed at the interval.

McCoy notched his third free, Tiernan Mulholland and Liam O’Neill added to their personal tallys and goal scorer Charlie Herald added a point to his first half goal,

In reply, a sustained period of pressure in and around the Ballymena goal ended with Caleb McGuinness poking home his sides fourth – and halving the deficit in the process.

Points were traded between Charlie Herald and Luis Holmes and the final score of the afternoon came through a Fiontann McCoy free, this despite St. Mary’s laying siege to the St Louis’ goal in the closing stages but they were unable to further close the gap as the Louis’ players celebrated retaining the trophy and following in the steps of their predecessors.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Casements and the Johnnies get the Division 1 Football League going tonight

2026 Antrim Senior Football League Preview

The Antrim football leagues are set to kick off early in 2026! Division One action gets underway tonight Wednesday when Casements host the Johnnies while all the othrer games are set for Sunday, March 15th, launching a competitive schedule expected to conclude in late June. With a host of players missing from Division 1 because of county hurling and football commitments it is hard to call most of these games.

Here is a look ahead at the opening fixtures:

Wed 11th March

  • Casement’s Portglenone v St John’s – The Division action gets underway tonight (Wednesday) at Kelly Park, Portglenone when the Casements take on St John’s. Casement’s enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign and are eager to build on that momentum under newly appointed manager Mattie McGleenan, who is joined by Niall Kelly and Donal Parkinson. St John’s, the reigning senior hurling champions, will be balancing their dual ambitions. The Corrigan Park men will certainly not neglect their football and travel to the South West looking for a fast start.
  • Division One (Sunday, 15th March )
  • Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Brigid’s Reigning county champions Dunloy, begin their title defence at home in Pearse Park. They welcome a well-prepared St Brigid’s side who have been knocking on the door of a senior title in recent years, and the team that ran the champions closest of all in last year’s quarter final. Although both teams are short a good few players because of football and hurling county commitments this will be an excellent early measuring stick for the South Belfast men.
  • Lamh Dhearg v Con Magee’s (Glenravel) Hannahstown’s Lamh Dhearg haven’t hit their desired heights over the past couple of seasons and will look to bounce back on their home turf. Glenravel, under new manager Pauric McKenna will still be in experimental mode but will travel up to Hannahstown hoping for a good start, but Lamh Dhearg will prove tough opponents.
  • Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Paul’s An exciting all-city derby sees Sarsfields back in the top tier after several years away, playing host to St Paul’s. The ‘Paddies’ will be fired up for this visit, and a tight, competitive clash is expected—a draw is a very real possibility here.
  • St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v O’Donovan Rossa Moneyglass makes a swift return to Division One following a brief spell in the second tier, welcoming Hugh McGettigan’s Rossa to Marian Hill. Managed by Loup native Padraig O’Kane, the hosts will be well-prepared, but Rossa will travel down confident in their chances of grabbing an opening victory.
  • All Saint’s v St Gall’s St Gall’s have been building steady momentum in recent years. Backed by a strong management team of former players Sean Kelly, Terry O’Neill, and Colm Brady, they are primed to make an impact. Meanwhile, Ballymena’s All Saints, guided by ‘Baker’ Bradley, are also expected to be serious contenders in the race for silverware this season.
  • Tir Na Nog Randalstown v St Mary’s Aghagallon Aghagallon hits the road to face Tir Na Nog at Whitehill. Expect a hard-fought contest, but home advantage might just give the Randalstown men the edge they need to secure the win.
  • Erin’s Own Cargin v Kickham’s Creggan The standout fixture of the round. Last year’s beaten county finalists, Cargin, begin their campaign under new manager Dermot Carlin (assisted by Ronan Devlin, Niall Jackman, and Kevin Doyle). They host their bitter rivals, Creggan, who are still led by Joe Cassidy and Odhran McLarnon. Despite Cargin’s home advantage, this fierce derby is too close to call and a share of the spoils wouldn’t be a surprise.
by thesaffrongael

Antrim aiming for three on the bounce

NFL Division 4

Waterford v Antrim

1-00pm Dungarven

An improving Antrim make the trip to Waterford this weekend hoping to make it three wins on the bounce. Recent form would suggest that the Saffrons should be in the chase for a promotion place but a bad start to their campaign makes that highly unlikely.

