Antrim are bidding for their third All Ireland Intermediate Camogie title this century when they take on Laois at Croke Park on Sunday. The first of them came back in 2003 when a team managed by Dominic McKinley beat Tipperary in the final in Navan. The current team’s manager, Elaine Dowds, had a big impact on that game when she was introduced as a second-half substitute.
To read the match report and see photos from that game click on the link below
Report and photos from Michael Corcoran in the Cooley Mountains
The All Ireland Poc Fada (long puck) took place today, Monday 3rd August on the Anaverna (Annaverna) mountain in the Cooley peninsula. An annual event that attracts the elite long hitters amongst hurling and camogie players. The Cooley peninsula and the collection of mountains that make up the Cooley range are steeped in both Celtic mythology and history and a fitting location for this event.
Some myths span back centuries to the likes of ‘The Cattle Raid of Cooley’, where an all out war brings to life the demigod warrior Cú Chulainn as Ulster’s border protector to stave off the advances of Queen Medb of Connacht, having an eye on a prize bull grazing the Cooley mountains (long ago, Ulster incorporated the lands stretching down the Cooley peninsula). Despite his bravery, Medb advances, captures the bull only for it to fight off a rival and drop dead from exhaustion after returning to its homeland in the Cooley mountains. Nothing as dramatic as that was in the planning today but spectators were treated to an array of colossal hits across challenging terrain with a testing wind blowing from the north.
The Mechanics
For anyone not familiar with the Poc Fada, the aim is to complete a course in as few a pucks as possible. There are referees and scorers to accompany each player and sliotar spotters and teams of flag waving members of the player’s team to go ahead and mark out the line for the next shot with a wave of their County’s flag.
The senior hurlers traversed a 5Km loop, whilst the senior camogs, U16 camogs and U16 hurlers traversed the back 2.5Km, going out and back in again. All players had to play across the infamous ravine, which is a daunting spectacle with its drop zone at the bottom as a penalty if the sliotar fails to clear the roped off ravine boundary.
The Players – in order of play
Senior Hurlers
Sean Óg McLaren (Aontroim)
Pat Burke (An Larmhí)
Mark Sheedy (An Clár)
Bobby Douglas (Maigh Eo)
Conor Delaney (An Cabhán)
Eamon Foudy (An Clár)
Darren Geoghegan (Lú)
Tadhg Haran (Gaillimh)
Diarmuid Quirke (Ciarraí)
Eoin Reilly (Laois)
Jonathan Treacy (Baile Átha Cliath)
Colin Ryan (luimneach) – Reigning champion
Under 16 Hurlers
Ben Rooney (Port Láirge)
Damian Laverty (Aontroim)
Nathan Fawle (Gaillimh)
Conor Raleigh (An Larmhí) – Reigning champion
Senior Camogie
Orla Duggan (Cill Chainnigh)
Chloe Morey (An Clár)
Maedbh Thornton (Lú)
Charlotte Kelly (An Dún)
Caoimhe Higgins (Gaillimh)
Laura Shinners (Tiobraid Áran)
Molly Lynch (Corcaigh) – Reigning champion
Under 16 Camogie
Eloise McCann (Cill Dara)
Sadhbh Whelan (An Clár)
Isíbeal Stanford-Kilenny (Gaillimh)
Gráinne McAleenan (An Dún)
The Results
After several hours, results were starting to build on the scoreboard with a crowd gathering in anticipation around the marker, attempting to calculate the winners by listening in on the radio comms. It was tense, it was sporting drama. The last score to go up sealed the senior hurlers table, with all the results here…
Senior Camogie, U16 Hurlers & U16 Camogie results
Senior Hurling results
Winners on the day, Eloise McConn U16 Camogie, Molly Lynch Senior Camogie (6 in a row), Martin Donnelly Sponsor, Colin Ryan Senior Hurling (3) and Conor Raleigh U16 Hurling (2 in a row)
Congratulations to Antrim’s Sean Óg McLaren, picking up the Paul Ward ‘Wardy Puck’ for the longest first puck and a commendable 5th place. Also congratulations to Damian Laverty, dropping only two pucks to the winner and coming in second in the U16 hurling.
Sean Óg McLaren receives the ‘Wardy Poc’ in memory of Paul Ward
Damian Laverty with his All Ireland tropy and medal
Antrim Gaels, Paddy Tumelty, Kieran McGraw and Kevin Parke enjoying Poc Fada duties
To see more photos from the Poc Fada, follow this link to our album…
https://myalbum.com/album/UkYbBPBAt6wXsG/?invite=58617253-f97a-4c7e-85ea-4631b16a10bc
There was a large turn out of young fans at the Antrim Camogie Meet and Greet night at Dunsilly on Thursday evening. The girls went through a tough training session before meeting the young fans, having selfie’s taken and autographing jerseys, hurls and posters during a highly entertaining evening. The Saffron Gael went along to capture the action.
The children of Glenravel have had a super three days of fun, skill and quality coaching. 240 children enjoyed three action packed days.
