AIB Ulster Camogie Senior Championship Final Box IT Athletic Stadium, Armagh 16th November 2025 1:30pm
Preview of Sunday’s AIB Ulster Camogie final between Clonduff and Loughgiel and photos from Michael Corcoran.
Both of these teams are familiar rivals in the Ulster scene, having met last year in the semi final stage. That game was played in damp conditions under the distant profile of Hen Mountain in the impressively scenic Mournes. Loughgiel ran up a big score in that game due to a solid second half performance despite the Shamrocks dropping to fourteen players. It was a game though that entertained the Loughgiel supporters, many having travelled all of the 160 mile round trip.
In that semi final, Clonduff’s quartet of Fionnuala Carr, Sara Louise Graffin, Orla Gribben and Paula O’Hagan stood out as the sources of danger for Loughgiel. Sister’s Sara Louise and Fionnuala took their scores over the bar, whilst O’Hagan managed an early goal from a Graffin pass. This will be Clonduff’s first appearance in an Ulster final, hoping to join the winning ranks of Liatroim, Newry and Kilkeel, all from Down.
But the game will be remembered mostly for the second half drama, where Roísín McCormick ran up a hat trick, one of those coming from a 45th minute penalty given for a foul on an inbound Caitrín Dobbin. Despite playing with fourteen players, the Shamrocks forged ahead and in the end totalled six goals and thirteen points to Clonduff’s goal and fourteen points.
The recent semi final game against Slaughtneil will have sent out tidal waves of consternation for opponents and those waves initially washed up onto Clonduff, who witnessed the game’s action from the bank. The game will have offered up no immediate insight in how to break down the Shamrocks, but that won’t hamper the Hilltowners from trying.
Loughgiel have reached for another gear this year and players coming off the Antrim county scene have delivered in spades for their club’s championship endeavours so far and league hardened players continue to contribute and progress along with returning players and those that have moved up into a regular senior appearance. The Shamrock’s faced a hungry Dunloy in the Antrim Camogie senior final, providing one of the most enjoyable championship games seen in recent years and Loughgiel couldn’t have asked for a better pre Ulster prep match.
Clonduff’s passage to the Ulster final came by way of a bye for the Down team but their journey to their own county final was no breeze. Despite a 4-16 to 1-11 score against Portaferry in round 2, the Ports closed that gap and trailed in the final by only eight points with a final scoreline Clonduff 1-15 Portaferry 0-10, giving the Hilltowners a run for their money and arguably a good preparation match for the Ulster final if you can live with the four week wait as the Down final was over on the 18th October. Typically, O’Hagan and Carr delivered scores to haul Clonduff over the line for their eleventh Down Camogie title, despite the presence and threat from the Port’s Niamh Mallon.
The Box IT Athletic Stadium, Armagh will be the stage for Sunday’s final and stealing a marketing line from a well know brand, this isn’t just any final, this is the AIB Ulster Camogie Senior Club final. Title holders Loughgiel, have had recent success in Armagh, having won against Down side Liatroim in ’23 on a day that witnessed a deluge of rain and a concerned grounds team for the following double bill senior hurling game. The Shamrocks will be hoping to do it again for four in a row with their current form, whilst the Mourne side attempting to make their own history, might have a mountain to climb, but this one isn’t on their doorstep.
You can revisit last year’s semi final game between Loughgiel and Clonduff on the Saffron Gael here…
Here’s a candid interview with the previous manager, Conor Higgins, prior to last year’s semi final game against Clonduff…
You can revisit last year’s Ulster camogie final between Loughgiel and Swatragh on the Saffron Gael here…