O’Neill pulls the strings as Dunloy start off with a win

Antrim Camogie League Division 1

Dunloy 2-17 Ballycastle 3-7

A magnificent scoring display by centre forward Nicole O’Neill helped guide Dunloy to victory over Ballycastle in Tuesday evening’s All County Camogie League opener at Pearse Park Dunloy. The Cuchulains number 11 was in superb form, ending with a personal total of 1-12, her accuracy for frees and from play right out to the top drawer. In the end the home team had five to spare, but that might paint a somewhat distorted picture, for Ballycastle fought their way back into the game on a couple of occasion and with just two minutes of normal time left to play, had cut the gap back to just two points. However the Dunloy defence held out in those final minutes as the visitors searched for the goal that would get them victory, and three late points by O’Neill eased them home with five to spare.

Spot the ball? Player of the match Nicole O’Neill loses sight of the ball as it spins onto her helmet, but it has to be said it was the only ball she missed all night as she scored 1-12 to steer her team to victory

After withstanding early Dunloy pressure Ballycatle went ahead in the third minute with a point from Caoimhe Wright but the home side came back with four on the trot from Nicole O’Neill (2), Michaella Elliott and Erin Elliott to lead by three after eight minutes.

Maeve Kelly pulled a point back with a great individual score on nine minutes but Dunloy were on top and they added points in the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th minutes to lead 0-7 to 0-2 by the first water break. That break appeared to aid the Ballycastle girls more than the home side for the had the better of things during that second quarter and boosted by a great solo goal by Maeve Kelly, who was moved in to the edge of the ‘square’ because of an injured knee, the fought back to trail by just two at the break. (0-10 to 1-5)

**Ballycastle full-back** **Catherine McShane solos out of defence**

Just as in the opening half Dunloy sprang for the traps as they added 2-3 to their tally, to stretch their lead to ten, the goals coming from Michaela Elliott and O’Neill. Ballycastle looked like they were in for a bad beating, but they again showed great character and a goal from a twenty metre free my Maeve Kelly and a fine individual effort by Nuala Devlin, closed the gap to four. O’Neill steadied the ship with a pointed free with eight minutes to go, but back came Ballycastle and two pointed frees from Caoimhe Wright and one from play by Naimh Donnelly left just two between the side. There were a couple of half chances for the visitors to get something out of the game but the Cuchullains rear-guard held firm and O’Neill stepped up to the mark again with three pointed frees to ease her team to a well-deserved win.