Feis na nGleann 2023 in Dunloy

Senior Camogie Final

Loughgiel 2-10 Ballycastle 1-9

Despite both teams being short a host of county Senior and Intermediate players due to Antrim’s involvement in the both All Ireland championships, Loughgiel and Ballycastle produced a great game in the Senior Feis Camogie final at the Feis in Dunloy on Sunday. Loughgiel’s win extends their amazing Feis Cup record which we reckon is now 18 in a row, but that includes the two year Covid break, so they haven’t lost a final since the early years of this century.

Ballycastle took the lead in the first minute with a  point from Samantha McKillen but Loughgiel came back a minute late with a goal from full forward Annie Lynn. Three in a row from Riana McBride (2) and Aine Donnelly put Ballycastle back ahead by the tenth minute but Emma McAllister had the Shamrocks back on terms by the end of the first quarter.

Janey McIntosh and Riana McBride pointed to give Ballycaste a two point advantage by the 23^rd minute and despite the fact that Loughiel came with two points form Annie Lynn and Theresa McKinley an Aine Donnelly point gave Ballycastle a one point lead at half time. (0-7 to 0-6)

Early in the second half Loughgiel got the upper hand when Annie Lynn, Shanna Deery and Christine Laverty all sent over points, and when Emma McAllister got in for the Shamrocks second goal it was a long way back for Ballycastle

Samantha McKillen pulled a point back but Loughgiel were well on top at this stage and three more points from Lynn, Deery and McAllister stretched their lead to eight.

Ballycastle kept battling and in injury time Aine Donnelly pointed and Samantha McKillen grabbed a goal, but it was a case of too little, too late as the Shamrocks added another Feis title to their roll of honour.

LOUGHGIEL

Megan Coyle, Charline Campbell, Katie Lynn, Finvola McVeigh, Una McNaughton, Ciara Boyle, Ciara Connolly, Christine Laverty, Maeve Shannon, Theresa McKinley, Chloe Higgins, Shanna Deery, Anna McKillop, Annie Lynn, Emma McAllister.

Subs – Emma McFadden, Claire McKillop, Erin Connolly, Louise McKillop

BALLYCASTLE

Becky Ellis, Maria Donnelly, Kathryn Donnelly, Eva Graham, Niamh Anne Donnelly, Maebh O’Neill, Catherine McShane, Aoife Toner, Shannagh Heggarty, Caitlin Heggarty, Shannon Graham, Aine Donnelly, Samantha McKillen, Rianna McBride, Janey McIntosh.

Feis na nGleann 2023 in Dunloy

Junior Feis Camogie Final

Rossa 6-16 Ballycastle 0-3

Rossa scored a runaway win over Ballycastle in the Junior Camogie Final at Feis na nGleann in Dunloy on Saturday. Ballycastle who did well to get a team together after half the team was ruled out because they had played in the Senior Feis semi-final earlier in the week, did well field a team, and they struggled against a very good Rossa side.

Star of the show was Rossa left half forward Caitlin Armstrong who overall scored 4 goals and 9 points in an incredible performance, while right half forward Eimear Byrne also proved a real handful for the Ballycastle defence.

Byrne got her team’s first goal in the ninth minute and Armstrong the other three as the Belfast girls hit 4-11 in the first half.

Ballycastle came back with points from Amy Hunter, Rianna McBride and Laura Dallas in the second half but hit the net two more times through Caitlin Armstrong and Natalie McGuinness to run out convincing winners.

ROSSA

Sophia Erskine, Cara McKiernan, Niamh Semple, Emily McGurk, Caoimhe McNeice, Muirin Quinn, Caoimhe Wylie, Sarah Armstrong, Eimear Matthews, Eimear Byrne, Natalie McGuinness, Caitlin Armstrong, Riona Matthews, Louise McMullan, Orlagh McCall.

BALLYCASTLE

Erin O’Hara, Caira Boylan, Orla McIlroy, Caoimhe McShane, Christina Hamilton, Emma Connor, Aoife McCaughan, Laura Dallas, Orla Mooney, Eimear Donnelly, Grainne Hunter, Tara McAfee, Caoimhe O’Hara, Riana McBride, Caitlin Hunter.

Referee – Paul McSparran

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior Camogie championship – Group 3:

Antrim 3-16 Offaly 1-12

Antrim secured their place in the knock-out stages of the Glen Dimplex All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship when they beat Offaly in Saturday’s round robin game at Portglenone. Although there was ten points to spare in the end it did not always look as comfortable as that, and there were times when they struggled to press home their undoubted advantage They trailed by three in the early stages, but hit back with 1-6 without reply to go six clear. All seemed comfortable, but Offaly hit back to draw level, but to their credit Antrim found a response and 2-10 to 1-7 ahead at the break.

The forwards, who had been brilliant in the first half, suddenly found scores hard to get, and during normal time they only added three more to their total. Luckily the defence stepped up to the mark and contained the visitors and when the trio of stars up front Roisin McCormick, Aine Magill and Caitrin Dobbin did get going again they worked their magic with a goal and three in injury time to seal the win.

