Antrim Minor Camogie Final

Cushendall 3-23 Ballycastle 1-6

Cushendall continued on the crest of a wave in juvenile Camogie when they won the Antrim Minor Camogie title by beating Ballycastle in the final at Ballymena on Friday evening.

Two points apiece from Orlaith McAlister and Cara O’Boyle put the Ruaiirs in a commanding position and although Janey McIntosh opened the Ballycastle account on five minutes Cara O’Boyle and Kady McNeill came back with points for Cushendall to put them 0-6 to 0-1 ahead by the 11^th minute.

Janey McIntosh came back with her second point but the game was put beyond the Ballycastle girls when Cushendall struck for two quick goals in the inside four minute through Niamh McNeill and Orlaith McAlister and the girls in maroon pushed on to lead by 2-11 to 0-3 at half time.

Cara Delaney got the first score of the second half for Ballycastle’s but any hopes of a comeback ended with Cushendall took complete control as they hit back with a goal and eight points without reply, the goal coming from centre forward Aolfe McNeill.

Aoife McCaughan came back with a goal for Ballycaslte and they added further points through Janey McIntosh and Cara Delaney, but Cushendall ended strongly and points from Amy and Orlaith McAlister had them 3-23 to 1-6 in front at the final whistle.

Antrim Camogie League – Division 3

Brídíní Óga  3-17   Rasharkin 0-07

Brídíní Óga had won Division 3 mathematically last week with victory over St Pauls but they wanted to go out in style and very much did that with an emphatic victory over Rasharkin to end 2023 with nine wins over nine matches.

Rasharkin did have some very fine players on display but their opponent had strength in depth and that in the end was the difference between the teams. Defensively, Rasharkin will actually look back with pride on this game despite the scoreline. Their keeper Noeleen O’Kane in particular had a superb game with several goal line clearances and she was ably assisted by Bronagh McFerran, Eimhéar Hardy and Christina Smith in a full back line that was kept busy over the hour and did thwart the Brídíní Óga attack many times. Up front they had Jade Henry who scored all seven of their points and was a real threat when she go on the ball. But Brídíní Óga just had more fire power and got their scores from Caoimhe Duffin (0-04) all from distance, Oonagh Ward (2-01), Clodagh McPeake (1-04), Orlaith Gould (0-03), Emily Sharpe (0-02), Aisling Millar (0-01) and Megan Law (0-01) and with that range of sharp shooting Rasharkin would struggle to keep the tide out.

It would have been difficult to pick a player of the match with Caoimhe Duffin, Orlaith Gould and Clodagh McPeake all in the running but in the end the little dynamo that is Orlaith Gould got the nod. Orlaith tormented the opponents defence with perching runs that struck like a dagger in Rasharkin’s rearguard and time after time she delivered scores for herself or setup her teammates. Congratulations to Brídíní Óga team and mentors – 2023 has been a great year for you to date.

Camogie Division 3B

Moneyglass 0-7 Sarsfields 2-7

Goals from Aimee Ferris, midway through the opening half and another as the game entered injury time proved the difference in this Division 3B meeting between Sarsfield’s and Moneyglass at Marian Hill during the week.

The Sarsfields number 10 was prominent throughout and with her colleague, Laura McKernan provided a constant threat throughout the hour to a Moneyglass side who were still in contention until that late strike.

It was visitors Sarsfield’s who opened the game on the front foot with Laura McKernan striking two early points and another from Aimee Ferris had them 0-3 to 0-0 ahead with only three minutes on the clock.

Katie Scullin got St. Ergnat’s off the mark with a point in the 10^th minute but when Ferris got in for the game’s opening goal at the end of the opening quarter, the visitors were threatening to run away with it.

The Marian Hill side settled after that to edge the exchanges in the period leading up to half time but could only manage two points for their efforts with Niamh McGlade pointing a free in the 20^th minute and the same player added a late point in reply to an Aimee Ferris free for the visitors.

Trailing by four at the start of the second half, Moneyglass went in search of an early score and with the excellent Niamh McGlade leading the way they began to eat into the Sarsfield’s lead.

McGlade pointed from play in the 36^th minute and followed with another from a free to cut the deficit to two and when she added another with 12 minutes of the new half gone the momentum was very much with the home side.

Aimee Ferris interrupted the Moneyglass surge as she pointed a free in the 44^th minute but the excellent McGlade replied from a free at the other end and we looked set for a grandstand finish.

It would prove to be St. Ergnat’s final score however as Sarsfield’s regrouped and the superb Ferris added two late points before that injury time goal put the game out of reach of a battling home side.

An excellent game of Camogie and a credit to both sides with Aimee Ferris and Laura McKernan outstanding for a good Sarsfield’s side while Niamh McGlade was in outstanding form for a Moneyglass side who gave it everything.

Antrim Minor Camogie League – Division 1

Cushendall claimed the minor camogie league title on Friday evening with an accomplished performance against Ballycastle. Although the scoreline of 3-20 to 1-06 would indicate a handy win for the Ruairis it does not tell the full story of a game that a hard working Ballycastle team made a substantial contribution too in entertaining the large crowd in attendance. The early exchanges were nip and tuck but Cushendall soon got motoring. They took scores from all angles and distances with Orlaith McAlister, Kady McNeill, Eva McNeill and Ellie Jo Butler all weighing in with good scores. Best for Ballycastle in the first half was defender Cara Delaney and attacker Eimear McCaughan but at half time the scoreline was Cushendall 2-13 Ballycastle 0-4 and the writing was already on the wall.

   In the second half Cushendall took their foot off the gas and introduced a number of subs. Ballycastle never stopped trying and they were rewarded for their efforts with a goal from Louise McBride. The Dall however were always able to keep their noses in front thanks to scoring contributions from Niamh McNeill, Amy McAlister and captain Cara O Boyle to claim league honours in fine style. Cushendall were best served by the excellent Maeve McAlister and Rihanna Black in defence, Cara O’ Boyle and Eva McNeill in midfield and up front Amy McAlister and Kady McNeill were on fire. Ballycastle to their credit worked hard from start to finish and never lay down. Cara Delaney and Noelle McAuley defended well and further forward Eimear McCaughan and when introduced Louise McBride and Shannon McQuillan worked their socks off.