Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

Dunloy’s Camogs hold on for the home win

Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1 League Round 3 – Dunloy 1-09 Loughgiel 1-06

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Pearse Park, Dunloy

It was an evening well suited for an early summer BBQ and things certainly got sizzling in Pearse Park, Dunloy for tonight’s senior league round three game between Dunloy and Loughgiel. It was a classic derby full of vigor and skill but riddled with over enthusiastic tackles, throw balls and over carries that amounted to close to forty fouls over the 64 minutes. At this time of the year, both sides were in depletion mode but welcomed the opportunity to field a couple of county returns that were given permission to run up the club meter as a means of allegedly getting game time ahead of the Ulster final.

Owen Elliot got matters under way after the camán spin, where Dunloy elected to play into the light breeze from the start. This can be a risky strategy at this time of the year as the evening wind usually tends to drop with the failing light. On this occasion it offered Dunloy no real second half advantage but an early goal, nine minutes in, was enough to keep the Shamrocks at bay at full time in what was a relatively low scoring affair.

Loughgiel’s Charlene Campbell rescued the sliotar on many occasions but her markers didn’t make that easy for her

Dunloy’s Aine Magill and Caoimhe Molloy were the early scorers, finding the catch net from play within four minutes. Molloy added another point to her tally from a free before Erin McMullan lifted the supporters with a goal that had the hallmarks of a second bite of the cherry.

Loughgiel responded with four points in succession from awarded frees, two from Katie McKillop and two from Marie Laverty, before Magill returned to the Shamrocks’ scoring zone for a point to take the game up to the break.

The second half started with Dunloy being offered a gift from a short Loughgiel puck out that ended over the bar from Aine Magill and quickly followed by another point from an accurate Caoimhe Molloy, earned from a foul. It would take only a minute before the Shamrocks would respond with a goal from Marie Laverty as the sliotar dropped awkwardly inside the post from a free awarded due to a ‘throw ball’.

Both sides had spells of offering a real threat from goal runs but opportunity wouldn’t come knocking on anyone’s door tonight and that was the case for Aine Magill who went on a blistering solo run to goal but took the option to point and put three points between the sides again, Dunloy 1-07 Loughgiel 1-04.

Dunloy’s Katie Laverty was the source of many forages into Shamrock territory

With twelve minutes gone in the second half, Laverty would improve her scoring tally with a fine point before Aine Magill, made her fifth and final point of the evening. The game now fell into a spell of attrition as each side looked for a means to advance their cause. Almost fifteen minutes would pass without a score, until Caoimhe Molloy pointed from a free and followed quickly by Loughgiel’s Anna McKillop to close the gap to three again.

The desire from Dunloy to close out the game yielded a foul within the Loughgiel box culminating in a penalty, which Emma McAllister diffused with some ease to force Dunloy to work on for their win. That save meant Loughgiel could go looking for a late goal to square the match but in turn, Dunloy were able to withstand the effort and took the win on home soil, Dunloy 1-09 Loughgiel 1-06.

Editor’s note: A Jersey swap has been corrected in this version of the report, Aine Magill for Erin McMullan.

Dunloy Starting Panel

Clodagh O’Kane, Sarah McIlhatton, Brid Magill, Kathryn Boyle, Eilis Kearns, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon, Katharine Mullan, Bronach Magill, Caoimhe Molloy 0-04 (3f), Casey Crawford, Aine Magill 0-05, Dearbhail Elliott, Erin McMullan 1-00

Loughgiel Starting Panel

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Aoibheann Gillan, Shauna Devlin, Katie Lynn, Louise McKillop, Anna Connolly, Lucia McNaughton, Shanna Deery, Marie Laverty 1-03 (2f), Katie McKillop 0-02f, Carlina Sullivan, Annie Lynn, Anna McKillop 0-01f

You can view photos from the game by clicking here…

https://myalbum.com/album/Fw2ecsiXXqoKFq/?invite=8f3bdcd2-9b0e-458c-a5b5-14bc4b4e798f

by thesaffrongael

Ruthless Ruairi Og too strong for Bridini Oga

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Bridini Oga Glenravel 0-04 Ruairi Og Cushendall 4-25

Ruairi Og Cushendall continued their unbeaten run in the Antrim Camogie League Division 1 with a thoroughly dominant performance against Bridini Oga Glenravel at Fr Maginn Park. From the very start, Cushendall dictated the pace of the game, ultimately securing a comprehensive 4-25 to 0-4 victory. Bridini Oga, unfortunately missing a third of the squad that captured last year’s Intermediate championship title, fought hard but were ultimately no match for the sheer quality and attacking prowess of the visiting team. The gap in available personnel was evident as Cushendall controlled possession and created scoring opportunities at will throughout the contest.

