Antrim Camogie League – Division 3

Brídíní Óga  3-17   Rasharkin 0-07

Brídíní Óga had won Division 3 mathematically last week with victory over St Pauls but they wanted to go out in style and very much did that with an emphatic victory over Rasharkin to end 2023 with nine wins over nine matches.

Rasharkin did have some very fine players on display but their opponent had strength in depth and that in the end was the difference between the teams. Defensively, Rasharkin will actually look back with pride on this game despite the scoreline. Their keeper Noeleen O’Kane in particular had a superb game with several goal line clearances and she was ably assisted by Bronagh McFerran, Eimhéar Hardy and Christina Smith in a full back line that was kept busy over the hour and did thwart the Brídíní Óga attack many times. Up front they had Jade Henry who scored all seven of their points and was a real threat when she go on the ball. But Brídíní Óga just had more fire power and got their scores from Caoimhe Duffin (0-04) all from distance, Oonagh Ward (2-01), Clodagh McPeake (1-04), Orlaith Gould (0-03), Emily Sharpe (0-02), Aisling Millar (0-01) and Megan Law (0-01) and with that range of sharp shooting Rasharkin would struggle to keep the tide out.

It would have been difficult to pick a player of the match with Caoimhe Duffin, Orlaith Gould and Clodagh McPeake all in the running but in the end the little dynamo that is Orlaith Gould got the nod. Orlaith tormented the opponents defence with perching runs that struck like a dagger in Rasharkin’s rearguard and time after time she delivered scores for herself or setup her teammates. Congratulations to Brídíní Óga team and mentors – 2023 has been a great year for you to date.