Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1 League
Loughgiel 6-24 Ahoghill 1-03
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel
With the glorious summer weather abating as the days tick by, tonight’s game in Fr. Healy Park brought us all back to earth with a chilly bump. A strong northerly breeze, keeping most spectators in their cars, hampered point scoring to some degree for the Shamrocks as they played from the club end. But that didn’t seem to bother them and instead Loughgiel focussed on goals for the better part of the first half, knowing the element would be on their backs later.
Many would have forecast a one sided affair for tonight’s game but a spirited Ahoghill squad dug deep and fought hard to limit the end result. Although the Shamrocks remained dominant throughout the game, the girls from Fr. McGuigan Park spoiled the green flag count with at least three magnificent collective efforts in and around the small box as Loughgiel pressed hard in the second half.
Orlagh Laverty opened up the major score count for the Shamrocks but that was equalled by Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey when the opportunity arose to break behind Loughgiel’s defence. An industrious Ceala Dobbin made it two for Loughgiel within fifteen minutes from an intercepted Ahoghill sideline, then in less than three minutes made that three goals (Dobbin’s second) from an Anna Connolly – Orlagh Laverty setup. Annie Lynn got some of the action after recycling the Ahoghill puc out for her fine point. A sister act brought Loughgiel’s goal count to four when Orlagh Laverty fed through the sliotar to Christine McCloskey. McCloskey took the overhead bat option to rule out a hook from any chasing players. Tonight’s official, Paul O’Neill, blew for the break with scores Loughgiel 4-11 Ahoghill 1-01.
The restart brought further pressure to Ahoghill as Loughgiel now had a full sail with the blowing breeze behind them. Five points fired over the bar before Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham replied with an excellent point from an acute angle, but Loughgiel’s Kirsty Mckendry would make it five goals as she made good use of a pass from Dobbin. Although Katie McCloskey moved Ahoghill’s score along after a fine point, Loughgiel made good of the turnaround and ran up six points in quick succession. And when Loughgiel’s Anna Smyth made a lunge for goal, O’Neill was quick to spot an infringement, setting up Loughgiel’s goalkeeper to take and score the penalty with a stinger high into the net.
You can see Emma McAllister’s penalty here…
That would bring tonight’s game to an end and essentially an end to the league. Although there are a few re-fixtures in the planning, essentially these will not alter Cushendall’s place at the top of the leaderboard.
You can see more photos from tonight’s game by following the link to the album here…
https://myalbum.com/album/3XpXaLxiExavon/?invite=580e5c70-9310-4326-8244-078e40bbcfbb
Loughgiel starters and scorers
Emma McAllister 1-0 (P), Charlene Campbell, Úna McGovern, Finvola McVeigh, Anna Smyth 0-01, Megan McGarry, Louise McKillop, Anna Connelly, Shanna Deery 0-02, Annie Lynn 0-06, Christine McCloskey 1-03, Katie McKillop 0-06 (3f), Anna McKillop, Orlagh Laverty 1-03, Caela Dobbin 2-01, Kirsty McKendry 1-00, Carlina Sullivan 0-02
Ahoghill starters and scorers
Aine Graham, Dearbhaile Graffin, Bronagh Graffin, Fiona Blaney, Niamh Neeson, Éadaoin McGarry, Orla Neeson, Caoimhe Scullion, Aisling O’Donnell, Niamg Graham, Katie McCloskey 1-02, Molly Horan, Maeve O’Donnell, Róisín Loughlin, Noreen Graham 0-01