Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

Junior Feis ends in a draw but needing a replay at a later date

Feis na nGleann 2026 Junior Final

Loughgiel 2-10 Cushendall 2-10

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel

As winter evenings go, this one was horrible. Cold, driving rain that wouldn’t find you out looking for a shovel of coal. But wait it’s meant to be the summer! Our consolation for bearing the inclement Junior final weather was to watch a real head to head for the full sixty minutes ending in a draw 2-10 to each side. The game will be replayed due to breaking news of a family bereavement and a refixture gracefully agreed by all parties tonight.

With the spin of referee, Ryan Magee’s coin, Loughgiel won and opted to play into the driving rain, towards the clubhouse. There wasn’t any tactical advantage tonight, driving rain swept down the pitch for most of the sixty minutes. It was though, Loughgiel on the prowl for an early point after winning the sliotar from a ruck, Carlina Sullivan drifting it wide past the uprights.

Loughgiel’s Therese Hill (McKinley) scoops the sliotar up as conditions deteriorated

Loughgiel’s Eimear McKendry would take the honours of opening the Shamrock’s score with a close range point before Sullivan would make good with her second attempt and Orlagh Laverty would make it three points in all of five minutes. Cushendall applied the pressure, subsequently winning a free that floated over the Loughgiel bar from Lára Haughey in under eleven minutes. Cushendall were now in the game and despite two more points from Loughgiel’s Rose McMullan and Kirsty McKendry, the Ruairi’s pounced on a break, getting in behind Loughgiel’s defence for a goal from Síne Woodhouse.

Cushendall’s Cliodhna Thompson followed the goal with a point to level the game before a Rose McMullan free dropped dangerously into the small box. Cushendall’s goalkeeper was faced with Shamrock jerseys rushing in and despite an attempt to diffuse the threat, but Eimear McKinley and Alana McKendry were close by to usher in the sliotar for the goal at twenty three minutes in.

Cushendall’s Lára Haughey chases down Anna Smyth in Friday’s Junior Feis final

There would only be a minute for the Shamrocks to enjoy the goal, when Cliodhna Thompson set up Aoife Delargy for Cushendall’s second goal of the evening. Now it was the turn of the Ruairi’s to have a moment of delight before Loughgiel’s Carlina Sullivan broke behind the Dall’s defence and sensing a closing pack, opted for a front over-the- head strike into the Ruairi’s net with only a minute on the clock before the break, scores radiating from the large Dan Scullion scoreboard, Loughgiel 2-05 Cushendall 2-02.

On the restart, it was Cushendall that would press hard into green flag territory but Erinmae Mitchell would see her rifle of a shot parried away by Loughgiel’s goalkeeper, Shauna McKillop over the bar for an opening point. Loughgiel with the driving rain on their backs now trotted out three points from Kirsty McKendry, Sullivan and a free from McMullan before Cushendall replied from a dead ball by Thompson.

Shauna Doran clears the threat for now but the Ruairi’s would level up just ahead of the long whistle

Cushendall would now close Loughgiel’s drift of four points to only one in a few minutes. Two of those three points came from Thompson and one of those appeared to be run on goal ending safely over the bar, much to the supporters dismay that were encouraging a green flag. Lára Haughey’s point completed the three before Loughgiel’s Rose McMullan split the uprights from a free derived from Kirsty McKendry getting closed out from a neat hand pass from Orlagh Laverty.

Cushendall’s Haughey and Leech levelled the game with minutes to spare, but it was a fine point from a free delivered by Rose McMullan, tight on the dugout side that caused a feeling of dread amogst the Ruairi’s supporters. Despite the grains of time sifting rapidly away in favour of the Shamrocks, the Ruairi’s Lára Haughey ended a blistering solo run with a foul that was dispatched by Leech to draw the game at the final whistle. All in all, a very tight, tough and even affair that will now go to a refixture.

