Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

Antrim U15 outshine Tyrone in Ulster U16 Shield

Antrim v Tyrone Ulster U16 Championship Rd1 1st March 2025 

Antrim v Tyrone Match report from Sinead McKeever and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran at Glen Rovers GAA Club, Armoy 

Antrim U15s field as Antrim’s second team and compete in the Ulster Camogie U16 Shield Championship. 

Antrim’s U15 camogie team stepped up to the challenge of competing in the U16 Shield Camogie Championship, facing a physically strong Tyrone U16 side. Despite the age gap, the Antrim girls displayed skill, determination, and exceptional teamwork, dominating from the opening whistle and securing a resounding victory. 

First Half: Fast Start and Early Dominance 

From the outset, Antrim imposed themselves on the game, using their speed and sharp passing to break through Tyrone’s defence. The team’s movement off the ball was impressive, with players finding space and linking up efficiently to create scoring opportunities. 

Clíodhna McKeever and Rose McMullan were instrumental in attack, constantly providing passing options and knocking the ball over the bar or into the net. McKeever scored 2-6, while McMullan scored 3-5. 

Caoilfhionn McShane positioned herself exceptionally well in space, covered a lot of ground, and assisted and took many scores. 

Antrim’s backline, led by Caitlin Graffin, Roisin Brady, and Annie Convery in the half line, held firm against Tyrone’s efforts to counterattack. Graffin and Brady put in a series of crucial blocks and 50/50 challenges, while Convery controlled the backline with composure, ensuring Tyrone’s forwards were kept at bay. 

By halftime, Antrim’s dominance was reflected in the scoreline: 4-16 to 0-1, with all but one point coming from open play. 

Second Half: Relentless Pressure and Clinical Finishing 

If Tyrone had hoped to mount a second-half comeback, those hopes were quickly dashed. Antrim came out even stronger after the break, showing no signs of slowing down. The team’s fluid attacking play continued, with Ellie Lynn and Jane Feetham taking control of possession and distributing the ball intelligently. Some fine scores came from their work rate. 

Lynn’s ability to win the ball and deliver quickly put massive pressure on the Tyrone defence, while Feetham’s quick passing helped maintain Antrim’s attacking tempo. 

Up front, the forward unit was ruthless, showing strength in the rucks, ensuring Antrim maintained possession in key areas. Charlotte McNaughton, Eva McCann, and Caoimhe Cunningham worked hard to create scoring opportunities and applied constant pressure on the Tyrone defenders. 

Defensively, Antrim’s work rate remained high, with Martin, O’Kane, and Neeson showing great presence in the backs. A penalty was awarded in the last quarter for Tyrone’s goal. However, the defensive line quickly regrouped, ensuring Tyrone had little opportunity to build on that score. 

 As the game progressed, Antrim continued to find gaps in the Tyrone defence. The combination of pace, accurate passing, and clinical finishing resulted in a phenomenal score, with only one point coming from a free. 

Thanks to Glen Rovers for the use of their pitch today.  The Antrim girls meet Down in their next game on March 15th. 

Photos from today’s game can be found in the photo album here… 

https://myalbum.com/album/uomye7PCxtsMtQ/?invite=ce7a2039-b5bb-4c35-a12b-1640f8de5493

by thesaffrongael

Westmeath make Antrim work for the win

Antrim v Westmeath Very National Div 1B league 1st March 2025 

Antrim 1-09 Westmeath 0-09 

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran at Páirc Mhic Uilín, Ballycastle 

A low scoring first half that featured an evenly contested game with more than its compliment of frees, was ground out on turf showing the effects of our recent wet weather. A Westmeath puck out at one point plugged in the ground if front of the feet of Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin, needing to be forced out for any chance of a pickup. That said, the weather developed into a sun-soaked afternoon along with a second half that witnessed Westmeath taking the game to the hosts and made Antrim work for the win, with a goal from Dervla Cosgrove essentially winning the match and a second half performance from Antrim’s full back line to save the game. 

Westmeath’s markswoman on the day, Caoimhe McCrossan on the move after gaining possession – photo from Michael Corcoran

Match referee, Philip McDonald, had no sooner let go of the sliotar on the 2pm throw-in, when Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin was running to point within the first thirty seconds. This felt like an omen for Antrim, but after McDonald had recorded six infringements with the next four and half minutes, the game slowed up until Westmeath pointed for their first score and Antrim’s Dobbin gave Westmeath a wakeup call on a goal run in the eighth minute, though Antrim would have to wait until Fionnuala Kelly pointed before nudging up the score by one more point. 

Westmeath were able to level the score around the twelfth minute as Julie McLoughlin took a charge from a fast-flowing Eimear Johnston, with Westmeath’s appointed free taker, Caoimhe McCrossan making the score look easy. 

