Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

Saffrons start favourites, but they must be wary of resurgent Meath

All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship

Antrim v Meath in Breffni Park, Cavan

Antrim’s opponents for tomorrow’s All Ireland Intermediate Camogie semi-final are Meath, a team whose interest in the competition appeared to be dead and buried when they lost the first two games of the All Ireland campaign to Laois and Westmeath

It was backs to the wall time for the girls from the Royal county but the showed great resolve when beating Carlow in the last of the round-robin section by 4-15 to 1-12, a result that got them back on track, and thanks to superior scoring difference, earned them a quarter final place

That victory earned them quarter final against Derry where the driving runs of Aoife Minogue gave her team the edge against the Ulster side. In that clash with the Oak Leaf county their defence were rock solid and Derry never looked like breaching their rearguard.

Going into tomorrow’s game Antrim will probably start favourites but team manager Elaine Dowds will have them well warned that the Meath challenge is lot stronger than some of the pundits are predicting.

The Saffrons won their three games in the round-robin section with victories over Derry, Kerry and Down, and while they had a bit to spare in the first two, Down put them to the pin of their collar in Ballycran, holding them scoreless for 27 minutes of the second half, and had it not been for a brilliant Roisin McCormick goal then things could have been different. The got off to a flying start against Kerry and were ten points clear after just six minutes, but for the remainder of the game the girls from the Kingdom gave as good as they got, and ten points was the margin at the end.

Elaine Dowd’s charges will wanting to make a quick start again tomorrow against Meath and with the likes of Roisin McCormick, Maeve Kelly, Eobha McAllister, Nicole McAtamney, the McIntosh sisters Janey and Elen and Cliona Griffin they have unit with great potential. The newlywed Lucia McNaughton and her midfield partner Amy Boyle are formidable, but they will be well tested by the Meath duo. Team captain Catriona Graham wears the number 1 jersey and  is a vital cog in the wheel while the back six should be very similar to the side that faced Down last time out  with Colleen Patterson, Caoimhe Conlon, Caoimhe McNaughton; Clare McKillop, Katie Molloy, Shannagh Hegarty all figuring. Molloy has been a real tower of strength all through this campaign, and in the league.

One thing that would worry me a little is the length of the break from their last round robin game against Down. Meath have been involved in the quarter final two weeks ago and that quite often is a big boost to a team.

No doubt Dowdsie and her backroom team have had them all in tip top condition for the game and if they perform to their strengths they are in with a great chance of secure a final place in Croke Park. However they must not be complacent as Meath will provide a stern challenge.

by thesaffrongael

Loughgiel’s Club Day is a True Fun Day

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

Saturday witnessed a fun and action packed afternoon of pitch and games activities ranging from fundamentals, underage blitzes against other clubs, Couch to 5K conclusion, Poc Fada, penalty shoot out, cross bar challenge, sliotar targets, and much more as everyone enjoyed the warm clammy air infused with the aroma from the BBQ running all day.

Underage blitz for hurlers and camogs occupied every inch of the pitch

The senior camogiers had a favourable outcome in the challenge match against All Ireland 2023 winners, Dicksboro and five time winners, Mitchell’s from Corkey, won the Benny McIlhatton Tug-O-War for the fifth year allegedly in a row! The McCrackens are hoping to better that tally next year.

The McCrackens’ hope to level up next year

Congratulations to everyone participating and enjoyed their activities leading up to and during the day. Sunday will see the conclusion of Club Day with a Senior hurling game against Slaughneil.

Senior camogs enjoyed a challenge game against All Ireland winners, Dicksboro

There’s three albums of photos to enjoy from Loughgiel’s club day. Remember that the photos are better enjoyed on a large screen like on a laptop, tablet or monitor. Click on any image to see a full size or flick between ‘Book View’ or ‘Screen View’.

To see the photos from the pitch activities follow this album link…

https://myalbum.com/album/u4xME4ZMa4oeWm/?invite=49dca1ed-61ea-44db-b111-6bfec9d77b48

To see the underage games at Fr. Healy, follow this album link…

https://myalbum.com/album/XoMLPBtR7SWdjM/?invite=21b966c1-b34c-40e1-882a-235ec8e53b98

And to see the photos from the challenge game against Dicksboro, follow this album link…

https://myalbum.com/album/DRKyKMWj7QCQmp/?invite=e51ee999-b905-4164-868b-621d28f5474d

by thesaffrongael

McNeill on the mark as Cushendall step closer to retaining their league title

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Dunloy 2-05 Cushendall 0-17

Cushendall Ruairi Óg took a significant step toward retaining their Antrim Division 1 Camogie League title with a commanding six-point victory over Dunloy Cuchullains at Pearse Park on Tuesday evening. In a high-intensity encounter, it was a virtuoso performance from Eva McNeill that stole the headlines, with the sharp-shooting forward serving as the star of the show to guide the visitors to a well-earned win.

