Antrim Senior Camogie Championshp – Round Robin 2
Dunloy 5-14 Cushendall 1-10
The last time they two sides met in the league it was the Cushendall girls who went on a goal spree knocking six past the Dunloy girls but this time it was the turn of the Cuchullian’s to repay the favour with a five goal haul to cap off a good performance.
Dunloy had five different goal scorers and could even afford to miss a penalty at the start of the second half. For Cushendall they really missed the goal threat from the injured Orlagh O’Hara as the talented forward was forced to watch from the sideline.
Played in blistering heat and glorious sunshine Dunloy opened the scoring from the stick of Nicole O’Neill from play. The home side did not have things their own way for the next five minutes as Cushendall went in front with two points in a minute. The first from Ellen Leech and then from Anna McNeill.
Next came two keeper errors, one from each side. A lobbing shot for a point by Caitlin Crawford deceived Saran Kane in the Ruairi Og nets going in under the cross bar and into the net. This did not take long to even itself out as a short effort for a point by Lauren McMullan was fumbled by Dunloy minder Aimee Scott and into the net.
To be fair that was the last mistake either keeper made the rest of the game and both net minders went on to have good games.
Cushendall then extended their lead with a point from play by Lauren McMullan. However, this was the last time they would be in front as Dunloy took control of the game for the reminder of the half.
A good run by corner forward Michaela Elliott into the Cushendall box saw her hauled to the ground and let no other option other than a penalty. Up stepped Nicole O’Neill who fired it to the roof of the net.
As the first half water break approached Ellen Leech got her second score of the half from play to make it level scores.
At the restart, the home side got two further scores, one of them being a green flag. Firstly, on the 18th min from a Nicole O’Neill free and two minutes later a great solo run and goal by Aine Magill.
Dervla Cosgrove responded with a placed ball point as herself and Nicole traded scores on the 22nd and 25th minute of the first half. Brogan Abram then took a lovely score from play but within a minute later the lethal Nicole O’Neill responded likewise.
Further points from Dunloy’s Caitlin Crawford and Cushendalls Brogan Abram closed off the first half leaving the home side in front 3-06 to 1-07.
Dunloy made a change taking full forward Sinead Mullan out and replacing her with Erin Traynor and within seconds of the restart it paid dividends. The young corner forward was fed the ball in space and soloed into the edge of the box to fire low and hard into the net.
If the second half did not start as well as the Cushendall girls had wanted, then it got worse. Another long-range effort from play by captain Nicole O’Neill split the posts extended their lead which was followed by a well-deserved goal for Michaela Elliott.
The hard-working corner forward’s constant running off the ball got her finally into good space where she made no mistake, having previously been denied by Saran Kane, to find the net.
Dervla Cosgrove did get Cushendall up and running as she converted a 45’ but again Dunloy responded almost immediately as the constant running of Aine Magill slotted over another point for the home side.
Cushendall did defend very well in this period but they were constantly under pressure meaning they were forced to give away fouls. Another Dunloy run into the box saw a second penalty awarded to the home side but this time Saran Kane was equal to it and the clearance by Brigid Delargy relieved the danger.
Two final scores for the visitors by Lauren Mullan and a Dervla Cosgrove free up to the second half water finished Cushendalls scoring as Dunloy were totally dominate in the last fifteen minutes of the game.
A brace of Nicole O’Neill frees were sandwiched between a point from play by Erin Traynor as the tired legs were starting to show in the heat.
As the game ebbed out both sides made changes to give some tired bodies a rest, but the home side kept pushing on with three more scores from play. Aine Magill, Erin Elliott and Nicole O’Neill finished off a well-deserved win for the home side.
Cushendall missed the talented Orlagh O’Hara in there at full forward as her strength and ball winning was badly missed. Saran Kane settled after an early mistake and went on to have a good game. Brigid Delargy at full back had a solid hour along with Annie Leech.
Midfield was a good tussle between the sides with Siobhan McKillop & Dervla Cosgrove both working hard. Up front Lauren McMullan yet again had a great match as she put in a great hour’s work.
For Dunloy Aimee Scott, like her opposite number, when settle down had a good game. In front of her the six defenders worked as a solid unit only allowing four scores from play for the hour.
Nicole O’Neill again put in a massive shift along with her partner Erin Elliott.
Up front Aine Magill continues to thrive at this level but it’s the hard work of Aileen McManus & Caoimhe Molloy doing the dirty work that allows that space to be created. Erin Traynor when introduced managed to bag herself a goal and a point to make it a good day for Dunloy.
Dunloy
A Scott, E McMullan, E Kearns, C Drain, D Magill, C Conlon, K Laverty, E Elliott (0-01), N O’Neill (1-08), A Magill (1-02), A McManus, C Molloy, C Crawford (1-01), S McMullan, M Elliott(1-00) – Subs E Traynor (1-01), K Molloy
Cushendall
S Kane, A Leech, B Delargy, A McClafferty, C McNaughton, C Kearney, C McKillop, D Cosgrove (0-03), S McKillop, L McMullan (1-02), S Cosgrove, B Abram (0-02), E Leech (0-01), C Patterson, A McNeill (0-02)
