Cushendall, Eire Og and Cloney were winners in the inaugural Cloney Camogie tournament

Cloney Camogie Competiton

St Mary’s Ahoghill held their first U12 camogie Tournament on Saturday, and the weather man saved the best day of the week for it too.

15 clubs descended from Derry, Tyrone and Antrim on Cloney. 17 teams took part, competing in four groups for places in the Cup, Shield and Plate Competitions.

***Eire Og Carrickmore who won the Shield competition***

The hosts went in to the Plate Competition (sponsored by the The Drycleaning Co Magherafelt) and played a pre-lim against Belfast’s Rossa, then met Bridini Ogá in the Semi Final, this game looked like it would go to extra time but the Cloney Camogs hit the net again to secure a place in the final against Rasharkin who saw off Derry city side, Ná Mágha. In the final, Ahoghill had an early lead but got complacent and the sides were all level at the break however a great second half performance put the game out of reach of Rasharkin and the hosts were delighted to lift silverware on their maiden event which will be an Annual Tournament.

***Ruairi Og Cushendall who became the first winners of the Cloney Cup***

In the Shield Competition Tyrone side Éire Og Carrickmore met Lamh Dhearg in the Pre-lim and Ballycastle met St Enda in Pre-lim 2. Black and amber were lucky colours as Éire Og went through as did Ballycastle, who then met Belfast teams Padraig Sarsfields and Gort Ná Mona in the respective Semis. Gort secured a final place after seeing off Ballycastle in extra time and Éire Og dug deep as they had done all day to go through and face Gort and it was the Tyrone side who were victorious lifting the new Perpetual Shield, sponsored by PCD Dougan Contracts.

The Cup Competition was another exciting round. There were two preliminary rounds in this with Dunloy seeing off colour-match Creggan and Cushendall beating one of the Swatragh teams. The Derry side had two very successful teams who both reached the Cup Competiton and Cushendall met their other team in the semi-final where the coastal side continued their winning streak. Tír Ná nÓg of Randalstown met Dunloy in the other semi and after a close contest it was Dunloy who made it through to leave a North Antrim final which was certainly a game of two halves, Dunloy going into the break with the lead but Cushendall battled in the second half to overcome the deficit and lift the new Cloney Camogie Cup, sponsored by Hardy Bros Wholesale.

Throughout each game of the day, including the finals, a Player of the Match was selected. The player with the most votes from the independent judges received Player of the Competition prizes:

Plate Player of the Competition was Ahoghill’s Erin Neeson

Shield Plate Player of the Competition was Éire Og’s Annie Fox McGlone

Cup Plate Player of the Competition was Cushendall’s Laoiseach McNaughton.

St Mary’s Ahoghill would like to thank all Clubs, team and coaches who attended.

Many people commented on the outstanding level of camogie and skills on display in all games during the day especially for u12, it was most impressive.

The focus of the day was participation in games, fun, positivity and respect and that certainly was the case.

Special thanks to the trophy sponsors G Hardy, of Hardy Bros, Patrick Dougan of PCD Contracts and JP Neeson of the Drycleaning Co and also to the Red and Black Army of helpers who ensured the day took place and was a great success.