Northern Properties Antrim Camogie Senior Championship Loughgiel 0-22 Ballycastle 1-11

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park

A last minute change of management for Ballycastle could have plunged the Town into disarray, but under the vocal sideline directive from stand-in manager, Barry Kelly, nothing could have been further from the truth as a high spirited black and amber army gave it everything in an attempt to prove they are still a force to reckon with in this year’s championship.

It was a game with as many fouls as points, keeping referee, Jerome McAllister, busy with his damp notepad that took its fair share of the showers. McAllister’s whistle had only finished blowing for the throw-in when Ballycastle’s Maeve Kelly carried out the spoils from a huge ruck and finding Janey McIntosh, the Town had their first point on the board, much to the approval of their supporters.

Loughgiel were quick to respond with points coming from Kirsty McKendry and Amy Boyle and then the game lapsed into a period of toe to toe points at five all before Loughgiel’s, Roísín McCormick, dropped four frees over the bar, almost in succession, to put four points the difference going into the break, Loughgiel 0-09 Ballycastle 0-05.

Despite the abundance of fouls in the first half, which had a staccato effect on the game, in between, the pace was frantic at times. Ballycastle’s McIntosh sisters, Elen and Janey persevered deep into Loughgiel’s defence, looking for the breaks and sisters Fionnuala and Maeve Kelly tirelessly gathered sliotars from mid field to feed forward with aid from the omnipresent Emma Laverty.

If Loughgiel had a game plan for the second half, it probably would have said, stick to the game plan. With tenacious composure, the Shamrock’s pointed away quietly with McCormick clipping the lion’s share of scores over the bar and points from Caitrín Dobbin, Orlagh Laverty and a fine point from Lucia McNaughton from a mid air pick pocket off Catherine McShane. Those points set the Shamrock’s on an eleven point difference going into the last minute of the game, before Ballycastle’s Fionnuala Kelly reaped her rewards pushing deep into Shamrock territory and with a simple lob into the top right of the net had the only green flag raised of the evening and the long whistle quickly followed, closing the game Loughgiel 0-22 Ballycastle 1-11.

After tonight’s round of games, Loughgiel sit at the top of the table but there is still everything to play for in the race to securing that valuable slot in the final.

Loughgiel starters and scorers

Emma McAllister, Maria Lynn, Katie Lynn, Finvola McVeigh, Lucia McNaughton 0-01, Emma McFadden, Clare McKillop, Amy Boyle 0-01, Anna Connolly, Katie McKillop 0-01, Roísín McCormick 0-14 (10f, 1×45), Kirsty McKendry 0-01, Orlagh Laverty 0-01, Mary McKillen, Marie Laverty, Caitrin Dobbin 0-01

Ballycastle starters and scorers

Becky Ellis, Cara Delaney, Enya McShane, Aoife Toner, Maebh O’Neill, Niamh Donnelly, Emma Laverty, Fionnuala Kelly 1-00, Maeve Kelly 0-02, Shannagh Heggarty, Nuala Devlin 0-01, Riana McBride, Eimear McCaughan, Janey McIntosh 0-01, Elen McIntosh 0-07 (6f)

You can see more photos from the game by clicking on the link here…

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