Corn Uan Uladh final
Cross & Passion Ballycastle 2-14 St. Louis 2-9 a.e.t.
When substitute, Maria Gatley flicked a Ciara O’Boyle cross to the Ballycastle net with time almost up and the side’s level, St. Louis Ballymena looked to have bridged a 71 year gap to claim the Corn Uan Uladh title with a win over Cross & Passion at Quinn Park today.
Referee, Mickey Quigg disallowed the score for a ‘square-ball’ infringement and the full time whistle sounded shortly after the decision, sending the game into extra time.
The decision clearly deflated the Ballymena girls as Cross & Passion took control during the opening half of extra time to race into a three point lead before a goal from Cassie McArthur early in the second period put the game beyond reach of the Kintullagh girls.
A large crowd attend this eagerly awaited final in Ballymena on Saturday and certainly would not have been disappointed by the fare produced by both sides with favourites Cross & Passion making the better start with points from Cassie McArthur and Orlagh Laverty in reply to one from Katie Molloy for the Ballymena side.
McArthur and Laverty combined again with points for the Ballycastle girls to move their side 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 12th minute but St. Louis were growing into the game and responded with points from Niamh Neeson and an Anna McKillop free to close the gap to one at the first water break.
Cross & Passion started the second quarter as they had started the first and Cassie McArthur raced through before placing Orlagh Laverty who fired to the net to move her side four ahead with 18 minutes gone.
St. Louis were coming more and more into the game however with Anna McKillen getting to grips with Cassie McArthur and Katie Molloy excellent in a sweeper role and they replied through two well struck frees from Anna McKillop to trail by two as the half time whistle sounded.
Niamh Neeson closed the gap to one with St. Louis third score on the bounce, two minutes into the second half but a Cassie McArthur point at the other end move Ballycastle three ahead again by the 5th minute.
The intensity of the game had risen a notch with the St. Louis defence starting to turn over a lot of Cross & Passion attacks and when Eimear Johnston drilled the sliothar low past Caitie Connolly in the Ballycastle goals the sides were level and we certainly had a game on our hands.
Orlagh Laverty from a 10th minute free edged the North coast girls ahead once more but St. Louis were starting to edge most of the individual battles and hit the front for the first time as Anna McKillop converted two frees in quick succession to leave her side 1-8 to 1-7 in front at the second water break.
The game was being played at breakneck speed with no quarter being asked or given and Orlagh Laverty took advantage from a couple of quick frees on the restart and the favourites had hit the front again by the 25th minute but their lead was not to last.
The Ballymena side had the bit firmly between their teeth and when Anna McKillop capped a good individual display with her side’s second goal with only three minutes of normal time remaining a little bit of history looked to be in the making.
Cross & Passion were not about to throw in the towel however as Orlath Laverty pointed a free before Janey McIntosh fired over the equaliser with time almost up.
There was still time for one last attack however and from the resulting puck-out St. Louis quickly moved the sliotar up the field and when Gatley won the race with Caitie Connolly to finish to the Ballycastle net they looked to have won the game.
Their celebrations were short lived hopwever as Referee Mickey Quigg immediately signalled for square ball and it was Cross & Passion who took full advantage of the decision in injury time as Cassie McArthur, Orlath Laverty and Nuala Devlin pointed them into a three point lead at the halfway stage.
Cassie McArthur’s goal at the start of the second period of time added on ensured there would be no way back for St. Louis whose fate was completed when Anna McKillop’s penalty sailed over the bar with time almost up.
A fine game of camogie played at real championship intensity and a credit to both sides and it is Cross & Passion who have added to their previous successes in 1945, 1964, 2008, 2017, 2018 and 2019 to make it 7 in total.
Cross & Passion: Caitie Connolly, Eva Graham, Brid Magill, Noelle Connolly, Elen McIntosh, Fay McIntosh, Bronach Magill, Fionnuala Kelly, Orlath Laverty, Nuala Devlin, Janey McIntosh, Aoibheann Donnelly, Shannagh Heggarty, Cassie McArthur, Caoimhe McMullan.
St. Louis: Orlath Convery, Anna McKillen, Susan Shannon, Grace Kearns, Erin Coulter, Dearbhail Dobbin, Sarah Fyfe, Eimear Johnston, Katie Molloy, Kyra Doherty, Carlina Sullivan, Cliona Griffin, Niamh Neeson, Anna McKillop, Ciara O’Boyle. Subs: Maria Gatley
Referee: Mickey Quigg: Derry
Twin town. The Magill and McIntosh twins who played on the winning CPC team. L-R, Brónach Magill, Bríd Magill, Elen McEntosh and Fay McIntosh. Pic by Sean Paul McKillop
