Senior Camogie League Division 1

Tír na nÓg v Loughgiel

Report and pics by Michael Corcoran

Tuesday evening’s Division 1 league match between Tír na nÓg and Loughgiel was played
under cold, damp conditions with a chilling breeze running the length of the pitch from
the club house.

Tír na nÓg had to weather another type of force tonight, namely that of
an on form Loughgiel machine that would display power and possession.
Tarlach Conway was the match referee and at a slightly later time than previously
billed, the sliotar was thrown in at 7pm, with Tír na nÓg taking the breeze on their backs.
Goalkeeper Caitlin Godfrey used the breeze well to drop long puck outs into
Loughgiel’s half, but time and time again, Loughgiel smothered any attempt to advance
the sliotar and for the most part of the first half, Loughgiel took the possession into Tír
na nÓg’s half.

Loughgiel’s Anna Connelly slotted the first goal of the game and as their points were
accumulating, Shanna Deery made a run and at close quarters drilled what looked like
a punishing shot to the goal, but keeper Godfrey had the makings of it much to the
satisfaction of the Randalstown supporters. Deery’s energy throughout the game would
pay off with a second goal hot on the heels of a low ball sent to the back of the net from
Ceala Dobbin.
Twenty-eight minutes into the first half, Tír na nÓg threatened Loughgiel close to the
square, leaving keeper Eimear Boyle spilling the sliotar wide over the line. Tír na nÓg’s,
Emilly Fallon took no time in dispatching the sliotar over the bar for their first point as
referee Conway blew for the break. Tír na nÓg 0-1 Loughgiel 3-13.
As the second half got underway, Loughgiel recalibrated their shooting and amassed
half a dozen points despite a dropping wind on their backs. Tír na nÓg temporarily broke
Loughgiel’s rhythm as Emilly Fallon pointed from a free but by now, Loughgiel had
worked out the road to Tír na nÓg’s goal mouth and a succession of goal’s followed as
they applied a vice like grip on the game. Tarlach Conway blew for full-time.
Although Loughgiel had a dominant role in tonight’s game, Tír na nÓg, ‘the land of the
young’ was never truer as the Randalstown side countered the loss of several
experienced players by fielding a younger developing team that was no match for their
opponents tonight.

Tír na nÓg – Starting Panel
Caitlin Godfrey, Katie Bonnes, Caitlin McCaughey, Medb O’Dolan, Cliodhan Marie
McStravick, Emma Louise McAreavey, Carla O’Neill, Bronagh Devlin, Susan Shannon,
Niamh McKinley, Emily Fallon, Jessica Simpson, Sara Martin, Ciara Devine, Ellen Magee
Loughgiel – Starting Panel
Eimear Boyle, Clare McKillop, Karie Lynn, Maria Lynn, Louise McKillop, Ciara Laverty,
Shauna Devlin, Megan McGarry, Amy Boyle, Christine Laverty, Annie Lynn, Anna
Connelly, Shanna Deery, Anna McKillop, Ceala Dobbin