Antrim Ladies Under 14s and Under 16s received their All Ireland medals this evening with a special event at Parliament Buildings hosted by Junior Minister Aisling Reilly.
The Under 14s, led by Ardoyne duo Adrian Mullen and Orla le Mahieu took the All Ireland Under 14 title in July with victory over Limerick in June while Naomh Éanna clubman Martin Sherlock led the Under 16s to back-to-back titles with victory over the same opposition in July.
TO SEE MORE OF CIARAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT CLINK ON THE LINK BELOW
Armagh City Hotel Ulster Camogie Senior Club Championship 2024
Swatragh 0-05 Loughgiel 3-16
Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran at St. Mary’s Park, Beragh
Swatragh’s hopes of an Ulster win and pursuing a route to an All-Ireland campaign were dashed by a strong and skillful Loughgiel squad that dominated every corner of St. Mary’s Park in Beragh. Sixty-six minutes in total produced some of the finest camogie seen in an Ulster final as Loughgiel applied a fire blanket to quell the fire in Swatragh’s belly stemming from their recent emphatic win over Slaughtneil.
In the first half, Swatragh looked energetic and were the first to attack Loughgiel’s uprights, ending in a wide. They would return within four minutes to place the first point on the scoreboard but thereafter, Loughgiel took control with a goal apiece from Annie Lynn and Caitrin Dobbin and a further three points up to the short whistle, leaving Swatragh needing to bring the game to the Shamrocks in the next half.
In the second half, once again, Swatragh opened the score with a point, but Loughgiel continued to menace Swatragh’s defence with a Caitrin Dobbin goal and amassing another thirteen points, whilst the defensive Shamrock wall would deny the Davitt’s any significant progress beyond an additional four points.
After a very well-orchestrated pre-match ceremony, referee Philip McDonald rolled in the sliotar away from the stand as Swatragh played towards the clubhouse after winning today’s toss. The Beragh turf offered an ideal surface in what was a near perfect day, with just a drift or two of light rain under a sunny sky.
As each side tussled for possession, it would be almost six and a half minutes before Davitt’s Aoibheann Mullan took a pass from Mairead McNicholl and put the scoreboard into action with a point.
Minutes later, Katie McKillop would wrestle up the sliotar and offload to a running Annie Lynn on the right side who had nothing but a goal on her mind. As Lynn delivered diagonally deep into Niamh McQuillan’s net, the Shamrock supporters roared with delight up in the stand and raised the level a notch higher as Roisin McCormick took delivery from a sideline cut and treated Loughgiel fans to a flick over Niamh Quinn’s head and ran on for her first point in the game.
Pushing up and finding space, Lucia McNaughton would continue the drift away from Swatragh with a fine point but Swatragh were lively and a decisive pass from Davitt’s Mary Therese McCullagh looked ominous but a courageous block from Loughgiel’s captain and Player of the Match, Christine McCloskey, diffused the threat.
Misfortune would deliver a blow to Swatragh as Mairead McNicholl went down with a possible strain injury, leading to a substitution by Orla Walsh. On commencement of play, with twenty-two minutes gone, Annie Lynn delivered to Roisin McCormick, running at pace but Philip McDonald was quick to declare a foul as McCormick went to ground. The resulting free bounced off the upright into an empty square and cleared by an advancing Swatragh defence.
With twenty-nine minutes on the corner scoreboard, Katie McKillop was kicking up her heels on a short solo run and made enough space to deliver to an advancing Roisin McCormick, who would see the sliotar safely over Swatragh’s bar.
Just at the announcement for three minutes of extra time, Swatragh pushed forward and Emma Quinn found Eimear Murray, but the sliotar drifted wide past the upright. Loughgiel’s goalkeeper, Eimear Boyle wasted no time in sending the sliotar back out and a busy McCormick would offload that sliotar to Loughgiel’s full forward Caitrin Dobbin. Dobbin had only one vision and that played out as the Davitt’s net flexed with Loughgiel’s second goal. McDonald glanced at his wrist watch and brought the first half to an end, scores on the board were now Swatragh 0-1 Loughgiel 2-03.
Swatragh’s Emma Quinn inched the Davitt’s cause up a point within the opening two minutes of the second half but the Shamrock’s would reply with three points on the trot from McCormick, Dobbin and McKillop. Dobbin’s point stemmed from a move worked deep from the half back line as Emma McFadden found the industrious Amy Boyle, offloading to Dobbin with five gone on the clock. Boyle, although not finding the uprights today, was the measure of almost every ruck as the ground ball came out in her hand and formed the basis of many threatening moves and scores.
With ten minutes gone into the second half, Lucia McNaughton delivered towards right of the Swatragh goal and found Caitrin Dobbin weaving and although blocked on her first attempt to progress closer to McQuillan’s net, the dogged Shamrock sensed the net was close and a simple and accurate pull seen the sliotar directed to the back of Swatragh’s net for Dobbin’s second goal.
With three goals and six points, Loughgiel were in no position to feel that they were over the line. Swatragh were always a physical threat and a defensive error by Loughgiel could have buoyed up Davitt’s hope of a comeback, but today Loughgiel’s half and full back line were impenetrable. Swatragh managed to flight three points over the remaining twenty minutes from McCullagh, Quinn and Grainne McAtamney but unmatched by Loughgiel’s additional ten points.
