Ruairi Og Cushendall delivered a commanding performance at Pairc Mhuir, overpowering Ballycastle to extend their impressive unbeaten run to five matches. The home side was in total control from the throw-in, establishing a dominant lead by half-time and never allowing Ballycastle a foothold in the game.
Cushendall opened the scoring early, with Eva McNeill registering a point from play just over three minutes in, quickly followed by another from Kady McNeill. The home team’s attacking intent was rewarded in the 9th minute when Orlaith McCurry found the back of the net, giving Ruairi Og an early cushion.
The scoring momentum continued with a point from Cliodhna Thompson and successive points from Eva McNeill, both from frees and open play. Ballycastle finally got on the scoreboard in the 21st minute courtesy of a free converted by their number 11, Louise McBride. Eva McNeill answered immediately with two more points for Cushendall before Ballycastle’s Aoife McCaughan, wearing number 13, tapped over another free.
As the half drew to a close, Kady McNeill struck for Cushendall’s second goal, capitalizing on open play. A further point from Eva McNeill and a free from Dervla Cosgrove left the half-time score at a daunting 2-9 to 0-2 in favor of the hosts.
Ballycastle showed some renewed fight early in the second half, opening the scoring with another free from Louise McBride. However, Cushendall’s Eva McNeill was relentless, converting two more frees to keep the visitors at bay.
Ballycastle managed their first point from play in the 7th minute of the half, courtesy of Eimear McCaughan. Despite this brief rally, Ruairi Og’s lead was never genuinely threatened. Eva McNeill continued her spectacular scoring streak, while Brogan Abram added three points of her own to the tally.
Louise McBride kept the scoreboard ticking over for Ballycastle with three more frees in the final quarter, but Cushendall put the game definitively to bed when Cliodhna Thompson netted their third goal of the evening in the 26th minute.
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. McGuigan Park, Ahoghill
It appears the summer isn’t knocking on our door anytime soon. This evening’s game between Ahoghill and Loughgiel had to endure an arctic blast running diagonally across the pitch from the scoreboard side towards Antrim, at times clouding over to threaten probably hail if it fell. Regardless, both sides knuckled down and made the best of a predominately dry evening. Loughgiel won the toss and opted to play with the wind, a strategy which benefited the Shamrocks as the elements eased in the second half, especially in the last fifteen minutes of the game.
Ahoghill knew what was ahead of them, having endured the force of a Shamrock blast in previous league encounters. Nonetheless, the red and black girls gave no quarter during the sixty minutes, despite the relentless offence from Loughgiel.
Referee, Shane McDonald, rolled in the sliotar just past the hour of 7pm and within a few minutes, both teams had scoring opportunities at close quarters diffused and forced back out. Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty would open the Shamrocks’ scoring for the evening with a simple point from just outside the box and looped back around to make that two before Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey performed a dream catch of the sliotar followed by a solo run ending in a fine point.
Ahoghill’s Caoimhe Scullion bolts to find clear space in tonight’s league game
Loughgiel, however, would respond with three points on the trot, two from play before Marie Laverty with the sliotar sourced deep from Aoibheann Gillan found Shanna Deery and up went the first green flag of the game.
Loughgiel perservered running with the wind pushing the sliotar hard to the right and found four points with no reply before Annie Lynn scored goal number two, fed from Louise McKillop in a mid field role. Loughgiel’s Rose McMullan, playing up to senior this year, was alert to a loose ball on the edge of the box and lifted the sliotar nicely over the bar for her point before Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham successfully floated a free over Loughgiel’s bar as Marie Laverty closed out the first half with a point from a free. At the break, scores stood Ahoghill 0-02 Loughgiel 2-11.
The second half witnessed no let up in pace or determination and four Shamrock points preceded Marie Laverty’s goal as Anna Connolly and Annie Lynn chalked up two more points to bring Loughgiel’s tally to 3-17. Laverty would figure in Loughgiel’s forth goal as the young centre half forward dropped in a 45 that needed blocking down. A sharp Eimear McKinley, playing full forward from the bench, wasted no time in striding in and delivered the sliotar into the back of Ahoghill’s net for the fourth goal in tonight’s game.
Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty was too hot to handle in tonight’s league encounter
There wouldn’t be any let up from the Shamrocks’ at this stage; Laverty floating in a well intended point that dipped viciously under the bar for goal number five. Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham managed to get two sliotar’s over the Loughgiel bar before Ceala Dobbin recycled the sliotar for Loughgiel’s half dozen. Ahoghill would close out their scoring from Graham as she fired in a sliotar from the top dugout along the sideline for a magnificent point. McDonald blew sharply at the sixty minute mark, Ahoghill 0-05 Loughgiel 6-22.
The senior division 1 league now takes a break for four weeks, recommencing on the 9th June. We look forward to warmer evenings for the second half of the league.
To see more photos from tonights game, click on the following link…
All Ireland Under 23 Camogie Championship – Tier 2
Antrim 2-10 | Limerick 1-12
In a staggering display of resilience and stamina, Antrim secured their place in the All-Ireland U23B Camogie Championship final with a breathless, last-gasp victory over Limerick in Trim, Co Meath.
What makes the Saffrons’ one-point victory truly remarkable is that half of the squad had already lined out just 48 hours prior, helping the Antrim seniors secure an Ulster final victory over Down in Toome on Friday evening. Exhaustion, however, was nowhere to be seen when it mattered most.
Katie Molloy who was once again a tower of strenght in the pivot of defence
Despite the quick turnaround from Friday’s senior clash, Antrim burst out of the gates. Midfielder Cara O’Boyle opened the scoring, and Dunloy teenager Éobha McAllister quickly added two more, giving Antrim a 0-3 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Though Limerick’s Carla Griffin pulled one back, McAllister immediately answered by driving through the defence for the game’s opening goal. Ten minutes later, Clíona Griffin—another player who featured in Friday’s senior final—rattled the net for Antrim’s second goal, establishing a commanding 2-3 to 0-3 lead.
Limerick, who had beaten Antrim in the round-robin series in Cushendun early in the campaign, refused to fold. They chipped away at the deficit before halftime and came out firing in the second period. Points from Griffin, Donna Kenny, Sarah O’Brien, and Laura Southern brought the Shannonsiders level by the 40th minute.
Player of the Match Eobha McAllister
McAllister temporarily restored Antrim’s advantage, hitting three of the next four points, but the momentum had shifted. In the 50th minute, Limerick substitute Amy Burke found the net to give her side the lead for the first time. Points followed from Kenny and Southern which left Antrim trailing by three, 1-12 to 2-6 with just two minutes of normal time remaining. The Saffrons’ All-Ireland dreams appeared to be fading rapidly.
However just as their goose looked cooked, the Saffrons dug deep into their reserves for a miraculous final three-and-a-half minutes:
Substitute Cara Burns sparked the revival, slotting a crucial point to breathe new life into the Saffron challenge.
Éobha McAllister, whose never say die attitude is such a major part of her play, capped off a phenomenal individual performance as she fired over two rapid-fire points deep into added time to level the game.
Extra time appeared to be on the cards but in the dying seconds, Elen McIntosh became the hero, grabbing a dramatic winner just before the referee’s final whistle, sparking ecstatic celebrations among the Antrim players and traveling support.
Cliona Griffin
The player of the match award must go to Eobha McAllister, the Dunloy teenager’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. Less than 48 hours after scoring 1-2 for the seniors, McAllister was the undisputed star in Trim. She tallied an incredible 1-7 (with all but two points coming from play), proving exactly why she is rated as one of the brightest young talents in the game.
Antrim’s incredible late surge sets up a highly anticipated final clash in two weeks against Wexford. The Leinster side booked their own spot in the final with a 2-10 to 1-6 victory over Clare in the other semi-final.
