Antrim Minor B Camogie Championship final
Tir Na nOg Randalstown 3-8 Geraldines Portglenone 3-4
By Brona McIntyre
On a windswept Sunday in Armoy Tir Na nOg were the team that came out on top on a very competitive Minor B Final. In a tit for tat game with both teams refusing to let the other pull away the Randalstown girls eventually got the better of things in a real competitive game.
The first score came on the fifth minute when it was Geraldines Aobhinn McCloskey who opened her teams tally with a well taken point from distance. Tir Na nOgs Emma Louise McAreavey had a good game throughout the hour and her experience playing on the county minor side showed. She helped create Tir Na nOgs first score as she solo ran out of defence, she tried to pass out to team mate Caitlin McGaughey, but Portglenone’s Eimear McKee had other ideas as she intercepted the pass, but unfortunately for Portglenone she over carried the ball. McGaughey took the free and it dropped into the square full forward Rachel Bonnes anticipated this as she rose high to catch the ball and split the posts.
Tir an nÓg’s Niamh Martin racing towards goal was fouled and awarded a penalty soon afterwards and she took the free her self and opted for a point was a safe option. Centre half back for Tir Na nÓg Carla O’Neill got her first score of the hour as she pointed a 45 after a good save by corner back Sinead McAtamney as she pushed the ball wide of the post.
The first green flag of the day came from a defensive error. Eimear McKee stepped up to hit a dead ball, but a defence problem ensured no player went for the ball and the free ended up in the back of the net, this was quickly followed by a great point from McKee out near the sideline.
All of a sudden Portglenone have really taken control of the game and Tir Na nOg found themselves living off scraps. Clodagh Convery was on hand to finish the ball to the net after a good pass across the square from Clare McGowan. Tir Na nOg responded well, they knew they had to up there game before it started slipping away from them again. McAreavey came bursting out of defence and a nice handpass to McGaughey put the centre forward on the front foot and she solo ran towards goal with her efforts rewarded with a white flag. From the puc out Randalstown put the pressure back on immediately, Niamh Callan worked well with Ciara Shannon to find McGaughey who was wanting to raise the green flag, but great defending by Maria Mooney ensured McGaughey wasn’t getting near the goal and her shot consequently went wide.
McAreavey was on hand again as she came storming out of defence after collecting the ball from team mate Carla O’Neill, she puts the ball into the square hoping someone can get on the end of it, and that they do, in a goal mouth scramble its Rachel Bonnes who got the final touch to get the three pointer for Tir Na nOg leaving just a point between the teams. McKee responds from a dead ball for the Bann siders giving them a two point lead again. However this was short lived as the ever involved McAreavey picks out Rachael Bonnes who finishes to the opposite top corner of the net and all of a sudden its Tir Na nOg who are in the lead, their half back line playing superbly, making great runs up the field.
Portglenone make a few changes before the short whistle with Niamh Toland coming in for Caitlin Cassidy and Orla Gribben coming in for Eimear McCormick, the girls didn’t have much time to make an impact as shortly afterwards referee Ciaran McCloskey calls for half time leaving the score 2-4 to 2-3 to Randalstown meaning it was all to play for in the second half.
Portglenone were first out of the blocks and they raised the green flag early in the second half as Caitlin Convery smashed home. This was followed by points respectively from McKee for Portglenone and O’Neill for Tir Na nOg. But as O’Neill playing at centre back stepped up to hit another free her shot slipped below the cross bar this time. It was Tir Na nOg who finished the strongest with Niamh Martin and O’Neill finding their shooting range before the final whistle.
A very competitive game with both teams showing great character to keep fighting through the hour, both teams had stand out players Portlgenone had Maria Mooney and Laura McAleese both very strong in defence and Eimear McKee caused havoc around the middle of the park Aoibhinn McCloskey was always causing problems in the forward line. For Tir Na nOg the stand out performances came from Emma Louise McAreavey, along with Caitlin McGaughey, Rachel Bonnes and Niamh Martin. But the stand out performer throughout the hour was centre back for Tir Na nOg Carla O’Neill who received player of the match after scoring 1-4.
Tir Na nOg Randalstown Team: Sara Gartside, Roisin McKinley, Ciara Madden, Emma Louise McAreavey 0-1, Cliodhna Marie McStravick, Carla O’Neill 1-3 (1-2f 0-1 45), Naoishe Graham, Michaela Fegan, Caitlin Martin, Niamh Callan, Caitlin McGaughey 0-1, Aoife McAtamney, Niamh Martin0-2 (0-1pen), Rachel Bonnes 2-1, Ciara Shannon
Geraldines Portglenone Team: Caitlin Cassidy, Annie O’Kane, Maria Mooney, Sinead McAtamney, Cait McFaul, Laura McAleese, Seanna McAtamney, Ailisha Convery, Eimear McKee 1-3 (1-1f), Eimear McCormick, Aoibhinn McCloskey 0-1, Clodagh Convery 1-0, Clare McGowan, Caitlin Convery 1-0, Eimear Convery
Subs – Hannah Payne, Michella Heny, Laura McCann, Niamh Toland, Orla Gribben
Referee – Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)