Antrim Camogs beat Clare in ‘dead rubber’ game

thesaffrongael

1 year ago

Clare v Antrim Very Div 1B National League, Ennis 22^nd March 2025

Clare 1-10 Antrim 5-12

A Day of Firsts

Saturday was a continuum of firsts, as three of Antrim’s players, Lucia McNaughton, Amy Boyle and Clare McKillop picked up Club All Star awards at a gala evening on Friday, bringing together all four Gaelic field sports (men & ladies’ football, hurling and Camogie) to an awards ceremony under the one roof for the very first time. Saturday was the first day out for our new green Creagh away kit, a first time in Cusack Park Ennis for all, a first for many to play Clare at senior level and then a first half hat trick from the impressive Cassie McArthur.

Antrim made the long journey to Ennis on Saturday past to play the last game in the 2025 1B league season. The match was of no significance as both teams had already progressed to the league final having won their previous four league games. Clare ran out their panel, and Antrim gave more game time to girls returning from injury.

Maeve Kelly got the Antrim ball rolling with two points from play, followed up from two points from placed balls for Derval Cosgrove, whilst Clares first score came from the caman of Hannah Mae Neylon.

From the 15^th minute on it became the Cassie McArthur show, with a quick fire hat trick, the first following in after the Clare goal keeper batted out a dropping ball with Cassie pulling to the back of the net, the second from a pass from the returning McCormick and the third, the best of the bunch with a thunderous strike which gave the keeper no chance down close to her post. After this McArthur tagged on a further two points with Lucia McNaughton also scoring a fine point from play. Clare also scored a brace to leave the half time score Antrim 3-07 Clare 0-03.

A number of changes occurred on the short whistle on both sides. The second half began with more urgency from the home side, and they came back with a number of points to close the gap. However further goals from Maeve Kelly and a fourth from McArthur left the final score at 5-12 to 1-10 at the long whistle.

This was a fixture fulfilled, and Antrim now sit proudly on top of the Very Div 1B National league table, but no trophies were handed out today. Next Saturdays league final will see a very different Clare team sheet and a different game at Abbotstown National Games Development Centre.

Antrim scorers

Cassie McArthur 4-02

Maeve Kelly 1-02

Derval Cosgrove 0-05 (3f, 1 45)

Lucia McNaughton 0-1

Sarah Fyfe 0-1

Erin Coulter 0-1