Antrim’s Fionnuala Kelly improved Antrim’s score with another super point, followed by a well-placed pass from Dobbin into Orlaith McAllister for Antrim’s final point of the first half. 

Westmeath’s Caoimhe McCrossan levelled scores after McDonald spotted Westmeath’s Hannah Core take a push and tumble and a solo effort after winning the ball from a ruck, found the ball net and the short whistle for the break, Antrim 0-04 Westmeath 0-04. 

Antrim’s Shannagh Heggarty finding it harder to move in on the sliotar – photo from Michael Corcoran

Antrim knew they had a second half coming where they could bring in additional heavy artillery but when it came, it wasn’t finding getting into the game easy. Westmeath was attritional in working up behind Antrim’s half back line and The Lake County’s Hannah Core was on the receiving end of many of those advances, showing strength and determination only matched and neutralised by the likes of Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton and Dearbhail Dobbin. 

In the early stages of the second half, Antrim began to flow and with points from Eavanne Martin, two more from Caitrin Dobbin, and a solo effort from Fionnuala Kelly as she dragged the sliotar out of a heavy ruck and pointed, left Westmeath to reply with their first point in the second half from a placed ball by Caoimhe McCrossan. 

With just three points the difference, almost on the dot of fifteen minutes gone in the second half, Kelly offered up the sliotar to a running Dervla Cosgrove. Cosgrove bravely reduced the yards to the striking zone and found the back of Westmeath’s net, raising the only green flag of the day and scores stood at Antrim 1-08 Westmeath 0-05. 

Antrim’s Fionnuala Kelly takes a tumble in the second half of today’s Very National Div 1B League game – photo from Michael Corcoran

Once again, Westmeath’s Caoimhe McCrossan floated a placed ball over Antrim’s bar around the sixteenth minute but point of the day came from Eavanne Martin’s reply as she cruised the sliotar from a free, all of 55 metres to split the uprights. 

A goal and two points made up Antrim’s buffer with ten minutes to run in the game, but reduced by a point once more as Westmeath’s Aoife O’Malley played the advantage onto Hannah Core. Westmeath’s McCrossan would reduce that by a further two points from placed balls and all of a sudden, with a goal the difference, Westmeath hungered for the goal but Antrim’s experienced defence and solid performance from goalkeeper, Becky Ellis, meant that Antrim could weather the late storm and took the final whistle, Antrim 1-09 Westmeath 0-09. 

This was an excellent game of camogie, despite attracting twenty-nine fouls and only seven scores from those, the physicality, determination and effort in the latter stages by Westmeath made for an entertaining finale.  

Antrim get a break and return to play Down, at home, on the 15th March.

Antrim starting panel and scorers 

Becky Ellis, Dearbhail Dobbin, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Katierose Bell, Sarah O’Neill, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Boyle, Eimear Johnston, Annie Lynn, Aisling O’Donnell, Eavanne Martin 0-02 (1f), Fionnuala Kelly 0-03, Caitrin Dobbin 0-03, Orlaith McAllister 0-01, Dervla Cosgrove 1-00 

Westmeath starting panel and scorers 

Aoife Corcoran, Emily McCabe, Dearbhail McLoughlin, Katie Penrose, Katie Coleman, Muireann Scally, Kate Whyte, Caoimhe McCrossan 0-07 (6f), Laura Doherty 0-01, Claure Gaffney, Julie McLoughlin, Aoife O’Malley, Hannah Core 0-01, Karen Keegan, Olivia Kelleghan 

More photos from today’s game can be found in the photo album here… 

https://myalbum.com/album/fd7C5PKX6hRD9G/?invite=6ac7ccb7-26d8-4204-bf95-7ffa8de18d19

by thesaffrongael

Antrim host Westmeath in the next round of the Very League

Antrim v Westmeath Very Div 1B National League Saturday 1st March 2025  

Venue Pairc MacUilin, Ballycastle 

This Saturday’s Very National League game between Antrim and Westmeath looks on paper; to be a straightforward affair but nothing is given in senior camogie. It goes like this, Westmeath were beat by Down, Down lost to Limerick and Saturday past, Limerick lost to Antrim.  

Westmeath’s goalkeeper, Aoife Corcoran will have her hands full if Antrim’s Caitrin Dobbin get’s close – photo Michael Corcoran

Antrim are enjoying a good run of games and have had the benefit of playing in marvelous late winter sunshine and good pitches. Fr. McGuigan Park in Ahoghill was dry and reasonably firm under foot, whilst the dry gravel pitch in Ballyagran lived up to its Irish translation, meaning ‘ford mouth of gravel’. Both pitches percolated names that have stepped up to the challenge notwithstanding the journeywoman of the panel like Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney, Caitrin Dobbin and Lucia McNaughton to name a few, but the likes of Janey McIntosh, Caoimhe McNaughton and Saturday’s markswoman, Eavanne Martin now taking on bigger roles.  

