Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie semi-final

Antrim 0-14 Derry 0-13

Two late points from Caitrin Dobbin saw Antrim book their place in the Ulster Senior Camogie final as they saw off a very stern challenge from Derry in Saturday’s semi-final at Kelly Park, Portglenone. When substitute Orlaith Hull fired over a point five minutes from the end of the game to put the Oak Leaf girls in front, the Saffrons appeared to be in a bit of bother, but Dobbin superb point brought them level and the Loughgiel ace clinched the win with another well taken score to set up a final meeting with Down in two weeks’ time.

Derry will feel it was one that got away as PJ O’Mullan’s side gave as good as they got, but they paid dearly for some wayward shooting and in Dobbin Antrim had a player who were able to take advantage.

 Antrim started well enough and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes, three of the points coming from to scorer Dobbin and one from Roisin McCormick.

All seemed to be going to plan but the Saffrons lost their way as the half progressed and Derry held the upper hand for the rest of the first period.

Gráinne McAtamney pointed in the 11th minute and Áine McAllister hit three in a row to edge her team a point ahead.

The teams then traded points with Áine Magill’s late effort from out on the wing gave Antrim an 0-8 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

The excellent McAllister brought Derry level just after the restart before Aoife Shaw edged them in front with a good point. Both teams missed good chances but Derry got in front when Hull split the Antrim posts with five minutes of normal time left on the clock.

Derry missed a couple of good chances to strengthen their position and paid the price as Magill excellent point, and two from Dobbin got them over the line.

Antrim: C Dobbin (0-8, 2 frees), R McCormick (0-4), Á Magill (0-2).

Derry: Á McAllister for (0-8, 7 frees), A Shaw (0-2), G McAtamney (0-1), S O’Doherty (0-1), O Hull (0-1).

Antrim: C Graham, E Kearns, K Laverty, M Lynn, M McGarry, C Conlon, C Patterson, A Boyle, A Connolly, S McKillop, S Graham, K McKillop, Á Magill, R McCormick, C Dobbin

Subs: C McArthur for K McKillop (41), E McShane for K Laverty (48), L McKenna for E Kearns (59)

Derry: Niamh Gribbin, Niamh Quinn, Eimhear O’Kane, Sinead McGill, Rachel Downey, Aoife Ní Chaiside, Lauren McKenna, Áine McGill, Dervla O’Kane, Grainne McAtamney, Áine McAllister, Shannon O’Doherty, Mairead McNicholl, Aimee Lennon, Aoife Shaw

Subs: M Heggarty for A Ní Chaiside (ht), O Hull for A Lennon (48), R McAllister for Á McGill (59)

Referee: F Caldwell (Down)