Two of Antrim’s brightest young camogie stars will contest their third All-Ireland final of the season when the Saffrons line out today (Saturday, 2.30pm) in O'Connell Park in Drumlane, Co. Cavan in the All-Ireland Under 16B final.
Loughgiel’s Roisin McCormick and Ballycastle’s Maeve Kelly have collected Ulster Schools’ medals at all levels with Cross and Passion College and were key to the school’s Under 16 squad reaching the All-Ireland Junior A final in March.
They lost that decider by 3-11 to 2-9, but were immediately added to the Antrim Minor squad that went on to win the Ulster and All-Ireland double with both girls playing significant roles.
They have excelled in their own age-group in Antrim’s run to the final over the summer, beginning with a 3-19 to 1-9 win over Kilkenny in Corrigan when Maeve Kelly shot 3-7 and Roisin McCormick 0-6.
In the following game against Offaly it was Roisin who picked off 3-7, despite the team losing by a single point, but the team recovered to beat Meath and Derry and qualify for a play-off in which they easily defeated Dublin and then edged out Galway a fortnight ago in a thrilling 2-15 to 3-10 semi-final.
Right through the competition the main scoring threat has come from McCormick and Kelly, although there have been plenty of good performances from team-mates such as Caoimhe McNaughton, Emma McAreavey and Maura Downey.
Final opponents are Laois who edged out Offaly in a low-scoring semi-final by 1-8 to 1-5. The midlanders had earlier topped a strong group that included Dublin, Westmeath and Cork.
The Saffrons are a talented team and can put Laois on the back-foot early in the game. Antrim have only one title at this grade, but this outfit can bridge the 13 year gap.
On Sunday there is a double-header in Kinnegad with Armagh opening proceedings when they take on Carlow at Under 16C level.
Carlow defeated Armagh in the very first game of the competition, 5-11 to 5-6, but both teams have recorded impressive scorelines in all their games in the interim.
Players such as Jessica Hamill, Aislinn Harvey, Caoimhe O’Neill, Ellie McKee and Aimee Keenan are going well at the minute and can land the Orchard county their first, and only Ulster’s second, title at this level.
The A decider follows this with most neutrals hoping for a Galway win over Wexford.
Their semi-final against Cork had to be re-scheduled earlier this month following the death of hurling legend Tony Keady, whose daughter Shannon plays at half-back.
All-Ireland Under 16 camogie finals
Saturday August 26, 2.30pm
Under 16B: Antrim v Laois
O'Connell Park, Drumlane, Co. Cavan
Sunday August 27
Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA, Co. Westmeath
1.30pm Under 16C: Armagh v Carlow
3.30pm Under 16A: Galway v Wexford
