Wednesday 30th 7pm
Ahoghill : Brídíní Óga Glenravel v Cargin
When Cargin fired in seven goals against holders St John’s in the opening game of the Darragh’s Joinery Antrim Intermediate championship, it may have raised a few eyebrows. But the Corrigan Park side was significantly changed from this time last year and the respective Division 2 league positions reinforced this; Cargin are up in the top three while the Johnies proper up the table with just one win and a draw this season.
However for Cargin it was a milestone victory, their first in the Intermediate grade after collecting the Junior title in their debut year in camogie. This and their league position consolidates the good development work being done in the club to support the strong senior players that backbone the team.
Those seniors still lead the line, although Eleanor Mallon has moved out of goals on to the edge of the square and down the centre they are pretty strong with Katie Laverty, Cathy Carey, Paula Mccann and Katie McAnely all very experienced players.
Brídíní Óga recovered from that Junior final defeat two seasons ago to follow Cargin to the county and provincial double and they have dipped their feet into the Division 1 league this season after finishing close to the top of Division 2 last season. That has resulted in 11 straight defeats, some heavy, and they entered the championship quarter-final at the start of August with plenty of questions over them.
However they put Tír na nÓg to the sword 5-10 to 3-8, with some periods of very good play, although they did concede some poor scores that kept Randalstown longer in the game than they should have been.
Shauna Kelly, who scored two of the goals that evening, will miss this semi-final and her forceful play in the forward line will be missed. It will be interesting to see who Glenravel bring in to the pivotal centre-forward position to create the openings for their young and speedy forwards.
On the plus side Laoise McKenna has returned after missing most of the season through illness and she has really steadied the team at centre-half back with cousin Ellen Hynds now in midfield.
This should be a close game with the youth and speed of Brídíní Óga up against the power and experience of Cargin’s key players. It should go to the wire.
Cloughmills: Loughgiel v Ballycastle
The other semi-final is not expected to follow the same path with Loughgiel’s 8-19 to 0-1 destruction a pointer for Ballycastle to work towards.
The Shamrocks are once again unbeaten for the season and the winners of Division 2 with full points. They have been running up very high score-lines right throughout the league and grading does not seem to have hit them as hard this season as in previous seasons.
Roisin McCormick’s addition this year has been a big boost with the underage star able to kill off games with her blistering pace and finishing power.
Charley McCarry is another player that can put away scores, while the McKillops, Finvola McVeigh and Lucia McNaughton are other young players who have got senior experience over the past couple of years.
Ballycastle have quite a few players who featured in the club’s minor championship success earlier in the season with Orla Donnelly a strong full-back and Maria Bakewell’s forceful running capable of grabbing a goal or two.
Rhona Torney and Laura Dallas add a bit of experience, but by the same token, many of the younger players who have featured in the league have been moved up to the senior squad and are ineligible for this grade.
They are neighbouring clubs who have both enjoyed a lot of success at underage and school level, so there will be a determination from the ‘Castle to stay in the game as long as possible. However the reality is that Loughgiel has too much strength in key areas and they should be through to the final.