Antrim Camogie League – Division 1
Ruairi Og, Cushendall 5-23 | Ahoghill 0-04
League champions Cushendall proved too strong for Ahoghill when the sides met in the opening game of the Division 1 League at Pairc Mhuire on Tuesday evening. In their first game since winning the league title last summer Cushendall had just two much firepower for the visitors who, despite defeat, battled to the very end.
The story of the evening belonged to the attacking masterclass put on by the established star Eva McNeill and the sensational young debutant Cliodhna Thompson, who tormented the Ahoghill defence from start to finish.
Cushendall wasted no time asserting their dominance. Within three minutes, Cliodhna Thompson opened her account with a point from play, settling any pre-match nerves. She was quickly followed by Eva McNeill, setting a relentless rhythm that Ahoghill simply could not cope with.
Thompson capped off a dream opening quarter by rattling the back of the net in the 12th minute, pushing Cushendall far ahead early on. Siobhan McKillop, Kady McNeill, and Brogan Abram also added their names to the scoresheet with well-taken points from play.
Ahoghill struggled to secure possession, but briefly found some respite in the second quarter. Their corner forward Noreen Graham converted two frees, and number Maeve O’Donnell added a point from play, but it was merely a drop in the ocean. Cushendall finished the half strong, with McNeill, Lara Haughey, and McKillop tagging on further points to leave the half-time score at a daunting 1-15 to 0-3.
If Ahoghill hoped for a reprieve in the second half, those hopes were entirely dashed within the first sixty seconds of the restart. Cushendall came out of the blocks flying, with Thompson scoring her second goal of the game just 19 seconds in. Before the spectators could even settle, Kady McNeill found the net again less than a minute later, effectively ending the game as a contest.
Eva McNeill continued her clinic from both dead balls and open play, splitting the posts effortlessly. County goalkeeper Catriona Graham, who plays outfield for her club, pulled a point back for the visitors in 9th minute, their only score of the half, as the Ruairi Og defence locked down completely.
In the final ten minutes, Cushendall emptied the tank. Cara O’Boyle made her mark with a point and a clinical 27th-minute goal. Fittingly, it was Eva McNeill who had the final say, finding the back of the net in the dying moments to cap off an incredible personal tally and seal a monumental 5-23 to 0-4 victory.
Ruairi Og, Cushendall:
- Eva McNeill: 1-10 (2f, 1 ’45)
- Cliodhna Thompson: 2-4
- Kady McNeill: 1-2
- Cara O Boyle: 1-1
- Siobhan McKillop: 0-3
- Dervla Cosgrove: 0-1
- Brogan Abram: 0-1
- Lara Haughey: 0-1
Ahoghill:
- Noreen Graham: 0-2 (2f)
- Maeve O’Donnell: 0-1
- Catriona Graham: 0-1