Gaelic Games

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Tyrone's Conor McKenna has signed a two-year contract extension with Australian Football League side Brisbane Lions.

The 30-year-old half-back joined the Lions in 2023 and helped the Queensland side win the Premiership title in 2024 and 2026.

The Eglish native previously had a five-year spell with Essendon before returning home to help Tyrone win the All-Ireland SFC title in 2021.

This year, McKenna helped the Lions clinch a third straight Premiership title with victory over the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL Grand Final at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Lions have also tied Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Fort down to contract extensions.

"It is fantastic to have Darcy, Conor and Linc committed to the Brisbane Lions as they have all played an important role in our success and will continue to do so," said Lions general manager Danny Daly.

"All three offer plenty on field as players, and their experience and leadership are also incredibly valuable - especially in supporting our younger players.

"We look forward to having all three players and their families continue to be part of the Brisbane Lions."

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The Antrim Senior Hurling Championship final between Cushendall and Dunloy has been postponed until 1 November due to Storm Boelo.

The club showpiece was set to be played at McQuillan Park in Ballycastle on Sunday but has now been moved because of an impending yellow weather warning, with winds of up to 75mph expected this weekend.

"The safety of everyone attending is our top priority," said a statement from Antrim GAA.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding and cooperation."

While St John's won the Antrim title last year, Cushendall and Dunloy shared the previous eight trophies between them.

The sides have also met in three of the past seven finals, as Dunloy's four-in-a-row from 2019 was countered by consecutive titles for the Ruairi Ogs in 2023 and 2024.

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The majority of male inter-county Gaelic footballers are opposed to further significant rule changes but are broadly supportive of the introduction of Friday night matches.

According to the Gaelic Players Association (GPA)'s 2026 member survey report, which was launched on Wednesday, 76% of male players are against further rule changes following the implementation of the Football Review Committee (FRC)'s tweaks in 2025.

While the FRC's suite of rule enhancements - which included the introduction of two-point scores and the 'three-up' rule - have been widely viewed as a success, the Kevin McStay-led Expert Advisory Group are trialling further changes.

They include a limit on consecutive handpasses, banning fisted points and introducing a four-point goal and are currently being trialled in third-level leagues.

However, the majority of players are not in favour of more upheaval, with 23.5% suggesting that only small tweaks are required after two seasons with the FRC-led alterations.

In hurling, there is support for three possible changes, including the maor foirne (66%) and an increase of substitutions from five to seven (58%). A slight majority (51%) want to see a two-point sideline cut while 91% are against a four-point goal.

When asked to outline the biggest problem in hurling, 44% of respondents said the gap between strong and weak counties is too wide.

In terms of Friday night games, 63% of male footballers and hurlers are supportive if they are not required to take time off work or are compensated if they do.

"It has never been put as a formal proposal to players, so this is the first time that we've asked the question," said GPA chief Tom Parsons.

"At least we have data now. I think what's important is that, where is the stumbling block? Because if it's designed where players can take a day off work, and that will be compensated, then we have a real opportunity to actually go for it."

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According to Parsons' executive summary, "equality of standards" is a clear theme.

"Among male players familiar with the Charter, 88% reported receiving their full entitlements," wrote Parsons.

"For female players, core match-day provisions are generally strong, but significant gaps remain in the training and performance environment. Both male and female lower-tier players consistently report lower provision.

"Female players identify the timing of expenses as an immediate priority: 70% report at least one significant issue with the current two-instalment system and 94% support monthly reimbursement in 2027.

"78% of all players support equalising one minimum standards Squad Charter for all inter-county players post integration."

Also, 86% of players feel they should commercially benefit from their name, image and likeness.

The GPA's survey attracted responses from 3,555 inter-county players across men's and ladies football, hurling and camogie.

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI contributor

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Crossmaglen Rangers manager Shane Lennon says the heartbreak of last year's championship exit fuelled his side's determination to reclaim the Armagh Senior Football Championship title.

Rangers secured their 48th county crown with a 1-19 to 0-17 win over Killeavy in Sunday's final, with Pearse Blessing's second-half goal helping them pull clear at the Athletic Grounds.

Lennon recalled the pain of surrendering a nine-point lead against Cullyhanna with seven minutes remaining in last year's semi-final.

"There's a lot of hurt from last year," Lennon told BBC Sport NI.

"The feeling that we had in that dressing room and going back on the bus, it was unbelievable.

"It has driven everyone on. We started doing a bit of running just before Christmas last year and gradually built it up."

Lennon revealed that the squad had collectively committed to winning the championship following that disappointment.

"We sat down after that game and said in a meeting, 'How are we going to win a championship?'.

"Forty-two of us in the room, including the management, said yes, we're going to win a championship. Here we are."

"We took the toughest route we could. After the Clann Eireann game, we built on that performance to get to where we are today. It's unbelievable."

