St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass advanced into another Antrim Senior Championship final as they recorded a runaway victory over St. Joseph’s Glenavy in a one sided semi-final on Sunday.
The Chapel Hill girls have enjoyed a good season themselves and the former Ulster Junior finalists gave it everything against their more accomplished opponents but the gap between the Marian Hill side and the rest of the pack shows little sign of closing.
Moneyglass raced into a 2-7 to 0-3 half time lead with goals from Katie McCloskey and Jo Jo Darragh and even at this stage it was hard to see St. Joseph’s staging a comeback.
The reigning Antrim champions would push on to add a further three majors in the second half with Katie McCloskey, Jo Jo Darragh and Leah Cassidy rattling the Glenavy net as they pushed on to win convincingly.
It was Glenavy who were first off the mark when Eva Ramsey pointed them ahead in the 4th minute but two converted frees from Cathy Carey had St. Ergnat’s ahead by the 7th minute.
St. Joseph’s were giving it everything and Anna Rice and Megan McGarry had them back on terms by the 10th minute but it would prove to be their final score of the half.
Katie McCloskey’s goal in the 15th minute saw the Marian Hill side find another gear as Sarah O’Neill, Annie Griffin, Jo Jo Darragh and Cathy Carey added points and by half time the game looked out of reach of the Chapel Hill side.
By that stage they had moved seven ahead thanks to a second goal from Jo Jo Darragh and things would not get any better for St. Joseph’s after the break.
They did manage another three points from frees with Ellen Morgan leading the way with two and the other coming from Anna McStravick but there would be no let up from the Marian Hill side with places in the final up for grabs.
Jo Jo Darragh kicked three early points before Katie McCloskey got through for her second goal and her sides third and Cathy Carey 0-2 and Maria O’Neill added further points with Cassidy and Darragh adding late goals to seal a comprehensive victory for the reigning champions.
They will meet St. Brigid’s in the final after they defeated St. Paul’s in the other semi-final at Musgrave Park in a real cracker that was in the balance until late in the game with St. Brigid’s emerging 1-11 to 1-10 winners in a great game of football.
Moneyglass: 1 Aine Devlin, 2 Niamh Neeson, 3 Niamh McIntosh, 4 Aoife Leahy, 5 Danielle Duffin, 6 Rebecca Bradley, 7 Danielle Connolly, 8 Sarah O’Neill, 9 Aoife Kelly, 10 Annie Griffin, 11 Maria O’Neill, 12 Cliona Griffin, 13 Cathy Carey, 14 KatieMcCloskey 15 Jo Jo Darragh, 21 Leah Cassidy
Glenavy: 1 Orlagh Mullin, 2 Aideen McCambridge, 3 Meabh Bradley, 4 Geraldine McCann, 5 Bronagh Forester, 6 Cathy Scannell, 7 Natasha O’Neill, 8 Eva Ramsey, 9 Anna Rice, 10 Anna McStravick, 11 Ellen Morgan, 12 Aoibhin Gormley, 13 Megan McGarry, 14 Aoibheann Monaghan, 15 Mary McStravick
Referee: Stephen Higgins (Tir na nOg)
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Antrim Camogie Intermediate Championship Semi Final
Dunloy v Loughgiel 29th September 2024
Dunloy 0-10 Loughgiel 2-07
Dobbin’s overhead smash proves a hit and sends Loughgiel through to the Intermediate final
Match report and photo album from Michael Corcoran at Páirc Mhic Uilín
When two teams are evenly matched, tipping the balance of power can come down to the basics. Dunloy and Loughgiel didn’t have daylight between them and today’s elements brought the game to the ground for the most part and it became a battle of the rucks, winner takes all. Challenging conditions seen catching and point scoring skills at a premium and as sliotars dropped dangerously short of the bar, both goalkeepers were overworked and were a credit to their squads.
From the whistle, Dunloy took the lead and in a low scoring first half, it would be twenty five minutes before Loughgiel pulled up alongside Dunloy at four points apiece. The Shamrocks would take the break with a goal from Orlagh Laverty at the last minute but a second half start from the Cuchullians seen them close the gap in six minutes and it would take Loughgiel another fourteen minutes to draw level at ten points apiece before Ceala Dobbin’s overhead smash on the twenty eighth minute crossed the line for the win.
Referee, Paul O’Neill, commenced the semi final game at the top of the hour on 3 o’clock, with Dunloy winning the toss to play towards the clubhouse and arguably into the south easterly breeze.
