Category / Division 1

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

by thesaffrongael

Ruairi’s Impress to Defeat The Town

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 28th 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 11th 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 20th 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

by thesaffrongael

A spirited Ahoghill take six of the best from Loughgiel

Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1 League

Loughgiel 6-24 Ahoghill 1-03

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

With the glorious summer weather abating as the days tick by, tonight’s game in Fr. Healy Park brought us all back to earth with a chilly bump. A strong northerly breeze, keeping most spectators in their cars, hampered point scoring to some degree for the Shamrocks as they played from the club end. But that didn’t seem to bother them and instead Loughgiel focussed on goals for the better part of the first half, knowing the element would be on their backs later.

Many would have forecast a one sided affair for tonight’s game but a spirited Ahoghill squad dug deep and fought hard to limit the end result. Although the Shamrocks remained dominant throughout the game, the girls from Fr. McGuigan Park spoiled the green flag count with at least three magnificent collective efforts in and around the small box as Loughgiel pressed hard in the second half.

Loughgiel’s Ceala Dobbin was industrious scoring and assisting in tonight’s game

Orlagh Laverty opened up the major score count for the Shamrocks but that was equalled by Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey when the opportunity arose to break behind Loughgiel’s defence. An industrious Ceala Dobbin made it two for Loughgiel within fifteen minutes from an intercepted Ahoghill sideline, then in less than three minutes made that three goals (Dobbin’s second) from an Anna Connolly – Orlagh Laverty setup. Annie Lynn got some of the action after recycling the Ahoghill puc out for her fine point. A sister act brought Loughgiel’s goal count to four when Orlagh Laverty fed through the sliotar to Christine McCloskey. McCloskey took the overhead bat option to rule out a hook from any chasing players. Tonight’s official, Paul O’Neill, blew for the break with scores Loughgiel 4-11 Ahoghill 1-01.

Maeve O’Donnell is denied a high ball as Loughgiel’s Louise McKillop takes the sliotar down from behind

The restart brought further pressure to Ahoghill as Loughgiel now had a full sail with the blowing breeze behind them. Five points fired over the bar before Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham replied with an excellent point from an acute angle, but Loughgiel’s Kirsty Mckendry would make it five goals as she made good use of a pass from Dobbin. Although Katie McCloskey moved Ahoghill’s score along after a fine point, Loughgiel made good of the turnaround and ran up six points in quick succession. And when Loughgiel’s Anna Smyth made a lunge for goal, O’Neill was quick to spot an infringement, setting up Loughgiel’s goalkeeper to take and score the penalty with a stinger high into the net.

You can see Emma McAllister’s penalty here…

That would bring tonight’s game to an end and essentially an end to the league. Although there are a few re-fixtures in the planning, essentially these will not alter Cushendall’s place at the top of the leaderboard.

You can see more photos from tonight’s game by following the link to the album here…

https://myalbum.com/album/3XpXaLxiExavon/?invite=580e5c70-9310-4326-8244-078e40bbcfbb

Loughgiel starters and scorers

Emma McAllister 1-0 (P), Charlene Campbell, Úna McGovern, Finvola McVeigh, Anna Smyth 0-01, Megan McGarry, Louise McKillop, Anna Connelly, Shanna Deery 0-02, Annie Lynn 0-06, Christine McCloskey 1-03, Katie McKillop 0-06 (3f), Anna McKillop, Orlagh Laverty 1-03, Caela Dobbin 2-01, Kirsty McKendry 1-00, Carlina Sullivan 0-02

Ahoghill starters and scorers

Aine Graham, Dearbhaile Graffin, Bronagh Graffin, Fiona Blaney, Niamh Neeson, Éadaoin McGarry, Orla Neeson, Caoimhe Scullion, Aisling O’Donnell, Niamg Graham, Katie McCloskey 1-02, Molly Horan, Maeve O’Donnell, Róisín Loughlin, Noreen Graham 0-01

by thesaffrongael

McNeill on the mark as Cushendall step closer to retaining their league title

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Dunloy 2-05 Cushendall 0-17

Cushendall Ruairi Óg took a significant step toward retaining their Antrim Division 1 Camogie League title with a commanding six-point victory over Dunloy Cuchullains at Pearse Park on Tuesday evening. In a high-intensity encounter, it was a virtuoso performance from Eva McNeill that stole the headlines, with the sharp-shooting forward serving as the star of the show to guide the visitors to a well-earned win.

