ONLY two of the scheduled four games in the opening round of the Down senior camogie championship actually took place on Wednesday evening.
Title-holders Liatroim Fontenoys got their defence off to a positive start with a 2-13 to 0-4 win over visiting Ballyholland. Dearbhla Magee scored a goal inside the opening quarter to open a gap at 1-3 to 0-2 over visiting Ballyholland and the Fontenoys led at the break by 1-7 to 0-3, with Aimee McAleenan firing over some fine scores.
They lost Magee to a recurrence of a leg injury at half-time but her replacement Kate McAleenan bagged the second goal to push home their advantage during the final quarter.
Olivia Blaney, Deirdre O’Hare and Kelly O’Higgins, along with Aimee McAleenan, were their stand-out players, while Karen Maginn had a strong game for Ballyholland.
The other game saw 2021 champions Portaferry run ragged a young and inexperienced An Ríocht side in Dunavil. There were hat-tricks each for Saoirse Sands and Colleen McConnell, two goals for Gerra McGrattan and one for Áine Rossitter, while Aoife McDowell scored four of An Ríocht’s five points.
Next Wednesday’s schedule sees Liatroim make the short trip to Kilcoo, while Clonduff take their bow by hosting Ballycran.
In Group B, the big game is the derby on the Ards’ peninsula between league champions Ballygalget and this week’s high-scorers Portaferry, while An Ríocht travel to Mayobridge.
In Cavan, Denn continue to set the pace in the Mannok-sponsored Cavan senior championship, following up their one-point win over defending champions Crosserlough last week with a second victory on Wednesday evening – but they had to recover from the concession of two goals in the opening six minutes.
Niamh Keenaghan bagged the first Laragh goal and that was quickly followed by a second strike from Emma Plunkett. However, Shanise Fitzsimons hit 1-5 before the break to close the gap to a goal at the change of ends.
Her second goal in the 44th minute put Denn ahead for the first time and she went on to accumulate 3-10 out of the 3-12 to 2-7 scoreline.
In the other game, Lacken secured their first win with a 3-8 to 1-12 victory in Castletara.
They got a great start with a goal from Alana O’Brien in the third minute, but Castletara fought back and helped by Orlaith Prior’s goal led by 1-6 to 1-3 after 23 minutes. That stretched to 1-8 to 1-4 by the interval.
Aoife Crowe goaled 10 minutes into the second half and eight minutes later Eimear Brady levelled at 3-5 to 1-11.
Although Ellie Brady edged Castletara ahead with a point in the next attack, Lacken finished strongly with points from Aoife Crowe and free-taker Róisín O’Keefe.
The next round of fixtures are on Saturday week with Lacken at home to Denn and Laragh hosting Crosserlough.
