Ulster schools’ Camogie – Junior Medallion Shield final:

Loreto Coleraine 2-8 Assumption Grammar Ballynahinch 1-8

A goal direct from a free by midfielder Connie McBride gave Loreto Coleraine victory over Assumption Ballynahinch in Thursday’s Junior Medallion Shield final at Quinn Park, Ballymena. McBride’s shot for a point appeared to be going over the bar but it dipped just below the crossbar at the last second, giving the Assumption goalkeeper no chance, and though the Ballynahinch girls battled to get an equalising goal, the Coleraine school held out for their first win in the competition since 2004.

Playing against a strong wind Loreto made a great start when full forward Kerry Drain from Dunloy fired the ball to the Assumption net in the opening minute. Considering the strentgth of the wind you feared for the Ballynahinch girls, but once they got on the scoreboard they settled into the game and you could see them grow in confidence. They hits some superb points approaching half time, and when full forward Erin Daly pulled a grounds shot to the Loreto net they were very much in the game and with Caeleigh McConnell, Riana Savage, Aoife Gilmore and Orla Owens catching the eye, they went in at the break leading by 1-8 to 1-4.

With the elements favouring Loreto in the second half you felt that they were still in the driving seat, despite their four point deficit. However they had to work hard for their scores and the game had only minutes to go when they eventually drew level with a great strike from Kate Healy. However they squandered a few chances to get their noses in front, but with extra time looming they got the break they needed with McBride’s goal from the free.

The Coleraine college had a good Antrim representation on the team with Dunloy’s Lucy McQuillan, Kerry Drain and Amy Carlin, joined on the starting line-out with Rasharkin’s Kyra Stockman and Erin McKay while on the bench was Dunloy’s Myra McKinley and Rasharkin’s Cara Mooney, Elena Maria Stockman, Janny McNeill and Megan Brolly.

Loreto : E McKay, K Stockman, I O’Kane, E O’Connell, B Ferguson, L McQuillan capt, C O’Connell, C McBride 1-2 (1-0f), K Healy 0-2, É Munro 0-1, T Mullan 0-1, T Passmore, K Davidson, K Drain 1-2, A Carlin

Subs: C Mooney for E O’Connell (29), D Mullan for A Carlin (37), J McNeill for K Davidson (37).

Assumption: R Burns, K Clarke, E Douglas, A McLaughlin, S Rice, E McCabe, T Davidson, C McConnell, R Savage 0-1, Á O’Neill capt. 0-3 (fs), A Gilmore 0-1, A McKay 0-2, L Braniff 0-1, E Daly 1-0, O Owens

Subs: C Mulholland for T Davidson (29), D O’Shea for A McLaughlin (42), C Murray for R Savage (50).

Referee : Owen Elliott (Ballymena)