Senior Feis Cup Camogie – semi-final

Cushendall: 3-6 Loughgiel: 2-12

Loughgiel’s incredible run in the Senior Feis Camogie continued on Tuesday evening at Pairc Mhuire in Cushendall when they got the better of their hosts Ruairi Og in this season’s semi-final. With no county players available, just as in the other semi-final, both team’s were stretched, though Loughgiel’s strength in depth is always one of he club’s great benifits.

Cushendall started like a house on fire and corner forward Orlaith McCurry has the ball in the Shamrock net inside the first minute. Emma McAllister came back with a point for Loughgiel, but when Orlagh O’Hara replied with one from a free for the home side in the 10^th minutes the gap was still three, but as Loughgiel got a grip around the midfield and half forward line they began to control the game.

Between the 10^th and 29^th minute they added six points, while holding Cushendall scoreless to move three ahead, though Orlagh O’Hara pulled on back for the ‘Dall just before the break to leave just two beaten the side. (1-5 to 0-7)

Corner forward Anna McKillop stretched the Loughgiel lead to five when she hit an early second half goal, but Cushendall came back with a goal and a point from Orlagh O’Hara to leave just one between the sides. This goal and a point sequence continued when Emma McAllister came back with 1-1 for the Shamrocks, but once again the Ruairis replied, the point coming from Lára Haughey and the goal from Monique O’Boyle.

Points from Annie Lynn and Anna McKillop gave Loughgiel a bit of breathing space, and though Orlaith McAlister hit two points in the last ten minutes, Loughiel had an answer on both occasions as Anna McKillop and Shanna Deery secured their place in the Feis final for yet another year.

Senior Feis Cup Camogie semi-final

Dunloy 2-18 Ballycastle 3-19 AET

Ballycastle booked their place in the final of the Senior Feis Camogie when they beat Dunloy in Tuesday evening’s semi-final in Dunloy, but it took extra time to separate the sides.

With both teams having to field without their Intermediate and Senior County players because of All Ireland games this weekend it was new looks sides that fielded, but each and every one of them played their part in a great game

Dunloy had the better of things in the early part of the game and boosted by a goaol from Eva Molloy, which completely deceived the Ballycastle goalkeeper Becky Ellis, they went 1-2 to 0-2 after four minutes, but Ballycastle hit back with a Jamey McIntosh point, before the same player got through for a well taken goal.

With Heggarty, McKillen and Aine Donnelly all adding to the scoreline Ballycastle had a good period of play and went on to lead by 1-9 to 1-8 at the interval. A second goal early in the second half from Ballycastle’s Noelle McAuley gave them the upper hand and they led by six at the second half water break. However just when it seemed they were on their way to victory Dunloy came storming back and driven on by the brilliant Katie Molloy they fought back to close within three points with time almost up.  Dunloy had another kick in them though and in one final attempt to save the game substitute Michaela Elliott celebrated her first game back after having a baby by hitting the Ballycastle net to bring the game to extra time.

Ten minutes each way were decided on and Caoimhe Molloy put Dunloy in front inside the first minute, but Ballycastle hit back and a goal from substitute Faye Roddy following an almighty goalmouth scramble, put them back in front, a lead they held to half time in extra time.

The visitors pushed on after the change of ends and three pointed frees from Aine Donnelly, who had been brilliant all evening, and one from the dangerous Janey McIntosh saw them through to Sunday’s final against Loughgiel, back at the same venue.

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships – Group 3

Antrim 1-15 Limerick 0-14

When Amy Boyle sent over a point in the opening minute of the second half to put Antrim eight clear it looked like the Saffrons were on line to take a comfortable win, but as things turned out it was far from being the case as Limerick took control of the game, hitting seven of the next eight points to close the gap to just two by the midway stage of the second half. Points from Aine Magill and Caitrin Dobbin steadied the Antrim ship, but Limerick still held the upper hand when they got it back to two again entering the last five minutes the home side looked to be in trouble. However they dug deep when the chips were down and two excellent points from frees by Roisin McCormick and one from play by Caitrin Dobbin got them over line, and got their championship campaign off to a good start.

With the fresh breeze at their backs Antrim got the first score of the game through a Caitrin Dobbin free, but her opposite number Clare Keating brought the visitors level three minutes later with a point from a 45. Points from Katie McKillop and a Caitrin Dobbin 45 put Antrim 0-3 to 0-1 clear but less than a minute later Limerick’s left half forward Aine Reynolds cut the gap back to a single point.

