Travel Ireland Coaches Senior Camogie Championship
Dunloy 1-12 Ballycastle 0-10
Dunloy’s strong start, which saw them register 1-7 in the first 22 minutes, while holding Ballycastle scoreless set up Dunloy for a place in the final of the Travel Ireland Coaches Antrim senior Camogie Championship at Loughgiel on Saturday. Ballycastle will probably be happy enought with their overall performance, but they will rue squandering a couple of good goal chances when the game was still up for grabs.
Dunloy dominated the opening 20 minutes to lead by 1-7 to 0-0. The goal came in the 9th minute when Caoimhe Molloy’s low trajectory free was blocked down into Cassie McArthur’s path. The Molloy sisters, Caoimhe (four) and Katie (two), accounted for six of the points.
However, during the last eight minutes of the half, Áine Donnelly and Rianna McBride slotted two points each and suddenly Ballycastle were back in the game.
Although Áine Magill pointed on the re-start, Ballycastle were competing well and were at 1-9 to 0-7 when they won a penalty with 12 minutes remaining. Niamh Cosgrove slotted it to the net, but the score was disallowed as the county defender had stepped inside the 20m line.
Dunloy knew they had got off the hook and extended their lead with points from the Magill sisters and Nicole McAtamney before Niamh Cosgrove and Áine Donnelly completed the scoring with late frees.
Dunloy really impressed during that opening spell when they held their opponents scoreless. However they struggled thereafter and have a lot of work to do over the next fortnight if they are to move Loughgiel from their pedestal.
Dunloy: M Martin, K Mullan, E Kearns, D Elliott, C Crawford, C Conlon, K Laverty, S McIlhatton N McAtamney 0-1, C Molloy 0-4 (2fs), E Johnstome, K Molloy 0-3, E Elliott, C McArthur 1-1, Á Magill 0-2.
Subs: Bríd Magill 0-1 for S McIlhatton (40), C Boyle for E Johnstone (45), Brónagh Magill for C McArthur (51).
Ballycastle: B Ellis, NA Donnelly, E McShane, F McIntosh, N Cosgrove 0-1 (f), C McShane, O Donnelly, F Kelly 0-2, C Hegarty, E Laverty, K Mullan, R McBride 0-3 (2fs), T O’Neill, N Devlin, Áine Donnelly 0-4 (1f).
Subs: J McIntosh for T O’Neill (HT), M O’Neill for K Mullan (43), Aoibheann Donnelly for C Hegarty (51), C Donnelly for R McBride (53).
Referee: R O’Reilly (Brídíní Óga)
