Antrim 1-16 Down 0-12
Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO, Michael Corcoran in Ahoghill
Six minutes into the first half of today’s Very National League encounter between Antrim and Down would leave a watermark, whenever Antrim’s Annie Lynn would raise the green flag from a skillful pull into the right side of Down’s goals, beyond the reach of temporary goalkeeper, Neisha McCullough. Down would shadow Antrim all the way to the short whistle with only that goal and a point the difference but the Saffrons would return to the field for the last thirty-three minutes in a dominant role, much of it physical, with periods of skillfull hooking and blocking that kept their opponents from working their way back into a winning position.
Antrim would be the first to visit their opponents scoring zone within the first two minutes of the throw-in but early attempts from Annie Lynn and Katie Molloy would drift wide. It would take a foul on Katie Molloy for Dervla Cosgrove to convert that to a point after five minutes on the clock and then a Caitrin Dobbin/Katie Molloy advance at close quarters would force the sliotar out wide for Annie Lynn to pull on the ground ball for the only goal in the game.
Down were able to close the score gap after Paula O’Hagan made good of a foul on Sophie McGrath and then returned for her own point in play after winning the sliotar the hard way from a ruck. Antrim would reply with three points on the trot with the third of those coming from a Nicole McAtamney textbook block that setup Caitrin Dobbin for the point.
Down, though, weren’t figuring on letting Antrim drift too far in front and replied with three points from fouls stemming from three in the hand and a slap of the stick but such was the ebb and flow of the early stages in the game, Antrim came right back with three points, Katie Molloy getting the best of those with a skillful pickup and delivery.
With twenty-six minutes elapsed, a throw ball from Antrim would find the ball net from an accurate Paula O’Hagan free and it could have been two converted frees only O’Hagan’s angle for the second proved to be impracticable. Referee Bernard Heaney brought the first half to a close, Antrim 1-07 Down 0-06.
Down’s sideline felt that they were initially slow to get into the game, and the second half would mirror those sentiments, as Antrim made frequent visits over Down’s bar for five in a row, Katie Molloy enjoying three of those with her first needing a cool redirect by goalkeeper McCullough over the bar.
Down would now come back into the game at thirteen minutes as O’Hagan dropped another free over the bar and an opportunity to bump up the scoreboard from a penalty as Antrim’s goalkeeper, Becky Ellis, stood up an advancing Grace Cunningham more robustly than referee Heaney allowed. O’Hagan would fire the sliotar to Ellis’ right just inside the post, but her reach was sufficient to prevent Down from raising the green flag. O’Hagan though would make amends with a fine point from play after Down mounted a period of pressure in front of Antrim’s nets. Saoirse Sands would add to that with her own point before O’Hagan’s accuracy found the ball net from two more frees.
With only six points the difference, Down still had a window of opportunity despite the clock ticking down from twenty-six minutes of normal time and three added for injury but Antrim would tack on another two points in that time compared to Down’s one point from play by Grace Cunningham, and it would fall to Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin to enjoy the last point in the game from a Sarah Fyfe pass before the long whistle brought proceedings to an end, score on the board Antrim 1-16 Down 0-12.
Saturday’s result seals Antrim’s entry into the league final on the 29th March against Clare. Antrim will have a head-to-head with Clare on the 22nd for the last league game and neither side are likely to go all out, sensibly keeping something in reserve for the final.
Antrim starters and scorers
Becky Ellis, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Eavanne Martin, Shannah Heggarty 0-01, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney, Maeve Kelly 0-01, Lucia McNaughton, Dervla Cosgrove 0-04 (4f), Annie Lynn 1-01, Katie Molloy 0-05, Caitrin Dobbin 0-04
Down starters and scorers
Neisha McCullough, Clare McGilligan, Tara Monan, Aoife McDowell, Dearbhla Magee, Beth Fitzpatrick, Blanaid Savage, Dearbhla Coleman, Niamh Savage, Aimee McAleenan, Deirbhile Savage, Gerra McGrattan, Sophie McGrath, Erin Elliott, Paula O’Hagan 0-10 (8f), Grace Cunningham 0-01, Saoirse Sands 0-01
More photos from today’s game, including the half time matches can be found in the album here…
https://myalbum.com/album/n76BtNqzZF46h4/?invite=49151dce-9264-4c5b-b714-55b2536d5d51