Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior championship – Group One
Antrim 1-16 Armagh 1-18
Antrim Junior Camogs came up just short when they faced last years All Ireland finalists Armagh in the round robin stages of this years’ competition at Pearse Park, Dunloy on Saturday. The Saffrons went into this game needing just a point to secure their place in the knock out stages and for long periods in the second half it looked like they would not get near it. However a later rally, which brought a goal from top scorer Dervla Cosgrove, gave them renewed home. During injury time they searched for the score that could get them an unlikely draw, but Armagh held out for a deserved win to keep their unbeaten record intact.
Playing with the gale force wind behind them in the opening quarter the signs were not particularly promising for the home side as Armagh matched the home side, despite playing into the wind and the sides were deadlocked after 15 minutes. Antrim were begging to find their range though as the half went on and some excellent free taking from Dervla Cosgrove helped them open up a 0-12 to 0-5 lead at half time.
Most punters felt that a seven point lead would not be enough, given the strength of the wind, and when Armagh got a goal early in the new half through full forward Ciara Donnelly it was clear they wouldn’t take very long to close the gap. As the free scoring Armagh forwards sent their team four ahead going into the last ten minutes you feared this could be a big beating for the Saffron Cailíní, but the introduction of some fresh legs had an immediate affect and the got themselves back on the scoring charts again. On a couple of occasions closed the gap back three, but on each occasion Armagh were able to stretch the gap to four again, but when defender Sinead Cosgrove fired low to the net late in the game, there was just a point between the sides. However Armagh were able to hold their opponents at arms-length though injury time and actually added one more to their total to seal the win.
Despite the defeat Antrim are still in contention to make it to the knock out stages and all will depend on next Saturday’s clash with Limerick in Dunloy next Saturday
Antrim: Á Graham, M McGarry, E Kearns, E McShane, C Crawford, S Cosgrove 0-1, M McLarnon capt., C Kearney 0-1, Bríd Magill, C McNaughton 0-1, E Laverty 0-2 (1f), O Laverty, A McNeill 0-1, E Leech, D Cosgrove 1-9 (9fs).
Subs: T O’Neill for C Crawford (41), F Kelly 0-1 for O Laverty (43), N Devlin for E Leech (54).
Armagh: C Devlin, M Lenehan, N Woods, E O’Kane, G McCann capt., E Hayes, T Maguire, S McArdle capt., L Donnelly 0-2, J Curry 0-2, E Smyth, E McKee, K McComiskey, C Donnelly 1-10 (6fs), R Merry 0-3.
Subs: S Quinn for K Comiskey (23), B Murray 0-1 for E McKee (45).Referee: B Heaney (Meath)
