Month / January 2018

by thesaffrongael

Cross come up short in thriller

 

Left: Thomas Galligan, Southern Gaels breaks clear of Rian O’Neill, Crossmaglen. Right: Angela Callan, Bank of Ireland presents Thomas Galligan with the Bank of Ireland man of he match award.

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Bank of Ireland-Paddy McLarnon Cup Quarter Final

Crossmaglen (Armagh) 1-10 Southern Gaels (Cavan) 1-11

Sunday January 14

By Brendan McTaggart

Southern Gaels overcame a resurgent second half performance from Crossmaglen on Sunday afternoon to reach the last four of the Paddy McLarnon U21 club football tournament in Creggan.  The minimum separated the sides after the hour, but the Cavan champions will feel that they had to win the match twice to get over the line.

Cross trailed at half time by four points despite playing with the wind in the opening 30 minutes but they staged a dramatic fight back to lead by two points going into the final quarter.  A goal from the impressive Oisin O’Neill reviving their hopes in the provincial competition but a man of the match performance from the outstanding Thomas Galligan and six points from the boot of star forward Cian Madden ensured it was the Gaels who were celebrating after a nail biting hour of championship football.

Having retained many from their previous campaign in the competition, the Armagh champions were muted as the pre-tournament favourites, but they will rue their first half when they look back at their performance.  A strong wind blew in from Lough Neagh at the Creggan venue and slightly favoured the south Armagh men in the opening 30 minutes but they struggled to cope with the physicality of the Cavan men for long periods of the first half.  The Gael’s were dominant in midfield with Galligan and Conor Brady imperious while Robbie Fitzpatrick and Cian Madden were proving to be a handful for the Cross defence.

The Cavan men scored the opening two points of the quarter-final in the second minute, both frees from Cian Madden and while Cross had made a slow start, their defence did well to sustain the early Gaels onslaught.  O’Neill got Cross’ first of the match in the fourth minute, a speculative effort from wide on the right bouncing over the bar before Robbie Fitzpatrick and Coilin O’Connor exchanged scores to leave the Cavan men one point ahead after 10 minutes.

The first goal of the tie came soon after when referee Sean Laverty awarded Souther Gaels a penalty.  The Antrim official judging that Jamie McEvoy fouled Fitzpatrick and while the Cross ‘keeper saved Paul Leddy’s initial effort, he could only parry the shot back to the Gaels forward who made no mistake with the rebound.

Cross recorded back to back scores in the 18th minute to force their way back into the tie but Southern Gaels had the final say of the half when a superb score from Oisin Pierson and Fitzpatrick’s second white flag of the half ensured the Cavan men held a four point advantage at the short whistle.

It was going to take something special from the Armagh champions to get back into the game after the restart.  The elements were now in Souther Gaels favour and they were on top all over the pitch during the first half, it was difficult to see where they could find any inroads.

A Fitzpatrick point from a second minute free after the restart stretched the Gaels advantage to five points but it was to be their last score for 14 minutes and Cross finally went through their gears.  Pierson scored the goal that revived their championship hopes once more in the 34th minute after good work from Rian O’Neill.  Further points from Caolan Dillon, Rian O’Neill, O’Connor and Oisin O’Neill meant the Armagh champions had reeled off 1-4 without reply and opened a two point lead with 15 minutes remaining.  They were starting to find gaps through the heart of the Southern Gaels defence and were taking full advantage.

Two Cian Madden points (one free) restored parity to the sides once again and while Rian O’Neill managed to point a long range free in the 25th minute to edge Cross ahead again, it was the Cavan men who finished strongly.  Two free’s from Madden and a point from substitute Aaron Reilly gave the Gaels a two point lead going into injury time.  Cross had time to reply though and when substitute Cian McConville split the posts to leave the minimum between the sides again, extra time was a major possibility.  Cross threw everything at the Southern Gaels defence in the time that remained but the Cavan men stood strong with Thomas Galligan putting his body on the line to deny Rian O’Neill a certain point at the death with an outstanding block.