To see photos from Friday’s Junior Feis final, follow the link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/xPYutuTbn7NYQd/?invite=2be1cc24-71da-434d-84a1-b35fcf7826fe

Loughgiel starters and scorers

Shauna McKillop, Erin Connolly, Brianna McCloskey, Zoe Cassley, Anna Smyth, Sarah Flavin, Shauna Doran, Rose McMullan 0-04 (4f), Therese Hill (McKinley), Caoihme McGarry 0-02, Kirsty Adams (McKendry) 0-01, Eimear McKinley 1-01, Carlina Sullivan 1-02

Cushendall starters and scorer

Cailín Quinn, Aibreán Campbell, Aimee McDonnell, Tamara Black, Ellen Leech 0-02 (1f, 1×45), Erin McNaughton, Aoife McClafferty, Scarlet Kerr-McKillop, Erinmae Mitchell 0-01, Lára Haughey 0-03 (2f), Rhianna Black, Sine Woodhouse 1-00, Aoife Delargy 1-00, Cliodhna Thompson 0-04 (2f), Caoimhe O’Hara

by thesaffrongael

Tir na nÓg take the Minor B Camogie title

Whitehill was the setting for the Antrim Minor B Championship 2026, with the condensed schedule running two shortened semi-finals and final on the night.  With both pitches in action and referees Catherine McMullan and Ryan Magee officiating, it was the peak of the Minor Camogie season on the back of a hot summer week.  The finalists were decided with Naomh Éanna overcoming Bridíní Óga on a score line of 1-4 to 0-01 and Tír na nÓg securing their place with a 3-4 to 0-3 win over Cargin.

The final was an evenly matched affair in the first half, with both teams going in at 2 points a piece at the 15 minute half time break.  With Antrim County keepers Clodagh McLarnon (U16) and Mia Carlin (Minor) in opposite nets, the second half was to remain goalless, each drawing the appreciation of the supporters for a series of fine saves.  It was the girls in blue who made the better of their opportunities however as the gap opened up.  Reaching the magic 4 point margin with minutes remaining set the home support alight and on the long whistle, Tír na nÓg were crowned the worthy champions.  Emer Lyttle was on hand from the Antrim Executive Committee to conclude the formalities and present the silverware to captain Brogan McGuckien as the sun went down on a great evening of Camogie.

by thesaffrongael

Emphatic win for Cushendall in Antrim Minor A Camogie Final

Ruairi Og Cushendall v Portglenone Geraldines

Ruairi Og Cushendall secured an emphatic 0-15 to 0-01 victory over Geraldines Portglenone in the Antrim Minor A Camogie final at Pairc Pol, Belfast on Friday evening. Under a new set-up for the competition, the two semi-finals were played immediately before the final (fifteen minutes each way) Cushendall booked their place by defeating Loughgiel at Rossa Park, while Portglenone advanced after beating St Paul’s at Pairc Pol. Ultimately, Cushendall proved unstoppable in the final, showing too much strength and firepower for a spirited Portglenone side.

Cushendall dominated the game from the opening whistle, operating on a completely different level. Aoife Molloy opened the scoring with a point from play just 30 seconds in, quickly followed by a strong individual point from Player of the match Eva McNeill. Cliodhna Thompson struck from play at the one-and-a-half-minute mark to keep the early momentum going, and Molloy found the target again shortly after to extend the lead. Erin McNaughton added to the tally with a well-taken point, and McNeill hit a massive long-range point from play at four and a half minutes. Portglenone threatened the target around the seven-minute mark, but a brilliant point blank save by Cushendall goalkeeper Ellen McAlister. A well-worked team move culminated in another point from McNeill, and Elena McQuillan added a point from play just before the break, to leave the half-time score at 0-10 to 0-00 in favour of Cushendall, with Eva McNeill establishing herself as the star of the show in the first period.

The second half saw Cushendall comfortably maintain their lead, utilizing accurate frees to keep the scoreboard ticking. Eva McNeill demonstrated her dead-ball accuracy, converting three consecutive long-range frees at the four-and-a-half, seven, and nine-minute marks. Cliodhna Thompson then slotted her second point of the day from play. Geraldines Portglenone successfully broke their duck ten and a half minutes into the half when Caoimhe Kelly scored a well-earned point from play. Finally, Emma Lynn registered the last point of the match for Cushendall at the 30-minute mark. The final whistle confirmed a highly one-sided 0-15 to 0-01 victory, crowning Ruairi Og Cushendall the Antrim Minor A Camogie champions.

