Littlewoods Ireland League Division Two final: Down 3-8 Antrim 1-11
ANNA Rogan couldn’t have dreamt it any better.
A return to county camogie with the Down reserve team a couple of months ago, then catapulted into the first team and the Castlewellan forward scores the winning goal in the 56th minute of an intense Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division Two final at Owenbeg on Saturday.
Moments earlier Róisín McCormick's superb solo goal completed an excellent comeback from the Saffrons who were seven points down going in to half-time, but held Down to just one point for the second half.
With all the momentum behind the Saffrons, Down could have been in bother, but Karen McMullan’s long delivery from her own 20-metre line was brilliantly caught by Sara Louise Graffin whose quick turn broke the Antrim cover.
The Down captain off-loaded to Niamh Mallon and the Portaferry ace raced in on goal, drew the last defender and off-loaded leaving Rogan with the simplest of finishes.
Two opportunistic goals in a five-minute spell just before half-time by Niamh Mallon and Sorcha McCartan had put Down in the driving seat, but Antrim’s refusal to roll-over brought them back to within touching distance of the title.
The winners hit 11 wides in the opening half and were dominant in the possession game with Sorcha McCartan and Sara-Louise Graffin impressing.
Antrim were living off scraps, yet went into a two-point lead in the 18th minute with some excellent positional plays and fine shooting from Nicole O’Neill, Caitrín Dobbin, Róisín McCormick and Maeve Kelly.
However frees from Sorcha McCartan and Niamh Mallon levelled at 0-5 each after 24 minutes.
Tied down at full-forward by Caoimhe Conlon, Niamh Mallon began to wander the width of the inside forward line and the Antrim defence started to look vulnerable.
The Portaferry star then picked up possession around 30 metres out, rounded a couple of players and accelerated to goal before batting the sliotar to the roof of the net without breaking stride.
McCartan added a point and then goaled with a ferocious strike from just inside the 20-metre line, after selling an outrageous dummy when she ran on to Graffin’s diagonal delivery.
That left Antrim trailing by seven, but they emerged a different team conceding just one point over the next 26 minutes.
Meanwhile, points from Anna Connolly, McCormick and an O’Neill free left just a goal between the sides.
McCormick's excellent strike in the 53rd minute levelled the tie and with momentum they looked ready to push on.
Instead it was Down who found the killer touch with the experienced heads combining for newcomer Anna Rogan to find the net.
“It is very easy to fit into this team,” said Rogan who had spent the last couple of years in England playing soccer.
“I was really pleased to be asked to come into the extended panel this year. I played a couple of games with the juniors and was delighted to be asked into the senior panel.
“I had played with many of these girls a few years ago and I had thought that games were intense back then. The intensity in the semi-final win over Wexford and the final today was just phenomenal.
“I am just so glad to be able to contribute.”
Down: C McGourty; E Rafferty, D Magee, C Caldwell; B Fitzpatrick, K McMullan, D Savage, P O’Hagan, A Keown, A McAleenan, SL Graffin (0-2), S McCartan (1-3, 0-1 free), L Clarke, N Mallon (1-3, 0-2 frees), A Rogan (1-0)
Subs: D Harrison for E Rafferty (40)
Antrim: C Graham: K McKillop, C Conlon, M Lynn; C Patterson, N Donnelly, L McKenna; L McNaughton, A Boyle; M Kelly (0-1), A Connolly (0-1), N O'Neill (0-5, 0-3 frees), R McCormick (1-3), Ciara Laverty, C Dobbin (0-1)
Subs: S Devlin for L McKenna (h-t), Christine Laverty for Ciara Laverty (56).
Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath)
