All Saints recorded a convincing 4-22 to 4-03 win over Belfast Saints, with a strong all-round display and far better accuracy in front of goal. They made a great start and took control early in the first half. Goals from Paddy Doherty, Jack Magill and Damian Gillan gave them a solid lead, and they kept the scoreboard moving with a steady run of points. Even when Belfast Saints hit the net at the other end, All Saints always had an answer. Damian Gillan led the scoring, finishing with 2-08, including six frees, and he added his second goal in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
Doherty (1-03) and Jack Magill (1-00) also made important contributions in attack, while Cormac Magill added 0-06 (one free). Further scores came from Michael Connolly (0-03), Vinney Esler and substitute Tiernan McGurk. Around the middle third, All Saints also impressed, with strong performances from Cormac Lemon, Harry Connon and Gary Miskella, who worked tirelessly to win possession and drive their side forward throughout the game. Belfast Saints led by Phillip Maguire did manage to score four goals, but they struggled badly for points, finishing with just three. That proved decisive, as All Saints’ ability to keep adding points saw them pull clear and secure a comfortable win.
Antrim’s Under 23 camogie squad has marched into next weekend’s All-Ireland B Championship semi-finals with a spring in their step after a thrilling, goal-heavy victory over Wexford on Sunday.
A brace of goals in each half proved to be the ultimate difference-maker, with senior standout Cliona Griffin delivering a devastating attacking masterclass.
Wexford opened the scoring through a Ciara Butler free, but Antrim quickly seized the momentum. Just six minutes in, Cliona Griffin found the back of the net for her first goal of the afternoon, followed closely by two frees from Elen McIntosh.
The Saffron attack briefly stalled midway through the half, allowing Wexford to edge ahead by the 22nd minute thanks to the sharp shooting of Butler and Caoimhe Byrne. However, Antrim responded emphatically before the break. Griffin shattered the Wexford momentum with her second goal, which was swiftly followed by points from Sarah Fyfe and McIntosh.
Half-Time Score:Antrim 2-4 | Wexford 0-6
The second half tested Antrim’s resolve. Elen McIntosh knocked over her first point from play shortly after the restart, but the Saffrons were subsequently pinned back by intense Wexford pressure. Antrim endured a 20-minute scoring drought, during which Butler and Byrne combined for four points to narrow the gap to a single point. Crucially, however, the home side never managed to take the lead.
In the 52nd minute, Antrim finally broke the siege. Following a frantic scramble for possession 20 metres out, Griffin emerged with the sliotar and fed Orlaith McAlister, who ruthlessly dispatched the ball into the net.
Six minutes later, Griffin hammered the final nail into the coffin, firing home her third goal in the 58th minute to complete a spectacular hat-trick. Wexford fought fiercely until the bitter end—with Byrne finding the net and Reddy and Butler adding late points—but Antrim manager Elaine Dowds saw her team hold their nerve to hear the final whistle.
While Griffin’s hat-trick stole the headlines, Antrim boasted star performers across the entire pitch:
Defence: Captain Katie Molloy anchored the backline brilliantly, while Casey Crawford executed a flawless man-marking job on Wexford’s dangerous forward, Kayla Reddy. Orlaith Johnson was also rock-solid between the posts.
Work Rate: The Ballycastle contingent of Elen McIntosh, Janey McIntosh, and Shannagh Heggarty provided tireless energy and crucial scores alongside goalscorer Orlaith McAlister.
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Cushendall
Goals were the difference between these two north Antrim giants as Cushendall recorded their fourth league win of the season. Majors from Joseph McLaughlin in either half and another from Ed McQuillan were the foundations for Cushendall to control this contest against Dunloy.
In a low scoring affair, both sides were guilty of overplaying with the home side proving to be more clinical when it mattered. Dunloy will look at their profligacy in front of the target when they review this game. A serious number of wides and efforts dropping short while the delivery into their forwards lacked any real precision for long periods. A lot of that was down to the work rate and intensity of the Ruairi Og’s however who were on top in the middle third, dictating the game and kept the visitors at arm’s length.
Dunloy couldn’t match the Ruairi’s ball retention and ability to break lines at speed. Despite a slow start, once they clicked into gear, Cushendall were defensively on top and always threatening at the other end of the pitch. The home side never scored in the opening 14 minutes with the Cuchullains settling well and there was just a point between the sides at half way mark but the second half belonged to the Ruairi’s.
While Dunloy settled more quickly into the game than Cushendall, they didn’t make the most of it. They recorded three points before Fred McCurry opened the scoring for Cushendall, those coming from Ciaran Elliott, Chrissy McMahon and a ’65 from Nicky McKeague.
Dunloy would go 12 minutes without registering another score however with Charlie McAuley adding a point before the opening goal of the game in the 18th minute. Ed McQuilland with the break before playing a brilliant pass finding the run of Joseph McLaughlin on his left. ‘Pep’ still had word to do with a scrambling Dunloy defence but he finished superbly.
