Antrim edge out Cavan to land All-Ireland U14 Bronze title
May 30, 2026
Action during the LGFA All-Ireland U14 Bronze final match between Antrim and Cavan at Emyvale GAA in Monaghan. Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
Antrim 2-9
Cavan 2-7
(After extra-time)
by Deniese O’Flaherty
Two late points from Iona Maguire saw Antrim come from behind to claim the All-Ireland U14 Bronze championship title after extra-time in Emyvale.
Antrim had been behind a few times in the game, had levelled the game but only went ahead for the first time in the second half of extra-time. Maguire fired over a fine point and followed that up with another minutes later.
The opening score came in the second minute. Cavan’s Niamh Carolan firing over a free. The next score didn’t come until the 16th minute; both defences were solid and the wet conditions made the ball greasy.
Cavan grabbed a goal in the 16th minute when Carolan finished Caoimhe Mulhall’s shot to the net. Credit to Antrim they were back in the game in the 23rd minute. Effie Walsh flicked the ball to the net in the 18th minute and minutes later they were level.
By the 27th minute the Breffni County were two points ahead. The lead could’ve been bigger at half-time only for Antrim keeper Orla McLaughlin. She made a fine stop from Erin Browne in stoppage time and then followed it up with an excellent save to deny Blaithin Smith.
Two frees from O’Hanlon drew Antrim level after 34 minutes. Pippa-Callery-Tracey also denied Antrim a second goal when she saved from Saorlaith Nig Aoidh.
Just like before Cavan were able to edge ahead again. They got their second goal in the 42nd minute when Alicia Barr lobbed the ball over McLaughlin to give Cavan a four point lead.
The Saffrons went in search of their second goal. Cavan midfielder Ellie Clarke made a vital goal-line clearance in the 45th minute. Antrim’s perseverance paid off and in the 51st minute Mae McKinlay fired a stunning strike to the net. The game was level again.
It was end to end football. Two more frees from the boot of Carolan gave Cavan a two point lead with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Antrim tried to get back into the game but Cavan defended well. The Saffroons brought the game to extra time with points from McKinlay and Walsh (free).
Scorers - Antrim: M McKinlay 1-1, S O’Hanlon 0-4 (4fs), E Walsh 1-0, I Maguire 0-3, N McBride 0-1.
Cavan: N Carolan 1-5, A Barr 1-1, L Hill 0-1.
CAVAN: P Callery-Tracey; E Lynch, F McSeain, M Keaney; Z Clarke, A McAloon, N McIntyre; L Hill, E Clarke; A Barr, B Smith, É McManus; C Mulhall, N Carolan, M Mills. Subs: E Browne, S McNulty, A Burns, Z Hogan, K Kivlehan, L Carville, L McCann, M Connolly, N Clarke.
ANTRIM: O McLaughlin; R Sanni, G Adeniyi, E Ginley; M O’Boyle, Ú McCavana, M Maguire; G Kerr, N McBride; I Maguire, S O’Hanlon, K Cassidy; A Largey, E Walsh, M McKinlay. Subs: G Gallagher, C Campbell, S Nig Aoidh, R O’Donnell, T Mullin, N Fitzimons.
Referee: Henri Clifford (Meath).