The Saffrons took a significant step forward when Siobhan McKillop got in for the only goal of the game on nine minutes, and when Caitrin Dobbin, Aine Magill and Roisin McCormick all added points the gap was out to seven. Limerick’s Caoimhe Costello and Antrim Katie McKillop exchanged points, but we only had two more points in the opening half as corner forward Clare Keating’s 28^th minute score from play, was cancelled out by Katie McKillop which sent Antrim in at the break seven to the good. (1-8 to 0-4)

Any Boyle’s early point in the second half put the gap out to eight, but the home team began to struggle as Limerick hit five without reply. McCormick eased the pressure a little but Limerick got the next two points and just two separated the sides. Antrim were really struggling to come to terms with their opponents, but they battled really hard through a tough spell and those late points from McCormick, Magill and Dobbin got them over the line.

Their next outing is against Offaly in two weeks’ time, and once again they have home advantage. They had hoped to play the match in Dunloy again, but that is the week of Feis na nGleann in Pearse Park and an alternative venue may have to be found.

Antrim: C Dobbin (0-4, 2 frees), R McCormick (0-4, 3 frees), K McKillop (0-3), Á Magill (0-3), S McKillop (1-0), A Boyle (0-1)

Limerick: C Keating (0-6, 5 frees), Á Reynolds (0-2), M Ryan (0-2), C Costelloe (0-1), L Fennelly (0-1), O Kelleher (0-1), S O’Callaghan (0-1)

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

Sub: F Kelly for A Connolly (49)

Limerick: L O’Neill, T Dore, M Creamer, M Quaid, S Woulfe, M O’Callaghan, M Ryan, A Larkin, S O’Callaghan, O Kelleher, C Costelloe, Á Reynolds, S O’Brien, L Fennelly, C Keating.

Sub: C Ryan for L Fennelly (59)

Ulster Ladies Gold Minor Final  

 Antrim 1-10  

Cavan 3-15  

Cavan collected their fourth Ulster Minor title when they outscored a battling Antrim in an excellent Ladies Gold Minor final in Silverbridge on Saturday. The Breffni Girls were excellent throughout but the final result should have been much closer with Antrim missing a number of goal scoring opportunities over the hour.

Caragh Reilly in the Cavan goals pulled off a number of excellent save while the woodwork came to Cavan’s rescue while the Cavan defence were excellent as the Saffron’s fought hard to get back into the game.

Antrim started without their influential midfielder Aoife Kelly and missed their chances while Cavan were inspired by a superb central spine of Sinead Kelly, Sophie Daly, Emma Tolan and Ellie Brady and were better at taking their chances when the opportunities arose.

Cavan dominated the first half and led 2-9 to 0-3, the three Antrim points coming in quick succession from the talented Ciara Maguire through their best spell of the half but Erin Stewart was unlucky not to find the net and they also tested the woodwork. Tolan’ s early goal had set Cavan up while Emma McIntyre and Sarah Clarkes penetrating runs created the space as Livingstone and Galligan tagged on points.  

Just when Antrim looked like closing the gap McIntyre crashed home her side’s second goal after good work from Daly and Caoimhe Halpin. Daly, Tolan and Livingstone added points before the break.  

Cavan started the second half strongly and extended their lead through Eabha Hayes and Brady points to move fourteen points ahead but Antrim found a response. Their skipper Sarah O’Neill led the way with Clodhna Logan and nippy attacker Leah Stewart came more into the game and as the contest entered the final quarter the Saffrons were right back in it with three points on the bounce.  

The gap though was too much however as they battled for every ball and the teams ran their benches too. Talented Sinead Livingstone hit 1-1 for Cavan but in reality they should have been further ahead as Tolan closed in on goal twice but fluffed her chances on both occasions. At the other end though, Logan, who had a fine half, fired to the Breffni net with a good finish to leave it 3-12 to 1-7 with seven minutes left.  

Maguire added further Antrim points while the diminutive Stewart was a real thorn in the Cavan side and although the damage was long inflicted Antrim never gave up and deserve real credit for their character and commitment through a much improved half.  

The missed chances were to prove costly in the end for them but these girls have a bright future with Sarah O’Neill the player of the match while Maguire top scored for them although on the day there was no doubting about the Cavan quality.  

A new look Cavan side but the usual outcome as in recent years for their Manager Padraig Sheridan as it finished 3-15 to 1-10