Dunloy’s strong start, which saw them register 1-7 in the first 22 minutes, while holding Ballycastle scoreless set up Dunloy for a place in the final of the Travel Ireland Coaches Antrim senior Camogie Championship at Loughgiel on Saturday. Ballycastle will probably be happy enought with their overall performance, but they will rue squandering a couple of good goal chances when the game was still up for grabs.
Dunloy dominated the opening 20 minutes to lead by 1-7 to 0-0. The goal came in the 9th minute when Caoimhe Molloy’s low trajectory free was blocked down into Cassie McArthur’s path. The Molloy sisters, Caoimhe (four) and Katie (two), accounted for six of the points.
However, during the last eight minutes of the half, Áine Donnelly and Rianna McBride slotted two points each and suddenly Ballycastle were back in the game.
Although Áine Magill pointed on the re-start, Ballycastle were competing well and were at 1-9 to 0-7 when they won a penalty with 12 minutes remaining. Niamh Cosgrove slotted it to the net, but the score was disallowed as the county defender had stepped inside the 20m line.
Dunloy knew they had got off the hook and extended their lead with points from the Magill sisters and Nicole McAtamney before Niamh Cosgrove and Áine Donnelly completed the scoring with late frees.
Dunloy really impressed during that opening spell when they held their opponents scoreless. However they struggled thereafter and have a lot of work to do over the next fortnight if they are to move Loughgiel from their pedestal.
Dunloy: M Martin, K Mullan, E Kearns, D Elliott, C Crawford, C Conlon, K Laverty, S McIlhatton N McAtamney 0-1, C Molloy 0-4 (2fs), E Johnstome, K Molloy 0-3, E Elliott, C McArthur 1-1, Á Magill 0-2.
Subs: Bríd Magill 0-1 for S McIlhatton (40), C Boyle for E Johnstone (45), Brónagh Magill for C McArthur (51).
Ballycastle: B Ellis, NA Donnelly, E McShane, F McIntosh, N Cosgrove 0-1 (f), C McShane, O Donnelly, F Kelly 0-2, C Hegarty, E Laverty, K Mullan, R McBride 0-3 (2fs), T O’Neill, N Devlin, Áine Donnelly 0-4 (1f).
Subs: J McIntosh for T O’Neill (HT), M O’Neill for K Mullan (43), Aoibheann Donnelly for C Hegarty (51), C Donnelly for R McBride (53).
Geraldine’s Portglenone progressed to the intermediate decider on Saturday afternoon but despite the eight point difference in the score line, this semi-final wasn’t decided until the closing stages.
Despite having an element of control for the majority of the contest, the Portglenone ladies were having to weather a second half storm from Tir na nOg who had pegged the Geraldine’s back to just three points on a number of occasions in the second half, despite Portglenone holding a seven point lead at the interval.
There was only daylight put between the sides when substitute Jane Carey scored the Geraldine’s second major with her first touch after coming on as a substitute. On the field barely five minutes, Carey was in the right place at the right time to book her sides place in the 2022 final.
Overall, the Portglenone side were worthy winners. Their ability to retain possession under pressure and better use of the sliotar throughout the hour was the difference between the sides.
Tir na nOg will look at the opening quarter when analysing this contest and realise this is where the game got away from them. Despite Aine Devlin opening the scoring with a free in the third minute, Portglenone went through the gears and dominated the next ten minutes. They kept Tir na nOg scoreless while surging into a seven point lead before Emma Louise McAreavey added to their score. Portglenone’s opening goal came in the fourth minute, Eimear McKee on hand to sweep home the sliotar after Ciara Devine saved Roisin Kelly’s initial shot.
Portglenone raised white flags from Shannen Darragh (two), Aine Mulholland and a brace from Roisin Kelly to leave the score 1-5 to 0-2 after just ten minutes.
Orlaith Prenter scored Tir na nOg’s third point of the game, splitting the uprights despite the close attentions of the Portglenone defence but a trio of Geraldine’s points from Roisin Kelly, Eimear McKee and Anna Kelly kept Portglenone in control.
Prenter’s second score was the highlight of Tir na nOg’s first half, collecting the sliotar form Cameron McGaughey, Prenter showed all her skill and speed before dissecting the posts. The White Hill side were thrown a life line when they managed to score their first goal of the semi in the 26th minute. Prenter’s effort for a point was prevented from going over the bar by Portglenone ‘keeper Patricia McCarry. Niamh Martin was first to the rebound and swept home.
It was Tir na nOg’s last score of the half however as Portglenone underlined their first half superiority with three unanswered scores. Anna Kelly pointing either side of Roisin Kelly’s white flag to leave the half time score 1-11 to 1-4 in favour of the Geraldine’s.
The final flourish of the first half gave the Portglenone side a healthy half time advantage and despite having the elements at the back in the second half, it was going to take something special for Tir na nOg to get back into the game. A fine score from Aine Devlin got them firing again before their second major came under fortuitous circumstances. Standing over a free from just inside her own half, Bronagh Devlin played a one-two with Siofra O’Dolan. Sending the sliotar high, looking to split the posts, the sliotar dipped wickedly and managed to drop into the back of the net. The life line Tir na nOg needed but they couldn’t capitalise on this piece of good fortune. A serious of missed frees hurt their challenge while Aoibhinn McCloskey was finding her range in attack for the Geraldine’s. Splitting the posts in quick succession to reignite the Portglenone challenge.
