Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Junior quarter-finals
by Seamus McAleenan
Gortnamona v Ahoghill
Thursday 30th August
Brídíní Óga v Ballycastle
St Paul’s v Loughgiel
Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Junior quarter-final:
Creggan 3-11 Rasharkin 2-12 AET
IT TOOK more than 80 minutes of keenly contested camogie before Creggan emerged from the swirling darkness at the weekend to become the first team to make it into next Monday’s Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Junior semi-finals.
Creggan’s first score was a goal from Niamh McAuley, but goals from Kerrie Darragh on the next attack and Eimear Quigg after 19 minutes put Rasharkin ahead by 2-5 to 1-1 only forFiona Maguire to pull a goal back just before the break.
Creggan improved for the second half and a series of points from Maguire was added to by a goal from Maria Carey. Rasharkin had to scramble an equaliser from Mairead Doherty near the end to put the teams into extra time at 2-9 to 3-6.
There was only a Susan McElwee point for Creggan in the first half of extra time and with just five minutes to go the teams were still level on 2-11 to 3-8.
Then Creggan hit three points in a row to pull clear, two from Fiona Maguire and the other from Caoimhe McAteer and that was enough to see them over the line, although they were relying on young goalie Claire McElwee to pull off a late save from Amy McMullan to see them over the line.
The other scheduled quarter-final between Gortnamona and Ahoghill had to be abandoned after 23 minutes due to a serious injury to an Ahoghill player. The game has been re-fixed for Tuesday while the remaining two quarter-finals will be decided on Thursday evening.
Brídíní Óga Glenravel will play host to Ballycastle while Loughgiel have to travel to Shaw’s Road to take on St Paul’s. Based on the league head to heads, Glenravel should be facing Rasharkin in one of Monday’s semi-finals, while Loughgiel and Ahoghill will contest the other.
Creggan : Fiona Maguire 1-5, Niamh McAuley 1-0, Maria Carey 1-0, Susan McIlwee 0-2, Alicia McAuley 0-1, Ciara McAuley 0-1, Caoimhe McAteer 0-1, Anita McAuley 0-1.
Rasharkin : Eimear Quigg 1-1, 0-1 free, Kerrie Darragh 1-0, Amy McMullan 0-4, 0-2 frees, Máiréad Doherty 0-2, Noeleen O’Kane 0-2, Eimear Hardy 0-2, Cadhla McLernon 0-1, Eimear Carey 0-1