All County Camogie League – Division 1

Bridini Oga 3-4 Dunloy 3-5

A last minute goal by Jacinta Dixon saw Dunloy snatch victory from the jaws of defeat aginst Bridini Oga in Tuesday evening’s league opener which was played in damp and dark conditions at Fr Maginn Park Glenravel. The home side appeared to have pulled off a real shock when Caoimhe McAleenan’s free went all the way to the Dunloy net with five minutes remaining, but in the final minute the visitors were awarded a twenty metre free, which Aileen McManus hit short to Dixon who buried the ball to the net from close range.

Conditions meant this was never going to be a free flowing game, and it was no surprise that the majority of scores came from frees. Early goals by Joanne McKeown and Ashling Ward boosted the home team’s chances as they fought for every ball but Dunloy battled back to level matters by half time on 2-1 to 1-4, Jacinta Dixon grabbing the first of her hat-trick of goals with an outragous overhead flick which sent the ball home from an outragous angle.

Jacinta Dixon scores a goal from an almost impossible angle as she flicks the ball with her back to goal (left) and then watches as sliotar enters the Bridini Oga net. Pics by Dylan McIlwaine

Another Dixon goal just after half time heralded a period of dominance for the Cuchullains, but the home team upped their performance again and fought back with two frees from Torie Edgar.
Caoimhe’s McAleenan’s goal direct from a long range free put them a point ahead entering the last five minutes, and when the same player added another point from a free a few minutes later the Glenravel girls appeared to have pulled off a real shock. However Dunloy were not finished and when Aileen McManus hit the twenty metre free short to Dixon she fired home to seal the win which seconds earlier appeared to have eluded them.
Brídíní Óga : Ashling Ward 1-0, Bern Convery, Bronagh McKay, Caoimhe McAleenan 1-1 frees, Caroline McFadden, Dervla Donaghy, Eimhear McAleenan capt., Ellen Hynds, Joanne McKeown 1-0, Kirsten Edgar, Kirsty Laverty, Laoise McKenna, Lauren Edgar, Lianne Kerr, Niamh McKendry, Oonagh Ward, Rachel McBride, Shauna Kelly, Sian McNeill, Torie Edgar 0-3 frees, Úna McAleenan.

Dunloy : Liza McAllister, Clare McGuckian, Leanne Reid, Lisa McConville, Eilish Kearns, Caoimhe Conlon, Kathryn Boyle, Sinead Martin, Caitlin Crawford, Mary Martin, Catriona Maybin, Jacinta Dixon 3-4, Erin Traynor, Aileen McManus 0-1, Dearbhail Elliott.

Subs: Erin Elliott for Mary Martin, Shannon Woulahan for Catriona Maybin, Fiona Hills for Kathryn Boyle

Pics by Dylan McIlwaine