Antrim Camogie League Division 1 – 30th July 2024

Dunloy 2-10 Loughgiel 6-11

Match report and photo album from Michael Corcoran at Pearse Park, Dunloy

With Dunloy just one game away from a league title Loughgiel spoiled the party with a late surge of scores on Tuesday evening, Roisin McCormick leading the line with a player of the match display. Bathed in summer sun, Pearse Park was buzzing with young voices milling around pucking balls before the senior Camogs took to the pitch. Summer had arrived in Dunloy, albeit briefly. As the north wind pegged temperatures to a mere 15 degrees, almost to a breath by half time, a sinking sun would eventually cause the temperature to head south.

It wouldn’t feel chilly to the players though. A high intensity first half had both sides going toe to toe, despite Loughgiel adding two goals to their scoreline. Dunloy would respond after the break with two goals amidst a period of end-to-end camogie but as Loughgiel pressed in the fourth quarter, Dunloy had no answer to a series of spearheaded attacks up the centre of the field, culminating in a clutch of goals for the Shamrocks.

Referee Shane Mc Donnell threw in sharply on the half hour and it would be Dunloy’s Aine Magill pointing for the first score of the night. Loughgiel’s Roisin McCormick would reply quickly with a point set up by Lucia McNaughton who was making her return to playing after convalescing an injury, and she would prove pivotal in establishing a supply of sliotars to the full forward line throughout the match.

Dunloy had a reply in the making as Cassie McArthur drilled the sliotar over Eimear Boyles bar from outwards of 25 metres. The Shamrocks could have inched up two points from frees awarded due to fouls on both Amy Boyle and Lucia McNaughton, but McCormick drifted both wide before a McNaughton shot on target was pushed out by Dunloy’s keeper, Mary Martin and returned to the back of the net from an alert Christine McCloskey, ten minutes into the first half.

Dunloy’s Aine Magill would help to minimise Loughgiel’s score with a straight point won in midfield. Both sides tallied up a further three points from play, though Loughgiel’s Emma McFadden, drifting up to the half way line, dropped in a towering sliotar that was splitting the bar. Mary Martin had no sooner skilfully brought that to ground when McCormick would turn it over for her point.

Up to now, Dunloy were capable of shutting down the majority of advances in and around the 13m box but as Annie Lynn took possession and offloaded to McNaughton, an accurate pass to McCormick allowed the full forward to clock up Loughgiel’s second goal twenty-four minutes into the first half.

It could have been three majors before the short whistle as the McNaughton-McCormick combination were denied a shot on target by a brave save from Mary Martin.

With two more points apiece from each side, Dunloy’s from frees by Nicole McAtamney, McDonnell spotting a trip and a slap on the stick, and Loughgiel’s points from play from McCormick and McNaughton, the short whistle paused the scoreboard with Loughgiel four to the good Dunloy 0-08 Loughgiel 2-06.

Dunloy started the second half with intentions of scoring goals. As Bronagh Magill fed a determined McAtamney firing to target, Eimear Boyle dropped the sliotar safely to ground, eventually carried away by Clare McKillop. Dunloy returned again, this time Cassie McArthur would spill the sliotar wide of the post before Aine Magill breached Boyle’s defences and delivered into the top left of the net.

Never one for travelling too deep from her midfield role, Loughgiel’s Amy Boyle was extremely busy winning the sliotar from rucks and offloading those with tremendous pace as she split from the pack. One of those found McNaughton for a competent point from upwards of 35 metres out into the dropping breeze.

The large scoreboard was quietly announcing Dunloy 1-08 Loughgiel 2-07 after 13 minutes, when Cassie McArthur was rewarded for her persistence in staying deep for a simple pull on the sliotar as Boyle took a step back behind the goal line.

The game was in the balance whenever a pressing McCormick forced an error in defence and once the sliotar was firmly on McCormick’s stick, it travelled in only one direction for her second goal. McCormick would now initiate an avalanche of goals. Substitute Marie Laverty placed the sliotar into the hands of McNaughton and a running McCormick had her hat trick. McCormick’s fourth goal came as a short puck out failed to find a secure Cuchulainn hand, resulting in an eagle-eyed McCormick turning that over into the net.

Although both sides managed to point in between the majors, Marie Laverty would take the honour of closing Loughgiel’s account as Dunloy’s keeper diffused an awkward high ball, Laverty intuitively flicked the sliotar up high under the bar for her goal.

