Category / Camogie

by thesaffrongael

St Mary’s win Allianz 7’s Camogie

After an enthralling day of camogie at Roger Casements GAC Portglenone, it was the host school, St Mary’s who emerged victorious in the annual Allianz Ireland Cumann na mbunscoil 7 a side competition. The main takeaway from the day for onlookers was that the standard of camogie in the South West area is very high.

The day began with a large number of schools gathering at the Gortgole Rd venue, schools were split into two groups using all possible pitch space and battle commenced.

Schools in attendance were St Mary’s Portglenone (3 teams), St Patrick’s Rasharkin (2 teams), Ballymacrickett, St Paul’s Ahoghill, Millquarter PS, Mary Queen of Peace Glenravel, St Brigid’s Ballymena, St Oliver Plunkett Toome, Moneynick PS, Creggan, St Joseph’s Crumlin and Mount St Michael’s Randalstown.

Emerging into the cup semis after the group stages were 2 of the St Mary’s teams, 2 St Patrick’s Rasharkin teams, Mary Queen of Peace, Mount St Michael’s, Moneynick and Creggan, with the remaining teams entering the shield.

As the afternoon progressed the entertainment on show increased, entering the final games, Ballymacrickett and St Paul’s Ahoghill had qualified to compete for the shield whilst the cup competition saw St Mary’s and St Patrick’s go head to head.

The shield final was an entertaining and tough game between two very determined teams with the Ballymacrickett girls coming out on top, a great moment for all involved.

The cup final was the culmination of a fantastic day’s camogie and it was a well-coached and skilful Portglenone side who were victorious against gallant opposition.

A big well done to St Mary’s Portglenone and also a thank you for hosting a wonderful day.

by thesaffrongael

Derry girls hit Antrim for six

Armagh City Hotel Ulster Under 16 Camogie final

Derry 6-11 Antrim 3-12

When Katie McCloskey grabbed a brilliant Antrim goal in the first 30 seconds of Saturday’s Ulster Uner 16 Camogie final at Greenlough, the Antrim fans in the good sized crowd must have felt that things looked good for the Saffrons. However those feelings were short lived, and when Derry hit back right away with two top class points it was clear the Antrim girls had a real battle on their hands.

In the end Derry’s ability to find the back of the Antrim net was the main reason the Oak Leafers took the title, and their ability to get in behind the Antrim defence soon made to clear that the young Saffrons faced an uphill challenge.

Although Antrim hit back with the next three scores, Derry kept in touch until Amy Ferris picked up a poor clearance to crash home a second Antrim goal in the 26th minute. In a great contest there was never much between the sides in a thrilling opening half. Antrim lead for good part of that first half, but two quick goals sent Derry in at the break with a 2-7 to 2-6 lead.

Mary McArthur hit two good points at the start of the second half but  the lead changed again when Leah Cassidy took take a pass from Chambers and put Derry in front once more.

Despite another Derry goal in the 40th minute when Aoibh Mulholland set up by Chambers, Antrim hit back to level at 4-8 to 3-11 with a second goal from Katie McCloskey.

However Derry were the stronger team over the last ten minutes and further goals from Player of the Match Aoibh Mulholland and Cassidy sealed a  deserved win.

Derry: A McAteer, LMcKaigue, G Draine, C Teague, E McCartney, P Bell, E Griffin, C Conway (0-4 frees), MT McCullagh, E Quinn (1-0), O McCartney, E Murray (0-2), L Cassidy (2-4), C Chambers, A Mulholland (3-1).

Subs: J Shivers for O McCartney (47)

Antrim: Ú McGowan, KR Draine, L Black, A Gillan, C Crawford, SL Kearns, K McNeill, M Devlin, E McNeill, A Ferris (1-1), M McArthur (0-6, 5 frees), E McAllister (0-4, 2 frees), M Laverty, N McNeill, K McCloskey (2-1).

Subs: N Munce for A Gillan (18), M Cunning for KR Draine (42), R Black for K McNeill (48), L Gillan for M Munce (49)

by thesaffrongael

Late Dobbin points get Antrim over the line

Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie semi-final

Antrim 0-14 Derry 0-13

Two late points from Caitrin Dobbin saw Antrim book their place in the Ulster Senior Camogie final as they saw off a very stern challenge from Derry in Saturday’s semi-final at Kelly Park, Portglenone. When substitute Orlaith Hull fired over a point five minutes from the end of the game to put the Oak Leaf girls in front, the Saffrons appeared to be in a bit of bother, but Dobbin superb point brought them level and the Loughgiel ace clinched the win with another well taken score to set up a final meeting with Down in two weeks’ time.

Derry will feel it was one that got away as PJ O’Mullan’s side gave as good as they got, but they paid dearly for some wayward shooting and in Dobbin Antrim had a player who were able to take advantage.

 Antrim started well enough and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes, three of the points coming from to scorer Dobbin and one from Roisin McCormick.

All seemed to be going to plan but the Saffrons lost their way as the half progressed and Derry held the upper hand for the rest of the first period.

Gráinne McAtamney pointed in the 11th minute and Áine McAllister hit three in a row to edge her team a point ahead.

The teams then traded points with Áine Magill’s late effort from out on the wing gave Antrim an 0-8 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

The excellent McAllister brought Derry level just after the restart before Aoife Shaw edged them in front with a good point. Both teams missed good chances but Derry got in front when Hull split the Antrim posts with five minutes of normal time left on the clock.

