Antrim Camogie Development Shield final @ Cargin
Report and pics by Brian McKee
St John’s Carnlough 2-6 Davitt’s 3-1
St John’s Carnlough and Davitts obviously were not giving any credence to their Development Shield game being a warm up to the Cup final that was to follow, as they served up an exhibition of skill and commitment at Cargin yesterday that would be the envy of many more established teams.
St Joseph’s went into the attack from the throw-in, with two points soon coming from Sian McNeill. Cora Magee quickly established her influence at midfield and controlled a lot of the play in opening half.
Davitt’s Niamh Corr and Zara McCann both broke the St John’s defence only to be thwarted by great saves from Kelly Agnew in the Carnlough goal. However a period of relentless pressure from the West Belfast side in the second quarter eventually led to a goal by Niamh Burn.
St. John’s went back ahead with a goal from Niamh Reid and Sian McNeill then stoked over another point to see Carnlough enter the half-time break with a three point lead.
Half-time score: St John’s 1-03 Davitts 1-0
The rain that fell incessantly during the second quarter of this game gave way to bright sunshine at the start of the second half. The pattern from the first half continued as each team enjoyed a period of dominance but unable to make that count on the scoreboard.
St John’s got the second half off to a flyer with two points from Sian McNeill but a goal from Davitts reduced the lead to a single point. Sian O’Neill found the back of the net to increase the St John’s lead to four points. A point apiece from both sides left a margin of four points between them as the game entered its final minutes.
Paula O’Neill in the Davitts goal had a stormer of a game and at one stage pulled off two great saves in succession to thwart the Carnlough ladies.
Davitt’s battled until the final minute of this exciting game when the result was still in question. A further goal from Davitts left the minimum margin as the final whistle got closer, but it was Sian McNeill who calmed St John’s nerves with a further point to leave two points between the teams at the final whistle.
Sian McNeill led the fight for the St John’s with a personal tally of 1-06 with Niamh Reid picking up the other goal, and while Carnlough celebrated at the final whistle, Davitts showed their class in the way in which they responded to a very close defeat.
St John’s Carnlough: Margaret Quinn, Pauline O’Loan, Teresa McAllister, Serena McCarry, Maria Cunning, Hannah McLaughlin, Bernice Campbell, Cora Magee, Claire Feeney, Katie McMullan, Sian McNeill (1-6), Jamie Abram, Niamh Reid (1-0), Lindsay McQuillan, Marie-Claire Milliken
Davitts: Paula O’Neill, Katherine Wallace, Stacey Murdoch (1-0), Ciara McConvey, Marie Therese McGivern, Roisin McShane, Orlaith Mackin, Patricia Taggart, Sarah Sharkey, Linda McCann, Niamh Corr (0-1), Zara McCann, Saorla Maguire, Roisin Dornan (1-0), Cliodhna McGoldrick (1-0)
