Antrim Minor A Camogie final at Pairc MacUílin
Dunloy 7-14 Cushendall 7-10
Dunloy and Cushendall served up a fantastic contest in Friday evening’s final of the Antrim Minor Camogie final in Ballycastle, Dunloy’s never say die attitude getting them over the line in injury time at the end of a classic game. Led on by their brilliant midfielder Eobha McAlister Dunloy trailed by nine points ten minutes from the end of normal time, but McAllister (who ended with 5-07 to her name) led a remarkable comeback, scoring 3-02 in that period to turn the game around and seal a remarkable win.
However Cushendall deserve great credit for their performance and despite starting without six regulars, three of whom were on the Antrim team who beat Derry in the Ulster Minor final, they were equally brilliant and deserve great credit for their part in a remarkable match.
McAllister got her team on the scoreboard early with a point but Tamara Black came back with a goal on three minutes to put Cushendall ahead. Eobha McAllister got the first of her five goals soon afterward and added a point from a 45, but a goal by Cushendall full forward Niamh McNeill reeled the Cuchullains in again. However the Dunloy girls were dominating possession four in a row opened a five point gap after 23 minutes. A fantastic individual goal from Cushendall’s Evan McNeill on 25 minutes brought her team right back into the game and they finished the first half in a flurry with Niamh McNeill and Amy McAlister grabbing goal and Eva McNeill adding a point to give them a four point lead at the interval. (4-02 to 1-07)
Eva McNeill and Aimee Ferris exchanged points early in the second half to keep the gap at four but Cushendall came strong again and a great goal from a narrow angle from Amy McAllister and a point from Eva McNeill stretched their lead to four. Dunloy had a mountain to climb but Eobha McAllister brought them right back into it with a goal and two points in a two minute spell just before the end of the third quarter.
The game swung again in Cushendall’s favour when Amy McAllister grabbed her second goal and Scarlet Kerr-McKillop, Cliodhna Thompson and McAlister added points to pull eight clear again and they appeared to be in a strong position. They were still eight in front with ten minutes of normal time left to play, when Eobha McAllister took the game by the scruff of the neck and three goals in four minutes, plus one from Erin McMullan put them five clear.
Remarkably Cushendall turned it around again and a third goal by Niamh McNeill and points from Erinmae Mitchell and Eva McNeill had them level as the game entered injury time. As the rain began to fall in torrents we all thought we were in for extra time but McAllister was unstoppable and pointed Dunloy ahead before Erin McMullan sealed the win with a goal.
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