Antrim Camogie Div 1 league Brídíní Óga 0-10 Loughgiel Shamrocks 7-13
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Maginn Park, Glenravel
A breezy, damp evening heralded in the start of the Antrim camogie division 1 league, much to the relief of many to just get club business underway after a long winter. Loughgiel were deferential in building the hosts a guard of honour at the pitch entrance to acknowledge Brídíní Óga’s All Ireland Junior win towards the end of last year. But a break in County activity for a few of the Shamrocks meant the hosts would be facing a strong opposition, exacerbating the hosts concern for a depleted panel for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless, the Brídíní girls battled to the final whistle, showing much of the grit and tenacity witnessed throughout their All Ireland campaign.
Owen Elliot rolled in for 6:45pm after the hosts won the toss and elected to play into the wind for the first half. It wasn’t long before Loughgiel would strike and an Amy Boyle to Róisín McCormick pass had the visitors one point up within the first fifteen seconds.
Loughgiel would visit the club end frequently within the opening minutes with a further four points before a skilful sideline cut intercept by Sarah Fyfe ended up over Loughgiel’s bar to open Brídíní Óga’s score account.
With the wind and drizzle in their faces, Brídíní Óga felt the might from all of tonight’s elements, as the Shamrock sisters of Orlagh and Marie Laverty opened the green flag book from short range, at ten and thirteen minutes respectively before Annie Lynn and Katie McKillop made it four and then a fifth from Lynn that had an air of confidence about it. Lynn’s goal was a volley shot taken down above her shoulders and to prove it wasn’t luck, Lynn repeated the same shot for a goal in the second half.
The hosts would reply in that period with a fine point from Caoimhe Duffin, all along the Shamrocks were building their points too and at the short whistle, scores stood at Brídíní Óga 0-02 Loughgiel 5-11.
At the restart, Brídíní Óga used the time to push hard into Loughgiel’s territory with some ease as the Shamrocks recalibrated their play into the wind along with a change of the guard, running players off the bench for familiar county names. Lynn though would enjoy a busy second half and after dropping down another volley from above her shoulders for her second goal of the evening, placed a ball and watched Carla Sullivan make it seven.
Brídíní Óga tallied a better second half with fine points from the likes of Eimhear McAleenan, Shauna McDonnell and Sarah Fyfe as the light dropped quickly with the persistent drizzle forcing car headlights to appear along the sideline, until the long whistle brought the game to a conclusion, Brídíní Óga 0-10 Loughgiel 7-13.
You can see photos from tonight’s game by following the link here…
https://myalbum.com/album/z5jJpcwrqRZNeA/?invite=ed3c5dc0-ce08-4646-b6c4-723bc823e65a