Antrim’s Eavanne Martin was in super form during the Limerick game, will she carry that into Saturday’s game? – photo Michael Corcoran

Mentors McCormick and Martin will be pleased with Saturday’s result and how the panel has developed through training and the essential bonding process that can be enhanced by travelling together as a group, such as the long journey to and from Ballyagran. Both mentors also know that they have a crop of headline players in the wings shaping up to be kneaded back into game time.

Caoimhe McNaughton was solid in defence on Saturday, Westmeath will need their A game to get the better of the full back – photo Michael Corcoran

Will Antrim bring the weather to Ballycastle on Saturday, will they outperform Westmeath? Come along on Saturday and you can see for yourself, throw-in is at 2pm and Philip McDonald will be the match referee. 

by thesaffrongael

Antrim’s U16 Camogie squad deliver a strong performance for the win in Abbotstown

Wexford v Antrim U16A All Ireland Shield 23rd February 2025 

Wexford 1-05 Antrim 3-08 

Pitch 4 National Games Development Centre, Abbotstown 

With six games postponed due to the current weather, it was a relief to see the U16A Shield game go ahead in Abbotstown today. By the time the squad arrived, rain had eased off and some sunshine broke through the cloudy sky, but the wind was persistent throughout the match and posed a challenge for both sides. 

All Ireland U16A Shield Wexford v Antrim in Abbotstown

Antrim enjoyed the wind on their backs for the first half and built-up an airborne total of eight crucial points and a goal from Aedin Vallely to Wexford’s 0-01 before the half time whistle. 

With the wind on their backs in the second half, Wexford looked comfortable taking their points and indeed added another four and a goal but Antrim’s defence was immense and the work rate from the midfield impressed their management team with frequent calls of encouragement. 

Antrim’s goalkeeper, Maeve Scullion was replaced due to an injury not long after the restart, by Mia Carlin and her puck outs into the wind were an asset to Antrim, helping to push Wexford back as far as possible, giving Antrim’s half forwards an opportunity to win the sliotar and feed forward into Cliodhna Thompson, Aedin Vallely and Adria McAllister for Antrim’s three goals. 

Antrim will now play Waterford on Sunday 9th March in round three of the shield, details TBC. 

Antrim panel and scorers 

Mia Scullion, Kiera McLaughlin, Laoise McCollam, Isabelle Martin, Hannah Mead, Fiadh Sands, Amy Gault, Caoimhe McErlain 0-01, Anna Smyth 0-01, Tamara Black 0-01, Eimear Ward 1f, Tegan Cassidy 0-01, JoJo Darragh 0-02 (1f), Aedin Vallely 1-00, Cliodhna Thompson 1-01 

Subs Orla Munce, Caela Casey, Adria McAllister 1-0, Bronagh Doherty, Mia Carlin

by thesaffrongael

Great win for Antrim in Limerick

Limerick v Antrim Very National Div 1B League 22nd February 2025

Limerick 0-07 Antrim 2-10

Match report and photos from Antrim Camogie PRO Michael Corcoran

Limerick’s Aine Foley closely followed by Antrim’s Amy Boyle and Erin Coulter

A goal and seven points in the first half compared to Limerick’s 0-02 tally, set the Saffrons up to face a four or five point wind advantage for Limerick in the second half, as the Treaty County won the toss and opted to play into the wind in the first half. 

Antrim’s early goal from Caitrin Dobbin came from a spearhead attack from Eavanne Martin, finding Dobbin with a surreptitious pass into the box requiring a mere flick to ripple Limerick’s goal net. 

Antrim were the dominant force in the first half, walking in at the short whistle with an eight point lead but left an unanswered question on the pitch, namely would Limerick be able to come back with the calculated advantage. 

Match referee, Brian Kearney, started proceedings promptly and Limerick was soon knocking on Antrim’s door, with goalkeeper, Caitriona Graham getting the better of an advance and winning a foul. The long puck eventually worked its way to Antrim’s Eavanne Martin, and a running Caitrin Dobbin would be the beneficiary of the pass that fooled Limerick’s full back line, resulting in the green flag being raised within the first two minutes of the game. 

Limerick were on the reply and had Antrim’s goalkeeper, Graham, sending the sliotar back out only to be turned over by Donna Kenny for her point, making that Limerick’s first score in the match after seven minutes. 

Antrim’s Nicole McAtamney built up Antrim’s early lead, cruising two frees between the uprights for two fouls, one stemming from a dropped hurl and the other a push in the back. One of those white flags could have been neutralised by Limerick’s Orlaith Kelliher, with a superb high ball catch but drifted the shot wide of the mark.  

