Sport

The Irish News Archive - Sep 28 1998: Mairin McAleenan sees off Dunloy camogs threat

Down and Liatroim Fontenoys star Mairin McAleenan
Down and Liatroim Fontenoys star Mairin McAleenan Down and Liatroim Fontenoys star Mairin McAleenan

Ulster Club Camogie Championship final: Liatroim Fontenoys 4-14 Dunloy Cuchullain’s 1-12

A SUPERB individual scoring performance from Mairin McAleenan brought Liatroim Fontenoys to a third Ulster club camogie title in four seasons in Dunloy on Saturday evening.

McAleenan’s performance was top-drawer and she drew the best out her team, all of whom rose to the occasion in a 4-14 to 1-12 win over Dunloy Cuchullain’s.

At midfield, Bernie Kelly was under pressure from Edel Mason in the opening quarter but got to grips with the situation and dominated the second half with excellent support from her wingers.

Sinead McMullan and Claire Maguire worked hard at the back.

Edel Mason ploughed a lone furrow at midfield although the switch out of Elaine Dowds early in the second half produced Dunloy’s best period in the game.

Anne McKee shot Dunloy into an early lead after 30 seconds but points from Mairin McAleenan and Caitriona McCrickard put the Down champions 0-4 to 0-3 ahead before McAleenan stormed through for her first goal after 13 minutes.

Liatroim were the better-balanced side, with a focal point for their scoring.

They now meet the London champions in an All-Ireland quarter-final in three weeks’ time.

Another performance like this and they could well be looking much further ahead.

Liatroim Fontenoys: J Brown, M O’Higgins, D Greeran, N Magee, A Morgan, L McCrickard, B Kelly, B Gallagher, C McCrickard (1-3), M McAleenan (3-11), R Cunningham, M Murray (capt)

Dunloy Cuchulainn’s: C McDonnell, S McMullan (0-2, both frees), J Elliott, D Brogan, C Maguire, H McMullan, E Mason (0-3), C McCamphill, C McKinley (1-0), A McKee (0-7), E Dowds (capt), O Elliott

Sub: M Dowds for C McCamphill (48 mins)

Ref: Aine Derham (Dublin)

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DUNGANNON served notice over the weekend that they are ready to make their presence felt in the forthcoming ESB Basketball Superleague, which tips off next month, by winning their own pre-season tournament, the Dungannon Autumn Classic.

Back with the Tyrone side are Al Boller and Vic Periera, last season’s player-coach, with new imports Liam Day from Boston and Donny Cornell proving that they can be an asset during the new season.

Cornell shone in both defence and offence and top-scored for the winners in the final play-off game against Tolka Rovers.

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JIMMY Heggarty carded a flawless round of 68 yesterday to wrap up the £18,000 Shell Flynn Memorial pro-am tournament at Shannon.

The Spawell touring pro opened on Saturday with a 67 for the overnight lead and finished on nine-under-par 135.

The Portrush-based Heggarty had four birdies without a bogey in sight during his second round of precision golf.

Heggarty picked up a first prize of £3,000 and added to it by leading home the winning team, as well. His amateurs were Christy Moylan, Noel Morgan and Pat Cronin. They had scores of 95 and 90 points.

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THE Larne Sprints on Saturday were a great success splashed with the glory of the presence of most of the Commonwealth Games team just back from Kuala Lumpur.

In his home pool at Larne leisure centre, Andrew Reid lowered the gala record of 28.93 seconds for the 50 metres backstroke set by David Simpson of Lisburn last year.

Andrew swam 28.86 in the heats and 28.04 in the final. Clearly in the mood, the Larne CG swimmer then stormed to victory in the 50 metres butterfly in 26.41 seconds, replacing Leander club’s Commonwealth Games hero Willie Johnston’s record of 26.67 which had stood for 13 years.

Julie Douglas of Alliance caught the history-making contagion. In the heats of the 50 metres freestyle, the Ballyclare swimmer just missed the great Leander Olympian Marion Madine’s 12-year-old record of 27.30 seconds by one hundredth of a second.