Hurling & Camogie

Dunloy advance to Antrim camogie final with victory over Cargin

Darragh’s Coaches Antrim Intermediate Camogie Championship quarter-final: Dunloy II 2-12 Cargin 0-12

This was a competitive enough championship tie in Dunloy with the home side building on their success in last year’s Junior Championship by reaching the last four of the Intermediate title-race where they will meet Brídíní Óga Glenravel on September 16, writes Séamas McAleenan.

Dunloy had a strong presence down the centre in Clare McGuckian, Lisa McConville and Lisa McGuckian while Dearbhail Elliott’s eye for goal proved the decisive factor at the final whistle.

Cargin battled hard with former county stars Sinead Laverty and Cathy Carey always prominent and with Maura Creelman and Sarah O’Boyle solid at the back.

Dunloy led by 1-5 to 0-4 at the break with Dearbhaill Elliott cutting in for the goal that made the difference, but at the start of the second half their south-west opponents hit three points in succession from Cathy Carey, Eleanor Mallon and Katie McAnenley to close the gap to a single point.

However they didn’t manage to draw level and when Elliott fired home Dunloy’s second goal in the 51st minute, the result was safe.

Meanwhile the first semi-final went ahead in Armoy and defending champions Loughgiel brushed aside their north Antrim neighbours Ballycastle scoring 3-12 without conceding a score.

Ciara Dobbin finished off a good move with the opening goal and the Shamrocks built up a 1-9 to 0-0 interval lead with Kirsty McKendry in excellent scoring form.

Becky Ellis came off her line to cut out an early Loughgiel attack in the second half but her clearance was fumbled and Hannah McKeague picked up the loose ball and lobbed it into the net.

Strangely the scoring slowed up after that and Ciara Laverty’s goal ten minutes from time was the final score.

Dunloy: Dearbhaill Elliott 2-1, Lisa McGuckian 0-4, Orlagh O'Neill 0-4, Lisa McConville 0-1, Erin Elliot 0-1, Fiona Hills 0-1

Cargin: Katie McAnenley 0-4, Eleanor Mallon 0-3, Sinead Laverty 0-2, Cathy Carey 0-2, Eimear Laverty 0-1

Loughgiel: Hannah McKeague 1-2, Ciara Dobbin 1-2, Ciara Laverty 1-0, Kirsty McKendry 0-6, 0-2 frees, Charley McCarry 0-2.

Down Junior Camogie Championship final: Mayobridge 3-10 An Ríocht 1-6

WHEN An Ríocht fired in 1-4 in the first seven minutes of this Down Junior final in Longstone on Sunday evening, it looked as if Mayobridge were on the rack, writes Séamas McAleenan.

However the Sky Blues came right back into contention with three goals before the break while holding the Kingdom to just two more scores, both frees, for the duration of the match.

It was some turnaround and it happened chiefly because Jenny Smyth took over at midfield eclipsing the efforts of An Ríocht’s young star Cerys Clarke, while up front Mollie Smyth was on fire from frees and general play.

But it was a completely different story at the start of the game with Sinead O’Rourke blasting to the Mayobridge net in the fifth minute and her half-forward colleagues Rachel Cunningham and Clare Fearon adding points while Cerys Clarke tapped over two frees.

After that start An Ríocht will be disappointed with how the game went.

Caitriona McGlade followed Michelle McCoy’s opening point for Mayobridge with a handpassed goal and suddenly Mayobridge were up and running and confidence spread through the team.

Mollie Smyth added two goals before the break and her side were well in control at 3-5 to 1-4.

Smyth kept up the pressure during the second half with four more points, three from frees, while An Ríocht’s response was just two pointed frees from the stick of Cerys Clarke.

With 2-8 beside her name there was little doubt that Mollie Smyth was Player of the Match, while full-back and Down senior manager Martina Rooney will be hoping that there will be more celebrations next Sunday in Croke Park.

Mayobridge: C Lively, L Keenan, M Rooney, A Sherry, G Clarke, O Caldwell capt., E Fegan, G McShane, J Smyth, S McNamee, K Magee, M McCoy 0-2, B Coulter, M Smyth 2-8, 0-6 frees, C McGlade 1-0.

Subs: M Carroll for M McCoy, C Smyth for B Coulter, K McManus for C McGlade

An Ríocht: A O’Neill, C McAlinden, A Clarke capt, S Harper, L Clarke, O O’Rourke, C Leigh Speirs, C Clarke 0-4, 0-3 frees, D Higgins, R Cunningham 0-1, S O’Rourke 0-1, C Fearon 1-0, E Hughes, C Donnan, C Connor

Camogie

The replay of the NWP Armagh senior camogie semi-final between Keady and three-in-a-row chasing Granemore will take place this Friday evening at 7pm in the Athletic Grounds.

The clubs played out a marathon 1-10 each draw after extra time at the same venue last Wednesday evening.