NWP Recycling Phil McBride Cup final

Crosserlough (Cavan) 2-7 Brídíní Óga Glenravel (Antrim) 0-8

The turning point in this NWP Recycling Phil McBride Cup Ulster club camogie final came in the 41st minute when Ciara Finnegan broke through from midfield. Her pass forward to Emer McVeety was covered by Bern Convery but bounced awkwardly past the full-back and McVeety gratefully picked up the sliotar to slam in home. That brought the teams level for the first time, but crucially gave the Cavan side the momentum. Lauren Ellis scrambled home a second goal four minutes later and Sinead McKenna pointed twice before the Antrim side got in a reply.

By then the game was gone from them as Crosserlough powered home with their centre spine of Sinead Coyle, captain Erinn Galligan, Ciara Finnegan, Sinead McKenna and Orla Smyth dominant particularly when they went ahead on the scoreboard. Up until then the young Glenravel team seemed capable of holding out with the half-backs, midfielders and half-forwards working extremely hard in front of goalie Áine Duffin who brought off several fine saves.

Brídíní Óga led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the break, two late frees from Caoimhe McAleenan adding to excellent scores from Victoria Edgar, Kirsty Laverty and Kirsten Edgar. Niamh Reilly had pointed two Cavan frees in the first half, but when McVeety broke through for their first score from play after 35 seconds of the second half, Glenravel’s challenge looked in bother. However they dug in to hold Crosserlough scoreless for the next ten minutes and added a fine team point from Kirsten Edgar in the 36th minute.

However the 41st minute goal changed the direction of play and Crosserlough will go forward to meet the Leinster champions in next month’s All-Ireland semi-final. Brídíní Óga fought a strong challenge in Ulster as Antrim’s representatives just a year after winning the provincial title at Junior B. They came through really tough encounters over the past couple of weeks with the Derry and Down champions as well as being involved in an Ulster club football quarter-final – all in the space of eight days.

Half today’s starting team are still teenagers next season and that is a solid base on which to build a stronger challenge in 2018. As the Ulster chairperson Kathleen Woods said in her presentation speech…. “Just over a year ago, no-one had ever heard of Brídíní Óga outside of Antrim. Now the whole province knows about you and the tremendous development that has been going on in your club. I feel confident we will be hearing more about you – and soon too.”

Crosserlough : Annie Smith, Lorna Cahill, Sinead Coyle, Siobhan O’Reilly, Angela O’Reilly, Erinn Galligan capt, Aoishe O’Reilly, Ciara Finnegan, Aine Finnegan, Orla Smith, Niamh Reilly 0-2 frees, Sinead McKenna 0-3, 0-1 free, Lauren Ellis 1-0, Eveleen O’Reilly, Emer Mcveety 1-1.

Subs : Aine O’Reilly for S O’Reilly (38), Ciara Shalvey for L Ellis (46), Hannah Boylan 0-1 for A Finnegan (52).

Brídíní Óga: Aine Duffin, Lianne Kerr, Bernie Convery, Leona Traynor, Sian McNeill, Laoise McKenna, Ellen Hynds, Joanne McKeown, Eimhear McAleenan, Shauna Kelly capt., Kirsty Laverty 0-1, Kirsten Edgar 0-2, Caoimhe McAleenan 0-4 frees, Ashling Ward, Victoria Edgar 0-1.

Sub : Clodagh McCann for L Traynor (54).

Referee : EP Cassidy (Derry)