Feis na nGleann 2024
Senior Camogie Final
Dunloy 3-15 Cushendall 1-12
Sunday 14 July
Brendan McTaggart reports from Feis Sunday at Glenariffe
Dunloy camogs took the honours on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Cushendall with nine to spare. It was a controlled, strong performance from the Cuchullains who’s foundations for victory was built on an excellent first half that saw them led by nine and while the Ruairi’s came roaring back in the second half to leave just two between the sides after an Amy McAllister goal. The Cuchullains regained control however and goals from substitutes Dearbhille Elliott and Aine Magill ensured they were celebrating come the final whistle.
Playing with a slight wind advantage, Dunloy quickly got into their stride with Nicole McAtamney pivotal. She would top score for the Cuchullains with eight white flags raised throughout the hour and it was McAtamney who opened the scoring. A fine score off the hurl from Cassie McArthur followed soon after with the Cuchullains flying in those early exchanges.
Brogan Abram opened the Ruairi’s account from a free in the fifth minute, she would have an excellent game for Cushendall and along with Kady McNeill, they were pivotal in everything the Ruairi’s were doing. But, for most of the first half, it was all one way traffic and Cushendall attacks were fleeting.
The opening goal of the final came in the 11th minute with Katie Molloy raising the green flag for the Cuchullains. It was an excellent finish from Molloy who did superb work to get into a position where she could get a strike away and despite a less than favourable angle, Molloy found the back of the net.
A brace of points from placed ball by Abram followed but six points in the space of 10 minutes put Dunloy in control with daylight on the score board. Katie Molloy, Eobha McAllister and McAtamney all finding their range.
Kady McNeill and McAtamney swapped scores just before half time to leave Dunloy 1-10 to 0-4 ahead at the short whistle.
Cushendall reorganised and the introduction of Orlagh O’Hara and Amy McAllister at the interval certainly had a positive effect on their play. They opened the scoring with Lara Haughey splitting the uprights soon after the restart with what was their first score from open play. Dunloy responded through a McAtamney free but the Ruairi’s hit a purple patch to reignite their challenge.
A free from McNeill came before Eva McNeill was denied a certain goal by the most brave of saves from Mary Martin in the Dunloy goals. Kady McNeill converted the resulting ’45 and another point followed moments later as she produced an outrageous dummy. Cushendall began to turn the screw in the middle third to keep the pressure on the Cuchullains and bagged a major to leave just two between the sides. Abram sending the sliotar long and as the Cuchullains couldn’t clear their lines, substitute Amy McAllister made no mistake when the chance fell her way.
McAllister’s major meant it was 1-3 in the space of just four minutes but it was as good as it got for the Ruairi’s as Dunloy found their footing in the second half with their own substitutes combining. Dearbhill Elliott split the uprights before Aine Magill scored their second major. Playing a one-two with Katie Molloy, Magill was still some 50 yards from goal but burrowed her way towards goal and found the top corner with a sublime strike.
Cushendall responded with a point from a Kady McNeill free before Dunloy had another glimpse of the Ruairi’s goal. McAtamney this time with the effort but Louise Mulholland was equal to the strike. Eobha McAllister collected the rebound and fired the sliotar over the bar to leave six between the sides going into the final 10 minutes.
Kady McNeill took her tally to 0-7 for the day with her second point from play but the third Dunloy major followed to all but end the tie as a contest in the 55th minute. Substitute Elliott with the predatory instincts as she read the dropping sliotar perfectly.
Points from McArthur and McAtamney (free) followed before Abram fired over her third free of the match and fourth point in total but it was the Cuchullains who became Feis champions by the final whistle.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Mary Martin; Sarah McIlhatton, Eilis Kearns, Casey Crawford; Chloe Drain, Caitlin Crawford, Kathryn Boyle; Katherine Mullan, Caoimhe Molloy; Kyra Doherty, Nicole McAtamney, Kerry Rose Drain; Eobha McAllister, Cassie McArthur, Katie Molloy
Subs: Dearbhill Elliott for K Doherty (37); Aine Magill for KR Drain (37); Bronach Magill for C Drain (45); Annie Laverty for K Boyle (56)
Scorers: N McAtamney 0-8 (7fs); K Molloy 1-1; D Elliott 1-1; C McArthur 0-3; A Magill 1-00; E McAllister 0-2
Cushendall: Louise Mulholland; Anna McNeill, Aimee McDonnell, Laura Black; Catherine O’Boyle, Annie Leech, Aoife McClafferty; Brogan Abram, Siobhan McKillop; Laura Haughey, Mary Kane, Eva McNeill; Kady McNeill, Laura McMullan, Ellen Leech
Subs: Orlagh O’Hara for C O’Boyle (HT); Amy McAllister for M Kane (HT); Erin Mae Mitchell for L Haughey (46)
Scorers: K McNeill 0-7 (3fs 2 ‘45s); B Abram 0-4 (3fs); A McAllister 1-00; L Haughey 0-1
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
Check out Michael Corcoran’s photo album of Senior Camogie photos from Feis na nGleann
https://myalbum.com/album/x2rG6hDhMm2vuR/?invite=e881b22b-0661-4528-82ba-3967fda9e383