NWP Ulster senior club camogie final

Slaughtneil Emmett’s (Derry) 2-11 Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim) 3-5

By Seamus McAleenan

The first time that All-Ireland champions Slaughtneil were in front of Loughgiel Shamrocks in this intense exciting NWP Ulster senior club camogie final was in the 57th minutes when Therese Mellon bundled the sliotar over the line. Two early goals from Racquel Murphy certainly put it up to the holders and then when substitute Roisin McCormick flicked home their third goal to put Loughgiel 3-5 to 0-11 ahead after 51 minutes it seemed that the champions were going to lose their crown.

Joint captain Aoife Ní Chaiside believed that the composure and character of the team came through during this game. “Loughgiel came at us at the start and we didn’t settle until after those two early goals went in. It was really tough and we worked really hard to get back into the game before half time. Eilís (Ní Chaiside) and Louise (Dougan) took a lot of pressure off our defence in the first half.”                                                                       “One thing we have in this team is composure and we knew there was plenty of time to get back into it. Even after the third goal, we still had time and the fresh legs gave us a lift near the end.”

Offaly native Tina Hannon transferred to Slaughtneil in April and made a huge impact during this final to finish with 10 points divided equally between play and frees.

“That was some game. The girls had talked about the intensity that wewould get from Loughgiel and we needed to dig very deep out there particularly during the first half. This is brilliant.”

Team manager Damian McEldowney also hailed the composure of the team and the brilliance of the new recruit.

“At the start of the season, it was mentioned that we were All-Ireland champions. The girls decided not to mention that again. This is a new season, a new challenge and while what we achieved last year is bound to give us confidence, we still have to work our ways through games and today we did that.

“Tina contributed well – and she has been doing this all year. Yeah we will be working away now for the next challenge.”

But what a challenge the Antrim champions put to them today. The Shamrocks defence time and again in the opening half attacked the ball and put Slaughtneil on the back foot with Racquel Murphy a real handful at full-forward. Racquel posted two frees in the opening five minutes before Emma McMullan brilliantly caught a high ball and her handpass put Murphy in the clear to hit the Slaughtneil net.

Although Tina Hannon responded with a point, Lucia McNaughton’s great run down the left wing resulted in a great catch and a second goal for Murphy after nine minutes. The Shamrocks appeared to be in control, just as Dunloy hurlers had been two weeks earlier against Slaughtneil. But just as their hurlers did, the camogs eventually gained the upper hand and from then until the break, they took control.

With Hannon gaining more influence by the minute, and Louise Dougan dominant at midfield they chipped away at the Loughgiel lead until the gap was down to a single point just before the break. However Racquel Murphy stopped the Loughgiel slide with another excellent score as she fired over from a long way out on the right wing to give the Antrim champions as 2-3 to 0-7 lead at the break.

Loughgiel knew they faced a major task as they came out for the second half and with the All Ireland champions playing ‘down the slope’ they were going to be hard to repel. The Derry champions were soon level but Loughgiel showed great battling qualities as they pulled clear again with points from Aisling McFadden and Racquel Murphy. Slaughtneil were creating chances though and Megan Coyles pulled off a few sharp saves to keep her goal intact.

Then in the 51st minute a long free from Racquel Murphy dropped in around the goal line and sub Roisin McCormick, who had lifted her team’s fortunes when introduced, flicked it home to give Loughgiel a 3-5 to 0-11.

Slaughtneil introduced star forward Shannon Graham for her first game since last season’s All Ireland final and though she was well marshalled by full back Laura Connolly the pressure was starting to build on the Antrim champions’ defence. Five minutes from time that pressure produced results as Aoife Ní Chaiside transferred possession to Tina Hannon who off-loaded to Graham inside the area and as Graham headed for goal, a penalty was signalled.

Midfielder Louise Dougan stepped up and drilled the ball low to the leftleft corner of the Loughgiel net to bring her team level once again and they hit the front for the first time in the match soon afterwards when Tina Mellon burst through on goal. Mellon was being closed down and while she couldn’t get a strike at goal she lobbed the ball towards the target and when it was fumbled by under pressure Loughgiel goalkeeper Megan Coyles,  corner forward Therese Mellon forced it over the line.

Loughgiel were shattered but they made a gallant effort to get back on terms and after good pressure they won a free about twenyty five metres out. With only seconds remaining on the clock there was only one option for full forward Racquel Murphy, but though her shot was well struck the Slaughtneil defencive wasll held firm and deflected it to safety.

Another heartbreaking defeat for Loughgiel, and yet another reverse for an Antrim team at the hands of Derry opponents. The Shamrocks gave it all they had and in the early stages they appeared to be on course to gain revenge for last year. However there is something in the DNA of these Slaughtneil gaels that means they find a way back, and against the odds they done it again to extend their unbeaten run to two years.

Slaughtneil : J Bradley, B McAllister, B Ní Chaiside, Dervlagh McGuigan,

G Ní Chatháin, A Ní Chaiside, C McGrath, Denise McGuigan, L Dougan 1-0

pen, E Ní Chaiside, T Hannon 0-1, 0-3 45s, 0-2 frees, S McKaigue, S

Mellon, J McMullan, T Mellon 1-1

Subs : S Graham for J McMullan (41), C McEldowney for S McKaigue (53).

Loughgiel : Megan Coyle, Aine Connolly, Laura Connolly, Ciara Boyle,

Finvola McVeigh, Emma McFadden capt, Maeve Connolly, Christine Laverty,

Amy Boyle, Caitrin Dobbin, Chloe Higgins, Lucia McNaughton, Aisling

McFadden 0-1, Racquel Murphy 2-4, 0-3 frees, Emma McMullan 1-1.

Sub : Úna McNaughton for C Higgins (40), Roisin McCormick 1-0 for E

McMullan (40).

Referee : Philip McDonald (Cavan)