Both sides would send their first attempts to point wide of the posts within the first few minutes, but it would be Dunloy to point first as Mary McArthur turned over a Loughgiel puck out. Three minutes later, Dunloy had their first attempt at Loughgiel’s goal but goalkeeper Shauna McKillop deflected the sliotar, which was carried wide for the 45 leaving Dunloy’s Erin McMullan to secure second prize with her point.
McMullan would prove instrumental in Dunloy’s semi final challenge and offered up the sliotar from a short tap to a waiting Lisa McGuickian to take Dunloy three points up on the scoreboard.
With ten minutes gone, Loughgiel mounted an offensive that had Dunloy’s Kirsty McFerran taking flak from all angles, saving two of those on target to goal and eventually Loughgiel would pull their third attempt wide.
The Shamrock’s would return again to cause chaos at short range but McFerran had the better of the sliotar and it fell to Carlina Sullivan to rescue the point and have Loughgiel’s challenge underway on the scoreboard. Five minutes later points would flow from Caitie Connolly and on the twentieth minute, Caela Dobbin would get her first score of the match from a Laverty assist.
Both sides were level by now on three points apiece and within the next five minutes both teams’ left wing half forwards would point apiece before the game was stopped, with Loughgiel in possession, to allow Dunloy to attend to an injured player.
On commencement of play, Loughgiel’s indirect free was followed by three more frees from fouls with nothing to show for either side until Orlagh Laverty broke through towards McFerran’s goals and tapped the sliotar into the keeper’s upper right-hand side for Loughgiel’s first goal to take the game up to the short whistle at thirty two minutes on the clock.
The second half started well for Dunloy as they set about using the small advantage from the wind to drop in longer pucks into Loughgiel’s half. One of those puck outs found Mary McArthur, offloading to Clara Elliott with a shot on target but Shauna McKillop had the makings of it, but Dunloy would loop back around, this time with four points on the trot, two from Clara Elliott and one each from Dearbhail Elliott and Erin McMullan to bring both sides level again on eight points.
Dunloy now had inertia and dropped two more points over McKillop’s bar, coming from Clara Elliott and Mary McArthur, only for that inertia to be broken when Loughgiel’s Carlina Sullivan was fouled and Orlagh Laverty sent the resulting free effortlessly over the bar before recycling the puck out from Dunloy’s dugout on a solo run to striking distance and sent the sliotar over the bar for back to back points.
Dunloy still had a one point lead with twenty four minutes gone but Laverty was on shooting form into the cross wind and coasted a 45 over the bar to draw sides, but you sensed Loughgiel were now starting to get more of the sliotar behind Dunloy’s full back line as Ceala Dobbin persisted deep on the right of the pitch. It was just a matter of time before Dobbin moved away from her marker and avoiding a hook, smashed the sliotar overhead past McFerran. Although the sliotar came bouncing out, the umpire declared the sliotar was over the goal line and raised the green flag.
With just three minutes left, including two for injury, Dunloy were kept at bay around the centre of the pitch until O’Neill signaled the end of the game with the large ‘Myenergie’ scoreboard recording Dunloy 0-10 Loughgiel 2-07, putting Loughgiel through to the final encounter with Ahoghill in Portglenone in two weeks’ time.
Dunloy starting panel and scorers
Kirsty McFerran, Carragh Boyle, Clare McGuckian, Aimee Johnston, Annie Laverty, Eimear McMullan, Kyra Doherty, Lisa McConville, Micha Cunning, Mary McArthur 0-02, Dearbhail Elliott 0-01, Erin McMullan 0-03 (1f, 2×45), Clara Elliott 0-03, Kerry Rose Drain, Lisa McGuckian 0-01
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Photos from this evening’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…
Con Magees, Glenravel secured Division 1 status and guaranteed their place in senior championship football in 2025 as they put St Enda’s to the sword on Sunday on the excellent surface of Glenavy’s pitch. Both teams will look back on a lack lustre performance throughout the year but only one team could book Division 1 status for next year and the men in green and white did that with a convincing display over their rivals. The scoreline suggests a facile victory for Glenravel but in reality with two minutes remaining in the first half they led by two points 1-07 to 1-05 having squandered a few goal scoring opportunities early on. But in those final minutes of the first half, Glenravel would add 1-02 to leave them ahead by seven points at the break. St Enda’s would go on to add three points only in the second half, all from placed balls off the boot of full forward Stephen O’Connor. That was never going to be enough as Glenravel ran rampant in the second half.