Cross are left to wonder what might have been but it’s the Southern Gaels who progress to the last four in two week’s time.

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Teams

Crossmaglen: Jamie McEvoy; Johnny McKeever; Shane Farrelly; Aaron Smylie; Aidan Rushe; Caolan Dillon (0-1); Daniel Cumiskey; Stephen Morris; Rian O’Neill (0-2, 1 f); Ryan McKeever; Oisin O’Neill (1-2); Cormac Donnelly; Miceal McCabe (0-2, 1 f); Callum Kiernan; Coilin O’Connor (0-2)

Subs: Cian McConville (0-1, 1 f) for M McCabe (38 mins)

Southern Gaels: Jimmy Smith; Peter Galligan; David Wilson; Aodhagan Halton; Darryl Buckley; Killian Galligan; Shane Moynagh; Thomas Galligan; Conor Brady; Ryan Madden; Paul Leddy (1-00); Cian Madden (0-6, 5 f’s); Oisin Pierson (0-1); Robbie Fitzpatrick (0-3, 2f’s); Ryan Coyle

Subs: Aaron Reilly (0-1) for O Pierson (54 mins)

Referee:Sean Laverty (Antrim)

 

by thesaffrongael

High scoring Antrim claim McGurk Cup

Bank of Ireland McGurk Cup finalConor McGurk Cup 1Paula McGurk, widow of the late Conor McGurk, presents the trophy named in his honou to Antrim captain Conor McKinley after his team’s win over Down in Saturday night’s final at the Dub- Pic by John McIlwaine

Antrim 3-26-1-14 Down

By Kevin Herron from the Dub

Antrim claimed Ulster’s first inter-county silverware of 2018 with a comfortable and convincing 3-26-1-14 victory over Down in Saturday evenings Bank of Ireland McGurk Cup final at the Dub.

It was very much a tale of two halves in South Belfast, the first was evenly contested as Neil McManus’s free-taking edged Antrim 1-12-1-09 ahead after goals from Declan McManus and Nigel Elliott – the second half was anything but close as Antrim ran riot and further goals from Conor McCann and Maol Connolly helped the Saffrons to their first silverware of the season, two weeks ahead of their National League opener with All-Ireland champions Galway in Salthill.

Antrim were quickest out of the blocks despite the wet and blustery conditions and hit the opening two scores inside the first four minutes, Neil McManus converted a 65’ after two minutes and added a quick free to give the Saffron’s a 0-02-0-00 lead.

Malachy Magee replied for Down though Nigel Elliott restored Antrim’s two-point lead after the umpire originally waved it wide, referee Tarlach Conway overruled him and awarded a point.

Elliott doubled his account for the evening on ten minutes after a smart pop off from Conor Johnston, though a Mattie Donnelly foul gave Paul Sheehan the opportunity to narrow the deficit and Sheehan obliged – converting a free to make it 0-04-0-02 after 13 minutes.

A converted Neil McManus free and a wonderfully crafted point from Johnston gave Antrim a four-point lead with a quarter of an hour gone but just a minute later Down were back in business with the opening goal of the game.

Full-forward Paul Sheehan’s pop-off found the unmarked Declan McManus and the Down number eleven fired low past Chris O’Connell to make it 0-06-1-02.

Maol Connolly popped the ball over the bar for his first point of the evening in response, although the Saffrons were dealt a blow in the immediate aftermath as Ciaran Clarke hobbled off to be replaced by Eoin O’Neill.

Nigel Elliott forced Down goalkeeper Stephen Keith into a smart block a minute before Neil McManus converted a free to give his side a 0-08-1-02 lead on the 20th minute.

Antrim’s lead would be wiped out however as three unanswered points drew the Mourne men level, Rian Branagan hit his first of the evening to start the run of three successive scores and two quick points from Paul Sheehan had the sides level for the first time at 0-08-1-05.

