Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Junior final
Loughgiel Shamrocks 8-11 Brídíní Óga Glenravel 2-10
THERE is never a bad time to get a goal – and Loughgiel struck eight times last evening in Cloughmills to bounce back from defeat in last year’s Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Junior final and take the title for the first time in five seasons.
The goals came in many forms, some well worked, some off defensive errors and even a fortuitous one just before the break. But the first from Cara McIntyre was badly needed in the 13th minute after outsiders Brídíní Óga had opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.
By half time Loughgiel led by 3-3 to 0-7 in an open enough game in which the Glenravel girls were unlucky not to find the net themselves. Had the goal-chances fallen to and been taken by Brídíní Óga, they could well have pushed on in the second half as impressively as the winners did.
Glenravel impressed with their pace and point scoring in the opening half with no fewer than six different players hitting the target and Beth McAuley’s the pick, collecting a long poc out and racing down the right wing to fire high over the bar.
But those scores were undone by the goals. Annie Lynn caught a misplaced poc out in the 13th minute and drew the defender before giving Cara McIntyre an easy finish.
It was 0-5 to 1-2 when the second goal came after 18 minutes from Joanne Gillan and the third was a point effort from a Bróna McIntyre free that dipped in at the last second.
However the winners really stepped up the pace at the start of the second half with a second goal from Cara McIntyre and, despite Maeve Mulholland responding for the Glenravel girls, McIntyre completed her hat-trick in the 37th minute and the title was in the bag from that point on.
There were two goals from Player of the Match Anna Connolly and an impressive 1-4 in the final quarter from Carla McGarry as Loughgiel went through to the Ulster series next weekend.
That little bit of experience told for the winners, but it was a fine effort from the up and coming Glenravel club, who will contest the Intermediate semi-final against Dunloy next weekend and, on this showing, some of the junior squad will be pushing for starting places.
Loughgiel : Shari Carey, Roisin Cummings, Sarah-Anne McGarry, Denise McGarry, Mary McKillen, Brona McIntyre (1-3 frees), Rebecca Hargan, Anna Connolly [2-0], Catherine McCormick, Annie Lynn (0-3), Meadhbh McCormick, Carla McGarry [1-4] Joanne Gillan [1-0], Cara McIntyre (3-2), Shauna McKillop.
Subs: Erin McMullan for S McKillop, Lynsey Higgins for J Gillan, Maeve Henry for C McCormick
Brídíní Óga : Megan McKillop, Ashling Mulvenna, Caroline Donnelly capt, Lauren Edgar, Dara Martin, Maria McKenna, Leona Traynor, Beth McAuley (0-2), Úna McAleenan, Niamh Donnelly (1-4, 0-1 free), Niamh McKay (0-1), Eimear Higgins, Aimee Traynor (0-1), Oonagh Ward (0-1), Sabrina Spiers (0-1).
Subs: Maeve Mulholland (1-0) for Eimear, Alishia McPeake for S Spiers
Referee: Owen Elliott
Saffron Gael Player of the Match Anna Connolly
Captain of the Loughgiel Team Brona McIntyre