Gaelic Games

When Patrick McBride - one of Antrim's most high profile and experienced Gaelic footballers - stepped away from the county panel last month, it came as an unexpected development in an already difficult season.

Since making his inter-county debut as a 17-year-old, McBride had been a consistent presence in Saffron, but decided to quit just days after the county's Division Four loss to Tipperary.

Speaking to BBC Gaeilge, McBride explained his reasons for leaving the squad.

"When I had [his son] Luca for example, it put football in a different perspective, and for the last month or so, I was feeling, when I was leaving the house, that I was not enjoying it," McBride told BBC Gaeilge's sport programme, Ón Taobhlíne.

"I had to make a decision, what am I giving my time to? And when I was leaving the house, looking at Luca and Maeve [his partner] in the house, going somewhere I wasn't enjoying, that decision got a lot easier for me."

"So at the moment, I feel 100% OK with it. I'm back training with the club at the minute, league starting in a couple of weeks, looking forward to that."

McBride added that he misses "the games and the friendships", but feels that he made the "right decision".

"I'm not saying that I'm finished, because there is a chance I'll go back," he said.

"There's a chance I'll go back next season but just, the environment wasn't right for me to stay, and I wasn't enjoying it."

When directly asked if he is not ruling out a return to the Antrim jersey in future, McBride confirms: "Yeah, well I don't feel finished yet, so aye, there's a good chance that will happen."

In a wide-ranging conversation, the 32-year-old St John's club-man also recalled his much-loved sister Marie, who died by suicide three years ago.

The full interview can be heard on the Ón Taobhlíne programme below.

If you're affected by any of the issues on this programme you can find details of organisations who can help via the BBC Action Line.

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Armagh and Dublin played out a thrilling draw in Division One of the LGFA National League with the sides finishing 2-11 apiece.

The result means both sides remain in the two relegation spots, but level on points with Kildare and the trio just two behind Kerry and Meath.

An Orlagh Nolan helped the Dubs get off to a good start and this would be the difference at the break as Armagh rallied with scores from Kelly Mallon, Lauren McConville, Aoife McCoy and Blaithin Mackin with Nolan on target for the Dubs who led 1-6 to 0-6.

McConville and Mallon reduced the gap to one, but a penalty goal from Nolan followed by a point helped the visitors gain breathing space.

However, Armagh hit back with two goals from the penalty spot converted by Mallon and the sides were level late on when Caroline O'Hanlon gave the Orchard side the lead, but Nolan hit back to ensure it finished level.

Cavan maintained their place at the top of Division Two with a 2-9 to 1-9 victory over Monaghan, while Donegal edged out Mayo to stay second and and Tyrone hit four goals in their win over Wexford to sit in third.

In Division Three, Louth moved clear at the top as they handed Antrim their first defeat of the campaign, but the Saffrons are in joint second with Down who also tasted defeat, going down to Ulster rivals Fermanagh.

Derry suffered a fifth defeat in Division Four when edged out by Leitrim.

LGFA National League results

Division One

Armagh 2-11 Dublin 2-11

Cork 1-12 Waterford 3-5

Galway 1-11 Kerry 1-9

Kildare 4-8 Meath 1-10

Division Two

Cavan 2-9 Monaghan 1-9

Donegal 0-9 Mayo 0-8

Tyrone 4-9 Wexford 3-8

Tipperary 3-8 Westmeath 0-8

Division Three

Fermanagh 1-10 Down 2-6

Roscommon 4-4 Laois 0-12

Louth 0-15 Antrim 0-5

Clare 1-12 Limerick 1-8

Division Four

Leitrim 2-12 Derry 3-8

Wicklow 1-27 Kilkenny 0-0

Carlow 4-13 Longford 0-3

Sligo 2-9 Offaly 1-7

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Donegal extended their unbeaten National League run, salvaging a point despite being a man down as they fought back to earn a dramatic 1-17 to 0-20 draw with Galway in Ballyshannon.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is braced for a possible league final as his side remain top of the table with two games remaining, including their trip to Roscommon on 15 March.

"It's on the horizon now, if we win one more game, we're probably there," said McGuinness.

