Antrim Minor Camogie Championship final :

Cushendall Ruairi Og 5-13 Dunloy Cuchullains 0-8

By Seamus McAleenan

DUNLOY were the dominant team during the first half of this Antrim minor camogie championship final in Fr Maginn Park. But there was a total transformation for the second half and four goals and five points without reply in the third quarter saw Cushendall retain their grip on the trophy for another season, as they completed the three-in-a-row.

Although Orlaith McAlister rattled the crossbar as she registered the first point, midfielders Aimee Ferris and Eobha McAllister (two) quickly put Dunloy into a lead that they held until the start of the third quarter.

While there were some fine scores from both sides during the first half, there was also wayward shooting and shots dropping short and, in Dunloy’s case, those were to prove very costly.

The Cúchulainn’s deserved to be ahead at the break, maybe more than 0-6 to 0-5 given the percentage of possession they enjoyed. Then again they were probably a bit fortunate that Niamh McNeill’s batted goal in added time was ruled out for a square ball infringement.

When Kerry Rose Drain opened a two points’ lead a minute into the second half, it looked as the pattern of the first half had started again. How wrong Cushendall proved that theory! Points from Orlaith McAlister, Orlaith McCurry (two) and Amy McAlister turned the lead into Ruairí Óg’s favour and when Kady McNeill sent Eva McNeill through for the opening goal in the 37^th minute the game was running away from Dunloy.

Sub Clíodhna Thompson hit the net with her first touch three minutes later before a long ball from Laura Black found Niamh McNeill who fired home from an acute angle. Thompson then set up Amy McAlister for goal Number 4 and by the three quarters stage, Cushendall were out of sight, leading 4-10 to 0-7.

Adria McAllister eventually broke the sequence with a great solo point for Dunloy, but there was another goal at the other end for sub Thompson who took a pass from Amy McAlister to beat Mya McKinley from close range.

In the end it was a comprehensive victory for Cushendall. The switching of roles for Eva and Kady McNeill for the second half brought out the best in both and also in the forwards who now enjoyed a constant supply of good ball. Maeve McAlister at full-back was a candidate for Player of the Match, but that accolade had to go to the excellent Laura Black who dominated the half-back line.

Through Eobha McAllister and Aimee Ferris Dunloy were able to dictate most of the opening half and protect their defence. In the second half that defence was under constant pressure and, despite the best efforts of Casey Crawford before her injury and Carly McNamee, that pressure proved too much.   

Cushendall: C Thompson 2-0, E McNeill 1-3, 0-2 frees, A McAlister 1-2, N McNeill 1-1, O McAlister 0-4, O McCurry 0-2, K McNeill 0-1.

Dunloy: E McAllister 0-3, M McArthur 0-2 frees, A Ferris, A McAllister and KR Drain 0-1 each.

Cushendall: C Morgan, L McCollum, M McAlister, C O’Hara, L Black, E McNaughton, S Kerr-McKillop, EM Mitchell, C McNaughton, O McAlister, E McNeill, O McCurry, K McNeill, N McNeill, A McAlister.

Subs: C Thompson for C McNaughton (38), N McDonnell for S Kerr-McKillop (49).

Dunloy: M McKinley, L McQuillan, C McNamee, R McGrath, C O’Boyle, C Crawford, M Cunning, E McAllister, A Ferris, A McAllister, M McArthur, E McMullan, E McGilligan, KR Drain, H Richmond.

Subs: SL Kearns for E McGilligan (38), R Doherty for C Crawford (55), GA Kelly for H Richmond (55)

Referee: O Elliott (All Saints)

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/KV8XXenRLuTsFY/?invite=ca10a694-d070-4042-af9b-0b1ebaf2849e

by Anna Kane

Loughgiel is revelling in their latest GAC venture of Social Camogie. 

Formerly launched in 2019 as ‘Caman and Chat’, Social Camogie is a recreational initiative that encourages participation in the game at any level. However, when Covid broke out in 2020 it had to be cancelled. The Camogie Secretary, Briege McIlhatton explained: “I received an email from the national Camogie Association (CA) in January this year advising that social camogie was re-launching in 2024 across Ireland and we decided this was a great opportunity to establish a Social Camogie team in Loughgiel”. The CA re-launched Social Camogie all across Ireland, hoping to advance this initiative under the newly established title of ‘Social Camogie’.

Speaking about how she set up a group within Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC, Briege explained: ” I got the Public Relations team to put up a graphic on social media to gauge interest in joining a Loughgiel Shamrocks social camogie team”. Describing the obstacles Briege said: “After a poor start with only four names signed up for it, a former Senior Camog, Joanne Gillan, set up a WhatsApp group adding names of who she thought might be interested”. This sparked enough interest to enable them to register a team with the national CA.