Conn Óg children participated in lots of fun group games and stations focusing on their balance, coordination and ball skills.
In the Primary 1 to Primary 6 session, we welcomed guest coaches Seán Duffin and Emmett McCluskey to Glenravel. Seán provided us with some quality hurling coaching throughout the week and the children enjoyed the opportunity to work with Emmet on Sprint mechanics. Emmett is the father of Derry star Conor who has an excellent burst of pace and endurance so we were certainly in good hands. Children took part in 6 stations each day- a variety of football, hurling and strength and conditioning stations.
For the first time, we ran a camp for our older teenagers and this group thoroughly enjoyed what was planned throughout the week. Emmett Bradley from Glen Maghera took the children through a strength and conditioning programme in our gym and indoor hall and Seán Duffin again coached the hurling skills and conditioned games. We also invited Eleanor Mallon, current Antrim Camogie goalkeeping coach, to lead us in a goalkeeping workshop and Cathy Carey, Moneyglass and Antrim LGFA star led quality football coaching throughout.
Many thanks to our guest coaches but also to our own coaches of Glenravel who are invaluable in the running of camp.
Also each child who took part got their own special camp jersey .
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE CON MAGEES SUMMER PROGRAMME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/ZvyzCC6gpvMqhT/?invite=0ddf3500-132b-4e06-b826-33fc722b0e79
Antrim Camogie Senior Division 1 League
Loughgiel 6-24 Ahoghill 1-03
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Fr. Healy Park, Loughgiel
With the glorious summer weather abating as the days tick by, tonight’s game in Fr. Healy Park brought us all back to earth with a chilly bump. A strong northerly breeze, keeping most spectators in their cars, hampered point scoring to some degree for the Shamrocks as they played from the club end. But that didn’t seem to bother them and instead Loughgiel focussed on goals for the better part of the first half, knowing the element would be on their backs later.
Many would have forecast a one sided affair for tonight’s game but a spirited Ahoghill squad dug deep and fought hard to limit the end result. Although the Shamrocks remained dominant throughout the game, the girls from Fr. McGuigan Park spoiled the green flag count with at least three magnificent collective efforts in and around the small box as Loughgiel pressed hard in the second half.
Orlagh Laverty opened up the major score count for the Shamrocks but that was equalled by Ahoghill’s Katie McCloskey when the opportunity arose to break behind Loughgiel’s defence. An industrious Ceala Dobbin made it two for Loughgiel within fifteen minutes from an intercepted Ahoghill sideline, then in less than three minutes made that three goals (Dobbin’s second) from an Anna Connolly – Orlagh Laverty setup. Annie Lynn got some of the action after recycling the Ahoghill puc out for her fine point. A sister act brought Loughgiel’s goal count to four when Orlagh Laverty fed through the sliotar to Christine McCloskey. McCloskey took the overhead bat option to rule out a hook from any chasing players. Tonight’s official, Paul O’Neill, blew for the break with scores Loughgiel 4-11 Ahoghill 1-01.
The restart brought further pressure to Ahoghill as Loughgiel now had a full sail with the blowing breeze behind them. Five points fired over the bar before Ahoghill’s Noreen Graham replied with an excellent point from an acute angle, but Loughgiel’s Kirsty Mckendry would make it five goals as she made good use of a pass from Dobbin. Although Katie McCloskey moved Ahoghill’s score along after a fine point, Loughgiel made good of the turnaround and ran up six points in quick succession. And when Loughgiel’s Anna Smyth made a lunge for goal, O’Neill was quick to spot an infringement, setting up Loughgiel’s goalkeeper to take and score the penalty with a stinger high into the net.
You can see Emma McAllister’s penalty here…
That would bring tonight’s game to an end and essentially an end to the league. Although there are a few re-fixtures in the planning, essentially these will not alter Cushendall’s place at the top of the leaderboard.
You can see more photos from tonight’s game by following the link to the album here…
https://myalbum.com/album/3XpXaLxiExavon/?invite=580e5c70-9310-4326-8244-078e40bbcfbb
Loughgiel starters and scorers
Emma McAllister 1-0 (P), Charlene Campbell, Úna McGovern, Finvola McVeigh, Anna Smyth 0-01, Megan McGarry, Louise McKillop, Anna Connelly, Shanna Deery 0-02, Annie Lynn 0-06, Christine McCloskey 1-03, Katie McKillop 0-06 (3f), Anna McKillop, Orlagh Laverty 1-03, Caela Dobbin 2-01, Kirsty McKendry 1-00, Carlina Sullivan 0-02
Ahoghill starters and scorers
Aine Graham, Dearbhaile Graffin, Bronagh Graffin, Fiona Blaney, Niamh Neeson, Éadaoin McGarry, Orla Neeson, Caoimhe Scullion, Aisling O’Donnell, Niamg Graham, Katie McCloskey 1-02, Molly Horan, Maeve O’Donnell, Róisín Loughlin, Noreen Graham 0-01