Under 16 Camogie Championship
Dunloy 4-10 Brídiní Oga 4-9
What promises to be a great week for camogie in the county got off to a great start on Monday evening in Pearse Park when Dunloy booked their place in the county Under 16 Camogie championship with a one point win over luckless Brídiní Oga in a real ding-dong game. The home team lead by 3-4 to 1-5 at half time but the Glenravel girls fought back brilliantly in the second half to tie the scores with just two minutes of normal time left to play. However Dunloy full forward Cassie McArthur sealed the win a minute later with a point from a 20 metre free to end Brídiní Oga’s hopes of a first ever county title at this level.
The game started at a hectic pace as Alisha McPeake gave Brídiní Oga the lead with a goal in the third minute but the lead was short lived as Aine Magill brought Dunloy level a minute later with a great strike from twenty metres. Naimh Donnelly edged Brídiní Oga back in front with a well taken point but two points inside a minute from Cassie McArthur and Caitlin Cochrane put the home team back in front. The see-saw nature of the game continued as points from Naimh Donnelly and Shauna McDonnell restored the visitors’ lead, and though Aine Magill levelled on thirteen minutes Donnelly put the Glenravel girls back in front with a point from a twenty metre free on eighteen minutes.
Brídiní Oga held that lead with just five minutes of the first half remaining but the game took a major swing in the home team’s favour as two goals inside thirty seconds from corner forward Jane O’Boyle and full forward Cassie McArthur put the Dunloy in the driving seat. Caoimhe Molloy then added a point to put her team six ahead with half time fast approaching but Brídiní Oga finished the half strongly and a Naimh Donnelly point cut the deficit to five by the short whistle.
If the Glenravel girls were to stay in touch then they needed a good start to the second half and that’s exactly what they got as Naimh Donnelly and Shauna McDonnell fired over points inside two minute to close the gap to three. Cassie McArthur pointed for Dunloy to pull them four clear again but Brídiní Oga were having the better of things at this stage and two more points from Donnelly left just two between the sides. A point from a Caoimhe Molloy free put three between the sides but Brídiní Oga drew level on forty-two minutes when Aimiee Traynor cut up the left wings and fired in the equalising goal.
Dunloy reacted well and after Caoimhe Molloy had restored their lead with a pointed free great work by Katie Molloy set up Cassie McArthur for another fine score. When Caitlin Cochrane drilled a breaking ball to the Brídiní Oga net on fifty-one minutes Dunloy to be home and dry but the Glenravel girls showed great character to battle back and Naimh Donnelly gave them hope when she goaled directly from a 45. That left just two between the teams again but again Dunloy found a response and Catie McArthur pointed at the other end to put thee between them once more.
With just two minute of time to play the Glenravel crowd were on their feet when centre-half-back Beth McAuley picked up a loose ball in the Dunloy penalty area and drove home the equaliser. It was anybody’s game at this stage and both teams had chances to grab the winner but deep into injury time Cassie McArthur fired over the winning point from a twenty metre free and though Donnelly had a chance to equalise with the last puc of the game her shot just dropped short of the target.
Dunloy players celebrate after Caitlin Cochrane scores their team’s fourth goal. Pic by John McIlwaine
Dunloy – Clodagh O’Kane, Majella McMullan, Orlagh Stewart, Brid Magill, Sarah McIhatton, Katie Laverty, Katie Molloy, Caoimhe Molloy, Kyra Doherty, Caitlin Cochrane, Aine Magill, Bronagh Magill, Caoimhe McColgan, Cassie McArthur, Jane O’Boyle.
Brídiní Oga – Orla Donnelly, Ellie McKinely, Jamie Woulahan, Rachel Coulter, Maira McKenna, Bronagh Laverty, Maebh Mulholland, Naimh Donnelly, Naimh McKay, Shauna McDonnell, Alishia McPeake, Aimiee Traynor, Sarah Fyfe.
Referee – Brona McIntyre (Loughgiel)
Pics by John McIlwaine