Despite being relegated from division 3 last year, Antrim were expected to be in the race for an immediate return to the higher grade but they made a disastrous start to  this year’s Division 4 league campaign, losing their opening three games.

Carlow, Tipperary and Longford have all lowered the Saffron colours with two of those defeats coming at Kelly Park in Portglenone as new manager, Mark Doran searched in vain for a winning formula.

He finally found it in Carrick on Shannon in Round 4 where Antrim produced a solid performance to overcome the challenge of a Leitrim team that had been going well and they carried that improved form into their meeting with Wicklow in Round 5.

That win over Oisin McConville’s Wicklow will have done the Saffron’s confidence a world of good and while the promotion ship looks to have sailed, Antrim will want to finish their campaign on a high.

They travel to Dungarven this weekend to face a Waterford side firmly nailed to the bottom of the table with the Deise still searching for their first win in this year’s division 4 campaign.

It has been a disastrous National Football League campaign for Ephie Fitzgerald’s Waterford as they were ripped apart by London last time out in a wind-assisted first-half, and although they worked hard in the second-half, the six-point winning margin at the finish was a fair reflection on the game.

Michael Maher’s London led Waterford by 13 points with half-time approaching, only for two late first-half goals by the visitors, leaving the home team looking anxiously over their shoulder.

The final margin of the Exiles’ victory over Waterford was six points, but it could quite easily have been more.

London took the game to Waterford in the second period into the wind rather than opting to protect their lead and with a touch more luck could easily have had another two or three goals.

Darach O’Cathasaigh, Conor Murray, Michael O’Brien, Darragh Walsh, Alan Dunwoody and Stephen Curry were best for Waterford in Ruislip and are likely to lead their challenge against Antrim on Sunday.

Dungarven has proved a successful venue for the Saffrons in the past and it was there that they clinched the division 4 title a few year’s back under Enda McGinley and manager, Mark Doran will be keen to build on their recent success.

John McNabb has been excellent for Antrim in goals and has weighed in with vital scores, contributing 0-5 against Wicklow last day out while Marc Jordan, Paddy McAleer, Conor Hand, Adam Loughran, Ryan McQuillan, Pat Shivers and Dominic McEnhill all weighed in with vital scores.

John Morgan and Cathal Hynds came into the starting line-up and both did enough to merit a start in Dungarven and I would expect the side to start along similar lines though Joe Finnegan could return after missing the Wicklow game through suspension.

A win for Antrim would make it three from three in their last three outings but they would do well not to underestimate a wounded Waterford side who may have nothing but pride to play for but will be keen not to finish their season pointless.

Division 4

teamPWDL+/-Pts
1 Carlow5401198
2 Longford5311147
3 Tipperary5221146
4 Wicklow5302126
5 London5212-65
6 Antrim5203-64
7 Leitrim5203-154
8 Waterford5005-320
by thesaffrongael

St Louis face St Colman’s in D’Alton Cup quarter final

D’Alton Cup Quarter-Final Preview

St Louis Grammar, Ballymena vs St Colman’s College, Newry

Venue- Coláiste Feirste, 12pm, Friday 13th March

The D’Alton Cup quarter-final brings together two teams whose paths to the knockout stages have been very different. St Louis Grammar School Ballymena arrive battle-hardened after fighting their way through their group and a play-off win, while St Colman’s College Newry come in as deserved favourites following a very impressive group campaign.

St Louis’ first venture into the premier competition didn’t start as promisingly as they would have liked. They opened with defeats to Omagh CBS and Warrenpoint, but performances in both games suggested the Ballymena side were more competitive than the results showed.

