Match report and photos from Antrim PRO Michael Corcoran at Pearse Park, Dunloy

As the sun beat down on Dunloy for today’s Ulster camogie senior final, few would escape its intensity or that from today’s thrilling final. The first half witnessed Antrim grinding out a draw into the wind against a slightly uphill turf, where Derry just couldn’t make their hay whilst the sun shone. The second half oozed drama as Pearce Park fell into the doldrums for the first ten or so minutes but was arguably Antrim’s most productive phase, setting them on a course destined for the win. When an injury time goal from Antrim’s Orlaith McAllister was slammed into Derry’s net, that was the curtain puller that effectively shut Derry out of the game and handed the win to Antrim. 

Our match referee, Philip McDonald from Cavan, got proceedings underway after the parade around the grounds lead by piper Eamon Downey, a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the recent passing of Kitty O’Neill, mother of Ulster Camogie’s administrator and the national anthem. 

Antrim would be the first to activate the scoreboard with a point from Lucia McNaughton after Roisin McCormick delivered a tidy short range hand pass from winning the sliotar in a ruck from a McAtamney free. Derry weren’t fazed by the early score and when Orlaith Hull dropped over a free due to an Antrim over carry, Derry announced they were now in the game. 

Antrim’s Lucia McNaughton would be influential in setting up Eimear Johnston for her point in under three minutes and when McCormick pointed from an in off the upright, Antrim were three up with no reply from Derry. As eight minutes elapsed, Antrim dealt an early blow to Derry’s campaign when Nicole McAtamney dropped an awkward ball into the path of Derry goalkeeper, Niamh Gribben. Gribben, feeling under pressure from an advancing Maeve Kelly misjudged the bounce and the sliotar rolled over the line to raise Antrim’s first green flag of the day. 

Derry sensed the need to draw Antrim back and three points from Orlaith Hull (2) and Aimee Lennon neutralised the early goal. For the last fifteen minutes of the first half, both sides went toe to toe, trading scores until the short whistle froze the scores at Antrim 1-06 Derry 0-09, however Antrim’s right half back, Erin Coulter’s point is a mentionable, having took possession from close to her half back position, solo ran deep into Derry’s scoring zone and pitted her strike against the wind for a fine point. 

With the second half underway, the wind dropped offering Antrim no advantage but undeterred, the Saffrons mounted several attacks amassing five points compared to Derry’s point from a free taken by Orlaith Hull. 

Excitement erupted in the Oak leaf County bench as a Derry sideline ball caught Antrim off guard when a patrolling Sinead McGill at close quarters to the square picked up the loose sliotar and tucked it neatly past Caitriona Graham. But Antrim’s McCormick and McArthur were about to change Antrim’s luck with three points, two of those from McArthur, before Derry mounted a one-point reply. 

Derry’s reply would prove to be too little and too late as Antrim’s Janey McIntosh and Player of the Match, as selected by the streaming team, Roisin McCormick, clipped a point and 45 respectively over Derry’s bar. And things were about to get even better for Antrim as an alert Orlaith McAllister stepped aside to allow Janey McIntosh a shot to goal, the rebound coming under McAllister’s powerful pull and as she returned a minute later for her point, McDonald blew for the end of play and Antrim had secured their back to back Ulster Senior Championship. 

Antrim panel and scorers 

Caitriona Graham, Dearbhail Dobbin, Clare McKillop, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter 0-01, Sarah O’Neill, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Byle, Nicole McAtamney 1-00, Lucia McNaughton 0-02, Roisin McCormick 0-07 (2×45, 3f), Eimear Johnston 0-01, Cassie McArthur 0-03, Katie Molloy, Maeve Kelly 0-01, Becky Ellis, Katie Lynn, Katie Rose Bell, Sarah Fyffe, Niamh Neeson, Janey McIntosh 0-01, Eavanne Martin, Aisling O’Donnell, Annie Lynn, Orlaith McAllister 1-01, Fionnuala Kelly, Caitrin Dobbin, Dervla Cosgrove, Colleen Patterson 

Derry Panel and scorers 

Niamh Gribben, Eimear Doherty, Roisin Cassidy, Leah Lennon, Anna McDaid 0-01, Niamh Quinn, Rebecca Bradley, Aine McGill, Aoife Ni Chaside, Sinead McGill 1-01, Rachel McAllister, Eabha McElhinney, Jackie Donnelly 0-01, Aimee Lennon 0-01, Orlaith Hull 0-07 (6f), Caoimhe McCloskey, Conka Kerr, Cliodhna Ni Mhianain, Rachel Keenan, Caoimhe Higgins, Mary Doran, Laura Coyle, Meabh Boylan, Natalie McKenna, Cliodhna McElhinney, Shannon Scullion, Lauren McKenna 

Photos from today’s game can be found here… 

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