St Enda’s opened with a point from play from big midfielder Sean Murray from distance in the opening minute but that would prove to be the only time they were ahead in the game. Ryan McQuillan levelled before Cathal Hynds goaled with two minutes on the clock to put Con Magees ahead. Glenravel were totally dominant in the opening exchanges but squandered two great goal chances before Ryan McQuillan again settled the nerves and stretched their lead to four points. Cormac Morgan put over a couple of points for St Enda’s but Eamon Fyfe and Ryan McQuillan quickly cancelled those out . O’Connor got on the scoresheet once more to reduce the deficit but back came Glenravel through Hynds and Fyfe to leave Glenravel ahead 1-07 to 0-05 as we entered the final minutes of a pulsating first half. St Enda’s were experimenting with an aerial assault and this paid dividends when Niall McKeown deflected a speculative long range missile into the Glenravel net to leave two between the teams and the Glenravel contingent started to wonder about those early missed chances. But a brace of points from Ryan McQuillan separated by a goal from Sean McKay took the teams to half time with Glenravel perhaps slightly fortunate to lead by seven points 2-09 to 1-05. They wouldn’t have known it at the time but that scoreline would have been enough to secure ultimate victory for Con Magees, such was the lack lustre effort from their rivals in the second half.
Sean McKay stretched Glenravel’s lead with one minute of the second half played but then two pointed frees from Stephen O’Connor revived St Enda’s hopes. However with twenty minutes remaining Glenravel goaled twice within a minute to put the result beyond doubt. Sean McKay and Cormac McKeown’s goals put Con Magees ahead 4-10 to 1-07 and there really was no way back for the Hightown men at that stage. Both teams turned to their benches for fresh legs. For St Enda’s, goals were of the essence and but for two fabulous point blank saves from Glenravel keeper Johnny Fyfe who knows how the final quarter would have unfolded. Those saves seemed to put the final nail in St Enda’s coffin as they only recorded one more point from Stephen O’Connor to the end of the game. As they chased green flags, St Enda’s left a fairly porous defence behind which Glenravel happily picked off with points from Eamon Ward, Callum Higgins and Sean McKay to leave the comfortable victors on a 4-17 to 1-08 scoreline.
Neither team will look back on 2024 as a joyous year. Today’s game was more about survival than celebration. Glenravel ended their first year in Division 1 for a very long time with security of tenure for 2025. St Enda’s will plough their luck in Division 2 and Intermediate Championship campaign for 2025. But no doubt they will already be charting their path back to the top tier as soon as this disappointment settles. Both sets of players will no doubt already be enjoying the Autumn/Winter break as they read this report.
Finally a word of recognition for referee Mark O’Neill and his officials who marshalled the game very professionally throughout and to Glenavy who’s pitch was immaculate and their organisation was what you would expect from a great GAA Club. Well done to all involved.
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When it comes to championship warfare and the experience of knowing what it takes to get over the line, there is no one better than the Green Machine. Erin’s Own Cargin sealed their place in another county final on Sunday afternoon as they saw off the challenge of St Brigid’s with three to spare.
It was far from a classic encounter between the sides with the elements having a major say on proceedings and while it wasn’t quite a game of two halves, it was a game where we saw the two sides of Cargin. Electing to play into a strong wind, they dictated the first half for long periods – that may be the understatement of the century. To further highlight the point, from the first whistle, it was fully six minutes until St Brigid’s finally had some measure of possession.
St Brigid’s packed their defence and when they look back on this game, they’ll highlight the opening 20 odd minutes for the moment they just got it wrong. The south Belfast side could barely get a glove on the Toome men as they looked to sap the life out of the game. Holding possession, playing against the elements and using all the experience they have in their locker. Cargin were doing what Cargin do best.
Three down at half time, it was job done as far as they were concerned. It was a massive wind and they had 30 minutes to turn it around and that they did with a mix of tenacious defending, guile from Mick McCann in the middle third and the direct running from his brother Tomás.
We really only saw what St Brigid’s could produce in the last five or so minutes of the first half when Enda Downey produced a sublime dummy before scoring with the outside of his left boot while his brother Calum scored the first score from play before that…. In the 33rd minute.
To be fair, their organisation was excellent. But when it came to creating and putting Cargin on the backfoot, they didn’t do it enough. This was Cargin’s game, it was being played on their terms and as the second half progressed, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Cargin’s Paul McCann fires past Declan Heery for the games only goal
In a first half of few chances, it was fully 10 minutes old before we had a shot of any note. Enda Downey going close while Cargin should have had a goal moments later. Conhuir Johnston creating the chance for Jamie Gribbin who ghosted past the St Brigid’s tackles. His effort was hit true but it went to the wrong side of the right hand post with the goal at his mercy.
