All County Camogie League – Division 1
Ballycastle 3-9 Loughgiel 4-15
County champions Loughgiel ran out ten point winners of tonight’s top of the table clash in Division 1 of the Antrim Camogie League against Ballycastle at Pairc MacUilin. Ahead by 2-9 to 1-5 at half time Loughgiel were able to keep their opponents at arms-length during the second half before sealing the win with two quick goals from Chloe Higgins and Racquel Murphy entering the final quarter.
After holding a 0-3 to 0-1 lead early in the game the visitors fell behind when Aoife Toner got the first goal of the game. Chloe Higgins levelled for Loughgiel but the home side edged ahead again as points from Aine Donnelly and Maeve Kelly put them two ahead by the twelfth minute.
Loughgiel got back ahead with three points in as many minutes from Finvola McVeigh, Raquel Murphy and Aisling McFadden before clever play by Murphy put Caitrin Dobbin clear for the first of her team’s goals. Caoimhe Wright sent over two points from frees to keep Ballycastle well in the game, but a scrambled goal from Raquel Murphy, which she followed with two points from frees, had the Shamrock ladies 2-9 to 1-5 clear at half time.
When Maeve Kelly combined with Caoimhe Wright to close the gap to six early in the second half there was still hope for the home side, and it remained that way for the next ten minutes as points by Lucia McNaughton, Racquel Murphy and Aisling McFadden were answered by Aoife Toner (2) and Naimh Donnelly. Finvole McVeigh widened the gap to seven before a well worked short free by Murphy caught the Castle defence napping as she found the unmarked Chloe Higgins who blasted home a great goal to all but kill the contest. When Murphy got her second goal soon afterwards the gap was widening, but to their credit Ballycastle kept battling and two goals from Aoife Toner and a Caoimhe Wright penalty gave some consolation.
BALLYCASTLE
Aofie McGowan, Fionualla Toner, Naimh Anne Donnelly, Cliodhna Donnelly, Catherine McShane, Kathryn Donnelly, Maebh O’Neill, Emma Connor, Maeve Kelly, Aoife Toner, Aine Donnelly, Naimh Donnelly, Caoimhe Wright, Maria Bakewell, Aine Donnelly.
Subs – Naimh O’Neill for Naimh Donnelly; Tara o Neill for Maria Bakewell, Bronagh Mc Caughan for Cliodhna Donnelly
LOUGHGIEL
Eimear Boyle, Charlene Campbell, Laura Connolly, Maria Lynn, Aine Connolly, Maeve Connolly, Finvola McVeigh, Emma McFadden, Ciara Boyle, Lucia McNaughton, Chloe Higgins, Emma McMullan, Caitrin Dobbin, Racquel Murphy, Aisling McFadden.
Subs – Roisin McCormick for Caitrin Dobbin, Amy Boyle for Maria Lynn, Charley McCarry for Finvola McVeigh,
Christine Laverty for Lucia McNaughton, Claire McKillop for Ciara Boyle
Referee – Paul O’Neill (Creggan)
Pics by John McIlwaine