Ulster Junior A Club Camogie Quarter-Final
Loughgiel (Antrim) 1-9 Granemore (Armagh) 0-14
IT was an excellent start to the second half that propelled last year’s beaten finalists Granemore into next Saturday’s Ulster Junior A semi-final against Derry champions Newbridge, but this quarter-final went right to the wire in Loughgiel.
The home side fought hard to stay in the lead and were actually a point up with four minutes remaining. However on balance the Armagh champions deserved their victory because they stuck at it and had ever present danger in forwards Ciara Hill, Rachel Merry and Player of the Match Corinna Doyle.
Loughgiel had use of the wind in the first half and deservedly led by 1-5 to 0-2 at the break, although they didn’t really take control until Megan McGarry’s goal in the 20th minute.
Up until that point, the Armagh champions were resolute at the back and trailed by just 0-3 to a point from Corinna Doyle. McGarry’s free bounced deceptively in goal area and ended up in the net. Emma McMullan, the star of the opening half, then added two points.
However four frees and a 45 from Merry, along with a point by Corinna Doyle, pulled the Armagh side level on 43 minutes, but Emma McMullan responded by sending Kirsty McKendry clear for a score to edge the home team back in front.
However Ciara Hill and Merry pointed from play to put Granemore ahead for the first time after 46 minutes. McMullan then hit back with two points, one of them a superb effort from out in the left corner, to edge Loughgiel ahead once more, but Doyle levelled again, though Anna McKillop won and pointed a free to bring the Shamrocks level in the 56th minute.
Loughgiel were ahead, but it was their last score with the excellent Doyle pointing twice and then involved in the move that resulted in Fiadhna Loughran posting the final score at the start of injury time.
Granemore: R Merry 0-7, 6 frees, C Doyle 0-5, C Hill 0-1, F Loughran 0-1.
Loughgiel: M McGarry 1-0 free, E McMullan 0-5, A McKillop 0-2, 1 free, K McKendry 0-1, C Sullivan 0-1
Loughgiel: S McKillop, A McKillen, F McVeigh, E Connolly, Ciara Dobbin, M McGarry, C Connolly, K McKendry, T McKinley, S Deery, E McMullan, A McKillop, C Sullivan, C McIntyre, R Higgins.
Subs: C McMullan for R Higgins (21), E McKinley for C Sullivan (42), Caela Dobbin for C McIntyre (42)
Granemore: C Doyle, Á Keenan, C O’Hare, C McClelland, E Hagney, G McWilliams, A McClelland, A Doyle, C Doyle, K Smith, E Lavery, L Carr, F Loughran, R Merry, C Hill.
Subs:A McVeigh for E Hagney (21), J Carr for K Smith (26)