Their first training sessions began in the middle of March and their first tournament was in Magherafelt on the 23rd of March 2024. This was the first of four Ulster blitzes for the year, so. Under the rules, no scores were counted but if you were counting, the Loughgiel girls claimed they won every match! They played teams from Ahoghill, Ballinascreen, Rossa, and Magherafelt at that tournament. 

Their next blitz was in Ballinderry. It was a competitive tournament in which scores were recorded. There was no stopping Loughgiel, who won this second tournament overall, winning all 6 matches. On Friday the 2nd of August, it was Loughgiel’s turn to host the second Ulster Social Camogie blitz of the year and it was held at the Fr Healy Park in Loughgiel. Briege said: “It was so special to see almost a hundred women from all over Ulster, on one pitch together enjoying the exercise and getting to play the game they love. It is just so special to watch”. Chatting about the atmosphere of the whole event Briege said: “The bonds and comradery they are forming with  girls from other social camogie clubs like Ballinderry and Magherafelt, through these tournaments is lovely to watch, with great craic afterward in the bars or local halls”.

Speaking to Claire McKinley, a member of the Social Camogie team in Loughgiel, she explained her enthusiasm for the sport: “I am forty-four and I stopped playing Camogie when I was twenty-eight, however, I love this idea of social camogie- it feels like the good old days again, playing with girls that you would have played with whenever you were younger – it just feels like you are back to being twenty again”. Discussing Friday evening, Claire said: “I am nervous, I am far too old to break anything, but I am looking forward to it”.

A volunteer referee in Friday’s blitz,  Ronan McCloskey commented: “It’s great to see, the atmosphere is great, the music is playing and everyone seems to be in good form”. Ronan discussed what he expected during the blitz: “I think people are going to come down to watch and thoroughly enjoy it”. Ronan is mainly into coaching as he humorously explained: “My experience in refereeing is very limited, so I am new to this but hopefully nobody gets hurt or falls out with me!”.

He added: “There are so many people who can’t access competitive camogie and hurling and it’s for people who love the sport but don’t want to see that real competitive edge, this is something for them and there is so much enthusiasm around it, I think it will grow”.

Following on from a successful night’s camogie and some great matches, Justin, from the local Pound bar in Loughgiel, fed all the teams and put on live music for them all to celebrate. Briege said: “The girls all individually thanked me for organising Friday’s tournament but to being honest I loved every minute and they all helped make it happen”. Well done girls, you did our wee village proud. 

The only question now is will the ‘Dads and Lads ‘follow in their footsteps!!

The teams who attend the Loughgiel Shamrocks Gac Social Camogie Blitz were St Pauls, Belfast; Tattyreagh St Patricks; O’Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt, Michael Davitts, Swatragh, O’Donovan Rossa, Belfast and Ballinderry Shamrocks

Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1

Ballycastle v Loughgiel 6th Aug 2024

Report and photo album from Michael Corcoran at Pairc Mhic Uilín, Ballycastle

Driving into Pairc Mhic Uilín, Ballycastle on Tuesday evening, Dunloy were favourites for the league title, playing at home on their final encounter with Cushendall. Loughgiel were in Pairc Mhic Uilín in case Dunloy didn’t get the job done, though the game had an air of mystery about it as a strong Ballycastle squad might offer an upset to mark the Shamrocks’ cards ahead of the championship.

As it happens, Dunloy delivered 3-23 to 4-11 against Cushendall and having scooped up two interesting pieces of camogie silver (Feis na nGleann and the League), announce their confidence going into this year’s Antrim championship.

An unexpected swap of referees had Shane McDonnell taking charge and with Ballycastle winning the toss and choosing to play to the north nets with the breeze on their backs, McDonnell rolled in close to the half hour on the second pitch and a fierce battle for possession witnessed Amy Boyle dragging the sliotar away to a waiting Katie McKillop to register the first point in the game.

For the following ten minutes or so, both sides entered into a period of trading points up to 0-05 each, with only one free being awarded to Ballycastle as McDonnell spotted a slap on a stick and had Elen McIntosh making good of the opportunity.

Close to thirteen minutes into the first half, Loughgiel’s Roisin McCormick offloaded to a pressing Annie Lynn and at close quarters to keeper Becky Ellis, the Shamrocks had their first goal of the evening.

Less than a minute later, Amy Boyle ground out another sliotar and offered it to Katie McKillop. McKillop spotted a moving McCormick and Ballycastle’s net rippled to signify a second goal.

Ballycastle would reply with a point from a free awarded due to a clip on a helmet and that was enough to keep heads high and minds focused, but at twenty-six minutes an awarded free seen Loughgiel’s Emma McFadden drop the sliotar into Katie McKillop. McKillop offloaded to McCormick and weighing up her options, slipped the sliotar to Amy Boyle for Boyle’s goal to make that Ballycastle 0-07 Loughgiel 3-06.

