Corn Eimhear Camogie final
Cross & Passion Ballycastle 6-21
Our Lady and Saint Patrick’s Knock 2-3
THE last time a school completed five Corn Eimhear titles in succession, they went on to win the All-Ireland title. St Mary’s Magherafelt did it 24 years ago and, judging by the way this Cross and Passion Ballycastle team went about their business in Drumanee, Bellaghy last night, they too could go on to bigger things.
They were better in almost all parts of the field, quicker, sharper and more skilful than Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Knock who are beaten finalists for the second year in a row.
Ailbhe Kane, Tara Monan, Lily McKee and full-forward Ciara Fitzsimons were the only players to enjoy any sort of success for Knock.
However Ballycastle had all of the contenders for Player of the Match and they were all from midfield up – Orlagh Laverty, Áine Magill, Nuala Devlin were all in the mix, while Ellen McIntosh took off at a serious pace with four points in the opening quarter.
But Cassie McArthur with four goals and three points gets the nod because she had to forage for possession before making and taking many of those scores.
Her first goal though was created by Caoimhe McMullan cutting in along the end-line and hand-passing across for her in the 8th minute. The second came three minutes later as McArthur reacted quickest to Áine Magill’s effort coming off a post.
That made it 2-6 to 0-0, although Ciara Fitzsimons took a pass from Beth Coulter on the right wing and raced through to shoot an excellent solo goal for the Belfast side in reply. But Nuala Devlin dispossessed a defender on the opposite side of the pitch and scored a replica goal.
McArthur completed her hat-trick with a neat finish to the corner of the net in the 22nd minute and Ballycastle were home and hosed at 4-13 to 1-1 at half-time.
Caoimhe McMullan grabbed a fifth goal for them in the 39th minute, while at the other end Ciara Fitzsimons, living off scraps, hit back with 1-2.
However McArthur responded with a goal from a free in the 49th minute and CPC’s drive for five was successfully completed with an All-Ireland final ahead of the squad in February.
Cross and Passion : N Mc Caughan, E graham, Bríd Magill, C McQuillan, A Donnelly, F McIntosh, N McAuley, Á Magill (0-5, 0-1 free), O Laverty (0-3), J McIntosh (0-2), Bronach Magill (0-1), N Devlin (1-0), C McMullan (1-0), C McArthur (4-3, 1-0 free), E McIntosh (0-5).
Subs : O McElroy for E Graham (41), C O’Hara for N Devlin (50), Cara Connolly for J McIntosh (50), Ciara Connolly for E McIntosh (52), E McKinley (0-1) for C McMullan (54).
OLSP Knock: K McKenna, E McDermott, A Kane, Á Breen, H-B Coyle, T Monan, O Dempster, E Clancy, C Gilmore, k Taggart, B Coulter, L McKee, E McCarthy, C Fitzsimons (2-3, 0-1 free), E McGurk.
Subs : A Finnegan for H-B Coyle (48), S Savage for E McGurk (48).
Referee : Sean McGuigan (Slaughtneil)
