TG4 All-Ireland JFC semi-final

Antrim 3-10 Sligo 1-10

ANTRIM set up an All-Ireland junior final with Louth thanks to victory over Sligo in yesterday’s semi-final in Clones.

The Saffrons’ unbeaten run for 2025 has taken them to Croke Park to try and win a title they last claimed in 2022.

The eventual winners were 0-8 to 0-4 ahead at half-time yesterday, although they found themselves behind twice before hitting six in-a-row to take that four-point lead.

Maria O’Neill got a brace of points with the other four coming from Bronagh Devlin, Lara Dahunsi, Aine Lynch and Laura Agnew.

O’Neill’s major, the opening goal of the game, put Antrim 1-9 to 0-5 in front, and when the Moneyglass player found the back of the net for a second time to put six between them, 2-10 to 1-7, they looked comfortable.

It was the perfect response to Sligo getting a goal of their own from Leah Duffy that had brought them to within three points, 1-10 to 1-7.

Sligo though were not finished, and three points in-a-row got them back to within a goal, 2-10 to 1-10, with four minutes remaining, Duffy with a free to bring her tally to 1-4 and a brace from substitute Rianne Smith.

They couldn’t find the target again, however, and substitute Aoibhinn Monaghan ensured Antrim’s place at Croke Park with their third goal in injury-time. It was fortuitous as it looked like she was going for a point, but it dropped in over the head of goalkeeper Ellen Maguire.

Meanwhile, Louth were much too strong for Longford as they made ran out 1-16 to 0-6 victors to reach back-to-back All-Ireland finals.

Kate Flood finished with 10 points. It was 0-2 apiece after 14 minutes but then Louth took control and led 1-7 to 0-2, Eimear Byrne with the goal in the 18th minute as Flood finished the half with six points.

Louth extended their lead to 10 points by the 40th minute while Longford had a goal disallowed, getting their first score in the 47th minute to end a barren spell of 33 minutes. Louth pushed on were never in any danger of being caught.

Antrim M O’Neill 2-2 (0-1f); A Monaghan 1-0; A Tubridy, B Devlin (1f) & L Dahunsi 0-2 each; S O’Neill and L Agnew 0-1 each

Sligo L Duffy 1-4 (0-3f); A McDaniel & R Smith 0-2 each; E Kelleher (f) & S Curley 0-1 each