Antrim Camogie Senior Championship Semi Final

Dunloy 2-17 Cushendall 2-06

28th Sept 2024

Dunloy 2-17 Cushendall 2-06

A rejuvenated Dunloy side shook off the ghosts from their recent loss to Loughgiel in the championship table stage, and brought energy and dominance to quell Cushendall’s game plan and book a place in this year’s final.

Cushendall bookended today’s match, having started on a roll and kept hold of a small lead for twenty minutes or so in the first half and then came back in the final stages to tally up two goals. It would prove too little and too late as Dunloy had amassed a ten point difference by the twenty eighth minute of the second half and all but one of those points came from play.

Cushendall won Owen Elliott’s coin toss and opted to play towards the road end in today’s semi final. It would take the Dall only seconds to turn over a loose sliotar from the throw-in and Kady McNeill would get Cushendall on the scoreboard with only twenty seconds gone.

 Five minutes would drift by before Dunloy would reply from a free taken by Nicole McAtamney and as both sides traded points to level out at four points apiece in the twenty second minute, a total of eleven fouls had punctuated the game and left supporters wondering who would survive the stop-start and it would be Dunloy to perculate first out of the grind. Dunloy’s Katie Molloy gathered up the sliotar and using nothing but her sheer strength, pulled away from a defending pack to put Dunloy one point in the lead after twenty three minutes. Dunloy would tack on another point from  Eobha McAllister as she received a long hand-pass from Katharine Mullan.

With four minutes to the short whistle, Dunloy were now starting to breakdown Cushendall’s defence and when Katie Molloy was pulled to the ground, McAtamney dropped in a dangerous sliotar that Goalkeeper Louise Mulholland saved and cleared away. The Cuchullains though would be knocking on the Dall’s door in short shrift as Molloy pointed and having tasted her second point, was happy to rescue a dying strike from Eobha McAllister and deliver deep into Mulholland’s net for the first goal in the game at thirty two minutes on the clock. Elliott calculated something in the region of six minutes of extra time would be needed due to the accumulation of time from earlier fouls and with no score from either side after Dunloy’s goal, Elliott brought the first half to a conclusion with the large Fridge Raiders’ scoreboard announcing Dunloy 1-07 Cushendall 0-04.

With Cushendall playing with whatever was left of the afternoon’s breeze on their backs, expectations were running high that something might come from that slim elemental advantage, but Dunloy’s Katie Molloy wasn’t having any of that, as Eobha McAllister dropped in a cunning ball twenty seconds from the throw-in and Molloy punished the space with a rocket to the back of Mulholland’s net.

For the next twelve minutes, Dunloy would start to put away seven points as if they were going to go out of fashion before Cushendall replied with a point from substitute Amy McAlister and one of the finest points of the game from Cushendall’s Kady McNeill as she solo ran from just over the half way line, protecting the sliotar all the time on her stick, despite several challenges to dispossess.

Dunloy’s right wing forward, Aine Magill would grab similar attention as she caught a dropping ball on the edge of Cushendall’s ‘D’ and sent that fizzling over the bar to bring scores to Dunloy 2-15 Cushendall 0-06.

But Cushendall were determined to fight back despite the scoreboard displaying twenty seven minutes gone in the second half, as Aoife McClafferty was pushed in the back and the resulting free from Brogan Abram dropped in towards the terrace steps and it would eventually fall to Kady McNeill to strike at  Dunloy’s net for the Dall’s first goal.

Despite the goal, Dunloy were by now home and dry. A point from Katie Molloy before Cushendall’s Kady McNeill struck at the heart of Aileen McManus’ goals for the Dall’s second of the game, was matched by Dunloy’s Eobha McAllister to give Dunloy a comfortable win of 2-17 to 2-06 at the end of two extra minutes.

Dunloy will now meet Loughgiel to set up an exciting final of the Antrim Camogie Senior Championship 2024, details TBC.

Dunloy starting panel and scorers:

Aileen McManus, Sarah McIlhatton, Brid Magill, Kathryn Boyle, Casey Crawford, Katie Laverty, Caoimhe Conlon, Eimear Johnston, Katharine Mullan, Nicole McAtamney 0-07 (2f), Eobha McAllister 0-02, Bronagh Magill, Aine Magill 0-02, Katie Molloy 2-03, Cassie McArthur 0-03

Cushendall starting panel and scorers:

Louise Mulholland, Caoimhe McNaughton, Sinead Cosgrove, Anna McNeill, Aoife McClafferty, Ellen Leech, Laura Black, Cara O’Boyle, Siobhan McKillop, Brogan Abram 0-01, Eva McNeill 0-02f, Laura McMullan, Kady McNeill 2-02, Orlagh O’Hara, Orlaith McAlister, Amy McAlister 0-01

Don’t forget to enjoy all of our photos in the Saffron albums on a large screen such as a laptop or tablet. Click on a photo to see it larger, look at the album as either a photo book or web pages and you can order a copy online as a keep’s sake.