"But we want to do that in the context of what we're trying to build in the game plan, with the younger players getting an opportunity."

Donegal had started sharply despite a flurry of early wides, with Michael Langan and Jamie Brennan pushing them two clear before Robert Finnerty opened the visitors' account.

Conor O'Donnell was central to Donegal's best moments in the opening half. After restoring parity midway through the half, he rifled home a superb goal on 20 minutes following a precise Gavin Mulreany kickout against the breeze.

Galway hit back through the game's top scorer, Oisin MacDonnacha, whose two-pointer helped shift momentum and he would finish the game with seven points.

A black card for Michael Langan further disrupted Donegal, allowing the Tribesmen to add late scores and take a 0-13 to 1-07 lead into half-time.

The visitors seized control early in the second period, extending their lead to six as Donegal struggled to gain territory and then lost Stephen McMenamin to a second yellow card.

"The two incidents, you can't defend. In physical games such as these, those are the moments you must hold your discipline," McGuinness added.

However, the introduction of Michael Murphy, Finnbarr Roarty and Peadar Mogan sparked a revival. Further points from Jason McGee and Ryan McHugh drove the Tir Chonaill men forward, gradually eroding the deficit.

A Murphy free cut the gap to one before Mogan's late two-pointer nudged the hosts in front for the first time since the opening half.

The Tribesman seized the last opportunity of the match as Paul Conroy struck in the dying moments to secure a share of the spoils.

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Armagh's fightback fell short in Castlebar as Mayo held on for a 2-17 to 0-22 win in Division One.

The result leaves Mayo in second, while Kieran McGeeney's side are second bottom and in a relegation battle with two games to go.

An early goal from Jordan Flynn helped Mayo make a flying start and their ability to nail two-pointers through Flynn, Conor Loftus, Ryan O'Donoghue and Cian McHale saw them open a healthy 1-11 to 0-5 lead at the interval.

Armagh were relying on singles through Cian McConville (two), Callum O'Neill, Blaine Hughes and Jason Duffy but the Ulster side also passed up opportunities.

The gap was out to 10 with 25 minutes to play when Armagh began their surge with two-pointers from Greg McCabe and Oisin O'Neill and had the gap down to three, but Mayo responded with a Cian McHale goal.

Armagh rallied again with six of the next seven points including a two-point free from Oisin O'Neill to leave the minimum between the side with five to pay.

Sam Callinan and AFL-bound teenager Kobe McDonald steadied Mayo again and while Armagh again got to within one through O'Neill (free) and Greg McCabe, they would ultimately come out empty-handed.

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Monaghan look set for a return to Division Two as they suffered a fifth Division One defeat, going down 1-18 to 0-7 to Kerry in Killarney.

The Farenymen were competitive in the early stages with Kerry hitting the front for the first time on 27 minutes, but there was no looking back for the All-Ireland champions thereafter.

Cameron Dowd, Oisin McGorman, Karl Gallager and Dessie Ward scored early for the Ulster side, but Paudie Clifford was on song for the All-Ireland champions with Keith Evans and Joe O'Connor also chipping in.

With the wind at their backs for the second period, Kerry took charge with Sean O'Shea hitting three scores and Clifford with another.

Although Monaghan hit back through Robbie Hanratty and Andrew Woods, their challenge would fade as David Clifford was sprung from the bench to kick a two-pointer before netting the game's only goal as Kerry powered home.

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Dublin's dominance over Antrim continued as they kept their promotion push in Division 1B intact with a 1-31 to 1-16 win at Corrigan Park.

With Clare sealing promotion with victory over Carlow on Saturday, the Dubs remain in the hunt for second as they enjoyed another fine afternoon in Belfast.

With the wind at their backs, Dublin began to build a lead with nine of the game's fist 10 points as Antrim were reliant on Seaan Elliott frees for scores in the opening 25 minutes.

By that stage, the Dubs were in a flow as the accuracy of Donal Burke, Fergal Whitely, Dara Purcell and Cian O'Sullivan saw them pour on the scores.

A Ruairi Donaghy goal and two Keelan Molloy points kept Antrim somewhat in touch, but a strong finish to the half from Dublin saw them lead 0-20 to 1-8 at the break.

