Antrim Senior Camogie Championship – Round Robin 1

Ballycastle 0-05 Dunloy 6-13

The Ballycastle (above) and Dunloy teams stand for a minutes’ silence in memory of Glenariffe Oisins player Eunan Harvey before Tuesday evening’s Senior Championship opener at Pairc MacUilin

Last year’s beaten finalists started their 2025 championship off with a resounding win away to Ballycastle. Despite the scoreline they were made to work hard for it from a resilient Ballycastle team who pushed them all the way and will also rue their form up front.

Whilst they never threatened the Dunloy goal they had plenty of scoring chances but failed to convert them due to poor shooting and a strong Dunloy defence.

Dunloy started with intent straight from the off with Aine Magill converting a point which was then followed up a pointed free from the same player.

The visitors were well on top at this stage and opened up Ballycastle for the first goal of the night. A pass into the path of Katie Molloy was well laid onto the in coming Magill of which she fired into the corner of the net, leaving Beckie Ellis with no chance.

It was a blow to the home side who had been giving as good as they got in the opening stages of the match but had missed scorable frees which could of kept the margin down.

Ballycastle did get on the scoresheet with a Riana McBride free after Eimear McCaughan was fouled.

Cassie McArthur replied for Dunloy from a Nicole McAtamney sideline to extend Dunloy’s lead to five points. Ballycastle were trying to keep in touch with points from Riana McBride but they were all coming from frees and not making enough of an impact in the visitor’s defence with 15 mins gone in the half.

Nicole McAtamney picked up her first score of the day thirty seconds later to again wipe out the Ballycastle reply. With twenty minutes gone Aine Magill continued her scoring with a well taken score from an Eimear Johnston pass.

Ballycastle were finding it hard to make any head roads and the pressure told with Dunloy finding the net for the second time. Caoimhe Molloy’s well struck sideline ball to Aine Magill saw her leave three players in her trail. She evaded the tackles and a loose stick to fire into the top left corner and more or less put this game to bed.

Riana McBride replied with two more well taken frees but in truth it was a good as the forward could get as they got no change from this Dunloy defence.

As the half came to a finish Dunloy made sure there was no way back for the home side with an Aine Magill pointed free and a third goal by Eobha McAllister.

If there were any doubts the game was over as a contest first half it certainly was 2 minutes into the second as Dunloy added 1-01 in this period. Katie Molloy goaled straight away followed up by an Aine Magill free

With the breeze at their backs Ballycastle dropped the sweeper they employed first half to use the massive puck out of Becky Ellis to try and push into the Dunloy defence.

Unfortunately for the home side they didn’t make any sort of impact on the Dunloy back line with only one solitary point from play courtesy of Elen McIntosh for this half.

Dunloy continued in the same form as the first half with Cassie McArthur, Katie Molloy, Aine Magill and Nicole McAtamney all splitting the uprights. As the game came to a conclusion as a contest Dunloy raised the green flag two more times through Nicole McAtamney & Eobha McAllister.

A thorough performance from Dunloy who were solid at the back and were able to find their scores much easier throughout the hour due to their hard work. For the home side they will be disappointed their efforts didn’t yield more scores, but it wasn’t for the want of trying.

Ballycastle will now travel to Loughgiel with Dunloy now on the bye week.

Ballycastle

B Ellis, C Delaney, A Toner, M O’Neill, N Cosgrove, E McShane, S Heggarty, J McIntosh, F McIntosh, M Kelly, R McBride (0-04 frees), S Graham, E McIntosh (0-01), E McCaughan

Dunloy

C O’Kane, S McIlhatton, B Magill, K Boyle, E Kearns, K Laverty, K Mullan, C Molloy, B Magill, E McAllister, (2-02), E Johnston, N McAtamney (1-01), C McArthur (0-02), K Molloy (1-01), A Magill (2-06 ~ 4 frees)

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/CcuPkKAXHtsuiJ/?invite=4ff8d62a-6b42-4982-a617-7c60967d13b0

https://myalbum.com/album/CcuPkKAXHtsuiJ/?invite=4ff8d62a-6b42-4982-a617-7c60967d13b0