Latest news with #Cargin
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Shane McGuigan leads Slaughtneil charge as they claim comfortable victory over battling Kilrea
Fionn McEldowney and Christopher Bradley helped cement Slaughtneil's first-half advantage by finding the Kilrea net, but when Paddy Quigg pounced for Kilrea's only goal in the first minute of the second period, this lent a new dimension to the contest. Kilrea stepped up a gear but were unable to maintain the pace because of Slaughtneil's power and experience. With Shane McGuigan posting 10 points for Slaughtneil, this meant he proved a thorn in Kilrea's side, but James Kielt also exhibited his finishing skills by helping himself to 0-07 of the losers' total. Glen, who won the title in 2023, turned in a strong second-half performance to overcome a plucky Banagher side by 1-17 to 0-14. But reigning Derry title holders Newbridge were forced to absorb a huge shock when Dungiven proved their masters. Dungiven hit the ground running and never relented as they left their opponents in their wake by chalking up 2-15, to which Newbridge responded with 0-11. Meanwhile, Erin's Own, Cargin have fired out a warning that they do not intend to be separated from the Antrim Championship title which they have owned over the course of recent years. It was St John's who were forced to bear the brunt of a Cargin onslaught on Sunday which took the side to a 4-15 to 1-11 victory. By halfway, the sides were deadlocked at 0-09 each and there had been no hint of the tidal wave of Erin's Own attacks. But when Benen Kelly, Kevin O'Boyle and Conor Johnston hit the net, St John's were left floundering. A second goal from Johnston catapulted Cargin into an unassailable lead. And with Sean O'Neill helping with a points blitz, Ronan Devlin's side glided to victory. Also in the Antrim Championship, St Gall's turned up the heat against All Saints to win by 4-16 to 1-19 with Daniel Quinn, Conn Doherty, Niall Burns and Niall O'Neill grabbing their goals, while Paddy McAleer and James McDonnell kept their opponents in touch by claiming a generous share of points. Portglenone, meanwhile, overcame Rossa by 2-14 to 0-12. Crossmaglen Rangers could be on the scent of yet another Armagh title following their opening round 1-13 to 0-11 win over Granemore. A Cian McConville goal fired up the Rangers, and with Aaron O'Neill and Paul Hughes leading a points blitz, the Rangers crossed the winning line safely. Two other teams from the south of the county, Culloville and Cullyhanna, also tasted opening round victories. Culloville just managed to pip Killeavy by 4-16 to 3-18 with Eoin Duffy leading their scoring blitz, while Cullyhanna got the better of Madden by 1-13 to 0-15, with Ross McQuillan and Kieran McCooey landing the late scores.
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ronan Devlin sets sights on ending Erin's Own's wait for Ulster glory
The Cargin side's most recent significant achievement has been a hat-trick of Antrim titles but even this fails to satisfy the appetite of their players and fans. There has been a series of so near yet so far episodes in the Ulster Club Championship but the provincial silverware has proven to be elusive to date. Yet manager Devlin remains hopeful that the team may yet break new ground on the provincial front. The experience acquired by members of his side both at club and county levels is standing the team in good stead as they keep their sights fixed on even bigger targets. 'While it's great to win Antrim titles, we would like to have a real crack at the Ulster title," he said. 'Obviously when you move up in the provincial sphere, life can become more demanding and you have to be up for the challenge. 'We are taking nothing for granted in Antrim. Every time the county Championship comes round, it's there to be won and, while we never tire of winning, we would like to move up in the world a little but we know that this is not easy given the quality of teams you are likely to encounter.' Given their sustained period of success in Antrim, it's not surprising to discover that a solid core of experience underpins the Erin's Own side. Conhuir Johnston, Justin Crozier and Mick McCann are among the long-serving warriors who have played their hearts out for the club, while James Laverty and Eunan Quinn are others who have made an invaluable input to the team's progress over the years. John McNabb is a very competent goalkeeper, while Tomas McCann and Pat Shivers are clinical finishers who are capable of racking up impressive scoring returns and, with several players anxious to break through into the team, competition for starting places is said to be razor-sharp. There is no doubt that the Erin's Own stalwarts will be bidding to impress the new Antrim management that will be put in place and this will provide a further incentive for the players to lift their game. For the moment, though, Cargin's eyes are on St John's when they go head to head at Corrigan Park on Sunday (2.00pm).
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Who could Antrim turn to after McEntee exit?
Following Andy McEntee's departure after three years at the helm with Antrim's senior footballers, the search for a new manager year, the Saffrons will ly their trade in Division Four of the National League and the objective for the Meath man's successor is to navigate a return to the third the club leagues drawing to a conclusion in Antrim and the county championship just a matter of weeks away, the ideal scenario would be to have a new manager appointed sooner rather than McAleese, captain in 2025, is the only confirmed retirement from this season's panel, although there may be others mulling over their future, while the new manager will of course have their own ideas in terms of is no obvious candidate to succeed McEntee at present, but speculation will now begin as to whom that may Cargin manager Ronan Devlin has been with the Toome club since the start of the 2018 season, initially as a coach under Damien Cassidy when they delivered a three-in-a-row in Antrim from 2018-2020. Following Cassidy's departure after the 2021 campaign, the Ballinderry native took the reins and has delivered another hat-trick of county titles, but would he be tempted by the inter-county scene?Former Antrim player Kevin Madden is another who will be linked. The Portglenone man has been a coach under Damien Cassidy in Derry and also under Mickey Harte in Tyrone, while helping deliver a Derry county title for Glenullin. Madden has also managerial experience with Creggan in Antrim, Swatragh in Derry and currently with Clonoe in Tyrone, but may feel the time is right to answer his county's Portglenone man and current manager of his home club, John McKeever, will also be linked due to his track record of success at school and club level, most notably with Fr Rock's, Cookstown, whom he led to an All-Ireland Intermediate title and last year, brought his native Casement's to the Antrim county final for the first time in 15 Antrim may look outside the county once again with current Aghagallon boss Pete McGrath, who brought the Sam Maguire to his native Down in 1991 and '94, or Tony McEntee, who stepped down as Sligo manager after five years following defeat to Fermanagh in the Tailteann Cup, may also be tempted.
