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 11^th 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 8^th 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 59^th 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

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

IN2 Engineering Senior Championship

Cushendall 2-20 Ballycastle 1-5

Wednesday 9 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Cushendall

Cushendall maintained their 100% record in this years senior championship on Wednesday evening as they defeated Ballycastle.  18 points was the difference between the sides at the end of the hour, in truth the game changed dramatically when the Town were reduced to 14 in the 28^th minute.

When Fay McIntosh saw red for what referee Paul McNeill saw as a dangerous tackle on Kady McNeill, the home side were ahead by five points.  It was an even contest that the Ruairi’s were just about edging up to this point and with a slight wind favouring Ballycastle for the second half, the visitors were well placed.

Cushendall were immense in the second half however and to say they dominated would be an understatement.  2-20 scored overall, 2-18 from open play and eight different scorers.  The Ruairi girls put in a mighty impressive performance.

Ballycastle played with intensity and their defensive efforts in that second half have to be applauded.  They did concede 1-13 but they were under so much pressure, Cushendall were relentless and the performances of Enya McShane, Aoife Toner and Shannagh Heggarty was superb.

Eva McNeill top scored for the Ruairi’s with just one free coming in her tally of eight white flags while their majors came from Orlaith and Amy McAlister in either half.  Amy McAlister’s cameo performance a highlight of a second half that was all one way traffic.

The home side made a good start with three unanswered points coming in the opening six minutes.  Siobhan McKillop, Eva McNeill and Orlaith McCurry with the scores.  Ballycastle’s opening score came through an Elen McIntosh major in the ninth minute.  The goal owed much to the persistence, work rate, hunger and aggression of the Ballycastle forward who put the Cushendall defence under pressure to force a turnover and beat Orlagh Burke to the loose sliotar before finding the back of the net.

Maeve Kelly followed up with a fine score from wide on the right to give the Town a one point lead in the 11^th minute but they would only register one more score in the remainder of the half.

The home side retook the lead when Orlaith McAlister pounced on an error in the Town defence before finding the back of the net before a brace of white flags from Eva McNeill gave Cushendall a four point lead just over half way through the half.

Elen McIntosh fired over a ’45 in the 20^th minute to get the Town firing again but a pair of points from Eva and Kady McNeill gave Cushendall a 1-7 to 1-2 lead late in the half. 

Fay McIntosh’s red card was obviously frustrating for the Ballycastle management who had their own views on the tackle.

Ballycastle started the second half strongly and showed they could deal with playing with a player less.  Kady McNeill and Elen McIntosh swapped points by the third minute of the second half but Ballycastle would record just two further points as Cushendall went through the gears.

A run of seven points unanswered with Orlaith McAlister, Kady McNeil, Siobhan McKillop and Eva McNeill all splitting the posts.

Janey McIntosh split the posts in a rare Ballycastle attack but Cushendall continued to turn the screw.  Amy McAlister finding the back of the net and following up with a  point before Dervla Cosgrove (free), Eva McNeill, Orlaith McAlister and substitute Rhianna Black added further points.  Louise McBride added another score for Ballycastle in the same period of time.

A resounding win for Cushendall as they look to build momentum at the right time of the season.  They will travel to Loughgiel on Saturday looking to continue their winning ways while Ballycastle will host Bridini Oga on Sunday looking to get back to winning ways.

TEAMS

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

• Subs: Aoife McClafferty for L Black (36); Rhianna Black for O McCurry, Amy McAlister for C O’Boyle (44); Ellen Leech for T Black, Cliodhna Thompson for B Abram (52)
• Scorers: E McNeill 0-7 (1f); O McAlister 1-3; K McNeill 0-4; A McAlister 1-1; S McKillop 0-2; O McCurry 0-1; R Black 0-1; D Cosgrove 0-1 (1f)

Ballycastle Starting XV: Becky Ellis; Aoife Toner, Enya McShane, Cara Delaney; Niamh Donnelly, Fay McIntosh, Fiadh Sands; Shannagh Heggarty, Janey McIntosh; Maeve Kelly, Louise McBrife, Aoife McCaughan; Faye Roddy, Elen McIntosh, Eimear McCaughan

• Subs: Catherine McShane for F Roddy (HT); Christina Hamilton for E McCaughan (45); Maria Bakewell for A McCaughan (49)
• Scorers: E McIntosh 1-2 (1’45); J McIntosh 0-1; M Kelly 0-1; L McBride 0-1

Referee: Paul McNeill (Creggan)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/5c8vfmDU78omsw/?invite=faacb333-a81c-42db-becb-041900c26ee7