Antrim v Armagh senior challenge game 2nd February 2025
County Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran reports from Dunsilly
Antrim 3-13 Armagh 0-05 Referee Owen Elliott
A drizzling start to Sunday’s game on pitch 2 failed to dampen the action, as Antrim enjoyed a run out on grass as favourites over a developing Armagh squad, now being managed by former All Ireland club winning manager P.J. O’Mullan Jnr. Antrim would approach the game as literally two halves, as the starting panel transformed at the break into another version from the bench; managers McCormick and Coulter allowing several of the experienced players game time in the second half.
Antrim, having won the toss, played towards the town side and arguably enjoyed an element of the light breeze that swept the drizzle along the pitch, which was largely dry underfoot but the lack of grass at this time of the year meant that you couldn’t buy a first touch off the ground, rather this was a day for bending at the knees and digging up the sliotar.
It was Antrim that took the game to Armagh in the first few minutes as Annie Lynn drifted her shot wide of the upright and a minute later Armagh’s keeper, Sophie Califf would deny her a goal. Armagh were quick to respond and became two points the better from Tierna Maxwell and a free from Rachel Merry after nine minutes, had the home side searching for composure and it wasn’t long before Katie Molloy had levelled the match with two points, twelve minutes having elapsed in the game.
Antrim would build on that with another two points from Dervla Cosgrove and Annie Lynn before Fionnuala Kelly was fed a sliotar from a right-hand side scramble and found the net from a pull inside the congested square at the quarter way mark. Antrim would improve on that with a point from Sarah Fife but found Armagh bettering that with two more points from Merry and Maxwell, though Antrim’s Dervla Cosgrove would float a fine point that was sourced from a sideline cut by Nicole McAtamney, bringing the half time score to Antrim 1-06 Armagh 0-04.
It took all of seven minutes in the second half before Antrim’s half time changes found their stride, and after winning possession deep into her right full forward area, Caitrin Dobbin planted a dangerous diagonal sliotar that beat the stretching goalkeeper and fell into the net just under the bar for Antrim’s second goal.
From this point onwards, Antrim took firm control of the game for over twenty minutes and notched up a further seven points before Armagh’s Caitlin Byrne made good from a well-placed pass from fellow teammate Naoise Hughes.
Caitrin Dobbin would make her presence felt in the dying minutes of the game, rolling the sliotar across the edge of the sparce square, just inches past the post and touched the most delicate of passes onto Lucia McNaughton to drift the sliotar just wide of the upright, but Dobbin’s hunger to press hard into the large 13m square was rewarded with a unselfish offload to running teammate Orlaith McAlister, slotting the sliotar from close quarters past Ciarrai Devlin for Antrim’s third goal and final score in the game, Antrim 3-13 Armagh 0-4.
Armagh had a good first half that was physical and could punish loose play but Antrim’s back line of Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn and Caoimhe McNaughton patrolled with complete authority and offered Armagh few chances at close quarters onto goalkeepers Becky Ellis and Caitriona Graham in the second half. The addition of the seasoned players in the second half proved too much for Armagh but O’Mullan will digest the game and see many positives to discuss back in the Orchard County.
Antrim first half starting panel and scorers
Becky Ellis, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Dearbhail Dobbin, Katie Rose Bell, Niamh Neeson, Eimear Johnston, Nicole McAtamney, Sarah Fife 0-01, Katie Molloy 0-02, Dervla Cosgrove 0-02, Fionnuala Kelly 1-00, Annie Lynn 0-01, Orlaith McAlister
Antrim second half starting panel and scorers
Caitriona Graham, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Janey McIntosh, Katie Molloy, Shannagh Hegarty, Eimear Johnston, Amy Boyle, Annie Lynn 0-01, Lucia McNaughton, Eavanne Martin 0-03, Caitrin Dobbin 1-03, Sarah Fife, Orlaith McAlister 1-00
Armagh starting panel and scorers
Sophie Califf, Meabh O’Hare, Grainne McWilliams, Riona Cunningham, Eimear Hayes, Gemma McCann, Grace Fitzpatrick, Alana McEntee, Katie Convie, Ciara Hill, Corrina Doyle, Tierna Maxwell 0-02, Megan O’Callaghan, Naoise Hughes, Rachel Murray 0-02 (1f)
Photos from today’s match can be found in our album by clicking on the link here…
https://myalbum.com/album/tRozxos6tDmn52/?invite=45234c76-3377-48af-ad63-8bca62b965d4
Follow Michael G. Corcoran on Twitter/X @keep_clickin for match GIFS when available. Follow @TheSaffronGael on Twitter/X for links to match reports and much