Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1
Bridini Oga Glenravel v Loughgiel Shamrocks at Fr Maginn Park
May 14th 2024
Match report and photos – Michael Corcoran
Antrim Camogie resumed business on Tuesday evening after what seemed like a short break, presumably on the lead up to the All Ireland Championships, which start next week. Tuesday’s game, at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel was anticipated to be a one-sided affair and that was only the case in the first half as referee Paul O’Neill got proceedings underway.
Loughgiel’s Amy Boyle struck the first score of the evening with a gutsy point right of field as she temporarily dropped out of her normal mid field position, within the first minute.
The Shamrock’s would dominate the first half with a display of strength and good communication, which manifested as a determined and co-ordinated series of passes up to the half and full forward line ready for dispatch.
Loughgiel’s first goal of the game came from Christine (Laverty) McCloskey as she made herself busy picking up a loose ball and weaved her way close to Orla Donnelly’s net for the score. With three Loughgiel points from Boyle, McCloskey and Orla Laverty and a goal, Glenravel didn’t drop the heads, instead their determination to pull back the lead resulted in a series of fouls picked up by Referee O’Neill as a hasty throw, charge and a chop. Anna McKillop was happy to step up and send those over the bar for an early scoreline of Glenravel 0-00 Loughgiel 1-07.
Almost from nowhere, Loughgiel’s Shanna Deery had no sooner filed away a point when a goal scoring opportunity came knocking from a blazing solo run from just outside the 20m line. Deery didn’t miss her target and a sleek pass from Orlagh Laverty to an Anna Connolly point was reciprocated at the other end when Glenravel’s Ashling Millar pointed to bring the first half to the short break and a scoreline of Glenravel 0-01 Loughgiel 2-09.
Into the second half, Glenravel’s keeper attempted to neutralise a high dropping ball into the square and in doing so, off loaded the sliotar to the ground. Loughgiel’s Orlagh Laverty rushed in, and a simple pull hauled the Shamrock’s up the scoreboard by another goal.
Loughgiel wouldn’t have it all their own way in the second half though. Glenravel’s Ashling Millar was persistent around the forward line and managed to release the sliotar behind Loughgiel’s defence across the square as Eimear Boyle closed the angle but there was no one nearby to finish off the opportunity for Glenravel.
Loughgiel started to work the bench by now and Carlina Sullivan struck a ball hard from the right full forward position that a partial block from Maria McKenna would still find the sliotar clearing the bar.
Glenravel’s Ashling Millar would have another run at Loughgiel’s goal, but Maria Lynn was in fine hooking form and very little was finding its way past the defender tonight.
Glenravel kept themselves in the game with persistence and hard work, particularly from Erin Coulter and Orlaith Gould making big runs up the centre of the pitch. That would pay off and sliotars would eventually find Millar and Clódagh McPeake for the score to move to Glenravel 0-03 Loughgiel 3-10.
The Shamrock’s would respond with a run of points including a fine effort from Marie Laverty, breaking free from a ruck just under the Con Magee signage and scoring her first point in a senior game alongside her three sisters Christine, Ciara and Orlagh.
Points would be traded once again until Glenravel found a gap in Loughgiel’s half forward line and dropped in a ball from Orlaith Gould to Sarah Fyfe. From a one-on-one situation, Fyfe kept her cool and slotted Glenravel’s goal past keeper Boyle.
Fyfe would taste another score from a similar move but on this occasion, opted to point as Loughgiel’s defence closed off the route.
A Glenravel point from McPeake would conclude their scoring for the evening and that would almost be the case for Loughgiel except a long puck from Shauna Devlin was picked up by Orlagh Laverty and cruised it effortlessly over the bar. Maria Laverty was tenacious in her forward position and almost followed up with another point, but that was blocked and then jab lifted by Louise McKillop, turning it over and across the bar for a fine point and the final score of the night. Scores would stand at the long whistle Glenravel 1-07 Loughgiel 3-20.
On paper the scoreline suggests a different game than what was played on Glenravel’s fine turf tonight. Glenravel made Loughgiel work for their score and in doing so, gave the spectators an enjoyable evening’s camogie.
Photo album for tonight’s game can be found here…
https://myalbum.com/album/mViTjLH8qqNZ8y/?invite=2f4a3edc-221e-484a-a1ec-67e421f281df