Ballycastle power their way to Feile B title

Feile na nGael B Camogie semi-finals

Brídíní Óga Glenravel 2-2 Lámh Dhearg 2-1

Ballycastle 7-6 Portglenone 0-0

The semi-finals and final of the Féile na nGael B competition took place at Randalstown on Sunday after Brídíní Óga Glenravel, Lámh Dhearg, Ballycastle and Portglenone qualified from their group stages on Saturday.

First into action were Brídíní Óga Glenravel and Lámh Dhearg and the north Antrim club, playing with the strong cross-field breeze in their favour, got off the mark when Aisling Mulholland and Erin Coulter combined to set Emer Donnelly up for a goal which she kicked over the line.

Emily Sharpe added two frees soon after but Devla McCaulfield pulled one back for the Belfast side just before the break.

During the second half there was a lot of pressure from Lámh Dhearg, but Brídíní Óga broke upfield and Emily Sharpe’s punt into the area was caught by Emer Donnelly and flashed to the net.

It proved to be the decisive score despite two late goals from Lamh Dhearg – Tiarna Fagan soloed through for the first and Emily Annett added a second. But it came too late and Glenravel made the final.

The second semi-final was more one way traffic with Ballycastle grabbing the initiative from the start and playing the opening half inside the Portglenone 45. However by half-time they were only 1-1 to 0-0 ahead due to strong defence from the Gerladine’s.

However they soon made the wind assistance count during the second period with goals from Aoibheann Donnelly, Cara Brolly and Janey McIntosh helping them build up a 7-6 to 0-0 victory and passage into the final.

Ballycastle 3-8 Brídíní Óga Glenravel 1-1

Ballycastle started the final well and put Brídíní Óga on the back foot for the opening ten minutes during which Shannagh Hegarty scored 1-2 and Aoibheann Donnelly and Cara Brolly a point each.

However the Glenravel girls stormed back with a goal from Emer Donnelly and a long range free from Clodagh McPeake only for Shannagh Heggarty to undo the good work with a goal in first half injury time.

During the second half Glenravel’s defence worked extremely hard to close out the Ballycastle threat but a great angled shot from Cara Brolly found the target. The girls from the ‘Town’ added four more points as they pulled clear to claim a place in the All-Ireland series in Cork in June.

Ballycastle : Erin O’Hara, Ciara Boylan, Aoibh Mullan, Róise McNeill, Dani McQuillan, Noelle McAuley, Olivia Connolly, Janey McIntosh 0-2, Tara McAfee, Cara Brolly 1-1, Aoibheann Donnelly 0-2 frees, Faye Roddy, Amy Hunter, Kiona McAuley, Shannagh Heggarty 2-3, 0-1 free, Rionagh Maybin, Rachel McAuley, MaryCate Slevin, Aoife McCaughan, Dervla Gardiner, Ellie McBride

Brídíní Óga : Annie Higgins, Mia McQuillan, Megan Law, Lucia McQuillan, Aoibhin McKenna, Toni Kerr, Katy Kerr, Aisling Mulholland, Emily Sharpe, Orlaith Gould, Clodagh McPeake 0-1 free, Eimear Butler, Caitlin McKeown, Emer Donnelly 1-0, Niamh Mulholland, Cliodhna McBride, Katie McDonnell, Dearbhail Kerr, Méabh O’Donnell, Caitlin Law, Erin Coulter

Brídíní Óga Glenravel 2-2 Lámh Dhearg 2-1

Ballycastle 7-6 Portglenone 0-0

Final : Ballycastle 3-8 Brídíní Óga Glenravel 1-1

Emily Sharpe added two frees soon after but Devla McCaulfield pulled one back for the Belfast side just before the break.

During the second half there was a lot of pressure from Lámh Dhearg, but Brídíní Óga broke upfield and Emily Sharpe’s punt into the area was caught by Emer Donnelly and flashed to the net.

Ballycastle started the final well and put Brídíní Óga on the back foot for the opening ten minutes during which Shannagh Hegarty scored 1-2 and Aoibheann Donnelly and Cara Brolly a point each.

During the second half Glenravel’s defence worked extremely hard to close out the Ballycastle threat but a great angled shot from Cara Brolly found the target. Apart from that the Glenravel defence did very well but couldn’t prevent Ballycastle claiming a place in the All-Ireland series in Cork in June.