Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League – Division 2 semi-final
Antrim 2-11 Cork 1-12
Antrim booked their place in the final of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League, Division 2 final when they held of a fightback by Cork in Sunday’s semi-final in Edenderry Co. Offaly
It was all plain sailing in the first half for the girls in Saffron as a Roisin McCormick inspired forward line ran Cork ragged. McCormick was back to her brilliant best, scoring 2 goals seven points, ably assisted by Aine Magill, whose run at the Cork defence created the opening for McCormick on five minutes, the Loughgiel star finishing brilliantly as she fired the ball to the Cork net.
Roisin McCorkmick whose first half scoring display set Antrim up for victory
Magill was in on goal herself soon afterwards but was denied by a great save from the Cork netminder, but Antrim continued to dominate with McCormick adding points from all angles, and Magill also getting in on the act with a fine score from play. McCormick’s second goal was equally as special as the first, the Loughiel star bemusing the Cork defence once again with a special finish on 26 minutes. Antrim were now in full flow as McCormick, Caoimhe Wright and Christine Laverty added points to push Antrim 2-10 to 0-4 ahead at the half time whistle.
Amy Boyle in action for Antrim Chloe Drain grabs the ball before clearing the danger
That lead looked comfortable as the teams came out for the start of the second half, but as things transpired it turned out to be anything but. Cork made a raft of changes and with the breeze picking up strength they set about clawing back the deficit. They picked of a series of points and little by little the gap was reduced as Antirm could not find a score at the other end.
Still Antrim appeared to have the situation in hand until a late Joanne Casey free appeared to be deflected to the Antrim net to cut the gap back to just four. When Cork’s Rachael O’Shea bore down on goal soon afterwards the Antrim’s fans must have feared the worst, but goalkeeper Catriona Graham raced out to meet O’Shea and brilliantly turned her shot out for a 45. Cork’s Joanne Casey sent the 45 over the bar to leave just a goal between the sides and the pressure was really on, but Aine Magill settled the nerves with Antrim’s only score of the second half as the game entered injury time.
Antrim’s Lucia McNaughton goes high to flick the ball away from a Cork opponent.
Magill’s point pushed the gap out to four which provided a welcome cushion, and though Cork hit two more at the other end the girls in Saffron held out to book a return to Croke Park next Saturday for the Division 2 decider against Wexford.
Six goals from full-forward and captain Cassie McArthur help steer Antrim to Ulster Minor Championship success over derry at Celtic Park on Sunday as the rampant Saffrons cruised to a convincing victory.
However this was far from a one woman show as the Dunloy Cuchullains teenager benefited from the great work by the team further out the field, a team who were dominant throughout.
Antrim were on top from the throw-in and with the McIntosh sisters ruling the roost at midfield the chances came thick and fast for the Antrim forward line. McArthur grabbed the first of her six goals in the third minute after a great run through the middle by Faye McIntosh. Goal number two came soon after when Cassie picked up a clever pass from Clodagh McPeake as they Saffrons pushed on to lead by 2-4 to 0-3 at the break, all three Derry points coming from Orlaith Hull frees.
Antrim’s third goal came within seconds of the restart, Faye McIntosh again turning provider and when her sister Elen took up the baton and burst through the Oak Leaf defene, McArthur duly obliged to register her fourth major just two minutes later.
Katie Molloy broke the sequence when a long free from midfield went all the way to the Derry net but McArthur was soon back as Molly provided the ammunition for the team captain’s fifth goal in the 43rd minute. Five minutes from time goal number six duly arrived to crown a great personal display which took the silverware back to Antrim yet again.
Antrim: L Mulholland, A Donnelly, A McNeill, N Neeson, E Coulter, K Molloy 1-0 (f), S Fyfe, F McIntosh, J McIntosh 0-1, E Johnston 0-1, E Martin 0-1, C Connolly, C McPeake 0-1, C McArthur capt 6-2, A McKillop
Subs: E McIntosh 0-1 for C Connolly (HT), S Woodhouse 0-1 for E Johnston (39), A Kane for A Donnelly (48), N Graham for A McKillop (53), E O’Neill for L Mulholland (53).
