McCormick makes the difference as Shamrock pushed all the way

Antrim Camogie League Division 1

Dunloy 0-11 Loughgiel 3-6

League title holders and county champions Loughgiel were made to work all the way before getting the better of Dunloy in Tuesday evening’s league game in Pearse Park. In a game played in poor weather conditions the home side led by 0-9 to 1-2 at half time, after having had the breeze in the backs in the first half and they competed really well in the second period , with the elements against them.

In the end the Sharmocks star forward Roisin McCormick proved the difference between the two sides as she scored 2-2, without really being anywhere near her best. She scored her team’s first two scores early in the game but when Dunloy moved Eimhear McMullan onto her after her first goal, the corner back did really well and restricted her to just a further point in that opening half. However when they changed ends at half time she found a bit more space and grabbed another goal while Ciara Laverty grabbed her team’s third

Nicole O’Neill, who had another fine game for the home side, but the Cuchullains ahead in the opening minute, but McCormick put the Shamrocks level when she soloed up the right wing and sent over a point. Aileen McManus struck a great point from distance to restore the Dunloy lead on six minutes but a minute later McCormick raced through from midfield to fire the ball home and give the Shamrocks a 1-1 to 02 lead.

For the remainder of the half Dunloy were the better team and they hit five points without reply from Nicole O’Neill (2), Aileen McManus (2) and Caitlin Crawford, in reply to just one point from McCormick to lead by 0-9 to 1-2 at half time.

Caitlin Crawford put Dunloy further ahead with the opening point of the second half, but Emma McMullan came back with one for the Shamrocks a minute later, but Crawford again found an answer to keep the gap at four. Roisin McCormick’s second goal closed the gap to a single point just before the second half water break and Caitrin Dobbin brought them level entering the final ten minutes. Dobbin edged them ahead when she soloed through and scooped the ball over the bar off her hurl, and though another Crawford point brought Dunloy level again, another Dobbin point and a third goal from Laverty saw the visitors go home with both points, but knowing they had been in a tough battle.