McAtamney wasn’t able to cash in on another two frees as the sliotar drifted wide of the uprights, telling a tale that factoring in the wind would be paramount today. 

Nearly twenty minutes would elapse in the game before Antrim’s Eavanne Martin notched the Saffrons up a point on the manual scoreboard, and Martin would return within the minute after Antrim’s Clare McKillop managed to dig out the sliotar from an intense ruck, finding Martin and a subsequent point. 

Limerick’s Laura Southern would take a push in the back, finding some satisfaction as she cruised her free between Antrim’s uprights, with scores on the board Limerick 0-02 Antrim 1-04. 

An on-form Martin would step into the shoes of last week’s top scorer, Dervla Cosgrove , sitting out this game due to sickness, and converted two more fouls into points from a hold and an over carry of the sliotar. 

With only two minutes remaining in the first half, Antrim’s Dobbin couldn’t get an angle for a green flag route, instead took her point, leaving the short whistle to register Limerick 0-02 Antrim 1-07 on the board. 

Antrim’s first half was built on dominance as the mid and half forward line of Boyle, McAtamney, McIntosh, McNaughton and Martin were instrumental in pushing Limerick back into their own half for much of that portion of the game, but much was to play for in the second half. 

The start of the second half witnessed Limerick drifting a crucial free wide of the post after only two minutes, that would have possibly ignited a resurgence of scoring activity in the Limerick camp, but it would be Antrim that would raise the first white flag, as Lucia McNaughton delivered the sliotar to an advancing Martin for her fourth point of the day. 

Antrim’s Lucia McNaughton works the jab lift as Limerick’s Emily O’Halloran eyes up the steal

Limerick’s supporters might have been basking in the late winter sun, but Antrim would have to weather a Limerick storm for almost fifteen minutes as the tables were turned and Limerick managed to push Antrim back into their own half, delivering four points without reply, two of those from Southern, Kenny and Larkin. 

Antrim would break that pattern whenever McAtamney delivered to Dobbin and onto Martin for Antrim’s reply after the nineteenth minute and in just over a minute later, Martin made a tenacious advance into Limerick’s green flag zone but Limerick’s Aine Foley, diffused the tension only for Limerick to succumb to an advancing Dobbin, pulling on the sliotar for her second goal in today’s game. 

Drama would unfold in the twenty forth minute as Antrim’s Katie Molloy ventured deep into Gillane territory and Kearney, having spotted Molloy being held and pulled to the ground, wasted no time in awarding a penalty. Antrim’s Eavanne Martin stepped up for the penalty, but Gillane had the makings of the save as the sliotar flew down the centre. 

Antrim’s Caoimhe McNaughton looks for the offload as Limerick’s Donna Kenny tracks the sliotar

An air of confidence had worked itself up in the Antrim camp by now, and the bench was starting to find effective game time, as Eimear Johnston took a superb catch from Annie Lynn, and took her score that would be Antrim’s last of the day. 

Limerick’s primary free taker, Caoimhe Costelloe was keen to drop the sliotar into Antrim’s goal area for much of the second half, when the opportunity arose, but when Orlaith Kelliher floated her point high over the bar on the thirtieth minute, Antrim knew the game was all but over and as the long whistle signalled the end of the match, the scoreboard registered Limerick 0-07 Antrim 2-10.  

Up to now, Antrim have enjoyed a good run in the league with two wins from two games. Round three is a home game in Ballycastle to Westmeath on Saturday 1st March, with a throw in time of 2pm. 

Limerick starters and scorers 

Sarah Gillane, Aoife Nelligan, Muireann Creamer, Aine Foley, Shauna Cunningham, Emily O’Halloran, Teresa Dore, Mairead Ryan, Ailbhe Larkin 0-01, Caoimhe Costelloe 0-02, Lizanna Boylan, Stephanie Woulfe, Donna Kenny 0-02, Orlaith Kelliher 0-01, Laura Southern 0-01f 

Antrim starters and scorers 

Caitriona Graham, Clare McKillop, Katie Lynn, Caoimhe McNaughton, Erin Coulter, Sarah O’Neill, Shannagh Heggarty, Amy Boyle, Nicole McAtamney 0-02f, Janey McIntosh, Lucia McNaughton, Eavanne Martin 0-06 (3f), Orlaith McAllister, Katie Molloy, Caitrin Dobbin 2-01, Eimear Johnston 0-01 

More photos from Saturday’s game can be found in the album here… 

https://myalbum.com/album/2D6NXaja5K6unn/?invite=71f575cf-66e0-4e85-8f51-8397fc020ae0