Antrim Senior camogie championship SEMI-FINAL
Loughgiel 4-7 Dunloy 2-8
This semi-final up in Ballycastle was as tough a game as Loughgiel has got in the championship for quite a while. Dunloy, just as they had done in the Feis final in milder conditions in July, put in a huge shift against the Shamrocks.
However they will look back at a period between the 34th and 35th minutes when a gap was allowed to open and when the Shamrocks have a gap they can usually maintain it if not widen it further.
Loughgiel led by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break thanks to a goal from Caitrin Dobbin after 12 minutes, but they were pinned back in their own half for periods of that opening half-hour. Dunloy had a gale behind them and Nicole O’Neill landed four points from dead balls for the Cuchullains.
But you still have to say that the eventual winners coped fairly well with all that pressure. Maria Lynn and Maeve Connolly picked up a lot of possession while Emma McMullan and Caitrin Dobbin worked hard to get the rest of the forwards going.
Early in the second half, Dunloy were awarded a penalty and O’Neill’s shot deflected off a defender’s hurl to reach the net and give the challengers the lead for the first time.
It didn’t last long however as two goals inside 60 seconds from Caitrin Dobbin and then Lucia McNaugthon when the wind and rain were at their worst, turned the game back in favour of the Shamrocks and when Lucia McNaughton added a third in the 41st minute they were 4-6 to 1-7 ahead.
Dunloy kept battling and there were heroics in defence in denying Christine Laverty another goal. Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlan and Chloe Drain had excellent games while the introduction of Caoimhe Molloy added much needed pace.
Even a late goal, directly from a Nicole O’Neill free, couldn’t knock Loughgiel out of their stride and they will now face Ballycastle in the final on Saturday 28th for the third time in five seasons.
Loughgiel : Megan Coyles, Chloe Higgins, Charlene Campbell, Maria Lynn, Emma McFadden, Maeve Connolly, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle, Lucia McNaughton 1-1, Caitrin Dobbin 2-1, Anna Connolly, Emma McMullan 0-4, 0-3 frees, Ciara Laverty, Christine Laverty 1-1, Roisin McCormick
Dunloy : Lauren Elliott, Annie Laverty, Chloe Drain, Katherine Mullan, Eilish Kearns, Katie Laverty 0-1, Shannon Woulahan, Sinead Martin, Caoimhe Conlon, Kathryn Boyle, Nicole O’Neill 2-4, 1-4 frees, 1-0 pen, Erin Elliott, Erin Traynor 0-2, Michaela Elliott, Aileen McManus 0-1.
Subs : Lianne Reid for A Laverty (40), Caoimhe Molloy for K Boyle (50), Emer McMullan for M Elliott (50), Caitlin Crawford for E Traynor (55)
Referee : Owen Elliott
