Antrim Camogie League – Division 2

St Mary’s Ahoghill 2-14 Cargin 0-11

An excellent start to the league for Ahoghill Senior Camogs this evening with a win against visitors, Cargin in their opening game in Div 2.
The new season has also brought new management, with Francis Neeson returning to camogie coaching at the Club after several years away dedicated to playing dual codes, Declan Scullion, who returned to his Club roots a few years ago in terms of coaching and management with the male squads, has now joined Francis and Nicola Doherty is also on board.
The new look was reflected on the pitch as well with players in different positions, such as Noreen Graham in nets – currently resting an injury- Goal keeping might be a Graham gift and a new position for her as she did a super job in there this evening.
Some younger girls got their 1st taste of competitive Senior camogie and Eadaoín McGarry was named Captain with Bronagh Graffin Vice-Captain.

The game was nip and tuck in the 1st half, with Cargin going 3 points up but Niamh Neeson, in mid-field, found the net shortly before half time to level it at the break
Cargin 0.07 Ahoghill 1.04

Playing with the wind in the second half
the home side split the posts at the restart and added 1.10 throughout the remainder of the game.
Aisling O’Donnell wearing No.9 scored 0.02, Aine Graham in centre half forward, rather than her usual defensive position, notched up 0.06 in total, Aoibheann Mullen (1.0) found the net for the 2nd goal of the game,
Bonagh Graffin hit 0.01 and
Niamh Neeson tallied 1.05

There was excellent team play all over the field
Noreen, excellent in nets was supported well by Eadaoín McGarry in centre half, Sephora OConnell and Mairead McCloskey and Dervla Graffin.
Great link-up play in mid field with the half forward line and dogged determination in the forward line, there were scoring opportunities missed but the Ahoghill girls will be happy with their first run out.

All in all a great opening game, Cargin added a further 4 points in the 2nd half, with Eleanor Mallon and sister Catherine putting in an excellent shift. Sarah ONeill amd Tanya ONeill also put in noteworthy performances.
The girls in green have also, only recently, had new management come on board.
Stephen Magill who took the minors the last 2 years stepped up to Senior for 2023, assisted by Liam McAtamney who has been a constant in Cargin Camogie’s back- room team.

All County Camogie League

Loch Mór Dál gCais 1-0 Latharna Og 5-10

• Latharna Og travelled up the A8 to Mallusk to play Loch Mór Dál gCais. After late changes with the match being put back to 8pm and a reshuffle of the team, as only 14 Loch Mór Dál gCais players were available, the girls put the confusion behind them and put their head in the game. After a slow start and a very physical game, they soon got composure and shape throughout the team. It didn’t take long to get into their usual swing of things and they started to tick the scoreboard over nicely. A great scoring exhibition from Beth McCauley and Erin Petticrew getting back into the form of last year. Good to see Bronagh Shields and Holly Gillan consistently getting the scores in again, with Ellie McKinley and Colleen Duffy adding further points to the tally. A lot of debut starts for girls – and what a performance they put in, they didn’t shy away from any action and they will for sure give management headaches. Again the girls are asked to show up and do the best they can whoever the opposition and that they did! Management can only speak highly of them when chatting about the girls “from training session and matches – the enjoyment is the key factor which makes it all click to get the right performance – they are credit to mentor” Well done to Emma McConkey (debut) Ellie McKinley and Alice Gillan for standout performances. Beth McCauley for the continued Scores Good luck to Loch Mór Dál gCais in their remaining fixtures

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• Thanks again to @paulmcilwaine for the great photos

ACL Division 2

                                           Rossa 1.04    Creggan 1.10   

As Vincent Boyle blew the whistle and threw the ball in, the rain was pelting down and conditions were poor with light fading.  Both sides started the contest battling for every ball and nothing really separated the teams bar the ability of both their goalkeepers – Rossa’s Sophia Erskine and Creggan’s Fiona Maguire were both outstanding making brave saves, clearing their line and pucking the ball out with pinpoint accuracy.  The home side had a 4 point lead with 10 minutes to go and the visitors threw everything at them but they couldn’t close he gap.