Tomás McCann didn’t fare much better when faced with a similar situation. If there’s one man you would put your house on to find the onion, it’s Mossy but the St Brigid’s defence did enough.
The first score of the game came from the left boot of Enda Downey, a free from distance in the 26th minute and he would repeat the feat two minutes later. Cargin’s opening score came from a Tomás McCann free in the second minute of injury time before Calum and Enda Downey added further scores to leave the half time score 0-4 to 0-1 in the south Belfast sides favour.
It was going to take a monumental effort for the Biddies to go one step further than their efforts 12 months ago but when Patrick Finnegan split the posts five minutes after the restart, it left four between the sides and re-energised the St Brigid’s challenge.
St Brigid’s looked to hold onto possession and create the yard of space they might need within the scoring range but in truth, they were playing into Cargin’s hands. Scores from Jamie Gribbin and a brace of frees from Pat Shivers and Tomás McCann left one between the sides before Conhuir Johnston fisted over in the 44th minute to bring the sides level.
St Brigid’s continued to look for ways to pierce the Cargin defence but struggled for any inroad. They did edge ahead again with Enda Downey firing over from an acute angle with his right foot but Cargin turned the screw once more.
Tomás McCann split the uprights with a free from distance before substitute Benen Kelly gave his side the lead for the first time in the game after 49 minutes.
With the game in the melting pot, the game defining and match winning score came. The clock ticked into the 55th minute when St Brigid’s substitute Paul Bradley looked to have been fouled deep in the Cargin half. Referee Brendan Toland awarded a free in the other direction for overcarrying and Cargin broke. They took the free quick out to the right before sending the ball into the path of a rampaging Paul McCann. He had fully 40 yards of grass to run into and time. He dropped his shoulder and moved to the right as Declan Heery approached before placing the ball below the St Brigid’s keeper and into the net.
With time running out, St Brigid’s looked for the goal that would bring them back into the semi final. It never materialised. Cargin were imperious in defence with Gerard McCann superb under the high ball when needed.
Enda Downey split the posts with his third free of the game and fifth point overall but it was too little, too late for the Musgrave Park men.
Cargin proved once again they are the masters of the chess game modern football has evolved into. It’s now over to Portglenone to see if they can take the top dogs crown from the banks of the Lough in Toome.
TEAMS
Cargin: John McNabb; Kevin O’Boyle, Kevin McShane, Ronan Gribbin; Justin Crozier, Paul McCann, Seán O’Neill; Pat Shivers, Gerard McCann; James Laverty, Conhuir Johnston, Jamie Gribbin; Tom Shivers, Michael McCann, Tomás McCann
Subs: Benen Kelly for T Shivers (41); David Johnston for J Crozier (52); Conan Johnston for P McCann (56); John Carron for P Shivers (59)
Scorers: T McCann 0-3 (3fs); P McCann 1-00; Conhuir Johnston 0-1; J Gribbin 0-1; B Kelly 0-1; P Shivers 0-1 (1f)
St Brigid’s: Declan Heery; Peter King, Joseph Finnegan, John Morgan; Shay Campbell, Shea Downey, Ronan Boyle; Michael Cummings, Jack Dowling; Niall Duffy, Patrick Finnegan, James Smith; Enda Downey, Calum Downey, Conan McNicholl
Subs: Conor Downey for N Duffy (34); Peter Lundy for J Smith (52); Paul Bradley for C McNicholl (52); Rory McErlean for P Bradley (56)
Scorers: E Downey 0-5 (3fs); P Finnegan 0-1; C Downey 0-1
Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)
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An inspired performance from Orrin O’Connor helped Glenariffe/Glenravel to the minor championship crown on Sunday afternoon. O’Connor would finish the match with 3-7 beside his name in a performance for the ages as the Oisin’s attacking unit had the Cuchullains chasing shadows. While O’Connor will rightly grab the headlines for his scoring, he had plenty of support with Phelim Ward and Peadar McDonnell also excellent while Niall Magee was outstanding at the heart of a defence that yielded very little to Dunloy.
With the wind at their back for the second 30 minutes, the Cuchullains looked to eat into the 11 point advantage Glenariffe/Glenravel had racked up but they never really looked like making inroads and testing the metal of the Oisin’s. Ben Duncan was solid between the sticks when he was called upon while Cahir McNaughton had the knack of being in the right place at the right time on a couple of occasions when the Cuchullains threatened to score goals.