Ruairi Og Cushendall: 1. Ellen McAlister, 2. Aibrean Campbell, 3. Laoise McCollam, 4. Emily Elliott, 5. Maeve McAlister, 6. Erin McNaughton, 7. Niamh McCollam, 8. Scarlett Kerr McKillop, 9. Tamara Black, 10. Anna Birt, 11. Eva McNeill, 12. Erin Mae Mitchell, 13. Aoife Molloy, 14. Cliodhna Thompson, 15. Laoiseach McNaughton,

16. Elena McQuillan, 17. Emma Lynn, 18. Lucia Trainor, 19. Eleyna Madden, 20. Amy McAlister, 21. Caragh McKinley, 22. Gabriella McNeill.

Geraldines Portglenone: 1. Emma Rose Diamond, 2. Niamh Martin, 3. Annie Convery, 4. Eira McTague, 5. Emily Scullion, 6. Gemma McAuley, 7. Aedin Vallely, 8. Ellen McAleer, 9. Cliodhna McKeever, 10. Aoife McGrogan, 11. Hollie Martin (C), 12. Eva McCann, 13. Caoimhe Kelly, 14. Caoimhe Doherty, 15.

Jojo Darragh, 16. Amy Addison, 17. Shannon McFall, 18. Olivia Marron, 19. Rose McVeigh, 20. Niamh McAleese.

TO SEE MORE OF BERTS PICS FROM THIS FINAL, PLUS THE TWO SEMI-FINALS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/3igVy7FbNhhoNg/?invite=298f74e2-f5dd-4b08-8a18-7c2666b0d35a

In the semi-finals Cushendall were 0-14 to 1-03 winners over Cushendall at Rossa Park. Eva McNeill was once again the commanding figure on the field, scoring nine of her team’s total, four from frees and five from play. The Loughgiel goal came from Marie Laverty, the centre forward also getting two of her team’s three points, while the other came from Catherine McGarry.

Portglenone won their semi-final against St Paul’s by 4-04 to 1-0, the goals coming from Aoife McGroggan and Jo Jo Darragh who bagged two apiece.

Na Seamroga Panel: 1. Maeve Scullion, 2. Rhea Dickson, 3. Brianna McCloskey, 4. Ciara Breen, 5. Eibhlin Kearney, 6. Anna Smyth, 7. Caela Casey, 8. Rose McMullan, 9. Caoimhe Bateson, 10. Catherine McGarry, 11. Marie Laverty, 12. Caoimhe Cunningham, 13. Roise McGarry, 14. Caoimhe McGarry, 15.

Cara Dobbin, 16. Aoife Cunningham, 17. Grace Mullan, 18. Erin Mullan, 19. Cara McGuckian, 20. Ella Devlin, 21. Charley Ann Robinson, 22. Clare McNeilly. Mentors – Roisin McMullan.

Naomh Pól Panel: 1 Caoimh Murray, 2 Niamh Curry, 3 Jane Feetham, 4 Amy Gault, 5 Amy Heaney, 6 Deirbhile Killyleagh, 7 Roisin Brady, 8 Ellie Lynn, 9 Abigail Maguire, 10 Caoimhe McCartan, 11 Aoibhinn McDonnell, 12 Kayla McKee, 13 Abaigh McNally ©, 14 Hannah Mead, 15 Orla Munce,

16 Aoife O’Hare, 17 Leila O’Rawe, 18 Aoife Rice, 19 Róise Stevenson, 20 Éabha Vallely, 21 Orlaigh Walker. Mentors – Ciara Gault, Clare Dowdall, Natalie McGuigan, Gerard McNally. First aid – Lisa Heaney.

by thesaffrongael

Early goals see off Dunloy at the final whistle

Antrim Camogie League Round 8 Loughgiel 3-12 Dunloy 0-12

Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel

What promised to be a warm summer’s evening of spectating turned into a cool misty laden evening with Fr. Healy Park shrouded at times around the perimeter with a veil of mizzle. But that was a welcome set of circumstances for many of the players, considering how warm it was for many of us today. No hydration breaks tonight.