The remainder of the half was fairly even with Eamon Smyth, Aodhan McGarry and McKeague (free) finding the target for Dunloy while a brace of white flags from Neil McManus (one free) left the half time score 1-4 to 0-6 in Cushendall’s favour.
Cushendall started the second half superbly and had their second goal three minutes after the restart. McQuillan and Joseph McLaughlin combining once again before Pep fired the sliotar beyond Ryan Elliott in the Dunloy goals.
A brace of points from McManus (frees) and Oisin Woodhouse got the score board ticking for Cushendall while Paudie McGilligan (two) and McKeague (’65) points left five between the sides going into the final 10 minutes.
The third Cushendall goal put the game beyond Dunloy’s reach and while McQuillan finished superbly, it owed much to the indecision in the Cuchullains defence. McQuillan reacted fastest to the loose ball and made no mistake. Points followed from McManus (’65) and Woodhouse to open a 10 point lead for the Ruairi’s by the 57th minute.
Dunloy laid siege on the Cushendall goal with a series of high balls into the Cushendall defence but the Ruairi’s dealt with everything that came their way. Points followed from McMahon and McKeague (’65) either side of a point from substitute Joseph McNaughton in the time that remained as Cushendall were well worth their margin of victory at the end of the hour.
Cushendall’s next match will be next Friday night when they travel to face their neighbours, Glenariffe while Dunloy will travel to Rossa Park on the same night.
TEAMS
CUSHENDALL: Conor McAllister; Conor McCann, Martin Burke, Francis McCurry; Scott Walsh, Stephen Walsh, Austin Birt; Callagh Mooney, Charlie McAuley; Ed McQuillan, Joseph McLaughlin, Neil McManus; Oisin Woodhouse, Thomas McLaughlin, Fiontan Bradley
Subs: Liam Gillan for S Walsh (52); Joseph McNaughton for T McLaughlin (53)
Scorers: J McLaughlin 2-00; N McManus 0-5 (3fs, 1’65); O Woodhouse 0-3; E McQuillan 1-00; F McCurry 0-1; C McAuley 0-1; J McNaughton 0-1
DUNLOY: Ryan Elliott; Aaron Crawford, Ryan McGarry, Oran Quinn; Eamon Smyth, Eoin McFerran, Aodhan McGarry; Jack Martin, Paudie McGilligan; Nigel Elliott, Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Ciaran Elliott, Barry Scott, Chrissy McMahon
Subs: Paul Shiels for J Martin (HT); Oisin McCallin for B Scott (HT); Francis McMullan for T McFerran (57)
Scorers: N McKeague 0-4 (3’65s, 1f); C McMahon 0-2; P McGilligan 0-2; E Smyth 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; C Elliott 0-1
Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)
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Above – Alex O’Boyle who scored 2-12 in Oisins win over St Enda’s at Hightown
Antrim Hurling League – Division 1
Naomh Eanna 2-13 Glenariffe 3-17
Newly promoted Glenariffe Oisins secured a massive lifeline in their fight for Antrim Hurling League Division 1 survival on Sunday, engineering a stunning second-half comeback to defeat St Enda’s at Hightown on a final scoreline of 3-17 to 2-13. Despite coming close in a couple of their other games this was only their second win of the league campaign, and though the season has a long way to go it is important for the Oisins to get points on the board. The game itself was a tight, tit-for-tat encounter in the first half, but after the break they turned things around to turn it into a commanding seven-point victory. The comeback was spearheaded by a virtuoso scoring display from Alex O’Boyle, who finished the afternoon with a staggering personal tally of 2-12.
It was St Enda’s who burst out of the traps early on. After Glenariffe hit two early wides, the home side punished them. Cormac Jennings opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and just sixty seconds later, Killian Jennings rattled the back of the net to give St Enda’s a dream 1-1 to 0-0 start. Glenariffe looked to their talisman to keep them in touch, with Alex O’Boyle converting two frees either side of a Manus Mullan point. By the 15th minute, St Enda’s held a four-point cushion. However, the Oisins eventually found their rhythm from open play. A quick-fire trio of points between the 18th and 20th minutes from Alex O’Boyle, Oliver Kearney, and Aaron Cosgrove dramatically narrowed the gap. Despite a strong finish to the half from St Enda’s—with Dara Maguire, Killian Jennings, and Manus Mullan all raising white flags—Alex O’Boyle’s dead-ball accuracy ensured the visitors were breathing down their necks at the interval, trailing slightly at 1-07 to 0-09.
The opening quarter of the second half was a tense, point-for-point shootout. St Enda’s kept their noses in front, largely through the frees of Luke O’Connor, while Glenariffe responded through Orrin O’Connor, Calum McIlwaine, and the relentless Alex O’Boyle. By the 15th minute, a score from open play by Cormac McCann had St Enda’s marginally ahead at 1-13 to 0-13, but the game was about to be flipped on its head. In the 18th minute, a Glenariffe free dropped short, and Oliver Kearney was on hand to force the ball to the net, giving the Oisins the lead for the first time in the match.