Chris Crummey found the net for Dublin early in the second half to make it a long way back for Antrim who chipped away with points from Elliott, Molloy, Donaghy, Conor Johnston and James McNaughton.

However, there was no catching Niall Ó Ceallacháin's side who had 12 different scorers on the day as they maintain their push for promotion, while Antrim will have a break before their final game away to Down.

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Kildare grabbed their second win of Division 1B as a hat-trick from Cathal Dowling helped them to a 3-24 to 1-23 victory over Down in Ballycran.

The Lilywhites hit the ground running with two Cathal Dowling goals within the opening seven minutes, while David Qualter, Muiris Curtin and Cathal McCabe were on song to help their side build a healthy lead.

Pearse Og McCrickard was accurate from frees for Down who were given a bit of a boost before half time when Kildare's Jack Sheridan was sent off, but the visitors held a 2-15 to 0-9 lead at the break.

Dowling completed his hat-trick three minutes into the second period which pushed the gap out to 15, but Down rallied with McCrickard, Tim Prenter, Donal Hughes and Paul Sheehan prominent.

However, they had given themselves too much to do and a stoppage time goal from Tom McGrattan was mere consolation as Ronan Sheehan's remain rooted to the bottom of the table without a point.

In Division Three, Donegal's push for promotion continued with a 3-20 to 1-9 win over Louth, but Fermanagh's relegation worries deepen with a 5-14 to 0-7 defeat by Wicklow.

In Division Four, Warwickshire were 3-11 to 0-13 winners over Monaghan.

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Derry gave their promotion chances a real boost by handing Cork their first defeat in Division Two with a 1-31 to 0-14 victory at Celtic Park.

The Oak Leafers are now top of the second tier on scoring difference heading into the final two games of the campaign with Louth (away) and Cavan (home) to come, while Cork host Kildare before travelling to face Tyrone.

Ciaran Meenagh's side played against the wind in the first half and trailed eight points to five midway through the half, with Steven Sherlock using the elements to land two monster two-pointers.

The Oak Leaf county started to take control of the Cork kick-out, winning eight across the half to drag themselves back into the contest, and led 1-10 to 0-9 at the break.

Their dominance was reinforced by winning four opposition restarts in a row before the hooter to score 1-3 without reply, with Conor Glass threading through the eye of the needle to find Lachlan Murray to blast to the net with the final action of the half.

Ruairi Deane opened the second half before Derry put the game to bed with 10 unanswered scores including a two-pointer from Niall Loughlin, with all six of the home forwards registering scores.

Cork went over 12 minutes without troubling the scoreboard before Dara Sheedy stopped the rot.

Shane McGuigan, who finished with 0-9, landed a two-pointer to add gloss to a fourth victory in a row for the home side.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Down coach Mickey Donnelly feels his side "probably still need a point" after their 1-18 to 1-15 victory over Fermanagh left his side all but promoted.

The Mourne County have won five from five in Division Three and look sure to make an immediate return to Division Two.

"Probably, well, you look at the games that are remaining, we probably still need a point," Donnelly told BBC Sport NI.

"If you lose both your games, your score difference is going to be affected anyway, so it would have been nice to have had a more comfortable victory, but it is what it is.

"We're sitting after five games with 10 points, we couldn't say that we wanted any more from those games, yet maybe the performance weren't 10 out of 10, but it's nice to be sitting at the top of the pack."

Securing promotion comes with the added incentive of trying to secure Sam Maguire football for later in the summer.

The promoted teams from the third tier are likely to play in the All-Ireland series, barring Clare shocking All-Ireland champions Kerry in the Munster semi-final.

After getting a taste of All-Ireland series football last summer, Down will be keen to get back to testing themselves against the best in the country.

"They're all massive games, playing those sorts of oppositions, it excites everyone. Not only us, but it excites the fans, it excites the parents of the lads who are involved and that's what creates a wave of emotion," he continued.

"You've got to walk before you can run, and ultimately, once hopefully we get out of Division Three that'll be a box ticked, then we've got to tick the box to get into the All-Ireland series, and that's where we want to be.

