Littlewoods Division Two National Camogie League
Antrim 1-13 Down 0-13
A WELL-WORKED goal two minutes from full-time clinched a morale-boosting win for Antrim in the Littlewoods Division Two National League game in Portglenone on Saturday.
The management team of Paul McKillen, Jim McKernan and Elaine Dowds asked for a committed performance from start to finish and they got it.
However after defeat in the All-Ireland Intermediate final last December it was probably a surprise to many that the Saffrons could turn the result around. But they did so with a tenacious display and good use of the ball.
At times however Down looked the better team, stronger in the tackle and more forceful in bursting forward. They created more chances overall including three goal opportunities. But they were wasteful in contrast to Antrim who took a greater percentage of their openings.
Cáitríona Graham took over in goals for Eimear Boyle, an ever-present last year and the Ahoghill net-minder pulled off two excellent saves, one in each half while Chloe Drain fouled Sara-Louise Graffin when a goal looked on early in the tie.
Drain ended up as the sweeper at the back as both teams went for the extra player in defence. The Dunloy girl was a strong presence throughout, reading the game very well. The Down attack moved around a lot in an effort to stretch Antrim’s defence with probably Sorcha McCartan creating most of the problems. As the game wore on however that impact lessened and Antrim grew in confidence.
It didn’t look good for the Saffrons at the start of the game however and it took nine minutes of play before Nicole O’Neill scored their opening point, quickly followed by another from Róisín McCormick and suddenly the teams were level after what seemed a lot of pressure from the visitors.
Aoife Keown restored Down’s lead with a point in the 10th minute, but four quick scores from Nicole O’Neill (two frees), Maeve Kelly and Róisín McCormick opened up a 0-6 to 0-3 lead for Antrim heading towards the first water-break.
Down hit back with points from Sara Louise Graffin and Sorcha McCartan and when Graffin hit the first score after the re-start it was all square again.
Nicole O’Neill responded with two frees, but Down dominated general play up to half-time, although they could not find the range often enough and the teams turned over at 0-8 each.
Sorcha McCartan hit her fourth point of the game a few minutes into the second half from an acute angle. Once again Nicole O’Neill pointed a free in response, but then hit a second free wide. Two frees from Graffin at the other end opened up a two points’ lead.
However a series of wides followed for Down and Caitrin Dobbin fired over a point right on the second water-break.
The wides continued for Down, notably from frees, during the last quarter and they did not add to their total until the last few minutes of play. By that point, Antrim were in a match-winning position achieved with scores on the break.
Maeve Kelly drew the teams level with a quite brilliant point in the 47th minute and four minutes later Caitrín Dobbin broke for a lead point. Two minutes later Nicole O’Neill pointed a free.
As Down kept pressing with full-back Dearbhla Magee now at full-forward, it was at the other end that the key play was made. Maeve Kelly won a loose ball and picked out Anna Connolly with a cross-field pass. Connolly fired off her left and Danielle Harrison was caught just a couple of metres in front of Caitrín Dobbin. The sliotar fell kindly for the Loughgiel forward and she fired to the Down net.
At the other end, Dearbhla Magee didn’t quite catch her shot but nevertheless Caitríona Graham had to work hard to make the save and then scoop the sliotar out for a 45, which Graffin pointed.
That was the score-line down to a goal, but referee EP Cassidy blew the long whistle to the relief of the Antrim team signalling a result that hardly seemed possible a little over an hour earlier.
Jim McKernan tried to play it down a little as the teams went back into the changing rooms:
“We finished very strong. We felt we lost the All-Ireland final during the third quarter, when they opened a gap. Today that gap didn’t open and we had a strong finish. We hung in and the goal opportunity came.
“It’s only one match and I don’t think we will get carried away. But yes, it is good for confidence.
“Our next game is against Derry and they are a good team. So there could be more than a couple of twists in this league before it ends.”
However judging by the smiles on the Antrim players as they left Páirc Uí Cheallaigh, the victory will have lifted them for the training sessions over the next fortnight.
Antrim : Cáitríona Graham, Laoise McKenna, Chloe Drain, Maria Lynn, Niamh Donnelly, Caoimhe Conlon, Maeve Connolly, Lucia McNaughton capt., Amy Boyle, Maeve Kelly 0-2, Anna Connolly, Nicole O’Neill 0-7 (5 frees), Caitrín Dobbin 1-2, Shauna Devlin, Róisín McCormick 0-2.
Subs : Catherine McShane for S Devlin, Colleen Patterson for C McShane, Claire McKillop for L McKenna.
