Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship Group Two

Antrim 1-11 Limerick 1-14

Antrim’s Senior Championship campaign ended in disappointment at Corrigan Park on Saturday when a late Limerick rally claimed victory for the Munster girls and gained them a place in the quarter finals at Antrim’s expense. Twenty minutes into the game the Saffrons appeared to be well placed to take the win as they led by 1-7 to 1-2, but they only managed four more points during the last forty minutes of play, while Limerick grew in confidence as the game went on. They cut their deficit to just two points by half time and though they were still behind with just seven minute to play, they hit the last five scores of the game to secure a quarter final place which a few weeks ago had seemed highly unlikely.

Antrim started the game well and were in front thanks to a scrambled goal from Maedhbh Laverty after just two minutes, the Naomh Eoin player scoring on her home pitch. Thinks got even better for Elaine Dowd’s charges as they pushed on, and boosted by three Roisin McCormick points they opened up a six point lead after twelve minutes.

A defensive error on thirteen minutes created the opportunity for the visitors to get back in game and following good approach work from Caoimhe Costello and Caoimhe Lyon Lorraine McCarthy was put through to five home here team’s goal.

Antrim responded well to the setback and points from Roisin McCormick, Caoimhe Wright and Caitrin Dobbin they appeared to have weathered the storm, as they led by five with ten minutes of the first half still to play, but the Limerick defence closed down the dangerous looking Antrim forward line, while adding three points at the other end to trail by just two at half time. ((1-7 to 1-5)

The third quarter turned out to be a war of attrition as the Munster girls began to impose their physical superiority around the field, but Aine Magill and Caoimhe Wright did manager to break through for points from play. Top scores McCormick and Wright kept their team in the hunt with points apiece but Limerick improved down the home stretch. They got their noses in front for the first time on 58 minutes before sealing the win with two in injury time to seal that quarter final place.

A disappointing end to the season for the Saffrons, but they have learned a lot during this campaign and the great consolation is that they have already sealed their place in next year’s Senior Championship and will go into it on the back of a season in Division 1

Antrim: C Graham, C Drain, N Donnelly, M Lynn, K Laverty, C Conlon, C Patterson, L McNaughton capt, N O’Neill, Á Magill 0-1, R McCormick 0-5 (3f), A Boyle, C Wright 0-4, M Laverty 1-0, C Dobbin 0-1.

Subs: C Laverty for C Dobbin (51), C McArthur for C Wright (55), K McKillop for C Drain (60)

Limerick: C Keating; S Wolfe, M Creamer, M Quaid; M Ryan, S O’Callaghan, N Curtin; N Ryan, A Larkin; M Curtin 0-1, R Delee 0-4, C Costello 0-6 (4fs); C Lyons 0-2, L McCarthy 1-0, S O’Brien.

Subs: L Boylan 0-1 for S O’Brien (45), C Brennan for L McCarthy (61).

Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan)

The Antrim Intermediate Camogie Team will attempt to secure a place in the Glen Dimplex Premier Junior All-Ireland Championship semi-finals when they host Limerick at Corrigan Park on Saturday.

Antrim needs to avoid defeat to ensure themselves of a place in the last four at the end of what has been an extremely positive campaign for the Saffrons. Here’s the story so far.

Coming into the campaign there will be have some optimism that a young team could make an impact on the All-Ireland stage but there was also an element of entering the unknown as most of the team didn’t have a great deal of experience at the intercounty level beyond the age-graded levels.

The league campaign was mixed with two wins and two defeats. Those defeats came against Cavan and Armagh who Antrim would end up taking on again in the Ulster Intermediate Championship. They were able to overturn the loss to Cavan to set up a final against Armagh but the Orchard County were too strong and ended up winning comfortably so the prospect of meeting them again in the Championship won’t have been welcomed by the Saffrons.

