Antrim Camogie League Senior Div 1 Round 4 Tuesday 5th May 2026
Loughgiel 2-16 Ballycastle 0-10
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel
Tonight’s league encounter delved out a great show of strength and tenacity, the Shamrocks displaying strength along the defence to frustrate their opponents and Ballycastle bringing tenacity to the rucks and intercepts. On a chilly evening brought about by a persistent northerly breeze, Ballycastle opted to use that element on their backs in the first half after winning the toss. The Town was able to hold their own for the most part but heading into the break one point behind, the odds had already stacked against the black and amber jerseys to contain the Shamrocks despite a good show of determination.
No sooner had Shane McDonnell rolled in at the top of the hour, when Loughgiel were on the offensive deep into Town territory. Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty had her close quartered shot to goal well saved by Erin O’Hara but Laverty got a second chance as the sliotar came out for a skilful flick up into the top of the net for an opening green flag.
Ballycastle replied with a good point coming in from the terrace side from Nuala Devlin and Ballycastle spirits were soon heightened again with a threat to goal from Devlin but diffused by Megan McGarry with an outstretched arm over the line for the forty five. Ballycastle’s Louise McBride drifted that cleanly over the bar to pull up behind the Shamrocks 1-00 to 0-02.
Loughgiel’s point from Ceala Dobbin brought the Shamrocks back into the game before a foul on Louise McBride offered her a point to close the gap to only one point again. Loughgiel’s Carla Sullivan playing in a left full forward position took a pass routed to her from Anna McKillop and wasted no time in splitting the posts for a 1-02 to 0-03 scoreline after approximately fifteen minutes.
Ballycastle’s McBride was in superlative shooting form and pointed another free over Loughgiels bar followed by two more points from Loughgiel’s Shanna Deery from Marie Laverty and Sullivan again. Ballycastle’s McBride replied again from a free before the Shamrocks inched further ahead with two fine points from Marie Laverty and Annie Lynn, after being on the receiving end of a Sullivan to Deery delivery. Eighteen minutes had elapsed on the scoreboard clock to accompany the scoreline Loughgiel 1-06 Ballycastle 0-05.
Ballycastle dug deep and responded from sideline instructions, crafting three more points from McBride and Shannon McQuillan from frees and a point from play as McQuillan picked up a loose sliotar and opted for a short solo run to build space for taking her point.
McQuillan was enjoying a spell of fortune as a Cara Delaney free dropped to McQuillan and if it hadn’t been for a super block from Loughgiel’s Charlene Campbell, The Town could have had a real goal chance from close quarters.
McBride would keep up her scoring accuracy and clipped the sliotar over Loughgiel’s bar for the Town’s ninth point and with only a couple of minutes left in the first half, Loughgiel’s Annie Lynn pushed hard through Ballycastle’s defence to point and walk in at the break, Loughgiel 1-07 Ballycastle 0-09.
The second half proved to be a test for the Town as the Shamrocks took the chilling breeze on their backs and within a few minutes, Carlina Sullivan found a running Annie Lynn in space, who punished the back of the net for a fine goal.
The Shamrocks now took control of the game and clocked up five more points before Ballycastle replied with another McBride free after nearly twenty minutes of play in the second half. At eight points the difference, Loughgiel made that twelve with four points in succession. One of those points came from an edge of the box awarded free that teased for a penalty. Anna McKillop stepped in for the point but at one stage players had assumed a penalty and the box was empty except for the Ballycastle goalkeeper, Erin O’Hara. A scramble of amber and black jerseys rectified the situation, leaving some Loughgiel spectators to reflect on a missed opportunity.
The long whistle came shortly afterwards, leaving the large scoreboard to announce the final result, Loughgiel 2-16 Ballycastle 0-10 in round four of the senior division 1 league.
Loughgiel starting panel and scorers
Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Aoibheann Gillan, Finvola McVeigh, Katie Lynn, Ciara Laverty, Anna Connolly, Louise McKillop, Annie Lynn 1-04, Marie Laverty 1-03 (1×45, 1f), Shanna Deery 0-01, Ceala Dobbin 0-01, Anna McKillop 0-02, Carlina Sullivan 0-04, Eimear McKinley 0-01
Ballycastle starting panel and scorers
Erin O’Hara, Christina Hamilton, Enya McShane, Catherine McShane, Cara Delaney, Fay McIntosh, Fiadh Sands, Aoife Toner, Niamh Ann Donnelly, Eimear McCaughan, Louise McBride 0-07 (1×45, 6f), Fionnuala Toner, Faye Roddy, Nuala Devlin 0-01, Shannon McQuillan 0-02 (1f)
You can see more photos from tonight’s game by following the link…
https://myalbum.com/album/VgqfEGafiRSExd/?invite=710dc02c-2466-42e5-b9ea-11adc3d0603b