Doherty Group Intermediate Championship Final
Loughgiel 0-12 Dunloy 1-6
Cuchullain’s Dunloy looked to be in pole position in this Intermediate Camogie Championship final at Cloney on Saturday afternoon when they turned around leading 1-6 to 0-7 at the halfway stage despite playing into the elements.
A goal from Dearbhail Elliott had put them in a strong position with Eimear McMullan converting three frees to keep the scoreboard ticking and Mary McArthur 0-2 and Adria McAllister completing their first half total.
Rose McMullan kept the Shamrocks in touch as she converted 0-5 from frees with Eimear McKinley and Anna McKillop their other first half scorers and McMullan’s free taking would ultimately prove the difference
With the elements now in their favour Dunloy were expected to push on and they did enjoy the lion’s share of possession in the opening 10 minutes of the second half with the Loughiel defence repelling everything that came their way.
It seemed only a matter of time until Dunloy would add to their first half total but it was Loughgiel who soaked up the early pressure before opening the scoring themselves through the stick of Rose McMullan in the 10th minute.
As the Loughgiel momentum grew the opposition began to concede needless free and McMullan continued to punish every indiscretion with points in the 14th, 18th and 20th minute to move her side ahead.
There was no quarter being asked or given as Dunloy fought to open their account but they missed a couple of descent chance from frees or were being denied by a rock solid Shamrock’s defence.
At the other end Loughgiel looked in for a goal when Erin McMullan robbed keeper, Aimie Shirt but Grace Kearns got back to make a timely interception before clearing the danger.
It was Loughgiel who would have the final say with Eimear McKinley concluding the scoring with an injury time point to move her side three ahead, the Shamrocks only score from play in the second half, but it proved enough to see the girls in White & Red lift the trophy.
Una McGovern, Sarah Flavin and Shauna Doran were solid in a Shamrocks defence who all played their part in closing down their opponents and denying them space.
Anna Smyth and Louise McKillop worked hard at midfield while Rose McMullan gave an exhibition of free taking in attack. The Loughgiel number 10 would end the game as top scorer with 0-9 to her name.
Dunloy certainly played their part in making this a very competitive and entertaining contest and Eimear McMullan, Grace Kearns, Micha Kearns, Dearbhail Elliott and Mary McArthur were in fine form but in the end their inability to turn opportunities into scores in the second half proved their downfall.
Loughgiel: Shauna McKillop, 2 Caoimhe McGarry, 3 Una McGovern, 4 Brianna McCloskey, 5 Sarah Flavin, 6 Shauna Doran, 7 Zoe Cassley, 8 Louise McKillop, 9 Anna Smyth, 10 Rose McMullan, 11 Ceala Dobbin, 12 Theresa Hill, 13 Anna McKillop, 14 Eimear McKinley, 15 Carlina Sullivan
Dunloy: 1 Aimie Shirt, 2 Kerry Rose Drain, 3 Grace Kearns, 4 Ciara McMullan, 5 Carragh Boyle, 6 Eimear McMullan, 7 Sarah Louise Kearns, 8 Micha Cunning, 9 Erin Trainor, 10 Clannaid O’Kane, 11 Dearbhail Elliott, 12 Adria McAllister, 13 Erin McMullan, 14 Mary McArthur, 15 Orla McMullan
Carly McNamee for Clannaid O’Kane
Referee: Sean McLaren
