Littlewoods Camogie League Div Two
Derry 2-7 Antrim 2-15
THE Antrim management team of Paul McKillen, Jim McKernan and Elaine Dowds wore broad smiles long before the final whistle of Saturday’s 2-15 to 2-7 victory over Derry in Owenbeg.
“It was the best performance since we took over last year,” McKillen told me after the game and it was even more emphatic than the score-line suggests.
The Saffrons were the sharper team throughout and could have won by much more. They created five goal chances in the first half alone and only took two of them; the other three chances looked just as easy to put away. Maeve Kelly brought a brilliant save from goalie Niamh Gribbin, while Caitrín Dobbin fired inches wide after 14 minutes and then pinged another shot off the base of the upright and out to safety.
Derry also had hard luck when Dervla O’Kane shot narrowly wide just before the break while there were periods of the game, especially in that opening half when the home side showed glimpses of potential.
But Antrim played with more intensity and their movement and team-play has improved significantly since last season, with a stream of ball played into space in front of Caitrín Dobbin and Róisín McCormick in particular. That wasn’t as obvious against Down a fortnight ago, but it caused Derry huge problems.
Paul McKillen also pointed to the strength and conditioning programme that the team had undertaken during lockdown:
“I think you can see a huge difference in the players from last year. We are holding our ground a lot better in tackles. We are a young fast team and I am really pleased with how we have done in the two games.
“You look at the fixtures and you hope you can win both games. But to go out and do that against two strong teams is great for us.”
Derry took an early lead through Jackie Donnelly and were level at 0-3 each after 13 minutes. At that point the teams were contesting every ball and the game was swinging from end to end. However just before the break Antrim began to string the movements together to threaten goals.
Caitrín Dobbin hit her first opening shot wide, but within a minute or two Maeve Kelly had sent Róisín McCormick through for the first goal and then McCormick turned provider, profiting from a defensive error to put Dobbin in the open for the second goal.
Those scores meant that it was 2-3 to 0-3 at the water-break and Nicole O’Neill pointed a huge free on the re-start. But it was Antrim’s only score of the second quarter although the Saffrons continued to create plenty of chances.
Derry saw an opening and Aoife Shaw and Dervla O’Kane narrowed the gap with points before O’Kane in the next attack hit the side netting when a goal looked certain. So it was 2-4 to 0-5 at the break.
Antrim really stepped up a gear on the re-start and fired over six of the first seven points after half-time. Áine McAllister’s free was the only response to two each from Nicole O’Neill (including a free from right on the side-line), Maeve Kelly and Róisín McCormick.
Just when it seemed that Antrim were on a roll, Dervla O’Kane grabbed a goal in the 42nd minute and a couple of minutes later robbed Niamh Donnelly in the corner. She found Máiréad McNicholl racing through and the Swatragh forward did well to find the space for a shot to the net. Suddenly the gap was down to 2-10 to 2-6 at the second water break.
However Antrim again pressed on after the re-start with points from Maeve Kelly (2), Anna Connolly, Caitrín Dobbin and Róisín McCormick (3) to top the qualification group and confirm a spot in next weekend’s quarter-finals.
Antrim : Cáitríona Graham, Katie McKillop, Chloe Drain, Maria Lynn, Niamh Donnelly, Caoimhe Conlon, Maeve Connolly, Lucia McNaughton capt., Amy Boyle, Maeve Kelly 0-4, Anna Connolly 0-1, Colleen Patterson, Caitrín Dobbin 1-2, Nicole O’Neill 0-3 (2 frees), Róisín McCormick 1-5, 0-1 free.
Subs : Ciara Laverty for N O’Neill (43), Claire McKillop for M Connolly (48), Christine Laverty for A Boyle (53), Niamh Anne Donnelly for M Lynn (56), Róisín Kelly for K McKillop (57).
Derry: Niamh Gribben, Sinead Magill, Orla McGuigan, Roisin Cassidy, Megan Kerr, Aoife Ní Chaiside, Clíodhna Ní Mhianáin, Áine McAllister 0-2, 1 free, Dervla OKane 1-1, Máiréad McNicholl 1-1, Aoife Shaw 0-1, Caoimhe Glass, Sinead Mellon 0-1, Karen Kielt, Jackie Donnelly 0-1.
Subs : Eimhear McGuigan for J Donnelly (HT), Clare Gunning for C Glass (39), Kimberley Burke for S Mellon (44), Áine Magill for C Ní Mhianáin (47).
Referee : Philip McDonald (Cavan)
