Ballycastle win Division 2 Reserve Camogie League

Antrim Camogie League – Division 2

Back on the 19th April at Fr Healy Park Loughgiel, MacUilín Ballycastle Manager Paul McKillen’s final pre-match words to his Div 2 charges before their encounter with their Loughgiel counterparts were ‘Girls if we can get something here tonight, we could give this league a good rattle’, little would he know that a 2-10 to 1-7 victory that night thanks to goals from Samantha McKillen and Elen Mc Intosh would lead to a winning streak of 11 matches which would secure the 2023 Camogie Division 2 league title.

Next up on 3rd May was a home tie to Belfast side Naomh Eoin, which threw up a convincing 6-18 to 1-2 scoreline, with the goals from Riana McBride (3), Tara McAfee (2) and Faye Roddy (1). 3 weeks later Ruairí Óg Cushendall would be next to visit Páirc MacUilín, the Town accruing 4-18 this time to the visitors 0-3, goals from Shannagh Heggarty (2), Riana McBride (1) and Noelle McAuley (1).

The fixture break for the school exam period ended with St Mary’s Ahoghill going down to a heavy 8-18 to 1-3 defeat on 21st June, a hat trick of goals for Kathryn Mullan and Janey McIntosh supplemented by two from Riana McBride.

A visit to Pearse Park Dunloy on 28th June saw the Town take advantage of the wind to build a 0-6 to 0-0 half time lead, however the home side were to push the ‘Castle all the way until second half goals from Janey McIntosh and Riana McBride proved vital for a valuable 2-10 to 1-7 win.

Sisters Janey and Elen McIntosh would share the goals in a 2-19 to 1-0 win over Cargin on the 5th July, a fortnight later Emma Connor, Riana McBride (3), Shannagh Hegarty and Faye Roddy would raise the green flags in the 6-18 to 1-3 win at Páirc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh, Gort na Mona.

The final game of the first phase of the league was a trip to Creggan Kickhams and a Janey McIntosh first half goal helped in a 1-22 to 2-4 win.

With the league now split into the top 5, the scene was then set for a mighty top of the table clash on 9th August with Loughgiel whose only defeat was against Ballycastle in the opening fixture.  The game didn’t fail to deliver, an Elen McIntosh goal helping to build a 1-11 to 0-7 half time lead, three second half goals from the visitors threatened to overturn, but an impeccable return from free taker Riana McBride whose 0-9 total included an outrageous long-range score which will live long in the memory.

Next up would be the return fixture with Ahoghill and a hat trick of goals from Elen McIntosh were complimented by majors from Laura Dallas and Kathryn Mullan in a 5-18 to 1-7 win.  A 4-19 to 1-8 win over Creggan in the penultimate game was enough to secure the league title, the goals this time shared by Elen McIntosh (2), Samantha McKillen and Faye Roddy.

Going into the last game v Dunloy, the chances of 12 wins from 12 games were dealt a harsh blow due to a multitude of injuries to key players and the promotion of some players to the Senior Championship, however the depleted side did put in a battling performance going down by a four-point margin, Maria Bakewell and Elen McIntosh getting the goals in a 2-10 to 4-8 defeat.

Match Referee Owen Elliott was on hand afterwards to present the silverware to MacUilín captain Kathryn Mullan. A fantastic and historic year for the Ballycastle Division 2, Senior Reserve Camógs.

St John’s Carnlough receive the U16 League trophy

St John’s Carnlough U-16’s were presented with the Division 2 League Trophy on Wednesday evening after their final match of the season against Rasharkin at Dreen.

Rasharkin provided Carnlough with a stern test well into the second half but the Carnlough girls found their stride and accumulated an amazing 4-17 to Rasharkin’s 0-04.  This superb second half performance put the destination of the League trophy beyond doubt.

After losing their opening game of the campaign St John’s went on to record an amazing 15 league wins in a row and highlights the amazing job being done by the girls, their coaches and the guest coaches during the year, this is also only their 2nd year at U-16.

1 Leanne Magill
2 Claire Quinn
3 Michaela McLoughlin
4 Alesha Campbell
5 Oorlaith Petticrew
6 Eva Lee
7 kiera McLoughlin
8 Caitlin Reid
9 Rhianna McAauley
10 Anna McNamee
11 Eimear Ward
12 Aoife Campbell
13 Claire Scullion
14 Brooke Taggart
15 Clodagh McAuley
16 Maebh Furey
17 Katie Burns
18 Charlotte Dempster

Slow starting Shamrocks soon hit their stride

Travel Ireland Coaches Antrim Senior Championship

Ballycastle 1-10 Loughgiel 1-22

It took them a while to get going but when they hit their stride there was no stopping county champions and All-Ireland finalists Loughgiel in the opeing round of the Travel Ireland Coaches Antrim senior championship on Saturday afternoon in Ballycastle.