Their breakthrough came with a historic moment for the school – a first ever win in the competition against St Patrick’s College Cavan, a victory that sparked belief within the squad.

Needing a result in their final group game, St Louis produced one of their best displays of the season, racking up 7-14 in a facile 31-point victory over St Michael’s Enniskillen.

They carried that momentum into the knockout qualifier where they defeated St Macartan’s Monaghan 4-13 to 4-7, making it three wins in a row and booking their quarter-final spot.

St Colman’s, meanwhile, were one of the standout teams in the group stages, scoring 23 goals across four games. Their attacking power was on full display throughout the campaign, most notably in a 9-8 to 3-5 win over St Mary’s Magherafelt who now find themselves in the semi final after a 2 point win over a fancied St Patrick’s Maghera on Tuesday.

They also struck 5-9 in an eight-point win over Tyrone side St Joseph’s Donaghmore, while adding seven further goals in their games against Cathair Bhéal Feirste
and St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon.

This quarter-final sets up an interesting contrast. St Louis’ confidence has grown after three straight wins and a tougher route through the play-offs, while St Colman’s have been one of the most potent attacking teams in the competition and start as clear favourites.

For St Louis, slowing the Newry side’s goal threat will be crucial. If they can keep the scoreline tight and bring the same work rate shown in their recent wins, they will believe they have a chance.

St Colman’s, however, will feel that if they reach anything close to their scoring levels from the group stage, they should have enough to advance.

St Colman’s start this game as firm favourites, but St Louis arrive with momentum and absolutely nothing to lose – a combination that could make this quarter-final closer than many expect.

by thesaffrongael

Loreto win the Ulster Schools Senior Shield

Ulster schools’ Camogie

Senior Shield final: Loreto Coleraine 2-16 Our Lady’s Newry 3-9

LORETO College Coleraine produced a superb team performance to overcome Our Lady’s Newry in a very competitive Ulster schools’ Senior Shield final in MUSA on Friday.

At the back, Treasa Passmore had an excellent game well supported by Fiona Cassidy and Brenda Mullan. Up front Kerry Rose Draine was the star player and ultimately the difference between the teams at the end with a goal and eight points. Clíodhna Boylan was also to the fore and her early points gave Loreto a good platform in the game.

Sarah McTague added a point in between those from Boylan and Drain and the Coleraine College led by 1-9 to 2-3 at the break, the goal coming from Boylan after 14 minutes.

The Newry school however left themselves well in the game with goals from Jessica McCreesh and Emer Starrs.

But Dunloy’s Kerry Rose Draine stepped up a gear after the break with a series of points and then a superb goal. Clonduff forward Alannah Power gave Our Lady’s some hope with a goal and a couple of points, but Coleraine were never headed and finished strongly with a couple of points from Draine.

Loreto scorers: Kerry Rose Draine 1-8, Clíodnha Boylan 1-5, Sarah McTague, Emer Munro and Doireann Campbell 0-1 each

Our Lady’s scorers: Alannah Power and Jessica McCreesh 1-3 each, Emer Starrs 1-0, Hannah Shields, Faye McCreesh and Elle Fallon 0-1 each

Loreto team: Mya McKinley, Brenda McMullan, ⁠Emer Munro, Riona Cassidy, Mary Mullan, Treasa Passmore, Áine Boylan, Sinéad McSorley, Kate Healy, Kerry Rose Draine, ⁠Clíodhna Boylan, ⁠Doireann Campbell, ⁠Sarah McTague, Dubhla Mullan, Bronagh Hasson 

Subs: ⁠Erin McKay, Sophie Higgins, Maeve McGilligan, Emily Brizell, ⁠Aoibhinn Mullan, Olivia McBride, Clare Mullan, ⁠Rose McIntyre, ⁠Aoife Dempsey, Caitie McKeever, Grace O’Boyle, Aoife McTague, Briana Ferguson