The visitors made their intentions clear early on, with Eva McNeill converting a penalty for a goal just over a minute into the game. This was quickly followed by points from Kady Mcneill, Orlaith McCurry, and another from Eva McNeill. Bridini Oga managed to find a brief spell of resistance midway through the first half, registering a point from play by Sarah Fyfe, a free converted by Caoimhe Duffin, and another score from Sorcha Carey. However, this proved to be their most productive period of the match. Cushendall ruthlessly responded with a flurry of points from Cliodhna Thompson, Cara O Boyle, Dervla Cosgrove, and Brogan Abram, leaving the halftime score at a commanding 1-15 to 0-3 in favour of Ruairi Og.

The second half offered no respite for the Glenravel side. Within the opening minute, Cara O Boyle found the back of the net to extend Cushendall’s lead even further. While Ciara McCormick managed to secure a well-taken point from play for Bridini Oga a few minutes later, it would be their final score of the evening. Cushendall’s relentless attack continued as Eva McNeill added her second goal of the match, alongside a steady stream of points from Kady Mcneill, Brogan Abram, and Cara O Boyle. The dominance was underscored late in the game when Cara O’Boyle struck for her second goal, and substitute Lara Haughey immediately made an impact by pointing shortly after her introduction. Eva McNeill and Cara O Boyle tapped over the final points of the game, capping off a clinical display that highlighted Cushendall’s formidable form this season.

Bridini Oga: 1 Orla Donnelly, 2 Una Mc Aleenan, 3 Bronagh Laverty, 4 Ciara McCormick, 5 Erin Coulter, 6 Danielle Scally, 7 Sarah Fyfe, 8 Kirsty O’Doherty, 9 Orlaith Gould, 10 Emily Sharpe, 11 Sorcha Carey, 12 Shauna McDonnell, 13 Eimear Butler, 14 Caoimhe Duffin, 15 Niamh Donnelly.

Ruairi Og: 1 Orlagh Burke, 2 Laoise McCollam, 3 Anna McNeill, 4 Tamara Black, 5 Ellen Leech, 6 Abi McNeill, 7 Aoife McClafferty, 8 Dervla Cosgrove, 9 Rhianna Black, 10 Brogan Abram, 11 Orlaith McCurry, 12 Cara O’Boyle, 13 Cliodhna Thompson, 14 Eva McNeill, 15 Kady McNeill.

Ruairi Og Cushendall (4-25)

  • Eva McNeill: 2-9 (1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees)
  • Cara O’Boyle: 2-4
  • Kady McNeill: 0-5
  • Brogan Abram: 0-3
  • Orlaith McCurry: 0-1
  • Cliodhna Thompson: 0-1
  • Dervla Cosgrove: 0-1 (0-1 free)
  • Lara Haughey: 0-1

Bridini Oga Glenravel (0-4)

  • Sarah Fyfe: 0-1
  • Caoimhe Duffin: 0-1 (0-1 free)
  • Sorcha Carey: 0-1
  • Ciara McCormick: 0-1
  • Referee – Paul O’Neill (Creggan)
by thesaffrongael

Antrim Camogs took a while to hit their stride

Ulster Senior Camogie semi-final

Antrim 1-13 | Derry 1-3

Venue: Portglenone

Antrim secured their place in the Ulster Senior Camogie Final with a convincing 1-13 to 1-3 victory over Derry in Portglenone. While the final scoreline suggests a comfortable win for the Saffrons, it masks a fairly ordinary first half where neither team truly sparkled, and it wasn’t until the final ten minutes that Antrim hit their stride to pull away from their Oak Leaf rivals.

The game began with Derry applying intense early pressure and dominating possession. However, after missing a couple of initial opportunities, it was Antrim who opened the scoring with a point from full-forward Eobha McAllister.

Derry quickly turned their early momentum into a tangible reward when centre-forward Jackie Donnelly found space and fired home an excellent goal from an angled shot, giving the visitors a sudden two-point advantage. Surprisingly, despite this fantastic start, Derry would only manage to register one more score from open play for the remaining 58 minutes of the contest.

Antrim’s response to the goal was swift and composed. Midfielder Maeve Kelly slotted over a point following a smart pass from Katie McKillop, before McKillop herself split the posts to level the sides at 1-0 to 0-3. Nicole McAtamney then stepped up to land a long-range free, giving Antrim their first lead of the afternoon.

Derry managed to pull a point back through a ’45 from full-forward Carla Collins, but Antrim replied immediately with another score from the lively McKillop. Just as the half drew to a close, Antrim struck a critical blow. Corner-forward Cliona Griffin found the net with a well-taken goal after soloing in from the left wing to extend the Saffron lead. Derry’s Amy McKenna replied with a ’45 just before the whistle, leaving the halftime score at 1-5 to 1-2 in favor of the hosts.

