IN2 Engineering Antrim Senior Camogie Championship, Round One
St Mary’s Ahoghill 0-3 Ruairí Óg Cushendall 3-21
Ruairí Óg Cushendall opened their Antrim Senior Camogie Championship campaign with a comprehensive 27-point victory over St Mary’s Ahoghill at Cloney on Friday evening.
Like champions Loughgiel’s emphatic victory over Brídíní Óga Glenravel, this was a painfully one-sided contest which once again highlighted the gulf that currently exists between the leading teams and those trying to establish themselves at senior level.
It is difficult to know what either side gains from such a mismatch. Nevertheless, Cushendall had a job to do and they completed it with ruthless efficiency, producing a professional performance that will give them confidence for the more demanding challenges ahead.
Eva McNeill opened the scoring from play after just 83 seconds before Noreen Graham converted a free to bring Ahoghill level in the fourth minute.
Any hopes of a close contest were quickly dispelled, however, as Cushendall struck for two goals inside little more than two minutes. Kady McNeill found the net in the fifth minute and, after Orlaith McCurry added a point, Cara O’Boyle raised a second green flag to put the visitors firmly in command.
Eva McNeill followed with her second point of the evening as Cushendall’s movement, pace and accurate finishing began to overwhelm the home defence. Graham kept Ahoghill’s scoreboard moving from placed balls, but the Cloney side were given few opportunities to threaten from open play.
Cushendall continued to dominate possession and steadily increased their advantage, finishing with an impressive total of 3-21 while restricting their opponents to just three points.
The visitors maintained their intensity until the final whistle, with Kady McNeill and Brogan Abram adding late points to complete a thoroughly convincing victory.
Ahoghill will face more suitable tests as the championship progresses, but Cushendall could do no more than deal efficiently with the challenge in front of them. Their campaign is up and running, and they will be satisfied with both the result and the clinical nature of their performance.