At almost thirty on the clock, Annie Lynn fired in a high ball from outside the 20m line. Keeper Ellis had the hot sliotar covered but somehow it dropped out of her hands and rolled into the back of the net to register a half time score, Ballycastle 0-07 Loughgiel 4-06.

Despite the half time score ladened with Shamrock goals, Ballycastle were grinding out the puck outs and at times were directing balls into Loughgiels defence with some promise and had Clare McKillop and Emma McFadden working harder than they’d liked. This though would prove to be Ballycastle’s demise as McKillop and McFadden would run out with the sliotar and deliver to a tenacious Anna Connolly, who if she wasn’t pointing for herself, played a role in Loughgiel’s sequence of passes that amassed a further six goals and ten points in the second half.

Ballycastle had no significant answer to this pressure from Loughgiel, though Ballycastle’s Nuala Devlin had an exemplary point when team mate Fionnuala Kelly won the Loughgiel puckout and actioned the turn over for Devlin’s point. Kelly would be rewarded for her engagement with the last point for the Town after winning the sliotar from a long and tiring ruck.

McDonnell blew for full time with Loughgiel posting a decisive scoreline 10-16 to Ballycastle’s 0-09. That also concludes the league for 2024 with Dunloy rising to the top of the table and the Shamrocks tucking in below in second place. Loughgiel won’t have time to reflect on ‘what ifs’ as everyone’s attention now swings over to what many supporters eagerly await every year for, namely the championship season.

Loughgiel Scorers:

Clare McKillop 0-01, Amy Boyle 1-00, Anna Connolly 1-03, Christine McCloskey 0-01, Annie Lynn 2-02, Katie McKillop 2-01, Roisin McCormick 4-05 (3f), Marie Laverty 0-03

Ballycastle Scorers:

Fay McIntosh 0-01, Fionnuala Kelly 0-02, Nuala Devlin 0-03, Elen McIntosh 0-03

Photos from Tuesday evening’s game can be found in the photo album by clicking on the link here.

https://myalbum.com/album/UfqCeiFpQppmm2/?invite=a57c72b0-c280-48e9-a39a-0631c197e589

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

Ulster Camogie and Loughgiel Shamrocks’ Social Camogie 2nd August 2024

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

We watched the weather forecast with bated breath ahead of Friday night’s Social Camogie blitz from Ulster Camogie and Loughgiel Shamrocks, as an arm of wet weather swept across the entire province. Predications from the usual outlets suggested a playable window for the evening and true to their word, the sun came out on the stroke of 7pm, so that the players could warm up comfortably ahead of the first throw in at 7:30pm. There’s nothing like a blue-sky to lift spirits for an outdoor event.

The key to success for these events revolves around the weather, planning, volunteering and adoption of the rules and spirit by everyone. The basic concept behind social camogie is to enjoy yourself whilst engaged in some physical activity amongst friends. All of these elements were in abundance and much more.

With a wide acceptance of the invitation from Rossa – Magherafelt, Rossa – Belfast, Ballinderry, St. Paul’s, Tattyreagh, Swatragh and two teams from the host club as Loughgiel 1 & 2. Match rules were simple; supply a seven aside squad with unlimited substitution, 12 minutes straight down one half of a shortened pitch, puck outs from the goal line and no scoring from that puck out, helmets, boots and off you go! Our match referees coordinated the games in conjunction with Justin McCormick on the megaphone. The last match of the night between Loughgiel 1 and 2, witnessed a rare sight as ‘Roar-in’ (Ronan) McCloskey took to the pitch to referee in a dinosaur’s outfit. Not entirely sure we’ll see that catch on in Croke Park though.

‘Some of the players might be a bit rusty but none of the skills are dusty’ was a shout from the sidelines! There weren’t any scores taken, only a recognition that points and goals were scored, so our Fridge Raider scoreboard looked on in silence. With no overall winner except the spirit of the event, everyone wrapped up on time to enjoy supper and music in the Pound Bar & Lounge afterwards.

The evening finished with the award of three novelty awards, ‘funniest moment’, which went to St. Paul’s for smashing the team seat into two during a squad photo (sorry no photos, as the legs went up, vanity went out the window), ‘Couldn’t have missed but did!’ and ‘Spent most of the night on her posterior’. We’ll let you guess the last two winners from the photo album of last night’s event, which you’ll find by clicking on the link below.

You can expand the photos by clicking on it, view the album as a book or web pages, download any photo you like and order the entire album online if you wish.

https://myalbum.com/album/fgUNBZ3YxmHXzG/?invite=5e8fec35-424a-4071-9eef-61d39e800f5c

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 hurling and camogie match reports.