Long journey could be the motivation Dunloy need in Shield replay

NWP Ulster club camogie Bridie McMenamin Shield final replay

Saturday 12.30pm in Granemore : Dunloy (Antrim) v Naomh Treasa Dungannon (Tyrone)

Dunloy camogs head to Granemore, Co Armagh today for the replay of the Bridie McMenamin Shield final after Dungannon’s Naomh Treasa and them finished level in Tattyreagh last Sunday.

Dunloy opened with an early goal and held an advantage of between four and six points throughout the game. However a late surge from Dungannon rescued a draw at the death with a rather fortuitous goal.

Dungannon’s trouble is that they don’t seem to have any other source of scoring power than Roisin McErlean. The St Joseph’s Donaghmore student claimed all 1-7 of their total on Sunday.

Their defence was pretty solid however and Mary Cassidy and Aoife Morgan troubled Dunloy with their drives forward.

The Antrim side lacked a bit of sparkle on Sunday last despite their strong opening. They didn’t really punish Dungannon when they were on top wind-assisted in the opening half.

Like their opponents their defence was on top and Jessica Rush was keeping Roisin McErlean under wraps throughout.

Both midfielders and four of the forwards made the score-board, but there was little consistency in their play and the Dungannon backs generally kept them in check.

Antrim clubs have done well in this competition in recent years, but if Dungannon can get more players than McErlean on the score-sheet, that sequence could well end. The long hard season may have taken its toll on Dunloy and they have been asked to make the long journey today again. They face a 150 mile round trip, while St Teresa’s are just 20 miles from today’s Granmore. The management team tried in vain to get the venue changed to a more central venue but to no avail and understandably the organisers are keen to see the match played as a curtain raiser to the Intermediate final.

However that could be the wee bit of motivation the Dunloy girls need to get over the line. No doubt the management will have devised a plan to curtail the dangerous McErlain and with Derbhail Magill, Eilish Kearns, Dearbhail Elliott and top scorer Orlagh O’Neill they have the players to get the scores to win it and keep the Bridie McMenanin Shield in Antrim for another year.