Glen Dimplex All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship semi-final
Antrim 3-10 Meath 0-12
Antrim booked their place in the All Ireland Intermediate Camogie final when they saw off a stern challenge from underdogs Meath in the semi-final at Brefni Park, Cavan, on Saturday. Playing with the breeze in the first half, Antrim, who had been inactive for the previous four weeks, found the going tough at times but ultimately showed much better in the second half to secure a well-deserved victory. They will now face Laois in the final at Croke Park in two weeks’ time.
The Saffrons opened the scoring in the first minute with a point from Lucia McNaughton, followed by a point from Eobha McAllister at three minutes before she rattled a goal-bound shot off the crossbar. Meath responded quickly, drawing level by the eighth minute with points from Abbye Donnelly and Aoife Minogue. Roisin McCormick hit an excellent point for Antrim on nine minutes, which was followed a minute later by a brilliant goal from Eobha McAllister after good work by Cliona Griffin and Maeve Kelly. Meath then took control of the game for the next ten to fifteen minutes, hitting four points in a row. Their brilliant midfielder Aoife Minogue, pointed on seventeen minutes, before Emma Regan hit three points inside two minutes to bring the sides level. Antrim managed to finish the half stronger with a free from Roisin McCormick and an excellent point from play by Maeve Kelly, leaving the half-time score at Antrim 1-5, Meath 0-06.
Playing against a stiff breeze in the second half, Antrim knew they had a challenge on their hands but they got off to a great start when Amy Boyle stretched their lead to three with a point in the first minute. Meath’s Aoife Minogue replied a minute later with a point, but on five minutes, Eobha McAllister scored a brilliant second goal when she gathered a long delivery from Katie Molloy, in the left corner and ran at the goalkeeper, firing and angled shot to the Meath net. Following a period of poor shooting from both teams, Minogue sent over another free for Meath on 10 minutes, and the sides traded further frees through Roisin McCormick on forty-three minutes and Minogue again on forty-six. Antrim then took a firm grip on the game, hitting three points in a two minute spell, a long-range free from Roisin McCormick starting the run and quick points from play by Shannagh Heggarty and Eobha McAllister to stretch their advantage to eight. Meath rallied late, closing the gap to five points with three minutes left thanks to a great solo run point from Emma Regan and two more from Aoife Minogue. Crucial blocks by Antrim’s corner back, Caoimhe McNaughton, denied Meath a couple of good goal chances in the closing stages.
Just at the end of normal time, Cliona Griffin scored a fantastic goal to ease the pressure on Antrim. Despite five minutes of added time due to an injury, Antrim held out for the win, with Aoife Minogue scoring the final point of the game for Meath.
Antrim: 1 Caitríona Graham, 2 Colleen Patterson, 3 Caoimhe Conlon, 4 Caoimhe McNaughton, 5 Clare McKillop, 6 Katie Molloy, 7 Shannagh Heggarty, 8 Amy Boyle, 9 Lucia McNaughton, 10 Maeve Kelly, 11 Roisin McCormick, 12 Nicole McAtamney, 13 Janey McIntosh, 14 Cliona Griffin, 15 Eobha McAllister
Subs –16 Becky Ellis, 17 Orlaith McAlister, 18 Sarah O’Neill, 19 Elen McIntosh, 20 Laura Black, 21 Aisling O’Donnell, 22 Aimee Ferris, 23 Dearbhail Dobbin, 24 Erin Coulter, 25 Katierose Bell, 26 Sarah Fyfe, 27 Orlaith Johnston, 28 Cara Burns, 29 Eva Lee, 30 Cassie McArthur.
Meath: 1 Maggie Randle, 2 Sophia Payne, 3 Maeve Clince, 4 Rachel Moran, 5 Rachel O’Neill, 6 Leah Devine, 7 Erin Leddy, 8 Aoife Minogue, 9 Olivia O’Halloran, 10 Aoife Carey, 11 Abbye Donnelly, 12 Róisín Heaney, 13 Emma Regan, 14 Ellen Burke, 15 Ella O’Brien
Subs-16 Gráinne Ní Laoire, 17 Blathnaid Hughes, 18 Aisling Byrne, 19 Aoibhin Lally, 20 Katie Connolly, 21 Anna Kane, 22 Ciara Foley, 23 Grace Connolly, 24 Grace Coleman, 25 Ciara Flanagan, 26 Isabel O’Connor.
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TO SEE BRENDAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW…..
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