Ruairis rally late to seal the league title

thesaffrongael

10 months ago

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Ballycastle 2-08 Cushendall 2-14

A late scoring burst which yielded a goal and four points without reply saw Cushendall win the Division 1 League title for the first time in thirty years, beating Ballycastle by 2-14 to 2-06 at Pairc MacUilin on Tuesday evening. When Ballycastle’s full-forward Ellen McIntosh scored a brilliant goal from the narrowest of angles in the 53^rd minute to cut the deficit back to a single point, it looked like they could get something out of this game, but Cushendall came back with a vengeance and hit a goal and four points within six minute to seal the win. With this game in the bag the Ruairis needed Loughgiel to do them a favour against Dunloy up at Fr Healy Park and within a few minutes the word had filtered through that the county champions had won by five against their old rivals and Cushendall were able to celebrate their success.

***Cushendall substitute Caoimhe O’Hara receives treatement from team attendant Collette Birt during their clash with Ballycastle***

Eimear McCaughan gave Ballycastle an early lead but Orlagh O’Hara brought Cushendall level soon afterwards. Two points from full forward Ellen McIntosh put the home team two clear but again Cushendall found an answer when Cara O’Boyle and Orlagh O’Hara found the target for Cushendall.

Ballycastle got the upper hand and boosted by a great goal by Ellen McIntosh, following a brilliant run by Eimear McCaughan, they went four ahead with half time fast approaching they opened a four point gap, but Brogan Abram cut it back three before Orlagh O’Hara capitalised on a short puc-out that went astray and levelled matters just on half time.

***Ballycastle’s Fay McIntosh in action against Cushendall’s Amy McAllister during Tuesday evening’s leagute game at Pairc Mac Uilin***

Ballycastle were finding the going tougher after the change of ends and three points from the visitors through Brogan Abram and Orlagh O’Hara gave them a bit of breathing space. They had opened the gap to five midway through the second half but an excellent point by Eimear McCaughan and a goal by Ellen McIntosh gave the ‘Castle renewed hope.

However a Brogan Abram point got Cushendall going again on 24 minutes and two minutes later Cara O’Boyle delivered the killer blow with brilliant individual goal, before Orlagh O’Hara closed the door on their opponents with three more points to seal the league title.

Cushendall’s Cara O’Boyle celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal

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