Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie All-Ireland Championship
Down 1-12 Antrim 1-12
Antrim had to settle for a share of the spoils after a thrilling encounter with neighbours Down at a sun-drenched McKenna Park in Ballycran writes Paul McIntyre.
The Saffrons will be disappointed not to take both points from the contest and will undoubtedly look back on the first half with particular frustration where they shot nine wides when playing with the aid of a stiff breeze.
Down for their part were much more economical in the opening half.
From five shots at goal, Paul Donnelly’s side came away with 1-4, but an over reliance on Niamh Mallon was to be the Mourne side’s Achilles heel, but when both camps look back on the game, they’d accept that a draw was the fair result.
After equally sharing six points in the opening quarter, Antrim pulled away in the second thanks to points from Maedhbh Laverty and two from Caoimhe Wright, the second a peach from out on the left-hand side.
With four minutes to the break a Nicole O’Neill’s point put Antrim four clear but within a minute the hosts were back in the contest.
Catherine McGourty’s puck out found it’s way to Mallon who drove at the Antrim defence to fire to the net past Catriona Graham.
That strike left a point between the sides and in first half injury time Mallon pointed after great approach play by Cassie Fitzpatrick and Lauren Clarke and at the break the scores were tied at Down 1-4, Antrim 0-7.
Aine Magill opened the scoring in the second half after just 27 seconds to put Antrim back in front and the opening exchanges of the second period mirrored that of the first and after 38 minutes the sides were still level at Down 1-6, Antrim 0-9.
Róisín McCormick pointed in the 40 minute to give the Saffrons a slender lead again before Caitrin Dobbin broke through the Down rear-guard to extend Antrim’s lead to two four minutes later.
But Down rallied and three points from Mallon swung the tie in favour of Down but Siobhan McKillop’s fine effort levelled the tie and set up a Grandstand finish with less than ten minutes of play left on the clock.
Mallon struck for a further two points as Down looked to be heading for their first win of this year’s All-Ireland Championship but with just four minutes to play, the pendulum swung again. This time in Antrim’s favour.
Wright found space behind the Down defence and her shot found the back of the Down net despite McGourty’s best efforts.
It gave Antrim a one-point lead but the last word was left to Player of the Match Mallon who converted a free just as the clock ticked into the red meaning both sides had to settle for a point apiece.
Teams & Scorers:
Down: Catherine McGourty, Alannah Savage, Beth Fitzpatrick, Dearbhla Coleman, Olivia Boyle, Dearbhla Magee, Blanaid Savage, Clara Cowan, Aimee McAleenan, Lauren Clarke, Deirbhile Savage, Cassie Fitzpatrick, Niamh Mallon (1-9 5f), Anna Rogan (0-2), Paula O’Hagan (0-1f).
Replacement: Ciara Fitzsimons for Cowan (50).
Antrim: Catriona Graham, Niamh Donnelly, Chole Drain, Amy Boyle, Colleen Patterson, Caoimhe Conlan, Lucia McNaughton, Nicole O’Neill (0-1), Siobhan McKillop (0-1), Róisín McCormick (0-5 2f 1 ‘45’), Aine Magill (0-1), Caoimhe Wright (1-2), Maedhbh Laverty (0-1), Caitrin Dobbin (0-1).
Referee: Mr John Dermody (Westmeath)