Ballycastle hit the opening two scores through Samantha McKillen and Niamh Cosgrove and, although Loughgiel had levelled by the 13th minute, the Town girls pushed on with points from Áine Donnelly, Janey McIntosh, Shannagh Heggarty and Cosgrove to move into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead after 23 minutes.

However Loughgiel hit back with three points each from Christine Laverty and Róisín McCormick to edge 0-10 to 0-9 ahead at the break.

The third quarter was fairly cagey and after 47 minutes just three more scores had been added, two of them for Loughgiel. It still looked like anyone’s game but when Shamrocks’ substitute Katie McKillop found the net there was no way back for the home side.

Niamh Cosgrove responded with a penalty goal for the ‘Town’ within three minutes, but Loughgiel hit eight points without reply in the last ten minutes of the game, serving notice that even without the injured county stars Lucia McNaughton and Mary McKillen they are very much in line for ten-in-a-row in this season.

Loughgiel: K McKillop 1-2, R McCormick 0-8, 2 frees, C Dobbin 0-4, C Laverty 0-3, A Lynn 0-2, O Laverty 0-1, E McFadden 0-1, A Connolly 0-1.

Ballycastle: N Cosgrove 1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free), J McIntosh 0-2, S McKillen 0-2, S Heggarty 0-2, Á Donnelly 0-1 free.

Second half rally comes too late for St. Enda’s

Camogie Development League

Moneyglass 0-16 St. Enda’s 0-13

Moneyglass looked to have this one tied up by the half way stage, by which point they led 2-6 to 0-2 thanks to goals from Ciara Scullion and Sinead McCoy in the 21st and 29th minutes but the Glengormley girls came back strongly in the second half and threatened to overturn that half time lead.

McCoy was mighty impressive for the home side and accounted for all six of their first half points with an out of touch St. Enda’s only first half scores coming from Dearbhalle McGivern and Aibha Kane.

Moneyglass pushed on at the start of the second half with Sinead McCoy, Caras McKeefrey and Niamh McKeefrey moving them 14 ahead by the end of the third quarter and it looked done and dusted at this stage as they began to run their bench.

St. Enda’s had shown little threat up to this point but a goal from Dearbhalle McGivern in the 47th minute brought them to life and the same player fired home her second with six minutes remaining to give her side a glimmer of hope.

Moneyglass were under pressure for the first time and a third goal from the impressive McGivern with time almost up ensured a few anxious moments for the Marian Hill side but hey held out to win by two points.

Moneyglass: 2 Niamh McGlade, 3 Nuala McErlain, 4 Orla Rooney, 5 Orlaith Scullion, 6 Molly McCoy, 17 Emily McCoy, 8 Megan McGlinchey, 9 Niamh McKeefry, 10 Caras McKeefry, 11 Ciara Scullion, 12 Hannah O’Donnell, 13 Alica Boyd, 14 Sinead McCoy, 15 Katie McAllister, 16 Sheena Neeson,

St. Enda’s: 1 Sabrina Spears, 2 Elaine Woods, 3 Cara Houston, 4 Fionnula Kelly, 5 Gabriella McLernon, 8 Amy McGoldrick, 10 Grainne Kelly, 11 Aibha Kane, 12 Jane Martin, 13 Caoimhe Rice, 14 Dearbhalle McGivern, 15 Emer Lyttle, Rosie McQuiillan, Rochelle McTeague, Alveen Millar,

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Rossa)

U15 Development Camogs meet their new sponsors

Our U15 development team and management, plus Antrim Camogie chairman Liam Vallely had the pleasure of meeting their new kit sponsor’s last week. First up was Theresa Dunlop Mortgages who has kindly sponsored the playing kit for the U15 squad. After meeting Theresa the team headed north to Dirty Cars Wanted and thanked Brian and Sean Mullan who have kindly sponsored the new Training kit for the u15 panel. Antrim Camogie are delighted to have the support of these two local businesses for the new season and would encourage all its members to support these local businesses. If you would like to find out more information on how to support Antrim Camogie get in touch with Secretary. Antrim @camogie.ie