Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

Dunloy and The ‘Dall Can’t Be Separated

IN2 Engineering Senior Camogie Championship

Group Phase

Dunloy 0-10 Cushendall 1-7

Saturday 19 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunloy

Dunloy and Cushendall played out an enthralling 60 minutes of championship camogie on Saturday afternoon that was the very textbook definition of a game of two halves.  The game finished all square by the time referee Declan McGarry blew for the final whistle and called for the sliotar, yet both sides will feel like they left this one behind them.

Cushendall had a five point lead at half time and looked to be back to something close to their best following their defeat to Loughgiel last Saturday.  Defensively they put in a brilliant performance to do what no other team in the county had managed to do to this point, keep Dunloy from raising a green flag. 

While this was a collective effort, there were plenty of star individual performances.  Caoimhe McNaughton and Laura Black were immense while Abi McNeill’s performance as a sweeper was out of the top drawer.

Up top, they caused the Dunloy defence problems but managed to score just 1-3 from open play.  Orlaith McAllister with their major in a first half.  Incredibly though, the Ruairi’s wouldn’t register a score after the half time break.  The reasons for this was two fold – they played against a strong wind in the second half while Dunloy upped their intensity and aggression after the interval.

The Cuchullains didn’t fare much better from open play although just three of their ten white flags came from placed ball but just like the Ruairi’s, their star players on the day came from their back six.

Captain Katie Laverty was immense at the heart of their defence, especially in a second half as the home side upped their levels to get back into the contest.  Caoimhe Conlon and Sarah McIlhatton also put in a serious shift while Eimear Johnston’s all action performance in the middle of the park helped Dunloy to edge their way back into the game.

Despite not raising a green flag, Eobha McAllister and Aine Magill were still the main threats in the Dunloy attack.  They shared eight points between them with two of Eobha’s points coming from placed ball.  They had support from Caitlin and Casey Crawford while Caoimhe Molloy was a constant threat throughout.

Despite playing into the wind, the home side opened the scoring through Aine Magill.  She split the uprights soon after the restart by firing over the crossbar at the chapel end of Pearse Park.

Both sides looked to set up with a sweeper to nullify the attacking threat both posed before a brace of scores from Orlaith McCurry and Eva McNeill (free) edged the Ruairi’s ahead.

Aine Magill would restore parity by the eighth minute for her second of the contest but the home side wouldn’t add to their tally for fully 10 minutes as Cushendall began to take an element of control.

Eva McNeill restored their advantage from a ’45 before Orlaith McAllister managed to score the only goal of the game in the 11th minute.  Trying to get on the end of a long ball from Brogan Abram, Orlaith’s attempted catch was deflected past Dunloy goalkeeper Clodagh O’Kane.  A fortuitous goal with the deflection wrong footing the Cuchullains number one but it gave the Ruairi’s an element of control in the game.

Orlaith McCurry made it a five point lead by the half way mark as the visitors to Pearse Park looked to build an advantage and make use of the wind in their favour.

The home side had a sniff of a major at the other end of the pitch when Aine Magill found Eobha McAllister but the Dunloy star couldn’t capitalise with Cushendall keeper Orlagh Burke doing well to deny McAllister from point blank range.

Aine Magill and Eobha McAllister got the scoreboard ticking again for the Cuchullains but it was the Ruairi’s who were dictating the contest in that opening 30 minutes.  Frees from Eva McNeill either side of Aine Magill’s fourth point of the half came before Orlaith McAllister dissected the posts in the last minute of the 30 to give Cushendall a 1-7 to 0-5 lead at the break.

Five points was far from an insurmountable lead given the wind Dunloy would have largely at their back in the second half.  They made a solid start to the second half with Nicole McAtamney and Eobha McAllister both raising white flags from frees by the 8th minute of the second half.  It would be another ten minutes before they would register another score however.

While the Cushendall defence were playing on top of their game, it was Dunloy’s delivery into their forwards that was hurting their challenge.  Time and again they found a Cushendall player and when they did manage to by-pass the Ruairi’s half back line, the Cushendall back three and Orlagh Burke in goals were equally as tough a nut to crack.

