IN2 Engineering Antrim Senior Camogie Championship preview

The race for the Antrim Senior Camogie Championship, which is sponsored this year by IN2 Engineering,  begins this evening (Friday) with six teams battling it out in a round-robin format that will run through to mid September. From there, the surviving teams will advance to the semi-finals, paving the way for the final in October.

Twelve in a row champions Loughgiel Shamrocks remains the undisputed heavyweight of Antrim Camogie, and the question on everyone’s lips is once again ‘Can anyone stop their run at the top. However, the chasing pack is closing in and their great rivals Dunloy pushed them hard in last year’s final in Portglenone.

 Ruairí Óg Cushendall’s progress continues and they have won the Division 1 league title for the last two seasons, though the fact they were seldom facing teams at top strength has to be a factor in their success. Ballycastle would look to be next in line in the running and they gave the Shamrocks a good run of their money in the final a couple of years ago. Newcomers Ahoghill and Brídíní Óga Glenravel make up the six contenders but they know the chances of even getting to a final looks remote. These two will be looking to the clash against each other as the chance to avoid the wooden spoon.

With the newcomers facing steep odds, the standout clash of the opening round takes place in Dunloy, where Ballycastle are the visitors. The home team will start as firm favourites in this one with a host of county stars in their ranks, the likes of Eobha McAllister, the brightest young star in the county, Nicole McAtamney, Caoimhe Conlon and Katie Molloy who was probably Antrim’s most consistent performer during Antrim’s All Ireland run. The Cuchullains mentors will be hoping Molloy is fit to start after having had to retire with an injury near the end of the first half of the All Ireland final win over Laois. Ballycastle too have their county stars with Maeve Kelly getting back to near her best this season and the two McIntosh sisters Janey and Ellen, rock solid defender Shannagh Heggarty and goalkeeper Becky Ellis.

Cushendall should have too much power for Ahoghill when they meet at Cloney this evening, their host of young league winning stars being joined by county players Colleen Patterson, Caoimhe McNaughton, Orlaith McAlister and Laura Black, while Ahoghill’s Catriona Graham, who had the honour of guiding Antrim to glory this season as team captain, is in  the Cloney side along with fellow Sarrfon Aisling O’Donnell.

There will be an array of county stars on show in Fr Healy Park when the Shamrocks start another journey with All Ireland final Player of the match Roisin McCormick leading the line alongside Amy Boyle, Clare McKillop and Lucia McNaughon. All Ireland Junior A champions Bridini Oga have two county representatives themselves in Erin Coulter and Sarah Fyfe as they join their teamates who have the unenviable task of facing the 12-in-a-row champions.

Saturday and Sunday sees the first round of the Intermediate, Junior A and Junior B games down for decision