Ulster College Senior Camogie final
CPC celebrate their win over St Loius in the Ulster Senior Colleges Camogie final in Ballymena. Pic by Dylan McIlwaine
Cross and Passion Ballycastle 0-8 St Louis Ballymena 1-3
Cross & Passion College, Ballycastle retained their Ulster Senior Camogie title when they held off the stern challenge of St Louis Ballymena in Sunday’s final at Quinn Park, Ballymena. Going into the game the smart money was all on the champions to easily retain their title, but St Louis, who were appearing in their first senior final since 1951, hadn’t read the script and they tore into their opponents with passion and skill. They trailed by 0-6 to 0-2 at half time and when they drew level soon after the restart they looked like they were on course to cause the shock of the Century. However CPC dug deep when their backs were against the wall as they somehow fashioned a victory as they held their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the game while grabbing two points of their own. It may not have been the free flowing camogie they have displayed all season, but they got the job done and they will feel that is what really matters. However great credit must go to St Louis for a brilliant fighting display. They came within a poc of a ball of causing a major upset and though they will be hurting badly this evening they can be proud of their display.
In a game dominated by defences scores were hard to come by, the first arriving on four minutes from CPC’s Kirsty McKendry but this was not be a game of spectacular scores and so scores from frees were to be vital. Roisin McCormick hit three in a row to put Ballycastle four up, two of them for fouls on the dangerous Maeve Kelly who was causing problems for St Louis by her strong running through the middle.
The excellent Áine Devlin hit back with two frees for St Louis and, although McCormick came back with two more in reply the Ballymena girls knew they were very much in the game going in at the break just 0-6 to 0-2 down with wind advantage to come in the second half.
Left – CPC’s Maeve Kelly sets off on a solo run. Right – St Louis Kathryn Mullan breaks through – Pics by Dylan McIlwaine
St Louis got a good start to the second period when Devlin pointed a free just after the change of ends and when the Tir na nÓg ace fired home a penalty in the fortieth minute they were back on terms. The odds of an upset had now shortened significantly and the St Louis tails were up, but Anna Connolly steadied the ship for CPC when she grabbed a point from play in her team’s next attack. The remainder of the game was tense and exciting with opportunities of scores reduced to a minimum by two excellent defences. Roisin McCormick eased CPC two clear with her first point from play with just six minutes to play, but they Ballycastle fans had to endure some heartstopping minutes before the end. CPC full-back was sent off after receiving a second yellow card as she reppeled the St Louis attacks. Aine Devlin came close with the resultant free but the CPC defence, in which Catie McCaughan made some great clearances, held out for the win.
Relief was probably the overal emotion for CPC at the end for they knew they had been in a battle royale and their thoughts now turn to an All Ireland semi-final next month.
Cross and Passion : A McGowan, C McCaughan, K Lynn, A O’Mullan, B McKeague, C McShane, F McVeigh, R McCormick 0-6, 0-5 frees, M Kelly, A Connolly 0-1, K McKendry 0-1, M McCormick, D McGill, C McCarry, M O’Neill.
Subs: C Laverty for D Magill (ht), C McGarry for A Connolly (57).
St Louis : A Graham, L McAleese, E Kearns, F Hills, Cameron McGaughey, A Boyle capt., B Delargy, K Mullan, M Downey, K Burke, C Crawford, A Devlin 1-3, 1-0 pen., 0-3 frees, S Darragh, K Edgar, M McKillen
Sub : E Traynor for C Crawford (55)
Referee : Owen Elliott (Ballymena)
Left – Annie Lynn is comforted by her mum after receiving a second yellow card but she was soon smiling again at the final whistle as she celebrated her second Ulster Senior medal with her team mates
Family matters – CPC team manager Barry Kelly celebrates with his daughter Maeve at the final whistle while Karen McCormick, who won a senior Camogie title with St Pat’s Maghera back in 1987 celebrates with her two daughters Maebh and Roisin who played on the winning CPC team today.