The game roared into life from the opening whistle. Eva McNeill laid down an early marker for Cushendall with a point inside the first minute, though Dunloy hit back immediately through an Áine Magill score just sixty seconds later. McNeill edged the visitors ahead with a beautifully struck ’45’ in the sixth minute, but Dunloy found the game’s opening major shortly after. Erin McMullan showed great predatory instincts to find the net in the eighth minute, and when Aileen McManus followed up with a quick point, the Cuchullains looked to be building serious momentum.

However, Cushendall’s response was emphatic. Dervla Cosgrove ignited the fightback with a magnificent long-range point, followed instantly by a Brogan Abram score. Siobhán McKillop then leveled proceedings in the 15th minute, showing superb balance to strike on the run from the left-hand side. While Áine Magill kept Dunloy in touch with an 18th-minute free, the remainder of the half belonged to the Ruairí Óg vanguard. Abram tallied her second of the evening with a fine score, McKillop loosed off another brilliant point, and Eva McNeill took dead-aim from placed balls, slotting two late frees before clipping over a fine score from play to give Cushendall a deserved 0-11 to 1-03 cushion at the break.

The visitors picked up exactly where they left off after the restart, Eva McNeill converting another free to stretch the gap. Áine Magill responded with a great point from play for Dunloy, but McNeill was in an unplayable mood, landing a free before drifting out to the left wing to fire over a spectacular point from a tight angle. Another McNeill free extended the lead, but Dunloy refused to lie down. After a chaotic 43rd-minute goalmouth scramble somehow failed to yield a major for the home side, they finally got their breakthrough two minutes later. Erin McMullan was again the provider, turning sharply to fire home her second goal of the match and breathe new life into the Dunloy challenge, cutting the deficit to four.

Sensing a shifting tide, the champions flexed their muscles. Just two minutes after the Dunloy goal, Eva McNeill steadied the ship with another precise free to re-establish a five-point cushion. The exclamation point on a masterful individual display came in the 49th minute. Anticipating a short Dunloy poc-out, McNeill brilliantly intercepted the clearance and casually tapped the sliotar over the bar. It was the definitive blow of the contest, sealing a comprehensive six-point victory and cementing Cushendall’s march toward back-to-back league honours.

Cuchullains Dun Lathaí

1 Clodagh OKane, 2 Casey Crawford, 3 Kathryn Boyle, 5 Eilis Kearns, 6 Katie Laverty, 7 Eimear McMullan, 8 caitlin crawford, 9 Bronach Magill, 10 Erin McMullan, 11 Bríd Magill, 12 Aine Magill, 14 Aileen McManus, 15 Adria McAllister.

Ruairí Óg

1 Ellen Leech, 2 Laoise McCollam, 3 Anna McNeill, 4 Tamara Black, 5 aoife mcclafferty, 6 Abi McNeill, 7 Laura Black, 8 Dervla Cosgrove, 9 Siobhan McKillop, 10 Brogan Abram, 11 Rhianna Black, 12 Cara O’Boyle, 14 Eva McNeill, 15 Kady McNeill.

Scorers

Cushendall:

  • Eva McNeill: 0-12 (0-8 frees, 0-1 ’45’)
  • Siobhan McKillop: 0-02
  • Brogan Abram: 0-02
  • Dervla Cosgrove: 0-01

Dunloy:

  • Erin McMullan: 2-00
  • Aine Magill: 0-04 (0-1 free)
  • Aileen McManus: 0-01

  • Referee – Declan McGarry (Loughgiel Shamrocks)

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/Kuy6mpyejxf3L6/?invite=eebd79ad-bd35-4193-80b4-40fd1c3de8e8

by thesaffrongael

Emphatic win for Cushendall in Antrim Minor A Camogie Final

Ruairi Og Cushendall v Portglenone Geraldines

Ruairi Og Cushendall secured an emphatic 0-15 to 0-01 victory over Geraldines Portglenone in the Antrim Minor A Camogie final at Pairc Pol, Belfast on Friday evening. Under a new set-up for the competition, the two semi-finals were played immediately before the final (fifteen minutes each way) Cushendall booked their place by defeating Loughgiel at Rossa Park, while Portglenone advanced after beating St Paul’s at Pairc Pol. Ultimately, Cushendall proved unstoppable in the final, showing too much strength and firepower for a spirited Portglenone side.

Cushendall dominated the game from the opening whistle, operating on a completely different level. Aoife Molloy opened the scoring with a point from play just 30 seconds in, quickly followed by a strong individual point from Player of the match Eva McNeill. Cliodhna Thompson struck from play at the one-and-a-half-minute mark to keep the early momentum going, and Molloy found the target again shortly after to extend the lead. Erin McNaughton added to the tally with a well-taken point, and McNeill hit a massive long-range point from play at four and a half minutes. Portglenone threatened the target around the seven-minute mark, but a brilliant point blank save by Cushendall goalkeeper Ellen McAlister. A well-worked team move culminated in another point from McNeill, and Elena McQuillan added a point from play just before the break, to leave the half-time score at 0-10 to 0-00 in favour of Cushendall, with Eva McNeill establishing herself as the star of the show in the first period.

