Littlewoods Ireland Camogie – Division Two semi-final
Antrim v Cork (Sunday, Edenderry, 3pm)
Antrim go into tomorrow’s National Camogie League Division 2 semi-final without two of six forwards who shone so brightly in last season’s All Ireland Intermediate final win of Kilkenny in Croke Park.
Maeve Kelly and Caitrin Dobbin are ruled out with injury, Kelly with a foot injury that required surgery and Dobbin with a finger injury sustained in training during the week. While the loss of these two top forwards will be a blow, it is maybe not as serious as it would have been last season, for the new management squad have added a bit more strength in this area with the likes of Caoimhe Wright of Ballycastle, Siobhan McKillop of Cushendall and St John’s Maebh Laverty ready-made replacements, having featured in the league this season.
Caoimhe Wright and Siobhan McKillop could come in for the injured Maeve Kelly and Caitrin Dobbin
Sunday’s opponents are a formidable outfit and last weekend beat Galway in the quarter finals by 1-13 to 0-10. Cork had too much for Antrim when they met in the round robin section of last season’s championship, but to their credit the Saffrons learned from that defeat and turned things around to go on and win the All Ireland title. Tomorrow’s game with be a massive test for the Antrim girls but they have added incentive of getting back to Croke Park if they win, as the League finals are fixed for headquarters next weekend.
A strong second half from the home side proved the difference in this all South West game at Kelly Park Portglenone.
The first half was a tight encounter with the visitors taking the game to Casements. Tir na nOg were on top of the majority of the half with Casements men happy to go in at half time with the game level.
The visitors were first to register and Pearse Sheerin edged them ahead with a point in the second minute with Conall Delargy squaring the contest from an 8th minute free.
Thye Whitehill side were giving as good as they got as Aaron McNeilly restored their one point advantage with Delargy squaring the contest for a second time with a point in the 14th minute.
Tir na nOg continued to take the game to the opposition and Sean Duffin edged them ahead for the third time with a point in the 16th minute and when Aaron McNeilly followed with another to move them two in front they seemed to be gaining the upper hand.
Portglenone fought hard to get their own game going and Michael Hagan fired over their first point from play but Barry McCormick responded with a point for the visitors to edge them two in front again after 23 minutes play.
It was Portglenone who finished the half stronger however with points from Conall Delargy, Ronan Kelly and Stephen Kelly with Ryan O’Neill on target for the Randalstown men to leave it all square as the half time whistle sounded.
Whatever John McKeever said to his side at half time seemed to work as Casements came out of the blocks flying at the start of the second half, hitting 2-3 without reply in the opening 12 minutes.
Michael Hagan began the second half scoring with a point in the first minute and when Niall Delargy got through for a goal in the third minute the balance of play had swung strongly in favour of the league leaders.
The home side were totally dominant during this period and missed several more goal chances including a penalty from Michael Hagan with six minutes on the clock.
Corey McLaughlin and Ronan Kelly added points before the excellent Conall Delargy got in for their second goal with only 9 minutes on the clock.
Tir na nOg were fighting hard to get back into contention but were finding the home defence hard to penetrate but Ciaran O’Neill finally openbed heir second half account with a point in the 12th minute.
Caolan Tierney and Niall Delargy for Casement’s and Aaron McNeilly and Ciaran Logan for Tir na Nog exchanged further points as the visitors fought hard to close the gap but although they hit three of the final four points of the game they were unable to get the goal that might have ignited a comeback.
Ciaran Logan 0-2 and Ciaran O’Neill were the men on target for the Whitehill side with Oisin Doherty the Casement’s marksman as the Kelly Park side ran out winners by eight points to keep their unbeaten start the season intact and they sit proudly on top of the table with six points from three starts.
Casements: 1. Ryan O’Neill 2 Ronan Delargy 3 Shane Delargy 4 Johnny Convery 5 Ryan Convery 6 Dermot McAleese 7 Caolan Tierney 0.1 8 Niall Delargy 1.1 9 Niall McKeever 10 Paddy Carey 11 Conall Delargy 1.3 12 Corey McLaughlin 0.1 13 Ronan Kelly 0.2 14 Stephen Kelly 0.1 15 Michael Hagan 0.2 Subs: Oisín Doherty 0.1, Sean Byrne, Kevin O’Kane Aidan Kearney.