Photos from this evening’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/utbE5qVADxx8XT/?invite=56d129af-4df8-4b6b-b9f6-f8e3488a441d

Follow Michael G Corcoran @keep_clickin on X (formerly Twitter) for match Gifs when available.

Follow The Saffron Gael @TheSaffronGael on X for links to match reports.

Antrim Camogie U16A Cup Final 20th September 2024

Loughgiel 2-03 Cushendall 6-24

Report and photo album from Michael Corcoran in Fr. Maginn Park, Glenravel

Coming into a final as favourites can apply an additional level of pressure over and above the sense of occasion in itself, but the girls from Cushendall coped well to run out cup winners in Glenravel despite an early and late challenge from Loughgiel.

The pitch and facilities were setup worthy of a championship match and full credit goes to the hardworking grounds team, who amongst other grounds volunteers in many other clubs, have faced a challenging year due to the oddities of the weather.

Tonight’s game had supporters anxiously waiting to see if Loughgiel could mount an early challenge to cause an upset in tonight’s game. Indeed, for the better part of twenty-five minutes in the first half, only eight points separated sides with goals apiece and it would be Loughgiel’s Róise McGarry who would raise a green flag first after Rose McMullan dropped her shot short of the goal. But Cushendall replied immediately, as Amy McAlIstair tapped into what looked like an undefendable amount of space to the right of goalkeeper Maeve Scullion. Scullion though would go on to defend the Shamrock goals for the better part of the game with bravery and quick reactions that helped to thwart Cushendall’s attempts at finding the net too easily.

As the second half got underway, Cushendall had by now worked out a formula for success. A sweeping Maeve McAlister playing right half back used her catching skills and long puck to quell Loughgiel advances and was successful in offloading the sliotar down the field to Eva McNeill or Cliodhna Thompson, both generous in moving the sliotar to a player running into space.

That generosity would be repaid in full as both McNeill and Thompson were put into positions enabling them to rack up points and goals that would put the game beyond any doubt and the cup would be heading to the coast, but not before Loughgiel’s Marie Laverty gave supporters a piece of sporting drama as she stroked an awarded penalty to a waiting Ellen McAlister on the goal line, dropping the sliotar off the stick to Laverty in flight , instinctively running to the goals. A simple roll lift on the sliotar and a quick fire would give the Shamrocks the last goal and score of the evening as the game was blown to a close with the light dropping rapidly on a cloudy autumnal evening.

Cushendall starting panel

Ellen McAlister, Aibreán Campbell, Laoise McCollam, Caragh McKinley, Maeve McAlister, Erin McNaughton, Niamh McCollam, Tamara Black, Scarlet Kerr-McKillop, Mia McKeegan, Eva McNeill, Erinmae Mitchell, Amy McAlister, Cliodhna Thompson, Laoiseach McNaughton

Loughgiel starting panel

Maeve Scullion, Rhea Dickson, Brianna McCloskey, Clare McNeilly, Caoimhe McGarry, Eibhlín Kearney, Ciara Breen, Anna Smyth, Aoibhinn Fennelly, Rose McMullan, Marie Laverty, Caela Casey, Caoimhe Bateson, Róise McGarry

Photos from this evening’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/u4sGdTnSPtLC7Q/?invite=17f3b156-4d2d-42a0-806f-fa411d425356

Don’t forget to enjoy all of our photos in the Saffron albums on a large screen such as a laptop or tablet. Click on a photo to see it larger, look at the album as either a photo book or web pages and you can order a copy online as a keep’s sake.

Follow Michael G Corcoran @keep_clickin on X (formerly Twitter) for match Gifs when available.

Follow The Saffron Gael @TheSaffronGael on X for links to match reports.

U16 ‘A’ Camogie Shield Final

Dunloy 3-12 St Pauls 3-5

Friday 20 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr McGuigan Park, Ahoghill

Dunloy saw off the spirited challenge of St Paul’s under the floodlights of Fr McGuigan Park, Ahoghill on Friday evening to earn the Shield honours.  They had seven points to spare on the night, in truth this contest was a lot closer than the score line would suggest, the Cuchullains were just the little more clinical in front of the target when it counted.

It was a captains performance from Erin McMullan as she top scored for her side with 2-4 over the hour while the midfield duo of Adria McAllister and Mggie Kearns chipped in with five points between them.  The centre-field pairing were excellent throughout with their workrate and energy in the middle third always giving the Cuchullains an outlet.  Defensively, Brid O’Kane and Carly McNamee were excellent with Mya McKinley putting in a strong performance between the sticks.

