Bathshack Antrim SHC Group 1 - Ballycastle v Loughgiel

Ballycastle McQuillans and Loughgiel Shamrocks are two of the most storied hurling clubs in Ulster, and when they meet in the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship it is anything but a routine group game. Ballycastle hold around 17 county titles; Loughgiel have won Antrim over 20 times and became the first Ulster club to win the All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship in 1983. That history gives every meeting between them a weight that draws serious hurling followers from across the north Antrim Glens.

What to expect

The 2026 Bathshack Antrim Senior Hurling Championship runs a group-stage format before knockout rounds. Ballycastle and Loughgiel are both in Group 1 alongside St John’s and Rossa, so points here matter. Championship hurling at this level is fast and physical - Antrim club hurling has a long tradition of direct, skilled play, and north Antrim clubs produce players who can hurl in any weather. Matches run 60 minutes, with a knowledgeable local crowd on the sideline. The likely venue is Páirc MacUílín, McQuillan GAC’s award-winning home ground in Ballycastle, which opened in 2007 and has twice won the Ulster GAA Ground of the Year award. Confirmed throw-in time will appear on the Antrim GAA fixtures page closer to the day.

Getting there

Ballycastle is on the north Antrim coast, reached via the A2 coastal road or the A44 from Ballymena - roughly 1 hour from Ballymena and around 1 hour 20 minutes from Belfast. Translink runs bus services from Ballymena and Coleraine, though afternoon services on a match day can be limited, so check translink.co.uk before travelling. If driving, parking is available near the ground and in the town centre a short walk away.

While you’re in Ballycastle

Ballycastle is the main town for the Glens of Antrim, with cafes, pubs and the beach close by. There is more to see in Ballycastle and across Co. Antrim.

Good to know

• Date: Saturday 22 August 2026
• Time: TBC - check antrim.gaa.ie for confirmed throw-in
• Admission: Ticketed; GAA championship admission is typically a few pounds on the gate
• Streaming: GAA+ may carry live or deferred coverage