Erin’s own Cargin celebrate after defeating Kickham’s Creggan in the Feile B Camogie final at Rossa Park on Sunday.
Erin’s Own, Cargin are this year’s Feile B Camogie champions. At a windy and sometimes wet, Rossa Park on Sunday they overcame the considerable challenge of Bridini Oga, Glenravel and Kickham’s Creggan to lift the shield.
Feile B Camogie Final
In the Feile B Camogie final it was parish rivals Kickham’s Creggan and Erin’s Own Cargin who came face to face and judging on what had gone on before we were in for a cracking decider. It was Creggan who lined out with the stiff breeze behind them and the early exchanges suggested that they would push on and take the title.
They looked compact in defence where Mary Murray continued where she had left off in the semi-final with a polished exhibition of defending and in the early exchanges Eavanne Martin appeared to have the measure of Maria O’Neill in the mid-field exchanges.
Martin’s long striking of the sliotar saw her fire over the first three points of the half as they took the game to the opposition but despite strong pressure they were unable to get through for the all- important goal.
Caoimhe McIvor in the Erin’s own goal, Alex Johnston and Sara O’Neill defended as if their lives depended on it and at half time the Creggan lead of 0-4 to 0-1 looked precarious given the strength of the breeze with Maria O’Neill getting the Cargin point from a well struck free.
After the break play swung very much in favour of the Toome girls and they got off to a great start when a Maria O’Neill 40 meter free dipped to the Creggan net in the 4th minute to level the contest. A minute later Cliodhna McNabb pointed Erin’s Own ahead and it was a lead they were never to lose.
They continued to press and it was Creggan’s turn to defend. They stood strong for a time with Maria O’Neill going close for their opponents before Cliodhna McNabb fired home Cargin’s second goal from close range to put them in control.
Creggan replied with a pointed free from Eavanne Martin but it failed to inspire her colleagues and it was the girls from Toome who produced a storming finish with goals from Siobhan McCoy and Gracey McLaughlin to claim the Feile B title.
Antrim Camogie president, Mary Herald presents the Feile B Shield to Cargin captain, Siobhan McCoy and the player of the tournament award to Creggan’s Mary Murray.
First Semi-Final
Cargin 3-4 Glenravel 0-1
The breeze was to have a major bearing on proceedings throughout the day but it was Erin’s own, Cargin who made all the early running in this first semi-final despite facing the elements in the opening half.
They took the game to Bridini Oga from early in the game with Maria O’Neill driving them forward with her strong running from mid-field. The Glenravel girls put up strong resistance with Toni Kerr, Clodagh McCusker and Aisling Mulholland standing tall in the face of the early onslaught.
Maria O’Neill found the Glenravel net as the early pressure finally paid off but Glenravel looked to have rode the early storm when Aisling Donnelly replied with a good point at the other end. This score seemed to lift Bridini Oga and for a time they got on top but could find no way through a solid Cargin defence.
The Toome girls broke from defence with Maria O’Neill producing a lung busting solo run before sending a dipping ball in around the parallelogram and in the scramble that ensued Cliodhna McNabb got the vital touch to force the sliotar over the line.
By half time Maria O’Neill had added her second goal and with Cliodhna McNabb weighing in with a point Erin’s Own had moved into a 3-1 to 0-1 lead and had one foot in the final unless Bridini Oga could produce something spectacular in the second half.
It wasn’t to be however with the Cargin defence in no mood to concede to the Glenravel pressure as Caoimhe McIvor, Alex Johnston, Sarah O’Neill and Sophie McErlane repelled everything that came their way despite the best efforts of Caitlin Law, Aisling Donnelly and Erin Coulter.
Points from Cliodhna McNabb, Emear McErlane and Siobhan McCoy ensured that there would be no way back for Bridini Oga and it was the Toome girls who would have to wait to see who they would face in the final as Ruairi Og Cushendall and Kickham’s Creggan lined out for the second semi-final.
Second semi-final
Kickham’s Creggan 4-3 Ruairi Og 2-1
In the second semi-final it was a talented Kickham’s Creggan who made all the early running against a smaller but never the less talented Ruairi Og, Cushendall with Eavanne Martin leading the way with a fine display of long striking from mid-field.
Eavanne Martin got the Staffordstown Road girls on their way with an early goal followed by a point and another goal from Neva Chauhan saw the young Kickham’s lead by 2-2 to 0-0 at the short whistle but with Cushendall about to enjoy the benefit of a considerable breeze after the break.
If the Ruairi Og girls were going to get themselves into this game they needed a strong start to the second half but in the event it was Creggan who made the perfect start as Orlagh McAllister superbly doubled on the dropping sliotar to fire past Niamh McNeill in the ‘Dall’ goal.
Suddenly what had been a steep slope had now turned into a mountain but the Cushendall girls did respond through a goal from Sine Woodhouse to give themselves and their supporters some hope.
That hope was raised further when Lara Haughey shot first time through a crowded goalmouth and when Sian Woodhouse followed with a point it looked like game on. The kicham’s recomposed themselves however with Eavanne Martin taking back control at mid-field and a late goal from Caoimhe Hampsey settled the contest.