Derry: S Donnelly, R Draine, M McCloskey, N Boyle, R Nic Ainmhire, C Kealey, E Kelly, E Doherty capt., K Connery, M Doran, C Kearney, E Doyle, O Hull 0-4 (3fs), A Hastings, E McErlean.
Subs: R Keenan for A Hastings (35), B McLaughlin for E Doyle (35), T Burns for M Doran (42), O Mullan for M McCloskey (50), R Comer for N Boyle (54).
Aghagallon staged a strong second half comeback despite playing into the breeze to edge out O‘Donovan Rossa in a tight contest at Rossa Pairc on Sunday. The home side looked in a strong position when they turned round with the breeze in their favour, leading by a single point but the visitors produced a polished second half performance to take the points.
Rossa opened strongly and Dara Rocks fired over but the visitors settled into the game and Niall McShane pointed from distance before Jamie Lamont edged them in front.
A Jonathan Hannon free extended the gap and while Dominic McEnhill responded at the other end, Shane Russell restored the two-point cushion, getting on the end of a quick break.
Rossa began to find their feet however and started to dominate possession with McEnhill converting a free and then Thomas Morgan shrugged off a challenge before splitting the posts to draw his side. level.
The home side continued to press and looked in for a goal but Pat Brannigan made a great block to deny Dara Rocks. McEnhill gathered the rebound however to fire over and edge his side in front.
Eunan Walsh tied the game in first-half stoppage time after claiming a mark and converting but Rossa would take a 0-6 to 0-5 lead at the half with Sean Pat Donnelly splitting the uprights on the turn.
The introduction of Adam Loughran to the Aghagallon attack at the start of the second half was to have a strong influence on proceedings and he didn’t take long to make an impact as he sent over the equaliser in the 5th minute before Jonathan Hannon pointed a free into the wind to give the visitors the lead.
Eunan Walsh then doubled their advantage, kicking a free into the teeth of the breeze before Adam Devlin responded with a beauty of a score for Rossa.
The momentum was with Aghagallon however and Shane Russell looked to be in for a goal but Cricky McGuinness made a vital block but Russell did manage to kick the point of the day shortly after, converting from a tight angle way out on the right with the outside of his right boot.
Niall Patterson then got on the end of a precise pass from Loughran and Walsh blasted over after a strong run to put four between the teams.
Rossa were struggling to get their hands on the ball at this stage but a McEnhill free and a fine score from Thomas Morgan closed the gap to two and set the scene for a storming finish.
However, Aghagallon managed the game well and kept the ball inside the Rossa half to give the hosts no opportunity to get forward in search of a match-winning goal as the visitors claimed the win.
ROSSA: Mick Byrne; Conor McGowan, Stephen Shannon, Niall Crossan; Patrick Moyes, Chris McGuinness, Matthew Mallon; Cormac McGettigan, Sean Pat Donnelly (0-1); Dara Rocks (0-1), Dominic McEnhill (0-4, 3 frees), Darren Grego; Adam Devlin (0-1), Thomas Morgan (0-2), Michael Armstrong.
Subs: Conal Shannon for D Rocks (46), Ben McAuley for A Devlin (51)
AGHAGALLON: Damian O’Hagan; Pat Brannigan, Aidan Mulhollan, Daryl McAlernon; Ciaran Maginnis, Jamie Lamont (0-1), Paul Mulholland; Oisin Lenehan, Niall McShane (0-1); Enda McCartan, Ruairi McCann, Jonathan Hannon (0-2 frees); Niall Patterson (0-1), Eunan Walsh (0-3, 1 mark, 1 free), Shane Russell (0-2).
Subs: Adam Loughran (0-1) for E McCartan (HT), Michael McStravick for S Russell (54)
Another sparking performance from team captain, Declan Smith powered Cuchullain’s Dunloy to an easy victory over a depleted St. Teresa’s in Dunloy today. The visitors had simply no answer to a fast, mobile Cuchullain’s attack led by the lively Smith who would finish the game with 2-10 to his credit and was simply unmarkable.
The Dunloy number 11 got the ball rolling with the opening five points of the game by the 12th minute as the visitor’s defence chased shadows and their cause wasn’t helped when they lost Niall McCann to injury after 14 minutes.