Derry missed a couple of good chances to strengthen their position and paid the price as Magill excellent point, and two from Dobbin got them over the line.

Antrim: C Dobbin (0-8, 2 frees), R McCormick (0-4), Á Magill (0-2).

Derry: Á McAllister for (0-8, 7 frees), A Shaw (0-2), G McAtamney (0-1), S O’Doherty (0-1), O Hull (0-1).

Antrim: C Graham, E Kearns, K Laverty, M Lynn, M McGarry, C Conlon, C Patterson, A Boyle, A Connolly, S McKillop, S Graham, K McKillop, Á Magill, R McCormick, C Dobbin

Subs: C McArthur for K McKillop (41), E McShane for K Laverty (48), L McKenna for E Kearns (59)

Derry: Niamh Gribbin, Niamh Quinn, Eimhear O’Kane, Sinead McGill, Rachel Downey, Aoife Ní Chaiside, Lauren McKenna, Áine McGill, Dervla O’Kane, Grainne McAtamney, Áine McAllister, Shannon O’Doherty, Mairead McNicholl, Aimee Lennon, Aoife Shaw

Subs: M Heggarty for A Ní Chaiside (ht), O Hull for A Lennon (48), R McAllister for Á McGill (59)

Referee: F Caldwell (Down)

by thesaffrongael

Ahoghill Camogs get their 2nd win under their belt.

With the Senior Football on one pitch and senior camogie on the other there was plenty to keep spectators entertained in Cloney on Wednesday night.

Gort Na Mona made the trip North for Ahoghill’s 2nd league game.  

Despite the scoreline the Belfast girls didn’t let up and their defence managed to regurgitate countless balls that were going in to the forward line, Jane McGionagle and Rachel Mulholland in particular worked hard to hold off the onslaught in the 1st half. Gort keeper, Colleen McAvoy, saved at least another 3 goal attempts from Gemma ODonnell Aoibheann Mullen and Bronagh Graffin.

The mid field duo of Aisling ODonnell(Co minor) and Niamh Neeson ( Still on release until Friday from Dual County duty) caused  a lot of damage. 

Neeson (2.02) getting the 1st and 3rd goals – a rocket into the top corner and O’Donnell pointing 0.07 all from play.

Little got past No 6 Eadaoín McGarry (C) and anything that did was mopped up by Mairead McCloskey and Sephora OConnell.

Noreen Graham (1.03) proivded scores and support play in the half forward line before moving into nets for the last 20 minutes to let Aine Graham out (also getting a club game in before Ulster Championship with Antrim Intermediates.)

Aine fitted in sweetly to half forward and got herself 0.02 on the scoreboard.  

7 players scored for the home side, Fiona Blaney and Annemarie ONeill, 0.01 apiece and both putting in excellent 2nd half performances and Tara McDonnell who came on for Gemma O’Donnell in corner forward in the last 10 got a point for her efforts.

The weighted score-line allowed both teams to make full use of their bench. 

Gort had a lot of young and speedy players who will be enjoying the Club’s move back up to Division 2 despite only scoring 0.01(F) they put in a gutsy performance.

Ahoghill: Aine Graham (0.02) Sephora OConnell, Mairead McCloskey, Frances Creighton, Caitlin McLaughlin, Eadaoin McGarry, Dervla Graffin, Niamh Neeson (2.02)

Aisling ODonnell(0.07) Annemarie ONeill (0.01) , Noreen Graham (1.03), Fiona Blaney (0.01), Aoibheann Mullen, Bronagh Graffin, Gemma ODonnell.

Subs used Emma McGlone, Tara McDonnell (0.01),  Maria Blaney, Bronagh McGuigan

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by thesaffrongael

Dunloy make it three wins in a row

Antrim Camogie League – Division 1

Dunloy picked up a third win of the season after defeating Portlgenone by eleven points in what was a dogged game at Pearse Park on Tuesday evening. The Geraldine’s girls set themselves up in a real defensive format to try and suffocate any space in their back line and midfield and make it much more difficult to concede scores. To be fair to Portglenone it worked out well for them as it limited the number of chances that Dunloy had for shots on goal and in and around their box forcing them to go much longer.

The visitors opened the scoring with a free from outside of the 21 but that was the last time they had their noses in front as Dunloy pushed into a six point lead midway through the half. Points Katie and Caoimhe Molly ensured that Dunloy gained the lead that they wouldn’t lose. Further scores from Bronach Magill, Katie Molloy and a goal from a long range free from Caoimhe Molloy gave the home side a 1-10 to 0-01 lead at the interval. The second half was much the same as the first though to Portglenone’s credit they pushed out a bit more and created much more shooting chances compared to the four they only had in the first half. A goal from a penalty and one from play brought them back to within 6 points of Dunloy but a brace of points from substitute Cassie McArthur and six between the Molloy sisters ensured that the league points would be going to Dunloy. A competitive game between sides with the visitors sticking to their system making it very tough to open them up for goal chances.

For Dunloy it’s a third win on the trot coming up to the break in the league where Loughgiel will be the visitors in two weeks’ time. Portglenone will travel to Tir Na nOg next. Dunloy scorers – Caoimhe Molloy 1-08, Katie Molloy 0-07, Cassie McArthur 0-02, Bronach Magill 0-01