"We just feel we're in a much better place, whether or not that stands the test of time, or stands the test of scrutiny."

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Cavan's relegation fears worsened as they suffered a 1-22 to 1-12 defeat to Louth in Saturday's Division Two game at Breffni Park.

Ciaran Downey shone for the visitors, tallying 1-4, to propel the reigning Leinster champions into the promotion picture with two games left to play.

Cavan took an early lead, but Louth's win was built on an explosive 15-minute period in which they accumulated nine points.

Seemingly buoyed by their win over Tyrone last weekend, Gavin Devlin's men, with the wind at their backs, surged clear with seven successive scores.

Two-pointers from half-back Tadhg McDonell and another from a free by way of Sam Mulroy meant Cavan trailed 0-10 to 0-2 by the 18th minute.

Gerard Smith and Dara McVeety responded for the hosts, but the respite proved temporary as Downey finished soccer-style to the net and rounded off a superb move to open up an 11-point lead.

Further scores from downtown from Mulroy (free) and Paul Matthews just before the break left Louth 1-16 to 0-6 ahead at half-time.

Cavan took almost 15 minutes to open their account in the second half despite playing with the wind.

Instead, it was the away team who reeled off a string of points: McDonell, Ryan Burns, Downey, Conor Grime and Kieran McArdle all on target for singles.

Substitute Ciaran Brady (Corofin) ended the home side's drought when he palmed to the net, and Paddy Lynch kicked a two-point free to reduce the arrears to 1-21 to 1-8 for Dermot McCabe's men.

Lynch, first-half substitution Gearoid McKiernan (0-2, 1 free), and Cian Sheckleton tagged on further points, but a Louth win following their first-half scoring spree was never under threat.

Louth move onto six points while Cavan remain in seventh and facing the drop, with fellow strugglers Offaly and promotion-chasing Derry left to play.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Down are all but promoted to Division Two thanks to a 1-18 to 1-15 victory over Fermanagh at Pairc Esler.

Laois' unlikely win over Westmeath means that Conor Laverty's side, who have won all five of their Division Three fixtures, have all but secured promotion with two games to spare.

The result also means that Down are virtually guaranteed to play Sam Maguire football this summer, barring Clare shocking the All-Ireland champions Kerry in the Munster semi-final.

Fermanagh will need to win both of their final two fixtures, Laois (home) and Limerick (away) to have any chance of avoiding relegation, and a first spell in the Division Four since 2011.

Declan Bonner's side were second best for the opening half with Down's Pat Havern enjoying a fruitful spell with five points.

The Mournemen found the net after 21 minutes through Odhran Murdock. After Shaun McCarron gifted possession away to Murdock deep in his own half, Miceal Rooney forced a fine save from Sean McNally before Burren's Murdock fired the rebound to the net.

It gave Down a comprehensive 1-10 to 0-7 lead at half-time, with the Ernesiders fortunate to trail by only six at the break.

They came out fighting at the start of the second half as four unanswered points, including a two point effort from Darragh McGurn, cut the deficit to three points.

Havern, Callum Rogers and Liam Kerr restored Down's lead, before a black card for McGurn with five left to play looked to compounded the visitors woes.

Ronan McCaffrey gave his side a lifeline with a well taken goal as the game entered five minutes of additional time.

Eamon Brown received a late black card for the Mourne men as McGurn returned to action, but Down held on to seal the victory.

Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Callum Rogers (0-2); Shane Annett, Ryan Magill, Daniel Guinness; Odhran Murdock (1-2), Ryan McEvoy; Adam Crimmins (0-4), Ceilum Doherty (0-1), Miceal Rooney; Tom Close, Pat Havern (0-7 2f), John McGeough.

Subs: Eamon Brown (0-1 1m) for M Rooney (29), Liam Kerr (0-1 1f) for J McGeough (51), Barry O'Hagan for T Close (60), Ruairi O'Hare for P Havern (67)

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Jonathan Cassidy, Oisin Smyth, Luke Flanagan (0-1); Shane McGullion, Ronan McCaffrey (1-1), Josh Largo Elis; Brandon Horan, Darragh McGurn (0-5 1x2pt); Joe McDade, Shaun McCarron, Aogan Kelm; Cian O'Brien (0-1 1f), Garvan Jones (0-2 2f), Conor Love (0-2).