That point was reinforced when Caoimhe Molloy’s attempt at a point dropped short and with Aine Magill looking to pounce, the Ruairi’s scrambled.  Her first attempt was blocked by Orlagh Burke and while Aine was first to the rebound, her effort was cleared off the line by Anna McNeill who stepped back to cover the danger.

The home side looked to reshuffle and moving Kasey Crawford out to the ’45 looked to be an inspired decision when she cut the Cushendall lead to two points with 11 minutes of the hour remaining.

Eobha McAllister cut that deficit to the minimum just two minutes later and it looked like the home side were clicking into gear at the business end of the hour but the Cushendall defence still managed to make life incredibly difficult for the Cuchullains.

Eobha McAllister split the posts for his fourth of the day and second from place ball in the 59th minute but neither side would find a winner.  The home side looked more likely and had a couple of chances at the death but had to be content with a share of the championship points on offer.

In a strange way, despite clawing their way back into this game, the Cuchullains won’t be overly pleased with their overall performance.  They remain unbeaten and will have plenty of the momentum that brings going into their semi final with Ballycastle in two weeks time. 

Cushendall will take plenty of positives from this performance.  Some of the bite they lacked against Loughgiel was on show at Pearse Park but it will take another improved performance if they are to dethrone the Shamrocks in their semi final in a fortnights time.

TEAMS

Dunloy Starting XV: Clodagh O’Kane; Sarah McIlhatton, Brid Magill, Katherine Mullan; Eilis Kearns, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon; Eimear Johnston, Bronach Magill; Nicole McAtamney, Caitlin Crawford, Caoimhe Molloy; Aine Magill, Casey Crawford, Eobha McAllister

  • Scorers: A Magill 0-4; E McAllister 0-4 (2f); N McAtamney 0-1 (1f), Casey Crawford 0-1

Cushendall Starting XV: Orlagh Burke; Colleen Patterson, Anna McNeill, Caoimhe McNaughton; Tamara Black, Abi McNeill, Laura Black; Dervla Cosgrove, Siobhan McKillop; Brogan Abram, Orlaith McCurry, Cara O’Boyle; Amy McAllister, Orlaith McAllister, Eva McNeill

  • Subs: Rhianna Black for O McCurry (47), Kady McNeill for C O’Boyle (47); Cliodhna Thompson for A McAllister (51); Laoise McCollam for T Black (53)
  • Scorers: E McNeill 0-4 (3f, 1’45); O McAllister 1-1; O McCurry 0-2

Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)

TO SEE MORE OF BRENDAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE GAME, CLICK ON THE LINK….

https://myalbum.com/album/JgZAYF3rdDoSAy/?invite=1886d2b0-d50c-4ff8-9245-a7f1dad058dd

by thesaffrongael

Portglenone win U16A title after great battle with Cushendall

Under 16A camogie final: Geraldines 2-15 Ruairí Óg 3-7

Report by Seamus McAleenan – Pics by Sean Trowlen

What an excellent finale to the under 16 season in Fr Maginn Park Glenravel on Friday evening with Ruairí Óg Cushendall pushing favourites Geraldines to the brink before the Portglenone girls retained their title!

The Geraldines dominated the first 20 minutes but couldn’t shake off the challengers with Eleyna McQuillan sending over three frees to keep her side in touch and Ellen McAllister pulling off at least two top class saves at the other end.

But the Portglenone side was the more dominant with Clíodhna McKeever firing over inside the opening 25 seconds. Caoimhe Doherty added a second point from a free and Eva McCann a third from the left wing – all inside the first four minutes.

Cushendall’s defence steadied up after that to allow the team to get a foothold in the game and McQuillan’s frees helped. McCann took a pass on the run to make it four and McKeever from a free and Niamh McAleese made it 0-6 to 0-2.

But back came Ruairí Óg with two frees from McQuillan to one from McKeever before the Cushendall side hit the jackpot in the 24th minute. Laoiseach McNaughton had the advantage from a tug back but nevertheless struck the sliotar high into the net. Straight from the poc-out, Portglenone were on the back foot and Lauren McKay hit a great angled shot from the right high into the net. Suddenly Cushendall were 2-4 to 0-7 ahead.

