Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie Final
Antrim 2-11 | Down 0-11
Antrim completed a 3-in-a-row of Ulster titles when they beat Down in the final of the Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie title at Toomebridge on Friday evening, a feat the county hasn’t achieved since the late 1970s. While they ultimately finished with six points to spare in Toomebridge, this milestone 51st provincial title for the Saffrons turned out to be much tougher than many pundits predicted.
With the chilled breeze at their backs, Antrim enjoyed a blistering start in Toomebridge racing into a three-point lead within the opening four minutes. Maeve Kelly opened the scoring a mere 12 seconds after the throw-in, followed swiftly by an Éobha McAllister strike after she cut in sharply from the corner flag. When Janey McIntosh blocked a short puck-out and dispossessed her marker she fired over a third and it began to look as though Down might be overwhelmed before the teams reached the half way mark.
However, the Down girls regrouped and with Beth Fitzpatrick, Sophie McGrath, Dearbhla Magee, and Clare McGilligan clamping down on the Antrim half-forward line thing began to take a turn. Holding the Saffrons scoreless for the next 22 minutes the Down girls began to Utilise the pace of Fitzpatrick and Magee to launch counter-attacks, as Down clawed their way back into the contest with well-taken points from Fitzpatrick and Dearbhla Coleman.
Just as Down seemed to be taking control, Antrim capitalized on a misplaced pass out of defence five minutes before the break. Cliona Griffin delivered a piercing diagonal ball to Róisín McCormick, who confidently rattled the net for a vital goal. Antrim almost had a second 30 seconds later, but Down goalkeeper Niamh O’Toole managed to get a stick to Maeve Kelly’s strike. Down recovered their composure to finish the half with late points from Grace Cunningham and Beth Fitzpatrick, leaving Antrim with a narrow 1-5 to 0-4 cushion at the interval.
Turning into the second half with the breeze now in their favour, Down looked poised to close the gap. However, Antrim centre-back Katie Molloy delivered an outstanding defensive display, repeatedly thwarting Down’s attacks and keeping them at bay.
The decisive hammer blow came in the 44th minute. The sliotar broke favourably for Éobha McAllister, who embarked on a brilliant solo run to find the back of the net. Supported by excellent finishing from the Antrim forwards, this goal put the game just beyond Down’s reach.
The visitors fought tenaciously until the final whistle, tackling hard and running off the shoulder, but they struggled to translate their possession into the necessary scores. Ultimately, they had to watch from afar as Antrim captain Caitriona Graham was presented with the trophy.
The two sides won’t have to wait long to renew their rivalry; they are scheduled to meet again on June 20th in the g stages of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship.
A good few of the winning team will not get a chance to celebrate their success as they travel south on Sunday morning to take on Limerick in the semi-final of the All Ireland Under 23 B Camogie Championship in Trim, Co, Meath
ANTRIM: Caitriona Graham (capt), Colleen Patterson, Caoimhe Conlon, Caoimhe McNaughton, Clare McKillop, Katie Molloy, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Boyle, Maeve Kelly (0-2), Nicole McAtamney, Róisín McCormick (1-4, 0-3f), Katie McKillop, Janey McIntosh (0-2), Éobha McAllister (1-2), Cliona Griffin. Subs: Sarah O’Neill for K McKillop (42), Ellen McIntosh for C Griffin (49), Orlaith McAllister (0-1) for J McIntosh (52), Dearbhail Dobbin for S Hegarty (59).
DOWN: Niamh O’Toole, Aoife McDowell, Aimee Mallon, Emily Fitzpatrick, Deirbhile Savage (0-1), Beth Fitzpatrick (capt, 0-2), Clare McGilligan, Orlaith McCusker, Niamh McConville (0-1), Grace Cunningham (0-1), Sophie McGrath, Dearbhla Magee, Gerra McGrattan, Dearbhla Coleman (0-1), Niamh McGrath. Subs: Aimee McAleenan (0-5f) for G McGrattan (34), Clara Cowan for O McCusker (44), Erin McGrattan for G Cunningham (46), Blanaid Savage for C McGilligan (49).
Referee: Sean Curran (Derry)
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