With three minutes of extra time played out, McDonald blew for full time and made way for Shamrock supporters to flood the pitch with excitement. History was made today, Loughgiel Shamrocks added their name onto the cup for ‘three in a row’ played in all red jerseys, an historical first in itself.
Although the scoreboard announced that Loughgiel had a decisive win, in truth, they had to work for every point and deliver on every opportunity as the Derry Champions were ready to punish, given a glimpse of the scoring zone. Loughgiel will now move beyond the Ulster campaign and look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final with full details TBD.
Don’t forget to enjoy all of our photos in the Saffron albums on a large screen such as a laptop or tablet. Click on a photo to see it larger, look at the album as either a photo book or web pages and you can order a copy online as a keep’s sake.
Photos from this evening’s game can be found by clicking on the album link here…
Lámh Dhearg hosted their annual Young Lámhs Appreciation Day for players ranging from FUNd amentals to under 10. The busy and popular day was divided into three sessions to facilitate such large numbers clearly illustrating the strength of numbers of the club juvenile section which ensures the club has a bright and promising future.
Chairman Brian Smyth warmly welcomed players and mentors and thanked them for their effort and commitment during a busy season. Brian complimented parents for their valuable support and encouraged the children to sustain and strengthen their interest in playing for the club. Brian also informed the packed sessions that the club were continually striving to enhance their development plans such as a ball wall and pitch improvements and appealed to all for their ongoing support.
During the sessions two PowerPoint presentations were shown. Lámhs on tour 2024 and a Pictorial Review of the Year and they generated very positive responses as the children and mentors recognised themselves on the numerous images on the comprehensive entertaining presentations.
All players were presented with a medal as a token of appreciation for their sterling efforts during the year which has seen much enjoyment, games and sessions and more importantly positive development and progress.
The sessions concluded with a Mini disco and party games in a jovial and fun atmosphere conducted by Paul Buchanan and Davy McBride.
Special thanks to Browns Fish and Chips for their quality cuisine and service.
TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE YOUNG LAMHS CELEBRATION NIGHT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
Armagh City Hotel Ulster Club Junior A Camogie Championship final
Granemore (Armagh) 2-13 Ahoghill (Antrim) 0-8
Ahoghill’s bid for the Ulster Club Junior A title came up short at the Loup on Sunday when the Cloney girls were beaten by a very good Granemore, Armagh team, who added another Ulster title to their list of honours, which also included last years All Ireland crown.
The Antirm champions had fared well for most of the first half against the All Ireland champions, but a goal by Granemore’s Kate Smith turned their two point deficit into a five point one and Cloney girls trailed by five at the interval.
The Armagh side weathered the third-quarter storm and then pulled away with an unanswered 1-4 in the final 10 minutes to clinch their second successive title and keep them on course to retain their All-Ireland crown.
Trailing by 0-5 to 0-1 Aghohill looked to be in deep trouble but they studies the ship and two pointed frees by gamekeeper turned poacher Caitriona Graham, and one from Aisling O’Donnell cut their deficit back to just two, with half time approaching. However the champions responded well when danger threatened and two quick points were followed by Kate Smith goal, which knocked the Antrim champions back on their heels.
Hard working Ahoghill got themselves back into contention when Caitriona Graham got the first point of the second half and the got the gap back to four going into the final quarter.
But Doyle again shut the door in the Antrim champions faces and when sub Lucy Doyle’s grabbed her team’s second goal the only thing in question was the size of the winning margin.
Scorers
Granemore R Merry 0-7 (0-2f); K Smith 1-1; L Doyle 1-0; C Doyle 0-3, L Carr & J Carr 0-1 each
Ahoghill C Graham 0-5f; A O’Donnell, N Graham & M Downey 0-1 each
Granemore captaaincelebrates after receiving the cup from Ulster Camogie President Karen McCormick
Michael Corcoran reports from the Loughgiel Clubhouse, Saturday 9th November
You know you’ve travelled the length of a season, whenever the club starts hosting presentation evenings. The juvenile camogiers from U12 – U16 packed the clubrooms for an evening of celebration and thanks, with a special appearance from Cork’s All Ireland winner, Saoirse McCarthy. Saoirse gave an inspirational speech to the young camogs, all of whom were enthralled and you could have heard a pin drop as Saoirse revealed her inner most thoughts on preparing for a match, maintaining an excellent attitude and how to enjoy your time training, playing and being with friends that you’ll keep for a lifetime.
After a meal prepared and served on the premises by a dedicated team of, let’s just say over thirty people (Saoirse was amused by that fact!), Chairperson, Paul Glackin, warmed up the event with a round of heads or tails for mentors and players, then the club closed the evening with shamrock cupcakes, ice lollies, a session of Q+A with both Saoirse and Roisin McCormick and team photos, some with the O’Duffy cup.
A heartfelt thanks to everyone for making this a truly inspirational and enjoyable evening.
The album from Saturday night’s presentation can be found here, by clicking on the link…