That crucial goal opened the floodgates. Oliver Kearney added a point, followed swiftly by one from Michael O’Boyle. From there, Alex O’Boyle completely took over the contest. In the 23rd minute, he found the net from play, pushing the visitors into a commanding lead. Just four minutes later, he struck for his second goal of the afternoon, effectively ending the contest as Glenariffe surged into a 3-16 to 1-13 advantage.
To their credit, St Enda’s kept fighting until the final whistle. Cormac McCann grabbed a consolation goal in the 28th minute, but the damage had already been done during Glenariffe’s devastating ten-minute scoring burst. Fittingly, Alex O’Boyle had the final say, tapping over a late free in the 35th minute to cap off a brilliant individual and team performance. For St Enda’s, it was a frustrating afternoon where an early lead evaporated under intense second-half pressure. For Glenariffe Oisins, this was an important victory. Grabbing their second win of the season away from home is a big boost for the club in the league campaign.
For the victorious Glenariffe Oisins, Alex O’Boyle led the scoring with an incredible 2-12, including nine frees. He was supported by Oliver Kearney who tallied 1-02, while Aaron Cosgrove, Orrin O’Connor, Calum McIlwaine, and Michael O’Boyle all contributed 0-01 each.
On the St Enda’s side, Killian Jennings and Cormac McCann both found the net to finish with 1-01 apiece. Luke O’Connor was their top point scorer with 0-05, including four frees. Cormac Jennings and Manus Mullan added 0-02 each, while Christopher Roberts chipped in with a point from a ’45 and Dara Maguire scored 0-01 from play.
Featured Image: Ben Christie who gave a masterclass for Bredagh
(ACHL) Division 2
St. Brigid’s Cloughmills: 0-12 (12)
Bredagh: 1-22 (25)
Bredagh kick-started their league campaign in style on Sunday, producing a dominant display to brush aside St. Brigid’s Cloughmills. In a meeting between two sides hungry for points at the bottom of the table, the Belfast men’s superior firepower and clinical finishing saw them run out 1-22 to 0-12 winners.
Bredagh signalled their intent from the first whistle, racing into a 0-04 to 0-01 lead within the opening five minutes. They remained on top for the vast majority of the half, spearheaded by an exceptional performance from number 14 Ben Christie. Christie was the standout performer in the opening period, slotting over 0-05 and proving a constant thorn in the Cloughmills defence.
Mickey Devlin who was St. Brigid’s outstanding performer
While Bredagh dictated the tempo, Cloughmills stayed within touching distance thanks to the accuracy of Michael Devlin, who notched four points in the opening period. Further scores from Ruairi Laverty, James O’Boyle, and Conor Laverty kept the home side in the hunt, trailing by just three at the interval.
Half-Time Score: Bredagh 0-10, Cloughmills 0-07.
The second period saw Bredagh find another gear to completely pull away. Ben Christie continued his scoring master-class, adding a further 1-06 to his tally. The game’s only goal arrived in the 25th minute of the half, when Christie was set up by Sean McCollum to effectively end the contest.
Bredagh’s clinical edge was bolstered by scores from Tim Rankin (0-04), John Dougan (0-02), and Luke Doran (0-04). 13 Frankie Ferguson (0-01) also chipped in to round out a comprehensive team performance. Cloughmills found it much harder to break through a disciplined Bredagh rear guard, anchored by Ian Galway in goal. Michael Devlin, Ruairi Laverty, Geoffery Og Laverty, James O’Boyle and Stephen Smyth provided the only second-half resistance for the “Biddies.” Who were missing a number of regulars but need to get some points on bosard sooner rather than later
Geoffery Og Laverty on the attack for Cloughmills
An Bhreadach CLG (Bredagh): 1 Ian Galway, 2 Odhran Morgan-Little, 3 Michael Woods, 4 Eoin Browne, 5 Sean Doyle, 6 Patrick McGarry, 7 Liam Hogan, 8 Tim Rankin, 9 Cormac Hughes, 10 John Dougan, 11 Eoin Kennedy, 12 Sean McCollum, 13 Frankie Ferguson, 14 Ben Christie, 15 Luke Doran, 16 Aaron Maguire, 17 Fintan McCollum, 18 Evin Maguire, 19 Mel Lavery, 20 Adam Rankin, 21 Conor O’Neill.
Naomh Bríd (St. Brigid’s Cloughmills): 1 Corey Blair, 2 Jack McDowall, 3 Sean McKendry, 4 Aaron McGuckian, 5 Johnny Duffin, 6 Ruairi Laverty, 9 Dara Watterson, 10 Ryan Mcfarline, 11 Michael Devlin, 12 Conor Laverty, 13 Stephen Smyth, 14 Shemus Duffin, 15 James O’Boyle, 16 Cathaoir McFerran, 17 James Doherty, 18 Dean Boyle, 19 Con chaber Mac Enri, 20 Michael Reid, 21 Ryan Watson, 22 Kevin O’Boyle, 27 Reece Watt.
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
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