Cushendall battle back to win minor Camogie title

Antrim Minor Camogie Final

Cushendall 3-9 Dunloy 2-7

Cushendall staged a great second half comeback to come from five points down and beat Dunloy in Saturday evening Minor Camogie final at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel. With just two minutes of normal time left to play in the first half wind assisted Dunloy appeared to be in the driving seat as they led by 2-3 to a single point. However Cushendall finished the half strongly with a goal and a point and by the time Ryan O’Reilly blew the half time whistle the gap was down to five.

**County chairman Liam Vallelay presents the Minor Championship trophy to Cushendall captain Caitriona O’Boyle**

Thirteen minutes into the second half the Cuchullains were still three to the good, but Cushendall were gaining control and in the final seventeen minutes of play they outscored their opponents by 1-6 to a single points to turn the game firmly in their favour to take the title.

With centre forward Brid Magill and centre back Katie Molloy in top form Dunloy had the better of the opening quarter, with Magill pointed them ahead from a free on nine minutes, Molloy adding to that a minute later, before Magill got the first goal of the game from play on 16 minutes. Corner forward Orlaith McCurry got Cushendall’s first point from play on 20 minutes, but when Brid Magill got her second goal from play on 24 minutes and Molloy added a pointed free on 27 things looked bleak for the Ruairis. However with just two minutes of normal time to play Cushendall grabbed a lifeline when Monique O’Boyle grabbed a goal, which was quickly followed by pointed free from Orlaith McAlister, and though Brid Magill ended the half with a point for Dunloy, the half time gap was a much more manageable five points.

***Brid Magill breaks through a Cushendall tackle***

McAlister, who was to have a big influence on the game in the second half, cut the gap back to four less than a minute after the restart, but Dunloy came back with another one from Brid Magill to put the gap out to five. The score that really changed the game came from McAlister on 35 minutes when her shot from a free went all the way to the net and suddenly there was just two between the sides.

When Eimear Johnston pointed from play for Dunloy on 41 minutes the gap was out to three again, but the tide was turning strongly in Cushendall’s favour. Points from Monique O’Boyle and Orlaith McAlister brought the gap down to the minimum, and when Sine Woodhouse goaled just at the end of the third quarter Cushendall had the lead for the first time, a lead they would not relinquish.

McAlister sent another free over the bar to put three between the sides, and though Magill replied with one at the other end on 51 minutes, it was to be their final score and three more from placed balls from Orlaith McAlister, two from 45s and one from a free, sealed the win and sparked scenes of great celebration.