By Dara Woods

Saturday 6th August saw two under 14 squads compete in the national camogie blitz. One panel in Dunganney for the Lily Spence Cup, the Meath development centre and the other panel in Abbotstown, Co. Dublin for the Micheal Kennedy Cup.

Sunny conditions left both venues dry and with very little wind it turned out a great day for four games of camogie per panel twelve minutes per half.

Match 1

Dunganney panel began their campaign slowly against Cork and Abbotstown panel started quickly against Laois. Cork made strong progress with some fast running in midfield and pushed into a commanding lead. Meanwhile in Abbotstown Antrim were motoring along to a comfortable lead. After the break Laois had no answer for the Antrim style and failed to make their mark on the scoreboard. The second half in Dunganney saw a resurgent Antrim squad claw back into the game with some classy forward interplay. By the final whistle Antrim had the upper hand and looked good value for their win completed with the winning goal from Isabella Martin.

Match 1 Final scores:

Antrim 9:05 Laois 2:07

Antrim 2:09 Cork 2:07

Match 2 

Abbotstown then saw Antrim face an excellent Kerry side in match while Offaly took on the Dunganney panel. It was Offally who dominated the first half but after some words of encouragement at half time the Antrim squad at Dunganney showed their calibre and rattled off some excellent scores to finish the stronger team. On the score tally there was Louise McBride, Marie Laverty, Amy McAlister and Shannon McQuillan. Meanwhile in Abbotstown Kerry beat Antrim despite a great defensive effort from Laoise Stone, Mya McKinley and Aoife McGivern

Match 2 Final Scores:

Antrim 1:05 Offaly 0:05

Antrim 0:00 Kerry 3:06

Match 3 

Dunganney Antrim next faced a formidable Dublin side and Abbotstown saw a rejuvenated Antrim take on Laois Antrim made inroads against the O’Moore county and held their own in all areas of the pitch with Fionnuala Baker, Eimhear McCloskey and Amelie Annett all starring. It was a different story nearer the Boyne river as Dublin held the lion’s share of possession and with blistering pace took a commanding lead into half time. Dublin pushed on against the resolute full back line of of Maeve McAlister (c), Cora Pierce and Carly McNamee. Substitutes Aoibh Woods and Darcy Ward gave spirited performances but Dublin ran out comfortable winners

Match 3 Final Scores:

Antrim 10:05 Laois 0:05

Antrim 0:01 Dublin 2:06

And so to the finals. In Abbotstown Antrim would face Offaly and in Dunganney it was Kilkenny to beat.

It was was thrilling stuff in Dunganney as parents and coaches from both teams cheered on. A minutes silence was observed for the late Lily Spence and young Tipperary star Dillon Quirke.

Kilkenny took an early lead, Antrim dominated quarters 2 and three, Kilkenny hit the crossbar and blazed a 20 metre free over the bar in the last minute. Eva McNeill’s sidesteps and interplay between Adria McAlister Anna Smyth and Erinmae Mitchel were some of the highlights there.

In Abbotstown Caela Casey, Cara Lyttle and Fionnual Baker showed their determination and class to help Antrim overcome a skillful Offaly team. Margaret Flynn a friend of Lily Spence made the trip from Rossa Belfast to congratulate the girls mentioning how proud Lily Spence would have been to see success go Ulster and Antrim’s way. The players, coaches and parents made this a memorable day for Antrim and excellent preparation for the Croke Park Camogie finals and half-time parade.

Shield final scores

Michael Kennedy Trophy – Antrim 2:03 Offaly 1:02

Lily Spence: Antrim 3:05 Kilkenny 3:01

Dunganney panel:

Molly McToal, Bríd O’Kane, Carly McNamee, Brianna McCloskey, Erin McNaughton, Maeve McAlister, Cara Delaney, Louise McBride, Anna Smyth, Erinmae Mitchel, Eva McNeill      , Shannon McQuillan, Eimear McCaughan, Marie Laverty, Amy McAlister, Adria McAlister, Amy McAlister, Aoibh Woods, Brenna Bonnes, Cliodhna Thompson, Cora Pierce, Darcy Ward, Grace Duffin, Isabella Martin, Katie Walsh

Abbotstown panel:

Mya McKinley, Hannah Mead, Anna Graham, Laoise Stone, Aimee Johnston, Shauna McCann, Ellen McAleer, Amelie Annett, Anna Smyth, Caoimhe McErlain,          Catherine McGarry,  Eimhear McCloskey, Aoife McGivern, Laura Scullion, Caela Casey, Aoife Rice, Caitlin McFall, Emma Mitchell, Hollie Martin, Cara Lyttle, Róise Stevenson, Amy Gault, Orla Munce, Fionnuala Baker