Tir na nOg: 1. Sean Paul McAtamney 2 Ethan Higgins 3 Brendan McLarnon 4 Barry Magee 5 Ciaran O’Neill 6 Barry McCormick 7 Oliver McAtamney 8 Ryan O’Neill 10 Darragh Fagan 11 Sean Duffin 12 Aaron Mcneilly 13 Conor Hastings 14 Pearse Sheerin 15 Daniel Martin
St. John’s good start to the season continues and after losing their opening game to Portglenone at Corrigan they now find themselves level with the Casement’s on points though they have played.
A good win down at Ahoghill on day two and an even better one over Erin’s Own Cargin at Corrigan last Sunday saw them climb the table and last night they travelled the short journey to Milltown to face old adversaries, St. Gall’s.
Points are never easy come bye at the home of their neighbours but the ‘Johnnies’ good form continued with goals from Conor Hand and Conal Quinn enough to see them claim the points.
Conal McGlade, Ryan McNulty and Andy McGowan were all on target with points for the Whiterock Road side who have no game this Sunday but travel up to Hannastown to face Lamh Dhearg next Wednesday night where they will be hoping to continue their recent good run of results
St. John’s: 1. Eoghan Rua Lambert 2. Conor McEvoy 3. Jack Bohill 4. Ciaran Garland 5. Oisin Donnelly 6. Padraig Nugent 7.Joe Garland 8. Simon McDonagh 9. Ryan McNulty 10. Andy McGowan 11. Pearce Donnelly 12. Conal McGlade 13. Conal Quinn 14. Conor Hand 15.Conor Adams
Glenavy welcomed local rivals Aldergrove (who were unbeaten) to Chapel Hill on a cold dry evening but it was the home side who collected the points and the bragging rights. The game was played in a very sporting manner with referee Danny O’Neill kept close control but allowed the players to play the game.
The visitors started the game in whirlwind fashion with three unanswered points from Connor Browning, Fergal Hanna and Ronan Hanna. The home side’s midfielders Ciaran Loney and Ruairi Forester were beginning to get to grips with the game however and their ever alert centre forward Malachy Doherty stopped the rot with an excellent point.
St. James responded immediately from the kick out and Ryan Owens gained possession and quickly passed to the inrushing Ronan Hanna to extend the lead to three again.
The game was being played at a fast pace with both teams guilty of some poor decision making and passes going astray. David Nelson was giving his maker a tough time by his constant movement and he was rewarded when he got on the end of a long delivery and split the uprights for a point.
With the game flowing from end to end Connor Morris extended the visitors lead with a well worked point but once again the home side moved the ball up the field to the alert David Nelson who added a point to his score.
Back came St.James’ but Declan Gough was denied by an excellent save by Gareth Collins when a goal looked eminent but Ronan Hanna gathered the rebound and fired over.
Both teams battled for supremacy in a game that took their supporters minds of the cold as evening drew in. Fergal Henry, who was closely marked by Chris McVeigh broke away to score a beauty for the Chapel Hill side from an acute angle.
Henry’s point closed the gap to two but Seamus Trowlen got in on the scoring act with a well worked point to move the visitors three ahead once more as play swung from end to end.
As the pace and intensity of the game increased Ciaran Loney took possession from the kick out and went on a solo runs to again close the gap as the white flag was raised.
Glenavy were beginning to enjoy a bit of success and Fontaine O’Boyle showed all his class when he broke forward to score a beauty to leave the minimum between the sides.
Back came the Crumlin side however and Fergal Hanna quickly replied with a point but Glenavy were coming more and more into it and Fergal Henry showed all his class when he pointed a long range free.
The final score of the half fell to St. James’ as defender Gerard Mallon got forward to bring the scoring to a close with a long range point to leave the halftime score 0.09 to 0.07 in favour of Aldergrove.
It was St. Joseph’s who opened the second half on the offensive and from the throw in the ball was worked into the danger area with David Nelson taking possession and once again closed the gap to one.
Fergal Henry added a pointed free to bring the side’s level but the visitors replied and looked to be in for a goal but Gareth Collins was on hand to clear the danger but the ball broke to Seamus Trowlen who split the posts.
Aldergrove were dealt a blow when the lost the hard working Chris McVeigh with an elbow injury but Aldergrove seemed to up their game at this stage and added two more points through Seamus Trowlen and Ronan Hanna to put their side three up with twelve minutes remaining.
To their credit the home side came back into the game with two excellent points as Malachy Doherty fired over and Fergal Henry pointed a free to bring his side level and at this stage it still looked anyone’s game.
The momentum was now very much with the Chapel Hill side however and Fergus Cunningham, who had been introduced a few minutes earlier scored a beauty from out on the wing to restore their lead
St. Joseph’s finished strongly and Malachy Docherty and Fergal Henry added points in the closing stages to leave them winners by three points.