Donal McKinley edged Antrim ahead again but within sixty seconds a converted Sheehan free had Down on terms for the second time.

The momentum was beginning to turn and a fourth point on the spin from a Sheehan free gave his side the lead for the first time on the 26th minute, that was added to by a point from An Dun Mageean Cup star Pearse Og McCrickard as Down led 0-09-1-08.

Antrim should have regained the lead just short of the half-hour mark as Conor Johnston picked out the run of Neil McManus whose goal shot was charged behind for a 65’ by covering defender Caolan Teggart.

McManus converted the resulting 65’ and on 32 minutes Antrim finally had the beating of Stephen Keith in the Down goal, Neil McManus did well to evade a shoulder challenge and offload to Nigel Elliott and the Dunloy wing-corner forward blasted past Keith to give Antrim a 1-10-1-08 lead.

Elliott was almost in for a second goal within two minutes but his shot was deflected over the bar – only for Paul Sheehan to reply through a converted 35th minute free.

The final score of the half fell to Antrim as a short Down puck out was turned over and Maol Connolly popped the ball over the bar to give his side a 1-12-1-09 lead after a closely contested 35 minutes of hurling at the Dub.

Antrim made a bright start to the second half and increased their lead within the opening sixty seconds through Neil McManus – the wing half forward rode a challenge and had the composure to take aim and fire over the bar before converting a 41st minute free.

Within a minute of McManus adding his second point of the half – Antrim found their second goal. Full-forward Conor McCann got on the end of a high ball into the forward line and he picked his spot past Stephen Keith to give the Saffrons a 2-14-1-09 lead.

Paul Sheehan hit Down’s first score of the half through a converted 44th minute free, but it was very much one-way traffic as Stephen Keith was forced to turn Nigel Elliott’s teasing shot over the crossbar when it looked to be heading underneath it.

Neil McManus (free) and Maol Connolly added to Elliott’s point to make it three successive scores, the game appeared to be beyond the reach of the Mourne men who hit back either side of Conor McCann’s point through Eoghan Sands and Danny Toner as Antrim’s lead was cut to nine, 2-18-1-12.

Connolly and Johnston increased their respective tallies for the evening with fine scores and a third goal was almost in the offering on 57 minutes – Conor McCann saw his stinging drive parried away by Stephen Keith and substitute Eoin O’Neill hit the side netting with the follow-up.

John Dillon and Sheehan (free) traded scores in the aftermath of his sides let-off but Antrim weren’t about to let-up and tagged on further scores through impressive midfielder Conor Johnston and wing-corner forward Connolly.

Substitute James McNaughton was to get his name on the score sheet before the evening was out as the Saffrons were comfortably 2-24-1-13 in front with five-minutes to play.

Things went from bad to worse for Down in the closing stages with the dismissal of full-back Caolan Teggart for a second yellow-card offence.

Maol Connolly converted the resulting the free conceded by Teggart and when a second opportunity in quick succession presented itself – from around twenty-one yards from goal Connolly drilled the ball high into the net to rub salt into the wounds and make it 3-25-1-13.

Connolly added a third successive on the stroke of full-time but it was Down youngster Pearse Og McCrickard who conjured up the final score of the game as Antrim ran out convincing 3-26-1-14 winners at the conclusion of a very one-sided second thirty-five minutes.

Antrim: C O’Connell, J Dillon (0-01), A Graffin, D Kearney, J Maskey, M Donnelly, P Burke, C McKinley , C Johnston (0-03), N Elliott (1-04), N McManus (0-08, 0-05f-0-02 65’), M Connolly (1-07,1-02f), D McKinley (0-01), C McCann (1-01), C Clarke. Subs: E O’Neill for C Clarke (17 mins), E Smyth for A Graffin (35 mins), D McCluskey for D McKinley (46 mins), J McNaughton (0-01) for N McManus (49 mins), D McGuinness for C Johnston (62 mins).

