The young camogs of Cushendall and Loughgiel served up a thrilling league final on Friday evening at St Patrick’s Park, Carey. Ruairi Og entered the game as favourites but it was Loughgiel who made the better start and they recorded the first score from a Caela Casey free. Cushendall began to settle into the game, Mia McKeegan pointed from play and her score was soon followed by two in a row from full forward Cliodhna Thompson, one from a free and the other from play from out on the right wing.
However Loughgiel came roaring back when Rose McMullan gathered the ball 35 yards from the Dall goal, she soloed in and fired a brilliant shot to the top corner of Ellen McAlister’s net to wrestle back the lead for her team. The lead lasted all of two minutes as Cushendall worked the ball up the field through the hard working Tamara Black and after a goal mouth shemozzle Laoiseach McNaughton was on hand to finish to the net for Cushendall. Cliodhna Thompson added two points either side of a goal when Mia McKeegan’s long range effort for a point ended up in the Loughgiel net. Caela Casey stopped the rot for Loughgiel with another well taken free but Cushendall finished the half strongly. Scarlet Kerr-McKillop played a low ball to Cliodhna Thompson, she won possession, rounded Kelsie Laverty and finished to the net to leave the score at half time Ruairi Og 3-5 Shamrocks 1-2.
If Loughgiel were going to win the game then they needed a good start in the 2nd half but it was Cushendall who got out of the traps quickest. Laoiseach McNaughton kicked in a goal after another goal mouth scramble. Scarlet Kerr-McKillop had been pushed further up the field and she fired over a nice point despite the close attention of Anna Smyth. Cushendall had earlier sprung Ellena McQuillan from the bench and she made a major contribution with two quick fire goals, she was in the right place at the right time to finish two ground strokes. Loughgiel showed great character to again fight back. Catherine McGarry hit a lovely point and followed it with a super goal. Rose McMullan converted a free to give her side hope. Cushendall however finished the game in style, Cliodhna Thompson, now operating at midfield, converted a free and a 45. Mia McKeegan and Scarlet Kerr-McKillop put the icing on the cake with a point a piece to leave the final score Ruairi Og 6-10 Shamrocks 2-4.
If Loughgiel were going to win the game then they needed a good start in the 2nd half but it was Cushendall who got out of the traps quickest. Laoiseach McNaughton kicked in a goal after another goal mouth scramble. Scarlet Kerr-McKillop had been pushed further up the field and she fired over a nice point despite the close attention of Anna Smyth. Cushendall had earlier sprung Ellena McQuillan from the bench and she made a major contribution with two quick fire goals, she was in the right place at the right time to finish two ground strokes. Loughgiel showed great character to again fight back. Catherine McGarry hit a lovely point and followed it with a super goal. Rose McMullan converted a free to give her side hope. Cushendall however finished the game in style, Cliodhna Thompson, now operating at midfield, converted a free and a 45. Mia McKeegan and Scarlet Kerr-McKillop put the icing on the cake with a point a piece to leave the final score Ruairi Og 6-10 Shamrocks 2-4.