Tir na nOg were playing with more freedom in the second half and began to make better use of the sliotar but the Geraline’s defence were giving little away.
Cameron McGaughey was hugely influential in the second half and deserved her point in the 48th minute while Bronagh Devlin’s ’45 in the 51st minute left just three between the sides and Tir na nOg sensing the opportunity to reel in the Portglenone advantage.
It never materialised however. McCloskey’s third point of the half preceded the game defining goal. Roisin Kelly with the initial break through the heart of the Tir na nOg defence but her effort was heroically blocked by Caitlin McGaughey. Jane Carey was first to the loose ball and made no mistake, firing in to the empty net and sealing her sides place in the final.
Tir na nOg continued to push for scores and landed a number of dangerous balls into the heart of the Portglenone defence but they couldn’t breach the Geraldine’s goal line. Scores from Roisin Kelly and Anna Kelly (free) came either side of Aine Devlin’s third point of the game and left the Geraldine’s ahead by eight at the final whistle.
TEAMS
Geraldine’s: Patricia McCarry; Derbhla Dobbin, Ailisha Convery, Maria Mooney; Maria McLarnon, Kiara Duffin, Cristin O’Kane; Aine Mulholland, Laura McAleese; Aoibhinn McCloskey, Anna Kelly, Shannen Darragh; Roisin Kelly, Orlagh Convery, Eimear McKee
Subs:Eimear Doherty for S Darragh (44); Jane Carey for O Convery (50); Orlagh Convery for P McCarry (55)
Scorers: A Kelly 0-4 (2fs); S Darragh 0-2 (1f 1’45); E McKee 1-2; R Kelly 0-4; A McCloskey 0-3; J Carey 1-00; A Mulholland 0-1
Tir na nOg: Ciara Devine; Katie Bonnes, Caitlin McGaughey, Caitlin Martin; Susan Shannon, Bronagh Devlin, Siofra O’Dolan; Emma Louise McAreavey, Cameron McGaughey; Aine Devlin, Emily Falloon, Niamh Martin; Rachel Bonnes, Hannah Crilly, Orlaith Prenter
Scorers: B Devline 1-1 (1 ’45); A Devlin 0-3 (2fs); N Martin 1-00; O Prenter 0-2; EL McAreavey 0-1; C McGaughey 0-1
AIMEE Traynor was the scoring star as Brídíní Óga Glenravel gained revenge for their quarter-final defeat last year by Cargin and reached their fourth Doherty Woodshavings Antrim Intermediate decider in six seasons with a six points’ win in Randalstown.
The scoreline flatters the winners though as Cargin went into the lead at the start of the fourth quarter having held the Glenravel girls to just a Traynor point during the third quarter.
However Glenravel and Traynor found their scoring touch once again and hit the front with two goals from the diminutive corner forward, the second coming at the start of injury time.
Cargin got the better start to the game with the first of three goals from Emer McErlean and a point from Eleanor Mallon.
However Traynor, with a point, helped Glenravel get a foothold in the game and they were back on level terms in the 6th minute when Ashling Millar crashed a shot off the post and Erin McAleese followed through to find the net.
Glenravel pushed on from there and two Eimhear McAleenan frees either side of a Traynor point put them three up at the end of the first quarter.
Cargin however hit back with Gráinne McAtamney setting up Emer McErlean for her second goal. Traynor however found space in the corner at the other end and floated a lovely ball across the centre for Molly Woulahan to bat home from the edge of the square.
Glenravel then pushed on with another goal from a fine move involving Erin Coulter, Torie Edgar and Woulahan with Ashling Millar through one-on-one. Katie McAnenley pulled one back for Cargin, but they still trailed by 3-4 to 2-2 at the change of ends.
The third quarter belonged to Cargin with a third McErlean goal, two fine points from Maria O’Neill, another from Cathy Carey and then two from McAnenley edging them into a 3-7 to 3-6 lead.
Traynor pointed to level in the 48th minute and four minutes later Erin Coulter found her with a long ball out of defence. She made room to kick to the roof of the net.
Cargin had chances to close the gap, but only managed an Eleanor Mallon point as the game slipped towards the three added minutes. During the first of those Traynor found the net again with a subert finish and Brónagh Laverty raced through from defence for the final score.
Not a totally convincing performance from the winners, but one that gets them into the decider where they meet Geraldine’s Portglenone who led from pillar to post to oust 2020 champions Tír na nÓg in the earlier game in Creggan.
Brídíní Óga: O Donnelly, M Mulholland, M McKenna, A Mulholand, E Coulter, L McKenna, B lLaverty 0-1, E McAleese 1-0, S Fyfe, K Laverty, M Woulahan 1-0, E McAleenan 0-3 fs), A Traynor 2-4, V Edgar, A Millar 1-0.
