IN2 Engineering Senior Camogie Championship
Dunloy 2-21 Ballycastle 1-7
Saturday 4 October
Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr McGinn Park, Glenravel
Dunloy booked their place in the county final on Saturday afternoon with a strong performance over Ballycastle and 17 points to spare. Éobha McAllister was top of the scoring charts once again for the Cuchullains, finishing the match with 1-11 although her battle with Cara Delaney for Ballycastle was a fascinating subplot to the game – the Town defender never let McAllister away for more than arms length for the vast majority of the game.
Despite racking up an impressive tally of 2-21, Dunloy’s victory was built upon a strong defensive showing. Ballycastle scored just 1-1 from open play, both scores coming in the second half as the Cuchullains half back line put in an imperious performance. Katie Laverty in particular at the heart of the Dunloy defence once again outstanding while very little got past Eilis Kearns and Caoimhe Conlon.
Bronach Magill and Eimear Johnston were dominant in midfield and the supply of ball going into the Dunloy forwards was much better in comparison to their last championship outing against Cushendall in the group stages two weeks ago.
For Ballycastle’s part, their defence was overworked but performed extremely well to limit goal chances against a Dunloy attacking unit who have been goal hungry all championship.
Cara Delaney, Fiadh Sands and Enya McShane all excelling while Maeve Kelly and Elen McIntosh always carried a threat in attack.
It was the Cuchullains who started quickest as the sun shone on Fr McGinn Park, McAllister with the opening score from a free in the second minute. Aine Magill was already showing she was in the mood to add to her impressive goal scoring tally this campaign but she produced a quite brilliant assist to set up McAllister for the opening goal of the game.
Haring down on goal, Magill had the presence of mind to look for a pass with the angle against her and picked out McAllister with a 20 yard stick pass straight to her hand. McAllister still had a small bit of work ahead of her but she made no mistake when one on one with Becky Ellis.
Ballycastle responded with a brace of frees from Elen McIntosh but Dunloy fired over three points unanswered in as many minutes to take control of the game. Nicole McAtamney, Katie Molloy and the returning Caoimhe Molloy with the scores.
Elen McIntosh fired over her third free of the half from wide on the right, keeping the Town in touch before Aine Magill opened her account for the match – her first of three white flags for the day.
The Cuchullains had a glimpse of a second major moments later, only for Katie Molloy’s effort to be superbly saved by Becky Ellis in the Town’s goals.
Dunloy finished the half strongly with McAllister splitting the uprights with four frees while Elen McIntosh scored Ballycastle’s sole response with her fourth free of the match leaving the half time score 1-9 to 0-4 in Dunloy’s favour.
Despite Elen McIntosh scoring the opening point of the second half, it was Dunloy who started the half on top, much like the first. McAllister had a sight for goal with a 30 yard free drilled short but the Town’s defence dealt with the danger well.
The Cucuhllains stretched their lead with frees from McAtamney and McAllister (two) before Louise McBride scored Ballycastle’s first from open play in the 43rd minute – Janey and Elen McIntosh combining to create the chance for McBride.
Ballycastle wouldn’t register another score until injury time however as Dunloy continued to make the scoreboard tick. Aine Magill firing over either side of a huge Nicole McAtamney free while McAllister split the posts either side of a point from Casey Crawford – her first touch after coming on as a substitute.
Éobha McAllister took her tally to 1-10 with another free before Caoimhe Molloy scored the Cuchullains second goal. Her effort dropped short and Ballycastle goal keeper Becky Ellis misjudged the flight with the sliotar deflecting off her hurl and into the net. An unfortunate moment for the Town ‘keeper who had been outstanding up to that point.
Ballycastle finally broke through a brilliant Dunloy defence when Maeve Kelly put Elen McIntosh through on goal. She made no mistake with a precise effort while Shannagh Heggarty took over the free taking responsibilities with a score from distance.
Becky Ellis was called into action once again at the other end of the pitch, Casey Crawford setting up Nicole McAtamney but Ellis produced a top save to all but diminish the memory of her error barely two minutes previously.
It was McAllister who had the final say of the match, firing over her 11th free of the semi final but this match was long over before Ryan O’Reilly called time on proceedings.
The Cuchullains have booked their place in the final for the third year in a row and fifth time in six years as they look to bridge a 23 year gap since they last were crowned Antrim champions. Cushendall lay in wait, a novel pairing with the last time they faced each other in the decider coming in 1995.
TEAMS
Dunloy Starting XV: Clodagh O’Kane; Kathryn Boyle, Brid Magill, Katharine Mullan; Eilis Kearns, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon; Bronach Magill, Eimear Johnston; Nicole O’Neill, Caitlin Crawford, Caoimhe Molloy; Aine Magill, Katie Molloy, Éobha McAllister
- Subs: Casey Crawford for C Crawford (53); Aileen McManus for A Magill (57)
- Scorers: É McAllister 1-11 (11f); C Molloy 1-1; A Magill 0-3; N O’Neill 0-3 (2f); Caitlin Crawford 0-1; K Molloy 0-1; Casey Crawford 0-1
Ballycastle Starting XV: Becky Ellis; Niamh Donnelly, Enya McShane, Aoife Toner; Cara Delaney, Fay McIntosh, Fiadh Sands; Shannagh Heggarty, Janey McIntosh; Maeve Kelly, Louise McBride, Christina Hamilton; Fionnuala Toner, Elen McIntosh, Eimear McCaughan
- Subs: Aoife McCaughan for E McCaughan (47); Faye Roddy for F Toner (53)
- Scorers: E McIntosh 1-5 (5f); L McBride 0-1; S Heggarty 0-1 (1f)
Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Con Magees)