The game roared into life from the opening whistle. Eva McNeill laid down an early marker for Cushendall with a point inside the first minute, though Dunloy hit back immediately through an Áine Magill score just sixty seconds later. McNeill edged the visitors ahead with a beautifully struck ’45’ in the sixth minute, but Dunloy found the game’s opening major shortly after. Erin McMullan showed great predatory instincts to find the net in the eighth minute, and when Aileen McManus followed up with a quick point, the Cuchullains looked to be building serious momentum.

However, Cushendall’s response was emphatic. Dervla Cosgrove ignited the fightback with a magnificent long-range point, followed instantly by a Brogan Abram score. Siobhán McKillop then leveled proceedings in the 15th minute, showing superb balance to strike on the run from the left-hand side. While Áine Magill kept Dunloy in touch with an 18th-minute free, the remainder of the half belonged to the Ruairí Óg vanguard. Abram tallied her second of the evening with a fine score, McKillop loosed off another brilliant point, and Eva McNeill took dead-aim from placed balls, slotting two late frees before clipping over a fine score from play to give Cushendall a deserved 0-11 to 1-03 cushion at the break.

The visitors picked up exactly where they left off after the restart, Eva McNeill converting another free to stretch the gap. Áine Magill responded with a great point from play for Dunloy, but McNeill was in an unplayable mood, landing a free before drifting out to the left wing to fire over a spectacular point from a tight angle. Another McNeill free extended the lead, but Dunloy refused to lie down. After a chaotic 43rd-minute goalmouth scramble somehow failed to yield a major for the home side, they finally got their breakthrough two minutes later. Erin McMullan was again the provider, turning sharply to fire home her second goal of the match and breathe new life into the Dunloy challenge, cutting the deficit to four.

Sensing a shifting tide, the champions flexed their muscles. Just two minutes after the Dunloy goal, Eva McNeill steadied the ship with another precise free to re-establish a five-point cushion. The exclamation point on a masterful individual display came in the 49th minute. Anticipating a short Dunloy poc-out, McNeill brilliantly intercepted the clearance and casually tapped the sliotar over the bar. It was the definitive blow of the contest, sealing a comprehensive six-point victory and cementing Cushendall’s march toward back-to-back league honours.

Cuchullains Dun Lathaí

1 Clodagh OKane, 2 Casey Crawford, 3 Kathryn Boyle, 5 Eilis Kearns, 6 Katie Laverty, 7 Eimear McMullan, 8 caitlin crawford, 9 Bronach Magill, 10 Erin McMullan, 11 Bríd Magill, 12 Aine Magill, 14 Aileen McManus, 15 Adria McAllister.

Ruairí Óg

1 Ellen Leech, 2 Laoise McCollam, 3 Anna McNeill, 4 Tamara Black, 5 aoife mcclafferty, 6 Abi McNeill, 7 Laura Black, 8 Dervla Cosgrove, 9 Siobhan McKillop, 10 Brogan Abram, 11 Rhianna Black, 12 Cara O’Boyle, 14 Eva McNeill, 15 Kady McNeill.

Scorers

Cushendall:

  • Eva McNeill: 0-12 (0-8 frees, 0-1 ’45’)
  • Siobhan McKillop: 0-02
  • Brogan Abram: 0-02
  • Dervla Cosgrove: 0-01

Dunloy:

  • Erin McMullan: 2-00
  • Aine Magill: 0-04 (0-1 free)
  • Aileen McManus: 0-01

  • Referee – Declan McGarry (Loughgiel Shamrocks)

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

https://myalbum.com/album/Kuy6mpyejxf3L6/?invite=eebd79ad-bd35-4193-80b4-40fd1c3de8e8

by thesaffrongael

McNeill Magic Seals Feis Glory for Cushendall

Feis na nGleann

Senior Camogie Final

Cushendall 3-23 Loughgiel 1-9

Sunday 5 July

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Cushendall recorded a resounding victory over Loughgiel on Sunday afternoon to take the Feis crown for the first time in their history.  While the Ruairi ladies were good in the first half, they were awesome in the second as they blitzed a depleted Loughgiel side.

Eva McNeill was tormentor in chief for the ‘Dall, recording an eye opening 1-12 over the hour with 1-5 of that coming in the final 10 minutes of the contest.  Brogan Abram and Kady McNeill grabbed the other goals for Cushendall with Orlaith McCurry, Abi McNeill and Dervla Cosgrove all playing starring roles.

The Shamrocks were without many of their first team players given the match was played just 24 hours after the wedding of Lucia McNaughton, and many of the team that started had journeyed back from the wedding that morning to line out for their club. However they had plenty of strong performers.  Marie Laverty in particular was excellent and carried a serious threat with her direct running.  Louise and Katie McKillop always looked lively but they were up against a white and maroon juggernaut.