The campaign got off to a great start with a trip to Roscommon resulting in a 3-11 to 0-8 win. In the same round, Armagh laid down a marker by beating Limerick by 33 points. Antrim had the second round off due to this being a five-team group but once again, Armagh won easily against Down while Roscommon beat Limerick. In Round 3, Antrim took on Down in an Ulster derby. The Saffrons came out on top, recording a 3-13 to 0-8 win. Armagh kept up their 100% record with a big win over Roscommon.

Antrim returned to home soil for Round 4 against an Armagh team that had scored 12-72 in just three matches. Antrim used the wind well in the first half to open up a seven-point lead but Armagh showed their experience in the second half and turned the game around to secure a 1-18 to 1-16 win. While it was disappointing to lose out, it was another step forward for this young team and they should have nothing to fear for the rest of this competition. In the other group match, Limerick recorded a win over Down to keep their hopes alive of a place in the semi-finals.

As it stands, Armagh are through with four wins from four games. Antrim currently have six points while Limerick and Roscommon are both on three points. An Antrim draw would secure a place in the last four regardless of what else happens. If Limerick beat Antrim, then the group would come down to points difference. That win for Limerick would also open the door for Roscommon who would join Antrim and Limerick on six points if they beat Down. At present, Antrim have the superior points difference on +24 while Limerick are on -36 and Roscommon are on -35 so it would either take a big defeat for Antrim or a big win for Roscommon to deny the Saffrons.

Despite all the permutations, the simplest way to progress is to win the game and that’s exactly what Antrim will be setting out to do. They are more than good enough to win this game but having a big home support would only increase their chances and hopefully, Corrigan will be a Sea of Saffron on Saturday afternoon.

All Ireland Camogie Feile 2022

Last Saturday Ruairí Óg Cushendall hurlers won the All Ireland Feile title, but it could so easily have been a double as their Camgos made it all the way to the final whre they were beaten by by Derry champions Swatragh. Based in Kiltale Co Meath for their National Feile Division 2 Competition, the Antrim Champions had been drawn in a tough Group with Swatragh (Derry), Naomh Brid (Dublin) and Naomh Eamann (Laois).

In the opening game Ruairí Óg faced Swatragh. The strong wind made each match a real ‘game of two halves!’ Swatragh got off to a good start, with Ruairí Óg fighting back, however Swatragh rallied again, and despite great work from the Cushendall defenders and keeper Cliodhna Thompson they pulled away with a comfortable 2.6 to 1.1 win.

In the second game Ruairí Óg  played Naomh Brid (who went on to win the shield), and in this game started to show some form with several fine points from Kady McNeill, Maedhbh Graham, and Niamh McNeill. Defensively better Cushendall held the opposition scoreless for a 1.7 to 0.0 win.

A win in the final group game against Naomh Eamann would mean Cushendall progressed to the Cup Semi-Final as group runners up. Again, the young Ruairi’s performed well defensively, and took many lovely points from play including scores from Eva McNeill, Tamara Black, Erinmae Mitchel and Kady McNeill, while Maeve McAlister, Laoise McCollam and Laura Black defended resolutely for a 0.10 to 0.0 win.

This set up a Cup Semi-Final with Tramore (Waterford) who had topped their group, whilst in the other semi-final Swatragh played Tullamore (Offaly), runners up in the second group.

This Semi-Final proved a excellent game between two skillful Camogie teams, with Cushendall up against a very strong and unbeaten Tramore. Both teams started nervously, however with the wind advantage Ruairí Óg pushed ahead with points and a goal from Tamara Black, Kady McNeill and Eva McNeill. The battle in the middle third was intense, with no quarter asked or given! Then in the second half and against the wind with a massive defensive effort from Maeve McAlister, Scarlett Kerr McKillop and Laura Black, aided by Rhianna Black at midfield restricted Tramore to just three points in what was still a very tight game, until two points from play by Eva McNeill saw Cushendall pull away to win 1.5 to 0.3

The young Ruairi’s progressed to Cup Final against Swatragh who had defeated Tullamore.