Clíodhna McKeever quickly pulled back a point from a free, but there were still two between the teams at the break.

McKeever grabbed the initiative on the re-start with a brilliant catch and then a left-handed shot to the Cushendall net. Caoimhe Doherty added two points, one from a free, with McQuillan responding from a free.

But Geraldine’s kept pushing on with points each from McCann and McKeever, the latter tipped over by Ellen McAllister. At 1-12 to 1-5, the game looked over until Lauren McKay put the game back in the melting pot with a goal for the ‘Dall.

A free from McQuillan and then a point from Caoimhe O’Donnell and the gap was down to two entering the final ten minutes.

Caoimhe Doherty landed a free for Portglenone and then the break couldn’t have fallen better for Clíodhna McKeever to get a clear run on goal and the Geraldines top-scorer made no mistake. However within a couple of minutes Cushendall were back in the game with a goal from Laoiseach McNaughton.

However over the final three minutes plus injury time, the Geraldines defence held strong and the sliotar stuck up front for Caoimhe Doherty, with her fifth score, and McKeever, bringing her personal tally to 2-6, claiming the last two points.

Antrim Camogie chairperson Una Kelly presents the trophy to Portglenone captain Annie Convery

Geraldine’s: Mollie McGinty, Emma Rose Diamond, Emily Scullion, Éira McTague, Niamh Martin, Caitlin Graffin, Annie Convery, Caoimhe Doherty 0-5, 4fs, Rose McVeigh, Eva McCann, Gemma McAuley, Clíodhna McKeever 2-6, 0-3fs, Eva McCann 0-3, Niamh McAleese 0-1, Aoife Kelly

Subs: Maria O’Boyle for E Diamond, Niamh Smith for R McVeigh, Niamh Mulholland for E McTague

Ruairí Óg: Ellen McAllister, Molly Delargy, Lucia Traynor, Ava Gettins, Elena Madden, Aoife Molloy, Emily Elliott, Emma Lynn, Eleyna McQuillan 0-6fs, Caoimhe O’Donnell 0-1, Anna Birt, Nichola Molloy, Cathryn McCormick, Laoiseach McNaughton 2-0, Lauren McKay 1-0

Subs: Gabriela McNeill for C McCormick, Nuala McNeill for M Delargy.

Referee: Tony Breen

TO SEE MORE OF SEAN TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK OON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/CMkwvxZCnfadnP/?invite=aae26df9-cf98-4fa0-bbaa-41c4592aa342

by thesaffrongael

Brídíní Óga win U14B Camogie title

Antrim under 14B championship final:

Brídíní Óga Glenravel 2-6 Gort na Móna 2-4

THE key score in this Antrim under 14B championship final came less than a minute and a half into the second half in Creggan. A shot from Aoibhe Marrs was deflected past Sabina Duracova in the Gort na Móna goals.

That score strengthened the Glenravel side’s position immensely and gave them the drive to dig in and eke out a two points victory.

The teams had met in last year’s final and again in the Féile na nGael decider back in May, the latter going to penalties. Each time Brídíní Óga have come out on the right side of the result and they made it a third successive trophy at Creggan on Saturday.

Once again there was little between the teams and certainly at half-time it looked like advantage to Gort even though they trailed by 1-3 to 0-3 in an excellent battle between two committed sides.

There was a strong breeze in the Glenravel side’s favour in the first half and they popped over the opening three points – two from Laoise Carey 45s and one from Molly McKernan.

However over the next ten minutes Gort na Móna shut up shop at the back and began to press at the other end with Holly Donaghy opening their account with a point.

Molly McKernan forced home a goal for Brídíní Óga in the 17th minute and had another chance of a three-pointer two minutes later, but failed to convert.

In the last ten minutes of the half though Gort na Móna were the better team and Sophie O’Hanlon converted two frees to put them in a good place at the break.

However the goal from Marrs changed the game and the north Antrim side really had the bit between their teeth. Despite a point and then a goal, both from Sophie O’Hanlon frees in the 9th and 11th minutes of the second half, Brídíní Óga remained in control.

