Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 2, Section 1Antrim captain Aileen McManus solos out of defence during her team’s win over Wexford in Division 2 of the Littlewoods Ireland National Camogie League in Cargin. Pic by John McIlwaine

Antrim 2-9 Wexford 1-2

By Seamus McAleenan (c)

Having not won a league game last season, Antrim produced a comfortable display against visiting Wexford in Cargin on Sunday to open their Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 2 campaign with a ten points’ win.

Having to battle through constant rain from start to finish, it was to the credit of both teams that they produced such a competent performance in the conditions with the first touch generally very good for an opening game.

Antrim are a very young team with four of them just out of minors, and goalie Aoife McGowan still between the posts for her school Cross and Passion as they prepare for an All-Ireland senior schools’ final at the start of March.

However the experienced Kathryn Donnelly, Aileen McManus and Katie McAleese took control of the game and brought the best of the youngsters, although full-back Michelle Harding was outstanding for Wexford who opened the scoring through Eimear Nolan in the second minute.

A couple of minutes later however a flowing move from Antrim seemed to break down close to the Wexford goals. But Chloe Draine regained possession and fed Siobhán McKillop who picked out Ruairí Óg team-mate Orlagh O’Hara for the opening goal.

The Saffrons gained in confidence after that score and deservedly led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break with points from O’Hara, the Donnelly sisters and Lucia McNaughton.

Early in the second half Katie McAleese fired in a long ball that broke off Chloe Draine and Michelle Harding for Siobhán McKillop to pick up and rush in for an Antrim goal. She added a point from a similar situation and could well have had a couple of other scores with her foraging style.

Katie McAleese’s all-action style saw her break free to shoot three excellent long range points before Aoife Guiney thieved a consolation goal for Wexford.

Overall however the Saffron management will be pretty happy with the team performance and gives them a lot of optimism as they head away to Cork this Saturday. The Rebellettes are strong favourites for this competition and they comfortably defeated Carlow by 1-12 to 0-3, while in the third game in the section, Westmeath hammered Down by 4-11 to 0-1.

Antrim : Aoife McGowan, Cliodhna Donnelly, Kathryn Donnelly, Colleen Patterson, Niamh Donnelly 0-1 free, Aileen McManus, Shannon Woulahan, Laoise McKenna, Christine Laverty, Lucia McNaughton 0-2, Katie McAleese 0-3, Aine Donnelly 0-1, Orlagh O’Hara 1-1, Chloe Draine, Siobhon McKillop 1-1

Subs: Aine Mulholland for S Woulahan (HT), Meadbh Laverty for N Donnelly (34), Emily Falloon for C Draine (55).

Wexford : Liza Bates, Chloe Cashe, Michelle Harding, Leanne Foley, Dervla Doyle, Marie Clare Morrissey, Aoife McCrea, Victoria Burke, Katie O’Connor, Eimear Nolan 0-2, Aoife Guiney 1-0, Orla Molloy, Michelle Kehoe, Emma Doyle, Shauna Kelly
Subs: Laura Dempsey for A McCann (38), Sorcha Foley for M Kehoe (44), Nancy Dunphy for C Cashe (44), Emma O’Connor for V Burke (59)

Antrim manager Aidan McKeown who saw his team get off to a winning start