Antrim Bath & Tile Camogie League Division 1

Ballycastle 2-12 Cushendall 2-11

Cushendall travelled to Ballycastle on Tuesday evening knowing they needed a win over the hosts and a Dunloy win over Loughgiel to keep their league title hopes alive. As things turned out both results went against them, giving the Shamrocks the title, but the Ruairis gave their game a very good run.

Trailing by a point at half time (2-4 to 1-8) Cushendall came out in the second half and hit five points in a row to put themselves in the driving seat, but the Town hit back with a goal and three of their own to swing the game back in their favour and though Lara Haughey got a late point to cut the gap back to the minimum, the home side held on for the win.

Player fo the match Janey McIntosh gave Ballycastle and early lead with a point, and though Dervla Cosgrove brought Cushendall level, points from Samantha McKillen, Janey McIntosh and Aine Donnelly put them three ahead.

Goals from full forward Laura McMullan and corner forward Orlaith McAlister gave Cushendall the edge, but Shannon Graham and Aine Donnelly pointed to edge the Town in front by a single point at half time.

Four in a row by Dervla Cosgrove and one from Brogan Abram swung the game back in the Ruairiettes favour but a second goal from Janey McIntosh started a run that brought Ballycastle two clear again, Niamh Cosgrove, Aine Donnelly and Shanon Graham getting the points. Dervla Cosgrove and Ellen McIntosh exchanged points to keep the gap at two, and though Lara Haughey pulled one back near the end for Cushendall, that was as close as they got.

Antrim Tile & Bath Camogie League – Division 1

Loughgiel 5-15 Dunloy 0-7

Loughgiel wrapped up another league title when they beat Dunloy in their final league game of the campaign at Fr Healy Park on Tuesday evening. Cushendall were still in contention for the title going into their last game but a one point defeat in Ballycastle ruled them out of contention.

Loughgiel were three ahead after ten minutes, two of the points coming from Roisin McCormick and one from Annie Lynn but points from Aine Magill and Caoimhe Molloy kept Dunloy in touch. However when Roisin McCormick drove a low shot across the Dunloy keeper Mary Martin to the corner of the net the Shamrocks began to open up a gap and by half time there were 1-7 to 0-5 in front.

When Annie Lynn got Loughgiel’s second goal early in the second half the gap began to widen as an understrength Dunloy struggled to get to the pace of the game. They were getting a good share of possession but the score were not coming freely. Aine Magill got a point from a narrow angle on the right but it was to be Dunloy’s last score while Loughgiel ran riot, hitting a further 3-7 in the final ten minutes, three of them coming in the last three minutes, two from Orlagh Laverty and one from Emma McMullan  

Antrim Camogie League Division 1

Cushendall: 0-6 Loughgiel: 6-17

County champions and Division 1 League holders Loughgiel travelled to Cushendall and beat an understrength Ruairi Og side convincingly on Tuesday evening to move back to the top of the league table.

With eight players missing because of injury and holidays the home side knew there were going to struggle and their fears were soon realised as the Shamrocks hit them with a barrage of scores early in the game. Annie Lynn, Caitrin Dobbin (2) and Roisin McCormick all hit the net as Loughgiel raced to a 4-10 to 0-2 lead at the interval

A couple of early points from full forward Orlaith McAlister  lifted spirtis a little but it was to be a brief respite as the Shamrocks continued to press home their undoubted advantage with Roisin McCormick and Caitrin Dobbin both adding goals to the team tally. Laura McMullan and Orlaith McAlister came back with points for the home side midway through the half but the visitors ended with six unanswered points to run out winners by 6-17 to 0-6

Brídíní Óga Glenravel 5-13 Geraldine’s Portglenone 1-7

Seamus McAleenan reports from Fr Maginn Park

BRÍDÍNÍ ÓGA Glenravel moved ahead of Geraldine’s Portglenone in the Division 1 league table after this second round game in Glenravel on Tuesday evening.

The home side got off to the perfect start when the Ward cousins combined for Ashling to pull first time to the net in the 4^th minute. Two minutes later a free from Caoimhe Duffin was knocked down into Ashling Millar’s path again and she lashed it to the roof of the net for her second goal and a 2-1 to 0-0 lead.

At the other end there was a scramble around the goal area and Katie Carey pounced for her side’s first score – a goal. That however was to be their only score right up until a minute before half-time when Shannon Darragh fired over a point.

In between the Glenravel girls pushed on with points from Torie Edgar, Molly Woulahan, Erin Coulter and two frees from Eimhear McAleenan to leave a gap of 2-6 to 1-1 at the change of ends.

Despite points from Áine Mulholland and Shannon Darragh on the re-start, the sliotar broke once again for Ashling Millar and she completed her hat-trick by racing clear and giving Patricia McCarry no chance from ten metres.