Chrissie McMahon and Shane Dooey added to the Dunloy total before the excellent Smith made it 0-8 to 0-0 with 18 minutes gone. The visitors were doing all in their power to get going with Philly Maguire driving them on from mid-field but a John Mallon free tailed wide in the wind and another dropped into Conor McGilligan’s hands as they attempted to open their account.
Caolan Gillan, Declan Smith and Barry McCloskey added points at the other end to move the home side 0-10 ahead but they had to be thankful to keeper Conor McGilligan who dived to push away a John Erskine shot at goal after the big full-forward was put through by Maguire.
Caolan Gillan and Shane Dooey added the final two points of the half for the home side to leave them 0-12 to 0-0 ahead and even at this stage it looked like a damage limitation job for a St. Teresa’s side who were battling hard but with little success against a sharp and pacey Dunloy team who were scoring for fun.
Deaglan Smith who scored 2-10 as Dunloy defeated St. Teresa’s in the ACFL Division 2 in Dunloy today
The visitors were probably hoping that Declan Smith would take his foot off the gas in the second period but it was wishful thinking as the superb centre-half-forward picked up where he had left off, as he hit 1-2 in the opening five minutes to move his side out of sight.
Caolan Gillan added a point before Conor McGilligan brought off another good save to deny Eoghan O’Neill as St. Teresa’s fought hard to open their account. They continued to press however and in a good spell things finally went their way when Philip Maguire was brought down and referee Mark O’Neill pointed to the penalty spot.
Up stepped John Mallon to finally find a way past McGilligan as he fired to the net but it brought an immediate reply from the Cuchullain’s with Oisin McErlaine and Declan Smith adding points before substitute Anthony Doran got through for their second goal.
St. Teresa’s, to their credit never gave up and gained some reward when John Erskine hammered home their second goal from close range and Anthony Varndell added a point to bring their total to 2-1 but the final score of the game fell to that man Smith who lobbed keeper Sean Maguire for his second and his side’s third goal with time almost up.
Dunloy: 1 Conor McGilligan, 2 Anton McGrath, 3 Adrian Scullion, 4 Cathair McCloskey, 5 Oran Quinn, 6 Conor Kinsella, 7 James Scally, 8 Padraig McGilligan, 9 Eoin Gillan, 10 Karl Fitzpatrick, 11 Declan Smith, 12 Chrissie McMahon, 13 Barry McCloskey, 14 Caolan Gillan, 15 Shane Dooey. Subs: Tom McFerran, Oisin McErlaine, Ryan McFarlane, Eoin McFerran, Anthony Doran
St. Teresa’s: 1 Sean Maguire, 2 Ryan Mallon, 3 Joseph Rainey, 4 James Maggorian, 5 Conor O’Rawe, 6 Colm McGoldrick, 7 Eoghan O’Neill, 8 Phillip Maguire, 9 Luke Cassin, 10 John Mallon, 11 Niall McCann, 12 Paul McGoldrick, 13 Odhran O’Neill, 14 John Erskine, 15 Michael Roache, 22 Anthony Varndell, 20 Jarlath Patterson
St Mary’s Ahoghill recorded their second victory in succession when they claimed the points in a close fought contest against the first division new boys Tir na nOg at Whitehill today. The visitors started slowly but came back strongly to gain a hard earned victory that may prove a valuable brace of points come season’s end.
Tir na nOg opened with intent as wing back Ciaran O’ Neill dominated the central zone and they looked good when they held a 0-04 to 0-01 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The high fielding wing man rose highest in the middle before opening the home side’s account with a stunning 2nd minute point.
James O’ Connell, who was excellent throughout for the visitors ensured his side were abreast when he fully punished a foul on Danny O’ Neill a couple of minutes later.
The Randalstown side had the bit between their teeth in the opening quarter with Ciaran O’ Neill’s dominating around the central zone and he added another point before a foul on Daniel Martin was punished when Darragh Feagan despatched the award between the posts to put the Whitehill side 0-04 to 0-01 ahead at the end of the opening quarter and they looked in complete control.
Having looked decidedly lethargic in the opening phase the Cloney side began to play their way into the game and having been under the cosh in the opening exchanges the tide was about to turn as full back James ‘Bobby’ Magee took control of the situation.
