By Niall Gartland LOUGHGIEL captain Amy Boyle took the call last Saturday morning, hours before finding out their All-Ireland semi-final opponents. As it transpired, Cork side St Finbarr’s landed their first-ever Munster Championship title with a 3-11 to 2-12 victory over De La Salle. Boyle, who plays for Antrim, has never played against a Cork […]
By Michael McMullan THESE are the days. Emma McFadden looks up at Amy Boyle lifting the cup. The Loughgiel players are surrounded by family and friends. Those who were there during the glory days and the pain. Katie Lynn’s number four jersey, turned back to front tells the story. Top of the tree in Ulster […]
By Michael McMullan IT’S an eighth year in the Clonduff senior team for captain Erin Rafferty as they head into the club’s first Ulster Senior Championship final on Sunday, where they will take on defending champions Loughgiel. The Down champions led the Shamrocks by a point at half-time of last year’s semi-final before being hit with four […]
By Michael McMullan THERE is a serious bank of experience that comes with winning 12 successive championships. Welcome to Lucia McNaughton’s camogie career as Antrim’s Loughgiel embark on Sunday’s Ulster Senior Championship final date with Down’s Clonduff. She is part of a quartet with Caitrín Dobbin, Maria O’Hara (née Lynn) and Clare McKillop. Advertisement “Maria actually has 13 […]
By Niall Gartland EITHER Loughgiel or Sleacht Néill have claimed the last 11 Ulster Senior Camogie titles – but it’s certainly not been a case of trading them back and forth on an annual basis. The Shamrocks claimed the 2014 and 2015 before Sleacht Néill embarked on a phenomenal run of sixth successive titles, with a historic All-Ireland three-in-a-row thrown […]
By Niall Gartland SUNDAY, October 19, 2025 – the day St John’s bridged a 52-year-gap and landed their eighth-ever Antrim Senior Hurling Championship. Conor Johnston has known more than his fair share of heartache down the years: one crushing semi-final defeat after another in the more agonising of circumstances, but this time was different. They […]
Bobby McIlhatton always had an interest in history and sport. When he started collecting programmes, it grew into a museum in his Loughgiel home. Michael McMullan went to visit… WITH every bend in the road, more and more red and white flags come into view. A sign extends the welcome to Loughgiel and a heritage of […]
By Michael McMullan ST John’s manager Gerard Cunningham said it’s a case of “business as usual” as they prepare for the club’s first senior hurling final in 31 years. They face Loughgiel who are aiming to get their red and white ribbons on the Volunteer Cup for the first time since 2016. Whatever way Sunday […]
By Michael McMullan LOUGHGIEL manager Shane McMahon says Sunday’s Antrim semi-final showdown with Dunloy is a “massive step up” but hopes his charges can bring the same intensity to battle. The Shamrocks have lost three finals since the Volunteer Cup wintered with them in 2016. Captain Tiernan Coyle was a member of that team but […]
Sean McKillop hurled with Loughgiel and Antrim. He coaches Cushendall camogs and can also be found behind the lens, telling a game’s story in pictures. He sat down with Michael McMullan… A LOVE of sport began with a small ball at primary school in Corkey. It continued onto the playing fields of Antrim and beyond. […]
