Antrim U16A Camogie quarter-final
Loughgiel 1-8 St. Paul’s 2-4
Loughgiel Shamrocks advanced to the semi-final of the Antrim u16A Camogie championship following this one point win over a determined and talented St. Paul’s at Fr. Healey Park on Saturday.
The remnants of Storm Amy were still blowing around Fr. Healey Park as referee, Eoin Elliott got the action underway as both sides went at it with great intensity and neither conceding an inch over a very even hour’s camogie.
Despite playing into the breeze it was Loughgiel who raced into an early lead through a Cara Dobbin point in the opening minute and the same player added a second to put the Shamrocks 0-2 to 0-0 ahead with five minutes gone.
After that the scores dried up for a while with both defences in command but Ellie Lynn opened the visitors account with a point and the St. Paul’s number 14 might well have had a goal but fired over from close range.
A Caela Casey pointed free restored the home side’s two point lead after 15 minutes but it was a St. Paul’s team who were growing in confidence that finished the half on top with Aoife O’Hare and a superb effort from Amy Gault tying the contest at half time.
With wind advantage Loughgiel would have been expected to push on after the break but Aoife O’Hare got through for a goal for the visitors after 30 seconds to put the Shaw’s Road side in a strong position.
The Shamrocks replied and Ruby McAuley landed a free from around mid-field and then disaster struck for St. Paul’s when a shot from Anna Smyth was deflected by a defender past the unsighted Eabha Vallely in the visitor’s goal.
That looked like being the turning point for the hosts but instead it was a battling St. Paul’s who responded and Roisin Brady replied with a goal at the other end to restore their 2 point advantage.
The visitors were edging the exchanges but couldn’t turn good possession into scores and gradually the home side got on top with St. Paul’s conceding a number of frees that would prove their downfall in the end.
Rose McMullan took over the free taking duties for the young Shamrocks in the closing stages and pointed three on the bounce between the 19th and 25th minute to edge her side two in front.
St. Paul’s battled hard to the end and an excellent pointed free from 50 meters by the impressive Orla Munce closed the gap to one with time almost up but that would be as close as they got.
Loughgiel will now meet neighbours Dunloy in next week’s semi-final with Portglenone awaiting the winners of that one in the decider.
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