Under 14 Camogie Championship final
Dunloy celebrate their win over Ballycastle in the final of the Under 14 Camogie Final in Armoy. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine
Dunloy 4-7 Ballycastle 2-4
By John McIlwaine
Dunloy won the Under 14 Camogie Championship in Armoy on Thursday evening when they beat Ballycastle by 4-7 to 2-4 in a hard fought game in which each and every player on the field gave their utmost. Great scores, crunching tackles and a few outstanding individual displays kept the crowd on their toes from start to finish and it was Dunloy’s ability to take their chances, especially in the opening half, that gave them the edge. There were stars aplenty on show, but two in particular stood out. Dunloy’s Aine Magill showed a range of skills and battling qualities as she led her team to victory while Ballycastle’s Riana McBride was a constant threat to the Dunloy defence. There were others who shone on both teams, but these two were a class apart.
Dunloy took the lead when Aine Magill pointed a twenty metre free in the second minute and they went two clear on five minutes when Kyra Doherty sent over a 45. Ballycastle came back to level the game by the tenth minute as Riana McBride added two points, one from play and the other from a free but despite having a series of chances they would not score again during the first half. Pointed frees from Magill in the 12th, 14th and 19th minutes gave Dunloy a three point cushion before Riana McBride fired a shot across the face of the Dunloy goal and narrowly wide. Dunloy struck a telling blow on twenty minutes when Grace Kearns fired a ground shot to the Ballycastle net after Magill’s initial shot had cannoned back of the crossbar and just on half time Caitlin Cochrane sent one over from 30 metres to give the Cuchullains a commanding 2-5 to 0-2 lead at the break.
Ballycastle came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half and when Riana McBride fired a shot to the Dunloy net in the opening minute they were back in contention. A point from a Magill free put Dunloy seven clear again but the gap was down to six soon afterwards when McBride converted a free at the other end. Magill put the gap out to seven again when she sent over another free and when full forward Blaithin O’Kane fired the ball high into the Ballycastle net soon afterwards they were back in full control.
Ballycastle certainly never gave up the fight and when McBride grabbed a quick goal and a point the gap was back to six again, but O’Kane settled any nerves the Dunloy fans may have had when she grabbed her second goal with another excellent strike to seal the win.
Dunloy: Emily O’Neill, Bronagh Magill, Brid Magill, Orla McMullan, Katie Molloy, Cassie McArthur, Ellen Kearns, Kyra Doherty, Eimear Johnston, Aine Magill, Caitlin Colgan, Caoimhe McColgan, Blaithin O’Kane, Clannaid O’Kane
Ballycastle: Aoibninn Donnelly, Rhona Brolly, Erin Kyle, Nuala McCaughan, Charly McQuillan, Fay McIntosh, Christina Hamilton, Nuala Devliin, Katie McCloskey, Erin McFetridge, Fionnuala Kelly, Riana McBride, Kaci-lee Hunter, Lauren McBride, Caoimhe O’Hara, Elen McIntosh.
Pics by Dylan McIlwaine