Laoise Carey converted a free to leave the gap three points midway through the half and Rosie O’Boyle’s quick turn after grabbing a Carey free resulted in their fifth point. Caela McCann then increased the lead with just two minutes remaining.

There was a scare in the first minute of added time when O’Hanlon rippled their net. But the Glenravel girls held their composure and were on the attack when the final whistle was blown

Brídíní Óga : Nicola McToal, Shauna McCann, Caela McCann 0-1f, Sofia Cotter, Cara McFadden,  Laoise Carey 0-3f, Grace Higgins, Chloe McKay, Rosie O’Boyle 0-1, Aoibhe Marrs 1-0, Bronagh McQuillan, Caitlin Kelly, Annie Scullipn, Molly McKernan 1-1, Grace McKernan

Subs: Siofra McMullan for A Scullion, Aveen Walters, Ella Rose Quinn, Erin Quinn, Megan Kelly, Maria Doherty

Gort na Móna : Sabina Duracova, Jessica McGeown, Siana Ward, Aoife Mackel, Holly Donaghy 0-1, Alexia Largey, Cara Malone, Carly Muckian, Sophie O’Hanlon 2-3 frees, Ciara McKenna, Cadhla Stilges, Evie Magee-McKenna, Myah Denver, Grace Kearney, Lara Lyons.

Subs: Aarya Thakur for M Denver, Lucy French for L Lyons, Ciara McConnell for G Kearney, Sian Cunningham,Aoibhin Baggley-Fox.

Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)

by thesaffrongael

Cushendall faded as Loughgiel burned brighter

Antrim Camogie Junior A Championship

Loughgiel 3:15 Cushendall 2:05

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel

You’d be hard pressed to find a better game of camogie to warm up gathering crowds at Fr. Healy Park for the triple header of Jnr A Camogie, Senior camogie and Senior hurling. Loughgiel and Cushendall battled out their round three game in the Junior A Championship with a stiff breeze running square across the pitch with occasional sheets of rain that weren’t heavy, more of a squinting nuisance.

Match referee, Ryan Magee, rolled in sharp at the top of the hour and an alert Aoife McMullan rolled the sliotar onto her stick and advanced the Shamrocks with a solo run that found the stick of Alana McKendry, wasting little time in hitting the catch net over the bar to open Loughgiel’s scoring account in under a minute.

Loughgiel’s Charley McCarry waved the hurl like a magic wand in the Junior A game against Cushendall

Cushendall eased into the game from an awarded free that was accurately placed by Ellie Jo Butler over Loughgiel’s bar. Both sides would trade points, though one of those came from Loughgiel’s Catherine McGarry rushing into the large rectangle, choosing to point when arguably the shot to goal was waiting. Loughgiel would move up the scoreboard by another point that had all the hallmarks of a senior passage of play when Catherine Connolly and Charlie McCarry moved the sliotar around in a 1-2-1 move, leaving McCarry with a simple flick of the stick to strike for point number five.

An on-form McCarry would torment the catch net over the next twelve minutes with four points, two from play, before Cushendall’s Chloe McAuley managed to get in behind Loughgiel’s defence for a competent pull to raise the green flag at twenty four minutes gone. Despite the goal, a buoyant ‘Dall side could only watch Loughgiel hit back with a recycled puck out as Eva McGarry landed the sliotar high over the bar. Magee glanced at the watch and called for the break with little added time with five points between the sides Loughgiel 0-10 Cushendall 0-05.

Cushendall’s Clódagh McAllister cleared her line under constant pressure from Loughgiel

Loughgiel’s Charley McCarry got things underway for the Shamrocks with an opening point in the second half but Cushendall’s Ellie Jo Butler would take some of the limelight with a rapid response that found the back of Loughgiel’s net. With scores standing Loughgiel 0-11 Cushendall 2-02, three points of a difference was a hopeful reach for the ‘Dall but this is when the Shamrocks hit the turbo. Charley McCarry would strike into the heart of the catch net followed by two more goals, the first from Catherine McGarry and the second from Alana McKendry. Cushendall could only reply with a point from Naoise McDonnell before Charley McCarry found the sliotar in her hand, pirouetting on a sixpence, hit the back of the goals with a cleanly struck sliotar.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Cushendall couldn’t find the opportunities and faded under the task of closing the gap of fourteen points. The ‘Dall would close their account with two final points from Anna Birt and Naoise McDonnell before Loughgiel’s Erin McMullan closed out the game with a final point.