Despite the presence of established stars, Lennon reserved particular praise for Crossmaglen's younger players, including Blessing, who starred in the second half.

"People will naturally look at the O'Neills and McConvilles, but it's hard to believe Pearse Blessing is only 21. There are a lot of young lads chomping at the bit," he said.

"There were a few harsh truths throughout the league, but when a team produces that when the chips are down, it's a credit to them.

"We knew we weren't always going to get eight or nine two-pointers. We were going to have to graft and step inside."

With an Ulster quarter-final against Cavan champions Gowna awaiting, Lennon hopes the county triumph will allow his players greater freedom.

"We've taken the pressure off the lads, and hopefully we can express ourselves a little bit more now coming into the championship."

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Darren McCurry's last-gasp two-pointer for Edendork meant his side and Errigal Ciaran will have to do it all again after the Tyrone SFC final ended in a draw at Healy Park.

The game finished 0-15 to 1-12 with McCurry's late orange flag from south of 50 metres forced the replay having eventually been awarded by the referee after a dramatic period of consultation among the officials over a potential breach.

The first half failed to really catch fire as a fairly turgid opening concluded with Errigal leading 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval despite kicking nine wides.

A pair of two-point scores from Aodhan Quinn were the pick of the action for an Errigal side that played with the aid of the elements across the first half.

There was a caginess to Edendork and they took 11 minutes to register their first score, perhaps to be expected for a side appearing in their first ever Tyrone senior final.

That air of nerves quickly evaporated at the start of the second stanza however, when Conn Kilpatrick threaded through a pass to substitute Fiachra Nelis who fired into the back of the net soccer-style with his first touch.

Just as Edendork looked to be getting a real stranglehold on the game, Enda McGinley's side rattled over three unanswered scores, two from Peter Og McCartan and a fourth of the day from Peter Harte, to establish a three-point lead entering the final 10 minutes.

Edendork replied with three unanswered scores of their own, Darren McCurry, Patrick McLernon and Donal Maneely all landing to level the game with two minutes to play.

McCurry kicked Edendork ahead before substitute Eoin Kelly landed a huge two-pointer to give Errigal the lead entering the two minutes of additional time.

Aodhan Quinn's fifth score then put his side two ahead but the late drama came with McCurry's two-pointer eventually being awarded by the referee to seal the draw.

The two sides will do it all again on Friday 23 October back at Healy Park for a 19:30 BST throw-in.

Teams and scorers

Edendork: Niall Morgan; Donal Maneely (0-1), Fionn Devlin, Neil Kilpatrick (0-1); Conor Mallon (0-1), Ben Cullen, Correy Bell (0-1); Conn Kilpatrick, Luke Ferguson; Patrick McLernon (0-1), Harry Og Conlan, Jake Ferguson (0-1); Darren McCurry (0-6 2f, 1x2pt), Daire Conway, Rian Nelis.

Subs: Stephen Corr for D Conway, Fiachra Nelis (1-0) for R Nelis (both HT), James Fearon for H Og Conlan (58)

Errigal Ciaran: Darragh McAnenly; Cormac Quinn, Aidan McCrory, Ronan O'Sullivan; Tiarnan Colhoun, Niall Kelly, Peter Og McCartan (0-2); Ben McDonnell, Padraig McGirr (0-1); Pauric Traynor, Peter Harte (0-4 1f), Aodhan Quinn (0-5 2x2pt); Shea McDermott (0-1 1f), Odhran Robinson, Tommy Canavan.

Subs: Joe Oguz for T Canavan (HT), Ruairi Canavan for P Traynor (41) Eoin Kelly (0-2 1x2pt) for P McGirr (50), Michael Mullin for T Colhoun (58)

Referee: Paul Gallagher (Castlederg)

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Portaferry cruised to a fifth successive Down Senior Hurling title as they eased past Ballygalget 2-28 to 2-17 in the final at Pairc Esler.

Ballygalget led 2-11 to 1-13 at half-time after goals from Shea Pucci and Cathal Coulter.

But the holders were in blistering form after the break and claimed an 11-point win for the second successive year.

Portaferry have now won three consecutive finals against Ballygalget as they ended their championship season unbeaten.

Ciaran Milligan scored an early goal for Portaferry after five minutes but Ballygalget responded well as Pucci rattled in a goal on nine minutes.

Ballygalget managed to keep pace with their opponents for the majority of a back-and-forth first half and Coulter scored their second goal on 27 minutes.

A late Eoin Pucci free then gave them the slender advantage at the break, which was quickly extinguished after a fast start to the second period from Portaferry.

Eoghan Sands scored their second goal in a run of six successive scores which ultimately put the game beyond Ballygalget, who were unable to make much headway in chipping away at the sizeable gap.

Portaferry finished strong and had another dominant spell late in the game, registering the last seven points in a row to retain the title.