In the Final, Swatragh played wind assisted in the first half, and while Cushendall opened the scoring with a point by Niamh McNeill from play which was to be their only score of the half, a very skilful and accurate Swatragh midfield and forward line scored 2.3 without reply, one of the goals a penalty which rocketed to the roof of the net. In the second half Ruairí Óg worked hard but could not get clean possession and when they did, they could not find the gaps in a tight Swatragh defence which pressurized the Cushendall forwards into some wayward shots. Then despite a great defensive effort from Cushendall, Swatragh broke up the field for two points from play. The game looked over until two excellent goals from Niamh McNeill threw Ruairí Óg a lifeline and setup a tense finish, however despite their best efforts, some great Swatragh defending and a couple of missed chances, were followed by point from play at the other end to see Ruairí Óg’s day end in disappointment as the Derry girls were crowned All Ireland Feile Division 2 Champions on a score line of 2.6 to 2.1.

Although disappointment may linger at present, it is important, we remember this is the first camogie team to represent Ruairi Og at National Feile and indeed win a division 1 Feile title within their county. As the famous quote reads “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” It is without doubt the seeds sown on the 25^th of June in Kiltale Co Meath will continue to grow within this club. These young Gaels should feel very proud of what they have achieved and should never underestimate the significance of how far they have come.

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior championship – Group One

Antrim 1-16 Armagh 1-18

Antrim Junior Camogs came up just short when they faced last years All Ireland finalists Armagh in the round robin stages of this years’ competition at Pearse Park, Dunloy on Saturday. The Saffrons went into this game needing just a point to secure their place in the knock out stages and for long periods in the second half it looked like they would not get near it. However a later rally, which brought a goal from top scorer Dervla Cosgrove, gave them renewed home. During injury time they searched for the score that could get them an unlikely draw, but Armagh held out for a deserved win to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Playing with the gale force wind behind them in the opening quarter the signs were not particularly promising for the home side as Armagh matched the home side, despite playing into the wind and the sides were deadlocked after 15 minutes. Antrim were begging to find their range though as the half went on and some excellent free taking from Dervla Cosgrove helped them open up a 0-12 to 0-5 lead at half time.

Most punters felt that a seven point lead would not be enough, given the strength of the wind, and when Armagh got a goal early in the new half through full forward Ciara Donnelly it was clear they wouldn’t take very long to close the gap. As the free scoring Armagh forwards sent their team four ahead going into the last ten minutes you feared this could be a big beating for the Saffron Cailíní, but the introduction of some fresh legs had an immediate affect and the got themselves back on the scoring charts again. On a couple of occasions closed the gap back three, but on each occasion Armagh were able to stretch the gap to four again, but when defender Sinead Cosgrove fired low to the net late in the game, there was just a point between the sides. However Armagh were able to hold their opponents at arms-length though injury time and actually added one more to their total to seal the win.

Despite the defeat Antrim are still in contention to make it to the knock out stages and all will depend on next Saturday’s clash with Limerick in Dunloy next Saturday

Antrim: Á Graham, M McGarry, E Kearns, E McShane, C Crawford, S Cosgrove 0-1, M McLarnon capt., C Kearney 0-1, Bríd Magill, C McNaughton 0-1, E Laverty 0-2 (1f), O Laverty, A McNeill 0-1, E Leech, D Cosgrove 1-9 (9fs).

Subs: T O’Neill for C Crawford (41), F Kelly 0-1 for O Laverty (43), N Devlin for E Leech (54).

Armagh: C Devlin, M Lenehan, N Woods, E O’Kane, G McCann capt., E Hayes, T Maguire, S McArdle capt., L Donnelly 0-2, J Curry 0-2, E Smyth, E McKee, K McComiskey, C Donnelly 1-10 (6fs), R Merry 0-3.

Subs: S Quinn for K Comiskey (23), B Murray 0-1 for E McKee (45).Referee: B Heaney (Meath)