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gaa · Sunday 12 July 2026 · Various 
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Semi-Final - Antrim v Sligo
At St Tiernach's Park · Clones, Co. Monaghan
At St Tiernach's Park · Clones, Co. Monaghan
The TG4 All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Championship is where county teams fight for promotion and national recognition, and the 2026 semi-final between Antrim and Sligo at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones was exactly the kind of game that rewards the trip. The Saffrons, managed by Mickey Devlin and Chris Scullion, were looking to return to an All-Ireland final for the first time since their 2022 title win - and supporters who made the journey to Clones saw them do it in style, running out 3-10 to 1-10 winners on a hot July afternoon. If you are following the Antrim Ladies or simply enjoy a well-matched intercounty Ladies football fixture, this was the day to be there.
Antrim built a four-point lead at half time (0-8 to 0-4) with controlled, possession-based football before Sligo pushed back hard in the second half, cutting the deficit to three points and making it a real contest. Maria O’Neill was the standout performer, finishing with two goals and two points. Antrim goalkeeper Aine Devlin was equally important, making two crucial stops to deny Sligo when they threatened. A third Antrim goal from substitute Aoibhoinn Monaghan in stoppage time settled it at 3-10 to 1-10. The result sent Antrim through to the All-Ireland Junior Final at Croke Park on 3 August 2026 against Louth.
St Tiernach’s Park is one of the great Ulster GAA venues - a proper stadium with a capacity of 29,000, opened in 1944 and home to the Ulster Senior Championship Final for decades. It has covered and seated stands on both sides, including the Gerry Arthurs Stand and the Pat McGrane Stand, with open terracing at one end. It is a ground that feels like proper intercounty football, even on a semi-final double-header Sunday.
Clones is in Co. Monaghan, roughly 90 minutes south-west of Belfast by car. Take the A3 from Belfast to Armagh, then the N54 through Monaghan town and on to Clones. From Dublin it is around 90 minutes via the N3/N54. Translink and Bus Eireann run services from Belfast and Dublin on major match days - check timetables in advance as schedules vary. Parking is available in the town and at fields near the ground, but Clones fills up quickly on Ulster Final days and big championship fixtures, so arriving early is wise.
Antrim Ladies football has a growing base of support across the county, and a trip to a national semi-final is a good prompt to explore more of what the county has to offer. There is more to see in Belfast and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to St Tiernach's Park in Belfast? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Belfast area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.