Intermediate Championship Final
Naomh Éanna 3-21
St James’ Aldergrove 1-8
At Dunsilly

Naomh Éanna brought a magnificent season to a close with a commanding display at Dunsilly on Saturday evening, sweeping St James’ Aldergrove aside to claim the OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship title.

Ciarán McCavana’s men had been the team to beat throughout the campaign and they underlined their credentials with a ruthless second-half performance to complete an unbeaten league and championship double.

Aldergrove arrived hoping to upset the odds, but they struggled to contain a Naomh Éanna side who carried a threat from all areas of the pitch and punished their opponents whenever opportunities arose.

Thirteen league victories had laid the foundations for the Hightown Road men, and they carried that form into the championship before producing a performance befitting the occasion.

Mickey Morgan set the tone inside the opening minute, landing a superb two-pointer to get Naomh Éanna up and running. Aldergrove responded through captain Seamus McGarry and Conleth Hendron, with McGarry’s free bringing the sides level after ten minutes.

That was as good as it got for the Crumlin men.

Naomh Éanna began to take control, with Stephen O’Connor, Kristian Healy and Michael McKenna all finding the target as the pressure mounted on the Aldergrove defence.

Fionn Nagle came close to raising a green flag, while McGarry kept Aldergrove in touch from placed balls. However, the contest began to turn decisively in Naomh Éanna’s favour as they hit a purple patch approaching the break.

Odhrán Eastwood landed a free before McKenna and Conor Eastwood split the posts with excellent two-point efforts. Ryan Owens briefly stemmed the tide for Aldergrove, but Pádraig O’Hare had the final say of the half as Naomh Éanna went in with a commanding 0-12 to 0-5 advantage.

Aldergrove needed a response after the restart, but Naomh Éanna had other ideas.

Healy and Eastwood stretched the lead further before the Crumlin side were handed a lifeline in the 36th minute. Cormac McGarry’s effort dropped towards goal and somehow found its way past Senan Nagle, giving Aldergrove a fortunate major and briefly offering hope of a revival.

But any thoughts of a comeback were quickly extinguished.

Naomh Éanna refused to panic and continued to pick holes in the Aldergrove defence. Conor Eastwood and Sean McBride added points, while the Hightown Road side maintained their grip through disciplined defending and patient attacking play.

Cormac McGarry had another sight of goal, but Naomh Éanna survived the scare before Odhrán Eastwood added a point from play to push the margin out to 12.

The goals then arrived in quick succession, leaving Aldergrove with too much ground to make up.

Morgan struck in the 51st minute, finishing off a slick move along the endline to palm the ball into the net. It was a well-worked score that effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair.

Substitute Fearghal Burke managed a response for Aldergrove, but Naomh Éanna continued to exploit the gaps in the opposition defence.

Eastwood and Stephen O’Connor combined to create the opening for Fionn Nagle, who palmed the ball into an unguarded net for the second goal.

Ronan Hanna and O’Hare exchanged points before substitute Zac Kyle made an immediate impact, finding the net with his first touch in the 58th minute to complete the goal blitz.

Further points from Eoin Nagle, Eoghan O’Hare and Eastwood added to Aldergrove’s woes as Naomh Éanna saw out the closing stages in complete control.

Michael McKenna was named man of the match, but this was a victory built on collective excellence. Eastwood was influential throughout, Morgan provided the early spark, and the spread of scorers highlighted the attacking options at McCavana’s disposal.

For Aldergrove, it was a disappointing end to a season that had offered plenty of encouragement, particularly following their semi-final victory over Ahoghill. They return to Division One football in 2027, but Saturday proved a difficult afternoon against opponents who were sharper and more clinical.

Naomh Éanna, meanwhile, can reflect on a campaign of remarkable consistency. An unbeaten league season and an intermediate championship title provide a fitting reward for a squad that delivered from start to finish.

The Hightown Road men have their double, and the manner of their final victory leaves little doubt about their quality.

Naomh Éanna Starting XV: Senan Nagle; Sean McBride, Diarmuid McNulty, Eoghan O’Hare; Michael McKenna, James McAuley, Cillian Browne; Mickey Morgan, Fionn Nagle; Conan Lyttle, Stephen O’Connor, Conor Eastwood; Odhran Eastwood, Padraig O’Hare, Kristian Healy

Subs: Conor McAuley for C Lyttle (45); Ronán O’Neill for S McBride (50); Eoin Nagle for C Eastwood (54); Zac Kyle for K Healy (58)

Scorers: M Morgan 1-2 (1TP); F Nagle 1-1; O Eastwood 0-4 (3F); C Eastwood 0-3 (1TP); M McKenna 0-3 (1TP); Z Kyle 1-00; K Healy 0-2; P O’Hare 0-2; S McBride 0-1; E O’Hare 0-1; S O’Connor 0-1; E Nagle 0-1

Aldergrove Starting XV: Shane O’Neill; Corey Fogarty, Emmett Irvine, Logan Fleming; Chris McVeigh, Eoin Gough, Malachy Burns; Ryan Owens, Conleth Hendron; Gerard Mallon, Seamus McGarry, Oisin Graham; Ronan Hanna, Lewis Smyth, Cormac McGarry

Subs: Declan Gough for G Mallon (36); Fearghal Burke for L Smyth (43); Chris McSteen for O Graham (51); Caden Lagan for M Burns (52)

Scorers: C McGarry 1-1; R Hanna 0-2 (1F); S McGarry 0-2 (2F); C Hendron 0-1; R Owens 0-1; F Burke 0-1

Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tír na nÓg)