Dunloy’s Nicole McAtamney was sweeping tirelessly back and forward at times to help break down some of Loughgiel’s advances. The hard-working wing half forward would get her final point of the night from a free at 30 minutes on the clock. McDonnell glanced down and brought proceedings to an end with only a minute of added time.

The result brings the league title down to the wire with interesting permutations to play out in division 1a. A lot will depend on Cushendall as they are in a position to be King makers or harvesters of woe.

Dunloy Scorers:

Caoimhe Molloy 0-01, Nicole McAtamney 0-04 (3f), Cassie McArthur 1-02, Aine Magill 1-03

Loughgiel Scorers:

Christine McCloskey 1-00, Lucia McNaughton 0-03, Roisin McCormick 4-07 (2f, 1×45), Anna McKillop 0-01, Marie Laverty 1-00

Photos from Tuesday evening’s game can be found in the photo album by clicking on the link here.

https://myalbum.com/album/o5QcGeGa5Tenze/?invite=8e611591-2b4c-4d71-abe1-0c4938819d8f

Follow Michael G Corcoran @keep_clickin on X (formerly Twitter) for match Gifs when available.

Follow The Saffron Gael @TheSaffronGael on X for links to match reports

Antrim Camogie League Division 1

Loughgiel 3-11 Ballycastle 2-9

Pics by Michael Corcoran

The opening of the Division 1 Senior Camogie League in Fr Healy Park began with great efforts being made by both teams, but it would quickly turn to the advantage of the home side, with a puck over the bar by Caitrin Dobbin. Ballycastle had made great strides to prevent the Red and White onslaught with fast movements from Nuala Devlin, who was successful in delivering the first goal for Ballycastle after multiple attempts by her comrades each time that the ball dropped short. However, Loughgiel’s determination flourished with two goals by Shanna Deery. Both teams had shown tenacity in their defences, with Kathryn Donnelly presenting a fierce challenge to anyone who approached. Loughgiel’s Clare McKillop had presented a phenomenal challenge to the Ballycastle forwards with the help of Maria Lynn and Katie Lynn. A third goal by Annie Lynn cemented Loughgiel’s position. A final point by Christine Laverty with the help of Annie Lynn helped curtail Ballycastle’s impending counterstrike before the half time whistle.

Half Time  –  Loughgiel 3-8  Ballycastle 1-3

Ballycastle would return to the field with a newly inspired aggression to force a change in the tide with multiple points by Fionnuala Kelly and Janey McIntosh, who also secured a second goal for “The Town.” With the change of the wind, Amy Boyle and Clare McKillop highlighted that the fight would continue for Loughgiel, but Elen McIntosh stood out as she attempted to push forward despite her opposition. A succession of points scored from frees had narrowed the gap between the two teams, and Kathryn Donnelly made it increasingly difficult for Loughgiel to widen the gap that was closing. Ultimately, two final scores by Shanna Deery and Annie Lynn ensured that the Shamrocks would win with a five point lead.

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Tuesday 9^th April

Tír na nÓg 1-8 Brídíní Óga Glenravel 4-14

ALTHOUGH Brídíní Óga Glenravel were deserving winners of this opening Division 1 camogie league fixture in Whitehill, two very late goals gave the score-board a rather flattering look.

The home side, playing with the aid of the breeze in the first half, was the better team and deserved to jump into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Defender Carla O’Neill showed the way with a fine individual point and that was followed by three points from Emily Falloon, one of them a free, while Eimhear McAleenan pointed a free from one of Brídíní Óga’s rare attacks. A shot from out the field then came off an upright and Rachel Bonnes reacted first to find the net.

However the visitors responded well with a point from Ashling Millar in the next attack and were right back in the game when the same player took a pass from Orlaith Gould and netted in the 22^nd minute.

Millar and Erin Coulter then cancelled out two points from Susan Shannon before the break to leave Tír na nÓg just two points ahead, 1-6 to 1-4.

Within five minutes of the re-start, points from Eimhear McAleenan (free) and Molly Woulahan levelled the game. Millar and McAleenan quickly added points and then Kirsty Laverty set Woulahan up for a fine goal. There was only going to be one winner after that.

Ahead now by 2-11 to 1-6, the scoring suddenly dried up with Emma Louise McAreavey and Catilin McGaughey taking over in defence and Susan Shannon and Emily Falloon putting pressure on coming through from midfield.