Teams and Scorers
Antrim:
Starting XV: O. Johnston; E. Coulter, A. O’Donnell, D. Dobbin; S. O’Neill, K. Molloy (capt.), C. Crawford; S. Heggarty, C. O’Boyle (0-1); A. Ferris, O. McAllister, É. McAllister (1-7, 0-2f); C. Griffin (1-0), E. McIntosh (0-1), J. McIntosh.
Substitutes: C. Burns (0-1) for A. Ferris, L. Black for C. Crawford.
Limerick:
Starting XV: C. Mulqueen; T. Dore, C. O’Riordáin, C. Ryan; C. Griffin (0-3, 1f), E. Woulfe, E. O’Donovan (0-1); E. O’Halloran (0-1), C. Power; C. Curtin (0-1), L. Boylan, D. Kenny (0-2f); E. Hession (0-1), S. O’Brien (0-1), L. Southern (0-2).
League champions Cushendall continued their unbeaten run in the Antrim Division 1 Camogie league with an impressive win over Dunloy at Pairc Mhuire, Cushendall. It has to be said that both teams fielded without their county players, but Dunloy were affected more than Cushendall, but despite both being short, this turned out to be an excellent game which was fiercely contested from start to finish. Dunloy started very well and managed to build a strong lead early on, despite playing into a stiff breeze. After Eva McNeill opened the scoring for the home side with an early free, Dunloy quickly took control. Aine Magill leveled the game with a point from play before Caoimhe Molloy edged them ahead with a free. Magill then fired a goal to the net, and although Cliodhna Thompson responded with a point for Cushendall, Molloy tapped over another free to establish a five-point advantage for the visitors.
Cushendall soon settled into the game however and began to make use of the conditions. Eva McNeill spearheaded their revival, hitting a 45 and adding a point from play, alongside a fine score from Kady McNeill. Eva McNeill then drove a free to the back of the net to put Cushendall in front, following it up with another point from play shortly after. Dervla Cosgrove added a point from a free, and Eva McNeill struck again to extend the gap. Just before the interval, Cliodhna Thompson found the net for Cushendall’s second goal. Dunloy managed to finish the half with late points from a Caoimhe Molloy free and an Aine Magill effort from play, but Cushendall held a commanding 2-09 to 1-05 lead at the break.
After the restart, Eva McNeill extended the Cushendall lead with a free, but Dunloy quickly responded. They hit three quick points from play through Eimear Johnston, Aine Magill, and Erin McMullan, and appeared to be on course to close the gap when McMullan added her second to leave just four points between the sides. However, Cushendall steadied the ship and regained control of the contest. Brogan Abram broke Dunloy’s momentum with a crucial point from play, and Eva McNeill added another free to keep the scoreboard ticking. The result was put completely beyond doubt when Kady McNeill struck for Cushendall’s third goal in the 21st minute. Eva McNeill concluded the scoring with a late free, ensuring Cushendall maintained their unbeaten streak with an impressive 3-13 to 1-09 victory.
Antrim Camogie League Senior Div 1 Round 4 Tuesday 5th May 2026
Loughgiel 2-16 Ballycastle 0-10
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel
Tonight’s league encounter delved out a great show of strength and tenacity, the Shamrocks displaying strength along the defence to frustrate their opponents and Ballycastle bringing tenacity to the rucks and intercepts. On a chilly evening brought about by a persistent northerly breeze, Ballycastle opted to use that element on their backs in the first half after winning the toss. The Town was able to hold their own for the most part but heading into the break one point behind, the odds had already stacked against the black and amber jerseys to contain the Shamrocks despite a good show of determination.
No sooner had Shane McDonnell rolled in at the top of the hour, when Loughgiel were on the offensive deep into Town territory. Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty had her close quartered shot to goal well saved by Erin O’Hara but Laverty got a second chance as the sliotar came out for a skilful flick up into the top of the net for an opening green flag.