The central defender was first to a lofted Ciaran O’ Neill effort and started a sharp counter attack with Bernard Graham and Danny O’ Neill combining to place Conor Crossey who finished in some style past the home side’s net minder Sean Paul Mc Atamney ensuring the visitors a 1-02 to 0-04 advantage.
The Cloney side had grabbed the initiative and with Magee now dominant at the centre of the defence, James O’ Connell increased their lead with a fine 22nd minute point and his sibling PJ added another as the visitors enjoyed a period of supremacy.
The lively corner man’s shot at goal was blocked after he was set up by a smart Dan O’ Neill delivery but he reacted quickest to the rebound to send over the bar.
Tir na nOg had been under the cosh for a period but they did have the last say of the half as a superb long range effort from central defender Barry McCormick sailed over the black spot to reduce the deficit to 1-06 to 0-06 as the half time whistle sounded.
Ahoghill were quickly into their stride at the start of the second half and mid fielder Patrick Graham fired between the posts after less than a minute to increase their advantage.
The Whitehill side were quick to reply as a strong approach involving Ciaran 0’ Neill and Daniel Martin opened the way for Darragh Feagan to fire to the net and reduce the Ahoghill lead to the minimum at 1-06 to 1-05.
Ahoghill were forced into change at such juncture as a hamstring injury to Eoin Graham forced the wing back into early departure to be replaced by Diarmuid Graham.
Graham soon settled into the action and his first touch was vital as he sent Ruairi Graham away to raise white, and he then got on the end of a Bobby Magee clearance to Eamon Brady to add another.
The St Mary’s men were calling most of the shots as the second half progressed and a fine James O’ Connell point in the 40th minute ensured a 1-09 to 1-05 lead.
The home side were visibly struggling as the Ahoghill defence took a firm grip with a defiant last line of James Magee, Patrick Dougan and Bernard Graham turning everything that came their way.
The visitors were quick to change defence into attack and well organised counter opened the way for the O’ Connell brothers, James and PJ to add further points and at the end of the third quarter they had moved into a 1-11 to 1-06 lead.
Tir na nOg rang the changes in an effort to get their game going with the introduction of Christy Sheerin and Ciaran Dobbin adding impetus and they began to enjoy some success.
A long range Aaron McNeilly point stoked the fire of comeback and when Ciaran Dobbin added another it seemed the home side had regained the initiative.
It was a case of back to the wall for Ahoghill in the latter stages as the home side opted for high delivery as the best route to goal.
A long range point from Darragh Feagan reduced the gap to a manageable couple of points as the clock counted down and the comeback looked well within the bounds of possibility.
St. Mary’s were under siege but they were holding firm and they broke from defence again and the excellent James O’ Connell collected before delivering between the posts to ease the pressure.
As the game edged into injury time a Sean Duffin Point raised the home side’s hopes once again but the visitors made swift reply as a strong left sided approach opened the way for Neil ‘Boris’ O’ Connell to fire over.
Tir na nOg fought right to the end but a 65th minute point by Darragh Feagan from a 30 metre free was the last piece of action with Ahoghill claiming the bragging rights and what may prove to be a valuable couple of points in an action packed encounter.
Tir na nOg: S P Mc Atamney, Ethan 0’ Hagen, Brandon Mc Larnon, Barry Magee, Ciaran O’ Neill (0-02), Barry Mc Cormick (0-01), Caomhinn Duffin, Oliver Mc Atamney, Ryan O’ Neill, Aaron Mc Neilly (0-02), Sean Duffin (0-02), Darren O’ Kane, Daniel Martin, Darragh Feagan (1-03), Ciaran Logan
Subs:
Christy Sheerin
Ciaran Dobbin (0-01)
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, Patrick Dougan, James Magee, Bernard Graham, Eoin Graham, Fionnbar O’ Neill, Eamon Brady, Patrick Graham (0-01), Neil O’Connell (0-01), James O’ Connell (0-05), Danny O’ Neill, Eoin Neeson, Conor Crossey (1-00), Ruairi Graham (0-03), PJ O’ Connell (0-03)
