Electric Ireland Minor ‘A’ Shield All-Ireland Camogie Championship
Sunday 26-MAR-23 at 2:00pm – NGDC, Abbottstown, Dublin (Ref. Barry Dea [Galway])
Wexford 2.04 – 1.12 Antrim
On Sunday past (i.e. 26th March 2023) at the NGDC in Abbottstown, Dublin, Antrim Minor Camogs, produced their best display of the year-to-date, in the All-Ireland series, to beat a strong Wexford team. It was a tough and physical encounter, but this young Antrim team, kept their nerve – and indeed their discipline – to keep the Model County at arms-length, until the final whistle.
Janey McIntosh
Antrim were quickest out of the blocks and got off to a great start, controlling the first-quarter, and racing into an early 1.03 to no score lead by the 16th minute. The goal coming from an incisive run from Kady Mc Neill; Anna Mc Killop adding one free and 1 x 45; and a point on the run from No. 12, Ciara Connolly. With the Antrim rear-guard – and especially the half-back-line (which has been the fulcrum of the team to-date) dominating the Wexford forward-lines, it was not until the 18th minute, that Wexford recorded their first score – a free from No. 13 Chloe Whelan. Antrim replied with a well-taken point from a free by Anna Mc Killop, and a neat effort from 35 yards out, by midfielder Cara O’ Boyle. It was a healthy 6-point lead (and no more than their first-half performance merited) for the young Antrim girls, as the second-quarter final entered its conclusion, but Wexford gave them-selves a life-line, two minutes before half-time. After Wexford’s No. 11 Katie Bolger, pointed a free from distance, first-half substitute Abbie Doyle [No. 28], caught the Antrim full-back line off-guard (for the first and only time this year) and slipped in for an opportunist goal, from 14-yards out – giving keeper Eimhear Mc Kinley in the Antrim goal no chance.
The teams headed to the changing-rooms at half-time, with Antrim leading by 3 points, on a score-line of 1.05 to 1.02. It looked like Antrim, would have to produce a second-half of similar intensity, if they were to prevail. However, aided by a slight breeze to come in the second-half, Antrim would have been more-than-happy with their first-half performance, with another 30-plus minutes to come.
Wexford were under pressure and were the first to score at the start of the second-half – with Bolger again, pointing from a 35-metre. The Slaneysiders pressed from midfield and from their half-forward-line, yet, the Antrim defence and midfield upped their intensity and work-rate – coming out on top, in more than their fair share of rucks. The forwards working similarly, in an effort to keep their lead and the score-board ticking-over. Another 45 and a further free from distance, by Anna Mc Killop, kept the Antrim girls’ noses in front. A first-class, point-blank save from Antrim goal-keeper Mc Givern, near the end-of-the-third-quarter, spurred the Antrim girls on and as the final-quarter of the match was entered, Wexford emptied the bench, in an effort to save the game.
Antrim stuck to their task as the game entered an intense final-quarter. Wexford scored a further point from Katie Bolger, but a 5-point scoring burst from Antrim, from the 48th minute until the 56th minute, sealed the contest in the ‘Glens’ girls favour: one from Mc Killop; one from Eobha Mc Allister at No. 10; and a point each from Cushendall girls, Cara O’ Boyle, Kady Mc Neill and Orlaith Mc Allister. Indeed, only for a good save from Wexford goal-keeper, Steadmond, stopping a goal-bound 14-yard effort, from Antrim full-forward, No. 14 Mary Mc Arthur, in the 55th minute, the contest would have been over by then. Antrim introduced substitutes Shanna Deery (for the injured Ciara Connolly), Aimee Ferris and Dervla Mc Aulfield, in the final-quarter and all played their part, as Antrim closed out the game – despite a late goal by Bolger for Wexford.
Overall, the Antrim team and management, will be extremely pleased with this performance, and will be expecting similar in the games to come. Again, it must be stressed that this is a very young team and four of the starting-fifteen are current County Under-16 camogiers [Mary Mc Arthur at full-forward No. 14; Kady Mc Neill at No. 15; Eobha Mc Allister at No. 10; and Casey Crawford at corner-back No. 4]. However, it has been the defence and especially the half-back-line of: No. 5 Shannagh Heggarty; No. 6 Dearbhail Dobbin; and Erin Coulter at No. 7 that has been driving the team on. The latter two, part of the St. Louis College, Ballymena, All-Ireland winning team and Shannagh Heggarty, part of successful Cross and Passion College camogie-teams. Team-captain Aoibheann Donnelly and young Casey Crawford, have been operating efficiently at corner-back – ably anchored by Cushendall’s Abi Mc Neill at full-back. Janie Mc Intosh and Cara O’ Boyle, form an industrious and box-to-box mid-field partnership, while the half-forward-line of Eobha Mc Allister, Orlaith Mc Allister and Ciara Connolly, gives zip and energy. The full-forward-line of Anna Mc Killop and Under-16’s, Mary Mc Arthur and Kady Mc Neill, is reliant on Anna’s experience (Anna was part of last year’s Ulster-winning and All-Ireland competing Minor-team) and free-taking ability; but the younger ones are finding their drive and scoring-threat, now at the right time. There is also an accomplished bench and extended panel, which features three further County Under-16’s; a further six girls who are Minor next year again; and an experienced goal-keeper.
Previous to Sunday’s match, the Antrim Minor Camogie-team, got their All-Ireland campaign underway against Clare, on Sunday the 12th March 2023. The match was played at Abbottstown and was a low-scoring affair, with Clare winning on a 1.08 to 0.06 score-line. However, upon reflection, the Antrim team and management, would feel that they should probably have secured something from that game. Antrim then entertained Offaly in a home game, in Armoy, on Sunday the 19th March 2023 – Antrim winning on a score-line of 1.10 to 0.04. Indeed, the Antrim defence held Offaly to a single point throughout the whole of the first-half. Whilst the Offaly team may have been more physical and experienced (the long trip may well have affected them also), Antrim had more industry and movement about them. That said, Anna Mc Killop’s dead-ball contribution amounted to 0.04 of Antrim’s total, and although 1.06 was scored from open-play, Antrim still recorded 10 no. wides on the day.
The biggest test is yet to come, when Antrim travel to Abbottstown again this Sunday, to play Limerick – who are the favourites for this competition – in the penultimate game. If the girls give a similar performance as they did against Wexford, then that is all that can be asked of them. That said, the girls have their final game as a home tie i.e. against Meath in Armoy, on either Saturday the 15th April 2023 or Sunday the 16th April 2023. A home win then, would surely secure an All-Ireland semi-final appearance. No doubt, a big support on the day, would encourage the girls on. However, in the interim, all roads lead to Dublin on Sunday (throw-in: 2:00pm).