Cargin: M Creelman, E O’Neill, A Thompson, S O’Boyle, T O’Neill, M O’Neill 0-2, B Laverty, C McFadden, S O’Neill, A Blue, E Mallon 0-2 (1f), C Carey 0-1, G McAtamney, K McAnenley 0-2, E McErlean 3-0.
Sub: O Rooney for A Blue (35), for B Laverty and for E McErlean (both 56) Orla Dobbin and Niamh Donnelly
After two closely fought league meetings, the Junior Development Cup Semi Final clash of Latharna Óg and MacUilín Ballycastle was always going to serve up an entertaining battle. With the ‘Castle Cailíní’ taking both sets of league points with small margin wins earlier in the season, this game was anyone’s for the taking.
The girls in Black & Amber got out of the traps quickest in Cushendun and Clare Scullion set their marker for the game when she ran through and scored an early goal. Caoimhe O’Hara finished neatly to the net soon after, with a clever passage of play from Cíara McShane & Louise McNeill. It wasn’t long before the third goal went in when Gráinne Hunter’s well struck free dropped over the keeper’s head into the net. Gráinne followed up with her second major when she was quickest to react to the breaking ball the around the square and volleyed the sliotar to the net. It might have seemed like plain sailing for Ballycastle at that stage, but the game was far from over and to their credit, the girls from Larne kept chipping away. They took points through top scorer Beth McCauley & Nicola Black and were rewarded with a well finished Beth McCauley goal just before half time to keep their hopes alive.
Grainne Hunter who scored 2-5 for Ballycastle in their win over Latharna Og
Gráinne Hunter’s free taking was accurate for Ballycastle in the opening half and with Louise McNeill contributing 3 first half points, it kept the town girls ahead at the break.
Alice Gillian for Latharna Óg was keeping a tight mark on the ever-dangerous Grainne Hunter, while Ashling Mulvenna & Rachael O’Boyle were solid at the back for Larne who fought hard in the second half. They turned over attacks as Ballycastle were hungry for another goal. Two points in quick succession from Cíara McShane for Ballycastle and 1 from substitute Riona McAuley kept the scoreboard ticking. Siobhan Donnelly & Gráinne Hunter added further points which kept ‘the town’ in control.
At the other end the girls in yellow and blue were finding another gear to run at the Ballycastle defence though, but good work from McQuillan’s forced Larne to shoot for points as the goal chances were closed down. Erin O’Hara was superb in the Ballycastle net, while Laura Dallas commanded the half back line well. Siobhan Donnelly worked tirelessly in midfield while for Larne, Dara Martin, Beth McCauley and Bronagh Shields stood out up front. Larne continued to press and did get their second goal after a long ball in dropped short and was flicked to the net by Nicola Black. Latharna Óg substitute Megan McKillop looked dangerous at times and managed to add a point when she came on.
In the end Ballycastle’s strong start was a stretch too far for Latharna Óg to pull back and it’s the MacUilín girls who now progress to the Championship final.
Cushendall created a bit of a shock when they beat Ballycastle in Sunday’s Antrim Senior Camogie Championship round robin game in Carey. The Ruairis hadn’t beaten their opponents for a few years now and went in as outsiders in most people’s eyes, but they turned in a great display to win this one with a bit to spare and put a serious dent in Ballycastle’s chances of making the final.
Dervla Cosgrove was a leading light for Cushendall in the first half, scoring in the opening minute to put her team ahead. Siobhan McKillop added a second four minutes later and Cosgrove’s second on 11 minutes was added to by Ellen Leech in the two minutes later to put them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead.
It was eighteen minutes before Fionuala Kelly opened Ballycastle’s account with a point from play, but thirty seconds later Siobhan McKillop sent one over at the other end to keep the gap at four.
When Ballycastle full forward Kathryn Mullan got the first goal of the game there was just a point between the sides, but an Ellen Leech point and a goal from Dervla Cosgrove, but the gap out to five, though a pointed free by Riana McBride just before the break left just four between the sides at the half time whistle. (Cushendall 1-7 Ballycastle 1-2)
Two points from Cosgrove early in the second half, one from a free and other from a 45, pushed the Cushendall lead out to six. Riana McBride pulled one back for the Town from a free but Cushendall were well in charge and five points in a row, four from Cosgrove frees and one from play by midfielder Cara O’Boyle, sealed the win. Catherine McShane pulled one back for Ballycastle late in the game but by that time the destination of the points had been decided.
CUSHENDALL
Louise Mulholland, Aoife McClafferty, Sinead Cosgrove, Catriona O’Boyle, Caoimhe McNaughton, Coleen Patterson, Clodagh McKillop, Anna McNeill, Cara O’Boyle, Dervla Cosgrove, Siobhan McKillop, Ellen Leech, Mary Kane, Orlagh O’Hara, Laura McMullan
BALLYCASTLE
Becky Ellis, Maria Donnelly, Niamh Donnelly, Catherine McShane, Aoife Toner, Enya McShane, Orla Donnelly, Niamh Anne Donnelly, Caitlin Heggarty, Nuala Devlin, Emma Laverty, Fionula Kelly, Riana McBride, Kathryn Mullan, Aine Donnelly.
