Doherty Wooshavings Antrim Intermediate Camogie Final
Brídíní Óga Glenravel 2-9 Geraldine’s Portglenone 0-11
If first you don’t succeed!
Bridini Oga Glenravel finally got their hands on the Antrim Intermediate Camogie title when they held off a determined fightback by Geraldine’s Portglenone in Saturday’s final at Slemish Park Ballymena. The Glenravel girls had fell three times at the final hurdle in recent times, but this time they got over the line by four points, though they were made to work to the final seconds before securing the win. When they turned around at half time with a slender one point lead the new champions probably felt they were in a very strong position, but Portglenone fought tooth and nail for every ball, and had lady luck been a little kinder they it could well have been them, and not their opponents who were lifting the cup.
First half goals from corner forward Ashing Millar and centre forward Molly Woulahan were to probe decisive for Bridini Oga, Millar striking early in the game with a low shot which found the back of the Portglenone net. Erin Coulter had given Glenravel an early lead but with Roisin Kelly and free taker Shannon Darragh in fine score taking form, Portglenone edged ahead with twenty minutes on the clock.
Midfielder Erin McAleese put Molly Woulahan in on goal on 23 minutes and though the centre forward had her initial shot saved, she picked up the rebound and shot high to the net for goal number two for the Glenravel girls to give her team a 2-2 to 0-7 lead.
When Torie Edgar got the first score of the second half the signs were good for Glenravel, but two more frees from Shannon Darragh brought Portgleone level. Scores were at a premium, but Niamh McKay got Glenravel back in front and when Eimhear McAleenan added two from frees, and Aimee Traynor got one from play it eased the pressure. Twice in the closing stages Portglenone closed the gap to three as Anna Kelly and Aoibhinn McCloskey found the target, but points at the other end from McAleenan and Edgar restored that four point cushion.
Portglenone made a last despearte bid to save the game in injury time, and were unlucky to see a shot come back of the upright and a relieved Glenravel held on to seal the win.
Brídíní Óga Glenravel: O Donnelly, M Mulholland, M McKenna, A Mulholland, E Coulter 0-1, L McKenna, B Laverty, E McAleese, E McAleenan 0-3 (fs), V Edgar 0-2, K Laverty 0-1, S Fyfe, A Traynor 0-1, M Woulahan 1-0, A Millar 1-0.
Subs: N McKay 0-1 for S Fyfe (24), M Law for A Millar (60).
Portglenone: P McCarry, M Mooney, A Convery, D Dobbin, M McLarnon, K Duffin, C O’Kane, Á Mulholland, L McAleese, A McCloskey 0-1, A Kelly 0-1 (f), S Darragh 0-6 (5fs), R Kelly 0-3, O Convery, E McKee.
Referee – Paul O’Neill (Creggan)