Cushendall were on top from the first whistle and were four points to one clear after the opening 10 minutes.  Siobhan McKillop, Brogan Abrams and Eva McNeill (two) with the Cushendall scores while Anna McKillop recorded the opening score for the Shamrocks.

A brace of Marie Laverty frees brought Loughgiel to within a single score by the 15th minute but that was as good as it got for the Shamrocks.

Eva McNeill added another point before Abram struck the opening goal of the final.  Her floated effort into the danger area was misjudged by Emma McAllister in the Loughgiel goal and dropped over the line.  Further scores followed from Siobhan McKillop and Cliodhna Thompson to stretch the Cushendall lead to eight points with six minutes of the half remaining.

Points from Marie Laverty either side of an Eva McNeill free were followed by scores from Cara O’Boyle and Abram in first half injury time.  Abram taking her tally to 1-2 for the half with her second point a highlight of the opening 30 minutes, splitting the uprights from wide on the right and next to no angle to work with.

With the score 1-12 to 0-6 in Cushendall’s favour, Loughgiel needed a fast start to the second half.  What they got was a wall of attacks from Cushendall from the get go.  Eva McNeill opened the scoring from a free before Kady McNeill produced a moment of magic with her first touch of the second half.  Abram delivered the sliotar high into the danger area and Kady deflected the sliotar to the back of the net with a brilliant touch in mid-air.  A piece of genius that ignited the Ruairi’s into a higher gear.

The lead was stretched to 15 points when Cushendall were awarded a penalty, Orlaith McCurry upended by Charlene Campbell when through on goal.  Eva McNeill took the resulting penalty but her effort was well saved by Emma McAllister.

Cushendall did add further brace of scores from Cosgrove (one ’45) before scoring their third goal of the contest.  Emma McAllister’s attempted clearance was blocked by Eva McNeill and the sliotar went to the back of the net.

It took until the 22nd minute of the second half for the Shamrocks to add to their half time tally, Marie Laverty splitting the uprights from a free to try and break the Cushendall momentum.

Laverty and Eva McNeill traded frees before McNeill hit four points in as many minutes to add further gloss to the score board for the Ruairi’s.

The Loughgiel goal came in injury time at the end of the game, Marie Laverty’s free deceiving the Cushendall defenders on the line and dropping behind the line but it did little to paper over the cracks of a disappointing afternoon for the Shamrock camogs.

Substitute Amy McAllister rounded off the scoring in injury time as Cushendall ran out comfortable winners.

With the league title in their hands, this could be the first of three major trophies going the way of the Ruairi Og camogs this season.  There will have tougher tests later in the year and there’s no doubting Loughgiel will be coming again with a much but on the evidence of this performance, Cushendall will take some stopping.

Cushendall celebrate their win over Loughgiel in the Senior Camogie final at Feis na nGleann. Pic by John McIlwaine

TEAMS

Cushendall starting XV: Orlagh Burke; Laoise McCollam, Anna McNeill, Tamara Black; Aoife McClafferty, Abi McNeill, Laura Black; Dervla Cosgrove, Siobhan McKillop; Brogan Abram, Orlaith McCurry, Cara O’Boyle; Cliodhna Thompson, Eva McNeill, Kady McNeill

  • Subs: Rhianna Black for S McKillop (HT), Ellen Leech for C O’Boyle (53), Amy McAllister for C Thompson (53), Aimee McDonnell for L McCollam (57), Erinmae Mitchell for E McNeill (60+4)
  • Scorers: E McNeill 1-12 (6fs), B Abram 1-2, D Cosgrove 0-3 (1f, 1’45), K McNeill 1-00, S McKillop 0-2, O McCurry 0-1, C O’Boyle 0-1, C Thompson 0-1, A McAllister 0-1

Loughgiel starting XV: Emma McAllister; Charlene Campbell, Megan McGarry, Aoibheann Gillan; Finvola McVeigh, Katie Lynn, Sarah Flavin; Orlagh Laverty, Laoise McKillop; Kirsty McKendry, Marie Laverty, Katie McKillop; Anna McKillop, Annie Lynn, Caela Dobbin

  • Subs: Rose McMullan for M McGarry (17), Carlina Sullivan for C Campbell (44), Shanna Devlin for K McKendry (47)
  • Scorers: M Laverty 1-8 (1-6fs), A McKillop 0-1

Referee: Lee O’Reilly (Dunloy)

TO SEE MICHAEL CORCORAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/yQph27t6tyS7yZ/?invite=28ee4748-a365-441a-b783-9f3a54d102e8

To see more of Brendan’s photos from the final, click on the link below….

https://myalbum.com/album/qbVaL6Pyz3hesU/?invite=b9915422-fc53-469b-bcb3-d72a87435910

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