 Mary Murray got the Staffordstown side up and running with a clever point 3 minutes in.  County Player Eavanne Martin added the next 2 points – 1 from play and 1 from a free.  Rossa’s response was a quick point from Caoimhe McNeice and a goal minutes later from Lois Lynch to put the visitors 1 point up but this was Rossa’s last score until the 28^th minute when Deborah Lees was on target from close range after several unsuccessful attempts.  As we approached half time, Rossa were guilty of some poor finishing and bad luck.  Creggan, on the other hand, had Eavanne Martin in top form adding 2 further points from the placed ball while her colleague Mary Murray doubled her tally with the last point of the half to leave Creggan 2 points ahead at the break

HALF TIME SCORE:          Creggan 0.07 v Rossa 1.02

It took 10 minutes of second half action before a white flag was raised.  Both teams battled intensely around mid-field and the ball and that is where the majority of the exchanges were concentrated.

Rossa’s Natalie McGuinness, Lois McMullan and Lois Lynch fought intensely with Creggan’s Aoife McAteer, Ella McAteer and Rubymarie Rice ensuring that scores would be at a premium.  Eavanne Martin increased her tally by adding another pointed free while her team mate Mia Quinn got her name on the score board toextend the Creggan lead 12 minutes into the game. 

As the tussle continued with players managing to break out of midfield, it was now the job of both the talented goalkeepers to keep the respective sides within touching distance.  Sophia Erskine and Creggan’s Maguire both produced superb saves given the terrible conditions. 

Rossa had a great opportunity with12 minutes to go from a 20m free to narrow the gap as Emily McGurk lined up to take the free.  The signal came from the dugout to go low striking the ball directly at Creggan’s Maguire who stopped it dead before launching it out to be intercepted by Aoife McAteer who duly dropped it over the bar. 

The visitors’ failed attempt on goal only encouraged their intensity.  Their defence worked tirelessly – Clodagh McMenamin, Deborah Lee and Jade McKnight – held firm to keep the Creggan advance from over running their goal.  The visitors became increasingly desperate to close the 3 point gap and they put the Creggan backline under overwhelming pressure – the experienced Kelly Mulholland, Emma McAuley and Rose Carey Small were superb in defence. 

The Rossa push forward left their defence vulnerable and Creggan’s substitute Ciara McCollum, Susan McIlwee and Eavanne Martin were unlucky as the ball drifted low and wide twice with 5 minutes to go.  The home side finally got through for the goal that their pressure deserved however and vulnerable and  Eavanne Martin finished the action for the day with a goal on injury time.

                 

CREGGAN:           No.1 Fional Maguire No.2 Emma McAuley, No.3 Kelly Mulholland, No.4 Rose Carey Small, No.5 Caoimhe McAteer, No.6 Megan Nelson, No.7 Sile Murray, No.8 Aoife McAteer (0.01), No.9 Ella McAteer, No.10 Eavanne Martin (1.06), No.11 Rubymarie Rice, No.12 Mia Quinn (0.01) No.13 Cerys O’Neill, No.14 Susan McIlwee, No.15 Mary Murray (0.02,) No.16 Maria Gately, No.17 Ciara McCollum, No.18 Neva Chauhan, No.20 Aine Colgan, No.21 Megan Darragh, No.22 Laura McCann.

ROSSA:                 No.1 Sophua Erskine, No.2 Clodagh McMenamine, No.3 Deborah Lees (0.01), No.4 Jada McKnight, No.5 Orla McCall, No.6 Eimear Byrne, No.7 Bronagh Orchin, No.8 Natalie McGuinness (0.01), No.9 Louis McMullan, No.10 Lois Lynch (1.00), No.11 Caoimhe McNeice (0.01), No.12 Caoimhe Wylie,, No.13 Emily McGurk (0.01), No.14 Eimear Matthews, No.15 Naomh Steele, No.16 Orla Boyle, No.18 Catherine Beattie,  No.19 Riona Matthews, No.20 Ciara Loughran, No.21 Holly Reid.

Referee, Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)