The second half saw Cushendall comfortably maintain their lead, utilizing accurate frees to keep the scoreboard ticking. Eva McNeill demonstrated her dead-ball accuracy, converting three consecutive long-range frees at the four-and-a-half, seven, and nine-minute marks. Cliodhna Thompson then slotted her second point of the day from play. Geraldines Portglenone successfully broke their duck ten and a half minutes into the half when Caoimhe Kelly scored a well-earned point from play. Finally, Emma Lynn registered the last point of the match for Cushendall at the 30-minute mark. The final whistle confirmed a highly one-sided 0-15 to 0-01 victory, crowning Ruairi Og Cushendall the Antrim Minor A Camogie champions.

Ruairi Og Cushendall: 1. Ellen McAlister, 2. Aibrean Campbell, 3. Laoise McCollam, 4. Emily Elliott, 5. Maeve McAlister, 6. Erin McNaughton, 7. Niamh McCollam, 8. Scarlett Kerr McKillop, 9. Tamara Black, 10. Anna Birt, 11. Eva McNeill, 12. Erin Mae Mitchell, 13. Aoife Molloy, 14. Cliodhna Thompson, 15. Laoiseach McNaughton,

16. Elena McQuillan, 17. Emma Lynn, 18. Lucia Trainor, 19. Eleyna Madden, 20. Amy McAlister, 21. Caragh McKinley, 22. Gabriella McNeill.

Geraldines Portglenone: 1. Emma Rose Diamond, 2. Niamh Martin, 3. Annie Convery, 4. Eira McTague, 5. Emily Scullion, 6. Gemma McAuley, 7. Aedin Vallely, 8. Ellen McAleer, 9. Cliodhna McKeever, 10. Aoife McGrogan, 11. Hollie Martin (C), 12. Eva McCann, 13. Caoimhe Kelly, 14. Caoimhe Doherty, 15.

Jojo Darragh, 16. Amy Addison, 17. Shannon McFall, 18. Olivia Marron, 19. Rose McVeigh, 20. Niamh McAleese.

TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PICS FROM THIS FINAL, PLUS THE TWO SEMI-FINALS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/3igVy7FbNhhoNg/?invite=298f74e2-f5dd-4b08-8a18-7c2666b0d35a

In the semi-finals Cushendall were 0-14 to 1-03 winners over Cushendall at Rossa Park. Eva McNeill was once again the commanding figure on the field, scoring nine of her team’s total, four from frees and five from play. The Loughgiel goal came from Marie Laverty, the centre forward also getting two of her team’s three points, while the other came from Catherine McGarry.

Portglenone won their semi-final against St Paul’s by 4-04 to 1-0, the goals coming from Aoife McGroggan and Jo Jo Darragh who bagged two apiece.

Na Seamroga Panel: 1. Maeve Scullion, 2. Rhea Dickson, 3. Brianna McCloskey, 4. Ciara Breen, 5. Eibhlin Kearney, 6. Anna Smyth, 7. Caela Casey, 8. Rose McMullan, 9. Caoimhe Bateson, 10. Catherine McGarry, 11. Marie Laverty, 12. Caoimhe Cunningham, 13. Roise McGarry, 14. Caoimhe McGarry, 15.

Cara Dobbin, 16. Aoife Cunningham, 17. Grace Mullan, 18. Erin Mullan, 19. Cara McGuckian, 20. Ella Devlin, 21. Charley Ann Robinson, 22. Clare McNeilly. Mentors – Roisin McMullan.

Naomh Pól Panel: 1 Caoimh Murray, 2 Niamh Curry, 3 Jane Feetham, 4 Amy Gault, 5 Amy Heaney, 6 Deirbhile Killyleagh, 7 Roisin Brady, 8 Ellie Lynn, 9 Abigail Maguire, 10 Caoimhe McCartan, 11 Aoibhinn McDonnell, 12 Kayla McKee, 13 Abaigh McNally ©, 14 Hannah Mead, 15 Orla Munce,

16 Aoife O’Hare, 17 Leila O’Rawe, 18 Aoife Rice, 19 Róise Stevenson, 20 Éabha Vallely, 21 Orlaigh Walker. Mentors – Ciara Gault, Clare Dowdall, Natalie McGuigan, Gerard McNally. First aid – Lisa Heaney.