Ballycastle Camogie Club hosted the 6th Annual Karen Coyles’ Under 14 Memorial Tournament at Páirc MacUílin yesterday. St Enda’s, who are making great strides in juvenile Camogie, travelled from Belfast; Ballygalget made the long trip from down the Ards peninsula to represent County Down; and near neighbours Loughgiel attended and along with the host Club all played off for the much valued Karen Coyles’ Cup.
Karen was the much esteemed Chairperson, Senior Player and Friend of all at Ballycastle Camogie Club before her untimely death in 2011. This tournament in her memory is about juveniles coming together to get plenty of game time and enjoyment, meeting new teams, making friends and memories in Camogie circles.
The first games threw in just after 11am with Ballygalget, who had travelled up and claimed the O’Connor Gillan Cup at Under 13 level just last week in Ballycastle, taking on the host Club. In a closely fought game Ballycastle emerged the victors by 5 points.
Ballycastle 1-06
Ballygalget 1-01
On pitch 2 St Enda’s were up against Loughgiel but must have been delighted going in at half time level, St Enda’s goal equalling Loughgiel’s 3 points. Loughgiel stepped things up in the second half though, laying siege on the St Endas’s goal for a period, to run out convincing winners.
Loughgiel 4-08
St Enda’s 1-0
Ballycastle overcame the challenge of St Enda’s in their next game while Loughgiel and Ballygalget battled it out in a hotly contested match; Loughgiel’s ability to take their points from play being the difference.
Ballycastle 6-04 St Enda’s 0-00
Loughgiel 2-03 Ballygalget 2-00
That left Ballycastle & Loughgiel the 2 unbeaten teams, setting up a local derby final. Ballygalget and St Enda’s finished the fixtures proceedings with the Down girls notching up some fine scores against the young Belfast side.
Ballygalget 7-03
St Enda’s 0-00
In the final, Loughgiel started quickest with a well taken point from Orlagh Laverty, but Ballycastle soon got into second gear and pushed on to take some great scores and went in at half time 2-06 to 0-01 to the good. Loughgiel pressed hard in the second half scoring a goal and a point while Ballycastle were able to add 4 more points to their tally. For Loughgiel, Ellie Glackin and Zoe Cassley were strong in defence while Orla Laverty was a constant threat when she got on the ball. For the host side, it was a real team effort. Erin Kyle and Nuala McCaughan were solid in the full back line, Fay McIntosh and Christina Hamilton dominated up the wings while Katie McCloskey and the lightening pace of Nuala Devlin were a constant threat up front. Riana McBride had her shooting boots on and worked hard for many of the scores, ably assisted by Aoibheann Donnelly and the McIntosh sisters.
Final Score: Ballycastle 2-10 Loughgiel 1-02.
Ballycastle Captain Christina Hamilton received the Cup from Karen’s sister, Deirdre Convery, much to the delight of the Ballycastle girls who will enjoy having this special cup back in the Club for another year.