Down: S Keith, P McManus, C Teggart, M Hughes, E Coulter, M Fisher, M Magee (0-01), C Baillie, D Toner (0-01), R Branagan (0-01), D McManus (1-00), P Og McCrickard (0-02), D Sands, P Sheehan (0-08,0-07f), E Sands (0-01). Subs: D Rooney for E Coulter (35 mins), B Byers for P McManus (44 mins), M Patterson for M Fisher (60 mins).

Pics by Dylan McIlwaine

by thesaffrongael

Sensational Guinness guides Carryduff to last four

Left: James Guinness, who scored 1-8 for Carryduff takes on the Enniskillen defence and right he receives the Bank of Ireland man of the match award from Bank of Ireland’s Angela Callan.

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Bank of Ireland-Paddy McLarnon Cup  Quarter-Final

U21 Club Football Tournament

Carryduff 2-13 Enniskillen Gaels 0-9

By Brendan McTaggart

Down champions Carryduff continued their fairy-tale season as they became the first team to reach the last four of this years Bank of Ireland U21 club tournament in Creggan.  10 points separated the sides at the full-time whistle, but it was a dominant performance from Carryduff and a masterclass performance from James Guinness that ensured their passage to the last four.

Guinness would finish the last eight tie with 1-8 to his name after putting in a man of the match performance for his side but it was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Down men who have still yet to concede a goal in their championship run.  Their defence was superb throughout the hour and while Enniskillen Gaels had opportunities in the opening quarter, once Carryduff settled into the game there only looked to be one winner.

In a cagey opening, it was the Gaels and Callum Jones who opened the scoring.  Jones, a star of the Gael’s Ulster minor winning side converted a free with barely 60 seconds on the clock.  Guinness gave us a taste of things to come when he converted back to back frees to give Carryduff the lead for the first time in the match in the fifth minute and while Nathan Tierney equalised soon after, it was as close as the Gael’s would be to Carryduff.

The Gael’s were denied a major in the 10th minute, Eoin Beacom punching a long ball onto the crossbar with ‘keeper Mark Hynds missing the dropping ball but the Down men began to take full advantage of the elements in their favour during the first half and opened a lead.

Enniskillen Gael’s had another goal chance with John Reihill going close but six unanswered points, five from Guinness, two frees and one from Pierce Laverty gave the Down champions full control.  A free from Reihill briefly halted the Carryduff charge, the Gael’s man splitting the posts in the 23rd minute to give them their first in 17 minutes and while they started to look stronger in the middle third, Carryduff seemed to hold more attacking threat.

Five points separated the sides when the first half entered injury time and Carryduff hit the first hammer blow of the quarter-final.  A long ball landed on the edge of the square where James Guinness broke the ball superbly into the path of his brother Daniel.  The Carryduff man showed great composure by dummying Cian Newman in the gael’s goals before firing to the back of the empty net on the stroke of half-time.

At the time, Daniel Guinness’ goal felt like it gave Carryduff an insurmountable lead.  After 60 seconds Enniskillen Gael’s mission improbable became mission impossible.  Carryduff scored their second goal of the match with their first attack after the restart and it was James Guinness who applied the finish with a touch of finesse to open an 11 point lead for his side.

The Gael’s hit back with four unanswered points of their own, Jones (two), Conor McShea and Ronan Beattie raising the white flag for the Fermanagh men as they cut the Carryduff advantage to seven points with still 24 minutes remaining but a trio of points from Joshua Connery, Caolan Cunningham and James Guinness’ seventh of the match regained Carryduff’s stranglehold on the match.

John Reihill scored his second point of the match in the 53rd minute but the Gael’s needed goals to get back into the match and the Carryduff defence was water tight, giving no glimpses of goals to their opponents.  Conal Quinn and James Guinness’ eighth point of the match finished the scoring for the Down champions and although the Gael’s had the last say of the hour when Conal Quinn split the posts in the last minute of normal time, it did little to revive the Gael’s hopes of a comeback.

