Antrim GAA

Antrim is steeped in GAA history, with both Gaelic football and hurling popular in the Glens. On an inter-county level, hurling has been the most successful code for the Saffrons as they compete for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship as part of the Leinster provincial championship. They have reached the Liam MacCarthy showpiece on two occasions, losing in 1943 and most recently in 1989, where they famously defeated Offaly to make the final but came undone against Tipperary. The county also competes in the first division of the National Hurling League. Antrim hurling hopes to have taken a turn for the better with the arrival of All-Ireland-winning coach Davy Fitzgerald in August 2024. Club-wise, Antrim boast an All-Ireland-winning side in the shape of Loughgeil Shamrocks, who topped the hurling club pyramid in 1983 and 2012. O’Donovan Rossa, Belfast have also won the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2015 and the Creggan Kickhams took the junior title in 2014. In Gaelic football, Antrim compete in the third division of the National League and were the first Ulster team to appear in an All-Ireland final, losing in 1911 and again in 1912. Antrim have won 10 Ulster Senior Football titles, with the latest coming in 1951. The county has won one All-Ireland club football title, with St Gall’s of Belfast winning the All-Ireland Club SFC in 2010.