CPC book final spot against St Catherine’s with impressive semi-final win

Ulster Colleges Camogie – Junior Championship

CPC’s Nuala Devlin in action against St Pat’s Laura Scullion during today’s Corn Eimear semi-final victory in Ballymena. Pic by John McIlwaine

Cross & Passion College 8-15 St Pat’s Maghera 2-4

By John McIlwaine

It took them a little while to get going as St Pat’s Maghara showed great resistance in the opening quarter, but once they hit their stride there was no stopping Cross & Passion College, Ballycastle as they powered their way to a final meeting with St Catherine’s Armagh in today’s Ulster Colleges Corn Eimear semi-final at Quinn Park, Ballymena.

CPC had lots of possession in the opening ten minutes but all they could muster were two points from Riana McBride and Nuala Devlin and when St Pat’s hit back with a Grace Mellon point and a Sinead Gallagher goal things began to look different. However those scores appeared to nudge CPC into action they hit back strongly with goals from corner-forward Orlaith Laverty and full-forward Riana McBride plus points from McBride and one superb score on the run from Annie Lynn, following a pass from the impressive Aine Magill, to grab control of the match.

St Pat’s came back with a point from full forward Gallagher on seventeen minutes but it was to be her team’s last score of the half and six points on the trot, plus a second Orlaith Laverty goal, had CPC 4-11 to 1-2 to the good by half time.

If there was any doubts about the outcome of the game they were dispelled in the opening minutes of the second half as CPC rammed home their advantage with three goals in the opening ten minutes, two from Riana McBride and one from Orlaith Laverty, which completed hat-tricks for both girls. St Pat’s centre forward Evanne Martin temporarily halted the slide with a well taken point and substitute Orla Walsh grabbed a goal, but CPC finished strong and the introduction of a few subs helped lift the momentum again. One of the subs, Clodagh O’Kane, made an immediate impact when she grabbed a late goal and a point to put her team 29 clear by the final whistle.

CPC : Becky Ellis, Cassie McArthur, Megan McGarry, Erin Kyle, Fionnuala Toner, Ciara Laverty, Caitlin Hegarty, Katie Laverty, Enya McShane, Nuala Devlin, Annie Lynn, Aine Magill, Alishia Butler, Rhiana McBride, Orlagh Laverty

ST PAT’S: Mairead Comer, Mary Ní Lochlainn, Heather O’Hagan , Éadaoin Donnelly, Niamh McCusker, Aisling Porter, Laura Scullion, Bronagh McCullagh, Leah Lennon, Lia Kelly, Evanne Martin, Clare Gunning, Céat McEldowney, Sinead Gallagher, Grace Mullan

Subs – Orla Walsh, Aimee Lennon, Clodagh McAleese, Ciara O’Kane