All County Camogie League – Division 1

Dunloy 2-08 Portglenone 1-07

By Paul McLean

Played in horrible conditions the Dunloy girls picked up a second league win after a strong second half saw them over the line.

Neither side could really get going as the constant rain and wind made it near impossible to get free flowing camogie to the fore but nevertheless both sides battled away.

Dunloy settled quickest and had the first score on the board against the wind as Erin Elliott split the posts. Indeed, the home side looked to have good period of pressure in the first 5 mins but couldn’t turn it into scores against the strong breeze.

Portglenone however once they settled started to dominate for the next 15 mins as they took the next 5 scores to take the lead.

Points from Roisin Kelly, Jane Carey and Eimear McKee and a free from County captain Katie McAleese gave the away side a 0-04 to 0-01 lead. Portglenone then got themselves further ahead with the only goal of the first half.

Eimear McKee worked herself the space to get a shot off from 6 yards that was brilliantly saved by Liza McAllister, but the ball fell Niamh Kelly to poke it home in the box.

This score should have led to more, but it turned out to be Portglenone’s final one of the half as the home side made a few changes that turned the pressure onto the away team.

Dearbhaill Elliott got the home sides second score with 8 mins to go in the opening half before an Aileen McManus free near the end of the half left the score 0-03 to 1-04 to the away side.

Neither side made any changes at the start of the second half as the strong wind died off slightly however the constant rain didn’t seem to want to follow suit.

Dunloy started the scoring with a brace of Jacinta Dixon frees with Portglenone responding with a Katie McAleese free to maintain their 3-point advantage.

The home side then made a change in the forwards which would see an immediate effect and one that would change the sway of the game. Erin Traynor was brought on and within a couple of minutes the minor star had found the net.

Some good work out the pitch from Aileen McManus saw her ball find Dearbhaill Elliott and her shot was deflected out by the keeper for Erin to hammer it back into the net.

A Jacinta Dixon 45’ gave Dunloy the lead for the first time in the match but it was short lived as Katie McAleese levelled it with a free from 21 yards after she was taken down.

Then came hammer blow for Portglenone and one that would give Dunloy the platform to win the game. Mary Martin and Erin Traynor both combined wide on the left of the pitch to find substitute Caitlin Crawford to fire high past Patricia McCarry into the net.

Again, Katie McAleese responded with a free but likewise Jacinta Dixon responded in kind to finish the scoring off for the night at 2-08 to 1-07.

A night for sitting in the house but to both team’s credit they gave it all they had and despite the poor conditions there was plenty of great passages of play.

For Portglenone they will rue not getting more scores in the first half when they had the home side under pressure with the wind at their backs. They were best served by netminder Patricia McCarry who made a number of good saves in both halves, Catriona McNichol and Catherine Bradley in defence whilst up front Katie McAleese worked tirelessly for the full hour and was their main scoring threat.

In the first half Dunloy had to withstand a serious period of pressure from Portglenone’s attacks and it was this that provided the platform for them to go and win the game in the second half. In defence Caoimhe Conlon, Kathryn Boyle and Sorcha Conlon stood firm. At midfield Shannon Woulahan and Sinead Martin dominated their opposite numbers whilst up front Aileen McManus yet again worked herself into the ground. Jacinta Dixons 5 points from placed balls kept the pressure on the away side as they chipped away the lead.

Dunloy

L McAllister, L Reid, J Rush, K Boyle, S Conlon, C Conlon, L McConville, S Woulahan, S Martin, L Elliott, A McManus (0-01), M Martin, D Elliott (0-01), J Dixon (0-05), E Elliott (0-01) – subs – E Traynor (1-00), C Crawford (1-00), E Kearns

Portglenone

P McCarry, E Donaghy, M McLarnon, L McAleese, N Doherty, C McNichol, C Bradley, C O’Kane, A Mulholland, R Kelly (0-01), K McAleese (0-04), N McKee, E McKee, J Carey (0-01), N Kelly (1-00)