Antrim Minor Camogie Championship final :
Cushendall Ruairi Og 5-13 Dunloy Cuchullains 0-8
By Seamus McAleenan
DUNLOY were the dominant team during the first half of this Antrim minor camogie championship final in Fr Maginn Park. But there was a total transformation for the second half and four goals and five points without reply in the third quarter saw Cushendall retain their grip on the trophy for another season, as they completed the three-in-a-row.
Although Orlaith McAlister rattled the crossbar as she registered the first point, midfielders Aimee Ferris and Eobha McAllister (two) quickly put Dunloy into a lead that they held until the start of the third quarter.
While there were some fine scores from both sides during the first half, there was also wayward shooting and shots dropping short and, in Dunloy’s case, those were to prove very costly.
The Cúchulainn’s deserved to be ahead at the break, maybe more than 0-6 to 0-5 given the percentage of possession they enjoyed. Then again they were probably a bit fortunate that Niamh McNeill’s batted goal in added time was ruled out for a square ball infringement.
When Kerry Rose Drain opened a two points’ lead a minute into the second half, it looked as the pattern of the first half had started again. How wrong Cushendall proved that theory! Points from Orlaith McAlister, Orlaith McCurry (two) and Amy McAlister turned the lead into Ruairí Óg’s favour and when Kady McNeill sent Eva McNeill through for the opening goal in the 37th minute the game was running away from Dunloy.
Sub Clíodhna Thompson hit the net with her first touch three minutes later before a long ball from Laura Black found Niamh McNeill who fired home from an acute angle. Thompson then set up Amy McAlister for goal Number 4 and by the three quarters stage, Cushendall were out of sight, leading 4-10 to 0-7.
Adria McAllister eventually broke the sequence with a great solo point for Dunloy, but there was another goal at the other end for sub Thompson who took a pass from Amy McAlister to beat Mya McKinley from close range.
In the end it was a comprehensive victory for Cushendall. The switching of roles for Eva and Kady McNeill for the second half brought out the best in both and also in the forwards who now enjoyed a constant supply of good ball. Maeve McAlister at full-back was a candidate for Player of the Match, but that accolade had to go to the excellent Laura Black who dominated the half-back line.
Through Eobha McAllister and Aimee Ferris Dunloy were able to dictate most of the opening half and protect their defence. In the second half that defence was under constant pressure and, despite the best efforts of Casey Crawford before her injury and Carly McNamee, that pressure proved too much.
Cushendall: C Thompson 2-0, E McNeill 1-3, 0-2 frees, A McAlister 1-2, N McNeill 1-1, O McAlister 0-4, O McCurry 0-2, K McNeill 0-1.
Dunloy: E McAllister 0-3, M McArthur 0-2 frees, A Ferris, A McAllister and KR Drain 0-1 each.
Cushendall: C Morgan, L McCollum, M McAlister, C O’Hara, L Black, E McNaughton, S Kerr-McKillop, EM Mitchell, C McNaughton, O McAlister, E McNeill, O McCurry, K McNeill, N McNeill, A McAlister.
Subs: C Thompson for C McNaughton (38), N McDonnell for S Kerr-McKillop (49).
Dunloy: M McKinley, L McQuillan, C McNamee, R McGrath, C O’Boyle, C Crawford, M Cunning, E McAllister, A Ferris, A McAllister, M McArthur, E McMullan, E McGilligan, KR Drain, H Richmond.
Subs: SL Kearns for E McGilligan (38), R Doherty for C Crawford (55), GA Kelly for H Richmond (55)
Referee: O Elliott (All Saints)
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