After Caitrin Dobbin had opened the scoring for Antrim in the second minute Offaly hit back to hit four in a row through centre forward Rachel Brennan (2), wing forward Becky Bryant and full forward Sarah Harding to go three clear. Things were getting a little worrying for the home side but Roisin McCormick settled things down with three pointed frees and when Aine Magill was put clear by a deft pass by McCormick she race in to fire in the first goal of the game and suddenly things were suddenly a lot more positive.

However the pendulum swung once again Offaly’s favour as Bryant added two points and Brennan one to level the score, and when Lisa Gorman got in for a goal on 22 minutes the Leinster girls had the upper hand again. Antirm needed a response before the break and it came when most needed as they hit back with a goal and three before the break, the goal coming from Caitrin Dobbin, while midfielder Amy Boyle chipped in with a point, with Dobbin and McCormick getting one apiece to send the Saffrons in at the break with a 2-10 to 1-7 lead.

When they stretched that lead to eight by the tenth minute of the second half it appeared to be plain sailing, but they would not raise another flag for the next twenty minute, and while Offaly weren’t exactly prolific either, they did manage three in a row to close the gap to five. They could have been closer had it not been for very good work by the Antrim defence and there was a feeling of frustration among the fans. However they need not have worried and as the game ticked into overtime the terrific trio kicked back into life. McCormcick started it with a point from play before Dobbin made a brilliant block and found McCormick with an inch perfect pass at the far post, and her Loughgiel colleague delivered the killer blow. Magill got in on the act with a lovely point from play, and though Bryan pulled one back for the visitors, McCormick brought her personal tally to 1-7 when she pointed a 45 with practically the last poc of the game.

The win qualifies Antrim for the knock-out stages and secures them a a game in Croke Park, but next weekend’s game against group leaders Waterford with determine what the pairings are going forward.

Antrim: C Graham, C Patterson, K Laverty, M Lynn, N Cosgrove, C Conlon capt, L McKenna, A Boyle, A Connolly, S McKillop, M McKillen, K McKillop, Á Magill, R McCormick, C Dobbin

Subs: M McGarry for C Patterson (50), E McShane for M Lynn (50), F Kelly for S McKillop (51)

Offaly: L Gallagher; L Mannion, A Roddy, O Gorman; S Walsh, O Phelan, A Liffey; G Dolan capt, S Moore; B Bryant, R Brennan, L Glynn; L Gorman, S Harding, C Leahy.

Subs. A Feeney for S Moore (32), C Maher for L Gorman (42), A O’Donovan for L Glynn (49)

Referee: P McDonald (Cavan)

Feis na nGleann 2023 in Dunloy

Under 16 Feis Cup Camogie Final

Cushendall Ruairi Og turned in an impressive display when to beat Belfast Camogie in the final of the Under 16 Camogie at Feis na nGleann in Dunloy in Friday evening.

Last year’s All Ireland Feile winning team were in unstoppable form against the St Paul’s-Gort na Mona-Sarsfields combination, winning by a big score in the end. Their forward division was unstoppable as they picked off points from all angles, and had the game won a long way out.

Belfast Camogie started promisingly and despite playing up the slope, on the back pitch, they looked dangerous in the early stages, but they came up against a rock solid Ruairi Og defence who were giving nothing away. In Maeve Devlin, Saorlaith Brennan, Orlaith McNulthy, Aimee Ferris and Orlaith Walker they had top class players.

Cushendall had two early points from Amy McAlister and Niamh McNeill, before Eva McNeill got their first goal in the third minutes. Further goals followed from brilliant centre forward Eva McNeill as they raced to a 4-12 to 0-1 half time lead, the Belfast Camogie score coming from Amy Ferris.

The goals kept coming after the change of ends as Cushendall pushed home their advantage, Niamh McNeill grabbing a great goal on the volley while Cliodhna Thompson got one, plus a few superb points. Niamh McNeill added a couple more as the Cushendall girls claimed the silverware in emphatic style.

CUSHENDALL

Laoiseach McNaughton, Cara McNaughton, Maeve McAlister, Laoise McCollam, Erin McNaughton, Laura Black, Naoise McDonnell, Rhianna Black, Erinmae Mitchell, Kady McNeill, Eva McNeill, Tamara Black, Cliodhna Thompson, Niamh McNeill, Amy McAlister

Subs – Niamh McCollam, Maebh Graham, Mia McKeegan, Emma Mitchell, Aibrgam Campbell

BELAST CAMOGIE

Emma Meenan, Cara Harbinson, Deirbhle Killyleagh, Roise Stevenson, Nicole Munse, Maeve Devlin, Kyla McVeigh, Aimee Ferris, Alex Curie, Orla McNulty, Saorlaith Brennan, Cora Pierce, Aoife Rice, Demi McGreevy, Orlaigh Walker