Ellen McAlister, Cushendall’s goalkeeper, denied Loughgiel goals on numerous occasions

If it wasn’t for the superb performance from Cushendall’s goalkeeper, Ellen McAlister, the Shamrock’s could have been nine goals up after sixty minutes. Six super saves from McAlister on the goal line would deny the Shamrocks from running a goal festival. Also making life hard for Loughgiel was Cushendall’s centre full back, Clódagh McAllister. McAllister held her quarter under pressure from Loughgiel’s advances and it took the thrilling performance from Charley McCarry to get the better of the full back line.

Loughgiel now advance into a semi final with a game from group one, their opposition will be Lamh Dhearg as winner of group two plays runner up of group 1.

You can see more photos from today’s Junior A game here…

https://myalbum.com/album/kTZwVGDYhLSNES/?invite=069a7cce-177d-4531-ac45-bae7bae7c1df

Loughgiel Starters and scorers

Eimear McGivern, Grace McLean, Ciara Connolly, Aoife Cunningham, Caitie McCaughan, Anna McKillen, Caoimhe McGarry, Kathryn Glackin, Aoife McMullan, Catherine Connolly, Alana McKendry 1-01, Eva McGarry 0-01, Róise McGarry, Charley McCarry 1-09 (3f), Catherine McGarry 1-02

Erin McMullan 0-02

Cushendall Starters and scorers

Ellen McAlister, Cliodhna O’Hara, Clódagh McAllister, Caoimhe Morgan, Molly McNeil, Caragh McKinley, Rose Black, Orla McKenna, Naoise McDonnell, Alex Gunn 0-03 (1f, 1×45), Ellie Jo Butler, Clare Stewart 1-01, Laoiseach McNaughton, Chloe McAuley 1-00, Erin Delargy

Anna Birt 0-01

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks Edge Ruairi’s in Championship Battle

IN2 Engineering Senior Championship

Loughgiel 0-14 Cushendall 0-11

Saturday 12 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel

Photos by Michael Corcoran

Loughgiel laid down a statement of intent on Saturday afternoon as they defeated Cushendall in the senior championship.  The Ruairi’s had been on the crest of a wave coming into the game with the league and feis titles secured and three successive wins in the championship but they came up against a Shamrock side who showed they are still the team to beat.

This was every bit the titanic tussle we expected with both sides playing with physicality, aggression, tenacity and plenty of skill.  The difference between the sides?  Loughgiel’s better use of the sliotar and scoring threats.  The home side had six different scorers although they relied on the free taking capabilities of Roisin McCormick.  Cushendall on the other hand, had just three players in the list of scorers with Eva McNeill almost singlehandedly carrying the fight for her side.

Defensively, Abi McNeill was a colossus for the Ruairi’s.  Her reading of the game and unerring knack of being in the right place and the right time helped Cushendall to restrict Loughgiel’s scoring chances.  Siobhan McKillop had a strong game in the middle of the park while the work rate and tenacity of Orlaith McCurry on the half forward line could never be questioned.

If anything, it was the delivery of ball into the forwards when clearing danger or turning over possession that let the Ruairi’s down.  Time and again they seemed to find a white and red shirt with a clearance.  Something that will certainly frustrate the Cushendall management.

For Loughgiel’s part, they had set up to deal with the attacking threats of Cushendall and had leaders through Megan McGarry and Charlene Campbell while Amy Boyle was immense at centre half.  Marie Laverty was always a handful in the forward unit while the influence of Roisin McCormick grew as the game progressed.  When Loughgiel needed a calming influence, McCormick was there.  Both she and Lucia McNaughton were colossus for the Shamrocks and their performances were a major factor in the home side taking the championship points.