Antrim emerged for the second half with renewed purpose, and Eobha McAllister quickly added to their tally with the opening point. Derry’s Cliodhna Ní Mhainain responded with a point—Derry’s solitary second-half score and their only other score from play all game. From that moment on, the Antrim defence, anchored by the likes of Katie Molloy and Caoimhe Conlon, completely shut down the Derry attack.

Despite Antrim’s general improvement in the second half, the game remained somewhat in the balance until the final ten minutes when their attacking unit finally clicked into high gear. Róisín McCormick got in on the action, scoring a fine point after being set up by McAtamney. The McAtamney-McAllister connection proved highly fruitful, with McAtamney turning provider once again to set up Eobha McAllister for another well-taken score.

McAllister was on fire in the closing stages, adding another point following a pass from Katie Molloy in the left corner. The Antrim forward line was relentless, drawing fouls that McAtamney calmly punished, converting both a 45-meter free and a standard ’45 to stretch the lead further. Eobha McAllister also won a penalty late in the game, but her shot was turned over the bar by the Derry kkeeper Niamh Gribben.

In injury time, Antrim continued to hunt for scores. Substitute Elen McIntosh and Róisín McCormick linked up beautifully to create a goal chance for McAllister, though her shot trailed wide. However, McCormick and McAllister would both find the target with excellent points from the right flank before the final whistle, sealing a commanding ten-point victory.

Antrim’s dominance in the closing stages, spearheaded by the scoring prowess of Eobha McAllister, the playmaking of Nicole McAtamney, and the steady presence of Katie McKillop, ultimately proved too much for a Derry side that struggled to translate their early promise into sustained attacking threat.

Antrim: 1. Becky Ellis, 2. Colleen Patterson, 3. Caoimhe Conlon, 4. Caoimhe Mc Naughton, 5. Clare Mc Killop, 6. Katie Molloy, 7. Shannagh Heggarty, 8. Amy Boyle, 9. Maeve Kelly, 10. Nicole Mc Atamney, 11. Róisín Mc Cormick, 12. Katie Mc Killop, 13. Janey Mc Intosh, 14. Eobha Mc Allister, 15. Cliona Griffin.

Derry: 1. Niamh Gribben, 2. Aoife Mc Guckin, 3. Eimear Mc Closkey, 4. Sinead Mc Gill, 5. Shauna Mc Guckin, 6. Rachel Mc Allister, 7. Aine Mc Gill, 8. Niamh Quinn, 9. Sinead Mellon, 10. Emma Wilson, 11. Jackie Donnelly, 12. Cliodhna Ní Mhainain, 13. Aoife Shaw, 14. Carla Collins, 15. Amy Mc Kenna.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/n8qRY9TSRunDYm/?invite=867dc2c3-862d-47ea-b73e-5e93e246d5ef

by thesaffrongael

Cushendall power home in second half

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Loughgiel 2-09 Cushendall 3-17 at Fr Healy Park

League holders Ruairi Og Cushendall delivered an impressive statement of intent on Tuesday evening at Fr Healey Park, defeating county champions Loughgiel Shamrocks by eleven points in their Antrim Camogie League clash. While Loughgiel fielded without four or five regular starters due to county commitments, the nature of Cushendall’s 3-17 to 2-9 victory was nonetheless striking, especially given how tightly contested the opening period was.

The first half proved to be a fiercely competitive and high-scoring affair. Cushendall found their rhythm early with points from Cliodhna Thompson, Orlaith McCurry, and Eva McNeill. Kady McNeill emerged as a massive attacking threat for the home side, finding the back of the net twice in a devastating two-minute spell, while Cara O Boyle also raised a green flag later in the half. Despite conceding three goals, Loughgiel demonstrated tremendous resolve and championship pedigree. Anna Connolly registered an early point, and the reliable Marie Laverty kept them well in touch with accurate shooting from both play and placed balls. A crucial 25th-minute goal from Annie Lynn was instrumental in reeling the hosts back in, ensuring the teams went into the break deadlocked after a breathless and hard-fought thirty minutes.

After the change of ends, however, the complexion of the game shifted entirely. With a cold wind now on their backs, Cushendall took absolute control of the proceedings. Eva McNeill led the charge, tapping over vital frees and adding from play, while Brogan Abram and Siobhan McKillop also split the posts to stretch the home side’s advantage. Loughgiel fought hard to stem the tide, with Louise Mc Killop and Orlagh Laverty managing to point from play, and Marie Laverty adding another goal and a free to her personal tally. Ultimately, the elements and Cushendall’s relentless second-half pressure proved too much to handle. Kady McNeill, Orlaith McCurry, and Cliodhna Thompson all clipped over further points as Ruairi Og pushed on decisively to secure a comprehensive eleven-point win.