Despite the falling thermometer, Loughgiel warmed things up with two very early goals that had Dunloy chasing all evening. It was going to be an engaging game given that both sides almost had a full compliment due to the natural County haitus ahead of an Intermediate semi final, but no one would have anticipated the physicality in the game borne from a desire to win. Forty four fouls spread evenly across the two halves would grind the ebb and flow of the game to a simple start stop motion. All the same, in between, this evening’s game had flair, tactical play and a bunch of scores to keep the sidelines engaged.

Within two minutes of Ryan O’Reilly’s whistle, Loughgiel’s forwards had broken through Dunloy’s defence with relative ease. Loughgiel’s Lucia McNaughton fed the sliotar into Marie Laverty, offloading to Annie Lynn and with only Dunloy’s goalkeeper, Clodagh O’Kane to beat, the sliotar was fired to her left and up went the first early green flag. A minute later, Marie Laverty would exercise a simple one-two with Annie Lynn and Laverty would have the second green flag in as many minutes.

Dunloy’s Aine Magill denied another scoring opportunity by Aoibheann Gillan

Dunloy didn’t panic, rather they went about building their score point by point, opening a salvo of seven points before the break to Loughgiel’s 2-04, five of Dunloy’s points coming from open play with Crawford, McAtamney and Aine Magill seeing the first half action. On the other hand, Loughgiel were slow to respond after their initial goal feast, building only four points coming from Laverty and Katie McKillop, two apiece leaving the scoreline at the break, Loughgiel 2-04 Dunloy 0-07.

At the switch, Aine Magill was first to wake up the large ‘Dan Scullion’ scoreboard from a free, shortly followed by a point from Loughgiel’s Katie McKillop. Magill would now stitch together three further points from fouls, with McKillop replying with four leaving a gap of four points for Dunloy to close and it would soon be three. Dunloy’s Eilis Kearns found McAtamney, now feeding through a delicate sliotar to Dunloy’s mid field machine, Eimear Johnston for a fine point.

Loughgiel’s Katie McKillop was on scoring form from the dead ball in Tuesday’s league game

But that would be Dunloy’s sum total of scores for the game, as Loughgiel tightened their grip on the game, starting with a short free from Clare McKillop to Katie McKillop for a point, followed by a pressured pass from Shanna Deery to Lucia McNaughton with a soaring point towards the clubhouse and finally a free from McKillop, who was on free taking form tonight. Loughgiel’s captain, Lucia McNaughton dealt the final blow with two minutes left as another soaring sliotar dived viciously under the bar for Loughgiel’s third goal and score for the night, scores ending Loughgiel 3-12 Dunloy 0-12.

To see more photos from Tuesday’s league game, click here…

https://myalbum.com/album/JAUJk7vDcjS95w/?invite=93cd79ab-b1b0-4f77-90c1-6bf2f453476e

Loughgiel starting panel and scorers

Emma McAllister, Aoibheann Gillan, Megan McGarry, Finvola McVeigh, Katie Lynn, Amy Boyle, Clare McKillop, Anna Connolly, Shanna Deery, Annie Lynn 1-00, Lucia McNaughton 1-01, Katie McKillop 0-09 (7f), Marie Laverty 1-02 (1f), Christine McCloskey, Kirsty McKendry

Dunloy starting panel and scorers

Clodagh O’Kane, Eimear McMullan, Brid Magill, Kathryn Boyle, Eilis Kearns, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon, Eimear Johnston 0-01, Caitlin Crawford 0-01, Nicole McAtamney 0-02 (1f, 1×45) , Dearbhail Elliott, Bronach Magill 0-01, Aine Magill 0-07 (5f), Aileen McManus, Adria McAllister

by thesaffrongael

McCormick’s killer blow seals it as Saffrons survive second-half scare

Glen Dimplex Intermediate Camogie Championship Group 1 – Round 3

McKenna Park, Ballycran

Down 0-10 Antrim 3-9

Antrim made it three wins out of three in the All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship at Ballycran on Saturday when they withstood a great fightback by Down. The Saffrons appeared to be on Easy Street at half-time when they led by ten points (2-7 to 0-3) after fully capitalising on the fresh breeze behind them, Antrim looked destined to stroll to their third successive championship victory. However, Down proved to be a transformed side in the second half, their defence completely closing down the Antrim attack to give the travelling Saffron faithful a genuine scare before a moment of magic finally sealed the tie.

