Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League – Division 2 semi-final

Antrim 2-11 Cork 1-12

Antrim booked their place in the final of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League, Division 2 final when they held of a fightback by Cork in Sunday’s semi-final in Edenderry Co. Offaly

It was all plain sailing in the first half for the girls in Saffron as a Roisin McCormick inspired forward line ran Cork ragged. McCormick was back to her brilliant best, scoring 2 goals seven points, ably assisted by Aine Magill, whose run at the Cork defence created the opening for McCormick on five minutes, the Loughgiel star finishing brilliantly as she fired the ball to the Cork net.

Magill was in on goal herself soon afterwards but was denied by a great save from the Cork netminder, but Antrim continued to dominate with McCormick adding points from all angles, and Magill also getting in on the act with a fine score from play. McCormick’s second goal was equally as special as the first, the Loughiel star bemusing the Cork defence once again with a special finish on 26 minutes. Antrim were now in full flow as McCormick, Caoimhe Wright and Christine Laverty added points to push Antrim 2-10 to 0-4 ahead at the half time whistle.

That lead looked comfortable as the teams came out for the start of the second half, but as things transpired it turned out to be anything but. Cork made a raft of changes and with the breeze picking up strength they set about clawing back the deficit. They picked of a series of points and little by little the gap was reduced as Antirm could not find a score at the other end.

Still Antrim appeared to have the situation in hand until a late Joanne Casey free appeared to be deflected to the Antrim net to cut the gap back to just four. When Cork’s Rachael O’Shea bore down on goal soon afterwards the Antrim’s fans must have feared the worst, but goalkeeper Catriona Graham raced out to meet O’Shea and brilliantly turned her shot out for a 45. Cork’s Joanne Casey sent the 45 over the bar to leave just a goal between the sides and the pressure was really on, but Aine Magill settled the nerves with Antrim’s only score of the second half as the game entered injury time.

Magill’s point pushed the gap out to four which provided a welcome cushion, and though Cork hit two more at the other end the girls in Saffron held out to book a return to Croke Park next Saturday for the Division 2 decider against Wexford.

ANTRIM

Catriona Graham, Niamh Cosgrove, Maria Lynn, Coleen Patterson, Caoimhe Conlon, Laoise McKenna, Lucia McNaughton, Niamh O’Neill, Roisin McKillop, Boyle, Amy Aine Magill, Caoimhe Wright, Roisin McCormick, Christine Laverty