Ulster Senior Camogie Final

Dunloy (Antrim Champions) 1-10 Clonduff (Down champions) 0-11

At Stewartstown, Co Tyrone

Dunloy bridged a 23 year gap to claim their third AIB Ulster club senior camogie championship title following a hard-fought and physical contest against Down champions Clonduff at Stewartstown on Saturday. In a game where defenders largely dictated the terms, there was very little to separate the sides for the majority of the hour. However, the Antrim champions found an extra gear in the second half, relying on a crucial goal from Eobha McAllister to eventually shake off last year’s beaten finalists.

The opening period was a tight affair with both teams exchanging early blows. Katie Molloy got Dunloy on the scoreboard after four minutes, followed by a point from Aine Magill. Clonduff responded in kind through frees from Sara Louise Graffin and Paula O’Hagan, leaving the sides deadlocked at two points apiece after 23 minutes. Following further scores from McAllister and Caoimhe Molloy for Dunloy, Clonduff enjoyed a strong finish to the half. Points from O’Hagan, Graffin, and an excellent effort from Claire McGilligan gave the Down side a slender one-point advantage at the interval. Notably, these early points were to be Clonduff’s only scores from open play in the entire match.

Dunloy showed well at the start of the second half and with McAllister sending over two more frees the began to open a gap. However Pauline O’Hagan kept Clonduff in touch with her dead-ball accuracy, but Dunloy’s possessed more attaching threat. and five of their six forwards ultimatelytacked on scores, showcasing a crucial depth in attack that tilted the scales in their favour. The defining moment arrived in the 43rd minute. After Katie Molloy moved out to the middle third and used her physical presence to set up Caitlin Crawford for a near-certain goal, the Clonduff defence scrambled to smother the initial chance. However, McAllister was perfectly positioned to gather the loose ball and fire it into the net from a tight angle.

That decisive strike opened up a gap, putting the Antrim side up by five at one stage. Clonduff refused to surrender, battling to the bitter end as O’Hagan picking off a furher three spectacular long-range frees to narrow the deficit. Driven by the relentless work rate of player of the match Eimear Johnston, who excelled at breaking from midfield rucks, Dunloy held on to secure the provincial crown and will now advance to face the Leinster champions at the end of November.

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