All County Camogie League Division 2
Cargin 3-9 Loughgiel 4-20
by Maura Creelman
The eagerly anticipated Division 2 camogie league match between Loughiel and Cargin took place on Thursday night on the pristine surface at Erin’s Own Cargin, with Loughiel undefeated at the top of the league table and Cargin having only lost once in the reverse fixture in Loughgiel the girls in green and white were relishing the challenge of playing the Shamrocks on their home ground. During a thrilling first half the girls from the Loughshore coped well and were only two points adrift at the break, but Louhgiel pulled clear in the second half and went on to win convincinly in the end to all but seal the Division 2 title.
The game started off in a spirited manner with Katie McAnenly getting Cargin on the score sheet first with a finely taken point from a free however soon after 16 year old Roisin McCormick scored a good point with her first touch of the sliotar for Loughiel. Katie McAnenly responded again for Cargin with a point from a free and Loughiel scored 2 points from play off the hurls of Amy Boyle and Ciara Laverty in return. At the other end of the field Paula McCann latched on to a great ball from midfielder Cathy Carey and made no mistake firing the ball into the Loughiel net.
Cargin’s tails were now up and with Grainne McAtamney and Bronagh Laverty playing well up front they forced the Loughiel defenders into conceding a 45 which was duly converted by Katie McAnenly. Corner forward for Loughiel Roisin McCormick was proving to be handful for the Cargin defence and despite some sterling defending by Eleanor Mallon and Kate Laverty, Ciara Laverty scored a point for Loughiel in between two Roisin McCormick points also from play. Emma Darragh for Cargin delivered an accurate ball into the edge of the square for Paula McCann and the Loughiel defence were forced to concede a 21 yard free which Katie McAnenly blasted to the Shamrocks net.
McCormick made clear her intentions scoring 3 points from play for Loughiel and converting a 45 and the brilliant teenager added two further points from play to leave the half time score Cargin 2-4 Loughiel 0-12.
The visitors were first out of the traps in the second half and they extended their lead with points from Ciara and Christine Laverty plus another one from McCormick. Cargin pulled one back from a 45 by Katie McAnenly however Cargin had lost any grip they had in the first half and with Loughiel on song points were scored with ease from the hurls off Lucia McNaughton, Rebecca Hargan and Ciara Laverty. Further misery for Cargin ensued when Loughiel’s Roisin McCormick was delivered quality balls from Amy Boyle and captain Maria Lynn and scored a hat trick of goals in quick succession. A Katie McAnenly point for Cargin from a free, and two points from play by Paula McCann sparked a mini revival and with Paula then scoring an excellent goal firing to the Loughiel net to give the Cargin girls some hope. The Loughiel defence however were resolute and finished with points from play by Roisin McCormick and Cara McIntyre with the latter scoring a goal to put a conclusive gloss on the score line. Final score of the night for Cargin was an excellent long range point from a free by Eleanor Mallon but it was a mere consolation as Loughiel ran out comfortable winners in the end on a 4-20 to 3-09 score line. Loughiel’s Roisin McCormick simply could not be contained on the night and will surely be a senior star for both Loughiel and Antrim for many years to come. Loughiel have not been defeated in the Division 2 league this year and will certainly be crowned league winners at a later date. Cargin showed spirit and flashes of brilliance during the game and can take some solace from this game going into the championship.
Loughiel: Eimear Boyle, Louise McKillop, Katie Lynn, Brona McIntyre, Maria Lynn, Katie McKillop, Claire McKillop, Finvola McVeigh, Amy Boyle (0-2), Lucia McNaughton (0-1), Therese McKinley, Suzanne McKeown, Ciara Laverty (0-4), Christine Laverty (0-1), Roisin McCormick (3-9, 0-1 45), Carla McGarry, Cara McIntyre (1-1), Rebecca Hargan (0-1) and Sarahanne McGarry
Cargin: Maura Creelman, Julie McCloskey, Eleanor Mallon (0-1 free), Caoimhe Rose Johnston, Carla Darragh, Kate Laverty, Orla Carey, Cathy Carey (1-0), Sarah O’Boyle, Katie McAnenly (1-4 free, 0-2 45), Bronagh Laverty, Emma Darragh, Claire Conway, Paula McCann (1-2), Grainne McAtamney, Una Cassidy, Tanya O’Neill, Laura Johnston, Roisin Walls and Niamh Close
Referee: Margaret O’Connell
Photos by Frank McAuley