Daniel Guinness’ match was ended early, referee Maggie Farrelly awarding a second yellow card to Carryduff’s first goal scorer for a high challenge on Gael’s sub Patrick Beresford but the dismissal came too late to have any impact on the game.

Carryduff progress to the last four in a fortnights time, they find our their opponents after Sunday’s quarter-finals and on this showing, they will be a handful for whoever they come up against.

TEAMS

Carryduff: Mark Hynds; Caolan Cunningham; Paddy McConnell; Shea Reilly; Donal Og Rooney; Pierce Laverty; Daniel Guinness; James Guinness; Joshua Connery; Michael Lawson; Daniel McCartan; Conor Rooney; Andrew McCartan; Owen McCabe; Gareth Henderson

Subs: Rory Reilly for S Reilly (HT); Eoin Maguire for D McCartan (49 mins)

Enniskillen Gaels: Cian Newman; Aaron Nolan; Patrick Cassidy; Odran Agnew; Nathan Tierney; Jonathan Cassidy; Ronan Quinn; Brandon Horan; Ciaran Brough; John Reihill; Callum Jones; Ronan Beattie; Conor McShea; Eoin Beacom; Conal Quinn

Subs: Matthew McAleer for E Beacom (12 mins); Matthew Nixon for J Cassidy (42 mins); Patrick Beresford for R Quinn (58 mins)

 

SCORERS

Carryduff: James Guinness 1-8 (4 frees); Daniel Guinness 1-1; Caolan Cunningham 0-1; Rory Reilly 0-1; Pierce Laverty 0-1; Joshua Connery 0-1

Enniskillen Gaels: Callum Jones 0-3 (1 free); John Reihill 0-2 (1 free); Conall Quinn 0-1 (1 free); Conor McShea 0-1; Ronan Beattie 0-1; Nathan Tierney 0-1

Ref: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan)

by thesaffrongael

Gweedore prove too strong for Jeremiah’s

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Gweedore’s man of the match, Michael O’Carroll carries the ball out of defence to set up his side’s fourth goal with Rossa’s Michael McGreevey and Cormac McGettigan in persuit.

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Bank of Ireland-Paddy McLarnon Cup

Rossa 1-5 Gweedore 4-7

Saturday January 13 By Brendan McTaggart

Gweedore proved a step too far for the all-conquering Antrim champions in Creggan on Saturday afternoon as Rossa bowed out of the Paddy McLarnon Cup at the first hurdle.  11 points separated the sides after the hour and in fairness the Shaw’s Road men can have no complaints. They were beaten by a more physical, slick and overall a better side.

Despite starting the match brightly, the Jeremiah’s will look at the period before and after half time as to where it all went wrong.  An early goal in fortunate circumstances from James Connolly put Gweedore on the back foot for the majority of the first half.  Despite playing into the wind at the Staffordstown Road venue, Rossa had the lion’s share of possession and while they didn’t convert to points on the board, they were well placed for the majority of the half.

Having taken a knock after a heavy tackle from Odhran McFadden-Ferry early in the half, star forward Dominic McEnhill had to come off the pitch in the 27th minute with suspected concussion and it was seconds later that the Donegal champions scored their first goal of the contest and take the lead for the first time in the match.  Gavin McBride and Michael O’Carroll were causing the Rossa defence plenty of problems throughout but the goal had more than a hint of fortune.  McBride will claim the score but his effort dropped short only for Rossa ‘keeper Mick Byrne to let the ball slip through his hands and nestle into the bottom corner.  A hammer blow to the city men as they deserved to at least be on terms at the interval for their exertions but in fairness to Gweedore they saw an opening and took full advantage.

McBride finished the scoring with a fisted point just before the short whistle when he had the goal at his mercy, leaving the half time score Gweedore 1-4 Rossa 1-1.

