Oisins Glenariffe held their annual awards night in Kilmore Houuse on Saturday night where there was lots to clebrate. Last season their Senior Hurlers won the Intermediate Championship, the Division 2 League and the Countess of Antrim Cup, the Glenariffe-Glenravel team won the Antrim Minor League and their Ladies Footballers won the LGFA Junior B Champiosnhip. Kilmore House, hosting their first awards dinner, did and excellent job and making everyone welcome. The Saffron Gael called in to capture the awards and few others as well.
The Oisins LGFA team who won the 2025 Junior B Championship are seen here with team manager Luke Kelly.Glenariffe Oisin’s Club President Niall Wheeler presents the Supporter of the Year award to Raymond McDonnell at the club’s dinner in Kilmore House, Glenariffe. Pic by John McIlwaineGlenariffe Oisin’s Club President Niall Wheeler presents the Fermoy Shield for working with the juvenile teams in the club to Conor Kerr at the club’s dinner in Kilmore House, Glenariffe. Pic by John McIlwaineGlenariffe Oisin’s Club President Niall Wheeler presents the Cluman of the Year award to Padraig McIlwaine at the club’s dinner in Kilmore House. Pic by John McIlwaineGlenariffe Oisin’s Club President Niall Wheeler presents the Team Assistant of the Year award to Brendan Murray at the club’s dinner in Kilmore House, Glenariffe. Pic by John McIlwaineThe Glenarifffe-Glenravel team who won the Divisions 1 Minor League in 2025 received their medals at the Oisins dinnerLadies Football team manager Luke Kelly presents the Most Improved Footballer award to Sarah Black at the Oisins dinner in Kilmore House.Ladies Football team manager Luke Kelly presents the LGFA Players Player of the Year award to Dervla McMullan at the Oisins dinner in Kilmore House.Ladies Football team manager Luke Kelly presents the Player of the Year award to Clodagh McMullan at the Oisins dinner in Kilmore House.Hugh McIlwaine presents the Most Dedicated Hurler award to Donal Kearney.Chris Ward presents the Willie Bob Graham Cup for Most Improved Hurler to Cailin DevlinPadraig McIlwaine presents a sponsorship cheque on behalf of the Oisins Club to the Saffron Gael.Chris Ward (left) and Paul Gillan present the Players Player of the Year to Alex O’BoyleJoint Hurlers of the Year Callum McIlwaine and Alex O’Boyle receive their awards from Chris Ward and Paul Gillan.Christine Mulholland presents the Alex O’Boyle Cup for the Team of the Year to Senior team captain Conor Patterson.Christopher Leech and Canice McIntosh who were members of the 2025 Antrim Minor team, receive their medals from Paadraig McIlwaineBrian Kearney present a new set of training tops for the 2026 season to team manager Michael Kearney
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Kildare delivered a clinical performance at Newbridge to leave Antrim still searching for their first win of the National Hurling League Division 1B campaign. Despite traveling south with a sense of optimism that this fixture could provide a turning point for their season, the Saffrons were ultimately outclassed by a home side that seized control during a devastating third-quarter blitz.
The opening half was a tightly contested affair, defined by scoring bursts from both sides. Antrim’s Seaan Elliott and Ryan McCambridge were influential early on, keeping the scoreboard ticking over from both placed balls and open play. However, Kildare showed superior efficiency, particularly through Jack Sheridan (13) and Muiris Curtin (14). While Antrim managed to claw back a deficit with the final three points of the half to trail by just three, Kildare’s ability to find scores from across the pitch—including contributions from defenders like Paul Dolan (5) and Daire Guerin (7)—sent a warning sign of the depth of their threat.
The game was effectively decided in a whirlwind eight-minute spell following the restart. Kildare emerged with renewed intensity, and Muiris Curtin became the architect of Antrim’s downfall. Following the opening goal from James Dolan, full-forward Curtin bagged two spectacular goals, in just over a minute, including a low-driven shot to the corner in the 48th minute that left the visitors reeling. This scoring spree, coupled with accurate frees from Sheridan, saw the Lilywhites pull 14 points clear. The Antrim defence, despite the efforts of Paddy Burke and Niall O’Connor, simply could not contain the wave of Kildare attacks during this decisive period.