Ballycastle replied with a good point coming in from the terrace side from Nuala Devlin and Ballycastle spirits were soon heightened again with a threat to goal from Devlin but diffused by Megan McGarry with an outstretched arm over the line for the forty five. Ballycastle’s Louise McBride drifted that cleanly over the bar to pull up behind the Shamrocks 1-00 to 0-02.
Loughgiel’s point from Ceala Dobbin brought the Shamrocks back into the game before a foul on Louise McBride offered her a point to close the gap to only one point again. Loughgiel’s Carla Sullivan playing in a left full forward position took a pass routed to her from Anna McKillop and wasted no time in splitting the posts for a 1-02 to 0-03 scoreline after approximately fifteen minutes.
Ballycastle’s Louise McBride soars over another point for the Town in tonight’s league game
Ballycastle’s McBride was in superlative shooting form and pointed another free over Loughgiels bar followed by two more points from Loughgiel’s Shanna Deery from Marie Laverty and Sullivan again. Ballycastle’s McBride replied again from a free before the Shamrocks inched further ahead with two fine points from Marie Laverty and Annie Lynn, after being on the receiving end of a Sullivan to Deery delivery. Eighteen minutes had elapsed on the scoreboard clock to accompany the scoreline Loughgiel 1-06 Ballycastle 0-05.
Ballycastle dug deep and responded from sideline instructions, crafting three more points from McBride and Shannon McQuillan from frees and a point from play as McQuillan picked up a loose sliotar and opted for a short solo run to build space for taking her point.
McQuillan was enjoying a spell of fortune as a Cara Delaney free dropped to McQuillan and if it hadn’t been for a super block from Loughgiel’s Charlene Campbell, The Town could have had a real goal chance from close quarters.
Loughgiel’s Megan McGarry and Charlene Campbell were instrumental in diffusing three close quarter threats to goal in last night’s league game
McBride would keep up her scoring accuracy and clipped the sliotar over Loughgiel’s bar for the Town’s ninth point and with only a couple of minutes left in the first half, Loughgiel’s Annie Lynn pushed hard through Ballycastle’s defence to point and walk in at the break, Loughgiel 1-07 Ballycastle 0-09.
The second half proved to be a test for the Town as the Shamrocks took the chilling breeze on their backs and within a few minutes, Carlina Sullivan found a running Annie Lynn in space, who punished the back of the net for a fine goal.
The Shamrocks now took control of the game and clocked up five more points before Ballycastle replied with another McBride free after nearly twenty minutes of play in the second half. At eight points the difference, Loughgiel made that twelve with four points in succession. One of those points came from an edge of the box awarded free that teased for a penalty. Anna McKillop stepped in for the point but at one stage players had assumed a penalty and the box was empty except for the Ballycastle goalkeeper, Erin O’Hara. A scramble of amber and black jerseys rectified the situation, leaving some Loughgiel spectators to reflect on a missed opportunity.
Loughgiel’s Louise McKillop takes a tumble along with Ballycastle’s Eimear McCaughan in last night’s league encounter
The long whistle came shortly afterwards, leaving the large scoreboard to announce the final result, Loughgiel 2-16 Ballycastle 0-10 in round four of the senior division 1 league.
Loughgiel starting panel and scorers
Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Aoibheann Gillan, Finvola McVeigh, Katie Lynn, Ciara Laverty, Anna Connolly, Louise McKillop, Annie Lynn 1-04, Marie Laverty 1-03 (1×45, 1f), Shanna Deery 0-01, Ceala Dobbin 0-01, Anna McKillop 0-02, Carlina Sullivan 0-04, Eimear McKinley 0-01
Ballycastle starting panel and scorers
Erin O’Hara, Christina Hamilton, Enya McShane, Catherine McShane, Cara Delaney, Fay McIntosh, Fiadh Sands, Aoife Toner, Niamh Ann Donnelly, Eimear McCaughan, Louise McBride 0-07 (1×45, 6f), Fionnuala Toner, Faye Roddy, Nuala Devlin 0-01, Shannon McQuillan 0-02 (1f)
You can see more photos from tonight’s game by following the link…