Electing to play with the wind, Glenariffe/Glenravel led by three points after seven minutes. The attacking trio of O’Connor, Ward and McDonnell all finding their range. That lead was reduced to the minimum with Luke McFerran and Oisin McCallin splitting the uprights. It would be Dunloy’s last score for 16 minutes though as the Oisin’s turned the screw. By the time Oisin McCamphill fired over for Dunloy’s third point in the 25th minute, Glenariffe/Glenravel had raced into an eight point lead. O’Connor, Oisin Gillan, Christopher Leech and Michael Furrey all adding scores as Glenariffe/Glenravel went through the gears.
The Oisin’s thought they had scored the opening goal of the final when John Scullion bundled the sliotar into the back of the net but he was judged to have over carried in the build up. They would have another sight of goal with the next attack, McDonnell’s effort flashing over before they would find the back of the Dunloy net in the 29th minute. Standing over a free fully 80 yards out on the angle, O’Connor’s effort dipped wickedly and as the Dunloy defence misjudged the flight, Caolan McFerran couldn’t get to the sliotar as it bounced into the net.
Paudie Martin (free) and Leech swapped scores as the clock ticked into first half injury time and the Cuchullains created a major chance of their own. Working a quick free into the path of Paudie Martin and he showed plenty of guile to get the half yard he needed. He struck his shot well but it went to the wrong side of the post and wide.
Half time: Glenariffe/Glenravel 1-12 Dunloy 0-4
While they had the wind at their backs for the second half, it was going to take a monumental effort for the Cuchullains to get back into this one. That 11 point deficit became 12 with O’Connor’s fifth point of the match and while Dunloy were playing with more attacking intensity, their accuracy was letting them down. Paudie Martin did fire over a brace of points from placed ball while Ben O’Kane follow suit after an O’Connor free to leave nine between the sides going into the final quarter.
Martin fired over his third free of the half before Dunloy had another sniff of goal. Aidan Richmond looked like he had found the bottom corner only for Cahir McNaughton to deny him.
Phelim Ward fired over a brilliant score for Glenariffe/Glenravel before they scored their second and match winning goal. A long ball was delivered to the edge of the square with the Dunloy defence caught, Ward pounced and scrambled the sliotar over the line. The Cuchullains claimed for a square ball infringement but the goal stood to take the Oisin’s lead to 12.
The Cuchullains went looking for goals with Paudie Martin going close but his effort was superbly saved by Ben Duncan but the Oisin’s keeper could do little with the next effort that came his way. O’Kane stood over a ’65 that he hit with a flat trajectory and with plenty on it, the sliotar took a deflection and managed to get into the back of the Oisin’s net to give Dunloy hope. When Paudie Martin fired over a brace (one free), the lead was reduced to seven with two minutes of the hour left.
Glenariffe/Glenravel wouldn’t be denied however and fittingly, it was O’Connor who would have the championship sealing score. Gathering the sliotar and with a wall of Dunloy defenders in front of him, O’Connor stole in behind and fired low to give McFerran no chance between the sticks for Dunloy.
Luke McFerran and O’Connor (free) would trade scores in injury time and McCamphill was denied a goal with McNaughton in the right place once again but it was all elementary at that stage. Glenariffe/Glenravel were worthy winners and look forward to a tilt at the Ulster championship in Ballinascreen.
TEAMS
Glenariffe/Glenravel: Benjamin Duncan; Cahir McNaughton, Colla Ward, Michael Furrey; James Kearney, Niall Magee, Oisin Mort; Calum McIlwaine, John Scullion; Canice McIntosh, Orrin O’Connor, Christopher Leech; Oisin Gillan, Peadar McDonnell, Phelim Ward
Scorers: O O’Connor 3-7 (1-6f); P Ward 1-2; C Leech 0-2; O Gillan 0-2; P McDonnell 0-2; M Furrey 0-1
Dunloy: Caolan McFerran; Cahir McMullan, Sean Og Blaney, Charlie Cunning; Reece Cunning, Ben O’Kane, Jack McKeever; Ryan McClements, Jack Martin; Donnach Laverty, Luke McFerran, Aidan Richmond; Oisin McCallion, Oisin McCamphill, Paudie Martin
Scorers: P Martin 0-6 (4fs 1’65); B O’Kane 1-2 (1-2f); L McFerran 0-2; O McCallion 0-1; O McCamphill 0-1
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
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