St Paul’s were reliant on the talents of Amy Gault for scores, the midfielder would finish with 1-4 by the time the final whistle came and was a constant attacking threat for her side.  She was ably assisted by Aoife O’Hare who showed lightning pace throughout while Aoibhinn McDonnell was always a threat.  Orla Munce led the St Paul’s defence while Róise Stevenson was excellent on the edge of the St Paul’s square but it was the more economical play and ability of the Cuchullains to convert chances that was the difference between the sides.

The Cuchullains got off to a dream start with Caoilfhionn McShane scoring a goal inside the opening 20 seconds and when Erin McMullan converted a free soon after, it looked like it would be all one-way traffic.  St Paul’s soon settled however and in that opening 10 minutes, they had serious pressure on the Dunloy defence.  Aoife O’Hare managed to kick the sliotar to the back of the net in the fifth minute and it was just reward for their efforts. 

With just two between the sides, the second Dunloy major came in the 19^th minute.  Standing over a free, fully 30 yards on the angle, Erin McMullan managed to find the back of the St Paul’s net to open some daylight between the sides.  Dunloy would keep the Shaws Road side scoreless in the last quarter of the first half while adding on further points from Adria McAllister and a brace of points from Maggie Kearns to leave the half time score 2-8 to 1-3 in favour of the Cuchullains.

Much like the first half, Dunloy opened the scoring with a major.  Erin McMullan finding the back of the net from range but St Paul’s showed plenty of character to respond with their second goal.  Munce delivering a long free to the heart of the Dunloy defence where Gault caught the sliotar in the air.  She turned and made a yard of space and despite being fully 25 yards from goal, managed to fire the sliotar high to the back of the net.

Dunloy responded with points from Erin McMullan (free) and Keeva McFerran but St Paul’s responded yet again with another major.  Aoife O’Hare this time turning provider with a strong, direct run at the Dunloy defence and finding Amy Heaney in space.  She made no mistake with her effort to leave six between the sides with 20 minutes remaining.

St Paul’s had plenty of momentum over the next ten minutes but struggled for accuracy with a series of wides hurting their challenge.  Erin McMullan managed to split the posts with a free to leave seven between the sides while Keeva McFerran was denied a goal by a brilliant double save from Roisin Brady.

Both sides added scores with Gault for St Pauls and Keeva McFerran for the Cuchullains as the north Antrim girls saw out the remaining time and never looked like letting this one slip.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Mya McKinley; Cliodhna O’Kane, Brid O’Kane, Ava Johnston; Lucy Cunning, Carly McNamee, Ciara McMullan; Adria McAllister, Maggie Kearns; Rebecca McGrath, Erin McMullan, Caoilfhionn McShane; Cliodhna Dillon, Keeve McFerran, Hannah Richmond

Subs: Sarah Doherty for H Richmond (43); Oliwia Czubinska for C Dillon (51)

Scorers: E McMullan 2-4 (1-3 f’s); C McShane 1-1; M Kearns 0-3 (1f); A McAllister 0-2; K McFerran 0-2

St Pauls: Aine Burns; Abigail Maguire, Róise Stevenson, Niamh Ní Duibhfinn; Deirbhille Killyleagh, Orla Munce, Roisin Brady; Amy Gault, Leila O’Rawe; Kayla McKee, Abaigh McNally, Aoife O’Hare; Niamh Curry, Aoibhinn McDonnell, Amy Heaney

Subs: A Gault 1-4 (4fs); A Heaney 1-1; A O’Hare 1-00

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Con Magees)

For more of Brendan’s photos from the Shield final click on the link below

https://myalbum.com/album/WR9kdGXUa6Drzr

Antrim Camogie Junior Championship Group 1

Loughgiel 0-01 Ballycastle 1-13

14th Sept 2024

Match report and photo album from Michael Corcoran at Fr. Healy Park

A mizzling afternoon with a strengthening breeze blowing from the clubhouse up the pitch and a battling Ballycastle team managed to get the better of Loughgiel as the Shamrock’s struggled to get the sliotar up into Ballycastle’s half during the first thirty minutes.

Ballycastle pegged Loughgiel to a no score against their own six points and Shamrock supporters held out for a possible swing in fortunes as they took the breeze on their backs in the second half but despite chances that fizzled out short or wide, the Town doubled their score and a goal for good measure.

Referee Shane McDonnell took charge at noon, after presiding over some of the games up in Fr. Barrett Park for the North Antrim GAA U12.5 Festival of Hurling. It would be two minutes before Ballycastle made a foray into their scoring zone and Grainne Hunter would stir the large Fridge Raiders scoreboard into action with the Town’s first point. Hunter would return for a second point minutes later as it was deflected up and over the bar.