Over the next ten minutes Tír na nÓg exerted plenty of pressure, but only got two Falloon points from frees in return. Then in the last five minutes, the Glenravel girls hit an unanswered three points followed by injury time goals from Ashling Millar and Molly Woulahan.

It was a good work-out for both teams, but bigger challenges loom next week with Brídíní Óga making the short trip to Cushendall and Tír na nÓg hosting Loughgiel.

Tír na nÓg: C Godfrey, K Bonnes, C McGaughey, C Bonnes, A McCloskey, EL McAreavey, C O’Neill 0-1, CM McStravick, S Shannon 0-2, N McKinley, E Falloon 0-5, 3 frees, J Simpson, S Martin capt, R Bonnes 1-0, E Magee.

Subs used: B Devlin, M O’Dolan, C Fagan, C Townsend, C Lemon

Brídíní Óga: O Donnelly, A Mulholland, M McKenna, L Esler, Ú McAleenan, J Woulahan, E Coulter capt 0-3, M Mulholland, E McAleese, O Gould, K Laverty, N Donnelly, E McAleenan 0-6 frees, O Ward, A Millar 2-3.

Subs used: C Emerson, S McDonnell, M Woulahan 2-2, A McPeake, C McPeake

Referee: P O’Neill (Creggan)

Very Camogie League Division 1B 

Antrim 3-10 Limerick 2-5

Antrim Camogs made it three wins out of four when they staged a great second half comeback to beat Limerick at Ballycastle on Saturday. Things looked bleak for the Saffrons when they trailed by 2-4 to 0-2 at one stage in the opening half, but they came out after the interval with all guns blazing and overturned the deficit to earn a deserved win.

Antrim showed just on change from the side that beat Kerry in the last group game, two weeks ago, as Róisín McCormick returned to take over at centre-forward. However the home side struggled during the first half in bad conditions as a strong wind blowing straight across the pitch made things very difficult

The home side struggled to get score during the opening half with just one score from play coming from Cassie McArthur’s point in the 26th minute.

Limerick looked the better team and goals from Niamh Ryan and Caoimhe Lyons had them 2-2 to 0-4 ahead at half time, and in truth they could have been further had it not been for a couple of top class saves from Catriona Grahm in the Antrim goal.

Hope were not high among the antrim followers going in at the break, but the team came out revitalised and showed what they can do. They got the early boost they needed when a good movements between Siobhán McKillop and Caitrín Dobbin set up Annie Lynn for an early goal and when Maeve Kelly added two points in quick succession the mood was clearly lifted. Limerick did hit back to retake the lead again through a Costello free, but a good move involving Loughgiel’s Caitrin Dobbin and Cushendall’s Siobhan McKillop got the home team going again and with 40 minutes on the clock they were two ahead again.

It was score for score for a while as Limerick kept in touch, but the Saffrons produced a strong finishing burst when subtitutes Fionnuala Kelly and Sarah Fyfe both found the net to seal a five point win.

This win keeps Antrim in a strong position and gives them a chance of reaching the league final, if they can pick up two more points when they travel to Dublin next weekend.

Antrim: A Lynn, F Kelly and S Fyfe 1-0 each, R McCormick 0-3 frees, M Kelly and C Dobbin 0-2 each, S McKillop, A McKillop (free) and C McArthur 0-1 each.

Limerick: C Lyons 1-1, N Ryan 1-0, C Lyons 0-3 frees, A Larkin 0-1

Antrim: C Graham, C Patterson, C Conlon, C McKillop, E Coulter, E Martin, F McIntosh, A Boyle, S McKillop, M Kelly, R McCormick, C McArthur, A McKillop, A Lynn, C Dobbin.

Subs: M McGarr for F McIntosh (15), E Johnston for A McKillop (39), E McIntosh for C McArthur (45), F Kelly for M Kelly (48), S Fyfe for A Lynn (51).

Limerick: C Mulqueen, T Dore, M Quaid, A Nelligan, O Kelleher, M Creamor, S Woulfe, D Egan, R Delee, S O’Callaghan, N Ryan, M O’Callaghan, L Fennelly capt., C Costello, C Lyons.

Subs: A Larkin for M O’Callaghan (45), S Cosgrove for L Fennelly (45), Á Reynolds for S O’Callaghan (48)

Referee; P McDonnell (Cavan)