Travel Ireland Coaches Antrim Senior Camogie Championship
Loughgiel 2-26 Ballycastle 0-11
Loughgiel’s bid for their ninth title in a row got underway at Carey on Saturday evening when they beat Ballycastle in first of their round robin games. The girls from the Town did well against the champions in the first half, but after the change of ends the Shamrocks pulled away to win in the end by eleven points
Maeve Kelly, playing at centre back for Ballycastle, got her team off the mark with a pointed free in the opening minute, but Christine Laverty cancelled that out a minute later when she sent one over from play. The Castle edged ahead again with a point from corner forward Aine Donnelly in the fourth minute, but a goal from Annie Lynn thirty seconds later gave the champions a lead they were not subsequently to lose.
Caitrin Dobbin added two quick points to put the Shamrocks four ahead, and though Ballycastle came back with points from Caitlin Heggarty and Fionuala Kelly, a Caitrin Dobbin goal put her team six clear and in a strong position.
The next ten minutes saw Ballycastle get on top and they added three points in a row, one from play by Fionuala Kelly and two from frees by Aine Donnelly to close the gap to two, and though Dobbin came back with two more for the Shamrocks, a Nuala Devlin point just on half time sent them in three in arrears. Loughgiel 2-5 Ballycstle 0-8.
A point from Aine Donnelly early in the second half closed the gap to just two but Loughgiel came back strongly with four in a row, one from Annie Lynn and three in a row from Dobbin. A Maeve Kelly point from a free gave Ballycastle renewed hope, but when Loughgiel hit the next four points, three from the deadly Dobbin and one each from Katie McIllop and Anna Connolly it was clear there was no way back for the girls in black and amber.
Aine Donnelly did pull one back entering injury time but there was still time for two more points for the champions through Katie McKillop and Annie Lynn to seal an opening day win.
LOUGHGIEL
Eimear Boyle, Charlene Campbell, Katie Lynn, Claire McKillop, Maria Lynn, Una McNaughton, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle, Lucia McNaughton, Christine Laverty, Mary McKillen, Anna Connolly, Caitrin Dobbin, Katie McKillop, Annie Lynn.
BALLYCASTLE
Danielle McMichael, Maria Donnelly, Niamh Donnelly, Aine McShane, Catherine McShane, Maeve Kelly, Orla Donnelly, Niamh Anne Donnelly, Caitlin Heggarty, Nuala Devlin, Emma Laverty, Fiounuala Kelly, Kathryn Donnelly, Riana McBride, Aine Donnelly.