This was an excellent game of football with Aldergrove dictating the early exchanges but St. Joseph’s kept battling away and in the end were worthy winners.
St.Joseph’s G. Collins D. Doherty; L. Henry; O. McStravick; P. Fox; P. Gallagher; M. Fox; R. Forrester; C. Loney; M. Hamill; M. Docherty; R. Phillips; F. Henry; D. Nelson; Fintaoin O’Boyle
Res Used Oisin Hamill; Niall McCann; F. Cunningham.
St.James’ S. O’Neill; C. McVeigh; C. Browning; D. Aiken; G. Mallon; A. Flood; C. Browning; O. Graham; R, Owen; D. Gough; F. Hanna; C. Morris; R. Hanna; S. McCullough, S. Trowlen
ACFL Division One Naomh Éanna 2-12 St Brigid’s 0-10
Pics by JJ Lawell
St. Enda’s recorded their second win from three starts when they defeated St. Brigid’s at Hightown on Wednesday evening. A goal from Kristian Healey after 40 minutes clinched it for the Glengormley side who were pushed hard for most of the game by St. Brigid’s with matters all square early in the second half.
St. Enda’s were a goal ahead at the interval with Rory Scott providing the finish midway through the opening half. Healey’s major turned matters decisively in the direction of the home side who went on to hit 1-5 without reply as the St. Brigid’s challenge welted.
Healey finished as top scorer with 1-3 with Odhran Eastwood in excellent form for the Hightown men, finishing with 0-5 and he was very much involved in the build up to both St. Enda’s goals while his Antrim colleague, Peter Healey got through a mountain of work.
It was St Brigid’s who were first off the mark in the artic conditions at Hightown with Peter Webb’s third-minute effort sneaking just inside the posts with Eastwood responding from a free, but the visitors were back in front when Conor McAleer slotted over following good work from Paul Bradley.
.Eastwood levelled matters for a second time from a free and then he turned provider when he sent Ruairi Scott free from an inch perfect delivery and the former made no mistake as he fired to the net. The home side were dominating possession at this stage but their finishing was letting them down, while St Brigid’s were struggling to get their game together at the other end against a packed defence.
The sides exchanged points in the closing stages of the half with Bradley punishing a foul on Patrick Finnegan before Eastwood kicked his third free as the hosts went in at the break leading 1-3 to 0-3.
After a lacklustre opening 30 minutes it was St. Brigid’s who made a bright start to the second period with Conor McAleer kicking a free a couple of minutes in before Peter Webb converted two beauties off his left boot from play to level the game on 38 minutes. At this stage it was St. Brigid’s who looked the more likely winners but Naomh Éanna responded to reclaim the lead as Kristian Healy cut inside onto his right and shrugged off a challenge to fire over and a minute later the same player swung matters back in favour of the Hightown side. Eastwood found Healy to the left of goal and the wing-forward produced an excellent finish to find the far corner of the net. St. Brigid’s pushed on at this stage as Peter Healy gained some reward for his efforts as he split the posts and Conor Maxwell added another from a tight angle on the right with Eastwood landing an almost identical score to make it 2-8 to 0-6 on 49 minutes. St. Enda’s looked to have matters sewn up at this stage but St Brigid’s dug deep and found a response as Paul Bradley sent over and then Jack Dowling kicked two excellent points, either side of a James Smith effort to halve the deficit and give the South Belfast men some hope with five minutes remaining. It was as close as they got however with Eastwood firing over after Ronan O’Neill’s attempt at a fisted point came off the post, while Kristian Healy kicked another two scores either side of one from Donal Walsh to complete the scoring.
NAOMH ÉANNA: M O’Boyle; F Eastwood, P Hamilton, C Maxwell (0-1); P Healy (0-1), C Lyttle (0-1), R O’Neill; P Curran, M Morgan; C Morgan, D Walsh (0-1), K Healy (1-3); R Scott (1-0), O Eastwood (0-5, 3 frees), G Crossey.
Subs: F O’Connor for M Morgan (48), C Scott for G Crossey (54), S McBride for C Morgan (60+1), O Kennedy for P Curran (60+2)
ST BRIGID’S: J McKenna; J Morgan, M Cummings, S McKenna; P King, S Campbell, F Meenagh; J Toner, J Dowling (0-2); P Webb (0-3), P Finnegan, N Lundy; P Bradley (0-1), J Smith (0-1), C McAleer (0-3, 2 frees).
Subs: R Finnegan for J Toner (20), D Foster for S McKenna (46), M Lynch for N Lundy (48), J Finnegan for P Webb (52), J McCarney for S Campbell (60).