To their credit, Antrim dominated the final quarter as they sought to bridge the massive gap. Seaan Elliott continued his prolific form, finishing the day as his side’s primary marksman with scores from frees, 65s, and open play. Late points from Eoin O’Neill and long-range efforts from Elliott showed the Saffrons’ spirit, but the damage had already been done. Kildare’s substitutes, including Conn Kehoe, added late points to ensure there was no way back. As the final whistle blew, Kildare celebrated a comprehensive victory, while Antrim were left to reflect on a difficult afternoon where a breeze at their backs was no match for Kildare’s clinical goal-scoring power.
When they lost out to Wexford and Clare in the opening game the feeling was that things would turn around when they faced what would be classed the lesser teams in the division. They were desperately unlucky against Wexford and should have had two points on the board from that game, but points are going to be hard to come by in their next outings against Carlow and Dublin and survival in Division 1B is going to be hard to achieve.
Kildare Paddy McKenna, Liam O’Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara, Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin, Simon Leacy, Conan Boran, Cathal McCabe, Cathal Dowling, Jack Travers, Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, and Gerry Keegan.
Antrim D. Nugent, N. O’Connor, P. Burke, R. McCormick, S. Rooney, J. Maskey, G. Walsh, R. McCambridge, E. O’Neill, R. Donaghy, S. Elliott, S. Duffin, C. Johnston, J. McNaughton, and C. Cunning.
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The St Agnes’ GAC 75th Annual Awards night took place on Friday night in the Beechlawn Hotel, hosted by Lynette Fay and guest on the night, former Dublin All-Ireland winner Philly McMahon. A milestone year in 2025 saw the Aggies lift their first ever Antrim Junior Football Championship, the Division 3 League title and the South Antrim Football title. In what was an excellent year for St. Agnes their Hurling amalgamation with St Teresa’s, Belfast Gaels, won the Ulster Junior B title.
Guests at the St. Agnes Dinner, Phillip McMahon, Lynette Fay and Terry Reilly
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Venue: Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, Kildare
Time: 2pm
Brendan McTaggart looks ahead to Antrim’s league match against Kildare in Newbridge.
After last Sunday’s contest with Clare, Antrim league campaign goes on the road again. A trip down to the Lilywhites and a second meeting with Kildare in 2026. Antrim won’t need reminding of their first meeting, coming away with a defeat to Kildare in the Walsh Shield semi-final in what was horrific weather to be playing hurling in. It was so bad, you wouldn’t put your dog out in it but, it’s a match that will act as an eye opener, if it were needed, that this Kildare side aren’t to be taken lightly.
The 2025 McDonagh Cup winners have played just one match in the league so far, coming up short against Dublin with 14 points between them by the final whistle. For a team cutting their teeth in this Division for the first time in a generation (or two), 46 years to be exact, that could be seen as a respectable enough result. Ronan Hayes with the Dubs two majors as they ran out 2-19 to 0-10 victors.
Jack Sheridan did the lions share of the scoring for Brian Dowling’s men, all but one of his nine points coming from placed ball as he showed exemplary form from frees, just like when these two met in the Walsh Shield. They managed just one point from open play in each half however, Gerry Keegan the other man in Lilywhite who managed that fete.
It was a tough lesson last Sunday in Cushendall for the Saffrons who came up against a Banner side who were in no mood to be on the end of another Antrim shock. Once Brian Lohan’s men went through the gears, they purred like a well-oiled machine. Their ability to pass under pressure, delivery a direct hurl pass to hand and their touch was a real eye-opener for anyone who might be looking for that type of thing. It was something that certainly caught my eye. This as well as the physicality that they brought both in and out of possession. It was far from a ‘dirty’ game of hurling but Clare’s ability to stop the man in possession legally, standing them upright and forcing a turnover just had to be applauded, much as it hurts me to say.
