Antrim Camogie Championship Dunloy 1-08 Cushendall 0-09 Tuesday 9th September 2025

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Pearse Park

Tuesday’s thrilling encounter between Dunloy and Cushendall might have been won at the toss. An astute decision by Dunloy’s captain, Katie Laverty, on winning the toss to switch around and play the first half into the wind was a fortuitous decision, helping to keep the Dall from scoring into the strengthening wind for all of the second half. An all too familiar blast of autumnal air ran the full length of Pearce Park and made pointing into it from range, a thing of rarity.

Despite an early goal from Dunloy’s Aine Magill in the first five minutes, Cushendall carved a lead of four points at the short whistle, mainly due to the accurate free taking of Eva McNeill in challenging conditions. It could have been better for the Dall when on the twenty eighth minute, Kady McNeill was pulled to ground on a goal run and rather than take the point on the edge of the square, the Dall’s Eva McNeill opted for the goal with no success. The second half was full of frantic rucks and physical encounters, that had the supporters in an equally frantic state but despite being awarded a dozen fouls, the Dall couldn’t combat the wind and had to watch Dunloy eke out the win from an additional six points.

In less than two minutes from referee Paul O’Neill’s throw-in, two over carry infringements handed two points to Cushendall from Orlaith McAllister and Eva McNeill. A buoyant Dall crowd would have to tolerate a super clinical goal from Aine Magill from a mid field pass from sister, Bronach but that one point lead dissolved away quickly as Cushendall’s markswoman, Eva McNeill dropped three consecutive frees over the bar, whilst Dunloy replied with a free from McAtamney and a point from Katie Molloy from a Cassie McArthur assist.

Cushendall would dominate the remaining fifteen minutes and clocked up another four points coming from Siobhan McKillop and Orlaith McAllister before team mate, Eva McNeill, cruised two more frees over the bar due to Dervla Cosgrove and Orlaith McAllister being infringed, Cosgrove’s foul attracting a yellow card for Bronach Magill well into added time. As the short whistle blew, Dunloy remained at 1-02 whilst Cushendall ran in with a four point lead, 0-09.

Six points for Dunloy in the second half was good enough to secure the win but the formula for success was also dependent on Cushendall not being able to make something happen from their twelve frees. Eleven of those were probably on the margin of ‘makeable’ given the wind but an uncharacteristic wide from Eva McNeill on the twenty second minute will have been one that could have changed the game.

Early points from McAtamney (2 off), Aine Magill and Katie Molloy allowed the Dunloy ship to pull alongside the Dall at nine apiece, and then when Aine Magill dropped to the ground in another goal run attempt, Cassie McArthur was there to point the remnant. The point of the night clearly fell to McAtamney as she struck her free from the clubhouse dugout in added time, splitting the uprights as the light fell rapidly under the heavy clouded sky, ending the game Dunloy 1-08 Cushendall 0-09.

On Sunday, Dunloy should have better odds against Ahoghill, and assuming they earn those three points, Loughgiel need to at least draw with Cushendall on Sunday to remain at the top of the table and earn a place in the final. What a finale in the last of the round robin stages.

Dunloy starters and scorers

Clodagh O’Kane, Sarah McIlhatton, Brid Magill, Katharine Mullan, Eimear McMullan, Katie Laverty, Eilis Kearns, Caoimhe Molloy, Bronach Magill, Nicole McAtamney 0-04 (3f), Eimear Johnston, Eobha McAllister, Aine Magill 1-01, Katie Molloy 0-02, Cassie McArthur 0-01

Cushendall starters and scorers

Orlagh Burke, Anna McNeill, Caoimhe McNaughton, Tamara Black, Aoife McClafferty, Abi McNeill, Laura Black, Cara O’Boyle, Dervla Cosgrove, Brogan Abram, Siobhan McKillop 0-01, Lara McMullan, Kady McNeill, Orlaith McAllister 0-02, Eva McNeill 0-06 (5f)

You can enjoy more photos from Tuesday’s game by clicking on the following link to the album…

https://myalbum.com/album/JXeFDvKcUZPdKv/?invite=7d9d78c5-be04-4a9f-8abd-d80b78f72edd