Subs: Declan McCusker (0-1) for S McCarron (22), Ciaran Corrigan (0-1) for A Kelm (34), Mattie McDermott (0-1) for C O'Brien (46), Conor McGee for B Horan (54), Conor O'Hanlon for C Love (67)

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)

Niall Keenan
BBC Sport NI contributor

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Antrim made it back-to-back wins in Division Four of the Football league as they recorded an impressive 2-18 to 1-14 victory over Oisin McConville's Wicklow at Portglenone.

A first-half blitz that yielded 2-6 set the Saffrons on their way, with Pat Shivers and Ryan McQuillan both hitting the net.

Wicklow had to wait 28 minutes before registered their first score and a Dominic McEnhill two-pointer, his second of the game, before the break meant Antrim led healthily 2-8 to 0-4 at half-time.

Mark Doran's men picked up where they left off at the start of the second half. McQuillan, Conor Hand and two scores from Marc Jordan extended their advantage.

The visitors then staged a mini-revival during 10 minutes in which they produced 1-5 without reply.

Padraig O'Toole bagged a major while goalkeeper Mark Jackson stroked over a trademark two-point free.

Antrim goalkeeper John McNabb scored a point of his own from a dead ball to keep the away side at arm's length.

The Cargin man lumped over three frees, one for an orange flag, to leave the Saffs 2-16 to 1-10 in front heading down the stretch.

Jackson from another dead ball, and Christopher O'Brien both landed points from beyond the arc in the closing stages, but the Antrim victory was never really in doubt.

Doran's side move up to sixth and with games to come against Waterford and London, eight points is very much attainable.

As for McConville and Wicklow, they will be hoping for a couple of results to go their way tomorrow in order for promotion to still be in their hands.

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A motion to extend the GAA's inter-county season from 2027 was withdrawn before going to a vote at the association's Annual Congress at Croke Park on Saturday.

Motion 14 recommended that the All-Ireland finals should be concluded by the 32nd Sunday of the calendar year, with the hurling final played on the final Sunday in July and the football decider shifting to the second week of August.

The All-Ireland finals, which were traditionally staged in September, have been played in July since 2022.

However, the motion - fronted by former GAA director general Paraic Duffy - was withdrawn by GAA president Jarlath Burns shortly before Congress was disrupted by protesters.

"We're two codes and two levels - club and county," said Burns.

"It is always going to be a series of compromises. The fact that so many people spoke against it was very definitive. We will withdraw it."

The motion was expected to be heavily defeated if it had reached a vote.

This year's hurling final is set to be played on 19 July with the football showpiece to follow on 26 July.

Another withdrawn motion centred on players only being eligible to represent their county if they had played eight league of championship games for their club in the previous year.

Elsewhere, a motion to drop the All-Ireland hurling preliminary quarter-finals was passed with 94.1% voting in favour, while a motion calling for the All-Ireland minor football and hurling finals to act as curtain-raisers to the senior deciders was defeated.

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Derek Kent has been elected to become the 42nd president of the GAA following Friday's vote at Croke Park.

The Wexford native will take over from Jarlath Burns when the Armagh man's three-year tenure ends next year.

Kent was elected on 169 of the 227 votes cast, seeing off Tipperary's Ger Ryan and Sligo's John Murphy to surpass the quota of 139 on the first count.

A member of the Taghmon-Camross club, Kent served as chair of the Wexford County Board from 2017 until 2020 before a three-year term as chair of the Leinster Council from 2023 until just last month, while he also chaired the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee under previous president Larry McCarthy

"It's a great honour to be here tonight and I want to thank you all sincerely," the president-elect told GAA Congress in his acceptance speech.

"I will always do the right thing for the GAA and the first right thing I will do is to thank two great friends. And when I say friends, they have been really true, honest friends, both Ger and John.

"They are both gentlemen who have the GAA at heart and know the real meaning of the GAA."

Kent become the third GAA President from Wexford and first since Michael Kehoe's tenure ended in 1952.