If we’re being realistic about it, getting a result against Clare was always going to be the dream scenario. Clare are a side who are hurting after losing their All-Ireland crown in 2025, they have aspirations for winning the Liam McCarthy Cup never mind the league. The 2024 All Ireland winners looked like men on a mission from the first whistle. Relentless to the point where they oozed professionalism. They came to do a job and they certainly done that.
For Antrim’s part, they fared much better in the second half. Some may look at that and think Clare took their foot off the gas put trust me when I say, the Banner never once looked like they were going to ease up. Antrim played with one or two men inside and packed the midfield but such was Clare’s organisation and strategy, they looked like they always had a spare man. The work rate, the intensity, the mindset and the player buy in to what they are trying to achieve had to be commended. A side who are considerably further ‘down the road’ than what Antrim are and where Antrim want to be.
The introduction of Conor Johnston, Jack McCloskey and Keelan Molloy certainly gave the Saffrons more zip in the middle third while the direct running of Seaan Elliott, all be it fleeting, gave a strong Clare defence something to think about.
When I spoke with Seoirse Bulfin during the week, he felt like the Saffrons showed Clare too much respect in a first half that they were far from happy about: “We stood off them too much, it was almost like ‘this is Clare, the All Ireland champions from a few months ago’ and the lads were caught on their heels a little but look we got them in at half time and tightened things up a little. We played much better in the second half.
“We are looking for consistency. We played well against Wexford and the second half against Clare. We want to keep fighting and battling in games, we could have folded at half time but the lads did well in the second half.”
Sunday’s match represents Antrim’s best opportunity to get their first points of the league campaign and as Seoirse told us, it will be a tough game: “They are the Joe McDonagh Cup winners and there’s no bad teams wins that competition. They are at home so that’s a massive advantage for them and this is a massive game for both of us.
“We’ll have learned a couple of things from that game (Walsh Shield) just like they would have on us. That was a game we really should have been winning, I think the wide count in the second half was something like 14 to two, it was a match we should have been putting to bed but look, that was a different competition.”
With Molloy, Johnston and McCloskey all getting game time against Clare, Bulfin said they are getting close to something to where they want to be. “Gerard Walsh and Niall O’Connor are back from suspension and Jonty (Conor Johnston) and Keelan (Molloy) got minutes. Conal Bohill isn’t far away either so we’re starting to shape.”
Against Kildare four weeks ago, it was the Saffrons first outing in 2026. A match against a Kildare side riding the crest of a wave in their own backyard is far from an easy task. It will be a massive game with a win for either side kick-starting their campaign and going a long way to sealing their fate for next season. The same work rate and intensity shown against Wexford and for half of the Clare game will be the expectation for the full 70 plus minutes in Newbridge. If that happens, the result will follow.
The last time they met….
Kildare snatch win at the death over Saffrons
Dioralyte Walsh Shield
Semi Final
Antrim 2-10 Kildare 0-17
Sunday 11 January
By Brendan McTaggart
Antrim fell to a one point defeat on Sunday afternoon to bow out of the Walsh Shield at the hands of Kildare. The Lilywhite’s stages a late comeback of sorts, registering the final three scores of the hour to win by the minimum as the Saffrons were left to rue their profligacy in front of the target.
In a second half where they would reach double figures in wides, it was a period just after the three-quarter mark where Davy Fitzgerald side hit four wides in succession in less than five minutes that proved to be decisive in the end. Kildare were certainly wasteful themselves in the first half but they saw out the game at the death with a purple patch that was the winning of the game…..