 

Before throw in on Saturday if you offered Paul Close and Ciaran Grego a three point deficit at half time they would definitely have taken it.  It was a strong cross-field wind at the lough shore, but it was certainly favouring the Antrim champions in the second half.  If they were going to make inroads into the Gweedore advantage they needed a fast start to the second half.  What they got was a masterclass from the Donegal men.  Any Rossa error was punished fully as Gweedore put their foot to the throat of the Rossa challenge and never let up after the restart.  Michael O’Carroll, after a good first half was imperious in the second while Naoise Boyle was a constant threat, going through a mountain of work.  Rossa probed for an opening in a superb Gweedore defence but they just couldn’t find an opening and it took until the 17th minute of the second half before James Connelly registered their first score, Gweedore had already added 1-2 to their tally in the time that preceded.  O’Carroll with the goal for his side and what a goal it was.  Easily 30 yards out and with the outside of his boot, the Gweedore man found the top corner of Byrne’s goal.  The Rossa ‘keeper did manage to get a hand to the riffled effort but it was all in vain.

Time wasn’t on Rossa’s side and as they pushed for an opening, they left openings in defence.  A swift counter from Gweedore left Rossa flailing and gave Eamonn Ó Colm the opportunity to score their third goal from close range and increase their advantage to nine points with ten minutes remaining.

Rossa to their credit continued to battle but the Gweedore defence was seemingly impenetrable.  The Jeremiah’s did manage to win a penalty at the death, Gerard Walsh claiming a high ball before being fouled in the parallelogram, but he blazed his spot kick over the bar.  Niall Crossan had a goal chance soon after but his effort was superbly blocked by Conor McFadden before Gweedore scored their fourth goal of the match with virtually the last kick of the game and again it was O’Carroll who provided the cutting edge required.  Running soccer style down the left-hand side of the pitch and shirking any would be Rossa tackles, O’Carroll managed to find Naoise Boyle who passed to Daire Boyle to apply the finish.  Gweedore now progress to a meeting with Monaghan champions Donaghmoyne next Sunday in the last of the quarter-finals and while Rossa will be disappointed with their defeat, the future looks bright for the men from Shaw’s Road having won the minor and 21 football championships last year.

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TEAMS

Rossa: Mick Byrne; Jack Morris; Conor McGowan; Michael McGreevy; Tiarnan Murphy; Niall Crossan; Gavin McGrath; Gerard Walsh; Eoghan McMenamin; Darren Grego; Padraig McPartland; Deaglan Murphy; Caoimhin Slane; James Connolly; Dominic McEnhill

Subs: Conal Shannon for D McEnhill (27 mins); Padraig McGreevy for C Slane (45 mins); James Cooley for G McGrath (47 mins); Caolan Walsh for D Grego (47 mins); Cormac McGettigan for P McPartland (57 mins)

Gweedore: Cathal Doherty; Ciaran Hughes; Padraig Gribbin; Conor McFadden; Conor McCafferty; Niall Friel; Neasán McBride; Eamonn Ó Colm; Odhran McFadden-Ferry; Naoise Boyle; Ryan Reilly; Gavin McBride; Ethan Harkin

Subs: Mikey Boyle for E Harkin (53 mins); Sean Boyle for N Friel (Black Card – 55 mins); Liam Wiggins for P Gribbin (59 mins)

 

SCORERS

Rossa: James Connolly 1-1 (1 free); Dominic McEnhill 0-1; Padraig McPartland 0-1; Eoghan McMenamin 0-1; Gerard Walsh 0-1 (1 pen)

Gweedore: Gavin McBride 1-3 (2 frees); Eamonn Ó Colm 1-2; Michael O’Carroll 1-1; Daire Boyle 1-1

Referee: Martin Conroy (Moy, Tyrone)

 

 

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Angela Callan, Bank of Ireland, Antrim presents the Bank of Ireland man of the match award to Gweedore’s Michael O’Carroll.

by thesaffrongael

Local rivals clash in Ulster final

Corn Uan Uladh final – Ulster senior camogie finalCamogie preview

Sunday 14th January 11am in Ballymena

Cross and Passion Ballycastle v St Louis Ballymena

When the Ulster schools started camogie competition back in the mid 1940s the game was strongest in Antrim with the county winning their first three All-Ireland senior titles 1945-7.