As the rain began to thunder down at Fr Healy Park, both sides went about their work finding top gear almost immediately.  McCormick opened the scoring from placed ball before Orlaith McCurry got the Ruairi’s off and running in the third minute.

Another McCormick free was answered to by Eva McNeill’s first white flag of the contest but the home side began to dictate the game from the midway point of the half.  The Cushendall forward’s weren’t getting much joy from a hugely impressive Loughgiel defence and as the turnover count began to increase, so to did the Loughgiel fluency.

Anna Connolly and McCormick (free) split the uprights before Eva McNeill fired over a free to reduce the Loughiel lead to two points.  Katie Lynn and another McCormick free made it back to back scores once again for the Shamrocks before Eva McNeill’s third white flag of the contest kept the Ruairi’s in touch.

A McCormick free and Lucia McNaughton point rounded off the scoring in the closing stages but both sides struggled with the wind and rain conditions.  Loughgiel should have scored a goal just before McNaughton’s point but the Ruairi’s defence scrambled superbly to clear the danger.

Both sides hit wides in the second quarter that will have disappointed both sets of management but Loughgiel were well placed with a 0-9 to 0-4 half time lead.

Cushendall needed a fast start to the second half and they had the Loughgiel advantage reduced to three inside the opening two minutes of the second half.  Eva and Kady McNeill with the scores as the Ruairi’s looked to play with more intensity and speed.

Roisin McCormick and Lucia McNaughton split the uprights either side of Eva McNeill’s second point from play and fifth overall before Cushendall had a clear sight of the Loughgiel goal.  Eva McNeill it was who looked to make the break but her effort was somehow blocked by Amy Boyle with the goal at Eva’s mercy.

Eva would fire over scores either side of a Katie McKillop point to leave three between the sides going in to the final quarter and once again the Ruairi’s had a goal chance.  The sliotar falling to Amy McAllister but the Loughgiel defence swarmed her, smothering her of space and Amy couldn’t get her shot away.

Roisin McCormick landed her seventh free of the contest before Eva McNeill took her tally to nine points with a brace of free, leaving two between the sides going in to the final minute of the hour.

While Cushendall pushed looking for the scores, they found the Loughgiel defence impossible to get past.  Roisin McCormick rounded off the scoring for the contest with her eighth successful free and ensure the home side were celebrating at the final whistle.

As it stands, the final placings aren’t decided at the top of the group.  Cushendall face Dunloy next weekend and will be hoping they can get back to winning ways while Loughgiel face Ballycastle looking to build on this performance at the business end of the championship.

TEAMS

Loughgiel Starting XV: Emma McAllister; Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Clare McKillop; Katie Lynn, Amy Boyle, Ciara Laverty; Anna Connolly, Christine McCloskey; Roisin McCormick, Lucia McNaughton, Katie McKillop; Annie Lynn, Orlagh Laverty, Marie Laverty

  • Subs: Kirsty McKendry for K McKillop (50); Shanna Deery for O Laverty (59)
  • Scorers: R McCormick 0-8 (8fs); L McNaughton 0-2; K Lynn 0-1; A Connolly 0-1; K McKillop 0-1; M Laverty 0-1

Cushendall Starting XV: Orlagh Burke; Tamara Black, Anna McNeill, Caoimhe McNaughton; Colleen Patterson, Abi McNeill, Aoife McClafferty; Dervla Cosgrove, Siobhan McKillop; Brogan Abram, Orlaith McCurry, Cara O’Boyle; Orlaith McAllister, Eva McNeill, Kady McNeill

  • Subs: Amy McAllister for A McClafferty (47), Rhianna Black for B Abram (47), Laura Black for K McNeill (47); Cliodhna Thompson for O McAllister (51)
  • Scorers: E McNeill 0-9 (6fs); O McCurry 0-1, K McNeill 0-1

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Con Magees)

To see more of Michael’s photos from the game, click on the link below….

https://myalbum.com/album/U3HK9CctdHqFch/?invite=977aac85-9f53-42d2-9531-8f20e3e78edf