Millar, half-time sub Clodagh McPeake and Erin Coulter then swopped points with Aoife McKenna, Shannon Darragh and Orla Convery before another Glenravel sub Niamh McKay took a pass on the wing and scored her side’s fourth goal with a shot that went in off the post just under the cross-bar.

Molly Woulahan added a fifth goal before the end and Brídíní Óga were well worth their win, just their third in nine outings and second within a week.

It was a solid team performance from the home side with subs coming in and making their mark as well. Portglenone were best served by Alishia Convery and Cristin O’Kane in defence and Áine Mulholland and Shannon Darragh further out.

The last round of games takes place in a fortnight with Brídíní Óga away to Rossa and Portglenone at home to Tír na nÓg

Brídíní Óga: O Donnelly, A Mulholland, J Woulahan, A Donnelly, E Coulter (0-2), C Duffin, M Mulholland, K Laverty, S Fyfe, S McDonnell, M Woulahan (1-1), V Edgar (0-4, 2 frees), A Millar (3-1), O Ward, E McAleenan (0-2 frees).

Subs: M Law (0-1), C McPeake (0-2 frees), N McKay (1-0), C McCormick, C Law, Ú McAleenan, E Butler, D Scally, C McBride, C Stephens, K McDonnell.

Geraldine’s: P McCarry, E Vallely, A Convery, C McFaul, M Mooney, C O’Kane, D Dobbin, Á Mulholland (0-1), M McLarnon, A McKenna (0-1), S Darragh (0-3, 2 frees), G Convery, R Kelly, J Fleming, K Carey (1-1, 0-1 free).

Subs: O Convery (0-1), Ú Doherty, C Agnew, A Vallely, E Tsang, C Convery.

Referee: Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Dunloy 1-12 Ballycastle 1-11  

By Paul McLean

League games can be sometimes labelled as dull affairs, especially when the clubs are minus their county contingency with the split season, but this game played at Pearse Park was played like an August championship contest.  

With the Intermediate and Senior panel members out of both sides it was a chance for other players to step to the front and both managements will be happy with the showing from their respective panels.  

The first half was very tight with Ballycastle playing against the wind and electing to adopt a sweeper to curb the Dunloy forwards, but it was Dunloy who stepped in front with a brace of points from a Caoimhe Molloy free and one from play from sister Katie.  

Áine Donnelly opened the Ballycastle girls account wide on the right-hand side following good defensive work by the returning Niamh Donnelly.  

Caoimhe Molloy pointed for the home side but with so little between the sides it was of no surprise that they reduced the gap again. A fine solo run and strike on the wing by Nuala Delvin was then followed up by a Fionnula Kelly point to make it a two-point game.  

The sides continued to exchange scores with points from Caoimhe Molloy, Lisa McConville and Eimear Johnstone for the home side and Áine Donnelly, Kelly and Devlin but it was both teams backs who really stood out.  

Full backs Kathryn Donnelly and Elis Kearns were both in excellent form standing strong along with the rest of the backlines.  

With no more scoring to the break the half time score read 0-09 to 0-07 with nothing between the sides.  

Caoimhe Molloy got the opening two scores of the second half as Dunloy started the stronger team. The wind that was much stronger in the first half seemed to die down which allowed the home side to do without any sweepers.  

Dunloy pushed even farther ahead when a long free from Caoimhe Molloy dropped into the box where full forward Orlagh O’Neill pulled on it and got enough contact on it to divert it past the keeper into the net.  

Another point by Caoimhe Molloy should have been the score that put the visitors away, but it wasn’t to be as they rallied themselves in the final 15mins of the game to get back into it.  

Catherine McShane pointed a free to get the Ballycastle girls first score of the half but it was a cross field ball to half forward Nuala Devlin who took on two defenders to bear down on goal that got them going. The speedy winger took on her player and the space opened up in front of her to finish to the roof of the net, despite the best efforts of Mary Martin in nets.  

The same player repeated the dose not long after although this time she settled for a point. With the pressure telling Dunloy gave away two frees which were well taken by Aine Donnelly to reduce the difference to the minimum.  

The last few minutes of the game were nip and tuck with both teams going at it and in particular the Dunloy defence who to their credit stood strong. Niamh Ann Donnelly worked two good shooting opportunities but the forwards struggled to find time and space to get their shots away. A fine brace of blocks by Sorcha Conlon and Katie Molloy really made the difference as they denied certain scores.  

A really good game from both sides which seem Dunloy winning by a point at the final whistle.  

Despite both sides being missing a number of key players both managements will have been happy with what they have seen from their panels as both teams served up an excellent game.  

Kathryn Donnelly at full back was very good along with the returning Niamh Donnelly at centre half who also had a very good game. Up front Fionnula Kelly and Nuala Devlin were the best of the forwards.  

For the home side Eilis Kearns and Sorcha Conlon were very good and well served beside them by Sarah McIlhatton and Kyra Doherty. Caoimhe Molloy and sister Katie were very strong along with the hard-working Eimear Johnstone.