That was reflected in the early years of Corn Uan Uladh with Cross and Passion winning the 1945 competition and then St Louis Ballymena taking five of the next six titles.

That 1951 success was Ballymena’s last appearance in a final, until before Christmas they booked their spot in tomorrow’s (SUNDAY’s) decider with a 4-1 to 0-3 win over St Patrick’s Maghera.

Indeed Cross and Passion, apart from two appearances and one title in the 1960s, hadn’t much to shout about either as firstly, Derry, then Armagh and Down schools took over with the last three decades seeing Maghera and St Mary’s Magherafelt sharing out 27 titles between them.

CPC over the past decade or more however has been chipping away at that duopoly and secured titles in 2008 and last season from eight final appearances. A dominance of the under-age scene over the past few years meant that they have been strong favourites to retain their title.

Collecting their third successive Corn Eimhear at Halloween has only underpinned their credentials while they have coasted through all their senior championship games to date, a 9-15 to 0-1 semi-final win over Magherafelt an unsurprising scoreline.

They have tremendous scoring potential in Roisin McCormick, Maeve Kelly, Dearbhaill McGill and Charley McCarry while the likes of Finvola McVeigh, Catherine McShane and Bronagh McKeague provide a strong barrier at half-back. Indeed overall they are a very experienced team made up exclusively of Sixth Formers.

St Louis, as a school, are in a similar situation to where CPC were a few years ago and they have overcome a huge psychological barrier to reach the final. In truth they could have won their semi-final with Maghera much easier than the final scoreline, although they did lose key forward Aine Devlin to injury after just 25 minutes.

They responded very well though with Mary McKillen and Maura Downey (from a penalty) hitting their third and fourth goals before half-time. The second half, by and large, was a pedestrian affair with Maghera never looking likely to break through for scores to change things.

Eilish Kearns, Kathryn Mullan and Amy Boyle were very strong at the back, but the attack, some of whom are very young, really needed Devlin’s experience to engineer openings.

It is difficult seeing the St Louis attack penetrating CPC’s defence often enough to cause any real problems – and appearing in the final for the first time they really need first half goals to trouble Ballycastle and also convince themselves that they have a chance of bridging the gap to 1951.

General opinion favours Ballycastle’s strong attacking options to impose themselves on the game early on and put St Louis on the back foot. But a final appearance in itself is another step forward for Ballymena.

It also reflects a trend in under-age camogie in the province with Antrim dominating affairs. There could well be future final meetings between the pair.

Probable teams

Cross and Passion : Aoife McGowan, Catie McCaughan, Katie Lynn, Aoife O’Mullan, Bronagh McKeague, Catherine McShane, Finvola McVeigh, Roisin McCormick, Maeve Kelly, Anna Connolly, Kirsty McKendry, Méadbh McCormick, Dearbhail McGill, Charley McCarry, Carla Mc Garry.

Subs: Rebecca Hargan, Roisin Cummings, Emer O’Neill, Caitlin Kelly, Niamh Doherty, Aoife Toner, Aoife McClafferty, Ciara Mathers, Katie Laverty, Ciara Laverty, Maria Bakewell.

St Louis : Aine Graham, Laura McAleese, Eilis Kearns, Kathryn Mullan, Cameron McGaughey, Fiona Hills, Caitlin Martin, Amy Boyle, Maura Downey, Caitlin Crawford, Kimberley Burke, Aine Devlin, Erin Traynor, Aimee Traynor, Shannon Darragh

Subs : Caoimhe Molloy, Bridget Delargy, Annie McGilligan, Eimear McMullan, Naya McNeill, Eva McNeill, Kirsten Edgar, Bronagh Laverty, Mary McKillen, Maeve Henry, Aimee Johnson, Niamh Callan, Caitlin McGaugheyCamogie preview 2