Over the next fifteen minutes, Hunter would strike again, with two more points and one from Kaci-Lee Hunter as Loughgiel fought to try and make their five frees count into the wind without success.

Ballycastle looked like they were building a move as Hunter found Shannon McQuillan in a useful space but Loughgiel’s Ellie Glackin would be solid throughout the entire game and denied this attempt as it went out for a 45 and Ballycastle’s Emmer Connor made that six points to Loughgiel’s none as McDonnell blew for half time.

The expectation of a move from Loughgiel in the second half hung on how they would take advantage of the blustery breeze and could Ballycastle push into the wind close enough to score.  The answer to that came quickly as McQuillan pointed from the edge of Loughgiel’s 13m box after one minute and thirty on the clock. McQuillan would clip another two points from frees as Loughgiel struggled with getting the passing distance correctly, as sliotars ran on for Ballycastle jerseys to roll up and turn over.

McQuillan would show further style at thirteen on the clock as she delivered her sliotar deep into Loughgiel’s Eimear McGivern’s net. Fortune and favour would assist the sliotar to drop short but deflected off the stick of Kara Brolly and up into McGivern’s net. This would be the only goal from Ballycastle, as McGivern had a solid run of saves throughout the game and a long puck out aided at least a dozen healthy clearances.

Ballycastle were to face the wrath of the wind, and four successive frees would drop short for Loughgiel to clear back out. Town supporters would have to wait until twenty five minutes elapsed as another goal attempt was foiled but the Town were able to turn that over for their point from Hunter.

Ballycastle were by now over the line with twenty seven minutes gone in the second half but an eager McQuillan pointed after a clever pass from Tara McAfee, and as Loughgiel’s Eibhlín Kearney cleared the sliotar from a Ballycastle attack, Grainne Hunter turned that over the bar to move Ballycastle to 1-12.

Loughgiel were pushing up, despite a wide margin to close in the remaing minutes, Neala Clarke embarked on a long solo run that although drifted wide, McDonnell pulled back for a foul. Katie Glackin tucked that well over the bar for Loughgiel’s only point in the game as McQuillan took the honour of closing the Town’s account with a point that was assisted by a sublimely delicate pass from Tara McAfee.

McDonnell blew with a minute extra, leaving the scoreboard Loughgiel 0-01 Ballycastle 1-13 in today’s Antrim Camogie Junior Championship Group 1.

Loughgiel starters and scorers

Eimear McGivern, Grace McLean, Ellie Glacken, Eibhlín Kearney, Clodagh McNulty, Ella Sullivan, Neala Clarke, Rhea Dickson, Aoibhinn Fennelly, Roma McGarry, Kathryn Glackin 0-01f, Aoife Cunningham, Kaitlin McAlister, Anya Connolly, Aoife McKinley

Ballycastle Starters and scorers

Erin O’Hara, Anna Bakewell, Caoimhe McShane, Emma Fairley, Noelle McAuley, Emma Connor 0-01, Rebecca Barret, Ellie McGarry, Caitlin Hunter, Eimear Donnelly, Grainne Hunter 0-06, Kaci-Lee Hunter 0-01, Grainne O’Neill, Kara Brolly 1-00, Oonagh McCaughan, Shannon McQuillan 0-05 (2f)

Photos from today’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…

https://myalbum.com/album/WQVdq99P9xwMon/?invite=b172d7fc-9d23-47a4-8f4a-10e37a3d998c

Follow Michael G Corcoran @keep_clickin on X (formerly Twitter) for match Gifs when available.

Follow The Saffron Gael @TheSaffronGael on X for links to match reports.

Sunday the 25th of August saw Gort Na Móna host their annual Bronagh Kelly Memorial u16 7-A-Side Camogie tournament. The competition which is now in its 17th year is historically hosted on the last Sunday of August and 2024 was no different. Throughout the years the camogie contingent of the club have hosted clubs from various counties but this year seen a first as all entrants were from belfast. A testament to the work going on for camogie development in the city. With last year’s Cup winners Swatragh unable to defend their position due to other club commitments the cup was up for grabs. The group stages seen some fantastic end to end fast paced quick touch camogie with St Paul’s and Lamh Dhearg coming out on top of their sections. The shield was more closely contested as it came down to score difference to determine what club progressed. High scoring Gort na Móna secured their spot to meet St Brigids. A close encounter saw Gorts just edge their competitors for the win. Much to the delight of the manager Lisa Pierce. The cup final was tight as both teams in red and white battled end to end with the Shaws Road girls taking the spoils. As the shield and cup was presented Gort na Móna took their opportunity to thank the Kelly family and all those who make the annual tournament a great success

FOR MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS TOURNAMENT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/miHoq2SmSf67km/?invite=37420319-beb5-46a2-9cb0-f7fbc14db62c