Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior Camogie championship – Group 3:
Antrim 3-16 Offaly 1-12
Antrim secured their place in the knock-out stages of the Glen Dimplex All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship when they beat Offaly in Saturday’s round robin game at Portglenone. Although there was ten points to spare in the end it did not always look as comfortable as that, and there were times when they struggled to press home their undoubted advantage They trailed by three in the early stages, but hit back with 1-6 without reply to go six clear. All seemed comfortable, but Offaly hit back to draw level, but to their credit Antrim found a response and 2-10 to 1-7 ahead at the break.
The forwards, who had been brilliant in the first half, suddenly found scores hard to get, and during normal time they only added three more to their total. Luckily the defence stepped up to the mark and contained the visitors and when the trio of stars up front Roisin McCormick, Aine Magill and Caitrin Dobbin did get going again they worked their magic with a goal and three in injury time to seal the win.
After Caitrin Dobbin had opened the scoring for Antrim in the second minute Offaly hit back to hit four in a row through centre forward Rachel Brennan (2), wing forward Becky Bryant and full forward Sarah Harding to go three clear. Things were getting a little worrying for the home side but Roisin McCormick settled things down with three pointed frees and when Aine Magill was put clear by a deft pass by McCormick she race in to fire in the first goal of the game and suddenly things were suddenly a lot more positive.
However the pendulum swung once again Offaly’s favour as Bryant added two points and Brennan one to level the score, and when Lisa Gorman got in for a goal on 22 minutes the Leinster girls had the upper hand again. Antirm needed a response before the break and it came when most needed as they hit back with a goal and three before the break, the goal coming from Caitrin Dobbin, while midfielder Amy Boyle chipped in with a point, with Dobbin and McCormick getting one apiece to send the Saffrons in at the break with a 2-10 to 1-7 lead.
When they stretched that lead to eight by the tenth minute of the second half it appeared to be plain sailing, but they would not raise another flag for the next twenty minute, and while Offaly weren’t exactly prolific either, they did manage three in a row to close the gap to five. They could have been closer had it not been for very good work by the Antrim defence and there was a feeling of frustration among the fans. However they need not have worried and as the game ticked into overtime the terrific trio kicked back into life. McCormcick started it with a point from play before Dobbin made a brilliant block and found McCormick with an inch perfect pass at the far post, and her Loughgiel colleague delivered the killer blow. Magill got in on the act with a lovely point from play, and though Bryan pulled one back for the visitors, McCormick brought her personal tally to 1-7 when she pointed a 45 with practically the last poc of the game.
The win qualifies Antrim for the knock-out stages and secures them a a game in Croke Park, but next weekend’s game against group leaders Waterford with determine what the pairings are going forward.
Antrim: C Graham, C Patterson, K Laverty, M Lynn, N Cosgrove, C Conlon capt, L McKenna, A Boyle, A Connolly, S McKillop, M McKillen, K McKillop, Á Magill, R McCormick, C Dobbin
Subs: M McGarry for C Patterson (50), E McShane for M Lynn (50), F Kelly for S McKillop (51)
Offaly: L Gallagher; L Mannion, A Roddy, O Gorman; S Walsh, O Phelan, A Liffey; G Dolan capt, S Moore; B Bryant, R Brennan, L Glynn; L Gorman, S Harding, C Leahy.
Subs. A Feeney for S Moore (32), C Maher for L Gorman (42), A O’Donovan for L Glynn (49)
Referee: P McDonald (Cavan)