Loughgiel

1 Emma Mc allister, 2 Charlene Campbell, 3 Megan McGarry, 4 Aoibheann Gillan, 5 Shauna Devlin, 6 Lucia McNaughton, 7 Ciara Laverty, 8 Louise Mc Killop, 9 Anna Connolly, 10 Annie Lynn, 11 Marie Laverty, 12 Shanna Deery, 13 Orlagh Laverty, 14 Anna McKillop, and 15 Carlina Sullivan.

Ruairi Og

1 Orlagh Burke, 2 Laoise McCollam, 3 Anna McNeill, 4 Tamara Black, 5 Ellen Leech, 6 Abi McNeill, 7 Aoife McClafferty, 8 Dervla Cosgrove, 9 Siobhan McKillop, 10 Brogan Abram, 11 Eva McNeill, 12 Orlaith McCurry, 13 Cliodhna Thompson, 14 Kady McNeill, and 15 Lára Haughey.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/ykzexMdThJysx2/?invite=84bdba60-9ddd-42f5-9ff5-2ba17034d174

by thesaffrongael

Shamrocks honour a battling Brídíní Óga in league opener

Antrim Camogie Div 1 league Brídíní Óga 0-10 Loughgiel Shamrocks 7-13

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Maginn Park, Glenravel

A breezy, damp evening heralded in the start of the Antrim camogie division 1 league, much to the relief of many to just get club business underway after a long winter. Loughgiel were deferential in building the hosts a guard of honour at the pitch entrance to acknowledge Brídíní Óga’s All Ireland Junior win towards the end of last year. But a break in County activity for a few of the Shamrocks meant the hosts would be facing a strong opposition, exacerbating the hosts concern for a depleted panel for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless, the Brídíní girls battled to the final whistle, showing much of the grit and tenacity witnessed throughout their All Ireland campaign.

Owen Elliot rolled in for 6:45pm after the hosts won the toss and elected to play into the wind for the first half. It wasn’t long before Loughgiel would strike and an Amy Boyle to Róisín McCormick pass had the visitors one point up within the first fifteen seconds.

Loughgiel would visit the club end frequently within the opening minutes with a further four points before a skilful sideline cut intercept by Sarah Fyfe ended up over Loughgiel’s bar to open Brídíní Óga’s score account.

With the wind and drizzle in their faces, Brídíní Óga felt the might from all of tonight’s elements, as the Shamrock sisters of Orlagh and Marie Laverty opened the green flag book from short range, at ten and thirteen minutes respectively before Annie Lynn and Katie McKillop made it four and then a fifth from Lynn that had an air of confidence about it. Lynn’s goal was a volley shot taken down above her shoulders and to prove it wasn’t luck, Lynn repeated the same shot for a goal in the second half.

Loughgiel’s Annie Lynn proved a handful with two overhead volleys in tonight’s league opening game

The hosts would reply in that period with a fine point from Caoimhe Duffin, all along the Shamrocks were building their points too and at the short whistle, scores stood at Brídíní Óga 0-02 Loughgiel 5-11.

At the restart, Brídíní Óga used the time to push hard into Loughgiel’s territory with some ease as the Shamrocks recalibrated their play into the wind along with a change of the guard, running players off the bench for familiar county names. Lynn though would enjoy a busy second half and after dropping down another volley from above her shoulders for her second goal of the evening, placed a ball and watched Carla Sullivan make it seven.

Brídíní Óga tallied a better second half with fine points from the likes of Eimhear McAleenan, Shauna McDonnell and Sarah Fyfe as the light dropped quickly with the persistent drizzle forcing car headlights to appear along the sideline, until the long whistle brought the game to a conclusion, Brídíní Óga 0-10 Loughgiel 7-13.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/z5jJpcwrqRZNeA/?invite=ed3c5dc0-ce08-4646-b6c4-723bc823e65a

Brídíní starting panel and subs

Orla Donnelly, Una McAleenan, Jaime Woulahan, Danielle Scally, Erin Coulter, Bronagh Laverty, Leona Gillan, Kirsty O’Doherty, Órlaith Gould, Emily Sharpe, Sarah Fyfe, Shauna McDonnell, Eimhear McAleenan, Caoimhe Duffin, Sorchá Carey

Niamh Donnelly, Ciara McCormick, Caoimhe McCann

Lougiel starting panel and subs

Emma McAllister, Charlene Campbell, Clare McKillop, Aoibheann Gillan, Shauna Devlin, Megan McGarry, Ciara Laverty, Amy Boyle, Anna Connolly, Róisín McCormick, Marie Laverty, Shanna Deery, Orlagh Laverty, Annie Lynn, Katie McKillop

Eimear Boyle, Finvola McVeigh, Louise McKillop, Sarah Flavin, Therese McKinley, Anna McKillop, Carlina Sullivan, Shauna McKillop, Rose McMullan