Antrim started with the breeze, and despite Down dropping Dearbhla Magee back to aggressively mark Róisín McCormick and deploying Blanaid Savage as a sweeper, the pacy Saffron attack could not be contained.

Elen McIntosh is dragged back as she breaks through the Down defence to set up the goal chance for Eobha McAllister

Early scores from McCormick (free), Cliona Griffin, and Elen McIntosh got Antrim up and running. While Down kept things relatively tight for the first quarter—trailing just 0-3 to 0-1 after 15 minutes—Antrim soon flexed their muscles however as a Nicole McAtamney point and a pair of McCormick frees stretched the lead, but it was in the final minutes of the half that Antrim really inflicted the damage.

After 27 minutes, Elen McIntosh broke through the Down defence and despite being pulled back her shot for goal broke to Éobha McAllister, who tapped in Antrim’s first goal. Lucia McNaughton quickly tagged on a point. After Down squandered a goal chance at the other end, Antrim punished them ruthlessly. Elen McIntosh saw her initial effort well saved by Clodagh Kelly, but she showed lethal striker’s instinct to stroke the rebound into the far corner, sending the Saffrons to the changing rooms at the break with a 2-7 to 0-3 lead.

Antrim’s Nicole McAtamney sends a sideline ‘cut’ towards the Down goals

It should have been game over, but the home side’s defence clearly hadn’t read the script. Wind-assisted on the restart, Down mounted a fierce comeback. Deirbhile Savage fired over an early point, and three frees from Aimee McAleenan significantly narrowed the gap.

For most of the second half, the Antrim attack was completely smothered. When substitute Grace Cunningham and Savage struck again, followed by a surging solo point from Dearbhla Magee on the 55-minute mark, Down had reeled off eight unanswered points.

Suddenly, the hosts were within a single goal (2-7 to 0-10), and there was real concern spreading among the Antrim fans in the stands. The unbeaten run looked in genuine jeopardy.

When the Saffrons needed leadership most, they found it. Nicole McAtamney bravely won a vital free and coolly pointed it to finally break Down’s scoring sequence and relieve the mounting pressure.

Less than a minute later, Antrim delivered the ultimate killer blow to Down’s chances. A beautiful, flowing move initiated under the stand saw Lucia McNaughton and Maeve Kelly link up perfectly to release Róisín McCormick who burst through on goal, McCormick produced a great individual finish, slipping the sliotar under the advancing keeper to secure the 3-9 to 0-10 victory and maintain Antrim’s flawless record.

Down’s Dearbhla Magee in action against Antrim’s Cliona Griffin

Teams and Scorers

ANTRIM

  • Starting XV: C Graham (capt), C Patterson, C Conlon, D Dobbin, S O’Neill, K Molloy, C McNaughton, L McNaughton (0-1), M Kelly, O McAllister, R McCormick (1-3, 0-3f), N McAtamney (0-2, 1f), E McIntosh (1-1), É McAllister (1-0), C Griffin (0-1).
  • Substitutions: A Boyle for É McAlister (44), A Ferris (0-1) for E McIntosh (48), J McIntosh for C Griffin (56).

DOWN

  • Starting XV: C Kelly, A McDowell, A Mallon, O Brown, C McGilligan (capt), B Savage, N McConville, D Magee (0-1), C Cowan, A McAleenan (0-5f), A Brown, D Savage (0-3), D Coleman, N McGrath, C Fitzsimons.
  • Substitutions: G Cunningham (0-1) for O Brown (ht), G McGrattan for A Brown (49), K Quinn for N McGrath (53), L Coulter for N McConville (53), A Murphy for A McDowell (61).

Referee: Bernard Heaney (Meath)

Amy Boyle helped steady the Antrim ship when introduced as a second half substitute

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/E7uAiUpc4WARjr/?invite=fdac6600-77aa-434d-ae10-a834b6996e6f