TEAMS
ANTRIM: Domhnall Nugent; Ryan McNulty, Eoin McFerran, Ruairi McCormick; Gerard Walsh, Joe Maskey, Sean McKay; Eoin O’Neill, Ryan McCambridge; Scott Walsh, Paul Boyle, Sean Duffin; Jack McCloskey, Conal Cunning, Joseph McLaughlin
Subs: Niall O’Connor for S McKay (30); Seaan Elliott for J McCloskey (39); Conor Johnston for J McLaughlin (39); James McNaughton for E O’Neill (44); Cormac McKeown for S Duffin (53)
Scorers: C Cunning 0-6 (6fs); J McLaughlin 1-1; J McCloskey 1-00; E O’Neill 0-1; R McCambridge 0-1; C McKeown 0-1
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Evan O’Briain, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Alan Goss, Cathal McCabe; Caolan Smith, Gerry Keegan, Tim Ryan; Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, James Dolan
Subs: Jack Travers for T Ryan (41); Darragh Melville for J Dolan (47); Liam O’Reilly for E O’Briain (51); Michael Owens for D O’Meara (51); Tom Power for G Keegan (53)
Scorers: J Sheridan 0-10 (10fs); G Keegan 0-2; M Curtin 0-2; P Dolan 0-1; J Travers 0-1; L O’Reilly 0-1
The All-Ireland dream for Cross and Passion was cruelly ended in Cushendun on Saturday, as a valiant effort from the Ballycastle side fell just short against a clinical Ursuline team from Thurles. While the final five-point scoreline suggests a comfortable margin for the visitors, it is a harsh reflection on a match where the Ulster champions were right in the hunt until the dying seconds. On another day, the North Antrim girls could have easily walked away with more than a single goal, having pushed their Munster opponents to the very limit in a display defined by grit and determination.
The Ballycastle school started with incredible intent, utilizing the elements in the first half to establish an early dominance. Their bright start was rewarded in the 12th minute when Eimear McCaughan found the back of the net, giving her side a deserved five-point lead. Throughout the contest, Eobha McAllister was a tower of strength, leading the scoring charge with eight points, including several crucial scores from placed balls. Despite the pressure applied by Cross and Passion, Ursuline managed to weather the storm, leaving the Ballycastle side with a slender two-point advantage at the interval.
The second half showcased the true character of this Cross and Passion squad. Even as Ursuline began to find their range and restore parity, the Ballycastle girls refused to be found wanting in the physical stakes. They dominated the middle third for long stretches, mounting wave after wave of pressure on the Thurles defense. Goal chances were carved out through the persistence of Adria McAllister and Eimear McCaughan, but they were met by a combination of desperate defending and an inspired performance from the Ursuline goalkeeper, who produced a moment of incredible bravery to keep the Ulster champions at bay.
The closing stages proved to be heartbreaking for the local side. After Marie Laverty and Tegan Cassidy went close to finding the scores needed to reclaim the lead, Ursuline struck a decisive blow in the 59th minute. Just seconds after a brilliant save at one end, Mel Flannery managed to find the net at the other, finally putting daylight between the teams. A late free from Eobha McAllister was all the Ballycastle side could muster in response before the final whistle. While the result ends their journey, the aggression, intensity, and skill shown by Cross and Passion proved they were in contention right up the end, but the Thurles class told in the end.
A word of praise must go to the Emmet’s club in Cushendun who were called uppon to host this game at the 11th hour. The pitch was in excellent condition considering the rain that has fallen all week, their stewarding and handling of the whole occasion were second to none.
Cross & Passion: M McToal; S Flavin, SL Kearns, C Delaney, A Gillan, F Sands; E McAllister (0-8; 4f’s, 1’45), R McMullan; L McBride, T Cassidy (0-1), M Laverty; A McAllister, M McArthur (0-1), E McCaughan (1-00)
Ursuline: R Ferncombe; O Gleeson, L McGrath, S O’Dwyer; R O’Brien, K Dowling, K Duffy (0-1); A O’Connor, E Frend (0-1); M Jones, C Stakelum (0-5, 3f’s), S Coughlan; M Flannery (1-1), J Shannahan (0-1), A Butler (0-5)
Subs: E McGrath for S Coughlan (35)
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