Antrim Senior Camogie Championship @ Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall
Loughgiel: 1-17 Dunloy 1-8
Like Mark Twain the rumours of Loughgiel’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated if Saturday’s second half is anything to go by. The Shamrocks and old rivals Dunloy had produced a great thirty minutes camogie in the opening half of their Senior Camogie Championship round robin game in Cushendall and went in at the break level on 1-08 apiece. The scene appeared to be set for a classic encounter in the second period, but that never materialised as the Shamrocks took completed control, adding 0-9 to their total while holding their opponents scoreless. Part of the cause was the Cuchullains inability to take their scores, but something went wrong with their radar and they failed to trouble the scoreboard operator through that thirty minutes play.
Loughgiel started with two early points through Lucia McNaughton and Chloe Higgins but Dunloy responded right away and Caoimhe Molly sent over a 45 and Katie Molly added one from play to tie the scores after just four minutes. Lucia McNaughton put Loughgiel back in front, but points from Eimhear Johnston and Katie Molloy both hit the target from play to edge Dunloy ahead by the eighth minute.
Lucia McNaughton appeared to have struck a telling blow when she fired the ball to the Dunloy net on 16 minutes, but within twenty seconds the ball was in the net at the other end of the fields and full forward Erin Elliott put her team back in front. It continue that way for the remainder of the opening half, as two from Amy Boyle and Caitrin Dobbin for the Shamrocks was answered by Nicole McAtamney and Caoimhe Molloy for the Cuchullains. In the run-in to half-time points from Christine Laverty and Amy Boyle put Loughgiel one ahead, but with seconds left to the half time whistle Aine Magill tied it all up again, and the sides went in tied on 1-8 to 1-8.
Dunloy will rue some of the chances they missed in the early part of the second half, but they found the going tough playing into the Ardmoyle Park end of the ground, and with the Loughgiel half-back line and midfield holding the upper hand the chances were restricted.
Lucia McNaughton opened the second half account for the Shamrocks with a pointed free on 37 minutes and Mary McKillen got another three minutes later. Caitrin Dobbin on 46 and Annie Lynn on 54. The scoring had been moderate up to this, but they finished with a flourish and added five in as many minutes, three from Caitrin Dobbin and one each from Annie Lynn and substitute Orlagh Laverty to win by nine
LOUGHGIEL
Eimear Boyle, Charlene Campbell, Katie Lynn, Claire McKillop, Maria Lynn, Una McNaughton, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle, Lucia McNaughton, Christine Laverty, Mary McKillen, Chloe Higgins, Catrin Dobbin, Katie McKillop, Annie Lynn.
DUNLOY
Mary Martin, Sorcha Conlon, eilish Kearns, Dairbhail Elliott, Caitlin Crawford, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon, Aine Magill, Nicole McAtamney, Caoimhe Molloy, Brid Magill, Katie Molloy, Eimear Johnston, Erin Elliott, Bronagh Magill
